• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.1125-1129
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• 2005

Cloning of a 6.6-kb BamHI digested chromosomal DNA from S. griseus IFO13350 revealed the presence of an additional gene encoding a novel trypsin-like enzyme, named SprU. The SprU protein shows a high homology ($79\%$ identity, $88\%$ similarity) with the SGT protease, which has been reported as a bacterial trypsin in the same strain. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the sprU gene suggests that SprU is produced as a precursor consisting of an amino-terminal presequence (29 amino acid residues), prosequence (4 residues), and mature trypsin consisting of 222 amino acids with a molecular weight of 22.94 kDa and a calculated pI of 4.13. The serine, histidine, and aspartic acid residues composing the catalytic triad of typical serine proteases are also well conserved. When the trypsin activity of the SprU was spectrophotometrically measured by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the artificial chromogenic substrate, N-${alpha}$-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide, the S. lividans transformant with pWHM3-U gave 3 times higher activity than that of control. When the same recombinant plasmid was introduced into S. griseus, however, the gene dosage effect was not so significant, as in the cases of other genes encoding serine proteases, such as sprA, sprB, and sprD. Although two trypsins, SprU and SGT, have a high degree of homology, the pI values, the gene dosage effect in S. griseus, and the gene arrangement adjacent to the two genes are very different, suggesting that the biochemical and biological function of the SprU might be quite different from that of the SGT.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.899-902
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• 2005

Peptide assimilation by Helicobacter pylori was investigated using L-phenylalanyl-3-thia-phenylalanine (PSP) as a detector peptide; the release of thiophenol upon enzymatic hydrolysis of PSP was spectrophotometrically detected with the aid of 5,5'-dithiobis[2-nitrobenzoic acid] (DTNB). By adding PSP to whole-cell suspension, thiophenol was produced progressively, resembling that found in Esherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Interestingly, the rate of thiophenol production by H pylori in particular was markedly reduced when cells were pretreated with trypsin, indicating surface exhibition of peptidase. According to the competitive spectrophotometry using alanyl-peptides, H pylori did not appear to assimilate PSP through the peptide transport system. No discernible PSP assimilation could be ascertained in H pylori cells, unless provided with some additives necessary for peptidase activity, such as $Ni^{2+}\;or\;Mg^{2+}$ and an appropriate concentration of potassium or ammonium salts. These observations strongly suggest that, regardless of a presumptive peptide transport system, peptide assimilation of H. plori appears to be highly dependent upon milieu conditions, due to unique peptidase exhibition on the cell surface.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.885-895
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate the production and characteristics of protein hydrolysates derived from tuna byproducts (TP) using various proteolytic enzymes and to compare the antioxidant activity of the resulting hydrolysates. The TP were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using five different proteases: alcalase, bromelain, flavourzyme, neutrase, and papain, and the antioxidant activities of the hydrolysates were evaluated. Subsequent analysis of the available amino group contents and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns indicated a high degree of hydrolysis in TP after treatment with all the enzymes, except for papain. Based on the RC₅₀ values obtained from four different antioxidant analyses, all the hydrolysates exhibited similar antioxidant activity, except for the flavourzyme hydrolysate, which showed significantly higher scavenging activity against ABTS radicals and hydrogen peroxide than the other hydrolysates. These findings suggest that protein hydrolysates derived from TP hold promise as potential sources of natural antioxidants.

• BMB Reports
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.508-512
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• 2002

Phospholipase C-gamma-2 ($PLC{\gamma}2$) activation is a key signaling event for many cell functions. In order to delineate the pathways that lead to $PLC{\gamma}2$ activation, we devised a quick method for obtaining sufficient $PLC{\gamma}2$. We obtained the full-length cDNA for human $PLC{\gamma}2$ and expressed it in E. coli using the expression vector pT5T. To enhance the protein expression, tandem AGG-AGG arginine codons at the amino acid positions 1204-1205 were replaced by CGG-CGG arginine codons. The protein expression was detected in a Western blot analysis by both anti-$PLC{\gamma}2$ antibodies and the antibodies that are raised against the tripeptide epitope (Glu-Glu-Phe) tag that are genetically-engineered to its carboxyl terminal. Crude lysates that were prepared from bacteria that express $PLC{\gamma}2$ were found to catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate. Similar to previous reports on $PLC{\gamma}2$ that is isolated from mammalian tissue, the recombinant enzyme was $Ca^{2+}$ dependent with optimal activity at 1-10 uM $Ca^{2+}$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.271-275
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• 2007

