• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2019

Geldanamycin and its derivatives, inhibitors of heat shock protein 90, are considered potent anticancer drugs, although their biosynthetic pathways have not yet been fully elucidated. The key step of conversion of 4,5-dihydrogeldanamycin to geldanamycin was expected to catalyze by a P450 monooxygenase, Gel16. The adequate bioconversions by cytochrome P450 mostly rely upon its interaction with redox partners. Several ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductases are available in the genome of certain organisms, but only a few suitable partners can operate in full efficiency. In this study, we have expressed cytochrome P450 gel16 in Escherichia coli and performed an in vitro assay using 4,5-dihydrogeldanamycin as a substrate. We demonstrated that the in silico method can be applicable for the efficient mining of convenient endogenous redox partners (9 ferredoxins and 6 ferredoxin reductases) against CYP Gel16 from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. The distances for ligand FDX4-FDR6 were found to be $9.384{\AA}$. Similarly, the binding energy between Gel16-FDX4 and FDX4-FDR6 were -611.88 kcal/mol and -834.48 kcal/mol, respectively, suggesting the lowest distance and binding energy rather than other redox partners. These findings suggest that the best redox partners of Gel16 could be NADPH ${\rightarrow}$ FDR6 ${\rightarrow}$ FDX4 ${\rightarrow}$ Gel16.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.999-1010
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• 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment. They are highly toxigenic and carcinogenic. Probiotic bacteria isolated from fermented foods were tested to check their ability to degrade and/or detoxify PAHs. Five probiotic bacteria with distinct morphologies were isolated from a mixture of 26 fermented foods co-cultured with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) containing Bushnell Haas minimal broth. Among them, B. velezensis (PMC10) significantly reduced the abundance of BaP in the broth. PMC10 completely degraded BaP presented at a lower concentration in broth culture. B. velezensis also showed a clear zone of degradation on a BaP-coated Bushnell Haas agar plate. Gene expression profiling showed significant increases of PAH ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases and 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-monooxygenase genes in B. velezensis in response to BaP treatment. In addtion, both live and heat-killed B. velezensis removed BaP and naphthalene (Nap) from phosphate buffer solution. Live B. velezensis did not show any cytotoxicity to macrophage or human dermal fibroblast cells. Live-cell and cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis showed potential anti-inflammatory effects. Cell-free supernatant and extract of B. velezensis also showed free radical scavenging effects. These results highlight the prospective ability of B. velezensis to biodegrade and remove toxic PAHs from the human body and suggest that the biodegradation of BaP might be regulated by ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase-initiated metabolic pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2018

Flavin-containing monooxygenases from Corynebacterium (cFMOs) were mutagenized based on homology modeling to develop variants with an enhanced indigoid production capability. The four mutants, F170Y, A210G, A210S, and T326S, which fused to a maltose-binding protein (MBP), were constructed, and their biochemical properties were characterized. Of these, purified MBP-T326S required a higher concentration of exogenous FAD (100 mM) than the wild-type MBP-cFMO for optimal activity and showed a 3.8-fold increase in the $k_{cat}/K_m$ value at $100{\mu}M$ FAD compared to that of MBP-cFMO at $2{\mu}M$ FAD. The indole oxygenase activities of MBP-T326S decreased to 63-77% compared to that of the MBP-cFMO In addition, MBP-T326S displayed a very low level of futile NADPH oxidase activities (21-24%) in the absence of a substrate. Mutant proteins except for T326S displayed similar $K_m$ and increased $k_{cat}/K_m$ values compared to the wild-type. MBP-F170Y and -A210S mutants showed elevated indole oxygenase activity higher than 3.1- and 2.9-fold, respectively, in comparison with MBP-cFMO. When indigoid production was carried out in LB broth with 2.5 g/l of tryptophan, Escherichia coli expressing cFMO produced 684 mg/l of indigo and 104 mg/l of indirubin, while cells harboring T326S produced 1,040 mg/l of indigo and 112 mg/l of indirubin. The results indicate that the production of indigo was 13% higher when compared to a previous report in which an E. coli expressing FMO from Methylophaga produced 920 mg/l of indigo. The protein engineering of cFMO based on homology modeling provided a more rational strategy for developing indigoid-producing strains.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.701-707
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• 2020

