• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.552-558
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• 2012

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a severe respiratory infectious disease caused by a novel human coronavirus, SARS-CoV. The 3CL protease is a key enzyme in the proteolytic processing of replicase polyprotein precursors, pp1a and pp1ab, which mediate all the functions required for viral genomic replication and transcription. Therefore, this enzyme is a target for the development of chemotherapeutic agents against SARS. A large quantity of active SARS-3CL protease is required for development of anti-SARS agents. Here we have constructed overexpression vector for the production of the SARS-3CL protease. The gene encoding SARS-3CL protease was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the pET29a expression vector, resulting in pET29a/SARS-3CLP. Recombinant SARS-3CL protease was successfully synthesized by the dialysis mode of the cell-free protein expression system, and purified by three-step fast protein liquid chromatography using HighQ and MonoP column chromatographies and Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. In addition, the produced SARS-3CL protease was found to be an active mature form. This study provides efficient methods not only for the development of anti-SARS materials from natural sources, but also for the study of basic properties of the SARS-3CL protease.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 1982

The strain of Aspergillus, 6368A, producing acid protease showing high activity was isolated from soil, as a result of wide research about mold group. This strain was identified as a species of Aspergillus tubingensis by the investigation of morphological characteristics. The change of the enzyme production under the various media and culture condition was also studied. The optimum pH and stability of crude acid protease are 2.5, 2.0~4.5 and the optimum temeprature and thermal inactivation waas shown $50^{\circ}C,\;55^{\circ}C$, respectively. From the result of the study on the effects of metal ions, it was found that $MnCl_2,\;CoCl_2,\;CuCl_2,\;SrCl_2,\;and\;NiCl_2$ slightly increased the enzyme activity, on the other hand $ZnCl_2,\;CaCl_2,\;MgCl_2,\;SLS,\;and\;KMnO_4$ decreased it.

• Mycobiology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2004

An alkaline protease produced by Aspergillus niger C-15 was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified 19.41-fold with a specific activity of 74150 U/mg and a recovery of 34.4% by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 34 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the protease activity were pH 8.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity inhibited by EDTA suggests that the preparation contains a metalloprotease. The enzyme activity of the metalloprotease was completely inhibited by 5 mM $HgCl_2$ and $FeCl_3$, while partially inhibited by $CuSO_4$, and $MnCl_2$. When polyols such as glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol, were added to the reaction medium, most polyols tested enhanced protease activity. Especially, glycerol showed the highest effect. The alkaline metalloprotease was stable at high temperature and retained more than 90% of the initial activity at $60^{\circ}C$ and 86.4% under addition of glycerol.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

A bacterium producing the extracellular protease was isolated from insect-eating plant and has been identified as a member of the genus Bacillus based on partial 165 rRNA sequences. In order to develop the medium composition, effects of ingredients including nitrogen sources, carbon source, metal ions and phosphate were examined for protease production of the isolate, SH-8. Soluble starch increased the protease productivity, while glucose repressed it. Yeast extract was effective nitrogen source for enzyme production, but the pretense production of Bacillus sp. SH-8 was reduced by large amount of yeast extract. The calcium was found to induce pretense activity as well as protease productivity. However, cell growth and enzyme production was completely inhibited by divalent ions such as $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$. The maximum protease productivity was reached 435 unit/ml in the optimized medium consisting of soluble starch (2%), yeast extract (0.3%), $CaCl_2$ (0.3%), $K_2HPO_4$ (0.01%) and $KH_2PO_4$ (0.01%). The pretense activity of culture filtrate was dramatically decreased after incubation for 26 h.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2016

An alkaline protease was purified and characterized from an alkalophilic microorganism, Bacillus sp. DK1122, isolated from soil in central Korea. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth of the producer strain were 40℃ and pH 9.0, respectively. The protease was produced aerobically at 40℃ after 24 h incubation in modified Horikoshi I medium (pH 9.0) containing 0.5% (w/v) glucose, 0.8% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.5% (w/v) polypeptone, 0.1% (w/v) K₂HPO₄, 0.02% (w/v) MgSO₄·7H₂O, 1% (w/v) Na₂CO₃, and 3% (w/v) NaCl. The alkaline protease was purified by 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation of the culture supernatant of Bacillus sp. DK1122, followed by CM-Sepharose chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 27 kDa on the basis of SDS-PAGE. The optimum temperature and pH for the protease activity were 60℃ and pH 9.0, respectively. Addition of CaCl₂ increased the thermal stability of the purified protease, where 90% of protease activity was retained at 60℃ for up to 3 h. Consequently, it is expected that the alkaline protease from this study, exhibiting stability at pH 7–9 and 60℃, may be promising for application in the food and detergent industries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1612-1617
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• 2009

