• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.513-523
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• 2018

The tumor microenvironment greatly influences cancer cell characteristics, and acidic extracellular pH has been implicated as an essential factor in tumor malignancy and the induction of drug resistance. Here, we examined the characteristics of gastric carcinoma (GC) cells under conditions of extracellular acidity and attempted to identify a means of enhancing treatment efficacy. Acidic conditions caused several changes in GC cells adversely affecting chemotherapeutic treatment. Extracellular acidity did inhibit GC cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest, but did not induce cell death at pH values down to 6.2, which was consistent with down-regulated cyclin D1 and up-regulated p21 mRNA expression. Additionally, an acidic environment altered the expression of atg5, HSPA1B, collagen XIII, collagen XXAI, slug, snail, and zeb1 genes which are related to regulation of cell resistance to cytotoxicity and malignancy, and as expected, resulted in increased resistance of cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs including etoposide, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, cisplatin, oxaliplatin and 5-FU. Interestingly, however, acidic environment dramatically sensitized GC cells to apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Consistently, the acidity at pH 6.5 increased mRNA levels of DR4 and DR5 genes, and also elevated protein expression of both death receptors as detected by immunoblotting. Gene silencing analysis showed that of these two receptors, the major role in this effect was played by DR5. Therefore, these results suggest that extracellular acidity can sensitize TRAIL-mediated apoptosis at least partially via DR5 in GCs while it confers resistance to various type of chemotherapeutic drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.305-313
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• 2018

A microbial consortium, TMC7, was enriched for the degradation of natural lignocellulosic materials under high temperature. TMC7 degraded 79.7% of rice straw during 15 days of incubation at $65^{\circ}C$. Extracellular xylanase was effectively secreted and hemicellulose was mainly degraded in the early stage (first 3 days), whereas primary decomposition of cellulose was observed as of day 3. The optimal temperature and initial pH for extracellular xylanase activity and lignocellulose degradation were $65^{\circ}C$ and between 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. Extracellular xylanase activity was maintained above 80% and 85% over a wide range of temperature ($50-75^{\circ}C$) and pH values (6.0-11.0), respectively. Clostridium likely had the largest contribution to lignocellulose conversion in TMC7 initially, and Geobacillus, Aeribacillus, and Thermoanaerobacterium might have also been involved in the later phase. These results demonstrate the potential practical application of TMC7 for lignocellulosic biomass utilization in the biotechnological industry under hot and alkaline conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-106
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• 2000

Bacillus cereus KCTC 3674 excretes at least two kinds of extracellular proteases into the growth medium. Two major bands of the protease activity with molecular weights of approximately 100 and 38 kDa were obtained after gelatin-SDS-PAGE. The protease with a molecular weight of 38kDa was identified as an extracellular neutral (metallo-) protease. The neutral protease was quite thermostabile but labile to alkaline pH. On the contrary, the 100-kDa protease was thermolabile but stable to alkaline pH. The production of 38-kDa neutral protease was strongly affected by temperature, oxygen, carbonylcyanied m-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP) that was defined as a protonophofre, and cerulenin which inhibited lipid synthesis and caused changes in the membrane composition. On the other hand, the production of the 100-kDa protease was strongly affected by only temperature and cerulenin. Quinacrine (0.2 mM), which inhibits the penicillinase-releasing proteases of Bacillus licheniformis, had no effect, whatsoever, on the production of extracellular proteases in B.cereus KCTC 3674.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2002

A strain YB-4 producing the extracellular $\alpha$-galactosidase was isolated from soil, and has been identified as Streptomyces sp. on the basis of its cultural, morphological and physiological properties. The partially purified $\alpha$-galactosidase was most active on paranitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-galactopyranoside at pH 6.0 and 6$0^{\circ}C$. The enzyme retained 90% of its maximum activity between pH 4.0 and pH 10.0 after pre-incubation for 1 h. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze oligomeric substrates such as melibiose, raffinose and stachyose to liberate galactose residue, indicating that the $\alpha$-galactosidase of Steptomyces sp. YB-4 hydrolyzed $\alpha$-1,6 linkage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 1993

The optimum pH and temperature for the purified extracellular enzyme activity were 8.0 and 37$^{\circ}C$, respectively. NaCl was required for the activation of the enzyme and optimum concentration was 0.5M. This enzyme activity was inhibited by HgC $l_2$, CoC $l_2$ and ZnC $l_2$ and stimulated by CaC $l_2$. The activity of enzyme was increased by L-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol, but decreased by ο-phenanthroline, $\rho$-CMB, EDTA and iodoacetate. The $K_{m}$ and $V_{max}$ values of extracellular enzyme appeared as 0.717% and 15.39U/mg, respectively.y.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.362-367
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• 1988

