• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.184-184
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• 1996

Nitric Oxide Synthase(NO synthase: EC.1.14.13.39)는 생체내에서 L-arginine을 기질로 하여 nitric oxide(NO)와 L-citrulline의 생성을 매개하는 효소로서 뇌, 간장, 신장, 체장등 대부분의 주요장기와 근육세포, 신경세포 등 거의 모든 조직에 분포하고 있다. NO synthase에 의해 생성되는 NO는 혈관이완작용, 신경전달 물질로서의 작용, 면역 담당세포에서의 세포 독작용 등 많은 생리현상에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 특히 체장에서는 췌외분비 기능의 항진에 있어 세포내 cGMP level의 변동이 NO와 연관된다는 사실에 주목하고 있으며 본연구실에서도 이에 관한 연구가 진행중이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 소 췌조직의 100,000$\times$g cytosol을 효소원으로 하여 다음과 같이 NO synthase의 분리, 정제를 시행하였다. Ammonium sulfate로 30%(176g solid ammonium sulfate/$\ell$) 포화, 침전 후 2',5'-ADP agarose 및 calmodulin-agarose affinity chromatography를 연속적으로 시행하여 NO synthase를 분리하였으며 electrophoresis상에서 약 160kd의 분자량을 나타내었다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.443-447
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• 1997

We have developed a novel method for assays of spermidine and spermine synthase (aminopropyltransferase) activities using antibody against 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA). A new assay is reported here which is based on the observation that MTA is formed as a stoichiometric by-product of the spermidine and spermine synthases reactions. In order to determine MTA, a radioimmunoassay method with sensitivity and rapidity was used. (Lee and Cho, 1997). In this assay, adenine must be added in the reaction mixture, since it effectively inhibits the action of MTA phosphorylase by which MTA is metabolized. This assay is a improvement in term of sensitivity and time saving, compared to the currently used methods. It has a level of sensitivity (100 fmol) sufficient to monitor aminopropyltransferase activities in incubations containing as little as $10{\mu}g$ protein prepared from rat tissue homogenate. The results obtained showed that this method is particularly useful for cultured cells with low enzyme concentration. Moreover, this assay has the advantage which allows studies using alternative substrates (other amines). Spermidine synthase activity was high in rat liver, but low in rat kidney. The activity of spermine synthase was in most rat tissues very low as compared to that of spermidine synthase, but was high in brain.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.668-673
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• 2013

A recombinant E. coli co-expressing ALA synthase (hemA), NADP-dependent malic enzyme (maeB), and dicarboxylic acid transporter (dctA) was reported to synthesize porphyrin derivatives including iron-containing heme. To enhance the synthesis of bacterial heme, five genes of the porphyrin biosynthetic pathway [pantothenate kinase (coaA), ALA dehydratase (hemB), 1-hydroxymethylbilane synthase (hemC), uroporphyrinogen III synthase (hemD), and uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase (hemE)] were amplified in the recombinant E. coli co-expressing hemA-maeB-dctA. Pantothenate kinase expression enabled the recombinant E. coli to accumulate intracellular CoA. Intracellular ALA was the most enhanced by uroporphyrinogen III synthase expression, porphobilinogen was the most enhanced by ALA dehydratase expression, uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin were the most enhanced by 1-hydroxymethylbilane synthase expression. The strain co-expressing coaA, hemA, maeB, and dctA produced heme of $0.49{\mu}mol/g$-DCW, which was twice as much from the strain without coaA expression. Further pathway gene amplifications for the porphyrin derivatives are discussed based on the results.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.415-422
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• 2018

Terpenoids have a wide range of biological functions and have extensive applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and flavoring industry. The white-rot fungus, Polyporus brumalis, is able to synthesize terpenoids via terpene synthase, which catalyzes an important step that forms a large variety of sesquiterpene products from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). To improve the production of sesquiterpenes, the terpene synthase gene was isolated from Polyporus brumalis and was heterologously transformed into a Pichia pastoris strain. The open reading frame of the isolated gene (approximately 1.2 kb) was inserted into Pichia pastoris to obtain a recombinant enzyme. Five transformants were obtained and the expression of terpene synthase was analyzed at the transcript level by reverse transcription PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and at the protein level by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Expression of the terpene synthase gene product was elevated in the transformants and as expected the molecular weight of the protein was approximately 45 kDa. These recombinant enzymes have potential practical applications and future studies should focus on their functional characterization.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2008

Human NeuNAc-9-P synthase is a two-domain protein with ability to synthesize both NeuNAc-9-P and KDN-9-P. Its mouse counterpart differs by only 20 out of 359 amino acids but does not produce KDN-9-P. By replacing the AFL domain of the human NeuNAc-9-P synthase which accommodates 12 of these differences, with the mouse AFL domain we examined its importance for the secondary KDN-9-P synthetic activity. The chimeric protein retained almost half of the ability of the human enzyme for KDN-9-P synthesis while the NeuNAc-9-P production was reduced to less than 10%. Data from the homology modeling and the effect of divalent ions and temperature on the enzyme activities suggest conformational differences between the human and mouse AFL domains that alter the shape of the cavity accommodating the substrates. Therefore, although the AFL domain itself does not define the ability of the human enzyme for KDN-9-P synthesis, it is important for both activities by aiding optimal positioning of the substrates.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2008

