• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1222-1228
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• 1998

Stress will induce various changes in human metabolism. The remarkable phenomenon of these changes is increased energy metabolism that can induce many reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS can peroxidize cellular macromolecules including lipid and protein. The object of this study was to investigate that stress may induce cellular damage by producing ROS and that Rooibos tea can protect cells against reactive oxygen species by immobilization stress in SD rat. The stress group significantly increased in 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), one of the stress hormone. Rooibos tea treatment had no effects on 5-HIAA contents, but body weight of Rooibos tea treated rat more increased than that of only the stress group. It was suggested that Rooibos tea colud not affect stress response itself, but protect against the another mechanism. We thought that the oxidative damage was caused by increased energy metabolism. Protein degradation level and lipid peroxide formation on index of oxidative damage significantly increased in the stress group. But the stress-induced activity change could not be observed in antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. But the catalase activity of the brain significantly was inhibited by the stress. From these results, it was suggested that the immobilization stress induce the brain oxidative damage. However the oxidative damage was inhibited by feeding Rooibos tea containing various antioxidants, such as polyphenol, flavonoid and so on. Therefore, Rooibos tea have the protective effects against the stress caused by the ROS mediated cellular damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1655-1660
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• 2007

A metagenome is a unique resource to search for novel microbial enzymes from the unculturable microorganisms in soil. A forest soil metagenomic library using a fosmid and soil microbial DNA from Gwangneung forest, Korea, was constructed in Escherichia coli and screened to select lipolytic genes. A total of seven unique lipolytic clones were selected by screening of the 31,000-member forest soil metagenome library based on tributyrin hydrolysis. The ORFs for lipolytic activity were subcloned in a high copy number plasmid by screening the secondary shortgun libraries from the seven clones. Since the lipolytic enzymes were well secreted in E. coli into the culture broth, the lipolytic activity of the subclones was confirmed by the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate using culture supernatant. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis of the identified ORFs for lipolytic activity revealed that 4 genes encode hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in lipase family IV. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 4 proteins were clustered with HSL in the database and other metagenomic HSLs. The other 2 genes and 1 gene encode non-heme peroxidase-like enzymes of lipase family V and a GDSL family esterase/lipase in family II, respectively. The gene for the GDSL enzyme is the first description of the enzyme from metagenomic screening.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2002

Nine crossbred castrated lambs fitted with rumen and duodenum cannula and fed a diet of hay and concentrate formulated with ground corn and soybean meal as main ingredients were used to assess the duodenal ideal amino acid pattern. Three synthetic amino acid mixtures with different profile of essential amino acids were duodenally infused in order to get three different amino acid patterns flowing into the duodenum. The mixtures were designed to have similar amino acid profile as rumen microbial protein (Pm), casein (Pc) and modified muscle amino acid (Pmm). Results showed a lower urine nitrogen excretion (p=0.05), a higher nitrogen retention (p=0.04) and bodyweight gain with treatment Pmm. The modified muscle amino acid pattern also promoted a lower ratio of Gly to other amino acids in plasma (Gly/OAA) and a higher RNA and RNA/DNA concentration in the liver of the sheep. Meanwhile, the urea concentration in plasma was reduced and the insulin concentration was increased with Pmm treatment. No differences in glucose and growth hormone concentration in plasma were found among three treatments. All results obtained indicate that the modified muscle amino acid pattern (Lys 100%, Met+Cys 39%, Thr 76%, His 41%, Arg 72%, Leu 158%, Ile 81%, Val 105%, Phe 81% and Trp 13%) was the best for growing sheep.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 1993

Various microorganisms secreting plant growth regulators were screened from the 100 microbial isolates including bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. The isolates showing distict influence on the plant growth were identified as Aspergillus niger. The germinations of Raphanus and Cucubis seeds were completely inhibited by the culture filtrates of A. niger KK, A. niger KKS and A. niger ATCC 9462. The culture filtrates of the three strains also inhibited the formation and development of roots and hypocotyls of Raphanus. The culture filtrates of A. niger ATCC 26550 induced the hypocotyl curvature of Raphanus like plant hormone-auxin and at the same time caused the necrosis of the whole leaves.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.862-868
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• 2022

Microalgae are photosynthetic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms, mainly living in the water. In agriculture, numerous studies have been conducted to utilize microalgae as a biostimulant resource. Scenedesmus has been known to be one such microalga that can promote plant growth by secretion of auxin or cytokinin hormone analogs. However, no research has been performed on the effect of microalgae treatment on plant microbiota communities. This study was conducted to investigate the mode of action of microalgae as biostimulants in a plant microbiota perspective by using Scenedesmus sp. CHK0059 (also known as species Chlorella fusca), which has been well documented as a biostimulant for strawberries. The strawberry cultivar Keumsil was bred with Seolhyang and Maehyang as the parent cultivars. Using these three cultivars, microbiota communities were evaluated for changes in structural composition according to the CHK0059 treatment. CHK0059-treated Seolhyang, and CHK0059-untreated Maehyang were similar in microbial diversity in the endosphere. From a microbiota community perspective, the diversity change showed that CHK0059 was affected by the characteristics of the host. Conversely, when CHK0059 treatment was applied, populations of Streptomyces and Actinospica were observed in the crown endosphere.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.710-724
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• 2023

