• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2005

Recent reports suggest that floral organs such as sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels are specified by quaternary MADS protein complexes with different combinations. The formation of quaternary complexes of ABCDE MADS proteins may be the molecular basis of ABCDE model for the floral organ development. The MADS complexes involved in each floral organ development seem to be conserved in at least dicot species although detailed molecular mechanism is slightly different depending on species. Even in monocot, at least rice, MADS complexes similar to those in dicot exist, suggesting that the floral organ specification by MADS protein complexes may be conserved in most of plants. The MADS protein complexes may have more specific recognition of target genes or more transcription activation ability than monomers or dimers, resulting in finely regulated floral organ development.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.536-541
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• 1998

The cDNA clone encoding the antibacterial peptide (SL-1) was isolated from the fat body of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, immunized with E. coli K12. The primary structure analysis revealed that its deduced amino acid sequence showed the characteristics of the cecropin family antibacterial peptides and that the amino acid residues highly conserved in the antibacterial peptides from moths and flies were also conserved, implying that SL-1 was a cecropin-like, and especially cecropin B-like, peptide. The predicted secondary structure of the mature SL-1 consists of three domains: (i) an amphiphilic ${\alpha}$-helical domain (Ile-4 to Gly-18); (ii) the hinge region (Gly-23 and Pro-24); and (iii) a hydrophobic domain (Ala-25 to IIe-38).

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2000

The Arabidopsis thaliana S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) cDNA ($GenBank^{TM}$ U63633) was cloned, then the AdoMetDC protein was expressed and purified. The purified AdoMetDC was inactivated by salicylaldehyde in a pseudo first- order kinetics. The secondorder rate constant for inactivation was 126 $M^{-1}min^{-1}$ with the slope of n=0.73, suggesting that inactivation is the result of the reaction of one lysine residue in the active site of AdoMetDC. Site-specific mutagenesis was performed on the AdoMetDC to introduce mutations in conserved $lysine^{81}$ residues. These were chosen by examination of the conserved sequence and proved to be involved in enzymatic activity by chemical modification. Changing $Lys^{81}$ to alanine showed an altered optimal pH. The substrate also provided protection against inactivation by salicylaldehyde. Considering these results, we suggest that the $lysine^{81}$ residue may be involved in catalytic activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.380-387
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• 2015

Cilia are conserved subcellular organelles with diverse sensory and developmental roles. Recently, they have emerged as crucial organelles whose dysfunction causes a wide spectrum of disorders called ciliopathies. Recent studies on the pathological mechanisms underlying ciliopathies showed that the ciliary compartment is further divided into subdomains with specific roles in the biogenesis, maintenance and function of cilia. Several conserved sets of molecules that play specific roles in each subcompartment have been discovered. Here we review recent progress on our understanding of ciliary subcompartments, especially focusing on the molecules required for their structure and/or function. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 380-387]

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.457-465
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• 2019

MonA is a subunit of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is important for vacuole passing and autophagy processes in eukaryotes. In this study, we characterized the function of MonA, an orthologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mon1, in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans and a toxigenic fungus A. flavus. In A. nidulans, the absence of AnimonA led to decreased fungal growth, reduced asexual reproduction, and defective cleistothecia production. In addition, AnimonA deletion mutants exhibited decreased spore viability, had reduced trehalose contents in conidia, and were sensitive to thermal stress. In A. flavus, deletion of AflmonA caused decreased fungal growth and defective production of asexual spores and sclerotia structures. Moreover, the absence of monA affected vacuole morphology in both species. Taken together, these results indicate that MonA plays conserved roles in controlling fungal growth, development and vacuole morphology in A. nidulans and A. flavus.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-132
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• 2018

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) is a supreme hormone regulating reproductive activity in most animals. The sequences of amino acid and nucleic acid of GnRH reported up to now are examined from the evolutionary framework of Chordata. All identified GnRH are classified into GnRH1, GnRH2, or GnRH3. In all three forms of GnRH both N-terminal and C-terminal are conserved, which allows for effective binding to their receptors. The three amino acids in the middle of GnRH1 sequence have altered diversely from the primitive Chordata, which is indicative of the adaptation process to the ambient environment. GnRH2 and GnRH3 sequences are well conserved. There are more diverse modifications in the nucleic acids than in amino acid sequence of GnRH1. These variations can result from meiosis, mutation, or epigenetics and indicate that GnRH is the product of natural selection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.249-252
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• 2017

Rabies virus (RABV) causes a neurological disease in warm-blooded animals that is nearly always fatal. In this study, we analyzed the matrix (M) genes in 10 Korean street RABV strains isolated from two Provinces during 2011-2013. The M genes in these 10 Korean strains were highly conserved during 1999-2013. Phylogenetic analysis revealed they were closely related to the M genes of RABVs isolated in northeastern China. Specific amino acid substitutions were identified in the KRVB1206, KRVF1301, and BV9901PJ strains. However, functional domains, including those involved in virus production and pathogenicity, were conserved in all 10 strains.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2001

The pyrR gene of the pyrimidine biosynthesis (pyr) operon of the thermophile Bacillus caldolyticus, encoding a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase), turned to rely as a pyr operon regulator. It has been proposed that PyrR mediates transcriptional termination-antitermination at three intercistronic regions of the par operon (S.-Y Ghim and J. Neuhard, J. Bacteriol.,176, 3698-3707, 1994). In this research, a plasmid carrying the pyrR region of B. caldolyticus could restore a pyrimidine regulation in a pyrR mutant of B. subtilis. Expression of pyrR was found to increase 6-7 fold during pyrimidine starvation. Additionally, a highly conserved nucleotide sequence which may constitute the binding site for a PyrR protein (PyrR-binding loop) in transcript was staggested. Alternative antiterminator and terminator structures involving three conserved motifs in front of the pyrR, pyrP and pyrB genes, respectively, are proposed to account for the observed regulation pattern.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 2011

Microorganisms are significantly affected when the ambient pH of their environment changes. They must therefore be able to sense and respond to these changes in order to survive. Previous investigators have studied various fungal species to define conserved pH-responsive signaling pathways. One of these pathways, known as the Pal/Rim pathway, is activated in response to alkaline pH signals, ultimately targeting the PacC/Rim101 transcription factor. Although the central signaling components are conserved among divergent filamentous and yeast-like fungi, there is some degree of signaling specificity between fungal species. This specificity exists primarily in the downstream transcriptional targets of this pathway, likely allowing differential adaptation to species-specific environmental niches. In this review, the role of the Pal/Rim pathway in fungal pH response is discussed. Also highlighted are functional differences present in this pathway among human fungal pathogens, differences that allow these specialized microorganisms to survive in the various micro-environments of the infected human host.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.381-385
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• 1999

Taq DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus has been shown to be very useful in a polymerase chain reaction. Taq DNA polymerase has a domain at the amino terminus (residues 1 to 290) that has 5'-3' exonuclease activity and a domain at the C-terminus that catalyzes the polymerase reaction. Taq DNA polymerase is classified into the Pol I family, which is represented by E. coli DNA polymerase I. The alignment of amino acid sequences for the 5'-3' exonuclease domains of the Pol I family DNA polymerases shows ten highly conserved carboxylic amino acids. Crystallographic studies suggested that six of the carboxylic amino acids are clustered within a 7 $\AA$ radius by chelating three metal ions in the active site. Those six carboxylic residues are mutagenized to alanines in order to better understand their function. All six carboxylic residues, Asp l8, Glu1l7, Asp1l9, Asp120, Asp142, and Aspl44, are crucial for catalysis of 5'-3' exonuclease.