• BMB Reports
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.23-28
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• 2010

Binary toxin consisting of BinA and BinB from Bacillus sphaericus is toxic to mosquito larvae. BinB is responsible for specific binding to the larval gut cell membrane while BinA is crucial for toxicity. To investigate functional role of cysteine in BinB, three cysteine residues at positions 67, 161, and 241 were replaced by alanine or serine. Mutations at these positions did not affect protein production and overall structure of BinB. These cysteine residues are not involved in disulfide bond formation between BinB molecules. Mosquito-larvicidal assays revealed that C67 and C161 are essential for toxicity, whereas C241 is not. Mutations at C67 and C161 resulted in weaker BinA-BinB interaction. The loss of toxicity may be due to the reduction of interactions between BinA and BinB or BinB and its receptor. C67 and C161 could also play a part during conformational changes or internalization of the binary toxin into the target cell.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.561-565
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• 2005

Bacterial arylsulfate sulfotransferase (ASST) catalyzes the transfer of sulfate group from a phenyl sulfate ester to a phenolic acceptor. The promoter region and the transcripti on start sites of Enterobacter amnigenus astA have been determined by primer extension analysis. Northern blot analysis resolved two mRNA species with lengths of 3.3 and 2.0 kb, which correspond to the distances between the transcriptional initiation sites and the two inverted repeat sequences (IRSs). By length, the 3.3 kb RNA could comprise the three-gene (astA with dsbA and dsbB) operon. ASST has three highly conserved cysteine residues. Reducing and non-reducing SDS-PAGE and activity staining showed that disulfide bond is needed for the activity of the enzyme. To identify the cysteine residues responsible for the disulfide bond formation, a series of Cys to Ser mutants has been constructed and the enzymatic activity was measured. Based on the results, we assumed that the first cysteine (Cys349) might be involved in disulfide bond mainly with the second cysteine (Cys445) and result in active conformation.

• Mycobiology
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.322-330
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges, fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1 (Asn-454), fvLac-2 (Asn-437 and Asn-455), fvLac-3 (Asn-111 and Asn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402 and Asn-457). In addition, the first 19~20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses clearly reveal that $CuSO_4$ affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권12호
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• pp.707-712
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• 2012

Human glutamate dehydrogenase isozymes (hGDH1 and hGDH2) have been known to be inhibited by palmitoyl-CoA with a high affinity. In this study, we have performed the cassette mutagenesis at six different Cys residues (Cys59, Cys93, Cys119, Cys201, Cys274, and Cys323) to identify palmitoyl-CoA binding sites within hGDH2. Four cysteine residues at positions of C59, C93, C201, or C274 may be involved, at least in part, in the inhibition of hGDH2 by palmitoyl-CoA. There was a biphasic relationship, depending on the levels of palmitoyl-CoA, between the binding of palmitoyl-CoA and the loss of enzyme activity during the inactivation process. The inhibition of hGDH2 by palmitoyl-CoA was not affected by the allosteric inhibitor GTP. Multiple mutagenesis studies on the hGDH2 are in progress to identify the amino acid residues fully responsible for the inhibition by palmitoyl-CoA.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.150-157
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• 2006

Native grass carp (Ctenopharygodon idellus) growth hormone, has 5 cysteine amino acid residues, forms two disulphide bridges in its mature form. Recombinant grass carp growth hormone, when over-expressed in E. coli, forms inclusion bodies. In vitro oxidative renaturation of guanidine-hydrochloride dissolved recombinant grass carp growth hormone was achieved by sequential dilution and stepwise dialysis at pH 8.5. The redox potential of the refolding cocktail was maintained by glutathione disulphide/glutathione couple. The oxidative refolded protein is heterogeneous, and contains multimers, oligomers and monomers. The presence of non-disulphide-bond-forming cysteine in recombinant grass carp growth hormone enhances intermolecular disulphide bond formation and also non-native intramolecular disulphide bond formation during protein folding. The non-disulphide-bond-forming cysteine was converted to serine by PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis. The resulting 4-cysteine grass carp growth hormone has improved in vitro oxidative refolding properties when studied by gel filtration and reverse phase chromatography. The refolded 4-cysteine form has less hydrophobic aggregate and has only one monomeric isoform. Both refolded 4-cysteine and 5-cystiene forms are active in radioreceptor binding assay.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.573-580
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• 2009

화학적 변형 방식에 의한 트로포마이오신과 액틴의 상호작용을 규명하기 위하여 액틴결합에 중요한 역할을 하는 C-말단부위의 아미노산 잔기 276 또는 277을 단일 시스테인 잔기로 치환한 돌연변이 트로포마이오신을 제조하여 대장균에서 대량 발현시킨 후 액틴 결합력을 측정하였다. 잔기277을 시스테인 잔기로 치환시킨 TM24(QC) 및 TM29(HC)는 액틴 결합 성질을 잃어버렸을 뿐만 아니라 트로포닌 존재 하에서도 액틴결합력이 증가하지 않았다. 이 결과는 잔기 277이 트로포마이신 기능에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 제시한다. 반면 잔기 276을 시스테인 잔기로 치환한 TM22(CT) 및 TM23(CA)는 액틴과 비교적 잘 결합하였을 뿐만 아니라 트로포닌 존재 하에서 액틴결합력이 증가하였다. 따라서 TM23(CA)는 시스테인 잔기를 도입하여도 트로포마이오신의 기능을 유지하였으며 향후 화학적 변형 연구를 위한 도구로 중요하게 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2002