Aspergillus sp. 101 was isolated from the Korean traditional soybean paste for the production of a salt-tolerant protease. The optimal condition for the production of a salt-tolerant protease was determined with various energy sources such as carbon, nitrogen, and protein, and at different culture conditions such as temperature, pH, incubation time and NaCl concentration. The most favorable organic nitrogen sources were 2% defatted soybean flour (DSF) and soy protein isolate (SPI). Optimal pH and temperature were pH 6.0 and $25{\sim}27^{\circ}C$, respectively. Therefore, Aspergillus sp. 101 protease was a mild acid (or neutral) protease. Protease production was the highest at 0.1% concentration of $CaCO_3,\;K_2HPO_4$ and Arabicgum. Aspergillus sp. 101 could grow in culture medium at 15% NaCl concentration and produce a salt-tolerant protease even at 7% NaCl. The cell mass and protease activity of Aspergillus sp. 101 cultured in a modified medium was comparatively higher in Czapek dox and protease producing media. Hence, Aspergillus sp. 101 protease can be utilized in soy or fish sauce industry as a salt-tolerant protease starter.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1999

As a preliminary study for the explanation of pathobiology of Neodiplostomum seoulense infection. a 54 kDa protease was purified from the crude extract of adult worms by sequential chromatographic methods. The crude extract was subjected to DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column, and protein was eluted using 25 mM Tris-HC1 (pH 7.4) containing 0.05. 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 M NaC1 in stepwise elution. The 0.2 M NaCl fraction was further purified by Q-Sepharose chromatography and protein was eluted using 20 mM sodium acetate (pH 6.4) containing 0.05, 0.1. 0.2 and 0.3 M NaCl, respectively. The 0.1M NaCl fraction showed a single protein band on SDS-PAGE carried out on a 7.5-15% gradient gel. The proteolytic activities of the purified enzyme were specifically inhibited by L-trans-epoxy-succinylleucylamide (4-guanidino) butane (E-64) and iodoacetic acid. The enzyme, cysteine protease. showed the maximum proteolytic activity at pH 6.0 in 0.1 M buffer, and degraded extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin with different activities. It is suggested that the cysteine protease may playa role in the nutrient uptake of N. seoulense from the host intestine.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.285-288
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• 2016

Proteolytic enzymes perform hydrolysis of the peptide bonds in the protein and most commonly use in the industry. Pseudoxanthomonas sp. WD12 and WD32 were previously isolated as protease producers from a rotten wood sample. Here, we report the secreted proteolytic enzymes. The optimum enzyme reaction temperature for the secreted crude enzyme from the strain WD12 and WD32 were $50^{\circ}C$ at pH 9.0 and $45^{\circ}C$ at pH 8.0, respectively. The enzyme activities of both strains were increased by addition of KCl, NaCl, $CaCl_2$ or $MnSO_4$, and decreased by addition of $AgNO_3$, $CuSO_4$, $FeCl_3$ or $AlCl_3$. Secreted enzymes of both strains were most strongly inhibited by addition of $FeCl_3$ or $CuSO_4$. Taken together these results, WD12 could be a candidate strain of industrial alkaline protease production.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2003

A keratinolytic protease was purified from the culture medium of Pseudomonas sp. KP-364 by use of an assay of the hydrolysis of feather keratin. Membrane ultrafiltration and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange resin and Sephadex G-150 gel chromatographies were used to purify the enzyme. The specific activity of the purified keratinolytic protease relative to that in the original medium was approximately 72-fold high. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex G-150 chromatography indicated that the purified keratinolytic protease is monomeric and has a molecular weight of 36 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature of the keratinolytic protease activity were 6.6 and 37 C, respectively, and the keratinolytic protease was relatively stable at pH value from 3.0 to 10.0 at 37 C for 1hour. The keratinolytic protease was inhibited by EDTA and EGTA, indicating that the keratinolytic protease was a kind of metalloprotease that require Li+ for cofactor.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2004

A marine bacterium for producing an collagenolytic protease was isolated from the southern sea of Korea and identified as Vibrio vulnificus and named as Vibrio vulnificus CYK279H. This strain producing an collagenolytic protease was showed high activity toward collagen and gelatin as substrate. The optimum initial pH, NaCl, and temperature for cell growth and protease production was 7.5, 2.0% and 25$^{\circ}C$, respectively. Optimization for collagenolytic protease production was composed of 0.3% D-galactose, 0.6% yeast extract, 4.0% gelatin, 0.2% (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$, and 0.2 mM ferric citrate in artificial sea water. The maximum protease production was required gelatin and yeast extract. The collagenolytic protease production by Vibrio vulnificus CYK279H reached a maximum of 73 unit/l after the cultivation for 18 h under the optimized medium.