• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.873-878
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• 2002

In order to industrialize traditional Meju-tasting Koji, the characteristics of Koji manufactured with bacteria and fungi found in traditional Meju were investigated. Bacillus subtilis B-4 and Aspergillus oryzae F-5 showing high enzyme activities including those of amylase and protease were used. L-value of Koji manufactured with B. subtilis B-4 had darker color and higher enzyme production than A. oryzae F-5 made one. B. subtilis B-4 made Koji showed higher enzyme production and sensony evaluation score than A. oryzae F-5 Koji. A. oryzae F-5 Koji showed superior color to B. subtilis B-4 Koji. Activity in color, capacity of enzyme production, viable cell count, and sensory evaluation of water activity controlled Koji was superior to the uncontrolled one.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.211-215
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• 2002

Pretense production and its characteristics were investigated for Rhizopus stolonifer, Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera which were isolated from Korean traditional meju. The optimum culture conditions of the strains for the production of protease in basic medium [wheat bran : 1% glucose solution=1 : 1 (w/v)] were 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 4 days. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity of crude enzymes produced by Rhizopus sto-lonifer, Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera were pH 6.0 and 5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzymes were relatively stable at pH 4.0~7.0, at temperature below 4$0^{\circ}C$, and at NaCl concentration lower than 16%. The $K_{m}$ value for Hammastein casein was 3.3$\times$10$^{-4}$ , 0.75$\times$10$^{-4}$ and 1.3$\times$10$^{-4}$ M, and $V_{max}$ value was 17.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/min, 9.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/min and 7.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/min, respectively.y.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.154-160
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• 2000

Protease production and its characteristics were investigated with Bacillus subtilis PCA20-3 which was isolated from Korean traditional meju. The optimum culture conditions of Bacillus subtilis PCA20-3 for the production of the protease were as follow: 0.2% soytone, 2% starch, 0.1% $(NH_4)_2SO_4,\;0.2%\;CaCl_2,\;0.01%\;yeast\;extract,\;0.1%\; K_2HPO_4,\;0.1%\;KH_2PO_4,\;pH\;7.0,\;30^{\circ}C$ and 20 hrs. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity of protease producing Bacillus subtilis PCA20-3 were pH 8.0-10.0 and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was relatively stable at pH $6.0{\sim}11.0$ and at temperature below $50^{\circ}C$. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by $Fe^(2＋)\;and\;Cu^(2＋)$. 2 mM phenymethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited 89.2% of enzyme activity. This indicates that the enzyme is serine protease. The $K_m$ value was $5\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M,\;V_{max}\;value\;was\;100\;{\mu}g/min$. This enzyme hydrolyzed casein more rapidly than bovine serum albumin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.161-167
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• 2000

The protease produced by a newly isolated Aspergillus wentti from Korean traditional Meju was purified and characterized. The optimal medium composition and culture conditions for maximum protease production were ; bran :1% glucose solution =1 : 1, pH 9.0, $30^{\circ}C$, and 4 days of fermentation. Protease was purified by QAE-Sephadex, SP-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The specific activity and the purification fold of the purified enzyme were 213 unit/mg protein and 27.3, respectively. The molecular weight of purified protease was found to be 32 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Km and Vmax value's for hammastein milk casein were $3.049{\times}10^{-4}\;M\;and\;151.1\;{\mu}g/min$, respectively. Kinetic parameters showed that the enzyme has higher affinity to casein than isolated soybean protein, hemoglobin and bovine serum albumin. Optimal pH and temperature for reaction of the purified enzyme were 9.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was stable at pH 4.0-11.0, below $40^{\circ}C$, and the activity was not stimulated by metal ions. 1mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibited the enzyme activity by 98.5%. It means that the enzyme is one of serine protease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

A correlation between fibrinolytic activity and microflora in Korean traditional soybean fermented food was investigated. The fibrinolytic activities of traditional soybean pastes and commercially processed samples were 2.42$\pm$1.01 unit/g and 1.58$\pm$0.98 unit/g, respectively. The cell density of Bacillus in traditional soybean pastes was about 10$^{7}$ CFU/g and its commercially processed one was 10$^{6}$ CFU/g. Acid producing bacteria, fungi and yeast group were higher in commercially processed one. The correlations of fibrinolytic activity and microflora in traditional and commercial Doenjang were positively correlated in Bacillus ($R^2$≒ 0.69), negatively correlated in fungal group ($R^2$≒0.40), and there were no significant correlations in acid forming bacteria and yeast group ($R^2$<0.16). Fibrinolytic activities in Meju and Koji were 6.54$\pm$1.97 unit/g and 1.46$\pm$0.43 unit/g respectively, and were positively correlated with Bacillus. Yeast and acid forming bacteria were grown by 5∼6 decimal induction during fermentation period of Doenjang, but Bacillus, fungal cells and fibrinolytic activity were nearly stable. Results indicate that fibrinolytic activity of Doenjang depends on enzyme induction in Meju or Koji processing by Bacillus, Doenjang fermentation process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.553-559
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• 2004

