• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.235-245
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• 1999

HIV-1 Tat, a strong transactivator, is essential for the HIV-1 replication and AIDS progression. The Tat function is markedly inhibited by human p53 anti-oncogene. However, the detail mechanism has not yet been clearly revealed. In our previous report, we have addressed that p53 is unlikely to interact directly with HIV-1 Tat. In the consecutive experiments, Tat-phosphorylation was found to increase in proportional to the amounts of transfected p53. This work was initiated to identify the signaling factor that is involved in the p53-mediated Tat suppression. Several protein kinases were tested for the phosphorylation of Tat, and we found that PKR is likely to be involved in the p53-mediated Tat suppression. PKR was co-immunoprecipitated by anti-Tat antibody in the Tat-expressing Jurkat cell lysates only when the cells were transfected by p53, indicating that PKR-Tat interaction depends on the p53 activity. The interaction seems to result in PKR-mediated Tat-phosphorylation. Tat function was not blocked by p53 when co-transfected trasiently with antisense-PKR. We have generated PKR-knock out Jurkat cell clone. The PKR defective Jurkat cells didn't show the p53-mediated Tat suppression. These data indicate that p53-mediated Tat suppression is strongly associated with PKR. PKR-mediated Tat phosphorylation experiments are now under investigation by kinase assay and co-immunoprecipitation in the presence or absence of p53.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.449-456
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• 2010

The HCCI engine is a prospective internal combustion engine with which high diesel-like efficiencies and very low NOx and particulate emissions can be achieved. However, several technical issues must be resolved before HCCI engines can be used for different applications. One of the issues concerning the HCCI engine is that the operating range of this engine is limited by the rapid pressure rise caused by the release of excessive heat. This heat release is because of the self-accelerated combustion reaction occurring in the engine and the resulting engine knock in the high-load region. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of thermal stratification and fuel stratification in reducing the pressure rise rate in an HCCI engine. The concentrations of NOx and CO in the exhaust gas are also evaluated to confirm combustion completeness and NOx emission. The computation is carried out with the help of a multizone code, by using the information on the detailed chemical kinetics and the effect of thermal and fuel stratification on the onset of ignition and rate of combustion. The engine is fueled with dimethyl ether (DME), which allows heat release to occur in two stages, as opposed to methane, which allows for heat release in a single stage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.189-192
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• 2012

Although embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or ES-like cells are reported from many mammalian species other than the mouse, the culture system for murine ESCs may not be suitable to the other species. Previously many other research groups have modified either human or mouse ESC culture systems for bovine ESC culture. In this study, we compared three different culture mediums consisting of DMEM, ${\alpha}$-MEM or KnockOut$^{TM}$-DMEM (KO), which are modified from human or mouse ESC culture system, for the generation of bovine ESCs. In this study, some pre-requisite events which are important for establishment and long-term propagation of ESCs such as inner cell mass (ICM) attachment on feeder cells, primary colony formation and sustainability after passaging. Once the ICM clumps attached on feeder cells, this was designated as passage 0. In regards to the rate of ICM attachment, ${\alpha}$-MEM was superior to the other systems. For primary colony formation, there was no difference between DMEM and ${\alpha}$-MEM whereas KO showed lower formation rate than the other groups. For passaging, the colonies were split into 2~4 pieces and passed every 5~6 days. From passage 1 to passage 3, DMEM system seemed to be appropriate for maintaining putative bovine ESCs. On the other hand, ${\alpha}$-MEM tended to be more suitable after passage 6. Although ${\alpha}$-MEM support to maintain a ES-like cell progenies to passage 15, all three culture systems which are modified from human or mouse ESC culture media failed to retain the propagation and long-term culture of putative bovine ESCs. Our findings imply that more optimized alternative culture system is required for establishing bovine ESC lines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.29-34
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• 2003

