• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2020

Since industrialization, the production and utilization of various chemicals has contributed to improving the quality of our lives, but the subsequent discharge of massive waste is inevitable, and environmental pollution is becoming more serious every day. Exposure to chemicals as a result of environmental pollution is having a negative effect on human health and the ecosystem, and cleaning up the polluted environment that can affect our lives is a very important issue. Toxic aromatic compounds have been detected frequently in soil, groundwater, and wastewater because of the extensive use of oil products, and phenol, which is used to produce synthetic resins, textiles, and dyes, is one of the major pollutants, along with insecticides and preservatives. Phenol can cause dyspnea, headache, vomiting, mutation, and carcinogenesis. Phenol-degrading bacterium DWB-1-8 was isolated from the activated sludge of textile wastewater; this strain was identified as Comamonas testosteroni by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The optimal culture conditions for the cell growth and degradation of phenol were 0.7% K₂HPO₄, 0.6% NaH₂PO₄, 0.1% NH₄NO₃, 0.015% MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.001% FeSO₄·7H₂O, an initial pH of 7, and a temperature of 30℃. The strain was also able to grow by using other toxic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, or xylene (BTX), as the sole source of carbon.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2004

Our previous research has demonstrated that the bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-l capable of utilizing quin­oline (2,3-benzopyridine) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy was isolated and characterized [Yoon et ai. (2003) Kor. J. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 18(3):174-179]. In this study, we have found that Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-l could degrade quinoline as well as benzoate, and extended this work to characterize the catechol 1,2­dioxygenase (C1,2O) purified from the bacterium cultured in benzoate media. Initially, C1,2O has been purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel permeation chromatography, and Source 15Q. After Source 15Q, puri­fication fold was increased to approximately 14.21 unit/mg. Molecular weight of C1,2O was about 33 kDa. Physicochemical characteristics (e.g., substrate specificity, Km, Vmax, pH, temperature and effect of inhibitors) of purified C1,2O were examined. C1,2O demonstrated the activity for catechol, 4-methylcatechol and 3-meth­ylcatechol as a substrate, respectively. The Km and Vmax value of C1,2O for catechol was 38.54 ${\mu}M$ and $25.10\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}mg^{-1}.$ The optimal temperature of C1,2O was $30^{\circ}C$ and the optimal pH was approximately 8.5. Metal ions such as $Ag^+,\;Hg^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;and\;Cu^{2+}$ show the inhibitory effect on the activity of C1,2O. N-terminal amino sequence of C1,2O was analyzed as ^1TVKISQSASIQKFFEEA^{17}.$ In this work, we found that the amino acid sequence of NFQ-l showed the sequence homology of 82, 71, 59 and $53\%$ compared with C1,2O from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA0l, Pseudomonas arvilla C-1., P. putida KT2440 and Pseudomonas sp. CA10, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2016

An antimicrobial bacterium to pathogenic microorganisms, strain $W5-1^T$ was isolated from Korean fermented-food Kimchi. The isolate was Gram-staining-variable, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, and motile with peritrichous flagella. It grew at $15-40^{\circ}C$, at pH 6.0-10.0, and in the presence of 0-4% NaCl. Strain $W5-1^T$ could hydrolyze esculin and xylan, and assimilate $\small{D}$-mannose, but not $\small{D}$-mannitol. Strain $W5-1^T$ showed antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi. The G+C content of the DNA of strains $W5-1^T$ was 52.6 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major cellular fatty acids were $C_{16:0}$, antieiso-$C_{15:0}$, $C_{18:0}$, and $C_{12:0}$. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis, the strain W5-1 was shown to belong to the family Paenibacillaceae and was most closely related to Paenibacillus pinihumi $S23^T$ (98.4% similarity) and Paenibacillus tarimensis $SA-7-6^T$ (96.4%). The DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolate and Paenibacillus pinihumi $S23^T$ was 8.5%, indicating that strain $W5-1^T$ represented a species in the genus Paenibacillus. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, it is proposed that strain $W5-1^T$ is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus kimchicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is $W5-1^T$ (=KACC $15046^T$ = $LMG 25970^T$).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.2 s.82
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

