• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 2017

The conversion of marine biomass to renewable energy has been considered an alternative to fossil fuels. Butanol, in particular, can be used directly as a fuel. In this experiment, the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida was selected as a biomass for biobutanol production. Hyper thermal (HT) acid hydrolysis was used as an acid hydrolysis method to produce monosaccharides. The optimal pretreatment conditions for U. pinnatifida were determined as slurry with 10% (w/v) U. pinnatifida content and 270 mM $H_2SO_4$, and heating at $160^{\circ}C$ for 7.5 min. Enzymatic saccharification was carried out with Celluclast 1.5 L, Viscozyme L, and Ultraflo Max. The optimal saccharification condition was 12 U/ml Viscozyme L. Fermentations were carried out for the production of acetone, butanol, and ethanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum KCTC 1724, Clostridium beijerinckii KCTC 1785, and Clostridium tyrobutyricum KCTC 5387. The fermentations were carried out using a pH-control. The optimal ABE fermentation condition determined using C. acetobutylicum KCTC 1724 adapted to 160 g/l mannitol. An ABE concentration of 9.05 g/l (0.99 g/l acetone, 5.62 g/l butanol, 2.44 g/l ethanol) was obtained by the consumption of 24.14 g/l monosaccharide with $Y_{ABE}$ of 0.37 in pH 5.0.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.607-618
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• 2013

Marine macroalgal community structures and characteristics of ocean environmental factors were examined seasonally at four sites in Jeju Island, Korea, from March to November 2012. A total of 71 macroalgal species were identified, including 9 green, 7 brown, and 55 red algae. Peyssonnelia capensis occurred at all study sites and in all seasons. The average annual biomass of seaweed was 991.84 g wet $wt/m^2$, with seasonal variations from 543.80 g in autumn to 1,284.17 $g/m^2$ in summer. A green alga, Codium coactum, was the dominant species, occupying 21.31% (211.39 $g/m^2$) of the total algal biomass in Jeju Island. Subdominant species were Ecklonia cava and Lithophyllum okamurae, comprising 20.85% (206.75 $g/m^2$) and 19.64% (194.75 $g/m^2$), respectively, of the total algal biomass in Jeju Island. The vertical distribution of subtidal seaweeds was represented by L. okamurae at 5 m depth, C. coactum at 10 m depth, E. cava at 5-10 m depth and P. capensis at the 20 m depth level. In the present study, crustose coralline algae, which predominated on barren ground, were subdominant species at all study sites. Community indices varied between 0.51-0.63 for dominance index (DI), 5.53-8.14 for richness index (R), 0.51-0.63 for evenness index (J'), and 2.04-2.32 for diversity index (H'). On the basis of seaweed biomass and community indices, Sinchang was the best preserved coastal area, showing maximal values in biomass, and evenness- and diversity-indices, and minimal value in the dominance index, representing stable environmental conditions. In contrast, the Onpyung and Topyeong sites, located near tourist venues such as Udo and Seogwipo were relatively poor habitats based on community indices and biomass. The present results could imply that climate changes alter seaweed community structure, and long-term monitoring of the study sites is required.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 1999

Rates of photosynthesis and respiration of Laminaria japonica sporophytes cultivated on the southeastern coast of Korea were monthly measured in situ and under constant temperature and nitrogen concentration in laboratory from February to July 1996 in order to understand the seasonal photosynthetic performance of this alga. P-I (the relationship between photosynthsis and irradiance) parameters measured in situ varied seasonally. Photosynthetic capacity ($P_{max}$) reached its maximum in March (6.64 mg $O_2{\cdot}gdw^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$) and gradually decreased thereafter. Photosynthetic efficiency (${\alpha}$), which ranged from 0.026 to 0.106, generally showed a similar pattern with the $P_{max}$, curve. Correlation between respiration and $P_{max}$, was not significant (Spearman's rank correlation, p>0.05); respiration rate, which varied between 0.25 and 0.83 mg $O_2{\cdot}gdw^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$, showed no gradual decline from March. $P_{max}$ in situ significantly correlated with the relative growth rate of frond weight (Spearman's rank correlation, p<0.01) and this result means that the amount of accumulated materials in body increased with the increment of $P_{max}$. Compared $P_{max}$, in situ with that in the laboratory. The lower $P_{max}$ in February was probably caused by the effect of lower seawater temperature at this time. The decrease in $P_{max}$ after March, however, was primarily attributable to the thickness of blade as the plants got old. Comparison of P-I parameters measured for different size groups in April, explained the negative relationship between $P_{max}$ and frond thickness.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 2015

