• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1196-1201
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• 2008

A examination of the kinetic properties of UDP-glucose : (1,3)-$\beta$-glucan (callose) synthase from mung bean seedings (Sorbus cortex) shows that these enzymes have a complex interaction with UDP-glucose and various effectors. Deoxynojirimycin increased the inhibitory effect of (1,3)-$\beta$-glucan synthase at the concentration-dependent manner by fluorescence assay. The inhibitory effect of Fr. 2-16 (97.15%) showed higher than that of deoxynojirimycin (80.63%). Fr. 2-3 inhibited the growth of the Candida albicans at 1 mm inhibition zone by disk diffusion method. These results suggest that Sorbus cortex extract can be used as a stable antifungal material.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.316-321
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• 1995

Some properties of $\beta$-1, 3-glucan synthase system in Saccharamyces cerevisiae were investigated. By extraction with detergent and salt, the membrane preparations could be dissociated into two components, one soluble, the other still membrane bound. Both components, in addition to GTP, were necessary for the activity of $\beta$-1, 3-glucan synthase like other fungi. The protective effect of guanosine nucleotides on the soluble factor pointed to the possibility that this fraction contained a GTP-binding protein. Addition of increasing amounts of soluble factor to a constant amount of insoluble catalytic factor, vice versa, gave rise to a saturation curve. These results, including different types of evidence, indicate that the soluble factor and the catalytic factor form a complex.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.633-647
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• 2014

Biopolymers, polymers produced by living organisms, are used in various fields (e.g., medical, food, cosmetic, medicine) due to their beneficial properties. Recently, biopolymers have been used for control of soil erosion, stabilization of aggregate, and to enhance drilling. However, the inter-particle behavior of such polymers on soil behavior are poorly understood. In this study, an artificial biopolymer (${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan) was used as an engineered soil additive for Korean residual soil (i.e., hwangtoh). The geotechnical behavior of the Korean residual soil, after treatment with ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan, were measured through a series of laboratory approaches and then analyzed. As the biopolymer content in soil increased, so did its compactibility, Atterberg limits, plasticity index, swelling index, and shear modulus. However, the treatment had no effect on the compressional stiffness of the residual soil, and the polymer induced bio-clogging of the soil's pore spaces while resulting in a decrease in hydraulic conductivity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2018

Treatment towards wound healing, a complex and dynamic process, has been given a great deal of efforts in the last few decades. Focus has been imposed on developing wound dressings that meet the requirements for proper wound healing. In this study, hydrogel made from blends of poly (vinyl alcohol) and ${\beta}$-1,6-branched-${\beta}$-1,3-glucan (beta-glucan) were synthesized by modified solvent casting method for wound dressing application. Optimization of hydrogel composition and analysis of wound dressing parameters such as stability and fluid uptake capacity (in the presence of water, saline and different pH solutions) has been studied. The result indicated that the PVA/beta-glucan hydrogel hold its structural integrity even at alkaline pH (pH~9) and upholds fluids four times of its original weight. Thus, the developed hydrogel is expected to be a promising candidate as wound dressing.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.668-671
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• 2005

In this study, the full gene of the putative ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase catalytic subunit(gi:40556679) in Agrobacteriujm sp. ATCC31750 was cloned into E. coli BL21(DE). We found that putative ${\beta}-1,3-glucan$ synthase catalytic subunit full gene mutant(E. coli mutant FC) produced soluble glucan.instead of curdlan(insoluble glucan).

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.spc1
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• pp.10-24
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• 1996

[ ($1{\to}3$) ], ($1{\to}4$)-${\beta}$-D-glucans(${\beta}-glucans$) are a major component of the cell walls of grasses as a component of the cereal endosperm and aleurone cell walls. Although ${\beta}-glucans$ exist in all cereals, their concentration is highest in oats and barley. Genetic and environmental differences are found in total ${\beta}-glucan$ content. Both oats and barley ${\beta}-glucans$ have cholesterol-lowering effects. This suggests possible use as food additives. Structural characterization of ${\beta}-glucan$ is important because structure can influence physical and physiological properties. In this review, ${\beta}-glucans$ of barley and oats are discussed in details including structure, chemical and physical properties, and nutritional implications. The use of barley and oat products as well as ${\beta}-glucan$ as a food additive continues to increase. This can provide an additional market for barley and oats, thus increasing the value of the crops.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.271-274
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• 2009