To improve quality as a food source and functional properties of traditional fermented soybean paste (Doenjang), the Korean herb medicines (group I ∼ IV) extracted at 121$^{\circ}C$ for 2.5 hours were used as brine sources. Capsule Meju were fermented in cool brines with three different concentration (group A, B and C) of the extracts at room temperature for 3 months in large earthenware jars. The effect of traditional soybean Doenjang (refer as DHM below) supplemented with the extract of herb medicines on the food quality and chemical characteristics were examined. General composition of DHM (moisture 58.2%∼61.9%, pH 5.32∼5.56, total acidity 3.07∼3.70 ml, salt 11.7∼13.9%) did not differ from those of control (moisture 61.9%, pH 5.50, total acidity 3.25 ml, salt 12.6%). Concentration of reducing sugar, crude protein, crude lipid and amino type nitrogen were higher in DHM than those of control without addition of the extracts. Water insoluble-brown index showed no difference by the extracts. However, the former had higher water soluble-brown index than the latter, and within the DHM, groups I and II were higher than groups III and IV. Lightness values (L) of Hunter color index in groups I and II were 24.32 and 31.04, respectively. Redness values (a) of all DHMs were lower than that of control. Yellowness value (b) of groups III and IV were similar to that of control group, and Hunter b values of group I and II were lower than that of control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.342-350
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• 2020

This study examined the methods used in household doenjang (Korean soybean paste) production. Nine hundred forty-three responses were obtained using a nationwide, questionnaire-based survey (2018-2019) with non-probabilistic snowballing sampling. Consistent with previous studies, the respondents were primarily over the age of 50 years (97.1%) and female (97.9%). In addition to soybeans, the most used ingredients were red pepper (85.8%) and charcoal (85.5%), which most respondents obtained through direct farming (50.4-59.9%). Seasonal production occurred later in the higher latitude regions (Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do) (p < 0.01), which have lower average temperatures, and the fermentation period was shorter in the lower latitude regions (Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do, Jeju-do) (p < 0.01), which have higher average temperatures. There were no significant regional differences in the season when doenjang was made, with most production occurring during January and February (81.1%). Most respondents (71.3%) made doenjang using homemade meju (soybean block used as a starter) in a traditional way to allow the microorganisms to be naturally inoculated. These results could be used as a basis for future research on topics such as starter development, standardized production, and safety of household doenjang.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Aflatoxins are classified as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this study, a total of 134 fungal strains were isolated from 65 meju samples, and two fungal isolates were selected as potential aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$)-biodetoxification fungi. These fungi were identified as Aspergillus oryzae MAO103 and A. oryzae MAO104 by sequencing the beta-tubulin gene. The two A. oryzae strains were able to degrade more than 90% of $AFB_1$ (initial concentration: $40{\mu}g/l$) in a culture broth in 14 days. The mutagenic effects of $AFB_1$ treated with A. oryzae MAO103 and MAO104 significantly decreased to 5.7% and 6.4%, respectively, in the frame-shift mutation of Ames tests using Salmonella typhimurium TA98. The base-substituting mutagenicity of $AFB_1$ was also decreased by the two fungi. Moreover, $AFB_1$ production by Aspergillus flavus was significantly decreased by the two A. oryzae strains on soybean-based agar plates. Our data suggest that the two $AFB_1$-detoxifying A. oryzae strains have potential application to control $AFB_1$ in foods and feeds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1510-1517
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• 2012

To evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus polyfermenticus CJ6 isolated from meju, a Korean traditional soybean fermentation starter, its functionality and safety were investigated. B. polyfermenticus CJ6 was sensitive to all antibiotics listed by the European Food Safety Authority. The strain was also non-hemolytic, carried no emetic toxin or enterotoxin genes, and produced no enterotoxins. The resistance of B. polyfermenticus CJ6 vegetative cells and spores to simulated gastrointestinal conditions was high (60-100% survival rate). B. polyfermenticus CJ6 produced high amounts (0.36 g as a purified lyophilized form) of ${\gamma}$-polyglutamic acid (PGA). We speculate that the improved cell viability and the production of ${\gamma}$-PGA have a significant correlation. Adhesion of the strain to Caco-2 and HT-29 cells was weaker than that of the reference strain (Lb. rhamnosus GG), but it was comparable to or stronger than those of reported Bacillus spp. When B. polyfermenticus CJ6 spores were given orally to mice, the number of cells excreted in the feces was 4-fold higher than the original inocula. This suggests the inoculated spores propagated within the intestinal tract of the mice. This idea was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which revealed directly that B. polyfermenticus CJ6 cells germinated and adhered within the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that B. polyfermenticus CJ6 has probiotic potential for both human consumption and use in animal feeds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.775-783
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• 1997

Morphologically different 18 strains were isolated and examined for their abilities to inhibit ACE. Those strains were cultured in the medium containing 10% of soybean extract at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 48hr or fermented with boiled soybean at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 60 days. The concentration of inhibitors to inhibit 50% of ACE activity, $IC_{50}$ was measured on the culture broth of each strain and also on the hot-water extract from 20, 40 and 60 day fermented Doenjang by each strain. As a result, SCB-3 which is isolated from Meju showed the highest ACE inhibitoryactivity on the cultured broth and 40 day matured Doenjang. Then, $IC_{50}$ of SCB-3 was 0.02 mg/ml and 0.26mg/ml respectively. SCB-3 was identified as a Bacillus subtilis based upon its morphological, biochemical and physiological properties. Changes in general components and ACE inhibitory activity of Doenjang fermented by SCB-3 were examined during 90 days. Total acidity of Doenjang was increased from 1.39% to 1.66% and pH was decreased from 6.02 to 5.79 after 90 days fermentation. Total sugar contents were decreased from 16.4% to 15.1% and reducing sugar contents was also decreased from 2.45% to 1.62%. Total nitrogen contents were nearly not changed, but amino nitrogen contents were drastically increased from 196mg% to 541mg%. The numbers of total microorganism were increased to 1.1$\times$$10^{8}$ cells/g after 45 days. Protease activity was increased to 622.1U/g after 75 days. The highest ACE inhibitory activity was shown in 60 day fermented Doenjang and $IC_{50}$ of the hot-water extract was 0.31mg/ml.