Carbon monoxide (CO)-utilizing acetogens were enriched and KIST612 isolated from anaerobic digester fluid was selected for its abilities to tolerate high CO and acetate concentration. The isolate KIST612 was identified as Eubacterium limosum based on the morphological and biochemical characteristics, G+C content of DNA and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. E. limosum KIST612 produced acetate and butyrate from CO. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth and acids formations were 37$\cdot $C and 7.0, respectively. The growth rate and acids productivity of E. limosum KIST612 were higher than those of any other known acetogens when CO was used as the sole energy and carbon source.

A bacterium, strain YK 391 producing extracellular cytosine deaminase, has been isolated from soil sample collected near Taegu City and identified. The strain YK 391 was observed to be a motile Gram-negative rod, and did not produced capsule nor spore. The bacterium produced acid from glucose and trehalose, not from arabinose. Esculine was nto hydrolyzed. The isolate could grow anaerobically at 37$\circ $C, but not at 4$\circ $C. Palmitoleic and palmitic acids comprised over 80% of the fatty acid composition of the strain. The strain. The strain YK 391 was identified as Chromobacterium violaceum YK 391 based on its morphological and physiolohical characteristics, and on the fatty acid composition. The extracellular cytosine deaminase produced by Chromobacterium violaceum YK 391 is believed to be unique because it was active not only on cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine but also on cytidine.

A bacterial strain J-59 was isolated from a humus soil, which produced simultaneously a thermostable glucose isomerase as well as xylanase. The morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics of the isoisomerase strain J-59 were detemined by the use of the media and methods described in International Streptomyces Project. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolated strain J-59 were determined by the analysis of G+C molar % of DNA, diaminipimelic acid, composition of fatty acid and menaquinone. As the results of various examinations, the strain J-59 was identified to be Streptomyces chibaensis. This strain produced glucose isomerase intracellularly and xylanase extracellularly when grown in a medium containing xylan, but it was not able to utilize the xylose or xylan as a carbon source. The glucose isomerase of S. chibaensis J59 was highly thermostable, which retained more than 75% activity in the presence of Co$^{2+}$ at 80$\circ $C for 72 h.

The nucleotide sequence of the estI gene encoding acetylxylan esterase I of Bacillus stearothermophilus was determined and analyzed. The estI gene was found to consist of a 810 base pair open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 270 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 30 kDa. This was in well agreement with the molecular weight (29 kDa) estimated by SDS-PAGE of the purified esterase. The coding sequence was preceded by a putative ribo some binding site 10 bp upsteam of the ATG codon. Further 53 bp upstream, the transcription initiation signals were identified. The putative $_{-}$10 sequence (TCCAAT) and $_{-}$35 seqence (TTGAAT) corresponded closely to the respective consensus sequences for the Bacillus subtiis major RNA polymerase. The G+C content of the coding region of the estI was 51% whereas that of the third position of codone was 60.2%. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the EstI deduced from the nucleotide sequence perfectly matched the corresponding region of the purified esterase described previously. Comparison with the amino acid sequence of other esterases and lipases reported so far allowed us to identify a sequence, GLSMG at positions 123 to 127 of the EstI which was reported to be the highly conserved active site sequence for those enzymes. The nucleotide sequence of the estI revealed 55.7% homology to that of the xylC coding for the acetylxylan esterase of Caldocellum saccharolyticum.

To genetically breed powerful multifunctional antagonistic bacteria, the urease gene of alkalophilic Bacillus pasteurii was transferred into Bacillus subtilis YB-70 which had been selected as a powerful biocontrol agent against root-rotting fungus Fusarium solani. Urease gene was inserted into the HindIII site of pGB215-110 and designated pGU266. The plasmid pGU266 containing urease gene was introduced into the B. subtilis YB-70 by alkali cation transformation system and the urease gene was very stably expressed in the transformant of B. subtilis YB-70(pGU266). The optimal conditions for the transfomation were also evaluated. From the in vitro antibiosis tests against F. solani, the antifungal activity of B. subtilis YB-70 containing urease gene was much efficient than that of the non-transformed strain. Genetic improvement of B. subtilis YB-70 by transfer of urease gene for the efficient control seemed to be responsible for enhanced plant growth and biocontrol efficacy by combining its astibiotic action and ammonia producing ability.