The plant defense responses to microbial infection are tightly regulated and integrated with the developmental program for optimal resources allocation. Notably, the defense-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) acts as a promoter of flowering while several plant pathogens actively target the flowering signaling pathway to promote their virulence or dissemination. Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum inject tens of effectors in the host cells that collectively promote bacterial proliferation in plant tissues. Here, we characterized the function of the broadly conserved R. pseudosolanacearum effector RipL, through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. RipL-expressing transgenic lines presented a delayed flowering, which correlated with a low expression of flowering regulator genes. Delayed flowering was also observed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants transiently expressing RipL. In parallel, RipL promoted plant susceptibility to virulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae in the effector-expressing lines or when delivered by the type III secretion system. Unexpectedly, SA accumulation and SA-dependent immune signaling were not significantly affected by RipL expression. Rather, the RNA-seq analysis of infected RipL-expressing lines revealed that the overall amplitude of the transcriptional response was dampened, suggesting that RipL could promote plant susceptibility in an SA-independent manner. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning RipL effect on flowering and immunity may reveal novel effector functions in host cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2020

Psychological stress can affect the physiological condition of the skin and cause various cutaneous disorders. The stress hormone cortisol is secreted by various skin cells such as fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and melanocytes. Tight junctions (TJs) are cell-cell junctions that form a barrier in the stratum granulosum of mammalian skin. TJs can also affect other skin barriers and are affected by chemical, microbial, or immunological barriers. Stress can cause damage to the skin barrier. Interestingly, to our knowledge, there has not been any research demonstrating the involvement of TJs in this process. In this study, cortisol was used to treat keratinocytes to determine its role in regulating TJs. We found that cortisol damaged skin barrier function by regulating the gene expression and structure of TJ components. Cortisol also inhibited the development of the granular layer in a skin equivalent model. These results suggest that cortisol affects the skin barrier function by the regulation of TJs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.644-651
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• 2013

The fermented manure derivative known as Preparation 500 is traditionally used as a field spray in biodynamic agriculture for maintaining and increasing soil fertility. This work aimed at characterizing the product from a microbiological standpoint and at assaying its bioactive properties. The approach involved molecular taxonomical characterization of the culturable microbial community; ARISA fingerprints of the total bacteria and fungal communities; chemical elemental macronutrient analysis via a combustion analyzer; activity assays for six key enzymes; bioassays for bacterial quorum sensing and chitolipooligosaccharide production; and plant hormone-like activity. The material was found to harbor a bacterial community of $2.38{\times}10^8$ CFU/g dw dominated by Gram-positives with minor instances of Actinobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. ARISA showed a coherence of bacterial assemblages in different preparation lots of the same year in spite of geographic origin. Enzymatic activities showed elevated values of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, chitinase, and esterase. The preparation had no quorum sensing-detectable signal, and no rhizobial nod gene-inducing properties, but displayed a strong auxin-like effect on plants. Enzymatic analyses indicated a bioactive potential in the fertility and nutrient cycling contexts. The IAA activity and microbial degradation products qualify for a possible activity as soil biostimulants. Quantitative details and possible modes of action are discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.160-168
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• 2000

A-factor I a microbial hormone that can positively control cell differentiation leading to spore formation and secondary metabolite formation in Streptomyces griseus. to identify a protease that is deeply involved in the morphological and physiological differentiation of Streptomyces, the proteases produced by Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 and its A-factor deficient mutant strain, Streptomyces griseus HH1, as well as Streptomyces griseus HH1 transformed with the afsA gene were sturdied. In general Streptomyces griseus showed a higher degree of cell growth and protease activity in proportion to its ability to produce a higher amount of A-factor. In particular, the specific activity of the trypsin of Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 was greatly enhanced more than twice compared with that of Streptomyces griseus HH1 in the later stage of growth. The specific activity of the metalloprotease of Streptomyces griseus HH1 was greatly enhanced more than twice compared with that of Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350, and this observation was reversed in the presence of thiostreptione, However, Streptomyces griseus HH1 transformed with the afsA gene showed a significantly decreased level of trypsin and metalloprotease activity compared with that of the HH1 strain. There was no significant difference between Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 and HH1 strain in their chymotrypsin and thiol protease activity, yet the level of leu-amionpeptidase activity was 2 times higher in Streptomyces griseus HH1 than in strain IFO 13350 . Streptomyces griseus HH1 harboring afsA showed a similar level of enzyme activity , however, all the three protease activities sharply increased and the thiol protease activity was critically increased at the end of the fermentation. When a serine protease inhibitor, pefabloc SC, and metalloprotease inhibitor, EDTA, were applied to strain IFO 13350 to examine the in vivo effects of the protease inhibitors on the morpholofical differentiation, the formation of aerial meycelium and spores was delayed by two or three days.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1203-1210
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• 2011

Function-driven metagenomic analysis is a powerful approach to screening for novel biocatalysts. In this study, we investigated lipolytic enzymes selected from an alluvial soil metagenomic library, and identified two novel esterases, EstDL26 and EstDL136. EstDL26 and EstDL136 reactivated chloramphenicol from its acetyl derivates by counteracting the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in Escherichia coli. These two enzymes showed only 27% identity in amino acid sequence to each other; however both preferentially hydrolyzed short-chain p-nitrophenyl esters (${\leq}C_5$) and showed mesophilic properties. In vitro, EstDL136 catalyzed the deacetylation of 1- and 3-acetyl and 1,3-diacetyl derivates; in contrast, EstDL26 was not capable of the deacetylation at $C_1$, indicating a potential regioselectivity. EstDL26 and EstDL136 were similar to microbial hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and since chloramphenicol acetate esterase (CAE) activity was detected from two other soil esterases in the HSL family, this suggests a distribution of CAE among the soil microorganisms. The isolation and characterization of EstDL26 and EstDL136 in this study may be helpful in understanding the diversity of CAE enzymes and their potential role in releasing active chloramphenicol in the producing bacteria.