• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권12호
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• pp.3521-3524
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• 2010

MTH1880 is a hypothetical protein derived from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, thermophilic methanogen. The solution structure determined by NMR spectroscopy showed that it has a novel $\alpha+\beta$-fold with a highly acidic ligand binding pocket. Since MTH1880 maintains its ultra-stable structural characteristics at both high temperature and pressure, it has been considered as an excellent model for studying protein folding. To initiate the structural and folding study of MTH1880 in proving its unusual stability, we performed the site directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis of MTH1880 mutants. Data from circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy suggest that the point mutations perturbed the structural stability of protein even though the secondary structure is retained. This study will provide the useful information in understanding the role of participating residues during folding-unfolding process and our result will be used in designing further folding experiments for hyper-thermopile proteins like MTH1880.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.295-299
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• 1998

Oligonucleotide primers were designed and successfully applied to amplify DNA fragments of P450 hydroxylase genes from actinomycetes which produce a large variety of medically important metabolites. Primers were designed based on several regions of strong similarities in amino acid sequence of P450 hydroxylases from a variety of actinomycetes, primarily in the regions of an oxygen binding site and a heme ligand pocket. These primers were used to amplify DNA fragments from seven different actinomycetes species producing a variety of different compounds. The deduced amino acid sequences of the isolated fragments revealed significant similarities to known P450 hydroxylase including the product of the suaC or subC genes from Streptomyces griseolus that is capable of metabolizing a number of sulfonylurea herbicides, and to the product of the $P450_{sca2}$ from S. carbophilus that produces a specific HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. This method should help researchers in cloning the P450 hydroxylase genes involved in the biosynthesis of useful compounds.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.281-283
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• 2002

S-modulin in frog or its bovine homologue, recoverin, is a 26 kDa EF-hand $Ca^{2+}$-binding protein found in rod photoreceptors. The $Ca^{2+}$ -bound form of S-modulin binds to rhodopsin kinase (Rk) and inhibits its activity. Through this regulation, S-modulin is believed to modulate the light-sensitivity of a rod. In the present study, we tried to identify the interaction site of the $Ca^{2+}$ -bound form of S-modulin to Rk. First, we mapped roughly the interaction regions by using partial peptides of S-modulin. The result suggested that a specific region near the amino terminus is the interaction site of S- modulin. We then identified the essential amino acid residues in this region by using S-modulin mutant proteins: four amino acid residues were suggested to interact with Rk. These residues are located in a small closed pocket in the $Ca^{2+}$-free, inactive form of S-modulin, but exposed to the surface of the molecules in the $Ca^{2+}$ -bound, active form of S-modulin. Two additional amino acid residues were found to be crucial for the $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent conformational changes of S-modulin. The present study firstly identified the functional site of S-modulin, a member of a neuronal calcium sensor protein family.in family..

• KSBB Journal
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.308-314
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• 2004

모넨신, 니저리신, 사이클로스포린 등을 하이드록실레이션 시키는 균주인 S. benihana에 존재하는 여러 가지 CYP를 클로닝하기 위해, 방선균 CYP의 보존된 부분을 통해서 degenerate primer를 제작하였고, colony hybridization을 통해서 스크리닝 한 결과 총 5 종류의 CYP가 검색되었다. 아미노산 서열의 분석 결과 방선균의 CYP 들과 매우 높은 유사성을 가졌으며, 이들 CYP의 앞 뒤 서열의 검색 결과 이 중 4개의 CYP의 downstream에는 FD 유전자가 존재함을 알 수 있었다. CYP503의 경우 다른 나머지 4개의 CYP의 서열과 차이가 많았으며, 2차 대사산물의 변형과 관련되어 있을 것으로 예상되며, ChoP와 유사성을 보이는 나머지 4개의 CYP는 스테로이드 계열 물질의 하이드록실레이션과 밀접한 연관이 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.1701-1707
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• 2016

