• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1174-1178
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• 2011

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are microbial polysaccharides that are released outside of the bacterial cell wall. There have been few studies on EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria that can enhance macrophage activity and the underlying signaling mechanism for cytokine expression. In the current study, EPS-overproducing Lactobacillus (L.) paracasei KB28 was isolated from kimchi and cultivated in conditioned media containing glucose, sucrose, and lactose. The whole bacterial cells were obtained with their EPS being attached, and the cytokine-inducing activities of these cells were investigated. Gas chromatography analysis showed the presence of glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose in EPS composition. EPS-producing L. paracasei KB28 induced the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12 in mouse macrophages. This strain also caused the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and phosphorylation of the major MAPKs: Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. The use of pharmacological inhibitors showed that different signaling pathways were involved in the induction of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-12 by L. paracasei KB28. Our results provide information for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effect of food-derived EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2000

For the development of enzyme detergent capable of effectively washing at low temperature, a bacterium producing alkaline protease was isolated from soil samples, and properties of the enzyme were investigated. The selected strain was Gram negative, rod shape$(0.6{\sim}0.7{\times}1.3{\sim}2.6\;{\mu}m\;in\;size)$ and motile. It had the degradation activity of aesculin, gelatin and casein, and was catalase-positive. The cell wall components was meso-DAP, and G+C mole contents was 43.3%. From these results, the strain was identified as Acinetobacter sp. KN-27. The activity of alkaline protease by this strain peaked with 3,300 D.U/mL after 36 hours in the liquid culture at $40^{\circ}C$. The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme were pH 9 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. Alkaline protease produced by Acinetobacter sp. KN-27 has shown two active bands on the electrophoresis of native gel.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1438-1445
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• 2021

A bifunctional glycoside hydrolase GH78 from the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha (XpoGH78) possesses catalytic versatility towards both glycosides and esters, which may be advantageous for the efficient degradation of the plant cell-wall complex that contains both diverse sugar residues and esterified structures. The contribution of XpoGH78 to the conversion of lignocellulosic materials without any chemical pretreatment to release the water-soluble aromatic fragments, carbohydrates, and methanol was studied. The disintegrating effect of enzymatic lignocellulose treatment can be significantly improved by using different kinds of hydrolases and phenoloxidases. The considerable changes in low (3 kDa), medium (30 kDa), and high (> 200 kDa) aromatic fragments were observed after the treatment with XpoGH78 alone or with this potent cocktail. Synergistic conversion of rape straw also resulted in a release of 17.3 mg of total carbohydrates (e.g., arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose) per gram of substrate after incubating for 72 h. Moreover, the treatment of rape straw with XpoGH78 led to a marginal methanol release of approximately 17 ㎍/g and improved to 270 ㎍/g by cooperation with the above accessory enzymes. In the case of beech wood conversion, the combined catalysis by XpoGH78 and laccase caused an effect comparable with that of fungal strain X. polymorpha in woody cultures concerning the liberation of aromatic lignocellulose fragments.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.145-162
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• 2019

This study aimed to increase the sugar and ethanol yield from the mengkuang plant biomass through biological and liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment and their combination. The results showed that biological pretreatments with 5% inoculum of the fungus Trametes versicolor resulted in the highest alpha cellulose content incubated for 30 days, and 10% inoculum resulted in the lowest lignin content. LHW pretreatment decreased the hemicellulose content of pulps from 10.17% to 9.99%. T. versicolor altered the structure of the mengkuang pulp by degrading the lignin and lignocellulose matrix. The resulting delignification and cellulose degradation facilitate the hydrolysis of cellulose into sugars. The alpha cellulose content after biological-LHW pretreatment was higher (78.99%) compared to LHW-biological pretreatment (76.85%). Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that biological-LHW combinated treatment degrades the cell wall structures. The ethanol yield for biological-LHW pretreated sample was observed 43.86% (13.11 g/L ethanol by weight of the substrate, which is much higher than that of LHW-biological pretreatment (34.02%; 9.097 g/L). The highest reducing sugar content about 45.10% was observed with a resulting ethanol content of 15.5 g/L at LHW pretreatment temperature of $180^{\circ}C$ for 30 min.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.289-298
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• 2023

Stored rice grain undergoes physical and chemical deteriorations over time. As temperature and moisture content are important factors affecting to the denaturation of rice, it is important to store rice at a low temperature and hermetic condition. From a microscopic point of view, many studies have already reported how proteins and lipids were denatured within rice grain. Meanwhile, the weight loss of rice is currently observed at actual storage sites and can occur for diverse reasons. In this study, it was assumed that the decomposition process of polysaccharides, known as the main component of rice, plays an important role in its weight loss. In specific, the roles of enzymes were also evaluated. Our interest is in the major polysaccharides within a rice grain such as starch as well as within a rice endosperm cell wall. It is suspected that the weight loss of rice grains during storage seems to associate with the degradation of amylose and amylopectin. Nevertheless, it should be also speculated the correlating effect of other components such as proteins and lipids.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.27-34
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• 2001