Gene editing technology using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and the CRISPR associated protein (Cas)9 has been highly anticipated in developing breeding techniques. In this study, we discuss gene scissors as a tool for silkworm molecular breeding through analysis of Bombyx mori Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase (BmKMO) gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analysis of generational transmission through mutagenesis and selective crossing. The nucleotide sequence of the BmKMO gene was analyzed, and three guide RNAs (gRNAs) were prepared. Each synthesized gRNA was combined with Cas9 protein and then analyzed by T7 endonuclease I after introduction into the BM-N silkworm cell line. To edit the silkworm gene, K1P gRNA and Cas9 complexes were subsequently microinjected into the silkworm embryos; the hatching rate was 18% and the incidence of mutation was 60%. The gene mutation was verified in the heterozygous G0 generation, but no phenotypic change was observed. In homozygotes generated by self-crossing, a mutant phenotype was observed. These results suggest that silkworm molecular breeding using the CRISPR/Cas9 system is possible and could be an effective way of shortening the time required.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2005

Three different cDNAS for cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) which are involved in the second step of the general phenylpropanoid pathway were isolated and designated as pc4h1 (1,755 bp), pc4h2 (1,655 bp), and pc4h3 (1,316 bp), respectively. The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that both pc4h1 and pc4h2 clones encode polypeptides of 505 amino acids frame but pc4h3 clone was truncated at the 5'-end of coding region. The alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences showed that PC4H1 and PC4H2 are highly homologous (95.8% identical) with each other and contain three conserved domains which are typical in cytochrome P450 monooxygenase: proline-rich region, threonine-containing binding pocket for the oxygen molecule, and heme binding region. In addition, result of the phylogenic tree analysis revealed that both pepper C4Hs belong to Class 1. pc4h2 transcription was strongly induced in wounded fruit (400%) and root (200%) relative to its very low basal level but not in leaf or stem tissue. In case of pc4h1, the basal level of transcription was higher than pc4h2 but induction by wounding was lower in fruit and root while leaf and stem tissues did not respond to wounding. The basal level of pc4h3 transcripts was not, if any, detectable and response to wounding was not observed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of single and combined exposure of toluene (T) and xylene (X) on the cytochrome-450(CYP)-mediated metabolizing capacity, induction of CYP isozymes and the excretion of their metabolites in urine. Animal were adults male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and divided into 4 groups such as control, T (treated with 63.7 mg/body kg), X (treated with 65.9 mg/body kg) and TX(T=X). Organic solvents was administrated by intraperitoneal injection for 3 days. The contents of protein and CYP in liver microsomes of control group were $16.48{\pm}0.56 mg/m{\ell}$ and $0.744{\pm}0.025$ nmol/mg protein, respectively, and they contents were significantly lower than in derived from treated groups (p<0.01). The activities of PROD and ${\rho}NPH$ were significantly higher in single treated groups than in control and combined group (TX). When Western immunoblotting were carried out with two monoclonal antibodies (MAb 1-98-1 and MAb 2-66-3) which were specific against CYP2B1/2 and CYP2E1, respectively, a strong signal corresponding to CYP2B1/2 was observed in microsomes obtained from rats treated with X and TX. The color density against CYP2E1 was slightly increased in T and TX groups compared with C and X groups. The amounts of urinary hippuric acid in T single treated group was $3.29{\pm}1.97$ g/g creatinine and TX combined group was $2.91{\pm}1.76$ g/g creatinine, but was not significant. However, amount of urinary methy hippuric acid in X single treated group ($1.62{\pm}0.72$ g/g creatinine) was significantly higher than TX combined group ($0.93{\pm} 0.63$ g/g creatinine)(p<0.01). These results suggested that CYP2E1 isozyme might be responsible for the metabolism of T, and CYP2B1/2 isozyme is for X. And also, difference of metabolites level between single and combined group may be speculated that the intermediates of T and X interacted each other in the process of their metabolite formation reaction.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 1990

We recently reported a development of an experimental system which can identify the release of a superoxide-dependent vasorelaxant factor from endothelial cells using a two-bath system. In the present work, we further exploited the above system and observed whether the superoxide-dependent relaxing factor(s), released from the porcine coronary artery (PCA) endothelium, was similar in relaxation to those obtained from cat thoracic aortic endothelium and cultured endothelial cells of bovine aorta. However, there was observed a novel difference among the former one and the latter two relaxing factors; the release of relaxing factor from PCA endothelium can be inhibited either by catalase or by superoxide dismutase (SOD), whereas the latter two can be inhibited only by SOD. It was further attempted to characterize the synthetic mechanisms of the relaxing factors: (1) They were readily inhibited by various lipoxygenase inhibitors (gossypol, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, AA 861, and eicosatetraynoic acid). (2) They were not inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) and by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenease inhibitors (proadifen and cimetidine). Thus, it is likely that these relaxing factors, although obtained from different species, show common functional roles of arteriolar relaxation. It is suggested that they are related to pathophysiological involvement of various tissue ischemia-reperfusion injuries.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.232-238
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• 1999

