• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2009

Streptomyces is well known for their ability to synthesize enormous varieties of antibiotics as secondary metabolites. Among them, S. avermitilis produces avermectins, a group of antiparasitic agents used in human and veterinary medicine. However, S. avermitilis also produces oligomycin, which is a potential toxic inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation in mammalian cells. Therefore, we decided to disrupt oligomycin synthetase gene to prevent co-production of oligomycin in S. avermitilis. To create plasmid for disruption, the smallest gene of oligomycin synthetase gene cluster was obtained by PCR from S. avermitilis chromosome. Then, apramycin resistance gene was inserted in oligomycin synthetase gene for selection. After transformation of this plasmid, oligomycin synthetase gene (olmA5) in the chromosome was displaced with disruption cassette on the plasmid via homologous recombination. As a result of this gene replacement, we obtained mutants (olmA5::apra) that no longer makes the toxic oligomycin. And the mutants confirmed by PCR and HPLC analysis. However, showed no increasement of avermectin production in the mutant was observed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2019

Hydrous $MnO_2$ nanowires were easily synthesized by an one-pot synthesis with a simple hydrothermal method. As prepared hydrous $MnO_2$ nanowires were characterized with scanning emission microscopy (SEM), transmit emission microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). They showed a good catalytic activity with the suitable nano-size of 4-5 nm and morphology. The furfuryl alcohol was selected as a substrate and the reaction was carried out in a toluene solvent at $100^{\circ}C$ under the atmospheric pressure of oxygen. The hydrous $MnO_2$ nanowire catalyst exhibited an excellent yield of furfural with the first-rate selectivity and conversion. The catalytic performance during recycle tests was also carried out and the catalyst showed a good mechanical strength with a negligible loss in the activity over five reaction cycles.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.603-610
• /
• 2016

This work studies the synthesis of birnessite (${\delta}-MnO_2$), a catalyst of oxidative-coupling reactions, from the powder of spent alkaline manganese batteries (SABP, <8 mesh) and evaluate its reactivity for 1-naphthol (1-NP) removals. Manganese oxides using commercial reagents ($MnSO_4$, $MnCl_2$) and the acid birnessite (A-Bir) by McKenzie method were also synthesized, and their crystallinity and reactivity for 1-NP were compared with one another. 96% Mn and 98% Zn were extracted from SABP by acid leaching at the condition of solid/liquid (S/L) ratio 1:10 in $1.0M\;H_2SO_4+10.5%\;H_2O_2$ at $60^{\circ}C$. From the acid leaching solution, 69% (at pH 8) and 94.3% (pH>13) of Mn were separated by hydroxide precipitation. Optimal OH/Mn mixing ratio (mol/mol) for the manganese oxide (MO) synthesis by alkaline (NaOH) hydrothermal techniques was 6.0. Under this condition, the best 1-NP removal efficiency was observed and XRD analysis confirmed that the MOs are corresponding to birnessite. Kinetic constants (k, at pH 6) for the 1-NP removals of the birnessites obtained from Mn recovered at pH 8 (${Mn^{2+}}_{(aq)}$) and pH>13 ($Mn(OH)_{2(s)}$) are 0.112 and $0.106min^{-1}$, respectively, which are similar to that from $MnSO_4$ reagent ($0.117min^{-1}$). The results indicated that the birnessite prepared from the SABP as a raw material could be used as an oxidative-coupling catalyst for removals of trace phenolic compounds in soil and water, and propose the recycle scheme of SAB for the birnessite synthesis.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.729-734
• /
• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the possibility of transforming platycodin glycosides using various strains of probiotic bateria and edible fungi. Among the experimental microorganisms assess herein, Aspergillus niger KCTC 6909 evidenced the highest level of platycodin glycoside hydrolysis during fermentation. Particularly in cases in which the organism was incubated in the presence of rhamnose and platycodins. In order to produce the enzyme from Aspergillus niger effectively, various incubation conditions were assessd in order to determine the optimal conditions. The cytotoxicity on V79-4 (Chinese- hamster lung fibroblasts, normal cells) of platycodin was reduced significantly after conversion (concentration on $500{\mu}g/mL$, $1000{\mu}g/mL$); DPPH radical scavenging activity before conversion was 35.05%, and was 57.44% afterward. We noted significantly higher conversion activity inhibiting oxidative degradation. In conclusion, these results indicate that the proper combination of food microorganisms -and fermentation conditions can result in an increase in the glycoside hydrolysis of platycodin the resultant products of which reduce cytotoxicity- and increase anti-oxidant activity.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2005