In order to study the shearing characteristics of anti-vibration sheet metal which has been bonded by resin, a blanking die of 40.02mm was manufactured to blank a material and it is used to reduce vibrational noise. The variables employed in this study were 1) Clearance 2) types of stripper plate, and 3) types of the die design technique. These variables were used to study the effects on burr height, diameter of product, and camber height. Lastly, the effect of the position of the rubber during blanking was observed. In the case of burr height from experimental investigation, the push-back die, combined with a movable stripper plate, resulted in the concentration of additional pressure between the cutting edges, meaning the crack initiation was delayed. This result was not affected by lubrication, although appropriate lubrication is preferred to enable a longer lasting die in terms of wear, which results from the presence of adhesive as the sheet metal is blanked. In the comparison of diameter measurement, the push-back die, combined with the back pressure from the knock-out plate showed a favorable precision. The use of the push back die with a fixed stripper plate, with a $4.5\%$ clearance, showed better accuracy in the diameter measurement. For comparing camber height, the push back die resulted in less cambering than the drop-through die. Also, the larger the clearance, the greater was the camber height. Considering experimental results, the shearing of anti-vibrational sheet metal is best achieved when the rubber is laying on the top, blanked with a fixed-stripper plate in a push-back die, with a $4.5\%$ clearance.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2012

Interdigital tissue regression is one of the most well-known examples of embryonic programmed cell death, providing the mechanism behind separation of developing digits. Caspases have been shown to play a key part in this process, with activated caspase-3 localized between the developing digits. In caspase-3 knock-out adult mice, however, the digits are completely separated with no webbing. In other mutants with defects in the apoptotic machinery, such as Apaf1 deficient mice, interdigital tissue regression is initially inhibited but the webbing eventually disappears as alternative/additional cell death mechanisms step in. In order to investigate whether a similar temporal effect occurs after loss of caspase-3, we have used an in vitro approach to inhibit caspase-3 at specific times during digit separation. Previous limb explant culture approaches have encountered problems with proper limb development in culture, and thus a modified technique was used. The new approach enables detailed observation of the effects of caspase-3 inhibition on interdigital regression. Using these methods, we show that caspase-3 inhibition caused a delay in the loss of interdigital tissue compared with control explants, similar to that observed in Apaf1 mutant mice. Along with immunohistochemistry, active caspase-3 positive cells of the interdigital vs. digital regions were measured by flow cytometry. Notably, activated caspase-3 in vivo was found not only in the interdigital mesenchyme but also in the TUNEL negative digit region, supporting a role for caspase-3 in nonapoptotic events.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.852-858
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• 2009

The homeostasis of the pyridine nucleotide pool [NAD(P)H and NAD(P)$^+$] is maintained in Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutant strains defective in the cytochrome bci complex or the cytochrome c oxidases in terms of its concentration and redox state. Aerobic derepression of the puf operon, which is under the control of the PrrBA two-component system, in the CBB3 mutant strain of R. sphaeroides was shown to be not the result of changes in the redox state of the pyridine nucleotides and the ubiquinone/ubiquinol pool. Using the bc$_1$ complex knock-out mutant strain of R. sphaeroides, we clearly demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of cbb$_3$, oxidase on spectral complex formation is not caused indirectly by the redox change of the ubiquinone/ubiquinol pool.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.358-363
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• 2011

Background: Traditionally, interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) was regarded as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, however, recent reports suggested role of IFN-${\gamma}$ in immune tolerance. In our previous report, we could induce tolerance to male antigen (HY) just by male islet transplantation in wild type C57BL/6 mice without any immunological intervention. We tried to investigate the influence of IFN-${\gamma}$ deficiency on tolerance induction by male islet transplantation. Methods: To examine the immunogenicity of male tissue in the absence of IFN-${\gamma}$, we transplanted male IFN-${\gamma}$ knock-out (KO) skin to female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice. Next, we analyzed male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO islet to streptozotocin-induced diabetic female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice. And, we checked the functionality of grafted islet by graft removal and insulin staining. Results: As our previous results in wild type C57BL/6 mice, female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice rejected male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO skin within 29 days, and did not reject male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO islet. The maintenance of normal blood glucose level was dependent on the presence of grafted male islet. And the male islet recipient did not reject 2nd challenge of male islet graft also. Conclusion: Deficiency of IFN-${\gamma}$ does not have influence on the result of male skin graft and male islet transplantation. Conclusively, male islet transplantation induced T cell tolerance is not dependent on the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.44-50
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• 2013

