• 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.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2009

Retroviruses enter host cells by membrane fusion between the viral Env proteins on the virus membrane and a virus receptor on the cellular membrane. The envelope protein of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus is synthesized as a gp85 precursor and is proteolytically cleaved into an extracellular surface unit (SU) and the transmembrane protein (TM). The cytoplasmic tail (16 amino acid; R peptide) of the TM protein is further cleaved by the viral protease during virion maturation. Unlike the wild type Env protrin bearing the R peptide, R peptide-truncated Envelope induces syncytia in susceptible cells. To understand the mechanism of R peptidetruncated Env in syncytium formation, R peptide-truncated Env expressing full-length molecular clone containing EGFP in PRR (proline rich region) of Env was constructed. This molecular clone induced syncytia in transfected NIH3T3 cells, fluorescence was detected in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane, while the nuclei did not stain and appeared black by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, virions with truncated envelope produced from transfected NIH3T3 cells induced syncytia in NIH3T3 cells, but fluorescence was not detected in the same infected cells. It is believed that cell-free viruses direct the fusion of neighboring cells without infection. Our data suggests that use of EGFP-tagged envelope for monitoring syncytium is a sensitive and convenient method. We also found that virion incorporated the R peptide-truncated Env is able to induce the formation of syncytia by fusion from without.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.265-273
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• 2001

The sea urchin has been used as sea food in many countries. This species has also been an important organism of embryological studies for more than a century. In recent years, sea urchin embryos are being used as testing materials for toxicity of pollutants and toxins. Usefulness of sea urchin embryos as experimental models comes from the easiness in obtaining sea urchin samples and a lot of gametes, in rearing embryos in the laboratory, in observing the cellular movement and organ formation during the embryogenesis and in manipulating blastomeres and genetic maferials. The sea urchin in itself is a key organism for the understanding of deuterostome evolution from the protostomes and of indirect development of marine invertebrates which undergo the planktotrophic larval stage. A fertilized sea urchin egg goes through rapid cleavage and becomes a 60 cell embryo 7hr after fertilization. It then develops into a morula, a blastula, a gastrula and finally a pluteus larva approximately 70 hr after fertilization. At the 60 cell stage, the embryo comprises of five territories that express territory-speciflc genes and later form different organs. Micromeres at the vegetal pole ingress into the blastoceol and become the primary mesenchyme cells(PMCs). PMCs express genes involved in skeletogenesis such as SM30, SM37, SM50, PM27, msp130. Among the genes, SM37 and SM50 are considered to be members of a gene family which is characterized by early blastula expression, Glycine-Proline-Glutamine rich repeat structures and spicule matrix forming basic proteins. Genetic studies on the sea urchin embryos help understand the molecular basis of indirect development of marine invertebrates and also of the biomineralization common to the animal kingdom.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2013

A taxonomic study was carried out to assess the phylogenetic characteristics of isolate JJM57 from marine red algae Laurencia sp. collected from intertidal zone in Jeju Island, South Korea. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence shows that this isolate belongs to the genus Oceanisphaera. It shows 98.02% and 97.7% sequence similarity with Oceanisphera litoralis DSM $15406^T$ and Oceanisphera donghaensis KCTC $12522^T$, respectively. Strain JJM57 is a Gram-negative, aerobic, moderately halophilic bacterium able to grow in different NaCl concentration ranges from 0.5 to 8.0% and at varying temperatures from 4 to $37^{\circ}C$. Sharing some of the physiological and biochemical properties with O. litoralis and O. donghaensis, JJM57 strain differs in the utilization of ethanol, proline, and alanine. The G+C contents of the strain JJM57 is 61.94 mol% and it is rich in $C_{16:1}$ ${\omega}7c$ and/or iso-$C_{15:0}$ 2-OH, $C_{16:0}$, and $C_{18:1}$ ${\omega}7c$ fatty acids. The DNA-DNA relatedness data separates the strain JJM57 from other species such as O. litoralis and O. donghaensis. On the basis of these polyphasic evidences, present study proposed that strain JJM57 (=KCTC 22371 =AM983543 =CCUG 60764) represents a novel bacterial species of Oceanisphaera.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.203-218
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• 1975

