• Title/Summary/Keyword: Ion Current

Search Result 1,472, Processing Time 0.032 seconds

Development of a Safety and Health Expense Prediction Model in the Construction Industry (건설업 산업안전보건관리비 예측 모델 개발 - 일반건설공사(갑)의 공사비 50억미만 공사를 대상으로 -)

  • Yeom, Dong Jun;Lee, Mi Young;Oh, Se Wook;Han, Seung Woo;Kim, Young Suk
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
    • /
    • v.16 no.6
    • /
    • pp.63-72
    • /
    • 2015
  • The importance of the appropriate use and procurement of Safety and Health Expense has been increasing along with the recent increase of construction projects in height, size and complexity. However, the current standards for deducting the Safety and Health Expense have shown limitations in applying the properties and environment of the construction project due to its Safety and Health Expense Rate's classification method. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a prediction model for the Safety and Health Expense that enables the consideration of different environment and properties of construction projects. The study uses multiple regression analysis to analyze the Safety and Health Expense of Ordinary(A) of less than 0.5 billion WON. The research results have shown that the use of multiple regression analysis reduces the error rate to 4.38% which the current standard calculation method have shown 18.48%. Therefore, the use of the suggested model provides reliable Safety and Health Expense prediction values that considers the properties of the project. It is expected that the results of this study contributes to the effective safety management by providing the appropriate amount of Safety and Health Expense to the project. In this study, only projects of less than 5 billion WON have been considered in the analysis. Therefore, more data is required for future studies to suggest an overall Safety and Health Expense predict ion model that covers the whole construction industry.

Effect of $H_2O_2$ on Alveolar Epithelial Barrier Properties (폐상피세포 장벽에 대한 $H_2O_2$의 영향)

  • Suh, Duk-Joon;Cho, Se-Heon;Kang, Chang-Woon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.40 no.3
    • /
    • pp.236-249
    • /
    • 1993
  • Background: Among the injurious agents to which the lung airspaces are constantly exposed are reactive species of oxygen. It has been widely believed that reactive oxygen species may be implicated in the etiology of lung injuries. In order to elucidated how this oxidant causes lung cell injury, we investigated the effects of exogenous $H_2O_2$ on alveolar epithelial barrier characteristics. Methods: Rat type II alveolar epithelial cells were plated onto tissue culture-treated polycarbonate membrane filters. The resulting confluent monolayers on days 3 and 4 were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber and bathed on both sides with HEPES-buffered Ringer solution. The changes in short-circuit current (Isc) and monolayer resistance (R) in response to the exogenous hydroperoxide were measured. To determine the degree of cellular catalase participation in protection against $H_2O_2$ injury to the barrier, experiments were repeated in the presence of 20 mM aminotriazole (ATAZ, an inhibitor of catalase) in the same bathing fluid as the hydroperoxide. Results: These monolayers have a high transepithelial resistance (>2000 ohm-$cm^2$) and actively transport $Na^+$ from apical fluid. $H_2O_2$(0-100 mM) was then delivered to either apical or basolateral fluid. Resulting indicated that $H_2O_2$ decreased Isc and R gradually in dose-dependent manner. The effective concentration of apical $H_2O_2$ at which Isc (or R) was decreased by 50% at one hour ($ED_{50}$) was about 4 mM. However, basolateral $H_2O_2$ exposure led to $ED_{50}$ for Isc (and R) of about 0.04 mM. Inhibition of cellular catalase yielded $ED_{50}$ for Isc (and R) of about 0.4 mM when $H_2O_2$ was given apically, while $ED_{50}$ for basolateral exposure to $H_2O_2$ did not change in the presence of ATAZ. The rate of $H_2O_2$ consumption in apical and basolateral bathing fluids was the same, while cellualr catalase activity rose gradually with time in culture. Conclusion: Our data suggest that basolateral $H_2O_2$ may affect directly membrane component (e.g., $Na^+,\;K^+$-ATPase) located on the basolateral cell surface. Apical $H_2O_2$, on the other hand, may be largely degraded by catalase as it passes through the cells before reaching these membrane components. We conclude that alveolar epithelial barrier integrity as measured by Isc and R are compromised by $H_2O_2$ being relatively sensitive to basolateral (and insensitive to apical) $H_2O_2$.

