• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제25권7호
• /
• pp.1055-1060
• /
• 2004

A new inhibitor for peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) has been isolated from Ganoderma lucidum and purified to homogeneous state by organic solvent extraction. The purified PPIase inhibitor (GPI) is assumed to be a membrane-associated glycoprotein. GPI inhibits specifically the bovine brain PPIase, a cyclophilin, and has no effect on the FKBP activity. The results of our chemical modification study of GPI indicate the presence of Lys residue(s) at or near its binding site. Like CsA-cyclophilin complex, GPI-bovine brain PPIase complex strongly inhibits the calcineurin activity in vitro, suggesting the possible involvement of GPI in immunomodulating pathway by the formation of PPIase-inhibitor-calcineurin complex.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.142-150
• /
• 2005

Members of the multifunctional Cyp family have been isolated from a wide range of organisms. However, few functional studies have been performed on the role of these proteins as chaperones in red alga. For studying the function of cDNA GjCyp-1 isolated from the red alga (Griffithsia japonica), we expressed and purified a recombinant GjCyp-1 containing a hexahistidine tag at the amino-terminus in Escherichia coli. An expressed fusion protein, $H_6GjCyp-1$ maintained the stability of E. coli proteins up to $50^{\circ}C$. For a functional bioassay for recombinant $H_6GjCyp-1$, the viability of E. coli cells overexpressing $H_6GjCyp-1$ was compared with that of cells not expressing $H_6GjCyp-1$ at $50^{\circ}C$. After high temperature treatment for 1 h, E. coli overexpressing $H_6GjCyp-1$ survived about three times longer than E. coli lacking $H_6GjCyp-1$. Measurement of the light scattering of luciferase (luc) showed that GjCyp-1 prevents the aggregation of luc during mild heat stress and that the thermoprotective activity of GjCyp-1 is blocked by cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of Cyps. Furthermore, the Cyp-CsA complex inhibited the growth of E. coli under normal conditions. The results of the GjCyp-1 bioassays as well as in vitro studies strongly suggest that Cyp confers thermotolerance to E. coli.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제35권9호
• /
• pp.2781-2786
• /
• 2014

Human ${\alpha}_1$-antitrypsin (${\alpha}_1$-AT) is a natural inhibitor of neutrophil elastases and has several dozens of genetic variants. Most of the deficient genetic variants of human ${\alpha}_1$-AT are unstable and cause pulmonary emphysema. However, the most clinically significant variant, Z-type ${\alpha}_1$-AT, exhibits retarded protein folding that leads to accumulation of folding intermediates. These aggregate within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes, subsequently causing liver cirrhosis as well as emphysema. Here, we studied the role of an ER folding assistant protein Cpr5p on Z-type ${\alpha}_1$-AT folding. Cpr5p was induced > 2-fold in Z-type ${\alpha}_1$-AT-expressing yeast cells compared with the wild type. Knockout of CPR5 exacerbated cytotoxicity of Z-type ${\alpha}_1$-AT, and re-introduction of CPR5 rescued the knockout cells from aggravated cytotoxicity caused by the ${\alpha}_1$-AT variant. Furthermore, Cpr5p co-immunoprecipitated with Z-type ${\alpha}_1$-AT and facilitated its protein folding. Our results suggest that protein-folding diseases may be suppressed by folding assistant proteins at the site of causal protein biosynthesis.