• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2010

We have developed an efficient and precise method for genome manipulations in Bacillus subtilis that allows rapid alteration of a gene sequence or multiple gene sequences without altering the chromosome in any other way. In our approach, the Escherichia coli toxin gene mazF, which was used as a counter-selectable marker, was placed under the control of a xylose-inducible expression system and associated with an antibiotic resistance gene to create a "mazF-cassette". A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-generated fragment, consisting of two homology regions joined to the mazF-cassette, was integrated into the chromosome at the target locus by homologous recombination, using positive selection for antibiotic resistance. Then, the excision of the mazF-cassette from the chromosome by a single-crossover event between two short directly repeated (DR) sequences, included in the design of the PCR products, was achieved by counter-selection of mazF. We used this method efficiently and precisely to deliver a point mutation, to inactivate a specific gene, to delete a large genomic region, and to generate the in-frame deletion with minimal polar effects in the same background.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1015-1025
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• 2015

The development of diverse polymyxin derivatives is needed to solve the toxicity and resistance problems of polymyxins. However, no platform has generated polymyxin derivatives by genetically engineering a polymyxin synthetase, which is a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. In this study, we present a two-step approach for the construction of engineered polymyxin synthetases by substituting the adenylation (A) domains of polymyxin A synthetase, which is encoded by the pmxABCDE gene cluster of Paenibacillus polymyxa E681. First, the seventh L-threonine-specific A-domain region in pmxA was substituted with the L-leucine-specific A-domain region obtained from P. polymyxa ATCC21830 to make polymyxin E synthetase, and then the sixth D-leucine-specific A-domain region (A_6-D-Leu-domain) was substituted with the D-phenylalanine-specific A-domain region (A_6-D-Phe-domain) obtained from P. polymyxa F4 to make polymyxin B synthetase. This step was performed in Escherichia coli on a pmxA-containing fosmid, using the lambda Red recombination system and the sacB gene as a counter-selectable marker. Next, the modified pmxA gene was fused to pmxBCDE on the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis BSK4dA, and the resulting recombinant strains BSK4-PB and BSK4-PE were confirmed to produce polymyxins B and E, respectively. We also succeeded in constructing the B. subtilis BSK4-PP strain, which produces polymyxin P, by singly substituting the A_6-D-Leu-domain with the A_6-D-Phe-domain. This is the first report in which polymyxin derivatives were generated by genetically engineering polymyxin synthetases. The two recombinant B. subtilis strains will be useful for improving the commercial production of polymyxins B and E, and they will facilitate the generation of novel polymyxin derivatives.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.304-316
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• 2021

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infections. However, conventional vaccines based on hemagglutinin (HA) have to be annually updated because the HA of influenza viruses constantly mutates. In this study, we produced a 3M2e-3HA2-NP chimeric protein as a vaccine antigen candidate using an Escherichia coli expression system. The vaccination of chimeric protein (15 ㎍) conferred complete protection against A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1; PR8) in mice. It strongly induced influenza virus-specific antibody responses, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. To spare the dose and enhance the cross-reactivity of the chimeric, we used a complex of poly-γ-glutamic acid and alum (PGA/alum) as an adjuvant. PGA/alum-adjuvanted, low-dose chimeric protein (1 or 5 ㎍) exhibited higher cross-protective effects against influenza A viruses (PR8, CA04, and H3N2) compared with those of chimeric alone or alum-adjuvanted proteins in vaccinated mice. Moreover, the depletion of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells reduced the survival rate and efficacy of the PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein. Collectively, the vaccination of PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein induced strong protection efficacy against homologous and heterologous influenza viruses in mice, which suggests that it may be a promising universal influenza vaccine candidate.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1031-1045
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• 2022

Postbiotics are defined as probiotics inactivated by heat, ultraviolet radiation, sonication, and other physical or chemical stresses. Postbiotics are more stable than probiotics, and these properties are advantageous for food additives and pharmacological agents. This study investigated the immunostimulatory effects of heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LM1004 (HT-LM1004). Cellular fatty acid composition of L. plantarum LM1004 isolated form kimchi was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection system. The nitric oxide (NO) content was estimated using Griess reagent. Immunostimulatory cytokines were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relative protein expressions were evaluated by western blotting. Phagocytosis was measured using enzyme-labelled Escherichia coli particles. L. plantarum LM1004 showed 7 kinds of cellular fatty acids including palmitic acid (C16:0). The HT-LM1004 induced release of NO and upregulated the inducible NO synthase in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels were also increased compared to control (non-treated macrophages). Furthermore, HT-LM1004 modulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subfamilies including p38 MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Therefore, these immunostimulatory effects were attributed to the production of transcriptional factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the activator protein 1 family (AP-1). However, HT-LM1004 did not showed significant phagocytosis of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Overall, HT-LM1004 stimulated MAPK/AP-1 and NF-κB expression, resulting in the release of NO and cytokines. These results will contribute to the development of diverse types of food and pharmacological products for immunostimulatory agents with postbiotics.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.14
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• 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by several immune cells. Notably, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are existed in the TME that induce angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, a point-mutated variant of IL-32θ was discovered in breast cancer tissues, which suppressed migration and proliferation through intracellular pathways. Although the relationship between cancer and IL-32 has been previously studied, the effects of IL-32θ on TAMs remain elusive. Recombinant human IL-32θ (rhIL-32θ) was generated using an Escherichia coli expression system. To induce M0 macrophage polarization, THP-1 cells were stimulated with PMA. After PMA treatment, the cells were cultured with IL-4 and IL-13, or rhIL-32θ. The mRNA level of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1β, TNFα, inducible nitric oxide synthase) were increased by rhIL-32θ in M0 macrophages. On the other hand, the M2 macrophage markers (CCL17, CCL22, TGFβ, CD206) were decreased by rhIL-32θ in M2 macrophages. rhIL-32θ induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB via regulation of the MAPK (p38) pathway. In conclusion, point-mutated rhIL-32θ induced the polarization to M1-like macrophages through the MAPK (p38) and NF-κB (p65/p50) pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.916-922
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• 2005

