• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.487-492
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• 2004

The extent of codon usage in the protein coding genes of the mycobacteriophage, Bxz1, and its plating bacteria, M. smegmatis, were determined, and it was observed that the codons ending with either G and / or C were predominant in both the organisms. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that in both organisms, the genes were separated along the first major explanatory axis according to their expression levels and their genomic GC content at the synonymous third positions of the codons. The second major explanatory axis differentiates the genes according to their genome type. A comparison of the relative synonymous codon usage between 20 highly- and 20 lowly expressed genes from Bxz1 identified 21 codons, which are statistically over represented in the former group of genes. Further analysis found that the Bxz1- specific tRNA species could recognize 13 out of the 21 over represented synonymous codons, which incorporated 13 amino acid residues preferentially into the highly expressed proteins of Bxz1. In contrast, seven amino acid residues were preferentially incorporated into the lowly expressed proteins by 10 other tRNA species of Bxz1. This analysis predicts for the first time that the Bxz1-specific tRNA species modulates the optimal expression of its proteins during development.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.47-51
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• 2023

Ras small GTPases are involved in regulating various cellular signaling pathways including cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Ras GTPase subfamily is comprised of 15 proteins; 11 Ras, 3 Rap, and one Rheb related protein. Some Ras proteins, such as RasC and RasG, have been identified for their major functions, but there are proteins whose functions have not been studied yet, such as RasU and RasX. Here, we investigated the roles of RasU in cell motility and development. RasU shows the highest homology with RasX. To investigate the functions of RasU, rasU null cells were used to observe the phenotype. Cells lacking RasU were larger and more spread than wild-type cells. These results indicate that RasU plays a negative role in cell spreading. In addition, we investigated the roles of RasU in cell motility and development of Dictyostelium cells and found that rasU null cells exhibited decreased random migration speed and delayed developmental process. These results suggest that RasU plays an important role in cell motility and development.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2023

Proteolytic enzymes secreted by Aspergillus, as pathogenicity factors, affect blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, and therefore the target proteins of their action in the bloodstream are of significant interest. In the present study, the action of the isolated protease of A. terreus 2 on different human plasma proteins was shown. The protease of A. terreus 2 exhibited the highest proteolytic activity against hemoglobin, which was 2.5 times higher than the albuminolytic activity shown in both of the protein substrates used. In addition, the protease has significant ability to hydrolyze both fibrin and fibrinogen. However, the inability of the A. terreus 2 protease to coagulate rabbit blood plasma and coagulate human and bovine fibrinogen indicates the severity of the enzyme's action on human blood coagulation factors. It should be considered as a potential indicator of this isolated protease's participation in fungal pathogenesis. The protease shows no hemolytic activity. Furthermore, its activity is insignificantly inhibited by thrombin inhibitors, and is not inhibited by plasmin inhibitors.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.379-386
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• 2010

Mono PEGylated rhG-CSF (PEG-G-CSF) prepared by utilizing unique PEG was purified and characterized by cation-exchange chromatography. A unique, trimer-structured PEG was chosen for PEGylation of rhG-CSF among various PEG moieties. The in-vitro bioactivity, stability, and pharmacokinetics of mono-PEG-G-CSF were examined and compared to those of native rhG-CSF. Mono PEG-G-CSF exhibited reduced in-vitro bioactivity to native rhG-CSF but showed an excellent in-vivo bioactivity and stability. Furthermore, it showed markedly reduced clearance in rats, thereby increasing the biological half-life by about 4.5-fold compared to that of native rhG-CSF. The results suggest that this unique, trimer-structured 23 kDa PEG can provide advantages to improve the bioactivity of therapeutic proteins in clinical use.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.313-319
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• 2024

Cultivars or genetic resources with a black seed coat and green cotyledons are rich in lutein, which can promote eye health, and anthocyanin, known for its numerous health benefits. However, mature seeds also contain P34, 7S α' subunit, and lectin proteins, which are allergenic and degrade quality. Here, we report the breeding of a new soybean line with a black seed coat, green cotyledon, and free of P34, 7S α' subunit, and lectin proteins. A total of 157 F₂ seeds with black seed coats and green cotyledons were selected by crossing a female parent with a brown seed coat, green cotyledon, and lacking the 7S α' subunit and lectin proteins with a male parent with a black seed coat, green cotyledon, and lacking the P34 and lectin proteins. The P34 and 7S α' subunit proteins were consistent with a ratio of 9:3:3:1, indicating that they are independent of each other. From 14 F₂ seeds that were recessive (cgy1cgy1p34p34) for both proteins, one individual F₂ plant (F₃ seeds) with the desired traits-black seed coat, green cotyledon, and lacking P34, 7S α' subunit, and lectin proteins- was finally selected. The triple null genotype (absence for P34, 7S α' subunit, and lectin proteins) was confirmed in random F₃ seeds. The selected line has a black seed coat and green cotyledons, and when sown on June 14 in the greenhouse, the maturity date was approximately October 3, the height was about 68 cm, and the 100-seed weight was about 26.5 g.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-89
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• 1993

