• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 1992

An alkaline protease producing microorganism was isolated from soil and identified as Streptomyces griseus HC-1141. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified enzyme activity were 8.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was relatively stable in the pH range of 7.0-9.0 and at the temperature below $60^{\circ}C$. The activity of purified enzyme was inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Ba^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$, whereas activated by $Mn^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$. $\varepsilon$-Amino caproic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol and iodine did not show inhibitory effect on the activity of alkaline protease, but p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid showed inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity. These result suggested that the protease was metalloenzyme, and require a reactive SH group for the activity. The reaction of this enzyme follows typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with the $K_m$ value of $2.229{\times}10^{-4}$M and the $V_{max}$ of $46.08 {\mu}$g/min for casein. The activation energy for the alkaline protease calculated by Arrhenius equation was 3.643 kcal/mol. This enzyme hydrolyzed casein more rapidly than the hemoglobin and egg albumin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 1997

To investigate the transformation characteristics of nitrogen and carbon from cow manure compost amended in soil under different moisture conditions, dynamics of nitrogen and carbon were determined periodically for 15 weeks of aerobic incubation at room temperature during July${\sim}$November, 1996. Cow manure compost matured with mixing saw dust was amended with the 4 ratios (0, 2, 4, 6%(wt/wt)) in Ap horizon soil, which collected from green house in Yesan, Chungnam. Moisture was controlled with 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 of mass water conte nt (${\theta}$m) to air dried soil, and water loss was compensated at every sampling. During incubation, soil pH was decreased continuously, that was caused by hydrogen generated from nitrification of ammonium nitrogen. And pH became higher with inclining cow manure compost amendment and water treatment, that meaned the increase of mineralization of organic-N to $NH_4\;^+-N$. Total nitrogen was reduced with increasing water content, but total carbon showed the contrast tendency with that of nitrogen. Therefore, C/N ratio slightly decreased in the low water condition (${\theta}$m 0.2) during incubation, but increased continuously in high water condition over ${\theta}$m 0.4. As a result, it was assumed that soil fertility is able to be reduced in the high water content over available water content. Nitrate transformation rate increased lasting in the low water content less than ${\theta}$m 0.3. Itdropped significantly in the first $2{\sim}3$ weeks of incubation over ${\theta}$m 0.4. In particular, nitrate was not detected in ${\theta}$m 0.5 of water content after the first $2{\sim}3$ weeks. In contrast, ammonium transformation was inclined with increasing water treatment. Nitrogen mineralization rate, which calculated with percentage ratio of (the sum of ex.$NH_4\;^+-N$ and $NO_3\;^--N$)/total nitrogen, was continuously increased in the low water content of ${\theta}$m 0.2 and 0.3. But it saw the different patterns in high water content over ${\theta}$m 0.4 that was drastically declined in the initial stage and then gradually inclined . From the above results, nitrogen transformation patterns differentiated decisively in water content between ${\theta}$m 0.3 and 0.4 in soil. Thus, it is very important for the maintain of suitable soil water content to enhance fertility of soil amended with manure compost. However, excess treatment of manure compost might enhance the possibility of contamination of small watershed and ground water around agricultural area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1971

In order to establish the method of improving ill drained paddy soil where the accumulation of absorption inhibitor is worried in the earlier stages of rice growth, proper soil is selected and an field experiment is designed having treatments such as lime materials, none sulfate fertilizers, boron and straw etc. The data of yield and plant analysis in different stages of rice growth is eveluated and discussed to obtain following summaries. (1) Significant yield increase was made by the treatment of lime materials such as slacked lime or wollastonite powder, materials inhibiting the activity of microorganisms such as boron and of none sulfate fertilizers lacking inhibitor producing sources. (2) The crop scientifice causes of decreasing yield are the decreasing the number of panicles per hill, grains per panicle and the weight of grains. (3) The plant nutritional causes of decreasing yield are the lowering of nitrogen content throughout the life, phosphate content since young premodia formation stage of plant and the decreased content of magnesium, calcium and silicate in straw at harvesting stage. (4) The causes of lowering the content of various elements in rice plant grown in ill drained paddy soil are suggested as root damage by producing and accumulating absorption inhibitors such as organic acids and hydrogen sulfide etc, from the following observed facts; (a) In young premodia formation stage, attaining to the maximum production and accumulation of absorption inhibitor, the phosphate accumulation in plant was smaller in the phosphate plots than without phosphate plots and much higher in the neutralized plots by adding lime materials. (b) In the plots of straw addition, the potassium content in plant at the young premodia formation stage is very low probabley due to root damage by absorption inhibitor produced from the process of straw decomposition but higher at the stage of harvesting probably due to the immetabolic negative absorption of damaged roots. (c) The effect of boron, known as the inhibitor of microorganism activity to decompose organic matter, is apparent. (d) The effect of nonsulfate fertilizer treatment, having no source of producing inhibitor such as hydrogen sulfide, was significant. (e) All the yield components, decided around the young premodia formation stage attaining to the maximum inhibitor concentration in soil and minimum root activity, are significantly decreased.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2004