To study the transcriptional mechanisms by which expression of the murine glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor inducible transcription factor (mGIF) gene is regulated, a murine genomic clone was iso-lated using a mGIF cDNA as probe. A 13-kb genomic fragment, which comprises 4-kb upstream of the transcription initiation site was sequenced. The promoter region lacks a TATA box and CAAT box, is rich in G+C content, and has multiple putative binding sites for the transcription factor Spl. The mGIF gene also has consensus sequences for AP2 binding sites. The transcriptional activity of five deletion mutants of a 2.1-kb fragment was analyzed by modulating transcription of the heterologous luciferase gene in the promoterless plasmid pGL2-Basic. All mutants showed significant transcriptional activity in the murine neuroblastoma cell line NB41A3. Transient expression assays suggested the presence of a positive regulator between -213 and -129 while a negative regulator was found in the region between -806 and -214. Relatively strong transcriptional activity was observed in neuronal NB41A3, glial C6 cells and hepatic HepG2, but very weak activity in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells. These findings confirm the tissue-specific activity of the mGIF promoter and suggest that this gene shares structural and functional similarities with the dopamine receptor genes that it regulates.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.443-451
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the quality characteristics and identification of acetic acid bacteria for black waxy rice vinegar. Eight (8) strains of acetic acid bacteria were isolated for the production of acetic acid and their acidities were then compared with commercial acetic acid bacteria. Among them, F1, H4, and two types of commercial bacteria (four best strains by vinegar zymogen) were selected. After analyzing the 16S rRNA sequence, both F1 and H4 strains were identified as acetobacter genus. Therefore, the F-1 and H-4 strains were named as Acetobacter sp. F-1 and Acetobacter sp. H-4, respectively. Acidity of black waxy rice vinegar during fermentation was steadily increased up to 16 days and the acidity was then constant. Total acidity content was higher when used FV-1 strain. In the results of Hunter's color value of black waxy vinegar, L value was at 75.01 to 80.11, while (+a) value was at 3.34 to 3.92, and (+b) value was at 12.84 to 18.09. The major organic acid of the black waxy vinegar was acetic acid. The total organic acid content was high when used H-4, F-1, C-2 and C-1 strains. The total free amino acid content of the black waxy vinegar by strain was the highest (351.43 mg%) of F-1 vinegar strain, and the lowest (247.74 mg%) of C-2 vinegar strain. A sensory evaluation of black waxy vinegar indicated that F-1 vinegar strain was better than the other samples in aspect of flavor, color, and overall preference.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.931-938
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• 2020

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is one of the most abundant proteins in various eukaryotic organisms. TCTPs play important roles in cell physiological processes in cancer, cell proliferation, gene regulation, and heat shock response. TCTP is also considered an important factor in the resistance to oxidative stress induced by dithiothreitol or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Arctic calanoid copepods have a variety of antioxidant defense systems to regulate the levels of potentially harmful reactive oxygen species generated by ultraviolet radiation in the Arctic marine ecosystem. However, information on the antioxidant activity of TCTP in the Arctic Calanus glacialis is still scarce. To understand the putative antioxidant function of the Arctic copepod C. glacialis TCTP (Cg-TCTP), its gene was cloned and sequenced. The Cg-TCTP comprised 522 bp and encoded a 174-amino acid putative protein with a calculated molecular weight of ~23 kDa. The recombinant Cg-TCTP (Cg-r TCTP) gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli (BL21), and Cg-rTCTP-transformed cells were grown in the presence or absence of H₂O₂. Cg-rTCTP-transformed E. coli showed increased tolerance to high H₂O₂ concentrations. Therefore, TCTP may be an important antioxidant protein related to tolerance of the Arctic copepod C. glacialis to oxidative stress in the harsh environment of the Arctic Ocean.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.217-231
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• 2020

