• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.344-350
• /
• 2006

Thermoplasma acidophilum is a thermoacidophilic archaeon that grows optimally at $59^{\circ}C$ and pH 2. Along with another thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus solfataricus, it is known to metabolize glucose by the non-phosphorylated Entner-Doudoroff (nED) pathway. In the course of these studies, the specific activities of glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase and glycerate kinase, two enzymes that are involved in the downstream part of the nED pathway, were found to be much higher in T. acidophilum than in S. solfataricus. To characterize glycerate kinase, the enzyme was purified to homogeneity from T. acidophilum cell extracts. The N-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme was in exact agreement with that of Ta0453m in the genome database, with the removal of the initiator methionine. Furthermore, the enzyme was a monomer with a molecular weight of 49kDa and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with $K_m$ values of 0.56 and 0.32mM for DL-glycerate and ATP, respectively. The enzyme also exhibited excellent thermal stability at $70^{\circ}C$. Of the seven sugars and four phosphate donors tested, only DL-glycerate and ATP were utilized by glycerate kinase as substrates. In addition, a coupled enzyme assay indicated that 2-phosphoglycerate was produced as a product. When divalent metal ions, such as $Mn^{2+},\;CO^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;Ca^{2+},\;and\;Sr^{2+}$, were substituted for $Mg^{2+}$ the enzyme activities were less than 10% of that obtained in the presence of $Mg^{2+}$. The amino acid sequence of T. acidophilum glycerate kinase showed no similarity with E. coli glycerate kinases, which belong to the first glycerate kinase family. This is the first report on the biochemical characterization of an enzyme which belongs to a member of the second glycerate kinase family.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 1999

The effects of carnosine and related compounds (CRC) including anserine, homocarnosine, histidine, and ${\beta}$-alanine, found in most mammalian tissues, were investigated on in vitro glucose oxidation and glycation of human serum albumin (HSA). Carnosin and anserine were more reactive with D-glucose than with L-lysine. In the presence of $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II), although carnosine and anserine at low concentrations effectively inhibited formation of ${\alpha}$-ketoaldehyde from D-glucose, they increased generation of $H_2O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner. Carnosine, homocarnosine, anserine, and histidine effectively inhibited hydroxylation of salicylate and deoxyribose degradation in the presence of glucose and $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II). In the presence of 25 mM D-glucose, copper and ascorbic acid stimulated carbonyl formation from HSA. Except for ${\beta}$-alanine, CRC effectively inhibited the copper-catalyzed carbonyl formation from HSA. The addition of 25 mM D-glucose and/or $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II) to low density lipoprotein (LDL) increased formation of conjugated dienes. CRC effectively inhibited the glucose and/or copper-catalyzed LDL oxidation. CRC also inhibited glycation of HSA as determined by hydroxymethyl furfural and lysine with free ${\varepsilon}$-amino group. These results suggest that CRC may play an important role in protecting against diabetic complications by reacting with sugars, chelating copper, and scavenging free radicals.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.1410-1414
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to develop a vinegar by an onion juice. Onions are considered to be a promising source of the vinegar because these are rich in sugars, amino acids and various nutrients. An Acetobacter for an acetic acid fermentation was isolated and used from vinegars produced by industrial goods or from matured Kimchi. When supplemented with 2-8% ethanol into an onionic juice medium, the highest production of the acetic acid was observed at 9 days by addition of 4% ethanol. Optimum temperature and aeration for acetic acid production were exhibited at $30^{\circ}C$ and 200 rpm, respectively. A flask containing larger air-contact surface region for fermentation was produced the more acetic acid than that of a test tube. Taken all these together, an optimum condition for the acetic acid fermentation was over 9 days at $30^{\circ}C$, 200 rpm with 5% alcohol and 2% initial acidity. When fermented by the upper condition, the final product contains 5.2% total acidity and less than 1% ethanol. These are suitable for conditions of fruit vinegar notified by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2004

The quality characteristics of traditional Korean Takju fermented with discolored, broken, and milled rice were evaluated. Initial pH of medium and culure temperature for the alcohol fermentation were 4.2 and 26$^{\circ}C$, respectively. After 5 days of cultivation, final pH and temperature were 4.0 and 23.5$^{\circ}C$. The alcohol contents in fermentation of discolored and broken rice was about 18.0％ and that of milled rice was 18.7％. The content of succinic acid was highest in organic acid components of products fermented three materials respectively. The major volatiles were 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, n-propanol and ethyl acetate. In free amino acid composition of mashes, alanine retained more than 1000 mg％. Free sugars contained in mashes such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose were also analysed by HPLC. Results of sensory evaluation in taste, aroma, color were showed good score above 4.3.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.273-278
• /
• 1987

The physicochemical properties of dried oak mushrooms were investigated to determine the comparative effects of ethylene oxide (E.O) fumigation and gamma irradiation with doses at 1 and 5 kGy. The total amino acid content was relatively stable in irradiated groups in comparison with the control. Treatments with gamma irradiation did not effect the content of reducing sugar but caused en increase in free sugars, such as mannitol, arabitol and trehalose. There were no significant differences in concentrations of minerals. The amount of water and fat soluble pigments and the rancidity of the samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$ increased with increasing the storage time and the relative humidity, and the tendency to change was more apparent in E.O. fumigated sample than gamma irradiated one.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.124
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2001

