Myceliuml growth and spore formation of Streptomyces albidoflavus SMF301 in submerged culture were compared with the metabolism of cysteine. Cysteine added to the culture was metabolized by cysteine desulfhydrase (EC 4.4.1.1.) to produce ammonium ions, hydrogen sulfide, and pyruvate. The redox potential of the culture broth was lowered immediately as the result of the metabolism of cysteine, which caused a lag period of mycelium growth. However enhanced activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase were confirmed in the culture containing cysteine, indicating that pyruvate was utilized to support further mycelium growth.

An efficient and convenient method of introducing transposable elements into acetic acid bacteria was developed by the method of conjugal transfer. The ampicillin-resistant strain, Acetobacter sp. HA, was selected to be conjugated with two E. coli strains, WA803 containing pGS9 and AC8001 harboring pJB4JI. The Tn5 containing suicide vector pGS9 or pJB4JI, was transferred from E. coli to Acetobacter sp. HA and kanamycin-ampicillin-resistant transconjugants obtained at high frequencies. The conjugal frequencies of pGS9 and pJB4JI were 6.20$\times$$l0^{-1} and 2.79$\times$l0{-1}$ per recipient, respectively. The transfer method was applied on four different strains of Acetobacter. The conjugal transfer frequencies ranged from 2.00$\times$$l0^{-2} to 4.45$\times$l0^{-8}$ per recipient in the three strains. Some transconjugants tested were found to contain Tn5 DNA in their genomes and this was confirmed by Southem blot analysis. This is the first study which shows that Tn5 mutagenesis can be applied to successfully isolate mutants of Acetobacter genus.

To find new crystal protein genes, we screened 42 Bacillus thuringiensis strains of serovar standards by Southern hybridization with a cryI-specific probe which was amplified from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HDl by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two strains, B. thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus HD9 and subsp. subtoxicus HD109, generated weak signals under the low-stringency hybridization conditions. Further analysis with Southern hybridization revealed that the two strains contained cryIB genes which are slightly different from those of B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis HD2. These results were confirmed by PCR with cryIB-specific primers followed by the restriction analysis of PCR products.

The light-organ symbiont of pine cone fish, Vibrio fischeri, senses its presence in the host and responds to environmental changes by differentially expressing its symbiosis-related luminescence genes. The V. fischeri luminescence genes are activated by LuxR protein in the presence of an autoinducer. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of regulation of luxR, a plasmid containing luxR was mutagenized in vitro with hydroxylamine and a luxR mutant plasmid was isolated by its ability to activate luminescence genes cloned in E. coli in the absence of the autoinducer. The specific base change identified by DNA sequencing was only single base transition at ＋78 from the transcriptional start of luxR. Based on a Western immunoblot analysis, the nucleotide change directed the synthesis of much higher level of LuxR protein without any amino acid substitutions. The results suggest that the region including the ＋78th base is presumably internal operator required for autorepression of luxR, and the increased cellular level of LuxR results in activation of luminescence genes by autoinducer independent fashion.

Cell-free extracts prepared from cultured insect cells, Spodoptera. frugiperda, were analyzed for activation of early gene transcription of an insect baculovirus, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). The template DNA used for in vitro transcription assays contained promoter sites for the baculovirus genes that have been classified as immediate early ($\alpha$) or early genes. These genes are located in the HindIII-K/Q region of the AcNPV genome. Nuclei isolated from the AcNPV-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells were also used for in vitro transcription analysis by RNase-mapping the labeled RNA synthesized from in vitro run-on reaction in the isolated nuclei. The genes studied by this technique were p26 and pl0 genes which were classified as delayed early and late gene, respectively. We found that transcription of the genes from the HindIII-K region was accurately initiated and unique in the whole cell extract obtained from uninfected cells, although abundance of the in vitro transcripts was reverse to that of in vivo RNA. With isolated nuclei transcription of the p26 gene was inhibited by $\alpha$-amanitin suggesting that the p26 gene was transcribed by host RNA polymerase II. However, transcription of the pl0 gene in isolated nuclei was not inhibited by $\alpha$-amanitin, but rather stimulated by the inhibitor. We also found that the synthesis of $\alpha$-amanitin-resistant RNA polymerase was begun before 6 hr p.i., the time point at which the onset of viral DNA replication as well as the appearance of a-amanitin-resistant viral transcripts were detected. These studies give us strong evidence to support the previous data that early genes of AcNPV were transcribed by host RNA polymerease III, while transcription of late genes was mediated at least by a novel $\alpha$-amanitin-resistant RNA polymerase.

Acetoin and ammonia, the precursors of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) having "nutty " or "roasted" flavors, were produced by cultivating Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis biovar. diacetilactis FC1. The effects of the volume concentration ratio (VCR) of cell-free medium on the formation of TMP were investigated using a rotary evaporator at $70^{\circ}C than at 80^{\circ}C$. As the VCR increased, the formation of TMP and the conversion ratio of acetoin to TMP increased. More TMP were formed at $70^{\circ}C than at 80^{\circ}C$. As the VCR increased, the concentration of acetoin decreased implying the formation of TMP from acetoin and ammonia.

Immunostimulation effects of the cell wall components isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum were investigated by studying the macrophage s tumorcidal activity, splenocyte proliferation, anticomplementary activity and the inhibition of peritoneal tumor cell growth measured with ICR mice inoculated with sarcoma 180. The immunopotentiating cell wall components were a complex of peptidoglycan and exopolysaccharides. The tumorcidal activity of macrophage against Yacl and B16 tumor cells was enhanced when the cell wall components were added into the macrophage s culture medium. They also stimulated splenocytes to proliferate up to the same level as when the concanavalin A was added into the splenocyte's culture medium. The complementary activity was inhibited by 50% when the cell wall components were incubated with the sheep red blood cells treated with hemolysin and guinea pig complement. This result confirmed that the cell wall components had an antitumor effect, because the anticomplementary activity is usually accompanied by an antitumor activity at the same time. This fact was confirmed again by the inhibition of the growth of sarcoma 180 when the cell wall components were injected intraperitoneally into ICR mice inoculated with sarcoma 180. As a result, it is concluded that the cell wall components isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum had multifunctional immunostimulation effects in vitro and in vivo.

Spodoptera frugiperda IPLB-SF-21-AE cells were cultivated in a spin-filter bioreactor with continuous perfusion for the recombinant $\beta$-galactosidase production. At the perfusion rate of 0.06 $hr^{-1}$, the maximum cell density of insect cells in this bioreactor system reached 3.5$\times$$l0^6$ viable cells/ml using the Grace media containing 5% FBS and 0.3% Pluronic F-68. The recombinant $\beta$-galactosidase production of 8, 100 units per reactor volume was also achieved at this perfusion rate.

The synthesis of N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester (Z-APM), a precursor of aspartame, from N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspartic acid (Z-Asp) and L-phenylalanine methylester hydrochlolide($L-PM\cdot HCI$) was investigated in a saturated-ethylacetate single phase system using immobilized thermolysin. Among the various supports tested, glyceryl-CPG was found to be most efficient for retaining enzyme activity. The enzyme immobilized onto glyceryl-CPG also showed the highest activity for Z-APM synthesis in saturated ethyl acetate. Z-APM conversion yield in saturated ethylacetate was half of that obtained in an ethyl acetate-buffer two-phase system under the same reaction conditions. However, as the mole ratio of $L-PM \cdot HCI$ to Z-Asp was increased to 4.0, the conversion yield reached 95 %. When continuous synthesis of Z-APM was canied out in a plug flow reactor (PFR) with 80 mM of L-PMㆍHCI and 20 mM of Z-Asp in saturated ethylacetate (pH 5.5), more than 95 % of Z-Asp was converted to Z-APM with a space velocity of 1.16 $hr^{-1} at 40^{\circ}C$. Although the operational stability in PFR was reduced rapidly, more than 80% of initial activity was maintained in CSTR even after a week of operation.

