• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.99-113
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• 2018

Recently, global warming has widened the habitat of mosquitoes and infection chances for mosquito-borne diseases are increasing. Flavivirus is a typical mosquito-borne virus. Flaviviruses with a relatively high frequency of infection in Asian countries include Zika, Dengue, and Japanese encephalitis viruses. Although distinctive diagnosis of flaviviruses is required because the symptoms and therapeutic method differ, there is no diagnostic method that can distinguish them accurately yet. In this study, we propose distinctive diagnosis method of flaviviruses using informations and analysis tools constructed in bioinformatic databases. The envelope protein and non-structural protein 1 which are useful protein for the immuno-diagnostics of three flaviviruses were selected. Their homology was analyzed by multiple sequence alignments and epitope candidates consisting of 10-15 amino acids were selected. Finally two epitopes were suggested to be most useful by immunogenicity analysis and 3D structure prediction. These approaches and results are expected to be great value in the distinctive diagnosis of three flaviviruses with a high frequency of infection in Asian countries.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.246-254
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• 2005

Analysis of the complete genome of Neurospora crassa reveals that at least 19 proteins contain tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs. One of them shows over $60\%$ homology to Ssn6 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a universal repressor that mediates repression of genes involved in various cellular processes. Mutant strains generated by RIP (repeat-induced point mutation) process showed four distinctive vegetative growth patterns and slow growth in various rates. Firstly, a mutant showed denser mycelial growth, yellow, csp, and looked like ropy mutant. Secondly, slower growth, dense mycelial, and conidial phenotype. Thirdly, extremely slower growth and aconidial. And finally, flat, tittle aerial hyphae, acon, and similar with a rco-1 RIP mutant. They are all male-fertile, yet female-sterile and produced little or no perithecium. It seems that various phenotypes were occurred depending upon mostly likely, the degree of RIP. These results indicate that this gene may be involved in several cellular possess during vegetative growth, and asexual and sexual development. Therefore it is pleiotropic. Sequence analysis of cDNA shows that it encodes a putative 102 kDa protein composed of 917 amino acids, and has six introns. It is designated rcm-1 (regulation of conidiation and morphology).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.612-624
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• 2022

A novel Gram-positive, motile, non-spore forming aerobic marine bacterium, designated 107-1^T was isolated from tidal mud collected in Gyehwa-do, South Korea. Cells of strain 107-1^T were short rod or coccoid, oxidase negative, catalase positive and grew at 10-40℃ (with optimum growth at 25-30℃). It utilized menaquinones MK-7 and 8 as its respiratory quinones and its major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 (37.9%), iso-C_16:0 (14.9%), and iso-C_14:0 (10.8%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a distinct clade containing strain 107-1^T and close species Planococcus ruber CW1^T(98.52% sequence similarity), P. faecalis KCTC 33580^T(97.67%), P. kocurii ATCC 43650T(97.48%), P. donghaensis DSM 22276T(97.47%), and P. halocryophilus DSM 24743T(97.37%). Strain 107-1^T contains one circular chromosome (3,513,248bp in length) with G+C content of 44.6 mol%. Estimated ranges for genome to genome distance, average nucleotide identity, and average amino acid identity comparing strain 107-1^T with close taxa were 20.3-34.8%, 77.9-86.9%, and 73.6-92.8%, respectively. Based on polyphasic analysis, strain 107-1^T represents a novel species belonging to the genus Planococcus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1292-1298
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• 2023

