• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.357-362
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• 2005

Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (${\gamma}-PGA$), which is extracted from fermented soybeans, is a high molecular weight, adhesive, and negatively charged(anionic) polymer. Recently, ${\gamma}-PGA$ has gained attention due to its potential as polymer. The objectives of this study were to examine the applicability of ${\gamma}-PGA$ as a coagulant and/or a coagulant aid, to evaluate the efficiency of ${\gamma}-PGA$ for the removal of Organic and Ammonium substance in wastewater treatment. The effect of coagulation was evaluated for the removal of SS and organic matter using poly aluminum chloride(PACI) as well as newly developed ${\gamma}-PGA$. The maximum COD removal rate of 63% and the SS of 78% were occurred at the dosage of 50mg/L ${\gamma}-PGA$ only. The most effective removal for particulate and organic matter was occured when both PACI and ${\gamma}-PGA$ were applied at the rate of 20:1(10mg/L PACI and 0.5mg/L ${\gamma}-PGA$). When mixed with PACI, only small portion of ${\gamma}-PGA$ was enough to improve removal efficiencies of organic and particulate matter in wastewater. This result showed the positive potential of ${\gamma}-PGA$ as a new coagulant materials for wastewater treatment.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2012

This study was conducted to determine the prevention effect of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (${\gamma}-PGA$) on tissue damage induced by gamma irradiation for development of xenograft. Porcine tendons were treated at various doses of ${\gamma}-PGA$ (0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5%) and then gamma-irradiated (30 kGy). Prevention effects on tissue damage were measured as the result of tensile strength, hydroxyproline contents and viscosity of ${\gamma}-PGA$. Tensile strength was remarkably decrease in gamma-irradiated porcine ligament, but increased by ${\gamma}-PGA$ treated one. Among the ${\gamma}-PGA$ treatment doses, 1% treated group showed the highest values of tensile strength compared to non-treated group. Hydroxyproline contents was significantly increased by gamma irradiation, but decreased by the ${\gamma}-PGA$ treatment. Particularly, 1 and 5% ${\gamma}-PGA$ treated group were exhibited lower values of hydroxyproline contents than other group. In the result of viscosity, gamma-irradiated ${\gamma}-PGA$ (1%) was remarkably increased. Base on the results, it demonstrated that gamma irradiation induces severe alteration of mechanical property and collagen contents on porcine ligament, but ${\gamma}-PGA$ can effectively prevent these tissue damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

This study was Conducted to investigate the effect of ${\gamma}-PGA\;({\gamma}-poly\;glutamic\;acid)$ on Ca absorption and bone metabolism in rats. Weaned 4-week old male rats were fed Ca-deficient diets for 3 weeks after the adjustment period. Rats were divided into 6 groups and were fed experimental diets for four weeks. Experimental groups were basal (Ca deficient), control (Ca diet: Ca 0.45%), CP1(Ca 0.45%+casein phosphopeptide 1%), PG1(Ca 0.45%+gamma poly glutamic acid 1%), CPG (Ca 0.45%+casein phosphopeptide 1%+gamma poly glutamic acid 1%) and PG3(Ca 0.45%+gamma poly glutamic acid 3%). Though daily Ca intake and food intake of experimental groups showed no significant difference that of control group. The values of fecal Ca excretion and urinary Ca excretion in groups fed ${\gamma}-PGA$ were significantly lower than that in tile control group. The values of Ca absorption in groups fed ${\gamma}-PGA$ were significantly higher than that in the control group. The levels of femur Ca in ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplemented group were significantly increased compared to the control group. Also, breaking force of femur in ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplemented group showed about 40% increase compared to the control group. These results show that ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplement could be helpful to increase Ca absorption as well as to intensify the femur strength and to increase the Ca content of femur in rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2008

