• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.217-224
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• 1998

The heavy metal concentrations of seawater collected from the Onsan coastal zone in February and July 1996 and mussels(Mytilus edulis) in February 1997 were analysed. The concentrations of cadmium in seawater were in the range of 0.008-2.988 ${\mu}g/L$, while the ranges of copper and zinc concentrations were 0.08-2.55, and 0.21-35.12 ${\mu}g/L$, respectively. The metal concentrations decreased gradually with increasing distances from Daejeong stream, indicating that this stream was the major source of heavy metal input into the Onsan coastal zone. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in mussels were in the ranges of 1.40-25.09, 8.5-64.5, and 46.8-291.2 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. The metal concentrations decreased gradually with increasing distances from Daejeong stream. Among organs of mussels, gill showed the highest concentrations of cadmium and the digestive gland showed the highest concentrations of copper and for zine the kidney showed the highest concentrations. The digestive gland and kidney revealed high proportion of cadmium in cytosolic fraction and the percentage of copper was high in the kidney and that of zine was high in the digestive gland. Metal-binding protein of mussels collected from the mouth of Daejeong stream was separated, using gel-filtration chromatography. In the kidney and gill of mussels, most of cadmium was associated with metal-binding protein. In contrast, most of the metal in the digestive gland and remaining tissues is bound to high molecular weight protein rather than metal-binding protein.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.162-169
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• 2017

Metal binding proteins or metallo-proteins are important for the stability of the protein and also serve as co-factors in various functions like controlling metabolism, regulating signal transport, and metal homeostasis. In structural genomics, prediction of metal binding proteins help in the selection of suitable growth medium for overexpression's studies and also help in obtaining the functional protein. Computational prediction using machine learning approach has been widely used in various fields of bioinformatics based on the fact all the information contains in amino acid sequence. In this study, random forest machine learning prediction systems were deployed with simplified amino acid for prediction of individual major metal ion binding sites like copper, calcium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, and zinc.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.503-510
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• 2015

The iLOV protein belongs to a family of blue-light photoreceptor proteins containing a light-oxygen-voltage sensing domain with a noncovalently bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as its chromophore. Owing to advantages such as its small size, oxygen-independent nature, and pH stability, iLOV is an ideal candidate over other reporter fluorescent proteins such as GFP and DsRed. Here, for the first time, we describe the feasibility of applying LOV domain-based fluorescent iLOV as a metal sensor by measuring the fluorescence quenching of a protein with respect to the concentration of metal ions. In the present study, we demonstrated the inherent copper sensing property of the iLOV protein and identified the possible amino acids responsible for metal binding. The fluorescence quenching upon exposure to Cu²⁺ was highly sensitive and exhibited reversibility upon the addition of the metal chelator EDTA. The copper binding constant was found to be 4.72 ± 0.84 µM. In addition, Cu²⁺-bound iLOV showed high fluorescence quenching at near physiological pH. Further computational analysis yielded a better insight into understanding the possible amino acids responsible for Cu²⁺ binding with the iLOV protein.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.681-688
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• 2020

Bacterial cell-based biosensors, or whole-cell bioreporters (WCBs), are an alternative tool for the quantification of hazardous materials. Most WCBs share similar working mechanisms. In brief, the recognition of a target by sensing domains induces a biological event, such as changes in protein conformation or gene expression, providing a basis for quantification. WCBs targeting heavy metal(loid)s employ metalloregulators as sensing domains and control the expression of genes in the presence of target metal(loid) ions, but the diversity of targets, specificity, and sensitivity of these WCBs are limited. In this study, we genetically engineered the metal-binding loop (MBL) of ZntR, which controls the znt-operon in Escherichia coli. In the MBL of ZntR, three Cys sites interact with metal ions. Based on the crystal structure of ZntR, MBL sequences were modified by site-directed mutagenesis. As a result, the metal-sensing properties of WCBs differed depending on amino acid sequences and the new selectivity to Cr or Pb was observed. Although there is room for improvement, our results support the use of currently available WCBs as a platform to generate new WCBs to target other environmental pollutants including metal(loid)s.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.225-231
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• 1998