Parkin, known as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has essential role in protein quality control, and its severe dysfunction leads to neurodegenerative disorders. Human Parkin was excessively degraded when expressed in Escherichia coli under the conventional induction condition ($37^{\circ}C$ culture condition with 0.5 mM IPTG). To optimize the induction and culture conditions for recombinant human Parkin and develop a rapid method for the Parkin purification, we expressed Parkin by using PCEX system at the different culture temperatures and IPTC concentrations. The intact Parkin protein was purified to approximately $90\%$ purity with suitable amounts of protein under the optimal culture condition ($25^{\circ}C$E with 0.01 mM IPTG). Additionally, we constructed various parkin plasmids with different tagging systems and investigated their expression patterns in HEK293 cells. We found that the proteolytically sensitive site is localized within a ubiquitin-like domain of Parkin. This study developes a method for generating useful reagents to investigate biochemical properties of Parkin.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2004

In this study, I attempted to develope the expression and purification system of human mammaglobin proteins in Escherichia coli and to produce anti-human mammaglobin rabbit antibody for the detection of human mammaglobin protein in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients. Human mammaglobin gene was cloned and sequenced from m-RNAs purified from donated breast cancer tissues using RT-PCR. The cloned gene was inserted into pET30, pET22, and pET32 plasmid. The cloned gene in pET30 yields insoluble proteins which was difficult to purify from the cells extracts. The mammaglobin gene in pET32 was strongly expressed soluble proteins which were isolated using Ni-NTA affinity chromagraphy and DEAE-ion exchange chromatography, followed by enterokinase digestion of the purified proteins. The isolated proteins had enough purity to use as a antigen for the production of anti-mammaglobin antibody in rabbits. The polyclonal antibody produced against the isolated mammaglobin showed a specificity to mammaglobin after Westernblot immuno assay. In conclusion, the isolated mammaglobin protein and the anti-mammaglobin rabbit antibody may be used for diagnosis of breast cancer as well as development of anti-breast cancer drug.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.435-440
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• 2004

The gene encoding a extremely thermostable 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Thermococcus litoralis, was cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequence of the enzyme was distantly related to other functionally-related ones, such as D-enzymes. The enzyme is of industrial interest because of a novel activity of producing cycloamylose and is also important for fundamental studies of protein, sugar-metabolizing enzymes. In this paper, the overexpression of 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase in E. coli was carried out expression vector system with lac and T7 promoters. The enzyme was successfully overexpressed, and purified by the heat treatment of a cell-free extract, successive Butyl-Toyopearl and Mono Q chromatographies. The purified recombinant enzyme showed the same specific activity and the same mobility in SDS-PAGE as natural enzyme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.485-492
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• 2006

The PrrBA two-component system is one of the major regulatory systems that control expression of photosynthesis genes in response to changes in oxygen tension in the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The system consists of the PrrB histidine kinase and the PrrA response regulator. The N-terminal transmembrane domain of PrrB serves as a signal-sensing domain and comprises six transmembrane helices forming three periplasmic loops and two cytoplasmic loops. The $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ transmembrane helices and the $2^{nd}$ periplasmic loop were suggested to play a crucial role in redox-sensory function. In this study we demonstrated that mutations of Asp-90, Gln-93, Leu-94, Leu-98, and Asn-106 in the $2^{nd}$ periplasmic loop and its neighboring region led to severe defects in PrrB sensory function, indicating that these amino acids might be related to the redox-sensing function of PrrB. The mutant forms (D90E, D90N, and D90A) of PrrB were heterologously overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified by means of affinity chromatography and their autokinase activities were comparatively assessed. The D90N form of PrrB was shown to possess higher autokinase activity than the wild-type form of PrrB, whereas the D90E form of PrrB displayed lower autokinase activity than the wild-type form of PrrB. The D90A mutation led to the loss of PrrB autokinase activity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2010

Ethylene, known as a stress hormone regulate wide developmental processes including germination, root hair initiation, root and shoot primordial formation and elongation, leaf and flower senescence and abscission, fruit ripening. The acceleration of ethylene biosynthesis in plant associated with environmental and biological stresses. 1-Aminocycloprophane-1-carboxlyate deaminase(ACCD) is an enzyme that cleaves ACC into and ammonia, a precursor of the plant hormone ethylene. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) having ACCD can decrease endogenous ACC level of tissue, resulting in reduced production of ethylene in plants. ACC deaminse was a key enzyme for protect stressed plants from injurious effects of ethylene. ACCD gene was encoded from Pseudomonas flourescens, PGPR and was cloned in Escherichia coli. We expressed the recombinant ACCD(rACCD) containing 357 amino acids with molecular weight 39 kDa that revealed by SDS-PAGE and western blot. The rACCD was purified by Ni-NTA purification system. The active form of rACCD having enzyme activity converted ACC to a-ketobutyrate. The optimal pH for ACC deaminase activity was pH 8.5, but no activity below pH 7.0 and a less severe tapering activity at base condition resulting in loss of activity at over pH 11. The optimal temperature of the enzyme was $30^{\circ}$ and a slightly less severe tapering activity at 15 - 30$^{\circ}$, but no activity over $35^{\circ}$. P. flourescens ACC deaminase has a highly conserved residue that plays in allowing substrate accessibility to the active sites. The enzymatic properties of this rACCD will provide an important reference for analysis of newly isolated ACCD and identification of newly isolated PGPR containing ACCD.