• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2012

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin disease and regarded as a prototype of T-cell mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable polymer that is produced by Bacillus subtilis. This study was performed to assess the effects of PGA in a canine model of ACD. ACD was induced on the back of dogs induced by sensitization and repeated application by 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB). Topical treatment of PGA was applied once a day for 12 days and skin biophysical parameters including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin pH, skin thickness and erythema index, were measured every two days during experimental periods. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect. In skin biophysical parameters, TEWL, skin hydration, skin thickness and erythema index were significantly increased, with a maximum increase appeared on day 2 (p < 0.05). On the other hand, skin pH was significantly decreased, with a maximum decrease appeared on day 2 (p < 0.01). After the completion of PGA treatment, skin biophysical parameters were significantly reached those of baseline in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). In histopathology, marked increases of epidermal thicknesses were induced after DNCB challenge with numerous inflammatory cell infiltrations and edematous changes, decreases of connective tissue occupied regions in dermis. In addition, marked increases of cytokine - tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$)-immunoreactivities in the dermis and of apoptotic markers - caspase-3 and PARP-immunoreactivities in the epidermis were observed in DNCB-PBS control as compared with intact control, respectively (p < 0.01). It means, the ACD and related apoptotic changes were induced by DNCB in the present study. However, these ACD induced by DNCB and related apoptosis in epidermis were significantly inhibited by treatment of PGA treated skin, the decreases of infiltrated inflammatory cells and related decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokine immunoreactivities were also observed (p < 0.01). Based on these findings, PGA may have anti-inflammatory and alleviatory effects in the allergic contact dermatitis.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.436-436
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.872-879
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• 2010

Textured vegetable protein (TVP) was fermented by the solid-state fermentation using Bacillus subtilis HA and biologically active compounds were produced by fermentation for 7 days. The longer fermentation time resulted in the color change of fermented TVP with strong dark red and yellow color. Melanoidin production rapidly increased until fermentation for 48 hr, but did change afterwards. The 70% ethanol extract of TVP fermented for 24 hr showed higher DPPH radical scavenging effect with $IC_{50}$ of 0.99 mg/mL but longer fermentation did not increase its activity. Also, 70% ethanol extract of TVP fermented for 72 hr indicated higher ABTS radical scavenging effect with $IC_{50}$ of 1.68 mg/mL. Consistency index in TVP fermented for 48 hr was the highest values with 7.89 $Pa{\cdot}s^n$. Viscoelastic properties of TVP fermented for 48 hr were maximally enhanced, and viscous value (G") is higher than the elastic value (G'). The $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid (PGA) content was increased by increasing fermentation time with 37.72% of $\gamma$-PGA at 168 hr. However, levan content and molecular weight of PGA were decreased with increasing fermentation time from 7.83% to 3.91% and 1649.3 kDa to 1286.8 kDa, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.395-402
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• 2001

A fusant FG-21 was selected on the basis of higher ${\gamma}-GTP$ activity following fusion process between SM-2 and SM-10 of Bacillus subtilis mutants. ${\gamma}-GTP$ activity of the mutant FG-21 was increased up to 612 U/mL when grown for 36 hr at $37^{\circ}C$ in culture media containing 1% glycerol 1% glycerol, 1% peptone, 0.1% citric acid, 5 mM $K_2HPO_4$, 1 mM $FeCl_3$, 1 mM $MgCl_2$, 1 mM $NH_4Cl$, pH 7.0. In fusnat FG-21, the ratio of protein to total sugar contents for biopolymer A was 38 to 59. for biopolymer B from parental strains it was 19 to 78. Fructose contents determined by HPLC were $573.7\;\mu\textrm{g}/mg\;and\;764.4\;\mu\textrm{g}/mg$ for biopolymer A and B, respectively. And glutamic acid content were $163.7\;\mu\textrm{g}/mg\;and\;94.6\;\mu\textrm{g}/mg$ for biopolymer A and B, respectively. In fusant FG-21, the ratio of fructose to glutamic acid contents for biopolymer A was 78 to 22. For biopolymer B from parental strains it was 89 to 11.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Data regarding the effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on sleep status are limited. This study aimed to test whether γ-PGA and vitamin B₆ (VitB6) supplements improve sleep duration and quality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A factorial randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study included 47 adults (25 men and 22 women) who were free of chronic disease. Stratified randomized allocation considered age and gender for three interventions, group A (supplementation with γ-PGA 600 mg; n = 16), group B (supplementation with VitB6 100 mg; n = 14), and group C (dual supplementation of both γ-PGA 600 mg and VitB6 100 mg; n = 17). Participants underwent a 1-mon intervention period, followed by a 1-mon washout period, and then a second 1-mon intervention period. Differences (mean ± SD) in nighttime sleep status before and after supplementation were compared between the placebo and intervention groups using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Significant changes in sleep duration (0.27 ± 0.98 h, P < 0.05) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score (-0.52 ± 1.58, P < 0.05) indicating improved sleep status were observed in the intervention compared with the placebo of group C while no significant changes were observed in groups A and B. No statistical significance was detected between the intervention and the placebo; however, there was a greater increase in the group C intervention (4.59 ± 38.5 ng/mL) in serum serotonin concentrations than the groups A and B interventions. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, the dual supplementation of γ-PGA and VitB6 may be effective as functional food components to improve nighttime sleep status.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2007