The effects of $CO_2$ concentration, nutrient levels, and irradiance on the growth of germlings and juveniles, and on the photosynthesis of adults were examined in a green tide alga, Ulva australis. We used a factorial experimental design with two $CO_2$ concentrations (380 and 750 ppm), two nutrient levels (control and PES medium), and two irradiance levels (50 and $100{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$). Germlings grew best ($664.15{\pm}61.45{\mu}m$ in length) under conditions of 750 ppm, PES, and $100{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$ after 10 days in culture. Relative growth rates (RGR) of the juveniles were greatest (4.41% $day^{-1}$) under conditions of 750 ppm, PES, and $50{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$ after 5 days in culture. Photosynthetic efficiency ($F_v/F_m$) of the adult discs was $0.73{\pm}0.05$ before the experiment and reached a maximum ($0.83{\pm}0.01$) under conditions of 750 ppm, control, and $50{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$ after 5 days in culture. Growth (germlings and juveniles) and photosynthesis (adult discs) of Ulva australis increased when $CO_2$ levels were 750 ppm. Additionally, the optimal irradiance for growth and photosynthesis differed among stages, wherein germlings grew best at $100{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$, juveniles grew best at $50{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$, and adults photosynthesized most at $50{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$. The performance of Ulva australis at all examined life stages was enhanced under the PES nutrient treatment. In conclusion, the physiological responses of U. australis to varying $CO_2$, nutrient, and irradiance levels differed slightly among life stages. However, growth and photosynthesis always increased with elevated $CO_2$ and nutrient concentrations. These results indicate that U. australis green tide blooms might occur more frequently in coastal areas if $CO_2$ and nutrient concentrations increase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2015

Excessive microglial activation and subsequent neuroinflammation lead to synaptic loss and dysfunction as well as neuronal cell death, which are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the regulation of microglial activation has been evaluated as effective therapeutic strategies. Although dieckol (DEK), one of the phlorotannins isolated from marine brown alga Ecklonia cava, has been previously reported to inhibit microglial activation, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated here molecular mechanism of DEK via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt and nicotinamide adenine dinuclelotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-mediated pathways. In addition, the neuroprotective mechanism of DEK was investigated in microglia-mediated neurotoxicity models such as neuron-microglia co-culture and microglial conditioned media system. Our results demonstrated that treatment of anti-oxidant DEK potently suppressed phosphorylation of ERK in lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $1{\mu}g/ml$)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. In addition, DEK markedly attenuated Akt phosphorylation and increased expression of $gp91^{phox}$, which is the catalytic component of NADPH oxidase complex responsible for microglial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Finally, DEK significantly attenuated neuronal cell death that is induced by treatment of microglial conditioned media containing neurotoxic secretary molecules. These neuroprotective effects of DEK were also confirmed in a neuron-microglia co-culture system using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transfected B35 neuroblastoma cell line. Taken together, these results suggest that DEK suppresses excessive microglial activation and microglia-mediated neuronal cell death via downregulation of ERK, Akt and NADPH oxidase-mediated pathways.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.444-451
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• 1999

