• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권7호
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• pp.550-556
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• 2016

During meiosis, exchange of DNA segments occurs between paired homologous chromosomes in order to produce recombinant chromosomes, helping to increase genetic diversity within a species. This genetic exchange process is tightly controlled by the eukaryotic RecA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1, which are involved in strand exchange of meiotic recombination, with Rad51 participating specifically in mitotic recombination. Meiotic recombination requires an interaction between homologous chromosomes to repair programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we investigated the budding yeast meiosis-specific proteins Hop2 and Sae3, which function in the Dmc1-dependent pathway. This pathway mediates the homology searching and strand invasion processes. Mek1 kinase participates in switching meiotic recombination from sister bias to homolog bias after DSB formation. In the absence of Hop2 and Sae3, DSBs were produced normally, but showed defects in the DSB-to-single-end invasion transition mediated by Dmc1 and auxiliary factors, and mutant strains failed to complete proper chromosome segregation. However, in the absence of Mek1 kinase activity, Rad51-dependent recombination progressed via sister bias in the $hop2{\Delta}$ or $sae3{\Delta}$ mutants, even in the presence of Dmc1. Thus, Hop2 and Sae3 actively modulate Dmc1-dependent recombination, effectively progressing homolog bias, a process requiring Mek1 kinase activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.755-762
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• 2019

Despite decades of research into colorectal cancer (CRC), there is an ongoing need for treatments that are more effective and safer than those currently available. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) show beneficial effects in the context of several diseases, including CRC, and are generally regarded as safe. Here, we isolated a Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR)-derived therapeutic protein, p8, which suppressed CRC proliferation. We found that p8 translocated specifically to the cytosol of DLD-1 cells. Moreover, p8 down-regulated expression of Cyclin B1 and Cdk1, both of which are required for cell cycle progression. We confirmed that p8 exerted strong anti-proliferative activity in a mouse CRC xenograft model. Intraperitoneal injection of recombinant p8 (r-p8) led to a significant reduction (up to 59%) in tumor mass when compared with controls. In recent years, bacterial drug delivery systems (DDSs) have proven to be effective therapeutic agents for acute colitis. Therefore, we aimed to use such systems, particularly LAB, to generate the valuable therapeutic proteins to treat CRC. To this end, we developed a gene expression cassette capable of inducing secretion of large amounts of p8 protein from Pediococcus pentosaceus SL4 (PP). We then confirmed that this protein (PP-p8) exerted anti-proliferative activity in a mouse CRC xenograft model. Oral administration of PP-p8 DDS led to a marked reduction in tumor mass (up to 64%) compared with controls. The PP-p8 DDS using LAB described herein has advantages over other therapeutics; these advantages include improved safety (the protein is a probiotic), cost-free purification, and specific targeting of CRC cells.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.85-89
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• 2019

무세포 단백질 합성 시스템은 세포를 파쇄한 후 파쇄액 내의 단백질 합성기구들을 이용하여 단백질을 발현하는 시스템으로 기존의 세포 기반 재조합 단백질 발현 기법들과 달리 세포의 생장조건에 영향을 받지 않으면서 발현 조절에 관한 다양한 인자들을 인위적으로 조절 할 수 있는 장점이 있다. 그러나, 단백질 합성 과정 중 소모되는 ATP의 연속적 재생을 위해 사용되는 에너지원의 높은 비용과 낮은 안정성은 재조합 단백질 대량생산에의 적용을 제약하는 요인으로 작용하여 왔다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위한 대안들 중의 하나로 포도당을 에너지원으로 사용하여 세포 파쇄액내 대사과정을 통해 ATP를 재생하는 방법이 있다. 본 연구에서는 포도당을 에너지원으로 이용한 무세포 합성 시스템에서의 단백질 합성 효율 향상을 위하여 대장균 파쇄액으로부터 회수된 지질을 추가적으로 첨가함으로써 산화적 인산화 과정에서의 ATP재생을 증진시키고자 하였다. 그 결과, 지질이 추가된 무세포 단백질 합성 시스템은 지질이 추가되지 않은 대조군에 비하여 6배 이상 향상된 단백질 생산성을 나타내었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1383-1390
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• 2019

In this study, we expressed cotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis on the surface of B. subtilis spores for efficient decolorization of synthetic dyes. The cotE, cotG, and cotY genes were used as anchoring motifs for efficient spore surface display of cotA laccase. Moreover, a $His_6$ tag was inserted at the C-terminal end of cotA for the immunological detection of the expressed fusion protein. Appropriate expression of the CotE-CotA (74 kDa), CotG-CotA (76 kDa), and CotY-CotA (73 kDa) fusion proteins was confirmed by western blot. We verified the surface expression of each fusion protein on B. subtilis spore by flow cytometry. The decoloration rates of Acid Green 25 (anthraquinone dye) for the recombinant DB104 (pSDJH-EA), DB104 (pSDJH-GA), DB104 (pSDJH-YA), and the control DB104 spores were 48.75%, 16.12%, 21.10%, and 9.96%, respectively. DB104 (pSDJH-EA) showed the highest decolorization of Acid Green 25 and was subsequently tested on other synthetic dyes with different structures. The decolorization rates of the DB104 (pSDJH-EA) spore for Acid Red 18 (azo dye) and indigo carmine (indigo dye) were 18.58% and 43.20%, respectively. The optimum temperature for the decolorization of Acid Green 25 by the DB104 (pSDJH-EA) spore was found to be $50^{\circ}C$. Upon treatment with known laccase inhibitors, including EDTA, SDS, and $NaN_3$, the decolorization rate of Acid Green 25 by the DB104 (pSDJH-EA) spore decreased by 23%, 80%, and 36%, respectively.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.601-609
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• 2019

