• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.909-920
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• 2020

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca²⁺]_c concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca²⁺]_c is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models. GECI have some advantages over chemically synthesized indicators, although they also have some drawbacks such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), low positive signal, delayed response, artifactual responses due to protein overexpression, and expensive detection equipment. Here, we developed an indicator based on interactions between Ca²⁺-loaded calmodulin and target proteins, and generated an innovative GECI sensor using split nano-luciferase (Nluc) fragments to detect changes in [Ca²⁺]_c. Stimulation-dependent luciferase activities were optimized by combining large and small subunits of Nluc binary technology (NanoBiT, LgBiT:SmBiT) fusion proteins and regulating the receptor expression levels. We constructed the binary [Ca²⁺]_c sensors using a multicistronic expression system in a single vector linked via the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and examined the detection efficiencies. Promoter optimization studies indicated that promoter-dependent protein expression levels were crucial to optimize SNR and sensitivity. This novel [Ca²⁺]_c assay has high SNR and sensitivity, is easy to use, suitable for high-throughput assays, and may be useful to detect [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.163-176
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• 2012

TTo increase productivity of a strong extracellular alkaline protease (BCAP), stable strains of Bacillus clausii I-52 carrying another copy of BCAP gene in the chromosome were developed. Integrative vector, pHPS9-fuBCAP carrying BCAP promoter, ribosome binding site, signal sequence and active protease gene was constructed and transferred into B. clausii I-52, and integration of the constructed plasmid into chromosome was identified by PCR. An investigation was carried out on BCAP production by B. clausii I-52 and transformant C5 showing the highest relative activity of alkaline protease using submerged fermentation. Maximum enzyme activity was produced when cells were grown under the submerged fermentation conditions at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 h with an aeration rate of 1 vvm and agitation rate of 650 rpm in a optimized medium (soybean meal 2%, wheat flour 1%, sodium citrate 0.5%, $K_2HPO_4$ 0.4%, $Na_2HPO_4$ 0.1%, NaCl 0.4%, $MgSO_47H_2O$ 0.01%, $FeSO_47H_2O$ 0.05%, liquid maltose 2.5%, $Na_2CO_3$ 0.6%). A protease yield of approximately 134,670U/ml was achieved using an optimized media, which show an increase of approximately 1.6-fold compared to that of non-transformant (83,960 U/ml). When the stability of transformant C5 was examined, the integrated plasmid pHPS9-fuBCAP was detected in the transformant after cultivation for 8 days, suggesting that it maintained stably in the chromosomal DNA of transformant C5.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 1996

To obtain a correctly folded human proinsulin, export of proinsulin using Staphylococcal protein A signal sequence-mediated secretion pathway has been attempted in E.coli. A secretion operon for proinsulin was constructed by consecutively connecting T7 promoter, SPA ribosome binding site, SPA signal sequence gene, and human proinsulin gene. Little immunoreactive proinsulin was detected in the periplasmic space and. culture medium, and not even in cytoplasmic space. The qualitative analysis of transcribed proinsulin mRNA and the in vitro transcription/translation experiment suggests that the negligible level of proinsulin export appears to be due to intracellular degradation of proinsulin, rather than due to the blockage during translocation. However, expression of proinsulin fusion protein such as MBP-proinsulin could dramatically increase export of proinsulin in E.coli.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.378-387
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• 1998

The DNA sequence immediately following the xynA gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus 236 ［about l-kb region downstream from the translational termination codon (TAA) of the xynA gene］was found to have an ability to enhance the xylanase activity of the upstream xynA gene. An 849-bp ORF was identified in the downstream region, and the ORF was confirmed to encode a novel protein of 283 amino acids designated as XaiF (xylanase-activity-increasing factor). From the nucleotide sequence of the xaiF gene, the molecular mass and pI of XaiF were deduced to be 32,006 Da and 4.46, respectively. XaiF was overproduced in the E. coli cells from the cloned xaiF gene by using the T7 expression system. The transcriptional initiation site was determined by primer extension analysis and the putative promoter and ribosome binding regions were also identified. Blast search showed that the xaiF and its protein product had no homology with any gene nor any protein reported so far. Also, in B. subtilis, the xaiF trans-activated the xylanase activity at the same rate as in E. coli. In contrast, xaiF had no activating effect on the co-expressed ${\beta}-xylosidase$ of the xylA gene derived from the same strain of B. stearothermophilus. In addition, the intracellular and extracellular fractions from the E. coli cells carrying the plasmid-borne xaiF gene did not increase the isolated xylanase activity, indicating that the protein-protein interaction between XynA and XaiF was not a causative event for the xylanase activating effect of the xaiF gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1999-2009
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• 2017

