• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.212-217
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• 2011

${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$-subunits (ApCpnA and ApCpnB) are group II chaperonins from the hyperthermophilic archaeum Aeropyrum pernix K1, specialized in preventing the aggregation and inactivation of substrate proteins under conditions of transient heat stress. In the present study, the cooperativity of ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits from the A. pernix K1 was investigated. The ApCpnA and ApCpnB chaperonin genes were overexpressed in E. coli Rosetta and Codonplus (DE3), respectively. Each of the recombinant ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits was purified to 92% and 94% by using anionexchange chromatography. The cooperative activity between purified ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits was examined using citrate synthase (CS), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) as substrate proteins. The addition of both ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits could effectively protect CS and ADH from thermal aggregation and inactivation at $43^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively, and MDH from thermal inactivation at $80^{\circ}C$C and $85^{\circ}C$. Moreover, in the presence of ATP, the protective effects of ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits on CS from thermal aggregation and inactivation, and ADH from thermal aggregation, were more enhanced, whereas cooperation between chaperonins and ATP in protection activity on ADH and MDH (at $85^{\circ}C$) from thermal inactivation was not observed. Specifically, the presence of both ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$- subunits could effectively protect MDH from thermal inactivation at $80^{\circ}C$ in an ATP-dependent manner.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.589-594
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• 1997

The neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) are multisubunit complexes consisting of $\alpha_1,\;\alpha_2-\delta$ and $\beta$ subunits. Heterologous expression and biochemical studies have shown that the activity of VSCCs is regulated by their $\beta$ subunits in a $\beta$ subunit isoform-specific manner. To elucidate the $\beta$ subunit identity of the P/Q-type calcium channel encoded by an $\alpha_{1A}$ subunit, which is exclusively expressed in the Purkinje and granule cell of the cerebellum, we have examined the spatial and temporal expression patterns of $\beta$ subunits and compared them with those of $\alpha_{1A}$ subunit in the developing rat cerebellum. Reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis have shown that $\beta_4$ subunit mRNA was prominently expressed in the cerebellum and much more abundant than any other distinct $\beta$ subunits. RNase protection assay has further demonstrated that the expression of $\alpha_{1A}$ and $\beta_4$ subunits increased during cerebellar development, while the amount of $\beta_2$ and $\beta_3$ mRNAs did not significantly change. In addition, a $\beta_4$ transcript was present in cultured cerebellar granule cells, but not in astrocyte cells, and the level of $\beta_4$ mRNA expression increased gradually in vitro seen as in vivo. Based on the spatial and temporal expression patterns of $\beta_4$ subunit, we conclude that $\beta_4$ may predominantly associate, but probably not exclusively, with the $\alpha_{1A}$ subunit in rat cerebellar granule cells.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 1999

7S and 11S globulins are two major storage proteins in soybean seed. For improving the quality of soybean seed protein, an increase of 11S/7S ratio would be a desirable objective because 11S globulin contains much more sulfur-containing amino acids than 7S globulin. In this study, six soybean varieties grown at three locations were used for genetic variation analysis of 7S and 11S globulins. It was possible to screen the soybean genotypes having aberrant subunit compositions of the two globulins by a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). So, heritabilities, genotypic and phenotypic correlations among eight globulin fraction contents of soybean seeds were estimated. The mean value of 7S and 11S globulin fraction contents were 38.9% and 61.1%, respectively, and the ratio of 7S to 11S globulin ranged from 0.58 to 0.74. The high heritability value was found in $\beta$ subunits but the values of acidic and basic subunits were relatively low. Genotypic correlations were higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlations in most of globulin subunit contents. $\beta$ subunits was negatively correlated with $\alpha$ and $\alpha$' subunits among 7S fractions, while no significant correlation between $\alpha$ and $\alpha$' subunits could be found In case of 11S fractions, acidic and basic subunits exhibited no genotypic but negative phenotypic correlation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.348-351
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• 2002

AquI DNA methyltransferase, M.AquI, catalyses the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the C5 position of the outermost deoxycytidine base in the DNA sequence 5'CYCGRG3'. M.AquI is encoded by two overlapping ORFs (termed $\alpha$ and $\beta$) instead of the single ORF that is customary for Class II methyltransferase genes. The structural organization of the M.AquI protein sequence is quite similar to that of other bacterial C5-DNA methyltransferases. Ten conserved motifs are also present in the correct order, but only on two polypeptides. We separately subcloned the genes that encode the $\alpha$ and $\beta$ subunits of M.AquI into expression vectors. The overexpressed His-fusion $\alpha$ and $\beta$ subunits of the enzyme were purified to homogeneity in a single step by Nickel-chelate affinity chromatography. The purified recombinant proteins were assayed for biological activity by an in vitro DNA tritium transfer assay. The $\alpha$ and $\beta$ subunits of M.AquI alone have no DNA methyltransferase activity, but when both subunits are included in the assay, an active enzyme that catalyses the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to DNA is reconstituted. We also showed that the $\beta$ subunit alone contains all of the information that is required to generate recognition of specific DNA duplexes in the absence of the $\alpha$ subunit.

