• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2010

Passion fruit fiber pectin gels represent a new alternative pectin source with potential for food and non-food applications on a commercial scale. Pectic polysaccharides were extracted from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) fiber using citric acid as a clean catalyst and autoclaved for 20 to 60 min at $121^{\circ}C$. The best condition of pectin yield with the highest molecular weight was obtained with 1.0% of citric acid (250 mg/g dry passion fruit fiber pectin) for 20 min of autoclaving. Spectroscopic analyses by Fourier transform infrared, enzymatic degradation reactions, and ion-exchange chromatography assays showed that passion fruit pectin extracted for 20 min was homogeneous high methoxylated pectin (70%). Gel permeation analysis confirmed that the pectin extract obtained by autoclaving by 20 min showed higher molecular weights than those autoclaved for 40 and 60 min. Passion fruit pectin extracted for 20 min was enzymatically modified with fungal pectinmethylesterase to create restructured gels. Short autoclave treatment (20 min) with citric acid as extractant resulted in a significant increase of gel strength, improving pectin extraction in terms of functionality. The treatment of solubilized material (pectic polysaccharides) in the presence of insoluble material (cellulose and hemicellulose) with pectinmethylesterase and calcium led to the creation of a stiffer passion fruit fiber pectin gel, while syneresis was not observed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2015

Clonorchis sinensis habitating in the bile duct of mammals causes clonorchiasis endemic in East Asian countries. Parkin is a RING-between-RING protein and has E3-ubiquitin ligase activity catalyzing ubiquitination and degradation of substrate proteins. A cDNA clone of C. sinensis was predicted to encode a polypeptide homologous to parkin (CsParkin) including 5 domains (Ubl, RING0, RING1, IBR, and RING2). The cysteine and histidine residues binding to $Zn^{2+}$ were all conserved and participated in formation of tertiary structural RINGs. Conserved residues were also an E2-binding site in RING1 domain and a catalytic cysteine residue in the RING2 domain. Native CsParkin was determined to have an estimated molecular weight of 45.7 kDa from C. sinensis adults by immunoblotting. CsParkin revealed E3-ubiquitin ligase activity and higher expression in metacercariae than in adults. CsParkin was localized in the locomotive and male reproductive organs of C. sinensis adults, and extensively in metacercariae. Parkin has been found to participate in regulating mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in mammalian cells. From these results, it is suggested that CsParkin play roles in energy metabolism of the locomotive organs, and possibly in protein metabolism of the reproductive organs of C. sinensis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2010

Silk fibroin, produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori, has been widely studied as a scaffold in tissue engineering. Although it has been shown to be slowly biodegradable, cellular responses to degraded silk fibroin fragments are largely unknown. In this study, silk fibroin was added to MG-63 cell cultures, and changes in gene expression in the MG-63 cells were screened by DNA microarray analysis. Genes showing a significant (2-fold) change were selected and their expression changes confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. DNA microarray results showed that alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type-I alpha-1, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expressions significantly increased. The effect of degraded silk fibroin on osteoblastogenic gene expression was confirmed by observing up-regulation of ALP activity in MG-63 cells. The finding that small fragments of silk fibroin are able to increase the expression of osteoblastogenic genes suggests that controlled degradation of silk fibroin might accelerate new bone formation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1987

Three strains of bacteria utilizing salicylate, KU801(pKU5, pKU8), KU803(pKU6, pKU9), and KU806(pKU7, pKU10), were selected from the isolates and identified as Pseudomonas putida. By agarose gel electrophoresis, it was found that the strains had two plasmids each. All three strains were resistant to antibiotics such as ampicillin, tetracyclin, and chloramphenicol, and did not utilize other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons examined except salicylate. The plasmids (pKU5, pKU6, and pKU7) of larger molecular weight were cured by treatment with mitomycin C and frequencies of curing were 0.4%, 1.67%, and 0.75%, respectively. Cured strains did not degrade salicylate and still had antibiotic resistances, which were identical with wild strains. The genes for salicylate degradation were proved to be enclded on thier plasmids. The molecular weights of pKU5 and pKU6 were estimated as 103.5Md, and that of pKU 7 as 101 Md. The new SAL plasmids, pKU5, pKU6, and pKU7 were transferred to P. putida and P. aeruginosa, but not to E. coli.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.345-352
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• 2022

Chitinase AO-801 is a hydrolase secreted by Arthrobotrys oligospora during nematode feeding, while its role remained elusive. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of recombinant chitinase of Arthrobotrys oligospora (reAO-801). AO-801 belongs to the typical glycoside hydrolase 18 family with conserved chitinase sequence and tertiary structure of (α/β)₈ triose-phosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel. The molecular weight of reAO-801 was 42 kDa. reAO-801 effectively degraded colloidal and powdered chitin, egg lysate, and stage I larval lysate of Caenorhabditis elegans. The activity of reAO-801 reached its peak at 40℃ and pH values between 4-7. Enzyme activity was inhibited by Zn2⁺, Ca2⁺, and Fe3⁺, whereas Mg2⁺ and K⁺ potentiated its activity. In addition, urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 2-mercaptoethanol significantly inhibited enzyme activity. reAO-801 showed complete nematicidal activity against C. elegans stage I larvae. reAO-801 broke down the C. elegans egg shells, causing them to die or die prematurely by hatching the eggs. It also invoked degradation of Haemonchus contortus eggs, resulting in apparent changes in the morphological structure. This study demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of reAO-801, which laid the foundation for further dissecting the mechanism of nematode infestation by A. oligospora.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.554-560
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• 1998

