• KSBB Journal
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2016

Several CoA transferases from Clostridium beijerinckii, C. perfringens and Klebsiella pneumoniae were examined for biosynthesis of lactate-containing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in recombinant Escherichia coli XL1-Blue strain. The CB3819 gene and the CB4543 gene from C. beijerinckii, the pct gene from C. perfringens and the pct gene from K. pneumoniae, which encodes putative CoA transferase gene, respectively, was co-expressed with the Pseudomonas sp. MBEL 6-19 phaC1437 gene encoding engineered Pseudomonas sp. MBEL 6-19 PHA synthase 1 ($PhaC1_{Ps6-19}$) to examine its activity for the construction of key metabolic pathway to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-lactate) [P(3HB-co-LA)]. The recombinant E. coli XL1-Blue expressing the phaC1437 gene and CB3819 gene synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] homopolymer to the P(3HB) content of 60.5 wt% when it was cultured in a chemically defined medium containing 20 g/L of glucose and 2 g/L of sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate. Expression of the phaC1437 gene and CB4543 gene in recombinant E. coli XL1-Blue also produced P(3HB) homopolymer to the P(3HB) content of 51.2 wt% in the same culture condition. Expression of the phaC1437 gene and the K. pneumoniae pct gene in recombinant E. coli XL1-Blue could not result in the production of PHAs in the same culture condition. However, the recombinant E. coli XL1-Blue expressing the phaC1437 gene and the C. perfringens gene could produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-lactate [P(86.4mol%3HB-co-13.7 mol%LA) up to the PHA content of 10.6 wt% in the same culture condition. Newly examined CoA transfereases in this study may be useful for the construction of engineered E. coli strains to produce PHA containing novel monomer such lactate.

• Genes and Genomics
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• 제40권11호
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• pp.1169-1180
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• 2018

Cave shrimps from the genera Typhlatya, Stygiocaris and Typhlopatsa (TST complex) comprises twenty cave-adapted taxa, which mainly occur in the anchialine environment. Anchialine habitats may undergo drastic environmental fluctuations, including spatial and temporal changes in salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen content. Previous studies of crustaceans from anchialine caves suggest that they have possessed morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations to cope with the extreme conditions, similar to other cave-dwelling crustaceans. However, the genetic basis has not been thoroughly explored in crustaceans from anchialine habitats, which can experience hypoxic regimes. To test whether the TST shrimp-complex hypoxia adaptations matched adaptive evolution of mitochondrial OXPHOS genes. The 13 OXPHOS genes from mitochondrial genomes of 98 shrimps and 1 outgroup were examined. For each of these genes was investigated and compared to orthologous sequences using both gene (i.e. branch-site and Datamonkey) and protein (i.e. TreeSAAP) level approaches. Positive selection was detected in 11 of the 13 candidate genes, and the radical amino acid changes sites scattered throughout the entire TST complex phylogeny. Additionally, a series of parallel/convergent amino acid substitutions were identified in mitochondrial OXPHOS genes of TST complex shrimps, which reflect functional convergence or similar genetic mechanisms of cave adaptation. The extensive occurrence of positive selection is suggestive of their essential role in adaptation to hypoxic anchialine environment, and further implying that TST complex shrimps might have acquired a finely capacity for energy metabolism. These results provided some new insights into the genetic basis of anchialine hypoxia adaptation.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2009

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) is an aromatic amine that is widely used in the industrial synthetic process. Genotoxic MDA forms DNA adducts in the liver and is known to induce liver damage in human and rats. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with MDA-induced hepatotoxicity, we have identified genes differentially expressed by microarray approach. BALB/c male mice were treated once daily with MDA (20 mg/kg) up to 7 days via intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and hepatic damages were revealed by histopathological observation and elevation of serum marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP, cholesterol, DBIL, and TBIL. Microarray analysis showed that 952 genes were differentially expressed in the liver of MDA-treated mice and their biological functions and canonical pathways were further analyzed using Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA). Toxicological functional analysis showed that genes related to hepatotoxicity such hyperplasia/hyperproliferation (Timp1), necrosis/cell death (Cd14, Mt1f, Timp1, and Pmaip1), hemorrhaging (Mt1f), cholestasis (Akr1c3, Hpx, and Slc10a2), and inflammation (Cd14 and Hpx) were differentially expressed in MDA-treated group. This gene expression profiling should be useful for elucidating the genetic events associated with aromatic amine-induced hepatotoxicity and for discovering the potential biomarkers for hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.172-177
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• 2009

