• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2011

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the promising anti-cancer agent because of its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines but not in normal cells. However, TRAIL resistance has been reported in some cancer cells including hepatocarcinoma cells. Therefore, studies of agents that sensitize TRAIL-resistant cancer cells could be a effective therapeutic approach in cancer management. In our study, we examined the effect of combination of TRAIL with apigenin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. As a result, the combined use of TRAIL and apigenin significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity in PLC-PRF5 cells. Flow cytometry analysis after annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining showed that this increase of cell cytotoxicity was related to enhanced apoptosis in combined treatment of TRAIL with apigenin. Furthermore, synergistic induction of apoptosis was also confirmed by observation of morphological changes and annexin V-FITC/PI fluorescence. Our findings suggests that apigenin has the potential to improve the efficiency of TRAIL-based therapies in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further study is needed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of this combined therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.499-502
• /
• 2005

Methylophaga sp. strain SK1 is a new restricted facultative methanol-oxidizing bacterium that was isolated from seawater. The aim of this study was to characterize the electron carriers involved in the methanol oxidation process in Methylophaga sp. strain SK1. The gene encoding cytochrome $c_L$ (mxaG) was cloned and the recombinant gene was expressed in Escherichia coli $DH5\alpha$ under strict anaerobic conditions. The recombinant cytochrome $c_L$ had the same molecular weight and absorption spectra as the wild-type cytochrome $c_L$ both in the reduced and oxidized forms. The electron flow rate from methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) to the recombinant cytochrome $c_L$ was similar to that from MDH to the wild-type cytochrome $c_L$. These results suggest that recombinant cytochrome $c_L$ acts as a physiological primary electron acceptor for MDH.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2007

In an estuary, mixing and transport of contaminant sometimes occurs in the salt finger favorable condition (Hwang ang Rehmann, 2004). Linearized theory is applied to predict flow dynamics in salt finger favorable condition. The simulated results match well with previous laboratory experiments. When the density ratio is larger than 2, the heat and salt system shows $0.55{\sim}0.57$ as Turner (1967) found, and the salt and sugar system produces 0.87 of Griffiths (1980). As the ratio of molecular diffusivities of two scalars increases, the flux ratio increases. The flux and eddy diffusivity ratios decrease with increase of density ratio, and it takes longer time for flux ratio to be steady state at the higher density ratios.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study is to optimize the four-bed six-step pressure swing adsorption(PSA) process for high purity $CH_4$ recovery from the biogas. The effects of P/F(purge to feed) ratio and cycle time on the process performance were evaluated. The cyclic steady-states of PSA process were reached after 12 cycles. The purity and recovery rate of product gas, pressure and temperature changes were constant as the cycle repeated. It was shown that the P/F ratio gave significant effect on the product recovery rate by increasing the amount of purge gas in purge and regeneration step. The optimal P/F ratio was found to be 0.08. As the cycle time increased, the product purity decreased by increasing the feed gas flow rate. It was found that the optimal operating conditions were P/F ratio of 0.08 and total cycle time of 1,440 seconds with the purity of 97%.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.370-375
• /
• 2001

For the production of new exo-biopolymers from microorganisms, an exe-biopolymer producing bacterial strain was isolated from the composter used in composting of organic wastes. Bacteriological properties of this strain and physicochemical properties of producing exo-biopolymer were investigated. The isolated strain was identified as Enterobacter sp. through its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics. The results of color reactions, CPC (cetyl pyridinium chloride) precipitation and infra red absorption spectral analysis indicated that this exo-biopolymer was presumed as an acidic polysaccharide with uronic acid. This polysaccharide was identified as hetero-polysaccharide consisting of galactose, mannose and galacturonic acid by gas chromatography, and the molecular weight of exopolysaccharide purified by gel chromatography were about 370,000 daltons. The polysaccharide solutions(0.50-2.0%, w/v) exhibited non-Newtonian flow behavior with pseudoplastic property and showed the ability of gel formation at above 1.5% (w/v) of polysaccharide concentration.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 2007

