• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 1997

An extracellular proteinase of Candida albicans was purified by a combination of 0~75% ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow ion exchange chromatography, and Sephacryl S-200 HR molecular sieve chromatography. Its mlecular weight was approximately 41 kDa on SDS-PAGE and isoelectric point was 4.4. The enzyme was inhibited by pepstain A. Optimum enzyme activity ranged from pH 2.0 to 3.5 with its maximum at pH 2.5 and a temperature of 45$^{\circ}C$. The addition of divalent cations, $Ca^{2+}$, Zn$^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, resulted in no significant inhibition of enzymatic activity. However, some inhibitory effects were observed by Fe$^{2+}$, Ag$^{2+}$ and Cu$^{2+}$. With BSA as substrate, an apparent $K_m$ was determined to be 7$\times$10$^{-7}$ M and $K_i$, using pepstatin A as an inhibitor, was 8.05$\times$10$^{-8}$ M. N-terminal amino acid sequence was QAVPVTLXNEQ. Degradation of BSA and fibronectin was shown but not collagen, hemoglobin, immunoglobulin G, or lysozyme. The enzyme preferred peptides with Glu and Leu at the P$_1$ position, but the enzyme activity was highly reduced when the P$_2$ position was phe or pro. This enzyme showed antigenicity against sera of patients with candidiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2006

The mammalian trematode Paragonimus westermani is a typical digenetic parasite, which can cause paragonimiasis in humans. Host tissues and blood cells are important sources of nutrients for development, growth and reproduction of P. westermani. In this study, a cDNA clone encoding a 47 kDa hemoglobinase of P. westermani was characterized by sequencing analysis, and its localization was investigated immunohistochemically. The phylogenetic tree prepared based on the hemoglobinase gene showed high homology with hemoglobinases of Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma spp. Moreover, recombinant P. westermani hemoglobinase degradaded human hemoglobin at acidic pH (from 3.0 to 5.5) and its activity was almost completely inhibited by E-64, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that P. westermani hemoglobinase was localized in the epithelium of the adult worm intestine implying that the protein has a specific function. These observations suggest that hemoglobinase may act as a digestive enzyme for acquisition of nutrients from host hemoglobin. Further investigations may provide insights into hemoglobin catabolism in P. westermani.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.144-144
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.175-176
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• 2002

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2002

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a cysteine proteinase of the Acanthamoeba healui OC-3A strain isolated from the brain of a granulomatous amoebic encephalitis patient. A DNA probe for an A. healui cDNA library screening was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of conserved amino acids franking the active sites of cysteine and asparagine residues that are conserved in the eukaryotic cysteine proteinases. Cysteine proteinase gene of A. healui (AhCPI) was composed of 330 amino acids with signal sequence, a proposed pro-domain and a predicted active site made up of the catalytic residues, $Cys^{25},{\;}His^{159},{\;}and{\;}Asn^{175}$. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicates that AhCPI belong to ERFNIN subfamily of C 1 peptidases. By Northern blot analysis. no direct correlation was observed between AhCPI mRNA expression and virulence of Acanthamoeba, but the gene was expressed at higher level in amoebae isolated from soil than amoeba from clinical samples. These findings raise the possibility that AhCPI protein may play a role in protein metabolism and digestion of phagocytosed bacteria or host tissue debris rather than in invasion of amoebae into host tissue.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.222-231
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• 1989

Three classes of proteinase inhibitors are known in soybean; the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (SKTI), the Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor and its isoinhibitors. To study the molecular structure and expression characteristics of the SKTI, antibody was obtained by immunizing rabbit with the SKTI purified from soybean by preparative electrophoresis. Anti-SKTI antibody was not only specific for mature SKTI in soybean seed but also recognized the precursor which was synthesized in vitro. Translation in vitro was carried out in wheat germ extract with polyadenylated mRNA isolated from developing soybean seeds. One of the seed specific translation products, MW 24K, was identified to be the precursor for the SKTI by immunoprecipitation with anti-SKTI antibody. Mature SKTI of MW 20K, however, was not detected in the translates in vitro. These results suggest that the precursor polypeptide is synthesized from the mRNA and is cleaved to yield mature SKTI in soybean seed. The SKTI gene was expressed with the maturation of soybean seed in a tissue-specific and development stage-specific manner.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 1997

