• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2019

Methylation of HBV cccDNA has been detected in vivo and in vitro; however, the mechanism and its effects on HBV replication remain unclear. HBx derived from a 1.2-mer HBV replicon upregulated protein levels and enzyme activities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), 3a, and 3b, resulting in methylation of the negative regulatory region (NRE) in cccDNA, while none of these effects were observed with an HBx-null mutant. The HBx-positive HBV cccDNA expressed higher levels of HBc and produced about 4-fold higher levels of HBV particles than those from the HBx-null counterpart. For these effects, HBx interrupted the action of NRE binding protein via methylation of the C-1619 within NRE, resulting in activation of the core promoter. Treatment with 5-Aza-2′dC or DNMT1 knock-down drastically impaired the ability of HBx to activate the core promoter and stimulate HBV replication in 1.2-mer HBV replicon and in vitro infection systems, indicating the positive role of HBx-mediated cccDNA methylation in HBV replication.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 1986

The large plasmid (about 180 megadaltons) was isolated from the aquatic strain of Pseudomonas which was found to degrade salicylate. It was found that the plasmid could be isolated under gentle conditions in comparison with other methods. The yield of covalently closed circular DNA was enganced by heat treatment at $55^{\circ}C$ after denaturing the chromosomal DNA with alkaline sodium dodecyl sulfate (pH 12.45), and the plasmid DNA was selectively concentrated by utilizing 10% polyethylene glycol as final concentration. It was also found that the cured strains with mitomycin C did not show any growth on the medium containing salicylat6e, therefore, it was concluded that the plasmid might play and important role on the salicylate degradation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2009

Sequence analysis of the Chlorella virus SS-2 revealed one putative nuclease gene that is 807 bp long and encodes a 31kDa protein. Multiple sequence alignment analysis reveals the presence of highly conserved PD-(D/E)XK residues in the encoded protein. The gene cloned into an expression vector was expressed as a His-tagged fusion protein in chaperone containing pKJE7 cells. The recombinant protein was purified using a His-Trap chelating HP column and used for functional analysis. Exonuclease activity of the SS-2 nuclease was detected when the DNA substrates, such as linear ssDNA, PCR amplicon, linear dsDNA with 5'-overhang ends, 3'-overhang ends, or blunt ends were used. Covalently closed circular DNA was also degraded by the SS-2 recombinant protein, suggesting that the SS-2 nuclease has an endonuclease activity. Stable activity of SS-2 nuclease was observed between $10^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$. The optimum pH concentrations for the SS-2 nuclease were pH 6.0-8.5. Divalent ions inhibited the SS-2 nuclease activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 1995

We isolated Streptomyces spry. from Korean soil, which showed high cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines, L1210 and P388Dl. Among 30 strains, three strains (DKM 104, DKM 128, DKM 409) were appeared to possess plasmid. Strain DKM 104 and DKM 128 had two CCC(Covalently Closed Circular) form plasmid, about 20 Kb in size and about 1 Kb compared with λ Hind III DNA size marker. And strain DKM 409 had three plasmids, among which two plasmic were CCC form about 20 Kb and about 20 Kb compared with same size marker. To find out whether plasmid involved in production of antitumor agent or not, we performed to curing experiment. Comparing cytotoxicity between culture filtrate of plasmid-containing strains and cured strains, we knew that only the cytotoxic activity of the strain DKM 128 was involved in plasmid.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 1985

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis 4Q1 contains 8 different covalently closed-circular (CCC) plasmids of molecular weight 204, 267, 109, 103, 16, 7.6, 6.4, and 5.0kb. The three smallest plasmids, designated pBti6, and pBti8 may prove to be useful as cloning vectors because of thier size and ease of isolation. The three plasmids were incubated separately with 9 different restriction enzymes and 7 of the enzymes tested cleaved one or more of the plasmids. Plasmid pBti6 has a single site for Bg1 II, Pst I and Pvu II, two sites for Bc1 I and Eco RI, and five sites for Hind III. Plasmid pBti7 has a single site for Bam HI and Pst I, two sites for Hind III, and three sites for PvuII. Plasmic pBti8 has a single site for Bam HI, BelI and Hind III, two sites for Eco RI, and three sites for Bgl II and Pvu II. Composite restriction enzyme maps for pBti6, pBti7 and pBti8 were constructed. The sites of restriction enzyme cleavage were determined by single, double and partial digests of the plasmid DNA. All the restriction sites were aligned relative to the single Bgl II(pBti6), Pst I(pBti7) or Hind III(pBti8) site, respectively.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.5
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• pp.52-58
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• 1987

