• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2003

In this study, strain of high-producing intracellular glutathione was isolated from Korean traditional rice wine. The isolated strain was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and was designated as FF-8. The optimal condition for glutathione production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 was obtained after cultivation with shaking for 72 hours in the YM medium. The optimal temperature, shaking rate and initial pH for the glutathione production were $30^{\circ}C$, 100 rpm and pH 6.0, respectively. The dry cell weight and glutathione concentration produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 were 5.2 g/l and 72.0 mg/l, respectively, under the optimal culture condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.164-169
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• 2004

We had screened the Monascus strain capable of producing monacolin K dominantly among 29 Monascus strains. Red yeast rice was prepared by culturing each Monascus sp. with 200 g of steamed rice (12$0^{\circ}C$, 20 min) at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 days and drying at 8$0^{\circ}C$ for 20 min. As a result, red yeast rice cultured by M. purpureus ATCC16457, M. purpureu IFO 32316, M. purpureus IFO 32228, M. kaoliang ATCC 46595 and M. kaoliang ATCC 46596 produced lots of red pigment and monacolin K. An unidentified Monascus sp. showed the highest productivityof red pigment and monacolin K among 29 Monascus strains. Its production of red pigment and monacolin K was 1.3∼39 times and 2.4∼8 times higher than other strains, respectively. Although the morphological characteristics of unidentified Monascus strain were a little different from the typical M. purpureus, it was identified as M. purpureus CBS 281.34 from the result of sequencing of ITS (Internal transcribed spacer) and 28S ribosomal RNA (partial).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.349-352
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• 2010

The production process of cellulosic ethanol from rice straw using acidic saccharification was studied in this experimental work. The hydration by ultrasonic energy and the acidic saccharification using 10~30 wt% of $H_2SO_4$ were performed as pretreatment processes. Also, 10~50 wt% of yeast for 3~6 days was used for fermentation process. The yield of cellulosic ethanol was decided in the fermentation process. The optimum pretreatment condition was 375W of ultrasonic power and 30 min of hydration time using 20 wt% of $H_2SO_4$ and 2 h of the acidic saccharification time. Finally, the optimum fermentation condition was at the condition of 30 wt% of yeast and 3 days of fermentation time.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2022

Aflatoxin contamination in rice has been documented in a number of studies, and has a high incidence in Asian countries, and as such, there has been a growing interest in alternative biocontrol strategies to address this issue. In this study, 147 strains of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were screened for their potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) active against Aspergillus flavus strains that produce aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Five strains within four different genera showed greater than 50% growth inhibition of some strains of A. flavus. These were Anthracocystis sp. DMKU-PAL124, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144, Rhodotorula sp. DMKU-PAL99, and Solicococcus keelungensis DMKU-PAL84. VOCs produced by these microorganisms ranged from 4 to 14 compounds and included alcohols, alkenes, aromatics, esters and furans. The major VOCs produced by the closely related Aureobasidium strains were found to bedistinct. Moreover, 2-phenylethanol was the most abundant compound generated by Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, while methyl benzeneacetate was the major compound emitted from Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144. On the other hand, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were significant compounds produced by the other three genera. These antagonists apparently inhibited A. flavus sporulation and mycelial development. Additionally, the reduction of the AFB1 in the fungal-contaminated rice grains was observed after co-incubation with these VOC-producing strains and ranged from 37.7 ± 8.3% to 60.3 ± 3.4%. Our findings suggest that these same microorganisms are promising biological control agents for use against aflatoxin-producing fungi in rice and other agricultural products.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

Packages of different atmospheres (air (control), 100% CO₂, vacuum, and vacuum + O₂ absorber) were prepared for 0.4 kg rice cake (ddukgukdduk) using gas-barrier plastic film and stored at 10℃ for 11 days. The stored products were evaluated in their packages atmosphere, total aerobic bacteria, yeast and molds, texture and sensory quality during storage period. In the air package, the O₂ concentration decreased from initial 21% to 16% on storage 4 days and the CO₂ concentration increased to 23% on storage of 11 days, which resulted from the growth of microorganisms. CO₂ concentration decreased from initial 98% to 36% on storage 11 days in the 100% CO₂ package. It is reasoned that CO₂ was dissolved into the product reducing the volume of the package. Vacuum and vacuum +O₂ absorber package maintained shrunk vacuum condition until 11 days of storage. Total aerobic bacteria count increased significantly in the control package (6.41 log (cfu/g) after 11 days) compared to the 100% CO₂ package (4.96 log (cfu/g) after 11 days). Yeast and molds were 6.66 in control package, 3.43 in 100% CO₂ package, 4.66 in vacuum package, and 3.78 in vacuum + O₂ absorber package after 11 days. There was no significant difference between control and the other treatments for the texture of the stored products. Sensory quality was the worst in control package on the storage of 8 days. All treatment groups except control improved the quality preservation, but vacuum and vacuum + O₂ absorber packages suffered from cracking of the product. Thus 100% CO₂ flushing is suggested as a desired packaging condition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1557-1567
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• 2012

Glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.6.4.2) is an important enzyme that reduces glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to a sulfydryl form (GSH) in the presence of an NADPH-dependent system. This is a critical antioxidant mechanism. Owing to the significance of GR, this enzyme has been examined in a number of animals, plants, and microbes. We performed a study to evaluate the molecular properties of GR (OsGR) from rice (Oryza sativa). To determine whether heterologous expression of OsGR can reduce the deleterious effects of unfavorable abiotic conditions, we constructed a transgenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain expressing the GR gene cloned into the yeast expression vector p426GPD. OsGR expression was confirmed by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (semiquantitative RT-PCR) assay, Western-blotting, and a test for enzyme activity. OsGR expression increased the ability of the yeast cells to adapt and recover from $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and various stimuli including heat shock and exposure to menadione, heavy metals (iron, zinc, copper, and cadmium), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), ethanol, and sulfuric acid. However, augmented OsGR expression did not affect the yeast fermentation capacity owing to reduction of OsGR by multiple factors produced during the fermentation process. These results suggest that ectopic OsGR expression conferred acquired tolerance by improving cellular homeostasis and resistance against different stresses in the genetically modified yeast strain, but did not affect fermentation ability.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2013

A variety of nuruk were collected from various provinces in Korea, and their microflora profiles were analyzed at the species level. A total of 42 nuruk samples were collected and when the viable cell numbers in these nuruk were enumerated, the average cell numbers of bacteria, fungi, yeast, and lactic acid bacteria from all nuruk were 7.21, 7.91, 3.49, and 4.88 log CFU/10 g, respectively. There were no significant differences in viable cell numbers of bacteria or fungi according to regions collected. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis were the predominant bacterial strains in most samples. A significant portion, 13 out of 42 nuruk, contained foodborne pathogens such as B. cereus or Cronobacter sakazakii. There were various species of lactic acid bacteria such as Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus pentosaceus in nuruk. It was unexpectedly found that only 13 among the 42 nuruk samples contained Aspergillus oryzae, the representative saccharifying fungi in makgeolli, whereas a fungi Lichtheimia corymbifera was widely distributed in nuruk. It was also found that Pichia jadinii was the predominant yeast strain in most nuruk, but the representative alcohol fermentation strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was isolated from only 18 out of the 42 nuruk. These results suggested that a variety of species of fungi and yeast were distributed in nuruk and involved in the fermentation of makgeolli. In this study, a total of 64 bacterial species, 39 fugal species, and 15 yeast species were identified from nuruk. Among these strains, 37 bacterial species, 20 fungal species, and 8 yeast species were distributed less than 0.1%.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.365-369
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• 1997

Glutinous rice Sikhye was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 10 day at 29$^{\circ}C$. Fermentable sugars such as maltose and maltotriose in glutinous rice Sikhye were converted into ethanol by the yeast, but limit dextrin was remained after the fermentation. fermentation rate of sugars in glutinous rice Sikhye was lower than that in rice Sikhye. Glutinous rice Sikhye wine was found to contain 7.3% of limit dextrin, 3.6% of ethanol, 0.35$\mu$mol/ml of amino acid, 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of protein, and the acidity of the Sikhye showed 3.2, respectively, and its pH was 3.23. Limit dextrin in glutinous rice Sikhye wine showed both signal of $\alpha$-1, 4- and $\alpha$-1,6- glucisidic linkage with its estimation ratio of 5.6:1 by 1H-NMR analysis. The taste of rice Sikhye wine was similar that of wine.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2015

In this study, a facile two-step pretreatment method was investigated for producing fermentable sugars. Rice straw was pretreated using electron beam irradiation (EBI) and 4-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. In the first stage, the EBI on the rice straw was carried out at various doses (100, 300, 500 kGy) and then, irradiated rice straw was stirred with NMMO solution at 120°C for 1 h for the second stage. The pretreated rice straw was hydrolyzed by cellulase 1.5 L (70 FPU/ml) and Novozyme-188 (40 CbU/ml) at 50°C for 24, 48, and 72 h. A sugar yield of 83.8% was obtained from the pretreated rice straw after 72 h of enzymatic hydrolysis. Also, FTIR and XRD results indicate that the pretreatment of the rice straw was effective due to the synergic effects of the two-step pretreatment. In conclusion, rice straw might be a potential substrate for bioethanol production by yeast fermentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2011

Korean traditional rice wine, Makgeolli, has been widely consumed with increasing popularity in Korea. Also, there has been an increase in the varieties of Makgeolli for the younger generation. In this study, we examined the physicochemical and microbial properties of Makgeolli supplemented with cucumber during fermentation. Four hundred grams of cucumbers (20% of the total amount of rice) were grinded and added to the rice solution (2 kg rice and 3.12 L distilled water) along with the Nuruk (40 g) and yeast (14 g). After mixing the solution, it was fermented for six days in a water bath ($28^{\circ}C$). During the fermentation, the pH value of the cucumber Makgeolli fell from 5.88 to 3.94 on day-1, and steadily increased to a pH value of 4.48 by day-6. The total acidity of the cucumber Makgeolli sharply increased from 0.02 to 0.20% on day-1, and then slowly increased thereafter to 0.28% by day-6. After the 6-day fermentation, the L values of the control and the cucumber Makgeolli were similar. The total viable cell, lactic acid bacteria and yeast count of the control and the cucumber Makgeolli increased considerably after the 6-day fermentation process. Free sugar analysis showed that glucose contents decreased with increasing fermentation periods. The succinic acid content was the highest among all the organic acids. Thirty-nine volatile compounds were observed on the final day of fermentation in the cucumber Makgeolli.