The proteinase-activated receptor (PAR-2) belongs to the family of seven transmembrane region receptors, like the thrombin receptor, it is activated by specific proteolytic clea vage of its extracellular amino terminus and a synthetic peptide (SLIGRL). The earthworm protein fraction (EPF) extracted from Lumbricus rubellus elicted dose- and endothelium-dependent relaxations in phenylephrine-contracted rat thoracic aorta, whereas heat inactivated EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml) had no effect. In the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine (1.8 micro M), EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml)-induced relaxations were partially inhibited. Furthermore, EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml) dramatically caused relaxation of thrombin-desenstized rat thoracic aorta. These results indicate that EPF activates PAR-2 in vascular endothelial cell. Intravenous injection of EPF (20 mg/kg, bolus) into anesthetized rats produced a marked depressor response. EPF (0 ~ 80 ${\mu}g$ /ml, gradient) was very effective on increasing of perfusion volume in rabbit ear vessel preparations. These results imply the usefulness of EPF as a vascular smooth muscle relaxant and indicate that the activation of PAR-2 may be a mechanism of EPF on hemokinetic improvement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.311-318
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• 2002

A new bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacteria having antagonistic activity against Lactobacillus plantarum, was isolated from Kimchi. It was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and designated as Leuconostoc mesenteroides B7. The bacteriocin from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B7 named as bacteriocin B7 was stable in the pH range $2.5{\sim}9.5$. Bacteriocin B7 was active over a wide temperature range from $4^{\circ}C$ to $120^{\circ}C$. It was inactivated by proteinase K, trypsin, ${\alpha}-chymotrypsin$, and protease treatments indicating its proteinous nature. Tricine-SDS-PAGE of the purified bacteriocin B7 showed the presence of a single band, having a molecular mass of about 3,500 dalton. Mixed culture of the producer and the indicator, Lb. plantarum KFRI 464 or Lb. delbruekii KFRI 347, increased production of bacteriocin B7. This result suggested the presence of bacteriocin inducing factor in the indicator strain. The inducing factor was localized in cell debris and intracellular faction of the indicator cell, Lb. plantarum KFRI 464. Treatment of the inducing factor with proteinase K destroyed inducing activity. This result strongly suggested that the inducing factor is a protein.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 1996

Background: The extraction methods of DNA from clinical samples are the major obstacle to use the PCR(polymerase Chain Reaction) in routine labortary for early detection of M. tuberculosis. We tried to improve the extraction method of DNA from sputum for establishment of the PCR in routine labortary by reducing the possibility of cross contamination and performing it easily and safely. Methods: We used the $InstaGene^{TM}$ DNA extraction kit(BioRad Co.) using Chelex 100 ion exchange resin for preparation of DNA. We compared InstaGene method in 100 cases of sputum from proteinase K method which is known as the most commonly used method for DNA purification(Experiment 1). And we compared InstaGene method in 98 cases of sputum from Microwave method developed by a company in Korea(Experiment 2). In experiment 1,245bps of IS6110 were amplified and then 188bps were amplified by nested PCR. In experiment 2,536bps in primary PCR and 276bps in nested PCR were amplified and analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and EtBr staining. Results: When we chose AFB smear, culture, or AFB smear and culture as a standard test, PCR had low specificity and positive predictive value in both experiments. The InstaGene method has higher value in sensitivity and negative predictive value significantly than proteinase K method. The InstaGene method and the Microwave methods were similar in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Conclusion: Even though both methods had lower possibility of cross contamination, shorter time requirement, simplicity, and economic advantages than Proteinase K method, the InstaGene method was a little simpler than the Microwave method. Therefore, in terms of usefulness in clinical application, the Instagene method seems to be the most useful method in DNA extraction for detection of M. tuberculosis using PCR. The reliability of this method will be clarified by further studies with enough clinical samples.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.311-313
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• 2002

Lactobacillus spry. are Gram-positive bacteria playing important roles in human health. In this study, we successfully isolated the total RNA from the cells broken by glass beads using hot phenol method. Moreover, we were able to omit lysozyme and proteinase K treatment by using glass beads to break cell more efficiently. This method was more rapid and simple when compared to the previous one. Prepared RNA can be used for the transcriptional analysis of Lactobacillus spp.