• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2003

In vivo $^31p$ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ($^31p$NMR) and metabolic studies were carried out on an acetic acid tolerant mutant, Zymomonas mobilis $ZM4/Ac^R$, and compared to those of the parent strain, Z. mobilis ZM4, to evaluate possible mechanisms of acetic acid resistance. This investigation was initiated to determine whether or not the mutant strain might be used as a suitable recombinant host far ethanol production from lignocellulose hydrolysates containing various inhibitory compounds. $ZM4/Ac^R$ showed multiple resistance to other lignocellulosic toxic compounds such as syringaldehyde, furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural, vanillin, and vanillic acid. The mutant strain was resistant to higher concentrations of ethanol or lower pH in the presence of sodium acetate, compared to ZM4 which showed more additive inhibition. in vivo $^31p$ NMR studies revealed that intracellular acidification and de-energization were two mechanisms by which acetic acid exerted its inhibitory effect. For $ZM4/Ac^R$, the internal pH and the energy status were less affected by sodium acetate compared to the parent strain. This resistance to pH change and de-energization caused by acetic acid is a possible explanation for the development of resistance by this strain.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1156-1162
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• 2010

During ethanol fermentation, bacterial strains may encounter various stresses, such as ethanol and acid shock, which adversely affect cell viability and the production of ethanol. Therefore, ethanologenic strains that tolerate abiotic stresses are highly desirable. Bacteria of the genus Deinococcus are extremely resistant to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, and desiccation, and therefore constitute an important pool of extreme resistance genes. The irrE gene encodes a general switch responsible for the extreme radioresistance of D. radiodurans. Here, we present evidence that IrrE, acting as a global regulator, confers high stress tolerance to a Zymomonas mobilis strain. Expression of the gene protected Z. mobilis cells against ethanol, acid, osmotic, and thermal shocks. It also markedly improved cell viability, the expression levels and enzyme activities of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, and the production of ethanol under both ethanol and acid stresses. These data suggest that irrE is a potentially promising gene for improving the abiotic stress tolerance of ethanologenic bacterial strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 1990

The structural gene (zadhII) encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase II from Zyrnornonas mobilis was cloned into Escherichia coli in our laboratory (Yoon et al., 1989. Kor. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol.). From E. coli (pADS93) carrying the zadhII gene, the Z mobilis alcochol dehydrogenase II (ZADH-II) was purified by sonication, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, fractionation, and chromatography. The ZADH-I1 enzyme produced by Z. mobilis cell was also purified to compare to the enzyme produced by E. coli (pADS93). The purified enzyme from cell extract of E. coli (pADS93) was identified to be a tetramer being composed of four identical subunits having molecular weight of 40, 000 dalton like that of Z. mobilis. The pH optimum for the reaction oxidizing ethanol to acetaldehyde was 10.0 while the optimum for the reverse reaction was 7.5-8.5. The apparent $K_m$ values for ethanol and NAD + were $1.2 \times 10^{-1}M$and $5.1\times 10^{-5}M$, respectively. In addition, it was found that the $K_m$ value for acetaldehyde was very lower than that for ethanol.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.600-605
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• 1989

For the purpose of isolation of the Zymomonas mobilis DNA fragments showing promoter activity in Escherichia coli, a promoter screening vector, PCMT215 was constructed by transferring a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene of pYEJ001 into pMT21 which contains $\beta$-lactamase gene and multiple cloning sites. A library of Z, mobilis Sau3AI DNA fragments was constructed in E. coli using the newly constructed pCMT215. Fourteen clones showing resistance to chloramphenicol ranging in concentration from 30 to 750 $\mu$g/$m\ell$ were selected. From five clones of them, the Z. mobilis DNA fragments expressing CAT gene of the recombinant plasmids were sequenced and then sites of transcriptional initiation were identified. The nucleotide sequences of the cloned DNA shared AT rich regions, poly A's or T's stretches and palindromic regions. The positions of transcriptional initiation for CAT gene occurred at more than one site spaced over by 4 to 190 base pairs on the cloned fragments in E. coli.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 1986.12a
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• pp.521.3-522
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• 1986

A gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in Zymomonas mobilis was cloned into E. coli JM 83 with plasmid pUC 9. The ADH produced by the E. coli transformant was purified bysonication, (NH$^4$)2SO4 fractionation, Affi-Gel blue and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The ADH produced by Z. mobilis was also purified by the same procedures. The two enzyme preparations were characterized and compared. It was found that the E. coli ADH was identical to one of two ADH isozymes of Z. mobilis. Analytical gel filtrations led to the conclusion that the molecule of E. coli ADH was composedv of four subunits having molecular weight of 40,000 (+1,000) dalton each The effect of metal ions on ADH activity and optimum pH were investigated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 1991