The effect of individual density on the growth and survival of Laminaria japonica was experimentally evaluated. Four density treatments of young sporophytes (0.63 cm In maximum length) grown in the laboratory were transplanted to the southeastern coast of Korea and their survivorship and growth rate were measured twice a month from January to July, 1996. Plants showed higher survivorship at low density. Final densities at three lowest densities were similar, ranging from 34 to 38 inds${\cdot}100 cm^{-2}$. Planis at the highest density, however, suffered greater decline than at lower densities, and only 21 plants remained at the end of this study. Mean frond size (length and width) fluctuated throughout the study period at four densities. During the first two mouths after outplanting, mean frond size was negatively correlated with initial density, However, the size was density independent after three months. As stand density increased, size-frequency distribution through time tended to be more positively skewed. The 10 largest plants grew faster in frond size and attained larger size in the lower density. There was a positive relationship between plant size and relative growth rate (or survival). The slope of yield-density (Y-D) relationships at four densities ranged from -0.060 to -0.137. The study suggests that density can strongly affect the survival and growth of this alga. The density-dependent survival and growth patterns, however, were not strictly consistent with those of terrestrial plants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2021

Ecklonia stolonifera, which belongs to the family Laminariaceae, is an edible perennial brown marine alga that is widely distributed, and is rich in polyphenols, including dieckol. Here, we investigated the radical scavenging activities of E. stolonifera extract (ESE) using various in vitro models. We further evaluated the effect of ESE on the cholesterol secretion inhibition activity in HepG2 cells, as well as the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. Our results showed that the total phenol, total flavonoid, and dieckol contents of ESE were 9.64±0.04 mg GAE/g, 2.72±0.08 mg RE/g and 27.42±0.66 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of ESE increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the ESE inhibited cholesterol secretion from HepG2 cells with anti-HMG-CoA reductase activity. These results suggested that ESE possesses antioxidant and anti-cholesterol activities, and can therefore be used as a preclinical bioresource for development of health functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.920-926
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• 2010

Marine alga, Chlorella vulgaris, was extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) solvents for lipid extraction at $35^{\circ}C$ for five hours (HCM-35) and its process was compared with conventional lipid extraction condition such as chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) at $65^{\circ}C$ for one hour (CM-65). This low temperature extraction process showed that 80% of total lipid was extracted and its residues contained relatively unchanged amounts of intact proteins and other minerals as well as amino acid profiles. Interestingly enough, the weight fraction of carbohydrate in the residues slightly increased due to less denaturation at low process temperature. The biological activities of the residues such as cytotoxicity and immune cell growth activation were not much changed after being extracted. The sensory evaluation were found to be very favorable for being used as a food additive and/or food supplement. This result could also help to maintain the economic feasibility of utilizing marine resources in food and other relevant industries.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.359-369
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• 2011

Twelve species of food microalgae were investigated to clarify the digestion index of Crassostrea gigas larvae using epifluorescence microscopy to choose an appropriate diet for artificial seed production in hatchery. An experiment was conducted using 1 (D shaped stage), 4 (Early umbo stage), 8 (umbo stage) and 12 (Full grown stage) days old larvae. larvae were stocked in 1 L flasks at 5 individuals/mL and fed $10{\times}10^4$ algal cells/mL of each species individually. Prior to larvae were fed for 3 h and then were observed under the microscope to detect ingestion; larvae were then sieved and replaced in 1 L flasks containing filtered seawater and were observed after 3, 5 and 8 h to analyse the digestion index. Values of digestion indices were specific for each alga. No evidence for the ingestion of Thalassiosira weissflogii was evident at all larval development stages tested. Digestion indices of others microalgae were 0.8-99.7% at 4 stage of larval development stages: Chlorella ellipsoidea (0.8-5.4%), Nannochloris oculata (1.4-5.0%), Isochrysis galbana (99.1-99.5%), Pavlova lutheri (99.1-99.5%), I. aff. galbana (99.4-99.5%), Cheatoceros calcitrans (0.0-99.2%), C. gracilis (0.0-99.7%), C. simplex (0.0-95.9%), Phaeodactylum tricornutum (0.0-99.6%), Tetraselmis tetrathele (0.0-99.7%) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (0.0-99.6%), respectively. Therefore, it is assumed that food microalgae showing the high digestion such as I. galbana should be supplied to the early umbo stage larvae, and then after the umbo larval stage, the mixed microalgae with diatoms and light green algae should be supplied to the full grown stage larvae to increase the digestion of their larvae.