• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제16권9호
• /
• pp.1384-1391
• /
• 2006

The signal transduction system is one of the most important devices involved in maintaining life, and many protein kinases are included in the cellular signal transduction system. Finding a protein kinase inhibitor is very valuable, as it can be used to study cell biology and applied to pharmaceuticals. For the efficient and rapid screening of protein kinase inhibitors, two assay systems were combined; the nonradioactive protein kinase assay system that uses an FITC-labeled IRS-2 peptide and the cell-based paper disc assay system that uses Streptomyces griseus as the indicator strain. Among 330 kinds of herb extracts tested, the extract of Dalbergia odorifera exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity in the two assay systems and was selected for further isolation. Based on solvent extraction and many steps of chromatography, seven compounds were finally separated to homogeneity and their structures determined by $^{1}H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopies. Four were to be flavonoids and identified as butin ($C_{15}H_{12}O_5$, Mw=272.07), 3'-hydroxymelanetin ($C_{16}H_{12}O_6$, Mw=300.06), liquiritigenin ($C_{15}H_{12}O_4$, Mw=256.07), and 2'-hydroxyformononetin ($C_{16}H_{12}O_{5}$, Mw=284.07). 3'-Hydroxymelanetin inhibited the phosphorylation of the GSK3 protein by Akt to 37% at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ and showed the strongest cytotoxicity ($ED_{50}<50{\mu}g/ml$) against the human cancer cell line HCT116. Under the same conditions, liquiritigenin also inhibited the phosphorylation of GSK3 by Akt to 26%, and its cytotoxicity against the HCT116 cell line was lower than $100{\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제21권7호
• /
• pp.667-674
• /
• 2011

The gene for esterase (rEst1) was isolated from a new species of genus Rheinheimera by functional screening of E. coli cells transformed with the pSMART/HaeIII genomic library. E. coli cells harboring the esterase gene insert could grow and produce clear halo zones on tributyrin agar. The rEst1 ORF consisted of 1,029 bp, corresponding to 342 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 37 kDa. The signal P program 3.0 revealed the presence of a signal peptide of 25 amino acids. Esterase activity, however, was associated with a homotrimeric form of molecular mass 95 kDa and not with the monomeric form. The deduced amino acid sequence showed only 54% sequence identity with the closest lipase from Cellvibrio japonicus strain Ueda 107. Conserved domain search and multiple sequence alignment revealed the presence of an esterase/ lipase conserved domain consisting of a GXSXG motif, HGGG motif (oxyanion hole) and HGF motif, typical of the class IV hormone sensitive lipase family. On the basis of the sequence comparison with known esterases/ lipases, REst1 represents a new esterase belonging to the class IV family. The purified enzyme worked optimally at $50^{\circ}C$ and pH 8, utilized pNP esters of short chain lengths, and showed best catalytic activity with p-nitrophenyl butyrate ($C_4$), indicating that it was an esterase. The enzyme was completely inhibited by PMSF and DEPC and showed moderate organotolerance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제29권7호
• /
• pp.1144-1154
• /
• 2019

There have been several studies regarding lichen-associated bacteria obtained from diverse environments. Our screening process identified 49 bacterial species in two lichens from the Himalayas: 17 species of Actinobacteria, 19 species of Firmicutes, and 13 species of Proteobacteria. We discovered five types of strong antimicrobial agent-producing bacteria. Although some strains exhibited weak antimicrobial activity, NP088, NP131, NP132, NP134, and NP160 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all multidrug-resistant strains. Polyketide synthase (PKS) fingerprinting revealed results for 69 of 148 strains; these had similar genes, such as fatty acid-related PKS, adenylation domain genes, PfaA, and PksD. Although the association between antimicrobial activity and the PKS fingerprinting results is poorly resolved, NP160 had six types of PKS fingerprinting genes, as well as strong antimicrobial activity. Therefore, we sequenced the draft genome of strain NP160, and predicted its secondary metabolism using antiSMASH version 4.2. NP160 had 46 clusters and was predicted to produce similar secondary metabolites with similarities of 5-100%. Although NP160 had 100% similarity with the alkylresorcinol biosynthetic gene cluster, our results showed low similarity with existing members of this biosynthetic gene cluster, and most have not yet been revealed. In conclusion, we expect that lichen-associated bacteria from the Himalayas can produce new secondary metabolites, and we found several secondary metabolite-related biosynthetic gene clusters to support this hypothesis.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제26권5호
• /
• pp.627-632
• /
• 1994

