• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.9
• /
• pp.729-733
• /
• 2022

Aggregation of normally soluble proteins can cause disease-related problems. Tryptophan synthase α-subunit (αTS) in E. coli adopts one of most popular structural scaffolds, the TIM barrel fold. Previous mutagenesis of the αTS gene resulted in many aggregation-prone mutant proteins. Here, Y173F (Tyr at residue 173 to Phe) substitution, which imparts increased stability, was tested for its ability to suppress aggregation of aggregation-prone mutant proteins (Y4C, S33L, P28L, P28S, G44S, D46N, P96L, and P96S). Aggregation was suppressed in all eight severe aggregate-forming mutants (all differing in their mutation positions), by the Y173F replacement. P28L αTS, which was available in pure form, was further analyzed and showed reduced secondary structure content, lower stability, and a looser structure with more exposed hydrophobic surface compared to the wild type protein. A double mutant P28L/Y173F protein showed almost no indication of these changes compared to the wild type protein. We hypothesized that Tyr at position 173 in αTS is positioned at the hydrophobic core and may serve to suppress the aggregation of this protein caused by other residues. Important residue (s) could be working widely in the prevention/suppression of protein aggregation.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.43.1-43.12
• /
• 2021

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most prevalent organisms associated with foodborne illness across the globe causing campylobacteriosis and gastritis. Many proteins of C. jejuni are still unidentified. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure and function of a non-annotated hypothetical protein (HP) from C. jejuni. A number of properties like physiochemical characteristics, 3D structure, and functional annotation of the HP (accession No. CAG2129885.1) were predicted using various bioinformatics tools followed by further validation and quality assessment. Moreover, the protein-protein interactions and active site were obtained from the STRING and CASTp server, respectively. The hypothesized protein possesses various characteristics including an acidic pH, thermal stability, water solubility, and cytoplasmic distribution. While alpha-helix and random coil structures are the most prominent structural components of this protein, most of it is formed of helices and coils. Along with expected quality, the 3D model has been found to be novel. This study has identified the potential role of the HP in 2-methylcitric acid cycle and propionate catabolism. Furthermore, protein-protein interactions revealed several significant functional partners. The in-silico characterization of this protein will assist to understand its molecular mechanism of action better. The methodology of this study would also serve as the basis for additional research into proteomic and genomic data for functional potential identification.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2010

Modification of proteins by the reversible covalent addition of the small ubiquitin like modifier (SUMO) protein has important consequences affecting target protein stability, sub-cellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. SUMOylation involves a cascade of enzymatic reactions, which resembles the process of ubiquitination. In this study, we characterized the SUMOylation system from an important crop plant, rice, and show that it responds to cold, salt and ABA stress conditions on a protein level via the accumulation of SUMOylated proteins. We also characterized the transcriptional regulation of individual SUMOylation cascade components during stress and development. During stress conditions, majority of the SUMO cascade components are transcriptionally down regulated. SUMO conjugate proteins and SUMO cascade component transcripts accumulated differentially in various tissues during plant development with highest levels in reproductive tissues. Taken together, these data suggest a role for SUMOylation in rice development and stress responses.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.597-603
• /
• 2015

Biosynthesis of the phytohormone ethylene is under tight regulation to satisfy the need for appropriate levels of ethylene in plants in response to exogenous and endogenous stimuli. The enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of ethylene biosynthesis, plays a central role to regulate ethylene production through changes in ACS gene expression levels and the activity of the enzyme. Together with molecular genetic studies suggesting the roles of post-translational modification of the ACS, newly emerging evidence strongly suggests that the regulation of ACS protein stability is an alternative mechanism that controls ethylene production, in addition to the transcriptional regulation of ACS genes. In this review, recent new insight into the regulation of ACS protein turnover is highlighted, with a special focus on the roles of phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and novel components that regulate the turnover of ACS proteins. The prospect of cross-talk between ethylene biosynthesis and other signaling pathways to control turnover of the ACS protein is also considered.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.146-148
• /
• 2001

The objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of ribonuclease A (RNase) at the water/methylene chloride interface. It was aimed at better understanding the denaturation of proteins upon emulsification. RNase was vulnerable to the interface-induced aggregation reactions that led to formation of water-insoluble aggregates upon emulsification. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that intermolecular covalent linkages might have been involved in the aggregation reactions. The protein instability observed with emulsification was traced to consequences of protein adsorption and conformational rearrangements at the interface. These results indicated that emulsifying aqueous protein solutions in organic solvents should be handled with care, since emulsification could bring denaturation and aggregation to proteins.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.2356-2361
• /
• 2003

