• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.561-565
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• 2018

The late-stage doxorubicin biosynthesis pathway acting enzyme (DoxA) from Streptomyces peucetius CYP129A2 exhibited substrate promiscuity towards the stilbene group of compounds such as resveratrol. DoxA along with two accessory enzymes ferrdoxin reductase and ferredoxin from spinach hydroxylated resveratrol at the 3'-position in vitro to produce piceatannol. The product was identified by HPLC-PDA and high-resolution HR-qTOF-ESI/MS analyses in positive mode. The ESI/MS fragments resembled the hydroxylated product of resveratrol.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.384-388
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• 2001

The metabolic pathway synthesis algorithm was applied to estimate the maximum ethanol yield from xylose in a model recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain containing the genes involved in xylose metabolism. The stoichiometrically independent pathways were identified by constructing a biochemical reaction network for conversion of xylose to ethanol in the recombinant S. cerevisiae. Two independent pathways were obtained in xylose-assimilating recombinant S. cerevisiae as opposed to six independent pathways for conversion of glucose to ethanol. The maximum ethanol yield from xylose was estimated to be 0.46 g/g, which was lower than the known value of 0.51 g/g for glucose-fermenting and wild-type xylose-fermenting yeasts.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2005

Antioxidant films are one active packaging technology that can extend food shelf-life through preventing lipid oxidation, stabilizing color, maintaining sensory properties and delaying microbial growth in foods. Because raw, fresh and minimal processed foods are more perishable during storage or under display conditions than further processed foods, they rapidly lose their original quality. Foods are susceptible to physical, chemical, and biochemical hazards to which packaging films can be effective barriers. Although films incorporated natural (tocopherols, flavonoids and phenolic acids) or synthetic antioxidants (BHT, BHA, TBHQ, propyl gallate) have been extensively tested to improve quality and safety of various foods, food applications require addressing issues such as physical properties, chemical action, cost, and legal approval. Increased interest in natural antioxidants as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants has triggered research on use of the new natural antioxidants in films and coatings. Use of new components (phytochemicals) as film additives can improve food quality and human health. The biosynthesis of plant phenolics can potentially be optimized by active coatings on harvested fruits and vegetables. These coatings can trigger the plants natural proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway to increase the phenolic contents and maintain overall plant tissue quality. This alternate metabolic pathway has been proposed by Dr. K. Shetty and is supported by numerous studies. A new generation of active food films will not only preserve the food, but increase food's nutritional quality by optimizing raw food biochemical production of phytochemicals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.532-538
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• 2008

For the newly isolated $H_2$-producing chemoheterotrophic bacterium Citrobacter amalonaticus Y19, anaerobic glucose metabolism was studied in batch cultivation at varying initial glucose concentrations (3.5-9.5 g/l). The carbon-mass and energy balances were determined and utilized to analyze the carbon metabolic-pathways network. The analyses revealed (a) variable production of major metabolites ($H_2$, ethanol, acetate, lactate, $CO_2$, and cell mass) depending on initial glucose levels; (b) influence of NADH regeneration on the production of acetate, lactate, and ethanol; and (c) influence of the molar production of ATP on the production of biomass. The results reported in this paper suggest how the carbon metabolic pathway(s) should be designed for optimal Hz production, especially at high glucose concentrations, such as by blocking the carbon flux via lactate dehydrogenase from the pyruvate node.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1595-1605
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• 2023

Dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQD) catalyzes the conversion of 3-dehydroquinic acid (DHQ) into 3-dehydroshikimic acid in the mid stage of the shikimate pathway, which is essential for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and folates. Here, we report two the crystal structures of type II DHQD (CgDHQD) derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is a widely used industrial platform organism. We determined the structures for CgDHQD^WT with the citrate at a resolution of 1.80Å and CgDHQD^R19A with DHQ complexed forms at a resolution of 2.00 Å, respectively. The enzyme forms a homododecamer consisting of four trimers with three interfacial active sites. We identified the DHQ-binding site of CgDHQD and observed an unusual binding mode of citrate inhibitor in the site with a half-opened lid loop. A structural comparison of CgDHQD with a homolog derived from Streptomyces coelicolor revealed differences in the terminal regions, lid loop, and active site. Particularly, CgDHQD, including some Corynebacterium species, possesses a distinctive residue P105, which is not conserved in other DHQDs at the position near the 5-hydroxyl group of DHQ. Replacements of P105 with isoleucine and valine, conserved in other DHQDs, caused an approximately 70% decrease in the activity, but replacement of S103 with threonine (CgDHQD^S103T) caused a 10% increase in the activity. Our biochemical studies revealed the importance of key residues and enzyme kinetics for wild type and CgDHQD^S103T, explaining the effect of the variation. This structural and biochemical study provides valuable information for understanding the reaction efficiency that varies due to structural differences caused by the unique sequences of CgDHQD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.462-467
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• 2008

