• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.28-32
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• 1999

A novel antimicrbial peptide , named HFS-I, was isolated and characterized from the skin of the hagfish, Eptatretus bugeri. The decapeptide with a molecular mass of 1279.5 Da was purified to homogeneity using a gel-filtration column, ion-exchange and C18 reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatograpy . The complete amino acid sequence of HFS-I, which was determined by a combination of an automated amino acid sequencing and FAB-MS, was F-P-W-W-L-S-G-K-Y-P-NH2. Comparison of the amino acid sequence with those of other known antimicrobial peptides revealed that HFS-I was a novel antimicrobial peptide. HFS-I showed a weak antimicrobial activity in vitro aganinst a broad spectrum of microorganism without hemolytic acitivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.1019-1025
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• 2011

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the recognition of invading pathogens and the modulation of innate immune responses in mammals. The TLR4 and TLR7 are well known to recognize the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and single stranded (ssRNA) ligands, respectively and play important role in host defense against Gram-negative bacteria and ssRNA viruses. In the present study, coding exon fragments of these two TLRs were identified, cloned, sequenced and analyzed in terms of insertion-deletion polymorphism, within bovine TLRs 4 and 7, thereby facilitating future TLR signaling and association studies relevant to bovine innate immunity. Comparative sequence analysis of TLR 4 exons revealed that this gene is more variable, particularly the coding frame (E3P1), while other parts showed percent identity of 95.7% to 100% at nucleotide and amino acid level, respectivley with other Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds from different parts of the world. In comparison to TLR4, sequence analysis of TLR7 showed more conservation among different B. indicus and B. taurus breeds, except single point mutation at 324 nucleotide position (AAA to AAM) altering a single amino acid at 108 position (K to X). Percent identity of TLR7 sequences (all 3 exons) was between 99.2% to 100% at nucleotide and amino acid level, when compared with available sequence database of B. indicus and B. taurus. Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool (SMART) analysis showed variations in the exon fragments located in the Leucine Rich Repeat (LRR) region, which is responsible for binding with the microbial associated molecular patterns and further, downstream signaling to initiate anti-microbial response. Considering importance of TLR polymorphism in terms of innate immunity, further research is warranted.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2003

Alcohol dehydrogenases (AHDs) are enzymes responsible for the catalysis of the reversible conversion of various alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketonesis. Until now cDNA sequences of ADH gene is informed exclusively from several diptean species. We describe here the cDNA sequence and mRNA expression of a putative ADH gene from the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis, and phylogenetic relationships among known insect ADHs. The G. orientalis ADH cDNA sequences comprised of 798 bp encoding 266 amino acid residues. The multiple sequence alignment of G. orientalis ADH gene and known dipteran ADHs shared 100％ identity in the nine amino acid residues that are important for the enzymatic activity in Drosophila melanogaster. Percent sequence identity ranged from 25％ to 32％ among all insect ADHs including both types of ADHs. G. orientalis ADH gene showed no clear resemblance to any dipteran species and type. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of G. orientalis ADH gene with available dipteran ADH genes including both types of ADHs further confirmed that the G. orientalis ADH gene is not clearly assigned to either type of ADHs. Northern blot analysis revealed a stronger signal in the fat body than midgut and epidermis, indicating that the fat body possibly is a main site for the synthesis of the G. orientalis ADH protein.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.496-501
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• 2006

본 연구는 대한민국 서해안 갯벌로부터 알칼리성 단백질 분해 효소를 생산하는 세균을 분리하고 분리된 세균으로부터 생산되는 단백질 분해 효소의 생화학적 특징을 조사하는 것이다. 분리 균주는 16S rRNA의 염기 서열, 그람 염색과 전자 현미경사진을 통해 Celidibacter sp. HK-1으로 명명하였다. 분리 균주의 증식과 pretense 생산을 위한 최적 온도는 $25^{\circ}C$이었다. 분리 균주의 증식은 접종 10시간후에 stationary phase에 도달하였다. 효소 생산은 14시간 후 최대 값을 보였다. 효소 활성의 최적 온도와 pH는 각각 $45^{\circ}C$와 pH 9이었다. Pretense의 분자량은 약 50KD이었고 pretense의 부분적인 아미노산 서열은 Ala-Try-Ala-Leu-Asn-Thr-Ser-Val-Thr-Glu-Thr-Phe-Ala-Lys이었다. Protease의 부분적인 아미노산 서열은 Streptomyces avemitilis의 pretense와 높은 상동성을 보였다.

• 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.

• 한국잠사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국잠사학회 1997년도 Progress and Future Development of Sericultural Science and Technology 40th Anniversary Commemoration Symposium
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• pp.73-101
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• 1997

