• KSBB Journal
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.298-301
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• 2006

트레할로스 합성효소(trehalose synthase)의 효율적인 생산을 위하여, 5 종류의 plasmid를 형질전환 시킨 재조합 E. coli를 이용하여 균체생산량과 효소발현량을 비교하였다. Trehalose synthase의 활성은 fusion partner를 이용한 system 에서는 활성이 나타나지 않았으며, IPTG 유도 발현 시스템보다 항시적 발현 시스템을 사용하는 E. coli K12/pHCETS에서 가장 높은 활성을 나타내었다. 선별된 재조합 E. coli K12/pHCETS를 사용하여 회분식 및 유가배양을 수행하였으며, 유가식 배양의 경우 균체논도는 20 g/L, 최종 trehalose synthase 활성은 13.7 U/ml을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과는 트레할로스 생산을 위한 trehalose synthase가 재조합 E. coli의 발효에 의해 경제적으로 생산되어질 수 있다는 가능성을 보여 주었다.

• Mycobiology
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.473-482
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• 2019

Rice blast disease, caused by the ascomycete fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most important diseases in rice production. PAS (period circadian protein, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator protein, single-minded protein) domains are known to be involved in signal transduction pathways, but their functional roles have not been well studied in fungi. In this study, targeted gene deletion was carried out to investigate the functional roles of the PAS-containing gene MoPAS1 (MGG_02665) in M. oryzae. The deletion mutant ΔMopas1 exhibited easily wettable mycelia, reduced conidiation, and defects in appressorium formation and disease development compared to the wild type and complemented transformant. Exogenous cAMP restored appressorium formation in ΔMopas1, but the shape of the restored appressorium was irregular, indicating that MoPAS1 is involved in sensing the hydrophobic surface. To examine the expression and localization of MoPAS1 in M. oryzae during appressorium development and plant infection, we constructed a MoPAS1:GFP fusion construct. MoPAS1:GFP was observed in conidia and germ tubes at 0 and 2 h post-infection (hpi) on hydrophobic cover slips. By 8 hpi, most of the GFP signal was observed in the appressoria. During invasive growth in host cells, MoPAS1:GFP was found to be fully expressed in not only the appressoria but also invasive hyphae, suggesting that MoPAS may contribute to disease development in host cells. These results expand our knowledge of the roles of PAS-containing regulatory genes in the plant-pathogenic fungus M. oryzae.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.371-379
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• 2006

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a single-stranded negative sense RNA virus, which has been classified as a member of the Avulavirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae family. It is also one of the most important pathogens in the poultry industry. The glycoproteins, fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), determine the virulence of NDV, and the relevant molecular structures have already been determined. NDV isolates differ in terms of virulence, and at least 2 of 9 genotypes (I-IX) have been shown to co-circulate. Therefore, it is clearly important to differentiate between vaccine strains and field isolates. In vivo pathogenicity tests have been the standard protocol for some time, but molecular methods appear preferable in terms of the rapidity of diagnosis, as well as animal welfare concerns. In this study, we have designed primer sets from HN gene for phylogenetic analysis and restriction enzyme analysis, and from F gene for pathotype-specific RT-PCR. Via the combination of 2 methods, 106 Korean NDV isolates obtained from 1980 to 2005 were differentiated into vaccine strains, and virulent genotypes VI and VII. The genotype VI viruses were only rarely isolated after 1999, and genotype VII, after it was initially isolated from poultry in 1995, recurred in 2000, and then became the main NDV constituting a threat to the Korean poultry industry.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.49-58
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• 1997

Engralied 5.7kb upstream sequence와 E. colilacZ의 융합 유전자를 가진 P[en-lacZ] 인자를 jumpstart 기법을 이용하여, ryXho25 strain의 초파리 48A 염색체 위치로부터 새로운 위치로 삽입하였다. 총 3315의 유전적 교배를 통해서, P[en-lacZ] 가 다른 염색체 상으로 삽인된 113 계통을 얻었다. X-gal 염색으로 이들 113 계통의 3령기 유충 조직에서의 $\beta$-galactosidase 발현을 조사하였다. 도한 113 계통 중 7계통이 열성치사돌연변이인 것으로 동정되었다. 이들 7 계통 중 초기 배발생 과정에서 치사하는 것으로 조사된 #1119의 초기 배발생 과정에서의 ${\beta}$-galactosidase 발현과 핵의 이동 및 세포화 양상을 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 얻어진 P[en-lacZ] 삽입 돌연변이체들은 앞으로 Drosophila 발생에 관련된 유전자들의 구조와 기능을 연구하는데 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.598-606
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• 2003

Salmonella encodes an enterotoxin (Stn) which possesses biological activity similar to the cholera toxin. Stn contributes significantly to the overall virulence of S. typhimurium in a murine model. The production of Stn is enhanced in a high-osmolarity medium and by contact with epithelial cells. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo transcriptional regulations of the sin promoter revealed two promoters, P1 and P2. The P1 promoter identified by a primer extension analysis of stn mRNA exhibited a switching mechanism in vivo. Depending on the growth stage, transcription was initiated from different start sites termed $P1_S\;and\;P1_E$. $P1_S$, recognized by RNA polymerase containing ${\sigma}^S(E{\sigma}^S),\;and\;P1_E$, recognized by $E{\sigma}^70$, were activated during the stationary and exponential phases, respectively, while $P1_S\;and\;P1_E$ were both negatively regulated by CRPㆍcAMP and H-NS. Results revealed that $P1_S$ was the responsible promoter activated under a high osmolarity and low pH. The P2 promoter was identified 45 nucleotides downstream from $P1_E$ and negatively controlled by CRPㆍcAMP in vitro. No P2 activity was detected in vivo. The regulation of stn expression monitored using a Pstn::egfp fusion indicated that $E{\sigma}^S$ was required for the induction of stn and various factors were involved in stn regulation inside animal cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.783-793
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• 2019

When endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions are perturbed, the ER induces several signaling pathways called unfolded protein response to reestablish ER homeostasis through three ER transmembrane proteins: inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Although it is important to measure the activity of ATF6 that can indicate the status of the ER, no specific cell-based reporter assay is currently available. Here, we report a new cell-based method for monitoring ER stress based on the cleavage of $ATF6{\alpha}$ by sequential actions of proteases at the Golgi apparatus during ER stress. A new expressing vector was constructed by using fusion gene of GAL4 DNA binding domain (GAL4DBD) and activation domain derived from herpes simplex virus VP16 protein (VP16AD) followed by a human $ATF6{\alpha}$ N-terminal deletion variant. During ER stress, the GAL4DBD-VP16AD(GV)-$hATF6{\alpha}$ deletion variant was cleaved to liberate active transcription activator encompassing GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment which could translocate into the nucleus. The translocated GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment strongly induced the expression of firefly luciferase in HeLa Luciferase Reporter cell line containing a stably integrated 5X GAL4 site-luciferase gene. The established double stable reporter cell line HLR-GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$(333) represents an innovative tool to investigate regulated intramembrane proteolysis of $ATF6{\alpha}$. It can substitute active pATF6(N) binding motif-based reporter cell lines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.274-282
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• 2019

Mercury-resistant ($Hg^R$) bacteria were isolated from heavy metal polluted wastewater and soil collected near to tanneries of district Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial isolates AZ-1, AZ-2 and AZ-3 showed resistance up to $40{\mu}g/ml$ against mercuric chloride ($HgCl_2$). 16S rDNA ribotyping and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the characterization of selected isolates as Bacillus sp. AZ-1 (KT270477), Bacillus cereus AZ-2 (KT270478) and Bacillus cereus AZ-3 (KT270479). Phylogenetic relationship on the basis of merA nucleotide sequence confirmed 51-100% homology with the corresponding region of the merA gene of already reported mercury-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The merE gene involved in the transportation of elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) via cell membrane was cloned for the first time into pHLV vector and transformed in overexpressed C43(DE3) E. coli cells. The recombinant plasmid (pHLMerE) was expressed and the native MerE protein was obtained after thrombin cleavage by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The purification of fusion/recombinant and native protein MerE by Ni-NTA column, dialysis and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC/SEC) involved unfolding/refolding techniques. A small-scale reservoir of wastewater containing $30{\mu}g/ml$ of $HgCl_2$ was designed to check the detoxification ability of selected strains. It resulted in 83% detoxification of mercury by B. cereus AZ-2 and B. cereus AZ-3, and 76% detoxification by Bacillus sp. AZ-1 respectively (p < 0.05).

