• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.550-555
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• 1995

A strain of Pseudomonas sp. isolated from soil was shown to produce a high level of extracellular endo-inulinase. In this work, the endo-inulinase gene (inu1) of the bacterial strain was cloned into the plasmid pBR322 by using EcoRI restriction endonuclease and E. coli HB101 as a host strain. One out of 7, 000 transformants obtained from the above cloning experiment formed a clear zone around its colony on the selective medium supplemented with 2.0% inulin after a prolonged incubation at 37$\circ$C and subsequent cold shock treatment. The functional clone was found to carry a recombinant plasmid (pKMG50) with a 3.7 kb genomic insert containing the genetic information for the inulinase activity. The inulinase from E. coli HB101/pKMG50 was proved to be an endo-acting enzyme and produced constitutively in the recombinant E. coli cells. Zymogram of the enzyme from the recombinant cells with inulin substrate indicated that the molecular mass of the active protein was 190 Kd, while that of the endo-inulinase from the Pseudomonas strain was 170 Kd. This size discrepancy suggested that the inulinase from the recombinant E. coli HB101 cells might be the initial product of translation, not the mature form produced in the strain of Pseudomonas sp..

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.127-133
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• 2002

Nitrosative stress can prevent or induce apoptosis. It occurs via S-nitrosylation by the interaction of nitric oxide (NO) with the biological thiols of proteins. Cellular redox potential and non-heme iron content determine S-nitrosylation. Apoptotic cell death is inhibited by S-nitrosylation of the redox-sensitive thiol in the catalytic site of caspase family proteases, which play an essential role in the apoptotic signal cascade. Nitrosative stress can also promote apoptosis by the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, such as the release of cytochrome c, an apoptosis-inducing factor, and endonuclease G from mitochondria, as well as the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity. In this article we reviewed the mechanisms whereby S-nitrosylation and nitrosative stress regulate the apoptotic signal cascade.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.302-305
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• 2006

In this work, we attempted the application of cell-free protein synthesis technology for the rapid generation of truncated enzymes. Truncated DNAs of a transaminase were PCR-amplified and directly expressed in cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Variants of the transaminase were rapidly prepared and analyzed for their enzymatic activity. Described method that combines the PCR and cell-free protein synthesis technologies will offer a versatile platform for the rapid generation of optimally modified protein species.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 1992

A chitinase gene of Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 was cloned and expressed in Escherichiu di. A genomic library of S, marcescens was constructed with pUC 19 and screened using the swollen chitin agar plate for chitinolytic clones. A positive clone showing chitinclearance contains a recombinant pCHI 89, composed of 8.9 Kb chromosomal DNA fragment and pUC 19. Plasmid pCHI 89 produced 58 KD chitinase in E. coli, which was coincided with one of five extracellular chitinases produced by S. nzarccscens. Restriction endonuclease cleavage sites of the 8.9 Kb insert DNA fragment were mapped. E. coli JM109 harboring pCHI 89 inhibits the growth of a plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium oxysporum.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.316.1-316.1
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• 2002

Dermatan sulfate (DS) was isolated from eel skin (Anguilla japonica) bv actinase and endonuclease digeslions followed by ${\beta}$-elimination reaction and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. DS was a major glycosaminoglycan in eel skin with 88% of the total uronic acid. The content of IdoA2S$\alpha$1longrightarrow4GalNAc4S sequence in eel skin. which is known to be a binding site to heparin cofactor II. was two times higher than that of dermatan sulfate from porcine skin. The anti-lla activity of eel skin dermatan sulfate mediated through heparin cofactor ll(NCL) was 25 units/mg. whereas DS from porcine skin shows 23.2 units/mg. The average molecular weight was determined as 14 kDa by gel chromatography on a TSKgel G3000SWXL column. Based on H1 NMR spectroscopy. we suggest that 3-sulfated and/or 2.3-sulfated ldoA residues are present in the chain.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2023

Genome editing using CRISPR-associated technology is widely used to modify the genomes rapidly and efficiently on specific DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by Cas9 endonuclease. However, despite swift advance in Cas9 engineering, structural basis of Cas9-recognition and cleavage complex remains unclear. Proper assembly of this complex correlates to effective Cas9 activity, leading to high efficacy of genome editing events. Here, we develop a CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 plasmid constitutively expressing RAD51, which can bind to single-stranded DNA for DSB repair. We show that the efficiency of CRISPR-mediated genome editing can be significantly improved by expressing RAD51, responsible for DSB repair via homologous recombination (HR), in both gene knock-out and knock-in processes. In cells with CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 plasmid, expression of the target genes (cohesin SMC3 and GAPDH) was reduced by more than 1.9-fold compared to the CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid for knock-out of genes. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 enhanced the knock-in efficiency of DsRed donor DNA. Thus, the CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 system is useful for applications requiring precise and efficient genome edits not accessible to HR-deficient cell genome editing and for developing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout technology.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.302-307
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• 2023