  • PDF

Hydrological Significance on Interannual Variability of Cations, Anions, and Conductivity in a Large Reservoir Ecosystem (대형 인공호에서 양이온, 음이온 및 전기전도도의 연변화에 대한 수리수문학적 중요성)

  • An, Kwang-Guk
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
    • /
    • v.34 no.1 s.93
    • /
    • pp.1-8
    • /
    • 2001
  • During April 1993 to November 1994, cations, anions, and conductivity were analyzed to examine how summer monsoon influences the ionic content of Taechung Reservoir, Korea. Interannual variability of ionic content reflected hydrological characteristics between the two years(high-flood year in 1993 vs. draught year in 1994). Cations, anions and conductivity were lowest during peak inflow in 1993 and highest during a drought in 1994. Floods in 1993 markedly decreased total salinity as a result of reduced Ca$^{2+}$ and HCO$_{3}\;^{-}$ and produced extreme spatial heterogeneity (i.e., longitudinal, vertical, and horizontal variation) in ionic concentrations. The dominant process modifying the longitudinal (the headwaters-to-downlake) and vertical (top-to-bottom) patterns in salinity was an interflow current during the 1993 monsoon. The interflow water plunged near a 27${\sim}$37 km-location (from the dam) of the mid-lake and passed through the 10${\sim}$30m stratum of the reservoir, resulting in an isolation of epilimnetic high conductivity water (>100 ${\mu}$S/cm) from advected river water with low conductivity (65${\sim}$75 ${\mu}$S/cm), During postmonsoon 1993, the factors regulating salinity differed spatially; salinity of downlake markedly declined as a result of dilution through the mixing of lake water with river water, whereas in the headwaters it increased due to enhanced CaCO$_{3}$ (originated from limestone/metamorphic rock) of groundwaters entering the reservoir. This result suggests an importance of the basin geology on ion compositions with hydrological characteristics. In 1994, salinity was markedly greater (p<0.001) relative to 1993 and ionic dilution did not occur during the monsoon due to reduced inflow. Overall data suggest that the primary factor influencing seasonal ionic concentrations and compositions in this system is the dilution process depending on the intensity of monsoon rainfall.

  • PDF

Isolation and Fusion of Pea Mesophyll Protoplast (완두(Pisum sativum L.) 엽육세포(葉肉細胞) 원형질체(原形質體)의 분리(分離) 및 융합(融合))

  • Kwon, Yil Chan;Kim, Dal Ung;Kim, In Seob
    • Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
    • /
    • v.6
    • /
    • pp.13-18
    • /
    • 1988
  • This experiment was conducted to identify the enzyme treatment time, calcium ion effect, enzyme concentration and leaf position for protoplast isolation. It was also performed to determine the adequate molarity on protoplasts, and to investigate the incubation time, pH, PEG concentration and DMSO effect for protoplast fusion. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; The optimal time of incubation in enzyme solution was 4 hours. And the protoplast releasing time was delayed by $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ addition to the enzyme solution compared with no added one. The viability had kept up to above 95% until the 4 hours after digestion. The high viability of the protoplast was preserved more than 16 hours by adding $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ to digestion solution. The enzyme concentration had no effect on protoplast yield in range from 1% to 5% and the first or second leaf from the top of the plant produced the highest protoplast yield among the leaf position tested. The purity of healthy protoplast was better in 0.4M and 0.5M sucrose than in others, and the percentage of protoplast aggregation was more 20% to 50% in PEG 6,000 compared with 4,000 and PEG 1,500. Even though the percentage of protoplast aggregation was less increased by 3% to 7% than without DMSO, its treatment was effective to induce binucleated protoplasts.