Triphenylmethane was decolorized rapidly by enterbacter cloacae MG 82 at initial reaction time. The spheroplast showed higher activity of triphenylmentane decolorization than that of intact cell suspension. The outer part of the bacterial cell envelope and the peptidoglycan are important for the function of transport barrier of triphenylmethane. In intact cell, decolorization activity was higher at 37$\circ $C than at $\circ $C, indicating that triphenylmethane decolorization is due to the enzyme reaction. Culture filtrate showed no decolorization activity, while cell-free extract appeared high activity of 1.45 units, clearly showing that decolorization activity was due to the cell-free extract. Comparing decolorization activities of cell fractions, it was found that decolorization activity was located at the compartment of cytoplasmic membrane. The enzyme activity was also shown to be Mg$^{++}$-dependent. The optimum pH and temperature of enzyme activity were 7.0 and 50$\circ $C, respectively. The thermostability of this enzyme at 35$\circ $C was kept to 58% for 3 hours.

$\beta $-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) was purified from Aspergillus niger SFN-416 by a sequential process of ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sepadex G-100 and DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. Molecular weight of the enzyme was 46, 000 daltons. The K$_{m}$ and V$_{max}$ values for PNPG were 0.67 mM and 25 moles/ml $\cdot $min., respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme activity were 3.5 and 58$\circ $C, respectively. The enzyme activity was decreased by addition of metal ions, and increased by addition of metanol, ethanol, isopropanol and 1-butanol at a concentration of 10% (v/v). Stability of the enzyme was increased by addition of isopropanol and 1-butanol at a concentration of 10% (v/v).

To utilize the alkaline protease produced by Halomonas sp. ES-10 as an enzyme detergent, the crude enzyme was obtained by methanol precipitation and lyophilization. And it was processed to coated enzyme.The best mixing ratio of components such as coated enzyme, builders, actives, fillers and adjuvants on detergency was examined, and temperature and pH influencing detergency were also tested. Detergency test 0.15% detergent solution was carried out on EMPA test cloth #116 with shaking(90 rpm) for 10 min after 30 min of pretreatment. The detergent which contained coated-enzyme 1%, Zeolite 4A 20%, Tween 80 1. 5%, sodium borate 30%, sodium meta silicate 7.5% and water 40% showed about 90% of washing efficiency at 40$\circ $C and pH 10.0.

An alkaline protease producing microorganism was isolated from korean traditional Meju and identified as Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. The optimum culture condition of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis for the production of alkaline protease was as follow: 2% soluble starch, 0.2$, tryptophan, 0.1% (NH$_{4}$) $_{2}$S$_{2}$O$_{8}$ 0.2% NaHPO$_{4}$, pH 7.5, 35$\CIRC $C. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity of alkaline protease producing Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were pH 9.0 and 50$\circ $C, respectively. The enzyme was relatively stable at pH 6.0~11.0 and at temperature below 40$\circ $C. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by Hg$^{2+}$ whereas Cu$^{2+}$ gave rather activating effects on the enzyme activity. Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited the enzyme activity. This result indicates that serine is very important role in this enzyme. Km value for casein was 1.2410$^{4}$ M/L, V$_{max}$ value for casein was 25.99 $\mu $g/min. This enzyme hydrolyzed casein more rapidly than the hemoglobin.

