• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.21-29
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• 2016

The sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1), which functions in maintaining the ratio of $Na^+$ and $H^+$ ions, is widely distributed in cell plasma membranes. It plays a prominent role in pH balancing, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. However, its exact subcellular location and biological functions in Toxoplasma gondii are largely unclear. In this study, we cloned the C-terminal sequence of T. gondii NHE1 (TgNHE1) incorporating the C-terminal peptide of NHE1 (C-NHE1) into the pGEX4T-1 expression plasmid. The peptide sequence was predicted to have good antigenicity based on the information obtained from an immune epitope database. After induction of heterologous gene expression with isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactoside, the recombinant C-NHE1 protein successfully expressed in a soluble form was purified by glutathione sepharose beads as an immunogen for production of a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. The specificity of this antiserum was confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The antiserum could reduce T. gondii invasion into host cells, indicated by the decreased TgNHE1 expression in T. gondii parasites that were pre-incubated with antiserum in the process of cell entry. Furthermore, the antiserum reduced the virulence of T. gondii parasites to host cells in vitro, possibly by blocking the release of $Ca^{2+}$. In this regard, this antiserum has potential to be a valuable tool for further studies of TgNHE1.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

In order to reveal the aluminum (Al) stress tolerance mechanisms in alfalfa plant at low pH soil, a proteomic approach has been conducted. Alfalfa plants were exposed to Al stress for 5 days. The plant growth and total chlorophyll content are greatly affected by Al stress. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and $H_2O_2$ contents were increased in a low amount but free proline and soluble sugar contents, and the DPPH-radical scavenging activity were highly increased. These results indicate that antioxidant activity (DPPH activity) and osmoprotectants (proline and sugar) may involve in ROS ($H_2O_2$) homeostasis under Al stress. In proteomic analysis, over 500 protein spots were detected by 2-dimentional gel electrophoresis analysis. Total 17 Al stress-induced proteins were identified, of which 8 protein spots were up-regulated and 9 were down-regulated. The differential expression patterns of protein spots were selected and analyzed by the peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) using MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Three protein spots corresponding to Rubisco were significantly down-regulated whereas peroxiredoxin and glutamine synthetase were up-regulated in response to Al stress. The different regulation patterns of identified proteins were involved in energy metabolism and antioxidant / ROS detoxification during Al stress in alfalfa. Taken together, these results provide new insight to understand the molecular mechanisms of alfalfa plant in terms of Al stress tolerance.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.293-298
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• 2001

Tryptic activation of the 130-kDa Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4B $\delta$-endotoxin produced protease-resistant products of ca. 47 kDa and ca. 21 kDa. The 21-kDa fragment was identified as the N-terminal five-helix bundle (${\alpha}1-{\alpha}5$,) which is a potential candidate for membrane insertion and pore formation. In this study, we constructed the recombinant clone over-expressing this putative pore-forming (PPF) fragment as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. The partially purified inclusions were composed of a 23-kDa protein, which cross-reacted with Cry4B antibodies, and whose N-terminus was identical to that of the 130-kDa protein. Dissimilar to protoxin inclusions, the PPF inclusions were only soluble when the carbonate buffer, pH 9.0, was supplemented with 6 M urea. After renaturation via a stepwise dialysis, the refolded PPF protein appeared to exist as an oligomer and was structurally stable upon trypsin treatment. Unlike the 130kDa protoxin, the refolded protein was able to release entrapped glucose from liposomes, and showed comparable activity to the full-length activated toxin, although it lacks larvicidal activity These results, therefore, support the notion that the PPF fragment that consists of ${\alpha}1-{\alpha}5$ of the activated Cry4B toxin is involved in membrane pore-formation.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.442-448
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• 2006

Human lactoferrin (hLf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that has been considered to play many biological roles in the human, including the stimulation of the immune system, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, and regulation of iron absorption. We generated transgenic Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) cell cultures producing a functional hLf protein using the signal peptide sequence from the endoplasmic reticulum and driven by an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter which is highly expressed in plant cell cultures. The production of hLf increased proportionally to cell growth and showed a maximal level (up to 3.6% of total soluble protein) at the stationary phase in suspension cultures. Full-length hLf protein was identified by immunoblot analysis in transgenic cell cultures of Siberian ginseng. Recombinant hLf (rhLf) was purified from suspension cells of Siberian ginseng by ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. N-terminal sequences of rhLf were identical to native hLf (nhLf). The overall monosaccharide composition of rhLf showed the presence of plant specific xylose while sialic acid is absent. Antibacterial activity of purified rhLf was higher than that of nhLf. Taken together, we anticipate that medicinal Siberian ginseng cultured cells, as demonstrated by this study, will be a biotechnologically useful source for commercial production of functional hLf not requiring further purification.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.311-318
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• 2013