  • PDF

Analyses of Elementary School Homeroom Teachers' Role Percept ion and Performance as Counsellors and Children's Expectation for Teachers' Role as Counsellors (초등학교 담임교사의 상담자로서 역할지각 및 수행실태와 아동의 기대 분석)

  • Seo, Ju-Hee;Kim, Yang-Hyun
    • The Korean Journal of Elementary Counseling
    • /
    • v.5 no.1
    • /
    • pp.65-92
    • /
    • 2006
  • The objective of this study is to conduct survey analyses of the role perception and performance of homeroom teachers in elementary schools in Seoul as well as their students' expectations for teachers' role as counsellors. The study also aims to analyze the causes behind the lackluster performance, to provide assistance in teachers' counselling and guidance activities and collect basic data for providing a plausible orientation for elementary school counselling. Research topics for achieving these study objectives are as follows. First, what is the status quo of counselling between elementary school students and teachers? Second, what is the role perception of elementary school homeroom teachers as counsellors and their current level of performance? Third, what are the differences in students' expectations for homeroom teachers' role as counsellors according to students' environmental variables such as gender and grade? Fourth, what are the discrepancies between the roles perception and performance of elementary school homeroom teachers and role expectation of students for homeroom teachers' role as counsellors? In order to answer these questions, surveys were conducted for 229 teachers and 385 students in grades 4, 5 and 6 in 11 elementary schools in Seoul, and the results were analyzed. The questionnaires used for this study were modified and supplemented according to the research objectives based on survey questions released by Gyung-Beom Lee(1989), Hak-Soo Lee(2001) and Gi-Nam Gwon(2005). Statistical analyses were peformed using the SPSS for Windows 10.0 program. The results of the study can be summarized as follows. First, most elementary school homeroom teachers were involved in counselling activities, and about half of them were providing counselling once a month or less. The classroom was the primary location of counselling, and more than half of the surveyed teachers were dissatisfied with their counselling activities. The teachers cited overwhelming teaching hours and excessive work as the factors that made counselling difficult. Second, it was revealed that most elementary school students have had experiences of anguish and most have had some form of counselling. They mostly sought counselling from their parents and friends, and the reasons behind such choices were that they were very understanding. Third, most students responded that they have had no experience of receiving counselling from their homeroom teachers. Among those with counselling experience with their homeroom teachers, most said that the counselling was helpful. The most significant reason for not receiving counselling from their homeroom teachers was that the students had no worries to talk about with their teachers. Fourth, as a result of categorizing the role of elementary school homeroom teachers as counsellors according to the areas of counselling, role perception for each area turned out to be generally high, while performance was substantially lacking. Fifth, in terms of the causes for the lackluster counselling performance, overwhelming teaching hours and excessive work were indicated for counselling areas of academic and personality issues. Sixth, the analysis of students' expectations for elementary school homeroom teachers as counsellors for counselling areas according to gender and grade revealed that there was no overall statistical significance. Seventh, from the general perspective, the level of role perception of the homeroom teachers were higher than the level of students' expectations. In conclusion, in order to enhance the teacher's role as a counsellor, there has to be a concrete perception of roles as a primary premise, calling for training sessions and programs dedicated to counseling for the teachers to take part in. Moreover, in order to alleviate the most significant causes for undermining teachers' counselling activities - overwhelming teaching hours and excessive work - there must be administrative consideration as well as provisions for effective counselling centers and dedicated school counsellors.

  • PDF

New Approaches for Overcoming Current Issues of Plasma Sputtering Process During Organic-electronics Device Fabrication: Plasma Damage Free and Room Temperature Process for High Quality Metal Oxide Thin Film

