• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제17권
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2001

Abrus agglutinin was purified from the kernels of Abrus precatorius by Sepharose 4B affinity column chromatography followed by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration column chromatography. About 1.25 g of abrus agglutinin was obtained from 1 kg of the kernels. The LD$_{50}$ of abrus agglutinin is 5 mg/kg of body weight, which is less toxic than that of abrin, 20$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg body weight. The amino acid sequence of abrus agglutinin was determined by protein sequencing techniques and deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding full length of abrus agglutinin. There are 258 residues, 2 residues and 267 residues in the A-chain, the linker peptide and the B-chain of abrus agglutinin, respectively. Abrus agglutinin had high homology to abrin-a (77.8%). The 13 amino acid residues involved in catalytic function, which are highly conserved among abrin and ricin, were also conserved within abrus agglutinin. The protein synthesis inhibitory activity of abrus agglutinin ($IC_{50}$/ = 3.5 nM) was weaker than that of abrin-a (0.05 nM). By molecular modeling followed by site-directed mutagenesis showed that Pro199 of abrus agglutinin A-chain located in amphipathic helix H and corresponding to Asn200 of abrin A-chain, can induce bending of helix H. This bending would presumably affect the binding of abrus agglutinin A-chain to its target sequence GpApGpAp, in the tetraloop structure of 285 r-RNA subunit and this could be one of major factors contributing to the relatively weak protein synthesis inhibitory activity and toxicity of abrus agglutinin.n.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제19권9호
• /
• pp.888-897
• /
• 2009

Lipase diversity in glacier soil was assessed by culture-independent metagenomic DNA fragment screening and confirmed by cell culture experiments. A set of degenerate PCR primers specific for lipases of the hormone-sensitive lipase family was designed based on conserved motifs and used to directly PCR amplify metagenomic DNA from glacier soil. These products were used to construct a lipase fragment clone library. Among the 300 clones sequenced for the analysis, 201 clones encoding partiallipases shared 51-82% identity to known lipases in GenBank. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, five divergent clusters were established, one of which may represent a previously unidentified lipase subfamily. In the culture study, 11 lipase-producing bacteria were selectively isolated and characterized by 16S rDNA sequences. Using the above-mentioned degenerate primers, seven lipase gene fragments were cloned, but not all of them could be accounted for by the clones in the library. Two full-length lipase genes obtained by TAIL-PCR were expressed in Pichia pastoris and characterized. Both were authentic lipases with optimum temperatures of ${\le}40^{\circ}C$. Our study indicates the abundant lipase diversity in glacier soil as well as the feasibility of sequence-based screening in discovering new lipase genes from complex environmental samples.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제20권2호
• /
• pp.245-253
• /
• 2010

The base sequences representing human- and cow-specific 168 rRNA gene markers identified in a T-RFLP analysis were recovered from clone libraries. The human- and cow-specific primers were designed from these sequences and their specificities were analyzed with fecal DNAs from human, cow, and pig. The AllBac primer set showed positive results for all human, cow, and pig samples, whereas the human-specific primer set showed positive result only for the human sample but not for the cow or pig samples. Likewise, the cow-specific primer set showed positive results only for the cow sample but not for the human or pig samples. Real-time PCR assay with these primers was developed for the identification and quantification of fecal pollution in the river water. The human- and cow-specific markers were detected in the order of 9 $\log_{10}$ copies per gram wet feces, which were two orders of magnitude lower than those of total Bacteroidales. For the river water samples, the human-specific marker was detected in $1.7-6.2\;\log_{10}$ copies/100 ml water, which was 2.4-4.9 orders of magnitude lower than those of total Bacteroidales. There was no significant correlation between total Bacteroidales and conventional fecal indicators, but there was a high correlation between Bacteroidales and the human-specific marker. This assay could reliably identify and quantify the fecal pollution sources, enabling effective measures in the watersheds and facilitating water quality management.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2017

