• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.781-785
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• 1994

Uridine diphosphate(UDP)-galactose-4-epimerase-less mutants of Salmonella pullorum were isolated after mutagenic treatment with ethidium bromide. When isolated gal E mutants of S. pullorum A2 and D1 were grown in the presence of galactose(0.1 W/V), they exhibited marked bacteriolysis in heart infusion broth. The mutant strains were further investigated the characteristics of enzymatic activities in the Leoloir galactose pathway. Isolated A2 and D1 strains were completely deficient in UDP-galactose-4-epimerase activity. And the activity of other enzymes involved in galactose metabolism were reduced significantly.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.419-426
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• 2010

Aeromonas hydrophila is a bacterial pathogen that infects a large number of eukaryotes, including humans. The UDP-galactose 4'-epimerase (GalE) catalyzes interconversion of UDP-galactose to UDP-glucose and plays a key role in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. This makes it an important virulence determinant, and therefore a potential drug target. Our earlier studies revealed that unlike other GalEs, GalE of A. hydrophila exists as a monomer. This uniqueness necessitated elucidation of its structure and active site. Chemical modification of the 6xHis-rGalE demonstrated the role of histidine residue in catalysis and that it did not constitute the substrate binding pocket. Loss of the 6xHis-rGalE activity and coenzyme fluorescence with thiol modifying reagents established the role of two distinct vicinal thiols in catalysis. Chemical modification studies revealed arginine to be essential for catalysis. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated Tyr149 and Lys153 to be involved in catalysis. Use of glycerol as a cosolvent enhanced the GalE thermostability significantly.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 1999

The gene (galE) encoding UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, operative in the galactose metabolic pathway, was cloned together with the $\beta$-galactosidase gene (lacZ) from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis ATCC7962 (L. lactis 7962). galE was found to have a length of 981 bps and encoded a protein with a molecular mass of 36,209 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a homology with GalE proteins from several other microorganisms. A Northern analysis demonstrated that galE was constitutively expressed by its own promoter. When galactose or lactose was added into medium, the galE transcription was induced by several upstream promoters. The structure of the gal/lac operon of L. lactis 7962 was partially characterized and the gene order around galE was galT-lacA-lacZ-galE-orfX.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.474-478
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• 2008

UDP-glucose regeneration system using metabolic engineeringis unique and efficient strategy for oligosaccharide synthesis. To exploit the efficient UDP-glucose regeneration system, we introduced four enzymes, which would be important in partitioning the flux of UDP regenerationsuch as UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, UDP-Kinase gene, UDP-galactose 4-epimerase, and $\beta$-1, 4-galactasyltrasnsferase, into E. coli AD202. To determine the optimal expression level for UDP-regeneration, LacNAc concentration was compared depending on IPTG concentration. 0.5 mM IPTG induction showed the higher oligosaccharides synthesis. Using metabolic engineering under optimal IPTG induction, LacNAc synthesis of AD202/pQNGLU increased until 16 h and showed the 1.34 mM. This concentration is 10 times higher than that of control strain at same reaction time. Lactose of AD202/pQNGLU showed the maximum synthesis of 0.39 mM at 16 h and showed the 2.6 times higher than that of control strain.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 2002

dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (TDPDH) catalyzes the conversion of dTDP-D-glucose to dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose, and requires $NAD^＋$ as a coenzyme for its catalytic activity. The dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase from Streptomyces antibioticus $Tu{\ddot}99$ tightly binds $NAD^＋$ [19]. In order to determine the role of lysine-148 in the $NAD^＋$ binding, the lysine of the dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase from Streptomyces antibioticus $Tu{\ddot}99$ was mutated to various amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis. The catalytic activity of the four mutated enzymes of TDPDH did not recover after addition of $NAD^＋$ . However, the activity of K159A, the mutated enzyme of UDP-D-glucose 4-epimerase (UDPE), recovered after the addition of $NAD^＋$ [15]. Although dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase, and UDP-galactose (glucose) 4-epimerase are members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase SDR family and the lysine-148 of TDPDH was highly conserved as in UDPE (Lys-159), the function of the lysine-148 of TDPDH was different from that of UDPE. The mutated enzymes showed that the lysine-148 of the dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase played no role in the $NAD^＋$ binding. Accordingly, it is suggested that the lysine-148 of the dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase is involved in the folding of TDPDH.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1725-1731
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• 2020

