• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.12
• /
• pp.1912-1918
• /
• 2006

Marine bacterium Hahella chejuensis KCTC 2396 simultaneously produced red antibiotic prodigiosin and undecylprodiginine. A complete set of the prodigiosin biosynthetic gene cluster has been cloned, sequenced, and successfully expressed in a heterologous host. Sequence analysis of the gene cluster revealed 14 ORFs showing high similarity to pig and red genes from Serratia spp. and Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), respectively, and the gene organization was almost: similar to that of pig genes. These genes were named hap for Hahella prodigiosin, and determined to be transcribed as a single operon, by RT-PCR experiment. Based on the hap gene mutagenesis experiments and comparative analysis with pig and red genes, we propose a prodigiosin-biosynthetic pathway in KCTC 2396.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.827-831
• /
• 2007

Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor-${\beta}$(TGF-${\beta}$ super-family. It acts as a negative regulator for skeletal muscle growth. Myostatin mutations are characterized by a visible, generalized increase in muscle mass in double muscled cattle breeds. To understand the biochemistry and physiology of the Chinese Yellow bovine myostatin gene, we report here for the first time expression of the gene in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Primers of the myostatin gene of Chinese Yellow Cattle were designed on the basis of the reported bovine myostatin mRNA sequence (Gen-Bank Accession No. NM005259) and optimized for E. coli codon usage. XhoI and EcoRI restriction enzyme sites were incorporated in the primers, and then cloning vector and expression vector were constructed in a different host bacterium. The expressed protein had a molecule mass of about 16 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. The expressed protein reacted specifically with myostatin monoclonal antibody on immunoblots. Our studies should lead to the investigation of the differences in myostatin genes of various cattle and could benefit human health and food animal agriculture.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.462-466
• /
• 2001

To understand molecular mechanisms of mouse mammary gland involution, clones were isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library. Partial sequences of a clone showed 100% identity to cDNA sequences of mouse lysozyme P gene. Northern analysis was performed to examine expression levels of lysozyme mRNA in mammary gland at several physiological states. Expression of lysozyme gene was induced at involution day 5 compared with lactating stage. High levels of lysozyme mRNA were also detected at virgin tissues. Two types of separate genes, P and M lysozyme, have been known in mouse, and we found that both lysozyme P and M genes were expressed in mammary tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The lysozyme enzyme activity determined by lysoplate assay was also higher in involuted mammary tissues compared with lactating tissues, showing a similar trend to its mRNA levels. Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein and involved in host defense mechanism. The increase in lysozyme gene expression may help to prevent microbial infection during mammary gland involution at which stage the residual milk in the mammary gland provides good nutritional sources for microbial growth.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.227-233
• /
• 2007

We characterized a full-length cDNA of CaCOP1 from pepper. Phylogenetic analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequence of CaCOP1 cDNA revealed high sequence similarity to the COP1 gene in Oryza sativa (84% identity). CaCOP1 shares high sequence identity with regulatory protein in Arabidopsis (84%), constitutively photomorphogenic 1 protein in Pisum sativum (81%) and COP1 homolog in Lycopersicon esculentum (79%). CaCOP1 gene exists single copy in the chili pepper genome. Expression of CaCOP1 was reduced in response to inoculation of non-host pathogens. The expression of this gene under abiotic and oxidative stresses was investigated, including 200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, cold ($4^{\circ}C$), 100 ${\mu}M$ abscisic acid (ABA), and 10 mM hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). CaCOP1 was induced significantly 3 h after low temperature treatment but not by dehydration or high salinity. Moreover, CaCOP1 was not induced by plant hormone ABA. These observations suggest that CaCOP1 gene plays a role in abiotic stress and may be belong to ABA-independent regulation system.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2021

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) must utilize host cellular factors to complete their life cycle, and fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) has been reported to be a host factor promoting AIV ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) assembly and exports vRNP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The functional role of chicken FMRP translational regulator 1 (cFMR1) as a host factor of AIV is, however, poorly understood. In this study, we targeted the cFMR1 gene in DF1 cells using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-mediated genome editing to examine the functional role of cFMR1 as a host factor of AIV. We found that cFMR1 stimulated viral gene transcription during early stages of the viruses' life cycle and did not affect viral progeny production and viral polymerase activity in DF1 cells 24 hours post infection. cFMR1 overexpression did not exert significant effects on virus production, compared to the control. Therefore, unlike in mammalian systems (e.g., humans or mice), cFMR1 did not play a pivotal role in AIV but only seemed to stimulate viral proliferation during early stages of the viral life cycle. These results imply that the interplay between host factors and AIV differs between mammals and avian species, and such differences should be considered when developing anti-viral drugs for birds or establishing AIV-resistant bird models.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.8.1-8.15
• /
• 2022

Background: Brucella infection induces brucellosis, a zoonotic disease. The intracellular circulation process and virulence of Brucella mainly depend on its type IV secretion system (T4SS) expressing secretory effectors. Secreted protein BspJ is a nucleomodulin of Brucella that invades the host cell nucleus. BspJ mediates host energy synthesis and apoptosis through interaction with proteins. However, the mechanism of BspJ as it affects the intracellular survival of Brucella remains to be clarified. Objectives: To verify the functions of nucleomodulin BspJ in Brucella's intracellular infection cycles. Methods: Constructed Brucella abortus BspJ gene deletion strain (B. abortus ∆BspJ) and complement strain (B. abortus pBspJ) and studied their roles in the proliferation of Brucella both in vivo and in vitro. Results: BspJ gene deletion reduced the survival and intracellular proliferation of Brucella at the replicating Brucella-containing vacuoles (rBCV) stage. Compared with the parent strain, the colonization ability of the bacteria in mice was significantly reduced, causing less inflammatory infiltration and pathological damage. We also found that the knockout of BspJ altered the secretion of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ) in host cells and in mice to affect the intracellular survival of Brucella. Conclusions: BspJ is extremely important for the circulatory proliferation of Brucella in the host, and it may be involved in a previously unknown mechanism of Brucella's intracellular survival.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.151-161
• /
• 2021