Disk method에 의한 예비 실험 결과 Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19111, 19112, 19113, 19114 및 15313에 대하여 성장억제 효과가 있었던 방기 및 감초의 75% ethanol 추출물을 농도별로 tryptic soy broth에 첨가하고 각 균주를 증식, 그 저해 정도를 비교하였다. 방기는 실험대상 균주 중 L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111 및 19114에 부분적으로 효과가 있었고 첨가 농도에 따라 그 증식 저해 정도는 비례하였다. 감초 추출물은 실험 대상 5균주 모두에 강한 항균성을 보였으며 대부분 100ppm 첨가에서도 $12{\sim}48$시간 동안 완전히 증식을 억제 하였으며 500ppm 첨가 수준에서는 모든 균에 대하여 완전 증식 억제 현상을 보여 우수한 증식 억제제로 확인되었다. 특히 L. monocytogenes ATCC 19113의 경우 100ppm 첨가에서도 48시간 까지 완전 성장 억제가 가능하였다.

• 한국약용작물학회지
• /
• 제18권6호
• /
• pp.429-438
• /
• 2010

The use of cellulolytic lactic acid bacteria in new method to prepare high nutrition complementary foods was investigated. For the screening of cellulolytic lactic acid bacteria, more than 1,150 bacterial colony were isolated from diluted infant feces samples. A typical strain which appeared the most excellent cellulolytic activities was identified novel acidophilic Enterococcus sp. TO-94 through the results of morphological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics and 16S rDNA sequencing. The optimal lactic acid fermentation conditions of Omija(Schizandra chinensis Baillon) by Enterococcus sp. TO-94 were as follows: pH and temperature were 3.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively, and fermentation time was 20hrs. The fructose and glucose were major free sugar and the contents were 5.83 and 4.30 mg/g after fermentation, respectively. The contents of lactic acid and acetic acid were 9.84 mg/g and 2.08 mg/g after fermentation, respectively. The vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, niacin, folic acid and C were major vitamin in the fermented broth, the contents were 1.5~3 times higher than those of initial fermentation time. Also, the contents of polyphenol and anthocyanine were 3.8 and 1.2 times higher than those of initial fermentation time.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.604-610
• /
• 2007

A psychrotrophic strain 7195 showing extracellular lipolytic activity towards tributyrin was isolated from deep-sea sediment of Prydz Bay and identified as a Psychrobacter species. By screening a genomic DNA library of Psychrobacter sp. 7195, an open reading frame of 954 bp coding for a lipase gene, lipA1, was identified, cloned, and sequenced. The deduced LipA1 consisted of 317 amino acids with a molecular mass of 35,210 kDa. It had one consensus motif, G-N-S-M-G (GXSXG), containing the putative active-site serine, which was conserved in other cold-adapted lipolytic enzymes. The recombinant LipA1 was purified by column chromatography with DEAE Sepharose CL-4B, and Sephadex G-75, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in sequence. The purified enzyme showed highest activity at $30^{\circ}C$, and was unstable at temperatures higher than $30^{\circ}C$, indicating that it was a typical cold-adapted enzyme. The optimal pH for activity was 9.0, and the enzyme was stable between pH 7.0-10.0 after 24h incubation at $4^{\circ}C$. The addition of $Ca^{2+}\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ enhanced the enzyme activity of LipA1, whereas the $Cd^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;CO^{2+},\;Fe^{3+},\;Hg^{2+},\;Fe^{2+},\;Rb^{2+}$, and EDTA strongly inhibited the activity. The LipA1 was activated by various detergents, such as Triton X-100, Tween 80, Tween 40, Span 60, Span 40, CHAPS, and SDS, and showed better resistance towards them. Substrate specificity analysis showed that there was a preference for trimyristin and p-nitrophenyl myristate $(C_{14}\;acyl\; groups)$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2014

