• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.235-241
• /
• 2002

Sophorolipid, a biosurfactant produced from Candida bombicola ATCC 22214, showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Streptococcus mutans, and Propionibacterium acne at 4, 1, 1, 0.5 ppm, respectively. Also, 100 ppm of sophorolipid inhibited $50\%$ of cell growth of plant pathogenic fungus, Botrytis cineria. However, sophorolipid showed no effect on Escherichia coli, indicating that its selective antimicrobial activity depended on the cell wall structure. Treatment of B. subtilis with sophorolipid increased leakage of intracellular enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, indicating a possible interaction of sophorolipid with a cellular membrane. Comparing lactone-type and acid-type sophorolipids, the former showed a higher antimicrobial activity. Supplementing other surfactants showed no significant effects on the antimicrobial activity. Animal study showed that 5 g of sophorolipid per kg body weight by oral administration caused no toxicity, and sophorolipid induced no irritation on the skin. These results show potential use of sophorolipid as an active ingredient in healthcare products.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.516-521
• /
• 1995

항 MRSA 물질을 찾기 위하여 찬국 해양 토양을 검색하였고, 거기서 분리된 방선균의 이차 대사물질 중 항 MRSA 효능을 보이는 물질을 AM3이라고 명명하고 이에 대한 연구를 하였다.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.240-245
• /
• 2013

The utilization of a fluoran leuco sensitizer, 2-anilino-6-dibutyl amino-3-methylfluoran (ODB-2), for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated through the examination of the adsorption of ODB-2 molecules onto the surfaces of porous titanium dioxide (titania, $TiO_2$) films and the photovoltaic properties of ODB-2-based DSSCs. Despite of the absence of the specific anchoring groups with titania, ODB-2 dye molecules were spontaneously adsorbed onto the titania surfaces because the lactone ring in ODB-2 was opened and changed into the carboxylic acid (-COOH) by releasing protons from the surfaces ($TiOH_2{^+}$) of titania, which consequently leads to the chemisorption reaction of ODB-2 molecules to the active sites of titania. DSSCs based on ODB-2 exhibited typical photovoltaic properties with an open-circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$) of 0.19 V, a short-circuit current ($J_{SC}$) of $0.30\;mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, a fill factor (FF) of 37%, and a conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.02%.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제24권6호
• /
• pp.564-567
• /
• 2001

The fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity of patients with colon cancer and healthy controls were measured to determine the relationship between the fluctuation of intestinal bacterial ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ and colon cancer. The fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity of patients with colon cancer was 1.7 times higher than that of the healthy controls. However, when these fecal specimens were sonicated, the enzyme activity of patients with colon cancer was 12.1 times higher than that of the healthy controls. The fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity of human Intestinal bacteria was drastically induced by its substrate or the bile secreted after a subcutaneous injection of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and benzo[a]pyrene into rats. DMH-and benzo[a]pyrene-treated biles induced ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity in the human intestinal microflora by approximately 1.5- and 2.3-fold, respectively. They also induced ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ in E. coli HGU-3, which is a ${\beta}-glucuronidase$-producing bacterium from the human intestine. D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone similarly inhibited fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ in several patients with colon cancer in addition to the healthy controls. This suggests that potent ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity is a prime factor in the etiology of colon cancer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 1991

In the unhydrated and hydrated states, conformational free energies of L-ascorbic acid anion (AAA) were computed with an empirical potential function and the hydration shell model (a program CONBIO). The conformational energy was minimized from possible starting conformations expressed with five torsion angles of the molecule. The conformational entropy of each low energy conformation in both states was computed using a harmonic approximation. As found in L-ascorbic acid (AA), intramolecular hydrogen bonds (HBs) are proved to be of significant importance in stabilizing the overall conformations of AAA in both states, and give the folded conformations, which are quite different from those in crystal. There are competitions between HBs and hydration around O3 atom of the lactone ring and hydroxyls of the acyclic side chain. Especially, the whole conformation of AAA is strongly dependent on the water-accessibility of O3 atom. Though there is a significant effect of the hydration on conformational surface, the lowest energy conformation of the unhydrated AAA is conserved. The different patterns of HBs and hydration result in the conformations of AAA in both states being different from those of AA. It can be drawn by several feasible conformations obtained in the hydrated state that there exists an ensemble of several conformations in aqueous solution.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.98-103
• /
• 2021

The demand for natural substances with anti-melanogenic activity is increasing due to the recent interest in skin whitening. Intensive investigation on the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. SCO-736, a marine bacterium from the Antarctica coast, has led to the isolation of a new natural product named antaroide (1). The chemical structure was established through the interpretation of MS, UV, and NMR spectroscopic data. Antaroide is a nine-membered macrolide with lactone and lactam moieties. To investigate its applicability in skin whitening cosmetics, its anti-melanogenic activity in B16F10 murine melanoma cells was examined. As a result, antaroide displayed strong inhibitory activities against melanin synthesis and also attenuated the dendrite formation induced by the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Antaroide suppressed the mRNA expression of the melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. This suggests that it may serve as a transcriptional regulator of melanogenesis. Collectively, the discovery of this novel natural nine-membered macrolide and its anti-melanogenic activity could give new insights for the development of skin whitening agents.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제50권1호
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2022

