• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 1988

The present work was undertaken to investigated the purification and characterization of polyphenol oxidase (PPO ; EC 1.10.3.1) in sweet potato, particularly the number of PPO isozymes, and PPO properties such as pH optimum, heat stability, substrate specificity, kinetics, and inhibitor studies. The purification achieved was 23.1 fold from crude extract with a yield of 41.5%. Eight PPO isozymes and twelve PPO isozymes were detected by disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, respectively. The specific activity of each isozyme separated by isoelectric focusing was in the range of $6,000{\sim}46,700U/mg$. This enzyme was sweet below $65^{\circ}C$ and the pH optimum of PPO occurred at 6.0-6.5. The substrate specificity of sweet potato PPO showed the high affinity toward the odiphenolic compounds. Km and Vmax for catechol were found to be 6.7 mM and $20{\triangle}A/min$, me protein, respectively. Inhibitor studies indicated that dithiothreitol was the most potent among the inhibitors used in the present work.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2006

In this study, the growth kinetics of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactic acid production in continuous culture were assessed at a range of dilution rates $(0.05 h^{-1}\;to\;0.40h^{-1})$ using a 2L stirred tank fermenter with a working volume of 600ml. Unstructured models, predicated on the Monod and Luedeking-Piret equations, were employed to simulate the growth of the bacterium, glucose consumption, and lactic acid production at different dilution rates in continuous cultures. The maximum specific growth rate of L. rhamnosus, ${\mu}_{max}$, was estimated at $0.40h^{-1}$I, and the Monod cell growth saturation constant, Ks, at approximately 0.25g/L. Maximum cell viability $(1.3{\times}10^{10}CFU/ml)$ was achieved in the dilution rate range of $D=0.28h^{-1}\;to\;0.35h^{-1}$. Both maximum viable cell yield and productivity were achieved at $D=0.35h^{-1}$. The continuous cultivation of L. rhamnosus at $D=0.35h^{-1}$ resulted in substantial improvements in cell productivity, of 267% (viable cell count) that achieved via batch cultivation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1287-1291
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• 2009

The genes of cyanide hydratase(CHT), a kind of nitrilases whichhydrolyze cyanide to formamide were extracted from N. crassa and A. nidulans, the two fungal strains. The recombinant forms of the CHT originated from N. crassa and A. nidulans were prepared with N-terminal hexahistidine purificationtags or no tags, and expressed in E. coli. The enzymes were purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. They were compared according to their pH activity profiles, and kinetic parameters. The N. crassa CHT has the wider pH range of activity above 50% and three-fold higher turnover rate (6.6 ${\times}$ $10^8$ $min^{-1}$) than the A. nidulans, meanwhile the CHT of A. nidulans has the higher $K_m$ value. Expression of CHT in both N. crassa and A. nidulans were induced by the presence of KCN, regardless of any presence of nitrogen sources. Max. 82% of KCN was degraded in 60 min for biological degradation tests.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.549-555
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• 2006

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS, EC 2.2.1.6 also referred to as acetolactate synthase) catalyzes the first common step in the metabolic pathway leading to biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids in plants and microorganisms. Due to its presence in plants, AHAS is a target for the herbicides (sulfonylurea and imidazolinone), which act as potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Recently, we have shown [J. Kim, D.G. Baek, Y.T. Kim, J.D. Choi, M.Y. Yoon, Biochem. J. (2004) 384, 59-68] that the residues in the “mobile loop” 567-582 on the C-termini are involved in the binding/stabilization of the active dimer and ThDP (thiamin diphosphate) binding. In this study, we have demonstrated the role of the W573 in the mobile loop of the C-termini of tobacco AHAS. The substitution of this W573 residue caused significant perturbations in the activation process and in the binding site of ThDP. Position W573 plays a structurally important role in the binding of FAD, maintaining the enzyme active site in the required geometry for catalysis to occur. In here we propose that the tryptophan at position 573 is important for the catalytic process.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.519-524
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• 1996

Peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPlase) catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of prolyl peptide and facilitates the folding of cellular proteins and peptides. PPlase consists of two distinct immunophilins, each specifically binding to the immunosupressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK506, respectively. A PPlase was isolated and partially purified from porcine spleen. The molecular weight of porcine spleen PPlase was determined to be ~14,000 on the basis of SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme was strongly inhibited by FK506, but not by CsA. The inhibition constant and the true concentration of enzyme preparations were determined by active site titration using the tight binding inhibitor FK506: $K_{i}=18.7$ nM and $E_{t}=172$ nM. The equilibrium ratio of conformer. [cis]/[trans], of prolyl peptide substrates (N-Suc-Ala-Xaa-Pro-Phe-p-NA) in anhydrous trifluoroethanol/LiCl solvent system varied from 0.24 to 0.85 depending on the nature of Xaa. Overall. in this solvent-salt system, the populations of the cis conformer of substrates in equilibrium are higher than in an aqueous solution so that the substantial error caused by high background absorption can be reduced. The reactivities of porcine spleen PPlase are shown to be highly sensitive to changes in the structure of substrates. Thus, $k_{cat}/K_m$ value for the most reactive substrate (Xaa Leu) is $4.007+10^{6}M^{1}s^{1}$ and, is 2,636 fold higher than that for the least reactive peptide substrate tested, Xaa=Glu.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2014

N-acetylglucosamine kinase (GlcNAc kinase or NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59) is highly expressed and plays a critical role in the development of dendrites in brain neurons. In this study, the authors conducted structure-function analysis to verify the previously proposed 3D model structure of GlcNAc/ATP-bound NAGK. Three point NAGK mutants with different substrate binding capacities and reaction velocities were produced. Wild-type (WT) NAGK showed strong substrate preference for GlcNAc. Conversion of Cys143, which does not make direct hydrogen bonds with GlcNAc, to Ser (i.e., C143S) had the least affect on the enzymatic activity of NAGK. Conversion of Asn36, which plays a role in domain closure by making a hydrogen bond with GlcNAc, to Ala (i.e., N36A) mildly reduced NAGK enzyme activity. Conversion of Asp107, which makes hydrogen bonds with GlcNAc and would act as a proton acceptor during nucleophilic attack on the ${\gamma}$-phosphate of ATP, to Ala (i.e., D107A), caused a total loss in enzyme activity. The overexpression of EGFP-tagged WT or any of the mutant NAGKs in rat hippocampal neurons (DIV 5-9) increased dendritic architectural complexity. Finally, the overexpression of the small, but not of the large, domain of NAGK resulted in dendrite degeneration. Our data show the effect of structure on the functional aspects of NAGK, and in particular, that the small domain of NAGK, and not its NAGK kinase activity, plays a critical role in the upregulation of dendritogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1595-1605
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• 2023

Dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQD) catalyzes the conversion of 3-dehydroquinic acid (DHQ) into 3-dehydroshikimic acid in the mid stage of the shikimate pathway, which is essential for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and folates. Here, we report two the crystal structures of type II DHQD (CgDHQD) derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is a widely used industrial platform organism. We determined the structures for CgDHQD^WT with the citrate at a resolution of 1.80Å and CgDHQD^R19A with DHQ complexed forms at a resolution of 2.00 Å, respectively. The enzyme forms a homododecamer consisting of four trimers with three interfacial active sites. We identified the DHQ-binding site of CgDHQD and observed an unusual binding mode of citrate inhibitor in the site with a half-opened lid loop. A structural comparison of CgDHQD with a homolog derived from Streptomyces coelicolor revealed differences in the terminal regions, lid loop, and active site. Particularly, CgDHQD, including some Corynebacterium species, possesses a distinctive residue P105, which is not conserved in other DHQDs at the position near the 5-hydroxyl group of DHQ. Replacements of P105 with isoleucine and valine, conserved in other DHQDs, caused an approximately 70% decrease in the activity, but replacement of S103 with threonine (CgDHQD^S103T) caused a 10% increase in the activity. Our biochemical studies revealed the importance of key residues and enzyme kinetics for wild type and CgDHQD^S103T, explaining the effect of the variation. This structural and biochemical study provides valuable information for understanding the reaction efficiency that varies due to structural differences caused by the unique sequences of CgDHQD.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

