• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.7
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• pp.67-77
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• 1966

For the production of proteolytic enzyme wilth Aspergillus, the examination is made on the culture-time and koji extracting conditions, during producing koji. 1. The highest activity showed up when the culture-time took 50 hours for Aspergillus sojae and 60 hours for Aspergillus flavus. 2. When the cultured koji was extracted by a buffer solution and water, the former gave the product of higher activity until pH 7 through pH 12, and water until pH 3 through pH 7. 3. In the method of crushing and granule extractions, crushing extraction produced the one of higher activity than granule. 4. The highest activity showed up when Aspergillus sojae took 5 hours (Aspergillus flavus 4 hours) in the time of extracting enzyme solution. 5. The highest activity showed up when both Aspergillu sojae and Aspergillus flavus reacted and indicated $37.60^{\circ}C$ in the reaction temperature and activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.636-642
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• 1993

To improve the quality of mirin, various molds were screened for mutants with high acid carboxypeptidase (ACPase) by the method of ultraviolet radiation. Mutants, Aspergillus oryzae 9-12 and Aspergillus shiroussamii 6082-60 showed activities of ACPase about 2~6 times higher than their parent strains. Aspergillus oryzae 9-12 and Aspergillus shirosamii 6082-60 were the most suitable strains for preparing koji in mirin by the conventional or improved methods. The results showed that total sugar, reducing sugar and total nitrogen were almost the same values in mirin prepared by both methods. The yield of mirin was higher in the improved method than in the conventional method. The clouding formation of mirin appeared in the conventional method ; however, mirin prepared with the mutant koji by the improved method did not show clouding formation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1971-1981
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the altered enzymatic activities and metabolite profiles of koji fermented using varying permutations of Aspergillus oryzae and/or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Notably, the protease and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activities were manifold increased in co-inoculated (CO) koji samples (co-inoculation of A. oryzae and B. amyloliquefaciens). Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolite profiling indicates that levels of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, fatty acids, nucleosides, and vitamins were distinctly higher in CO, SA (sequential inoculation of A. oryzae, followed by B. amyloliquefaciens), and SB (sequential inoculation of B. amyloliquefaciens, followed by A. oryzae). The multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) plot based on GC-MS datasets indicated a clustered pattern for MA and MB (koji samples inoculated either with A. oryzae or B. amyloliquefaciens) across PC2 (20.0%). In contrast, the CO, SA, and SB metabolite profiles displayed segregated patterns across PLS1 (22.2%) and PLS2 (21.1%) in the partial least-square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model. Intriguingly, the observed disparity in the levels of primary metabolites was engendered largely by higher relative levels of sugars and sugar alcohols in MA, SA, and CO koji samples, which was commensurate with the relative amylase activities in respective samples. Collectively, the present study emphasizes the utility of integrated biochemical and metabolomic approaches for achieving the optimal permutation of fermentative inocula for industrial koji preparation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 1983

Acorn wine was manufactured experimentally with koji inoculated the strain producing acorn tannin hydrolyzing enzyme in order to apply fungal tannase to food processing. Starch value of several Korean acorns was found to be 72.84 and the acorns were worthy of use as a carbohydrate food. Mixed koji was prepared by combination of rice and acorn powder at a ratio of 50to 50 and inoculation of Aspergillus oryzae producing amylase and Aspergillus sp. AN-11 producing tannase into the mixture in order to hydrolyze efficiently acorn tannin inhibiting alcohol fermentation in the medium, and then the mixed koji was used as a suitable koji to manufacture acorn wine. Acorn wine brewed with medium of the acorn powder treated with water and cooked and the mixed koji prepared was superior about two times to that brewed with medium of untreated acorn powder and general koji with respect to the rate of alcohol production and sugar fermentation during the 1st and 2nd brewing.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the influences of cultural conditions of koji on the production of organic acid during rice-koji making by Aspergillus awamori var. kawachii which is now widely used as koji-mold in brewing Takju and Yakju in Korea. The optimum temperature for the germination of the conidia of the mold was 35'8, and the time required for germination at this temperature was 8 hours. Rapid germination occurred when the water content of steamed rice was above 40%, but germination retardation occurred markedly below 35%. The optimum cultural temperature for the production of organic acid was 32$^{\circ}C$, and the production of organic acid was markedly restricted at 36$^{\circ}C$ and 4$0^{\circ}C$. It was effective for the high production of both saccharogenic amylase and organic acid to shift the cultural temperature from initial 36$^{\circ}C$ to 32$^{\circ}C$ after 20~25 hours of cultivation. Initial water content suitable to the production of organic acid was 40% in steamed rice, but its production was markedly restricted below 30% of water content. When the quantity of conidial inoculation was too small, the production of organic acid was low in initial phase, but it was retrived at later period. Acid production was markedly restricted together with the increase in koji thickness.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.427-432
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• 1999

