• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.897-902
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• 2001

The protein back-extraction processes were discussed from the viewpoint of the micelle-micelle interaction. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) suppressing the cluster formation of reverse micelle (positive value of ${\beta}pr)$ has the high back-extra cted fraction (Eb), but cytochrome c enhancing the formation of reverse micelle (negative value of ${\beta}pr)$ has the low back-extracted fraction, relatively. We have also examined quantitatively the effects of alcohol addition and protein solubilization on the percolation process of reverse micelle. The alcohols suppressing the formation of micellar cluster (high values of ${\beta}t)$, remarkably improved the back-extraction rates of BSA and cytochrome c. The values of ${\beta}t$, defined by the variation of percolation process, and the back-extraction behavior of proteins have a good linear correlation. These results indicate that the micelle-micelle interaction or micellar clustering plays an important role in the back-extraction process of proteins.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2003

Tributyltin (TBT) used world-wide in antifouling paints for ships is a widespread environmental pollutant and cause reproductive organs atrophy in rodents. At low doses, antiproliferative modes of action have been shown to be involved, whereas at higher doses apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of toxicity in reproductive organs by TBT. In this study, we investigated that the mechanisms underlying DNA fragmentation induced by TBT in the rat leyding cell line, R2C. Effects of TBT on intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated in R2C cells by fluorescence detector. TBT significantly induced intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level in a time-dependent manner. The rise in intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level was followed by a time-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cytosol level. Simultaneously, TBT induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane into the cytosol. Furthermore, ROS production and the release of cytochrome c were reduced by BAPTA, an intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ chelator, indicating the important role of Ca$\^$2+/ in R2C during these early intracellular events. In addition, Z-DEVD FMK, a caspase-3 inhibitor, decreased apoptosis by TBT. Taken together, the present results indicated that the apoptotic pathway by TBT might start with an increase in intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level, continues with release of ROS and cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases,and finally results in DNA fragmentation.