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a cysteine proteinase of the Acanthamoeba healui OC-3A strain isolated from the brain of a granulomatous amoebic encephalitis patient. A DNA probe for an A. healui cDNA library screening was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of conserved amino acids franking the active sites of cysteine and asparagine residues that are conserved in the eukaryotic cysteine proteinases. Cysteine proteinase gene of A. healui (AhCPI) was composed of 330 amino acids with signal sequence, a proposed pro-domain and a predicted active site made up of the catalytic residues, $Cys^{25},{\;}His^{159},{\;}and{\;}Asn^{175}$. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicates that AhCPI belong to ERFNIN subfamily of C 1 peptidases. By Northern blot analysis. no direct correlation was observed between AhCPI mRNA expression and virulence of Acanthamoeba, but the gene was expressed at higher level in amoebae isolated from soil than amoeba from clinical samples. These findings raise the possibility that AhCPI protein may play a role in protein metabolism and digestion of phagocytosed bacteria or host tissue debris rather than in invasion of amoebae into host tissue.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.68-76
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• 2001

We have employed chemical modification to identify amino acids essential for the catalytic activity of alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) from garlic (Allium sativum). Alliinase degrades S-alkyl-L cysteine sulfoxides, causing the characteristic odor of garlic. The activity of alliinase was rapidly and completely inactivated by N-bromosuccinimide(NBS) and slightly decreased by succinic anhydride and N-acetylimidazole. These results indicate that tryptophanyl, lysyl, and tyrosyl residues play an important role in enzyme catalysis. The reaction of alliinase with NBA yielded a characteristic decrease in both the absorbance at 280 nm and the intrinsic fluorescence at 332 nm with increasing reagent concentration of NBS, consistent with the oxidation of tryptophan residues. Kinetic analysis, fluorometric titration of tryptophans and correlation to residual alliinase activity showed that modification of only one residue present on alliinase led to complete inhibition of alliinase activity. To identify this essential tryptophan residue, we employed chemical modification by NBS in the presence and absence of the protecting substrate analogue, S-ethyl-L-cysteine (SEC) and N-terminal sequence analysis of peptide fragment isolated by reverse phase-HPLC. A fragment containing residues 179-188 was isolated. We conclude that Trp182 is essential for alliinase activity.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 1999

The visco-elastic properties of gluten are major determinants of the processing properties of doughs. These visco-elastic properties are strongly influenced by the ratio of monomeric and polymeric proteins and the size distribution of the polymeric proteins, which make up the gluten fraction of the dough. Recent studies have revealed that other features, such as the number of the cysteine residues of the HMW-GS, also play an important role in determining the functional characteristics. To modify the processing properties at molecular level, the relationship between the structure of molecules and dough properties has to be understood. In order to explore the relationships between individual proteins and dough properties, we have developed procedures for incorporating bacterially expressed proteins into doughs, and measuring their functional properties in small-scale equipment. A major problem in investigating the structure/function relationships of individual seed storage proteins is to obtain sufficient amounts of pure polypeptides from the complex families of proteins expressed in the endosperm. Therefore, we have established a simplified model system in which we produce specific protein genes through bacterial expression and test their functional properties in smallscale apparatus after incorporation into base flour. An S poor protein gene has been chosen as a template gene. This template gene has been modified using standard recombinant DNA techniques in order to test the effects of varying the number and position of cysteine residues, and the size of the protein. Doughs have been mixed in small scale apparatus and characterized with respect to their polymeric composition and their functional properties, including dough mixing, extensibility and small scale bating. We conclude that dough characteristics can be manipulated in a predictable manner by altering the cysteine residues and the size of high molecular weight glutenins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.576-584
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• 2002

Bovine PAS-4 is an integral membrane glycoprotein expressed in mammary epithelial cells. Complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning of PAS-4 was performed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with oligonucleotide probes based on it's amino terminal and internal tryptic-peptides. The cloned PAS-4 cDNA was 1,852 nucleotides (nt) long and its open reading frame (ORF) was encoded 1,413 base long. The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that PAS-4 consisted of 471 amino acid residues with molecular weight of 52,796, bearing 8 potential N-glycosylation sites and 9 cysteine residues. Partial bovine CD36 cDNA from liver also was sequenced and the homology of both nucleotide sequence was 94%. Most of the identical amino acid residues were in the luminal/extracellular domains. Contrary to PAS-4, bovine liver CD36 displays 6 potential N-glycosylation sites, which were located, except for those at positions 101 and 171, at same positions as PAS-4 cDNA. Cysteine residues of PAS-4 and CD36 were same at position and in numbers. Northern blot analysis showed that PAS-4 was widely expressed, although its mRNA steady-state levels vary considerably among the analyzed cell types. PAS-4 possessed hydrophobic amino acid segments near the amino- and carboxyl-termini. Two short cytoplasmic tails of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal ends constituted of a 5-7 and 8-11 amino acid residues, respectively.