• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.143-147
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• 2022

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare ocular disease, but it is a painful and sight-threatening infectious disease. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are necessary to prevent serious complications. While AK is frequently diagnosis via several PCR assays or Acanthamoeba-specific antibodies, a more specific and effective diagnostic method is required. This study described the production of a polyclonal peptide antibody against the periplasmic binding protein (PBP) of A. castellanii and investigated its diagnostic potential. Western blot analysis showed that the PBP antibody specifically reacted with the cell lysates of A. castellanii. However, the PBP antibody did not interact with human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells and the other 3 major causative agents of keratitis. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) results revealed the specific detection of A. castellanii trophozoites and cysts by PBP antibodies when A. castellanii were co-cultured with HCE cells. PBP antibody specificity was further confirmed by co-culture of A. castellanii trophozoites with F. solani, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa via ICC. The PBP antibody specifically reacted with the trophozoites and cysts of A. polyphaga, A. hatchetti, A. culbertsoni, A. royreba, and A. healyi, thus demonstrated its genus-specific nature. These results showed that the PBP polyclonal peptide antibody of A. castellanii could specifically detect several species of Acanthamoeba, contributing to the development of an effective antibody-based AK diagnostics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1999-2009
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• 2017

The secretion efficiency of a protein in a Sec-type secretion system is mainly determined by an N-terminal signal peptide and its combination with its cognate protein. Five signal peptides, namely, two synthetic Sec-type and three Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase-derived signal peptides, were compared for periplasmic expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) in E. coli. Based on in silico predictions on the signal peptides' cleavage efficiencies and their corresponding mRNA secondary structures, a number of amino acid substitutions and silent mutations were considered in the modified signal sequences. The two synthetic signal peptides, specifically designed for hGH secretion in E. coli, differ in their N-terminal positively charged residues and hydrophobic region lengths. According to the mRNA secondary structure predictions, combinations of the protein and each of the five signal sequences could lead to different outcomes, especially when accessibility of the initiator ATG and ribosome binding sites were considered. In the experimental stage, the two synthetic signal peptides displayed complete processing and resulted in efficient secretion of the mature hGH in periplasmic regions, as was demonstrated by protein analysis. The three alpha-amylase-derived signal peptides, however, were processed partially from their precursors. Therefore, to achieve efficient secretion of a protein in a heterologous system, designing a specific signal peptide by using a combined approach of optimizations of the mRNA secondary structure and the signal peptide H-domain and cleavage site is recommended.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.148-156
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• 2021

Single-chain antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) are potentially promising agents for developing antibody-based cancer treatment strategies. We described in our previous study the successful expression of an anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in Escherichia coli. However, we could also observe the formation of insoluble aggregates in the periplasmic space, limiting the production yield of the active product. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms by which growth conditions could affect the expression of the soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in small-scale E. coli NiCo21(DE3) cultures, attempting to maximize production. The secreted scFv molecules were purified using Ni-NTA magnetic beads and protein characterization was performed using SDS-PAGE and western blot analyses. We used the ImageJ software for protein quantification and determined the antigen-binding activity of the scFv antibody against the EGFRvIII protein. Our results showed that the highest percentage of soluble scFv expression could be achieved under culture conditions that combined low IPTG concentration (0.1 mM), low growth temperature (18℃), and large culture dish surface area. We found moderate-yield soluble scFv production in the culture medium after lactose-mediated induction, which was also beneficial for downstream protein processing. These findings were confirmed by conducting western blot analysis, indicating that the soluble, approximately 30-kDa scFv molecule was localized in the periplasm and the extracellular space. Moreover, the antigen-binding assay confirmed the scFv affinity against the EGFRvIII antigen. In conclusion, our study reveals that low-speed protein expression is preferable to obtain more soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv protein in an E. coli expression system.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2006

Ochrobactrum anthropi JW-2의 염색체 DNA로부터 paraquat 내성 유전자 pqrA를 포함하는 4,971 bp의 DNA 염기서열을 결정하였다. 염기서열 분석 결과 2개의 불완전한 ORF(orf1, orf5)와 4개의 완전한 ORF(orf2, pqrA, orf3, orf4)가 존재하는 것으로 나타났는데 orf1, pqrA, orf4, orf5는 direct strand에 orf2와 orf3은 reverse complementary strand 존재하였다. Orf1은 개시코돈이 결손된 불완전한 서열로서, response regulator receiver의 ATP binding region과 상동성을 나타내었다. Orf2는 tetR family에 속하는 transcription repressor와 높은 상동성을 나타내었고 H-T-H motif가 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 orf2가 pqrA 유전자의 전사조절에 관여하는 repressor로 추정되어 pqrR2로 명명하였다. Orf3은 lysR type의 transcription activator와 높은 상동성을 나타내었고 N-terminal 부위에 H-T-H motif와 C-terminal 부위에 substrate binding domain이 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 orf3은 pqrA의 전사조절에 관여하는 transcription activator로 추정되어 pqrR1로 명명하였다. Orf4는 amino acid ABC transporter의 periplasmic amino acid-binding protein과 상동성을 나타내었으며, orf5는 종결 코돈이 없는 불완전한 ORF로서 amino acid ABC transporter의 permease protein과 상동성을 나타내었다. 이와 같은 결과로 미루어 pqrA 유전자 주위에 존재하는 전사조절 유전자들이 paraquat 내성유전자인 pqrA의 발현조절을 통하여 paraquat에 대한 내성획득에 관여하는 것으로 판단되었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.1416-1423
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• 2018

