• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.281-286
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• 2012

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed by the fusion of pre-fusion osteoclasts (pOCs). The fusion of pOCs is known to be important for osteoclastic bone resorption. Here, we examined the effect of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ greatly increased the fusion of pOCs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, IFN-${\gamma}$ induced pOC fusion even in hydroxyapatite-coated plates used as a substitute for bone. The resorption area of pOCs stimulated with IFN-${\gamma}$ was significantly higher than that of the control cells. IFN-${\gamma}$ induced the expression of dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP), which is responsible for the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced DC-STAMP expression in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 was enhanced in the pOCs treated with IFN-${\gamma}$. Taken together, these results provide a new insight into the novel role of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.791-793
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• 2009

Escherichia coli RNase P is composed of a large RNA subunit (M1 RNA) and a small protein subunit (C5 protein). Since both subunits are assembled in a 1:1 ratio, expression of M1 RNA and C5 protein should be coordinately regulated for RNase P to be efficiently synthesized in the cell. However, it is not known yet how the coordination occurs. In this study, we investigated how overexpression of C5 protein affects expression of the rnpB gene encoding M1 RNA, using a lysogenic strain, which carries an rnpB-lacZ transcription fusion. Primer extension analysis of rnpB-lacZ fusion transcripts showed that the overexpression of C5 protein increased the amount of the fusion transcripts, suggesting that rnpB expression increases with the increase of intracellular level of C5 protein.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2008

We have isolated and characterized Agrius convolvuli cDNA encoding a c-type lysozyme. The cDNA sequence encodes a processed protein of 139 amino acid residues with 19 amino acid residues amino-terminal signal sequence and 120 amino acid residues mature sequence. The amino acid residues responsible for the catalytic activity and the binding of the substrate are conserved. Agrius lysozyme has a high identity to Manduca sexta. Recombinant A. convolvuli lysozyme was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) pLysS cells for pGEX 4T-1 expression vector. Their optimal conditions for the fusion protein expression and purification were screened. Lysozyme gene amplified with primers ACLyz BamHI and ACLyz XhoI was ligated into the pGEX 4T-1 vector, which contained the glutathione S-transferase(GST) gene for fusion partner. The fusion protein was induced by IPTG and identified by SDS-PAGE analysis. Molecular weight of the fusion protein was estimated to be about 45 kDa. Recombinant lysozyme, fused to GST, was purified by glutathion-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis of this protein revealed an immunoreactivity with the anti-Agrius lysozyme.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2016

The major structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are derived from ORFs 4, 5, and 6. They have been considered very important to arouse the humoral and cellular immune responses against PRRSV infection and proposed to be the excellent candidate proteins in the design of PRRS bioengineering vaccine. However, the PRRSV structural proteins are produced in low levels in the infected cells because it forms insoluble protein and possesses several transmembrane regions. To overcome this problem, we fused the ORF4, ORF5, and ORF6 with SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier). The resulting fusion protein SUMO-ORF4, -ORF5, and -ORF6 were highly expressed in Bm5 cells. The level of protein expression using the Bombyx mori larvae was higher than that using Bm5 cells. In addition, fusion to SUMOstar, which is not processed by native SUMO proteases, significantly enhanced protein expression levels compared to SUMO fusion. This study demonstrated that SUMO or SUMOstar, when fused with PRRSV structural proteins, was able to promote its soluble expression. This may be a better method to produce PRRSV structural proteins for vaccine development.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2001

Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene encoding redox enzymes, such as thioltransferase (TTase) and thioredoxin (TRX), were previously cloned and induced by oxidative stress. In this investigation, their expressions were examined using $\beta$-galactosidase fusion plasmids. The expression of the two cloned genes appeared to be growth-dependent. The synthesis of $\beta$-galactosidase from the TTase-lacZ fusion was increased in the medium with the low glucose level, whereas it was significantly decreased in the medium without glucose or with galactose. It was also decreased in the nitrogen-limited medium. The synthesis of galactosidase from the TRX-lacZ fusion was unaffected by galactose or low glucose. However, it was lowered the absence of glucose. The synthesis of $\beta$-galactosidase from the TTase-lacZ fusion was shown to be enhanced in a higher medium pH. Our findings indicate that S. pombe TTase and TRX genes may be regulated by carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as medium pH.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2003

human renin binding protein (hRnBp), showing N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase activity, was over-expressed in E. coli, but was mainly present as an inclusion body. To improve its solubility and activity, ubiquitin (Ub), thioredoxin (Trx), maltose binding protein (MBP) and NusA, were used as fusion partners. The comparative solubilities of the fusion proteins were, from most to least soluble: NusA, MBP, Trx, Ub. Only the MBP fusion did not significantly reduce the activity of hRnBp, but enhanced the stability. The Origami (DE3), permitting a more oxidative environment for the cytoplasm in E. coli; helped to increase its functional activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2008