• The Zoological Society Korea : Newsletter
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2001

전위활성화 칼슘통로를 통한 칼슘이온의 세포 내 유입은 근육수축, 시냅스 전달, 호르몬 분비, 효소의 활성도 및 유전자 발현을 조절한다. 이와 같이 중요한 생리적 기능을 조절하기 때문에 칼슘통로를 대상으로 한 다방면의 연구가 과거 20년간 활발히 진행되어 왔다 칼슘통로는 $\alpha$1, $\alpha$2-$\delta$, $\beta$로 구성되어 있으며, 이 중 $\alpha$1은 칼슘통로의 일반적 특성을 나타내는 기본 구조체이며, $\alpha$2-$\delta$와 $\beta$는 $\alpha$1을 조절하는 보조 기능을 한다. 지금까지 10개의 $\alpha$1 subunits(L-형: $\alpha$1S, $\alpha$1C, $\alpha$1D, $\alpha$1F; non-L-형: $\alpha$1A, a1B, $\alpha$1E; T-형: $\alpha$1G, $\alpha$1H, $\alpha$1I), 4종류의 $\beta$ subunits, 3 종류의 $\alpha$2-$\delta$ subunits가 클로닝되었으며, 이들 클론을 이용한 분자 수준에서의 연구가 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 본 논단에서는 칼슘통로의 구조, 기능 및 조절에 대한 연구가 전기생리학적, 분자생물학적 및 약리학적 방법을 사용하여 어떻게 수행되어왔는지 살펴보고, 최근 연구성과에 대해서도 소개하고자 한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.17-19
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• 2000

Heterotrimeric G Proteins transduce ligand binding to a wide variety of seven transmembrane cell surface receptors into intracellular signals. The currently accepted model for the activation of G protein suggests that ligand-activated receptor accelerates GDP-GTP exchange reactions on the ${\alpha}$ subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein. At least seventeen distinct isoforms of the G${\alpha}$ subunit protein have been identified in mammalian organisms. Among them, the G${\alpha}$q family consists of five members whose ${\alpha}$ subunits show different expression patterns. G${\alpha}$q and G${\alpha}$11 seem to be almost ubiquitously expressed, whereas G${\alpha}$14 is predominantly expressed in spleen, lung, kidney and testis. G${\alpha}$16 and its murine counterpart G${\alpha}$15 are expressed in hematopoietic cells and has been shown to couple a wide variety of receptors to phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activity. Beta-isoforms of phospholipase C were shown to be activated by all members of G${\alpha}$q family, i.e., G${\alpha}$q, G${\alpha}$11, G${\alpha}$l4 and G${\alpha}$16 subunits either in reconstitution system. or in experiments using cDNA transfection with intact Cos-7 cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 2000

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) consists of highly glycosylated noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits and belongs to the glycoprotein hormone family that includes lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH), and thyrotropin (FSH). eCG is a unique member of the gonadotropin family because it elicits response characteristics of both FSH and LH in other species than the hone. eCG is synthesized and secreted by trophoblastic cells of the endometial cups between 40 and 130 days of gestation. In the present study, mRNA expression ratio of eCG, eLH and eFSH $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunints was investigated in the placenta and pituitary. mRNA was extracted from equine placenta on day 70 of gestation and from pituitary of male horse (27 month-old). When the expression of both subunit mRNAs of eCG in the equine placenta was compared by Northern blotting, the expression of the $\beta$ -subunit mRNA was relatively greater than that of the $\alpha$-subunit. And mRNA expression of $\alpha$-, LH $\beta$- and FSH $\beta$-subunits was analysed in the equine pituitary. An $\alpha$-subunit was revealed with a size of approximately 0.8 kb. FSH $\beta$-subunit mRNA also was detected out 1.8 kb. It is the same size of the FSH $\beta$ -subunit mRNA cloned. The intensity of $\alpha$-subunit mRNA was greater than that of the $\beta$-subunit suggesting that the expression of $\alpha$ -subunit was dominant in the equine anterior pituitary. Thus, the subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits in the equine placenta and pituitary.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.325-329
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• 2010

Protein kinase CKII (CKII), a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic ($\alpha$ or $\alpha$') subunits and two regulatory ($\beta$) subunits, plays a critical role in cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Recently, capsaicin was shown to trigger apoptosis. Therefore, we examined the effect of capsaicin on CKII activity. Although capsaicin induced apoptotic death in HeLa cells, CKII activity was increased in the cytosolic fraction of HeLa cells after treatment. Capsaicin did not change the expression of the $CKII{\alpha}$ and $CKII{\beta}$ proteins. Capsaicin stimulated the catalytic activity of recombinant CKII tetramer, but not the $CKII{\alpha}$ subunit. Moreover, capsaicin enhanced the autophosphorylation of $CKII{\alpha}$ and $CKII{\beta}$. Taken together, our data suggest that capsaicin stimulates the phosphotransferase activity of CKII holoenzyme by interacting with the $CKII{\beta}$ subunit.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.733-736
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• 1999

The doubly altered mutant tryptophan synthase $\alpha$-subunits, in which Thr 24 was replaced by Ser, Leu or Lys in addition to F139W substitution, were purified. Urea-induced unfolding equilibrium curves of these proteins, monitored by fluorescence intensity of tryptophan, show that the alterations of residue 24 resulted in marked changes in folding properites, suggesting the importance of this residue in folding of this protein.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 1999

From the Panax ginseng chloroplast, the psbE and psbF genes, encoding the $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits of cytochrome b-559 of the photosystem II reaction center, respectively, were cloned and characterized. The psbE and psbF genes were composed of 252 and 117 nucleotides, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the $\alpha$-subunits showed 95%, 93%, and 91% homology to monocots, dicots, and liverwort, respectively, whereas the $\beta$-subunits showed approximately 98% to 95% homology to the same species. Southern blot analysis revealed that a single copy of the psbEF gene exists in the chloroplast plastid. Northern blot analysis indicated that the psbE and psbF genes are cotranscribed as a polycistron.