Biotin에 강한 결합 친화력($K_D=10^{-14}M$)과 함께 streptavidin의 tetramer 특징은 VHH 항체를 streptavidin에 융합시키게 하여 biotinylated horseradish peroxidase를 사용하는ELISA 와Western blot analysis 등의 면역분석법에서 VHH 항체의 항원결합력을 증가시키는데 응용 가능하다. 이를 응용하기 위해 우리는 Streptomyces avidinii 염색체 DNA로부터 PCR을 통해 streptavidin유전자를 증폭하고 이를 green fluorescent protein항원에 특이적으로 결합하는 8B9 VHH 항체유전자에 융합시켰다. 대장균에서 수용성 융합단백질로 발현시키기 위해 pUC119 플라스미드에 기초한 발현시스템을 사용하였다. 즉 lacZ promoter를 사용하여 IPTG에 의해 단백질발현을 유도하게 하였으며, 아미노말단에 pelB leader를 두어 발현된 단백질의 periplasmic space로 이동하게 하여 수용성 단백질형태의 분비를 촉진하였으며 카르복시말단에 6개의 polyhistidine tags를 두어 $Ni^+$-NTA-agarose column을 사용하여 발현된 단백질을 정제하였다. Streptavidin이 biotin에 강하게 결합함으로 대장균에 독성을 나타냄에도 불구하고 본 수용성 융합단백질은 성공적으로 발현되었다. SDS-PAGE에서 가열하는 경우 변성되어 30.6 kDa를, 가열하지 않는 경우에는 자연 상태의 122.4 kDa을 나타내었다. 이는 8B9 VHH항체에 융합된 streptavidin moiety에 의해 monomer subunit가 비공유결합으로 tetramerization됨을 제시해준다. 또한 본 융합단백질은 ELISA와 Westernblot analysis에서 보여진 것처럼 parental streptavidin과 유사한 biotin결합력과 green fluorescent protein항원 결합력을 모두 나타내었다. 결론적으로 streptavidin에 융합된 8B9 VHH 항체형태의 융합단백질은 대장균에서 수용성 tetramer로 성공적으로 발현 및 정제되었으며 biotin과 green fluorescent protein 항원에 동시에 결합함으로써 tetrameric and bifunctional VHH 항체제조의 가능성을 제시해주었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.100-108
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• 2014

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is an intracellular pathogen that has evolved to survive in the phagosome of macrophages. The periplasmic copper-binding protein CueP was initially known to confer copper resistance to S. Typhimurium. Crystal structure and biochemical studies on CueP revealed a putative copper binding site surrounded by the conserved cysteine and histidine residues. A recent study reported that CueP supplies copper ions to periplasmic Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SodCII) at a low copper concentration and thus enables the sustained SodCII activity in the periplasm. In this study, we investigated the role of CueP in copper resistance at a high copper concentration. We observed that the survival of a cueP-deleted strain of Salmonella in macrophage phagosome was significantly reduced. Subsequent biochemical experiments revealed that CueP specifically mediates the reduction of copper ion using electrons released during the formation of the disulfide bond. We observed that the copper ion-mediated Fenton reaction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was blocked by CueP. This study provides insight into how CueP confers copper resistance to S. Typhimurium in copper-rich environments such as the phagosome of macrophages.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.266-274
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• 2005

