• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Previously we demonstrated that virus-inducible stress protein (VISP) is induced in fish cells by the infection of a fish rhabdovirus. In this paper, we investigated the subcellular localization of the VISP and determined the region of VISP responsible for the subcellular localization. The CHSE-214 cells were stained with monoclonal antibody raised against VISP and observed with confocal microscope to detect the endogenous VISP. The results showed that the VISP localizes to the perinuclear region as spots. A plasmid expressing VISP fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was constructed. The transient expression of full-length VISP fused to EGFP in CHSE-214 cells confirmed the spot formation of the VISP at perinuclear region. To determine the region responsible for the perinuclear localization of the VISP, we constructed a series of deletion mutants and, by using these deletion mutants, we found that C-terminal region of the VISP (aa 612-710) is essential for the perinuclear distribution of VISP and that this region contained nuclear receptor binding motif (691-TLTSLLL-697). Our results suggest that VISP localizes to the perinuclear region and C-terminal regions are important for this localization. Further studies on the role of the perinuclear localization of VISP in IHNV growth mali reveal the novel mechanism of IHNV pathogenecity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 2003

Mesoblastic nephroma is a neoplasm of the kidney which is characterized by interlacing bundles of spindle mesenchymal cells. It is usually diagnosed during the first six months of life and is mostly benign. Incidence in adults is exceedingly rare. In most cases, only total excision is required without postoperative adjuvant therapy, and the rare cases of local recurrence have usually been related to incomplete removal. However, mesoblastic nephroma may behave aggressively, in contrast to a congenital mesoblastic nephroma. Several cases of metastatic mesoblastic nephroma have been previously described. We report herein a case of a 42-year-old woman with mesoblastic nephroma which recurred as a large metastatic lung mass seven years after the nephrectomy. The patient presented with chest wall discomfort for four days. Seven years previously, total nephrectomy had been performed because of a right renal tumor which had been diagnosed as a mesoblastic nephroma. There had been no evidence of recurrence for five years, after which she discontinued follow-up. On readmission two years later, chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a large lung mass in the left upper lobe. It was completely excised and the pathologic examination was identical with that of the original renal tumor. Synovial sarcoma was excluded because the fusion transcripts of the SYT-SSX fusion gene associated with the t(X;18) translocation were negative. The final diagnosis was a lung metastasis of mesoblastic nephroma and the patient remained free of disease for 7 months postoperatively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.949-954
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• 2019

Membrane topology is a key characteristic of membrane proteins. We previously reported the cloning of the chromosome 4 open-reading frame 32 (C4orf32) gene as a potential membrane protein; however, the cellular localization and membrane topology of C4orf32 was as yet unknown. In this study, we found that green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the C-terminus of C4orf32 (C4orf32-GFP) was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We applied three tools to identify determinants of C4orf32 topology: protease protection, fluorescence protease protection (FPP), and an inducible system using the ternary complex between FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP), rapamycin, and the rapamycin-binding domain of mTOR (FRB) (the FRB-rapamycin-FKBP system). Using protease protection and FPP assays, we found that the GFP tag in C4orf32-GFP was localized to the cytoplasmic surface of the ER membrane of HeLa cells. Protease protection and FPP assays are useful and complimentary tools for identifying the topology of GFP fusion membrane proteins. The FRB-rapamycin-FKBP system was also used to study the topology of C4orf32. In the absence of rapamycin, a monomeric red fluorescent protein-FKBP fusion (mRFP-FKBP) and C4orf32-GFP-FRB were localized to the cytoplasm and the ER membrane, respectively. However, in the presence of rapamycin, the mRFP-FKBP was shifted from the cytoplasm to the ER and colocalized with the C4orf32-GFP-FRB. These results indicate that the FRB moiety is facing the cytoplasmic surface of ER membrane. Overall, our results clearly suggest that C4orf32 belongs to the family of type I ER resident membrane proteins.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2021

The bacterial effector protein RavZ from a pathogen can impair autophagy in the host by delipidating the mammalian autophagy-related gene 8 (mATG8)-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) on autophagic membranes. In RavZ, the membrane-targeting (MT) domain is an essential function. However, the molecular mechanism of this domain in regulating the intracellular localization of RavZ in cells is unclear. In this study, we found that the fusion of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the MT domain of RavZ (GFP-MT) resulted in localization primarily to the cytosol and nucleus, whereas the GFP-fused duplicated-MT domain (GFP-2xMT) localized to Rab5- or Rab7-positive endosomes. Similarly, GFP fusion to the catalytic domain (CA) of RavZ (GFP-CA) resulted in localization primarily to the cytosol and nucleus, even in autophagy-induced cells. However, by adding the MT domain to GFP-CA (GFP-CA-MT), the cooperation of MT and CA led to localization on the Rab5-positive endosomal membranes in a wortmannin-sensitive manner under nutrient-rich conditions, and to autophagic membranes in autophagy-induced cells. In autophagic membranes, GFP-CA-MT delipidated overexpressed or endogenous mATG8-PE. Furthermore, GFP-CA△α3-MT, an α3 helix deletion within the CA domain, failed to localize to the endosomal or autophagic membranes and could not delipidate overexpressed mATG8-PE. Thus, the CA or MT domain alone is insufficient for stable membrane localization in cells, but the cooperation of MT and CA leads to localization to the endosomal and autophagic membranes. In autophagic membranes, the CA domain can delipidate mATG8-PE without requiring substrate recognition mediated by LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2022

The tetraploid Solanum acaule is a wild potato species from Bolivia widely used for potato breeding because of its diverse attractive traits, including resistance to frost, late blight, potato virus X, potato virus Y, potato leafroll virus, potato spindle tuber viroid, and cyst nematode. However, the introgression of useful traits into cultivated potatoes via crossing has been limited by differences in endosperm balance number between species. Somatic fusion could be used to overcome sexual reproduction barriers and the development of molecular markers is essential to select proper fusion products. The chloroplast genome of S. acaule was sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology and specific markers for S. acaule were developed by comparing the obtained sequence with those of seven other Solanum species. The total length of the chloroplast genome is 155,570 bp, and 158 genes were annotated. Structure and gene content were very similar to other Solanum species and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with 12 other species belonging to the Solanaceae family revealed that S. acaule is very closely related to other Solanum species. Sequence alignment with the chloroplast genome of seven other Solanum species revealed four InDels and 79 SNPs specific to S. acaule. Based on these InDel and SNP regions, one SCAR marker and one CAPS marker were developed to discriminate S. acaule from other Solanum species. These results will aid in exploring evolutionary aspects of Solanum species and accelerating potato breeding using S. acaule.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.249-254
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• 2022

Silkworms, which have for long been used as an insect resource for industrialization, have recently attracted attention as potential bio-factories for the production of novel biomaterials. In this regard, material production is typically achieved based on transformation technology, mediated via microinjection, in which a target gene is inserted into eggs containing an embryo. However, an essential step in the microinjection procedure is egg fixation, which can be a time-consuming and laborious task. Therefore, in this study, using the 3DCADian program, we adopted a 3D printing approach to model egg liners and glue drawers, which can contribute to facilitating egg alignment and fixation, thereby enhancing transformation efficiency by reducing time consumption and fatigue. After rendering using Fusion 360, the two supplementary tools were produced by printing with nylon resin (PA12) and Sinterit Lisa Pro. Subsequent analysis of the time required to fix eggs on glass slides using the two manufactured tools, revealed that the processing time was reduced by approximately 18.6% when the two tools were used compared with when these tools were not used. These innovations not only reduced fatigue but also contributed to more effective use of the microscope and manipulator for microinjection. Consequently, we believe that with additional research and refinement, the egg liner and glue drawer developed in this study could be used to enhance silkworm transformation efficiency and study similar transformation systems in other industrial insects.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2004

