• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.878-883
• /
• 2009

In Brazil canned 'Biuti' peach is a very popular form of this sub-tropical fruit. This production represents an important economic agro-activity in Minas Gerais, Brazil during the summer period, in preparation for the Christmas celebrations. The aim of this work was to characterize the 'Biuti' peach polyphenoloxidase (PPO), since peach products show enzymatic oxidation of the polyphenols by oxidative enzymes, which affects the products during their shelf life. Two different hypothesis for the browning problem in processed peaches were studied: the inadequacy of the blanching treatment and the presence of a latent phenolase in the peaches. The PPO was characterized: pH optimum (5.5) and stability (5.5-6.5); optimum temperature at $20^{\circ}C$ and 80% of the activity retained after 30 min at $15-40^{\circ}C$. The test for the presence of latent PPO in the processed and canned peaches was negative. Ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol, sodium metabisulfite, and cysteine were efficient in inhibiting the PPO.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.738-744
• /
• 2003

The gene ADH encoding NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothennophilus was cloned and overexpressed as a GST fusion protein at a high level in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion protein was purified simply by glutathione affinity chromatography. GST fusion protein was then cleaved by thrombin, while soluble enzyme was further purified by glutathione affinity chromatography. The recombinant enzyme had the same elctrophoretic mobility as the native enzyme from Bacillus stearothennophilus. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of a number of alcohols and exhibited high activities towards secondary alcohols. The $K_m\;and\;V_{max}$ values of the recombinant enzyme for ethanol were 5.11 mM and 61.35 U/mg, respectively. Pyridine and imidazole notably inhibited the enzymatic activity. The activity of the recombinant enzyme optimally proceeded at pH 9.0 and $70^{\circ}C$. The midpoint of the temperature-stability curve for the recombinant enzyme was approximately $68^{\circ}C$, and the enzyme was not completely inactivated even at $85^{\circ}C$. The recombinant enzyme showed a high resistance towards denaturing agents (0.05% SDS, 0.1 M urea). Therefore, due to its stability and relatively broad substrate specificity, the recombinant enzyme could be utilized in bio-industrial processes and biosensors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제34권5호
• /
• pp.1082-1091
• /
• 2024

The antioxidant capacity and protective effect of peptides from protein hydrolysate of Cordyceps militaris cultivated with tussah pupa (ECPs) on H₂O₂-injured HepG2 cells were studied. Results indicated ECP1 (<3 kDa) presented the strongest antioxidant activity compared with other molecular weight peptides. Pretreated with ECPs observably enhanced survival rates and reduced apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells. ECPs treatment decreased the ROS level, MDA content and increased CAT and GSH-Px activities of HepG2 cells. Besides, the morphologies of natural peptides from C. militaris cultivated with tussah pupa (NCP1) and ECP1 were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization results suggested the structure of NCP1 was changed by enzymatic hydrolysis treatment. Most of hydrophobic and acidic amino acids contents (ACC) in ECP1 were also observably improved by enzymatic hydrolysis. In conclusion, low molecular weight peptides had potential value in the development of cosmetics and health food.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.464-474
• /
• 2021

Bacterial cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are responsible for the hydroxylation of diverse endogenous substances with a heme molecule used as a cofactor. This study characterized two CYP154C3 proteins from Streptomyces sp. W2061 (CYP154C3-1) and Streptomyces sp. KCCM40643 (CYP154C3-2). The enzymatic activity assays of both CYPs conducted using heterologous redox partners' putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase showed substrate flexibility with different steroids and exhibited interesting product formation patterns. The enzymatic characterization revealed good activity over a pH range of 7.0 to 7.8 and the optimal temperature range for activity was 30 to 37℃. The major product was the C16-hydroxylated product and the kinetic profiles and patterns of the generated hydroxylated products differed between the two enzymes. Both enzymes showed a higher affinity toward progesterone, with CYP154C3-1 demonstrating slightly higher activity than CYP154C3-2 for most of the substrates. Oxidizing agents (diacetoxyiodo) benzene (PIDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were also utilized to actively support the redox reactions, with optimum conversion achieved at concentrations of 3 mM and 65 mM, respectively. The oxidizing agents affected the product distribution, influencing the type and selectivity of the CYP-catalyzed reaction. Additionally, CYP154C3s also catalyzed the C-C bond cleavage of steroids. Therefore, CYP154C3s may be a good candidate for the production of modified steroids for various biological uses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제10권3호
• /
• pp.307-311
• /
• 2000

Abstract Extracellular chitinase was purified from the culture liquid of the marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. LJ-25 , and its enzymatic properties were examined. The purified chitinase exhibited a single band on SDS-PAGE and the molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 50 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzymatic activity were 7.0 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of the chitinase was strongly inhibited by $Zn^{2+}$ and slightly inhibited by $Ba^{2+},{\;}Co^{2+},{\;}Mn^{2+},{\;}and{\;}Cu^{2+}$. The purified chitinase did not hydrolyze $p-nitrophenolN-acetyl-{\bata}-D-glucosaminide{\;}(GlcNAc)_2$ and Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells, which are known to be the substrates for exo-type chitinase. Among the hydrolyzates of colloidal chitin, $(GlcNAc)_2$ was in the highest concentration with small amounts of GlcNAc and $(GlcNAc)_3$..