Fusarium wilt disease of tomato plants caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL race2) is one of the most important diseases of tomatoes worldwide. In the competition between tomato and FOL, the FOL can win by overcoming the immune system of tomato plants. Resistant interaction between the FOL race2 and tomato plants is controlled by avirulence genes (AVR2) in FOL and the corresponding resistance genes (I2) in tomato plants. In this study, 7 FOL isolates (KACC) were used to test their pathogenicity, and FOL race2 was selected because it is a broad problem in Korea. The Fol40044 isolates showed the most severe pathogenicity, and the avr2 gene was also isolated and identified. Moreover, to select resistance, 20 tomato varieties were inoculated with the Fol40044, and the degree of pathogenicity was evaluated by analyzing the expression of the avr2 gene. As a result, three resistant tomato varieties (PCNUF73, PCNUF101, PCNUF113) were selected, and the expression of the avr2 gene was much lower than that of the control Heinz cultivar. This result shows that the screening assay is very efficient when the avr2 gene is used as a marker to evaluate the expression level when selecting varieties resistant to tomato wilt disease. Based on these results, it is possible to isolate the I2 gene, which exhibits resistance and molecular biological interactions with the AVR2 gene from the three tomato-resistant varieties. The I2 gene provides breeders more opportunities for Fusarium disease resistance and may contribute to our understanding of their interactions with the FOL and host plant.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.125-130
• /
• 2006

An isolate of Peanut stunt virus (PSV) isolated from black locust tree (Robinia pseudo-acacia L.) showing severe mosaic and malformation symptoms, was designated as PSV-Rp. PSV-Rp was characterized by the tests of host range, physical properties, RNA and coat protein composition and RT-PCR analysis. Nucleotide sequences of the cucumoviruses CP genes were also used for identification and differentiation of PSV-Rp. Six plant species were used in the host range test of PSV-Rp. PSV-Rp could be differentiated from each Cucumovirus strain used as a control by symptoms of the plants. The physical properties of PSV-Rp virus were TIP $65^{\circ}C$, DEP $10^{-3}$, and LIP $2{\sim}3$ days. In dsRNA analysis, PSV-Rp consisted of four dsRNAs, but satellite RNA was not detected. Analysis of the coat proteins by SDS-PAGE showed one major protein band of about 31 kDa. RT-PCR using a part of Cucumovirus RNA3 specific primer amplified ${\sim}950bp$ DNA fragments from the crude sap of virus-infected black locust leaves. RFLP analysis of the RT-PCR product could differential PSV-RP from CMV The nucleotide sequence identity between the PSV-Rp CP and the TAV-P CP genes and the PS-V-RP CP and CMV-Y CP genes were 61.6% and 40.5%, respectively. On the other hand, the nucleotide sequence identity of the PSV-Rp CP gene was $70.9%{\sim}73.4%$ in comparison with those of PSV subgroup I (PSV-ER and PSV-J) and 67.3% with that of PSV subgroup II(PSV-W). Especially, the nucleotide sequence identity of PSV-Rp CP gene and that of PSV-Mi that was proposed recently as the type member of a novel PSV subgroup III was 92.4%.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.36-41
• /
• 1996

Recombinant baculoviruses having expanded host range were selected by coinfection of Autographa california NPV and Bombyx mori NPV into Sf-9 and BmN-4 insect cell lines. In order to determine the polyhedra morhplogy of RecS-A6, one of a recombinant baculovirus, polyhedra of RecS-A6 produced in insect cells were observed by phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that the recombinant baculovirus had a various polyhedra morphology which was different from its parental viruses, suggesting that the various morhpology of recombinant baculovirus with an expanded host range was due to the genetic recombination of viral genome. To analyze the genomic recombinantion of the recombinant baculoviruses, genomic DNAs of two parent viruses and RecS-A6 were digested with restriction endonuclease and subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Southern blot analysis revealed that RecS-A6 has two polyhedrin gene of AcNPV and BmNPV in a viral genome. Polyhedral protein of recombinant baculovirus was analysed by SDS-PAGE. The result showed that molecular weight of polyhedral protein of RecS-A6 containing two polyhedrin gene of AcNPV and BmNPV was as the 31 kDa band of AcNPV and 30 kDa band of BmNPV.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 1987

Mutants of E. coli which showed increased sensitivity to MMS(methylmethane sulfonate)were isolated by MNNG mutagenesis and characterized by enzymatic assay, survival of simple alkylating agents and host-cell reactivation. E.coli mutant, 5-62, which showed absolute deficiency in 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase II activity and had low capability of reactivating MMS-treated phage charon 35 was very sensitive to MMS and MNNG. NNS gene which confered resistance to the lethal effects of MMS was cloned in 5-62 strain. 5-62 mutants carrying recombinant plasmid, pMRG 1, which acquired resistance to the lethal effects of MMS had normal sensitivity to MNNG. Resistance to MMS was somewhat increased after they were treated with 0.5.$\mu$g MNNG/ml for 2 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. Although recombinant plasmid, pMRG 1, did not complement alk A mutation in 5-62 and ada mutation in 1-27 mutnat, mutnats transformed with this plasmid showed more capability of reactivating MMS treated phage than mutants.