• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.560-564
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• 2013

${\small{D}}$-Ribose is a value-added five-carbon sugar used for riboflavin production. To investigate the effects of oxygen supply and mixed sugar concentration on microbial production of ${\small{D}}$-ribose, a transketolase-deficient Bacillus subtilis SPK1 was cultured batch-wise using xylose and glucose. A change of agitation speed from 300 rpm to 600 rpm at 1 vvm of air supply increased both the xylose consumption rate and ${\small{D}}$-ribose production rate. Because the sum of the specific consumption rates for xylose and glucose was similar at all agitation speeds, metabolic preferences between xylose and glucose might depend on oxygen supply. Although B. subtilis SPK1 can take up xylose and glucose by the active transport mechanism, a high initial concentration of xylose and glucose was not beneficial for high ${\small{D}}$-ribose production.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2012

Background: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis has emerged as a novel target for cancer therapy. Agents that inhibit this pathway are currently under development for lung cancer treatment. In the present study, we have tested whether dual inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling can lead to enahnced antitumor effects. We have also examined the role of autophagy during this process. Methods: We analyzed the combination effect of the mTOR inhibitor, temsirolimus, and the Akt inhibitor, GSK690693, on the survival of NCI-H460 and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis induction was evaluated by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Autophagy induction was also evaluated by acridine orange staining. Changes of apoptosis or autophagy-related proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: Combination treatment with temsirolimus and GSK690693 caused synergistically increased cell death in NCI-H460 and A549 cells. This was attributable to increased induction of apoptosis. Caspase 3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage accompanied these findings. Autophagy also increased and inhibition of autophagy resulted in increased cell death, suggesting its cytoprotective role during this process. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of temsirolimus and GSK690693 could be a novel strategy for lung cancer therapy. Inhibition of autophagy could also be a promising method of enhancing the combination effect of these drugs.