• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.559-564
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• 1992

To increase the efficency of utilizing cellulosic biomass, a potent xylanase producing bacteria was isolated and identified as Bacillus sp. N-25. Extracellular xylanase from Bacillus sp. N-25 was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-IOO column chromatographies. The xylanase was single fraction on chromatography and was true xylanase without cellulase activity. The enzyme was stable at pH 6-8 and 80% activity was remained at $50^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, but was inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$, $Ag^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$. From the fact that the major end product was xylose, we suggested that the enzyme is an exo-xylanase which may be a prime candidate for industrial use.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2005

To examine the combined effects of a high-protein diet and aerobic exercise on body weight and composition and blood lipid profiles in overweight women, 30 young women were recruited and placed into three groups: The high-protein diet and exercise group (HPE), the exercise-only group (EXO) and the control group (CON) (30$\pm$3%, 27$\pm$2%, and 29$\pm$3% body fat, respectively) for an 8-week experimental period. Daily diet included 25% isolated soybean protein (>90% protein, approximately 400 kcal) combined with each subject s usual diet for the HPE group. The exercise program consisted of aerobic-type exercises undertaken >3 times/wk and for>30 min/session at 50-60% of maximal capacity. Physical fitness, body composition, serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and glucose were measured before and after the experiment. Maximal aerobic capacity increased by the end of experiment in both the HPE (from 27.2$\pm$3.5 to 35.l$\pm$5.9 ml/kg/min, p<0.01) and EXO (from 30.3$\pm$5.4 to 33.8$\pm$3.8 mㅣ/kg/min, p<0.05) groups. Percent body fat decreased by 3.3% (p<0.01) in the HPE group and by 1.5% (p<0.05) in the EXO group by the end of the experiment, but not in the CON group. Lower back strength and agility increased only in the HPE group. In the HPE group, TC decreased from 168$\pm$20 to 155$\pm$18 mg/dL and HDL-C increased from 57$\pm$l0 to 61$\pm$9 mg/dL in HPE (p<0.01). But TC and HDL-C did not change in the EXO and CON groups. TG and glucose did not vary among the groups. Although the EXO group showed a similar outcome to that of the HPE group, a favorable change in body composition and blood lipids as well as an improvement in aerobic capacity was more marginal in the latter group.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.611-619
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate fuel decomposition characteristics and coke formation according to types of endothermic fuels and methods of catalyst molding. Methylcyclohexane (MCH), n-dodecane, and exo-tetrahydrodipentadiene (exo-THDCP) were used as the endothermic fuels. As a catalyst, USY720 supported with platinum was used. It was manufactured by only using pressure to disk-type, or pelletized with a binder and a silica solution. The characteristics of the catalysts according to the molding method were analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, and ammonia temperature programmed desorption analysis. The reaction was carried out under conditions of high temperature and high pressure ($500^{\circ}C$, 50 bar) in which the fuel could exist in a supercritical state. The product was analyzed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and the coke produced by the catalyst was analyzed by thermogravimetric analyzer. After the reaction, the composition of the products varied greatly depending on the structure of the fuel. In addition, the crystallinity and surface properties of the catalysts were not changed by the method of catalyst molding, but the changes of the acid sites and the pore characteristics were observed, which resulted in changes in the amount and composition of products and coke.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2019

The emergence and spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical problem worldwide. The pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa is due partly to the production of several cell-associated and extracellular virulence factors. This study examined the distribution of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance patterns of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolated from a tertiary hospital in Daejeon, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method, and PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to determine for the presence of virulence genes. In addition, the sequence type (ST) of MDR P. aeruginosa was investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Among 32 CRPA isolates, 14 (43.8%) were MDR and the major ST was ST235 (10 isolates, 71.4%). All isolates were positive for the presence of virulence genes and the most prevalent virulence genes were toxA, plcN, and phzM (100%). All isolates carried at least eight or more different virulence genes and nine (28.1%) isolates had 15 virulence genes. The presence of the exoU gene was detected in 71.4% of the MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. These results indicate that the presence of the exoU gene can be a predictive marker for the persistence of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.269-275
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• 2003

Chitosan-degrading activity induced by chitosan was founf in culture filtrate of Aspergillus flavus IAM2044. Aspergillus flavus IAM2044 had a higher level of chitosanolytic activity when chitosan was used as a carbon source, and yeast extract and peptone were supplemented as nitrogen sources. One of the chitosan-degrading enzymes was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies. The enzyme was monomeric, and its molecular mass was 45 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity was stable in the pH range of 3.5 to 7.0 and at a temperature below $50^{\circ}C$. Reaction products analyzed by the viscosimetric assay and thin layer chromatography clearly indicated that the enzyme was an exe-type chitosanase, $exo-{\beta}-D-glucosaminidase$, that released GlcN from the nonreducing ends of the oligosaccharide chains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.347-355
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• 2016