Lipoxygenase (LOX) is an industrial enzyme with wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. The available structure information indicates that eukaryotic LOXs consist of N terminus β-barrel and C terminus catalytic domains. However, the latest crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LOX shows it is significantly different from those of eukaryotic LOXs, including the N-terminal helix domain. In this paper, the functions of this N-terminal helix domain in the soluble expression and catalysis of P. aeruginosa LOX were analyzed. Genetic truncation of this helix domain resulted in an insoluble P. aeruginosa LOX mutant. The active C-terminal domain was obtained by dispase digestion of the P. aeruginosa LOX derivative containing the genetically introduced dispase recognition sites. This functional C-terminal domain showed raised substrate affinity but reduced catalytic activity and thermostability. Crystal structure analyses demonstrate that the broken polar contacts connecting the two domains and the exposed hydrophobic substrate binding pocket may contribute to the insoluble expression of the C terminus domain and the changes in the enzyme properties. Our data suggest that the N terminus domain of P. aeruginosa LOX is required for its soluble expression in E. coli, which is different from that of the eukaryotic LOXs. Besides this, this N-terminal domain is not necessary for catalysis but shows positive effects on the enzyme properties. The results presented here provide new and valuable information on the functions of the N terminus helix domain of P. aeruginosa LOX and further improvement of its enzyme properties by molecular modification.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1482-1492
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• 2018

Fusarium oxysporum trypsin (FOT) is a fungal serine protease similar to mammal trypsin. The FOT could be successfully expressed in Pichiapastoris by engineering the natural propeptide APQEIPN. In this study, we constructed two recombinant enzymes with engineered amino acid sequences added to the N-terminus of FOT and expressed in P. pastoris. The N-terminal residues had various effects on the structural and functional properties of trypsin. The FOT, and the recombinants TE (with peptide YVEF) and TS (with peptide YV) displayed the same optimum temperature ($40^{\circ}C$) and pH (8.0). However, the combinants TE and TS showed significantly increased thermal stability at $40^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the combinants TE and TS also showed enhanced tolerance of alkaline pH conditions. Compared with those of wild-type FOT, the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the cation ${\pi}$-interactions of the recombinants TE and TS were significantly increased. The recombinants TE and TS also had significantly increased catalytic efficiencies (referring to the specificity constant, $k_{cat}/K_m$), 1.75-fold and 1.23-fold than wild-type FOT. In silico modeling analysis uncovered that the introduction of the peptides YVEF and YV resulted in shorter distances between the substrate binding pocket (D174, G198, and G208) and catalytic triad (His42, Asp102, and Ser180), which would improve the electron transfer rate and catalytic efficiency. In addition, N-terminal residues modification described here may be a useful approach for improving the catalytic efficiencies and characteristics of other target enzymes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.3817-3825
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• 2015

Background: The human protein methyl-transferase DOT1L catalyzes the methylation of histone H3 on lysine 79 (H3K79) at homeobox genes and is also involved in a number of significant processes ranging from gene expression to DNA-damage response and cell cycle progression. Inhibition of DOT1L activity by shRNA or small-molecule inhibitors has been established to prevent proliferation of various MLL-rearranged leukemia cells in vitro, establishing DOT1L an attractive therapeutic target for mixed lineage leukemia (MLL). Most of the drugs currently in use for the MLL treatment are reported to have low efficacy, hence this study focused on various natural compounds which exhibit minimal toxic effects and high efficacy for the target receptor. Materials and Methods: Structures of human protein methyl-transferase DOT1L and natural compound databases were downloaded from various sources. Virtual screening, molecular docking, dynamics simulation and drug likeness studies were performed for those natural compounds to evaluate and analyze their anti-cancer activity. Results: The top five screened compounds possessing good binding affinity were identified as potential high affinity inhibitors against DOT1L's active site. The top ranking molecule amongst the screened ligands had a Glide g-score of -10.940 kcal/mol and Glide e-model score of -86.011 with 5 hydrogen bonds and 12 hydrophobic contacts. This ligand's behaviour also showed consistency during the simulation of protein-ligand complex for 20000 ps, which is indicative of its stability in the receptor pocket. Conclusions: The ligand obtained out of this screening study can be considered as a potential inhibitor for DOT1L and further can be treated as a lead for the drug designing pipeline.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.152-159
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• 2015