The secretion efficiency of a protein in a Sec-type secretion system is mainly determined by an N-terminal signal peptide and its combination with its cognate protein. Five signal peptides, namely, two synthetic Sec-type and three Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase-derived signal peptides, were compared for periplasmic expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) in E. coli. Based on in silico predictions on the signal peptides' cleavage efficiencies and their corresponding mRNA secondary structures, a number of amino acid substitutions and silent mutations were considered in the modified signal sequences. The two synthetic signal peptides, specifically designed for hGH secretion in E. coli, differ in their N-terminal positively charged residues and hydrophobic region lengths. According to the mRNA secondary structure predictions, combinations of the protein and each of the five signal sequences could lead to different outcomes, especially when accessibility of the initiator ATG and ribosome binding sites were considered. In the experimental stage, the two synthetic signal peptides displayed complete processing and resulted in efficient secretion of the mature hGH in periplasmic regions, as was demonstrated by protein analysis. The three alpha-amylase-derived signal peptides, however, were processed partially from their precursors. Therefore, to achieve efficient secretion of a protein in a heterologous system, designing a specific signal peptide by using a combined approach of optimizations of the mRNA secondary structure and the signal peptide H-domain and cleavage site is recommended.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 1990

The sequence of a 1795 bp restriction fragment containing the B. circulans F-2 gene for NaC1- dependent $\alpha$-amylase (CI-amylase) is reported. The probable coding region of the gene is 1005 base pairs (335 amino acida) long. The NaC1-dependent $\alpha$-amylase (el-amy) sequence shows an open reading frame (ORF) with the translated molecular weight of about 38, 006, which correspond to a molecular weight of about 35, 000 (Mi). The gene is preceded by the sequence resembling promoter for the vegetative B, subtitis RNA polymerases. These are followed by the sequences resembling a B. subtilis ribosome binding site 5 nucleotides before the first codon of the gene. Homologous regions with other amylases were found. The N-terminal sequences of the mature proteins expressed in E. eoli were identical to the N-terminal sequences which are anaIysed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1430-1435
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• 2020

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has outstanding physical and chemical properties, including high crystallinity, moisture retention, and tensile strength. Currently, the major producer of BC is Komagataeibacter xylinus. However, due to limited tools of expression, this host is difficult to engineer metabolically to improve BC productivity. In this study, a regulated expression system for K. xylinus with synthetic ribosome binding site (RBS) was developed and used to engineer a BC biosynthesis pathway. A synthetic RBS library was constructed using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter, and three synthetic RBSs (R4, R15, and R6) with different strengths were successfully isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Using synthetic RBS, we optimized the expression of three homologous genes responsible for BC production, pgm, galU, and ndp, and thereby greatly increased it under both static and shaking culture conditions. The final titer of BC under static and shaking conditions was 5.28 and 3.67 g/l, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that reinforced metabolic flux towards BC through quantitative gene expression represents a practical strategy for the improvement of BC productivity.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 2004

Purpose: Both human NIS and mutant $D_2R$ transgenes are proposed as reporting system in transplanted cell tracking. Using hepatoma cell lines, we constructed a dual reporter system containing human sodium-iodide symporter (hNIS) and dopamine 2 receptor ($D_2R$) and compared its characteristics. Materials and Methods: The recombinant plasmid ($pIRES-hNIS/D_2R$) was constructed with IRES (internal ribosome entry site) under control of the CMV promoter $pIRES-hNIS/D_2R$ was transfected to human hepatoma SK-Hep1 cell line with lipofectamine. HEP-ND ($SK-Hep1-hNIS/D_2R$) cells stably expressing hNIS and $D_2R$ was established by selection with G418 for two weeks. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the expression of both hNIS and $D_2R$ genes. The expressions of hNIS and $D_2R$ were measured by $^{125}I$ uptake assays and receptor binding assays. Specific binding of $D_2R$ to $[^3H]spiperone$ was verified by Scatchard plot with (+) butaclamol as a specific inhibitor. $K_d\;and\;B_{max}$ values were estimated. The correlation between hNIS and $D_2R$ expression was compared by using each clone. Results: Similar quantities of hNIS and $D_2R$ genes were expressed on HEP-ND as RT-PCR assays. HEP-ND cells showed 30 to 40 fold higher radioiodine uptakes than those of parental SK-Hep1 cells. $^{125}I$ uptake in HEP-ND cells was completely inhibited by $KClO_4$, a NIS inhibitor Specific binding to HEP-ND cells was saturable and the $K_d\;and\;B_{max}$ values for HEP-ND cells were 2.92 nM, 745.25 fmol/mg protein and 2.91nM, 1323 fmole/mg protein in two clones, respectively. The radioiodine uptake by hNIS activity and $D_2R$ binding was highly correlated. Conclusion: We developed a dual positron and gamma imaging reporter system of hNIS and $D_2R$ in a stably transfected cell line. We expect that $D_2R$ and hNIS genes can complement mutually as a nuclear reporting system or that $D_2R$ can be used as reporter gene when hNIS gene were used as a treatment gene.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 1991.04a
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• pp.225-236
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• 1991

