1,721,374 research outputs found
Second harmonic generation at fatigue cracks by low-frequency Lamb waves: experimental and numerical studies
Full text linkAbstract not availableYi Yang, Ching-Tai Ng, Andrei Kotousov, Hoon Sohn, Hyung Jin Li
Template-blocking PCR: an advanced PCR technique for genome walking
No full textThis article describes the development of an improved method for the isolation of genomic fragments adjacent to a known DNA sequence based on a cassette ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. To reduce the nonspecific amplification of PCR-based genome walking, the 3′ ends of the restriction enzyme-digested genomic DNA fragments were blocked with dideoxynucleoside triphosphate (ddNTP) and ligated with properly designed cassettes. The modified genomic DNA fragments flanked with cassettes were used as a template for the amplification of a target gene with a gene-specific primer (GSP) and a cassette primer (CP). The ddNTP blocking of the genomic DNA ends significantly reduced the nonspecific amplification and resulted in a simple and rapid walking along the genome. The efficiency of the template-blocking PCR method was confirmed by a carefully designed control experiment. The method was successfully applied for the cloning of the PGK1 promoter from Pichia ciferrii and two novel cellulase genes from Penicillium sp.open
Catalytic properties of a lipase from Photobacterium lipolyticum for biodiesel production containing a high methanol concentration
No full textBiodiesel, an alternative fuel, is generated via the transesterification reaction of vegetable oil or animal oil with alcohol. Currently, many reports have noted that microbial lipases might be utilized for the production of biodiesel. Among them, immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym435) is frequently utilized for its biocatalytic efficiency and availability. However, as the enzyme is unstable in a medium containing high concentrations of methanol, a multi-stepwise methanol supply is required for the efficient production of biodiesel. Photobacterium lipolyticum lipase (M37) was determined to be quite stable in a medium containing a high concentration of methanol. The enzyme activity was maintained for longer than 48 h without any loss at a methanol concentration of 10%. In an effort to evaluate enzyme performance in the production of biodiesel, we have compared M37 lipase and Novozym435 in the biodiesel production reaction using fresh or waste oil and methanol. In the 3-stepwise methanol feeding method generally conducted for Novozym435 in biodiesel production, the M37 lipase showed a similar or superior conversion yield to Novozym435. However, the M37 lipase evidenced significantly higher conversion yields in the 2 and 1 step methanol feeding reactions. Particularly in the 1 step process using 10% of methanol where almost no conversion was detected by Novozym435, the biodiesel yield achieved with M37 lipase reached a level of up to 70% of the possible maximum yield. Consequently, this methanol-tolerant lipase, M37, has been shown to be a suitable enzyme for use in the biodiesel production process.open
Autoregulation in the biosynthesis of ribosomes
No full textThe synthesis of ribosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae consumes a prodigious amount of the cell’s resources and, consequently, is tightly regulated. The rate of ribosome synthesis responds not only to nutritional cues but also to signals dependent on other macromolecular pathways of the cell, e.g., a defect in the secretory pathway leads to severe repression of transcription of both rRNA and ribosomal protein genes. A search for mutants that interrupted this repression revealed, surprisingly, that inactivation of RPL1B, one of a pair of genes encoding the 60S ribosomal protein L1, almost completely blocked the repression of rRNA and ribosomal protein gene transcription that usually follows a defect in the secretory pathway. Further experiments showed that almost any mutation leading to a defect in 60S subunit synthesis had the same effect, whereas mutations affecting 40S subunit synthesis did not. Although one might suspect that this effect would be due to a decrease in the initiation of translation or to the presence of half-mers, i.e., polyribosomes awaiting a 60S subunit, our data show that this is not the case. Rather, a variety of experiments suggest that some aspect of the production of defective 60S particles or, more likely, their breakdown suppresses the signal generated by a defect in the secretory pathway that represses ribosome synthesis. The biosynthesis of ribosomes consumes an enormous frac-tion of the resources of a rapidly growing cell of Saccharomyce
Optimization of the expression system using galactose inducible promoter for the production of anticoagulant hirudin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
No full textWe have tried to optimize the galactose-inducible gene expression system for the overproduction of the potent thrombin-specific inhibitor, hirudin, in a genetically engineered yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression and secretion of hirudin were directed by the galactose-inducible promoter, GAL10, and the mating factor α pre-pro leader sequence. The initial hirudin expression level in shake-flask culture was 2.3 mg l-1. Modification of the expression vector and optimization of culture conditions, including the induction conditions, improved the level of hirudin gene expression and secretion into the culture supernatant more than 20-fold (50 mg l-1) in a 4-1 scale batch cultivation. The expression and secretion level of hirudin seemed to be partially dependent on cell growth when galactose was used as a carbon source. Overexpression of the transcriptional activator, GALA, appeared to have only negative effects on the expression of the hirudin gene and LacZ directed by the GAL10 promoter in the strain used in this study, unlike the previously reported examples. The complex medium containing yeast extract used for the increase of the cell mass and hirudin level did not show any detrimental effect on plasmid stability and did not complicate the downstream purification of hirudin from the culture supernatant. Moreover, the complex medium could greatly improve the hirudin productivity and reduce the degradation of hirudin produced in the culture supernatants.open
Variations in protein glycosylation in Hansenula polymorpha depending on cell culture stage
No full textA simple way to prevent protein hyperglycosylation in Hansenula polymorpha was found. When glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger and carboxymethyl cellulase from Bacillus subtilis were expressed under the control of an inducible methanol oxidase (MOX) promoter using methanol as a carbon source, hyperglycosylated forms occurred. In contrast, MOX-repressing carbon sources (e.g., glucose, sorbitol, and glycerol) greatly reduced the extent of hyperglycosylation. Carbon source starvation of the cells also reduced the level of glycosylation, which was reversed to hyperglycosylation by the resumption of cell growth. It was concluded that the proteins expressed under actively growing conditions are produced as hyperglycosylated forms, whereas those under slow or nongrowing conditions are as short-glycosylated forms. The prevention of hyperglycosylation in the Hansenula polymorpha expression system constitutes an additional advantage over the traditional Saccharomyces cerevisiae system in recombinant production of glycosylated proteins.open
Heterologous gene expression and secretion of the anticoagulant hirudin in a methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha
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Gene expression and secretion of the anticoagulant hirudin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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