• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.107-113
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• 1995

Basement membrane laminin is a multidomain glycoprotein that interacts with itself, heparin and cells. The distal long arm plays major cell and heparin interactive roles. The long arm consists of three subunits (A, B1, B2) joined in a coiled-coil rod attached to a terminal A chain globule (G). The globule is in turn subdivided into five subdomains (Gl-5). In order to analyze the functions of this region, recombinant G domains (rG, rAiG, rG5, rGΔ2980-3028) were expressed in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector. A hybrid molecule (B-rAiG), consisting of recombinant A chain(rAiG) and the authentic B chains (E8-B)was assembled in vitro. The intercalation of rAiG into E8-B chains suppressed a heparin binding activity identified in subdomain Gl-2. By the peptide napping and ligand blotting, the relative affinity of each subeomain to heparin was assigned as Gl> G2= G4> G5> G3, such that G1 bound strongly and G3 not at all. The active heparin binding site of G domain in intact laminin appears to be located in G4 and proximal G5. Cell binding was examined using fibrosarcoma Cells. Cells adhered to E8, B-rAiG, rAiG and rG, did not bind on denatured substrates, poorly bound to the mixture of E8-B and rG. Anti-${\alpha}$6 and anti-${\beta}$1 integrin subunit separately blocked cell adhesion on E8 and B-rAiG, but not on rAiG. Heparin inhibited cell adhesion on rAiG, partially on B-rAiG, and not on E8. In conclusion, 1) There are active and cryptic cell and heparin binding activities in G domain. 2) Triple-helix assembly inactivates cell and heparin binding activities and restores u6131 dependent cell binding activities.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2003

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) catalyzes disulfide bond exchange and assists in protein folding of newly synthesized proteins. PDI also functions as a molecular chaperone and has been found to be associated with proteins in the ER. In addition, PDI functions as a subunit of two more complex enzyme systems: the prolyl-4-hydroxylase and the triacylglycerol transfer proteins. A cDNA that encodes protein disulfide isomerase was previously isolated from Bombyx mori (bPDI), in which open reading frame of 494 amino acids contained two PDI-typical thioredoxin active site of WCGHCK and an ER retention signal of the KDEL motif at its C-terminal, and we report its functional characterization here. This putative bPDI cDNA is expressed in insect Sf9 cells as a recombinant proteins using baculovirus expression vector system. The bPDI recombinant proteins are successfully recognized by antirat PDI antibody, and shown to be biologically active in vitro by mediating the oxidative refolding of reduced and scrambled RNase. This suggests that bPDI may play an important role in protein folding mechanism of insects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.550-557
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• 2010

Escherichia coli (E. coli) heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) was regarded as one of the most powerful mucosal immunoadjuvants eliciting strong immunoresponse to coadministered antigens. In the research, the high-level secretory expression of functional LTB was achieved in P. pastoris through high-density fermentation in a 5-1 fermentor. Meanwhile, the protein was expressed in E. coli by the way of inclusion body, although the gene was cloned from E. coli. Some positive yeast and E. coli transformants were obtained respectively by a series of screenings and identifications. Fusion proteins LTB-6$\times$His could be secreted into the supernatant of the medium after the recombinant P. pastoris was induced by 0.5% (v/v) methanol at $30^{\circ}C$, whereas E. coli transformants expressed target protein in inclusion body after being induced by 1 mM IPTG at $37^{\circ}C$. The expression level increased dramatically to 250-300 mg/l supernatant of fermentation in the former and 80-100 mg/l in the latter. The LTB-6$\times$His were purified to 95% purity by affinity chromatography and characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Adjuvant activity of target protein was analyzed by binding ability with GMI gangliosides. The MW of LTB-6$\times$His expressed in P. pastoris was greater than that in E. coli, which was equal to the expected 11 kDa, possibly resulted from glycosylation by P. pastoris that would enhance the immunogenicity of co-administered antigens. These data demonstrated that P. pastoris producing heterologous LTB has significant advantages in higher expression level and in adjuvant activity compared with the homologous E. coli system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.430-435
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• 2013