Background: To develop a novel treatment strategy for hepatitis B virus infection, a major cause of liver chirosis and cancer, we aimed to make human monoclonal antibodies inhibiting RNase H activity of P protein playing in important role in HBV replication. In this regard, phage display technology was employed and demonstrated as an efficient cloning method for human monoclonal antibody. So this study analysed the usability of human monoclonal antibody as protein based gene therapy. Methods: RNase H of HBV was expressed as fusion protein with maltose binding protein and purified with amylose resin column. Single chain Fv (scFv) phage antibody library was constructed by PCR cloning using total RNAs of PBMC from 50 healthy volunteers. Binders to RNase H were selected with BIAcore 2000 from the constructed library, and purified as soluble antibody fragment. The affinity and sequences of selected antibody fragments were analyzed with BIAcore and ABI automatic sequencer, respectively. And finally RNase H activity inhibiting assay was carried out. Results: Recombinant RNase H expressed in E. coli exhibited an proper enzyme activity. Naive library of $4.46{\times}10^9cfu$ was screened by BIAcore 2000. Two clones, RN41 and RN56, showed affinity of $4.5{\times}10^{-7}M$ and $1.9{\times}10^{-7}M$, respectively. But RNase H inhibiting activity of RN41 was higher than that of RN56. Conclusion: We cloned human monoclonal antibodies inhibiting RNase H activity of P protein of HBV. These antibodies can be expected to be a good candidate for protein-based antiviral therapy by preventing a replication of HBV if they can be expressed intracellularly in HBV-infected hepatocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.912-917
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• 2008

To investigate the biological activity of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rec-hG-CSF) in mammalian cells, hG-CSF gene was cloned using the eDNA extracted from the human squamous carcinoma cell lines and rec-hG-CSF was produced in CHO cell lines. To analyze the biological activity in vivo, the rec-hG-CSF protein was injected into mice subcutaneously on days 0 and 2. Blood was withdrawn for white blood cell (WBC) determination 5 days after the first injection. WBC values were found to have increased significantly. A pEGFP-mUII-hG-CSF vector was transfected into somatic cell lines isolated from bovine fetal cells. The colony expressing EGFP signals was observed with a confocal microscope. These data suggest that the rec-hG-CSF produced in this study has potent activity in vivo. Thus, the results of this biological activity show that rec-hG-CSF can be enhanced considerably by genetic engineering that affects potential activity, including mutations, which add the oligosaccharide chain and construct double-fusion proteins. A pEGFP-mUII-hG-CSF vector can be utilized for the production of cloned transgenic livestock.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2015

In order to study genetic engineering in trees, the characterization of genes and promoters from trees is necessary. We isolated the promoter region (867 bp) of Pagns-LTP from poplar (P. alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) and characterized its activity in transgenic poplar plants using a ${\beta}$-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. High-level expression of the Pagns-LTP transcript was found in poplar roots, while comparatively low-level expression was found in the young leaves. Pagns-LTP mRNA was not detected in other poplar tissues. Additionally, transgenic poplar plants that contained a Pagns-LTP promoter fused to a GUS reporter gene, displayed tissue-specific GUS enzyme activity localized in root tissue. In silico analysis of the Pagns-LTP promoter sequence reveals the presence of several cis-regulatory elements responsive to phytohormones, biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as those regulating tissue-specific expression. These results demonstrate that the Pagns-LTP promoter has tissue-specific expression activity in poplar roots and leaves that may be involved in organ development and plant resistance to various stresses. Therefore, we anticipate that the Pagns-LTP promoter would be a useful tool to genetically optimize woody plants for functional genomics.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1997

5-Enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate(EPSP) synthase is the sixth enzyme of the shikimate pathway that synthesizes aromatic amino acids. The enzyme is a primary target for the glyphos'lte which is a broad-spectrum and environmetally safe herbicide. As a first step toward development of glyphpsate-resistant EPSP synthase, the EPSP synthase gene(aroA) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cluned into pET-25b vector. In this construct. designated pET-aro, the aroA gene is expressed under control of strong T7 promoter. and the EPSP synthase is produced as a fusion protein with pelB leader at N-terminus and HSV-tag and His-tag at C-terminus. When the pET-aro clone was induced to produce the enzyme, it was found that the EPSP synthase was successfully exported to peri plasmic space. The periplasmic transport was greatly dependent on the induction temperatures. Among the induction temperatures examined($25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $34^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$). induction at $34^{\circ}C$ gave rise to maximal periplasmic transport. The recomhinant EPSP synthase could have been purified hy $Ni^{2+}$ -affinity chromatography using the His-tag. and detected hy anti-HSV -tag antibody. The recombinant EPSP synthase also hound to phosphocellulose resin and was eluted hy shikimate 3-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate. as expected. The recombinant EPSP synthase purified from phosphocellulose resin showed typical EPSP synthase activity.