The human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as ultraviolet, smoke, chemicals. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental facts play critical roles in cellular damage. These irritants are in themselves damaging to the skin structure but they also participate the immensely complex inflammatory reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Juniperus chinensis xylem extract on the UV and SLS-induced skin cell damages. We tested free radical and superoxide scavenging effect in vitro. We found that Juniperus chinensis xylem extracts had potent radical scavenging effect by 98％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase-l(MMP-1, collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. UV A induced MMP-1 synthesis and activity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in skin fibroblasts. The extract of Juniperus chinensis showed strong inhibitory effect on MMP-1 activities by 97％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL and suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by 79％ at 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. This extract also showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects by the determination test of proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 in HaCaT keratinocytes. In this test Juniperus chinensis decreased expression of interleukin 6 about 30％. Expression of prostaglandin E$_2$, (PGE$_2$) after UVB irradiation was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using PGE$_2$ monoclonal antibody. At the concentrations of 5-50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the extracts, the production of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes (24 hours after 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UVB irradiation) was significantly inhibited in culture supernatants (p〈0.05). The viability of cultured HaCaT keratinocytes was significantly reduced at the doses of above 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of UVB irradiation, but the presence of these extracts improved cell viability comparing to control after UVB irradiation. We also investigated the protective effect of this extract in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritant skin reactions from 24 hour exposure. Twice a day application of the extract for reducing local inflammation in human skin was done. Irritant reactions were assessed by various aspects of skin condition, that is, erythema (skin color reflectance) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). After 5 days the extract was found to reduce SLS-induced skin erythema and improve barrier regeneration when compared to untreated symmetrical test site. In conclusion, our results suggest that Juniperus chinensis can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced adverse skin reactions such as radical production, inflammation and skin cell damage.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

Global climatic changes are expected to influence various biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems. In particular, coastal mud flat is anticipated to be affected directly by temperature increase as well as indirectly by a sea level rise and changes in precipitation. This study aimed to determine changes in methane production under different temperature and salinity by employing a laboratory-scale manipulation experiment. Soil samples were collected from a mud flat in Dong-Gum Kang-Hwa island in winter and two types of experiments were conducted. In the first experiment soil samples at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm depth were incubated under same salinity with pore water and diluted salinity to 50 % of natural condition for 20 days and methane production was measured every other days. In the second experiment, soil samples at 5-10 cm depth were incubated in different temperature, $5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, under same salinity conditions with first experiment for 31 days and methane production was measured. Results of the first experiment revealed that higher amount of methane was produced at 5-10 cm depth, and salinity effect was predominant at the end of the experiment. The second experiment showed that methane production was higher in $15^{\circ}C$ than $5^{\circ}C$. In addition, methane production was higher when sea water diluted to 50 % compared to control. Global climatic changes are expected to influence various biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems. In particular, coastal mud flat is anticipated to be affected directly by temperature increase as well as indirectly by a sea level rise and changes in precipitation. This study aimed to determine changes in methane production under different temperature and salinity by employing a laboratory-scale manipulation experiment. Soil samples were collected from a mud flat in Dong-Gum Kang-Hwa island in winter and two types of experiments were conducted. In the first experiment soil samples at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm depth were incubated under same salinity with pore water and diluted salinity to 50 % of natural condition for 20 days and methane production was measured every other days. In the second experiment, soil samples at 5-10 cm depth were incubated in different temperature, $5^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, under same salinity conditions with first experiment for 31 days and methane production was measured. Results of the first experiment revealed that higher amount of methane was produced at 5-10 cm depth, and salinity effect was predominant at the end of the experiment. The second experiment showed that methane production was higher in $15^{\circ}C$ than $5^{\circ}C$. In addition, methane production was higher when sea water diluted to 50 % compared to control. These results suggest that methane production is highly influenced by changes in temperature and salinity in coastal mud flat. And that global climatic change may induce biological feedback by affecting production of another greenhouse gas, namely methane from coastal mud flat.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2017

