• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2009

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines, which are essential for cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. This report presents the characterization of an ODC-encoding cDNA (SlitODC) isolated from a moth species, the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera); its expression in a polyamine-deficient strain of yeast, S. cerevisiae; and the recovery in polyamine levels and proliferation rate with the introduction of the insect enzyme. SlitODC encodes 448 amino acid residues, 4 amino acids longer than B. mori ODC that has 71% identity, and has a longer C-terminus, consistent with B. mori ODC, than the reported dipteran enzymes. The null mutant yeast strain in the ODC gene, SPE1, showed remarkably depleted polyamine levels; in putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, the levels were > 7, > 1, and > 4%, respectively, of the levels in the wild-type strain. This consequently caused a significant arrest in cell proliferation of > 4% of the wild-type strain in polyamine-free media. The transformed strain, with the substituted SlitODC for the deleted endogenous ODC, grew and proliferated rapidly at even a higher rate than the wild-type strain. Furthermore, its polyamine content was significantly higher than even that in the wild-type strain as well as the spe1-null mutant, particularly with a very continuously enhanced putrescine level, reflecting no inhibition mechanism operating in the putrescine synthesis step by any corresponding insect ODC antizymes to SlitODC in this yeast system.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to isolate and identify the wild yeast strains in intestine of Othius punctulatus collected in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea and characterize their unrecored yeast strains. We isolated 16 wild yeast strains from 5 intestine samples from Othius punctulatus. The 16 wild yeast strains were included three strains in the genus Aureobasidium, four strains in the genus Cystofilobasidium, one strain in the genus Mrakia, three strains in the genus Naganishia, two strains in the genus Saitozyma, two strains in the genus Sampaiozyma and one strain in the genus Scheffersomyces. Among them Cystofilobasidium capitatum YP53, Cystofilobasidium capitatum YP71, Cystofilobasidium macerans YS620, Cystofilobasidium macerans YS622, Mrakia aquatica YP158 and Scheffersomyces stipitis YI5 were recorded for the first time in Korea. The microbiological characteristics and carbon assimilation of these previously unrecorded yeasts were investigated. Almost all of them were oval-shaped. And, glycerol, L-arabinose, xylitol, and inositol are not utilized.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2007

The domestic cultured Campbell's Early and Geubong grapes were fermented far the production of red wines with the isolated wild yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae IJ850. For the isolation of wild yeast, Geubong and Campbell's Early grapejuices were naturally fermented at room temperature for 6 days without adding stater culture. The strain isolated from Geubong which has 1.8 times higher fermentative ability than the strains isolated Campbell Early was selected. The selected strain was identified by using 26S rDNA sequencing. The strain showed 99.7% of similarity with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and thus identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae IJ850. It was investigated the fermentative ability as the start culture. For the production of grapewine, the final sugar concentrations of grapejuices were adjusted to the $25^{\circ}Brix$ with anhydrous glucose. The grapejuices were fermented at room temperature for 10 days in the air-locked bottles filled with $CO_2$ gas. The final yield and alcohol concentration of Campbell's Early and Geubong grapewines fermented with the isolated wild yeast were 80.8%, 11.0% and 87.8%, 13.0%, respectively. Between the isolated wild yeast S. cerevisiae IJ850 and the commercial yeast S. cerevisiae EC1118, total acidities of grapewines produced with wild yeast were lower than those produced with the commercial yeast. The pH values and the values of color analysis of grapewines produced with both strains were similar. The total phenol contents of campbell's Early and Geubong wines produced with the isolated yeast and the commercial yeast were obtained in the range of 75 to 125mg/L. In conclusion, S. cerevesiae IJ850 isolated from the domestic cultured Geubong grape is able to use to produce grapewines as stater culture.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2023

This study aimed to isolate and characterize wild yeast strains from the vineyard soil in Korea. Twenty yeast strains were isolated from vineyard soil in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, where Vitis labrusca cv. Campbell Early is grown. Eighteen strains were previously recorded in Korea. The remaining two, Cyberlindnera mrakii VG-21-10C and Starmerella bacillaris GR9 were not previously recorded in Korea. The mycological characteristics of VG-21-10C and GR9 were investigated. Both were oval-shaped, convex, and smooth. However, differences were evident in colony color and carbon assimilation activities. Strain VG-21-10C is white-colored and assimilates glucose, glycerol, D-xylose, D-cellobiose, D-saccharose, and D-raffinose as carbon sources. Strain GR9 is cream-colored and assimilates glucose, D-saccharose, and D-raffinose as carbon sources.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2013