PAMB 00755^T, a bacterial strain, was isolated from Korean fir leaves. The strain exhibits yellow colonies and consists of Gram-negative, non-motile, short rods or ovoid-shaped cells. It displays optimal growth conditions at 20℃, 0% NaCl, and pH 6.0. Results of 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analyses showed that strain PAMB 00755^T was most closely related to Sphingomonas chungangi MAH-6^T (97.7%) and Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans B2-7^T (97.4%), and ≤96.5% sequence similarity to other members of the genus Sphingomonas. The values of average nucleotide identity (79.9-81.3%), average amino acid identity (73.3-75.9%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (73.3-75.9%) were significantly lower than the threshold values for species boundaries; these overall genome-related indexes (OGRI) analyses indicated that the strain represents a novel species. Genomic analysis revealed that the strain has a 4.4-Mbp genome encoding 4,083 functional genes, while the DNA G+C content of the whole genome is 66.1%. The genome of strain PAMB 00755^T showed a putative carotenoid biosynthetic cluster responsible for its antioxidant activity. The respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone 10 (Q-10), while the major fatty acids in the profile were identified as C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c (summed feature 8). The major polar lipids of strain PAMB 00755^T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, and phosphatidylcholine. Based on a comprehensive analysis of genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we proposed the name Sphingomonas abietis sp. nov. for this novel species, with PAMB 00755^T as the type strain (= KCTC 92781^T = GDMCC 1.3779^T).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 1999

Purpose : By sequencing the Erpressed Sequence Tags of human 걸ermal papilla CDNA library, we identified a clone named K872 of which the expression decreased during differentiation of HL6O cell line. Materials and Methods : K872 plasmid DNA was isolated according to QIA plasmid extraction kit (Qiagen GmbH, Germany). The nucleotide sequencing was performed by Sanger's method with K872 plasmid DNA. The most updated GenBank EMBL necleic acid banks were searched through the internet by using BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tools) program. Nothern bots were performed using RNA isolated from various human tissues and cancer cell lines. The gene expression of the fusion protein was achieved by His-Patch Thiofusicn expression system and the protein product was identified on SDS-PAGE. Results : K872 clone is 1006 nucleotides long, and has a coding region of 675 nucleotides and a 3' non-coding region of 280 nucleotides. The presumed open reading frame starting at the 5' terminus of K872 encodes 226 amino acids, including the initiation methionine residue. The amino acid sequence deduced from the open reading frame of K872 shares $70\%$, identity with that of rat glutathione 5-transferase kappa 1 (rGSTKl). The transcripts were expressed in a variety of human tissues and cancer cells. The levels of transcript were relatively high in those tissues such as heart, skeletal muscle, and peripheral blood leukocyte. It is noteworthy that K872 was found to be abundantly expressed in coloreetal cancer and melanoma cell lines. Conclusion : Homology search result suggests that K872 clone is the human homolog of the rGSTK1 which is known to be involved in the resistance of cytotoxic therapy. We propose that meticulous functional analysis should be followed to confirm that.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

A functional screen of 60,672 fosmid metagenomic clones amplified from marine sediment obtained from the Dokdo islets in Korea identified the gene EstES1, whose product, EstES1, displayed lipolytic properties on tributyrin-supplemented media. EstES1 is a 576 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 59.4 kDa including 37 N-terminal leader amino acids. EstES1 exhibited the highest sequence similarity (44%) to a carboxylesterase found in Haliangium ochraceum DSM14365. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that EstES1 belongs to a currently uncharacterized family of lipases. Within the conserved domain, EstES1 retains the catalytic triad that consists of the consensus penta-peptide motif, GESAG. EstES1 demonstrated a broad substrate specificity toward the long acyl group of ethyl esters (C2-C12), and its optimal activity was recorded toward p-Nitrophenyl butyrate (C4) at pH 9.0 and $40^{\circ}C$ (specific activity of 255.4 U/mg). The enzyme remained stable in the ranges of $60-65^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.0-10.5 and in the presence of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Therefore, EstES1 has potential for use in industrial applications involving high temperature, organic solvents, and/or alkaline conditions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2003