The yeast S. cerevisiae DBY747 was transformed with E. C - S. C shuttle vector YIp5, YEp13 and YRp7 by the method of spheroplast. The transformation frequency of YEp13 and YRp7 in S. cerevisiae DBY747 was $1.2{\times}10^3$ and $1.0{\times}10^2$ per $10{\mu}g$ of DNA, respectively. The transformants with YIp5 plasmid incapable of autonomous replication in S. cerevisiae were not detected in the condition of this experiment, but YIpS plasmid expressed the gene carried on it when cotransformed with a helper plasmid such as YEp13 or YRp7 : autonomously replicating plasmid. When plasmids were used in covalently closed circular form, cotransformation frequency of Ylp5-YEpl3 and Ylp5-YRp7 was 210 and 95 per $10{\mu}g$ of DNA, respectively. In cotransformation of linear plasmids, transformation frequency of the same cohesive ends was similar to that of noncomplementary cohesive ends. Transformants by the cotransformation with circular plasmids have been shown much higher frequency than with linear plasmids in S. cerevisiae DBY 747. The mitotic segregation stability test suggested that the cotransformant of YIpS-YEp13 was more stable than that of YIpS-YRp7.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2006

Plasmids are covalently closed circular molecules of DNA that are stably inherited and replicate somewhat independently of the bacterial chromosome. Genes carried on plasmids can mediate a wide variety of important functions, including antibiotics (R plasmids) and heavy metals resistance, toxins production, cell penetration, iron chelation, complement resistance, and metabolic characteristics such as sucrose and lactose fermentation. Fifty strains of lactobacilli were isolated from 26 staters and 29 fermented milk products. They were classified 27 strains as Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei, 11 stains as Lactococcus lactis subsp cremoris, 6 strains as L delbrueckii subsp lactis, 4 strains as L acidophius, and 2 strains as L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus. All of these strains were examined for drug resistance and transferability of R plasmids. All of the isolates were sensitive to Am, C, CF, E, NB, P, T, and Te. But resistant to SXT 94% (47 strains), K 66% (33 strains), S 56% (28 strains), ENR 50% (25 strains), NOR 38% (19 strains) CIP 38% (19 strains), GM 16% (8 strains), and N 14% (7 strains), in order. And 32 different resistant patterns were found. The most frequently encountered patterns were CIP-ENR-K-NOR-S-SXT (5 strains). In vitro R plasmids transfer experiment, 57 antibiotic resistant strains which were not transfer to the recipient 2 Escherichia coli strains by conjugation, These results indicate that Lactobacillus in internal trade market' stater recognize R factor but transmissible R plasmid is not existed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

Although Lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil are efficacious drugs for preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B patients, their efficacy is far from completely satisfactory. The risk of liver cirrhosis and HCC begins to increase at an HBV DNA level of $10^4$ copies/ml. Even with latent or past HBV infection, episomal covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA) plays a key rolein the persistence, relapse and resistance of HBV in its natural course or during therapy. The annual incidence of HCC in YUMC is 1.8% and 4.7% patients/year in the antiviral treatment and control groups, respectively. The ability to achieve a high rate of sustained HBV suppression with low risk of drug resistance is the ultimate goal in the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The efficacy of universal immunization with striking reductions in the prevalence of HBV in localized countries needs to be spread worldwide. With hepatitis B immunization and effective antiviral therapy, global control of HBV infection and HBV-related complications, including HCC, are possible by the end of the first half of the $21^{st}$ century.