• 환경생물
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.335-342
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of zinc in collembolan Paronychiurus kimi at the individual (survival and juvenile production) and population (population growth and age structure) levels after 28 days of exposure in artificially spiked soil. These toxic effects were interpreted in conjunction with the internal zinc concentrations in P. kimi. The EC₅₀ value for juvenile production based on the total zinc concentration was 457 mg Zn kg^-1 dry soil, while the LC₅₀ value for adult survival and r_i=0 value for population growth were within the same order of magnitude (2,623 and 1,637 mg Zn kg^-1 dry soil, respectively). Significant differences in adult survival, juvenile production, and population growth compared with the control group were found at concentrations of 1,500, 375, and 375 mg Zn kg^-1 dry or higher, respectively, whereas significant differences in the age structure, determined by the proportion of each age group in the population, were observed in all treatment groups. It appeared that the internal zinc level in P. kimi was regulated to some extent at soil zinc concentrations of ≤375 mg Zn kg^-1 dry soil, but not at high soil zinc concentrations. These results indicate that, despite zinc being regulated by P. kimi, excess zinc exceeding the regulatory capacity of P. kimi can trigger changes in the responses at the individual and population levels. Given that population dynamics are affected not only by individual level but also by population level endpoints, it is concluded that the toxic effects of pollutants should be assessed at various levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.1636-1643
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• 2014

3-Hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of n-butanol from acetyl-CoA, in which acetoacetyl-CoA is reduced to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. To understand the molecular mechanisms of n-butanol biosynthesis, we determined the crystal structure of 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase from Clostridium butyricum (CbHBD). The monomer structure of CbHBD exhibits a two-domain topology, with N- and C-terminal domains, and the dimerization of the enzyme was mostly constituted at the C-terminal domain. The mode of cofactor binding to CbHBD was elucidated by determining the crystal structure of the enzyme in complex with $NAD^+$. We also determined the enzyme's structure in complex with its acetoacetyl-CoA substrate, revealing that the adenosine diphosphate moiety was not highly stabilized compared with the remainder of the acetoacetyl-CoA molecule. Using this structural information, we performed a series of site-directed mutagenesis experiments on the enzyme, such as changing residues located near the substrate-binding site, and finally developed a highly efficient CbHBD K50A/K54A/L232Y triple mutant enzyme that exhibited approximately 5-fold higher enzyme activity than did the wild type. The increased enzyme activity of the mutant was confirmed by enzyme kinetic measurements. The highly efficient mutant enzyme should be useful for increasing the production rate of n-butanol.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2022

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and F-actin cytoskeleton dynamics play important roles in the survival rate of blastocysts after the vitrified-warming process. However, the protective effects of Mito-TEMPO against cryo-injury and viability through F-actin aggregation and mitochondrial-specific ROS production in vitrificated-warmed bovine embryos have not been investigated. The aims of the present study were to: (1) determine the effects of Mito-TEMPO on embryonic developmental competence and quality by F-actin stabilization during in vitro culturing (IVC), and (2) confirm the effects of Mito-TEMPO through F-actin structure on the cryotolerance of vitrification-warming in Mito-TEMPO exposed in vitro production (IVP) of bovine blastocysts. Bovine zygotes were cultured with 0.1 μM Mito-TEMPO treatment for 2 days of IVC. Mito-TEMPO (0.1 μM) exposed bovine embryos slightly improved in blastocyst developmental rates compared to the non-treated group. Moreover, the viability of vitrified-warmed blastocysts from Mito-TEMPO treated embryos significantly increased (p < 0.05, non-treated group: 66.7 ± 3.2% vs Mito-TEMPO treated group: 79.2 ± 5.9%; re-expanded at 24 hours). Mito-TEMPO exposed embryos strengthened the F-actin structure and arrangement in the blastocyst after vitrification-warming. Furthermore, the addition of Mito-TEMPO into the IVC medium enhanced embryonic survival and quality through F-actin stabilization after the vitrification-warming procedure. Overall, our results suggest that supplementing the culture with 0.1 μM Mito-TEMPO improves the embryonic quality and cryo-survival of IVP bovine blastocysts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.571-578
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• 2018

Biofuel production using lignocellulosic biomass is gaining attention because it can be substituted for fossil fuels without competing with edible resources. However, because Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not have a ${\text\tiny{D}}$-xylose metabolic pathway, oxidoreductase or isomerase pathways must be introduced to utilize ${\text\tiny{D}}$-xylose from lignocellulosic biomass in S. cerevisiae. To elucidate the biochemical properties of xylose isomerase (XI) from Piromyces sp. E2 (PsXI), we determine its crystal structure in complex with substrate mimic glycerol. An amino-acid sequence comparison with other reported XIs and relative activity measurements using five kinds of divalent metal ions confirmed that PsXI belongs to class II XIs. Moreover kinetic analysis of PsXI was also performed using $Mn^{2+}$, the preferred divalent metal ion for PsXI. In addition, the substrate-binding mode of PsXI could be predicted with the substrate mimic glycerol bound to the active site. These studies may provide structural information to enhance ${\text\tiny{D}}$-xylose utilization for biofuel production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1393-1400
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• 2021

