• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.776-783
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• 2018

The agarase gene gaa16a was identified from a draft genome sequence of Gilvimarinus agarilyticus JEA5, an agar-utilizing marine bacterium. Recently, three agarase-producing bacteria, G. chinensis, G. polysaccharolyticus, and G. agarilyticus, in the genus Gilvimarinus were reported. However, there have been no reports of the molecular characteristics and biochemical properties of these agarases. In this study, we analyzed the molecular characteristics and biochemical properties of agarases in Gilvimarinus. Gaa16A comprised a 1,323-bp open reading frame encoding 441 amino acids. The predicted molecular mass and isoelectric point were 49 kDa and 4.9, respectively. The amino acid sequence of Gaa16A showed features typical of glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GH16) ${\beta}$-agarases, including a GH16 domain, carbohydrate-binding region (RICIN domain), and signal peptide. Recombinant Gaa16A (excluding the signal peptide and carbohydrate-binding region, rGaa16A) was expressed as a fused protein with maltose-binding protein at its N-terminus in Escherichia coli. rGaa16A had maximum activity at $55^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0 and 103 U/mg of specific activity in the presence of 2.5 mM $CaCl_2$. The enzyme hydrolyzed agarose to yield neoagarotetraose as the main product. This enzyme may be useful for industrial production of functional neoagaro-oligosaccharides.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.764-777
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• 2023

Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are fusion proteins consisting of a targeting domain linked to a toxin, offering a highly specific therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In this study, we engineered and characterized RITs aimed at mesothelin, a cell surface glycoprotein overexpressed in various malignancies. Through an extensive screening of a large nanobody library, four mesothelin-specific nanobodies were selected and genetically fused to a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE24B). Various optimizations, including the incorporation of furin cleavage sites, maltose-binding protein tags, and tobacco etch virus protease cleavage sites, were implemented to improve protein expression, solubility, and purification. The RITs were successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli, achieving high solubility and purity post-purification. In vitro cytotoxicity assays on gastric carcinoma cell lines NCI-N87 and AGS revealed that Meso(Nb2)-PE24B demonstrated the highest cytotoxic efficacy, warranting further characterization. This RIT also displayed selective binding to human and monkey mesothelins but not to mouse mesothelin. The competitive binding assays between different RIT constructs revealed significant alterations in IC₅₀ values, emphasizing the importance of nanobody specificity. Finally, a modification in the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal at the C-terminus further augmented its cytotoxic activity. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design and optimization of RITs, showcasing the potential of Meso(Nb2)-PE24B as a promising therapeutic candidate for targeted cancer treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1271-1278
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• 2012

Genetic fusion of two proteins frequently induces beneficial effects to the proteins, such as increased solubility, besides the combination of two protein functions. Here, we study the effects of the bacterial surface layer protein SgsE from Geobacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a on the folding of a C-terminally fused enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) moiety. Although GFPs are generally unable to adopt a functional confirmation in the bacterial periplasm of Escherichia coli cells, we observed periplasmic fluorescence from a chimera of a 150-amino-acid N-terminal truncation of SgsE and EGFP. Based on this finding, unfolding and refolding kinetics of different S-layer-EGFP chimeras, a maltose binding protein-EGFP chimera, and sole EGFP were monitored using green fluorescence as indicator for the folded protein state. Calculated apparent rate constants for unfolding and refolding indicated different folding pathways for EGFP depending on the fusion partner used, and a clearly stabilizing effect was observed for the SgsE_C fusion moiety. Thermal stability, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, and unfolding equilibria were found to be independent of the fused partner. We conclude that the stabilizing effect SgsE_C exerts on EGFP is due to a reduction of degrees of freedom for folding of EGFP in the fused state.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.741-748
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas. Among the 10 polyproteins produced by the virus, no function has been clearly assigned to the non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein. This study was designed to identify the hepatocellular proteins that interact with NS5A of the HCV. Yeast two-hybrid experiments were performed with a human liver cDNA prey-library, using five different NS5A derivatives as baits, the full-length NS5A (NS5A-F, amino acid (aa) 1~447) and its four different derivatives, denoted as NS5A-A (aa 1~150), -B (aa 1~300), -C (aa 300~447) and D (aa 150~447). NS5A-F, NS5A-B and NS5A-C gave two, two and 10 candidate clones, respectively, including an AHNAK-related protein, the secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4), the N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), the cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP-1), ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), translokin, tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2), phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) and $centaurin{\delta}$ 2 ($CENT{\delta}2$). However, NS5A-A produced no candidates and NS5A-D was not suitable as bait due to transcriptional activity. Based on an in vitro binding assay, CRABP-1, PI4K, $CENT{\delta}2$ and two unknown fusion proteins with maltose binding protein (MBP), were confirmed to interact with the glutathione S-transferase (GST)/NS5A fusion protein. Furthermore, the interactions of CRABP-1, PI4K and $CENT{\delta}2$ were not related to the PXXP motif (class II), as judged by a domain analysis. While their biological relevance is under investigation, the results contribute to a better understanding of the possible role of NS5A in hepatocellular signaling pathways.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2008

