• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.255-261
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• 2012

A bacterium AB-55, isolated from waste mushroom bed of Agaricus bisporus in Sukseong-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, was screened onto xylan agar congo-red plate by the xylanolysis method and was used to produce an xylanase in shaker buffle flask cultures containing oat spelt xylans. The phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence data showed that the strain AB-55 had the highest homology (99.0%) with Bacillus subtilis and it was named as Bacillus subtilis AB-55. A xylanase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation (50~80%), gel filtration on sephacryl S-300, and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE sepharose FF. The molecular weight of the xylanase was estimated as 44 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Optimal pH and temperature for the xylanase activity was pH 7 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was identified as Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-His-Gly-Ala-Ile-Val-Phe. The substrate specificity of the enzyme exhibited that it hydrolyzed efficiently oat spelt xylan as well as beechwood xylan, but showed no activity against Avicel and carboxymethyl clellulose (CMC). The enzyme activity was enhanced by $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ whereas was entirely inhibited by $Hg^+$.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Selecting an appropriate antigen with optimal immunogenicity and physicochemical properties is a pivotal factor to develop a protein based subunit vaccine. Despite rapid progress in modern molecular cloning and recombinant protein technology, there remains a huge challenge for purifying and using protein antigens rich in hydrophobic domains, such as membrane associated proteins. To overcome current limitations using hydrophobic proteins as vaccine antigens, we adopted in silico analyses which included bioinformatic prediction and sequence-based protein 3D structure modeling, to develop a novel periodontitis subunit vaccine against the outer membrane protein FomA of Fusobacterium nucleatum. To generate an optimal antigen candidate, we predicted hydrophilicity and B cell epitope parameter by querying to web-based databases, and designed a truncated FomA (tFomA) candidate with better solubility and preserved B cell epitopes. The truncated recombinant protein was engineered to expose epitopes on the surface through simulating amino acid sequence-based 3D folding in aqueous environment. The recombinant tFomA was further expressed and purified, and its immunological properties were evaluated. In the mice intranasal vaccination study, tFomA significantly induced antigen-specific IgG and sIgA responses in both systemic and oral-mucosal compartments, respectively. Our results testify that intelligent in silico designing of antigens provide amenable vaccine epitopes from hard-to-manufacture hydrophobic domain rich microbial antigens.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2005

Vasopressin (VP)-related peptide was purified from the brain extract of conger eel (Conger myriaster) by reverse-phase, ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This peptide with a molecular weight of 1,051.2 Da was determined as $H-Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH_2$, whose Cys residues made an intramolecular disulfide bridge by the automated amino acid sequence analysis, MALDI- TOF mass spectrometry. It's sequence was confirmed by identity of the elution position with the synthetic peptide in HPLC system. As a result of homology investigation, the primary structure of this peptide was the same as that of VP-superfamily member, $[Arg^8]-vasotocin$. The synthetic peptide showed a contractile activity at a minimal effective concentration of $10^{-10}\;M$ on the intestinal smooth muscle of goldfish.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 1994

The analysis of membrane receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters has progressed considerably by pharmacological and biochemical means and more recently through the use of specific antibodies. Two kinds of antibodies could be produced, one is from synthetic peptides and the other from proteins such as purified receptor. Anti-peptide antibodies gave some advantages; epitope is evident and also receptor purification in quantity is not prerequisite. It can be also applied to the study of receptor structure-activity relationship. The purpose of the present study was 1) to produce and characterize a polyclonal antibody against a synthetic $\beta$2-adrenergic receptor peptide(Phe-Gly-Asn-Phe-Trp-Cys-Phe-Trp-Thr-Ser-Ile-Asp-Val-Leu) and 2) to determine the effects of this antibody on the $\beta$-adrenergic receptor ligand interaction. The peptide sequence contains an amino acid residue such as Asp-113 which was identified as one of important component for receptor-ligand interaction in site-directed mutagenesis studies. Production of antibody was performed by immunization of rabbits through popliteal lymph node with the peptide coupled with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH). The titer of antibody against this peptide was 1 : 1000. The anti-peptide antibody was able to detect a 67 kDa protein band in western blot corresponding to the molecular weight of the $\beta$-adrenergic receptor in partially purified receptor fraction derived from guinea pig lung. The antisera inhibited the specific binding of [$^3$H]dihydroalprenolol to $\beta$-adrenergic receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. The results from this study suggest that the peptide sequence selected in the present study is important for the receptor ligand interaction.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 2021

