• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2005

To investigate the substrate variety of a putative non-metal dependent isomerase, the tagatose-6-phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.26) structural genes (lacB; 510bp and lacA; 430bp) of Staphylococcus aureus were subcloned and co-expressed. Based on the substrate configuration, various aldoses were surveyed for substrate of ketose isomerization. Among the 10 aldoses tested, D-ribose and D-allose were isomerized by the enzyme. The subunit A and B showed more than $95\%$ activity for D-ribose and $75\%$ for D-allose in the presence of 1mM EDTA compared with non-EDTA conditions, which implying tagatose-6-phosphate isomerase is a non-metal dependent isomerase. Each of subunit A or subunit B alone showed no activity for any of the substrates tested. The affinity constant ($K_m$) of tagatose-6-phosphate isomerase against D-ribose and D-allose were 26 mM and 142 mM, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2008

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known as the causative agent of blood transmitted hepatitis. Two viral proteins, E2 and NS5A, are known to exert interferon resistance of HCV via PKR pathway. Here, we report a third protein, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) of HCV, induced interferon resistance inhibiting p56 pathway. p56 was shown to interact with p48 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3). This interaction inhibited formation of ternary complex in translation initiation. Using dual reporter assay system, we observed that the translation decreased when interferon alpha was added to the culture. But, in the presence of HCV NS5B, the translation partly recovered. NS5B and p48 subunit of eIF3 were shown to interact. This interaction seems to inhibit the interaction between p48 and p56. This is the first report that a virus exerts interferon resistance via p56 pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.310-314
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• 1998

DW-116 is a new fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent with a broad spectrum. In order to elucidate the resistance mechanism to DW-116 in Acinetobacter spp. bacteria, total chromosomal DNA was isolated from 10 strains of Acinetobacter spp. resistant to DW-116. Quinolone resistance determinant region (QRDR) of DNA gyrase gene was amplified by PCR. The 345 bp nucleotide fragment yielded was inserted into pKF 3 which was used as the vector. Comparisons of the DNA sequences of 8 strains with that of the wild type strain revealed a Ser-83 to Leu mutation in mutants and all ten strains contained one silent mutation$(T{\rightarrow}G)$in QRDR. From Acinetobacter MB4-8 strain, DNA gyrase was isolated and purified, through novobiocin-sepharose, heparin-sepharose affinity column chromatography. The enzyme was composed of two subunits and the molecular mass of subunits A and B were 75.6 and 51.9 kDa, respectively. The supercoiling activity of the reconstituted DNA gyrase composed of subunit A from Acinetobacter MB4-8 and subunit B from E. coli was not inhibited by $128{\mu}\textrm{g}$ml of ciprofloxacin. It might be said that one of the resistance mechanisms to DW-116 in Acinetohacter MB4-8 was subunit A alteration of DNA gyrase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.26-29
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• 1996

The genes coding for the urease of alkalophilic Bacillus pasteurii have been previously cloned and recently sequenced. (You, J. H., B. H. Song, J. H. Kim, M. H. Lee, and S. D. Kim (1995) Molecules and Cells 5, 359-369.) The recombinant Bacillus pasteurii urease expressed in an E. coli HB101 strain was purified 31.2 fold by using combinations of anion-exchange and hydrophobic chromatography followed by Mono-Q chromatography on a FPLC. In spite of the presence of three discrete structural peptide genes in the Bacillus pasteurii urease gene cluster, only one or two enzyme subunits have been observed to date. Here we report for the first time that the recombinant Bacillus pasteurii urease expressed in a E. coli strain consists of three distinct subunits. One large subunit was estimated to be of $M_r$=65, 200 and the two small-subunit peptides are of $M_r$=14, 500 and $M_r$=13, 700, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.354-360
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• 2005

Heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is both a strong mucosal adjuvant and immunogen. It is a subunit vaccine candidate to be used against ETEC-induced diarrhea. It has already been expressed in several bacterial and plant systems. In order to construct yeast expressing vector for the LTB protein, the eltB gene encoding LTB was amplified from a human origin enterotoxigenic E. coli DNA by PCR. The expression plasmid pLTB83 was constructed by inserting the eltB gene into the pYES2 shuttle vector immediately downstream of the GAL1 promoter. The recombinant vector was transformed into S. cerevisiae and was then induced by galactose. The LTB protein was detected in the total soluble protein of the yeast by SDS-PAGE analysis. Quantitative ELISA showed that the maximum amount of LTB protein expressed in the yeast was approximately $1.9\%$ of the total soluble protein. Immunoblotting analysis showed the yeast-derived LTB protein was antigenically indistinguishable from bacterial LTB protein. Since the whole-recombinant yeast has been introduced as a new vaccine formulation the expression of LTB in S. cerevisiae can offer an inexpensive yet effective strategy to protect against ETEC, especially in developing countries where it is needed most.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.489-499
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• 2019