Cortisol levels in plasma are known to be as an indication of reproductive and adrenal status of an animal. In this study it has been examined in relation to the oestrus induction by Progesterone oestrogen therapy in 3rd and 4th parity anoestrus animals. Cortisol was found higher in treated animals and levels raised within 6-12 hrs. after hormone therapy followed by elevation in glucose levels and depletion of total serum proteins. It shows the association of induction, occurrence and expression of oestrus with energy demanding metabolic stress in buffaloes.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.274-280
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• 1994

담배나방(Heliothis assulta) 혈림프 항세균성 단백질의 특성을 알아보기 위해 종령 유충의 혈강으로 고라구연us thuringiens논 균을 주입하였다. 혈림프의 항세근적 활성은 주입후 48시간 경과군에서 가장 높았으며, E. coli와 풍 thuringiensis에 대하여 항세균성을 보이는 두 개의 단백질(G-1 및 G-11)들을 cation exchange chromatography와 gel filtration을 통해 정제하였다 49KD와 46KB의 두 subunit로 구성된 G-1은 높은 glvcine(17 13 mole %) 및 alanine(13.88 mole %) 함량을 보였으며, 14KD의 단일 pclvpeptide인 G-11에서는 histidine(16 14 mole %)과 glvclne(14.27 mole %)의 함량이 높아, 이러한 높은 glvcine 함량에 있어서 곤충에서 나타나는 다른 항세균성 단백질과 공통점을 보인다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2001

The chicken meat has been reported as one of the food causing allergic reactions predominantly to Korean. At present, several in vitro tests for immunoglobulinG (IgG)-mediated as well as IgE-mediated food allergy are available. 13 clinically chicken meat-allergic patients were investigated together with 4control subjects for identification of chicken meat-specific reactivity by ELISA. Also, protein profile and IgE, IgGtotal and IgG4-reacting allergens were detected by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis (SDS-PAGE)and immunoblotting. Chicken meat extracts were prepared as raw, heated, heat and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) treated samples to characterize the stability of allergen to physicochemical treatment. SDS-PAGE revealed 9~200 kDa bands. And in immunoblotting 7 sera were identified most major bands between 10 and 78 kDa. In case of IgE, six proteins (17, 26, 35, 40, 78 kDa) were predominant in heat-treated extract, and the one (35 kDa) was present in SGF-treated preparations. In case of IgG$_{total}$ and IgG4, most of them showed a patters simmilar to IgE. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in IgE, IgG$_{total}$ , IgG4 Abs to chicken meat between the allergic and control subjects in ELISA. In addition, the concentration of IgG4Abs in the challenge-positive subjects was significantly higher than that of control subjects. It is considered that the specific IgE response to chicken meat was rarely prevalent to Koreans. However, the specific IgG4 response play an important role in the development of allergic symptoms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 2000

Recombinant protein G has been utilized in the purification of antibodies from various mammalian species based on the interaction of antibodies with protein G. The interaction between immunoglobulin and protein G may not be restricted to the Fc protion of antibodies, as many different $F(ab)_2$ or Fab fragments can also bind to protein G. I found both FAb $F(ab)_2$ of 145-2C11, a hamster anti-mouse $CD3{\varepsilon}$ antibody, bound to the protein G-sepharose. Interestingly, Fab and $F(ab)_2$ of 145-2C11 did not bind to the protein A-sepharose. The binding of Fab and $F(ab)_2$ of 145-2C11 to protein G provided a useful method to remove proteases, chopped fragments of the Fc region, and other contaminating proteins. The remaining intact antibody in the protease reaction mixture can be removed by using a protein A-sepharose, because the Fab and $F(ab)_2$ portions of 145-2C11 did not bind to protein A-sepharose. The specific binding of Fab and $F(ab)_2$ portions of 145-sC11 to a protein G-sepharose (though not to a protein A-sepharose) and binding of intact 145-2C11 to both protein A- and G-sepharose will be useful in developing an effective purification protocol for Fab and $F(ab)_2$ portions of 145-2C11.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2006

We investigated the mechanism of contraction induced by S1P in esophageal smooth muscle cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that $S1P_1$, $S1P_2$, $S1P_3$, and $S1P_5$ receptors existed in the cat esophagus. Only penetration of EDG-5 ($S1P_2$) antibody into permeabilized cells inhibited S1P-induced contraction. Pertussis toxin (PTX) also inhibited contraction, suggesting that it was mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to a PTXsensitive $G_i$ protein. Specific antibodies to $G_{i2}$, $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ inhibited contraction, implying that the S1P-induced contraction depends on PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ dimers as well as the PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$. Contraction was not affected by the phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor DEDA, or the PLD inhibitor ${\rho}$-chloromercuribenzoate, but it was abolished by the PLC inhibitor U73122. Incubation of permeabilized cells with $PLC{\beta}3$ antibody also inhibited contraction. Contraction involved the activation of a PKC pathway since it was affected by GF109203X and chelerythrine. Since $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited contraction, $PKC{\varepsilon}$ may be required. Preincubation of the muscle cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked S1P-induced contraction, but the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 did not. In addition, co-treatment of cells with GF 109203X and PD98059 did not have a synergistic effect, suggesting that these two kinases are involved in the same signaling pathway. Our data suggest that S1P-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells is mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$ proteins, and PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ proteins, and that the resulting activation of the $PLC{\beta}3$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ pathway leads to activation of a p44/p42 MAPK pathway.