  • Hong, Mun-Pyo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
    • /
    • 2012.02a
    • /
    • pp.100-101
    • /
    • 2012
  • The plasma damage free and room temperature processedthin film deposition technology is essential for realization of various next generation organic microelectronic devices such as flexible AMOLED display, flexible OLED lighting, and organic photovoltaic cells because characteristics of fragile organic materials in the plasma process and low glass transition temperatures (Tg) of polymer substrate. In case of directly deposition of metal oxide thin films (including transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS)) on the organic layers, plasma damages against to the organic materials is fatal. This damage is believed to be originated mainly from high energy energetic particles during the sputtering process such as negative oxygen ions, reflected neutrals by reflection of plasma background gas at the target surface, sputtered atoms, bulk plasma ions, and secondary electrons. To solve this problem, we developed the NBAS (Neutral Beam Assisted Sputtering) process as a plasma damage free and room temperature processed sputtering technology. As a result, electro-optical properties of NBAS processed ITO thin film showed resistivity of $4.0{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}m$ and high transmittance (>90% at 550 nm) with nano- crystalline structure at room temperature process. Furthermore, in the experiment result of directly deposition of TCO top anode on the inverted structure OLED cell, it is verified that NBAS TCO deposition process does not damages to the underlying organic layers. In case of deposition of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film on the plastic polymer substrate, the room temperature processed sputtering coating of high quality TCO thin film is required. During the sputtering process with higher density plasma, the energetic particles contribute self supplying of activation & crystallization energy without any additional heating and post-annealing and forminga high quality TCO thin film. However, negative oxygen ions which generated from sputteringtarget surface by electron attachment are accelerated to high energy by induced cathode self-bias. Thus the high energy negative oxygen ions can lead to critical physical bombardment damages to forming oxide thin film and this effect does not recover in room temperature process without post thermal annealing. To salve the inherent limitation of plasma sputtering, we have been developed the Magnetic Field Shielded Sputtering (MFSS) process as the high quality oxide thin film deposition process at room temperature. The MFSS process is effectively eliminate or suppress the negative oxygen ions bombardment damage by the plasma limiter which composed permanent magnet array. As a result, electro-optical properties of MFSS processed ITO thin film (resistivity $3.9{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, transmittance 95% at 550 nm) have approachedthose of a high temperature DC magnetron sputtering (DMS) ITO thin film were. Also, AOS (a-IGZO) TFTs fabricated by MFSS process without higher temperature post annealing showed very comparable electrical performance with those by DMS process with $400^{\circ}C$ post annealing. They are important to note that the bombardment of a negative oxygen ion which is accelerated by dc self-bias during rf sputtering could degrade the electrical performance of ITO electrodes and a-IGZO TFTs. Finally, we found that reduction of damage from the high energy negative oxygen ions bombardment drives improvement of crystalline structure in the ITO thin film and suppression of the sub-gab states in a-IGZO semiconductor thin film. For realization of organic flexible electronic devices based on plastic substrates, gas barrier coatings are required to prevent the permeation of water and oxygen because organic materials are highly susceptible to water and oxygen. In particular, high efficiency flexible AMOLEDs needs an extremely low water vapor transition rate (WVTR) of $1{\times}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$. The key factor in high quality inorganic gas barrier formation for achieving the very low WVTR required (under ${\sim}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$) is the suppression of nano-sized defect sites and gas diffusion pathways among the grain boundaries. For formation of high quality single inorganic gas barrier layer, we developed high density nano-structured Al2O3 single gas barrier layer usinga NBAS process. The NBAS process can continuously change crystalline structures from an amorphous phase to a nano- crystalline phase with various grain sizes in a single inorganic thin film. As a result, the water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film have improved order of magnitude compared with that of conventional $Al_2O_3$ layers made by the RF magnetron sputteringprocess under the same sputtering conditions; the WVTR of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film was about $5{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2/day$ by just single layer.

  • PDF

Time Dependent Evaluation of Corrosion Free Life of Concrete Tunnel Structures Based on the Reliability Theory (해저 콘크리트 구조물의 신뢰성 이론에 의한 시간 의존적 내구수명 평가)

  • Pack, Seung Woo;Jung, Min Sun
    • Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.142-154
    • /
    • 2011
  • This study predicted the probability of corrosion initiation of reinforced concrete tunnel boxes structures using the Monte Carlo Simulation. For the inner wall and outer wall in the tunnel boxes, exposed to airborne chloride ion and seawater directly respectively, statistical values of parameters like diffusion coefficient D, surface chloride content $C_s$, cover depth c, and the chloride threshold level $C_{lim}$ were examined from experiment or literature review. Their average values accounted for $3.77{\times}10^{-12}m^2/s$, 3.0% by weight of cement, 94.7mm and 45.5mm for outer wall and inner wall, respectively, and 0.69% by weight of cement for D, $C_s$, c, and $C_{lim}$, respectively. With these parametric values, the distribution of chloride contents at rebar with time and the probability of corrosion initiation of the tunnel boxes, inner wall and outer wall, was examined by considering time dependency of chloride transport. From the examination, the histogram of chloride contents at rebar is closer to a gamma distribution, and the mean value increases with time, while the coefficient of variance decreases with time. It was found that the probability of corrosion initiation and the time to corrosion were dependent on the time dependency of chloride transport. Time independent model predicted time to corrosion initiation of inner wall and outer wall as 8 and 12 years, respectively, while 178 and 283 years of time to corrosion was calculated by time dependent model for inner wall and outer wall, respectively. For time independent model, the probability of corrosion at 100 years of exposure for inner wall and outer wall was ranged 59.5 and 95.5%, respectively, while time dependent model indicated 2.9 and 0.2% of the probability corrosion, respectively. Finally, impact of $C_{lim}$, including values specified in current codes, on the probability of corrosion initiation and corrosion free life is discussed.