Recombinant proteins can be generated quickly and easily in large amounts and at low-cost in silkworm larvae by using Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV). We searched for high-permissive silkworm strains that have high production levels of heterologous proteins and are thus suitable for use as biofactories. In this study, we performed the analysis using a BmNPV vector expressing luciferase as a marker, and we confirmed protein expression by evaluating luciferase activity, determined by western blotting and luciferase ELISA, and confirmed transcription expression by semi- and quantitative real time PCR. For the selection of host silkworm strains, we first chose 52 domestic BmNPV sensitive strains and then identified 10 high-permissive and 5 low-permissive strains. In addition, to determine which hybrid of the high-permissive strains would show heterosis, nine strains derived through three-way crossing were tested for luciferase activity by western blotting, and luciferase ELISA. We found a correlation between luciferase activity and luciferase protein expression, but not transcription. There was no noticeable difference in protein expression levels between Jam313 as the high-permissive control strain and the three-way hybrid strains; however, the three-way cross strains showed lower luciferase activity compared with Jam313. In this study, luciferase protein production in the larvae of 52 domestic silkworm strains was elucidated using BmNPV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2018

Biosurfactants or microbial surfactants are surface-active biomolecules that are produced by a variety of microorganisms. Biodegradability and low toxicity have led to the intensification of scientific studies on a wide range of industrial applications for biosurfactants in the field of environmental bioremediation as well as the petroleum industry and enhanced oil recovery. However, the major issues in biosurfactant production are high production cost and low yield. Improving the bioindustrial production processes relies on many strategies, such as the use of cheap raw materials, the optimization of medium-culture conditions, and selecting hyperproducing strains. The present work aims to obtain a mutant with higher biosurfactant production through applying mutagenesis on Bacillus subtilis SPB1 using a combination of UV irradiation and nitrous acid treatment. Following mutagenesis and screening on blood agar and subsequent formation of halos, the mutated strains were examined for emulsifying activity of their culture broth. A mutant designated B. subtilis M2 was selected as it produced biosurfactant at twice higher concentration than the parent strain. The potential of this biosurfactant for industrial uses was shown by studying its stability to environmental stresses such as pH and temperature and its applicability in the oil recovery process. It was practically stable at high temperature and at a wide range of pH, and it recovered above 90% of motor oil adsorbed to a sand sample.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제19권8호
• /
• pp.749-759
• /
• 2009

A survey of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) strains isolated from Spanish citrus orchards has been performed, and the strains were tested for insecticidal activity against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), a key citrus pest in Spain. From a total of 150 environmental samples, 376 isolates were selected, recording a total B. thuringiensis index of 0.52. The collection was characterized by means of phase-contrast microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and PCR analysis with primer pairs detecting toxin genes cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry5, cry7, cry8, cry9, cry10, cry11, cry12, cry14, cry17, cry19, cry21, cry27, cry39, cry44, cyt1, and cyt2. Diverse crystal inclusion morphologies were identified: bipyramidal (45%), round (40%), adhered to the spore (7%), small (5%), and irregular (3%). SDS-PAGE of spore-crystal preparations revealed 39 different electrophoresis patterns. All primer pairs used in PCR tests gave positive amplifications in strains of our collection, except for primers for detection of cry3, cry19, cry39, or cry44 genes. Strains containing cry1, cry2, cry4, and cry27 genes were the most abundant (48.7%, 46%, 11.2%, and 8.2% of the strains, respectively). Ten different genetic profiles were found, although a total of 109 strains did not amplify with the set of primers used. Screening for toxicity against C. capitata adults was performed using both spore-crystal and soluble fractions. Mortality levels were less than 30%. We have developed a large and diverse B. thuringiensis strain collection with huge potential to control several agricultural pests; however, further research is needed to find out Bt strains active against C. capitata.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.306-310
• /
• 2006

토양 미생물인 방선균의 배양액으로부터 그람양성균에 대해 항균활성을 가지는 항균성 물질을 탐색하였다. 2,500주의 방선균 배양액을 탐색하여 항균성 물질 생산균주 Streptomyces sp. G9l353을 분리하였고, 그로부터 생산된 항균성 물질인 A91353을 분리 정제하였다. A91353은 다양한 구조해석 연구에 의하여 N-acetyl-phenylalanine으로 동정되었으며 Sc. pyogenes 308A, Sc. pyogenes 77A 등과 같은 그람양성균에 대해 선택적이며, D-alanyl-D-alanine과 상호작용 하여 그람양성균의 세포벽 합성을 저해하는 것으로 사료된다. N-acetyl-phenylalanine의 최소생육저해 농도는 그람양성균에 대해서 $50{\mu}g/ml$ 이었으며, 그람음성균에 대한 활성은 나타나지 않았다.