• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2008

The sequence of hydroxypyruvate isomerase gene was obtained in NCBI. In this study, the hydroxypyruvate isomerase gene of Bombyx.mori was identified and annotated with bioinformatics tools. The result was confirmed by RT-PCR, prokaryotic expression, mass spectrographic analysis and sub-cellular localization. The hydroxypyruvate isomerase cDNA comtains a 783bp ORF, and has 4 exons. The deduced protein has 260 amino acid residues with the predicted molecular weight of 29169.30 Da, isoelectric point of 6.10, and contains conserved PRK09997 and Hfi domains. The hydroxypyruvate isomerases of Nasonia vitripennis and Bombyx mori have a high homology. Through RTPCR analysis, we found that this transcript was present in testis, ovary, blood-lymph, fat body, midgut, silk gland and tuba Malpighii. This protein was located in cytoplasm through immunohistochemistry. We submitted the cloned gene under the accession number EU344910. The enzyme has been classified under accession number EC 5.3.1.22.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2008

The genus Lactobacillus is the largest of the genera included in lactic acid bacteria and is associated with mucosal membranes of human and animal. Only a few Lactobacillus plasmid-encoded functions have been discovered and used. In this study, a novel plasmid (pILR091) was isolated from a wild L. reuteri isolated from pig and described the characteristics of its replicons, genetic organization, and relationship with other plasmids. After digestion of the plasmid, pILR091, with SalI, plasmid DNA was cloned into the pQE-30Xa vector and sequenced. The complete sequence was confirmed by the sequencing of PCR products and analyzed with the Genbank database. The isolate copy number and stability were determined by quantitative-PCR. The complete sequence of L. reuteri contained 7,185 nucleotides with 39% G-C content and one cut site by two enzymes, SalI and HindIII. The similar ori sequence of the pC194- rolling circle replication family (TTTATATTGAT) was located 63 bp upstream of the protein replication sequence, ORF 1. Total of five ORFs was identified and the coding sequence represented 4,966 nucleotides (70.4%). ORF1 of pILR091 had a low similarity with the sequence of pTE44. Other ORFs also showed low homology and E-values. The average G-C content of pILR091 was 39%, similar with that of genomic DNA. The copy number of pILR091 was determined at approximately 24 to 25 molecules per genomic DNA. These results suggested that pILR091 might be a good candidate to construct a new vector, which could be used for cloning and expression of foreign genes in lactobacilli.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.748-755
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• 2014

In the genome annotation of Escherichia coli MG1655, the orf382 (1,149 bp) is designated as a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase that may be Fe-dependent. In this study, the gene was amplified from the genome by PCR and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant $6{\times}$His-tag protein was then purified and characterized. In an enzymatic assay using different hydroxyl-containing substrates (n-butanol, $\small{L}$-threonine, ethanol, isopropanol, glucose, glycerol, $\small{L}$-serine, lactic acid, citric acid, methanol, or $\small{D}$-threonine), the enzyme showed the highest activity on $\small{L}$-threonine. Characterization of the mutant constructed using gene knockout of the orf382 also implied the function of the enzyme in the metabolism of $\small{L}$-threonine into glycine. Considering the presence of tested substrates in living E. coli cel ls and previous literature, we believed that the suitable nomenclature for the enzyme should be an $\small{L}$-threonine dehydrogenase (LTDH). When using $\small{L}$-threonine as the substrate, the enzyme exhibited the best catalytic performance at $39^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.8 with $NAD^+$ as the cofactor. The determination of the Km values towards $\small{L}$-threonine (Km = $11.29{\mu}M$), ethanol ($222.5{\mu}M$), and n-butanol ($8.02{\mu}M$) also confirmed the enzyme as an LTDH. Furthermore, the LTDH was shown to be an ion-containing protein based on inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry with an isoelectronic point of pH 5.4. Moreover, a circular dichroism analysis revealed that the metal ion was structurally and enzymatically essential, as its deprivation remarkably changed the ${\alpha}$-helix percentage (from 12.6% to 6.3%).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 1994

An inducible ${\beta}$-lactamase gene (bla) was identified and isolated from the chromosomal DNA of multiple drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Determined base sequence of bla and of its flanking region was compared with those of bla genes identified on the staphylococcal plasmids pPC1, pI258, pI1071, and pUB101. Base sequence of 843 base-long structural gene of our bla was same as that of pPCl-, pI258-, and pS1-bla. However, HindIII recognition site Which is found in most of the bla genes at 140 base upstream from the structural gene was moved to the site of 370 base upstream from the structural gene. And one of the two direct repeat sequence found in downstream flanking region of pI1071-bla was deleted in our bla. Amino acid sequence homology analysis of the ORF located around HindIII recognition site reveals that this 80 amino acids-long polypeptide is C-terminus of transposase of Tn4001.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1507-1512
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• 2008