The molecular weight of poly-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) produced by Alcaligenes sp. K-912 is an important parameter characterizing the physical properties of the polymer. The effects of temperature and the levels of glucose, ammonium, phosphate and amino acids on the molecular weight of PHB were investigated. Molecular weight of PHB by temperature varied in the range of 380,000 to 550,000, 400,000 to 600,000 by glucose, 300,000 to 380,000 by phosphate, 400,000 to 1,000,000 by amino acids, respectively under the experimental conditions.

Two strains of yeast (RA-74-2 and RA-912) showing superior fermenting ability at a high temperature were isolated from soils and wastewaters by an enrichment culture method. Based on the morphological and physiological charateristics, the two strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus, respectively. RA-74-2 was able to grow upto $43^{\circ}C$ and sustain similar fermenting ability in the temperatures range from 30 to $40^{\circ}C$. In addition, the sugar- and ethanol-tolerance of RA-74-2 were 30% (w/v) glucose and 10% (v/v) ethanol, which appeared to be higher than those of nine other industrial yeast strains currently being used in the alcohol factories. The thermotolerant ethanol fermenting yeast RA-912 showed identical growth in the temperatures range from 35 to $45^{\circ}C$ and was resistant to various heavy metals. The quality and quantity of byproducts of the isolated yeast strains in fermentation broth after fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$ were similiar with those obtained at $30^{\circ}C$. These results show that RA-74-2 can be adopted for the ethanol fermentation process where the expenses for cooling system is significant, and suggest that RA-912 may be applied in either SSF(simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) or Flash-fermentation process and RA-912 may be used as a gene donor for the development of thermotolerant ethanol-fermenting yeasts.

In order to develop a method of economical production and to reduce energy-consumption in fuel alcohol production, we investigated the fermentation characters of two newly selected thermotolerant yeasts. The RA-74-2 showed stable and superior fermentability between 30 and $40^{\circ}C$ in 20% glucose media in comparison to the industrial strains. The optimum concentration of glucose for economical fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ was 15-18%, and organic nitrogen was necessary for a satisfactory fermentation. The optimum pH was 4.0 and aeration was adversed for high temperature fermentation. Agitation was an important factor at $40^{\circ}C$ and the addition of magnesium ion 0.2% was required in this experiment. When the inoculum was increased, ethanol productivity as well as the speed of fermentation increased. On the other hand RA-912, which can grow at $48^{\circ}C$, showed similar fermentability between 30-$45^{\circ}C$ in 20% glucose media As the concentration of substrate decreased, fermentation ratio increased at $45^{\circ}C$ (45%, 65%, 95% fermentation ratio in 20%, 15%, 10% glucose media, respectively). Also, requirement of organic nitrogen and magnesium ion in RA-912 was similar in RA-74-2. The optimum pH for fermentation was 5.0, and the effects of agitation were enhanced at $37^{\circ}C$ than at $45^{\circ}C$. As the inoculum was increased, fermentation speed became more enhanced but the ethanol productivity was less affected. RA-912 showed fermentability with various substrates. Among the substrates used, inulin was the most promising substrate for the high-temperature fermentation. When 14.5% inulin was used as the substrate, 93% and 55% fermentation ratios were shown at $37^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$, respectively.

The enzymes $\alpha$-amylase and glucoamylase used in starch hydrolysis were found active in the supercritical carbon dioxide solvent Higher hydrolysis of starch sluny in supercritical $CO_2$ was achieved by operating the reactor for the first two hours with $\alpha$ -amylase and to subsequent addition of glucoamylase for continued hydrolysis.

A general improved procedure for preparation of a cosmid library based on the use of a pBLcosT vectorwas described. The vector was modified to contain 2 tandem Xcml sites and was digested with Xcml to yield 2 terminal 3 T overhangs, capable of ligation with the insert that contains 2 terminal complementary 3 A overhangs. The resultant ligation mixture was packaged and a cosmid library in Escherichia coli was established.

Direct colony hybridization on agarose gel plate was established for the identification of recombinant plasmids. The hybridization of the probe to nucleic acids on dried gel without transferring to solid supports was more effective and simpler than hybridization of such probes to materials immobilized on filters such as nitrocellulose or nylon. D-cycloserine in overlaying agamse was essential for releasing the nucleic acids from colony.