• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci ELISA) for the organophosphorus insecticide acephate, O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate, was developed using a polyclonal antibody. Three different haptens mimicking the analyze and containing hexanoic acid moiety as a linker were synthesized, and then conjugated with the carrier proteins bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin by the N-hydroxysuccinimide active ester method. Polyclonal antibodies raised against hapten-KLH conjugates in rabbits and the hapten-BSA conjugates as coating antigens were screened and selected for the assay in the homologous and/or heterologous ELISA system. The effects of various assay conditions, including blocking reagents, detergent content, organic solvents, pH, and preincubation of tile mixture of the polyclonal antibody and the analyze on the sensitivity were evaluated. The $IC_{50}$ value of acephate of 110 ng/mL was obtained in an optimized heterologous system using hapten-3-BSA as a coating antigen and a polyclonal antibody 8377, showing the detection range of 10-1000 ng/mL and the lowest detection limit of 4 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities of the structurally related insecticides, including methamidophos were less than 0.02%. These results indicate that the ELISA could be a convenient and alternative tool for monitoring acephate residues in agricultural products and environmental samples.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 2016

In this study, nano-micelled curcumin was produced with natural sea salt with a view to comparing the in silico molecular binding affinity of pure curcumin compound to the active site of transthyretin. Using an optical light microscope and an electron microscope, it was found that the structure of the surface and the cross-section of nano-micelled curcumin was significantly different from natural sea salt. In particular, the crystal structure and nano-components in the nano-micelled curcumin were united, and the layer was more strongly stabilized than untreated salts. In the virtual 3D structure, in silico molecular docking study, the ligand binding affinity of nano-micelled curcumin to the transthyretin active site was found to be higher than that of pure curcumin. In addition, a nano-micelled curcumin formula interacted with more amino acid residues of transthyretin domains. The pharmacophore feature of the nano-micelled curcumin also showed more condensed and constrained features than normal curcumin. These results suggest that nano-micelled curcumin may effectively bind to and stabilize transthyretin, thereby regulating transthyretin-related physiological diseases. Collectively, the nano-micelled curcumin process suggests that normal curcumin can be modified more efficiently into the novel bio-functional chemical formula to stabilize the transthyretin structure. Therefore, the nano-micelled curcumin process can be applied to the field of the regulation of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2005

The metagenomes of complex microbial communities are rich sources of novel biocatalysts. The gene encoding an extracellular $\alpha$-amylase from a genomic DNA of cow rumen was cloned in Escherichia coli DH5$\alpha$ and sequenced. The $\alpha$-amylase (amyA) gene was 1,893 bp in length, encoding a protein of 631 amino acid residues with calculated molecular weight of 70,734 Da. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 71,000 Da by active staining of a SDS-PACE. The enzyme was 21 to $59\%$ sequence identical with other amyloyltic enzymes. The AmyA was optimally active at pH 6.0 and $40\%$. The AmyA had a calculated pI of 5.87. AmyA expressed in E. coli DH5$\alpha$ was enhanced in the presence of $Mg^{2+}$ (20 mM) and $Ca^{2+}$ (30 mM) and inhibited in the presence of $Fe^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$. The origin of amyA gene could not be confirmed by PCR using internal primer of amyA gene from extracted genomic DNA of 49 species rumen culturable bacteria so far. An amyh is supposed to obtained from unculturable rumen bacterium in cow rumen environment.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitously distributed and play important functions in diverse cellular signaling systems. The proteins are largely classified into three groups, such as typical 2-Cys Prx, atypical 2-Cys Prx, and 1-Cys Prx, that are distinguished by their catalytic mechanisms and number of Cys residues. From the three classes of Prxs, the typical 2-Cys Prx containing the two-conserved Cys residues at its N-terminus and C-terminus catalyzes $H_2O_2$ with the use of thioredoxin (Trx) as an electron donor. During the catalytic cycle, the N-terminal Cys residue undergoes a peroxide-dependent oxidation to sulfenic acid, which can be further oxidized to sulfinic acid at the presence of high concentrations of $H_2O_2$ and a Trx system containing Trx, Trx reductase, and NADPH. The sulfinic acid form of 2-Cys Prx is reduced by the action of sulfiredoxin which requires ATP as an energy source. Under the strong oxidative or heat shock stress conditions, 2-Cys Prx in eukaryotes rapidly switches its protein structure from low-molecular-weight species to high-molecular-weight protein structures. In accordance with its structural changes, the protein concomitantly triggers functional switching from a peroxidase to a molecular chaperone, which can protect its substrate denaturation from external stress. In addition to its N-terminal active site, the C-terminal domain including 'YF-motif' of 2-Cys Prx plays a critical role in the structural changes. Therefore, the C-terminal truncated 2-Cys Prxs are not able to regulate their protein structures and highly resistant to $H_2O_2$-dependent hyperoxidation, suggesting that the reaction is guided by the peroxidatic Cys residue. Based on the results, it may be concluded that the peroxidatic Cys of 2-Cys Prx acts as an '$H_2O_2$-sensor' in the cells. The oxidative stress-dependent regulation of 2-Cys Prx provides a means of defense systems in cells to adapt stress conditions by activating intracellular defense signaling pathways. Particularly, 2-Cys Prxs in plants are localized in chloroplasts with a dynamic protein structure. The protein undergoes conformational changes again oxidative stress. Depending on a redox-potential of the chloroplasts, the plant 2-Cys Prx forms super-molecular weight protein structures, which attach to the thylakoid membranes in a reversible manner.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 2007

