• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.85-91
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• 2000

Aspergillus oryzae is a filamentous fungus classified in the group Aspergillaceae Ascomycetes. It is an important microorganism for industrial production of enzymes and fermented food productions. It secrets large quantities of proteins or enzymes into the culture medium which makes this organism appealing for the production of heterologous proteins. Recently Electric field-mediated transformation method, electroporation, has been applied to fungal transformation. In this study, fungal transformation was carried out by bypassing the protoplast isolation step, decreasing the culturing time and non-protoplast transformation for the increment of transformation efficiency. Transformants were obtained with electroporation in optimal condition 2,500 voltage, 1,540 ohm and 0.50 capacitance. More than 1,000 transform ants were obtained with 6-10 hrs cultured mycelia without enzyme treatment, called non-protoplast transformation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.959-965
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• 2013

Monascus species have been used to produce fermented rice called Monascus-fermented rice (MFR). To improve a Monascus strain via activation of secondary metabolite (SM) gene clusters for use in the production of MFR, we overexpressed an ortholog of the laeA gene, which encodes a global positive regulator of secondary metabolism under the control of the strong heterologous Aspergillus nidulans alcA promoter in Monascus pilosus. The OE::laeA transformant produced more SMs, including those not detected under uninduced conditions. MFR produced using the M. pilosus OE::laeA strain contained 4 times more monacolin K, a cholesterol-lowering agent, than MFR produced using the wild-type strain. In addition, pigment production was remarkably increased, and the antioxidant activity was increased as well. The results from this study suggest that Monascus species, which are important industrial fermentative fungi in Asia, can be improved for the production of functional foods by overexpressing the laeA gene.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.4041-4046
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• 2012

The recombinant expression of proteins has been the method of choice to meet the demands from proteomics and structural genomics studies. Despite its successful production of many heterologous proteins, Escherichia coli failed to produce many other proteins in their native forms. This may be related to the fact that the stresses resulting from the overproduction interfere with cellular processes. To better understand the physiological change during the overproduction phase, we profiled the metabolites along the time course of the recombinant protein expression. We identified 32 metabolites collected from different time points in the protein production phase. The stress induced by protein production can be characterized by (A) the increased usage of aspartic acid, choline, glycerol, and N-acetyllysine; and (B) the accumulation of adenosine, alanine, oxidized glutathione, glycine, N-acetylputrescine, and uracil. We envision that this work can be used to create a strategy for the production of usable proteins in large quantities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1238-1244
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• 2014

Dephosphocoenzyme A (CoaE) catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of the cofactor coenzyme A. In this study, we report the identification and application of CoaE from Stretomyces peucetius ATCC27952. After expression of coaE, the protein was found to have a molecular mass of 28.6 kDa. Purification of the His-tagged fused CoaE protein was done by immobilized metal-affinity chromatography, and then in vitro enzymatic coupling assay was performed. The increasing NADH consumption with time shed light on the phosphorylating activity of CoaE. Furthermore, the overexpression of coaA and coaE independently under the $ermE^*$ promoter in the doxorubicin -producing wild type strain, resulted in 1.4- and 1.5-fold enhancements in doxorubicin production, respectively. In addition, the overexpression of both genes together showed a 2.1-fold increase in doxorubicin production. These results established a positive role for secondary metabolite production from Streptomyces peucetius.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.206-215
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• 2005

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are homo or hetero polyesters of (R)-hydroxyalkanoates accumulated in various microorganisms under growth-limiting condition in the presence of excess carbon source. They have been suggested as biodegradable substitutes for chemically synthesized polymers. Recombinant Escherichia coli is one of the promising host strains for the economical production of PHAs, and has been extensively investigated for the process development. The heterologous PHA biosynthetic pathways have been established through the metabolic engineering and inherent metabolic pathways of E. coli have been redirected to supply PHA precursors. Fermentation strategies for cultivating these recombinant E. coli strains have also been developed for the efficient production of PHAs. Nowadays, short-chain-length (SCL) PHAs are being re-invited due to its improved mechanical properties and possible applications in the biomedical area. In this article, recent advances in the development of metabolically engineered E. coli strains for the enhanced production of SCL-PHAs are reviewed. Also, medical applications of SCL-PHAs are discussed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.378-384
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• 1999

Protopectinase (PPases) are heterologous group of enzymes that degrade pectin from the insoluble protopection which is constituent of the middle lamella and primary cell wall of higher plants by restricted depolymerization. From the previous report[6], enzymatically separated plant cells, which are produced from plant tissues by PPases treatment, showed well-conserved cellular components with their rigid cell wall and this characteristic is applicable to preparation of novel food material. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of medium composition of PPase production from Bacillus subtilis EK11 which was selected as a PPase producer. Various carbon sources and concentrations on PPase production were studied and corn starch at 0.7% was the most effective for production of PPase. Among the nitrogen sources, yeast extract was the most effective for PPase production and the effect of (NH4)2SO4 was notable as inotganic nitrogen source. Inorganic compounds such as KH2PO4, K2HPO4, Na3-citrate.2H2O and MgSO4 were optimized for PPase production. PPase activity was inhibited by the adition of Ba2+ or Zn2+. The optimal medium for PPase production was devised: 0.7% corn starch, 0.3% yeast extract, 1.4% KH2PO4, 0.6% K2HPO4, 0.1% Na3-citrate.2H2O and 0.02% MgSO4. PPase production by using the optimum medium was carried out with shaking cultivation at 37$^{\circ}C$. The maximum PPase activity of 256unit/ml could be obtained after the cultivation for 48hrs. The activity was increased about 2.2timesthan the activity, 112 unit/ml, in basal medium.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2002

