• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2004

Investigation of the expression of the riboflavin (rib) genes, which are found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon in Photobacterium phosphoreum, provides more information relevant to the evolution of bioluminescence, as well as to the regulation of supply of flavin substrate for bacterial bioluminescence reactions. In order to answer the question of whether or not the transcriptions of lux and rib genes are integrated, a transcriptional termination assay was performed with P. phoxphoreum DNA, containing the possible stem-loop structures, located in the intergenic region of luxF and luxE ($\Omega$$\_$A/), of luxG and ribE ($\Omega$$\_$B/), and downstream of ribA ($\Omega$$\_$c/). The expression of the CAT (Chloram-phenicol Acetyl Transferase) reporter gene was remarkably decreased upon the insertion of the stem-loop structure ($\Omega$$\_$c/) into the strong lux promoter and the reporter gene. However, the insertion of the structure ($\Omega$$\_$B/) into the intergenic region of the lux and the rib genes caused no significant change in expression from the CAT gene. In addition, the single stranded DNA in the same region was protected by the P. phosphoreum mRNA from the Sl nuclease protection assay. These results suggest that lux genes and rib genes are part of the same operon in P. phosphoreum.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 1999

In order to use heat shock promoter for the detection of toxic substances, dnaK promoter was amplified from E. coli genomic DNA by using a polymerase chain reaction(PCR) followed by sequencing and sub-cloning into the multi-cloning site of the plasmid, pUCD615. The pUCD615 is a broad-host-range vector containing promoterless lux operon originated from V.fischeri. The recombinant plasmid was transfered to E. coli DH5$\alpha$ through electroporation. The recombinant E. coli showed several patterns of bioluminescent responses to ethanol stress. The bioluminescent E. coli also showed responses to other toxic substances including FeK3(CN)6, CdCl2, p-nitrophenol and HgCl2. The increases of RLU(Relative Light Unit) were observed at 100ppm of FeK3(CN)6, 10ppm and 100ppm and 100ppm of CdCl2, 1ppm of 10ppm of p-nitrophenol and at 1ppm of HgCl2.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2003

An Escherichia coli strain containing the recA promoter that fused to the luxCDABE operon originating from Photorhabdus luminescens was shown to respond sensitively to genotoxic stresses. Two different recombinant bacteria, one (DPDI 657) harboring a plasmid with the recA promoter that fused to the luxCDABE operon, and the other (DPD1710) containing a chromosomally-integrated recA promoter that fused with luxCDABE, were compared and it was found that the sensitivity of 'the two strains was significantly different in terms of their bioluminescent level, response time, and the minimum detectable concentration of a chemical causing DNA damaging stress. DPDI 710, with a chromosomally-integrated single copy, generally led to lower basal luminescence levels, faster responses, increased response ratios, and an enhanced sensitivity to mutagens, when compared to DPD 1657 with a multi-copy plasmid.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2002

The functions of riboflavin synthesis genes ( ribI,II,III and IV) found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon from Photobacterium species were identified using the biochemical and genetical analysis. The ribI-III gene codes for protein corresponding to that coded by the second (riboflavin synthase), third (3,4-dihydroxy 2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase/GTP cyclohydrolase II) and fourth (lumazine synthase) gene, respectively, of Bacillus subtilis rib operon with the respective gene procuct sharing 41-50% amino acid sequence identity. Unexpectedly, the sequence of the ribIV product of Photobacterium phosphoreum does not correspond in sequence to the protein encoded by the fifth rib gene of Bacillus subtilis. Instead the gene (ribIV) codes for a polypeptide similar in sequence to GTP cyclohydrolase II of Escherichia coli and the carboxy terminal domain of the third rib gene from Bacillus subtilis. Complementation of Escherichia coli riboflavin auxotrophs showed that the function of the gene products of ribII and ribIV are DHBP synthase and GTP cyclohydrolase II, respectively. In addition the experiment, showing that increase in thermal stability of riboflavin synthase coded by ribIon coexpression with ribIII, provided indirect evidence that the latter gene codes for lumazine synthase.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2005

In this study, the amino-terminal half truncated lump and the whole lump genes from Photobacterium phosphoreum coding for the lumazine protein were cloned by polymerase chain reaction and expressed in Escherichia coli. To identifiy of the binding site of the ligand or substrate, the amino acid identities from the sequences of the lumazine protein, yellow fluorescent protein, and riboflavin synthase from different organisms were also compared and analyzed.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2004