A gene(lsd1) encoding dextranase from Lipomyces starkeyi KSM22 has been previously cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene consisting of 1,824 base pairs and encoding a protein of 608 amino acids was then cloned into and secretively expressed in Pichia pastoris under the control of the AOX1 promoter. The dextranase productivity of the P. pastoris transformant(pPIC9K-LSD1, 134,000 U/I) was approximately 4.2-fold higher than that of the S. cerevisiae transformant(pYLSD1, 32,000 U/I) cultured in an 8-1 fermentor. Over 0.63 g/l of active dextranase was secreted into the medium after methanol induction. The dextranase of the P. pastoris transformant, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, showed only one homogeneous band. This dextranase of the P. pastoris transformant showed a broad band near 73 kDa. Rabbit monoclonal antibodies against a synthetic LSD1 peptide mix also recognized approximately 73 kDa.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.510-515
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• 2005

Pseudomonas cepacia BY21 was found to produce glutaryl acylase that is capable of deacylating glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid (glutaryl-7-ACA) to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA), which is a starting material for semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotics. Amino acids of the reported glutaryl acylases from various Pseudomonas sp. strains show a high similarity (>93% identity). Thus, with the known nucleotide sequences of Pseudomonas glutaryl acylases in GenBank, PCR primers were designed to clone a glutaryl acylase gene from P. cepacia BY21. The unknown -subunit gene of glutaryl acylase from chromosomal DNA of P. cepacia BY21 was cloned successfully by PCR. The -subunit amino acids of P. cepacia BY21 acylase (GenBank accession number AY948547) were similar to those of Pseudomonas diminuta KAC-1 acylase except that Asn408 of P. diuminuta KAC-1 acylase was changed to Leu408.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2001

The key targets of endocrine disruptors are nuclear hormone receptors, which bind to steroid hormones and regulate their gene transcription. A yeast-based steroid hormone receptor gene trascription assay was previously developed for the evaluation of chemicals with endocrine modulating activity. The yeast transformants used in this assay contain the human estrogen receptor along with the appropriate steroid response elements upstream of the $\beta$-galactosidase reporter gene. We tried to evaluate several natural and synthetic steroids of their potential to interact directly with the steroid receptor. Some putative endocrine disruptors, including nonylphenol, are weakly estrogenic. But the combined treatment oj these chemicals with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) significantly increased the $\beta$-galactosidase activity in the yeast transformant. These results suggest that we also have to consider the synergistic effects of endocrine disruptors. In this study, we showed that yeast-based bioassay is a valuable tool for screening potential endocrine disruptors and quantitative determination of estrogenicity. And the possibility that the estrogen receptor binds multiple environmental chemicals adds another level of complexity to the interaction between the endocrine disruptors and the human hormone system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

RNAs are versatile molecules that are primarily involved in gene regulation and can thus be widely used to advance the fields of therapeutics and diagnostics. In particular, circular RNAs which are highly stable, have emerged as strong candidates for use on next-generation therapeutic platforms. Endogenous circular RNAs control gene regulatory networks by interacting with other biomolecules or through translation into polypeptides. Circular RNAs exhibit cell-type specific expression patterns, which can be altered in tissues and body fluids depending on pathophysiological conditions. Circular RNAs that are aberrantly expressed in diseases can function as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Moreover, exogenous circular RNAs synthesized in vitro can be introduced into cells as therapeutic molecules to modulate gene expression networks in vivo. Depending on the purpose, synthetic circular RNA sequences can either be identical to endogenous circular RNA sequences or artificially designed. In this review, we introduce the life cycle and known functions of intracellular circular RNAs. The current stage of endogenous circular RNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets is also described. Finally, approaches and considerations that are important for applying the available knowledge on endogenous circular RNAs to design exogenous circular RNAs for therapeutic purposes are presented.

