• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

The role of residue C323 in catalysis by human glutamate dehydrogenase isozymes (hGDH1 and hGDH2) was examined by substituting Arg, Gly, Leu, Met, or Tyr at C323 by cassette mutagenesis using synthetic human GDH isozyme genes. As a result, the $K_m$ of the enzyme for NADH and ${\alpha}-ketoglutarate$ increased up to 1.6-fold and 1.1-fold, respectively. It seems likely that C323 is not responsible for substrate-binding or coenzyme-binding. The efficiency ($k_{cat}/K_m$) of the mutant enzymes was only 11-14% of that of the wild-type isozymes, mainly due to a decrease in $k_{cat}$ values. There was a linear relationship between incorporation of [$^{14}C$]p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and loss of enzyme activity that extrapolated to a stoichiometry of one mol of [$^{14}C$] incorporated per mol of monomer for wild type hGDHs. No incorporation of [$^{14}C$]p-chloromercuribenzoic acid was observed with the C323 mutants. ADP and GTP had no effect on the binding of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, suggesting that C323 is not directly involved in allosteric regulation. There were no differences between the two hGDH isozymes in sensitivities to mutagenesis at C323. Our results suggest that C323 plays an important role in catalysis by human GDH isozymes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2013

The Erm family of adenine-$N^6$ methyltransferases (MTases) is responsible for the development of resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B antibiotics through the methylation of 23S ribosomal RNA. Recently, it has been proposed that well conserved amino acids in ErnC' located in concave cleft between N-terminal 'catalytic' domain and C-terminal 'RNA-binding' domain interacts with substrate RNA. We carried out the site-directed mutagenesis and studied the function of the ErmSF R237 mutant in vitro and in vivo. R237 amino acid residue is located in the concave cleft between two domains. Furthermore this residue is very highly conserved in almost all the Erm family. Purified mutant protein exhibited only 51% enzyme activity compared to wild-type. Escherichia coli with R237A mutant protein compared to the wild-type protein expressing E. coli did not show any difference in its MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) suggesting that even with lowered enzyme activity, mutant protein was able to efficiently methylate 23S rRNA to confer the resistance on E. coli expressing this protein. But this observation strongly suggests that R237 of ErmSF probably interacts with substrate RNA affecting enzyme activity significantly.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 1996

Non-biting midges fchironomidae, Dipteral are one of the largest insect families, which are distributed worldwidely and are found in nearly all types of inland waters. They are known to be aggressive inhalant allergens which cause allergenic diseases. In this study, the crude antigens of Chironomus SavipLumn adults which are most widely distributed in Korea were extracted. and their allergens were analysed with the sera from experimentally sensitized mice. The mice were immunized with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}or{\;}10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ of the crude antigens, respectively, and the specific serum IgE levels were measured by both ELISA and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) techniques. The highest levels of both total IgE and chironomid-specific IgE were found in the mouse sera obtained after 9 weeks of the first infection with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ crude antigen. The crude antigen was separated into 16-18 protein bands on gel by SDS-PAGE. The crude extract was assessed by SDS-PAGE/immunoblot analysis. One IgE-binding band (65 kDa) was detected by developing with colorimetric substrate, and 4 IgE-binding bands (65, 52, 35 and 25 kDa) by developing with CSPD chemiluminescent substrate. The SDS-PAGE gel of the crude extract of chironomid adults was equally cut into 30 pieces and each of them was eluted to isolate proteins by molecular weight, and the allergenicity of each eluate was assessed by applying P-K test on rats. Proteins of 65, 35 and 15 KDa showed the highest P-K titer (${\times}512$) which was 16 times higher than that of the crude extract (${\times32}$). The P-K titer of 52 kDa protein was also 4 times higher ($128{\times}$) than that of the crude extract, whereas the 25 kDa protein poorly responded, which seemed not antigenic. In conclusion, the present result in mice demonstrated that adults of Chironomus fcuiplumus, a predominent species in Korea, cause allergenic diseases and the main allergens are 65, 52, 35 and 15 kDa proteins, of which 65 kDa protein seems to be a main allergen.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.373-381
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• 2019

Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to generate five different triple point mutations in the double mutant (C295A/I86A) of Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus alcohol dehydrogenase (TeSADH) by computer-aided modeling with the aim of widening the small alkyl-binding pocket. TeSADH engineering enables the enzyme to accept sterically hindered substrates that could not be accepted by the wild-type enzyme. The underline in the mutations highlights the additional point mutation on the double mutant TeSADH introduced in this work. The catalytic efficiency ($k_{cat}/K_M$) of the ${\underline{M151A}}$/C295A/I86A triple TeSADH mutant for acetophenone increased about 4.8-fold higher than that of the double mutant. A 2.4-fold increase in conversion of 3'-methylacetophenone to (R)-1-(3-methylphenyl)-ethanol with a yield of 87% was obtained by using ${\underline{V115A}}$/C295A/I86A mutant in asymmetric reduction. The ${\underline{A85G}}$/C295A/I86A mutant also produced (R)-1-(3-methylphenyl)-ethanol (1.7-fold) from 3'-methylacetophenone and (R)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-ethanol (1.2-fold) from 3'-methoxyacetophenone, with improved yield. In terms of thermal stability, the ${\underline{M151A}}$/C295A/I86A and ${\underline{V115A}}$/C295A/I86A mutants significantly increased ${\Delta}T_{1/2}$ by $+6.8^{\circ}C$ and $+2.4^{\circ}C$, respectively, with thermal deactivation constant ($k_d$) close to the wild-type enzyme. The ${\underline{M151A}}$/C295A/I86A mutant reacts optimally at $70^{\circ}C$ with almost 4 times more residual activity than the wild type. Considering broad substrate tolerance and thermal stability together, it would be promising to produce (R)-1-(3-methylphenyl)-ethanol from 3'-methylacetophenone by ${\underline{V115A}}$/C295A/I86A, and (R)-1-phenylethanol from acetophenone by ${\underline{M151A}}$/C295A/I86A mutant, in large-scale bioreduction processes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.363-370
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• 1997

