• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1416-1423
• /
• 2018

With strong biotin binding affinity ($K_D=10^{-14}M$), the tetrameric feature of streptavidin could be used to increase the antigen binding activity of a camel heavy chain (VHH) antibody through their fusion, here stained with biotinylated horseradish peroxidase and subsequent immunoassays ELISA and Western blot analysis. For this application, we cloned the streptavidin gene amplified from the Streptomyces avidinii chromosome by PCR, and this was fused to the gene of the 8B9 VHH antibody which is specific to green fluorescent protein (GFP) antigens. To express a soluble fusion protein in Escherichia coli, we used the pUC119 plasmid-based expression system which uses the lacZ promoter for induction by IPTG, the pelB leader sequence at the N-terminus for secretion into the periplasmic space, and six polyhistidine tags at the C-terminus for purification of the expressed proteins using an $Ni^+$-NTA-agarose column. Although streptavidin is toxic to E. coli because of its strong biotin binding property, this soluble fusion protein was expressed successfully. In SDS-PAGE, the size of the purified fusion protein was 122.4 kDa in its native condition and 30.6 kDa once denatured by boiling, suggesting the tetramerization of the monomeric subunit by non-covalent association through the streptavidin moiety fusing to the 8B9 VHH antibody. In addition, this fusion protein showed biotin binding activity similar to streptavidin as well as GFP antigen binding activity through both ELISA and Western blot analysis. In conclusion, the protein resulting from the fusion of an 8B9 VHH antibody with streptavidin was successfully expressed and purified as a soluble tetramer in E. coli; it showed both biotin and GFP antigen binding activity suggesting the possible production of a tetrameric and bifunctional VHH antibody.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.578-584
• /
• 1999

The lectin was purified through 0.15 M NaCl extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation, sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and gel filtration using sephadex G-150 from the leaves of Visum album collected in Mt. Duk Yu. The final gel filtration step resulted in 11.64 folds purification with 0.14% of recovery yield. We also performed biochemical characterization of the purified Visum album lectin. HPLC analysis of lectin purified by gel filtration revealed a singel peak. The analysis of the purified lectin by SDS-PAGE showed a tetramer composed of two identical subunits with molecular weights of 32 and 30 kDa. The lectin was a glycoprotein containing 14.4% carbohydrate, which consist of glucose, fructose, arabinose and xylose, and the amino acids such as phenylalanine, lysine and tyrosine. The purified lectin agglutinated human red blood cell types with similar potency, but when tested against red blood cells from mouse, bovine, rabbit, chicken and porcine, significant difference in potency were observed. Hemaggluting activity was inhibited by D-galactose, D-mannose, D-lactose and D-raffinose, but not by D-glucose, D-glucosamine, D-mannosamine, L-fructose, D-xylose, D-arabinose, D-galacturonic acid, D-fructose, L-rhamnose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. The optimal pH and thermal stability of the purified lectin were pH 4.0-7.0 and 20-5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2006

The homoepitaxy of Si(5 5 12) at $495^{\circ}C$ has been studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy under ultrahigh vacuum. A Si-dimer is the basic building-block and preferentially adsorbs on a unique site, that is, the Si-dimer/adatom site at the (337) and the (225) subsections within the Si(5 5 12) unit cell. The Si(5 5 12) unit cell is faceted to $3\times(337)$ subsections filled with Si-addimers and $1\times(113)$ subsection. In this step the tetramer at the other (337) section within the unit cell is transformed to a dimer/adatom site which can accept Si-dimers. Each (337) section is faceted to $1\times(112)\;and\;1\times(113)$, and then finally the unit cell of Si(5 5 12) is faceted to $3\tiems(112)\;and\;4\times(113)$ and forms the facet of effective height, $2.34{\AA}$. In this step, mutual transformation between the honeycomb chain and the dimer/adatom occurs. Finally, the valley between (112) and (113) facets is filled. If once the last step is completed, the uniform and planar Si(5 5 12) terrace is recovered. From the present study, therefore, it can be concluded that the homoepitaxy on Si(5 5 12) is periodically achieved and such growth mode is quite unique since faceting of the substrate-unit-cell plays a critical role for controlling uniformity of the overlayer.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.342-347
• /
• 2011

T cells play a key role in viral infection. However, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV-specific T cells are dysfunctional and impaired in the liver, which is the primary site for HCV replication. There are multiple potential mechanisms for HCV-specific T cell dysfunction including induction of immune inhibitory pathways (program death-1; PD-1, cytotoxic t lymphocyte associated antigen-4; CTLA-4) and immune tolerance induced specific for the liver. However, the interaction between hepatocytes and HCV-specific CD8 T cells has not clearly established. In this study, we confirmed huh (human hepatoma) 7.5 cells expressing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) A2 presented antigen to activate HCV-specific CD8 T cells in HLA A2-restricted manner and expression of PD-L (program death ligand) 1 on huh7.5 cells reduced HCV-specific CD8 T cell activation, suggesting an immune modulatory activity. Loss of HCV-specific tetramer responses following antigenic stimulation correlated with increased caspase-3 activity. In addition, PD-L1 on huh7.5 cells rescued HCV-specific CD8 T cells from apoptosis. Our results suggest that the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 can recover the function of HCV-specific CD8 T cells in the liver, which could be applied in therapy of HCV chronic infection.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.830-834
• /
• 2011