In spite of long research period for Salmonella typhi, little information is known about the pathogenesis mechanism of human typhoid fever caused by S. typhi due to lack of infection model in animals. A wild-type of S. typhi Ty2 strain requires cysteine to grow on minimal media. We hypothesized that this cysteine requirement may restrict colonization of S. typhi in animals during infection process. Among the S. typhi strains carrying Salmonella typhimurium genomic library, we have isolated three S. typhi transformants growing on minimal media without cysteine. Although there were three ORFs in DNA of pBP71, the STM1490 ORF complemented cysteine auxotrophy of S. typhi. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the STM1490 homolog in S. typhi revealed that there are differences in two amino acids. Plasmids containing amino acid substitutions in STM1490 supported S. typhi growth on minimal media without cysteine, indicating irrelevance of these two amino acids to STM1490 function. These results tells us that there are other factors or systems involved in cysteine requirement of S. typhi.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1460-1468
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• 2007

In this study, an approx. 2.5-kb gene fragment including the catalase gene from Rhodospirillum rubrum S1 was cloned and characterized. The determination of the complete nucleotide sequence revealed that the cloned DNA fragment was organized into three open reading frames, designated as ORF1, catalase, and ORF3 in that order. The catalase gene consisted of 1,455 nucleotides and 484 amino acids, including the initiation and stop codons, and was located 326 bp upstream in the opposite direction of ORF1. The catalase was overproduced in Escherichia coli UM255, a catalase-deficient mutant, and then purified for the biochemical characterization of the enzyme. The purified catalase had an estimated molecular mass of 189 kDa, consisting of four identical subunits of 61 kDa. The enzyme exhibited activity over a broad pH range from pH 5.0 to pH 11.0 and temperature range from $20^{\circ}C$ to $60^{\circ}C$C. The catalase activity was inhibited by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, cyanide, azide, and hydroxylamine. The enzyme's $K_m$ value and $V_{max}$ of the catalase for $H_2O_2$ were 21.8 mM and 39,960 U/mg, respectively. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed that the ratio of $A_{406}$ to $A_{280}$ for the catalase was 0.97, indicating the presence of a ferric component. The absorption spectrum of catalase-4 exhibited a Soret band at 406 nm, which is typical of a heme-containing catalase. Treatment of the enzyme with dithionite did not alter the spectral shape and revealed no peroxidase activity. The combined results of the gene sequence and biochemical characterization proved that the catalase cloned from strain S1 in this study was a typical monofunctional catalase, which differed from the other types of catalases found in strain S1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.449-456
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• 2008

Phenotypic screening for bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity was performed on Lactobacillus acidophilus PF01 isolated from piglet feces. A gene encoding BSH was identified and cloned from the genomic library of L. acidophilus PF01. The bsh gene and surrounding regions were characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis and were found to contain a single open reading frame (ORF) of 951 nucleotides encoding a 316 amino acid protein. The potential bsh promoter region was located upstream of the start codon. The protein deduced from the complete ORF had high similarity with other BSHs, and four amino acid motifs located around the active site, FGRNXD, AGLNF, VLTNXP, and GXGXGXXGXPGD, were highly conserved. The bsh gene was cloned into the pET21b expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli BLR(DE3) by induction with 0.1mM of isopropylthiogalactopyranoside. The BSH enzyme was purified with apparent homogeneity using a $Ni^{2+}$-NTA agarose column and characterized. The overexpressed recombinant BSH enzyme of L. acidophilus PF01 exhibited hydrolase activity against tauroconjugated bile salts, but not glycoconjugated bile salts. It showed the highest activity against taurocholic acid. The maximum BSH activity occurred at approximately $40^{\circ}C$. The enzyme maintained approximately 70% of its maximum activity even at $60^{\circ}C$, whereas its activity rapidly decreased at below $37^{\circ}C$. The optimum pH was 6, and BSH activity was rapidly inactivated below pH 5 and above pH 7.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.125.3-126
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• 2003