The efficient soluble expression of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was achieved by using functional fusion partners in cytoplasm and periplasm of Escherichia coli (E. coli). hEGF was over-expressed in inactive inclusion body form in cytoplasm of E. coli due to improper disulfide bond formation and hydrophobic interaction, yielding about 5.9 mg/L in flask culture. Six functional fusion partners were introduced by linking to N-terminal part of hEGF gene for the high-level expression of soluble and active hEGF in cytoplasm and peri plasm region. Three fusion partners for cytoplasmic expression such as acidic tail of synuclein (ATS), thioredoxin (Trx) and lipase, and three fusion partners for periplasmic expression such as periplasmic cystein oxidoreductases (DsbA and DsbC) and maltose binding protein (MBP) were investigated. hEGF fused with ATS and DsbA showed over 90% of solubility in cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively. Especially DsbA was found to be an efficient fusion partner for soluble and high-level expression of hEGF, yielding about 18.1 mg/L and three-fold higher level compared to that of insoluble non-fusion hEGF in cytoplasm. Thus, heterologous proteins containing complex disulfide bond and many hydrophobic amino acids can effectively be produced as an active form in E. coli by introducing a suitable peptide or protein.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1995

In Escherichia coli, CRP forms a complex with cAMP and acts as a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including sugar metabolism operons. The E. coli MK2001, which is introduced the altered crp, is functional in the expression of lac, ara and man, in the absence of cAMP. However, the expression of mal gene is fully activated by the addition of cAMP or cGMP. The object of the study is cloning of the sfs (sugar fermentation stimulation) genes, which was involved in regulation of mal gene expression with the altered crp gene, and structural analysis and characterization of the genes at the molecular level. We have cloned 5 different E. coli genes which stimulate the maltose metabolism in a crp, cya::km (MK2001) background. Newly identified genes were designated as sfs. One of the sfs genes (pPC1), located at the 53.2 min map position on the E. coli chromosome, was further analyzed. Expression of the genes, which is involved in maltose metabolism, malQ (amylomaltase), was increased to 5.8-fold in the presence of a plasmid, pAP5, containing the subcloned sfs4 gene. The nucleotide seguence of a common 2,126 bp segment of the pPCM1 was determined and two open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2) were detected. The ORF1 encodes the sfs4 gene and ORF2 encodes a truncated protein. Potential CRP binding site is located in the upstream of the putative promoter in the regulatory region. Expression of the cloned sfs4 gene was positively regulated by the cAMP-CRP complex.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2002

