• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.735-741
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• 2011

Bealmijang is a short-term fermented regional product that is prepared with soybean and extra ingredients. In this study, starter strain candidates were screened from Bealmijang for fermented soybean paste products. Twenty one bacterial strains producing extracellular enzymes (amylase, cellulase, protease, xylanase and lipase) were isolated from Bealmijang, buckwheat sokseongjang. The isolates were assessed for fibrinolytic and antibacterial activities, and salt tolerance. Strain HJ18-4, identified as Bacillus subtilis (AB601598) by biochemical properties (89.6%) and 16S rDNA sequencing (100%), showed the highest enzymatic, fibrinolytic, and antibacterial activities among the isolates. Although the growth of HJ18-4 was inhibited by the increase of NaCl concentration, the growth still exceeded that of B. subtilis KACC 10114 at 5% and 10% NaCl. These results suggest that B. subtilis HJ18-4 is suitable as a starter for soybean paste manufacture.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.964-971
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• 2006

The cancer cells, characterized by local invasion and distant metastasis, are very dependant on extracellular matrix. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been implicated in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Among the human MMPs, matirx metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinse-9 (MMP-9) are key enzymes that degrade type IV collagen of the matrix. Here, we studied the effect of disulfiram, an anti-tumor compound, on the suppression of the tumor invasion and the activity of MMP-2, MMP-9 in human osteosarcoma cells (U2OS). Disulfiram had the type IV collagenase inhibitory activity, the effect of inhibition of gene and protein expression, and these inhibitions were responsible for blocking invasion through cell mediated and non-cell mediated pathways. In conclusion, disulfiram inhibited expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and regulated the invasion of U2OS, Caki-1 and Caski. These observations raise the possibility of clinical therapeutic applications for disulfiram used as a potential inhibitor of cancer invasion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.345-348
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• 2015

An organic solvent stable lipase from solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 171 had an optimal pH of 8 and an optimal temperature of 37℃. This crude extracellular lipase from BCNU 171 exhibited increased stability in the presence of various types of solvents at high concentrations (25%, v/v). The lipase stability was found to be highest in the presence of xylene (137%), followed by toluene (131%), octane (130%), and butanol (104%). Overall, BCNU 171 lipase tended to be more stable than immobilized commercial lipase (Novozyme435) in the presence of organic solvents. Furthermore, BCNU 171 lipase maintained about 90% of its enzyme original activity in the presence of NH₄⁺, Na⁺, Ba²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ca²⁺ion and significantly increased its enzyme activity in the presence of various emulsifying agents. Thus, the organic solvent stable lipase from Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 171 could be usable as a potential whole cell biocatalyst and for synthetic applications of enzymes for industrial chemical processes in organic solvents without using immobilization.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1113-1120
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• 2016

Two bacterial strains producing extracellular man nanase were isolated from doenjang, a traditionally fermented soybean paste in Korea. The isolates, WL-6 and WL-11, were identified as Bacillus subtiis on the basis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences, morphological, and biochemical properties. Two genes encoding the mannanase of both B. subtilis WL-6 and B. subtilis WL-11 were each cloned into Escherichia coli, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Both mannanase genes consisted of 1,086 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 362 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two WL-6 and WL-11 mannanases, designated Man6 and Man11, respectively, differed from each other by eight amino acid residues, and they were highly homologous to those of mannanases belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 26. The 26 amino acid stretch in the N-terminus of Man6 and Man11 was a predicted signal peptide. Both Man6 and Man11 were localized at the level of 94–95% in an intracellular fraction of recombinant E. coli cells. The enzymes hydrolyzed both locust bean gum and mannooligosaccharides, including mannotriose, mannotetraose, mannopentaose, and mannohexaose, forming mannobiose and mannotriose as predominant products. The optimal reaction conditions were 55°C and pH 6.0 for Man6, and 60°C and pH 5.5 for Man11. Man11 was more stable than Man6 at high temperatures.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.389-399
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• 2018

Background: The antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng have been reported in several articles; however, little is known about the antimelanogenesis effect, skin-protective effect, and cellular mechanism of Panax ginseng, especially of P. ginseng calyx. To understand how an ethanol extract of P. ginseng berry calyx (Pg-C-EE) exerts skin-protective effects, we studied its activities in activated melanocytes and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced keratinocytes. Methods: To confirm the antimelanogenesis effect of Pg-C-EE, we analyzed melanin synthesis and secretion and messenger RNA and protein expression levels of related genes. Ultraviolet B (UVB) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) were used to induce cell damage by ROS generation. To examine whether this damage is inhibited by Pg-C-EE, we performed cell viability assays and gene expression and transcriptional activation analyses. Results: Pg-C-EE inhibited melanin synthesis and secretion by blocking activator protein 1 regulatory enzymes such as p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), and cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate response element-binding protein. Pg-C-EE also suppressed ROS generation induced by $H_2O_2$ and UVB. Treatment with Pg-C-EE decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and hyaluronidases and increased the cell survival rate. Conclusion: These results suggest that Pg-C-EE may have antimelanogenesis properties and skin-protective properties through regulation of activator protein 1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein signaling. Pg-C-EE may be used as a skin-improving agent, with moisture retention and whitening effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 is a class of steroid glycoside and triterpene saponin in Panax ginseng. Many studies suggest that Rg1 suppresses adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1. However, the detail molecular mechanism of Rg1 on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 is still not fully understood. Methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocyte was used to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on adipocyte development in the differentiation in a stage-dependent manner in vitro. Oil Red O staining and Nile red staining were conducted to measure intracellular lipid accumulation and superoxide production, respectively. We analyzed the protein expression using Western blot in vitro. The zebrafish model was used to investigate whether Rg1 suppresses the early stage of fat accumulation in vivo. Results: Rg1 decreased lipid accumulation in early-stage differentiation of 3T3-L1 compared with intermediate and later stages of adipocyte differentiation. Rg1 dramatically increased CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein-10 (CHOP10) and subsequently reduced the $C/EBP{\beta}$ transcriptional activity that prohibited the initiation of adipogenic marker expression as well as triglyceride synthase. Rg1 decreased the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$, which are also essential for stimulating the expression of $CEBP{\beta}$. Rg1 also reduced reactive oxygen species production because of the downregulated protein level of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4). While Rg1 increased the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, it also dramatically decreased the accumulation of lipid and triglyceride in high fat diet-induced obese zebrafish. Conclusion: We demonstrated that Rg1 suppresses early-stage differentiation via the activation of CHOP10 and attenuates fat accumulation in vivo. These results indicate that Rg1 might have the potential to reduce body fat accumulation in the early stage of obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.657-663
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• 2005

