• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2018

Biodegradation pathway of dibenzofuran (DBF) of Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1, a high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading strain, was investigated via analysis of metabolic intermediates and transcriptome. As a result, 3(2H)-benzofuranone, a basic skeleton of the metabolic intermediates produced by lateral dioxygenation process, was detected as an intermediate. RNA-Seq analysis confirmed that most of the expressed genes upon exposure to DBF were related to the lateral degradation pathway. Based on these results, the biodegradation pathway of DBF by N. pentaromativorans US6-1 was proposed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.872-876
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• 2001

Topological changes caused by the alkaline and enzymatic attacks of solution-grown, chain-folded lamellar crystals (SGCs) of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] P(3HB) have been studied in order to investigate the chain-folding structure in P(3HB) crystal regions. NaOH and an extracellular PHB depolymerase purified from Alcaligenes faecalis T1 were used for alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. The measurements were performed on crystals attached to a substrate which is inactive to degradation mediums. Both alkaline and enzymatic attacks lead to a breakup of the lamellar crystals along the crystallographic b-axis during initial erosion. Since hydrolysis preferentially occurs in amorphous regions, this morphological result reflects relatively loosely packed chains in core parts of lamellar crystals. Additionally, it was supported by the ridge formation along the b-axis in the lamellar crystals after thermal treatment at a low temperature because of the thermally sensitive nature of the loosely packed chains in lamellar crystals. However, the alkaline hydrolysis accompanied the chain erosions or scissions in quasi-regular folded lamellar surfaces due to smaller size of alkaline ions in comparison to the enzyme, resulting in the decrease of molecular weight.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.670-677
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• 2007

Although polysaccharide is believed to play an important role in the medicinal effect of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl (DCL), its role as an antioxidant and in anti-hyperglycemic induction was not reported. In this study, polysaccharide with molecular weight of approximately 150 kDa, herein named DCLP, was isolated from the stem of DCL, and its antioxidative, hypoglycemic and immune stimulating effects were evaluated using various in vitro and in vivo assay systems. DCLP inhibited hydroxyl radicals ($^{\cdot}$OH)-mediated deoxyribose degradation by scavenging hydroxyl radicals directly as well as by chelating iron ions. DCLP also showed dose-dependent scavenging activity on superoxide anions ($O_2^{{\cdot}-}$) and offered significant protection (p < 0.001) against glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity in Jurkat cells. DCLP had immune stimulating effects, as evidenced by the DCLP-mediated increases in the level of DNA synthesis, viability, and cytokine secretion in mouse lymphocytes. Moreover, oral administration of DCLP produced a significant reduction in blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. These findings suggest that DCLP has a potential utility in treating patients who require enhanced antioxidation, immune function and/or hypoglycemic activity.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2012

A novel lectin specific to N-acetyl-D-galactosamine as well as N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was isolated from Bryopsis plumosa and named as BPL-4. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophorese (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry data showed that this lectin was a monomeric protein with molecular weight 12.9 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the lectin were determined by Edman degradation and the full cDNA sequence encoding this lectin was obtained using the degenerate primers designed from the amino acid sequence. The size of the cDNA was 414 bp containing single open reading frame (ORF) encoding the lectin precursor. The homology analysis showed that this lectin might belong to H lectin group. BPL-4 showed high sequence similarity (60.6%) to BPL-3, which is a previously reported lectin from the same species. The comparative analysis on the lectin's primary structure showed two conserved domains including one possible active domain of H lectin group.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2006

Nanocomposites of polyurethane were prepared from inorganic nano particles, $Na^+-montmorillonite$ (MMT), silica, $CaCO_3$, and surface modified MMT and their properties were investigated. It was shown that the molecular weight and polydispenity of nanocomposites of polyurethane were 20000 to 28000 and 1.0 to 2.0, respectively. d-Spacing for nanocomposites of MMT were increased than that of pure MMT. Initial degradation temperature of nanocomposites were 250 to $280^{\circ}C$. And also, the range of weight loss for nanocomposites were decreased and the end of thermal degradation was observed at higher temperatures about $50^{\circ}C$. The elongation at break for $CaCO_3$ filled nanocomposites were the highest among the nanocomposites used in this study. studied. It was found that the tensile strength increased with increasing the filler contents while the silica nanocomposite exhibited the lowest increase and the $CaCO_3$ nanocomposite the highest.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2017