Cereal $\beta$-glucans, linked essentially by mixed $\beta$-(1,4/1,3) glycosidic bonds, were extracted, purified, and structurally identified. Previously chemical structure of barley $\beta$-glucans was characterized from 3 varieties of 'Gang', 'Ohl', and 'Gwangan', and the (1,4)/(1,3) linkage ratio of the $\beta$-glucans was identical. In this study, $\beta$-glucans from 1 barley ('Chal') and 3 oat ('Ohl', 'Samhan', and 'Donghan') varieties were structurally scrutinized, and the linkage pattern of total 7 cereal $\beta$-glucans was compared. The amount of 2 major 3-O-$\beta$-cellobiosyl-D-glucose (DP3) and 3-O-$\beta$-cellotriosyl-D-glucose (DP4) from barley and oat accounted for only 66.6-73.3 and 68.12-81.89% of water-extractable $\beta$-glucan fractions, and the (1,4)/(1,3) linkage ratios of both barley and oat $\beta$-glucans were within very narrow range of 2.27-2.31 and 2.38-2.39, respectively, among the cultivars tested. Structural difference in the cereal $\beta$-glucans was evident when DP3:DP4 ratio in the $\beta$-glucan structure was compared. As a result, this ratio was significantly greater for barley $\beta$-glucan (2.26-2.74) than for oat (1.54-1.66). Chal-B had the greatest DP3 to DP4 ratio among the samples, which in turn reflected the least amount of (1,4)-linkages.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 2007

The quality characteristics of sponge cake with added ${\beta}-glucan$(2, 4 and 6%) were evaluated. Rapid decreases in moisture content in the sponge cake were observed during storage($20^{\circ}C$, 70% relative humidity) in control and 2% ${\beta}-glucan$ cakes by day 3 of storage, while the moisture content in the 4% and 6% ${\beta}-glucan-added$ sponge cake slowly decreased until day 12 of storage. During storage, hardness was much lower in groups with added ${\beta}-glucan$ than in control. On day 1 L, a and b values of both crust and crumb of sponge cake with added ${\beta}-glucan$ were not significantly different from control, although the a and b values decreased significantly with storage days. Sensory test revealed that the scores for over-all acceptability were much higher in sponge cake with added ${\beta}-glucan$, and the same results were obtained on day 5. Based on these results, ${\beta}-glucan$ addition maintained moisture content and had an overall good effect on sponge cake.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.433-445
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• 2012

During the course of evolution, animals encountered the harmful effects of fungi, which are strong pathogens. Therefore, they have developed powerful mechanisms to protect themselves against these fungal invaders. ${\beta}$-Glucans are glucose polymers of a linear ${\beta}$(1,3)-glucan backbone with ${\beta}$(1,6)-linked side chains. The immunostimulatory and antitumor activities of ${\beta}$-glucans have been reported; however, their mechanisms have only begun to be elucidated. Fungal and particulate ${\beta}$-glucans, despite their large size, can be taken up by the M cells of Peyer's patches, and interact with macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs) and activate systemic immune responses to overcome the fungal infection. The sampled ${\beta}$-glucans function as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and are recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on innate immune cells. Dectin-1 receptor systems have been incorporated as the PRRs of ${\beta}$-glucans in the innate immune cells of higher animal systems, which function on the front line against fungal infection, and have been exploited in cancer treatments to enhance systemic immune function. Dectin-1 on macrophages and DCs performs dual functions: internalization of ${\beta}$-glucan-containing particles and transmittance of its signals into the nucleus. This review will depict in detail how the physicochemical nature of ${\beta}$-glucan contributes to its immunostimulating effect in hosts and the potential uses of ${\beta}$-glucan by elucidating the dectin-1 signal transduction pathway. The elucidation of ${\beta}$-glucan and its signaling pathway will undoubtedly open a new research area on its potential therapeutic applications, including as immunostimulants for antifungal and anti-cancer regimens.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.180-184
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• 2009

The apoptotic effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan was investigated in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4 using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes, and assay of caspase-3 enzyme activity. $\beta$-Glucan of 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g$/mL decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with typical apoptotic characteristics, such as morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation from TUNEL assay. In addition, $\beta$-glucan ($100{\mu}g$/mL) decreased the expression of Bc1-2 by 0.6 times, whereas the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased by 3.1 and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to untreated control group. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity in the $\beta$-glucan-treated group was significantly increased compared to those in control group (P < 0.05). Bacterial derived $\beta$-glucan could be used as an effective compound inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer.