• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.519-526
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• 1992

The gene coding for urease of alkalophilic Bacillus pasteurii had been cloned in Escherichia coli previously. The urease protein was purified 63.1-fold by TEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-150 and Sephadex G-200 chromatographies with a 7.3% yield from the sonicated fluid of the E. coli HB1Ol(pBUll) encoding B. pasteurii urease gene. The ureases of E. coli (pBUll) and B. pasteurii possessed as a $K_m$ for urea, 42.1 mM and 40.4 mM, respectively. They hydrolyzed urea with $V_{max}$ of 86.9$\mu$mol/min and 160$\mu$mol/min, respectively. Both ureases were composed with four subunits (Mrs 67,000) and a subunit (Mr 20,000). The molecular weight of both native enzymes was Mr 280,OOO$pm$10,000 determined by gel filtration chromatography and Coomassie blue staining of the subunits. The optimal reaction pH of both ureases were pH 7.5. The ureases were stabled in pH 5.5-10.5. The optimal reaction temperature of both ureases were $60^{\circ}C$, and the ureases were stable for an hour at $50^{\circ}C$, 40min at $60^{\circ}C$ and 10 min at $70^{\circ}C$ The activity of both enzymes were inhibited completely by $Ag^{2+}$, $Hg^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and were inhibited 60% by CoH, 30% by $Fe^{2+}$ and 10% by $Pb^{2+}$. However it was increased by the addition of $Sn^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ at concentration of $1{\times}10^{-3}$M. Both ureases were inhibited completely by p-CMB and acetohydroxamic acid. The urease expressed in E. coli (pBU11) was inhibited 70% by SDS. The urease of B. pasteurii was inhibited 40% by hydroxyurea, whereas the recombinant urease of E. coli strain was inhibited 17%. Both enzymes were not inhibited by cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) and ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2013

Gene set analysis is a powerful tool for interpreting a genome-wide association study result and is gaining popularity these days. Comparison of the gene sets obtained for a variety of traits measured from a single genetic epidemiology dataset may give insights into the biological mechanisms underlying these traits. Based on the previously published single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data on 8,842 individuals enrolled in the Korea Association Resource project, we performed a series of systematic genome-wide association analyses for 49 quantitative traits of basic epidemiological, anthropometric, or blood chemistry parameters. Each analysis result was subjected to subsequent gene set analyses based on Gene Ontology (GO) terms using gene set analysis software, GSA-SNP, identifying a set of GO terms significantly associated to each trait ($p_{corr}$ < 0.05). Pairwise comparison of the traits in terms of the semantic similarity in their GO sets revealed surprising cases where phenotypically uncorrelated traits showed high similarity in terms of biological pathways. For example, the pH level was related to 7 other traits that showed low phenotypic correlations with it. A literature survey implies that these traits may be regulated partly by common pathways that involve neuronal or nerve systems.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.323-332
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• 2017

Homology-specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing, an intrinsic mechanism of gene regulation in most eukaryotes, can be induced by anti-sense, co-suppression, or hairpin-based double-stranded RNA. Hairpin-based RNA interference (RNAi) has been applied to analyze gene function and genetically modify crops. However, RNAi vector construction usually requires high-cost cloning steps and large amounts of time, or involves methods that are protected by intellectual property rights. We describe a more effective method for generating intron-spliced RNAi constructs. To produce intron-spliced hairpin RNA, an RNAi cassette was ligated with the first intron and splicing sequences of the Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis histone deacetylase 1 gene. This method requires a single ligation of the PCR-amplified target gene to SpeI-NcoI and SacI-BglII enzyme sites to create a gene-specific silencing construct. We named the resulting binary vector system pKHi and verified its functionality by constructing a vector to silence DIHYDROFLAVONOL 4-REDUCTASE (DFR), transforming it into tobacco plants, and confirming DFR gene-silencing via PCR, RT-qPCR, and analysis of the accumulation of small interfering RNAs. Reduction of anthocyanin biosynthesis was also confirmed by analyzing flower color of the transgenic tobacco plants. This study demonstrates that small interfering RNAs generated through the pKHi vector system can efficiently silence target genes and could be used in developing genetically modified crops.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp) and control region (803 bp) of Siberian flying squirrels from Korea (Pteromys volans aluco) and Mt. Changbai of northeast China (P. v. arsenjevi) were obtained to reexamine the taxonomic status of the Korean subspecies. In the cytochrome b gene, six haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi, and in control region, seven haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi. Furthermore, six haplotypes of cytochrome b gene of P. v. aluco from this study formed a clade with four haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi in far-east Russia obtained from GenBank. We also investigated the research papers previously published that reported the length of tail vertebrae of P. volans, and found that the length was not sufficiently large as to be a key character of P. v. aluco. This result is not consistent with morphological description for its haplotype. Therefore, we conclude that P. v. aluco from Korea might possibly be a synonym of P. v. arsenjevi from northeast China and nearby Russia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 1991