In order to investigate the compositional change oil composts during the growing of cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), composts and mushrooms during the period of filling to ending under commercial conditions were subjected to chemical analyses. The results are summarized as follows and the mechanism of composting for mushroom cultivation was proposed. 1) The temperature change of growing bed and room was observed and the yield of mushroom for each cropping time was recorded to get $15.6kg/m^2$ in total crops. 2) Composts after filling showed pH 8.2 which dropped to 6.4 after casing and continued so up to ending. 3) On the dry weight basis of composts, crude ash increased whereas total nitrogen, ether extract and crude fibre decreased gradually to bring about the lowering of organic matter. 4) Total nitrogen of composts decreased gradually and more insoluble nitrogen was lost than soluble nitrogen. The C/N ratio of composts was initially 21 which was gradually lowered to 16. 5) The losses of ${\alpha}-cellulose$, pentosan and lignin in composts were 87%, 75%, and 60%, respectively, in which ${\alpha}-cellulose$ decreased markedly after casing. 6) Free reducing sugars of composts increased continuously. Gradually increased free amino acids till second cropping decreased again thereafter. Composts at the filling stage contained alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and serine in which glycine decreased markedly whereas proline increased remarkably upon mushroom cultivation. 7) Among minerals of composts, phosphorus and zinc tended to decrease, potassium and copper tended to increase anti sodium showed no marked change. 8) In comparison of mushrooms from different cropping time with respect to proximate composition, minerals, free reducing sugars and amino acids, no marked difference was observed. However, a little higher values were observed in crude fat, free reducing sugars and sodium content for early crops and in free amino acids and phosphorus content for late crops. Twelve free amino acids including alanine, serine, threonine, and glutamic acid were detected in the cultivated mushroom. 9) According to above experimental results, it was possible to support the mechanism of compositing that the formation of ammonia and decomposition of carbohydrates by mesophiles are followed by protein biosynthesis, formation of microbial bodies and nitrogen-rich lignin humus complex by thermophiles, thus supplying necessary nutrients for mushroom growth, along with residual carbohydrates.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

This study is to investigate biochemical compositions of two species of marine microalgae, Chlorella ellipsoidea of Chlorophyta and Tetraselmis suecica of Prasinophyta, and to assess their potential antimicrobial activities. Crude protein, lipid and carbohydrate for C. ellipsoidea were $43.15\%$, $12.63\%$ and $13.09\%$, respectively, and those for T. suecica were $44.95\%$, $4.80\%$ and $24.05\%$, respectively. The major amino acids of the two micro algae were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, lysine and proline, and no significant difference between the amino acid compositions of both micro algae was observed. The major sugars for both microalgae were glucose, galactose and mannose, and glucose contents showed the highest level, $58.70\%$ for C. ellipsoidea and$57.86\%$ for T. suecica. The major mineral contents of both micro algae for 100g were Ca (3,114mg in C. ellipoidea and 3,389mg in T. suecica) and followed by Na (2,881mg), K (548mg) and Mg (545mg) for C. ellipsoidea and Na (1,832 mg), Mg (1,510mg) and K (548mg) for T. suecica. In the content of ATP-related compound, hypoxanthine in C. ellipsoidea and IMP in T. suecica were absolutely dominant compounds. The highest content of fatty acid in C. ellipsoidea was 20:4, $27.15\%$ and that in T. suecica was 18:3 (w-6), $18.10\%$. In case of physiologically important polyunsaturated fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (20: 5) and docosahexaenoic acid (22: 6), both microalgae possessed just trace amounts but was rich in arachidonic acid (20: 4). Vitamin content in both microalgae was significantly high in choline and inositol. In antimicrobial activity by water- and fat-soluble fraction of the micro algae, hexane extract in the fat-soluble fraction of C. elliposidea inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis by $96\%$ bactericidal activity and tetrachlorocarbon extract of T. suecica indicated relatively excellent antimicrobial activity $(81\%\;bactericidal\;activity)$ against Escherichia coli. Hot water extract among water-soluble fraction of both micro algae almost suppressed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus by $96\%$ bactericidal activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-313
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• 2004

Three-dimensional (3D) models for the 65-kDa activated Cry4A and Cry4B $\delta$-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis that are specifically toxic to mosquito-larvae were constructed by homology modeling, based on atomic coordinates of the Cry1Aa and Cry3Aa crystal structures. They were structurally similar to the known structures, both derived 3D models displayed a three-domain organization: the N-terminal domain (I) is a seven-helix bundle, while the middle and C-terminal domains are primarily comprise of anti-parallel $\beta$-sheets. Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the secondary structural contents of the two homology-based Cry4 structures. A structural analysis of both Cry4 models revealed the following: (a) Residues Arg-235 and Arg-203 are located in the interhelical 5/6 loop within the domain I of Cry4A and Cry4B, respectively. Both are solvent exposed. This suggests that they are susceptible to tryptic cleavage. (b) The unique disulphide bond, together with a proline-rich region within the long loop connecting ${\alpha}4$ and ${\alpha}5$ of Cry4A, were identified. This implies their functional significance for membrane insertion. (c) Significant structural differences between both models were found within domain II that may reflect their different activity spectra. Structural insights from this molecular modeling study would therefore increase our understanding of the mechanic aspects of these two closely related mosquito-larvicidal proteins.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2015

