• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.497-501
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• 1999

Biotinylation of recombinant proteins is a powerful tool for the detection and analysis of proteins of interest in a large variety of assay systems. The recent development of in vivo biotinylation techniques in E. coli has opened new possibilities for the production of site-specifically biotinylated proteins without the need for further manipulation after the isolation of the recombinantly expressed proteins. In the present study, a novel vector set was generated which allows the convenient cloning and expression of proteins of interest fused with an N-terminal in vivo biotinylated thioredoxin (TRX) protein. These vectors were derived from the previously reported pBIOTRX vector into which was incorporated part of the pBluescript II+phagemid multiple cloning site (MCS), amplified by PCR using a pair of sophisticated oligonucleotide primers. The functionality of these novel vectors was examined in this system by recombinant expression of rat transforming growth factor-$\beta$. Western-blot analysis using TRX-specific antibodies or peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin confirmed the successful induction of the fusion protein and the in vivo conjugation of biotin molecules, respectively. The convenience of molecular subcloning provided by the MCS and the effective in vivo biotinylation of proteins of interest makes this novel vector set an interesting alternative for the production of biotinylated proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.708-711
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• 2010

We report the isolation and characterization of a novel knottin-type antimicrobial peptide from the yellow-spotted long-horned beetle Psacothea hilaris. A cDNA encoding a 56-mer knottin-type propeptide was identified and its predicted molecular mass and pI were 5.92 kDa and 8.28, respectively. A 34-mer mature peptide was also selected and named herein as psacotheasin. The antimicrobial activity of chemically synthesized psacotheasin against human bacterial pathogens was subsequently investigated. The results showed that psacotheasin exerted potent activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The present study suggests that psacotheasin can be applied to develop novel therapeutic agents.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.99-103
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• 2010

Background: Glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$ ($GSK3{\beta}$) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase that is regulated by serine phosphorylation at 9. Recent studies have reported the beneficial effects of a number of the pharmacological $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibitors in rodent models of septic shock. Since most of the $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibitors are targeted at the ATP-binding site, which is highly conserved among diverse protein kinases, the development of novel non-ATP competitive $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibitors is needed. Methods: Based on the unique phosphorylation motif of $GSK3{\beta}$, we designed and generated a novel class of $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibitor (GSK3i) peptides. In addition, we investigated the effects of a GSK3i peptide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine production and septic shock. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with GSK3i peptide and monitored over a 7-day period for survival. Results: We first demonstrate its effects on LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12p40. LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-12p40 production in macrophages was suppressed when macrophages were treated with the GSKi peptide. Administration of the GSK3i peptide potently suppressed LPS-mediated endotoxin shock. Conclusion: Collectively, we present a rational strategy for the development of a therapeutic GSK3i peptide. This peptide may serve as a novel template for the design of non-ATP competitive GSK3 inhibitors.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2012

A novel neuropeptide was isolated from the skin of the snakehead Channa argus using the dorsal retractor muscle (DRM) of a starfish Asterina pectinifera as a bioassay system. The amino acid sequence of the purified peptide was analyzed using automated sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrophotometry. The primary structure of the purified peptide was determined to be Pro-Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu. To investigate the complete primary structure of this peptide, Pro- Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu-OH and Pro-Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu-NH2 were synthesized. The chemical and pharmacological properties of the synthetic peptides were compared with those of the native peptide. Both the native peptide and synthetic Pro-Ala- Leu-Ala-Leu-OH had identical behaviors on the reverse-phase and cation-exchange HPLC chromatograms. Synthetic Pro-Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu-OH showed contractile activity on the DRM, and the threshold concentration of this peptide was approximately $10^{-8}$ M. The maximal contractile effect ($E_{max}$) of this peptide was $294{\pm}45.4$% at $10^{-5}$ M.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1168-1178
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• 2018

The present study aimed to characterise anti-oxidant peptides from water-soluble protein extracts of Hanwoo beef and evaluate their anti-proliferative effect on human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116). Antioxidant peptides were purified from the low-molecular-weight fraction (<3 kDa) of Hanwoo beef extract. Antioxidant activity of peptide fractions was determined using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Purified peptide (P3) displayed higher ORAC activity than the low-molecular-weight fraction ($202.66{\mu}M\;TE/g$ vs $167.38{\mu}M\;TE/g$ of dry matter, respectively) (p<0.05). The peptide sequence of P3 was Cys-Cys-Cys-Cys-Ser-Val-Gln-Lys (888.30 Da). The novel peptide P3, at $250{\mu}g/mL$, also significantly inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation up to 25.24% through phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase (p<0.05). Hence, antioxidant peptide P3 from Hanwoo beef extract can be used as an antioxidative and anticancer agent in the functional food industry.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.44.1-44.15
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• 2021