Objective: Milk production is one of the most desirable traits in livestock. Recently, the toll-like receptor (TLR) has been identified as a candidate gene for milk traits in cows. So far, there is no information concerning the contribution of this gene in milk traits in sheep. This study was designed to investigate the TLR 4 gene polymorphisms in Barki ewes in Egypt and then correlate that with milk traits in order to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for these traits in sheep. Methods: A part of the ovine TLR 4 gene was amplified in Barki ewes, to identify the SNPs. Consequently; Barki ewes were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism protocol. These genotypes were correlated with milk traits, which were the daily milk yield (DMY), protein percentage (PP), fat percentage (FP), lactose percentage, and total solid percentage (TSP). Results: Age and parity of the ewe had a significant effect (p<0.05 or p<0.01) on DMY, FP, and TSP. The direct sequencing identified a missense mutation located in the coding sequence of the gene (rs592076818; c.1710C>A) and was predicted to change the amino acid sequence of the resulted protein (p.Asn570Lys). The association analyses suggested a significant effect (p<0.05) of the TLR genotype on the FP and PP, while the DMY tended to be influenced as well (p = 0.07). Interestingly, the presence of the G allele tended to increase the DMY (+40.5 g/d) and significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.01) decreased the FP (-1.11%), PP (-1.21%), and TSP (-7.98%). Conclusion: The results of this study suggested the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as a candidate gene to improve milk traits in sheep worldwide, which will enhance the ability to understand the genetic architecture of genes underlying SNPs that affect such traits.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 1996

Antigenic domain of jai or surface protein (p30) of Toxoplosmc Sondii was analyzed after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of its gene fragments. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic moiety of amino acid sequences were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (G57) fusion proteins. Fragments of p30 gene were as follows: 737, total p30 open reading frame (ORF) ; S28, total ORF excluding N-terminal signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence; Al9, N-terminal 2/3 parts of A28; A19, N-terminal 2/3 of S28; P9, C-terminal 2/3 part of S28; Z9. middle 1/3 of S28; and 29, C-terminal 1/3 of S28. respectively. Primer of each fragment was synthesized to include clamp sequence of EcoR I restriction site. PCR amplified DNA was inserted info GST (26 kDa) expression vector, PGEX-47-1 to transform into Escheri,hia coei (.JM105 strain). G57 fusion proteins were expressed with IPTG induction as 63. 54, 45, 45, 35, 36. and 35 kDa proteins measured by SDS-PAGE. Each fusion protein was confirmed with G57 detection kit. Western blot analysis with the serum of a toxoplasmosis patient revealed antigenicity in proteins expressed by T37. S28, and Al9 but not those by Pl8. X9, Y10, and Z9. Antigenicity of p30 seems to be located either in N-terminal 115 part in the presence of middle 1/3 part or in the oligopeptides between margins of the first and second 1/3 parts.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2002