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with many biological roles, including the protection against microbial and virus infection, stimulation of the immune system. We developed the transgenic Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) cell cultures producing the human lactoferrin (hLf) protein following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A construct containing a targeting signal peptide from tobacco endoplasmic reticulum fused to hLf cDNA under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter was engineered. Transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells to produce a recombinant hLf protein were successfully generated and confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. ELISA and western blot analysis showed that full length-hLf protein was synthesized in the transgenic cells. The production of hLf increased proportionally to cell growth and reached a maximal (up to 3% of total soluble proteins) at the stationary phase. These results suggest that the transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells in this study will be biotechnologically useful for the commercial production of medicinal plant cell cultures to produce hLf protein.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2007

Environmental stress is the major limiting factor in plant productivity. As an effort to solve the global food and environmental problems using the plant biotechnology, we have developed transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer method. To develop transgenic tall fescue plants with enhanced tolerance to the environmental stresses, both CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes were incorporated in a pIG121 binary vector and the both of the genes were controlled separately by an oxidative stress-inducible sweet potato peroxidase 2 (SWPA2) premoter expressed in chloroplasts. Leaf discs of transgenic plants showed 10-30% less damage compared to the wild-type when they exposed to a wide range of environmental stresses including methyl viologen (MV), $H_2O_2$ and heavy metals. In addition, when $200{\mu}M$ MV was sprayed onto the whole plants, transgenic plants showed a significant reduction of visible damage compared to wild-type plants that were almost damaged. These results suggest that over expression of CuZnSOD and APX genes in transgenic plants might be a useful strategy to protect the crops against a wide range of environmental stresses.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.8 no.10
• /
• pp.969-974
• /
• 1998

The effect of vanadium, which is known to decrease the stacking fault energy of Fe-base alloys, on the microstructure and elevated temperature sliding wear resistance of Fe-20Cr- 1.7C- 1Si alloy was investigated. The maximum amount of vanadium maintaining the austenitic matrix seems to be about 3wt.% in Fe-20Cr- 1.7C-1Si-xV (x = 0, 1, 3, 6. lOwt.%) alloys and the austenitic alloys showed better wear resistance than ferritic alloys. It was considered to be due to the low stacking fault energy and $\gamma->\alpha$ strain-induced phase transformation at rmm temperature. It was shown from elevated temperature sliding tests up to .$225^{\circ}C$ that the addition of vanadium increases the temperature, at which the transition from oxidative wear to adhesive wear occur, and the amount of d formed at $225^{\circ}C$. Thus, it was considered that the addition of vanadium improves the elevated temperature sliding wear resistance of Fe-20Cr- 1.7C - 1Si by reducing the increasing rate of stacking fault energy with temperature and by increasing Ma temperature.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.445-455
• /
• 2009

Microbiological sulfate reduction is the transformation of sulfate to sulfide catalyzed by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria using sulfate as an electron acceptor. Low solubility of metal sulfides leads to precipitation of the sulfides in solution. The effects of microbiological sulfate reduction on in-situ precipitation of arsenic and copper were investigated for the heavy metal-contaminated soil around the Songcheon Au-Ag mine site. Total concentrations of As, Cu, and Pb were 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, and 294 mg/kg, respectively, after aqua regia digestion. In batch-type experiments, indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria rapidly decreased sulfate concentration and redox potential and led to substantial removal of dissolved As and Cu from solution. Optimal concentrations of carbon source and sulfate for effective microbial sulfate reduction were 0.2~0.5% (w/v) and 100~200 mg/L, respectively. More than 98% of injected As and Cu were removed in the effluents from both microbial and chemical columns designed for metal sulfides to be precipitated. However, after the injection of oxygen-rich solution, the microbial column showed the enhanced long-term stability of in-situ precipitated metals when compared with the chemical column which showed immediate increase in dissolved As and Cu due to oxidative dissolution of the sulfides. Black precipitates formed in the microbial column during the experiments and were identified as iron sulfide and copper sulfide. Arsenic was observed to be adsorbed on surface of iron sulfide precipitate.