P450 1A2 is responsible for the metabolism of clinically important drugs and the metabolic activation of environmental chemicals. Genetic variations of P450 1A2 can influence its ability to perform these functions, and thus, this study aimed to characterize the functional significance of three P450 1A2 allelic variants containing nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (P450 $1A2^*8$, R456H; $^*15$, P42R; $^*16$, R377Q). Variants containing these SNPs were constructed and the recombinant enzymes were expressed and purified in Escherichia coli. Only the P42R variant displayed the typical CO-binding spectrum indicating a P450 holoenzyme with an expression level of ~ 170 nmol per liter culture, but no P450 spectra were observed for the two other variants. Western blot analysis revealed that the level of expression for the P42R variant was lower than that of the wild type, however the expression of variants R456H and R377Q was not detected. Enzyme kinetic analyses indicated that the P42R mutation in P450 1A2 resulted in significant changes in catalytic activities. The P42R variant displayed an increased catalytic turnover numbers ($k_{cat}$) in both of methoxyresorufin O-demethylation and phenacetin O-deethylation. In the case of phenacetin O-deethylation analysis, the overall catalytic efficiency ($k_{cat}/K_m$) increased up to 2.5 fold with a slight increase of its $K_m$ value. This study indicated that the substitution P42R in the N-terminal proline-rich region of P450 contributed to the improvement of catalytic activity albeit the reduction of P450 structural stability or the decrease of substrate affinity. Characterization of these polymorphisms should be carefully examined in terms of the metabolism of many clinical drugs and environmental chemicals.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1981

Protein compositions of filefish (Navoden modestus) skeletal muscle and their changes in postmortem with reference to freshness kept at $0^{\circ}C$ were investigated. The muscle protein was approximately composed of $31\%\;sarcoplasmic,\;55\%$ myofibrillar, $10\%$residual intracellular, and $4\%$stroma protein. The sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein decreased while the residual intracellular protein increased with the decline of freshness during post-mortem lapse. In the analysis of electrophoretograms and its densitograms, the myofibrillar protein resembled to other fishes in protein composition: $70\%$ actin and myosin, $20\%$ regulatory proteins, and $10\%$ unknown proteins. And most of the residual intracellular protein was estimated as myofibrillar protein. Troponin T, troponin C and myosin light chain 2 of the myofibrillar protein constituents were decreased during storage. Amino acid composition of the protein from the at-death muscla was similar to those of other fishes except that tryptophan and sulfur-containing amino acids were scant. Proline and cysteine were remarkably decreased whereas leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine were slightly increased in the protein from the muscle lapsed of 18 days. In free amino acid composition, alanine, glycine, lysine, and especially taurine were rich in the at-death muscle. The muscle lapsed of 18 days showed an increase of taurine, histidine, valine and methionine, and a decrease of lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, leucine, and isoleucine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 1973

The muscle of abalone, Notohaliotis discus (REEVE), and top-shell, Turbo cornutus Solander, were examined for protein composition. Then paramyosins which are known as one of the important structural protein of the muscle fibrils were isolated from the both muscle and their physico-chemical properties such as solubility, salting-out behaviour, intrinsic viscosity, ATPase activity, etc. involving amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid residues were investigated to elucidate phylogenie characteristics more intensively from the viewpoint of comparative biochemistry. The analysis of protein composition resulted in the following estimations: abalone muscle; water-soluble protein of 22 %, salt-soluble protein, 34%, alkali-soluble protein, 20%, and stroma protein, 24%, and top-shell muscle; water-soluble protein of 16%, salt-soluble protein, 30%, alkali-soluble protein, 29%, and stroma protein, 25%, respectively. It is demonstrated in sedimentation analysis that paramyosin and myosin-actomyosin account for approximately 65% and 35% of the salt-soluble protein of abalone, and that the composition of both sediments in top-shell was approximately 70% and 30%, respectively. The ultracentrifugally homogenous paramyosins isolated essentially according to Bailey's ethanol-dried method from both of the muscle showed a $S^{\circ}_{20,w}$ of 3. 14s for abalone and a $S^{\circ}_{20,w}$ of 3.50s for top-shell. The both paramyosins were commonly rich in arginine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid, while scarcely contained proline and tryptophan, in rough accord with the other paramyosins thus far reported. It is clear that these gastropod paramyosins showed of having the characteristic N-terminal amino acid residues such as N-aspartic acid, N-valine, N-serine, and N-threonine in common. The abalone paramyosin completely salted in with KCl beyond $0.35{\mu}$ and the top-shell paramyosin beyond $0.30{\mu}$. The abalone paramyosin was salted-out between 18% and 30% saturation of ammonium sulphate and the top-shell paramyosin between 22% and 29% saturation. The intrinsic viscosities at abalone and top-shell paramyosins at $25^{\circ}C$ were estimated respectively to be 3.1 dl/g and 2.6 dl/g showing somewhat higher than the values for some other paramyosins from lamellibranchs. In regard with the ATPase activity, the para myosin specimens did not exhibit any significant activity over through the pH conditions of 5 to 9.5. irrespective of the presence of $Ca^{++}$ or $Mg^{++}$. So was the case with the abalone paramyosin prepared by a slightly modified Bailey's wet-extraction method.