Soybean milk cake (SMC) was used for the solid-state fermentation by Bacillus subtilis PUL-A isolated from soybean milk cake. In the presence of 5% glutamate the maximum production of biopolymer (59.9 g/kg) was performed by fermentation at $42^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr. The recovered biopolymer was consisted of 87% $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid with molecular weight of $1.3{\times}10^6$ dalton and other biopolymer. The biopolymer solution showed the great decrease in consistency below pH 6.0, regardless of the molecular weight of PGA. Biopolymer solution has a typical pseudoplastic flow behavior and yield stress. The consistency of biopolymer solution was greatly decreased by increasing heating time and temperature in acidic condition compared to the alkaline condition. In kaolin clay suspension, the flocculating activity of biopolymer was the highest value with 15 mg/L biopolymer and 4.5 mM $CaCl_2$, but decreased greatly with $FeCl_3$. The flocculating activity of biopolymer was maximum at pH5, but decreased drastically by heating at $60{\sim}100^{\circ}C$. In particular, biopolymer with native PGA showed the efficient flocculating activity compared to that of modified biopolymer containing low molecular weight of PGA.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.1426-1432
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• 2018

This paper presents a neutron detector configuration using EJ-301 scintillation liquid, a R9420 photo-multiplier and a homemade preamplifier. The detector qualities which include the energy linearity, efficiency response and neutron/gamma discrimination are guaranteed for neutron detection in the energy range from 0 to 3000 keVee. Regarding the neutron/gamma discrimination capability, four pulse shape discrimination (PSD) methods which are the threshold crossing time (TCT), pulse gradient analysis (PGA), charge comparison (CC) and correlation pattern recognition (CPR), were evaluated and discussed; among of these, the CPR method provides the best neutron/gamma discrimination.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.572-580
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• 2018

Biologically active substances including gamma-aminobutryric acid (GABA) were added into whey by co fermentation using Bacillus subtilis HA and Lactobacillus plantarum EJ2014. The first fermentation using B. subtilis HA with 5% monosodium glutamate (MSG) and 2% glucose enhanced the production of poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (PGA), resulting in higher consistency of $4.09Pas^n$ as well as whey protein peptides. After the second fermentation using L. plantarum EJ2014, the remaining MSG (3.40%) as a precursor was completely converted to 2.21% GABA. Furthermore, the lactose content in whey decreased from 6.73 to 3.68% after co-fermentation, and the tyrosine content increased from 20.47 to 38.24%. Peptides derived of whey proteins were confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Viable cell counts of B. subtilis and L. plantarum were 5.83 log CFU/mL and 9.20 log CFU/mL, respectively. Thus, co-fermentation of whey could produce the novel food ingredient fortified with biologically active compounds including GABA, ${\gamma}$-PGA, peptides, and probiotics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1544-1551
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• 2016

Various types of fermented soybean foods are consumed in various Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Cheonggukjang is a Korean whole soybean paste fermented by Bacillus subtilis and regarded as a healthy food. The objective of this study was to investigate the Ca-bioavailability and anti-osteoporotic effects of cheonggukjang (CGJ) containing high poly-gamma glutamate (PGA) contents in an animal model. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after a single oral dose in male rats. Ca-bioavailability in CGJ containing high PGA contents was approximately 3~5 times higher than that of natural CGJ. Female rats were either sham-operated (sham; n=5) or surgically ovariectomized (OVX; five animals per group) and then administered to OVX control, raloxifene hydrochloride (RLX) 1 mg/kg/d, or CGJ containing high contents of PGA (20 and 200 mg/kg/d) for 12 weeks. Serum osteocalcin concentration was significantly lower in the CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with the OVX control group. Serum progesterone concentration was significantly higher in the CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with the OVX control group. Reduction grade of the trabecular bone decreased in the RLX 1 and CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with that of the OVX control group. In conclusion, CGJ 200 mg/kg/d may have inhibitory effects on osteoporosis in OVX rats, and Ca-bioavailability was improved in CGJ containing high PGA contents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.664-670
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• 2016

Cheonggukjang (CKJ) is a Korean traditional food made of fermented soybeans. In comparison to normal intake of soybeans, Cheonggukjang has high digestibility with bioactive, antioxidant substances, and thrombolytic enzymes. Recent studies have reported anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity activities as well as inhibitory activities against osteoporosis for CKJ. In this study, we identified the effects of CKJ on osteoblast differentiation by increasing the polyglutamic acid (PGA) content of CKJ. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization significantly increased in response to treatment with both natural CKJ (CKJ A) and PGA-increased CKJ (CKJ B). However, CKJ B exhibited higher ALP activity and mineralization than CKJ A. Real-time reverse transcription PCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of osteoblastic-associated genes such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteopontin in C2C12 cells was significantly up-regulated by CKJ A or B treatment. These results indicate that treatment with CKJ has an anabolic effect on bone by increasing osteoblastic differentiation and ALP activity. Increasing PGA content in CKJ had a greater effect than CKJ A on up-regulation of osteoblastic gene expression in osteoblast cells.