Neokestose suppresses the growth of human melanoma A2058 cells via inhibition of the nuclear factor‑κB signaling pathway.

Neokestose has superior prebiotic effects compared with the commercial fructooligosaccharides (FOS). In addition, the branched structure of neokestose, a type of neo‑FOS, confers improved chemical stability compared with conventional FOS; therefore, the investigation of the branched structure by the present study may be of high biomedical value. The present study aimed to determine whether neokestose may suppress growth of the A2058 melanoma cell line.

Antineoplastic effect of a novel chemopreventive agent, neokestose, on the Caco-2 cell line via inhibition of expression of nuclear factor-κB and cyclooxygenase-2.

Neokestose is a 6G-fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and an important prebiotic. When FOS are ingested by patients with colorectal cancer, they may come into contact with cancer cells prior to being fermented by bifidobacteria in the colon. In the present study, the effects of neokestose on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of the colorectal cancer cell line Caco-2 were investigated to evaluate its anti-cancer effect.

Molecular structural property and potential energy dependence on nonequilibrium-thermodynamic state point of liquid n-hexadecane under shear.

Extensive computer experiments have been conducted in order to shed light on the macroscopic shear flow behavior of liquid n-hexadecane fluid under isobaric-isothermal conditions through the nonequilibrium molecular dynamic methodology. With respect to shear rates, the accompanying variations in structural properties of the fluid span the microscopic range of understanding from the intrinsic to extrinsic characteristics. As drawn from the average value of bond length and bond angle, the distribution of dihedral angle, and the radius distribution function of intramolecular and intermolecular van der Waals distances, these intrinsic structures change with hardness, except in the situation of extreme shear rates.

Increasing hybridoma viability and antibody repertoire after the cell fusion by the use of human plasma as an alternative supplement.

Prion diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) have caused a major safety concern in cell cultures using fetal calf serum (FCS). In this study, we found that screened and tested human plasma (HP) obtained from blood centers may be an ideal alternate nutrient substitute to FCS for culturing hybridoma. In addition to the inherent safety, a ten-fold increase in the fusion efficiency has been observed if the HP was used as the nutrient supplement instead of FCS.

Linear viscoelasticity and thermorheological simplicity of n-hexadecane fluids under oscillatory shear via non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations.

A small amplitude oscillatory shear flows with the classic characteristic of a phase shift when using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations for n-hexadecane fluids. In a suitable range of strain amplitude, the fluid possesses significant linear viscoelastic behavior. Non-linear viscoelastic behavior of strain thinning, which means the dynamic modulus monotonously decreased with increasing strain amplitudes, was found at extreme strain amplitudes.

Phytochelatin synthase is regulated by protein phosphorylation at a threonine residue near its catalytic site.

Heavy metals are toxic to most living organisms and cause health problems by contaminating agricultural products. In plants, phytochelatin synthase (PCS, EC 2.3.

Master curves and radial distribution functions for shear dilatancy of liquid n-hexadecane via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations.

Shear dilatancy, a significant nonlinear behavior of nonequilibrium thermodynamics states, has been observed in nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations for liquid n-hexadecane fluid under extreme shear conditions. The existence of shear dilatancy is relevant to the relationship between the imposed shear rate gamma and the critical shear rate gamma(c). Consequently, as gamma View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Material functions of liquid n-hexadecane under steady shear via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations: temperature, pressure, and density effects.

Computer experiments of rheology regarding the effects of temperature (T), pressure (P), and density (rho) on steady shear flow material functions, which include viscosity (eta) and first and second normal stress coefficients (psi(1) and psi(2)) depending on shear rate (gamma), have been conducted via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations for liquid n-hexadecane. Straightforwardly, using both characteristic values of a zero-shear-rate viscosity and critical shear rate, eta-gamma flow curves are well normalized to achieve the temperature-, pressure-, and density-invariant master curves, which can be formulary described by the Carreau-Yasuda rheological constitutive equation. Variations in the rate of shear thinning, obviously exhibiting in eta-gamma, psi(1)-gamma, and -psi(2)-gamma relationships, under different T, P, and rho values, are concretely revealed through the power-law model's exponent.

Shear thinning and shear dilatancy of liquid n-hexadecane via equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations: Temperature, pressure, and density effects.

Equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed in both isochoric-isothermal (NVT) and isobaric-isothermal (NPT) ensemble systems. Under steady state shearing conditions, thermodynamic states and rheological properties of liquid n-hexadecane molecules have been studied. Between equilibrium and nonequilibrium states, it is important to understand how shear rates (gamma) affect the thermodynamic state variables of temperature, pressure, and density.

Characterization of the high molecular weight Cd-binding complex in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) when exposed to Cd.

Water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) is a rapid-growing freshwater vascular plant that has been used to remove heavy metals in contaminated water. But the transportation and distribution of the absorbed heavy metal in the plant are not clear. In this study, water hyacinth was exposed to cadmium (Cd, 10 microM, pulse) and then transferred to a Cd-free solution (chase).

Preparation of monoclonal antibody bank against whole water-soluble proteins from rapid-growing bamboo shoots.

An antibody bank against the whole proteins in a proteome is a useful tool for biological research. Using the standard cell fusion method, and a modified screening protocol, we produced an mAb bank against the total water-soluble proteins extracted from the rapid-growing green bamboo shoots. An improved two-stage strategy was employed to enrich those poor immunogenic or lower expressed proteins.

Site-specific phosphorylation of L-form starch phosphorylase by the protein kinase activity from sweet potato roots.

A 78-amino acid insertion (L78) is found in the low-affinity type (L-form) of starch phosphorylase (L-SP, EC 2.4.1.

Regulation of the catalytic behaviour of L-form starch phosphorylase from sweet potato roots by proteolysis.

Starch phosphorylase (SP) is an enzyme used for the reversible phosphorolysis of the alpha-glucan in plant cells. When compared to its isoform in an animal cell, glycogen phosphorylase, a peptide containing 78 amino acids (L78) is inserted in the centre of the low-affinity type starch phosphorylase (L-SP). We found that the amino acid sequence of L78 had several interesting features including the presence of a PEST region, which serves as a signal for rapid degradation.