• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.321-325
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• 1996

Mutants having altered levels and/or types of EPS in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis were isolated after NTG mutagenesis of Zoogloea ramigera 115SLR. Mutant candidates were classfied with five groups based on the observed characteristics for EPS biosynthesis pattern. The recombinant plasmids pLEX3BS and pLEX3BM were constructed from pEX3B which was previously isolated from genomic DNA of Z. ramigera 115SLR. Plasmid pLEX3BM with a 7.8 kb insert DNA contains an additional 1.8kb DNA fragment which is not present in pLEX3BS containing 13 kb insert DNA. Plasmid pLEX3BM was able to complement the mutation responsible for the changes in morphology of Z. ramigera 115SLR. However, the complementation of EPS negative mutant strains was not successful with pLEX3BM. Plasmid pLEX3BS on the other hand complemented the mutation responsible for the loss of EPS biosynthesis, resulting in the restoration of Z. ramigera 115SLR phenotype. But this plasmid was not able to complement the morphological mutant strain, Z. ramigera 115SLR.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 1987

A total of 129 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus species was characterized by the tests of coagulase production, haemagglutination, mannitol fermentation, DNase production and hemolysis. Ninety-nine out of them showed positive reactions to the tests, therefore they were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. The isolates showing positive reaction in haemagglutination test also showed 100% of tube coagulase positive reaction. The haemagglutination test was a reliable method for identifying Staphylococcus aureus in the clinical laboratory. S. aureus produced stronger hemolysis with human blood agar than with sheep blood agar. Antibiotic resistant S. aureus isolates(S-46, S-112, S-126) had 4 to 6 p]asmid DNA elements. The S-112 strain had 6 plasmid DNA elements(1.8, 2.2, 3.7, $26.3{\sim}50$, and 70 Mdaltons), the S-126 had 4 elements(2.6, 4.2, $4.6{\sim}60Md$), and the S-46 had 1 element(${\sim}100Md$). PPSA strain had 4 plasmid DNA elements(2.5, 4.2, $4.6{\sim}60Md$) and S. aureurs(ATCC) strain contained 9.4, 26.3 and ${\sim}50Md$ plasmid DNA elements.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1018-1020
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• 2003

The complete 1,486 nucleotide sequence of a cryptic plasmid separated from Lactobacillus bifermentans strain A02 isolated from Kimchi has been determined. The plasmid, designated as pA021, encodes a 33,488 Da putative Rep protein. Based on the sequence similarity, the protein shows homology with coding protein of pRS1, a previously reported plasmid of Oenococcus oeni and the replication initiation protein (Rep) of the Staphylococcal pT181 plasmid family.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 1996

To examine the growth-phase dependent control of Escherichia coli rnpB gene we used a combination of Northern analysis for RNA determination and Southern analysis for plasmid DNA determination. The relative amounts of metabolically unstable transcript derived from the internally deleted rnpB gene harbored on a multicopy plasmid as well as the relative plasmid contents were measured by Northern analysis and Southern analysis, respectively, of total nucleic acids from E coli cells containing the plasmid. The relative transcription activity of the rnB was represented by a ratio of the relative amount of the transcript to that of the plasmid DNA during bacterial growth. The rnpB transcription increased rapidly with time during exponential growth, but started to decrease before the transition period of an exponential growing cell culture into the stationary phase. Although the expression pattern was similar to the changes of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity expressed from the lysogenic strain carrying the chromosomal rnpB-lacZ fusion which were shown in a previous work, the present data appears to represent a more actual growth-phase control of the rnpB transcription than the previous data by the ${\beta}-galactosidase$ assay. In addition the present method described for a direct analysis of both RNA and plasmid DNA provides a rapid and efficient method that can applied to an examination of transcription control by using a multicopy plasmid.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.637-641
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• 1992

The promoter regions from chromosomal DNA of Bacillus sp. SSA3 which is responsible for fermentation of Korean traditional soy sauce, were cloned for construction of expression vector of Bacills sp. SSA3. Recombinant plasmids were constructed by insertion of HindIIl-cleaved Bacillus sp. SSA3 chromosomal DNA fragments in front of the CAT gene of pGR71 plasmid and B-galactosidase gene of pUC18 plasmid. 6 recombinant plasmids were isolated from chloramphenicol resistant E. coli JM109 clones. All these plasmids were found to have promoter activity in Bacills sp. SSA3 and E. coli JM109. When these 6 clones of Bacills sp. SSA3 were cultivated in LB agar medium supplemented with 10% NaCI. fused CAT gene expression of 4 clones was significantly decreased in common. But the others were poorly inhibited.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.57-70
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• 1990

Characterization and electron microscopic visualization of the plasmid and the gene expression of Escherichia coli were carried out. Transcriptional units of active structural genes were observed after lysis of Escherichia coli cells. The ribosomes attached to the E. coli genome on mRNA molecule as polyribosomes. From this gradient of polyribosome length, we estimated location of mRNA synthesis initiation site. In this experiment, a granule is ofen present which may correspond to a RNA polymerase at the promoter site. pOX1, pOX7, pOX7A, $pOX7{\Delta}1$, pSTP36, pSTP21, pBR322, and pJH12 were visualized by way of electron microscope, and their estimated sizes were determined to be $5.70{\pm}0.08{\mu}m,\;2.15{\pm}0.10{\mu}m,\;2.14{\pm}0.12{\mu}m,\;7.39{\pm}0.08{\mu}m,\;4.03{\pm}0.04{\mu}m,\;1.50{\pm}0.03{\mu}m\;and\;1.25{\pm}0.09{\mu}m$ respectively. One micrometer of measured length corresponded to about 3.0 Kb. Mica-press adsorption method that allows selectivs visualization of the plasmid DNA released in situ from the bacterial cell is rapid and useful for visualization of plasmids. The released plasmid DNA was adsorbed preferently on mica in a divalent cation-free solution. Miller chromatin-spreading method was useful to observe the plasmid and transcripts. BAC method and cytochrome C monolayer were useful to observe the plasmid DNA. Our ability to visualize ultrastructural aspects of the expression of E. coli has given us a unique tool with which to study the regulation the level of an individual gene.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.357-362
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• 2010

To enhance therapeutic effects of insulin-sensitizing adipokine, ADN gene and potent agonists, rosiglitazone for the $PPAR{\gamma}$, cationic liposomes as non-viral vectors were formulated. The particle size and zeta potential of drug loaded and unloaded cationic liposomes were investigated. The complex formation between cationic liposomes and negatively charged plasmid DNA was confirmed and the protection from DNase was observed. In vitro transfection was investigated in HepG2, HeLa, and HEK293 cells by mRNA expression of ADN. Encapsulation efficacy of rosiglitazone-loaded liposomes was determined by UV detection. Particle sizes of cationic liposomes were in the range of 110-170 nm and those of rosiglitazone-loaded cationic liposomes were in the range of 130-180 nm, respectively. Gel retardation of complexes indicated that the complex was formed at weight ratios of cationic lipid to plasmid DNA higher than 20:1. Both complexes protected plasmid DNA from DNase either drug free or drug loading. Encapsulation efficiency of rosiglitazone-loaded emulsion was increased by drug dose. The mRNA expression levels of ADN were dose-dependently increased in cells transfected with plasmid DNA. Therefore, cationic liposomes could be potential co-delivery system for drug and gene.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.230-233
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• 2008

A simple and rapid method is described for extending the 5'- or 3'-end genomic sequence of a known partial sequence by only a single round of PCR. This method involves digesting and ligating genomic and plasmid DNAs, and amplifying the 5'-upstream or 3'-end downstream sequence of the known DNA sequence, using two primers, one gene specific and the other plasmid specific. A single round of PCR amplification is sufficient to produce gene-specific bands detectable in gels. By using this approach, 5'-end genomic sequence of the D-amoeba sams gene was extended.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2006

Plasmid DNA (pDNA) is a product of interest for many biopharmaceutical companies and research laboratories, because of increase in the number of gene therapy protocols that use nonviral vectors. This work was undertaken to study the effect of antibiotic and dissolved oxygen concentration (DOC) on the production of a ColE 1-type plasmid (pVAX1-LacZ) hosted in Escherichia coli $DH5\alpha$ and cultured in a batch fermentor with 0.751 of Terrific Broth. A decrease in the DOC from $60\%\;to\;5\%$ was shown to increase the specific pDNA concentration approximately 1.5-fold, due to the downregulation of growth. Additionally, this increase in the pDNA concentration led to a 2.2-fold increase in the purity of cell lysates obtained after cell lysis. However, the use of higher DOC led to 2.8-fold higher volumetric productivity as a consequence of a faster growth rate, reducing the fermentation time from 24 to 8 h. Interestingly, the specific pDNA concentration, and pDNA productivity and purity were always higher $(10-15\%)$ in the absence of antibiotic. Overall, the data indicate that nonselective conditions can be used without compromising yield, productivity, and purity of pDNA.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

A DNA vaccine methodology using eukaryote expression vectors to produce immunizing proteins in the vaccinated hosts is a novel approach to the development of vaccine and immuno-therapeutics, and it has achieved considerable success over several infectious diseases and various cancers. To further enhance its efficiency, attempts were made to develop novel plasmid vectors containing multiple immunostimulatory CpG motifs, for rapid and strong immune response. First, a 2.9 kb compact plasmid vector (pVAC), containing CMV promoter, polycloning site, BGH poly(A) terminator, ampicillin resistance gene and pBR322 origin was constructed. A pVAC-hEPO was also constructed, which contained a human erythropoietin gene, for evaluating the transfection efficiency of naked plasmid DNA both in vitro and in vivo. To examine the adjuvant effect of multi-CpG motifs on naked plasmid DNA, 22 and 44 enriched and unmethylated CpG motifs were introduced into pVAC to generate pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2, respectively. $100{\mu}g$ of pSecTagB, pVAC, pVAC-ISS1 or pVAC-ISS2 were each injected intramuscularly into the tibilias anterior muscle of Balb/c mice. The level of interleukin-6 induced in the mice injected with pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2 were significantly elevated after 12 hours, which were almost 2 and 2.5 times higher than that in the mice injected with pSecTagB, respectively. These results suggest that DNA vaccine plasmids with enriched CpG motifs can induce rapid secretion of interleukin-6 by lymphocytes. In conclusion, these vectors can contribute to the development of adjuvant-free DNA vaccinations against infectious diseases and various cancers.