The studies on the potentiality of biomonitoring heavy metal pollution in coastal region of industrial complex were performed to investigate the heavy metal accumulation and induction of metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Rumex maritimus. Bioconcentration in organs and MBP in root of R. maritimus was investigated for the research of the tolerance of heavy metals. The bioconcentration of cadmium and zinc in organs showed 3.6-8.0 times in root higher than in shoot, so it was found that heavy metal accumulated selectively in root. MBP increased absorbance in 254 nm and decreased in 280 nm, because it was composed of high cystein content and low aromatic acids, so absorbance had large difference between 254 nm and 280 nm. The existence of MBP in the 10-20 fraction was ascertained with anion exchange chromatography and it was identified that concentration of heavy metal increased according as an exposure concentration of medium increased in QAE Sephadex A-25 elution profile. These results suggested that MBP could play a role in biomarker determining the bioconcentration of plant. This study demonstrated a possibility that removal ability of heavy metal of R. maritimus resulted from detoxification process and MBP could be utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2002년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.76-78
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• 2002

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are induced in most living cells by mild heat treatment, ethanol, heavy metal ions and hypoxia. In yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mild heat pretreatment strongly induces Hsp104 and thus provide acquired thermotolerance. The ability of hsp104 deleted mutant $({\triangle}hsp104)$ to acquire tolerance to extreme temperature is severely impaired. In providing thermotolerance, two ATP binding domains are indispensible, as demonstrated in ClpA and ClpB proteases of E. coli. The mechanisms by which Hsp104 protects cells from severe heat stress are not yet completely elucidated. We have investigated regulation of mitochondrial metabolic pathways controlled by the functional Hsp104 protein using $^{13}C_NMR$ spectroscopy and observed that the turnover rate of TCA cycle was enhanced in the absence of Hsp104. Production of ROS, which are toxic to kill cells radiply via oxidative stress, was also examined by fluorescence assay. Mitochondrial dysfunction was manifested in increased ROS levels and higher sensitivity for oxidative stress in the absence of Hsp104 protein expressed. Finally, we have identified mitochondrial complex I and Ferritin as binding protein(s) of Hsp104 by yeast two hybrid experiment. Based on these observations, we suggest that Hsp104 protein functions as a protector of oxidative stress via either keeping mitochondrial integrity, direct binding to mitochonrial components or regulating metal-catalyzed redox chemistry.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

To examine the possibility of biomonitoring of heavy metal removal ability and soil, a study was performed to investigate the heavy metal removal ability and metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Oenanthe stolonifera. After O. stolonifera was exposed to individuals (cadmium, zinc) and mixture (cadmium+zinc)for 4 days, removal rate of heavy metal and pH in the treatment medium was measured. MBP was assayed by means of ion exchange column chromatography. The exposure to mixture (Cd:76.8%, Zn:75%) rather than individuals (Cd:82.9%, Zn:90.4%) showed a synergism raising the toxic effect. Initial removal rate was different for each heavy metal : in case of exposure to cadmium it was over 60% on day 1, while for zinc it was 75~90% on day 4. Throughout the experimental period, pH value of treatment medium continuously decreased, since cortex in the roots may secret organic acid to adjust and prevent toxicity of metals. The existence or MBP in the 70~80 fraction and the presence of Zn-enzyme pool was ascertained with the column chromatography. This study demonstrated a possibility that heavy utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.128-136
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• 1994

Mackerel muscle protein hydrolysates, which were prepared from defatted mackerel meal by proteases such as complex enzyme, alcalase, bromelain, pancrease, pepsin, w-chymotrypsin, trypsin and papain, were tested for the antioxidative action against linoleic acid. Among proteases tested, the hydrolysates obtained from the treatment of complex enzyme, bromelain and alcalase showed higher antioxidative effects. Also, the hydrolysates showed the synergistic effects with o-tocopherol and the inhibitory effects for peroxidation of metal ions(Fe3+, Cua+) From the profiles of fractionation of the hydrolysates with Bio-gel P-2 column, the most active fractions, part I(complex enzyme-derived) and part e(bromelain-derived), had below MW 1,400 and the antioxidative effects were closely related to the binding capacity with metal ion(Cua+). Amno acid composition of the part I was abundant in histidine, arginine, phenylalanine and lysine, and the part e was abundant in lysine, glutamic acid and leucine.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.494-500
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• 1996

