• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2008

Aurofusarin is a polyketide pigment produced by some Fusarium species. The PKS12 and GIP1 genes, which encode a putative type I polyketide synthase (PKS) and a fungal laccase, respectively, are known to be required for aurofusarin biosynthesis in Gibberella zeae (anamorph: Fusarium graminearum). The ten additional genes, which are located within a 30 kb region of PKS12 and GIP1 and regulated by a putative transcription factor (GIP2), organize the aurofusarin biosynthetic cluster. To determine if they are essential for aurofusarin production in G. zeae, we have employed targeted gene deletion, complementation, and chemical analyses. GIP7, which encodes O-methyltransferase, is confirmed to be required for the conversion of norrubrofusarin to rubrofusarin, an intermediate of aurofusarin. GIP1-, GIP3-, and GIP8-deleted strains accumulated rubrofusarin, indicating those gene products are essential enzymes for the conversion of rubrofusarin to aurofusarin. Based on the phenotypic changes in the gene deletion strains examined, we propose a possible pathway for aurofusarin biosynthesis in G. zeae. Our results would provide important information for better understanding of naphthoquinone biosynthesis in other fdarnentous fungi as well as the aurofusarin biosynthesis in G. zeae.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2014

The transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 into a specific minor ginsenoside using Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239, as well as the identification of the transformed products and the pathway via thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography were evaluated to develop a new biologically active material. The conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 generated Rd, Rg3, Rh2, and compound K although the reaction rates were low due to the low concentration. In enzymatic conversion, all of the ginsenoside Rb1 was converted to ginsenoside Rd and ginsenoside Rg3 after 24 h of incubation. The crude enzyme (b-glucosidase) from A. niger KCCM 11239 hydrolyzed the ${\beta}$-($1{\rightarrow}6$)-glucosidic linkage at the C-20 of ginsenoside Rb1 to generate ginsenoside Rd and ginsenoside Rg3. Our experimental demonstration showing that A. niger KCCM 11239 produces the ginsenoside-hydrolyzing b-glucosidase reflects the feasibility of developing a specific bioconversion process to obtain active minor ginsenosides.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 1999

Accumulation of toxic waste byproducts in hybridoma culture can limit cell growth and monoclonal antibody (MAb) productivity, and one of the major toxic metabolites is lactate produced via glycolytic pathway of glucose metabolism. The factors affecting the glucose to lactate conversion rate were investigated. The conditions of high initial glucose concentration and high growth rate stimulated glucose to lactate conversion rate. The glucose-controlled fed-batch culture was investigated, and 19% reduction in lactate formation and 41% enhancement of MAb titer could be achieved by fed-batch culture.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.578-583
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• 2003

The desulfurization genes (dszABC) were cloned from Gordonia nitida. Nucleotide sequences similarity between the dszABC genes of G. nitida and those of Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8 was 89%. The similarities of deduced amino acids between the two were 86% for DszA, 86% for DszB, and 90% for DszC. The G. nitida dszABC genes were expressed in several different Escherichia coli strains under an inducible trc promoter. Cultivation of these metabolically engineered E. coli strains in the presence of 0.2 mM dibenzothiophene (DBT) allowed the conversion of DBT to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), which is the final metabolite of the sulfur-specific desulfurization pathway. The maximum conversion of DBT to 2-HBP was 16% in 60 h. Recombinant E. coli was applied for the deep desulfurization of diesel oil supplemented into the medium at 5% (v/v). Sulfur content in diesel oil was decreased from 250 mg sulfur/1 to 212.5 mg sulfur/1, resulting in the removal of 15% of sulfur in diesel oil in 60 h.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2023

This study shows the summary of the economic performance of excess electricity conversion to hydrogen as well as methane and returned conversion to electricity using a fuel cell. The methane production process has been examined in a previous study. Here, this study focuses on the conversion of methane to electricity. As a part of this study, capital expenditure (CAPEX) is estimated under various sized plants (0.3, 3, 9, and 30 MW). The study shows a method for economic optimization of electricity generation using a fuel cell. The CAPEX and operating expenditure (OPEX) as well as the feed cost are used to calculate the discounted cash flow. Then the levelized cost of returned electricity (LCORE) is estimated from the discounted cash flow. This study found the LCORE value was ¢10.2/kWh electricity when a 9 MW electricity generating fuel cell was used. A methane production plant size of 1,500 Nm³/hr, a methane production cost of $11.47/mcf, a storage cost of $1/mcf, and a fuel cell efficiency of 54% were used as a baseline. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the storage cost, fuel cell efficiency, and excess electricity cost by ±20%, and fuel cell efficiency was found as the most dominating parameter in terms of the LCORE sensitivity. Therefore, for the best cost-performance, fuel cell manufacturing and efficiency need to be carefully evaluated. This study provides a general guideline for cost performance comparison with LCORE.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.362-366
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• 2009