The application of mass spectrometry to polymer science has rapidly increased since the development of MALDI-TOF MS. This review summarizes current polymer analysis methods using MALDI-TOF MS, which has been extensively applied to analyze the average molecular weight of biopolymers and synthetic polymers. Polymer sequences have also been analyzed to reveal the structures and composition of monomers. In addition, the analysis of unknown end-groups and the determination of polymer concentrations are very important applications. Hyphenated techniques using MALDI-tandem MS have been used for the analysis of fragmentation patterns and end-groups, and also the combination of SEC and MALDI-TOF MS techniques is recommended for the analysis of complex polymers. Moreover, MALDI-TOF MS has been utilized for the observation of polymer degradation. Ion mobility MS, TOF-SIMS, and MALDI-TOF-imaging are also emerging technologies for polymer characterization because of their ability to automatically fractionate and localize polymer samples. The determination of polymer characteristics and their relation to the material properties is one of the most important demands for polymer scientists; the development of software and instrument for higher molecular mass range (> 100 kD) will increase the applications of MALDI-TOF MS for polymer scientists.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.56-70
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the structural characteristics of kraft lignin and the wood degrading characteristics, the productivity of ligninolytic enzymes and the enzymatic degradation of kraft lignin by white-rot fungi. To purify kraft lignin, precipitation of kraft pulping black liquors of pitch pine meal was done by titration with lN $H_{2}SO_{4}$ reaching to pH 2, and isolation of the precipitates done by centrifugation. The isolated precipitates from pitch pine were redissloved in lN NaOH, reprecipitated by titration with lN $H_{2}SO_{4}$, washed with deionized water, and kept ofr analysis after freeze drying. Fractionation of the precipitates in solution by successive extraction with $CH_{2}Cl_{2}$ and MeOH, and the fractionates were named SwKL, SwKL I, SwKL II, and SwKL III for pitch pine kraft lignin. The more molecular weights of kraft lignin increased, the less phenolic hydroxyl groups and the more aliphatic hydroxyl groups. Because as the molecular weights increased, the ratio of etherified guaiayl/syringyl(G/S ratio) and the percentage were increased. The spectra obtained by 13C NMR and FTIR assigned by comparing the chemical shifts of various signals with shifts of signals from autherized ones reported. The optimal growth temperature and pH of white-rot fungi in medium were $28^{\circ}C$ and 4.5-5.0, respectively. Especially, in temperature and pH range, and mycelial growth, the best white-rot fungus selected was Phanerochaete chrysosporium for biodegradation. For the degradation pathways, the ligninolytic fungus jcultivated with stationary culture using medium of 1% kraft lignin as a substrate for 3 weeks at $28^{\circ}C$. The weight loss of pitch pine kraft lignin was 15.8%. The degraded products extracted successively methoanol, 90% dioxane and diethyl ether. The ether solubles were analyzed by HPLC. Kraft lignin degradation was initiated in $\beta$-O-4 bonds of lignin by the laccase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and the degraded compounds were produced from the cleavage of $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ linkages at the side chains by oxidation process. After $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ cleavage, $C\alpha$-Carbon was oxidized and changed into aldehyde and acidic compounds such as syringic acid, syringic aldehyde and vanilline. And the other compound as quinonemethide, coumarin, was analyzed. The structural characteristics of kraft lignin were composed of guaiacyl group substituted functional OHs, methoxyl, and carbonyl at C-3, -4, and -5 and these groups were combinated with $\alpha$ aryl ether, $\beta$ aryl ether and biphenyl. Kraft lignin degradation pathways by Phanerochaete chrysosporium were initially accomplished cleavage of $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ linkages and $C\alpha$ oxidation at the propyl side chains and finally cleavage of aromatic ring and oxidation of OHs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.453-460
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• 2015

Engineering the polylactide via stereocomplexation with supercritical fluid (SCF) technology paved way to fabricate polymers with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. We aimed to establish a SCF medium with excellent solubility for PLA without any additional solvent/co-solvent. We, therefore, employed supercritical dimethyl ether to synthesize 100% stereocomplex polylactide from high molecular weight homopolymers with an excellent yield. The remarkable solubility of the homopolymers in dimethyl ether is the key for quick conversion to s-PLA. This study proves a rapid synthesis route of dry s-PLA powder with sc-DME at 250 bar, $70^{\circ}C$ and 1.5 h, which are reasonably achievable processing parameters compared to the conventional methods. The degree of stereocomplexation was evaluated under the effect of pressures, temperatures, times, homopolymer-concentrations and molecular weights. An increment in the degree of stereocomplexation was observed with increased temperature and pressure. Complete conversion to s-PLA was obtained for PLLA and PDLA with $M_n{\sim}200kg{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ with a total homopolymer to total DME ratio of 6:100% w/w at prescribed reaction conditions. The degree of stereocomplexation was determined by DSC and confirmed by XRD. Considerable improvement in thermo-mechanical properties of s-PLA was observed. DSC and TGA analyses proved a $50^{\circ}C$ enhancement in melting transition and a high onset temperature for thermal degradation of s-PLA respectively.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.327-330
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• 2002

Two polyacrylamide degrading bacterial strains, No. 2 and No. 11, were isolated from soil, and identified as Bacillus sphaericus No.2 and Acinetobacter sp. No. 11, respectively. Both strains grew on medium containing polyacrylamide as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. B. sphaericus No. 2 and A. sp. No. 11 reduced by 16% and 19%of the initial polyacrylamide concentration, respectively. Optimal pH and temperature in growth of Acinetobacter sp. No. 11 were 8.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. After 14-day cultivation of A. sp. No. 11, the average molecular weight of polyacrylamide has been shifted from $2.3{\times}10^6\;to\;0.5{\time}106$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 1983

Polygalacturonase of Byssochlamys fulva was purified and characterized. Specific activity increased from 2.21 units/mg protein to 10.47 units/mg protein through $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ treatment, SephadexG-100 gel filtration, and DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. Divalent cations, such as $Ca^{++}\;and\;Cu^{++}$, increased polygalacturonase activity greatly. Added as $10^{-3}M$ concentration, $Ca^{++}$ ion enhanced enzyme activity 9.8folds. Optimum temperature was $50^{\circ}C$ and optimum pH was 5.0. Activation energy of reaction was 8.69 Kcal/mole. Michaelis-Menten $constant(K_M)\;and\;V_{max}$ of reaction were $6.27{\times}10^{-3}mole/l\;and\;2.85{$\mu}moles/min$. Polygalacturonase of Byssochlamys fulva preferred polygalacturonic acid to pectin as substrate and was presumed as endo-type on the basis of the relationship between viscosity reduction and substrate degradation. Molecular weight of polygalacturonase was estimated as 55,000.