Recent Progress in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Research: A Review of Papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 2014 (설비공학 분야의 최근 연구 동향: 2014년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰)

  • Lee, Dae-Young;Kim, Sa Ryang;Kim, Hyun-Jung;Kim, Dong-Seon;Park, Jun-Seok;Ihm, Pyeong Chan
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
    • /
    • v.27 no.7
    • /
    • pp.380-394
    • /
    • 2015
  • This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2014. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of heat and mass transfer, cooling and heating, and air-conditioning, the flow inside building rooms, and smoke control on fire. Research issues dealing with duct and pipe were reduced, but flows inside building rooms, and smoke controls were newly added in thermal and fluid engineering research area. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for thermal contact resistance measurement of metal interface, a fan coil with an oval-type heat exchanger, fouling characteristics of plate heat exchangers, effect of rib pitch in a two wall divergent channel, semi-empirical analysis in vertical mesoscale tubes, an integrated drying machine, microscale surface wrinkles, brazed plate heat exchangers, numerical analysis in printed circuit heat exchanger. In the area of pool boiling and condensing, non-uniform air flow, PCM applied thermal storage wall system, a new wavy cylindrical shape capsule, and HFC32/HFC152a mixtures on enhanced tubes, were actively studied. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on solar water storage tank, effective design on the inserting part of refrigerator door gasket, impact of different boundary conditions in generating g-function, various construction of SCW type ground heat exchanger and a heat pump for closed cooling water heat recovery were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were carried out in the categories of refrigeration cycle, alternative refrigeration and modelling and controls including energy recoveries from industrial boilers and vehicles, improvement of dehumidification systems, novel defrost systems, fault diagnosis and optimum controls for heat pump systems. It is particularly notable that a substantial number of studies were dedicated for the development of air-conditioning and power recovery systems for electric vehicles in this year. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, seventeen studies were reported for achieving effective design of the mechanical systems, and also for maximizing the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included energy performance, HVAC system, ventilation, and renewable energies, piping in the buildings. Proposed designs, performance performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which can improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment was mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment were related to the evaluation of work noise in tunnel construction and the simulation and development of a light-shelf system. The subjects of building energy were worked on the energy saving of office building applied with window blind and phase change material(PCM), a method of existing building energy simulation using energy audit data, the estimation of thermal consumption unit of apartment building and its case studies, dynamic window performance, a writing method of energy consumption report and energy estimation of apartment building using district heating system. The remained studies were related to the improvement of architectural engineering education system for plant engineering industry, estimating cooling and heating degree days for variable base temperature, a prediction method of underground temperature, the comfort control algorithm of car air conditioner, the smoke control performance evaluation of high-rise building, evaluation of thermal energy systems of bio safety laboratory and a development of measuring device of solar heat gain coefficient of fenestration system.

Recent Progress in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Research : A Review of Papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 2012 (설비공학 분야의 최근 연구 동향 : 2012년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰)