The key riboflavin synthesis genes are located immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon from Photobacterium leiognathi. It is of interest that a site capable of forming a rho-independent terminator does not appear to be present between luxG and ribE in our previous data. These results raise the question of whether the transcription of lux and rib genes is integrated or not. In order to answer the question, in vivo transcriptional assay and Southern blot were examined. These studies demonstrate that neither transcriptional terminator nor promoter site is present in the intergenic region between of lux and rib genes as well as that the riboflavin genes are single copy in a chromosome of Photobacterium leiognathi.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.571-576
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• 2002

Recombinant E. coli DH5 ${\alpha}$/pSB311 was made by cloning the genes encoding bacterial luciferase and aldehyde substrate proteins from Photohabdus luminescense, to complement defects of Lumistox, which is normally used in bioassays to monitor toxic substances in water environmental systems. The conditions for stable light production by the recombinant strains were investigated with respect to cell growth stage, cell number, and buffer conditions. The optimum growth stage was a middle-exponential stage with an OD$_{660nm}$ value of 0.6-0.7. ADout 10$^{6}$-10$^{7}$ cells per test tube was optimum for stable light emission. The effect of buffer was not significant if an optimum viable cell number was maintained. The bioluminescence of the recombinant E. coli harboring the lux operon of Photohabdus luminescense was not affected by temperature, while the bioluminescence of Lumistox was temperature sensitive. The recombinant E. coli was more sensitive to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn) than Lumistox, because it does not require high concentrations of NaCl in the buffer.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

The genes involved in riboflavin synthesis (ribI, II, III, and IV) were found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon from Photobacterium species. The single stranded DNA containing the intergenic region of lux genes and rib genes from Photobacterium phosphoreum was fully protected by P. phosphoreum mRNA from the S1 nuclease mapping assay suggesting that a transcriptional terminator was not present in the region. In addition, the levels of riboflavin synthase activity in P. phosphoreum was increased during the development of bacterial bioluminescence in the same fashion as the luciferase and fatty acid reductase activities. Insertion of the Photobacterium leiognathi DNA extending from luxB to ribII, between a strong lux promoter and a reporter gene (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, CAT) and transferred by conjugation into P. leiognathi, did not affect expression of reporter gene. Moreover the CAT gene was not expressed in an analogous construct missing the lux promoter indicating that a promoter was not present in this region. Based on the data here, it can be concluded that the lux genes and rib genes in Photobacterium species are under common regulation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1285-1291
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• 2006

The proline utilization (put) operon of Vibrio vulnificus consists of the putAP genes encoding a proline dehydrogenase and proline permease. The result of put-lux transcriptional fusion analysis suggests that the V vulnificus putAP operon is not autoregulated by the PutA protein. A putR null mutation decreased proline dehydrogenase activity and the level of the put transcripts, indicating that transcription of putAP is under the positive control of PutR. The deduced amino acid sequence of the putR was similar to those reported from other bacteria with high levels of identity. Chromatin IP and GST pull-down assays revealed that PutR specifically binds to the putAP promoter region in vivo, and interacts with CRP in vitro. Taken together, the results suggested that PutR exerts its effect on putAP expression by directly interacting with CRP bound to the upstream region of P$_{put}$.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1998

The use of bioluminescence as a sensitive marker for the detection of Pseudomnas sp. in the rhizosphere was investigated. Transposon Tn4431 which contains a promoterless luciferase operon and tetracycline resistant gene was used. This transposon, present on a suicide vector (pUCD623) in E. coli HB101, was mated with spontaneous rifampicin mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens B16, a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and then rifampicin and tetracycline resistant survivors were isolated. Twenty tow mutants wer isolated from the conjugants between E. coli HB101 and P. fluorescens B16. One of these, B16::Tn4431 (L22) recombinant which glowed brightly in the dark was selected for analysis. The cucumber seeds inoculated with L22 were grown in moisten two layers of filter paper and nonsterile soil contained in half cut PVC pipe. The roots were removed from the filter paper and PVC pipe, then placed on the 1/2 LB media plates. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 16 hr. L22 could successfully be detected in the rhizoplane by using the ordinary negative camera film (ASA100-400) with 30 minutes exposure under dark condition. The root colonizing ability and the plant growth promoting effect of L22 were not reduced compared to the untreated bacteria and wild type. L22 was superior to will type.