Bifidobacterium longum KACC 91563 secretes family 5 extracellular solute-binding protein via extracellular vesicle. In our previous work, it was demonstrated that the protein effectively alleviated food allergy symptoms via mast cell specific apoptosis, and it has revealed a therapeutic potential of this protein in allergy treatment. In the present study, we cloned the gene encoding extracellular solute-binding protein of the strain into the histidine-tagged pET-28a(+) vector and transformed the resulting plasmid into the Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3). The histidine-tagged extracellular solute-binding protein expressed in the transformed cells was purified using Ni-NTA affinity column. To enhance the efficiency of the protein purification, three parameters were optimized; the host bacterial strain, the culturing and induction temperature, and the purification protocol. After the process, two liters of transformed culture produced 7.15 mg of the recombinant proteins. This is the first study describing the production of extracellular solute-binding protein of probiotic bacteria. Establishment of large-scale production strategy for the protein will further contribute to the development of functional foods and potential alternative treatments for allergies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.756-763
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• 2021

Agarose is a linear polysaccharide composed of ᴅ-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactose (AHG). It is a major component of the red algal cell wall and is gaining attention as an abundant marine biomass. However, the inability to ferment AHG is considered an obstacle in the large-scale use of agarose and could be addressed by understanding AHG catabolism in agarolytic microorganisms. Since AHG catabolism was uniquely confirmed in Vibrio sp. EJY3, a gram-negative marine bacterial species, we investigated AHG metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), an agarolytic gram-positive soil bacterium. Based on genomic data, the SCO3486 protein (492 amino acids) and the SCO3480 protein (361 amino acids) of S. coelicolor A3(2) showed identity with H2IFE7.1 (40% identity) encoding AHG dehydrogenase and H2IFX0.1 (42% identity) encoding 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate cycloisomerase, respectively, which are involved in the initial catabolism of AHG in Vibrio sp. EJY3. Thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry of the bioconversion products catalyzed by recombinant SCO3486 and SCO3480 proteins, revealed that SCO3486 is an AHG dehydrogenase that oxidizes AHG to 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate, and SCO3480 is a 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate cycloisomerase that converts 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate to 2-keto-3-deoxygalactonate. SCO3486 showed maximum activity at pH 6.0 at 50℃, increased activity in the presence of iron ions, and activity against various aldehyde substrates, which is quite distinct from AHG-specific H2IFE7.1 in Vibrio sp. EJY3. Therefore, the catabolic pathway of AHG seems to be similar in most agar-degrading microorganisms, but the enzymes involved appear to be very diverse.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권8호
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• pp.1321-1330
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• 2021

Objective: Transgenic hens hold a great promise to produce various valuable proteins. Through virus transduction into stage X embryo, the transgene expression under the control of constructed chicken ovalbumin promoters has been successfully achieved. However, a validation system that can evaluate differently developed ovalbumin promoters in in vitro, remains to be developed. Methods: In the present study, chicken oviduct epithelial cells (cOECs) were isolated from oviduct tissue and shortly cultured with keratinocyte complete medium supplemented with chicken serum. The isolated cells were characterized with immunofluorescence, western blot, and flow cytometry using oviduct-specific marker. Chicken mutated ovalbumin promoter (Mut-4.4-kb-pOV) was validated in these cells using luciferase reporter analysis. Results: The isolated cOECs revealed that the oviduct-specific marker, ovalbumin protein, was clearly detected by immunofluorescence, western blot, and flow cytometry analysis revealed that approximately 79.40% of the cells contained this protein. Also, luciferase reporter analysis showed that the constructed Mut-4.4-kb-pOV exhibited 7.1-fold (p<0.001) higher activity in the cOECs. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate the efficient isolation and characterization of cOECs and validate the activity of the constructed ovalbumin promoter in the cultured cOECs. The in vitro validation of the recombinant promoter activity in cOECs can facilitate the production of efficient transgenic chickens for potential use as bioreactors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권11호
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• pp.1591-1600
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• 2021

