• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2005

The hydrolytic behavior of microbial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]](P(3HB)) has been studied by using two model systems, Langmuir monolayer and solution-grown single crystals (SCs), for elucidating the mechanism for both alkaline and enzymatic degradations. An initial degradation of SCs of P(3HB) leads to breakup lamellae parallel to their short axis (b-axis). Similarly, ridge formation on the lamellar surface appears along the b-axis at lower quenching temperature than melting temperature. Both results support that the lamellar crystals contain less-ordered and more thermally sensitive regions along the b-axis. Although the enzymatic hydrolysis of P(3HB) monolayers was similar to its alkaline one, the enzymatic degradation of P(3HB) monolayers occurred at higher constant surface pressure than the alkaline degradation. This behavior might be attributed to the size of enzymes which is much larger than that of alkaline ions; that is, the enzymes need larger contact area with monolayers to be activated.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2002

The fungus, Emericellopsis minima W2, capable of degrading poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was isolated from a waste water sample. Production of the PHB depolymerase from E. minima W2 (PhaZ/ sub Emi/) was significantly repressed in the presence of glucose. PhaZ/ sub Emi/ was purified by column chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B and Sephadex G-100. The molecular mass of the PhaZ/ sub Emi/), which consisted of a single polypeptide chain, was estimated to be 48.0 kDa by SDS-PAGE and its pI vague was 4.4. The maximum activity of the PhaZ/ sub Emi/ was observed at pH 9.0 and 55$\^{C}$. It was significantly inactivated by 1mM dithiothreitol, 2mM diisopropyl fluorphosphate, 0.1mM Tween 80, and 0.1 mM Triton X-l00, but insensitive to phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and N-ethylmaleimide. The PhaZ/ sub Emi/ efficiently hydrolyzed PHB and its copolyester with 30 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate, but did not act on poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate). It also hydrolyzed p-nitrophenylacetate and p-nitrophenylbutyrate but hardly affected the longer-chain forms. The main hydrolysis product of PHB was identified as a dimer of 3-hydroxybutyrate.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 1997

The biodegradable characteristics of poly-$\beta$-hydroxybutyrate(PHB) film by fun맥 and soil burial are Investigated. As the results of the American Standards for Testing and Materials(ASTM) method, the you of Aspergillus niger was apparent on the PHB containing plate. This suggests that PHB was utilized as the sole carbon source by Aspergillus niger and ASTM method may have applications as measuring means of biome gradability of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid(PHA). PHB film was studied by monitoring the time-dependant changes in weight loss of PHB film under 30% and relative humidity 80 % during pot-test. As the results of pot-test, PHB film was decomposed about 87 % in 30 days by soul microorganisms. PHB film was more slowly degraded than PHB/HV film.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.872-876
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• 2001

Topological changes caused by the alkaline and enzymatic attacks of solution-grown, chain-folded lamellar crystals (SGCs) of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] P(3HB) have been studied in order to investigate the chain-folding structure in P(3HB) crystal regions. NaOH and an extracellular PHB depolymerase purified from Alcaligenes faecalis T1 were used for alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. The measurements were performed on crystals attached to a substrate which is inactive to degradation mediums. Both alkaline and enzymatic attacks lead to a breakup of the lamellar crystals along the crystallographic b-axis during initial erosion. Since hydrolysis preferentially occurs in amorphous regions, this morphological result reflects relatively loosely packed chains in core parts of lamellar crystals. Additionally, it was supported by the ridge formation along the b-axis in the lamellar crystals after thermal treatment at a low temperature because of the thermally sensitive nature of the loosely packed chains in lamellar crystals. However, the alkaline hydrolysis accompanied the chain erosions or scissions in quasi-regular folded lamellar surfaces due to smaller size of alkaline ions in comparison to the enzyme, resulting in the decrease of molecular weight.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.310-316
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• 2001

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase catalyzed the last enzymic step to synthesize the intracellular PHB of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. No PHB was detected when the phbC coding for PhB synthase was interrupted, and its expression was regulated at the level of transcription. The cellular PHB content increased about four- to six-fold during the growth transition from the exponential to the early stationary phase under both aerobic and photoheterotrophic conditions. The PHB content during the aerobic growth seemed to be determined by the PhB synthase activity. However, the PHB synthase activity of photoheterotrophically grown cells did not correlate with the PhB content, suggesting a photoheterotrophic regulation different from the aerobic control. Thus, the PHB content of R. sphaeroides was regulated at the transcription level only under aerobic conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1076-1083
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• 2023