Subunit vaccines are safer and more stable than live vaccines although they have the disadvantage of eliciting poor immune response. To develop a subunit vaccine, an effective delivery system targeting the key elements of the protective immune response is a prerequisite. In this study, oxidized carbon nanospheres (OCNs) were used as a subunit vaccine delivery system and tuberculosis (TB) was chosen as a model disease. TB is among the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide and an effective vaccine is urgently needed. The ability of OCNs to deliver recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins, Ag85B and HspX, into bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated. For immunization, OCNs were mixed with the two TB antigens as well as the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). The protective efficacy was analyzed in vaccinated mice by aerosol Mtb challenge with a virulent strain of Mtb and the bacterial burdens were measured. The results showed that OCNs are highly effective in delivering Mtb proteins into the cytosol of BMDMs and BMDCs. Upon immunization, this vaccine formula induced robust Th1 immune response characterized by cytokine profiles from restimulated splenocytes and specific antibody titer. More importantly, enhanced cytotoxic $CD8^+$ T cell activation was observed. However, it did not reduce the bacteria burden in the lung and spleen from the aerosol Mtb challenge. Taken together, OCNs are highly effective in delivering subunit protein vaccine and induce robust Th1 and $CD8^+$ T cell response. This vaccine delivery system is suitable for application in settings where cell-mediated immune response is needed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.308-313
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• 1995

This study has been undertaken to examine the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) of electric organ from korean electtric ray(Narke japonica). Korean electric ray was caughted at Chungmu sea and transported to the laboratory, where electric organs were removed and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until used. Acelycholinesterase(AChE) of electric organ was purified by affinity column that was prepared with dicaproyl-methylpyridinium linked to Sepharose 4B. Upon purification, the specific activities in Ellman unit were increased by 52 and 39 times for high salt soluble AChE (HSSE, 870.86 $\DeltaOD/min/geam$ of tissue) and detergent soluble AChE(DSE, 105.42 .$\DeltaOD/min/geam$ of tissue), respectively. Each subunit of AChE separated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)was transferred to immonilon P by western boltting and detected by mAbs raised against each subunit of AChE from electric organ og Torpedo califomica. Collagenic tails of AChE from Torpedo califomica, likewise 103Kd protein of AChE from Narke japonica was detected by monoclonal antibody specific to 103Kd of AChE from Torpedo califomica. However, molar ratio of three subunits of AChE from Narke japonica is different from that of Torpedo calicormica. Furthermore, catalytic subunit of AChE from Narke japonica was not identified by monoclnal antibody specific to catalytic subunit of AChE from Torpedo californica. These results showed differences in molecular structure of AChE from Narke japonica and AChE from Torpedo califormica eventhough they showed same enzymatic activities.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2004

A major challenge facing those involved in the testing of new plant varieties for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) is the need to compare new varieties against all those of common knowlege (reference varieties). One possible approach would be to group new (candidate) varieties and reference varieties using descriptions stored in databases prior to further of official test. testing. This study was carried out to manage a reference variety collection by databasing of hordein profiling. For this purpose, hordein subunits of the 48 National list barley (Hordeum vulgare L) cultivars were analysed. Total 22 of clear scorable hordein subunits were identified from D-subunit to B-subunit region and fifteen different hordein polypeptide patterns were obtained. Based on hordein subunit band pattern, UPGMA cluster analysis was conducted. Forty-eight cultivars were separated into three groups and genetic distance of cluster ranging from 0.55 to 1.00. Hordein subunits have a potential of selecting similar varieties compared with candidate varieties by controlling reference variety collection and playing an important complemental role in cultivar distinctness.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Selecting an appropriate antigen with optimal immunogenicity and physicochemical properties is a pivotal factor to develop a protein based subunit vaccine. Despite rapid progress in modern molecular cloning and recombinant protein technology, there remains a huge challenge for purifying and using protein antigens rich in hydrophobic domains, such as membrane associated proteins. To overcome current limitations using hydrophobic proteins as vaccine antigens, we adopted in silico analyses which included bioinformatic prediction and sequence-based protein 3D structure modeling, to develop a novel periodontitis subunit vaccine against the outer membrane protein FomA of Fusobacterium nucleatum. To generate an optimal antigen candidate, we predicted hydrophilicity and B cell epitope parameter by querying to web-based databases, and designed a truncated FomA (tFomA) candidate with better solubility and preserved B cell epitopes. The truncated recombinant protein was engineered to expose epitopes on the surface through simulating amino acid sequence-based 3D folding in aqueous environment. The recombinant tFomA was further expressed and purified, and its immunological properties were evaluated. In the mice intranasal vaccination study, tFomA significantly induced antigen-specific IgG and sIgA responses in both systemic and oral-mucosal compartments, respectively. Our results testify that intelligent in silico designing of antigens provide amenable vaccine epitopes from hard-to-manufacture hydrophobic domain rich microbial antigens.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated molecular divergences and phylogenetic characteristics of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene sequences from the order Oscillatoriales (Cyanobacteria). The rpoB of Oscillatoriales showed higher genetic divergence when compared with those of 16S rRNA (p-distance: rpoB=0.270, 16S=0.109), and these differences were statistically significant (Student t-test, p<0.001). Phylogenetic trees of 16S rRNA and rpoB were generally compatible; however, rpoB tree clearly separated the compared Oscillatoriales taxa, with higher phylogenetic resolution. In addition, parsimony analyses showed that rpoB gene evolved 2.40-fold faster than 16S rRNA. These results suggest that the rpoB is a useful gene for the molecular phylogenetics and species discrimination in the order Oscillatoriales.