Streptomyces coelicolor is a filamentous soil bacterium producing several kinds of antibiotics. S. coelicolor abs8752 is an abs (antibiotic synthesis deficient)-type mutation at the absR locus; it is characterized by an incapacity to produce any of the four antibiotics synthesized by its parental strain J1501. A chromosomal DNA fragment from S. coelicolor J1501, capable of complementing the abs- phenotype of the abs8752 mutant, was cloned and analyzed. DNA sequencing revealed that two complete ORFs (SCO6992 and SCO6993) were present in opposite directions in the clone. Introduction of SCO6992 in the mutant strain resulted in a remarkable increase in the production of two pigmented antibiotics, actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin, in S. coelicolor J1501 and abs8752. However, introduction of SCO6993 did not show any significant difference compared to the control, suggesting that SCO6992 is primarily involved in stimulating the biosynthesis of antibiotics in S. coelicolor. In silico analysis of SCO6992 (359 aa, 39.5 kDa) revealed that sequences homologous to SCO6992 were all annotated as hypothetical proteins. Although a metalloprotease domain with a conserved metal-binding motif was found in SCO6992, the recombinant rSCO6992 did not show any protease activity. Instead, it showed very strong β-glucuronidase activity in an API ZYM assay and toward two artificial substrates, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide and AS-BI-β-D-glucuronide. The binding between rSCO6992 and Zn²⁺ was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. We report for the first time that SCO6992 is a novel protein with β-glucuronidase activity, that has a distinct primary structure and physiological role from those of previously reported β-glucuronidases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.9.1-9.21
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• 2024

The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of in vivo IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, IL-7 provides metabolic cues and promotes the survival of both naïve and memory T cells. Thus, IL-7 is also essential for the functional fitness of T cells. In this regard, there has been an extensive effort trying to increase the protein abundance of IL-7 in vivo, with the aim to augment T cell immunity and harness T cell functions in anti-tumor responses. Such approaches started under experimental animal models, but they recently culminated into clinical studies, with striking effects in re-establishing T cell immunity in immunocompromised patients, as well as boosting anti-tumor effects. Depending on the design, glycosylation, and the structure of recombinantly engineered IL-7 proteins and their mimetics, recombinant IL-7 molecules have shown dramatic differences in their stability, efficacy, cellular effects, and overall immune functions. The current review is aimed to summarize the past and present efforts in the field that led to clinical trials, and to highlight the therapeutical significance of IL-7 biology as a master regulator of T cell immunity.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.87-95
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• 2009

Ferritin 유전자를 벼의 저장기관인 배유에 특이적으로 발현시킬 수 있는 glutelin, gGlobulin 및 zein 프로모터를 활용하여 쌀알에 최대로 발현시켜, 고부가가치를 가진 가공용 벼 품종을 육성하여 천연의 철 성분이 강화된 유아용 이유식 생산에 이용할 수 있으므로 유아들에게 천연의 철분을 안정적으로 공급할 수 있는 형질전환체를 육성하였다. 종자 저장단백질인 glutelin, globulin 및 zein의 프로모터와 ferritin 유전자를 pMJ21 vector에 pGBF, pGTF 및 pZ4F 등의 Ti-plasmid를 Agrobacterium에 도입하여 동안벼와 화신벼에 형질전환 하였다. 동안벼 종자를 사용하였을 때 pGBF 재조합 유전자는 19.2%, pGTF는 15.0%, pZ4F는 18.4%가 재분화되었고, 화신벼 종자를 사용하였을 때에는 pGBF 재조합 유전자는 6.7%, pGTF는 11.7%, pZ4F는 3.4%가 재분화되었다. 형질전환 벼의 ferritin 유전자의 도입여부는 PCR 분석과 Southern 분석으로 확인하였으며 ferritin 유전자의 유전자 발현은 Norihern 및 Western 분석에 의해 확인하였다. Southern blot 분석 결과로부터 각각의 배유특이 프로모터 유래 형질전환체 중에서 single copy로 도입된 개체를 선발 할 수 있었다. 또한 이들 형질전환 계통들에서 도입유전자의 발현량은 wild type 벼에 비하여 매우 높게 나타났다. 또한 철 단백질의 철분 축적 정도를 분석한 결과 Zein 프로모터를 사용한 형질전환 계통 (T1-2)에서 171.4 ppm으로 wild type과 비교하여 6.4 배의 철분함량 증가를 보였다. 그러나 globulin 및 glutelin 프로모터 유래 형질전환체에서는 wild type과 비교하여 $2.1{\sim}3.0$ 배의 철분함량 증가를 보였다. 벼 형질전환체들의 생육상황을 조사한 결과 초장은 변이 폭이 매우 크게 나타났으며, 대조품종과 비교하여 50%정도 감소한 왜성 및 이형 식물체도 출현되었다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 형질전환체 중에서 표현형 적으로 대조품종과 거의 같은 식물체를 선발하여 후대를 육성하였다. 육성한 T1 세대에서 형질전환체의 초장, 간장, 수장, 분얼수 및 등숙률을 조사한 결과 초장, 간장, 수장, 분얼수에 있어서는 대조 품종과 큰 변이를 보이지 않았으나 등숙률에 있어서는 $53.3{\sim}82.2%$의 비교적 큰 변이를 나타내었다.