• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2009

The expression of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes purF was analyzed by utilizing a plasmid carrying a cat gene fused to the purF promoter region. Adenine and guanine repressed the expression of the purF gene by 20~30% but hypoxanthine did not exert such repressive effect. The expression purF was maximal at the late log phase and remained constant throughout the stationary phase. Promoter $P_{180}$ which was developed in C. glutamicum was also functional in C. ammoniagenes, achieving maximal activity at the late log phase. The promoter outperformed Escherichia coli $P_{tac}$ promoter by 40~50% level. DNA-affinity purification identified a protein which could bind to the promoter region of the purF gene. The protein showed high similarity to the CRP-family transcriptional regulator encoded by NCgl0120 in C. glutamicum. The size of the screened protein agreed with the expected protein size from the ORF NCgl0120. The corresponding gene in C. ammoniagenes encoded a 42 kDa polypeptide composed of 400 amino acids with expected pI of 4.9. The encoded protein showed 14.1% and 15.8% identity with E. coli and Bacillus subtilis PurR, respectively, suggesting that the isolated protein might be a novel type of regulatory protein involved in the regulation of purine metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.430-436
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• 2010

The objective of the present studies was to develop and validate a system for isolation, purification and extended culture of pigment-producing cells in alpaca skin (melanocytes) responsible for coat color and to determine the effect of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone treatment on mRNA expression for the melanocortin 1 receptor, a key gene involved in coat color regulation in other species. Skin punch biopsies were harvested from the dorsal region of 1-3 yr old alpacas and three different enzyme digestion methods were evaluated for effects on yield of viable cells and attachment in vitro. Greatest cell yields and attachment were obtained following dispersion with dispase II relative to trypsin and trypsin-EDTA treatment. Culture of cells in medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor, bovine pituitary extract, hydrocortisone, insulin, 12-O-tetradecanolphorbol-13-acetate and cholera toxin yielded highly pure populations of melanocytes by passage 3 as confirmed by detection of tyrosinase activity and immunocytochemical localization of melanocyte markers including tyrosinase, S-100 and micropthalmia-associated transcription factor. Abundance of mRNA for tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanocyte pigment production, was maintained through 10 passages showing preservation of melanocyte phenotypic characteristics with extended culture. To determine hormonal responsiveness of cultured melanocytes and investigate regulation of melanocortin 1 receptor expression, cultured melanocytes were treated with increasing concentrations of ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone. Treatment with ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone increased melanocortin receptor 1 mRNA in a dose dependent fashion. The results demonstrated culture of pure populations of alpaca melanocytes to 10 passages and illustrate the potential utility of such cells for studies of intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of genes controlling pigmentation and coat color in fiber-producing species.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1356-1365
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• 2020

In this study, the extracts of Hydrangea macrophylla (H. macrophylla) flowers were investigated for the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, and their active constituents were identified. The anti-oxidative effects were tested by DPPH and ABTS⁺ assays. To evaluate anti-inflammatory activities, LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were examined. Among the extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction showed potent radical scavenging activities and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. Chromatographic purification of the extract led to isolation of the compounds; hydrangenol (1), prunin (2) and astragalin (3). The chemical structures of the constituents were elucidated based on spectroscopic data including NMR spectra, as well as comparison of the data in the literature values. Quantitative analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) determined hydrangenol (1) as the major constituent. Isolated compounds 1-3 decreased the NO level without causing cell toxicities. Based on these results, it was suggested that the extract from H. macrophylla flowers could be potentially applicable as an anti-oxidative and/or anti-inflammatory ingredients.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2007