Following the recommendations made by the cultural authorities the wooden cultural properties (WCP) had been treated with fire-retardants for fire protection. However, visual inspections of some of the WCPs treated with fire-retardants showed microbial decay. The work was extended to examine the micromorphological characteristics of the WCPs in a Buddhist temple which had been treated with fire-retardant. Microscopic examination showed the presence of typical soft rot cavities along the length of microfibrils in the secondary wall. Bacterial attack was also observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is interesting that the decay patterns observed in the Buddhist temple were very similar to those observed in the waterlogged woods. Presumably chemicals in the fire-retardants used rendered the wood susceptible to attack by soft-rot and bacterial decay by causing an increase in the moisture content of wood. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of fire-retardants used currently on the hygroscopicity and the strength of wood materials in the WCPs. Microbial attacks caused degradation of the secondary cell walls and in some cases also of the middle lamella. In addition, the cell walls in the outer parts of wood were also degraded due to weathering, and cell separation occurred from total disintegration of the middle lamella.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1014-1021
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• 1997

Studies were carried out on the preparation of several kinds of pulps from Sponge gourd fiber by KP, ASP, SP PAP, AP and addition of AQ pulping process. These unbeaten and beaten pulping fibers were observed their characteristics and fiber structure by SEM, FQA, Image analyzer and Micro projector. The results were summarized as follows; 1) The cooking condition which is the possible defibrilation of Shives are KP base($160^{\circ}C$, 2hr.), ASP base($155^{\circ}C$, 4hr.), PAP base($160^{\circ}C$, 1hr.). From the results, the kappa no. had the range of 12, 25, 10 each other. 2) The pulp yields of sponge gourd fiber obtained the range of KP 50~55%, ASP&60~70% and PAP 45~50%. SP base have the highest and contnets of KP&PAP base are much the same as woods. 3) Increasing amount of NaOH on Pulping was accelerated the defibrilation of Shives and was changed a morphology of pulping fiber quality such as fiber length, curl and kink index. 4) Addition of AQ on pulping process of sponge gourd fiber had a affect to raise the rate of delignification while protecting cellullosic components against degradation, especially defibrilation was very excellent, beated pulp much more easily and increased the fibrilation. 5) ASP system have higher bulk density, fiber bonding and protecting cellullosic components against degradation than KP or PAP. 6) The color reactions of the "C" stain solution showed blue or blue-gray with clean and transparency thin cell wall.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 1999

Aromatic hydrocarbons which are not easily degraded by microorganisms can be accumulated in the conlaminated environment for a long lime, producing toxic effects on wild lives and humans. However, the sublethal concentrations of the chemicals induce the synthesis of stress-shock proteins in the cells and increase the adaptability of the organisms to the environmental stresses. In this study, therefore, the cells of Psezido~nonus sp. DJ- 12 treated with catechol at various concentrations were inveshgated for their survival, biodegtadability of catechol, production of stress-shock proteins, and cytological changes. The organisms were capable of degrading catechol at the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mM concentration wilhin 6 hours incubation, but they were killed by $10^2$-10$^3$ celllinl at 3 mM or higel- concentration without any catechol degradation. These cells treated with catechol begm lo produce DnaK and GroEL at 1 mM and 0.5 mM. respectively. Pseudumonas sp. DJ-12 treated with 10 mM catechol for I hour exhihiled some punctuated pores on the cell wall and contortion of the rod shape. The cells treated with he sublethal concentration of catechol showed the increased tolerance for suvival when exposed to the lethal concentration, and such tolerant effects were functioned crossly among benzoate, 4-chlorobenzoate, 'and catechol.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

The characteristics of fruit ripening and cell wall modifications of two oriental pear fruits were compared during storage. The loss of fresh weight was lower in 'Pingguoli' than 'Niitaka', probably due to the difference in wax accumulation and skin structure. 'Pingguoli' produced much higher amount of ethylene and showed climacteric ripening pattern, but this response was not found in 'Niitaka'. A significant difference in soluble pectin contents was found, thus, the amount of water soluble pectins were much higher in 'Niitaka' at harvest but this difference was not significant at later stage of storage. A severe loss of water soluble pectins in 'Niitaka' was confirmed whereas a similar tendency was not found in CDTA soluble ones. Even the amount of $Na_2CO_3$ soluble pectins was relatively low, 'Pingguoli' contained approximately 2 times higher than 'Niitaka' and both cultivars showed an increasing tendency in $Na_2CO_3$ soluble polymers at later stage of storage. No significant difference in alkali soluble polysaccharides (hemicelluloses fraction) was found between both cultivars. There was a significant change in gel filtration profiles regardless of cultivars, especially in water soluble pectins resulting from severe depolymerization probably due to degradation of higher molecular weight pectins and loss of their side chains. In gel filtration profiles of $Na_2CO_3$ soluble pectins, neutral sugars were evenly distributed regardless of molecular size of pectic polymers but the decrease of high molecular weight fraction was found. In comparison of alkali soluble polymers, a similar trend was found, that is, there was no difference in gel filtration profiles but 'Niitaka' seemed to have longer side chains in alkali soluble polysaccharides in both 4% and 24% of KOH soluble fractions.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2004

The optimal temperature for mycelial growth the F. fomentarius was $30^{\circ}C$ and the range of the temperature for mycelial growth wsa about 10~30. The optimal pH for the growth was 4.0. The percentage of weight loss percentage wsa 17.4%. The percentage of WEC extractives wsa increased to 2.24%. The observation of micromorphological showed that the detected cell wall were erosive and thinning as typical degradation pattern of white-rot fungi.