A Small Epitope Tagging on the C-Terminus of a Target Protein Requires Extra Amino Acids to Enhance the Immune Responses of the Corresponding Antibody.

Protein-specific antibodies are essential for various aspects of protein research, including detection, purification, and characterization. When specific antibodies are unavailable, protein tagging is a useful alternative. Small epitope tags, typically less than 10 amino acids, are widely used in protein research due to the simple modification through PCR and reduced impact on the target protein's function compared to larger tags.

Antibody production and characterization of the nucleoprotein of sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) for effective diagnosis of SFTSV.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an infectious disease caused by the Dabie bandavirus, [or SFTS virus (SFTSV)] that has become increasingly widespread since it was first reported in 2009. The SFTSV comprises three essential single-stranded RNA gene segments, with the S segment encoding the nucleocapsid (N) protein. Since the N protein is the most abundant and stable viral protein, it is a useful diagnostic marker of infection.

Intracellular Ca accumulation triggered by caffeine provokes resistance against a broad range of biotic stress in rice.

Chemical pesticides are still frequently overused to diminish such crop loss caused by biotic stress despite the threat to humans and the environment. Thus, it is urgent to find safer and more effective defense strategies. In this study, we report that caffeine, implanted through a transgenic approach, enhances resistance against variable biotic stresses in rice without fitness cost.

Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of the Rice Chalcone Isomerase Family.

Chalcone isomerase (CHI) is a key enzyme in flavonoid biosynthesis. In plants, CHIs occur in multigene families, and they are divided into four types, types I-IV. Type I and II CHIs are bona fide CHIs with CHI activity, and type III and IV CHIs are non-catalytic members with different functions.

Biochemical Characterization of a Flavonoid -methyltransferase from Perilla Leaves and Its Application in 7-Methoxyflavonoid Production.

Methylation is a common structural modification that can alter and improve the biological activities of natural compounds. -Methyltransferases (OMTs) catalyze the methylation of a wide array of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, and are potentially useful tools for the biotechnological production of valuable natural products. An gene () was isolated from perilla leaves as a putative flavonoid OMT (FOMT).

Lowering the Trap-State Density of Transparent Amorphous Oxide Semiconductor-Based Thin Film Transistors Through Microwave Irradiation.

In this study, a low-thermal-budget microwave irradiation (MWI) technique was applied as a post-deposition annealing (PDA) process to lower the trap densities that exist in transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TAOS TFTs). As channel layers of TAOS TFTs, two types of indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) with different compositions as well as aluminum zinc tin oxide (AZTO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited with various thicknesses through radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at 25°C. Cost-effective and energy-efficient MWI was conducted to enhance the electrical performance of transistors by removing traps and defects.

Two Chalcone Synthase Isozymes Participate Redundantly in UV-Induced Sakuranetin Synthesis in Rice.

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a key enzyme in the flavonoid pathway, participating in the production of phenolic phytoalexins. The rice genome contains 31 family genes (s). The molecular characterization of s suggests that and belong in the bona fide CHSs, while the other members are categorized in the non-CHS group of type III polyketide synthases (PKSs).

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1)-mediated progesterone effect on preimplantation development of in vitro produced porcine embryos.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone well known for its significant role in the reproduction process of mammals. Numerous studies have reported on the regulation of progesterone during implantation, pregnancy and parturition, but there are fewer studies on progesterone in relation to the early stages of embryo development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of progesterone during the development of in vitro produced porcine embryos.

Genome-wide Screening to Identify Responsive Regulators Involved in the Virulence of pv. .

Two-component systems (TCSs) are critical to the pathogenesis of pv. (). We mutated 55 of 62 genes annotated as responsive regulators (RRs) of TCSs in the genome of strain PXO99A and identified 9 genes involved in virulence.

Biochemical Characterization of the Rice Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Family.

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is involved in the final step of the phenylpropanod pathway, catalyzing the NADPH-dependent reduction of hydroxy-cinnamaldehydes into the corresponding alcohols. The rice genome contains twelve and genes, collectively called s. To elucidate the biochemical function of the s, , , , and , which are highly expressed in rice, were cloned from rice tissues.

Lack of a Cytoplasmic RLK, Required for ROS Homeostasis, Induces Strong Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight in Rice.

Many scientific findings have been reported on the beneficial function of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various cellular processes, showing that they are not just toxic byproducts. The double-edged role of ROS shows the importance of the regulation of ROS level. We report a gene, (required for ROS-scavenging receptor-like kinase), that encodes a cytoplasmic RLK belonging to the non-RD kinase family.

Biochemical and Expression Analyses of the Rice Cinnamoyl-CoA Reductase Gene Family.

Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) is the first committed enzyme in the monolignol pathway for lignin biosynthesis and catalyzes the conversion of hydroxycinnamoyl-CoAs into hydroxycinnamaldehydes. In the rice genome, 33 genes are annotated as and genes, collectively called s. To elucidate the functions of s, their phylogenetic relationships, expression patterns at the transcription levels and biochemical characteristics were thoroughly analyzed.

Biotechnological Production of Dimethoxyflavonoids Using a Fusion Flavonoid O-Methyltransferase Possessing Both 3'- and 7-O-Methyltransferase Activities.

