• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2009

A number of bifidobacterial species of human origin were screened for the presence of cryptic plasmids. One strain, Bifidobacterium longum FI10564, harbored plasmids of approximately 2.2 kb, 3.6 kb, and 4.9 kb in size. The smallest plasmid, pFI2576(2,197 bp), was studied in detail and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. Computer-assisted analysis of this novel plasmid(G+C content 62%) identified 9 putative open reading frames(orfs), 3 of which were shown to be probable genes. These putative genes are arranged in an operon-like structure, in which the overlapping orfs 1 and 2 encode putative Rep proteins and are highly homologous to the rep genes of the B. longum plasmid pMBI(1,847 bp). The mechanism of replication of pFI2576 was investigated using Southern blot analysis of whole cell lysates, with and without S1 nuclease treatment, and atomic force microscopy(AFM). The results indicate that pFI2576 is likely to use the theta mode of replication.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1500-1507
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• 2016

Myostatin (MSTN) can negatively regulate the growth and development of skeletal muscle, and natural mutations can cause "double-muscling" trait in animals. In order to block the inhibiting effect of MSTN on muscle growth, we transferred zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN) which targeted sheep MSTN gene into cultured fibroblasts. Gene targeted colonies were isolated from transfected fibroblasts by serial dilution culture and screened by sequencing. Two colonies were identified with mono-allele mutation and one colony with bi-allelic deletion. Further, we introduced the MSTN-ZFN mRNA into sheep embryos by microinjection. Thirteen of thirty-seven parthenogenetic embryos were targeted by ZFN, with the efficiency of 35%. Our work established the technical foundation for generation of MSTN gene editing sheep by somatic cloning and microinjection ZFN into embryos.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

Objectives: $^{32}P$-postlabeling assay is the most sensitive method of detecting DNA adduct formation. However, it is limited by a low sample throughput and use of radioisotopes (RI). In this study, we modified it to minimize these limitations and applied it to Z. platypus exposed to Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in order to investigate DNA adduct formation (effect biomarker for pollutants) in Z. platypus for assessing risk of waterborne BaP exposure. Methods: DNA hydrolysis was performed only with Micrococcal nuclease (MNase), RI reduction test was performed and the overlapping steps between thin layer chromatography (TLC) and radioisotope high-performance liquid chromatography (RI-HPLC) were omitted. The application of a modified method to Z. platypus exposed to BaP was performed. Results: The results revealed that the amount of RIs used can be reduced roughly 10-fold. Because the analysis time was shortened by 8.5 hours, the sample throughput per hour was increased compared with the previous method. The results of applying modified $^{32}P$-postlabeling assay to Z. platypus, DNA adduct formation in Z. platypus showed dose-dependency with the BaP concentration. Only BPDE-dGMP was detected as a DNA adduct. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the modified $^{32}P$-postlabeling assay is a suitable method for detecting DNA adduct formation in Z. platypus exposed to waterborne BaP and will be useful in risk assessment of carcinogenic effect in aquatic environment due to BaP.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2004

A combined method of autolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis of baker's yeast was developed for the production of yeast extract, which is widely used as a natural food ingredient. From statistical analysis, NaCl and ethanol addition were found to be significantly effective factors in autolysis of yeast. The optimum dosages of salt and ethanol were 3% and 1%, respectively. Heat treatment and the use of cell lytic enzyme were not significantly effecting on the autolysis. Yeast hydrolysate was prepared by autolysis, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using proteases, nuclease and deaminase. Additionally, the hydrolysate was processed by downstream process including Maillard reaction and debittering. The total dry matter yield and total nitrogen yield for the process were 76% and 59%, respectively. Compared to a process using brewer's yeast, when baker's yeast was used as a raw material, a higher recovery yield was obtained.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.437-443
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• 2018

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and to a lesser extent, the error-free pathway known as homology-directed repair (HDR) are cellular mechanisms for recovery from double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) induced by RNA-guided programmable nuclease CRISPR/Cas. Since NHEJ is equivalent to using a duck tape to stick two pieces of metals together, the outcome of this repair mechanism is prone to error. Any out-of-frame mutations or premature stop codons resulting from NHEJ repair mechanism are extremely handy for loss-of-function studies. Substitution of a mutation on the genome with the correct exogenous repair DNA requires coordination via an error-free HDR, for targeted transgenesis. However, several practical limitations exist in harnessing the potential of HDR to replace a faulty mutation for therapeutic purposes in all cell types and more so in somatic cells. In germ cells after the DSB, copying occurs from the homologous chromosome, which increases the chances of incorporation of exogenous DNA with some degree of homology into the genome compared with somatic cells where copying from the identical sister chromatid is always preferred. This review summarizes several strategies that have been implemented to increase the frequency of HDR with a focus on somatic cells. It also highlights the limitations of this technology in gene therapy and suggests specific solutions to circumvent those barriers.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2004