The gene encoding an esterase from Photobacterium sp. MA1-3 was cloned in Escherichia coli using the shotgun method. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence (948 bp) corresponded to a protein of 315 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 35 kDa and a pI of 6.06. The deduced protein showed 74% and 68% amino acid sequence identities with the putative esterases from Photobacterium profundum SS9 and Photobacterium damselae, respectively. Absence of a signal peptide indicated that it was a cell-bound protein. Sequence analysis showed that the protein contained the signature G-X-S-X-G included in most serine-esterases and lipases. The MA1-3 esterase was produced in both soluble and insoluble forms when E. coli cells harboring the gene were cultured at $18^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was a serine-esterase and was active against $C_2$, $C_4$, $C_8$ and $C_{10}$ p-nitrophenyl esters. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were pH 8.0 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Relative activity remained up to 45% even at $5^{\circ}C$ with an activation energy of 7.69 kcal/mol, which indicated that it was a cold-adapted enzyme. Enzyme activity was inhibited by $Cd^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Hg^{2+}$ ions.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

Cloning, sequencing and expressing in E. coli of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) strain F was investigated. The TK gene, located in the BamHI 3.74 kb DNA fragment of the plasmid pHLA-12, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 1,131 kb PCR product was cloned into the BamHI and EcoRI sites of pBacPAK9 plasmid and then named pBac-TK recombinant. The TK gene was subcloned into the BamHI and BglII sites of pQE-30, and named pQE-TK recombinant. The nucleotide sequence of the 1,131 kb TK gene was determined, and the GC content was 65.13%. There were deduced 367 amino acid residues with a total molecular weight of 43 kDa. The weight was confirmed by the protein produced by E. coli M15/pQE-TK on the SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The production of the TK protein in the IPTG induced cells was measured over 4 h. At the end of 1, 2 and 3 h the level increased by 146, 204 and 242%, respectively. The amount of the protein at the highest fraction purified with Ni-NTA resin chromatography was $0.68\;{\mu}g$ per ml. The soluble state TK protein was present in the cytoplasm. In these results the F strain was different in base sequence and amino acid sequence from that of the CL101 strain, which caused difference in their strains.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.290-298
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• 2007

연구배경: 흉수는 다양한 원인에 의하여 생성되며 임상적으로 여출액과 삼출액으로 구분하게 되며 삼출액일 경우에는 그 원인 질환들을 감별해야 하나 적용할 만한 표지자가 많지 않다. Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells(sTREM-1)는 면역글로블린의 일종으로 세균이나 진균 감염에서 증가된다고 보고되어 있으며 활성화된 탐식세포에서 떨어져 나와 체액에서도 수용성 상태로 발견될 수 있다. 저자들은 흉수에서 sTREM-1의 측정이 흉수의 감별 진단에 유용한지와 감염성 질환에 의한 흉수에 대한 표지자로서 유용한지에 대한 가능성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2004년 3월부터 2005년 12월까지 흉수를 주소로 내원한 환자들에서 흉수의 세포 수 및 백혈구 분획, 생화학적 검사(pH, protein, LDH, glucose), 세포진 검사, ADA, 미생물학적 검사 결과 이외에 sTREM-1을 측정하였다. 대상환자는 48명으로 남:여 각각 27:21명이었고, 평균 연령은 59세였다. 최종 진단은 암성 흉수는 13명, 결핵성 흉수는 14명, 부폐렴성 흉수는 17명, 여출성 흉수는 4명이었다. 결과: 흉수의 sTREM-1은 부폐렴성 흉수에서 $344.0{\pm}488.7pg/mL$로 결핵성 흉수($81.7{\pm}56.6pg/mL$)와 악성 흉수($39.3{\pm}19.6pg/mL$)보다 높게 측정되었다. 부폐렴성 흉수에 대한 sTREM-1의 ROC 곡선 결과 55.4 pg/mL에서 민감도와 특이도가 각각 70.6%와 74.1%로 측정되었다. 또한 흉수 sTREM-1은 흉수의 호중구수, 흉수 LDH, 흉수/혈청 LDH, 흉수 ADA와 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 결론: 흉수의 sTREM-1은 부폐렴성 흉수에서 다른 원인의 흉수에서보다 유의하게 상승되어 부폐렴성 흉수의 표지자로서 유용하였으며 기존의 진단 표지자에 더하여 흉수의 감별진단에 유용할 것으로 생각된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.492-498
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• 2019