Physicochemical and sensory properties of Takju which was brewed with a modified Nuruk made by inoculation and cultivation of Rhizopus japonicus T2. Aspergillus oryzae L2. and Hansenula sp. BC26 isolated from Nuruk were investigated as compared with those with current fermenting agents such as com-mercial Nuruk and rice koji of Aspergillus kawachii. The contents of total acid were 0.88% 0.47% and 0.39% in mash of commercial Nuruk rice koji and modified Nuruk respectively. The contents of alcohol were 15.5% 15.1% and 9.0% in mash of modified Nuruk rice koji and commercial Nuruk respectively. The contents of reducing sugar were 2.80% 1.24% and 0.80% in mash of commercial Nuruk modified Nuruk and rice koji respectively. The contents of amino acid were 0.55% 0.47% and 0.23% in mash of modified Nuruk commercial Nuruk and rice koji respectively. Suspended solids were sedimented much more slowly in Takju of modified Nuruk or commercial Nuruk than in that of rice koji Color was pre-ferred in the order of Takju of modified Nuruk commercial Nuruk and rice koji. Odor and taste were preferred in the order of Takju of modified Nuruk rice koji and commercial Nuruk. Therefore it seem-ed that the Takju of modified Nuruk was better than that of commercial Nuruk or rice koji in quality.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.17-18
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• 1964

Ke Ho Lee and Kun Hyung Chang (Army Research and Testing Lab.): Studies on koji for optimum condition of growth and identification of Aspergillus spp. Cpart 2). Kor. J. Microbiol. Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 17-18 (1964). The experiments reported in this paper are concerned with the identifications, the growth conditions and lethal temperatures of the three strains of Aspergillus spp. which have been isolated from the soils and Meju (fermented soy bean in Korea). The results obtained in the light of the manual of Raper and Thom for identification of the Genus, Aspergillus, have been shown that the three strains of Aspergillus spp. are pertained to Aspergillus flavusoryzae group. The optimum temperature, pH and the lethal temperatures of the Aspergillus spp. have been measured.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.187-190
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• 2012

Various koji were prepared by fungi isolated from traditional nuruk and their quality characteristics were investigated. Acidity and saccharification power of their koji were ranged in 5.0~6.8 and 128sp~241sp. Nine fungi which were showed good quality and sensory evaluation were identified by analysis of their nucleotide sequences with PCR-amplified 18S rDNA internal transcribed spacer-1(ITS-1) and ITS-4 genes. Among them, six strains were identified as Aspergillus oryzae and the other strains were identified as Mycocladus corymbiferus, Rhizo-pus oryzae, Lichtheimia corymbifera.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 1986

The aflatoxin production by Aspergillus ATCC 15517 decreased in the mixed culture with Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus kawachii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, or with Aspergillus shirousamii to 1.3%, 13.8%, 1.3%, 0.7%, or 38.5% of that of monoculture respectively. These koji molds degraded $75%{\sim}100%$ of added aflatoxin $B_1\;(791{\mu}g/50ml\;YES medium)$. A. awamori secreted during growth aflatoxin degrading factor(s) which was heat-labile. The degraded aflatoxin by the factor(s) showed no toxicity against Bacillus megaterium NRRL B-1368.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.644-654
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• 2015

This study investigated changes in the quality of fermented red snow crab Chionoecetes japonicus sauce with or without Aspergillus kawachii koji and added salt. Samples were divided into four groups depending on whether koji was added and the amount of salt: RC15, 15% added salt, no koji; RC20, 20% added salt, no koji; RK15, 15% salt plus 10% koji; and RK20, 20% salt plus 10% koji. The samples were fermented at 20±2℃ for 4 months. During the fermentation period, the moisture contents of the four types of sauce decreased while the crude ash and protein contents increased. The pH of the RK groups decreased and was lower than in the RC groups. The acidity of the RK groups increased and was higher than in the RC groups. Both the total nitrogen (TN) and amino nitrogen (AN) levels increased continuously and were higher in the RK groups than in the RC groups. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content increased rapidly and was higher in the RC groups than in the RK groups. The color did not differ significantly among the four groups. The viable cell counts in the four groups increased and no coliforms were detected. The total free amino acid and glutamic acid contents were highest in the RK15 group and the main amino acids in RK15 were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, and lysine. Overall acceptance was significantly higher for the RK groups than the RC groups and RK15 ranked highest among the four sauces. These results suggest that Aspergillus kawachii koji is beneficial for processing fish sauce made using red snow crab.