• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 1997

In order to overproduce D-xylose isomerase, the Escherichia coli D-xylose isomerase (D-xylose ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.5) gene (xylA) was fused to ${\lambda}P_{L}$ promoter. The promoterless xylA gene containing the ribosome binding site and coding region for D-xylose isomerase was cloned into a site 0.3 kb downstream from the ${\lambda}P_{L}$ promoter on a high copy number plasmid. An octameric XbaI linker containing TAG amber codon was inserted between 33rd codon of ${\lambda}N$ and the promoterless xylA gene. The resulting recombinant plasmid (designated as pPX152) was transformed into E. coli M5248 carrying a single copy of the temperature sensitive ${\lambda}cI857$ gene on its chromosomal DNA. When temperature-induced, the transformants produced 15 times as much D-xylose isomerase as that of D-xylose-induced parent strain. The amount of overproduced D-xylose isomerase was found to be about 60% of total protein in cell-free extracts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.734-738
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• 2005

A gene coding for xylanase from alkali-tolerant Bacillus alcalophilus AX2000 was cloned into Escherichia coli $DH5\alpha$ using pUC19. Among 2,000 transformants, one transformant showed clear zone on the detection agar plate containing oat-spells xylan. Its recombinant plasmid, named pXTY99, was found to carry 7.0 kb insert DNA fragment. When the nucleotide sequence of the cloned xylanase gene (xynT) was determined, xynT gene was found to consist of 1,020 base-pair open reading frame coding for a poly-peptide of 340 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 40 kDa. The coding sequence was preceded by a putative ribosome binding site, and the transcription initiation signals. The deduced amino acid sequence of xylanase is similar to those of the xylanases from Bacillus sp. Nl37 and B. stearothermophilus 21 with $61\%$ and $59\%$ identical residues, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2007

For the development of basic genetic materials for specific and effective therapeutic approach to suppress multiplication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-targeting hammerhead ribozyme which activity is allosterically regulated by HCV regulatory protein, NS5B RNA replicase, was developed. The ribozyme targeted most effectively to +382 nucleotide (nt) site of HCV IRES RNA. The allosteric ribozyme was designed to be composed of sequence of RNA aptamer to HCV NS5B, communication module sequence which can transfer structural transition for inducing ribozyme activity upon binding NS5B to the aptamer, and sequence of ribozyme targeting +382 nt of HCV IRES. Noticeably, we employed in vitro selection technology to identify the most appropriate communication module sequence which can induce ribozyme activity depending on the US5B protein. We demonstrated that the ribozyme was nonfunctional either in the absence of any proteins or in the presence of control bovine serum albumin. In sharp contrast, the allosteric ribozyme can induce activity of cleavage reaction with HCV IRES RNA in the presence of the HCV NS5B protein. This allosteric ribozyme can be used as lead compound for specific and effective anti-HCV agent, tool for highthroughput screening to isolate lead chemicals for HCV therapeutics, and ligand for biosensor system for HCV diagnosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 1995

A gene (xynA) encoding the endo-xylanase (E.C.3.2.1.8) from Bacillus stearothermophilus was cloned in E. coli, and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The xynA gene consists of a 636 base pairs open reading frame coding for a protein of 212 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 23, 283 Da. A putative signal sequence of 27 amino acid residues shows the features comparable with the Bacillus signal sequences; namely, the signal contains a positively charged region close to the N-terminus followed by a long hydrophobic string. The coding sequence is preceded by a possible ribosome binding site with a free energy value of -16.6 kcal/mol and the transcription initiation signals are located further upstream. The translation termination codon (TAA) at the 3 end of the coding sequence is followed by two palindrome sequences, one of which is thought to act as a terminator. The xynA gene has a high GC content, especially in the wobble position of codons (64%). Comparison of the primary protein sequence with those of other xylanases shows a high homology to the xylanases belonging to family G.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2008

Macrolide antimicrobial agents including erythromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children. Newer macrolides that have structural modifications of older drug erythromycin show improved change in the spectrum of activity, dosing, and administration. However, recent studies reported that increasing use of macrolide antibiotics is the main force driving the development of macrolide resistance in streptococci. In particular, azithromycin use is more likely to select for macrolide resistance with Streptococcus pneumoniae than is clarithromycin use, a possible reflection of its much longer half life. Recently, erythromycin resistance rates of S. pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are rapidly increasing in Korea. Two main mechanisms of acquired macrolide resistance have been described, altered binding site on the bacterial ribosome encoded by the ermB gene and active macrolide efflux pump encoded by the mef gene. Relationship between the susceptibility of S. pneumoniae and the response to macrolides has been shown in studies of acute otitis media, but less clear in cases of pneumonia. This article reviews the spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetic properties, mechanisms of action and resistance, and clinical implication of resistance on the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1991