In this study, we have cloned a novel cDNA encoding for a papain-family cysteine protease from the Uni-ZAP XR cDNA library of the polychaete, Periserrula leucophryna. This gene was expressed in Escherichia coli using the T7 promoter system, and the protease was characterized after partial purification. First, the partial DNA fragment (498 bp) was amplified from the total RNA via RT-PCR using degenerated primers derived from the conserved region of cysteine protease. The full-length cDNA of cysteine protease (PLCP) was prepared via the screening of the Uni-ZAP XR cDNA library using the $^{32}P-labeled$ partial DNA fragment. As a result, the PLCP gene was determined to consist of a 2591 bp nucleotide sequence (CDS: 173-1024 bp) which encodes for a 283-amino acid polypeptide, which is itself composed of an 59-residue signal sequence, a 6-residue propeptide, a 218-residue mature protein, and a long 3'-noncoding region encompassing 1564 bp. The predicted molecular weights of the preproprotein and the mature protein were calculated as 31.8 kDa and 25 kDa, respectively. The results of sequence analysis and alignment revealed a significant degree of sequence similarity with other eukaryotic cysteine proteases, including the conserved catalytic triad of the $Cys^{90},\;His^{226},\;and\;Asn^{250}$ residues which characterize the C1 family of papain-like cysteine protease. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the novel gene were deposited into the GenBank database under the accession numbers, AY390282 and AAR27011, respectively. The results of Northern blot analysis revealed the 2.5 kb size of the transcript and ubiquitous expression throughout the entirety of the body, head, gut, and skin, which suggested that the PLCP may be grouped within the cathepsin F-like proteases. The region encoding for the mature form of the protease was then subcloned into the pT7-7 expression vector following PCR amplification using the designed primers, including the initiation and termination codons. The recombinant cysteine proteases were generated in a range of 6.3 % to 12.5 % of the total cell proteins in the E. coli BL21(DE3) strain for 8 transformants. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis indicated that a cysteine protease of approximately 25 kDa (mature form) was generated. The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme were determined to be approximately 9.5 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively, thereby indicating that the cysteine protease is a member of the alkaline protease group. The evaluation of substrate specificity indicated that the purified protease was more active towards Arg-X or Lys-X and did not efficiently cleave the substrates with non-polar amino acids at the P1 site. The PLCP evidenced fibrinolytic activity on the plasminogen-free fibrin plate test.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5350-5355
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• 2012

Human tyrosinase (hTyr) catalyzes the first and rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of a skin color determinant, melanin. Although a number of cosmetic companies have tried to develop hTyr inhibitors for several decades, absence of 3D structure of hTyr make it impossible to design or screen inhibitors by structure-based approach. Therefore, we built a 3D structure by comparative modeling technique based on the crystal structure of tyrosinase from Bacillus megaterium to provide structural information and to search new hit compounds from database. Our model revealed that two copper atoms of active site located deep inside and were coordinated with six strictly conserved histidine residues coming from four-helix-bundle. Substrate binding site had narrow funnel like shape and its entrance was wide and exposed to solvent. In addition, hTyr-tyrosine and hTyr-kojic acid, a well-known inhibitor, complexes were modeled with the guide of solvent accessible surface generated by in-house software. Our model demonstrated that only phenol group or its analogs could fill the binding site near the nuclear copper center, because inside of binding site had narrow shape relatively. In conclusion, the results of this study may provide helpful information for designing and screening new anti-melanogenic agents.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.306-314
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• 1998