Investigation of the expression of the riboflavin (rib) genes, which are found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon in Photobacterium phosphoreum, provides more information relevant to the evolution of bioluminescence, as well as to the regulation of supply of flavin substrate for bacterial bioluminescence reactions. In order to answer the question of whether or not the transcriptions of lux and rib genes are integrated, a transcriptional termination assay was performed with P. phoxphoreum DNA, containing the possible stem-loop structures, located in the intergenic region of luxF and luxE ($\Omega$$\_$A/), of luxG and ribE ($\Omega$$\_$B/), and downstream of ribA ($\Omega$$\_$c/). The expression of the CAT (Chloram-phenicol Acetyl Transferase) reporter gene was remarkably decreased upon the insertion of the stem-loop structure ($\Omega$$\_$c/) into the strong lux promoter and the reporter gene. However, the insertion of the structure ($\Omega$$\_$B/) into the intergenic region of the lux and the rib genes caused no significant change in expression from the CAT gene. In addition, the single stranded DNA in the same region was protected by the P. phosphoreum mRNA from the Sl nuclease protection assay. These results suggest that lux genes and rib genes are part of the same operon in P. phosphoreum.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 1986.12a
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• pp.512.1-512
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• 1986

The cdd gene of Bacillus subtilis, encoding the deoxycytidinecytidine deaminase of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis has been cloned into the EcoRl site of pBR322. The recombinant plasmid, pSol, promoted the synthesis of 100-140 fold elevated levels of the enzyme. A comparison of the polypeptides encoded by cdd complementing and non-complementing plasmids in the mini cell showed the gene product to have a molecular mass of approximately 14 kDa. The nucleotide sequence of the gene and 460 base pairs upstream from the coding region was determined. An open-reading frame, encoding a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 14337 Da, was deduced to be the coding region for cdd. However, the enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 54 kDa as determined by gel filteration, whereas sucrose density gradient centrifugation shows 58 kDa. It means that the enzyme could be forming a tetramer in a physiological state. About 28 amino acids of the N-tetramer in a physiological state. About 28 amino acids of the N-terminal presumably form a signal for membrane translocation and six cystein residues are contained in the structure. S1 nuclease mapping indicated that transcription of cdd is initiated 17 base pairs upstream from the translational start. The structural characterization of the odd gene was performed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1768-1771
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• 2015

Human Fen1 protein (hFen1) plays an important role in Okazaki fragment processing by cleaving the flap structure at the junction between single-stranded (ss) DNA and doublestranded (ds) DNA, an intermediate formed during Okazaki fragment processing, resulting in ligatable nicked dsDNA. It was reported that hChlR1, a member of the cohesion establishment factor family, stimulates hFen1 nuclease activity regardless of its ATPase activity. In this study, we found that cohesion establishment factors cooperatively stimulate endonuclease activity of hFen1 in in vivo mimic condition, including replication protein-A-coated DNA and high salt. Our findings are helpful to explain how a DNA replication machinery larger than the cohesion complex goes through the cohesin ring structure on DNA during S phase in the cell cycle.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.96-105
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• 2002

A bacteriocin-producing strain identified as Pediococcus acidilactici was isolated from kimchi. The bacteriocin was identified to belong to the pediocin family and exhibited bactericidal activity against most Gram-positive bacteria as well as some Gram-negative bacteria. The bacteriocin was stable up to $80^{\circ}C with wide pH ranges (5.0-10.0). The bactericidal activity remained unchanged after treatment with nonproteolytic enzymes such as nuclease and ${\alpha}$-amylase, however, it was destroyed after treatment with protease. The bacteriocin was effectively extracted by the pH-mediated adsorption-desorption method and purified effectively by semi-preparative RP-HPLC. The molecular weight of the bacteriocin was 4,622, as determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. The amino acid sequence consisted of 44 amino acid residues with four cysteines. The high solubility and pH stability of the isolated pediocin provide definite advantages over nisin and other bacteriocins in regards to its potential applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 1993

The nucleotide sequence of the xylanase gene (xynS) from alkali-tolerant Bacillus sp. YA.14 was determined and analyzed. A 639 base pairs open reading frame for xynS gene was observed and encoded for a protein of 213 amino acids with a molecular weight of 23, 339. S1 nuclease mapping showed that the transcription initiation site of the xynS gene did not exist in the cloned DNA. Ribosome binding site sequence with the free energy of -18.8 Kcal/mol was observed 8 base pairs upstream from the initiation codon, ATG. The proposed signal sequence consisted of 28 amino acids, of which 3 were basic amino acid residues and 21 were hydrophobic amino acid residues. When the amino acid sequences of xylanases were compared, Bacillus sp. YA-14 xylanase showed 48% homology with Bacillus sp. YC-335 xylanase and 96% homology with xylanases from B. subtilis and B. circulans.