• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2017

An agar-degrading bacterium, designated as the GNUM08123 strain, was isolated from samples of red algae collected from the Yongil Bay near East Sea, Korea. The isolated GNUM08123 strain was gram-negative, aerobic, motile, and beige-pigmented, with $C_{16:0}$ (25.9%) and summed feature 3 (comprising $C_{16:1}{\omega}7c/iso-C_{15:0}2-OH$, 34.4%) as its major cellular fatty acids. A similarity search based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that it belonged to class Gammaproteobacteria and shared 97.7% similarity with the type strain Vibrio chagasii $R-3712^T$. The DNA G+C content of strain $GNUM08123^T$ was 46.9 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8. The results of DNA-DNA relatedness and 16S rRNA sequence similarity analyses, in addition to its phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, suggest that strain GNUM08123 is a novel species within genus Vibrio, designated as Vibrio sp. GNUM08123. Agarase production by strain GNUM08123 was induced by agar and sucrose, but was repressed probably owing to carbon catabolite repression by glucose and maltose.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.239-253
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• 2010

Coenzyme $Q_{10}$ ($CoQ_{10}$, or ubiquinone) is an electron carrier of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (electron transport chain) with antioxidant properties. In view of the involvement of $CoQ_{10}$ in oxidative phosphorylation and cellular antioxidant protection a deficiency in this quinone would be expected to contribute to disease pathophysiology by causing a failure in energy metabolism and antioxidant status. Indeed, a deficit in $CoQ_{10}$ status has been determined in a number of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders. Primary disorders of $CoQ_{10}$ biosynthesis are potentially treatable conditions and therefore a high degree of clinical awareness about this condition is essential. A secondary loss of $CoQ_{10}$ status following HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statins) treatment has been implicated in the pathophysiology of the myotoxicity associated with this pharmacotherapy. $CoQ_{10}$ and its analogue, idebenone, have been widely used in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. These compounds could potentially play a role in the treatment of mitochondrial disorders, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich's ataxia, and other conditions which have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. This article reviews the physiological roles of $CoQ_{10}$, as well as the rationale and the role in clinical practice of $CoQ_{10}$ supplementation in different neurological diseases, from primary $CoQ_{10}$ deficiency to neurodegenerative disorders. These will help in future for treatment of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2011

Mitochondria diseases have been reported to involve structural and functional defects of complex I-V. Especially, many of these diseases are known to be related to dysfunction of mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The dysfunction of mitochondria complex I is associated with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Mammalian mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is largest and consists of at least 46 different subunits. In contrast, the NDI1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single subunit rotenone-insensitive NADH-quinone oxidoreductase that is located on the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae NDI1 gene using a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV-NDI1) was successfully expressed in AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes and the NDI1-transduced cells were able to grow in media containing rotenone. In contrast, control cells that did not receive the NDI1 gene failed to survive. The expressed Ndi1 enzyme was recognized to be localized in mitochondria by confocal immunofluorescence microscopic analyses and immunoblotting. Using digitonin-permeabilized cells, it was shown that the NADH oxidase activity of the NDI1-transduced cells was not affected by rotenone which is inhibitor of complex I, but was inhibited by antimycin A. Furthermore, these results indicate that Ndi1 can be functionally expressed in the AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes. It is conceivable that the NDI1 gene is powerful tool for gene therapy of mitochondrial diseases caused by complex I deficiency. In the future, we will attempt to functionally express the NDI1 gene in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cell.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.182-187
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• 2004