Baculoviruses are characterized by large double-stranded circular DNA genomes and rod-shaped enveloped virions. Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus(BmNPV) is a major pathogen, which causes severe damage in sericulture. Currently, BmNPV is recogtnized as an improtant tool in molecular biology, especially for expression of useful genes in B.mori cells and silkworm larvae. Our laboratories have focused on the studies of the molecular mechanisms of BmNPV replication and the application of BmNPV to agriculture and medicine. The entire nucleotide sequence of the BmNPV genome has recently determined. The BmNPV genome possessed 135 putative genes and 7 homologous repeated sequence (hrs) regions. Relatively little space, a few to a few hundred base-pairs, was observed between the open reading frames and hrs. Termination codons often overlapped. These results showed a compactly packde BmNPV genome. Based on comparative sequence analyses, we speculated that the ancestor of BmNPV was a baculovirus similar to Autographa californica NPV(AcNPV). The function of the BmNPV genes were characterized by gene deletion analysis; p35 was found to be involved in blocking apoptosis and cysteine proteinase was found to be involved in horizontal virus transmission by degrading viral-infected larval host. By AcNPV and BmNPV coinfection experiments, we identified a BmNPV gene involved in expanding host specificity of AcNPV. The identified gene was likely encoded a DNA helicase based on the amino acid sequence analysis; a few amino acid substitutions in the putative DNA helicase gene resulted in the expansion of host range of AcNPV. These findings indicate that BmNPV evolved within a short period from an AcNPV-like ancestral virus due to rapid evolution including specific amino acid substitutions and gene deletions/insertions.

• 한국식물병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물병리학회 1994년도 Proceedings of International Symposium on BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PLANT DISEASES Korean Society of Plant Pathology
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• pp.86-102
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• 1994

To understand the molecular structure and pathogenesis mechanism of Korean garlic viruses, we have isolate cDNA clones for garlic viruses. The partial nucleotide sequences of 24 cDNA clones were determined and that of six clones containing poly (A) tail were compared with those of other plant viruses. One of those clones, V9 has 81.8% similarity in nucleotide sequence and 93.0% in deduced amino acid sequence, respectively, to the coat protein gene for garlic mosaic virus (GMV). Northern blot analysis with the clone V9 demonstrated that the genome of GMV is 7.8 kb long and has poly (A) tail. The anti-coat protein antibody for GMV recognizes 35 kDa polypeptide which could be the coat protein of GMV from infected garlic leaf extract or virus preparation. Clone G7 has about 62% of deduced amino acid sequence identity with the members of potyvirus group. Northern blot analysis with the clone G7 demonstrated that the genome of the potyvirus I garlic is 9.0 kb long and has poly (A) tail. The third clone, S81, shows 42% amino acid identity to the potexvirus. The other clones are under the characterization. To test the possibility of producing garlic virus resistant plant, we have designed a hairpin type ribozyme to cleave V9 RNA at the middle of the coat protein gene. From the cleavage reactions in vitro with two different sizes of RNA substrates, V9SUB (144 nucleotides) and V9 RNA (1,361 nucleotides), the ribozyme can cleave V9 sequence effectively at the predicted site. To study the activity of the ribozyme in vivo, plant transformation is in progress. Further possibilities to produce garlic virus resistant plant will be discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.115-121
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• 2012

The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is widely used in greenhouses to pollinate crops. Here, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of chymotrypsin inhibitor and chitin-binding protein homologs from B. terrestris. Two cDNAs encoding chymotrypsin inhibitor (Bt-CI) and chitin-binding protein (Bt-CBP) homologs were cloned from B. terrestris. Gene sequence analysis showed that Bt-CI gene consists of three exons encoding 75 amino acids, including a predicted 20-amino acid signal peptide, while Bt-CBP consists of two exons encoding 78 amino acids, including a predicted 26-amino acid signal peptide. The mature Bt-CI and Bt-CBP peptides contain ten and six conserved cysteine residues, respectively. Database searches using the deduced sequences of Bt-CI and Bt-CBP showed similarity to those from B. impatiens (96% peptide sequence identities). Bt-CI and Bt-CBP were expressed in both the venom gland and fat body of B. terrestris worker bees. The recombinant Bt-CI and Bt-CBP peptides were expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Taken together, our findings describe the molecular characterization of Bt-CI and Bt-CBP from B. terrestris.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.192-196
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• 2001

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) plays an essential role in the disease resistance system and is the precursor protein of biologically active peptides such as adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), $\alpha-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone $(\alpha- MSH)$, $(\beta-melanocyte-stimulation hormone\;(\beta- MSH)$ and $\beta-endorphin$. We have isolated and sequenced two different forms of POMC cDNA, POMC-I and POMC-II, from a pituitary cDNA library of flounder. POMC-I cDNA consisted of 956 bp corresponding to deduced amino acids of 216 residues and POMC-II cDNA was 982 bp in length corresponding to 194 amino acids, respectively. The results of deduced amino acids analysis of the clones showed high sequence homology with previously reported POMCs amino acid sequences from various species. The homology between flounder POMC-I and -II is$57\%$ identity. We also constructed a phylogenetic tree based on POMC amino acid sequences.

• BMB Reports
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.525-535
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• 1998

A critical step in the faithful translation of genetic information is specific tRNA recognition by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes catalyze the covalent attachment of particular amino acids to the terminal adenosine of cognate tRNA substrates. In general, there is one synthetase for each of the twenty amino acids and each enzyme must discriminate against all of the cellular tRNAs that are specific for the nineteen noncognate amino acids. Primary sequence information combined with structural data have resulted in the division of the twenty synthetases into two classes. In recent years, several high-resolution co-crystal structures along with biochemical data have led to an increased understanding of tRNA recognition by synthetases of both classes. The anticodon sequence and the amino acid acceptor stem are the most common locations for critical recognition elements. This review will focus on acceptor stem discrimination by class II synthetases. In particular, the results of in vitro aminoacylation assays and site-directed and atomic group mutagenesis studies will be discussed. These studies have revealed that even subtle atomic determinants can provide signals for specific tRNA aminoacylation.