• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.485-490
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• 1999

The mechanism of action of fish oil (FO), currently used in different chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is not completely understood, although it is thought that it could alter the metabolism of endogenous autacoids. In addition, we hypothesized that the known capability of fatty acids (FA) of stabilizing serum albumin and perhaps other proteins, may be of pharmacological relevance considering that it is shared by other anti-rheumatic agents (e.g. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs). Thus, we studied the effect of oral administration of FO and corn oil (CO), a vegetable oil with a different composition, on the stability of rat serum proteins, evaluated buy a classical in vitro method based on heat-induced protein denaturation. FO, and, to a lower extent, CO inhibited heat-induced denaturation of rat serum (RS): based on the inhibitory activity (EC50) of the major fatty acids against heat-induced denaturation of RS in vitro, it was possible to speculate the in vivo effects of palmitic acid (C16:0) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5, n-3) may be more relevant than that of linolenic acid (C18:2). To better investigate this phenomenon, we extracted albumin from the serum of animals treated or not with FO with a one-step affinity chromatography technique, obtaining high purity rat serum albumin preparations (RSA-CTRL and RSA-FO), as judged by SDS-PAGE with Coomassie blue staining. When these RSA preparations were heated at $70^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, it was noted that RSA-FO was much more stable than RSA-CTRL, presumably due to higher number of long chain fatty acids (FA) such as palmitic acid or EPA. In conclusion, we provided evidences that oral administration of FO in the rat stabilizes serum albumin, due to an increase in the number of protein bound long chain fatty acids (e.g. palitic acid and EPA). We speculate that the stabilization of serum albumin and perhaps other proteins could prevent changes of antigenicity due to protein denaturation and glycosylation, which may trigger pathological autoimmune responses, suggesting that this action may be involved in the mode of action of FO in RA and other chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.292-300
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• 2012

We report the expression, purification, and characterization of L-asparaginase (AnsA) from Rhizobium etli. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity in a single-step procedure involving affinity chromatography, and the kinetic parameters $K_m$, $V_{max}$, and $k_{cat}$ for L-asparagine were determined. The enzymatic activity in the presence of a number of substrates and metal ions was investigated. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 47 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme showed a maximal activity at $50^{\circ}C$, but the optimal temperature of activity was $37^{\circ}C$. It also showed maximal and optimal activities at pH 9.0. The values of $K_m$, $V_{max}$, $k_{cat}$, and $k_{cat}/K_m$ were $8.9{\pm}0.967{\times}10^{-3}$ M, $128{\pm}2.8$ U/mg protein, $106{\pm}2s^{-1}$, and $1.2{\pm}0.105{\times}10^4M^{-1}s^{-1}$, respectively. The L-asparaginase activity was reduced in the presence of $Mn^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ metal ions for about 52% to 31%. In addition, we found that $NH_4{^+}$, L-Asp, D-Asn, and ${\beta}$-aspartyl-hydroxamate in the reaction buffer reduced the activity of the enzyme, whereas L-Gln did not modify its enzymatic activity. This is the first report on the expression and characterization of the L-asparaginase (AnsA) from R. etli. Phylogenetic analysis of asparaginases reveals an increasing group of known sequences of the Rhizobial-type asparaginase II family.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1881-1890
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• 2016

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a vital enzyme that protects cells from free radicals through eliminating superoxide radicals ($O^{2-}$). Hirudin, a kind of small active peptide molecule, is one of the strongest anticoagulants that can effectively cure thrombus diseases. In this study, we fused Hirudin to the C terminus of human MnSOD with the GGGGS linker to generate a novel dual-feature fusion protein, denoted as hMnSOD-Hirudin. The hMnSOD-Hirudin gene fragment was cloned into the pET15b (SmaI, CIAP) vector, forming a recombinant pET15b-hMnSOD-Hirudin plasmid, and then was transferred into Escherichia coli strain Rosetta-gami for expression. SDS-PAGE was used to detect the fusion protein, which was expected to be about 30 kDa upon IPTG induction. Furthermore, the hMnSOD-Hirudin protein was heavily detected as a soluble form in the supernatant. The purification rate observed after Ni NTA affinity chromatography was above 95%. The hMnSOD-Hirudin protein yield reached 67.25 mg per liter of bacterial culture. The identity of the purified protein was confirmed by western blotting. The hMnSOD-Hirudin protein activity assay evinced that the antioxidation activity of the hMnSOD-Hirudin protein obtained was $2,444.0{\pm}96.0U/mg$, and the anticoagulant activity of the hMnSOD-Hirudin protein was $599.0{\pm}35.0ATU/mg$. In addition, in vitro bioactivity assay showed that the hMnSOD-Hirudin protein had no or little cytotoxicity in H9c2, HK-2, and H9 (human $CD_4{^+}$, T cell) cell lines. Transwell migration assay and invasion assay showed that the hMnSOD-Hirudin protein could suppress human lung cancer 95-D cell metastasis and invasion in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1529-1536
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• 2006