• 생태와환경
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

북한강 수역에서 가장 많이 검출되는 Microcystin (MC)을 대상으로 하여 MC 생합성 유전자(mcyA gene), 남조류 세포밀도, MC 농도 사이의 관계를 분석하여 RNA-MC 환산식을 도출하고 남조류 세포 내 존재하는 MC 농도를 예측하였다. 북한강 수역에서 mcyA 유전자는 묵현천 합류 이후 북한강 하류 지점에서 주로 발견되었으며 평균적으로 다른 지점보다 높은 copy number가 발견되었다. 북한강 상류 의암호 수역의 경우, 공지천 지점에서 mcyA 유전자 copy number가 증가하였으며 9월 이후 북한강 수역 전체에서 mcyA 유전자 copy number는 감소하였다. mcyA gene expression은 상류와 하류 수역의 시·공간적 차이가 존재하였으며 여름철 짧은 시기에 집중적으로 발현하였다. mcyA gene expression 양은 MC 농도와 상관성이 매우 높을 뿐만 아니라 MC을 생합성하는 것으로 알려진 Microcystis aeruginosa와 Dolichospermum circinale의 세포밀도와도 통계적으로 유의한 상관성이 존재하였다. RNA-MC 관계를 기반으로 도출된 6개의 환산식은 통계적 유의성을 보이며(p<0.05) 0.9 이상의 높은 상관계수(r)를 나타냈다. eRNA에 존재하는 MC 생합성 유전자 발현량은 수중의 남조독소 물질 합성을 판단하고 유전자의 활성 정도를 빠르게 정량하여 MC 발생 조기경보에 충분히 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.251-257
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• 1996

The detection of many synthetic chemicals used in industry that may pose a genetic hazard in our environment is subject of great concern at present. In this respect, the genetic toxicity of fenpropathrin ((RS)-.alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl cyclopropane carboxylate, CAS No.:39514-41-8), a pyrethroid insecticide, was evaluated in bacterial gene mutation system, chromosome aberration in mammalian cell system and in vivo micronucleus assay with rodents. In bacterial gene mutation assay, no mutagenicity of fenpropathrin (62-$5000\mug/plate$) was observed in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, 100, 1535 and 1537 both in the absence and in the presence of S-9 metabolic activaton system. In mammalian cell system using chinese hamster lung fibroblast, no clastogenicity of fenpropathrin was also observed both in the absence and in the presence of metabolic activation system in the concentration range of $7-28\mug/ml$. And also, in vivo micronucleus assay using mouse bone marrow cells, fenpropathrin also revealed no mutagenic potential in the dose range of 27-105 mg/kg body weight of fenpropathrin (i.p.). Consequently, no mutagenic potential of fenpropathrin was observed in vitro bacterial, mammalian mutagenicity systems and in vivo micronucleus assay in the dose ranges used in this experiment.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.512-526
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• 2020

Synthetic nitrite is considered an undesirable preservative for meat products; thus, controlling synthetic nitrite concentrations is important from the standpoint of food safety. We investigated 1,000 species of microorganisms from various kimchi preparations for their potential use as a starter culture for the production of nitrites. We used 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis to select a starter culture with excellent nitrite and nitric oxide productivity, which we subsequently identified as Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113. That starter culture was grown in NaCl (up to 9%; w/v) at 10℃-40℃; its optimum growth was observed at 30℃ at pH 4.0-10.0. It exhibited nonproteolytic activity and antibacterial activity against Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that causes food poisoning symptoms. Analysis of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 with an API ZYM system did not reveal the presence of β-glucuronidase, and tests of the starter culture on 5% (v/v) sheep blood agar showed no hemolytic activity. Our results demonstrated the remarkable stability of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, especially in strain negative for staphylococcal enterotoxins and sensitive to clinically relevant antibiotics. Moreover, Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 exhibited a 45.5% conversion rate of nitrate to nitrite, with nitrate levels reduced to 25% after 36 h of culturing in the minimal medium supplemented with nitrate (200 ppm). The results clearly demonstrated the safety and utility of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, and therefore its suitability as a starter culture.