In 2019, the sex pheromones of Spodoptera frugiperda were used to examine moth trapping in cornfields in Gochang, Korea. Four types of traps were prepared, two funnel-types and two delta-types, each baited with 300 or 1000 ㎍ of a two-component (2C) blend of synthetic sex pheromones [100% (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14Ac) and 2% (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12Ac)]. The greatest number of S. frugiperda were captured in the 300 ㎍ funnel-type trap (first catch: August 6). Large numbers of Mythimna loreyi (a non-target) were also caught in the funnel-type traps. Two wing-type traps were baited with 1000 ㎍ of the 2C blend or a four-component (4C) blend [100% (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, 8% (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16Ac), 2% (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, and 1% (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (Z9-12Ac)] and the capture efficiency was assessed. Low numbers of S. frugiperda were captured regardless of the blend, and more M. loreyi were captured using the 4C blend. The two intraspecies groups clustered separately in a phylogenetic tree constructed using partial sequences (1004 bp) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1). Of the 70 S. frugiperda captured in the pheromone traps, 66 belonged to CO1-RS (CO1 rice-strain) and 4 to CO1-CS (CO1 corn-strain). Twelve consistent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in CO1 between the CO1-RS and CO1-CS groups of S. frugiperda. Of the 73 S. frugiperda, 4 had the same SNP pattern as the CO1-CS group (including the corn strain) and 69 had the same SNP pattern as the CO1-RS group (including the rice strain).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.483-490
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• 2008

Several tartaric acid-degrading bacteria were isolated from Korean grape wine pomace after enrichment culture at $30^{\circ}C$ for 10 days in liquid media containing tartaric acid Among them, strains KMBL 5777 and KMBL 5778 exhibited the highest level in the growth and tartaric acid degradability in a medium containing 0.2%(w/v) tartaric acid as a sole carbon source. They were identified as Acetobacter tropicalis based on their morphological and physiological characteristics as well as their 16S rDNA sequences. Blast search of the 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the isolated strains are closest to Acetobacter tropicalis. Homologies of the sequences of KMBL 5777 and KMBL 5778 were 96.0 and 98.9%, respectively with those of A. tropicalis LMG 1663. Both the two bacteria showed higher tartaric acid degradation at $25^{\circ}C$ that those at 20 and $30^{\circ}C$. They could degrade tartaric acid at a wide range of pH between 4.0 and 7.0 with the most rapid degradability at pH 7.0. However, when the bacteria were grown for 8 days, the same level of tartaric acid degradation was observed at pH 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0, which was 90.0% of degradation of the acid.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.984-991
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• 1998

Background: The 3p deletions has been shown to be the most frequent alteration in lung cancers, strongly suggesting the presence of at least one tumor suppressor gene in this chromosomal region. However, no solid candidate for the tumor suppressor gene(s) on 3p has as yet been identified. Recent attention has focused on a candidate 3p14.2 tumor suppressor gene, FHIT, which is located in a region that is homozygously deleted in multiple tumor cell lines and disrupted by the hereditary renal cell carcinoma t(3;8) chromosomal translocation breakpoint FHIT also spans FRA3B, the most common fragile sites in the human genome. In the present study, we have analyzed expression of the FHIT gene in lung cancer cell lines. Methods: RNA from 21 lung cancer cell lines (16 NSCLC, 5 SCLC) were extracted using standard procedures. Random-primed. first strand cDNAs were synthesized from total RNA and PCR amplication of coding exons 5 to 9 was performed. The RT-PCR products were electrophoresed in 1.5% ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Results: 12 of 21(57%) lung cancer cell lines exhibited absent or aberrant FHIT expression [7 of 16(44%) of non-small cell lung cancer and 5 of 5(100%) of small cell lung cancer cell lines]. Conclusion: The result shows that abnormal transcription of the FHIT gene is common in human lung cancer cell lines, especially in small cell lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.217-225
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• 2004

This study was carried out to reduce the loss of frozen dough quality during frozen storage. Using response surface method, ascorbic acid 160.4 ppm, L-cysteine 63.1 ppm, and SSL 0.6% were found to be optimum, with xanthan gum 0.3% (formula A) and Ultra tex-3 5% (formula B) added as cryoprotectants. During frozen storage at $-20^{\circ}C$, control rapidly deteriorated after 4 weeks, while formulas A and B showed slight deterioration with immutable quality after 10 weeks.