We cloned a gene of ompH(D:4) from pigs infected with P. multocida D:4 in Korea [16]. The gene is composed of 1,026 nucleotides coding 342 amino acids (aa) with a signal peptide of 20 aa (GenBank accession number AY603962). In this study, we analyzed the ability of the ompH(D:4) to induce protective immunity against a wild-type challenge in mice. To determine appropriate epitope(s) of the gene, one full and three different types of truncated genes of the ompH(D:4) were constructed by PCR using pET32a or pRSET B as vectors. They were named ompH(D:4)-F (1,026 bp [1-1026] encoding 342 aa), ompH(D:4)-t1 (693 bp [55-747] encoding 231 aa), ompH(D:4)-t2 (561 bp [187-747] encoding 187 aa), and ompH(D:4)-t3 (540 bp [487-1026] encoding 180 aa), respectively. The genes were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Their gene products, polypeptides, OmpH(D:4)-F, -t1, -t2, and -t3, were purified individually using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity column chromatography. Their $M_rs$ were determined to be 54.6, 29, 24, and 23.2 kDa, respectively, using SDS-PAGE. Antisera against the four kinds of polypeptides were generated in mice for protective immunity analyses. Some $50{\mu}g$ of the four kinds of polypeptides were individually provided intraperitoneally with mice (n=20) as immunogens. The titer of post-immunized antiserum revealed that it grew remarkably compared with pre-antiserum. The lethal dose of the wild-type pathogen was determined at $10{\mu}l$ of live P. multocida D:4 through direct intraperitoneal (IP) injection, into post-immune mice (n=5, three times). Some thirty days later, the lethal dose ($10{\mu}l$) of live pathogen was challenged into the immunized mouse groups [OmpH(D:4)-F, -t1, -t2, and -t3; n=20 each, two times] as well as positive and negative control groups. As compared within samples, the OmpH(D:4)-F-immunized groups showed lower immune ability than the OmpH(D:4)-t1, -t2, and -t3. The results show that the truncated-OmpH(D:4)-t1, -t2, and -t3 can be used for an effective vaccine candidate against swine atrophic rhinitis caused by pathogenic P. multocida (D:4) isolated in Korea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.274-277
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• 2012

Cytokinesis is the final stage of cell division, dividing one mother cell into two daughter cells. For the cutting of a plasma membrane during bacterial cytokinesis, a tubulin homolog FtsZ protein is recruited from the cytoplasm to the division site. FtsZ protein polymerizes in a GTP-dependent manner and its N-terminal domain has a GTPase activity. In this study, we have begun to characterize FtsZ from Staphylococcus aureus (SA). Full-length SA FtsZ was cloned into pRSFDuet-1 vector and the clone was transformed into a BL21 (DE3) star cell. The recombinant SA FtsZ protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and dialysis. Using a spectrofluorometer, we showed that SA FtsZ undergoes a GTP-dependant polymerization in vitro. The polymer of the SA FtsZ protein disappeared after a few minutes, suggesting that the polymer is degraded as the GTP is consumed. This assay system may well be applied for inhibitor screening targeting S. aureus FtsZ.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.176-183
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• 2012

Eukaryotic translation termination is governed by eRF1 and eRF3. eRF1 recognizes the stop codons and then hydrolyzes peptidyl-tRNA. eRF3, which facilitates the termination process, belongs to the GTPase superfamily. In this study, the effect of the MC domain of eRF1a (eRF1aMC) on the GTPase activity of eRF3 was analyzed using fluorescence spectra and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated eRF1aMC promotes the GTPase activity of eRF3, which is similar to the role of eRF1a. Furthermore, the increased affinity of eRF3 for GTP induced by eRF1aMC was dependent on the concentration of $Mg^{2+}$. Changes in the secondary structure of eRF3C after binding GTP/GDP were detected by CD spectroscopy. The results revealed changes of conformation during formation of the eRF3C GTP complex that were detected in the presence of eRF1a or eRF1aMC. The conformations of the eRF3C eRF1a GTP and eRF3C eRF1aMC GTP complexes were further altered upon the addition of $Mg^{2+}$. By contrast, there was no change in the conformation of GTP bound to free eRF3C or the eRF3C eRF1aN complex. These results suggest that alterations in the conformation of GTP bound to eRF3 is dependent on eRF1a and $Mg^{2+}$, whereas the MC domain of eRF1a is responsible for the change in the conformation of GTP bound to eRF3 in Euplotes octocarinatus.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 1991