Populus. caspica L. is an Iranian indigenous poplar species which naturally distributed in the northern part of country. Unfortunately, overuse has removed many of the stems of better form, so that natural stands now usually appear small and crook. Therefore genetic variation for selection of new superior clone of this species is needed. Conventional hybridization system is currently used to induce genetic variation in poplar species but incompatibility barriers have been observed between them. In vitro ovule embryo culture was used to overcome incompatibility obstacle for interspecific hybridization between Populus caspica L. with Populus deltoids L.62/75. Female flowers of Populus caspica L. have artificially been pollinated with pollen grain of P. deltoides 62/75 in one direction using twig and pot crossing system. Ovaries at different ages (7, 14 and 21 days after pollination) were disinfected through 70% ethanol for 1 minute, 5% of sodium-hypochlorite solution for fifteen min followed by three time rising with sterile distil-water. Isolated ovaries were then transferred to MS hormone free medium containing 30 and 60 g/L sucrose for embryo development and germination. Collected data have been analyzed by two factorial experimental designs. The results indicated that there were significant differences between age of embryos for development and germination at ${\alpha}=0.01%$. Highest embryo germination (45%) was observed from 21 days old ovaries. No significant differences were observed between MS culture media containing 30 and 60 g/L for percentages of ovary-embryo germination and number of germinated embryo per ovary at ${\alpha}=0.05%$. Fourteen percentage of embryo germination obtained in MS medium supplemented with 60 g/L sucrose, while only 35% of isolated ovaries were able to germinate in MS containing 30 g/L sucrose. Induced plantlets in 4 cm height were transferred into pots containing soilless (1:1:1 peat, per lit and vermiculite) medium for acclimatization. After successful acclimatization, plants were delivered to nursery.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.379-384
• /
• 2001

The cDNA encoding ribosomal protein was identified from a cDNA library of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The nucleotide sequence of the 548 by cDNA clone reveals an open reading frame, which encodes a putative protein of 166 amino acids with a molecular mass of 18.3 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the S. pombe L11 protein is highly homologous with those of rat and fruit, while it is clearly less similar to those of prokaryotic counterparts. The 1,044 by upstream sequence, and the region encoding N-terminal 7 amino acids of the genomic DNA were fused into the promoterless $\beta$-galactosidase gene of the shuttle vector YEp357 in order to generate the fusion plasmid pHY L11. Synthesis of $\beta$-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid varied according to the growth curve. It decreased significantly in the growth-arrested yeast cells that were treated with aluminum chloride and mercuric chloride. However, it was enhanced by treatments with cadmium chloride ($2.5\;{\mu}M$), zinc chloride ($2.5\;{\mu}M$), and hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mM). This indicates that the expression of the L,11 gene could be induced by oxidative stress.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2011

Through the present study, we produced a monoclonal antibody against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using AFB1-carboxymethoxylamine BSA conjugates. One clone showing high binding ability was selected and it was applied to develop a direct competitive ELISA system. The epitope densities of AFB1-CMO against BSA and KLH were about 1 : 6 and 1 : 545, respectively. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) from cloned hybridoma cell was the IgG1 subclass with ${\lambda}$-type light chains. The $IC_{50}s$ of the monoclonal antibody developed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 4.36, 7.22, 6.61 and 29.41 ng/ml, respectively, based on the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA system and 15.28, 26.62, 32.75 and 56.67 ng/ml, respectively, based on the mAb coated ELISA. Cross-relativities of mAb to AFB1 for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 60.47, 65.97 and 14.83% in the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA, and 59.41, 46.66 and 26.97% in the mAb coated ELISA, respectively. Quantitative calculations for AFB1 from the AFB1-Ab ELISA and AFB1-Ag ELISA ranged from 0.25 to 25 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99) and from 1 to 100 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99), respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precision CVs were < 10% in both ELISA assay, representing good reproducibility of developed assay. Recoveries ranged from 79.18 to 91.27%, CVs ranged from 3.21 to 7.97% after spiking AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 ng/ml and following by extraction with 70% methanol solution in the Ab-coated ELISA. In conclusion, we produced a group specific mAb against aflatoxins and developed two direct competitive ELISAs for the detection of AFB1 in feeds based on a monoclonal antibody developed.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2002