Strain NR $15-1^T$ isolated from traditional Korean Nuruk is described as a new species and named as Aspergillus coreanus NR $15-1^T$ sp. novo Strain NR $15-1^T$ grew rapidly to form yellow-green colonies whose surfaces were velvety on Czapek solution agar. Conidial heads were yellow to light and elliptical, whereas the conidiophore was colorless and typically long. In addition, vesicles were from flask-shaped to globose, and sterigmata are uniseriate. Conidia were spherical and deep yellow-green, and their surfaces were lightly roughened. The G＋C content of strain NR $15-1^T$ was 51 mol% and strain NR $15-1^T$contained a dihydrogenated ubiquinone with Q9 (94.9%) as a major quinone. The nucleotide sequences of strain NR $15-1^T$ in the two Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS 1 and 2) and 5.8S rDNA showed highest similarity when compared with that of A. tubingensis and A. phoenicis NRRL $365^T$. However, based on morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, this strain was different from A. tubingensis and A. phoenicis NRRL $365^T$. On the basis of the data presented, it is proposed that strain NR $15-1^T$ should be placed in the genus Aspergillus as a new species, Aspergillus coreanus sp. novo Therefore, the type strain of the new species is strain NR $15-1^T$ (=KCTC 18075P^T,=KCCM 80006^T$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2001

Many isolates from different forest soil layers did not show appreciable growth on full strength of the conventional nutrient broth (NB medium) but grow on its 100-fold dilution (DNB medium). These isolates were divided into four types according to organic nutrient concentration in the growth medium from $1^{-1}\;to\;10^{-4}$dilution of normal NB medium. Oligotrophic bacteria were type II and type IV which grew in $10^{-4}$ dilution of NB (1 mg C/l) medium. Sixty strains were isolated for obligate oligotrophic bacteria. Chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics of eleven isolates of acetylene-reducing (nitrogen-fixing) oligotrophic bacteria from forest soil were investigated. They showed similar characteristics: the cellular fatty acid mainly consisted of straight-chain unsaturated $C_{18:1}$ (60-84% of total fatty acids). Ubiquinone Q-10 and a high guanine plus-cytosine content(61-64 mol%) were found. Eleven isolates of nitrogen-fixing oligotrophic bacteria were found to be closely related by full 16S rDNA sequence simility and many common taxonomic traits. Analysis of full 16S rDNA sequences of eleven isolates indicated that they were more closely related to Bradyrhizobium (similarity values: 98.1-98.8%), Agromonas, Nitrobacter, and Afipia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.933-942
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• 2003

CoenzymeQ is a quinone derivative with a long isoprenoid side chain. It transports electrons in the respiratory chain located in the inner mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotes and the plasma membrane of prokaryotes. It also functions as an antioxidant. Saccharomyces cerevisine coq mutants, that are deficient coenzyme Q biosynthesis fail to aerobically grow. They are not able to grow on non-fermentable carbon sources, such as glycerol, either The putative $coq^{-7}$ gene involved in coenzyme Q biosynthesis of Neurospora crassa was cloned and used for complementation of S. cerevisiae coq7 mutant. The predicted amino acid sequence of N. crassa COQ7 showed about 58% homology with Coq7p of S. cerevisiae. The growth rate of S. cerevisiae $coq^7$ mutant transformed with the N. crassa $coq^{-7}$ gene was restored to the wild-type level. The complemented 5. cerevisiae strain was able to grow with glycerol as a sole carbon source and showed less sensitivities to linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1537-1543
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• 2006

A bacterial strain named HY-3 that produces a highly active extracellular protease was isolated from the digestive tract of a spider, Nephila clavata. The bacterium was a Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, nonhalophilic, nitrate-reducing, facultative anaerobe. Transmission and scanning electron microscopies demonstrated that the isolate was non-spare-forming, straight, rod-shaped, and motile by peritrichous flagella. The G+C content of the DNA was 57.0 mol%. The isoprenoid quinone type was ubiquinone with 8 isoprene units (Q-8). The morphological and biochemical characteristics including the predominant fatty acid and phospholipids profiles placed the isolate HY-3 in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Further biochemical characterization and phylogenetic studies including determination of an almost complete 16S ribosomal DNA sequence suggested that the bacterium was closely related to the genus Serratia. DNA-DNA hybridization analysis revealed that this extracellular protease-producing strain belongs to Serratia proteamaculans, which is also known far its association with insects.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 1997