We assessed heterologous protein expression in 64 strains obtained from the Escherichia coli Reference (ECOR) collection, a collection representing diverse natural E. coli populations. A plasmid generating a glutathione S-transferase and plant carbonic anhydrase fusion protein (GST-CA) under the control of the tac promoter was introduced into the ECOR strains, and the quantity of the fusion protein was determined by SDS-PAGE. The foreign protein was generated at various levels, from very high (40 strains, high producers) to very low (six strains, low producers). Immunoblotting showed that the high producers expressed approximately 250-500 times more GST-CA protein than the low producers. The results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the low producers generated mRNA levels comparable to those of the high producers, thereby suggesting that, at least in this case, inefficient translation is a major cause of the low production. We introduced a different plasmid, which expressed a maltose binding protein and plant guanylate kinase fusion protein (MBP-GK) into the six low producers. Interestingly, five of these expressed MBP-GK at very high levels. Thus, we conclude that the production of a particular protein from an expression vector can vary considerably, depending on the host strain. Strains in the ECOR collection could function as useful alternative hosts when a desired level of protein expression is not obtained from commonly used strains, such as E. coli K12 or B derivatives.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.679-685
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• 2011

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) produces a putative effector, XoAvrBs2. We expressed XoAvrBs2 homologously in Xoo with a TAP-tag at the C-terminus to enable quantitative analysis of protein expression and secretion. Addition of rice leaf extracts from both Xoo-sensitive and Xoo-resistant rice cultivars to the Xoo cells induced expression of the XoAvrBs2 gene at the transcriptional and translational levels, and also stimulated a remarkable amount of XoAvrBs2 secretion into the medium. In a T3SS-defective Xoo mutant strain, secretion of the TAPtagged XoAvrBs2 was blocked. Thus, we elucidated the transcriptional and translational expressions of the XoAvrBs2 gene in Xoo was induced in vitro by the interaction with rice and the induced secretion of XoAvrBs2 was T3SSdependent. It is the first report to measure the homologous expression and secretion of XoAvrBs2 in vitro by rice leaf extract. Our system for the quantitative analysis of effector protein expression and secretion could be generally used for the study of host-pathogen interactions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2010

In order to develop procedures for the rapid isolation of recombinant sugar transporter in functional form from away from the endogenous insect cell transporter, gene fusion techniques were exploited. Briefly, BamH1-digested human HepG2 type glucose transport protein cDNA was first cloned into a transfer vector pBlueBacHis, containing a tract of six histidine residues. Recombinant baculoviruses including the human cDNA were then generated by allelic exchange following transfection of insect cells with wild-type BaculoGold virus DNA and the recombinant transfer vector. Plaque assay was then performed to obtain and purify recombinant viruses expressing the human transport protein. All the cell samples that had been infected with viruses from the several blue plaques exhibited a positive reaction in the immnuassay, demonstrating expression of the glucose transport protein. In contrast, no color development in the immunoassay was observed for cells infected with the wild-type virus or no virus. Immunoblot analysis showed that a major immunoreactive band of apparent Mr 43,000~44,000 was evident in the lysate from cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus. Following expression of the recombinant fusion protein with the metal-binding domain and enterokinase cleavage site, the fusion protein was recovered by competition with imidizole using immobilized metal charged resin. The leader peptide was then removed from the fusion protein by cleavage with porcine enterokinase. Final separation of the recombinant protein of the interest was achieved by passage over $Ni^{2+}$-charged resin under binding conditions. The expressed transport protein bound cytochalasin B and demonstrated a functional similarity to its human counterpart.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.204-213
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• 2008

In this age of information ruled by new technologies and knowledge, the world is interconnected as a single community, and within this trend of globalization, new cultural codes are emerging through temporal fusion between the past and the present and spatial fusion between different regions and countries. In this situation, it seems meaningful to review Korean fusion foods and restaurants serving such foods, as well as to consider their future directions. Thus, the objective of the present study was to survey and analyze Korean fusion restaurants representing Korean culture not only in Korea, but also in foreign cities, and to identify the expression characteristics of such restaurants. Based on restaurants recommended in relevant magazines and on Internet sites, 18 spaces were selected, visited, and surveyed, in which tradition and modernism were well-mixed. Data on the shapes, materials, colors, and patterns of spatial elements and food-related elements, including photographs, were collected and analyzed. The results are as follows. Of the 18 restaurants, 13 (72%) showed temporal fusion in both spatial and food-related elements, 4 showed temporal fusion in spatial elements and cultural fusion in food-related elements, and 1 showed cultural fusion in both spatial and food-related elements. In general, the spaces were mainly designed with modern elements and partially with traditional elements (ceilings, windows, furniture, articles), and the fusion of food-related elements was made in diverse forms that included temporal fusion restructuring traditional menus contemporarily, and cultural fusion harmonizing traditional food with Western cookery.