• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.808-815
• /
• 2017

We demonstrated the quantitative detection of a toxin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) strain with the laboratory protocol of the NanoGene assay. The NanoGene assay was selected because its laboratory protocol is in the process of being transplanted into a portable system. The mcyD gene of M. aeruginosa was targeted and, as expected, its corresponding fluorescence signal was linearly proportional to the mcyD gene copy number. The sensitivity of the NanoGene assay for this purpose was validated using both dsDNA mcyD gene amplicons and genomic DNAs (gDNA). The limit of detection was determined to be 38 mcyD gene copies per reaction and 9 algal cells/ml water. The specificity of the assay was also demonstrated by the addition of gDNA extracted from environmental algae into the hybridization reaction. Detection of M. aeruginosa was performed in the environmental samples with environmentally relevant sensitivity (${\sim}10^5$ algal cells/ml) and specificity. As expected, M. aeruginosa were not detected in nonspecific environmental algal gDNA over the range of $2{\times}10^0$ to $2{\times}10^7$ algal cells/ml.

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

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.131-140
• /
• 2004

T7 bacteriophage gp4 is the replicative DNA helicase that unwinds double-stranded DNA by utilizing dTTP hydrolysis energy. The quaternary structure of the active form of T7 helicase is a hexameric ring with a central channel. Single-stranded DNA passes through the central channel of the hexameric ring as the helicase translocates $5'\rightarrow3'$ along the single-stranded DNA. The DNA unwinding was measured by rapid kinetic methods and showed a lag before the single-stranded DNA started to accumulate exponentially. This behavior was analyzed by a kinetic stepping model for the unwinding process. The observed lag phase increased as predicted by the model with increasing double-stranded DNA length. Trap DNA added in the reaction had no effect on the amplitudes of double-stranded DNA unwound, indicating that the $\tau7$ helicase is a highly processive helicase. Global fitting of the kinetic data to the stepping model provided a kinetic step size of 10-11 bp/step with a rate of $3.7 s^{-1}$ per step. Both the mechanism of DNA unwinding and dTTP hydrolysis and the coupling between the two are unaffected by temperature from $4∼37^{\circ}C$. Thus, the kinetic stepping for dsDNA unwinding is an inherent property of tile replicative DNA helicase.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2007

The RecA protein of Deinococcus radiodurans is essential for the extreme radiation resistance of this organism. The central steps involved in recombinational DNA repair require DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis by recA protein. Key feature of RecA protein-mediated activities is the interactions with ssDNA and dsDNA. The ssDNA is the site where RecA protein filament formation nucleates and where initiation of DNA strand exchange takes place. The effect of sequence heterogeneity of ssDNA was examined in this experiment. The rate of homopolymeric synthetic ssDNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis was constant or nearly so over a broader range of pHs. For poly(dT)-dependent ATP or dATP hydrolysis, rates were generally faster, with a broader optimum between pH 7.0 and 8.0. Activities of RecA protein were affected by the ionic environment. The ATPase activity was shown to have different sensitivity to anionic species. The presence of glutamate seemed to slimulate the hydrolytic activity. Dr RecA protein was shown to require $Mg^{2+}$ ion greater than 2 mM for binding to etheno ssDNA and the binding stoichiometry of 3 nucleotide for RecA protein monomer.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2018

This study compared two methods for preparing ancient DNA (aDNA) for the construction of successful shotgun libraries that may be applied to massive parallel sequencing. For the comparative analysis, the DNA of prehistoric rib samples from Hungary was extracted using either a manually prepared silica suspension or the Amicon Ultracel-15 10K ultracentrifugal device (Millipore). After the extraction of the same amount of bone powder (about 150 mg) from three samples by each method, the amount of extracted double-stranded DNA and the subsequent degree of construction of the shotgun library were analyzed. The Amicon device method was rapid and easier to perform and resulted in an approximately 11-fold higher DNA recovery than that obtained using the silica suspension. The shotgun library constructed using DNA templates prepared by the Amicon device was more successful than that constructed from templates isolated using the silica suspension. The comparative study of these two aDNA extraction methods showed that the Amicon device has the advantages of saving time, process simplicity, and high efficiency.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2010

The cold shock domain (CSD) is among the most ancient and well conserved nucleic acid binding domains from bacteria to higher animals and plants. The CSD facilitates binding to RNA, ssDNA and dsDNA and most functions attributed to cold shock domain proteins are mediated by this nucleic acid binding activity. In prokaryotes, cold shock domain proteins only contain a single CSD and are termed cold shock proteins (Csps). In animal model systems, various auxiliary domains are present in addition to the CSD and are commonly named Y-box proteins. Similar to animal CSPs, plant CSPs contain auxiliary C-terminal domains in addition to their N-terminal CSD. Cold shock domain proteins have been shown to play important roles in development and stress adaptation in wide variety of organisms. In this review, the structure, function and regulation of plant CSPs are compared and contrasted to the characteristics of bacterial and animal CSPs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.102-107
• /
• 1994