Previously RP1::Tn951 which is a derivative of RP1 containing the lactose transposon Tn951 was introduced into Z. mobilis strain ZM6l00, and RP1::Tn951 was integrated into its genome to yield ZM6306. The galactose operon was incorporated into ZM6306 to yield ZM6307 for more efficient utilization of lactose. Batch culture study has been carried out on Z. mobilis strains, ZM6306 ($lac^+$ ) and ZM6307 ($lac^+$ , $gal^+$ ), which can convert lactose directly to ethanol. Using a medium containing 80 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ glucose and 40 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ lactose, it was found that ZM6306 and ZM6307 produced maximum ethanol concentration of 40 gㆍ$1^{-1}$ and 42 gㆍ$1^{-1}$, respectively, whereas parent strain ZM6 produced 37 gㆍ$1^{-1}$.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to develop a continuous process for sorbitol production using Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in K-carra-geenan. The glutaraldehyde cross-linking of toluene-treated cells immobilized in alginate or chitin showed high enzyme stability for long period. However, loss of enzyme activity was observed at 23% during 210h. In order to investigate the stability of glucose-fructose oxidoreductase of cethyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CT AB) treated cells, the long term continuous process was carried out with Z. mobilis immobilized in K-carrageenan in the continuous stirred tank reactor(CSTR) and the packed bed reactor. The continuous production of sorbitol with the immobilized CT AB permeabilized cells in packed bed reactor was more stable than in CSTR. Two stage continuous process with CT AB treated cells of Z. mobilis immobilized in K-carrageenan was carried out at various dilution rates. At the first stage, the productivity was increased up to 15 g/ $\ell$ -h as dilution rate increased and decreased over 0.32$h^{-1}$ of dilution rate. Similarly, maximum productivity obtained at the second stage was 22g/$\ell$ -h at 0.32$h^{-1}$

• KSBB Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1992

The use of Jerusalem artichoke containing $\beta$-1, 2-fructose oligomer in the production of sorbitol that is used as food additives and precursor for the L-sorbose has been studied. Coimmobilization of both inulinase and oxidoreductase was considered for the simultaneous reaction for hydrolysis of inulin and conversion of glucose and fructose liberated from inulin to sorbitol. Both inulinase and oxidoreductase were immobilized in chitin(5%, w/v) and K-carrageenan(4%, w/v), The activity of oxidoreductase was specified by permeabilization of Zymomonas mobilis cell with 0.2% CTAB(Cetyltrimethylammonlumbromide). The use of inulinase for hydrolysis of inulin resulted in 36.65g/l of glucose and 85.32g/1 of fructose respectively. These are valuable substrates for sorbitol production. Using these hydrolyzates, accumulation of 35.64g/l for sorbitol occurred at $38^{\circ}C$ and pH6.2. When permeabilized cells and inulinase were coimmobilized, sorbitol produced at 30.15g/l although it is low compared with 35.64g/l in separated reactor system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1996

The production of sorbitol by permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in $\kappa$-carrageenan was investigated. Cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) permeabilized cells were treated with glutaraldehyde prior to immobilization for cross-linking of enzymes, glucose-fructose oxidoreductase (GFOR) in cells. Rigidity of the immobilized beads was increased two-fold with 90$\%$ conversion efficiency by the additions of 40$\%$ (w/v) polyols (glycerol 25 g + propylene glycol 15 g) to 60$\%$ (w/v) distilled water containing 2.5$\%$ (w/v) $\kappa$-carrageenan as a final concentration, prior to immobilization. $\kappa$-Carrageenan beads entrapping permeabilized cells were dried to improve bead rigidity and storage stability. During s6mi-batch process for 72 h with dry beads, there was an improvement of the loss of enzyme activity (less than 10$\%$). In batch process, the kinetic results of $K_m.fructose$ value for the free cells, wet beads and dry $\kappa$-carrageenan beads were 71.7, 72.4 and 116.7 g/l, respectively. Higher productivity was obtained with two-stage continuous packed bed reactors with both wet and dry $\kappa$-carrageenan beads at 25.00 and 21.15 g/l/h, respectively, when measured at second stage.

• Mycobiology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.170-172
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• 2004

The efficiency of acid, enzyme and microbial pretreatment of rice bran was compared based on the content of cellulose, hemicellulose, reducing sugars and xylose in the substrate. An isolate of Aspergillus niger or a strain of Trichoderma viride(MTCC 800) was employed for microbial pretreatment of rice bran in solid state. Acid pretreatment resulted in the highest amount of reducing sugars followed by enzyme and microbial pretreatment. A. niger showed a higher rate of hydrolysis than T. viride. The rice bran hydrolysate obtained from the different methods was subsequently fermented to ethanol either by Zymomonas mobilis(NCIM 806) or by Pichia stipitis(NCIM 3497). P. stipitis fermentation resulted in higher ethanol(37% higher) and biomass production($76{\sim}83%$ higher) than those of Z. mobilis. Maximum ethanol production resulted at 12h in Zymomonas fermentation, while in Pichia fermentation, it was observed at 60h. Microbial pretreatment of rice bran by A. niger followed by fermentation employing P. stipitis was more efficient but slower than the other microbial pretreatment and fermentation.