RNase MRP is a ribonucleoprotein complex with a site-specific endonuclease activity. Its original substrate for cleavage is the small mitochondrial RNA near the mitochondrial DNA replication origin, thus it was proposed to generate the primer for mtDNA replication. Recently, it has been shown to have another substrate in the nucleus, such as pre-S.8S ribosomal RNA in nucleolus. The gene for the RNA component of RNase MRP (MRP RNA) was found to be encoded by the nucleus genome, suggesting an interesting intracellular trafficking of MRP RNA to both mitochondria and nucleolus after transcription in nucleus. In this study, genomic DNA encoding MRP RNA was microinjected into the nucleus of Xenopus oocytes, to analyze promoter regions involved in the transcription. It showed that the proximal sequence element and TATA box are important for basal level transcription; octamer motif and Sp1 binding sites are for elevated level transcription. Most of Xenopus MRP RNA was exported out to the cytoplasm following transcription in the nucleus. Utilizing various hybrid constructs, export of MRP RNA was found to be regulated by the promoter and the 5' half of the coding region of the gene. Interestingly, the transcription in nucleus seems to be coupled to the export of MRP RNA to cytoplasm. Intracellular transport of injected MRP RNA can be easily visualized by whole-mount in situ hybridization following microinjection; it also shows possible intra-nuclear sites for transcription and export of MRP RNA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1995

Microsomes from human liver sample HL 110 oxidized aflatoxin $B_1$ $(AFB_1)$ to $AFB_1$ exo-8, 9-epoxide which was detected as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate with excess GSH S-transferase and to aflatoxin $Q_1$ ($AFB_1$; 3$\alpha$-hydroxyafiatoxin $B_1$), and testosterone to 6$\beta$-hydroxytestosterone. Anti-P450 3A4 nearly completely inhibited all of the reactions. Some fiavonoids inhibited all of the reactions. While other fiayonolds stimulated 8, 9-epoxidation and inhibited 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation. Gestodene inhibited all of the reactions when gestodene was metabolized by human liver microsomal P450 3A4 prior to adding substrate. But, ges-todene was added in the enzyme mixtures in the presence of $AFB_1$, it could not inhibit 8, 9-epoxidation of $AFB_1$. Nifedipine and troleandomycin inhibited both of the reactions of $AFB_1$ but only 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation was inhibited by the oxidation product of nifedipine. Although, troleandomycin was known as a mechanism-based inhibitor, the chemical did not show any detectable inhibitory effect on 6$\beta$-hydroxylation of testosterone. The results suggest that there are several different substrate-binding sites on P450 3A4.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2010

To search the potent pig pheromonal odorants through receptor-based approach methods, molecular dockings between 680 Flavomets as substrate molecule and pig odorants binding proteins OBP (1HQP) and PBP (1GM6) as receptor, and QSPR (quantitative structure-property relationship) analyses from physico-chemical parameters of Flavomets and their docking scores (DS) were performed and discussed quantitatively. From the basis on the findings, the optimal value $(MSA)_{opt.}=407.595\;{\AA}^2$ of MSA (molecular surface area; ${\AA}$), and RB (number of rotational bond) had the Flavomets will be able to increase DS. Therefore, it is expected that the stearyl alcohol from DS and H-bond type between substrate and receptor would be shows the character as potent pig pheromonal odorant.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 1982

Acid protease produced from Aspergillus tubingensis was pruified by ethanol fractionation, dialysis, and DEAE cellulose column chromatography. As a result of purification its specific activity increased to 5.4 times, and percent recovery was 39. The kinetic constants of the enzyme were studied. Km and Vmax was $1.5{\times}10^{-7}M\;and\;0.11{\Delta}O.D/min$ , respectively, when casein was used as substrate. The order of Km value of several proteins is : casein

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1998

The $TiN_x$ thin films were prepared on glass substrate by RF(radio-frequency) magnetron sputtering apparatus from a Ti target in a gaseous mixture of argon and nitrogen. In deposition, a RF power supply was used as a power source with a constant power of 240W, and the substrate was heated to $200^{\circ}C$. The films were obtained at nitrogen flow rates in the range 3-9 seem with a constant argon flow rate of 20 seem. For the films obtained, the chemical binding energy of the films was investigated by XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) in order to analyze the chemical nature and composition of the films.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2006

A ferredoxin adsorbed hetero self-assembled layer was fabricated on chemically modified Au substrate, 4-Aminothiophenol (4-ATP) was deposited onto Au substrate and then N-succinimidyl-3-[2-pyridyldithio] propionate (SPDP) was adsorbed on the 4-ATP layer, since SPDP was used as a bridging molecule for ferredoxin adsorption, Ferredoxin/SPDP/4-ATP structured hetero layer was constructed because of strong chemical binding of ferredoxin, SPDP, and 4-ATP, The surface of the ferredoxin-adsorbed SPDP/4-ATP layer was observed by scanning tunneling microscopy, The hetero film formation was verified by surface plasmon resonance measurement. The current flow and rectifying property based on the scanning tunneling spectroscopy I-V characteristics was achieved in the proposed hetero layer. Thus, the hetero layer structure of ferredoxin functioned as a molecular diode with rectifying property, The proposed molecular diode can be usefully applied for the development of molecular scale electronic devices.