• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.776-783
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• 2018

The agarase gene gaa16a was identified from a draft genome sequence of Gilvimarinus agarilyticus JEA5, an agar-utilizing marine bacterium. Recently, three agarase-producing bacteria, G. chinensis, G. polysaccharolyticus, and G. agarilyticus, in the genus Gilvimarinus were reported. However, there have been no reports of the molecular characteristics and biochemical properties of these agarases. In this study, we analyzed the molecular characteristics and biochemical properties of agarases in Gilvimarinus. Gaa16A comprised a 1,323-bp open reading frame encoding 441 amino acids. The predicted molecular mass and isoelectric point were 49 kDa and 4.9, respectively. The amino acid sequence of Gaa16A showed features typical of glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GH16) ${\beta}$-agarases, including a GH16 domain, carbohydrate-binding region (RICIN domain), and signal peptide. Recombinant Gaa16A (excluding the signal peptide and carbohydrate-binding region, rGaa16A) was expressed as a fused protein with maltose-binding protein at its N-terminus in Escherichia coli. rGaa16A had maximum activity at $55^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0 and 103 U/mg of specific activity in the presence of 2.5 mM $CaCl_2$. The enzyme hydrolyzed agarose to yield neoagarotetraose as the main product. This enzyme may be useful for industrial production of functional neoagaro-oligosaccharides.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.842-852
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• 2018

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway and involves in the regulation of various cellular and developmental processes. Ligand binding releases the intracellular domain of Notch receptor (NICD), which interacts with DNA-bound CSL [CBF1/Su(H)/Lag-1] to activate transcription of target genes. In the absence of NICD binding, CSL down-regulates target gene expression through the recruitment of various corepressor proteins including SMRT/NCoR (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid receptors/nuclear receptor corepressor), SHARP (SMRT/HDAC1-associated repressor protein), and KyoT2. Structural and functional studies revealed the molecular basis of these interactions, in which NICD coactivator and corepressor proteins competitively bind to ${\beta}-trefoil$ domain (BTD) of CSL using a conserved ${\varphi}W{\varphi}P$ motif (${\varphi}$ denotes any hydrophobic residues). To date, there are conflicting ideas regarding the molecular mechanism of SMRT-mediated repression of CSL as to whether CSL-SMRT interaction is direct or indirect (via the bridge factor SHARP). To solve this issue, we mapped the CSL-binding region of SMRT and employed a 'one- plus two-hybrid system' to obtain CSL interaction-defective mutants for this region. We identified the CSL-interaction module of SMRT (CIMS; amino acid 1816-1846) as the molecular determinant of its direct interaction with CSL. Notably, CIMS contains a canonical ${\varphi}W{\varphi}P$ sequence (APIWRP, amino acids 1832-1837) and directly interacts with CSL-BTD in a mode similar to other BTD-binding corepressors. Finally, we showed that CSL-interaction motif, rather than SHARP-interaction motif, of SMRT is involved in transcriptional repression of NICD in a cell-based assay. These results strongly suggest that SMRT participates in CSL-mediated repression via direct binding to CSL.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.397-404
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• 2013

Paenibacillus xylanilyticus KJ-03 was isolated from soil samples obtained from a field with Amorphophallus konjac plants. A gene encoding xylanase was isolated from KJ-03 and cloned using a fosmid library. The xynA gene encodes xylanase; it consists of 1,035 bp and encodes 345 amino acids. The amino acid sequence deduced from the P. xylanilyticus KJ-03 xylanase showed 81% and 69% identities with those deduced from the P. polymyxa E681 and Paenibacillus sp. HPL-001 xylanases, respectively. The xynA gene comprises a single domain, consisting of a catalytic domain of the glycosyl hydrolase (GH) 10 family. The xynA gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (trxB), and the recombinant xylanase was purified by Niaffinity chromatography. The purified xylanase showed optimum activity with birchwood xylan as a substrate at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.4. Treatment with $Mg^{2+}$ and $Li^+$ showed a slight decrease in XynA activity; however, treatment with 5 mM $Cu^{2+}$ completely inhibited its activity. The results of the thin layer chromatography analysis indicated that the major hydrolysis product was xylobiose and small amounts of xylose and xylotriose. XynA showed increased activity with oat spelt xylan and birchwood xylan, but showed only slight activity with locust bean gum.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2016