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum has been considered a promising process of industrial biofuel production. Phosphotransbutyrylase (phosphate butyryltransferase, PTB) plays a crucial role in butyrate metabolism by catalyzing the reversible conversion of butyryl-CoA into butyryl phosphate. Here, we report the crystal structure of PTB from the Clostridial host for ABE fermentation, C. acetobutylicum, (CaPTB) at a 2.9 Å resolution. The overall structure of the CaPTB monomer is quite similar to those of other acyltransferases, with some regional structural differences. The monomeric structure of CaPTB consists of two distinct domains, the N- and C-terminal domains. The active site cleft was formed at the interface between the two domains. Interestingly, the crystal structure of CaPTB contained eight molecules per asymmetric unit, forming an octamer, and the size-exclusion chromatography experiment also suggested that the enzyme exists as an octamer in solution. The structural analysis of CaPTB identifies the substrate binding mode of the enzyme and comparisons with other acyltransferase structures lead us to speculate that the enzyme undergoes a conformational change upon binding of its substrate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.659-665
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• 2016

The effects of three different feeding systems on beef cattle production performance, rumen fermentation, and rumen digesta particle structure were investigated by using 18 Limousin (steers) with a similar body weight ($575{\pm}10kg$) in a 80-d experiment. The animals were equally and randomly divided into three treatment groups, namely, total mixed ration group (cattle fed TMR), SI1 group (cattle fed concentrate firstly then roughage), and SI2 group (cattle fed roughage firstly then concentrate). The results showed that the average daily gain was significantly higher in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). Consumption per kg weight gain of concentrate, silage, and combined net energy (NEmf) were significantly decreased when cattle received TMR, unlike when they received SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05), indicating that the feed efficiency of TMR was the highest. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was significantly decreased when cattle received TMR compared with that in cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference compared with that in cattle receiving SI2. Ammonia nitrogen concentration was significantly lower in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). The rumen area of cattle that received TMR was significantly larger than that of cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), but there was no difference compared with that of cattle receiving SI2. Although there was no significant difference among the three feeding systems in rumen digesta particle distribution, the TMR group trended to have fewer large- and medium-sized particles and more small-sized particles than those in the SI1 and SI2 groups. In conclusion, cattle with dietary TMR showed increased weight gain and ruminal development and decreased BUN. This indicated that TMR feeding was more conducive toward improving the production performance and rumen fermentation of beef cattle.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2016년도 춘계 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.19-20
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• 2016

Domestic construction industry has experienced many difficulties as it has been on a downward. It's a way that active modular structure market to solve this problem. However, as Modular structure technical standard in Korea is in the early stages, our modular factory maufactured rate is almost 40% lower than overseas. Besides, there is less design diversity so it just applies for a few buildings like low-rise building and general group barrackes. To deal with these problems, it is essential to modulating the equipment which can improve the production rate. This will help to ensure the quality, shortening of the construction period, the reduction of labor costs. We have defined the name of segmented by each installation location of the equipment to modulating equipment. And it was examined the suitability of the modulating of the location-specific utility system. The results of the analysis are discussed on the page.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 1994년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.658-663
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• 1994

The classification and coding of part for group technology applications continus to be labour intensive and time-consuming process, and therefore much effort is dedicated to the structure and creation of automatic coding systems. IN this paper, Neural networks is used to generate processes-related digit as well as part geometry-related digit of the TS code where part name is provided as input.since part name, which is appropriately designated, provides much information about part geometry and manufacturing processes. THe developed GT recommendation system is integrated with interactive TS coding system and database in order to handle the changes of production environment, such as the change of production part of plant. It is found to recommend codes accurately and promises to be a useful tool for consistent, reliable and convenient coding processes.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.420-428
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• 2020

Additive manufacturing technology is recognized as an optimal technology for mass-customized distributed production because it can yield products with high design freedom by applying an automated production system. However, the introduction of novel technologies to the additive manufacturing industry is generally delayed, and technology uncertainty has been pointed out as one of the main causes. This paper presents the results of the research and analysis of current standardization trends that are related to additive manufacturing by examining the hierarchical structure of the quality system along with the various industry and evaluation standards. Consequently, it was confirmed that the currently unfolding standardization does not sufficiently reflect the characteristics of additive manufacturing technology, and rather can become a barrier to entry for market participants or an element that suppresses the lateral shearing ability of additive manufacturing technology.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.822-829
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• 2011

Evidence shows that probiotic bacteria can undergo substantial structural and morphological changes in response to environmental stresses, including antibiotics. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of penicillin G (0.015, 0.03, and 0.06 mg/l) on the morphology and adhesion of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, including the colony morphotype, biofilm production, hydrophobicity, $H_2_O2$ formation, S-layer structure, and slpA gene expression. Whereas only smooth colonies grew in the presence of penicillin, rough and smooth colony types were observed in the control group. L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 was found to be hydrophobic under normal conditions, yet its hydrophobicity decreased in the presence of the antibiotic. No biofilm was produced by the bacterium, despite testing a variety of different culture conditions; however, treatment with penicillin G (0.015-0.06 mg/l) significantly decreased its production of $H_2_O_2$ formation and altered the S-layer protein structure and slpA gene expression. The S-protein expression decreased with 0.015 mg/l penicillin G, yet increased with 0.03 and 0.06 mg/l penicillin G. In addition, the slpA gene expression decreased in the presence of 0.015 mg/l of the antibiotic. In conclusion, penicillin G was able to alter the S-layer protein production, slpA gene expression, and certain physicochemical properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356.