• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.879-888
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• 2003

In order to measure the enzyme activity of 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase, one of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes in eicitor-treated pepper cell, we used in vivo assay method and demonstrated a dramatic suppression of the activity by P450-inhibitors, ancymidol and ketocornazole. Using RT-PCR method with degenerate primer of the well conserved domains found within most P450-enzymes, and using cDNA library screening method, one distinct cDNA, being designated P450Hy01, was successfully isolated from elicitor-treated pepper cells. P450Hy01 mRNA was all induced in elicitor-treated cells whereas never induced in control cells. Moreover, levels of P450Hy01 expression were highly correlated with the levels of extracellular capsidiol production by different elicitors in cell cultures. P450Hy01 transcript was also induced by several other elicitors such as, cellulase, arachidonic acid, jasmonic acid, yeast extract as well as UV stress. P450Hy01 sequence contained high probability amino acid matches to known Plant P450 genes and ORF with a conserved FxxGxRxCxG heme-binding domain. P450Hy01 cDNA showed 98% of homology in sequence of nucleotide as well as amino acid to 5-epi-aristolochene-1, 3-hydroxylase (5EAl, 3H) which has been isolated in tobacco cells, suggesting that P450Hy01 is prominent candidate gene for P450-enzyme encoding 5EAl, 3H in pepper cell.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1148-1157
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• 2006

A hyperthermophilic bacterium Thernotoga maritima produced thermostable ${\beta}-glucosidase$. The gene encoding ${\beta}-glucosidase$ from T. maritima MSB8 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The en-zyme (BgIB) hydrolyzed ${\beta}-glucosidase$ linkages between glucose and alkyl, aryl of saccharide groups such as salicin, arbutin, and $_pNPG$. The insert DNA contained ORF with 2,166 bp encodes a 721 amino acids (calculated molecular mass of 80,964 and pl of 4.93). The amino a.id sequence of BglB showed the similarity to family 3 glycosyl hydrolases. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be approximately 81kDa by MUG-nondenaturing PAGE (4-methylumbelliferyl 13-D-glucoside-nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electophoresis) and SDS-PACE. The ${\beta}-glucosidase$ exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.0 and $80^{\circ}C$. By exchanging two possible residues (Glu-232 and Asp-242) to Ala by site-directed mutagenesis method, it was found that these were essential for enzymatic activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

Phytase from Escherichia coli WC7 was purified from cell extracts and its molecular mass was estimated to be 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Its optimum temperature and pH for phytate hydrolysis was 6$0^{\circ}C$ and pH 5.0, respectively. The enzyme was stable up to 6$0^{\circ}C$ and over broad pH range (pH 2-12). The enzyme had higher affinity for sodium phytate than p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP). That is, the apparent Km value for sodium phytate and pNPP were $0.15\pm$0.02 mM and 2.82$\pm$0.05 mM, respectively. The gene encoding the phytase was cloned in E. coli XL1-Blue. Sequence analysis showed an open reading frame of 1241 Up encoding a signal peptide (22 aa) and a mature enzyme (410 aa). WC7 phytase was expressed up to 17.5 U/ml in the transformed E. coli XL1-Blue/pUEP, which was 23-fold higher than the activity from wild strain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2016

Isotocin (IT), a nonapeptide homolog of oxytocin in mammals, has been suggested to be involved in physiological processes including social behaviors, stress responses, and osmoregulation in teleost fish. To study its structure and function, the gene encoding the IT precursor was cloned from the genomic DNA and brain cDNA of the cinnamon clownfish, Amphiprion melanopus. The IT precursor gene consists of three exons separated by two introns, and encodes an open reading frame of 156 amino acid (aa) residues, comprising a putative signal peptide of 19 aa, a mature IT protein of 9 aa, a proteolytic processing site of 3 aa, and 125 aa of neurophysin. Tissue-specific analysis of the IT precursor transcript indicated its expression in the brain and gonads of A. melanopus. To examine its osmoregulatory effects, the salinity of the seawater (34 ppt) used for rearing A. melanopus was lowered to 15 ppt. Histological analysis of the gills indicated the apparent disappearance of an apical crypt on the surface of the gill lamella of A. melanopus, as pavement cells covered the surface upon acclimation to the lower salinity. The level of Na⁺/K^+-ATPase activity in the gills was increased during the initial stage of acclimation, followed by a decrease to its normal level, suggesting its involvement in osmoregulation and homeostasis. The only slight increase in the level of IT precursor transcript in the A. melanopus brain upon low-salinity acclimation suggested that IT played a minor role, if any, in the process of osmoregulation.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.87.1-87.12
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• 2021