γ -Glutamyl transpeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2) plays a key role in glutathione metabolism by catalyzing the transfer of the γ -glutamyl residue and hydrolysis of glutathione. The functional residues at the active site of the rat kidney γ -glutamyl transpeptidase were investigated by kinetic studies at various pH, the treatment of diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC), and photooxidation in presence of methylene blue. An ionizable group affecting the enzymatic activity with an apparent pKa value of 7.1, which is in the range of pKa values for a histidine residue in protein, was obtained by examining the pH-dependence of kinetic parameters. The pH effect on the photoinduced inactivation rate of the enzyme corresponds to that expected for the photooxidation of the free histidine. The involvement of a histidine in the catalytic site of the enzyme was further supported by DEPC modification accompanied by an increase in absorbance at 240 nm, indicating the formation of Ncarbethoxyhistidine. The histidine located at the position of 382 in the precursor of the enzyme is primarily suspected based on the amino acid sequence alignment of the transpeptidases from various organisms.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.501-506
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• 2019

New technology-driven biocatalysts are revolutionizing the biochemical industries. With maximum utilization of renewable feedstock, biocatalysts have been the basis for a major breakthrough. Lipases are the most widely established catalysts used for hydrolysis, esterification and transesterification reactions. In this research, a biochemical process that combines extraction of lipase enzyme from germinated wheat seeds and its application to valorize glycerol to acetins by esterification is presented. Acetins are among highly rated, value-added products derived from glycerol. The favorable conditions for the enzymatic conversion of glycerol were observed as glycerol to acetic acid molar ratio (1:5), reaction temperature ($40^{\circ}C$) and the amount of enzyme (20% v/v). 65.93% of glycerol conversion was achieved for duration of 15 h with the use of tert-butanol solvent. This method proposes to explore the viability of a biological route to convert glycerol derived from biodiesel industry to acetins with further streamlining.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.75-85
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• 2016

Pectin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, has in recent years attracted considerable attention. Its benefits are increasingly appreciated by scientists and consumers due to its safety and usefulness. The chemistry and gel-forming characteristics of pectin have enabled to be used in pharmaceutical industry, health promotion and treatment. Yet, it has been rarely used in cosmetics because of its incompatibility with many cosmetic ingredients, including alcohols, and unstable viscosity of pectin gels under various pH and salt conditions. However, low-molecular-weight pectin oligomers have excellent biological activities, and depolymerization of pectin to produce cosmetic ingredients would be very useful. In this study, we attempted the development of cosmetic ingredients using pectin with an excellent effect on human skin. We developed a bio-conversion process that uses enzymatic hydrolysis to produce pectin hydrolysates containing mainly low-molecular-weight pectin oligomers. Gel permeation chromatography was used to determined the ratio of hydrolysis. The molecular weight of the pectin hydrolysates obtained varied between 200 and 2,700 Da. The two newly developed low-molecular-weight pectin hydrolysates, LMPH A and B, had higher anti-oxidative activities than pectin or D-galacturonic. Exposure to UVB radiation induces apoptotic cell death in epidermal cells. Annexin V binding and propidium iodide uptake were measured by flow cytometry to evaluate UVB-induced cell death in HaCaT cells. Both LMPH A and B reduced UVB-induced cell death and increased cell proliferation by 22% and 30% at 0.5% concentration respectively, while pectin had no significant activity. In conclusion, this study suggests that the newly developed low-molecular-weight pectin hydrolysates can be used as safe and biologically active cosmetic ingredients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권11호
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• pp.1559-1565
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• 2014