The antioxidant activities of water ($H_2O$) and ethanol (EtOH) extracts from hamcho (Salicornia herbacea L.) juice and cake prepared by enzymatic treatments were evaluated by in vitro assays against DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals. Among the $H_2O$ and EtOH extracts from five different carbohydrases treated, the EtOH extract from viscozyme-treated hamcho cake had higher yield and phenolic content, and exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity against DPPH ($IC_{50}=186.91\;{\mu}g/mL$), superoxide ($IC_{50}=87.54\;{\mu}g/mL$), and hydroxyl radicals ($IC_{50}=367.07\;{\mu}g/mL$). Antioxidant assay-guided fractionation and purification of the EtOH extract led to isolation and identification of five phenolic compounds, procatechuic, ferulic and caffeic acids, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. Most of these phenolic compounds exhibited considerable DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, and in particular, caffeic and ferulic acids had stronger superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities than the well-known antioxidant radical scavenger, (+)-catechin (p<0.05). Quercetin and isorhamnetin were the primary compounds responsible for the strong antioxidant activity in the EtOH extract of the viscozyme-treated hamcho cake. Meanwhile, these five phenolic compounds were detected in the EtOH extract of the viscozyme-treated hamcho cake at the following levels (dry base of hamcho); procatechuic acid (1.54 mg%), caffeic acid (6.87 mg%), ferulic acid (8.45 mg%), quercetin (12.63 mg%), and isorhamnetin (6.65 mg%). However, three of these phenolic compounds (procatechuic, caffeic acid, and ferulic acids) were detectable in the $H_2O$ extract of viscozyme-treated hamcho juice. These results suggest that the EtOH extract of viscozyme-treated hamcho cake may be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2006

The actinomycete strain JK-1 that showed strong inhibitory activity against some plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes was isolated from Jung-bal Mountain in Ko-yang, Korea. The strain JK-1 produced spores singly borne on sporophores and the spores were spherical and 0.9-1.2 11m in diameter. The cell wall of the strain JK-1 contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The actinomycete strain JK-1 was identified as the genus Micromonospora based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics. From the 168 rDNA analysis, the strain JK-1 was assigned to M aurantiaca. The antibiotic MA-1 was purified from the culture broth of M aurantiaca JK-1 using various purification procedures, such as Diaion HP20 chromatography, C18 flash column chromatography, silica gel flash column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. $^{1}H-$, $^{13}C-NMR$ and EI mass spectral analysis of the antibiotic MA-1 revealed that the antibiotic MA-1 is identical to phenylacetic acid. Phenylacetic acid showed in vitro inhibitory effects against fungal and oomycete pathogens Alternaria mali, Botrytis cinerea, Magnaporthe grisea, Phytophthora capsici and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at < 100 $\mug$ $ml^{-1}$. In addition, phenylacetic, acid completely inhibited the growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria at < $\mug$ $ml^{-1}$. Phenylacetic acid strongly inhibited conidial germination and hyphal growth of M grisea and C. orbiculare. Phenylacetic acid showed significantly high levels of inhibitory' effect against rice blast and cucumber anthracnose diseases at 250 $\mug$ $ml^{-1}$. The control efficacies of phenylacetic acid against the two diseases were similar to those of commercial compounds tricyclazole, iprobenfos and chlorothalonil .n the greenhouse.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.174-178
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• 1982

Various separation methods such as solvent extraction, chemical treatment and molecular distillation were tested for the separation of tocopherols and sterols from soy oil scum. The end products of these methods were tocopherol concentrates and sterol crystals. In the solvent extraction, purity and yield of tocopherols were 21.2% and 28.3%, and those of sterols were 69.2% and 2.6%. In the chemical treatment, purity and yield of tocopherols were 11.8% and 76.4% and those of sterols were 85.1% and 34.3% respectively. In the molecular distillation, purity and yield of tocopherols were 45.0% and 68.0%, and those of sterols were 49.3% and 57.0% respectively. The end products from the methods were characterized by HPLC. Based on the results of this study, the molecular distillation method was found to be more efficient than any other method tested.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1310-1315
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• 2019

Hyaluronidases enhance therapeutic drug transport by breaking down the hyaluronan barrier to lymphatic and capillary vessels, facilitating their tissue absorption. Commercially available hyaluronidases are bovine in origin; however, they pose risks such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The present study aimed to develop a novel, highly active hyaluronidase and assess its function. Therefore, in order to find the most efficient active hyaluronidase, we produced several shortened hyaluronidases with partial removal of the N- or C-terminal regions. Moreover, we created an enzyme that connected six histidines onto the end of the hyaluronidase C-terminus. This simplified subsequent purification using $Ni^{2+}$ affinity chromatography, making it feasible to industrialize this highly active recombinant hyaluronidase which exhibited catalytic activity equal to that of the commercial enzyme. Therefore, this simple and effective isolation method could increase the availability of recombinant hyaluronidase for research and clinical purposes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2003