High temperature requirement A (HtrA) and its homologues constitute the HtrA familiy proteins, a group of heat shock-induced serine proteases. Bacterial HtrA proteins perform crucial functions with regard to protein quality control in the periplasmic space, functioning as both molecular chaperones and proteases. In contrast to other bacterial quality control proteins, including ClpXP, ClpAP, and HslUV, HtrA proteins contain no regulatory components or ATP binding domains. Thus, they are commonly referred to as ATP-independent chaperone proteases. Whereas the function of ATP-dependent chaperone-proteases is regulated by ATP hydrolysis, HtrA exhibits a PDZ domain and a temperature-dependent switch mechanism, which effects the change in its function from molecular chaperone to protease. This mechanism is also related to substrate recognition and the fine control of its function. Structural and biochemical analyses of the three HtrA proteins, DegP, DegQ, and DegS, have provided us with clues as to the functional regulation of HtrA proteins, as well as their roles in protein quality control at atomic scales. The objective of this brief review is to discuss some of the recent studies which have been conducted regarding the structure and function of these HtrA proteins, and to compare their roles in the context of protein quality control.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.631-637
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• 2015

Streptmyces avidinii에서 발현되는 Streptavidin은 vitamin H인 d-biotin 4분자에 결합하며 해리상수(Kd)가 10⁻¹⁵ M를 나타내는 아주 강한 비공유결합이다. 이러한 streptavidin과 biotin 상호간의 강한 결합력은 수많은 생물체 분자들의 탐지 및 특징을 연구하는데 응용되어져 왔으므로 Escherichia coli에서 수용성 streptavidin의 기능적 발현에 대한 연구는 매우 유용하다. 즉 Escherichia coli에서 streptavidin을 발현시키기 위해 streptavidin유전자를 T7 RNA polymerase/T7 promoter를 이용하는 pET-22b 플라스미드로 클로닝하였다. 또한 N-말단에 pelB leader를 포함하여 발현된 streptavidin의 periplasmic space로 운반하여 수용성 단백질형태의 분비를 촉진하였으며 C-말단에는 6개의 polyhistidine tags를 두어 정제하는데 사용되었다. 정제된 streptavidin단백질은 10-20 mg/ml 의 높은 회수율을 나타내었으며 SDS-PAGE에서 가열하는 경우 변성되어 17 kD인 monomer형태를, 가열하지 않는 경우에는 68 kDa으로 원래의 tetramer형태를 나타내었다. 따라서 streptavidin의 tetramer 구조는 비공유결합에 의해 이루어짐을 알 수 있었다. Size-exclusion chromatography에 의한 streptavidin의 구조 역시 tetramer를 재확인할 수 있었다. 정제된 수용성 streptavidin은 Westernblot실험에서 biotinylation된 단백질을 탐지하였으며 이 결과는 정제된 streptavidin이 biotin에 결합하는 기능이 존재함을 나타내었다. 이상의 모든 결과를 종합해보면 본 연구에서 구축된 발현시스템을 통하여 발현된 streptavidin은 높은 회수율을 나타내어 대량생산이 가능하였으며 자연상태의 streptavidin과 동일한 homotetramer를 형성하고 biotin에 결합할 수 있는 기능을 나타내었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1271-1278
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• 2012

Genetic fusion of two proteins frequently induces beneficial effects to the proteins, such as increased solubility, besides the combination of two protein functions. Here, we study the effects of the bacterial surface layer protein SgsE from Geobacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a on the folding of a C-terminally fused enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) moiety. Although GFPs are generally unable to adopt a functional confirmation in the bacterial periplasm of Escherichia coli cells, we observed periplasmic fluorescence from a chimera of a 150-amino-acid N-terminal truncation of SgsE and EGFP. Based on this finding, unfolding and refolding kinetics of different S-layer-EGFP chimeras, a maltose binding protein-EGFP chimera, and sole EGFP were monitored using green fluorescence as indicator for the folded protein state. Calculated apparent rate constants for unfolding and refolding indicated different folding pathways for EGFP depending on the fusion partner used, and a clearly stabilizing effect was observed for the SgsE_C fusion moiety. Thermal stability, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, and unfolding equilibria were found to be independent of the fused partner. We conclude that the stabilizing effect SgsE_C exerts on EGFP is due to a reduction of degrees of freedom for folding of EGFP in the fused state.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.553-558
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• 2018

Pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and keratitis. Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare but serious ocular infection that can result in permanent visual impairment or blindness. However, pathogenic factors of AK remain unclear and treatment for AK is arduous. Expression levels of proteins secreted into extracellular space were compared between A. castellanii pathogenic (ACP) and non-pathogenic strains. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed 123 differentially expressed proteins, including 34 increased proteins, 7 qualitative increased proteins, 65 decreased proteins, and 17 qualitative decreased proteins in ACP strain. Twenty protein spots with greater than 5-fold increase in ACP strain were analyzed by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. These proteins showed similarity each to inosine-uridine preferring nucleoside hydrolase, carboxylesterase, oxygen-dependent choline dehydrogenase, periplasmic-binding protein proteinases and hypothetical proteins. These proteins expressed higher in ACP may provide some information to understand pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba.