사람의 모유에 많이 함유된 human lactoferrin(hLF)은 항균 및 항 바이러스 작용이 있는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 hLf를 메탄올자화 효모인 Pichia pastoris에 cloning하고 그 발현을 RT-PCR, Northern blotting, SDS-PAGE및 Western blotting으로 확인하였다. 그 결과 2.1 kb의 hLf 유전자가 P.pastoris의 염색체 DNA로 끼어들어가 안정적으로 hLf를 발현하였다. 이 재조합 P.pastotis로부터 hLf를 포함하는 세포 추출액을 얻어 항균 작용을 연구하였다. 발현된 재조합 hLf는 Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus flavus 등의 그람 양성균에 대해 강력한 항균작용을 보일 뿐만 아니라 그람 음성 동물성 병원균인 Pseudomonas fluorescens ID 9631, E. coli ATCC8739, 25922,35 등과 Salmonella typhimurium 114,115 등 다양한 균에 대해서도 강력한 항균작용을 보였다. 이는 재조합 hLf가 생물학적 활성이 있다는 것을 보여준다.
The expression and antibacterial. activity of recombinant human lactoferrin (hLf) was studied from methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The gene encoding hLf, isolated from human breast cDNA library, was subcloned into the expression vector, pPIC3.5K under the control of AOX1 promoter. The gene was integrated into the host chromosome and was identified by Southern blotting. The expression of the integrated gene was investigated by RT-PCR, Northern blotting, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Discrete band corresponding to hLf was detected from the SDS-PAGE, which was confirmed by Western blotting. The expression was also confirmed by RT-PCR and Northern blotting. The antibacterial activity of the recombinant hLf (rhLf) was investigated using Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P and Micrococcus flavus ATCC 10240 as test organisms. The rhLf showed strong antibacterial activities against the bacteria. Furthermore, many Gram-negative animal pathogens such as E.coli ATCC8739, 25922, and Salmonella typhimurium 114 and 115, Pseudomonas fluorescens ID 963 I, P. aeruginosa KCCM 11802, and Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus mesentericus were also inhibited in their growth by the rhLf.