2-Oxoglutarate (2OG) acts as a signaling molecule and plays a critical role in secondary metabolism in a variety of organisms, including plants. Six 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and Fe(II) oxygenase (2OGO) genes, VlCE2OGO1 [Vitis labruscana 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and Fe(II) oxygenase 1], VlCE2OGO2, VlCE2OGO3, VlCE2OGO4, VlCE2OGO5, and VlCE2OGO6, which show different expression patterns upon transcriptome analysis of 'Campbell Early' grapevine exposed to low temperature for 4 weeks, were analyzed for their structure and expression. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the 2OGO genes from the V. labruscana transcripts revealed sequence similarities of 38.6% (VlCE2OGO1 and VlCE2OGO2) to 19.2% (VlCE2OGO2 and VlCE2OGO3). The lengths of these genes ranged from 1053 to 2298 bp, and they encoded 316 to 380 amino acids. The prediction of the secondary structure of the encoded proteins by Self-Optimized Prediction Method with Alignment (SOPMA) indicated that all the genes contained alpha helix (23.95 to 41.71%), extended strand (16 to 22.34%), beta turn (6.65 to 9.22%), and random coil (32.97 to 51.58%) in the analysis. Specific primers from unique regions in each gene obtained by alignment of nucleotide sequences were used in real time PCR for analysis of gene expression. All tested genes showed differential expression in grapevines exposed to low temperature. Of the six transcripts, VlCE2OGO1, VlCE2OGO2, and VlCE2OGO3 were up-regulated and VlCE2OGO4, VlCE2OGO5, and VlCE2OGO6 were down-regulated in response to cold treatments at all tested time points. The 2OG genes can be used for elucidation of mechanisms of tolerance to cold and as valuable molecular genetic resources for selection in breeding programs for cold-hardy grapevines.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.192-197
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• 2022

Cell signals for growth factors depend on the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the cells. Microtubule acetylation is involved in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation in the soft ECM. However, the mechanism of activation of α-tubulin acetyltransferase 1 (α-TAT1), a major α-tubulin acetyltransferase, in the soft ECM is not well defined. Here, we found that casein kinase 2 (CK2) is required for the TGF-β-induced activation of α-TAT1 that promotes microtubule acetylation in the soft matrix. Genetic mutation and pharmacological inhibition of CK2 catalytic activity specifically reduced microtubule acetylation in the cells cultured on a soft matrix rather than those cultured on a stiff matrix. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed that CK2α, a catalytic subunit of CK2, directly bound to the C-terminal domain of α-TAT1, and this interaction was more prominent in the cells cultured on the soft matrix. Moreover, the substitution of alanine with serine, the 236th amino acid located at the C-terminus, which contains the CK2-binding site of α-TAT1, significantly abrogated the TGF-β-induced microtubule acetylation in the soft matrix, indicating that the successful binding of CK2 and the C-terminus of α-TAT1 led to the phosphorylation of serine at the 236th position of amino acids in α-TAT1 and regulation of its catalytic activity. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the TGF-β-induced activation of α-TAT1 in a soft matrix.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5333-5338
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• 2012

Vitamin B6 functions as a coenzyme in >140 enzymatic reactions involved in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, neurotransmitters, and lipids. It comprises a group of three related 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-pyrimidine derivatives: pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxamine (PM) and their phosphorylated derivatives [pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP)], In the folate metabolism pathway, PLP is a cofactor for the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic isozymes of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2 and SHMT1), the P-protein of the glycine cleavage system, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and ${\gamma}$-cystathionase, and betaine hydroxymethyltransferase (BHMT), all of which contribute to homocysteine metabolism either through folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism or the transsulfuration pathway. Folate cofactors carry and chemically activate single carbons for the synthesis of purines, thymidylate and methionine. So the evidence indicates that vitamin B6 plays an important role in maintenance of the genome, epigenetic stability and homocysteine metabolism. This article focuses on studies of strand breaks, micronuclei, or chromosomal aberrations regarding protective effects of vitamin B6, and probes whether it is folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism or the transsulfuration pathway for vitamin B6 which plays critical roles in prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.48-50
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• 2002