The genes encoding the thermostable $\alpha$-amylase and maltogenic amylase from Bacillus lichenciformis were cloned and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant plasmid pTA322 was found to contain a 3.1kb EcoRI genomic DNA fragment of the thermostable $\alpha$-amylase. The cloned $\alpha$-amylase was compared with the B. licheniformis native $\alpha$-amylase. Both $\alpha$-amylase have the same optimal temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ and are stable in the pH range of 6 and 9. The complete nucleotide sequences of the thermostable $\alpha$-amylase gene were determined. It was composed of one open reading rame of 1,536 bp. Start and stop codons are ATG and TAG. From the amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence, the cloned thermostable $\alpha$-amylase is composed of 483 amino acid residues and its molecular weight is 55,200 daltons. The content of guanine and cytosine is $47.46mol\%$ and that of third base codon was $53_41mol\%$. The recombinant plasmid, pIJ322 encoding the maltogenic amylase contains a 3.5kb EcoRI-BamHI genomic DNA fragment. The optimal reaction temperature and pH of the maltogenci amylase were $50^{\circ}C$ and 7, respectively. The maltogenic amylase was capable of hydrolysing pullulan, starch and cyclodextrin to produce maltose from starch and panose from pullulan. The maltogenic amylase also showed the transferring activity. The maltogenic amylase gene is composed of one open reading frame of 1,734bp. Start and stop codons are ATG and ATG. At 2bp upstream from start codon, the nucleotide sequence AAAGGGGGAA seems to be the ribosome-binding site(RBS, Shine-Dalgarno sequence). A putative promoter(-35 and-10 regions) was found to be GTTAACA and TGATAAT. From deduced amino acid sequence from the nucleotide srquence, this enzyme was comosed of 578 amino acid residues and its molecular weight was 77,233 daltons. The content of guanine and cytosine was $48.1mol\%$. The new recombinant plasmid, pTMA322 constructed by inserting the thermostable $\alpha$-amylase gene in the EcoRI site of pIJ322 to produce both the thermostable $\alpha$-amylase and the maltogenic amylase were expressed in the E. coli. The two enzymes expressed from E. coli containing pTMA322 was reacted with the $15\%$ starch slurry at $40^{\circ}C$ for 24hours. The distribution of the branched oligosaccharides produced by the single-step process was of the ratio 50 : 50 between small oligosaccharide up DP3 and large oligosaccharide above DP3.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2011

Most problematic antibiotic resistance mechanism for MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramn B) antibiotics encountered in clinical practice is mono- or dimethylation of specific adenine residue at 2058 (E. coli coordinate) of 23S rRNA which is performed by Erm (erythromycin ribosome resistance) protein through which bacterial ribosomes reduce the affinity to the antibiotics and become resistant to them. ErmSF is one of the four gene products produced by Streptomyces fradiae to be resistant to its own antibiotic, tylosin. Unlike other Erm proteins, ErmSF harbors idiosyncratic long N-terminal end region (NTER) 25% of which is comprised of arginine well known to interact with RNA. Furthermore, NTER was found to be important because when it was truncated, most of the enzyme activity was lost. Based on these facts, capability of NTER peptide to inhibit the enzymatic activity of ErmSF was sought. For this, expression system for two different proteins to be expressed in one cell was developed. In this system, two plasmids, pET23b and pACYC184 have unique replication origins to be compatible with each other in a cell. And expression system harboring promoter, ribosome binding site and transcription termination signal is identical but disparate amount of protein could be expressed according to the copy number of each vector, 15 for pACYC and 40 for pET23b. Expression of NTER peptide in pET23b together with ErmSF in pACYC 184 in E. coli successfully gave more amounts of NTER than ErmSF but no inhibitory effects were observed suggesting that there should be dynamicity in interaction between ErmSF and rRNA rather than simple and fixed binding to each other in methylation of 23S rRNA by ErmSF.