Makgeolli is a traditional cloudy-white Korean rice wine with an alcohol content of 6~7%. The present study investigated the morphological characteristics, carbon-utilizing ability, fatty acid composition, alcohol resistance, glucose tolerance, and flocculence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y98-5 and Pichia anomala Y197-13, non-S. cerevisiae isolated from Nuruk, which is used in brewing Makgeolli. Similar morphological characteristics were observed for both isolated wild yeast strains; and the carbon source assimilation of Y197-13 differed from that of other P. anomala strains. Strain Y197-13 was negative for D-trehalose, mannitol, arbutin, I-erythritol, and succinic acid. The major cellular fatty acids of strain Y197-13 included C18:2n6c (33.94%), C18:1n9c (26.97%) and C16:0 (20.57%). Strain Y197-13 was Crabtree-negative, with 60% cell viability at 12% (v/v) ethanol. The flocculation level of strain Y197-13 was 8.38%, resulting in its classification as a non-flocculent yeast.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2016

From 182 non-pathogenic wild yeast isolates from flowers, Pichia silvicola UL6-1 and Sporobolomyces carnicolor 402-JB-1 were selected for potent ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid production and microbiological characteristics were investigated. Pichia silvicola UL6-1 formed ascospores and pseudomycelia. The strain was also halotolerant, growing well in 5% NaCl-containing yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) medium. Sporobolomyces carnicolor 402-JB-1 did not form ascospores or pseudomycelia and grew well on 10% glucose-yeast extract-peptone medium.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2006

Candida tropicalis was treated with ultraviolet (UV) rays, and the mutants obtained were screened for xylitol production. One of the mutants, the UV1 produced 0.81g of xylitol per gram of xylose. This was further mutated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), and the mutants obtained were screened for xylitol production. One of the mutants (CT-OMV5) produced 0.85g/g of xylitol from xylose. Xylitol production improved to 0.87 g/g of xylose with this strain when the production medium was supplemented with urea. The CT-OMV5 mutant strain differs by 12 tests when compared to the wild-type Candida tropicalis strain. The XR activity was higher in mutant CT-OMV5. The distinct difference between the mutant and wild-type strain is the presence of numerous chlamvdospores in the mutant. In this investigation, we have demonstrated that mutagenesis was successful in generating a superior xylitol-producing strain, CT-OMV5, and uncovered distinctive biochemical and physiological characteristics of the wild-type and mutant strain, CT-OMV5.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.266-271
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• 2015

Several types of yeasts were isolated from wild flowers around Jangseong Lake in Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea and identified by comparing the nucleotide sequences of the PCR amplicons for the D1/D2 variable domain of the 26S ribosomal DNA using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis. In total, 60 strains from 18 species were isolated, and Pseudozyma spp. (27 strains), which included Pseudozyma rugulosa (7 strains) and Pseudozyma aphidis (6 strains), was dominant species. Among the 60 strains, Bullera coprosmaensis JS00600 represented a newly recorded yeast strain in Korea, and its microbiological characteristics were investigated. The yeast cell has an oval-shaped morphology measuring $1.4{\times}1.7{\mu}m$ in size. Bullera coprosmaensis JS00600 is an asporous yeast that exhibits no pseudomycelium formation. It grew well in vitamin-free medium as well as in yeast extract-malt extract broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) broth, and it is halotolerant growing in 10% NaCl-containing YPD broth.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1702-1710
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• 2010

Korean traditional rice wines yakju and takju are generally brewed with nuruk as the source of the saccharogenic enzymes by natural fermentation. To improve the quality of Korean rice wine, the microorganisms in the nuruk need to be studied. The objective of this research was to improve the quality of Korean wine with the wild-type yeast strains isolated from the fermentation starter, nuruk. Only strain YA-6 showed high activity in 20% ethanol. Precipitation of Y89-5-3 was similar to that of very flocculent yeast (>80%) at 75.95%. Using 18S rRNA sequencing, all 10 strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Volatile compounds present in yakju were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass selective detector. The principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile compounds grouped long-chain esters on the right side of the first principal component, PC1; these compounds were found in yakju that was made with strains YA-6, Y89-5-3, Y89-5-2, Y90-9, and Y89-1-1. On the other side of PC1 were short-chain esters; these compounds were found in wines that were brewed with strains Y183-2, Y268-3, Y54-3, Y98-4, and Y88-4. Overall, the results indicated that using different wild-type yeast strains in the fermentation process significantly affects the chemical characteristics of the glutinous rice wine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1749-1757
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• 2012

Makgeolli is a traditional rice wine favored by the general public in Korea. This study investigated the fermentation and sensory characteristics of using wild yeast strains for brewing makgeolli. A non-Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was isolated from nuruk and termed Y197-13. It showed 98% similarity to Pichia anomala and had an optimal growth temperature of $25^{\circ}C$. Makgeolli was manufactured using koji, jinju nuruk, and improved nuruk as fermentation agents. Y197-13 makgeolli brewed with koji had alcohol and solids contents of 11.1% and 13.9%, respectively. Sweet sensory characteristics were attributed to residual sugars in makgeolli with 6% alcohol. The makgeolli had a fresh sour taste and carbonated taste. Volatile component analysis showed the isoamyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, isoamyl acetate, and fatty acid, including ethyl oleate and ethyl linoleate, relative peak area was higher in Y197-13 makgeolli than in makgeolli with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These results suggest the wild yeast, Y197-13, as a candidate for brewing makgeolli.