The cyclic amidohydrolase family enzymes, which include allantoinase, dihydroorotase, dihydropyrimidinase and (phenyl)hydantoinase, are metal-dependent hydrolases and play a crucial role in the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine in vivo. Each enzyme has been independently characterized, and thus well documented, but studies on the higher structural traits shared by members of this enzyme family are rare due to the lack of comparative study. Here, we report upon the expression in E. coli cells of maltose-binding protein (MBP)- and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fused cyclic amidohydrolase family enzymes, facilitating also for both simple purification and high-level expression. Interestingly, the native quaternary structure of each enzyme was maintained even when fused with MBP and GST. We also found that in fusion proteins the favorable biochemical properties of family enzymes such as, their optimal pHs, specific activities and kinetic properties were conserved compared to the native enzymes. In addition, MBP-fused enzymes showed remarkable folding ability in-vitro. Our findings, therefore, suggest that a previously unrecognized trait of this family, namely the ability to functional fusion with some other protein but yet to retain innate properties, is conserved. We described here the structural and evolutionary implications of the properties in this family enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is a pathogen of a variety of infections in horse. We studied biochemical and molecular characteristics of S. zooepidemicus isolated from the genital tract of Thoroughbred mares in Korea. Seventy-nine isolates were identified as S. zooepidemicus by biochemical and PCR method from 374 horses. The biochemical characteristics of S. zooepidemicus isolates were positive reaction of lactose and sorbitol. However, S. zooepidemicus isoltes were negative reaction of inulin, mannitol, raffinose, trehalose, aesculin hydrolysis, growth in 6.5% NaCl and variable reaction of maltose. Epidemiological investigations of S. zooepidemicus isolates were performed by fragment analysis of SzP (S. zooepidemicus protective protein) gene, CNE (collagen binding protein) gene and ISR (16s rRNA intergenic spacer region) gene using ABI Prism $3,130{\times}1$ Genetic Analyzer System. All isolates were shown single amplification size of 906 bp in CNE gene, but SzP and ISR gene were shown variable patterns of fragment size. The characteristics of S. zooepidemicus investigated in this study will be very useful for the prevention of infection and the studies of epidemiologic characteristics of S. zooepidemicus, causing the severe economic losses due to reproductive failures.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2015

In this study, it is reported that a large polyprotein can be stoichiometrically cleaved by the use of caspase-3-dependent proteolysis. Previously, it has been shown that the proteolytic IETD motif was partially processed when treated with caspase-3, while the DEVD motif was completely cleaved. The cleavage efficiency of the DEVD-based substrate was approximately 2.0 times higher than that of the IETD substrate, in response to caspase-3. Based on this, 3 protein genes of interest were genetically linked to each other by adding two proteolytic cleavage sequences, DEVD and IETD, for caspase-3. Particularly, glutathione-S transferase (GST), maltose binding protein (MBP), and red fluorescent protein (RFP) were chosen as model proteins due to the variation in their size. The expressed polyprotein was purified by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) via a hexa-histidine tag at the C-terminal end, showing 93 kDa of a chimeric GST:MBP:RFP fusion protein. In response to caspase-3, cleavage products, such as MBP:RFP (68 kDa), MBP (42 kDa), RFP (26 kDa), and GST (25 kDa), were separated from a large precursor GST:MBP:RFP (93 kDa) via SDS-PAGE. The results obtained from this study indicate that a multi-protein can be stoichiometrically produced from a large poly-protein by using proteolytic recognition motifs, such as DEVD and IETD tetra-peptides, for caspase-3.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.603-609
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• 2016

Brucellosis affects a wide range of host species, including humans and many livestock animals. Chronic infections of the disease make antibiotic treatment costly, and the current vaccine used in livestock has not been approved for human use. This study investigated the possible use of the Brucella abortus outer membrane protein A (OmpA) as a candidate subunit vaccine in an infected mouse model. The ompA gene was cloned and overexpressed, and the recombinant OmpA (rOmpA) protein fused to maltose binding protein (MBP) was purified in Escherichia coli. Immunogenicity was verified through western blotting, and mice were immunized and challenged to evaluate its protective effect. Mice treated with rOmpA exhibited induced humoral and host cell-mediated responses, with a significant increase in immunoglobulin G (IgG1 and IgG2a) and cytokine levels, especially TNF-α and IL-12, compared with the control groups treated with either MBP or PBS. In conclusion, rOmpA should be highly considered as a future subunit vaccine for brucellosis, and further studies regarding rOmpA and its protective ability are suggested.