• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.144-153
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• 2021

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs), including both G- and V-type nerve agents such as sarin, soman, tabun and VX, are extremely neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds. Catalytic bioscavengers capable of hydrolyzing OPNAs are under development because of the low protective effects and adverse side effects of chemical antidotes to OPNA poisoning. However, these bioscavengers have certain limitations for practical application, including low catalytic activity and narrow specificity. In this study, we generated a fusion-hybrid form of engineered recombinant human paraoxonase 1 (rePON1) and bacterial organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH), referred to as GV-hybrids, using a flexible linker to develop more promising catalytic bioscavengers against a broad range of OPNAs. These GV-hybrids were able to synergistically hydrolyze both G-type OPNA analogs (paraoxon: 1.7 ~ 193.7-fold, p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (PNPDPP): 2.3 ~ 33.0-fold and diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP): 1.4 ~ 22.8-fold) and V-type OPNA analogs (demeton-S-methyl (DSM): 1.9 ~ 34.6-fold and malathion: 1.1 ~ 4.2-fold above) better than their individual enzyme forms. Among the GV-hybrid clones, the GV7 clone showed remarkable improvements in the catalytic activity toward both G-type OPNA analogs (kcat/Km (106 M-1 min-1): 59.8 ± 0.06 (paraoxon), 5.2 ± 0.02 (PNPDPP) and 47.0 ± 6.0 (DFP)) and V-type OPNA analogs (kcat/Km (M-1 min-1): 504.3 ± 48.5 (DSM) and 1324.0 ± 47.5 (malathion)). In conclusion, we developed GV-hybrid forms of rePON1 and bacterial OPH mutants as effective and suitable catalytic bioscavengers to hydrolyze a broad range of OPNA analogs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.759-767
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• 2017

Lactophoricin (LPcin), which is a part of proteose peptone isolated from bovine milk, is a cationic amphipathic ${\alpha}-helical$ antimicrobial peptide. Its truncated variants and mutated analogs were designed and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated by using various assays, like broth dilution methods and disk diffusion methods as well as hemolysis assay. Three analogs, LPcin-C8 (LPcin-YK1), LPcin-T2&6W (LPcin-YK2), and LPcin-T2&6W-C8 (LPcin-YK3), which showed better antibiotic activities than LPcin, were selected. Their secondary structures were also characterized by using CD spectropolarimetry. These three analogs of LPcin could be used as an alternative source of powerful antibacterial agents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2009

In this study, the applicability of alginate-immobilized Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206 on the environments, contaminated with toluene analogs was conducted. Genetically engineered strain KG1206 produces light by direct (m-toluate, benzoate) and indirect (toluene, xylenes) inducers. The protocol for the alginate-immobilization was determined in terms of the cell to alginate ratio, solution, proper number of alginate beads, and other conditions. Maximum bioluminescences of five chemicals by immobilized strain were generally observed in following orders: m-toluate > p-xylene > toluene > o-xylene > m-xylene. In relationship between bioluminescence activity and inducer reduction, initial m-toluate (5 mM) in solution was removed approximately 48% of initial at 5 h exposure, showing continuous decrease of inducer chemical in solution. These results of study with alginate-immobilized beads would be useful, especially, for biomonitoring of contaminated environments with specific compounds, such as petroleum hydrocarbon compounds including toluene analogs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1041-1046
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• 2022

Nucleoside deoxyribosyltransferase (NDT) is an enzyme that replaces the purine or pyrimidine base of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside. This enzyme is generally used in the nucleotide salvage pathway in vivo and synthesizes many nucleoside analogs in vitro for various biotechnological purposes. Since NDT is known to exhibit relatively low reactivity toward nucleoside analogs such as 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxynucleoside, it is necessary to develop an enhanced NDT mutant enzyme suitable for nucleoside analogs. In this study, molecular evolution strategy via error-prone PCR was performed with ndt gene derived from Lactobacillus leichmannii as a template to obtain an engineered NDT with higher substrate specificity to 2FDU (2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine). A mutant library of 214 ndt genes with different sequences was obtained and performed for the conversion of 2FDU to 2FDA (2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine). The E. coli containing a mutant NDT, named NDT^L59Q, showed 1.7-fold (at 40℃) and 4.4-fold (at 50℃) higher 2FDU-to-2FDA conversions compared to the NDT^WT, respectively. Subsequently, both NDT^WT and NDT^L59Q enzymes were over-expressed and purified using a His-tag system in E. coli. Characterization and enzyme kinetics revealed that the NDT^L59Q mutant enzyme containing a single point mutation of leucine to glutamine at the 59^th position exhibited superior thermal stability with enhanced substrate specificity to 2FDU.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2008

This paper describes the application of bioluminescence stimulating agents on a genetically engineered microorganism, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206, to monitor toluene analogs using in groundwater samples from petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites. The maximum bioluminescent response with pure chemicals followed in the order: m-methyl benzyl alchohol > m-toluate > toluene > m-xylene > benzoate > p-xylene > o-xylene. Generally, the bioluminescence production of strain mixed with groundwater samples was dependent on the contaminated total inducer concentrations. However, few samples showed opposite results, where these phenomena may be caused by the complexicity of environmental samples. Two chemicals, SL(sodium lactate) and KNO$_3$, were tested to determine a better bioluminescence stimulant. Both chemicals stimulate the bioluminescence activity of strain KG1206, however, a slightly high bioluminescence was observed with nitrogen chemical. This selected stimulant was then tested on samples collected from contaminated groundwater samples. The bioluminescence activity of all samples mixed with the strain was stimulated with KNO$_3$ amendment. This suggests that the low bioluminescence activity exhibited by the environmental groundwater samples can be stimulated by amending the culture with a proper agent, such as nitrogen compound. These findings would be useful, especially, when strain was used to monitor the groundwater samples contaminated with low inducer contaminants. Overall, the results of this study found the ability of bioluminescence producing bacteria to biosensor a specific group of environmental contaminants, and suggest the potential for more efficient preliminary application of this engineered strain in a field-ready bioassay.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.507-512
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• 2005