A lectin was purified from Allomyrina dichotoma (ADL) by physiological saline extraction, ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion exchange column chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and gel filtration column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. Several biochemical properties of ADL were characterized as follows: ADL from gel filtration column chromatography showed single band on SDS-PAGE. ADL agglutinated the erythrocytes of rabbit and human A, B, O, AB. Agglutinability was relatively stable at basic pH, and was stable at temperature below $40^{\circ}C$. Agglutinability was not affected by metal ions and EDTA. This lectin was proved to be a glycoprotein which contains 0.47% of sugars. The molecular weight of ADL was estimated to be 97,000 dalton by SDS-PAGE. By amino acid analysis, ADL exhibited high amounts of aspartic acid. The lectin's immunomodulating effect was measured as cytokine production. The productions of 5 cytokines $(IL-1{\alpha},\;IL-2,\;IL-6,\;IFN{\gamma}\;and\;TNF{\alpha})$ from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by ELISA. The lectin induced the highest secretion of IL-2 at 8 hr, $TNF{\alpha}$ at 4 hr, and $IFN{\gamma}$ at 24hr, respectively. These results suggest that ADL can elicit the production of detectable cytokines from PBMC.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 1980

This experiment was carried out to improve the method of koji preparation by using stainless steel frays which were specially designed and covered with lids. To elucidate changes in chemical composition and formation of enzymes during the preparation of koji with glutinous rice for red pepper paste. professes, amylases, reducing sugars, nitrogens, and microbial contaminations were determined and compared with the case of using trays without lids. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The activities of protease and amylases (both liquefying and saccharifying activities) during the koji preparation were found to be higher incase of using the trays with lids than that without lids. 2. The contents of moisture, soluble nitrogen, amino nitrogen, and reducing sugar were also higher in case of using the trays with lids. 3. Contamination by yeasts and bacteria were markedly low in the trays with lids. 4. Temperature of koji was higher in the trays with lids, however the level of moisture loss was 1ower.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.8
• /
• pp.1156-1168
• /
• 2020

Drought stress is threatening the growth and productivity of many economical crops. Therefore, it is necessary to establish innovative and efficient approaches for improving crop growth and productivity. Here we investigated the potentials of the cell-free extract of Actinobacteria (Ac) isolated from a semi-arid habitat (Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia) to recover the reduction in maize growth and improve the physiological stress tolerance induced by drought. Three Ac isolates were screened for production of secondary metabolites, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The isolate Ac3 revealed the highest levels of flavonoids, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in addition to having abilities to produce siderophores and phytohormones. Based on seed germination experiment, the selected bioactive fraction of Ac3 cell-free extract (F2.7, containing mainly isoquercetin), increased the growth and photosynthesis rate under drought stress. Moreover, F2.7 application significantly alleviated drought stress-induced increases in H₂O₂, lipid peroxidation (MDA) and protein oxidation (protein carbonyls). It also increased total antioxidant power and molecular antioxidant levels (total ascorbate, glutathione and tocopherols). F2.7 improved the primary metabolism of stressed maize plants; for example, it increased in several individuals of soluble carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acids. Interestingly, to reduce stress impact, F2.7 accumulated some compatible solutes including total soluble sugars, sucrose and proline. Hence, this comprehensive assessment recommends the potentials of actinobacterial cell-free extract as an alternative ecofriendly approach to improve crop growth and quality under water deficit conditions.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to find out optimum conditions for kanjang fermented with barley bran. The correlation between taste components and sensory evaluation score was analyzed with stepwise multiple regression analysis. It was revealed that the taste of kanjang was explained with the mix of free amino acids, free sugars and organic acids. The highest multiple correlation coefficient was obtained from absolute value transformed with logarithm. Thus, stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted with absolute value transformed with logarithm, for which F-value was highest and standard error of estimation was lowest among the multiple regression models transformed with six variables. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the taste components which most contribute to the quality of taste of kanjang fermented with barley bran was salty taste component followed by palatable taste component, and bitter taste component.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.387-393
• /
• 1988

Changes in chemical composition, viscosity and color during fermentation of improved Kochoojang from four starch sources (wheat, barley, rice and glutinous rice) were examined. Analyses included measurements of moisture, reducing sugars, amino nitrogen, pH, total acidity, viscosity, color and sensory panel scores for viscosity, color, odor and taste. Changes in chemical composition were similar for all Kochoojang products. Decrease in viscosity was greatest during the first 10 days of fermentation. Hunter tristimulus values decreased gradually during fermentation, and total color difference after 60 days was greatest for rice flour Kochoojang. Sensory evaluation showed that the viscosity of rice flour Kochoojang was less desirable than that of the others. However, no significant differences were found in color, odor and taste of all Kochoojang products. A high negative correlation was observed between Hunter a value and visual preference.