Sex differences in the induction of microsomal cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and the activities of several related enzymes of Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 1-bromopropane (1-BrP) were investigated. Male and female rats were exposed to 50, 300, and 1800 ppm of 1-BrP per kg body weight (6 h a day,S days a week, 8 weeks) by inhalation. The mean body weight of 1-BrP treated groups increased according to the day elapsed, but four and five weeks respectively after the start of the exposure, the mean body weight of male and female rats had significantly reduced in the group treated with 1800 ppm 1-BrP compared with the control group (p<0.01). While the relative weights of liver increased in both sexes, statistical significance in both sexes was found only in the group receiving 1800 ppm/kg of 1-BrP (p<0.01). The total contents of CYP, $b_5$, NADPH-P-450 reductase, NADH $b_5$ reductase, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD), and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (pNPH) activities were examined for the possible effects of 1-BrP. No significant changes in the CYP and $b_5$ contents, NADPH-P-450 reuctase, NADH $b_5$ reductase, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), and pentoxyresorufin- O-dealkylase (PROD) were observed between the control and treated groups. The activity of pNPH increased steadily with the increase in the concentration of 1-BrP in both sexes, but was significantly increased only in the 1800 ppm-treated group of male rats (p<0.05). When Western blottings were carried out with three monoclonal antibodies (MAb 1-7-1, MAb 2-66-3, and MAb 1-98-1) which were specific against CYP1A1/2, CYP2B1/2, and CYP2E1, respectively, a strong signal corresponding to CYP2E1 was observed in microsomes obtained from rats treated with 1-BrP. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and the content of lipid peroxide significantly increased in the treated groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that 1-BrP can primarily induce CYP2E1 as the major form and that GST phase II enzymes play important roles in 1-BrP metabolism, showing sex-dependence in the metabolic mechanism of 1-BrP in the rat liver.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the resistance mechanism by three different kinds of procymidone-resistant and susceptible isolates of Botrytis cinerea which had been collected from green houses. The average resistance level of the resistant strains was 1,000 times higher than that of susceptible ones. Also, it was revealed that the resistance was not originated from components excreted by Botrytis cinerea, based on the result obtained from the treatment with piperonyl butoxide and triphenyl phosphate as an inhibitor of monooxygenase and esterase, respectively. The total lipod content of resistant strains was 1.3 times higher than that of susceptible ones, among fatty acids, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic and being 3.0, 2.5, and 2.0 times higher, respectinely. Also slight differences in sterol contents and components were observed. The crude chitin content was slightly higher in susceptible strains but contents of N-acetyl glucosamine, a hydrolysate of chitin, were about 2 times higher in resistant ones.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2015

Microalgae research is gaining momentum because of their potential biotechnological applications, including the generation of biofuels. Genome sequencing analysis of two model microalgal species, polar free-living Coccomyxa sp. C-169 and symbiotic Chlorella sp. NC64A, revealed insights into the factors responsible for their lifestyle and unravelled biotechnologically valuable proteins. However, genome sequence analysis under-explored cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), heme-thiolate proteins ubiquitously present in species belonging to different biological kingdoms. In this study we performed genome data-mining, annotation and comparative analysis of P450s in these two model algal species. Sixty-nine P450s were found in two algal species. Coccomyxa sp. showed 40 P450s and Chlorella sp. showed 29 P450s in their genome. Sixty-eight P450s (>100 amino acid in length) were grouped into 32 P450 families and 46 P450 subfamilies. Among the P450 families, 27 P450 families were novel and not found in other biological kingdoms. The new P450 families are CYP745-CYP747, CYP845-CYP863, and CYP904-CYP908. Five P450 families, CYP51, CYP97, CYP710, CYP745, and CYP746, were commonly found between two algal species and 16 and 11 P450 families were unique to Coccomyxa sp. and Chlorella sp. Synteny analysis and gene-structure analysis revealed P450 duplications in both species. Functional analysis based on homolog P450s suggested that CYP51 and CYP710 family members are involved in membrane ergosterol biosynthesis. CYP55 and CYP97 family members are involved in nitric oxide reduction and biosynthesis of carotenoids. This is the first report on comparative analysis of P450s in the microalgal species Coccomyxa sp. C-169 and Chlorella sp. NC64A.