This paper is on the industrial synthesis process of anti-oxidant RD ((2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline polymer $(C_{12}H_{15}N)_n$. n=2-4)).The content of dimer, trimer and tetramer of RD as the inspection targets, using the orthogonal design method - take the ratios of keto-amine, the reaction time, the reaction temperatures and the ratios of catalyst acid-amine as inspect factors - to optimized the reaction condition. The results indicate that the best ratio of keto-amine is 2:1, the time of salification and condensation is 3 hours and 7.5 hours. The range of temperature of salification and condensation is $135^{\circ}C$ and $120-125^{\circ}C$, and that the best ratio of acid-amine is 0.2: 1 (the proportion is the concentration ratio for mole). Under the optimization conditions, the yield of RD was stabilized and content of RD more than 45%.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2010

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative, nonmotile coccobacillus bacterium that is associated with several human diseases, including endocarditis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, subcutaneous abscesses and periodontal diseases. A full-length Omp1-like protein gene from A. actinomycetemcomitans was cloned into a pQE30 vector and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The protein revealed sequence homologies to Seventeen kilodalton proteins (Skp) from Pasteurella multocida and E. coli that have been characterized as periplasmic chaperones. This soluble Omp1-like protein was successfully purified to homogeneity for further folding and functional studies. The purity, identity, and conformation of the protein were determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopic, and differential scanning calorimetric studies. We showed that the protein formed an oligomer larger than a tetramer. We found, further, that it is comprised of mostly $\alpha$-helices and boasts high thermal stability.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.2241-2244
• /
• 2017

The structure of concanavalin A (ConA) has been studied intensively owing to its specific interactions with carbohydrates and its heterometal ($Ca^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$) coordination. Most structures from X-ray crystallography have shown ConA as a dimer or tetramer, because the complex formation requires specific crystallization conditions. Here, we reported the monomeric structure of ConA with a resolution of $1.6{\AA}$, which revealed that metal coordination could trigger sugar-binding ability. The calcium coordination residue, Asn14, changed the orientation of carbohydrate-binding residues and biophysical details, including structural information, providing valuable clues for the development and application of detection kits using ConA.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.273-278
• /
• 1999

Cytolysin produced by Vibrio vulnificus has been known to be lethal to mice by increasing vascular permeability and neutrophil sequestration in the lung. In the present study, a cytotoxic mechanism of V. vulnificus cytolysin on the neutrophil was investigated. Cytolysin rapidly bound to neutrophils and induced cell death, as determined by the trypan blue exclusion test. V. vulnificus cytolysin caused the depletion of cellular ATP without the release of ATP or lactate dehydrogenase. Formation of transmembrane pores was evidenced by the rapid efflux of potassium and 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$]glucose from cytolysin-treated neutrophils. It was further confirmed by the rapid flow of monovalent ions in the patch clamp of cytolysin-treated neutrophil membrane. The pore formation was accompanied by the oligomerization of cytolysin monomers on the neutrophil membrane as demonstrated by immunoblot, which exhibited a 210 kDa band corresponding to a tetramer of the native cytolysin of $M_r$ 51,000. These findings indicate that V. vulnificus cytolysin rapidly binds to the neutrophil membrane and oligomerizes to form small transmembrane pores, which induce the efflux of potassium and the depletion of cellular ATP leading to cell death without cytolysis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.454-460
• /
• 1995

Acetylxylan esterase II was produced by Escherichia coli HB101 harboring the recombinant plasmid pKMG7 which contained the estII gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus. Optimal medium for the production of the acetylxylan esterase by E. coli HB101/pKMG7 was determined to contain 0.5% galactose, 1% yeast extract and 1% NaCl. The enzyme produced was purified to homogeneity using a combination of 20-50% ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The temperature and pH optimum of the esterase were 45$\circ$C and pH 6, respectively. The essential amino acids for the esterase activity were found to be methionine, serine, and cysteine. Molecular weight of the esterase was determined to be 28 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 120 kDa by gel filtration. This suggests that the functional enzyme is a homomeric tetramer. The esterase had an isoelectric point of pH 3.4. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was Ala-Leu-Phe-Glu-Ser-Arg-Phe-Phe-Ser-Glu-Val-Leu-Gly-Leu.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.472-475
• /
• 2002

Phaseolus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin L is a homotetrameric-leucoagglutinating seed lectin. Its three-dimensional structure shows similarity with other members of the legume lectin family. The tetrameric form of this lectin is pH dependent. Gel filtration results showed that the protein exists in its dimeric state at pH 2.5 and as a tetramer at pH 7.2. Contrary to earlier reports on legume lectins that possess canonical dimers, thermal denaturation studies show that the refolding of phytohemagglutinin L at neutral pH is irreversible. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the denaturation of this lectin as a function of pH that ranged from 2.0 to 3.0. The lectin was found to be extremely thermostable with a transition temperature around $82^{\circ}C$ and above $100^{\circ}C$ at pH 2.5 and 7.2, respectively. The ratio of calorimetric to vant Hoff enthalpy could not be calculated because of its irreversible-folding behavior. However, from the DSC data, it was discovered that the protein remains in its compact-folded state, even at pH 2.3, with the onset of denaturation occurring at $60^{\circ}C$.