Collagenases are generally defined as enzymes that are capable of degrading the polypeptide backbone of native collagen under conditions that do not denature the protein. An extracellular collagenase-producing bacterial strain was isolated from kimchi and identified to be Bacillus subtilis JS-17 through morphological, cultural, biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Optimum culture condition of Bacillus subtilis JS-17 for the production of collagenase was $1.5\%$ fructose, $1\%$ yeast extract, $0.5\%\;K_2HPO_4,\;0.4\%\;KH_2PO_4,\;0.01\%\;MgSO_4\cdot7H_2O,\;0.01\%\; MnSO_4\cdot4H_2O,\;,0.1\%$ citrate and $0.1\%\;CaCl_2$. The production of collagenase was optimal at $30^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr. A collagenase was isolated from the culture filtrate of Bacillus subtilis JS-17. The enzyme was purified using Amberlite IRA-900 column chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography The purified collagenase has an specific activity 192.1 units/mg. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 28 kDa by SDS-PACE. The purified collagenase has $100\%$ activity up to $55^{\circ}C$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2012

This study was conducted to screen an alginate-degrading microorganism and to investigate the characteristics of the alginate-degrading activity of its crude enzyme. A marine bacterium which produces extracellular alginate-degrading enzymes was isolated from the brown alga Sargassum thunbergii. 16S rRNA sequence analysis and physiological profiling resulted in the bacterium's identification as a Vibrio crassostreae strain, named Vibrio crassostreae PKA 1002. Its optimal culture conditions for growth were pH 9, 2% NaCl, $30^{\circ}C$ and a 24 hr incubation time. The optimal conditions for the alginate degrading ability of the crude enzyme produced by V. crassostreae PKA 1002 were pH 9, $30^{\circ}C$, a 48 hr incubation time and 8% alginic acid. The alginate degrading crude enzyme produced 3.035 g of reducing sugar per liter in 4% (w/v) alginate over 1 hr.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sargassum horneri is an edible brown alga that grows in the subtidal zone as an annual species along the coasts of South Korea, China, and Japan. Recently, an extreme amount of S. horneri moved into the coasts of Jeju Island from the east coast of China, which made huge economic and environmental loss to the Jeju Island. Thus, utilization of this biomass becomes a big issue with the local authorities. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of crude polysaccharides (CPs) extracted from S. horneri China strain in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: CPs were precipitated from S. horneri digests prepared by enzyme assistant extraction using four food-grade enzymes (AMG, Celluclast, Viscozyme, and Alcalase). The production levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ were measured by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were measured by using western blot. The IR spectrums of the CPs were recorded using a fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrometer. RESULTS: The polysaccharides from the Celluclast enzyme digest (CCP) showed the highest inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}$ value: $95.7{\mu}g/mL$). Also, CCP dose-dependently down-regulated the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared to the only LPS-treated cells. In addition, CCP inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 and p65 and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, FT-IR analysis showed that the FT-IR spectrum of CCP is similar to that of commercial fucoidan. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CCP has anti-inflammatory activities and is a potential candidate for the formulation of a functional food ingredient or/and drug to treat inflammatory diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

A fungal isolate DUCC5000 from a garden plant Pachysandra terminalis was identified as Paraconiothyrium brasiliense based on the results of morphological and molecular studies. The fungus formed brown to black conidiomata of (0.2-0.7)-2(-3.5) mm singly or as a group on PDA. Conidia measured $2-5{\times}1.8-3{\mu}m$ in size, hyaline, ellipsoid to short-cylindrical, and rounded at both ends. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA of the isolate shared 100% nucleotide sequence homology with those of known P. brasiliense isolates. Phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS sequence analysis showed that the DUCC5000 isolate formed a clade with known isolates of P. brasiliense. The fungal mycelia grew better on oatmeal agar than on MEA and PDA. On PDA media under various pH conditions, fungal mycelial growth was observed at pH 9. Colony morphology of the fungus tended to alter depending on the kinds of nutrient media and pH condition. On chromagenic media, the fungus demonstrated its ability to produce extracellular enzymes including amyalse, avicelase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, protease, and xylanase. However, in pathogenicity testing, no disease symptoms were observed on the leaves of P. terminalis. This strain is the first report on P. terminalis in Korea.