A strategy for development of a functional rice in proved with human lactoferrin and enhancement of nutrient compounds was planned. For the purposes we have cloned and characterized a human lactoferrin cDNA from human mammary gland cDNA library A endosperm storage vacuole targeting sequence and the cDNA fragment was linked to endosperm specific glutelin promoter. The fusion gene fragment was inserted into a binary vector containing MAR gene. In addition a new ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene from Bifidobacterium of human was used as a reporter gene in the vector system, Rice plants showing a high concentration of amino acids in the endosperm cells were developed by using a biochemical mutation and bred for the transformation with the binary vector system Finally we have established a transformation method for the rice endosperm cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2007

An enantioselective lipase gene (esf) for the kinetic resolution of optically active (S)-flurbiprofen was cloned from the new strain Serratia marcescens ES-2. The esf gene was composed of a 1,845-bp open reading frame encoding 614 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 64,978 Da. The lipase expressed in E. coli was purified by a three-step procedure, and it showed preferential substrate specificity toward the medium-chain-length fatty acids. The esf gene encoding the enantioselective lipase was reintroduced into the parent strain S. marcescens ES-2 for secretory overexpression. The transformant S. marcescens BESF secreted up to 217kU/ml of the enantioselective lipase, about 54-fold more than the parent strain, after supplementing 3.0% Triton X-207. The kinetic resolution of (S)-flurbiprofen was carried out even at an extremely high (R,S)-flurbiprofen ethyl ester [(R,S)-FEE] concentration of 500 mM, 130 kU of the S. marcescens ES-2 lipase per mmol of (R,S)-FEE, and 1,000 mM of succinyl ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ as the dispenser at $37^{\circ}C$ for 12h, achieving the high enantiomeric excess and conversion yield of 98% and 48%, respectively.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2012

This study was to examine expression of the recombinant full-length adiponectin (recombinant adiponectin) in insect ovarian cell culture system and to characterize structural properties of the recombinant adiponectin secreted in medium. Gene construct encoding the recombinant adiponectin contained N-terminal collagen-like domain (110 Amino Acids, AAs), C-terminal globular domain (137 AAs) and C-terminal peptides for detection with V5 antibody (26 AAs included adaptor peptide) and purification using the 6xHis tag (6 AAs). The approximate molecular weight of the product (monomer) was 35 kDa. Molecular mass species of the expressed recombinant adiponectin were monomer (~35 kDa), dimer (~70 kDa), trimer (~105 kDa) and hexamer (~210 kDa). The major secreted species were the LMW forms, such as monomer, dimer, and trimer. There was MMW of hexamer as minor form. HMW multimers (~300 kDa) were shown as a tracer or not detected on the SDS-PAGE in several experiments (data not shown). The multimer forms in this study were not compatible to those in animal or human serum and adipose tissue by other researcher's study in which the major multimer forms were HMW. By protein denaturing experiments with reducing reagent (${\beta}$-MeOH), anionic detergent (SDS) and heat ($95^{\circ}C$) on the SDS-PAGE, not all adiponectin multimers seemed to have disulfide bond linked structure to form multimers. The recombinant adiponectin which expressed in insect ovarian cell culture system seemed to have the limitation as full physiological regulator for the application to animal and human study.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1995

The Escherichia coli mixed-function serC-aroA operon encodes biosynthethic enzymes for unrelated pathways leading to the syntheses of serine and aromatic amino acids. It has been proposed that the operon is expressed in a cAMP-dependent manner. In this work experiments were performed to investigate the cAMP-dependent expression of the operon. Exogenous cAMP increased ${\beta}$-galactosidase synthesis in the $cya^+$ and cya strains harboring the serC-aroA-lac fusion plasmid. This enhancement was more dramatic in the $cya^-$ strain grown in a minimal medium. In a dot blot assay the serC-aroA mRNA content increased in a concentration-dependent pattern after the addition of exogenous cAMP. The activity of phosphoserine aminotransferase, encoded by the serC gene, apparently increased in E. coli cells after the addition of cAMP. All results obtained confirmed that the expression of the E. coli serC-aroA operon is positively regulated by cAMP at the level of transcription.