The strain YL 38-3, which was capable of producing extracellular cytosine deaminase, was isolated and taxonomically examined. The isolated strain was identified to be Bacillus polymyxa YL 38-3. The optimal conditions for the enzyme production from Bacillus polymyxa YL 38-3 were investigated. The enzyme production was reached maximum level in the medium containing 0.5% glucose, 0.2% beef extract, 0.5% NaCl and 0.1% $KH_{2}PO_{4}$ (pH 6.0). And the enzyme showed the highest activity when the strain YL 38-3 was cultivated at $35^{\circ}C$ for 24 gours under the initial pH 6.0. By the additions of peptone the extracellular enzyme production was inhibited, meanwhile the intracellular enzyme production was highly stimulated. It was, therefore, deduced that peptone was related to the secretion mechanism of the enzyme from this bacterial cell.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2011

To determine the optimal media conditions for the detection of the extracellular cellulase activity in Ganoderma neo-japonicum, we varied three media conditions: dye reagent, pH, and temperature. We evaluated the use of four dyes, Congo red, phenol red, remazol brilliant blue, and trypan blue. To observe the effect of pH on the chromogenic reaction, we tested media ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. To research the effect of temperature on the clear zone and the fungus growing zone, we tested temperatures ranging from 15 to $35^{\circ}C$. On the whole, the best protocol called for Ganoderma neo-japonicum transfer onto media containing Congo red with a pH of 7.0, followed by incubation at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. Our results will be useful to researchers who study extracellular enzyme activity in Ganoderma neo-japonicum.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 1987

The taxonomical properties of strain J-275L isolated from soil as a microorganism which produces extracellular adenine deaminase and cultural conditions for the enxyme production were studied. The hyphae of strain J-275L is fragmented into rod-or coccus-like elements. The elements of fragmented aerkal hyphae has smooth surfaces. The cell wall of the organism contains LL-diaminopimelic acid. Mycolic acid are not produced. As a result of taxonomical studies, strain J-275L is designated as Nocardioides sp. J-275L. The optimum medium for the enzyme production from Nocardioides sp.J-275L wascomposed of 0.5% peptone, 0.5% dextrin, 1% yeast extract, and 0.2% $K_{2}HPO_{4}$. The optimum initial pH of the medium was pH 7.5.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

The layers of keratinocytes form an acid mantle on the surface of the skin. Herein, we investigated the effects of acidic pH on the membrane current and $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ of human primary keratinocytes from foreskins and human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Acidic extracellular pH ($pH_e{\leq}5.5$) activated outwardly rectifying $Cl^-$ current ($I_{Cl,pH}$) with slow kinetics of voltage-dependent activation. $I_{Cl,pH}$ was potently inhibited by an anion channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 73.5% inhibition at 1${\mu}$M). $I_{Cl,pH}$ became more sensitive to $pH_e$ by raising temperature from $24^{circ}C$ to $37^{circ}C$. HaCaT cells also expressed $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ current ($I_{Cl,Ca}$), and the amplitude of $I_{Cl,Ca}$ was increased by relatively weak acidic $pH_e$ (7.0 and 6.8). Interestingly, the acidic $pH_e$ (5.0) also induced a sharp increase in the intracellular [$Ca^{2+}$] (${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$) of HaCaT cells. The ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$ was independent of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, and was abolished by the pretreatment with PLC inhibitor, U73122. In primary human keratinocytes, 5 out of 28 tested cells showed ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$. In summary, we found $I_{Cl,pH}$ and ${\triangle}[Ca^{2+}]_{acid}$ in human keratinocytes, and these ionic signals might have implication in pathophysiological responses and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2011

Biochemical and enzymatic characterization for extracellular protease isolated from Cordyceps militaris cultivated on rice bran medium was investigated. C militaris produced proteolytic enzymes from 10 days after inoculation, maximum enzyme production was found at 25 days. The optimum temperature and pH of proteases production was at $25^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively. The protease activity was observed in the four peaks (Pro-I, Pro-II, Pro-III, and Pro-IV) separated through Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The separated protease was optimally active at $25^{\circ}C$. Optimum pH of the protease was between 7 and 8. Enzyme was also stable over at $30-80^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was highly stable in a pH range of 4-9. Protease activity was found to be slightly decreased by the addition of $Mg^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$, whereas inhibited by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$ Protease activity was inhibited by protease inhibitor PMSF. On the other hand, the partially purified protease was investigated on proteolytic protease activity by zymogram gel electrophoresis using three substances (casein, gelatin and fibrin). Four active bands (F-I, FII, F-III, and F-IV) of fibrin degradation were revealed on fibrin zymogram gels. Both of F-II and FIII showed caseinolytic, fibrinolytic and gelatinolytic activities in three gels. Thermostability, pH stability, and pH-thermostability of the enzyme determined the residual fibrinolytic activity also displayed on fibrin zymogram gel. The only one enzyme (F-II) displayed over a broad range of temperature at $30-90^{\circ}C$. The FII displayed fibrinolytic activity in the pH range 3-5, but was inactivated in the range of pH 6-11. The F-I and F-III showed enzyme activity in the pH range of 6-11. In the pH-thermostability, the F-II only kept fibrinolytic activity after heating at $100^{\circ}C$ for 10, 20 and 30 min at pH 3 and pH 7, respectively. On the other hand, the F-II was retained activity until heating for 10 min under pH 11 condition. By using fibrin zymogram gel electrophoresis, extracellular fibrinolytic enzyme F-II from C. militaris showed unusual thermostable under acid and neutral conditions.