Hantaan (HTN) and Puumala (PUU) viruses are major etiological agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), an important public health problem in Korea after the Korean War. The objective of present study was to determine allergenic potency of an inactivated combination vaccine against HTN and PUU viruses inflection. As a series of allergenicity assessment, a homologous active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) and homologous/heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests using the mice and guinea pigs were carried out. In the ASA test, no anaphylactic symptoms were observed in the guinea pigs sensitized with the vaccine alone as well as the vaccine emulsified with an adjuvant. By homologous PCA test, the vatscine did not induced the potential IgE antibody production in the sera obtained from the sensitized guinea pigs. In addition, IgE against the vaccine was not significantly enhanced from the mice inoculated with the vaccine, which was judged by the heterologous PCA test in rats. On the other hand, the inoculation of ovalbumin appeared to allergenic reactions both in the ASA and PCA tests. The results suggest that a combination vaccine against HW and PUU viruses have no allergenic potential in mice or guinea pigs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.674-680
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• 2013

Yeast Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis is probably the most common contaminant in wineries and ethanol production processes. The considerable economic losses caused by this yeast, but also its ability to produce and tolerate high ethanol concentrations, make it an attractive subject for research with potential for industrial applications. Unfortunately, efforts to understand the biology of D. bruxellensis and facilitate its broader use in industry are hampered by the lack of adequate procedures for delivery of exogenous DNA into this organism. Here we describe the development of transformation protocols (spheroplast transformation, LiAc/PEG method, and electroporation) and report the first genetic transformation of yeast D. bruxellensis. A linear heterologous DNA fragment carrying the kanMX4 sequence was used for transformation, which allowed transformants to be selected on plates containing geneticin. We found the spheroplast transformation method using 1M sorbitol as osmotic stabilizer to be inappropriate because sorbitol strikingly decreases the plating efficiency of both D. bruxellensis spheroplast and intact cells. However, we managed to modify the LiAc/PEG transformation method and electroporation to accommodate D. bruxellensis transformation, achieving efficiencies of 0.6-16 and 10-20 transformants/${\mu}g$ DNA, respectively. The stability of the transformants ranged from 93.6% to 100%. All putative transformants were analyzed by Southern blot using the kanMX4 sequence as a hybridization probe, which confirmed that the transforming DNA fragment had integrated into the genome. The results of the molecular analysis were consistent with the expected illegitimate integration of a heterologous transforming fragment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.514-518
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• 1997

This study was designed to record the ovarian response towards a combined administration of heterologous buffalo FSH (buFSH) and LH (buLH) in goats. The impact of such a treatment on ovarian structures and on the plasma profile of the ovarian sex steroids (estradiol $17-{\beta}$ and progesterone) was studied. The buFSH and buLH were isolated from the buffalo pituitaries involving a procedure of ethanolic extraction, acetone precipitation followed by metaphosphoric acid - ammonium sulphate fractionation. Both gonadotrophin samples prepared were found biologically active and potent. There was an increase in the total number of follicles in the treated group ($12.66{\pm}1.24$) vis-a-vis the control group ($8.50{\pm}2.06$). However, the percentage ($51.48{\pm}6.37$) of large follicles were found reduced ($23.74{\pm}5.93$) following the treatment. Again the number of corpora lutea were observed significantly higher ($2.33{\pm}0.47C.L.$) in the treated group than (1 C. L.) in the control group. The peak plasma estradiol- $17{\beta}$ levels achieved, were much higher ($17.16{\pm}9.52pg/ml$) in the treated group, than the peak ($7.22{\pm}1.67pg/ml$) achieved in the control group. Similar trend was observed with respect to the progesterone levels (higher in the treated group). This study thus indicated that, a combined administration of heterologous buffalo FSH and LH to goats speeded up development of larger follicles nearing the ovulation stage. This population of the follicles subsequently got reduced and lead to the formation of the increased number of the corpora lutea observed in this study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2076-2086
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• 2016

Fungal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes catalyze versatile monooxygenase reactions and play a major role in fungal adaptations owing to their essential roles in the production avoid metabolites critical for pathogenesis, detoxification of xenobiotics, and exploitation avoid substrates. Although fungal CYP-dependent biotransformation for the selective oxidation avoid organic compounds in yeast system is advantageous, it often suffers from a shortage avoid intracellular NADPH. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of bacterial glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) for the intracellular electron regeneration of fungal CYP monooxygenase in a yeast reconstituted system. The benzoate hydroxylase FoCYP53A19 and its homologous redox partner FoCPR from Fusarium oxysporum were co-expressed with the BsGDH from Bacillus subtilis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for heterologous expression and biotransformations. We attempted to optimize several bottlenecks concerning the efficiency of fungal CYP-mediated whole-cell-biotransformation to enhance the conversion. The catalytic performance of the intracellular NADPH regeneration system facilitated the hydroxylation of benzoic acid to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with high conversion in the resting-cell reaction. The FoCYP53A19+FoCPR+BsGDH reconstituted system produced 0.47 mM 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (94% conversion) in the resting-cell biotransformations performed in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 0.5 mM benzoic acid and 0.25% glucose for 24 h at $30^{\circ}C$. The "coupled-enzyme" system can certainly improve the overall performance of NADPH-dependent whole-cell biotransformations in a yeast system.