Background: African swine fever virus (ASFV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are still prevalent in many regions of China. Co-infections make it difficult to distinguish their clinical symptoms and pathological changes. Therefore, a rapid and specific method is needed for the differential detection of these pathogens. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qRT-PCR) for the simultaneous differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV. Methods: Three pairs of primers and TaqMan probes targeting the ASFV p72 gene, CSFV 5' untranslated region, and PRRSV ORF7 gene were designed. After optimizing the reaction conditions, including the annealing temperature, primer concentration, and probe concentration, multiplex qRT-PCR for simultaneous and differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV was developed. Subsequently, 1,143 clinical samples were detected to verify the practicality of the assay. Results: The multiplex qRT-PCR assay could specifically and simultaneously detect the ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV with a detection limit of 1.78 × 10⁰ copies for the ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV, but could not amplify the other major porcine viruses, such as pseudorabies virus, porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1), PCV2, PCV3, foot-and-mouth disease virus, porcine parvovirus, atypical porcine pestivirus, and Senecavirus A. The assay had good repeatability with coefficients of variation of intra- and inter-assay of less than 1.2%. Finally, the assay was used to detect 1,143 clinical samples to evaluate its practicality in the field. The positive rates of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV were 25.63%, 9.36%, and 17.50%, respectively. The co-infection rates of ASFV+CSFV, ASFV+PRRSV, CSFV+PRRSV, and ASFV+CSFV+PRRSV were 2.45%, 2.36%, 1.57%, and 0.17%, respectively. Conclusions: The multiplex qRT-PCR developed in this study could provide a rapid, sensitive, specific diagnostic tool for the simultaneous and differential detection of ASFV, CSFV, and PRRSV.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 1975

The poxvirus group is considered to be a typical cytoplasmic inclusion forming virus. Every poxvirus has been reported to produce only one kind of inclusion in the infected tissues. A vague concept that inclusions of poxviruses are eosinophilic or acidophilic has prevailed. Although many papers and theories about the nature of the inclusion have been presented, most of them are not quite convincing on the point of the relations with virus multiplication, and an analysis of papers published showed that there seem to be many discrepancies in the descriptions of the nature of the poxvirus inclusions. Comparative studies on host-virus interaction with cowpox, orf, swinepox and fowlpox viruses which selected from each Group (I-IV) of poxviruses were performed from the morphological and virological standpoints. At first, in cowpox virus-FL cell system, as a comparative model, cytoplasmic inclusion, nucleic acid metabolism by autoradiography and detection of viral antigen by immunofluorescence were studied and obtained the results as follows: 1. The focus-like cytopathic effect (CPE) at early stage developed to entire culture at terminal stage of infection, and also the developing status of CPE was correlated to viral doses for inoculation. Two kinds of cytoplasmic inclusions which named A and B type were easily observed by Giemsa, hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) and May-Greenwald Giemsa (MGG) stainings in the infected cells. The B type inclusions were formed at early stage of infection and the A type inclusions were produced subsequently the B type formation. The B type which common type inclusion in poxviruses was a small compact or aggregate at early stage and developed to a large diffuse body at terminal stage of infection. On the other hand, the A type inclusion which depend upon the kind of virus was appeared as round and discrete shape, and its size and number was increased gradually during the culture period. It was characteristic to form distinct halos around the both types of inclusions in acid fixed, H & E stained preparations of infected cultures. The B type inclusion was always positive in Feulgen reaction and showed as DNA containing body but the A type inclusion was not. 2. In the relationship between inclusion and DNA metabolism of infected cells by the qualitative autoradiography using 3H-thymidine, the appearance of silver grains was coincided with B type inclusion but not with A type inclusion. This showed that the DNA synthesis was proceeded in all B type inclusions except those in the terminal stage with a diffuse form. This suggested that the B type inclusions are only sites of DNA synthesis and this was proceeded after the cell infection independently. The activity of DNA synthesis of the inclusions was nearly the same as that of the nucleic of normal cells and non-inclusion bearing cells. and non-inclusion bearing cells. Regardless of the size of the degree of DNA synthesis of the B type inclusion, inclusion bearing cells all showed remarkable suppression of nuclear DNA synthesis. 3. By the direct fluorescent antibody technique viral antigen in infected cells was detected. The B type inclusions have been proved to contain a great deal of viral antigen, whereas the basic substance of A type inclusion did not show antigenicity except the round edge. It was suggested that the round edge fluorescence might be caused by the glare of cytoplasmic viral antigen which pushed out and concentrated by the A type inclusion development. 4. Hemorrhagic red pock formations on chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken egg had proved the characteristic of used viral strain. 5. By the above studies on the nature of two types of inclusions and the role they play in virus multiplication, it was concluded that the B type inclusion must be the site of the synthesis of viral DNA and protein as well as the site of the virus.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