기존 연구를 통하여 토양에서 분리한 Acinetobacter schindleri DYL129로부터 3개의 lipase 유전자(lipAD1, lipAD2와 lipAD3)들과 1개의 chaperone (lipBD) 유전자를 보고하였다. 본 연구에서는 각 유전자들의 발현을 위해서 pET32a(+)와 pGEX-6P-1 벡터에 클로닝하여 각각을 pETLAD1-3와 pETLBD 또는 pGEXLAD1-3와 pGEXLB로 명명하였으며, 단백질의 발현량은 pET 시스템을 사용할 때 1.5 배 정도 향상됨을 확인하였다. LipAD1과 LipAD2는 inclusion body 형태로 발현이 되었으며, LipAD3과 LipBD는 soluble type으로도 발현되었다. Inclusion body 형태의 LipAD1과 LipAD2는 고농도의 우레아를 처리하여 refolding 시켰다. LipAD1은 C4와 C2를, LipAD2는 C2와 C14를 그리고 lipAD3은 C2, C4와 C14를 기질로 잘 이용하는 것을 확인하였다. 그리고 모든 효소들은 $50^{\circ}C$에서 최적 활성을 나타내었다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.192-198
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• 2006

Background: Investigating strategy to enhance efficiency of gene transfer via adenovirus is critical to sustain gene expression in targeted cells or tissues to regulate immune responses. However, the use of adenovirus as a gene delivery method has been limited by the native tropism of the virus. In this study, the critical parameter is to improve the efficient binding of viral particles to the plasma membrane prior to cellular uptake. Methods: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) trans-acting activator of transcription (TAT), a protein transduction domain, was fused to the ectodomain of the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR). The CAR-TAT protein was produced from a Drosophila Schneider 2 cells (S2) transfected with CAR-TAT genes. The function of CARTAT was analyzed the efficiency of adenoviral gene transfer by flow cytometry, and then immunizing AdVGFP with CAR-TAT was transduced on dendritic cells (DCs). Results: S2 transfectants secreting CAR-TAT fusion protein has been stable over a period of 6 months and its expression was verified by western blot. Addition of CAR-TAT induced higher transduction efficiency for AdVGFP at every MOI tested. When mice were vaccinated with DC of which adenoviral transduction was mediated by CAR-TAT, the number of IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting T-cells was increased as compared with those DCs transduced without CAR-TAT. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that CAR-TAT fusion protein enhances adenoviral transduction and immunogenecity of transgenes on DCs and may influence on the development of adenoviral-mediated anti-tumor immunotherapy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.448-458
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• 2021

본 연구는 뽕나무 열매 착즙 분말 (MJ)이 지방세포 분화과정에서 염증에 관여하는 유전자 발현 및 miR-132/143 조절에 미치는 효과에 중점을 두고 조사하였다. MJ는 3T3-L1 지방세포 분화 동안 지질축적이 억제되었고 PPAR-γ, CEBP-α 및 aP2와 같은 지방형성 유전자 발현을 억제하였다. 또한 염증 조절 매개체인 TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 및 iNOS 유전자 발현이 MJ 처리에 의해 감소되었다. MJ의 지질 축적 억제 효과는 염증과 지방분화에 관여하는 miR-132/143의 발현 감소와 관련이 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 MJ는 염증을 동반하는 비만 예방 및 치료에 도움이 될 수 있는 식품 소재로서 가능성이 있음을 시사하고 있다. 그러나 MJ의 주요 성분인 안토시아닌의 생체이용율은 1-2% 미만으로 추정되며 예상되는 표적 조직이나 혈류에서 미량 검출되는 것으로 알려져 있다 [33]. 이를 해결하기 위해서는 생체 내 동물실험을 통한 다각적인 분석이 향후 진행되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.