Objective: An initial RNA-Sequencing study revealed that UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) was one of the most promising candidates for milk protein concentration in Chinese Holstein cattle. This enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose, an important step in galactose catabolism. To further validate the genetic effect of GALE on milk protein traits, genetic variations were identified, and genotypes-phenotypes associations were performed. Methods: The entire coding region and the 5'-regulatory region (5'-UTR) of GALE were re-sequenced using pooled DNA of 17 unrelated sires. Association studies for five milk production traits were performed using a mixed linear animal model with a population encompassing 1,027 Chinese Holstein cows. Results: A total of three variants in GALE were identified, including two novel variants (g.2114 A>G and g.2037 G>A) in the 5'-UTR and one previously reported variant (g.3836 G>C) in an intron. All three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with milk yield (p<0.0001), fat yield (p = 0.0006 to <0.0001), protein yield (p = 0.0232 to <0.0001) and protein percentage (p<0.0001), while no significant associations were detected between the SNPs and fat percentage. A strong linkage disequilibrium (D' = 0.96 to 1.00) was observed among all three SNPs, and a 5 Kb haplotype block involving three main haplotypes with GAG, AGC, and AGG was formed. The results of haplotype association analyses were consistent with the results of single locus association analysis (p<0.0001). The phenotypic variance ratio above 3.00% was observed for milk protein yield that was explained by SNP-g.3836G >C. Conclusion: Overall, our findings provided new insights into the polymorphic variations in bovine GALE gene and their associations with milk protein concentration. The data indicate their potential uses for marker-assisted breeding or genetic selection schemes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2013

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated individuals who hadbeen identified by neonatal screening as potential galactosemia patients to determine the etiology of galactosemia. Methods: One hundred fifty-three patients referred to Korea Genetics Research Center due to high galactose level detected by neonatal screening test between February 2005 and May 2013 were examined. Galactose and galactose-1-phosphate levels were measured by using a fluoro metric microplate reader. Lactose free diet was initiated immediately after confirmed by urine Clinitest. If reducing sugar was negative, we employed abdominal sonogram and echocardiogram to check for possible porto-systemic shunt. Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with galactosemia. One patient had galactokinase (GALK) deficiency; four had UDP galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) deficiency; two had citrin deficiency; and four had porto-systemic shunt. Two had unknown causes of galactosemia. Conclusion: In addition to genetic defects of GALT, GALK and GALE, citrin deficiency or porto-systemic shunt could also cause galactosemia. It is crucial to carry out differential diagnosis to determine the cause of galactosemia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2016

