Identification of a novel cellulose-binding domain within the endo-ß-1,4-xylanase KRICT PX-3 from Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003.

The model 3-D structure of xylanase KRICT PX3 (JF320814) identified by DNA sequence analysis revealed a catalytic domain and CBM4-9 which functions as a xylan binding domain (XBD). To identify its role in xylan hydrolysis, six expression plasmids were constructed encoding the N-terminal CBM plus the catalytic domain or different glycosyl hydrolases, and the biochemical properties of the recombinant enzymes were compared to the original structure of PX3 xylanase. All six of the recombinant xylanases with the addition of CBM in the pIVEX-GST expression vector showed no improved PX3 hydrolytic activity. However, the absence of the CBM domain resulted in a decrement of 40% in thermostability, movement of the optimal temperature from 55°C to 45°C, alteration of the optimal pH range from 5-10 to 6-8, and reduction of the enzymatic activity to one-second under the same condition, respectively. The putative XBD in PX3 comprises a new N-terminal domain homologous to the catalytic thermostabilizing domains from other xylanases. Analysis of the main products released from xylan indicate that the recombinant enzymes act as endo-1,4-ß-xylanases but differ in their hydrolysis of xylan from beech wood, birch wood, and oat spelt.

Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) with a modified parameter on facial tightening: A study on its safety and efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) is a novel treatment modality for skin laxity. The delivery of thermal energy to the deeper tissue layers effectively tightens the skin but can also cause significant fat atrophy, limiting its use in patients with a lean face. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of modified IFUS on facial rejuvenation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study of 28 subjects with age-related facial laxity who underwent 3 sessions of IFUS (UltraskinTM, WONTECH Co., Daejeon, Korea) at an interval of four weeks, and then followed up for three months. IFUS was first applied using a 4-MHZ, 4.5-mm transducer followed by a 7-MHZ, 3-mm transducer. Approximately 200-300 treatment lines were applied to the face during each session. Standardized photographs were taken at baseline and follow-ups and were assessed by two independent dermatologists. A questionnaire was used to evaluate patient satisfaction and the incidence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: Twenty-eight subjects with mild-to-moderate age-related facial laxity were included in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 48 (range 29-74) years. About 32.1% of the subjects showed significant improvement and 57.1% showed improvement of facial laxity in their follow-up photographs. All of them (100%) replied that they were either greatly satisfied or satisfied with the results at three-month follow-up. None of the subjects experienced any serious adverse events including fat atrophy after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Modified IFUS (three sessions, four weeks apart, 200-300 treatment lines per session) can be safely performed with good clinical results.

Triazolyl phenyl disulfides: 8-Amino-7-oxononanoate synthase inhibitors as potential herbicides.

The chemical validation of a potential herbicide target was investigated with 8-amino-7-oxononanoate synthase (AONS, also known as 7-keto-8-aminopelargonate synthase, KAPAS) and triazolyl phenyl disulfide derivatives in vitro and in vivo. AONS activity was completely inhibited by these synthesized compounds, with an IC50 of 48 to 592µM in vitro. Forty five-day old Arabidopsis thaliana plants were completely killed by representative compound KHG23844 {N-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(phenyldisulphanyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-carboxamide} at the application rate of 250gha(-1) of foliar treatment in greenhouse conditions. Foliar application of 1000gha(-1) KHG23844 induced 2.3-fold higher l-alanine accumulation in the treated A. thaliana plants. Foliar supplement of 1mM biotin at 1 and 2days before KHG23844 application effectively recovered the growth inhibition of A. thaliana plant treated with KHG23844. The results strongly suggested that representative compound KHG23844 and its derivatives are potential AONS inhibitors.

A new bi-modular endo-ß-1,4-xylanase KRICT PX-3 from whole genome sequence of Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003.