Although they are less abundant in nature, methoxyflavonoids have distinct physicochemical and pharmacological properties compared to common nonmethylated flavonoids. Thus, enzymatic conversion and biotransformation using genetically engineered microorganisms of flavonoids have been attempted for the efficient production of methoxyflavonoids. Because of their regiospecificity, more than two flavonoid O-methyltransferases (FOMTs) and enzyme reactions are required to biosynthesize di(or poly)-methoxyflavonoids.

The Methoxyflavonoid Isosakuranetin Suppresses UV-B-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression and Collagen Degradation Relevant for Skin Photoaging.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a main extrinsic factor for skin aging. Chronic exposure of the skin to UV radiation causes the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as MMP-1, and consequently results in alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and skin photoaging. Flavonoids are considered as potent anti-photoaging agents due to their UV-absorbing and antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity against UV-mediated MMP induction.

Phytochrome-interacting ankyrin repeat protein 2 modulates phytochrome A-mediated PIF3 phosphorylation in light signal transduction.

Light signals recognized by phytochromes are transduced through interactions between down-stream signaling components. Phytochrome-interacting ankyrin repeat protein 2 (PIA2) was found to interact with phytochrome interacting factor 3 (PIF3), a well-known repressor of plant photomorphogenesis in response to phytochrome-mediated light signalling. Both PIA2 and PIF3 are known to be positive regulators of anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis seedlings under far-red conditions.

Fine Mutational Analysis of 2B8 and 3H7 Tag Epitopes with Corresponding Specific Monoclonal Antibodies.

Bacteriophytochromes are phytochrome-like light-sensing photoreceptors that use biliverdin as a chromophore. To study the biochemical properties of the Deinococcus radiodurans bacteriophytochrome (DrBphP) protein, two anti-DrBphP mouse monoclonal antibodies (2B8 and 3H7) were generated. Their specific epitopes were identified in our previous report.

OsMPK6 plays a critical role in cell differentiation during early embryogenesis in Oryza sativa.

The formation of body axes is the basis of morphogenesis during plant embryogenesis. We identified embryo-lethal mutants of rice (Oryza sativa) in which T-DNAs were inserted in OsMPK6 Embryonic organs were absent because their development was arrested at the globular stage. Similar to observations made with gle4, shootless, and organless, the osmpk6 mutations affected the initial step of cell differentiation.

Phenolic Phytoalexins in Rice: Biological Functions and Biosynthesis.

Phytoalexins are inducible secondary metabolites possessing antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens. Rice produces a wide array of phytoalexins in response to pathogen attacks and environmental stresses. With few exceptions, most phytoalexins identified in rice are diterpenoid compounds.

Prokaryotic 2-component systems and the OmpR/PhoB superfamily.

In bacteria, 2-component regulatory systems (TCSs) are the critical information-processing pathways that link stimuli to specific adaptive responses. Signals perceived by membrane sensors, which are generally histidine kinases, are transmitted by response regulators (RRs) to allow cells to cope rapidly and effectively with environmental challenges. Over the past few decades, genes encoding components of TCSs and their responsive proteins have been identified, crystal structures have been described, and signaling mechanisms have been elucidated.

Role of DetR in defence is critical for virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Like other bacteria, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight disease in rice, possesses intracellular signalling systems, known as two-component regulatory systems (TCSs), which regulate pathogenesis and biological processes. Completion of the genome sequences of three Xoo strains has facilitated the functional study of genes, including those of TCSs, but the biological functions of most Xoo TCSs have not yet been uncovered.

Lysine 206 in Arabidopsis phytochrome A is the major site for ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation.

Phytochrome A (phyA) is a light labile phytochrome that mediates plant development under red/far-red light condition. Degradation of phyA is initiated by red light-induced phyA-ubiquitin conjugation through the 26S proteasome pathway. The N-terminal of phyA is known to be important in phyA degradation.

Antimicrobial activity of UV-induced phenylamides from rice leaves.

Rice produces a wide array of phytoalexins in response to pathogen attacks and UV-irradiation. Except for the flavonoid sakuranetin, most phytoalexins identified in rice are diterpenoid compounds. Analysis of phenolic-enriched fractions from UV-treated rice leaves showed that several phenolic compounds in addition to sakuranetin accumulated remarkably in rice leaves.

Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies for the Deinococcus radiodurans bacteriophytochome.

Bacteriophytochromes (BphP) are phytochrome-like light sensing proteins in bacteria, which use biliverdin as a chromophore. In order to study the biochemical properties of the DrBphP protein, five (2B8, 2C11, 3B2, 3D2, and 3H7) anti-DrBphP monoclonal antibodies were produced through the immunization of mice with purified full-length DrBphP and DrBphN (1-321 amino acid) proteins, and epitope mapping was then carried out. Among the five antibodies, 2B8 and 2C11 preferentially recognized the N-terminal region of BphP whereas 3B2, 3D2, and 3H7 showed preference for the C-terminal region.

Hydrogen sensing under ambient conditions using SnO₂ nanowires: synergetic effect of Pd/Sn codeposition.

Semiconducting SnO2 nanowires deposited with Pd and Sn nanoparticles on their surface are shown to be a highly sensitive hydrogen sensor with fast response time at room temperature. Compared with the SnO2 nanowire deposited with Pd or Sn nanoparticles alone, the Pd/Sn-deposited SnO2 nanowire exhibits a significant improvement in the sensitivity and reversibility of sensing hydrogen gas in the air at room temperature. Our investigation indicates that two factors are responsible for the synergistic effect of Pd/Sn codeposition on SnO2 nanowires.