• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2005

Estuarine sediments are frequently polluted with hydrocarbons from fuel spills and industrial wastes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are components of these contaminants that tend to accumulate in the sediment due to their low aqueous solubility, low volatility, and high affinity for particulate matter. The toxic, recalcitrant, mutagenic, and carcinogenic nature of these compounds may require aggressive treatment to remediate polluted sites effectively. In petroleum-contaminated sediments near a petrochemical industry in Gwangyang Bay, Korea, in situ PAH concentrations ranged from 10 to 2,900 ${\mu}g/kg$ dry sediment. To enhance the biodegradation rate of PAHs under anaerobic conditions, sediment samples were amended with biostimulating agents alone or in combination: nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of slow-release fertilizer (SRF), lactate, yeast extract (YE), and Tween 80. When added to the sediment individually, all tested agents enhanced the degradation of PAHs, including naphthalene, acenaphthene, anthracene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo [a] pyrene. Moreover, the combination of SRF, Tween 80, and lactate increased the PAH degradation rate 1.2-8.2 times above that of untreated sediment (0.01-10 ${\mu}g$ PAH/ kg dry sediment/day). Our results indicated that in situ contaminant PAHs in anoxic sediment, including high molecular weight PAHs, were degraded biologically and that the addition of stimulators increased the biodegradation potential of the intrinsic microbial populations. Our results will contribute to the development of new strategies for in situ treatment of PAH-contaminated anoxic sediments.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2014

An efficient regeneration protocol for stem disc culture of Populus euramericana, which is important species for bioenergy resource in agroforestry, was established. The number of explants that were obtained and the number of explants that regenerated varied with the genotypes. However, in all the genotypes, stem disc culture produced more regenerated shoots than did in axillary bud culture. A comparison of the effects of cytokinin type and concentration on shoot regeneration in different explants (i.e., petiole, leaf, and root segments of P. euramericana) revealed that a concentration of $0.002mg\;l^{-1}$ thidiazuron (TDZ) used on petiole segments resulted in the greatest shoot regeneration (95.83%). The hormonal requirements for the greatest shoot regeneration in the three explant types varied. Different concentrations of $AgNO_3$ and $CoCl_2$ were added separately to the medium to stop the yellowing and subsequent necrosis of the regenerated shoots. Lower concentrations (3 and $5mg\;l^{-1}$) of these compounds improved shoot regeneration and elongation, compared with the control. The in vitro-regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting medium and subsequently acclimatized. The highly efficient regeneration system of P. euramericana reported here can be used for mass propagation of this recalcitrant for regeneration, economically important tree species.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.648-657
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• 2015

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays an important role in the continuous production and environmental conservation in arable soils. In particular, the decomposition of organic matter in soil might promote soil organic matter and fertility due to the mineralization of N. In this study, to evaluate the effect of organic matter amendment on the C mineralization and N dynamic, $CO_2-C$ flux, extractable N and $N_2O$ emission were determined using closed chamber for 4 weeks at 10, 15, $20^{\circ}C$ of incubation temperature after the mixture of $2Mgha^{-1}$ rice straw compost and rye in sandy loam and clay loam. Regardless of soil texture, decomposition rates of rice straw compost and rye at $10{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ of incubation temperature ranged from 0.9 to 3.8% and 8.8 to 20.3%, respectively. Rye application in soil increased $NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$ content as well as the $N_2O$ emission compared to the rice straw compost. After incubation for 4 weeks, total C content in two soils was higher in rice straw compost than in rye application. In conclusion, application of rice straw compost and rye to soil was able to improve the soil organic matter and fertility. However, organic matter including the recalcitrant compounds like rice straw compost would be effective on the management of soil organic matter and the reduction of greenhouse gases in soil.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2018

Lignin degrading enzymes from Lentinula edodes have broad substrate specificities, and therefore can degrade a variety of recalcitrant compounds. In this study, the lignolytic biodegradation was investigated in five different L. edodes fungi (Chunbaegko, Sanjo 303ho, Poongnyunko, Baekhwahyang, and Soohyangko). The fungi were evaluated for their ability to decolorize Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) in malt extract broth medium. Sanjo 303ho, Poongnyunko, Baekhwahyang, and Soohyangko rapidly decolorized RBBR within 7 days. The activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase were determined in the absence and presence of lignin. Poongnyunko displayed the highest ligninolytic activity on day 7 of incubation (2,809 U/mg and 2,230 U/mg for MnP and laccase, respectively).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.636-642
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• 2013