New technologies will have a large impact on the discovery of new herbicide site of action. Genomics, combinatorial chemistry, and bioinformatics help take advantage of serendipity through tile sequencing of huge numbers of genes or the synthesis of large numbers of chemical compounds. There are approximately $10^{30}\;to\;10^{50}$ possible molecules in molecular space of which only a fraction have been synthesized. Combining this potential with having access to 50,000 plant genes in the future elevates tile probability of discovering flew herbicidal site of actions. If 0.1, 1.0 or 10% of total genes in a typical plant are valid for herbicide target, a plant with 50,000 genes would provide about 50, 500, and 5,000 targets, respectively. However, only 11 herbicide targets have been identified and commercialized. The successful design of novel herbicides depends on careful consideration of a number of factors including target enzyme selections and validations, inhibitor designs, and the metabolic fates. Biochemical information can be used to identify enzymes which produce lethal phenotypes. The identification of a lethal target site is an important step to this approach. An examination of the characteristics of known targets provides of crucial insight as to the definition of a lethal target. Recently, antisense RNA suppression of an enzyme translation has been used to determine the genes required for toxicity and offers a strategy for identifying lethal target sites. After the identification of a lethal target, detailed knowledge such as the enzyme kinetics and the protein structure may be used to design potent inhibitors. Various types of inhibitors may be designed for a given enzyme. Strategies for the selection of new enzyme targets giving the desired physiological response upon partial inhibition include identification of chemical leads, lethal mutants and the use of antisense technology. Enzyme inhibitors having agrochemical utility can be categorized into six major groups: ground-state analogues, group specific reagents, affinity labels, suicide substrates, reaction intermediate analogues, and extraneous site inhibitors. In this review, examples of each category, and their advantages and disadvantages, will be discussed. The target identification and construction of a potent inhibitor, in itself, may not lead to develop an effective herbicide. The desired in vivo activity, uptake and translocation, and metabolism of the inhibitor should be studied in detail to assess the full potential of the target. Strategies for delivery of the compound to the target enzyme and avoidance of premature detoxification may include a proherbicidal approach, especially when inhibitors are highly charged or when selective detoxification or activation can be exploited. Utilization of differences in detoxification or activation between weeds and crops may lead to enhance selectivity. Without a full appreciation of each of these facets of herbicide design, the chances for success with the target or enzyme-driven approach are reduced.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.598-606
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• 2001

A mathematical model is proposed that can depict the kinetics of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using steam-exploded wood(SEW) with a glucose- and cellobiose-fermenting yeast strain. Brettanomyces custersii. An expression to describe the reduction of the relative digestibility during the hydrolysis of the SEW is introduced in the hydrolysis model. The fermentation model also takes two new factors into account, that is, the effects of the inhibitory compounds present in the SEW hydrolysates on the microorganism and the fermenting ability of Brettanomyces custersii, which can use both glucose and cellobiose as carbon sources. The model equations were used to simulate the hydrolysis of the SEW, the fermentation of the SEW hydrolysates, and a batch SSF, and the results were compared with the experimental data. The model was found to be capable of representing ethanol production over a range of substrate concentrations. Accordingly, the limiting factors in ethanol production by SSF under the high concentration of the SEW were identified as the effect of inhibitory compounds present in the SEW, the enzyme deactivation, and a limitation in the digestibility based on the physical condition of the substrate.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 1986

Twenty six urea analogues, most of which have already been approved for human use, were tested for their antiurease activity in vitro. Cell-free extracts obtained from a clinical isolate of Proteus mirabilis was used as the source of enzyme. Acetohydroxamic acid which is a proven potent urease inhibitor but not approved for human use was again shown to be the most active compound among the tested. Phenacemide, cycloserine, and deferoxamine were demonstrated to be moderate inhibitors. Oxtetracycline, trimethoprim, and cefamandole revealed a demonstrable antiruease activity, but only at very high concentrations. The antiurease activity of cycloserine, trimethoprim, and cefamandole was pH dependent-only active at acidic pH. The inhibitory activity of acetohydroxamic acid however was independent of change in pH. The inhibitory activity of acetohydroxamic acid however was independent of change in pH. Hydrogen ion concentration plays an important role in urease activity and acidification (pH 5. 5) alone eliminates approximately 65% of the enzymic activity. Adjustment of pH therefore appears to be an important adjunct in reducing unrease activity and should always be studied to maximize the effcacy of antiurease compounds under investigation.