Bacteria communicate with each other through an intricate communication mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS). QS regulates different behavioral aspects in bacteria, such as biofilm formation, sporulation, virulence gene expression, antibiotic production, and bioluminescence. Several different chemical signals and signal detection systems play vital roles in promoting highly efficient intra- and interspecies communication. Gram-negative bacteria coordinate gene regulation through the production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). Gram-positive bacteria do not code for AHL production, while some gram-negative bacteria have an incomplete AHL-QS system. Despite this fact, these microbes can detect AHLs owing to the presence of LuxR solo receptors. Various studies have reported the role of AHLs in interspecies signaling. Moreover, as bacteria live in a polymicrobial community, the production of extracellular compounds to compete for resources is imperative. Thus, AHL-mediated signaling and inhibition are considered to affect virulence in bacteria. In the current review, we focus on the synthesis and regulation mechanisms of AHLs and highlight their role in interspecies bacterial signaling. Exploring interspecies bacterial signaling will further help us understand host-pathogen interactions, thereby contributing to the development of therapeutic strategies intended to target chronic polymicrobial infections.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.196-201
• /
• 2003

The object of this study was to characterize Bacillus strains GB-017 and GB-0356, which produce antifungal substances, especially for plant pathogens. In addition, this study was undertaken to characterize the culture conditions required for the production of antifungal substances and to document some of the properties of the antifungal substance produced by these soil-isolated strains. Strains GB-0365 and GB-017 were found to be bacillus-shaped, gram-positive and motile, and to inhibit Botrytis cineria, Fusarium sp., Pythium sp., and Rhizoctonia solani. Antagonistic activity was maintained up to pH 9.0, and the antifungal activity was stable to heat at 80$^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Antifungal substances were separated and purified using ion exchange and adsorption columns including WK-I0(H$\^$＋) (pH 7.0), HP20 column (pH 3.0) and IPA (pH 3.0). and IPA. Its UV absorption spectrum showed major peaks at 231 and 259 nm, corresponding to polyene and lactone. A fast atom bombardment mass spectrum (FAB MS) showed a highest peak at 441 m/z and major peaks at 192, 205, and 370 m/z.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권10호
• /
• pp.727-733
• /
• 2014

Spinosyns A and D are potent ingredient for insect control with exceptional safety to non-target organisms. It consists of a 21-carbon tetracyclic lactone with forosamine and tri-Omethylated rhamnose which are derived from S-adenosyl-methionine. Although previous studies have revealed the involvement of metK1 (S-adenosylmethionine synthetase), rmbA (glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase), and rmbB (TDP-D-glucose-4, 6-dehydratase) in the biosynthesis of spinosad, expression of these genes into rational screened Saccharopolyspora spinosa (S. spinosa MUV) has not been elucidated till date. In the present study, S. spinosa MUV was developed to utilize for metabolic engineering. The yield of spinosyns A and D in S. spinosa MUV was $244mgL^{-1}$ and $129mgL^{-1}$, which was 4.88-fold and 4.77-fold higher than that in the wild-type ($50mgL^{-1}$ and $27mgL^{-1}$), respectively. To achieve the better production; positive regulator metK1-sp, rmbA and rmbB genes from Streptomyces peucetius, were expressed and co-expressed in S. spinosa MUV under the control of strong $ermE^*$ promoter, using an integration vector pSET152 and expression vector pIBR25, respectively. Here-with, the genetically engineered strain of S. spinosa MUV, produce spinosyns A and D up to $372/217mgL^{-1}$ that is 7.44/8.03-fold greater than that of wild type. This result demonstrates the use of metabolic engineering on rationally developed high producing natural variants for the production.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제38권9호
• /
• pp.765-772
• /
• 2015

Saussurea lappa has been reported to possess anti-atopic properties. In this study, we have confirmed the S. lappa's anti-atopic properties in Nc/Nga mice and investigated the candidate gene related with its properties using microarray. We determined the target gene using real time PCR in in vitro experiment. S. lappa showed the significant reduction in atoptic dermatitis (AD) score and immunoglobulin E compared with the AD induced Nc/Nga mice. In the results of microarray using back skin obtained from animals, we found that S. lappa's properties are closely associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Consistent with the microarray data, real-time RT-PCR confirmed these modulation at the mRNA level in skin tissues from S. lappa-treated mice. Among these genes, PI3Kca and $IL20R{\beta}$ were significantly downregulated by S. lappa treatment in Nc/Nga mouse model. In in vitro experiment using HaCaT cells, we found that the S. lappa components, including alantolactone, caryophyllene, costic acid, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone significantly decreased the expression of PI3Kca but not $IL20R{\beta}$ in vitro. Therefore, our study suggests that PI3Kca-related signaling is closely related with the protective effects of S. lappa against the development of atopic-dermatitis.