To determine the effect of electron-beam irradiation on the contents of polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) extracts from citrus pomaces (CP), CP was irradiated at 0, 1, 2, or 5 kGy. Methanol extract of the irradiated CP were prepared and the PMF (nobiletin, sinensetin, and tangeretin) content of the extract was determined. Nobiletin and sinensetin of CP extract significantly increased with irradiation dose-dependent. However, electron-beam irradiation decreased the amount of tangeretin in the CP extract. These data suggest that irradiation can liberate phenolic compounds such as nobiletin or sinensetin, but tangeretin might have different pathway of conversion by irradiation. Therefore, irradiation can be a tool to change the composition of PMFs in CP.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2007

Catabolism of amino acids, including sulfur-containing amino acids, can be responsible for the development of cheese flavor during ripening Since accelerating, intensifying, modulating cheese flavor development is of major economical interests, the identification of flavor compounds and enzymes contributing to cheese flavor development needs to be investigated. Generally, two different pathways, which are a transamination pathway catalyzed by aminotransferases and an elimination reaction catalyzed by lyases, potentially lead to conversion of amino acids into flavor compounds. In this review, enzymes and amino acid catabolic pathways responsible for cheese flavor formation will be discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.111-114
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• 2000

Streptomyces are widespread in nature and play a very important role in the biosynthesis as well as biodegradation of natural and unnatural aromatic compounds. Both qualitatively and quantitatively through TLC and UV spectrophotometric assays, it was observed that the thermophilic soil bacteria S. setonii (ATCC 39116), which can utilize a benzoate as a sole carbon and energy source in a minimal liquid culture, was not very sensitive to the benzoate concentation and to the culture conditions such as the pH and temperature. The in vitro conversion of a catechol to a cis, cis-muconic acid by a crude S. setonii lysate implies that the aromatic ring cleavage by S. setonii is initiated by a thermostable catechol-1,2-dioxygenase, the key enzyme in the ortho-cleavage pathway of aromatic compound biodegradation. Unlike non-degrading S. lividans, S.setonii was also highly resistant to other similar hazardous aromatic compounds, exhibiting almost no adverse effect on its growth in a complex liquid culture.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 1988

The rates of photorespiration and total CO2 fixation depending on leaf ages of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) were investigated. Metabolic rates of glycolate and glyoxylate in isolated peroxisomes were also measured. The rate of photorespiration and total CO2 fixation ability increased with the maturing of leaf, but decreased with senescence. Activities of enzymes involved in the peroxisomal photorespiratory pathway such as catalase, glycolate oxidase, NADH-glyoxylate reductase and glutamate-glyoxylate transaminase were highest in the mature leaf, but also decreased with aging of leaf. Glutamate-glyxolate transaminase activity significantly decreased with senescence, especially. the metabolic rate of glycolate was observed to be lower than that of glyoxylate in isolated peroxisomes. Glycolate seemed to be metabolized mainly to glycine, however, it also oxidized to CO2 when glycolate was supplied as a substrate for glycine synthesis instead of glyoxylate. The conversion rates of glycolate and glyxylate into CO2 increased with the senescence of leaves.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 1990

The role of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as an intermediate in interrelation between polyamine and ethylene biosynthesis was studied in suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum L. Exogenous SAM stimulated the polyamine and ethylene biosynthesis in 4 day-cultured cells, which were in active cell divisions, and 10 day cultured cells, which went on with active cell elongation and senescence. SAM-induced ethylene production was more effective in 10 day-cultured cells than in 4 day-cultured cells, but SAM-induced polyamine biosynthesis was more effective in 4 day-cultured cells than in 10 day-cultured cells. Polyamine contents were increased by the blockage of ethylene biosynthetic pathway in the conversion of SAM to ethylene via 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylinc acid (ACC) with aminooxyacetic acid (AOA). Also, ethylene production was increased by the inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis such as methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), dicyclohexylamine (DCHA), $\alpha$-difluoromethylarginine (DFMA) and $\alpha$-difluoromethylorinithine (DFMO). These results suggest that there may be interrelations between polyamine and ethylene biosynthesis for the competition of SAM and the inherent mechanism of switch on-off in polyamine and ethylene biosynthetic activity with the progress of cell growth and senescence.