The $\beta$-1,4-endoglucanase gene from Actinomyces sp. 40 was cloned into Escherichia coli DH5$\alpha$ with pUC19. Chromosomal DNA from Actinomyces sp. 40 was cleaved with the restriction enzyme Sau3AI and ligated into pUC19 for the transformation of Escherichia coli DH5$\alpha$. Positive clones of $\beta$-1,4-endoglucanase gene were detected as the clear zones on a medium supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). This transformant possessed a single plasmid, designated pDS1, which contained the vector DNA and a 3.5 kilobase (kb) Sau3AI insertion fragment encoding endoglucanase. The size of the cloned fragment was reduced to 2.0 kb. The endoglucanase activity produced by the E. coli DH5$\alpha$ (pDS6) was higher than that of Actinomyces sp. 40 strain. The optimum pH and temperature of the cloned enzyme were pH 4.0$\sim$5.0 and 55$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The cloned enzyme was stable at 55$^{\circ}C$ or below and in buffer ranging from pH 4.0 to 7.0. The enzyme degraded CMC but did not degrade xylan, cellobiose, and methyl-umbelliferylcellobiopyranoside (MUC).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.60-64
• /
• 1994

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci produces tabtoxin and causes wildfire disease on tabacco and bean plants. In this study, bacteriophage of P. syringae pv. tabaci were isolated from sewage by top agar overlay method, and physiological and genetical characteristics of the phage were investigated. Plaques of isolated phage were turbid and ranged in size from 1 to 2 mm. The stability range of pH was between 6.0 and 9.0, and stability of temperature was up to 30${\circ}C$ and inactivated at 70${\circ}C$. The adsorption rate of phage was about 85% for 30min. The latent period and mean burst size as dertermined in one step growth experiments were 3 hrs and 200 PFU/bacterium, respectively. Genomic material of isolated phage was dsDNA of which size was about 30kb.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.190-201
• /
• 2024

Background: Deposition of immune complexes drives podocyte injury acting in the initial phase of lupus nephritis (LN), a process mediated by B cell involvement. Accordingly, targeting B cell subsets represents a potential therapeutic approach for LN. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a bioavailable component of ginseng, possesses nephritis benefits in lupus-prone mice; however, the underlying mechanisms involving B cell subpopulations remain elusive. Methods: Female MRL/lpr mice were administered CK (40 mg/kg) intragastrically for 10 weeks, followed by measurements of anti-dsDNA antibodies, inflammatory chemokines, and metabolite profiles on renal samples. Podocyte function and ultrastructure were detected. Publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data and flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate B cell subpopulations. Metabolomics analysis was adopted. SIRT1 and AMPK expression were analyzed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays. Results: CK reduced proteinuria and protected podocyte ultrastructure in MRL/lpr mice by suppressing circulating anti-dsDNA antibodies and mitigating systemic inflammation. It activated B cell-specific SIRT1 and AMPK with Rhamnose accumulation, hindering the conversion of renal B cells into plasma cells. This cascade facilitated the resolution of local renal inflammation. CK facilitated the clearance of deposited immune complexes, thus reinstating podocyte morphology and mobility by normalizing the expression of nephrin and SYNPO. Conclusions: Our study reveals the synergistic interplay between SIRT1 and AMPK, orchestrating the restoration of renal B cell subsets. This process effectively mitigates immune complex deposition and preserves podocyte function. Accordingly, CK emerges as a promising therapeutic agent, potentially alleviating the hyperactivity of renal B cell subsets during LN.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2009

A cDNA clone for a transcript preferentially expressed during an early phase of flooding was isolated from Nicotiana tabacum. Nucleotide sequencing of the cDNA clone identified an open reading frame that has high homology to the previously reported glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins. The open reading frame consists of 157 amino acids with an N-terminal RNA-recognition motif and a C-terminal glycine-rich domain, and thus the cDNA clone was designated as Nicotiana tabaccum glycine-rich RNA-binding protein-1 (NtGRP1). Expression of NtGRP1 was upregulated under flooding stress and also increased, but at much lower levels, under conditions of cold, drought, heat, high salt content, and abscisic acid treatment. RNA homopolymer-binding assay showed that NtGRP1 binds to all the RNA homopolymers tested with a higher affinity to poly r(G) and poly r(A) than to poly r(U) and poly r(C). Nucleic acid-binding assays showed that NtGRP1 binds to ssDNA, dsDNA, and mRNA. NtGRP1 suppressed expression of the fire luciferase gene in vitro, and the suppression of luciferase gene expression could be rescued by addition of oligonucleotides. Collectively, the data suggest NtGRP1 as a negative modulator of gene expression by binding to DNA or RNA in bulk that could be advantageous for plants in a stress condition like flooding.