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 1991

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase(CGTase) derived from Bacillus macerans was immobilized by (1) covalent linkage on chitosan and chitin with glutaraldehyde, (2) adsorption on DEAE-cellulose and Amberite IRA 900 after succinylation, and (3) entrapment on alginate and polyacrylamide by cross linking. Adsorption on Amberite IRA 900 and covalent linking on chitosan were identified to be the most suitable immobilization methods considering the yield of activity and stability of immobilized CGTase. The enzymatic properties of immobilized CGTase were investigated and compared with those of the soluble CGTase. Thermal stability of CGTase immobilized on chitosan was increased from 50 to $55^{\circ}C$, and the optimum temperature of CGTase immobilized on Amberite IRA 900 was shifted from 55 to $50^{\circ}C$. The effect of molecular size of soluble starch (substrate) on immobilized CGTase investigated using partially liquefied substrates with different dextrose equivalent(DE). Cyclodextrin(CD) conversion yield augmented according to the increase of DE level for immobilized CGTase on Amberite IRA 900. CD conversion yield of partially cyclized starch with soluble CGTase was higher compared with liquefied one with ${\alpha}-amylase$.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to purify and characterize the ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitor from enzymatic hydrolysates of blackfin flounder muscle, for development of a novel anti-dementia agent that may be used in the drug or functional food industries. ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide was purified from various enzymatic hydrolysates of blackfin flounder muscle. Among six enzymatic hydrolysates, the Alcalase hydrolysate revealed highest ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory activity. Consecutive purification of the blackfin flounder muscle hydrolysate using Sephadex G-25 column chromatography and octadecylsilane C18 reversed phase HPLC techniques were used to isolate a potent ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide composed of 5 amino acids, Leu-Thr-Gln-Asp-Trp (MW: 526.7 Da). The $IC_{50}$ value of purified ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide was $126.93{\mu}M$. Results of this study suggest that peptides derived from blackfin flounder muscle may be beneficial as anti-dementia compounds in functional foods or as pharmaceuticals.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• 제45권2호
• /
• pp.232-242
• /
• 2017

The objective of this study was to examine changes in the porosity and internal structure of wood as it goes through the process of saccharification (extraction of fermentable sugars). This study also examined the use of different drying methods to prepare samples for characterization of internal pores, with particular emphasis on the partially disrupted cell wall. Aspen wood flour samples after dilute acid pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis were examined for nitrogen adsorption. The resulting isotherms were analyzed for surface area, pore size distribution, and total pore volume. Results showed that freeze drying (with sample pre-freezing) maintains the cell wall structure, allowing for examination of saccharification effects. Acid pretreatment (hemicellulose removal) doubled the surface area and tripled the total volume of pores, which were mostly 10-20 nm wide. Subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (cellulose removal) caused a 5-fold increase in the surface area and a ~ 11-fold increase in the total volume of pores, which ranged from 5 to 100 nm in width. These results indicate that nitrogen adsorption analysis is a feasible technique to examine the internal pore structure of lignocellulosic residues after saccharification. The information on the pore structure will be useful when considering value-adding options for utilizing the solid waste for biofuel production.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• 제51권4호
• /
• pp.270-282
• /
• 2023

Lower termites need symbiotic microbes for cellulose digestion. Elizabethkingia miricola strain BM10 has been proposed as a symbiotic microbe that assists in low-temperature digestion and metabolism of Reticulitermes speratus KMT1, a termite on Bukhan Mountain, Seoul, Korea. In E. miricola strain BM10, β-glucosidase genes expressed at 10℃ were identified, and the psychrophilic enzymatic characteristic was confirmed by heterogeneously expressed proteins. Crude β-glucosidase in the culture broth of E. miricola strain BM10 showed specific enzymatic properties, and its substrate affinity was 4.69 times higher than that of Cellic CTec2. Among the genes proposed as β-glucosidase, two genes, bglB_1 and bglA_2, whose gene expression was more than doubled at 10℃ than at 30℃, were identified. They were heterogeneously expressed in Escherichia coli and identified as psychrophilic enzymes with an optimal reaction temperature of about 20℃-25℃. In this study, E. miricola strain BM10, a symbiotic bacterium of lower termites, produced psychrophilic β-glucosidases that contribute to the spread of the low-temperature habitat of a lower termite, R. speratus KMT1.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제42권3호
• /
• pp.291-295
• /
• 2014

Mycoflora was assessed in the commercial meju from four well-separated geographic origins. A total of 112 fungal isolates were identified by phenotypic characteristics and molecular taxonomy using sequencing the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA and revealed 19 species from 13 genera. Enzymatic characteristics of protease and amylase, and mycotoxin production were analyzed.