Eight cDNAs corresponding to fruit-specific genes were isolated from ripened melon through differential screening. Sequence comparison indicated that six of these cDNAs encoded proteins were previously characterized into aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase, abscisic acid, stress and ripening inducible (ASR) gene, RINC-H2 zinc finger protein, pyruvate decarboxylase, or polyubiquitin. RFS2 and RFS5 were the same clone encoding polyubiquitin. The other cDNAs showed no significant homology with known protein sequences. The ASR homologue (Asr1) gene was further characterized on the cDNA and genomic structure. The deduced amino acid sequence had similar characteristics to other plant ASR. The Asr1 genomic DNA consisted of 2 exons and 1 intron, which is similar to the structure of other plants ASR genes. The promoter region of the Asr1 gene contained several putative functional cis-elements such as an abscisic acid responsive element (ABRE), an ethylene responsive element (ERE), a C-box or DPBf-1 and 2, Myb binding sites, a low temperature responsive element (LTRE) and a metal responsive element (MRE). The findings imply that these elements may play important roles in the response to plant hormones and environmental stresses in the process of fruit development. The results of this study suggest that the expressions of fruit specific and ripening-related cDNAs are closely associated with the stress response.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2015

Extract from Gryllus bimaculatus crickets inhibits oxidation at the DNA level, with reduced production of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Microarray analyses were performed with a rat 28K cDNA clone set array to identify the gene expression profiles of aged (10 months old) Wistar Kyoto rats treated for one month with 100 mg/kg G. bimaculatus ethanol extract to assess the effects. The extract produced a meaningful anti-edema effect, evident by the inhibition of creatinine phosphokinase activity. The weights of abdominal and ovarian adipose tissues were reduced and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissues was increased in an extract dose-dependent manner. Compared with untreated control rats, rats treated with the extract displayed the upregulation of 1053 genes including Fas (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 6), Amigo3 (adhesion molecule with an immunoglobulin-like domain), Reticulon 4, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme (Hmgcr; a reductase), related anti-fatigue (enzyme metabolism), and Rtn antioxidant, and the downregulation of 73 genes including Ugt2b (UDP glycosyltransferase 2 family), Early growth response 1, and Glycoprotein m6a. Data suggest that G. bimaculatus extract may have value in lessening the effects of aging, resulting in a differential gene expression pattern indicative of a marked stress response and lower expression of metabolic and biosynthetic genes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2009

The oxidation of glycolate to glyoxylate, a key step in plant photorespiration, is carried out by the peroxisomal flavoprotein glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.15). To investigate the altered gene expression and the role of GOX in ginseng plant defense system, a cDNA clone containing a GOX gene designated as PgGOX was isolated and sequenced from Panax ginseng. The cDNA was 692 nucleotides long and have an open reading frame of 552 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 183 residues. A GenBank BlastX search revealed that the deduced amino acid of PgGOX shares a high degree homology with the Glycine max (95% identity). In the present study we analyzed the expression of PgGOX under various environmental stresses at different times using real time-PCR. The results showed that the expressions of PgGOX increased after various treatments involving salt, light, cold, ABA, SA, and copper treatment.

• 한국자원식물학회지
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2014

본 연구는 고사리삼과에 속하는 제주고사리삼 잎의 생장 패턴 및 식물계절학적 특성을 파악하기 위하여 실시하였다. 제주고사리삼은 지하경을 이용하여 무성번식 하는 종으로서 한 클론의 길이는 52 cm까지 자랐으며, 뿌리가 생장하는 동안 새로운 근경과 잎이 형성되었다. 제주고사리삼 잎은 7월에 출현하기 시작하였으며, 생장은 기온이 높고 강수량이 많은 7월 ~ 9월 동안에 활발하게 이루어졌다. 잎은 10월까지 생장을 마치고 이후 성숙된 포자낭에서 포자가 방출되기 시작하였으며, 11월부터 잎의 노화가 시작되어 이듬해 2월이 되면 대부분의 포자엽과 영양엽이 노화되고 4월 이후에는 잎 전체가 시들어 없어졌다. 이와 같이 제주고사리삼 잎의 생육기간은 7월에서부터 이듬해 4월까지 10개월이었으며, 노화의 시기는 자생지 마다 다소 차이를 나타냈다. 이는 자생지의 미세 환경의 차이에 의한 것으로 생각되며 이에 대한 연구가 진행되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.