本 試驗은 受精初期段階에서 생쥐卵子 透明帶의 機能을 糾明하고 種特異的인 精子受容體의 存在 및 構造理解를 위한 基礎硏究로서 ICR 생쥐의 透明帶를 免疫原으로 하여 토끼에서 抗透明帶抗體를 生産하고 免疫分析法 및 生物學的 檢査法으로 生産된 抗體가 생쥐 透明帶에 特異性이 있음을 確認한 후 이 抗體가생쥐 未受精卵의 體外受精에 미치는 影響과 또 이 抗體를 생쥐에 受動免疫하였을 때 受精에 미치는 影響을 調査하였던 바 다음과 같은 結果를 얻었다. 1. 處理區로서 抗血淸을, 對照區로서 對照血淸을 卵子培養液에 各各 0.3~10%로 含有한 培養液에서 생쥐의 未受精卵을 2時間 培養한 後 觀察하였을 때 對照區 卵子들의 透明帶가 正常的인 形態를 나타내었던 反面에, 處理區의 卵子들은 모두 透明帶 表面에 뚜렷한 沈澱層을 나타내었다. 이어 對照區와 處理區의 卵子를 0.1% pronase가 含有된 培養液으로 옮긴 후 觀察하였을 때, 對照區 卵子들의 透明帶가 5~7分만에 完全히 融解한 反面에, 處理區에서는 2~3時間까지 殘存하였다. 2. 處理區와 對照區 卵子를 FITC-goat anti-rabbit IgG가 含有된 培養液에서 養液한 후 螢光顯微鏡下에서 觀察하였을 때 對照區에서 對照血淸을 10% 含有한 培養液에서 培養한 일부 卵子들의 透明帶에서 희미한 螢光이 나타났으나 血淸稀釋度가 增加함에 따라 전혀 螢光을 나타내지 않았던 反面에, 處理區에서는 抗血淸이 1 : 1,000으로 含有된 培養液에서 培養한 卵子의 透明帶에서도 강한 螢光이 나타났다. 3. 帶抗體를 抗原으로 하여 間接酵素免疫分析法을 實施하였을 때 抗血淸과 對照血淸이 PBS에 1 : 200까지 稀釋되었을 때의 O.D.價는 별다른 差異를 나타내지 않았으나 血淸의 稀釋度가 增加함에 따라 O.D.價가 有意한 差異를 나타냄으로써 透明帶에 特異性을 갖는 抗體임을 確認할 수 있었다. 4. 抗血淸과 對照血淸이 各各 0.3~10%까지 含有된 培養液으로 생쥐의 未受精卵을 豫備培養한 다음 體外受精을 實施하였을 때의 受精率은 對照區에서 77.7%~87.7%이었던 反面에, 處理區에서는 0~29.8%로서 抗透明帶抗體가 생쥐卵子의 體外受精을 完全히 또는 顯著히 抑制하였다. 그러나 抗血淸과 對照血淸이 各各 2.5~10%까지 含有된 培養液으로 透明帶를 除去한 未受精卵의 體外受精을 하였을 때의 受精率은 處理區와 對照區에서 各各 93.0~98.3% 및 93.3~94.3%로서 受精抑制現象을 나타내지 않았다. 5. 抗血淸과 正常血淸, 그리고 兩 血淸으로부터 protein A-affinity chromatography에 의해 分離한 immunoglubulin G를 各各 생쥐에 受動免疫하였을 때, 對照區로서 對照血淸을 0.1~0.3ml 또는 control IgG를 1~3ml 投與했을 때의 各各의 受精率이 80.4~90.2%, 82.2~94.4%이었던 反面에, 處理區로서 抗血淸을 0.3ml 또는 immune IgG를 3mg 投與한 생쥐에서는 完全한 受精抑制現象이 確認되었다.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.375-381
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• 1992