Tumor peptides associated with MHC class I molecules or their synthetic variants have attracted great attention for their potential use as vaccines to induce tumor-specific CTLs. However, the outcome of clinical trials of peptide-based tumor vaccines has been disappointing. There are various reasons for this lack of success, such as difficulties in delivering the peptides specifically to professional Ag-presenting cells, short peptide half-life in vivo, and limited peptide immunogenicity. We report here a novel peptide vaccination strategy that efficiently induces peptide-specific CTLs. Nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated from a biodegradable polymer, poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), attached to H-2K^b molecules, and then the natural peptide epitopes associated with the H-2K^b molecules were exchanged with a model tumor peptide, SIINFEKL (OVA_257-268). These NPs were efficiently phagocytosed by immature dendritic cells (DCs), inducing DC maturation and activation. In addition, the DCs that phagocytosed SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs potently activated SIINFEKL-H2K^b complex-specific CD8⁺ T cells via cross-presentation of SIINFEKL. In vivo studies showed that intravenous administration of SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs effectively generated SIINFEKL-specific CD8⁺ T cells in both normal and tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, intravenous administration of SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs into EG7.OVA tumor-bearing mice almost completely inhibited the tumor growth. These results demonstrate that vaccination with polymeric NPs coated with tumor peptide-MHC-I complexes is a novel strategy for efficient induction of tumor-specific CTLs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2010

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) play crucial roles in balancing the production and decomposition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. These enzymes act cooperatively and synergistically to scavenge ROS. In order to imitate the synergism of these enzymes, we designed and synthesized a novel 32-mer peptide (32P) on the basis of the previous 15-mer peptide with GPX activity and a 17-mer peptide with SOD activity. Upon the selenation and chelation of copper, the 32-mer peptide was converted to a new Se- and Cu-containing 32-mer peptide (Se-Cu-32P) that displayed both SOD and GPX activities, and its kinetics was studied. Moreover, the novel peptide was demonstrated to be able to better protect vero cells from the injury induced by the xanthine oxidase (XOD)/xanthine/$Fe^{2+}$ damage system than its parents. Thus, this bifunctional enzyme imitated the synergism of SOD and GPX and could be a better candidate of therapeutic medicine.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was the purification and characterization of an angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide purified from enzymatic hydrolysates of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss muscle. After removal of lipid, the approximate composition analysis of the rainbow trout revealed 24.4%, 1.7%, and 68.3% for protein, lipid, and moisture, respectively. Among six hydrolysates, the peptic hydrolysate exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity. We attempted to purify ACE inhibitory peptides from peptic hydrolysate using high performance liquid chromatography on an ODS column. The $IC_{50}$ value of purified ACE inhibitory peptide was $63.9{\mu}M$. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Lys-Val-Asn-Gly-Pro-Ala-Met-Ser-Pro-Asn-Ala-Asn, with a molecular weight of 1,220 Da, and the Lineweaver-Burk plots suggested that they act as a competitive inhibitor against ACE. Our study suggested that novel ACE inhibitory peptides purified from rainbow trout muscle protein may be beneficial as anti-hypertension compounds in functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.387-395
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• 2006

To isolate and purify anti-fungal active substances from immunized housefly (Musca domestica), low dose of Candida albicans was injected into the larvae of the housefly to induce the appearance of potent anti-fungal active substances in the hemolymph. This purification work was performed by the routine isolation and purification processes of protein, namely, solid phase extraction (SPE), SDS-PACE electrophoresis, HPLC purification. Three 4-16 kDa peptides which exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albican and other fungi were isolated from induced hemolymph. Consequently, further anti-fungal activity study showed that these three peptides were different either in molecular weight or in anti-fungal activity. All isolated substances were proved to be active and resistant to high-temperature. It was deduced that these peptides isolated from induced housefly were novel members of the insect defensin family and they were inducible.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 1999

A novel antimicrbial peptide , named HFS-I, was isolated and characterized from the skin of the hagfish, Eptatretus bugeri. The decapeptide with a molecular mass of 1279.5 Da was purified to homogeneity using a gel-filtration column, ion-exchange and C18 reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatograpy . The complete amino acid sequence of HFS-I, which was determined by a combination of an automated amino acid sequencing and FAB-MS, was F-P-W-W-L-S-G-K-Y-P-NH2. Comparison of the amino acid sequence with those of other known antimicrobial peptides revealed that HFS-I was a novel antimicrobial peptide. HFS-I showed a weak antimicrobial activity in vitro aganinst a broad spectrum of microorganism without hemolytic acitivity.