Cellulase and xylanase are main hydrolysis enzymes for the degradation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic biomass, respectively. In this study, our aim was to develop and test the efficacy of a rapid, high-throughput method to screen hydrolytic-enzyme-producing microbes. To accomplish this, we modified the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method for microwell plate-based screening. Targeted microbial samples were initially cultured on agar plates with both cellulose and xylan as substrates. Then, isolated colonies were subcultured in broth media containing yeast extract and either cellulose or xylan. The supernatants of the culture broth were tested with our modified DNS screening method in a 96-microwell plate, with a $200{\mu}l$ total reaction volume. In addition, the stability and reliability of glucose and xylose standards, which were used to determine the enzymatic activity, were studied at $100^{\circ}C$ for different time intervals in a dry oven. It was concluded that the minimum incubation time required for stable color development of the standard solution is 20 min. With this technique, we successfully screened 21 and 31 cellulase- and xylanase-producing strains, respectively, in a single experimental trial. Among the identified strains, 19 showed both cellulose and xylan hydrolyzing activities. These microbes can be applied to bioethanol production from cellulosic and hemicellulosic biomass.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.1521-1526
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• 2007

A maltogenic amylase gene from Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC33323 (LGMA) was expressed in Lactococcus lactis MG1363 using the P170 expression system. The successful production of recombinant LGMA (rLGMA) was confirmed by the catalytic activity of the enzyme in liquid and solid media. The N-terminal amino acid sequencing analysis of the rLGMA showed that it was Met-Gln-Leu-Ala-Ala-Leu-, which was the same as that of genuine protein, meaning the signal peptide was efficiently cleaved during secretion to the extracellular milieu. The optimal reaction temperature and pH of rLGMA ($55^{\circ}C$ and pH 5, respectively) and enzymatic hydrolysis patterns on various substrates (${\beta}$-cyclodextrin, starch, and pullulan) supported that rLGMA was not only efficiently secreted from the Lactococcus lactis MG1363 but was also functionally active. Finally, the branched maltooligosaccharides were effectively produced from liquefied com starch, by using rLGMA secreted from Lactococcus lactis, with a yield of 53.1%.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.46-54
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• 2013

Objective: This study was undertaken to isolate a fibrin(ogen)olytic enzyme from the snake venom of Gloydius blomhoffii siniticus and to investigate the enzymatic characteristics and hemorrhagic activity of the isolated enzyme as a potential pharmacopuncture agent. Methods: The fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated by using chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and fibrin plate assay. The characteristics of the enzyme were determined by using fibrin plate assay, protein hydrolysis analysis, and hemorrhage assay. Its amino acid composition was determined. Results: The fibrin(ogen)olytic enzyme with the molecular weight of 27 kDa (FE-27kDa) isolated from G. b. siniticus venom consisted of two heterogenous disulfide bond-linked polypeptides with the molecular weights of 15 kDa and 18 kDa. When more than $20{\mu}g$ of FE-27kDa was applied on the fibrin plate, fibrinolysis zone was formed as indicating its fibrinolytic activity. The fibrinolytic activity was inhibited completely by phenylmethanesulfonylfluoride (PMSF) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and partially by thiothreitol and cysteine. Metal ions such as $Hg^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$ inhibited the fibrinolytic activity completely, but $Mn^{2+}$ did not. FE-27kDa preferentially hydrolyzed ${\alpha}$-chain of fibrinogen and slowly hydrolyzed ${\beta}$-chain, but did not hydrolyze ${\gamma}$-chain. High-molecular-weight polypeptides of gelatin were hydrolyzed partially into polypeptides with molecular weights of more than 45 kDa. A dosage of more than $10{\mu}g$ of FE-27kDa per mouse was required to induce hemorrhage beneath the skin. Conclusion: FE-27kDa was a serine proteinase consisting of two heterogeneous polypeptides, hydrolyzed fibrin, fibrinogen, and gelatin, and caused hemorrhage beneath the skin of mouse. This study suggests that the potential of FE-27kDa as pharmacopuncture agent should be limited due to low fibrinolytic activity and a possible side effect of hemorrhage.