• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권8호
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• pp.1285-1292
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a novel endolysin (PanLys.1) for the specific killing of the ruminal hyper-ammonia-producing bacterium Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (P. anaerobius). Methods: Whole genome sequences of P. anaerobius strains and related bacteriophages were collected from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, and the candidate gene for PanLys.1 was isolated based on amino acid sequences and conserved domain database (CDD) analysis. The gene was overexpressed using a pET system in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The lytic activity of PanLys.1 was evaluated under various conditions (dosage, pH, temperature, NaCl, and metal ions) to determine the optimal lytic activity conditions. Finally, the killing activity of PanLys.1 against P. anaerobius was confirmed using an in vitro rumen fermentation system. Results: CDD analysis showed that PanLys.1 has a modular design with a catalytic domain, amidase-2, at the N-terminal, and a cell wall binding domain, from the CW-7 superfamily, at the C-terminal. The lytic activity of PanLys.1 against P. anaerobius was the highest at pH 8.0 (p<0.05) and was maintained at 37℃ to 45℃, and 0 to 250 mM NaCl. The activity of PanLys.1 significantly decreased (p<0.05) after Mn²⁺ or Zn²⁺ treatment. The relative abundance of P. anaerobius did not decrease after administration PanLys.1 under in vitro rumen conditions. Conclusion: The application of PanLys.1 to modulate P. anaerobius in the rumen might not be feasible because its lytic activity was not observed in in vitro rumen system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.245-251
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• 2019

Ependymal cells constitute the multi-ciliated epithelium, which lines the brain ventricular lumen. Although ependymal cells originate from radial glial cells in the perinatal rodent brain, the exact mechanisms underlying the full differentiation of ependymal cells are poorly understood. In this report, we present evidence that the Anks1a phosphotyrosine binding domain (PTB) adaptor is required for the proper development of ependymal cells in the rodent postnatal brain. Anks1a gene trap targeted LacZ reporter analysis revealed that Anks1a is expressed prominently in the ventricular region of the early postnatal brain and that its expression is restricted to mature ependymal cells during postnatal brain development. In addition, Anks1a-deficient ependymal cells were shown to possess type B cell characteristics, suggesting that ependymal cells require Anks1a in order to be fully differentiated. Finally, Anks1a overexpression in the lateral wall of the neonatal brain resulted in an increase in the number of ependymal cells during postnatal brain development. Altogether, our results suggest that ependymal cells require Anks1a PTB adaptor for their proper development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2019

Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes that hydrolyze the peptidoglycan of host bacteria. Endolysins are considered to be promising tools for the control of pathogenic bacteria. LysB4 is an endolysin produced by Bacillus cereus-infecting bacteriophage B4, and consists of an N-terminal enzymatic active domain (EAD) and a C-terminal cell wall binding domain (CBD). LysB4 was discovered for the first time as an L-alanoyl-D-glutamate endopeptidase with the ability to breakdown the peptidoglycan among B. cereus-infecting phages. To understand the activity of LysB4 at the molecular level, this study determined the X-ray crystal structure of the LysB4 EAD, using the full-length LysB4 endolysin. The LysB4 EAD has an active site that is typical of LAS-type enzymes, where $Zn^{2+}$ is tetrahedrally coordinated by three amino acid residues and one water molecule. Mutational studies identified essential residues that are involved in lytic activity. Based on the structural and biochemical information about LysB4, we suggest a ligand-docking model and a putative endopeptidase mechanism for the LysB4 EAD. These suggestions add insight into the molecular mechanism of the endolysin LysB4 in B. cereus-infecting phages.