The annually outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were caused by toxic dinolagellate A. tamarense and A. catenella in Korea. The purpose of this study were to investigate the distribution of PSP-causative organisms, A. tamarense and A. catenella and their species classification. Sediment (Saemangeum, the south open sea) and water samples (southeastern coast) were sampled to establish clonal isolates in 2003. After isolation and purification, strains were cultured under $17^{\circ}C$, f/2 media, 14:10=L:D cycle. PST analysis and species identification were performed by HPLC-FD method and specific DNA probe, respectively. Thirty-ons strains were isolated from the Saemangeum reclamation, southeastern coast including Jinhae Bay and south open sea. PSTs were detected in all cultured strains. In eight strains from south offshore, major toxin components are GTX5, C1/2 and minors are GTX3/4, dcGTX3, neoSTX. Sixteen strains from south coastal area have GTX1/4, neoSTX, C1/2 as major toxin components and GTX2/3 as minors. Seven strains from the Saemangeum reclamation have GTX5, C1/2 as major toxin components and GTX1/2/3/4 as minors. Thus, among eight south offshore isolates, four A. tamarense have more toxic (38.31~l19.16 fmol.$cell^{-1}$) than A. catenella (3.78~13.13 fmol.$cell^{-1}$). With the previous results of different toxin composition, toxin components and toxin contents, .it is toxin profile that could used to diagnosis of regional toxic population and geographical distribution of both A. tamarense and A. catenella and their toxigenic strains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.284-292
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• 2011

An endocellulase-free multienzyme complex was produced by a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum strain NOI-1, when grown on xylan. The temperature and pH optima for growth were $60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0, respectively. The bacterial cells were found to adhere to insoluble xylan and Avicel. A scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the adhesion of xylan to the cells. An endocellulase-free multienzyme complex was isolated from the crude enzyme of strain NOI-1 by affinity purification on cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The molecular mass of the multienzyme complex was estimated to be about 1,200 kDa. The multienzyme complex showed one protein on native PAGE, one xylanase on a native zymogram, 21 proteins on SDS-PAGE, and 5 xylanases on a SDS zymogram. The multienzyme complex consisted of xylanase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, ${\alpha}$-L-arabinofuranosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and cellobiohydrolase. The multienzyme complex was effective in hydrolyzing xylan and corn hulls. This is the first report of an endocellulase-free multienzyme complex produced by a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, T. thermosaccharolyticum strain NOI-1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1378-1385
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• 2010

A novel agarolytic bacterium, KY-YJ-3, producing extracellular agarase, was isolated from the freshwater sediment of the Sincheon River in Daegu, Korea. On the basis of Gram-staining data, morphology, and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence, the isolate was identified as Cellvibrio sp. By ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Toyopearl QAE-550C, Toyopearl HW-55F, and MonoQ column chromatographies, the extracellular agarase in the culture fluid could be purified 120.2-fold with a yield of 8.1%. The specific activity of the purified agarase was 84.2 U/mg. The molecular mass of the purified agarase was 70 kDa as determined by dodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The optimal temperature and pH of the purified agarase were $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively. The purified agarase failed to hydrolyze the other polysaccharide substrates, including carboxymethyl-cellulose, dextran, soluble starch, pectin, and polygalacturonic acid. Kinetic analysis of the agarose hydrolysis catalyzed by the purified agarase using thin-layer chromatography showed that the main products were neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarohexaose. These results demonstrated that the newly isolated freshwater agarolytic bacterium KY-YJ-3 was a Cellvibrio sp., and could produce an extracellular ${\beta}$-agarase, which hydrolyzed agarose to yield neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarohexaose as the main products.