A near full-length sequence of a new tobamovirus infecting Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. was determined. The genome consists of 58 nucleotides (nt) 5' UTR, followed by a 4.9 kb ORF which methyl transferase helicase domain (128 kDa), readthrough protein RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) 185 kDa and a 52 kDa protein. The 128 kDa protein had a maximum homology of 51.4 ％ to TMGMV and amino acids (an) were 54.3 ％ identical to TMV- vulgare strain. The 185 kDa RdRp had a maximum homology of 53.5％ to TMV-Ob and KGMMV-Y and a 59.6％ homology at the an level to CGMMV-SH. The MP gene encodes 282 aa and its theoretical molecular weight is 30.4 kDa. The nt and an sequence identities of MP ranged from 38.8％ to 43.9％ and 30.9％ to 37.9％, respectively. The CP gene encodes 163 residues and with a theoretical molecular weight of 18.2 kDa The (nt) and aa sequences of the CP were 46.9 ％ to 51.6％ and 45.3％ to 57.1％ identical to other tobamoviruses, respectively. The predicted virion origin of assembly (OAS) was located in the CP gene. Phylogenetic trees generated based on the nt and as sequences of RdRp, MP and CP genes indicated that this new virus clustered with subgroup II tobamoviruses. Although the CP ORF of this virus shared a high nt and aa sequence identity with Sunn-hemp mosaic virus (SHMV), Western analysis showed that it is serologically unrelated to SHMV. We propose the name Hibiscus virus S (HVS) for this Singapore isolate. This is the first report on a near full-length sequence of a Tobamovirus that infects hibiscus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.117.3-118
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• 2003

We tested for the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus in 827 Fusarium graminearum isolated from diseased barley and maize. dsRNA mycoviruses with various sizes were isolated. Of them, it was previously reported that dsRNA from DK2l isolate had pronounced morphological changes, including reduction in mycelial growth, increased to red pigmentation, reduced virulence and sporulation. (Chu et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2002). For better understanding of this hypovirulence associated with DK2l dsRNA virus, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of dsRNA genome and named Fusarium hypovirus DK2l strain (Fhv-DK2l ). Genomic RNA of Fhv-DK2l was determined to be 6625 nucleotides in length excluding the poly (A) tail and contained three putative open reading frame. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicase domain were expected in ORF A, 54 to 4709 nucleotide position. ORE B, 4752 to 5216 nucleotide position, and ORF C, 5475 to 6578 nucleotide position, were predicted to encode 16.7kDa and 41.3kDa protein respectively each. We could not detect any conserved domains from these two proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed Fhv-DK2l was related to Cryphonectria hypovirus 3. Ten additional isolates were found that were infected with dsRNA mycoviruses. These mycoviruses contain 2 to 4 different segments of dsRNAs with the size range of approximately 1.7 to 10-kbp in length. The presence of dsRNAs isolates did not affect colony morphology and were transmissible through conidia and ascospore with incidence of 30-100％. These results indicate that there is genomic diversity of dsRNA mycoviruses that infect F. graminearum isolates and that impact of virus infection on host's morphology and virulence is determined by the interaction between dsRNAs and the fungal host, not by the mere presence of the dsRNAs

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2008

To investigate the genotypic diversity of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) in Korea, we examined 92 clinical samples from three provinces by RT-PCR and a nested PCR, and the complete open-reading frame 7 (ORF 7) sequences of 15 samples selected from 72 PCR-positive specimens were analyzed. When we compared nucleotide (amino acid) sequences of 80 isolates from Korea and overseas countries, the sequences of 7 samples belonged to North American (NA)-genotype, and those of 8 samples, to European (EU)-genotype. The nucleotide (amino acid) identities between two genotypes were 63.7% (59.8%) to 65.1% (63.1%). When compared with NA prototype VR-2332, the 7 strains of NA-genotype shared 89.8% (93.6%) to 91.2% (96.0%) identity of nucleotide (amino acid) sequence. The 8 strains of EU-type shared 93.6% (92.3%) to 94.3% (93.8%) identity of nucleotide (amino acid) sequence as compared to EU prototype Lelystad. In phylogenetic tree analysis by neighbor-joining method, all of the 8 EU-type strains were clustered into group 4 distinct from ED-prototype Lelystad (group 1). In NA-genotype, 24 domestic isolates reported previously and the 7 strains of NA-type determined in this study were clustered into group 1, while US prototype VR 2332 was classified into different group (group 2). These results suggest that emergence of EU-genotype and the dual-infection of NA- and EU-genotypes may be prevalent in the pig farms in Korea. The high degree of genetic diversity of field PRRSVs should be taken into consideration for control and preventive measures.