• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2009

Development of expression vectors is important for the basic and applied researches on kimchi LAB (lactic acid bacteria). An expression vector, pSJE6c was constructed by inserting P6C promoter sequence from Lactococcus lactis into pSJE, a shuttle vector for E. coli and Leuconostoc species. To test the efficiency of pSJE6c, aga ($\alpha$-galactosidase) and lacZ ($\beta$-galactosidase) genes were expressed in Lactobacillus brevis 2.14. Compared to the pSJE, expression levels of both genes were increased, indicating P6C promoter was better than indigenous promoters. Enzyme activities of L. brevis cells harboring pSJE6caga (pSJE6c with aga) or pSJE6Z (pSJE6c with lacZ) were 1.5-2 fold higher than those with pSJEaga (pSJE with aga) or pSJEZ (pSJE with lacZ). More RNA transcripts were detected in cells harboring pSJE6c based recombinant plasmid. The results indicated that heterologous gene expressions in kimchi LAB could be improved significantly by use of efficient expression vectors.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.530-536
• /
• 2008

To investigate the molecular mechanism of the airway inflammation by Pseudomonas fluorescens, effects on the inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), macophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1) were assessed in the human alveolar epithelial cells. Exposure to P. fluorescens and its recombinant bacteria suppressed cellular viability in the A549 epithelial cells and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 production. However, pro-inflammatory prostaglandin-producing COX-2 protein was not altered by P. fluorescens though its mRNA was slightly elevated. As the inhibitory cytokine for the pro-inflammatory mediators, MIC-1 expression was monitored in A549 cells. MIC-1 gene induction was not significantly enhanced but the protein processing was changed by exposure to P. fluorescens. Pro-protein form of MIC-1 (${\sim}40\;kD$) was cleaved into active form mature MIC-1 (${\sim}15\;kD$) and propeptide (${\sim}28\;kD$) by the bacteria exposure. MIC-1 activation can contribute to the suppression of cellular viability by P. fluorescens and can retard IL-8-induced monocyte recruitment. However, sustained activation of MIC-1 can mediate the tissue injury by P. fluorescens exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.498-506
• /
• 2016

1, 2-Hexanediol galactoside (HD-gal) has been previously synthesized from 1, 2-hexanediol (HD), in which recombinant ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-gal) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was used for transgalactosylation reaction. In this study, a method for HD-gal purification from the reaction mixture was particularly investigated. Using ${\beta}$-gal-containing E. coli, HD-gal was synthesized from 75 mM HD for 48 hr under 300 g/l lactose concentration. Then, HD-gal synthesis from HD was confirmed by TLC analysis, and the existence of E. coli ${\beta}$-gal during 48 hr-reaction was also confirmed by Western blotting, in which the conversion yield of HD to HD-gal reached about 94% during 48 hr. To establish an efficient method for HD-gal purification, we carried out the solvent extraction of the reaction mixture, followed by silica gel chromatography, particularly in order to remove the residual HD. Two water-immiscible solvents, such as methylene chloride and ethyl acetate, were investigated comparatively to find out appropriate solvent. Then, it was found that residual HD was almost removed when ethyl acetate extraction of water phase of reaction mixture was carried out four times. Subsequently, silica gel chromatography was carried out, and purified HD-gal could be finally obtained. The production yield for HD-gal from 75 mM HD was $8.9{\pm}0.6%$ (n=3) (mole basis) or $21.1{\pm}1.4%$ (n=3) (weight basis). For further study, using purified HD-gal, we will investigate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of HD-gal against bacteria. In addition, cytotoxicity to human skin cells of HD-gal will be examined.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.286-292
• /
• 2016

1, 2-Hexanediol galactoside (HD-gal) has been synthesized from 1, 2-hexanediol (HD), a cosmetic preservative, using recombinant Escherichia coli ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-gal) at the high lactose concentration (300 g/l). To confirm the molecular structure of synthesized HD-gal, NMR ($^1H$- and $^{13}C$-) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry of HD-gal were conducted. $^1H$ NMR spectrum of HD-gal showed multiple peaks corresponding to the galactocyl group, which is an evidence of galactocylation on HD. Downfield proton peaks at ${\delta}_H$ 4.44 ppm and multiple peaks from ${\delta}_H$3.96~3.58 ppm were indicative of galactocylation on HD. Up field proton peaks at ${\delta}_H$ 1.60~1.35 ppm and 0.92 ppm showed the presence of $CH_2$ and $CH_3$ protons of HD. $^{13}C$ NMR spectrum revealed the presence of 21 carbons suggestive of ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-anomers of HD-gal. Among 12 carbon peaks from each anomers, the 3 peaks at dC 68.6, 60.9 and 13.2 ppm were assigned to be overlapped showing only 21 peaks out of total 24 peaks. The mass value (protonated HD-gal, m/z = 281.1601) from mass spectrometry analysis of HD-gal, and $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectral data were in well agreement with the expecting structure of HD-gal. For further study, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of HD-gal against bacteria will be investigated, and, in addition, cytotoxicity to human skin cells of HD-gal will be examined. It is expected that it will eventually be able to develop a new cosmetic preservative, which have low cytotoxicity against human skin cell and maintains antimicrobial effect.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2015

CpBV (Cotesia plutellae bracovirus) is a polydnavirus and encodes a cystatin (CpBV-CST1) gene. Its overexpression suppresses insect immunity and alters insect developmental processes. This study aimed to construct a genetically modified (GM) tobacco to further explore the physiological function of the viral cystatin and to apply to control insect pests. To this end, the transgenic tobacco lines were screened in expression of the target gene and assessed in insecticidal activity. A recombinant vector (pBI121-CST) was prepared and used to transform a bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefasciens. The transformed bacteria were used to generate transgenic tobacco lines, which were induced to grow callus and resulted in about 92% of shoot regeneration. The regenerated plants were screened by PCR analysis to confirm the insertion of the target gene in the plant genome. In addition, the expression of the target gene was assessed in the regenerated plants by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the transgenic line plant expressed the target gene about 17 times more than the control tobacco, indicating a stable insertion and expression of the target gene in the transgenic tobacco line. The insecticidal activity was then analyzed using the screened transgenic tobacco lines against the teneral 1st instar larvae of the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta. Though there was a variation in the insecticidal efficacy among transgenic lines, T9 and T12 lines exhibited more than 95% mortality at 7 days after feeding treatment. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 is a useful genetic resource to be used to generate GM crop against insect pests.