A new bi-modular, wide pH spectrum and highly active xylanase KRICT PX3 (JF320814) isolated from Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003 (KCTC11987BP) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant xylanase KRICT PX-3 (1,620 bp, 540aa, NCBI accession number JF320814) showed highly active at 55°C in pH 4.0-11.0, and stability for at least 24h at 50°C, and exhibited Km and Vmax of 0.2mg/mL and 153.8 U/mg on birchwood xylan. Most common ions did not affect the enzyme activity at 1mM concentration. This enzyme could belong to glycoside hydrolase family 10 because hydrolyzed glucuronoxylan and arabinoxylan substrate to xylobiose, xylotriose, and some traces of xylose as hydrolysis products. Model 3-D structure was composed of two domains, the catalytic domain of a (ß/α)8 barrel fold while the small domain probably functions as a xylan binding domain, and the two domains are connected by a flexible linker peptide (PPLAIEKDIPSL). However, sequence alignment between xylan-binding module in this xylanase KRICT PX3 and CBM22 showed 21% of identity and 35% of similarity. This xylanase structure showed a distinctive group of enzyme cluster separately from the rest of GH10 xylanases, and seems to constitute a new type of xylanases.

Genome sequence of Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003, a xylanase-producing bacterium isolated from soil found in forest residue.

This article reports on the full genome sequence of Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003, which is a gram-positive, endospore-forming, xylanase-producing bacterium isolated from soil found in forest residue on Gara Mountain. The strain HPL-003 contains 6,083,395 bp with a G+C content of 46.77 mol%, 2,633 protein-coding genes, and 117 structural RNAs.

Cloning and characterization of a xylanase, KRICT PX1 from the strain Paenibacillus sp. HPL-001.

The KRICT PX1 gene (GB: FJ380951) consisting of 996bp encoding a protein of 332 amino acids (38.1kDa) from the recently isolated Paenibacillus sp. strain HPL-001 (KCTC11365BP) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The xylanase KRICT PX1 showed high activity on birchwood xylan, and was active over a pH range of 5.0 to 11.0, with two optima at pH 5.5 and 9.5 at 50 degrees C with K(m) value of 5.35 and 3.23, respectively. The xylanase activity was not affected by most salts, such as NaCl, LiCl, KCl, NH(4)Cl, CaCl(2), MgCl(2), MnCl(2), and CsCl(2) at 1mM, but affected by CuSO(4), ZnSO(4), and FeCl(3). One mM of EDTA, 2-mercaptoethanol, and PMSF did not affect the xylanase activity. TLC analysis of the catalyzed products after reaction with birchwood xylan revealed that xylobiose was the major product with smaller amounts of xylotriose and xylose. A similarity analysis of the amino acids in KRICT PX1 resulted 72% identity with xylanase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GB: ZP_03040360), 70% identity with intracellular xylanase from an uncultured bacterium (GB: AAP51133), 68% identity with endo-1-4-xylanse from Paenibacillus sp. (GB: ZP_02847150). In addition, the amino acid alignment of KRICT PX1 with glycosyl hydralase (GH) family 10 xylanases revealed a high degree of homology in highly conserved regions including the catalytic sites, and this was confirmed through PROSITE scan. These results imply that KRICT PX1 is a new xylanase gene, and this alkaline xylanase belongs to GH family 10.

Genetic analysis of 10 unrelated Korean families with p22-phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease: an unusually identical mutation of the CYBA gene on Jeju Island, Korea.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. The underlying defect in CGD is an inability of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species as a result of defects in NADPH oxidase. Considering that CGD generally affects about 3-4 in 1,000,000 individuals, it is surprising that the prevalence of CGD on Jeju Island is 20.7 in 1,000,000 individuals. We performed genetic analysis on 12 patients from 10 unrelated families and found that all patients had an identical homozygous single-base substitution of C to T in exon 1 (c.7C>T) of the CYBA gene, which was expected to result in a nonsense mutation (p.Q3X). Because Jeju Island has long been a geologically isolated region, the high prevalence of CGD on Jeju Island is presumably associated with an identical mutation inherited from a common ancestor or proband.