Process gas piping is one of the most basic components frequently used in the refinery and petrochemical plants. Many kinds of by-product gas have been used as fuel in the process plants. In some plants, natural gas is additionally introduced and mixed with the byproduct gas for upgrading the fuel. In this case, safety or design margin of the changed piping system of the plant should be re-evaluated based on a proper design code such as ASME or API codes since internal pressure, temperature and gas compositions are different from the original plant design conditions. In this study, series of piping stress analysis were conducted for a process piping used for transporting the mixed gas of the by-product gas and the natural gas from a mixing drum to a knock-out drum in a refinery plant. The analysed piping section had been actually installed in a domestic industry and needed safety audit since the design condition was changed. Pipe locations of the maximum system stress and displacement were determined, which can be candidate inspection and safety monitoring points during the upcoming operation period. For studying the effects of outside air temperature to safety the additional stress analysis were conducted for various temperatures in $0{\sim}30^{\circ}C$. Effects of the friction coefficient between the pipe and support were also investigated showing a proper choice if the friction coefficient is important. The maximum system stresses were occurred mainly at elbow, tee and support locations, which shows the thermal load contributes considerably to the system stress rather than the internal pressure or the gravity loads.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.825-830
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• 2001

Escherichia coli, which harbored the ars operon from a plasmid pMH12 of Klebsiella oxytoca D12, showed filamentation due to the expression of ars genes in the presence of arsenite. The continued DNA replication in the absence of cell division was revealed, since nucleoids abound with DAPI appeared to be arranged in chains. In contrast to overexpression of arsA, its frame-shift mutant and knock-out mutant lost filamentation in the presence of arsenite, which suggested that ars-induced division block was dependent on expression of arsA. ArsA-induced division inhibition was not a consequence of an inhibition of DNA replication, and the inability of arsenite to induce an SOS response indicated that arsA-mediated division inhibition was dependent on the expression of the gene product encoded by the minB operon. ArsA is a peripheral membrane protein with an ATP-binding domain, which is homologous to MinD that requires ATP-dependent efflux. These results suggested that ArsA could possibly recruit MinC to the membrane and modulate cytoplasmic FtsZ to block assembly at the middle of the cell.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.483-493
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• 2010

Knock-out of a gene by insertional mutagenesis is a direct way to address its function through the mutant phenotype. Among ca. 15,000 gene-trapped Ds insertion lines of rice, we identified one line from selected sensitive lines in highly salt stress. We conducted gene tagging by TAIL-PCR, and DNA gel blot analysis from salt sensitive mutant. A gene encoding an oligopeptide transporter (OPT family) homologue was disrupted by the insertion of a Ds transposon into the OsOPT10 gene that was located shot arm of chromosome 8. The OsOPT10 gene (NP_001062118.) has 6 exons and encodes a protein (752 aa) containing the OPT family domain. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of OsOPT10 gene was rapidly and strongly induced by stresses such as high-salinity (250 mM), osmotic, drought, $100\;{\mu}M$ ABA. The subcellular localization assay indicated that OsOPT10 was localized specifically in the plasma membrane. Overexpression of OsOPT10 in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice conferred tolerance of transgenic plants to salt stress. Further we found expression levels of some stress related genes were inhibited in OsOPT10 transgenic plants. These results suggested that OsOPT10 might play crucial but differential roles in plant responses to various abiotic stresses.