• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2019

Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes that hydrolyze the peptidoglycan of host bacteria. Endolysins are considered to be promising tools for the control of pathogenic bacteria. LysB4 is an endolysin produced by Bacillus cereus-infecting bacteriophage B4, and consists of an N-terminal enzymatic active domain (EAD) and a C-terminal cell wall binding domain (CBD). LysB4 was discovered for the first time as an L-alanoyl-D-glutamate endopeptidase with the ability to breakdown the peptidoglycan among B. cereus-infecting phages. To understand the activity of LysB4 at the molecular level, this study determined the X-ray crystal structure of the LysB4 EAD, using the full-length LysB4 endolysin. The LysB4 EAD has an active site that is typical of LAS-type enzymes, where $Zn^{2+}$ is tetrahedrally coordinated by three amino acid residues and one water molecule. Mutational studies identified essential residues that are involved in lytic activity. Based on the structural and biochemical information about LysB4, we suggest a ligand-docking model and a putative endopeptidase mechanism for the LysB4 EAD. These suggestions add insight into the molecular mechanism of the endolysin LysB4 in B. cereus-infecting phages.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.2 s.73
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• pp.129-138
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• 1995

DNA fragment being able to restore in vitro activity of ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase was cloned by transformation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LP353 mutant strain with genomic library constructed in the YCp50. For the selection of transformants which showed no detectable phenotype linked to recovery of the defect in ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase activity, the colony autoradiography was succesfully applied. The restriction map of the cloned DNA fragment, which is 8.5-kb in length, was constructed. Both the YEplac195 and the YCp50 carrying the 8.5-kb fragment increased ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase activity of LP353 by two fold. Neither the YEplac195 nor the YCp50 carrying the 8.5-kb DNA fragment, however, complemented the temperature-dependent osmotic sensitivity which is another distinctive phenotype of LP353. Subcloning experiments indicated that a functional region was located in 4.8-kb BglII-KpnI fragment. The 4.8-kb fragment was also able to increase the level of ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ content in cell wall as well as the resistance of cells to cell wall lytic enzyme, ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$. The growth rate of the LP353 with 4.8-kb fragment was almost same as that of wild type strain in liquid medium with 1.2 M sorbitol at nonpermissive temperature. Taken these results together, the 4.8-kb fragment seemed to contain the BGS2 gene for ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase activity in yeast S. cerevisiae.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.125-129
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• 1998

Xanthomonas sp. isolated from soil exhibited cell wall lytic activity of Candida albicans and secreted chitinase in chitin media. Especially, the chitinase activity was induced by chitin and reached a maximum level at 3 days culture in chitin media. We constructed genomic library of Xanthomonas sp. using cosmid vector in E. coli. Oligonucleotide probe was synthesized from the consensus sequence corresponding to chitinase active site, which was derived from the comparison of amino acid sequences of bacterial chitinase genes. Using this oligonucleotide probe, we screened the genomic library. By restriction enzyme mapping of the positive clones, we identified 4 independent clones which may contain the chitinase gene. One of the clones, named pXCH1 (1.2 kb insert), was further analyzed. Northern blot analysis indicated that is transcripts, 1 kb and 0.8 kb, were induced by chitin. When the cloned gene was induced by IPTG in E.coli cell, chitinase activity which was secreted onto culture media was not observed. However, when the cell was disrupted by using sonicator and then centrifuged, the supernatant exhibited chitinase activity. SDS-PAGE of the supernatant indicated that about 35 kDa protein was induced by IPTG. From these results, it was concluded that the cloned DNA was one of the chitinase genes of Xanthomonas sp.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.254-262
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• 1980

A series of experiment were carried out to separate the factor accelerating the lysis of cell wall of $Saccharomyces\;sak{\acute{e}}$ from the preparation of crude zymolyase obtained from Arthrobacter luteus. An attempt was also made to purify the enzyme which is essential for the study on the separation of the factor. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Crude zymolyase was fractionated 5 peaks $(A{\sim}E)$ containing three peaks $(A{\sim}C)$ passed through the column by the chromatography on Biogel CM-30. 2. Among the five peaks, peak E (protease fraction) was found to contain the factor accelerating the lytic activity of the zymolyase. 3. L-c fraction purified in almost free form from the nonlytic ${\beta}-1$, 3-glucanase, protease and inert protein by the affinity adsorption chromatography with Sephadex G-75 gel was obtained from zymolyase fraction (peak D). When it was subjected to polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis, only one clear protein band was observed at pH 4. 5, but still detected two or more band at pH 8. 3.