Minsoo Kim

ATM blocks tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER‐stress) is associated with ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene. We present here conclusive data showing that ATM blocks ER‐stress induced by tunicamycin or ionizing radiation (IR). X‐box protein‐1 (XBP‐1) splicing, GRP78 expression and caspase‐12 activation were increased by tunicamycin or IR in Atm‐deficient AT5BIVA fibroblasts. Activation of caspase‐12 and caspase‐3 by tunicamycin was significantly reduced in cells transfected with wild‐type Atm (AT5BIVA/wtATM). Atm knockdown by siRNA, however, noticeably elevated ER‐stress and chemosensitivity to tunicamycin. In summary, we present substantial data demonstrating that ATM blocks the ER stress signaling associated with cancer cell proliferation.

Ionizing radiation can induce GSK-3β phosphorylation and NF-κB transcriptional transactivation in ATM-deficient fibroblasts

DNA damage by ionizing radiation (IR) can induce activations of both NF-kappaB and p53 through the upstream kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). NF-kappaB activation could also be signaled through two distinct or overlapped pathways; IkappaB kinases (IKKs)-IkappaBalpha and Akt-glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). In the present study, however, we show that activation of Akt1 and the subsequent phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK-3beta by IR could also occur in ATM-deficient AT5BIVA cells as well as in normal MRC5CV1 fibroblasts. Similarly, lithium chloride (LiCl) was found to increase the phosphorylation of GSK-3beta independently of ATM. Transfection with either wild-type or kinase dead mutant GSK-3beta to the cells further indicated that phosphorylations of Akt1 and GSK-3beta were closely associated with the transcriptional transactivation of NF-kappaB in response to ionizing radiation. On the other hand, LiCl, having no effect on caspase-3 activation, significantly increased p53 phosphorylation and apoptotic death of the normal MRC5CV1 cells while IR, activating both caspase-3 and p53, profoundly affected AT5BIVA cell death. Hence, our data suggest that although ATM-mediated IKK-IkappaBalpha pathway might be a typical pathway for IR-induced NF-kappaB activation, GSK-3beta phosphorylation could also partially contribute to the transcriptional transactivation of NF-kappaB in an ATM-independent manner and that GSK-3beta phosphorylation could induce ATM-mediated cell apoptosis through the activation of p53.

Optimization of Production Yield for Neohesperidin by Response Surface Methodology

Neohesperidin is a natural new nutrition sweetener, widely existing in plants of dry citrus peel, which can be derived from extraction. Since the sweetness is 1,300-1,500 times greater than that of sugar, neohesperidin are widely used in fruit juices, wines, beverages, bakeries and pharmaceutical formulations, and are particularly suitable for consumption by diabetic patients. However, the yield of extraction from citrus peel waste is very low. In this study optimal yield conditions were determinedusing response surface methodology (RSM) in order to increase the neohesperidin extraction yield. The critical factors for maximum extraction yield were selected extraction pressure (), extraction time (), and concentration of ethanol (). As a result, the extraction yield was improved when the extracting pressure increased. The extraction yield also increased in a time-dependent manner. When adding ethanol as an assistance solvent to the supercritical carbon dioxide, extraction yield was increased as more ethanol concentration was added. Finally, the extraction yield of neohesperidin was improved to about 162.22% compared to ethanol extraction as a conventional method.

Structural Safety Analysis and Reinforcement for Weak Area of the Coal Silo Tunnel using Finite Elements Analysis

Silo is a warehouse for storing granular materials such as grain, cement, petroleum compound and coal. When compared to other warehouses, the silo can use space efficiently. The coal silo are consists of silo, tunnel and extractor. Of these, there are not sufficient study and design data on tunnel. It depends heavily upon trial and error method by field engineers with several years of experience. Recently, silos are constructed with a large size, and tunnel becomes to be in danger of severe cracking and collapse by a huge load of coal. So it is necessary to analyze structural safety for tunnel. In this study, the problems of the tunnel are analyzed by field data, and reinforcement of structural weak area using FE analysis has been carried out to design the tunnel satisfying structural safety. From FE Analysis, the reinforced model which does not exceed the yield strength of the material has been proposed.