• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.380-383
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• 1999

During the biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene to 2-hydroxybiphenyl by Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8, a surfactant-like substance was secreted into the medium resulting in the decrease of the surface tension of the medium. Due to the substance, the optical density (at 600 nm) of the medium had no co-relation with dry cell weight during cultivation. The growth rate of IGTS8 increased by the addition of 1 % Tween 80, but it was inhibited over Tween 80 concentration of 2 % (v/v).

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2005

Lactoferrin is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding glycoproteins. It is originally found in milk. In addition to its antibacterial and antiviral activities, lactoferrin has many other biological functions include anti-inflammatory properties, antitumor, cell growth-promoting activity as well as antioxidant effect In the present study, we report the production of recombinant bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in the Rhodococcus erythropolis (R erythropolis) using pTip vector. The expression level was investigated in various range of temperature, and we could successfully expressed the bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in R erythropolis at low temperature. The recombinant proteins were purified by Nickel-Nitrolotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA). The purified proteins were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, which indicating that the recombinant proteins have a molecular weight of 80kDa and 43kDa for bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.474-481
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• 2009

A novel microorganism, designated as LG12, was isolated from soil based on its ability to use acrylic acid as the sole carbon source. An electron microscopic analysis of its morphological characteristics and phylogenetic classification by 16S rRNA homology showed that the LG12 strain belongs to Rhodococcus erythropolis. R. erythropolis LG12 was able to metabolize a high concentration of acrylic acid (up to 40 g/l). In addition, R. erythropolis LG12 exhibited the highest acrylic acid-degrading activity among the tested microorganisms, including R. rhodochrous, R. equi, R. rubber, Candida rugosa, and Bacillus cereus. The effect of the culture conditions of R. erythropo/is LG12 on the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) from acrylic acid was also examined. To enhance the production of 3HP, acrylic acid-assimilating activity was induced by adding 1 mM acrylic acid to the culture medium when the cell density reached an $OD_{600}$ of 5. Further cultivation of R. erythropo/is LG 12 with 40 g/l of acrylic acid resulted in the production of 17.5 g/l of 3HP with a molar conversion yield of 44% and productivity of 0.22 g/l/h at $30^{\circ}C$ after 72 h.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.325-331
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• 2010

Rhodococcus erythropolis amidase was expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The crude amidase in the cell-free extract was immobilized using the cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) method. The crude amidase was mixed with bovine serum albumin and then precipitated with ammonium sulfate. The resultant precipitant was subsequently cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that this co-CLEA had a ball-like shape with a diameter of approximately $1\;{\mu}m$. This co-CLEA evidenced hydrolytic activity toward a variety of amide substrates. The amidase co-CLEA evidenced an optimum temperature of $60^{\circ}C$ and an optimum pH of 8.0, results that were similar to those of the soluble amidase. The reaction stability of the co-CLEA was increased. That is, it was stable up to $50^{\circ}C$ and in a pH range of 5.0-12.0. Additionally, the co-CLEA could be recovered by centrifugation, and retained 96% activity after 3 repeated cycles. This amidase co-CLEA may prove useful as a substitute for soluble amidase as a biocatalyst in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2006

Ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of Atorvastatin, a chiral drug to hypercholesterolemia. In this research, two 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyro-nitrile-degrading strains were isolated from soil sample. They were identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis strains by 16S rRNA analysis. The nitrile-degrading enzyme(s) were suggested to be nitrile hydratase and amidase rather than nitrilase from the result of thin layer chromatography analysis. The corresponding genes were obtained by PCR cloning method. The predicted protein sequences had identities more than 96% with nitrile hydratase ${\alpha}-subunit$, nitrile hydratase ${\beta}-subunit$, and amidase of R. erythropolis. The 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile-hydrolyzing activities in both strains were increased dramatically by ${\varepsilon}-caprolactam$ which was known as good inducer for nitrile hydratase. Both intact cells and cell-free extract could hydrolyze the nitrile compound. So, the intact cell and the enzymes could be used as potential biocatalyst for the production of 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.724-730
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• 2004

Effects of the biosurfactant produced by Rhodococcus erythropolis on the solubilization and biodegradation of phenanthrene were investigated. Based on surface tension measurements, the average critical micelle concentration of the biosurfactant was estimated to be about 16mg TOC/L. The apparent solubility of phenanthrene increased linearly with the addition of biosurfactants above the CMC, and the concentration of solubilized phenanthrene was 38.9mg/L in 322mg TOC/L biosurfactant solution. The weight-solubilization ratio of biosurfactants for phenanthrene was approximately 118.8mg/g, this value was over 5 times greater than that of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Using a known phenanthrene degrader, batch phenanthrene biodegradation experiments were conducted with and without biosurfactants in liquid culture. The rate and extent of phenanthrene mineralization by the phenanthrene degrader with biosurfactants were much greater than those without biosurfactants. The greater phenanthrene mineralization observed in the presence of biosurfactants is attributed to the increased phenanthrene concentration in the aqueous culture due to the partitioning of the compound to biosurfactant micelles. The biosurfactant did not exhibit any toxic effect on mineralization of glucose by the phenanthrene-degrader.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.552-559
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• 2008

Ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate is an intermediate for the synthesis of Atorvastatin, a chiral drug used for hypercholesterolemia. A Rhodococcus erythropolisstrain (No.7) able to convert 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile into 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyric acid has recently been isolated from soil. This activity has been regarded as having been caused by the successive actions of the nitrile hydratase and amidase. In this instance, the corresponding amidase gene was cloned from the R. erythropolis strain and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. A soluble active form of amidase enzyme was obtained at $18^{\circ}C$. The Ni column-purified recombinant amidase was found to have a specific activity of 3.89 U/mg toward the substrate isobutyramide. The amidase was found to exhibit a higher degree of activity when used with mid-chain substrates than with short-chain ones. Put differently, amongst the various amides tested, isobutyramide and butyramide were found to be hydrolyzed the most rapidly. In addition to amidase activity, the enzyme was found to exhibit acyltransferase activity when hydroxyl amine was present. This dual activity has also been observed in other enzymes belonging to the same amidase group (E.C. 3.5.1.4). Moreover, the purified enzyme was proven to be able to enantioselectively hydrolyze 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyramide into the corresponding acid. The e.e. value was measured to be 52% when the conversion yield was 57%. Although this e.e. value is low for direct commercial use, molecular evolution could eventually result in this amidase being used as a biocatalyst for the production of ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1135-1139
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• 2005

Psychrotrophic phenanthrene-degrading bacteria were identified in the sediment samples collected from Lake Baikal, Russia. Among 70 phenanthrene-degrading isolates, the seven that had the highest phenanthrene-degradation rates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Isolate P25, identified as the Gram-positive rod-shaped organism Rhodococcus erythropolis, had the highest growth and degradation rate at $15^{\circ}C$. It could remove $26.0\%$ of 100 mg $1^{-1}$ phenanthrene in 20 days at $15^{\circ}C$, and degradation was less at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C$. The addition of surfactants to enhance degradation was tested. Brij 30 and Triton X-100 inhibited degradation at all surfactant concentrations tested, but Tween 80 stimulated phenanthrene degradation, especially at low concentrations. When $20{\times}$ CMC (critical micelle concentration) of Tween 80 was added, $38.0\%$ of 100 mg $1^{-1}$ phenanthrene was degraded in 12 days at $15^{\circ}C$. This psychrotrophic phenanthrene-degrading bacterium is a candidate for use in bioremediation of polycyclic hydrocarbon contamination in low temperature environments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1141-1146
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• 2010

Isolated the heterotrophic aerobic bacteria in sandfiltered water on NA and TSBA solid medium, selected 8 dominant species and identified by Sherlock System. Each samples are irradiated 0, 5, 16, 40 and $60\;mJ/cm^2$ using on CBD (Collimated Beam Device) Medium Pressure UV lamp after these identified bacterium did liquid culture how to make $10^6{\sim}10^7\;cells/mL$ suspended in dilution water. Then cultured bacteria are estimated inactivation rate on plate media. Identified Gram positive group are Bacillus Subtilus, Bacillus megaterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis and Microbacterium laevaniformans; Gram negative group are Pseudomonas vesicularis, Pseudomonas pseudoflava, Alcaligenes paradoxus and Zooglea ramigera. These isolation of bacterium are more stronger reference strain and high resistance of MP UV irradiation, Besides Gram negative bacterium are more sensitive Gram positive bacterium on MP UV dose. Now we are estimating to $60{\sim}100\;mJ/cm^2$ MP UV dose for efficient disinfection in water treatment plant.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2012

Background: The removal of phosphate(P) in the wastewater is essential for the prevention of eutrophication in the river and stream. This study was initiated to evaluate the P removal by three strains of bacteria isolated from industrial wastewater. The three strains of bacteria, A1, A2, and A3, isolated were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain CUPS 3, Rhodococcus erythropolis strain Sco-C01, Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ, respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experiments evaluating the effects of temperature, P concentration, aeration, and carbon sources on P removal by Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ were performed in the following conditions: temperature, 15, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$; P concentrations, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L; oxygen condition, aerobic, anaerobic/aerobic conditions; carbon sources, glucose, acetate and mixture of glucose and acetate. As a result, the best optimum conditions for P removal by Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ were as follows: temperature, $30^{\circ}C$; P concentration, 20 mg/L; carbon sources, mixture of glucose and acetate; oxygen concentration, anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The P removal efficiencies by Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain CUPS, and Rhodococcus erythropolis strain Sco-C01 were 99%, 50%, 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: As a result, the best optimum conditions for P removal by Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ selected and used in this study were as follows: temperature, $30^{\circ}C$; P concentration, 20 mg/L; carbon sources, mixture of glucose and acetate; oxygen concentration, anaerobic and aerobic conditions.