• 공업화학
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.557-562
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• 2022

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a mucopolysaccharide, occurring naturally in living organisms. It is one of the most hydrophilic molecules, so it has been known as being related to skin hydration and skin aging. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Cimicifuga heracleifolia ethanol extract on the hyaluronic acid synthesis and the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity. To determine cytotoxicity, hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2) gene expression, HA production and, hyaluronidase inhibitory effects, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-ly)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, real time - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), hyaluronic acid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (HA-ELISA), and hyaluronidase assay were used, respectively. When the Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract was treated in the HaCaT cells up to 500 ㎍/mL concentration, cytotoxicity was confirmed by the Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract at concentrations above 200 ㎍/mL. Therefore, the optimum concentration of all experiments used in this study was determined to be 200 ㎍/mL. HAS2 gene expression increased by Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract in a concentration-dependent manner at all treatment concentrations. The production rate of HA was tended to decrease at the highest concentration of 200 ㎍/mL. The hyaluronidase activity inhibition effect of Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract was very high compared to the control group. Based on these results, Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract was expected to have a moisturizing effect on human skin and special attention should be paid to the determination of the concentration of Cimicifuga heracleifolia when developing cosmetic materials using it.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1.1-1.6
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• 2024

IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) was originally discovered in 1999 while attempting to identify an IL-18 receptor ligand binding chain (also known as IL-18Rα) by subjecting concentrated human urine to an IL-18 ligand affinity column. The IL-18 ligand chromatography purified molecule was analyzed by protein microsequencing. The result revealed a novel 40 amino acid polypeptide. To isolate the complete open reading frame (ORF), various human and mouse cDNA libraries were screened using cDNA probe derived from the novel IL-18 affinity column bound molecule. The identified entire ORF gene was thought to be an IL-18Rα gene. However, IL-18BP has been proven to be a unique soluble antagonist that shares homology with a variety of viral proteins that are distinct from the IL-18Rα and IL-18Rβ chains. The IL-18BP cDNA was used to generate recombinant IL-18BP (rIL-18BP), which was indispensable for characterizing the role of IL-18BP in vitro and in vivo. Mammalian cell lines were used to produce rIL-18BP due to its glycosylation-dependent activity of IL-18BP (approximately 20 kDa). Various forms of rIL-18BP, intact, C-terminal his-tag, and Fc fusion proteins were produced for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Data showed potent neutralization of IL-18 activity, which seems promising for clinical application in immune diseases involving IL-18. However, it was a long journey from discovery to clinical use although there have been various clinical trials since IL-18BP was discovered in 1999. This review primarily covers the discovery of IL-18BP along with how basic research influences the clinical development of IL-18BP.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

벼는 중요한 식량작물이며 지속적으로 벼흰잎마름병균, 도열병균, 잎집무늬마름병균, 바이러스 등 여러 병원균에 의해 수확량이 영향을 받고 있다. 이들 중 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo)에 의해 유발되는 벼흰잎마름병은 세계 벼 재배지역에 발병하여 막대한 피해를 주고 있어 문제가 되고 있다. 따라서 생물적/비생물적 스트레스 저항성에 관여한다고 알려져 있는 식물 특이 전사인자 중의 하나인 NAC(NAM, ATAF, and CUC) 전사인자를 이용하여 벼의 벼흰잎마름병에 대한 저항성을 증진시키고자 하였다. 본 연구에서는 벼에서 NAC 전사인자 중 하나인 OsNAC58 유전자를 분리해 냈으며 아미노산 서열을 바탕으로 분석해 본 결과이 유전자는 5개의 NAC전사인자 group 중에서도 stress와 많은 관련이 있다고 알려진 group III에 속하였다. 또한 세포 내 위치를 확인하기 위해 GFP와 융합한 단백질을 이용해 조사해 본 세포 내에서도 핵에 위치하는 것으로 조사되었다. OsNAC58 유전자의 생물학적 기능 분석을 위해 이 유전자를 과발현시킨 벼 형질전환체를 만들었다. 동진벼를 기준으로 보다 발현이 높은 13개 계통을 선발하였으며, 이들 계통에 벼흰잎마름병균을 접종하여 병저항성을 검정한 결과 동진벼에 비해 벼흰잎마름병에 대한 저항성이 크게 증대함을 보였다. 이것은 벼의 OsNAC58 유전자가 벼흰잎마름병균 침입 시 숙주인 벼 핵 내에서 벼의 병저항성 기작을 조절하여 나타난 결과로 추정된다.