• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1482-1492
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• 2018

Fusarium oxysporum trypsin (FOT) is a fungal serine protease similar to mammal trypsin. The FOT could be successfully expressed in Pichiapastoris by engineering the natural propeptide APQEIPN. In this study, we constructed two recombinant enzymes with engineered amino acid sequences added to the N-terminus of FOT and expressed in P. pastoris. The N-terminal residues had various effects on the structural and functional properties of trypsin. The FOT, and the recombinants TE (with peptide YVEF) and TS (with peptide YV) displayed the same optimum temperature ($40^{\circ}C$) and pH (8.0). However, the combinants TE and TS showed significantly increased thermal stability at $40^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the combinants TE and TS also showed enhanced tolerance of alkaline pH conditions. Compared with those of wild-type FOT, the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the cation ${\pi}$-interactions of the recombinants TE and TS were significantly increased. The recombinants TE and TS also had significantly increased catalytic efficiencies (referring to the specificity constant, $k_{cat}/K_m$), 1.75-fold and 1.23-fold than wild-type FOT. In silico modeling analysis uncovered that the introduction of the peptides YVEF and YV resulted in shorter distances between the substrate binding pocket (D174, G198, and G208) and catalytic triad (His42, Asp102, and Ser180), which would improve the electron transfer rate and catalytic efficiency. In addition, N-terminal residues modification described here may be a useful approach for improving the catalytic efficiencies and characteristics of other target enzymes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.11
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• pp.631-636
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• 2014

Aurora-A is a centrosome-localized serine/threonine kinase that is overexpressed in multiple human cancers. We previously reported an intramolecular inhibitory regulation of Aurora-A between its N-terminal regulatory domain (Nt, amino acids [aa] 1-128) and the C-terminal catalytic domain (Cd, aa 129-403). Here, we demonstrate that although both Aurora-A mutants (AurA-K250G and AurA-D294G/Y295G) lacked interactions between the Nt and Cd, they also failed to interact with Ajuba, an essential activator of Aurora-A, leading to loss of kinase activity. Additionally, overexpression of either of the mutants resulted in centrosome amplification and mitotic spindle formation defects. Both mutants were also able to cause G2/M arrest and apoptosis. These results indicate that both K250 and D294/Y295 are critical for direct interaction between Aurora-A and Ajuba and the function of the Aurora-A complex in cell cycle progression.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.2081-2085
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• 2014

Second-order rate constants ($k_N$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for the reactions of phenyl 2- pyridyl carbonate (6) with a series of cyclic secondary amines in MeCN at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The Br${\o}$nsted-type plot for the reaction of 6 is linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}$ = 0.54, which is typical for reactions reported previously to proceed through a concerted mechanism. Substrate 6 is over $10^3$ times more reactive than 2-pyridyl benzoate (5), although the reactions of 6 and 5 proceed through the same mechanism. A combination of steric hindrance, inductive effect and resonance contribution is responsible for the kinetic results. The reactions of 6 and 5 proceed through a cyclic transition state (TS) in which H-bonding interactions increase the nucleofugality of the leaving group (i.e., 2-pyridiniumoxide). The enhanced nucleofugality forces the reactions of 6 and 5 to proceed through a concerted mechanism. In contrast, the corresponding reaction of 4-nitrophenyl 2-pyridyl carbonate (7) proceeds through a stepwise mechanism with quantitative liberation of 4-nitrophenoxide ion as the leaving group, indicating that replacement of the 4-nitrophenoxy group in 7 by the PhO group in 6 changes the reaction mechanism (i.e., from a stepwise mechanism to a concerted pathway) as well as the leaving group (i.e., from 4-nitrophenoxide to 2-pyridiniumoxide). The strong electron-withdrawing ability of the 4-nitrophenoxy group in 7 inhibits formation of a H-bonded cyclic TS. The presence or absence of a H-bonded cyclic TS governs the reaction mechanism (i.e., a concerted or stepwise mechanism) as well as the leaving group (i.e., 2-pyridiniumoxide or 4-nitrophenoxide).

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 1978

The crystal and molecular structure of theophylline hydrochloride has been determined from X-ray data by Patterson techniques. The structure has been refined by block-diagonal least-squares and Fourier synthesis on three dimensional data. The unit cell is orthorhombic, space group $P_{na21}$, with a = 14.01, b = 11.49, c = 6.77${\AA}$, and contains four molecules. The final R value based on 743 observed reflexions is 12.2%. The intramolecular distances are similar to those in other compounds containing a purine or pyrimidine group. The molecules are nearly planar and are stacked in layers parallel to the (001)plane. The chlorine atom is coordinated to N(1) atom at a distance of 3.06${\AA}$. The structure is stabilized mainly by van der Waals interactions; however, a short N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$Cl contact of length $3.06\AA$, which is slightly less than the expected van der Waals separation, suggest that weak charge transfer interaction may be present. The relationship between this structure and the known structures of theophylline monohydrate and caffeine monohydrate are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1987.07a
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• pp.149-155
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• 1987

