• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 1999

The gene (galE) encoding UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, operative in the galactose metabolic pathway, was cloned together with the $\beta$-galactosidase gene (lacZ) from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis ATCC7962 (L. lactis 7962). galE was found to have a length of 981 bps and encoded a protein with a molecular mass of 36,209 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a homology with GalE proteins from several other microorganisms. A Northern analysis demonstrated that galE was constitutively expressed by its own promoter. When galactose or lactose was added into medium, the galE transcription was induced by several upstream promoters. The structure of the gal/lac operon of L. lactis 7962 was partially characterized and the gene order around galE was galT-lacA-lacZ-galE-orfX.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.474-479
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• 2010

Three assay methods for quantification of the two galactose-operon mRNAs that only differ by 5 bases in their 5'-end are presented. The 5' ends of each mRNA were extended by ligating the 3'-end of the abundant 5S rRNA. This ligation extends the 5' ends of the two gal mRNAs long enough to be distinguished by the specific PCR primers in the following quantification reactions. Quantification of the corresponding cDNAs was performed either by primer extension assay or real-time qPCR. To circumvent the problem of the RNA ligation reaction (i.e. very low ligation efficiency), we devised a new method that employs real-time qPCR directly for the quantification of the gal transcripts which differ by 5 bases in their 5'-ends.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.829-835
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• 2000

The ptsH and ptsI genes of Lactococus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 7962 (L. lactis 7962), encoding the general proteins of phosphotransferase system (PTS) components, HPr and enzyme I, respectively, were cloned and characterized. A 1.3 kb PCR product was obtained using a primer set that was hybridized to the internal region of the L. lactis 7962 pts HI genes and then subcloned into a low-copy number vector, pACYC184. The 5' upstream and 3' downstream region from the 1.3 kb fragment were subsequently clone using the chromosome walking method. The complete ptsHI operon was constructed and the nucleotide sequences determined. Two ORFs corresponding to HPr (88 amino acids) and enzyme I (575 amino acids) were located. The ptsHI genes of L. lactis 7962 showed a very high homology (84-90%) with those genes from other Gram-positive bacteria. A primer extension analysis showed that the transcription started at either one of two adjacent bases upstream of the start codon. Using a Northern analysis, two transcripts were detected; the first, a 0.3 kb transcript corresponding to ptsH and the second, a 2 kb transcript corresponding to ptsH and ptsI. The transcription level of ptsH was higher than that of ptsI. The concentration of the ptsH transcript in cells grown on glucose was similar to that in cells grown on lactose, yet higher than that in cells grown on galactose. The ptsI transcript was scarcely detected in cell grown on lactose or galactose. The ptsI transcript was scarcely detected in cells grown on lactose or galactose. The results of a sequence analysis and Northern blot confirmed that the ptsH and ptsI genes of L. lactis 7962 were arranged in an operon like other known ptsHI genes and the expression of the ptsHI genes was regulated at the transcriptional level in response to the carbon source.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.840-843
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• 2000

The structure of gal/lac operon of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis ATCC7962 was partially characterized and the gene (galM) encoding galactose mutarotase was cloned together with the order; galA-galM-galK-galT. The galM was found to be 1,027 bp in length and encoded the protein of 37,609 Da calculated molecular mass. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a homology with GalM proteins from several other microorganisms. Thus, the galM gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the product was identified as a 38 kDa protein which corresponded to the size estimated from DNA sequence. mutarotase activity of the IPTG inducedrecombinant was 2.7 times increased against that of the host strain.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 1991

Previously RP1::Tn951 which is a derivative of RP1 containing the lactose transposon Tn951 was introduced into Z. mobilis strain ZM6l00, and RP1::Tn951 was integrated into its genome to yield ZM6306. The galactose operon was incorporated into ZM6306 to yield ZM6307 for more efficient utilization of lactose. Batch culture study has been carried out on Z. mobilis strains, ZM6306 ($lac^+$ ) and ZM6307 ($lac^+$ , $gal^+$ ), which can convert lactose directly to ethanol. Using a medium containing 80 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ glucose and 40 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ lactose, it was found that ZM6306 and ZM6307 produced maximum ethanol concentration of 40 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ and 42 gㆍ$1^{-1}$, respectively, whereas parent strain ZM6 produced 37 gㆍ$1^{-1}$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.800-808
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• 2005

Leuconostoc mesenteroides SY1, an isolate from kimchi, was able to ferment $\alpha$-galactosides, such as melibiose and raffinose. $\alpha$-Galactosidase ($\alpha$-Gal) activity was higher in cells grown on melibiose and raffinose than cells grown on galactose, sucrose, and fructose. $\alpha$-Gal activity was not detected in cells grown on glucose, indicating the operation of carbon catabolite repression (CCR). A 6 kb DNA fragment was PCR amplified using a primer set based on the nucleotide sequence of a putative $\alpha$-galactosidase gene (aga) from L. mesenteroides ATCC 8293. Nucleotide sequencing of the 6 kb fragment confirmed the presence of aga and other genes involved in the galactosides utilization, and the gene order was galR (transcriptional regulator)-aga-gaIK (galactokinase)-gaIT (galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase). Northern blotting experiment showed that aga, gaIK, and gaIT constituted the same operon, that the transcription was induced by galactosides, such as melibiose and raffinose, whereas gaIR was independently transcribed as a monocistronic gene, and that the level of transcription was fairly constant. The aga was overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using pET26b(+) vector, and $\alpha$-Gal was accumulated in E. coli as an inclusion body.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 2002

A lactic acid bacteria with ${\beta}$-gal activity was isolated from Kimchi, a traditional fermented vegetable food in Korea. The isolate was identified as a Lactococcus lactis strain and named L. lactis A2. The gene encoding ${\beta}$-gal of L. lactis A2 was cloned as a 5.8 kb PstI fragment. DNA sequencing identified the complete lacA (galactoside acetyltransferase)-lacZ (${\beta}$-galactosidase) genes together with the 3' part of upstream galT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase), and the 5'region of downstream galE (UDP-galactose-4-epimerase) genes. L. lactis A2 had the same gal/lac operon structure as in L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962. Other genes of the Leloir pathway are most likely to be located in the 5'upstream of the 5.8 kb fragment on the A2 chromosome. Sequences downstream of galE were different from those of L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2002

The whole gal/lae operon genes of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis 7962 were reported as follows: galA-galM-galK-galT-lacA -lacZ-galE. The galK gene encoding a galactokinase involved in one of the Leloir pathways for galactose metabolism was found to be 1,197 bp in length and encodes a protein of 43,822 Da calculated molecular mass. The deduced amino acid sequence showed over 50% homology with GaIK proteins from several other lactic acid bacteria. The galK gene was expressed in E. coli and the product was identified as a 43 kDa protein which corresponds to the estimated size from the DNA sequence. The galactokinase activity of recombinant 5. coli was about 8 times greater against that of the host strain and more than 3 times higher than the induced L. lactis 7962.