• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2000

A homologous gene to alanine racemase was cloned from a hyperthermophilic bacterium, Aquifex pyrophilus. The cloned gene encodes a protein of 341 amino acids, which has a significant homology to alanine racemase of Bacillus stearothermophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, and E. coli. When the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, it produced a 40 kDa protein. The purified protein contains one mole pyridoxal 5-phosphate per one mole of protein, which is essential for catalytic activity of alanine racemase. The purified protein catalyzed racemization of L-alanine to D-alanine, or vice versa, indicating that the cloned gene encoded alanine racemase. It also showed significant racemization activity against L-serine and ${\alpha}-aminobutylic$ acid. The A. pyrophilus alanine racemase showed strong thermostability, and it maintained catalytic activity in the presence of organic solvents.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 1999

To investigate the development of a subunit vaccine against theileriosis in cattle, the DNA fragments encoding piroplasm surface protein (p33) of Theileria sergenti of a Korean isolate were expressed in baculoviruses. The expressed p33 was characterized by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and western blotting analysis. The expression of p33 was mainly detected on the surface of infected Sf21 cells by IFA. The immunoblotting analysis revealed the presence of a same molecular weight protein band of p33. The antigenicity of expressed polypeptide was further examined through the inoculation of a guinea pig. The sera of guinea pigs immunized with p33 expressed cell Iysate showed similar fluorescent antibody patterns and reacted with the same molecular weight protein of T. sergenti in immunoblotting analysis, thus indicating that this protein can be a promising candidate for a subunit vaccine in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 1999

In mouse, the heat shock protein 70-2 (hsp70-2) is found to have special function in spermatogenesis. Based on the observation, the hypothesis that human hspA2 (human gene; 98.2% amino acid homology with hsp70-2) might have important function in spermatogenesis in human testes was proposed. To test the hypothesis, we examined the expression of hspA2 in human tissues. Expression vector pDMC4 for expression of the human hspA2 protein using pTricHisB (invitrogen, USA) was constructed and the expressed hspA2 protein was cross-reacted with antiserum 2A raised against mouse hsp70-2 protein. Based on the cross-reactivity, we determined the expression level of hspA2 protein in human tissues by western blot analysis using the antiserum 2A. We demonstrated that antiserum 2A antibodies detected human hspA2 protein with specificity which was produced in the E.coli expression system. On Western blot analyses, significant hspA2 expression was observed in testes with normal spermatogenesis, whereas a low level of hspA2 was expressed in testis with Sertoli-cell only syndrome. Also, a small amount of hspA2 was detected in breast, stomach, prostate, colon, liver, ovary, and epididymis. These results demonstrate that the hspA2 protein is highly expressed in male specific germ cells, which in turn suggests that hspA2 protein might playa specific role during meiosis in human testes as suggested in the murine model. However, further studies should be attempted to determine the function of hspA2 protein in human spermatogenesis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.663-676
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• 1999

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram negative, anaerobic, asaccharolytic rod, is one of the most frequently implicated pathogens in human periodontal disease and has a requirement for hemin for growth. A 30 kDa (heated 24 kDa) hemin-binding protein whose expression is both hemin and iron regulated has recently been purified and characterized in this oral pathogen. This study has identified a hemin-binding P. gingivalis protein by expression of a P. gingivalis genomic library in Escherichia coli, a bacterium which does not require or transport exogenous hemin. A library of genomic DNA fragments from P. gingivalis was constructed in plasmid pUC18, transformed into Escherichia coli strain $DH5{\alpha}$ , and screened for recombinant clones with hemin-binding activity by plating onto hemin-containing agar. Of approximately 10,000 recombinant E. coli colonies screened on LB-amp-hemin agar, 10 exhibited a clearly pigmented phenotype. Each clone contained various insert DNA. The Hind III fragment transferred to the T7 RNA polymerase/promoter expression vector system produced a sligltly smaller (21 kDa) protein, a precursor form, immunoreactive to the antibody against the 24 kDa protein, suggesting that the cloned DNA fragment probably carried an entire gene for the 24 kDa hemin-binding protein.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 1999

The mitochondrial plasmid pMLP1 from a white-rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, is a double-stranded DNA containing 381 bp terminal inverted repeat (TIR) whose 5'-ends are covalently bound by terminal proteins. The plasmid contains two major open reading frames (ORFs), encoding putative DNA and RNA polymerases, and a minor ORF encoding a small, highly basic protein. To identify the DNA binding activity that recognizes the TIR region of pMLP1, gel retardation assays were performed with mitochondrial extracts. A specific protein binding to a region between 123 and 248 nt within TIR was observed. We examined whether the gene product of mORF1 bindes to this region specifically. E. coli cell extract which contains an overproduced mORF1 protein formed a complex specific to the region between 123 and 248 nt. Inclusion of mORF1 protein in the specific complex formed between P. ostreatus mitochondrial extract and TIR was confirmed by a supershift assay using polyclonal antibodies against the mORF1 protein. Our result suggest that the product of mORF1 may function as a terminal region recognition factor (TRF), recognizing an internal region in TIR.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2005