An exoinulase-producing bacterium was isolated from soil, and identified as Streptomyces sp. The maximum inulase production was achieved when inulin as carbon source and soybean meal as organic nitrogen source were included in the culture. The exoinulase was considered to be a constitutive enzyme produced not only by inulin but also by soluble starch or glucose. The purified enzyme on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 column showed the maximal activity at $pH\;5.5{\sim}6.0$ and $50^{\circ}C$, but lost 65% inulase activity at $50^{\circ}C$ after 1 hour incubation. This exoinulase was activated by $Mn^{+2}$, wherease more that 80% inactivation was observed with $Ag^+$, $Hg^{+2}$ and $Fe^{+3}$. The enzyme was possibly a metalloenzyme in that EDTA and 8-hydroxyquinoline inhibited the enzyme. Km values for inulin (16.51 mM) and sucrose (14.62 mM) were in very close range suggesting mostly equal affinity toward the subatrates. However, the maximum velocity for inulin was 10 times greater than for sucrose.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 1994

Nuclease was secreted to the environmental media from the Escherichia coli JM107 tranformant harboring the extracellular nuclease gene of Serratia marcescens in the plasmid of pNUC4. Under the growth conditions, the amount of secreted enzyme was increased in parallel with bacterial growth conditions, the amount of secreted enzyme was increased in parallel with bacterial growth. The enzyme was purified using chromatofraphic procedures of Matrex green gel and heparin agarose affinity gel, resulted in 50-fold purification with 15% recovery of the enzyme. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 29Kda by sodium dodecylsulfate denaturing gel electrophoresis. Using the purified enzyme, polyclonal antibody was obtained from the rabbit. The specificity of the antibody was confirmed by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitaion. For the investigation of cellular distribution of the enzyme, cells were fractionated into three fractions; cytoplasm, periplasm and extracellular fluid. While more than 80% of the enzymatic activity was detected in the extracellular fluid and periplasm, a little was found in the cytoplasm, indicating that the enzyme was likely to be immediately exported to the membrane for excretion after biosynthesis. These results were confirmed again by immunocytochemistry technique using the antibody.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.273-288
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• 1991

To elucidate the physiological and biochemical differences between chondrichthyes and osteichthyes, the properties of the specific digestive enzymes in cat-shark, Cephaloscyllium umbratile, and mackerel, Scomber japonicus, were studied. Homogenous trypsin proved through the disc-electrophoresis, SDS-PAG electrophoresis and gel filtration was obtained from the pancreas of cat-shark by $50-70\%$ saturated ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography, benzamidine-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography and Sephadex G-75-120 gel filtration. Two types of trypsins were also obtained from the pyloric caeca of mackerel by $30-70\%$ saturated ammonium sulphate fractionation and the slightly modified procedure from the method adopted in the purification of cat-shark trypsin. The two trypsins, designated trypsin A and B, were proved their homogeneity by disc- and SDS-PAG electrophoresis and gel filtration. The molecular weights of the trypsins were estimated to be 31,700 for cat-shark trypsin, 30,000 for mackerel trypsin A and 29,000 for mackerel trypsin B by SDS-PAG electrophoresis, but those were estimated to be 21,500 for cat-shark trypsin, 23,700 for mackerel trypsin A and 21,500 for mackerel trypsin B by gel filtration. The trypsins exhibited their optimum conditions at pH 9.0 and on temperature ranged from $45^{\circ}C\;to\;50^{\circ}C$ for cat-shark, and at pH 8.0 and a temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ for mackerel trypsin A and B, respectively. The cat-shark trypsin was stable at pH 10.0 and the temperature below $10^{\circ}C$, whereas the mackerel trypsin A and B, were stable in the range over pH 7.0 to pH 9.0 below $10^{\circ}C$ and at pH 8.0 below $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The mackerel trypsins were severely inhibited by some heavy metal ions such as $Ag^{2+},\;Cu^{2+}\;and\;Hg^{2+}$ compared to cat-shark trypsin. All of the enzymes were also inhibited by antipain, leupeptin, TLCK(tosyllysine chloromethyl ketone) and SBTI(soybean trypsin inhibitor) remarkably. The inhibitory effects of PMSF(phenylmethane sulphonylfluoride), DFP(diisopropyl fluorophosphate) and benzamidine were indicated that these enzymes belong to serine-proteases.