To study the functioning of HSP70 in Escherichia coli, we selected NtHSP70-2 (AY372070) from among three genomic clones isolated in Nicotiana tabacum. Recombinant NtHSP70-2, containing a hexahistidine tag at the amino-terminus, was constructed, expressed in E. coli, and purified by $Ni^{2+}$ affinity chromatography and Q Sepharose Fast Flow anion exchange chromatography. The expressed fusion protein, $H_6NtHSP70$-2 (hexahistidine-tagged Nicotiana tabacum heat shock protein 70-2), maintained the stability of E. coli proteins up to 90$^{\circ}C$. Measuring the light scattering of luciferase (luc) revealed that NtHSP70-2 prevents the aggregation of luc without ATP during high-temperature stress. In a functional bioassay (1 h at 50$^{\circ}C$) for recombinant $H_6NtHSP70$-2, E. coli cells overexpressing $H_6NtHSP70$-2 survived about seven times longer than those lacking $H_6NtHSP70$-2. After 2 h at 50$^{\circ}C$, only the E. coli overexpressing $H_6NtHSP70$-2 survived under such conditions. Our NtHSP70-2 bioassays, as well as in vitro studies, strongly suggest that HSP70 confers thermo-tolerance to E. coli.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2007

During the past decade, many salivary parameters have been used to characterize disease states. Ghrelin (GAH) is recently-discovered peptide hormone secreted mainly from the stomach but also produced in a number of other tissues including salivary glands. The aim of this work was to examine the relationship between active (aGAH) and inactive (dGAH) ghrelin in the saliva and other salivary parameters in type II diabetic patients and healthy controls. Salivary parameters were assessed in a single measurement of unstimulated whole saliva from 20 obese and 20 non-obese type II diabetes patients, and in 22 healthy controls. Total protein and alpha-amylase were determined by colorimetric methods, and glucose by the glucose-oxidase method. Saliva aGAH and dGAH levels were measured using a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Salivary concentrations of aGAH and dGAH ghrelin were more markedly decreased in obese diabetic subjects than in the two other groups. Glucose and alpha-amylase levels were higher in diabetic subjects than in controls. Furthermore, there were correlations between GAH levels and BMI, and between GAH and blood pressure. However, there was no marked variability in saliva flow rates among the groups. These results indicate that measurement of salivary GAH and its relationship to other salivary parameters might help to provide insight into the role of ghrelin in diabetes.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2001

Aerodynamic lenses are widely used in generating particle beams of high density and small diameter, but analytical or modeling studies are limited only in the free molecular regime. In this study, it is shown that generating particle beam is also possible in atmospheric pressure range, and the mechanism of generating particle beam using an orifice is analysed into three different parts : fluid dynamic contraction, diffusional defocusing, and inertial focusing. In laminar flow conditions, the diffusional defocusing effect can be neglected, and the effects of inertial focusing can be expressed in terms of the orifice size and Stokes number. Numerical experiments are done for two different orifices, d/D=1/5 and 1/10 and particle diameter d(sub)p=1-10 ㎛. The results for two different orifices can be made into a single curve when a modified Stokes number is used. The inertial focusing effect diminishes when the modified Stokes number becomes smaller than 10(sup)-2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2008

There are increasing evidences in the literatures on the potential role of ginsenosides in treating cardiovascular diseases. In this article, current information about ginsenosides-mediated vascular relaxation are reviewed. From the published studies using isolated organs, cell culture systems and animal models, ginsenosides are shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow through diverse mechanisms, including nitric oxide release by activating eNOS phosphorylation via PI3K/Akt and/or ERK1/2 pathways in endothelial cells, induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase through activation of NF-${\kappa}$B, reducing the intracelluar Ca$^{2+}$ levels by activating Ca$^{2+}$-activated K$^{+}$ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells and reducing platelet aggregation by decreasing thromboxane A$_2$ formation and intracelluar Ca$^{2+}$in platelets. In addition, the relevant clinical trials regarding the effects of ginsenosides on the cardiovascular disease are summarized, particulary focusing on managing hypertension and improving thrombotic disorders. Finally, antagonistic effects of ginsenosides on the prostaglandin H$_2$ receptor and scavenging effects on the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2017.05a
• /
• pp.160-162
• /
• 2017

When rubber elastomer has contact with fuel, since the component and additive having low molecular weight can flow out, the physical properties of both elastomer and fuel could be hindered. In order to predict the life of the rubber elastomer, this study is to determine the change of weight, thickness, hardness, strain, and compression set as mechanical properties of the sealant rubber O-ring, which was dependent on volume, temperature, and storage time of the contacted fuel. We also determined purity of fuel via GC analysis and measured gross heat of combution. The results could be used as a reference to evaluate the life of the rubber elastomer.