There are many different surface technologies currently applied for preparation of protein chips. However, it requires innovative surface chemistry for capture proteins to be immobilized on chip surface keeping their conformation and activity intact and their orientation right, while they bind tightly and densely in a given array spot. Proteogen has developed 'ProteoChip BP' coated with novel proprietary linker molecules $(ProLinker^{TM})$ for efficient and robust immobilizations of capture proteins by improving surface properties of molecular captures. It was demonstrated that $ProLinker^{TM}$ gave the best surface performance in preparation of protein microarray chip base plates among others currently available on the market. In particular, the $ProLinker^{TM}-based$ surface chemistry has demonstrated to provide excellent performance in preparation of 'Antibody Chip' for analysis of biomarkers as well as proteome expression profiles. The linker molecule has also shown to be well applicable for development of biosensors and micro-beads as well as protein microarray and nano-array. ProteoChip BP can be used either for preparation of high-density array by using a microarrayer or for preparation of 'Well-on-a-Chip' with low density array, which is better applicable for quantitative analysis of biomarkers or protein-protein interactions. The biomarker assay can be performed either by direct or sandwich methods of fluorescence immunoassay. Application of ProteoChip BP has been well demonstrated by the extensive studies of 1) tumor-marker assays, 2) new drug screening by using 'Integrin Chip' and 3) protein expression profile analysis. Some of experimental results will be presented.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1988

The possibility of using sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was studied to detect specific proteins and their content in meat products such as beef, pork, fish, soybean, fish paste, ham and fish sausage. Many complicated bands were observed in the total protein fractions of the tested samples. The number of protein bands in the low salt-soluble protein fractions was considerably lesser and showed more specific bands in comparison with total protein fractions. Actone-insoluble fractions of non-meat proteins showed different patterns from meat proteins. A heating procedure seemed to be a cause for the diminished number and quantity of resolved protein bands in sausages. The results suggest that the discgel electrophoresis can be used to detect specific proteins and their content in protein foods, if a selective extraction method is emplyed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2000

A human gene has been reported that may encode the enzyme acetohydroxyacid synthase. Previously this enzyme was thought to be absent from animals although it is present in plants and many microorganisms. In plants, this enzyme is the target of a number of commercial herbicides and the use of these compounds may need to be reassessed if the human enzyme exists and proves to be susceptible to inhibition. Here we report the construction of several plasmid vectors containing the cDNA sequence for this protein, and their expression in Escherichia coli. High levels of expression were observed, but most of the protein proved to be insoluble. The small amounts of soluble protein contained little or no acetohydroxyacid synthase activity. Attempts to refold the insoluble protein were successful insofar as the protein became soluble. However, the refolded protein did not gain any acetohydroxyacid synthase activity. In vivo complementation tests of an E. coli mutant produced no evidence that the protein is active. Incorrect folding, or the lack of another subunit, may explain the data but we favor the interpretation that this gene does not encode an acetohydroxyacid synthase.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.365-373
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• 1990

The effects of the protein fraction of Panax ginseng on primary cultured chicken embryonic brain cells and DRG cultured with a deficient medium were studied. The protein fraction was further fractionated into four groups according to the molecular weight; larger than 10,000 dalton(fraction A), between 5,000 and 10,000 daltons(fraction B), between 1,000 and 5,000 daltons(fraction C), between 500 and 1,000 daltons(fraction D). All four protein fractions at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ significantly increased the number of the brain cells which promoted the neurite outgrowth. The activity of PDHC in the brain cells was elevated significantly by the protein fraction B at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. It was noted that $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ protein fraction C and D significantly enhanced the synthesis of protein in the brain cells. At the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, the protein fraction B enhanced RNA synthesis and the protein fraction A significantly enhanced DNA synthesis in the brain cells. The protein fractions B, C, and D significantly promoted the neurite outgrowth of DRG at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2018

Early life exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and low protein diet through complementary foods during weaning is common in parts of Africa and Asia. This study evaluated the effect of co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet on the extrahepatic tissues of rats. Twenty-four three-week old weanling male albino rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned into four groups: group 1 served as control and was fed normal protein diet (20% protein), group 2 was fed low protein diet (5% protein), group 3 was fed normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1 while group 4 received low protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, all for eight weeks. Afterward, biomarkers of anemia (packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin) and kidney function (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) were determined in the blood while biomarkers of oxidative stress were determined in the tissues spectrophotometrically. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body weight gain and PCV, increased biomarkers of kidney functions and induced oxidative stress in the tissues studied. There was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in glutathione concentration while TBARS was significantly increased in the tissues. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet had additive effects on decreasing the weight gain and potentiation effect of kidney dysfunction in the rats. The co-exposure also decreased antioxidant enzymes and increased oxidant status in the tissues. Our results demonstrate that this co-exposure has deleterious health effects on extrahepatic tissues and should be a public health concern especially in developing countries where AFB1 contamination is common.