Biopolymer from alkaline-tolerant Bacillus so. was purified, and its physico-chemical and structural properties were investigated. Crude biopolymer, precipitated by acetone from culture broth was fractionated into two fractions by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200. Among two fractions, one fraction(PS I), which an acidic biopolymer precipitated by the CPC(cetylpyridinium chloride) treatment was studied further. PS I fraction had carboxyl groups and was positive at color reaction of sugar. PS I fraction also showed UV absorbance at 190-225nm. The purified acidic biopolymer was composed of 4% glucose, 8% glucosamine and 88% glutamic acid. Sugar components of the purified acidic biopolymer seemed to be linked to PGA(polyglutamic acid) which existed in the from of ${\gamma}$-peptide bond. By the results of Smith degradation of sugar components, glucose and glucosamine was bound by 1,3 glocosidic linkage. Therefore, this biopolymer was a glycopeptide, oligosaccaride ${\gamma}$-PGA. We concluded that the equivalent weight and the molecular weight of this biopolymer were estimated as about 171 and 5x105 dalton, respectively.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1989

The parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringinsis subspecies kurstaki, dendrolimus, finitimus, aizawai and israelensis were compared by polyacrylamide electrophoresis, amino acid composition and immunological analysis. In the subspecies of kurstaki, dendrolimus, finitimus and aizawai, the molecular weights of main subusnits of crystal solubilized by alkaline solution were 1.3${\times}$105 and 6.5${\times}$104 while those of subsp. israelensis were 4${\times}$104 and 1,4${\times}$104. The degradation of lepidopteran toxic subspecies crystals by silkworm midgut protease showed 6.0-6.4${\times}$104 molecular weight and the pattern of degradation of subsp. israelensis crystals was similar to that of alkaline solution treatment. In the amino acid composition, aspartic acid in subsp. israelensis and glutiamic acid in the other four subspecies were the most abundant. The immunological characteristics of the crystals revealed that the antibody produced against the alkali-solubilized crystal protein of subsp. israelensis reacted with only its antigen, but the crystal antigens from the other four lepidopteran toxic subspecies did cross-react with each other as well as with their own homologous antisera.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.857-867
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• 2017

This study was performed to encapsulate low molecular weight marine collagen and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing lactic acid bacteria to inhibit degradation and improve survival rate during exposure to adverse conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract. Calcium-alginate method was used for the manufacture of a double-layered coated capsule. The inner core material was composed of collagen and lactic acid bacteria, and the coating materials were alginate and chitosan. The sizes and shapes of the double-coated capsule were affected mainly by centrifuge speed and pH. Manufactured capsules were observed with a scanning electron microscope and by confocal laser scanning microscopy to confirm the micromorphological changes of capsules and bacterial cells. As a result, double-layered coated capsules were not degraded at pH 1.2, whereas degradation occurred at pH 7.4. In addition, GABA and collagen were maintained in stable state at pH 1.2. Therefore, double-layered coated capsules developed in this study would not be degraded in the stomach and could be stably delivered to the small intestine to benefit intestinal and dermatic health.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1940-1950
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effects of maize straw treated with calcium oxide (CaO) and various moisture, on the composition and molecular structure of the fiber, and gas production by fermentation in an in vitro rumen environment. Methods: The experiment used 4×3 Factorial treatment. Maize straws were treated with 4 concentrations of CaO (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7% of dry straw weight) and 3 moisture contents (40%, 50%, and 60%). Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to measure the surface texture, secondary molecular structure of carbohydrate, and calcium (Ca) content of the maize straw, respectively. The correlation of secondary molecular structures and fiber components of maize straw were analyzed by CORR procedure of SAS 9.2. In vitro rumen fermentation was performed for 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h to measure gas production. Results: Overall, the moisture factor had no obvious effect on the experimental results. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose contents decreased (p<0.05) with increasing concentrations of CaO treatment. Surface and secondary molecular structure of maize straw were affected by various CaO and moisture treatments. NDF had positive correlation (p<0.01) with Cell-H (H, height), Cell-A (A, area), CHO-2-H. Hemicellulose had positive correlation (p<0.01) with Lignin-H, Lignin-A, Cell-H, Cell-A. Ca content of maize straw increased as the concentration of CaO was increased (p<0.01). Gas production was highest in the group treated with 7% CaO. Conclusion: CaO can adhere to the surface of the maize straw, and then improve the digestibility of the maize straw in ruminants by modifying the structure of lignocellulose and facilitating the maize straw for microbial degradation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2004

Cyclodextrin compounds including 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(β-HPCD) though to be accelerate the biodegradation of PAHs molecule by increasing solubility of PAHs through detaining PAHs in their's cavity. However, only this mechanism is not sufficient to explain the enhancement of PAHs biodegradation by β-HPCD. To find out possible additional role of β-HPCD in the enhancement of PAHs biodegradation, biodegradation rates of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) by a PAHs degrading Novosphingobium pentaromtivorans US6-1 strain were compared between with and without addition of β-HPCD. Changes of bacterial biomass were also measured simultaneously. In addition catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity was determined depending on pre-incubation conditions. As a result, β-HPCD accelerate the degradation rate of pyrene by strain US6-1 and especially the β-HPCD amendment was obligatory for the degradation of B[a]p. Bacterial biomass was responsible for β-HPCD, however, PAHs compounds such as pyrene and B[a]P did not contribute to the bacterial biomass. Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase specific activity of US6-l cells pre-cultured in MM2 medium containing l％ β-HPCD was higher than that of cells pre-cultured in ZoBell medium. The former case also showed similar activity compared to that of cells serially starved in MM2 medium after grown in ZoBell medium. These results imply that the presence of β-HPCD accelerate the degradation of PAHs by increasing the bacterial biomass as well as by increasing the water solubility of PAHs.