Development of modern agricultural machinery and accompanying agricultural development cause soil compaction and reduce growth by stressing roots. Kalanchoe pinnata was used to investigate the impact of stress on rooting and changes in plant growth and reproduction. K. pinnata forms somatic embryos capable of asexual reproduction at the edge of leaves. Impact of root pressurization of K. pinnata on somatic embryogenesis and organ differentiation according to external stress factors was investigated by using a high concentration of agar and this phenomenon was studied histologically. Agar concentration in culture media ranged from 0.5%-1.5% to induce a compression effect on roots. The stem and leaf of K. pinnata were subjected to a microtechnique process to study changes in tissue. In vivo, K. pinnata produced 2nd and 3rd plantlets at edges of leaves from lack of water and excessive lighting conditions. In in vitro culture studies, the lower the concentration of agar, the higher the population and the higher the biomass, but plantlet did not occur in leaf bends. Conversely, as concentration of agar increased, increase in the number of individuals was low. Plantlet development occurred only in agar 1.5% medium. The difference in agar concentration was a stressor in the root of K. pinnata, and thus the pattern of asexual reproduction changed from the division method in root to a plantlet generation in leaf. This suggests root pressurization may act as stress and change in the plant reproduction pattern.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2016

In this study Streptomyces strains were isolated from soils and their antifungal activities and involved mechanisms were investigated. Among over 400 isolates of actinomycetes, Streptomyces costaricanus HR391 was selected as a potential antagonist to control several plant-pathogenic fungi. S. costaricanus HR391 inhibited mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani, F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and Rhizoctonia solani by 26.5, 26.2, 21.2, and 23.8%, respectively compared to those of uninoculated control after 7-day incubation on PDB medium. S. costaricanus HR391 produced $89{\mu}M$ of siderphore, and showed fungal cell wall-degrading activity including $0.46{\mu}mol/min/mg$ of chitinase and $0.83{\mu}mol/min/mg$ of ${\beta}$-1,3 glucanase. S. costaricanus HR391 secreted 87.49 mg/L of rhamnolipid, and produced 9.49 mg/L and 4.3 mM of lipopeptide, iturin A and surfactin, respectively, all they are membrane-disrupting biosurfactants. It also produced antimicrobial peptide and antibiotics phenazine. In addition to antifungal substances, S. costaricanus HR391 secreted plant growth-promoting phytohormones, zeatin, gibberellins and IAA. These results suggest that S. costaricanus HR391 may be utilized as an environment-friendly biocontrol agent against some important pathogenic fungi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.641-653
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to confirm the antifungal activity, plant growth-promoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity of 18 types of bacteria isolated purely from rhizosphere soil. The potential of isolates of the genus Bacillus and Pseudomonas as biocontrol agents was confirmed through the antifungal activity of these isolates. This activity has been determined to be due to various hydrolytic enzymes on the cell wall of plant pathogenic fungi and the production of siderophores in isolates. In addition, most of the isolates have been found to have aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase production activity, indole-3-acetic acid production activity, and nitrogen fixation activity. These characteristics are believed to have a positive effect on root development, growth, and the productivity of crops via a reduction in the concentration of ethylene under conditions of environmental stress, to which plants are commonly exposed. In addition, on testing for the solubilizing activity of the isolates for phosphoric acid, silicon, calcium carbonate, and zinc, some isolates were found to have mineral solubilizing activities. Inoculation of these isolates during plant growth is expected to assist plant growth by converting nutrients necessary for growth into usable forms that can be absorbed by plants. The 18 isolated strains can be used as biocontrol agents due to their antifungal activity, plant growthpromoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.149-153
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• 1978

A strain of Streptomyces sp producing chitinase was isolated from soil and its cultural condition and some properties of this enzyme were investigated. When 0.375 per cent of glucose was added to basal medium, this organism produced the most quantities of this enzyme after shaking culture at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 48 hrs., while the production of the enzyme was repressed at the more concentration of glucose than that. The enzyme had a optimal pH of 7.0, optimal temperature of 5$0^{\circ}C$ and the activity of that was not decreased by heat treatment for 20 minute at 7$0^{\circ}C$. And then the activity was increased by Co$^{2+}$ but was slightly inhibited by Hg$^{2+}$, Ni$^{2+}$, Pb$^{2+}$.EX> 2+/.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.225-229
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• 2011

This research was carried out to elucidate the impacts of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration to phosphorus release mechanism from soil into water in lakes. $PO_4-P$ contributed to the growth of the total phosphorus (T-P). $PO_4-P$ was steadily increasing because water was accumulating $PO_4-P$. T-P was closely related to turbidity, pH, and DO. We found that DO had decreased because DO was consumed in organic matter decomposition, and that the resulting anaerobic decomposition occurred whenever water had run out of DO. We also found that pH had decreased sharply by production of organic acid by the anaerobic decomposition and that T-P decreased because a decrease in pH removed turbidity by precipitation. T-P was dissolved without microbial decomposition. This mechanism was of great importance in lakes because phosphorus is released from soil into water.