Growth and development of a higher plant, or any living organism for that matter, could be defined as an orderly expression of the genome in time and space in close interaction with the environment. During differentiation and development of a tissue or organ a group of genes must be selectively turned on or turned off mainly by trans-acting regulators. In this general concept of regulation of regulation of gene expression, a DNA molecule is recognized at a specific nucleotide sequence by DNA-binding factors. Molecular biology of the regulatory factors such as hormones, and their receptors, target DNA sequences and DNA-binding proteins are well advanced. What is not clearly understood is the molecular basis of the interactions between DNA and binding factors, expecially of the usages of the dyad symmetry of the target DNA sequences and the dimeric nature of the DNA-binding proteins. A unique 3-dimensional structure of DNA has been proposed that may play an important role in the orderly expression of the gene. A foldback intercoil (FBI) DNA configuration which was originally found by electron microscopy among mtDNA molecules from pearl millet has some unique features. The FBI configuration of DNA is believed to be formed when a flexible double helix folds back and interwines in the widened major grooves resulting in a four stranded, intercoil DNA whose thickness is the same as that of double stranded DNA. More recently, the FBI structure of DNA has been also induced in vitro by a novel enzyme which was purified from pearl millet mitochondria. It has been proposed that the FBI DNA could be utillized in intramolecular recombination which leads to inversion or deletion, and in intermolecular recombination which can lead to either site-specific recombination, genetic recombination via single strand invasion, or cross strand recombination. The structure and function of DNA in 3-dimensional aspect is emphasized for better understanding orderly expression of genes during growth and development.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.2251-2255
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• 2013

Second-order rate constants ($k_{HOO^-}$) for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of Y-substituted-phenyl diphenylphosphinates (4a-4i) with $HOO^-$ in $H_2O$ have been measured spectrophotometrically. The ${\alpha}$-nucleophile $HOO^-$ is 10-70 times more reactive than the reference nucleophile $OH^-$ although the former is ca. $4pK_a$ units less basic than the latter, indicating the ${\alpha}$-effect is operative. The Bronsted-type plot for the reactions of 4a-4i with $HOO^-$ is linear with ${\beta}_{lg}=-0.51$, a typical ${\beta}_{lg}$ value for reactions which were reported to proceed through a concerted mechanism. The Yukawa-Tsuno plot is also linear with ${\rho}=1.40$ and r = 0.47, indicating that a negative charge develops partially on the O atom of the leaving group, which can be delocalized to the substituent Y through resonance interactions. Thus, the reactions have been proposed to proceed through a concerted mechanism. The magnitude of the ${\alpha}$-effect (i.e., the $k_{HOO^-}/k_{HO^-}$ ratio) decreases linearly as the leaving-group basicity increases. It has been concluded that solvation effect is not solely responsible for the ${\alpha}$-effect found in this study but the transition-state stabilization through an intramolecular H-bonding interaction is also responsible for the ${\alpha}$-effect.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3795-3799
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• 2013

The second-order rate constants ($k_N$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for nucleophilic substitution reactions of Y-substituted-phenyl 2-methylbenzoates (6a-e) with a series of cyclic secondary amines in MeCN at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. Comparison of the $k_N$ values for the reactions of 4-nitrophenyl 2-methylbenzoate (6d) with those reported previously for the corresponding reactions of 4-nitrophenyl 2-methoxybenzoate (5) reveals that 6d is significantly less reactive than 5, indicating that modification of 2-MeO in the benzoyl moiety of 5 by 2-Me (i.e., $5{\rightarrow}6d$) causes a significant decrease in reactivity. This supports our previous report that aminolysis of 5 proceeds through a six-membered cyclic intermediate, which is highly stabilized through intramolecular H-bonding interactions. The Br${\o}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 6d with a series of cyclic secondary amines is linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}=0.71$, which appears to be a lower limit of ${\beta}_{nuc}$ for a stepwise mechanism with breakdown of an intermediate ($T^{\pm}$) being rate-determining step (RDS). The Br${\o}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 6a-e with piperidine is curved, i.e., the slope of Br${\o}$nsted-type plot (${\beta}_{lg}$) decreases from -1.05 to -0.41 as the leaving-group basicity decreases. The nonlinear Br${\o}$nsted-type plot has been taken as evidence for a stepwise mechanism with a change in RDS (e.g., from the $k_2$ step to the $k_1$ process as the leaving-group basicity decreases). Dissection of $k_N$ into the microscopic rate constants associated with the reactions of 6a-e with piperidine (e.g., $k_1$ and $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio) also supports the proposed mechanism.