Der p 2, which is a major allergen of house dust mite, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. There is controversy regarding whether Der p 2 binds to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and its inflammatory effect has not yet been elucidated. In the current study, we examined the interaction of Der p 2 with TLR4 and the effect of Der p 2 on cytokine release in THP-1 cells and lymphocytes. Among house dust mite extracts, recombinant TLR4 protein interacted with Der p 2. The overall structure of Der p 2 is characteristic of the immunoglobulin superfamily and contains ten ${\beta}-strands$, forming a ${\beta}-cup$ fold with two anti-parallel ${\beta}-sheets$, and a short 310 helix. The two sheets can be separated, further allowing the formation of a large internal pocket, which is narrow and suitable for binding large flat molecules such as lipid-like molecules. Der p 2 caused increased secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, which are neutrophil survival factors, in human monocytic THP-1 cells in a time-dependent manner. Der p 2 also induces the release of cytokines in normal and allergic lymphocytes. Supernatant after treatment with Der p 2 inhibited neutrophil apoptosis. In coculture of lymphocytes with neutrophils, Der p 2 inhibited spontaneous apoptosis of allergic neutrophils. In summary, Der p 2 binds to TLR4 and induces an inflammatory response such as cytokine secretion in immune cells. These findings may enable elucidation of allergy pathogenesis by specific allergen of house dust mite.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2002

A 4.8-kb DNA fragment encoding the P-450 type hydroxylase and ferredoxin genes was cloned from Pseudonocardia autotrophica IFO 12743 that can convert vitamin D$\_$3/ into its hydroxylated active forms. In order to isolate the P-450 gene cluster in this organism, we designed PCR primers on the basis of the regions of an oxygen binding site and a heme ligand pocket that are general characteristics of the P-450 hydroxylase. Sequencing analysis of the BamHI fragment revealed the presence of four complete and one incomplete ORFs, named PauA, PauB, PauC, and PauD, respectively. As a result of computer-based analyses, PauA and PauB have homology with enoyl-CoA hydratase from several organisms and the positive regulators belonging to the tetR family, respectively. PauC and PauD show similarity with SuaB/C proteins and ferredoxins, respectively, which are composed of P-450 monooxygenase systems for metabolizing two sulfonylurea herbicides in Streptomyces griseolus PauC shows the highest similarity with another CytP-450$\_$Sca2/ protein that is responsible for production of a specific HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, pravastatin, in S. carbophilus. Cultures of Steptomyces lividans transformant, containing the P-450 gene cluster on the pWHM3 plasmid, was unable to convert vitamin D$\_$3/ to its hydroxylated forms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.532-541
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• 2010

Peroxidase-like activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has been recently disclosed. To maximize such activity, two catalytically conserved residues (histidine and arginine) found in the distal pocket of peroxidases have successfully been introduced into that of the VHb. A 15-fold increase in catalytic constant ($k_{cat}$) was obtained in P54R variant,which was presumably attributable to the lower rigidity and higher hydrophilicity of the distal cavity arising from substitution of proline to arginine. None of the modifications altered the affinity towards either $H_2O_2$ or ABTS substrate. Spectroscopic studies revealed that VHb variants harboring the T29H mutation apparently demonstrated a spectral shift in both ferric and ferrous forms (406-408 to 411 nm, and 432 to 424-425 nm, respectively). All VHb proteins in the ferrous state had a $\lambda_{soret}$ peak at ~419 nm following the carbon monoxide (CO) binding. Expression of the P54R mutant mediated the downregulation of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). According to the high peroxidase activity of P54R, it could effectively eliminate autoxidation-derived $H_2O_2$, which is a cause of heme degradation and iron release. This decreased the iron availability and consequently reduced the formation of the $Fe^{2+}$-ferric uptake regulator protein ($Fe^{2+}$-Fur), an inducer of FeSOD expression.