A potential biocontrol bacterium, YB-70 was isolated from a rhizosphere in suppressive soil and identified as a strain of Bacillus subtilis. In several biochemical and in vitro antibiosis tests on Fusarium solani with the culture filterates from B. subtilis YB-70, we found that antifungal mechanism of B. subtilis YB-70 was mediated by antibiotic substances produced from the bacterium. These antifungal substances were appeared to be hear-resistant, micromolecular, and ethy alcohol soluble. Antifungal agents produced by B. subtilis YB-70 showed strong inhibified against root-rotting fungi F. solani in in vivo pot test. An antifungal substance. YBS-1s, was purified from the culture broth of B. subtilis YB-70 by isoelectronic precipitation, silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography analysis by Fab-MASS, $^{1}$H-NMR, $^{13}$C-NMR, DEPT, and amino acid analyzer revealed that the YBS-1A was a peptide antibiotics of iturin class containing seven amino acids from five different groups, and the other(YBS-1B) was an analogue of iturin group composed of 11 amino acids with larher molecular weight of about 1, 500 dalton, which was lager than that of iturin A.

The conversion of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose by Gluconobater suboxydans was analyzed, and continuous production of L-sorbose was carried out in immobilized cell reactors. L-Sorbose production by high densities of resting cells was more effective than by conventional batch fermentations. Sorbitol dehydrogenase, an enzyme converting D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, did not suffer from substrate inhibition, but from product inhibition. When L-sorbose production was carried out with Ca-alginate-immobilized cells, about 60 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. On the other hand, when the corn steep liquor (CSL) concentration of medium was reduced to 0.08%, 80 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. Outgrowth inside the immobilized carriers was thought to block the pores of the carriers so that substrate could not easily diffuse through the carriers. Continuous production of L-sorbose was well accomplished in a bubble column reactor, and 6. 5 g/l.h of productivity and 81.2% of yield were obtained at a substrate feeding rate of 0.08h$^{-1}$ under the optimum conditions with carrier volume of 55% and aeration rate of 3 vvm.

Streptomyces chibaensis J-59 did not grow in the culture medium containing only xylose or xylan as a carbon source, because it was defective in xylulokinase production; xylB mutant. S. chibaensis J-59 was able to produce xylanase and $\beta $-xylosidase as well as glucose isomerase. The glucose isomerase in S. chilbaensis J-59 was induced in the medium containing xylan or xylose which could be utilized as an inducer but not sa carbon and energy sources. So we tried to produce glucose isomerase whthout consumption of xylose or xylan as an inducer by using xylB mutant S. chilbaensis J-59. The optimum condition for the production of the glucose isomerase was attained in a culture medium composed of 1% xylan, 0.15% glucose, 1.5% corn steep liquor, 0.1% MaSO$_{4}$ $\CDOT $7H$_{2}$O, and 0.012% CoCL$_{2}$ $\CDOT $ 6H$_{2}$O(pH 7.0). The production of the enzyme reached to a maximum level when the bacteria were cultured for 42 h at 30$\circ $C. The enzyme production in a jar fermentor was increased twice as much as that in a flask culture.

To produce biopolymer, Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorok was cultured in a medium containing glucose 1.0%, sucrose 2.0% , soluble starch 1.0%, yeast extract 0.5%, polypeptone 0.05%, K$_{2}$HPO$_{4}$ 0.1% MgSO$_{4}$ $\CDOT $ 7H$_{2}$O 0.02%. The culture broth was centrifuged and the polymer was harvested by adding methanol to the culture supermatant. When three times of methanol was added, the polymer was coagulated and precipitated. Then it was further purified through successive SK-1B, SA-20P, HP-20 column chromatographies. This polymer was designated as Biopolymer YU-122.C:H ratio of this Biopolmer YU-122 was 1:2 and small amount of N is detected by CHN analyzer. Glucose and glactose are main components of this polymer. Average molecular weight of this biopolymer was 1.7%$\times $10$^{6}$ by Sepharose 4B gel permeation chromatography. Optimal condition for biopolymer production was investigated. When 5% of mannitol was used as a carbon source, and polypepton as a N source, highest productivity of biopolymer was achieved. C/N ratio as nutrient was also a major factor in polymer production and its optimal ratio was 3.