In order to overcome drawbacks (i.e., filtration and recovery) of conventional powder type photocatalysts, nano-ZnO/Laponite/PVA (ZLP) photocatalyzed adsorption balls were developed by using in situ mixing of nanoscale ZnO as a photocatalyst, and Laponite as both adsorbent and supporting media in deionized water, followed by the poly vinyl alcohol polymerization with boric acid. The optimum mixing ratio of nano-ZnO:Laponite:PVA:deionized water was found to be 3:1:1:16 (by weight), and the mesh and film produced by PVA polymerization with boric acid might inhibit both swelling of Laponite and detachment of nanoscale ZnO from ZLP balls. Drying ZLP balls with microwave (600 watt) was found to produce ZLP balls with stable structure in water, and various sizes (55~500 ${\mu}m$) of pore were found to be distributed based on SEM and TEM results. In the initial period of reaction (i. e., 40 min), adsorption through ionic interaction between methylene blue and Laponite was the main removal mechanism. After the saturation of methylene blue to available adsorption sites for Laponite, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue occurred. The effective removal of methylene blue was attributed to adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. Based on the results from this study, synthesized ZLP photocatalyzed adsorption balls were expected to remove recalcitrant organic compounds effectively through both adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, and the risks of environmental receptors caused by detachment of nanoscale photocatalysts can be reduced.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.482-493
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• 2005

Biomass is originally photosynthesized from inorgainic compounds such as $CO_2$, minerals, water and solar energy. Recent studies have shown that anaerobic bacteria have the ability to convert recalcitrant biomass such as cellullosic or chitinoic materials to useful compounds. The biomass containing agricultural waste, unutilized wood and other garbage is expected to utilize as feed, food and fuel by microbial degradation and other metabolic functions. In this study we isolated several anaerobic, cellulolytic and chitinolytic bacteria from rumen fluid, compost and soil to study their related enzymes and genes. The anaerobic and cellulolytic bacteria, Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium stercorarium, and Clostridium josui, were isolated from compost and the chitinolytic Clostridium paraputrificum from beach soil and Ruminococcus albus was isolated from cow rumen. After isolation, novel cellulase and xylanase genes from these anaerobes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The properties of the cloned enzymes showed that some of them were the components of the enzyme (cellulase) complex, i.e., cellulosome, which is known to form complexes by binding cohesin domains on the cellulase integrating protein (Cip: or core protein) and dockerin domains on the enzymes. Several dockerin and cohesin polypeptides were independently produced by E. coli and their binding properties were specified with BIAcore by measuring surface plasmon resonance. Three pairs of cohesin-dockerin with differing binding specificities were selected. Two of their genes encoding their respective cohesin polypeptides were combined to one gene and expressed in E. coli as a chimeric core protein, on which two dockerin-dehydrogenase chimeras, the dockerin-formaldehyde dehydrogenase and the dockerin-NADH dehydrogenase are planning to bind for catalyzing $CO_2$ reduction to formic acid by feeding NADH. This reaction may represent a novel strategy for the reduction of the green house gases. Enzymes from the anaerobes were also expressed in tobacco and rice plants. The activity of a xylanase from C. stercorarium was detected in leaves, stems, and rice grain under the control of CaMV35S promoter. The digestibility of transgenic rice leaves in goat rumen was slightly accelerated. C. paraputrificum was found to solubilize shrimp shells and chitin to generate hydrogen gas. Hydrogen productivity (1.7 mol $H_2/mol$ glucos) of the organism was improved up to 1.8 times by additional expression of the own hydrogenase gene in C. paraputrficum using a modified vector of Clostridiu, perfringens. The hydrygen producing microflora from soil, garbage and dried pelletted garbage, known as refuse derived fuel(RDF), were also found to be effective in converting biomass waste to hydrogen gas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the most common environmental contaminants. Because of their recalcitrant properties and long-term toxicity, numerous studies have been performed. The toxicological concerns are focused on endocrinological effects of animal. Several different metabolites have been reported, including hydroxy PCBs, PCB quinones, and methylsulfonyl PCBs from animal tissues. However, details in plants have never been studied. It is well-known that plants can produce phytoalexin in response to chemical, physical, or pathological stress.METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the several PCBs and hydroxy derivatives were prepared by chemical syntheses. Their effects on secondary metabolite biosynthesis were determined in carrot roots. The levels of 6-methoxymellein were determined in several different treatments, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In general, the concentration of 6-methoxymellein reached a maximum at 2 days and gradually decreased to trace level at 5 days in control experiments. However, the effects of PCBs or hydroxy derivatives were highly dependent on compounds. For example, the maximum concentrations of 6-methoxymellein were observed at 3 days for 2-hydroxy/4-hydroxybiphenyl, while 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl and 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybiphenyl showed a rapid accumulation within 1 day, followed by rapid dissipation to undetectable levels.CONCLUSION: Biphenyl derivatives were effective elicitor of 6-methoxymellein accumulation. In general, hydroxybiphenyls (phenols) more efficiently induced phytoalexin biosynthesis than those without hydroxy groups. It can be concluded that PCBs or their possible metabolites could change the plant secondary metabolism.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2011