We have constructed a promoter-probe vector pKU20 using pKT230, a derivative of broad-host-range plsmid RSF1010, as a base. The pKU20 contains structural gene for aminoglycoside phos-photransferase (aph), without promoter, and a multiple cloning site upstream the aph. Using this vector, a 412base pairs (bp) PstI fragment showing strong promoter activity both in Escherichia coli LE392 and Pseudomonas putida KCTC1644 has been cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens chromosomal DNA on the basis of streptomycin resistance. The nucleotide sequence of the 412 bp fragment has been determined and the putative - 35 and -10 region was observed. Insecticidal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 inserted on downstream of the promoterlike DNA fragment was efficiently expressed in E. coli and P. putida. The toxin protein was efficiently synthesized in an insoluble form in both strains.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2004

The change of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, O-J-I-P transients and psbA gene expression were investigated in the leaves of Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum on the natural condition in winter, in order to elucidate physiological responses of photosystem II (PS II) activity to winter stresses. The photochemical efficiencies of PS II, Fv/Fm, were significantly low in winter, contrary to its high value in summer. The values of I -qN and I-qP were lower in midday than at dawn or night both in summer and winter, although their decrease in midday was less in winter than in summer. In the O-J-I-P transients, the fluorescence intensity of J, I, P-step decreased remarkably depending on temperature drop in winter. And the D I reaction center protein of PS II decreased in late winter more than in early winter, concomitantly with relatively high content of description products of psbA gene in midday. These results indicate that low temperature in winter causes irreversible damage to PS II and subsequently leads to cell death.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.694-698
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• 2006

Several marine bacterial strains were isolated from Undaria pinnatifida (Miyok in Korean). Sixty-six strains were isolated on R2A agar media at $10^{\circ}C$ and identified by a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. They were grouped into 10 different sequence types based on the initial sequence analysis of the 5' domain of the gene (approximately 500 bp). Full sequences of 16S rRNA gene, were obtained from one strain in each sequence type and the species-affiliation was determined using phylogenetic and sequence similarity analyses. The results of the analyses indicated that they were closely related to Psychrobacter aquimaris, P. celer, P. nivimaris, P. pulmonis, Psychromonas arctica or Bacillus psychrodurans. These bacteria are marine or psychrotrophic bacteria. Because the sporophytes of U. pinnatifida are cultured on the costal area during winter, the U. pinnatifida-associated bacteria appeared to grow at low temperatures. U. pinnatifida sporophytes can be a good source for the isolation of psychrotrophic bacteria.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the genotype frequencies of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms and to investigate their association with the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm Korean infants. Methods: Two hundred fourteen preterm infants born at Ewha Womans University Mok Dong Hospital between November 2003 and July 2008 were studied. The cord blood of preterm neonates and the corresponding maternal blood were analyzed by PCR for IL-10 gene (IL-10 -1082A/G, -819T/C, and -592A/C) polymorphisms. The clinical data of patients were collected retrospectively by chart review. Results: The genotype frequencies of IL-10 genes in Korean mothers with preterm infants differ from other reports. The prevalence of two promoter SNPs of the IL-10 cytokine gene was similar but none had the IL-10-1082GG homozygote. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated the risk of RDS to be significantly lower in the infants of the mothers with an IL-10-592AC/CC genotype than in those with an AA genotype (P=0.033). The risk of RDS was significantly lower in the mother with an IL-10-819TC/CC genotype than in those with a TT genotype (P=0.030). However, IL-10 polymorphisms in the cord blood were not significantly different in preterm infants with RDS compared with the preterm infants without RDS. When we compared the incidence of RDS and each IL-10A-1082G/T-819C/A-592C haplotype, the ACC haplotype had a protective effect on RDS (P=0.007). Conclusion: We conclude that the maternal IL-10-592A/C and IL-10-819T/C polymorphisms may have a role in the development of the RDS in preterm infants.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.730-735
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• 2012

p13 gene was first described in Leucania separata multinuclear polyhedrosis virus (Ls-p13) several years ago, but the function of P13 protein has not been experimentally investigated to date. In this article, we indicated that the expression of p13 from Heliothis armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (Ha-p13) was regulated by both early and late promoter. Luciferase assay demonstrated that the activity of Ha-p13 promoter with hr4 enhancer was more than 100 times in heterologous Sf9 cells than that in nature host Hz-AM1 cells. Both Ls-P13 and Ha-P13 are transmembrane proteins. Confocal microscopic analysis showed that both mainly located in the cytoplasm membrane at 48 h. Results of RNA interference indicated that Ha-p13 was a killing-associated gene for host insects H. armigera. The AcMNPV acquired the mentioned killing activity and markedly accelerate the killing rate when expressing Ls-p13. In conclusion, p13 is a killing associated gene in both homologous and heterologous nucleopolyhedrovirus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.678-682
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• 2010

The deletion of sti from the Streptomyces plasmid pIJ101 made its derivative pHZ1358 an efficient vector for gene disruption and replacement. Here, pHZ1358 was further optimized by the construction of a derivative plasmid pJTU1278, in which a cassette carrying multiple cloning sites and a lacZ selection marker were introduced for convenient plasmid construction in E. coli. In addition, the oriT region of pJTU1278 was also deleted, generating a vector (pJTU1289) that can be used specifically for PCR-targeting. The efficient usage of these vectors was demonstrated by the deletion of the gene involved in avermectin biosynthesis in S. avermitilis.