중요한 환경문제로 대두되고 있는 중금속 오염의 대처 방안으로 식물을 이용한 경제적인 정화 방법을 모색하고자 미나리의 중금속 흡수능력을 검정하고 카드늄 결합단백질을 동정하였다. 미나리의 중금속 흡수능력은 미나리를 카드늄 $(Cd^{2+})$, 크롬 $(Cr^{3+})$ 및 납 $(Pb^{2+})$의 농도를 달리한 배양액에서 재배한 후 미나리에 잔류하는 중금속을 정량함으로써 측정되었다. 중금속의 처리 기간은 3일과 7일로 하였고, 생장 저해가 일어나는 농도까지 처리하였다. 카드늄은 16.68 ppm, 크롬은 20 ppm까지 지속적으로 잔류량이 증가하였고 그 농도 이상에서는 생장 저해가 일어나면서 잔류량의 증가율이 둔화되었다. 식물체 부위별 카드늄과 크롬의 잔류량은 뿌리에서 월등하게 높게 나타났고 줄기와 잎의 순으로 낮아졌다. 납의 경우는 카드늄과 크롬에 비하여 잔류량이 가장 높은 뿌리에서 4배 정도 잔류량이 높게 나타났다. 20 ppm의 중금속 용액에서 7일간 재배한 미나리 뿌리에는 건조중량 1 g에 대하여, 카드늄이 6.1 mg, 크롬은 5.2 mg 그리고 납은 23.6 mg이 잔류하고 있었다. 이것은 잔류하고 있는 중금속 중에서 카드늄은 80%, 크롬은 92%그리고 납은 96%이상이 미나리 뿌리에 잔류하고 있는 것이다. 20 ppm카드늄이 함유된 배양액에서 7일간 자란 미나리 뿌리 추출액을 Sephadex G-50과 DEAE-Cellulose 크로마토그래피를 수행하여, polyacrylamide gel 전기영동 상으로 단일 단백질 분리대의 중금속 결합단백질을 정제하였다. 이 단백질의 분자량은 gel filtration 상에서 약 5,000 Da이었고 아미노산의 조성을 보면 산성 아미노산이 27.3%, cystein이 9.9%로서 중금속 결합단백질의 특성을 가지고 있었다. 그러나 그 아미노산 조성은 지금까지 알려진 phytochelatin과는 다른 새로운 중금속 결합단백질로 나타났다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.514-518
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• 2001

We have explored the importance of two ATP binding domains of Hsp104 protein in protection of yeast cells from cadmium exposure. In the previous study we have discovered that the presence of two ATP binding sites was essential in providing heat sh ock protection as well as rescuing cells from oxidative stress. In this paper we first report wild type cell with functional hsp104 gene is more resistant to cadmium stress than hsp104-deleted mutant cell, judging from decrease in survival rates as a result of cadmium exposure. In order to demonstrate functional role of two ATP binding sites in cadmium defense, we have transformed both wild type (SP1) and hyperactivated ras mutant (IR2.5) strains with several plasmids differing in the presence of ATP binding sites. When an extra copy of functional hsp104 gene with both ATP binding sites was overexpressed with GPD-promoter, cells showed increased survival rate against cadmium stress than mutants with ATP binding sites changed. The degree of protection in the presence of two ATP binding sites was similarly observed in ira2-deleted hyperactivated ras mutant, which was more sensitive to oxidative stress than wild type cell. We have concluded that the greater sensitivity to cadmium stress in the absence of two ATP binding sites is attributed to the higher concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by cadmium exposure based on the fluorescence tests. These findings, taken all together, imply that the mechanism by which cadmium put forth toxic effects may be closely associated with the oxidative stress, which is regulated independently of the Ras-cAMP pathway. Our study provides a better understanding of cadmium defense itself and cross-talks between oxidative stress and metal stress, which can be applied to control human diseases due to similar toxic environments.