TPA is known to cooperate with an activated Ras oncogene in the transformation of rodent fibroblasts, but the biochemical mechanisms responsible for this effect have not been established. In the present study we used c-fos promoter-luciferase constructs as reporters, in transient transfection assays, in NIH3T3 cells to assess the mechanism of this cooperation. We found a marked synergistic interaction between TPA and a transfected v-Ha-ras oncogene in the activation of c-fos promoter and SRE. SRE has binding sites for TCF and SRF. A dominant-negative Ras (ras-N17) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the PKC-MAPK-TCF pathway. Dominant-negative RhoA and Rac1 (but not Cdc42Hs) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the Ras-Rho-SRF signaling pathway. Constitutively active $PKC{\alpha}$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ showed synergy with v-Ras. These results suggest that the activation of two distinct pathways such as Ras-Raf-ERK-TCF pathway and Rho-SRF pathway are responsible for the induction of c-fos by TPA and Ras in mitogenic signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.540-545
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• 2014

Balanced cell growth is crucial in animal development as well as tissue homeostasis. Concerted cross-regulation of multiple signaling pathways is essential for those purposes, and the dysregulation of signaling may lead to a variety of human diseases such as cancer. The time-honored Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and recently identified Hippo signaling pathways are evolutionarily conserved in both Drosophila and mammals, and are generally considered as having positive and negative roles in cell proliferation, respectively. While most mainstream regulators of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway have been fairly well identified, the regulators of the Hippo pathway need to be more defined. The Hippo pathway controls organ size primarily by regulating cell contact inhibition. Recently, several cross-regulations occurring between the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and Hippo signaling pathways were determined through biochemical and genetic approaches. In the present mini-review, we mainly discuss the signal transduction mechanism of the Hippo signaling pathway, along with cross-talk between the regulators of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and Hippo signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2018

The Hippo signaling pathway controls nuclear accumulation and stability of the transcriptional coregulator YAP and its paralog TAZ. The activity of Hippo-YAP signaling is influenced not only by biochemical signals, but also by cell shape and mechanical tension transmitted through cell-cell junctions and cell-matrix adhesions. Data accumulated thus far indicates that the actin cytoskeleton is a key mediator of the regulation of Hippo-YAP signaling by means of a variety of biochemical and mechanical cues. In this review, we have outlined the role of actin dynamics and actin-associated proteins in the regulation of Hippo-YAP signaling. In addition, we discuss actin-mediated regulation of YAP/TAZ activity independent of the core Hippo kinases MST and LATS. Although our understanding of the link between Hippo-YAP signaling and the actin cytoskeleton is progressing rapidly, many open questions remain.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.533-539
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• 2019

Recent evidence from genetics, animal model systems and biochemical studies suggests that defects in membrane trafficking play an important part in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) constitute the most frequent genetic cause of both familial and sporadic PD, and LRRK2 has been suggested as a druggable target for PD. Although the precise physiological function of LRRK2 remains largely unknown, mounting evidence suggests that LRRK2 controls membrane trafficking by interacting with key regulators of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway and synaptic recycling. In this review, we discuss the genetic, biochemical and functional links between LRRK2 and membrane trafficking. Understanding the mechanism by which LRRK2 influences such processes may contribute to the development of disease-modifying therapies for PD.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

During last decade there has been noticeable progress in the research of the biology of sapstaining fungi that cause considerable economic losses to forest product industry. The researches generated broad ranges of knowledge on sapstaining fungi regarding their occurrence on conifer wood, taxonomy, nutrient physiology, pigmentation biochemistry and molecular biology, and biological control. Major problematic groups in the sapstain production are Ophiostoma, Ceratocystis, and Leptographium genera. With Ophiostoma as a model, it is found that the type of carbon source is important in the growth and pigment production of sapstaining fungi. The operation of dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) melanin pathway for black to bluish pigment production has been confirmed in those cosmetic fungi both at biochemical and molecular levels. The development of albino technology using nutrition competition has been shown to be promising as an environmentally friendly biological control method for sapstain control.