Background: The S100A2 gene, also known as S100L or CaN19, encodes a protein comprised of 99-amino acids, is a member of the calcium-binding proteins of EF-hand family. According to a recent study, this gene was over-expressed in several early and malignant carcinomas compared to normal tissues. To elucidate the role of S100A2 protein in the process during carcinogenesis, production of monoclonal antibody specific to the protein is essential. Methods: First, cDNA sequence coding for ORF region of human S100A2 gene was amplified and cloned into an expression vector to produce GST fusion protein. Recombinant S100A2 protein and subsequently, monoclonal antibody to the protein were produced. The specificity of anti-S100A2 monoclonal antibody was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of cross reactivity to other recombinant proteins of S100A family (GST-S100A1, GST-S100A4 and GST-S100A6). To confirm the relation of S100A2 to cervical carcinogenesis, S100A2 protein in early cervical carcinoma tissue was immunostained using the monoclonal antibody. Results: GST-S100A2 recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography and then fusion protein was cleaved and S100A2 protein was isolated. The monoclonal antibody (KK0723; Korean patent pending #2001-30294) to the protein was produced and the antibody did not react with other members of EF-hand family proteins such as S100A1, S100A4 and S100A6. Conclusion: These data suggest that anti-S100A2 monoclonal antibody produced in this study can be very useful for the early detection of cervical carcinoma and elucidation of mechanism during the early cervical carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2010

Proteases catalyze hydrolytic cleavage of a peptide bond between amino acids and occupy pivotal positions in application in physiological and commercial fields. During the screening for novel bacteria producing extracellular protease, two bacterial strains, WD12 and WD32, were isolated from rotten trees and they made clear zone on LB plates supplemented with 1% skim milk. The similarities of 16S rRNA gene sequence of either WD12 or WD32 to GenBank database showed the highest to Pseuoxanthomonas mexicana as 97.8 and 99.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both isolated was located within the cluster comprising P. mexicana and P. japonesis. WD12 and WD32 were catalase- and oxidase-positive, Gram-negative rod strains. In case of WD12, it could assimilate malate, but could not assimilate D-mannose, which were different characteristics from P. mexicana. Both Pseuoxanthomonas sp. WD12 and WD32 optimally produced extracellular protease at $35-37^{\circ}C$, and maximal activity showed as 656 unit/ml and 267 unit/ml, respectively.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to identify the causative genetic mutation in a family with non-syndromic oligodontia. The 7-year-old female proband and her mother underwent oral examination, panoramic radiographs were obtained and blood samples were collected. All exons of the PAX9 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The sequencing results were compared with the standard human gene sequence. The proband lacked 11 permanent teeth, and her mother lacked 19 permanent teeth. No other birth defects were observed. As a result of gene analysis, there was a novel heterozygous nonsense mutation (c.184G>T, $p.Glu62^*$) in exon 2 in both affected subjects. It is suspected that the nonsense mutation leads premature termination of translation, yields a truncated protein 280 amino acids shorter than the wild-type protein. These defects include parts of the paired box domain, a DNA-binding site that plays an essential role in protein function. Otherwise, more likely the mutant transcript would be degraded by nonsense-mediated decay system, resulting haploinsufficiency to cause oligodontia in this family.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2013

A bacterium producing a fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated from Cheonggukjang. The bacterium was identified as a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by 16S rDNA analysis and designated as B. amyloliquefaciens HC188. The optimum culture medium appeared to be one containing 0.5% (w/v) maltose and 0.5% (w/v) soytone. Bacterial growth in the optimal medium at $37^{\circ}C$ reached the stationary phase after 27 h of incubation and the fibrinolytic enzyme showed optimum activity at 24 h. The enzyme was purified by 20-80% ammonium sulfate precipitation, CM Sepharose fast flow ion exchange chromatography, and Sephacryl S-200HR column chromatography. Its specific activity was 38359.3 units/mg protein and the yield was 5.5% of the total activity of the crude extracts. The molecular weight was 24.7 kDa and the amino acids of the N-terminal sequence were AQSVPYGVSQIKAPA. The fibrinolytic enzyme activity had an optimum temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ and an optimum pH of 8.0, and the enzyme was stable in the ranges $20-40^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0-8.0. Enzyme activity was increased by $Ca^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$ but inhibited by $Cu^{2+}$, EDTA, and PMSF. It is suggested that the purified enzyme is a metallo-serine protease.