This research focuses on the development and application of a method for the detection of m-toluate in soils using a genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206. KG1206 produces light by direct (m-toluate and benzoate) and indirect (toluene analogs) inducers. For detection of m-toluate in soil system, 9.9 mL strain was amended with 0.1 mL soil ethanol extractant. A high correlation ($r^2>0.97$) was observed between bioluminescence and m-toluate concentration. The unknown concentrations of m-toluate in soil samples were pre-determined using a method developed based on bioluminescence activity of strain with extracted inducers. Values between by LC analysis and bioluminescence activity show moderate statistical results. These results demonstrate the feasibility of recombinant bioluminescent microorganism, engineered to generate a quantifiable bioluminescence signal in response to specific pollutants, may serve as combined sensing and reporting tools in environmental monitoring.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.32-39
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• 2013

This research focused on the effects of heavy metals on the biomonitoring activity of genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206. KG1206 was exposed to single or binary mixtures of different heavy metals as well as soils contaminated with heavy metals. In case of single exposure with different inducer pollutant, the toxicity order was as followings : As(III) > Cd, As(V) >> Cu, Cr(VI). The toxic effects of the binary mixtures was compared to the expected effect based on a simple theory of probabilities. The interactive effects were mostly additive, while in few cases antgonistic and synergistic mode of action was observed for some concentration combinations. No considerable correlation was found between the total metal contents in soils and the bioluminescence activity of each sample. However, statistically significant differences (p = 0.0102) were observed between two groups, classified based on arsenite contamination. These results demonstrate the usage of recombinant bioluminescent microorganism in biomonitoring and the complex interactive effects of metals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.18-25
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• 2002

The pikromycin biosynthetic system in Streptomyces venezuleae is unique for its ability to produce two groups of antibiotics that include the 12-membered ring macrolides methymycin and neomethymycin, and the 14-membered ring macrolides narbomycin and pikromycin. The metabolic pathway also contains two post polyketide-modification enzymes, a glycosyltransferase and P450 hydroxylase that have unusually broad substrate specificities. In order to explore further the substrate flexibility of these enzymes a series of hybrid polyketide synthases were constructed and their metabolic products characterized. The plasmid-based replacement of the multifunctional protein subunits of the pikromycin PKS in S. venezuelae by the corresponding subunits from heterologous modular PKSs resulted in recombinant strains that produce both 12- and 14-membered ring macrolactones with predicted structural alterations. In all cases, novel macrolactones were produced and further modified by the DesVII glycosyltransferase and PikC hydroxylase leading to biologically active macrolide structures. These results demonstrate that hybrid PKSs in S. venezuelae can produce a multiplicity of new macrolactones that are modified further by the highly flexible DesVII glycosyltransferase and PikC hydroxylase tailoring enzymes. This work demonstrates the unique capacity of the S. venezuelae pikromycin pathway to expand the toolbox of combinatorial biosynthesis and to accelerate the creation of novel biologically active natural products. The polyketide backbone of rifamycin B is assembled through successive condensation and ${\beta}$-carbonyl processing of the extender units by the modular rifamycin PKS. The eighth module, in the RifD protein, contains nonfunctional DH domain and functional KR domain, which specify the reduction of the ${\beta}$-carbonyl group resulting in the C-21 bydroxyl of rifamycin B. A four amino acid substitution and one amino acid deletion were introduced in the putative NADPH binding motif in the proposed KR domain encoded by rifD. This strategy of mutation was based on the amino acid sequences of the corresponding motif of the KR domain of module 3 in the RifA protein, which is believed dysfunctional, so as to introduce a minimum alteration and retain the reading frame intact, yet ensure loss of function. The resulting strain produces linear polyketides, from tetraketide to octaketide, which are also produced by a rifD disrupted mutant as a consequence of premature termination of polyketide assembly. Much of the structural diversity within the polyketide superfamily of natural products is due to the ability of PKSs to vary the reduction level of every other alternate carbon atom in the backbone. Thus, the ability to introduce heterologous reductive segments such as ketoreductase (KR), dehydratase (DH), and enoylreductase (ER) into modules that naturally lack these activities would increase the power of the combinatorial biosynthetic toolbox. The dehydratase domain of module 7 of the rifamycin PKS, which is predicted to be nonfunctional in view of the sequence of the apparent active site, was replaced with its functional homolog from module 7 of rapamycin-producing polyketide synthase. The resulting mutant strain behaved like a rifC disrupted mutant, i.e., it accumulated the heptaketide intermediate and its precursors. This result points out a major difficulty we have encountered with all the Amycolatopsis mediterranei strain containing hybrid polyketide synthases: all the engineered strains prepared so far accumulate a plethora of products derived from the polyketide chain assembly intermediates as major products instead of just analogs of rifamycin B or its ansamycin precursors.