Multidrug resistance, especially multidrug efflux mechanisms that extrude structurally unrelated cytotoxic compounds from the cell by multidrug transporters, is a serious problem and one of the main reasons for the failure of therapeutic treatment of infections by pathogenic microorganisms as well as of cancer cells. Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary causative agents of dental caries and periodontal disease, which comprise the most common oral diseases. A fragment of chromosomal DNA from S. mutans KCTC3065 was cloned using Escherichia coli KAM32 as host cells lacking major multidrug efflux pumps. Although E. coli KAM32 cells were very sensitive to many antimicrobial agents, the transformed cells harboring a recombinant plasmid became resistant to several structurally unrelated antimicrobial agents such as tetracycline, kanamycin, rhodamin 6G, ampicillin, acriflavine, ethidium bromide, and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. This suggested that the cloned DNA fragment carries a gene encoding a multidrug efflux pump. Among 49 of the multidrug-resistant transformants, we report the functional gene cloning and characterization of the function of one multidrug efflux pump, namely MdeA from S. mutans, which was expressed in E. coli KAM32. Judging from the structural and biochemical properties, we concluded that MdeA is the first cloned and characterized multidrug efflux pump using the proton motive force as the energy for efflux drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1282-1292
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• 2018

The exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GSBa-1 was isolated and purified by ethanol precipitation, and DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B chromatographies. The molecular mass of the purified EPS was determined to be 54 kDa. Monosaccharide analysis showed that the EPS was composed of predominantly glucose, and it was further confirmed by NMR spectroscopy to be ${\alpha}-glucan$ that consisted of a trisaccharide repeating unit with possible presence of two ${\alpha}-(1{\rightarrow}3)$ and one ${\alpha}-(1{\rightarrow}6)$ glucosidic linkages. Microstructural analysis showed that the EPS appeared as ellipsoid or globose with a smooth surface. The EPS had a degradation temperature at $240^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, the EPS had strong DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, and moderate superoxidant anion scavenging and metal ion-chelating activities. This is the first characterization of a glucan produced by B. amyloliquefaciens with strong antioxidant activity. The results of this study suggest the potential of the EPS from B. amyloliquefaciens GSBa-1 to serve as a natural antioxidant for application in functional products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.403-410
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• 2017

Background: Prenyltransferases catalyze the sequential addition of isopentenyl diphosphate units to allylic prenyl diphosphate acceptors and are classified as either trans-prenyltransferases (TPTs) or cis-prenyltransferases (CPTs). The functions of CPTs have been well characterized in bacteria, yeast, and mammals compared to plants. The characterization of CPTs also has been less studied than TPTs. In the present study, molecular cloning and functional characterization of a CPT from a medicinal plant, Panax ginseng Mayer were addressed. Methods: Gene expression patterns of PgCPT1 were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In planta transformation was generated by floral dipping using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Yeast transformation was performed by lithium acetate and heat-shock for $rer2{\Delta}$ complementation and yeast-two-hybrid assay. Results: The ginseng genome contains at least one family of three putative CPT genes. PgCPT1 is expressed in all organs, but more predominantly in the leaves. Overexpression of PgCPT1 did not show any plant growth defect, and its protein can complement yeast mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ via possible protein-protein interaction with PgCPTL2. Conclusion: Partial complementation of the yeast dolichol biosynthesis mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ suggested that PgCPT1 is involved in dolichol biosynthesis. Direct protein interaction between PgCPT1 and a human Nogo-B receptor homolog suggests that PgCPT1 requires an accessory component for proper function.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to formulate itraconazole semisolid dosage forms and characterize their physicochemical properties. Itraconazole and excipients such as polysorbate 80, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, oils and organic acids were melted at $160^{\circ}C$. The fused solution was then cooled immediately at $-10^{\circ}C$ to make wax-like semisolid preparations. Their physicochemical attributes were first characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. The solubility of itraconazole in semisolid preparations and their dispersability in the simulated gastric fluid were also determined. Our semisolid preparations did not show any distinct endothermic peak of a crystalline form of itraconazole around $160-163^{\circ}C$. This suggested that it was changed into amorphous one, when it was formulated into semisolid preparations. In addition, the distinctive functional peaks and chemical shifts of itraconazole were well retained after processing into semisolid preparations. It could be inferred from the data that itraconazole was stable during incorporation into semisolid preparations by the hot melt technique. In particular, itraconazole semisolid preparations composed of polysorbate 80, fatty acids and organic acids showed good solubility and dissolution when dispersed in an aqueous medium. It was anticipated that the semisolid dosage forms would be industrially applicable to improving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2002

