• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2007

Aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS) exists in two different forms with respect to tRNA recognition. The discriminating enzyme (D-AspRS) recognizes only tRNA$^{Asp}$, while the non-discriminating one (ND-AspRS) also recognizes tRNA$^{Asn}$ and therefore forms both Asp-tRNA$^{Asn}$ and Asp-tRNA$^{Asp}$. Plus primary sequence distinguishes two general groups of AspRS. There is a predominantly bacterial-type, larger AspRS (about 580 aa) in addition to a shorter archaeal/eukaryotic type (about 430 aa). In vivo data made clear that discriminating and non-discriminating enzymes exist in both groups. The determinants in the protein sequence responsible for tRNA discrimination are not hewn. The AspRS from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans might be suggested ND-AspRS fur missing of AsnRS in genomic sequencing data. Therefore, we analyzed the AspRS from A. ferrooxidans with in vitro aminoacylation assay with E. coli unfractionated tRNA, in vivo missense suppression assay with tipA34 mutant and Northern hybridization with probes which were specific with tRNA$^{Asp}$ or tRNA$^{Asn}$. The AspRS from A. ferrooxidans produced more Asp-tRNA than that from E. coli. Only aspS gene from A. ferrooxidans suppressed trpA34 strain in minimal media without tryptophan. Only AspRS from A. ferrooxidans showed mischarged Asp-tRNA$^{Asn}$ band. Therefore, AspRS from A. ferrooxidans is definitely ND-AspRS.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1977

Asparagine biosynthesis by soybean sprouts grown under the dark conditions has been demonstrated. The amount of free asparagine synthesized in ten day-old soybean sprouts increases to 22.7% on the dry weight base. The effects of nitrogen compounds such as $NH_4Cl,\;(NH_4)_2SO_4$ and urea on asparagine synthesis during the sprouting were examined and the results showed that urea was more effective than other two compounds. Glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase was partially purified (8.6 folds) through ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. The enzyme was very labile and required protection by thiol groups or high level of glycerol. The mixture of ATP and $Mg^{++}$ ion also stabilized the enzyme activity. The enzyme utilized glutamine more effectively than ${NH_4}^+$ as an amide donor for the formation of asparagine. The enzyme required L-aspartate (Km=3.1 mM), L-glutamine, ATP and $Mg^{++}$. It showed pH optimum of 7.5 and catalyzed the formation of ${\beta}-aspartyl$ hydroxamate in the presence of L-aspartate, ATP, $Mg^{++}$ and $NH_2OH$ in the reaction mixture.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 2004

A cDNA clone (GenBank accession no. CF924621) homologous to aluminum induced protein gene was isolated and characterized from Codonopsis lanceolata (ClAIP). The ClAIP is 906 nucleotides long and has an open reading frame of 711 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 236 residues. The ClAIP shows high homology to A. marina (84%), G. hirsutum(83%), V. radiata (83%), A. thaliana (80%), B. nap us (78%) and T. aestivum (68%). The deduced amino acid sequence of ClAIP also has homology to the N-terminal end of plant Asn synthetase. This region does not contain the active sites of the enzyme and the significance of this conservation is currently not clear. To investigate the expression of ClAIP against several heavy metal stresses, we treated the sliced tap root of C. lanceolata with various heavy metals. The expression of ClAIP was increased by 25 uM $Al_2$(SO$_3$)$_4$ in proportion to incubation time and also increased by 50 uM CdCl$_2$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2005

The objective of the present work was to determine the corresponding uptake and assimilation of ${NO_3}^-$ in roots and shoots of leafy radish by applying of mixed amino acids (MAA). The amino acids used in this experiment were alanine (Ala), ${\beta}-alanine\;({\beta}-Ala)$, aspartic acid (Asp), asparagines (Asn), glutamic acid (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and glycine (Gly). Leafy radish was grown by conventional fertilization with macro- and micronutrients under controlled conditions. The 15-day-old seedlings were treated 0, 0.3 and 3.0 mM of MAA containing 5 mM ${NO_3}^-$ in growth medium. Nitrate uptake was determined by following ${NO_3}^-$ depletion from the uptake solution. The activity of the enzymes related to the process of ${NO_3}^-$ reduction (NR: nitrate reductase; NiR: nitrite reductase; GS: glutamine synthetase) and the content of ${NO_2}^-\;and\;{ND_3}^-$ were analyzed in shoots and roots. The results of this study showed that ${NO_3}^-$ uptake was inhibited 38% with treatment of 0.3 mM of MAA. However, there was more than three times increase of N03- uptake in 3.0 mM MAA. In addition, the enzymatic activities were positively affected by the high MAA rate. Finally, the ${NO_3}^-$ content was increased slightly both in shoots and roots of leafy radish by MAA treatments.