Purpose: Galactose is metabolized to galactose-1-phosphate by galactokinase (GALK), galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) and UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE), and galactosemia occurs when each enzyme is deficient. In Korea, unlike foreign countries, classic galactosemia is rare and transient galactosemia due to GALK hyperactivity is reported, but studies on frequency, clinical significance, and genetic variation are lacking. In this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with galactosemia due to GALK hyperactivity. Methods: We investigated 85 patients who had an elevated galactose level in the neonatal screening test without deficiency of enzymes at Department of Pediatrics, Seoul & Bucheon Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 2008 to June 2016. We investigated the level of galactose, galactose-1-phosphate, GALK and duration of galactose normalization, and analyzed the correlation between GALK elevation and galactose, galactose-1-phosphate and duration of galactose normalization. And the levels of galactose, galactose-1-phosphate, and duration of galactose normalization were compared between the galactose-free formula feeding group and non-feeding group. Results: Mean age of visit was $26.7{\pm}16.1days$. Duration of galactose normalization was $35.3{\pm}20.5days$. Mean galactose level was $18.5{\pm}7.3mg/dL$ in the neonatal screening and follow-up galactose level in serum was $2.3{\pm}5.4mg/dL$. The mean value of galactose-1-phosphate was $6.0{\pm}4.7mg/dL$ and the mean GALK level was $3.84{\pm}1.28{\mu}mol/Hr/gHb$. There was no significant correlation between GALK levels and galactose levels in the neonatal screening test (P=0.351), and we analyzed the correlation between GALK levels and follow-up galactose levels in serum, there was no significant correlation (P=0.101). There was a significant correlation between GALK levels and galactose-1-phosphate (P=0.015), and the correlation between GALK levels and duration of galactose normalization was not statistically significant (P=0.176). 49% of the patients were fed galactose-free formula, and 45% were not. Galactose and galactose-1-phosphate levels in the neonatal screening test were statistically significantly higher (P=0.004, 0.034) in using galactose-free formula group. Duration of galactose normalization was not related to the use of galactose-free formula (P=0.266, 0.249). Conclusion: Galactosemia due to GALK hyperactivity seems to be a temporary phenomenon and may not require galactose restriction. More research is needed on the role of the nuclear protein, racial traits and genetic variations in Korean patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2003

Purpose : The genetic disturbance of galactosemia is expressed as a cellular deficiency of either galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase(GALT) or galactokinase(GALK) or UDP galactose 4-epimerase(GALE). To find-out the pattern of galactosemia in Korea, we retrospectively analyzed cases of galactosemia detected by neonatal screening program. Methods : We analyzed medical records of patients who visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital at age of 1 month after showing abnormalities in neonatal screening of galactosemia. For accurate diagnosis, galactose was measured by enzyme immunoassay(EIA) and fluorophotometer, also galactose-1-phosphate by fluorophotometer. Enzyme activities of GALK, GALT and GALE in RBC and galactose-1-phosphate were measured by radioisotope assay(RIA). Beutler test were done. Patients went on a lactose-free diet and follow-up tests for galactose, galactose-1-phosphate level and enzyme activity were performed. Results : 10 patients(male : 6, female : 4) were diagnosed as galactosemia. Two patients had GALK deficiency and two had GALT deficiency. Six were GALE deficient showing the largest number. In two patients with GALK deficiency, GALT and GALE activities were normal but GALK activities showed respectively reduced activity. For GALT deficiency, two patients had low GALT activity in RBC and showed genotype of Duarte 2/G(galactosemia) in DNA analysis. In one patient, GALT activity was normal. Three patients seemed to be heterozygote state of GALE deficiency according to GALE activity levels. Four patients showed GALK hyperactivity. Conclusion : GALE deficiency provided the highest number. After lactose-free diet, galactose and galactose-1-phosphate were normaly maintained. Neonatal screening on galactosemia is essential for preventing life-threatening symptoms and an accurate diagnosis is needed for finding out the type of galactosemia which is important for prognosis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Kaempferol 3-O-galactoside (Trifolin), a member of the flavonol group, has been reported to have anticancer effects against promyelocytic leukemia, histocytic lymphoma, skin melanoma and lung cancer. Trifolin has been extracted and used from several plants, but the extraction process is complicated and the final yield is low. Biotransformation is an alternative tool to produce high value-added chemicals from inexpensive compounds. To synthesis trifolin from naringenin, three genes (PeFLS and OsUGE-PhUGT) were introduced into Escherichia coli, respectively. In order to synthesis trifolin from naringenin, a co-culture fermentation system was established by optimizing the cell concentration, biotransformation temperature and medium, isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) concentration, substrate supply concentration, and recombinant protein induction time. The established optimal conditions for trifolin production were a 3:1 ratio of BL-UGTE to BL-FLS, induction of recombinant protein at 25 ℃ for 4 h after addition of 2.0 mM IPTG, biotransformation at 30 ℃, and supply of 300 μM naringenin. Through the optimized co-culture fermentation system, trifolin was biosynthesized up to 67.3 mg/L.