Selective fluorescent labeling of cellular proteins and its biological applications.

Proteins, which are ubiquitous in cells and critical to almost all cellular functions, are indispensable for life. Fluorescence imaging of proteins is key to understanding their functions within their native milieu, as it provides insights into protein localization, dynamics, and trafficking in living systems. Consequently, the selective labeling of target proteins with fluorophores has emerged as a highly active research area, encompassing bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, and cell biology.

Affinity-Directed Site-Specific Protein Labeling and Its Application to Antibody-Drug Conjugates.

Chemically modified proteins have diverse applications; however, conventional chemo-selective methods often yield heterogeneously labeled products. To address this limitation, site-specific protein labeling holds significant potential, driving extensive research in this area. Nevertheless, site-specific modification of native proteins remains challenging owing to the complexity of their functional groups.

Evaluation of Silk Fibroin/Gellan Gum Hydrogels with Controlled Molecular Weight through Silk Fibroin Hydrolysis for Tissue Engineering Application.

Hydrogel is a versatile material that can be manipulated to achieve the desired physicochemical properties, such as stiffness, pore size, and viscoelasticity. Traditionally, these properties have been controlled through parameters such as concentration and pH adjustments. In this study, we focused on exploring the potential of hydrolyzed silk fibroin (HSF) as a molecular weight-modulating agent to control the physicochemical properties of double-composite hydrogels.

Development of Gelatin-Based Shape-Memory Polymer Scaffolds with Fast Responsive Performance and Enhanced Mechanical Properties for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) can be defined as a reversibly changing form through deformation and recovery by external stimuli. However, there remain application limitations of SMPs, such as complicated preparation processes and slow shape recovery. Here, we designed gelatin-based shape-memory scaffolds by a facile dipping method in tannic acid solution.

Engineering Translation Components for Genetic Code Expansion.

The expansion of the genetic code consisting of four bases and 20 amino acids into diverse building blocks has been an exciting topic in synthetic biology. Many biochemical components are involved in gene expression; therefore, adding a new component to the genetic code requires engineering many other components that interact with it. Genetic code expansion has advanced significantly for the last two decades with the engineering of several components involved in protein synthesis.

Conversion of Racemic Unnatural Amino Acids to Optically Pure Forms by a Coupled Enzymatic Reaction.

Genetic code expansion (GCE) technology is a useful tool for the site-specific modification of proteins. An unnatural amino acid (UAA) is one of the essential components of this technique, typically required at high concentration (1 mM or higher) in growth medium. The supply of UAAs is an important limitation to the application of GCE technology, as many UAAs are either expansive or commercially unavailable.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 contributes to the development of allergic rhinitis by promoting the production of epithelial-derived cytokines.

Background: Arginine methylation is a posttranslational modification mediated by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). Although previous studies have shown that PRMT1 contributes to the severity of allergic airway inflammation or asthma, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of PRMT1 and its relevant mechanism in the development of allergic rhinitis (AR).

Metal-Mediated Protein Assembly Using a Genetically Incorporated Metal-Chelating Amino Acid.

Many natural proteins function in oligomeric forms, which are critical for their sophisticated functions. The construction of protein assemblies has great potential for biosensors, enzyme catalysis, and biomedical applications. In designing protein assemblies, a critical process is to create protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks at defined sites of a target protein.

Generation of a High-Growth Influenza Vaccine Strain in MDCK Cells for Vaccine Preparedness.

As shown during the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (A(H1N1)pdm09) outbreak, egg-based influenza vaccine production technology is insufficient to meet global demands during an influenza pandemic. Therefore, there is a need to adapt cell culture-derived vaccine technology using suspended cell lines for more rapid and larger-scale vaccine production. In this study, we attempted to generate a high-growth influenza vaccine strain in MDCK cells using an A/Puerto/8/1934 (H1N1) vaccine seed strain.

Simiduia aestuariiviva sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a tidal flat sediment.

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated J-MY2(T), was isolated from a tidal flat sediment of the South Sea, South Korea. Strain J-MY2(T) was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.

Simiduia curdlanivorans sp. nov., a curdlan-degrading bacterium isolated from the junction between the ocean and a freshwater spring, and emended description of the genus Simiduia.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated DMCK3-4(T), was isolated from the zone where the ocean and a freshwater spring meet at Jeju island, South Korea. Strain DMCK3-4(T) grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.

Thalassococcus lentus sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from seawater of a seaweed farm.

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod- or ovoid-shaped bacterial strain, designated YCS-24(T), was isolated from seawater of a seaweed farm in the South Sea, South Korea. Strain YCS-24(T) grew optimally at 25-28 °C, at pH 7.0-7.

Sungkyunkwania multivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seawater from a seaweed farm.

A Gram-staining-negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated PDB-16(T), was isolated from seawater from a seaweed farm on the South Sea in Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain PDB-16(T) grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-7.

Inhibition of lytic reactivation of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus by alloferon.

Background: Alloferon, an immunomodulatory peptide, has antiviral capability against herpesvirus. In this research, we aimed to investigate the effect of alloferon on the regulation of the life cycle of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and its mechanisms. We also assessed the antiviral activity of alloferon on natural killer (NK) cells as an early antiviral immune responder.

A hantavirus causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome requires gC1qR/p32 for efficient cell binding and infection.

Hantaan virus (HTNV) is a pathogenic hantavirus that causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HTNV infection is mediated by alpha v beta3 integrin. We used protein blots of Vero E6 cell homogenates to demonstrate that radiolabeled HTNV virions bind to gC1qR/p32, the acidic 32-kDa protein known as the receptor for the globular head domain of complement C1q.