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the common enzyme in the biosynthesis of branched chain amino acids, Val, Leu, and Ile in bacteria, yeast, and higher plants. The enzyme is target site of several classes of structually diverse herbicides, including the sulfonylureas, the imidazolinones, the triazolopyrimidines, and the primidyl-oxy-benzoates. We have synthesized new triazolopyrimidine (TP) derivatives, and determined their inhibitory activities on barley ALS. $lC_{50}$ values for the active compounds were 3.2 nM-0.62 mM, and some of them appeared to be potent inhibitors. The progress curves for inhibition of ALS by TP4, a representative derivative, indicated that the extent of inhibition increased with incubation time. The inhibition of ALS by TP4 showed mixed-type inhibition with respect to pyruvate. Dual inhibition analyses of TP4 versus imidazolinone Cadre and feedback inhibitor Leu suggested that three different classes of inhibitors bind to ALS in a mutually exclusive manner. Chemical modification of tyrosyl residues of ALS decreased sensitivity of ALS to TP4, while modification of tryptophan and cysteine did not affect the sensitivity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2007

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid pathway, which synthesizes numerous secondary metabolites to participate in development and adaption. Two C4H isoforms, the 2192-bp BnC4H-1 and 2108-bp BnC4H-2, were cloned from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). They both have two introns and a 1518-bp open reading frame encoding a 505-amino-acid polypeptide. BnC4H-1 is 57.73 kDa with an isoelectric point of 9.11, while 57.75 kDa and 9.13 for BnC4H-2. They share only 80.6% identities on nucleotide level but 96.6% identities and 98.4% positives on protein level. Showing highest homologies to Arabidopsis thaliana C4H, they possess a conserved p450 domain and all P450-featured motifs, and are identical to typical C4Hs at substrate-recognition sites and active site residues. They are most probably associated with endoplasmic reticulum by one or both of the N- and C-terminal transmembrane helices. Phosphorylation may be a necessary post-translational modification. Their secondary structures are dominated by alpha helices and random coils. Most helices locate in the central region, while extended strands mainly distribute before and after this region. Southern blot indicated about 9 or more C4H paralogs in B. napus. In hypocotyl, cotyledon, stem, flower, bud, young- and middle-stage seed, they are co-dominantly expressed. In root and old seed, BnC4H-2 is dominant over BnC4H-1, with a reverse trend in leaf and pericarp. Paralogous C4H numbers in Brassicaceae genomes and possible roles of conserved motifs in 5' UTR and the 2nd intron are discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2014

Alginates are linear acidic polysaccharides composed with (1-4)-linked ${\alpha}$-L-guluronic acid and ${\beta}$-Dmannuronic acid. Alginate can be degraded by diverse alginate lyases, which cleave the alginate using a ${\beta}$-elimination reaction and produce unsaturated uronate oligomers. A gene for a polyMG-specific alginate lyase possessing a novel structure was previously identified and cloned from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KJ-2. Homology modeling of KJ-2 polyMG-specific alginate lyase showed it belongs to the PL6 family, whereas three Azotobacter vinelandii polyMG lyases belong to the PL7 family of polysaccharide lyases. From $^1H$-NMR spectra data, KJ-2 polyMG lyase preferably degraded the M-${\beta}$(1-4)-G glycosidic bond than the G-${\alpha}$(1-4)-M glycosidic bond. Seventeen mutants were made by site-directed mutagenesis, and alginate lyase activity was analyzed. Lys220Ala, Arg241Ala, Arg241Lys, and Arg265Ala lost alginate lyase activity completely. Arg155Ala, Gly303Glu, and Tyr304Phe also lost the activity by 60.7-80.1%. These results show that Arg155, Lys220, Arg241, Arg265, Gly303, and Tyr304 are important residues for catalytic activity and substrate binding.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.823-827
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• 2012

A bacterial strain producing a fibrinolytic enzyme, subtilisin CP-1, was isolated from Doen-Jang, a Korean traditional fermentation food. Based on the analysis of gene sequence of 16S rRNA and biochemical analysis, the strain was identified as Bacillus sp. and named as Bacillus sp. CP-1. To investigate the effect of the medium on the production of fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus sp. CP-1, two commercial bacterial culture media, tryptic soy broth (TSB) and Luria-Bertani (LB), were applied to the cultivation of Bacillus sp. CP-1. The strain secreted only one proteolytic enzyme (subtilisin CP-1) in the culture broth. The molecular weight of subtilisin CP-1 was estimated to be 28 kDa. Subtilisin CP-1 was optimally active at pH 9.0 and $45^{\circ}C$, and exhibited high specificity for Meo-Suc-Arg-Pro-Tyr-pNA (S-2586), a synthetic chromogenic substrate for chymotrypsin. The first eight amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme are AQSVPYGI; this sequence is identical to that of subtilisin NAT and E.