An exo-β-D-glucosaminidase (AorCsxA) from Aspergillus oryzae FL402 was heterologously expressed and purified. The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that AorCsxA belonged to glycoside hydrolase family 2. AorCsxA digested colloid chitosan into glucosamine but not into chitosan oligosaccharides, demonstrating exo-β-D-glucosaminidase (CsxA) activity. AorCsxA exhibited optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 50℃; however, the enzyme expressed in Pichia pastoris (PpAorCsxA) showed much stronger thermostability at 50℃ than that expressed in Escherichia coli (EcAorCsxA), which may be related to glycosylation. AorCsxA activity was inhibited by EDTA and most of the tested metal ions. A single amino acid mutation (F769W) in AorCsxA significantly enhanced the specific activity and hydrolysis velocity as revealed by comparison of V_max and k_cat values with those of the wild-type enzyme. The three-dimensional structure suggested the tightened pocket at the active site of F769W enabled efficient substrate binding. The AorCsxA gene was heterologously expressed in P. pastoris, and one transformant was found to produce 222 U/ml activity during the high-cell-density fermentation. This AorCsxA-overexpressing P. pastoris strain is feasible for large-scale production of AorCsxA.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.621-625
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• 1998

The raw starch hydrolysis by amylase prepared from alkaline-tolerant Bacillus sp. were investigated. Degree of hydrolysis(%) of 5%(w/v) raw rice, corn and potato starch by this enzyme were about 40, 25 and 20%, respectively. The hydrolysis action on raw starch by change of blue value was similar to the action pattern of exo ${\beta}$-amylase. The hydrolysis products of rice starch were mainly glucose and maltose. Oligosaccarides were also detected. From the above results, this enzyme was considered as exo type ${\alpha}$-amylase. This enzyme activity on the raw starch and the gelatinized starch were 28.40 and 86.60 IU/mg protein, respectively, and the ratio of raw starch-digesting activity to gelatinized starch-digesting activity (raw starch digestivity) was about 32%. The Km values for the raw and the gelatinized starch were 4.22 and 3.0mg/mL, respectively, and the VmaX values were 0.20 and 0.31mg/mL/min, respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.642-647
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• 2004

The lysine residues of Bacillus licheniformis $\alpha$-amylase (BLA) were chemically modified using citraconic anhydride or succinic anhydride. Modification caused fundamental changes in the enzymes specificity, as indicated by a dramatic increase in maltosidase and a reduction in amylase activity. These changes in substrate specificity were found to coincide with a change in the cleavage pattern of the substrates and with a conversion of the native endo- form of the enzyme to a modified exo- form. Progressive increases in the productions of $\rho$-nitrophenol or glucose, when para nitrophenyl-maltoheptaoside or soluble starch, respectively, was used as substrate, were observed upon modification. The described changes were affected by the size of incorporated modified reagent: citraconic anhydride was more effective than succinic anhydride. Reasons for the observed changes are discussed and reasons for the effectivenesses of chemical modifications for tailoring enzyme specificities are suggested.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1218-1225
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• 2009

Difractose anhydrides (DFAs) is studied as a sweetener for diabetics because of its structural property. DFAs have four types: DFA I, III, IV (degradation of levan) and V (degradation of inulin). Especially, DFA IV has been shown to enhance the absorption of calcium in experiments using rats. Levan fructotransferase is an enzyme for producing di-d-fructose-2,6':6,2-dianhydride (DFA IV). To identify structural characterization, we purified wild-type and mutants (D63A, D195N and N85S) of levan fructotransferase (LFTase) from Microbacterium sp. AL-210. These proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity column, Q-sepharose ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE. They were also analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements, JNET secondary structure prediction, activity measurements at various temperatures, and pH analysis. The optimum pH for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was pH 7.5 and optimum temperature was observed at $55^{\circ}C$. Along with wild-type LFTase, mutants were analyzed by CD measurement, fluorescence analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). N85S showed less $\alpha$-helix and more $\beta$ strand than others. Also, N85S showed almost the same curve as wild-type in their steady-state fluorescence spectra, whereas mutant D63A and D195N showed higher intensity than wild-type. The amino acid sequence of wild-type LFTase was compared to the sequences of exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori, a plant fructan 1-exohydrolase from Cichorium intybus, and Thermotogo maritime (Tm) invertase and showed a high identity with Exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.269-271
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• 2002

To investigate the visual and extra-ocular photoreception, we cloned the opsin genes in ayu (Plecoglossus allivelis). Amplified fragments encoding exon-4 (-5) of opsin cDNAs were cloned from the retina and brains of ayu, and sequenced. One clone was identified as rod (AYU-Rh), two as green cone (AYU-GI, -G2), one as red cone (A YU-R), two as ultraviolet cone (AYU-UVl, UV2), one as VA (AYU-VA), and one as extra-ocular rod (AYU-ExoRh) opsins. 335 amino acids sequence deduced from the full-length cDNA of AYU-Rh showed high identity with that of other fish. Southern blotting analysis indicated that ayu possess two 'rhodopsin' genes, one is visual rhodopsin and the other is non-visual extra-ocular rhodopsin. In situ hybridization showed that the mRNA of AYU-Rh was localized only in rod cells in the retina. On the other hands, AYU-ExoRh was expressed only in the pineal. We cloned two isoforms (AYU-VAM and -VAL) of VA opsin from ayu. The deduced amino acid sequences of these variants were identical to each other within the first 342 residues, but they showed divergence in the C-terminal sequence. AYU- VAL corresponded to the long isoform found in other fish, and AYU-VAM was identified as a new type of VA opsin variant. Pal-VAM is a new probably functional non-visual photoreceptive molecule in fish.