The current processer of the textile wastewater treatment are mostly consisted of a combination of a physico-chemical and a biological treatment. The overall efficiency of these processes is, however, assessed to be fairly low. It is even worse during the summer season when temperature of the wastewater rises above 40$\circ $C. Therefore, a feasible process of the textile wastewater treatment which can work efficiently at higher temperatures was investigated in this work. We used a bench scale reactor consisted of one 4 liter anaerobic and one 8 liter aerobic tank, and the thermophilic symbiotic PVA degraders, Pasteruella hemolytica KMG1 and Pseudomonas sp. KMG6 that had been isolated in our laboratory. In the preliminary flask experiments, we observed that the thermophilic symbiotic PVA degraders could not grow in the wastewater substrate. Then, we isolated the mutant strains by acclimating the KMG1and KMG6 strains to the wastewater medium. The mutant symbionts (KMG1-1 and KMG6-1) were isolated through 6 times successive transfers into the fresh wastewater medium after 5 days culture for each. The mutant strains obtained grew well in the mixed medium composed of 75% wastewater and 25% synthetic medium, and supplemented with 0.5% PVA as a sole carbon source. During the culture for 14 days at pH 7.0 and 40$\CIRC $C, the bacteria assimilated about 89% of the added PVA. The symbionts degraded equally well all the PVA substrates of different molecular weight (nd=500~30000). In contrast to the flask experiments, in the reactor system the mutant strains showed very low levels of the PVA and COD removal rates. However, the new reactor system with an additional aerobic tank attained 82% removal rate of COD, 94% of PVA degradation and 71% of color index under the conditions of 5% inoculm on the tank 2, incubation temperature of 40$\circ $C, dissolved oxygen level of 2~3 mg/l and retention time of 30 hours. This result ensures that the process described above could be an efficient and feasible treatment for the PVA contained textile wastewater at higher temperatures.

Among the lactic flora responsible for the development of acidity and characteristic flavor of Kimchi which is a traditional fermented Chiness cabbage. Homofermentative Lactobacillus plantarum is rod-shaped and to be known to ewert major role during later fermentation period. Once this strain establishes main flaora in the Kimchi fermentation process, it gives rise to excess acid production to reduce the taste and quality of Kimchi during storage. As a primary work to increase the keeping quality using virulent Lactobaillus plantarum bacteriophages, it was isolated sucessfully from collected Kimchi samples and their characteristics were studied. The new isolated phage, named SC 921, adsorbed to its host without Ca$^{2+}$, and nearly eliminated at 60$\circ $C of heat treatment for 5 min. This phages were atable at pH 4~ 10 but inactivated below pH 3.0 or pH 11.0 above. The latent period, rise period, and burst size of this phage was 100 min, 120 min, 31$\pm $2pfu/ml, respectively. Electron micrograph showed the phages particles were unusually oval feature of head (dia 80~ 120 nm) without contractile tail.

In cultivating human neuroblastoma cells maximum number of neurites per cell and length of the neurite were estimated as 5.5 and 2.2 (nm), respectively It was found that there was correlation between growth and differentiation of nerve cells. Maximum specific BDNF production rate was also calculated as 2.5$\times $10$^{-5}$(ng/cell/day) at 7$\times $ 10$^{5}$ (viable cells/ml) of maximum cell density, corresponding to 100 (ng/mL) of BDNF. The secretion of BDNF was occurred most in the later peroids of the cultivation, yielding 75 (ng/mL) of BDNF. The production of rate of BDNF was elongated in adding 1 ($\mu $g/mL) of BDNF as well as 40% increase of the length of the BDNF. It proves that BDNF can be used as one of biopharmaceuticals to treat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Prakinson's disease. It can also provide the information of scaling-up mammalian cell cuture system to economically produce BDNF.

Blue green algaes (NIES 19, 39, 46) have been cultivated to product sigle cell protein. After 7 days of cultivation under 5000 (W/M$^{2}$) of ligth intensity, final cell concentration was 2.8 (g/L) and chlorophyll a was 4.9 (mg/L). When initial concentration of NaHCOC was 1.7% and NaNO$_{3}$ was0.25%, maximum cell concentration was obtained. Spirulina platensis NIES 39 showed faster growth rate than NIES 46. While most 39 sedimented, most 46 floated.