Two different cDNA clones for superoxide dismutase (SOD) were isolated from an weedy rice variety (Oryza sativa, cv. Bhutan14Ad) and were introduced into a cultivated rice variety (Oryza sativa, cv. Nakdong) in order to develop the environmental stress-resistant rice plants. Sequence analysis of the cloned cDNAS indicated that the deduced amino acid sequence of SOD-A is 88.4% identical to that of SOD-B. Furthermore, the nucleotide sequence of SOD-A is 99.3% identical to that of a Cu/Zn SOD gene of Oryza sativa (GenBank accession No. L36320). The nueleotide sequence of SOD-B was identical to that of the previously published SOD gene (Accession No. D01000). A cultivated rice variety, Nakdong-byeo, was transformed with chimeric SOD genes containing a actin promoter of rice and pin2 terminator using a particle bombardment technique. Transformed calli were selected on an selection medium containing phosphinothricin (PPT). Transgenic rice plants were regenerated from the PPT-resistant calli. PCR analysis with genomic DNAs from transgenic plants revealed that transgenes are introduced into rice genome.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.71-115
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• 2017

In 1953, theoretical physicist George Gamow attempted to explain the process of protein synthesis by hypothesizing that the base sequence of DNA encodes a protein's amino acid sequence and, in response, proposed the nucleic acid-protein information transfer model, which he dubbed the "diamond code." After expressing interest in discussing the daring hypothesis, contemporary biologists, including James Watson, Francis Crick, Sydney Brenner, and Gunther Stent, were soon invited to join the RNA Tie Club, an informal research group that would also count biologists and various researchers in physics, mathematics, and computer engineering among its members. In examining the club's formation, growth, and decline in multidisciplinary research on deciphering the genetic code in the 1950s, this paper first investigates whether Gamow's idiosyncratic approach could be adopted as a collaborative research forum among contemporary biologists. Second, it explores how the RNA Tie Club's research agenda could have been expanded to other relevant research topics needing multidisciplinary approach? Third, it asks why and how the RNA Tie Club dissolved in the late 1950s. In answering those questions, this paper shows that analyses on the intersymbol correlation of the overlapping code functioned to integrate diverse approaches, including sequence decoding and statistical analysis, in research on the genetic code. As those analyses reveal, the peculiar approaches of the RNA Tie Club could be regarded as a useful method for biological research. The paper also concludes that the RNA Tie Club dissolved in the late 1950s due to the disappearance of the collaborative research agenda when the overlapping code hypothesis was abandoned.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2011

The outbreak of Newcastle disease occurred for the first time at a commercial chicken farm near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in August 2010. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) obtained from infected chickens in Mongolia was characterized by biological and molecular biological approches. Mongolian NDV isolate killed all of chicken embryos within 60 h in the mean death time assay, indicating virulent for chicken. A genomic region of 695 nts between nts 1055 of the M gene and 508 of the F gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of the F protein cleavage site was $^{112}RRQKRF^{117}$, which is a typical sequence of velogenic strains of NDV and is agreement with the result of the MDT assay. The sequence of the partial F gene (nts 47 to 435) was used for genotyping by phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the Mongolian isolate was of genotype VII within class II of NDV. Further phylogenetic analysis on the genotype VII strains revealed that the isolates placed in a genetic sublineage of VIId and most closely related with velogenic strains of NDV circulating in Far-east Asian region especially China, suggesting the introduction of velogenic NDV into Mongolia from neighboring countries.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2007

We constructed a cDNA library of testis from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and a total of 248 expressed sequence tag (EST) clones were generated. In order to understand the molecular compositions of the olive flounder testis organs, the expression profiles of the identified clones in the cDNA library were analyzed. Gene annotation procedures and homology searches of the sequenced ESTs were locally done by BLASTX for amino acid similarity comparisons. Of the 248 EST clones, 156 ESTs showed significant homology to previously described genes while 92 ESTs were unidentified or novel. Comparative analysis of the 156 identified ESTs showed that 6 (3.8%) clones were representing 5 unique genes identified as homologous to the previously reported olive flounder ESTs, 100 (64.1%) clones representing 94 unique genes were identified as orthologs of known genes from other organisms, and orthologs were established for 50 (32.1%) clones representing 44 genes of known sequences with unknown functions. Furthermore, the testis library showed a more even distribution of cDNA clones with relatively fewer abundant clones that tend to contribute redundant clones in EST projects; thus, the testis library can supply more unique and novel cDNA sequences in olive flounder EST project.