  • Han, Hwataik;Lee, Dae-Young;Kim, Sa Ryang;Kim, Hyun-Jung;Choi, Jong Min;Park, Jun-Seok;Kim, Sumin
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
    • /
    • v.25 no.6
    • /
    • pp.346-361
    • /
    • 2013
  • This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2012. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. The conclusions are as follows : (1) The research works on thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of fluid machinery, pipes and valves, fuel cells and power plants, ground-coupled heat pumps, and general heat and mass transfer systems. Research issues are mainly focused on new and renewable energy systems, such as fuel cells, ocean thermal energy conversion power plants, and ground-coupled heat pump systems. (2) Research works on the heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for natural convection in a square enclosure with two hot circular cylinders, non-uniform grooved tube considering tube expansion, single-tube annular baffle system, broadcasting LED light with ion wind generator, mechanical property and microstructure of SA213 P92 boiler pipe steel, and flat plate using multiple tripping wires. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on the design of a micro-channel heat exchanger for a heat pump, numerical simulation of a heat pump evaporator considering the pressure drop in the distributor and capillary tubes, critical heat flux on a thermoexcel-E enhanced surface, and the performance of a fin-and-tube condenser with non-uniform air distribution and different tube types were actively carried out. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on a plate heat exchanger type dehumidifier, fin-tube heat exchanger, an electric circuit transient analogy model in a vertical closed loop ground heat exchanger, heat transfer characteristics of a double skin window for plant factory, a regenerative heat exchanger depending on its porous structure, and various types of plate heat exchangers were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were executed to improve refrigeration system performance, and to evaluate the applicability of alternative refrigerants and new components. Various topics were presented in the area of refrigeration cycle. Research issues mainly focused on the enhancement of the system performance. In the alternative refrigerant area, studies on CO2, R32/R152a mixture, and R1234yf were performed. Studies on the design and performance analysis of various compressors and evaporator were executed. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, twenty-nine studies were conducted to achieve effective design of mechanical systems, and also to maximize the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included heating and cooling, HVAC system, ventilation, renewable energy systems, and lighting systems in buildings. New designs and performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data, which can improve the energy efficiency of buildings. (5) In the fields of the architectural environment, studies for various purposes, such as indoor environment, building energy, and renewable energy were performed. In particular, building energy-related researches and renewable energy systems have been mainly studied, reflecting interests in global climate change, and efforts to reduce building energy consumption by government and architectural specialists. In addition, many researches have been conducted regarding indoor environments.

Effect of Amino Terminus of Gap Junction Hemichannel on Its Channel Gating (간극결합채널의 아미노말단이 채널개폐에 미치는 영향)

  • Yim Jaegil;Cheon Misaek;Jung Jin;Oh Seunghoon
    • Journal of Life Science
    • /
    • v.16 no.1
    • /
    • pp.37-43
    • /
    • 2006
  • Gap junction is an ion channel forming between adjacent cells. It also acts as a membrane channel like sodium or potassium channels in a single cell. The amino acid residues up to the $10^{th}$ position in the amino (N)-terminus of gap junction hemichannel affect gating polarity as well as current-voltage (I-V) relation. While wild-type Cx32 channel shows negative gating polarity and inwardly rectifying I-V relation, T8D channel in which threonine residue at $8^{th}$ position is replaced with negatively charged aspartate residue shows reverse gating polarity and linear I-V relation. It is still unclear whether these changes are resulted from the charge effect or the conformational change of the N-terminus. To clarify this issue, we made a mutant channel harboring cysteine residue at the $8^{th}$ position (T8C) and characterized its biophysical properties using substituted-cysteine accessibility method (SCAM). T8C channel shows negative gating polarity and inwardly rectifying I-V relation as wild-type channel does. This result indicates that the substitution of cysteine residue dose not perturb the original conformation of wild-type channel. To elucidate the charge effect two types of methaenthiosulfonate (MTS) reagents (negatively charged $MTSES^-$ and positively charged $MTSET^+$) were used. When $MTSES^-$ was applied, T8C channel behaved as T8D channel, showing positive gating polarity and linear I-V relation. This result indicates that the addition of a negative charge changes the biophysical properties of T8C channel. However, positively charged $MTSET^+$ maintained the main features of T8C channel as expected. It is likely that the addition of a charge by small MTS reagents does not distort the conformation of the N-terminus. Therefore, the opposite effects of $MTSES^-$ and $MTSETT^+$ on T8C channel suggest that the addition of a charge itself rather than the conformational change of the N-terminus changes gating polarity and I-V relation. Furthermore, the accessibility of MTS reagents to amino acid residues at the $8^{th}$ position supports the idea that the N-terminus of gap junction channel forms or lies in the aqueous pore.