The $\beta$-glucosidase gene from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ORF consisted of 1377 nucleotides encoding 51 kDa in a predicted molecular weight. Effects of pH indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed similar activity using $\alpha$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-glucopyranoside), $\beta$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside), and $\beta$-pNPF($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-fucopyranoside) at range of pH 3 to 10, and high activity using $\beta$-pNPGA ($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-galactopyranoside) from pH 5 to 10, especially, 3.3 times higher activity at pH 9. Effects of temperature indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed low activity using $\alpha$-pNPG, $\beta$-pNPG, and $\beta$-pNPF from $20^{\circ}C$ to $70^{\circ}C$, and increased activity using $\beta$-pNPGA from $30^{\circ}C$ to $50^{\circ}C$, 1.8 times higher activity at $50^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$. According to activity determination of other substrates, the enzyme was active on daidzin, genistin, and glycitin, inactive on esculin and apigenin-7-glucose. The EDTA and DTT as reducing agents inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity, but SDS and mercaptoethanol did not inhibit. Monovalent or divalent metal ions such as $MnSO_4$, $CaCl_2$, KCl, and $MgSO_4$ did not inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity. $CuSO_4$ and NaCl showed low inhibition, and $ZnSO_4$ inhibited 3.3 times higher than control.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.648-655
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• 2010

This study is the first comprehensive report on the molecular cloning, structural characterization, sequence comparison between wild and mutant types, copy number in the genome, expression features and activities of a gene encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) in Korean lawn grass ($Zoysia$ $japonica$). The full length cDNA of the EPSPS from Korean lawn grass ($zj$EPSPS) obtained from a 3' and 5' RACE method was 1540 bp, containing a 1176 bp ORF, a 144 bp leader sequence (5' UTR) and a 220 bp 3' UTR, which was eventually decoded 391 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 41.74 kDa. The Southern blot detection of the $zj$EPSPS showed that the gene exists as a single copy in the Korean lawn grass genome. Sequence comparison of the $zj$EPSPS gene demonstrated that the glyphosate-tolerant mutant (GT) having a Pro-53 to Ser substitution in the gene seems to have a preferred binding activity of the enzyme to phosphoenol pyruvate(PEP) over glyphosate, which allows the continuous synthesis of aromatic amino acids in the shikimate pathway. From the Northern blotting analysis, the $zj$EPSPS was found to be highly expressed, with continuous increase until 36 hours after 0.5% glyphosate treatment in both wild and mutant samples, but 1.5-fold higher EPSP synthase activity was observed in the tolerant mutant when exposed to the glyphosate treatment. The molecular information of the $zj$EPSPS gene obtained from this study needs to be further dissected to be more effectively applied to the development of gene-specific DNA markers and zoysiagrass cultivars; nevertheless, the glyphosate-tolerant mutant having the featured $zj$EPSPS gene can be provided to turfgrass managers for weed problems with timely adoptable management options.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2016

The phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase gene (pmm/pgm) of Vibrio anguillarum (the causative agent of fish vibriosis) was cloned, and the open reading frame corresponded to a protein with 446 amino acids. The pmm/pgm gene showed a significant degree of sequence homology with the previously reported genes from V. mimicus, V. vulnificus, V. splendidus, and V. harveyi, with 92.3%, 91.4%, 89.9%, and 89.9% amino acid identity, respectively. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we found that the pmm/pgm gene was upregulated under cold stress condition. The PMM/PGM protein is known to catalyze the interconversion between mannose-1-phosphate and mannose-6-phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate, which are important intermediates for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. To confirm the role of PMM/PGM in the LPS biosynthetic pathway, we constructed a knock out mutant by homologous recombination. The respective LPSs were isolated from the V. anguillarum wild-type and mutant strains, and changes were compared by subjecting them to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the different patterns of the LPSs, we expect the pmm/pgm gene to have an important role in LPS biosynthesis. The pmm/pgm-deficient mutant of V. anguillarum will contribute to further studies about the role of LPS in V. anguillarum pathogenesis.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1995

To understand the molecular structure of Korean garlic viruses, cDNA cloning of virus genomic RNA was attempted. Virus particles were isolated from virus-infected garlic leaves and a cDNA library was constructed from garlic virus RNA. One of these clones, S81, selected by random sequencing has been identified as a member of potexvirus group other than potyvirus and carlavirus. The clone is 873 bp long contains most of the coat protein (CP) coding region and 3'-noncoding region including poly(A) tail. A putative polyadenylation signal sequence (AAUAAA) and the hexanucleotide motif (ACUUAA), a replicational cis-acting element conserved in the 3'-noncoding region of potexvirus RNAs are noticed. The clone S81 shows about 30-40% identity in both nucleotide and amino acid sequences with CPs of potexviruses. The genome size of the virus was analysed to be 7.46 knt by Northern blot analysis, which was longer than those of other potexviruses. The open reading frame encoding CP was expressed as a fusion protein (S81CP) in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified by immobilized metal binding affinity chromatography. Polyclonal antibody was raised against S81CP in rabbit to examine the occurrence of garlic potexvirus in Korean garlic plants by immunoblot analysis. Two virus protein bands of Mr 27,000 and 29,000 from garlic leaf extract of various cultivars reacted with the antibody. It was shown that Mr 27,000 band might not be a degradation product of Mr 29,000 band, suggesting that two types of potexvirus different in size of coat protein could exist in Korean garlic plants.