A novel bacterium isolated from Cheonggukjang was identified as a glutamate-dependent Bacillus subtilis HA with 98.3% similarity to Bacillus subtilis Z99104. Optimization of poly-$\gamma$-glutamic acid ($\gamma$-PGA) production by modulating fermentation factors including carbon sources, nitrogen sources, inorganic salts and fermentation time was investigated. Optimum culture broth for $\gamma$-PGA production consisted of 3% glutamate, 3% glucose and various salts, resulting in the PGA production of 22.5 g/L by shaking culture for 72 hr at $37^{\circ}C$. Average molecular weight of $\gamma$-PGA was determined to be 1,220 kDa through MALLS analysis. The $\gamma$-PGA solution showed a typical pseudoplastic flow behavior, and a great decrease in consistency below pH 6.0 regardless of the same molecular weight of $\gamma$-PGA. The molecular weights of isolated $\gamma$-PGA were drastically decreased by heat treatment in various acidic conditions, resulting in different hydrolysis of $\gamma$-PGA. The consistency of $\gamma$-PGA solution was greatly decreased with increase heating time in acidic conditions.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.704-708
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• 2005

Poly-y-glutamate (${\gamma}$-PGA) has great potential as a biodegradable polymer in a broad range of industrial fields such as food, cosmetics, medicine and water treatment. In order to isolate ${\gamma}$-PGA producers that are suitable for specific industrial applications, 653 Bacillus-like strains were isolated from 439 varieties of three Korean fermented foods, Cheongkukjang, Doenjang, and Kochujang, which were collected from different regions across Korea. A very high level of ${\gamma}$-PGA production was demonstrated in 4.7%, 1.8%, and 3.0% of the Bacillus-like strains isolated from Cheongkukjang, Doenjang, and Kochujang samples, respectively, which produced a viscous substance to such extent that it overflowed to the lid of the plate on the glutamate-dependent ${\gamma}$-PGA production plates. On glutamate-independent ${\gamma}$-PGA production plates, 5.1%, 5.9%, and 6.1% of Bacillus-like strains isolated from Cheongkukjang, Doenjang, and Kochujang samples, respectively, showed high production. The maximum ${\gamma}$-PGA production yields were 32.5 g/L and 5 g/L, depending on the purification methods in the glutamate-dependent media, with the higher yield resulting from a simple precipitation of ${\gamma}$-PGA by either methanol or ethanol and dialysis. The viscous substance produced by each strain showed different morphological characteristics, suggesting that isolated ${\gamma}$-PGA producers could produce various types of ${\gamma}$-PGA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1078-1082
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• 2019

Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamate (${\gamma}$-PGA) has various applications due to its desirable characteristics in terms of safety and biodegradability. Previous studies have been conducted on ${\gamma}$-PGA hydrogels produced by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation, but these hydrogels have proved unstable in solutions. This study was conducted to enable the ${\gamma}$-PGA hydrogel to maintain a stable form in solutions. The ${\gamma}$-PGA mixture for UV-irradiation was prepared with a cross-linker (N,N,N-trimethyl-3-[(2-methylacryloyl)amino]propan-1-aminium). Both ${\gamma}$-PGA hydrogels' characteristics, including stability in solutions, were examined. The UV-irradiated ${\gamma}$-PGA hydrogel maintained a stable form during the nine weeks of the study, but the ${\gamma}$-ray irradiated hydrogel dissolved after one week.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.803-808
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• 2010

Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (${\gamma}$-PGA) is a natural edible polypeptide in which glutamate is polymerized via ${\gamma}$-amide linkages. First, we assessed the eye irritancy potential of ${\gamma}$-PGA in rabbits. Additionally, we studied the effects of ${\gamma}$-PGA on corneal wound healing, due to the anti-inflammatory properties and water retaining abilities of ${\gamma}$-PGA. In this study, the effects of ${\gamma}$-PGA on corneal wound healing after an alkali burn were evaluated. Thirty eyes wounded by alkali burning in 30 white rabbits were divided into three groups: group A was treated with 0.1% 5,000 kDa ${\gamma}$-PGA for 2 days; group B was treated with 0.1% hyaluronic acid; and group C was not treated, as a control. The area of corneal epithelial defect was examined at 12, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 h after corneal alkali wounding to determine initial wound healing. We found that ${\gamma}$-PGA promoted corneal wound healing, compared with controls, and showed similar effects to hyaluronic acid. These results indicate that ${\gamma}$-PGA stimulates corneal wound healing by an anti-inflammatory effect and enhancing cell migration and cell proliferation. ${\gamma}$-PGA is a promising biomaterial that may be a substitute for hyaluronic acid in corneal wound healing treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1782-1789
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• 2012

We have developed a novel type of polymer nanogel loaded with anticancer drug based on bio-derived poly(${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) (${\gamma}$-PGA). ${\gamma}$-PGA is a highly anionic polymer that is synthesized naturally by microbial species, most prominently in various bacilli, and has been shown to have excellent biocompatibility. Thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA was synthesized by covalent coupling between the carboxyl groups of ${\gamma}$-PGA and the primary amine group of cysteamine. Doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated using the following steps: (1) an ionic nanocomplex was formed between thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA as the negative charge component, and Dox as the positive charge component; (2) addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) induced hydrogen-bond interactions between thiol groups of thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA and hydroxyl groups of PEG, resulting in the nanocomplex; and (3) disulfide crosslinked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated by ultrasonication. The average size and surface charge of Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels in aqueous solution were $136.3{\pm}37.6$ nm and $-32.5{\pm}5.3$ mV, respectively. The loading amount of Dox was approximately 38.7 ${\mu}g$ per mg of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogel. The Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels showed controlled drug release behavior in the presence of reducing agents, glutathione (GSH) (1-10 mM). Through fluorescence microscopy and FACS, the cellular uptake of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels into breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was analyzed. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using the MTT assay and was determined to be dependent on both the concentration and treatment time of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels. The bio-derived ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels are expected to be a well-designed delivery carrier for controlled drug delivery applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.412-415
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• 2017

Prebiotics improve the growth or activities of specific microbial genera and species in the gut microbiota in order to confer health benefits to the host. In this study, we investigated the effect of poly-gamma-glutamate (${\gamma}-PGA$) as a prebiotic on the gut microbiota of mice and the organ distributions of ${\gamma}-PGA$ in mice. Pyrosequencing analysis for 16S rRNA genes of bacteria indicated that oral administration of ${\gamma}-PGA$ increased the abundance of Lactobacillales while reducing the abundance of Clostridiales in murine guts. It is suggested that oral administration of ${\gamma}-PGA$ can be helpful for modulating the gut microbiota as a prebiotic.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

${\gamma}$-PGA(poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) is an unusual anionic polypeptide that is made of D- and L-glutamic acid units connected by amide linkages between ${\alpha}$-amino and ${\gamma}$-carboxylic acid groups. ${\gamma}$-PGA has been isolated from many kinds of organisms. Many Bacillus strains produce ${\gamma}$-PGA as a capsular material of an extracellular viscous material. It is safe for eating as a viscosity element of fermented soybean products such as Chungkookjang and Natto. It is biodegradable, edible and nontoxic toward humans and the environment and its molecular weight varies from ten thousand to several hundred thousand depending on the kinds of strains used. Therefore, potential applications of ${\gamma}$-PGA and its derivatives have been of interest in the past few years in a broad range of industrial fields such as food, cosmetics, medicine, water-treatment, etc. In this study, a bacterium, Bacillus subtilis GS-2 isolated from the Korean traditional seasoning food, Chungkookjang could produce a large amount of ${\gamma}$-PGA with high productivity and had a simple nutrient requirement. Based on carbon utilization pattern and partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the GS-2 strain was identified as B. subtilis. The determination of purified ${\gamma}$-PGA was confirmed with thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, and $^1H$-nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$-NMR) spectroscopy.