A sulfer-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from mine wastewater and characterized. The isolate was gra-negative, rod (0.2 * 1.2-1.5.mu.m), nonmotiloe, catalase positive, and oxidase prositive. The opotimal pH and temperature for growth were 7.0 and 30.deg.C. respectively. The optimum thiosulfate concentration was 70 mM and the maximum growth rate was 0.081 hr. The major ubiquinone contained in the isolate was Q-8. The cellular fatty acid composition was $C_{16 : 0}$, $C_{18 : 1}$, $C_{17cyc}$,and $C_{19cyc}$ as nonpolar fatty acids, and 3-OH C10 : 0 and 3-OH $C_{12 : 0}$ as hydroxylated fatty acids. The isolate was a facultative chemolithoautotroph which can grow autotrophically on sodium thiosulfate and sodium sulfide and which can grow heterotrophically on yeast extract. It can also grow mixotrophically on sodium thiosulfate and yeast extract. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate with that of Thiobacillus species and Paracoccus thiocyanatus revealed that it is closely related to T. caldus which belongs to the .betha.-subclass of the class Proteobacteria. However, the isolated could not grow at extremely low pH (pH 1-3.5). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, the isolate was tentatively named Thiobacillus sp. strain C.ain C.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1214-1221
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• 2024

The accumulating evidence substantiates the indispensable role of gut microbiota in modulating the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Uncovering the intricacies of the mechanism is imperative in aiding disease control efforts. Revealing key bacterial species, their metabolites and/or metabolic pathways from the vast array of gut microorganisms can significantly contribute to precise treatment of the disease. With a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Inner Mongolia, China, we recruited volunteers from among the Mongolian population to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and the disease. Fecal samples were collected from the Volunteers of Mongolia with Type 2 Diabetes group and a Control group, and detected by metagenomic analysis and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The findings suggest that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla are the predominant gut microorganisms that exert significant influence on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the Mongolian population. In the disease group, despite an increase in the quantity of most gut microbial metabolic enzymes, there was a concomitant weakening of gut metabolic function, suggesting that the gut microbiota may be in a compensatory state during the disease stage. β-Tocotrienol may serve as a pivotal gut metabolite produced by gut microorganisms and a potential biomarker for type 2 diabetes. The metabolic biosynthesis pathways of ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinones could be the crucial mechanism through which the gut microbiota regulates type 2 diabetes. Additionally, certain Clostridium gut species may play a pivotal role in the progression of the disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1235-1241
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• 2012

Antioxidant properties and antioxidant compound contents in different parts of 14 commercial mushrooms were evaluated. Methanolic extracts from the entire mushroom, the pileus and the stipe, separately, were screened for their DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities. Total ubiquinones (Coenzyme Qs; CoQs), total phenolic, and flavonoid contents were determined, in order to assess the extract's antioxidant activity. The portion of the mushroom selected had an effect on the results, with pileus methanolic extract exhibiting the greatest antioxidant effect (p<0.05). The analyzed mushrooms contained powerful antioxidants such as phenols (144.5~536.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents, mg GAE/100 g of dried weight, dw), flavonoids (3.7~31.2 mg of quercetin equivalents, mg QE/100 g dw) and ubiquinones (65.6~485.1 ${\mu}g$/100 g dw). Content of CoQ9 and CoQ10 in the 14 commercial mushrooms varied from 23.1 to 256.2 ${\mu}g$/100 g and from 16.1 to 238.3 ${\mu}g$/100 g, respectively. Phellinus linteus showed the highest antioxidant activity among all species due to the contribution of antioxidants such as phenols (530.5 mg GAE/100 g dw) and ubiquinones (308.8 ug/100 g dw). A positive linear correlation was demonstrated between free radical scavenging activity and total phenolic ($R^2=0.79$) and ubiquinone ($R^2=0.59$) contents in the pileus of mushrooms (p<0.05). Our data indicate that commercial mushrooms have potential as dietary sources of CoQs and phenolic antioxidants.