• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.144-147
• /
• 2004

Molecular amplification and sequencing of genomic DNA that encodes camel polyubiquitin (PUBC1) was performed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using various sets of primers. The amplification generated a number of DNA fragments, which were sequenced and compared with the polyubiquitin coding sequences of various species. One DNA fragment that conformed to 325 bp was found to be 95 and 88% homologous to the sequences of human polyubiquitin B and C, respectively. The DNA translated into 108 amino acids that corresponded to two fused units of ubiquitin with no intervening sequence, which indicates that it is a polyubiquitin and contains at least two units of ubiquitin. Although, variations were found in the nucleotide sequence when compared to those of other species, the amino acid sequence was 100% homologous to the polyubiquitin sequences of humans, mice, and rats. This is the first report of the polyubiquitin DNA coding sequence and its corresponding amino acid sequence from camels, amplified using direct genomic DNA preparations.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2002

Eight cDNAs corresponding to fruit-specific genes were isolated from ripened melon through differential screening. Sequence comparison indicated that six of these cDNAs encoded proteins were previously characterized into aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase, abscisic acid, stress and ripening inducible (ASR) gene, RINC-H2 zinc finger protein, pyruvate decarboxylase, or polyubiquitin. RFS2 and RFS5 were the same clone encoding polyubiquitin. The other cDNAs showed no significant homology with known protein sequences. The ASR homologue (Asr1) gene was further characterized on the cDNA and genomic structure. The deduced amino acid sequence had similar characteristics to other plant ASR. The Asr1 genomic DNA consisted of 2 exons and 1 intron, which is similar to the structure of other plants ASR genes. The promoter region of the Asr1 gene contained several putative functional cis-elements such as an abscisic acid responsive element (ABRE), an ethylene responsive element (ERE), a C-box or DPBf-1 and 2, Myb binding sites, a low temperature responsive element (LTRE) and a metal responsive element (MRE). The findings imply that these elements may play important roles in the response to plant hormones and environmental stresses in the process of fruit development. The results of this study suggest that the expressions of fruit specific and ripening-related cDNAs are closely associated with the stress response.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.47 no.9
• /
• pp.475-482
• /
• 2014

Ubiquitin (Ub) is a versatile signaling molecule that plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes. Cellular Ub pools, which are composed of free Ub and Ub conjugates, are in dynamic equilibrium inside cells. In particular, increasing evidence suggests that Ub homeostasis, or the maintenance of free Ub above certain threshold levels, is important for cellular function and survival under normal or stress conditions. Accurate determination of various Ub species, including levels of free Ub and specific Ub chain linkages, have become possible in biological specimens as a result of the introduction of the proteomic approach using mass spectrometry. This technology has facilitated research on dynamic properties of cellular Ub pools and has provided tools for in-depth investigation of Ub homeostasis. In this review, we have also discussed the consequences of the disruption of Ub pool dynamics and homeostasis via deletion of polyubiquitin genes or mutations of deubiquitinating enzymes. The common consequence was a reduced availability of free Ub and a significant impact on the function and viability of cells. These observations further indicate that the levels of free Ub are important determinants for cellular protection.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2016

Biological response of cells to variable conditions should affect the expression level of certain genes. Quantification of these changes in target genes needs stable internal controls. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has traditionally used reference or ‘housekeeping’ genes, that are considered to maintain equal expression in different conditions, to evaluate changes in target genes between samples and experimental conditions. Recent studies showed that some housekeeping genes may vary considerably in certain biological samples. This has not been evaluated in red algae. In order to identify the optimal internal controls for real-time PCR, we studied the expression of eleven commonly used housekeeping genes; elongation factor 1-alpha, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-actin, polyubiquitin, 30S ribosomal gene, 60S ribosomal gene, beta-tubulin, alpha-tubulin, translation initiation factor, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, and isocitrate dehydrogenase in different life-history stages of Bostrychia moritziana. Our results suggest that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and 30S ribosomal gene, have the most stable gene expression levels between the different life history stages (male, female, carposporophyte, and tetrasporophyte), while the other genes are not satisfactory as internal controls. These results suggest that the combinations of GAPDH and 30S would be useful as internal controls to assess expression level changes in genes that may control different physiological processes in this organism or that may change in different life history stages. These results may also be useful in other red algal systems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.740-746
• /
• 2021

Efficient cellulolytic enzyme production is important for the development of lignocellulose-degrading enzyme mixtures. However, purification of cellulases from their native hosts is time- and labor-consuming. In this study, a constitutive expression system was developed in Penicillium oxalicum for the secreted production of proteins. Using a constitutive polyubiquitin gene promoter and cultivating with glucose as the sole carbon source, nine cellulolytic enzymes of different origins with relatively high purity were produced within 48 h. When supplemented to a commercial cellulase preparation, cellobiohydrolase I from P. funiculosum and cellobiohydrolase II from Talaromyces verruculosus showed remarkable enhancing effects on the hydrolysis of steam-exploded corn stover. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed for these two cellobiohydrolases during the hydrolysis. Taken together, the constitutive expression system provides a convenient tool for the production of cellulolytic enzymes, which is expected to be useful in the development of highly efficient lignocellulose-degrading enzyme mixtures.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2007

Lactoferrin is an 80-kDa iron-binding glycoprotein known to exert many biological activities, such as facilitating iron absorption and having antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Rice can be a useful target for edible food plants to introduce human lactoferrin, because it has lower allergenicity and is likely to be safer than microorganisms or transgenic animals. A cDNA fragment encoding human lactoferrin (HLF) driven by the maize polyubiquitin promoter, along with herbicide resistance gene (bar) driven by CaMV 35S promoter, was introduced into rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dong Jin) using the Agrobacterium -mediated transformation system. Putative transformants were initially selected on the medium containing bialaphos. The stable integration of the bar and HLF genes into transgenic rice plants was further confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analyses. The expression of the full length HLF protein from various tissues such as grains and young leaves of transgenic rice was verified by Western blot analysis. Analysis of progeny also demonstrated that introduced genes were stably inherited to the next generation at the Mendelian fashion.