Actinomycetes, Gram positive soil bacteria, are valuable microorganisms which produce useful secondary metabolites including antibiotics, antiparasitic substances, anti-cancer drugs, and immunosuppressants. Although a major family of actinomycetes, known as streptomycetes, has been intensively investigated at the molecular level for several decades, a potentially valuable and only recently isolated non-streptomycetes rare actinomycetes (NSRA) family has been poorly characterized due to lack of proper genetic manipulation systems. Here we report that a PCR-based genome screening strategy was performed with approximately 180 independently isolated actinomycetes strains to isolate potentially valuable NSRA strains. Thanks to this simple PCR-based genome screening strategy we were able to identify only seven NSRA strains, followed by 16S rRNA sequencing for confirmation. Through further bioassays, one potentially valuable NSRA strain (tentatively named Nocardiopsis species MMBL010) was identified which possessed both antifungal and antibacterial activities, along with the presence of polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthase genes. Moreover, Nocardiopsis species MMBL010, which was intrinsically recalcitrant to genetic manipulation, was successfully transformed via E. coli-driven conjugation. These results suggest that PCR-based genome screening, followed by the establishment of an E. coli-driven conjugation system, is an efficient strategy to maximize potentially valuable compounds and their biosynthetic genes from NSRA strains isolated from various environments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2006

To compensate the problems of chemical assay in detoxification of recalcitrant and a practical approach in selection of bioremediation bacteria, a simple and rapid toxicity evaluation system was constructed based on Lumbricus rubellus. Long term-culture and specific equipment are not necessary, and semi-quantitative analysis of toxicity at sub-lethal concentration is possible by measuring of dose-dependent increased yellowish secreted compounds. When the toxicity of endosulfan, its metabolites and structurally related chemicals were measured for 24 h, the results were coincided with previous reports. Toxicity was found in endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, aldrin, and dieldrin, respectively. Rapid and economic selection of endosulfan-detoxifying bacteria was possible using our system. Klebsiella pneumoniae KE-1, K. oxytoca KE-8 and Pseudomonas sp. KS-2P, reported endosulfan degrading bacteria, ameliorated the endosulfan toxicity, whereas E. coli, B. subtilis and other bacteria failed to protect the toxicity of endosulfan in L. rubellus. Our results suggest that the constructed system is useful to selection of microorganism as well as toxicity evaluation against toxic recalcitrants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.527-539
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• 2023

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable and spice crop that has been cultivated worldwide. Pepper fruits have unique taste and aroma, providing a variety of antioxidants and compounds important for human health, which makes a high economic value. In addition, there is a high demand for new pepper varieties, according to consumer's preference. However, pepper is a recalcitrant plant for in vitro tissue and organ differentiation and plant regeneration, which makes it difficult to develop demanded varieties using newly developed technologies such as genetic engineering and gene editing. In this study, tissue culture and regeneration conditions were investigated using seven pepper varieties that were obtained from the core-collection of Seoul National University. We observed callus and bud induction and shoot formation using several media composition composed of different cytokinins and auxin concentrations. As a result, it was found that there were differences in callus induction and shoot formation of each variety depending on the hormone composition, and the highest regeneration was shown when the medium containing Zeatin Riboside and the petioles of seedlings were used. In particular, out of seven pepper varieties, CMV980 exhibited a higher regeneration efficiency (approximately 48%) than other varieties, followed by Yuwolcho. Therefore, this study provides CMV980 and Yuwolcho as good candidates that can be used for pepper transformation, which might contribute to the development of various varieties through gene editing technology in the future.