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Cloning and characterization of the UDP glucose/galactose epimerases of Oryza sativa

Abstract

UDP-glucose/galactose-4-epimerase (UGE) catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose. Oryza sativa contains four UGEs. Expression of OsUGE3 was higher than other OsUGEs in all tissues except the stem. OsUGE1 expression was enhanced after drought, salt or UV-irradiation stress. Four rice UGEs (OsUGE1–4) were cloned by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. OsUGE1–4 were expressed in Escherichia coli with glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and purified. All four OsUGEs could covert UDP-glucose into UDP-galactose better than vice versa. Kinetic parameters of OsUGEs showed that OsUGE1 was most efficient. These OsUGEs could be used for biosynthesis of various UDP-sugars, which serve as a cosubstrates of UDP-dependent glycosyltransferase modification reactions of antibiotics or flavonoids.

Abbreviations

RT-PC:

reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

UGE:

UDP-glucose epimerase

UGlcAE:

UDP-glucuronic acid 4-epimerase

UXE:

UDP-xylose-epimerase

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Correspondence to Joong-Hoon Ahn.

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Kim, SK., Kim, D.H., Kim, BG. et al. Cloning and characterization of the UDP glucose/galactose epimerases of Oryza sativa . J. Korean Soc. Appl. Biol. Chem. 52, 315–320 (2009). https://doi.org/10.3839/jksabc.2009.056

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3839/jksabc.2009.056

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