A shuttle promoter-probe vector, pEB203, was derived from pBR322, pPL703 and pUB110. Using the vector, a useful DNA fragment, 319 bp EcoRI fragment, having strong promoter activity has been cloned from Bacillus subtills chromosomal DNA. Selection was based on chloramphenicol resistance which is dependent upon the introduction of DNA fragments allowing expression of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene. The nucleotide sequence of the 319 bp fragment has been determined and the putative -35 and -10 region, ribosome binding site, and ATG initiation codon were observed. This promoter was named EB promoter and the resultant plasmid which can be used as an expression vector was named pEBP313. The crystal protein gene from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 was cloned downstream from the EB promoter without its own promoter. When the resultant plasmid, pBT313, was introduced into Escherichia coli and B. subtilis, efficient synthesis of crystal protein was observed in both cells, and the cp gene expression in B. subtilis begins early in the vegetative phase. The cell extracts from both clones were toxic to Hyphantria cunea larvae.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2009

The translation elongation factor 1A, eEF1A, catalyzes the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the A-site of the ribosome by a GTP-dependent mechanism. By subtractive suppression hybridization technique, we have isolated a soybean low-temperature inducible gene, SLTI100 encoding translation elongation factor 1A. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenic analysis showed that SLTI100 and other eEF1As originated from diverse organisms are highly conserved. RNA expression of SLTI100 was specifically induced by low temperature, high salt, ABA, or drought stress. Based on the subcellular localization of the corresponding gene product fused to GFP, we were able to confirm that SLTI100-GFP was restricted to the nucleus and cytoplasm. We propose that soybean eEF1A may play an important role in translational regulation during abiotic stress responses in plants.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.502-508
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• 2001

A cDNA, encoding the human growth hormone (hGH), was synthesized based on the known 191 amino acid sequence. Its codon usage was optimized for a high level expression in Escherichia coli. Unique restriction sites were incorporated throughout the gene to facilitate mutagenesis in further studies. To minimize an initiation translation problem, a 624-bp cassette that contained a ribosome binding site and a start codon were fused to the hGH-coding sequence that was flanked between the EcoRI and HindIII sites. The whole fragment was synthesized by an overlapped extension of eight long synthetic oligonucleotides. The four-short duplexes of DNA, which were first formed by annealing and filling-in with a Klenow fragment, were assembled to form a complete hGH gene. The hGH was cloned and expressed successfully using a pET17b plasmid that contained the T7 promoter. Recombinant hGH yielded as much as 20% of the total cellular proteins. However, the majority of the protein was in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. N-terminal amino acid sequencing also showed that the hGH produced in E. coli contained formyl-methionine. This study provides a useful model for synthesis of the gene of interest and production of recombinant proteins in E. coli.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.224-231
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• 1993

The nucleotide sequence of the xylanase gene (xynY) from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. YC-335 was determined and analyzed. An open reading frame of 1, 062 base pairs for xynY gene was observed and encoded for a protein of 354 amino acids with a molecular weight of 38, 915. S1 nuclease mapping showed that the transcription initiation sites of the xynY gene were different in Bacillus sp. YC-335 and Escherichia coli HB101 (pYS55). S1 mapping also showed that -10 region of the xynY gene recognized by RNA polymerases of E. coli and Bacillus sp. YC-335 were TACAGT and TATGAT , respectively. A ribosome binding site sequence with the free energy of -17.0 Kcal/mol was observed 9 base pairs upstream from the unusual initiation codon, TTG. The proposed signal sequence consisted of 27 amino acids, 2 of which were basic amino acid residues and 21 were hydrophobic amino acid residues. When the amino acid sequences of xylanases were compared, Bacillus sp. YC-335 xylanase showed more than 50% homology with xylanases from B. pumilus, B. subtilis, and B. circulans.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2008

The plasmid pJB01, a member of the pMV158 family isolated from Enterococcus faecium JC1, contains three open reading frames, copA, repB, and repC. Plasmids included in this family produce counter-transcribed RNA (ctRNA) that contributes to copy number control. The pJB01 ctRNA, a transcript which consists of 54 nucleotides (nts), is encoded on the opposite strand from the copA/repB intergenic region and partially overlaps an atypical ribosome binding site (ARBS) for repB. The ARBS is integrated by the two underlined conserved regions: 5'-TTTTTGTNNNNTAANNNNNNNNNATG-3', and the ctRNA is complementary only to the 5' conserved sequence 5'-TTTTTGT-3'. This complementary sequence is located at a distance from the terminal loop of the ctRNA secondary structure. The ctRNA structure predicted by the mfold program suggests the possible generation of a terminal and an internal hairpin loop. The amount of in vitro translation product of repB mRNA was inversely proportional to the ctRNA concentration. Mutations in the terminal and internal hairpin loops of the ctRNA had inhibitory effects on its binding to the target mRNA. We propose that the intact structures of the terminal and internal hairpin loops, respectively, play important roles in forming the initial kissing and extending complexes between the ctRNA and target mRNA and that these regulate the copy number of this plasmid.