This study examined the mechanisms underlying the effects of the vasorelaxation active substance(VAS), dimethyladenosine-5'-L-arabinose, and its partial purification fraction on nitric oxide synthase in improving erectile dysfunction with particular focus on the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. Two rat models, 9-month-old SD rats and 11-month-old SD rats, were given VAS(40 mg/kg per day) for 4 days, The aqueous fraction of silworm male pupae extract; semi-purified VAS(100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days, respectively. The NOS activities of the following three enzymes were examined: neuronal NO synthase(nNOS), inducible NOS(iNOS), endothelial NOS(eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells(VEGF) and anti-inflammation effect of Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$. The results showed increases in the nitric oxide synthase activities. Western blotting of the tissue homogenate showed an increase in the nNOS level in the brain and tongue, and an increase in the endothelial NO synthase(eNOS) level in penis. However, there was little association with VEGF production in HUVEC endothelial cells and no relationship with TNF-$\alpha$ which showed low levels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2008

Terpene synthase plays a key role in biosynthesis of triterpene saponins (ginsenosides) and is intermediate in the biosynthesis of a number of secondary metabolites. A terpene synthase (PgTPS) cDNA was isolated and characterized from the root of Panax ginseng c.A. Meyer. The deduced amino acid sequence of PgTPS showed a similarity with A. deliciosa (AAX16121) 61%, V. vinifera (AAS66357) 61%, L. hirsutum (AAG41891) 55%, M. truncatula (AAV36464) 52%. And the segment of a terpene synthase gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). We studied expression of terpene synthase under stressful conditions like chilling, salt, UV, and heavy metal stress treatment. Expression of PgTPS was increased gradually after exposure to stresses such as chilling, salt, and UV illumination. But its transcription seems to be reduced by cadmium and copper treatment.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.477-484
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• 1992

The mitochondrion was purified at 44% sucrose layer from pleurotus florida by using ultracentrifuge and sucrose density gradient method. Optimum pH and temperature of ATPase and ATP synthase were pH 7.4, $60^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, $57^{\circ}C$ respectively, also their Km values were determined as 11.6mM and 8.4mM. ATPase was activated at 5~6mM ATP substrate concentration, then ATP synthase was 5~10mM range ADP. ATPase/ATP synthase were $Mg^{2+}$-dependent enzyme, partially inhibited by their substrate, and then showed an none competitive inhibition pattern by $G_{418}$. Amino acid composition of ATPase/ATP synthase was as follows, hydrophobic amino acid residue was 50.5%, small residue, 56.1%, hydrogen bonding residue, 43.7% and helix breaking residue, 55.2%. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl glycerol were contained but not phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidyl serine. Palmitate(51.31%), stearate(18.32%) and unsaturated fatty acids($C_{18:1}$, $C_{18:2}$ and $C_{16:1}$) were predominated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1024-1033
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• 2012

A gene encoding a novel geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase from Kocuria gwangalliensis has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 59.6% identity with a putative GGPP synthase (CrtE) from K. rhizophila. An expression plasmid containing the crtE gene was constructed, and E. coli cells containing this plasmid produced a recombinant protein with a theoretical molecular mass of 41 kDa, corresponding to the molecular weight of GGPP synthase. Due to the lack of crtE, crtB, and crtI in E. coli, the biosynthesis of lycopene was only obtained when the plasmid pCcrtE was co-transformed into E. coli expressing the pRScrtBI-carrying carotenoid biosynthesis crtB and crtI genes, which were sub-cloned from Paracoccus haeundaensis. The biochemical studies on the expressed proteins were performed via HPLC. The results obtained from this study will provide a wider base of knowledge regarding the primary structure of CrtE cloned from K. gwangalliensis at the molecular level.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1970-1975
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• 2007

Squalene synthase plays an important role in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Inhibiting this enzyme in hypercholesterolemia can lower not only plasma cholesterol but also plasma triglyceride levels. A squalene synthase inhibitor was screened from Prunus mume fruit, and then purified via sequential processes of ethanol extraction, HP-20 column chromatography, ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and crystallization. The squalene synthase inhibitor was identified as chlorogenic acid with a molecular mass of 354 Da and a molecular formula of $C_{16}H_{18}O_9$ based on UV spectrophotometry, $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMRs, and mass spectrometry. Chlorogenic acid inhibited the squalene synthase of pig liver with an $IC_{50}$ level of 100 nM. Since chlorogenic acid was an effective inhibitor against the squalene synthase of an animal source, it may be a potential therapeutic agent for hypercholesterolemia.