Using Streptomyces sp. YU100 isolated from Korean soil, the fermentative production of phospholipase D was attempted along with its purification and characterization studies. When different carbon and nitrogen sources were supplemented in the culture medium, glucose and yeast extract were found to be the best. By varying the concentration of nutrients and calcium carbonate, the optimal culture medium was determined as 2.0% glucose, 1.5% yeast extract, 0.5% tryptone 0.3% calcium carbonate. During cultivation, the strain secreted most of the phospholipase D in the early stage of growth within 24 h. The phospholipase D produced in the culture broth exhibited hydrolytic activity as well as transphosphatidylation activity on lecithin (phosphatidylcholine). In particular, the culture broth showed 8.7 units/ml of hydrolytic activity when cultivated at $28^{\circ}C$ for 1.5 days. The phospholipase D was purified using 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography, which produced a major band of 57 kDa on a 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel with purity higher than 80%. The enzyme showed an optimal pH of 7 in hydrolytic reaction, and at pH 4 in a transphosphatidylation reaction. The enzyme activity increased until the reaction temperature was elevated to $60^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was relatively stable at high temperatures and neutral pH, but significantly unstable in the alkaline range. Among the detergents tested as emulsifiers of phospholipids, the highest enzyme activity was observed when 1.5% Triton X-100 was employed. However, no inhibitory effect by metal ions was detected. Under optimized reaction conditions, the purified enzyme not only completely decomposed PC to phosphatidic acid within 1 h, but also exhibited higher than 80% conversion rate of PC to PS by transphosphatidylation within 4 h.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.262-270
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• 2007

Of the twelve lytic bacteriophages recovered from five different fermenting cucumber tanks that were inoculated with Pediococcus sp. LA0281, a lytic phage, ${\phi}ps05$, was characterized in the present study. The plaques were mostly clear and round-shaped on the lawn of starter strain, indicating lytic phage. Overall appearance indicated that it belongs to the Siphoviridae family or Bradley's group B1, with a small isometric head and a flexible noncontractile tail with swollen base plate. The average size was found to be 51.2 nm in head diameter and 11.6 nm wide ${\times}$ 129.6 nm long for the tail. The single-step growth kinetics curve showed that the eclipse and the latent period were 29 min and 34 min, respectively, and an average burst size was calculated to be 12 particles per infective center. The optimum proliferating temperature ($35^{\circ}C$) was slightly lower than that of cell growth ($35\;to\;40^{\circ}C$). The structural proteins revealed by SDS-PAGE consisted of one main protein of 33 kDa and three minor proteins of 85, 58, and 52 kDa. The phage genome was a linear double-stranded DNA without cohesive ends. Based on the single and double digestion patterns obtained by EcoRI, HindIII, and SalI, the physical map was constructed. The overall size of the phage genome was estimated to be 24.1 kb. The present report describes the presence of a lytic phage active against a commercial starter culture Pediococcus sp. LA0281 in cucumber fermentation, and a preliminary study characterizes the phage on bacterial successions in the process of starter-added cucumber fermentation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.7-12
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• 2018

In this review, we have tried to summarize the evidence and molecular characterization indicating that $20{\alpha}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($20{\alpha}$-HSD) is a group of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) family, and it plays roles in the modulation and regulation of steroid hormones. This enzyme plays a critical role in the regulation of luteal function in female mammals. We have studied the molecular expression and regulation of $20{\alpha}$-HSD in cows, pigs, deer, and monkeys. The specific antibody against bovine $20{\alpha}$-HSD was generated in a rabbit immunized with the purified recombinant protein. The mRNA expression levels increased gradually throughout the estrous cycle, the highest being in the corpus luteum (CL) 1 stage. The mRNA was also specifically detected in the placental and ovarian tissues during pregnancy. The $20{\alpha}$-HSD protein was intensively localized in the large luteal cells and placental cytotrophoblast villus, glandular epithelial cells of the endometrium, syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, the isthmus cells of the oviduct, and the basal part of the primary chorionic villi and chorionic stem villus of the placenta and large luteal cells of the CL in many mammalian species. Further studies are needed to determine the functional significance of the $20{\alpha}$-HSD molecule during ovulation, pregnancy, and parturition. This article will review how fundamental information of these enzymes can be exploited for a better understanding of the reproductive organs during ovulation and pregnancy.