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable and biocompatible bioplastic. Effective PHB degradation in nutrient-poor environments is required for industrial and practical applications of PHB. To screen for PHB-degrading strains, PHB double-layer plates were prepared and three new Bacillus infantis species with PHB-degrading ability were isolated from the soil. In addition, phaZ and bdhA of all isolated B. infantis were confirmed using a Bacillus sp. universal primer set and established polymerase chain reaction conditions. To evaluate the effective PHB degradation ability under nutrient-deficient conditions, PHB film degradation was performed in mineral medium, resulting in a PHB degradation rate of 98.71% for B. infantis PD3, which was confirmed in 5 d. Physical changes in the degraded PHB films were analyzed. The decrease in molecular weight due to biodegradation was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography and surface erosion of the PHB film was observed using scanning electron microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on B. infantis showing its excellent PHB degradation ability and is expected to contribute to PHB commercialization and industrial composting.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2002

An extracellular PHB depolymerase was purified from P. simplicissimum LAR13 cultural medium by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. When the fungus was grown in a basal salt medium with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) as the sole carbon source, PHB depolymerase production reached maximum at its stationary phase. The mycelial growth rate was higher at 37$^{\circ}C$ than at 30$^{\circ}C$ and even higher than at 25$^{\circ}C$, However, the enzyme production was lower at 37$^{\circ}C$ than 30$^{\circ}C$ or 25$^{\circ}C$. The isolated enzyme is composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of about 36 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. The optimum conditions for the enzyme activity are pH 5.0 and 45$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was stable for 30 min at a temperature lower than 50$^{\circ}C$, and stable at pH higher than 2.0 but it was unstable at pH 1.0.1 mM Fe$\^$2+/ reduced the enzyme activity by 56% and the enzyme was inhibited almost completely by 4 mM Fe$\^$2+/ . The enzyme was partially inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and was very sensitive to diazo-DL-norleucine methyl esters dithiothreitol and mercuric ion. However, N-p - tosyl - L - Iysinechloromethyl ketone, p -hydroxymercuricbenzoate and N- acetylimidazole had no influence upon its activity.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 1997

Biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate and copolymer consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate [poly(3HB-co-3HV)] by Bacillus thuringiensis R-510 grown with glucose or with mixtures of glucose and propionate was investigated. n-Alkanoic acids other than propionate were not precursors of 3HV units. The fraction of 3HV unit in the copolymer increased from 0 to 84 mol% of 3HV. Polymer yield decreased as the fraction of propionate was increased but the molecular weight distribution was not affected by the composition of carbon substrate. The minimum melting temperature (around 65.deg.C) of poly (3HB-co-3HV) copolymers was observed for the polymer bearing approximately 35 mol% of 3HV. Polyhydroxyalkanoates production by this organism was not dependent on nutritional limitation, but remarkably influenced by dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium. Low level of dissolved oxygen concentration prevented spore formation in the cells and stimulated the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate. The composition of poly (3HB-co-3HV) produced by B. thuringiensis R-510 lyhydroxyalkanoate. The composition of poly(3HB-co-3HV) propduced by B. thuringiensis R-510 varied according to the growth time. However, there was no evidence that polymers isolated from cells were mixtures of immiscible polymers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to find the effect of honey on the sugar metabolism In Sprague-Dawley rats. All experimental rats were fed ad libitum, for seven weeks, 68% saccharide diet anti 10% or 20% honey from acacia, sumac and miscellaneous flower honey, respectively, and sucrose. The amount of glucose in whole blood was increased in all groups fed with honey except the group fed with 10% sumac honey solution. The amount of fructosamine in serum of rat taken diet with honey solution was increased in comparison with normal group, control group, sucrose group. The amount of fructosamine in serum of rat taken diet with honey solution was high in order of sumac honey > miscellaneous flower honey > acacia honey. The amount of lactate and pyruvate in whole blood of rat taken diet with sucrose group or honey group were decreased in comparison with the normal group and control group. The amount of $\beta$-hydroxybutyrate in serum of rat taken diet with sucrose or honey was increased in comparison with the normal group, control group.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.279-283
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• 1996

The weight average molecular weight of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) synthesized by Alcaligenes sp. SH-69 was altered between $3.2$\times$10^5$ and $1.1$\times$10^6$ depending upon various culture conditions. It appeared that culture conditions favorable for the efficient production of copolyesters promoted the formation of higher molecular weight copolyesters. Polydispersity indices of isolated copolyesters were in the range of 1.5 to 2.5.