• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 1992

A chitinase gene of Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 was cloned and expressed in Escherichiu di. A genomic library of S, marcescens was constructed with pUC 19 and screened using the swollen chitin agar plate for chitinolytic clones. A positive clone showing chitinclearance contains a recombinant pCHI 89, composed of 8.9 Kb chromosomal DNA fragment and pUC 19. Plasmid pCHI 89 produced 58 KD chitinase in E. coli, which was coincided with one of five extracellular chitinases produced by S. nzarccscens. Restriction endonuclease cleavage sites of the 8.9 Kb insert DNA fragment were mapped. E. coli JM109 harboring pCHI 89 inhibits the growth of a plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium oxysporum.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.445-453
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• 2004

We identified apoptosis as being a significant mechanism of toxicity following the exposure of HeLa cell cultures to abrin holotoxin, which is in addition to its inhibition of protein biosynthesis by N-glycosidase activity. The treatment of HeLa cell cultures with abrin resulted in apoptotic cell death, as characterized by morphological and biochemical changes, i.e., cell shrinkage, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, the occurrence of hypodiploid DNA, chromatin condensation, nuclear breakdown, DNA single strand breaks by TUNEL assay, and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization. This apoptotic cell death was accompanied by caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, as indicated by the cleavage of caspase substrates, which was preceded by mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD-fmk), prevented abrin-triggered caspase activation and partially abolished apoptotic cell death, but did not affect mitochondrial cytochrome c release. These results suggest that the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and the sequential caspase-9 and caspase-3 activations are important events in the signal transduction pathway of abrin-induced apoptotic cell death in the HeLa cell line.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 1986

A new type II restriction endonuclease, Bdi I, has been isolated from Brenibacterium divaricatum FERM 5948 by procedures of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and heparin agarose chromatography. The purified Bdi I restriction endonudlease had the same cleavage patterns of Cla I whose recognition sequence is 5' ATCGAT 3'. From the result that ${\lambda}-Cla$ I DNA frahment could be cloned in pBR 322 digested with Bdi I, it has been proven that Bdi I cuts between T and C(5' AT/CGAT3') within the recognition sequence and produces 5'pCG cohesive end. The optimal temperature for the Bdi I restriction endonuclease activity was $37^{\circ}C$, and optimal salt (NaCl) concentration was 50-100 mM.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.49-50
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• 2002

N-Nitrosoproline(NPRO) is endogenously formed from proline and nitrite. NPRO has been reported to be nonmutagenic and noncarcinogenic. In this study, we have detected the direct mutagenicity of NPRO with UVA and UVB towards S. typhimurium. Formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), a mutagenic lesion, was observed in calf thymus DNA treated with NPRO plus simulated sunlight. Furthermore, the treatment with NPRO and sunlight induced single strand breaks in the superhelical replicative form of phage M13mp2 DNA. An analysis using scavengers suggested that both reactive oxygen species and NO radical mediate the strand breaks. The formation of nitric oxide was observed in NPRO solution irradiated with UVA. The co-mutagenic and co-toxic actions of NPRO and sunlight merit attention as possible mechanisms increasing the carcinogenic risk from UVA irradiation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1919-1926
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• 2020

CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) has been developed as a transcriptional control tool by inactivating the DNA cleavage ability of Cas9 nucleases to produce dCas9 (deactivated Cas9), and leaving dCas9 the ability to specifically bind to the target DNA sequence. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has limitations in designing target-specific single-guide RNA (sgRNA) due to the dependence of protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) (5'-NGG) for binding target DNAs. Reportedly, Cas9-NG recognizing 5'-NG as the PAM sequence has been constructed by removing the dependence on the last base G of PAM through protein engineering of Cas9. In this study, a dCas9-NG protein was engineered by introducing two active site mutations in Cas9-NG, and its ability to regulate transcription was evaluated in the gal promoter in E. coli. Analysis of cell growth rate, D-galactose consumption rate, and gal transcripts confirmed that dCas9-NG can completely repress the promoter by recognizing DNA targets with PAM of 5'-NGG, NGA, NGC, NGT, and NAG. Our study showed possible PAM sequences for dCas9-NG and provided information on target-specific sgRNA design for regulation of both gene expression and cellular metabolism.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2023

Genome editing using CRISPR-associated technology is widely used to modify the genomes rapidly and efficiently on specific DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by Cas9 endonuclease. However, despite swift advance in Cas9 engineering, structural basis of Cas9-recognition and cleavage complex remains unclear. Proper assembly of this complex correlates to effective Cas9 activity, leading to high efficacy of genome editing events. Here, we develop a CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 plasmid constitutively expressing RAD51, which can bind to single-stranded DNA for DSB repair. We show that the efficiency of CRISPR-mediated genome editing can be significantly improved by expressing RAD51, responsible for DSB repair via homologous recombination (HR), in both gene knock-out and knock-in processes. In cells with CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 plasmid, expression of the target genes (cohesin SMC3 and GAPDH) was reduced by more than 1.9-fold compared to the CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid for knock-out of genes. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 enhanced the knock-in efficiency of DsRed donor DNA. Thus, the CRISPR/Cas9-RAD51 system is useful for applications requiring precise and efficient genome edits not accessible to HR-deficient cell genome editing and for developing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout technology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.183-183
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• 1996