Proteome research in the medical field is expected to accelerate the understanding of disease mechanism, and to create new diagnostic concept. For protein profiling, this paper proposes a new methodology named CPDIB (Crude Protein Direct Blotting). In the CPDIB procedure, crude protein sample is directly immobilized on a membrane and the expression of protein molecules in the sample are analyzed quantitatively by using a special device called ImmobiChip, where the membrane is used as a field of the immune reaction. The over-all structure of the ImmobiChip is based on the conventional Slot blot device. Mechanical improvement in the air-tightness of the case holding the membrane realizes the direct blotting and results in high performance of stability in the immune reaction. In the measurement of multiple proteins, a dispensing robot is used for increasing the efficiency of handling of liquid. Cooperation of the dispensing robot with the ImmobiChip for immobilizing proteins realizes automated and stable performance of the CPDIB procedure. This paper shows the evaluation of the air-tightness of the ImmobiChip, the ability of analyzing proteins using the CPDIB procedure and the performance of the automated equipment.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.177-180
• /
• 2001

Glycinecin A, a bacteriocin produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines, inhibits the growth of X. c. pv. vesicatoria. We have reported that purified glycinecin A is composed of two polypeptides, is active over a wide range of pH (6 to 9), and is stable at temperatures up to 60$\^{C}$. Glycinecin A is a heterodimer consisting of 39- and 14-kDa subunits; the two encoding genes, glyA and glyB, respectively, have been cloned (Heu et al. 2001. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67, 4105-4110). Co-expression of glyA and glyB in the same cell is essential for bacteriocin activity. We constructed and produced a chimeric glycinecin A connecting glyA and glyB in one open reading frame. The chimeric glycinecin A has the same bactericidal activity as the wild-type glycinecin A. However, the chimeric glycinecin A is more stable in a wider range of pH and temperature.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.999-1005
• /
• 2007

An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion [20 wt% com oil, 0.5-6.0 wt% fish gelatin (FG), pH 3.0] was produced by high pressure homogenization, and the influence of pH, protein concentration, and homogenization condition on the formation of FG-stabilized emulsions was assessed by measuring particle size distribution, electrical charge, creaming stability, microstructure, and free FG concentration in the emulsions. Optical microscopy indicated that there were some large droplets ($d>10\;{\mu}m$) in all FG-emulsions, nevertheless, the amount of large droplets tended to decrease with increasing FG concentration. More than 90% of FG was present free in the continuous phase of the emulsions. To facilitate droplet disruption and prevent droplet coalescence within the homogenizer, homogenization time was adjusted in O/W emulsions stabilized by 2.0 or 4.0 wt% FG. However, the increase in the number of pass rather promoted droplet coalescence. This study has shown that the FG may have some limited use as a protein emulsifier in O/W emulsions.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.187-206
• /
• 1993

Since the advent of recombinant DNA technology coupled with other biotechnology a variety of therapeutically effective proteins and peptides have been extensively invesitigated and many of them are now on clinical trial. They, however, suffer from some problems such as immunogenicity, antigenicity, instability and short half-life in circulation due to their proteinous natures. These drawbacks can be overcome successfully by conjugating proteins and peptides with hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), albumin or dextran. The resulting soluble conjugates showed reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity, increased circulatory half-life, enhanced stability against proteolytic degradation. Comparing with the unmodified proteins and peptides, the therapeutic potential of conjugates is greatly enhanced. Clinical applications of these conjugates have shown promising results for the future use.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.332-339
• /
• 2010

The lipase from Mucor racemosus NRRL 3631 was partially purified by fractional precipitation using 60% ammonium sulfate, which resulted in a 8.33-fold purification. The partially purified lipase was then immobilized using different immobilization techniques: physical adsorption, ionic binding, and entrapment. Entrapment in a 4% agar proved to be the most suitable technique (82% yield), as the immobilized lipase was more stable at acidic and alkaline pHs than the free enzyme, plus 100% of the original activity was retained owing to the thermal stability of the immobilized enzyme after heat treatment for 60 min at $45^{\circ}C$. The calculated half-lives (472.5, 433.12, and 268.5 min at 50, 55, and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively) and the activation energy (9.85 kcal/mol) for the immobilized enzyme were higher than those for the free enzyme. Under the selected conditions, the immobilized enzyme had a higher $K_m$ (11.11 mM) and lower $V_{max}$ (105.26 U/mg protein) when compared with the free enzyme (8.33 mM and 125.0 U/mg protein, respectively). The operational stability of the biocatalyst was tested for both the hydrolysis of triglycerides and esterification of fatty acids with glycerol. After 4 cycles, the immobilized lipase retained approximately 50% and 80% of its original activity in the hydrolysis and esterification reactions, respectively.