• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.229-233
• /
• 1999

The mitochondrial plasmid pMLP1 from a white-rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, is a double-stranded DNA containing 381 bp terminal inverted repeat (TIR) whose 5'-ends are covalently bound by terminal proteins. The plasmid contains two major open reading frames (ORFs), encoding putative DNA and RNA polymerases, and a minor ORF encoding a small, highly basic protein. To identify the DNA binding activity that recognizes the TIR region of pMLP1, gel retardation assays were performed with mitochondrial extracts. A specific protein binding to a region between 123 and 248 nt within TIR was observed. We examined whether the gene product of mORF1 bindes to this region specifically. E. coli cell extract which contains an overproduced mORF1 protein formed a complex specific to the region between 123 and 248 nt. Inclusion of mORF1 protein in the specific complex formed between P. ostreatus mitochondrial extract and TIR was confirmed by a supershift assay using polyclonal antibodies against the mORF1 protein. Our result suggest that the product of mORF1 may function as a terminal region recognition factor (TRF), recognizing an internal region in TIR.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.3597-3600
• /
• 2012

Thrombin binding aptamter (TBA-15) is a 15-mer guanine-rich oligonucleotide. This DNA apamer specifically binds to the thrombin protein involved in blood coagulation. Using extensive umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulation method at all atom level, we investigated the potential of mean force (PMF) upon pulling the DNA aptamer from the binding mode of aptamer/thrombin complex. From this calculation, the free energy cost for a full dissociation of this aptamer/protein complex is 17 kcal/mol, indicating a substantial binding affinity of TBA-15. Interestingly, this PMF reveals noticeable plateau regions along the pulling coordinate. Possible structural changes of this complex in the plateau were investigated in details.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.427-439
• /
• 2000

The activity of the phagocyte respiratory burst oxidase is regulated by complex and dynamic alterations in protein-protein interactions that result in the rapid assembly of an active multicomponent NADPH oxidase enzyme on the plasma membrane. While the enzymatic activity has been studied for the past 20 years, the past decade has seen remarkable progress in our understanding of the enzyme and its activation at the molecular level. This article describes the current state of knowledge, and proposes a model for the mechanism by which protein-protein interactions regulate enzyme activity in this system.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2001

In addition to effecting the catalysis of sugar uptake, the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate::sugar phosphotransferase system regulates a variety of physiological processes. In a previous paper [Seok et al.,(1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 26511-26521], we reported the interaction with and allosteric regulation of Esiherichia coli glycogen phosphorylase activity by the histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein HPr in vitro. Here, we show that the specific interaction between HPr and glycogen phosphorylase occurs in vivo. To address the physiological role of the HPr-glycogen phosphorylase complex, intracellular glycogen levels were measured in E. coli strains transformed with various plasmids. While glycogen accumulated during the transition between exponential and stationary growth phases in wildtype cells, it did not accumulate in cells overproducing HPr or its inactive mutant regardless of the growth stage. From these results, we conclude that HPr mediates crosstalk between sugar uptake through the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system and glycogen breakdown. The evolutionary significance of the HPr-glycogen phosphorylase complex is suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.161-175
• /
• 2011

An n-string tangle is a three dimensional ball with n strings properly embedded in it. A tangle model of a DNA-protein complex is first introduced by C. Ernst and D. Sumners in 1980's. They assumed the protein bound DNA as strings and the protein as a three dimensional ball. By using a tangle analysis, one can predict the topology of DNA within the complex. S.Kim and I. Darcy developed the biologically reasonable 4-string tangle equations and decided a solution tangle, called R-standard tangle. The author discussed more about the simple solution tangles of the equations and found a generalized R-standard tangle solution.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.301-307
• /
• 1996

The disassembly of Chl-protein complexes during dark-induced senescence (DIS) was investigated using detached third and fourthleaves of 21$\pm$1 day-old Arabidopsis thaliana. Although Chl content decreased linearly after 1 d, a significant decrease of photochemical effeciency (Fv/Fm) was observed after 2 d. In experiments using native green gel electrophoresis of Chl-protein complexes combined with additional two-dimensional SDS-PAGE analysis, we could observe the degradation of both photosystems after 2 d. Although light-harvesting complex(LHC) for PSI (LHCI) was degraded first in PSI complex, small PSII apoproteins including CP47/CP43 and D1/D2 apoproteins were degraded first in PSII complexes. LHC for PSII (LHCII) trimers were stable until 4 d. The level of LHCII monomers was increased until 3 and decreased thereafter, resulting in the increase of free pigments. These results suggest that the disassembly process of PSI is different from that of PSII.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2024

The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) serves as a critical cellular mechanism dedicated to maintaining protein homeostasis, primarily within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This pathway diligently responds to a variety of intracellular indicators of ER stress with the objective of reinstating balance by diminishing the accumulation of unfolded proteins, amplifying the ER's folding capacity, and eliminating slow-folding proteins. Prolonged ER stress and UPR irregularities have been linked to a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the UPR pathway, delineating its activation mechanisms and its role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. It highlights the intricate interplay within the UPR and its profound influence on brain function, synaptic perturbations, and neural developmental processes. Additionally, it explores evolving therapeutic strategies targeting the UPR within the context of these disorders, underscoring the necessity for precision and further research to effective treatments. The research findings presented in this work underscore the promising potential of UPR-focused therapeutic approaches to address the complex landscape of neuropsychiatric disorders, giving rise to optimism for improving outcomes for individuals facing these complex conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Potoscience Conference
• /
• spring
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2003

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.782-787
• /
• 2009

In prion disease, spongiform neurodegeneration is preceded by earlier synaptic dysfunction. There is evidence that soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex formation is reduced in scrapie-infected in vivo models, which might explain this synaptic dysfunction because SNARE complex plays a crucial role in neuroexocytosis. In the present study, however, it is shown that prion protein (PrP) does not interfere with SNARE complex formation of 3 SNARE proteins: syntaxin 1a, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant complex formation, SNAREdriven membrane fusion, and neuroexocytosis of PC12 cells were not altered by PrP. Thus, PrP does not alter synaptic function by directly interfering with SNARE complex formation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.225-231
• /
• 2005

Acid-labile subunit (ALS) is a component of the 150-kDa insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) complex, which, by sequestering the majority of IGFs-I and -II and thereby prolonging the half-life of them in plasma, serves as a circulating reservoir of IGFs in mammalian species. A pGEX-2T plasmid and a baculovirus expression constructs harboring a coding sequence for glutathione-S transferase (GST)-porcine ALS (pALS) fusion protein were expressed in BL21(DE3) E. coli and Sf9 insect cells, respectively. The expressed protein was purified by glutathione or Ni-NTN affinity chromatography, followed by cleavage of the fusion protein using Factor Xa. In addition, pALS and hIGFBP-3 were also produced in small amounts in the Xenopus oocyte expression system which does not require any purification procedure. A 65-kDa pALS polypeptide was obtained following the prokaryotic expression and the enzymatic digestion, but biochemical characterization of this polypeptide was precluded because of an extremely low expression efficiency. The baculovirus-as well as Xenopus-expressed pALS exhibited the expected molecular mass of 85 kDa which was reduced into 75 and 65 kDa following deglycosylation of Asn-linked carbohydrates by Endo-F glycosidase, indicating that the expressed pALS was properly glycosylated. Moreover, irrespective of the source of pALS, the recombinant pALS and hIGFBP-3 formed a 130-kDa binary complex which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-hIGFBP-3 antibodies. Collectively, results indicate that an authentic pALS protein can be produced by the current expression systems.