Bacteriophage T4 endonuclease V initiates the repair of ultraviolet (UV)-induced pyrimidine dimer photoproducts in duplex DNA. The mechanism of DNA strand cleavage involves four sequential stens: linear diffusion along dsDNA, pyrimidine dimer-specific binding,l pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylase activity, and Af lyase activity. Although crystal structure is known for this enzyme, solution structure has not been yet known. In order to elucidate the solution structure of this enzyme NMR spectroscopy was used. As a basis for the NMR peak assignment of the protein, HSQC spectrum was obtained on the uniformly $\^$15/N-labeled T4 endonuclease V. Each amide peak of the spectrum were classified according to amino acid spin systems by interpreting the spectrum of $\^$15/N amino acid-specific labeled T4 endonuclease V. The assignment was mainly obtained from three-dimensional NMR spectra such as 3D NOESY-HMQC, 3D TOCSY-HMQC. These experiments were carried out will uniformly $\^$15/N-labeled sample. In order to assign tile resonance of backbon atom, triple-resonance theree-dimensional NMR experiments were also performed using double labeled($\^$15/N$\^$13/C) sample. 3D HNCA, HN(CO)CA, HNCO, HN(CA)HA spectra were recorded for this purpose. The results of assignments were used to interpret the interaction of this enzyme with DNA. HSQC spectrum was obtained for T4 endonuclease V with specific $\^$15/N-labeled amino acids that have been known for important residue in catalysis. By comparing the spectrum of enzyme*DNA complex with that of the enzyme, we could confirm the important role of some residues of Thr, Arg, Tyr in activity. The results of assignments were also used to predict the secondary structure by chemical shift index (CSI).

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.74-74
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• 2018

Abeliophyllum distichum is Korea Endemic Plants and its genetic resources found from Korea only. Bioactivities of A. distichum such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory studies have been proved through many researches. Whereas, there are no studies on the biological activity of its callus extracts. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities of callus extracts derived from A. distichum and its inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage. The antioxidant activities were assessed using radical scavenging assays with DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power assay and the inhibitory effects on oxidative DNA damage were measured using ${\varphi}-174$ RF I plasmid DNA cleavage assay. In addition, callus extracts derived from A. distichum showed high antioxidant acitivties and no cytotoxicity in NIH/3T3. Also, it has significantly suppressed expression of ${\gamma}$-H2AX and p53 protein and mRNA levels in NIH/3T3 cells exposed to oxidative stress. Therefore, the callus extracts derived from A. distichum has potential antioxidant activity that can provide protective effects against the oxidative DNA damage caused by free radicals. This study suggest that it is valuable as cosmetics and medicine for antioxidant and cancer preventive materials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1209-1217
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• 2009

Many cancer cells are sensitive to the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. However, some cancer cells show either partial or complete resistance to TRAIL. Human colon carcinoma KM12 cells have been shown to be insensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. To overcome TRAIL resistance in KM12 cells, we targeted key anti-apoptotic molecules involved in the modulation of TRAIL resistance in the cells, and evaluated the effects of quercetin as a TRAIL sensitizer in the cells. We found that quercetin acted in synergy with TRAIL to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in KM12 cells by the down-regulation of c-FLIP and DNA-PKcs/Akt and up-regulation of death receptors (DR4/DR5), which led to the enhancement of TRAIL-mediated activation of caspases and subsequent cleavage of PARP, as well as up-regulation of Bax. These findings suggest that the DNA-PKcs/Akt signaling pathway, as well as c-FLIP, play essential roles in regulating cells in the escape from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Based on these results, this study provides a potential application of quercetin in combination with TRAIL in the treatment of human colon cancer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2007

In this study, aniline dioxygenase genes responsible for initial catabolism of aniline in Burkholderia sp. HY1 and Delftia sp. HY99 were cloned and the amino acid sequences were comparatively analyzed, which already have been reported as bacteria utilizing aniline as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, B. sp. HY1 was found to have at least a plasmid, and the plasmld-cured strain, B. sp. HY1-PC obtained using mitomycin C was tested with wild type strain to investigate whether the former maintained the degradability for aniline. This proved that the aniline oxygenase gene from B. sp. HY1 was located in chromosomal DNA, not in plasmid DNA. Aniline dioxygenase small subunits from B. sp. HY1 and D. sp. HY99 were found, based on 146 amino acids, to share 79% similarity. Notably, ado2 genes from B. sp. HY1 and D. sp. HY99 which were found to be terminal dioxygenase of aniline dioxygenase small subunit showed 99% similarity in the deduced amino acid sequences with tdnA2 of Frateuria sp. ANA-18 and danA2 of D. sp. AN3, respectively. Besides, enzyme assay and amino acid sequence analysis of catechol dioxygenase supported the previous report that B. sp. HY1 might occupy ortho-cleavage pathway using catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, while D. sp. HY99 might occupy catechol 2,3-dioxygenase for meta-cleavage pathway.