Lyn, a tyrosine kinase that is activated by double-stranded DNA-damaging agents, is involved in various signaling pathways, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Ribosomal protein S3 (RpS3) is involved in protein biosynthesis as a component of the ribosome complex and possesses endonuclease activity to repair damaged DNA. Herein, we demonstrated that rpS3 and Lyn interact with each other, and the phosphorylation of rpS3 by Lyn, causing ribosome heterogeneity, upregulates the translation of p-glycoprotein, which is a gene product of multidrug resistance gene 1. In addition, we found that two different regions of the rpS3 protein are associated with the SH1 and SH3 domains of Lyn. An in vitro immunocomplex kinase assay indicated that the rpS3 protein acts as a substrate for Lyn, which phosphorylates the Y167 residue of rpS3. Furthermore, by adding various kinase inhibitors, we confirmed that the phosphorylation status of rpS3 was regulated by both Lyn and doxorubicin, and the phosphorylation of rpS3 by Lyn increased drug resistance in cells by upregulating p-glycoprotein translation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.963-979
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• 1999

This study examined ribotypes of 36 P. gingivalis strains isolated from 10 rapidly progressive periodontitis patients in Korean and revealed the presence of genetic heterogeneity among the patients. Ribotyping was performed by using a oligonucleotide probes based on 16S rRNA after whole genomic DNA had been digested with the restriction endonuclease enzyme Kpn I and Pst I. In addition, the antigenic heterogeneity of fimbrillin and protease activity was analysed to observe the virulency of P. gingivalis. The results were as follows. 1. Using KpnI, 6 ribotypes were detected, whereas 7 ribotypes were identified by using PstI. When combined two enzymes, a total of 8 ribotypes was subgrouped. 2. Ribotype I/e was the most common and detected in 4 among 10 patients. 3. The fimbrillin expressed from P. gingivalis isolates had the molecular size of 41kDa, 43kDa, 49kDa. It was observed that the size of fimbrillin with the same ribotypes could be identical. 4. All the P. gingivalis strains showed strong proteolytic activity and had the molecular size more than 120kDa. In summary, total 8 ribotypes were observed for isolates from rapidly progressive periodontitis patients. Forty percent of the patients harbored isolates exhibiting the same ribotype I/e, and it was observed that more than one ribotype can coexist in an individual patient.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.466-473
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• 2004

A new acid deoxyribonuclease (DNase) was purified from the cultured mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis, and designated CSDNase. CSDNase was purified by $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ precipitation, Sephacryl S-100 HR gel filtration, weak anion-exchange HPLC, and gel filtration HPLC. The protein was single-chained, with an apparent molecular mass of ca. 34 kDa, as revealed by SDS-PAGE, and an isoelectric point of 7.05, as estimated by isoelectric focusing. CSDNase acted on both double-stranded (ds) and single- stranded (ss) DNA, but preferentially on dsDNA. The optimum pH of CSDNase was pH 5.5 and its optimum temperature 55. The activity of CSDNase was not dependent on divalent cations, but its enzymic activity was inhibited by high concentration of the cation: $MgCl_2$ above 150 mM, $MnCl_2$ above 200 mM, $ZnCl_2$ above 150 mM, $CaCl_2$ above 200 mM, NaCl above 300 mM, and KCl above 300 mM. CSDNase was found to hydrolyze DNA, and to generate 3-phosphate and 5-OH termini. These results indicate that the nucleolytic properties of CSDNase are essentially the same as those of other well-characterized acid DNases, and that CSDNase is a member of the acid DNase family. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an acid DNase in a fungus.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

Calpains are a family of cysteine proteases existing primarily in two forms designated by the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration needed for activation in vitro, $\mu$-calpain (calpain-I) and m-calpain (calpain-II). The physiologica1 roles of calpains remain unclear. Many groups have proposed a role for calpains In apoptosis, but their patterns of activation are not well characterized. Calpains have been implicated in neutrophil apoptosis, glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis, as well as many other apoptotic pathways. Calpain activation in apoptosis is usually linked upstream or downstream to caspase activation, or in a parallel pathway alongside caspase activation. Calpains have been suggested to be involved in DNA fragmentation (via endonuclease activation), but also as effector proteases that cleave cellular proteins involved in DNA repair, membrane associated proteins and other homeostatic regulatory proteins. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated $\mu$-calpain activation in NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreducatse 1 (NQO1)-expressing cells after exposure to $\beta$-lapachone, a novel quinone and potential chemo- and radio-therapeutic agent. Increased cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ in NQO1-expressing cells after $\beta$-lapachone exposures were shown to lead to $\mu$-calpain activation. In turn, $\mu$-calpain activation was important for substrate proteolysis and DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis. Upon activation, $\mu$-calpain translocated to the nucleus where it could proteolytically cleave PARP and p53. We provided evidence that $\beta$-lapachone-induced, $\mu$-calpain stimulated, apoptosis did not involve any of the known caspases; known apoptotic caspases were not activated after $\beta$-lapachone treatment of NQO1-expressing cells, nor did caspase inhibitors have any effect on $\beta$-1apachone-induced cell death. Elucidation of processes by which $\beta$-1apachone-stimulated $\mu$-calpain activation and calpains ability to activate endonucleases and induce apoptosis independent of caspase activity will be needed to further develop/modulate $\beta$-lapachone for treatment of human cancers that over-express NQO1.