• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.614-622
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• 2013

Daqu, a traditional fermentation starter, has been used to produce attractively flavored foods such as vinegar and Chinese liquor for thousands of years. Although Bacillus spp. are one of the dominant microorganisms in Daqu, more precise information is needed to reveal why and how Bacillus became dominant in Daqu, and next, to assess the impact of Bacillus sp. on Daqu and its derived products. We combined culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to study the ecology of Bacillus during Daqu incubation. Throughout the incubation, 67 presumptive Bacillus spp. isolates were obtained, 52 of which were confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing. The identified organisms belonged to 8 Bacillus species: B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, and B. anthracis. A primer set specific for Bacillus and related genera was used in a selective PCR study, followed by a nested DGGE PCR targeting the V9 region of the 16S rDNA. Species identified from the PCR-DGGE fingerprints were related to B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus, B. benzoevorans, and B. foraminis. The predominant species was found to be B. licheniformis. Certain B. licheniformis strains exhibited potent antimicrobial activities. The greatest species diversity occurred at the Liangmei stage of Daqu incubation. To date, we lack sufficient knowledge of Bacillus distribution in Daqu. Elucidating the ecology of Bacillus during Daqu incubation would enable the impact of Bacillus on Daqu to be accessed, and the quality and stabilization of Daqu-derived products to be optimized.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 1997

A DNA fragment containing the gene for cell wall hydrolase of alkalophilic Bacillus subtilis BL-29 was cloned into E. coli JM109 using pUC18 as a vector. A recombinant plasmid, designated pCWL45B, was contained in the fragment originating from the alkalophilic B. subtilis BL-29 chromosomal DNA by Southern hybridization analysis. The nucleotide sequence of a 1.6-kb HindIII fragment containing a cell wall hydrolase-encoding gene was determined. The nucleotide sequence revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 900 bp with a concensus ribosome-binding site located 6 nucleotide upstream from the ATG start codon. The primary amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence revealed a putative protein of 299 amino acid residues with an M.W. of 33, 206. Based on comparison of the amino acid sequence of the ORF with amino acid sequences in the GenBank data, it showed significant homology to the sequence of cell wall amidase of the PBSX bacteriophage of B. subtilis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 1991

A gene coding for a $\beta$-galactosidase of Bacillus subtilis HP-4 was cloned in E. coli JM109 by inserting HindIII digested fragment of B. subtilis HP-4 chromosomal DNA into the site of pBR322 and selecting recombinant transformant showing blue color on X-gal plate. The recombinant plasmid, named pBG109, was found to contain the 1.4 Kbp HindIII fragment originated from B. subtilis HP-4 chromosomal DNA by Southern hybridization. The cloned gene was stably maintained and expressed in E. coli JM109 and the pBG109 encoded $\beta$-galactosidase had the same enzymatic properties as those of $\beta$-galactosidase produced by B. subtilis HP-4.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.718-723
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• 1998

The effect of glycyrrhizin on melanoma cells was investigated. DNA fragmentation in cultured melanoma cells was promoted by the addition of glycyrrhizin in a dose dependent manner. Administration(i.m.) of glycyrrhizin to Mel/ret transgenic mice resulted in apoptosis induction, reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in melanoma cells. Decreased B220+ B cells were recovered by the treatment of glycyrrhizin in splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells, while Thy-1+ T cells were not influenced. Results suggested that glycyrrhizin acted as an inducer of apoptosis of melanoma cells and an immuno-potentiator via recovered B lymphocyte population in Mel/ret transgenic mice.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-463
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• 1999

This study was undertaken to test for antiviral activity of the aqueous extracts prepared from 4 medicinal plants of Korea (Terminalia chebula, Sanguisorba officinalia, Rubus coreanus, Rheum palmatum). Aqueous extracts were assayed for the inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by measurement of HBV DNA and surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in the extracellular medium of HepG2 2.2.15 cells. All extracts decreased the levels of extracellular HBV virion DNA at concentrations ranging from 64 to $128{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and inhibited the production of HBsAg dose-dependently. Among the 4 tested plants, Terminalia chebula exhibits the most prominent anti-HBV activities. Our findings suggest that these 4 medicinal plants may have potential to develop as specific anti-HBV drugs in the future.

• Kyungpook Mathematical Journal
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.287-301
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• 2024

From the mathematical and statistical point of view, a segment of a DNA strand can be viewed as a sequence of four-state (A, C, G, T) trials. Herein, we consider the distributions of runs and patterns related to the run lengths of multi-state sequences, especially for four states (A, B, C, D). Let X₁, X₂, . . . be a sequence of four state independent and identically distributed trials taking values in the set 𝒢 = {A, B, C, D}. In this study, we obtain exact formulas for the probability distribution function for the discrete distribution of runs of B's of order k. We obtain longest run statistics, shortest run statistics, and determine the distributions of waiting times and run lengths.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1991

Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) was successfully multiplied in the nuclear of BmN4 cells cultured with insect Grace's medium. By electron microscopic observation, the virons had a single nucleocapsid in an envelope. Polyhedral protein synthesis of BmNPV in BmN4 cells was detected at 18 hr p.i. and polyhedral protein was a singlepolypeptide with a M.W of 30 kd. At 48 hr p.i. polyhedra formation was observed by inverted mociroscope and electron microscope. Genome analysis of BmNPV by restriction endonucleases was not revealed the difference between virus produced in vivo and that in vitro.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 1995

The effects of DNA polymerase $\beta$ on the somatic chromosome mutations and mitotic recombinations were investigated using the transgenic Drosophila beating chimetic gene consisting of a promoter region of Drosophila actin 5C gene and rat DNA polymerase $\beta$. For detecting the somatic chromosome mutations and mitotic recombinations, the heterozygous (mwh/+) strains possessing or lacking transgene poi 13 were used. The spontaneous frequency of small mwh spots, due to deletion or nondisjunction etc., in the non-transgenic w strain and the transgenic p[pol $\beta$]-130 strain was 0.351 and 0.606, respectively. The spontaneous frequency (0.063) of large mwh spots, arises mostly from somatic recombination between the centromere and the locus mwh, in the transgenic p[pol $\beta$]-130 strain was about three times higher than that (0.021) of the non-transgenic w strain. The mutant clone frequencies of small and large mwh spots induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and ethyl methanesulfonate in the transformant p[pol $\beta$]-130 were higher than those in the host strain w. The present results suggest that rat DNA polymerase $\beta$ participate at least in the somatic chromosome mutations and mitotic recombination processes.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2007

Previously, we have reported that PLGA nanoparticles were prepared for sustained release of water-soluble blue dextran and the particle size, in vitro release pattern and encapsulation were modulated by varying polymers. This study was designed to encapsulate plasmid DNA in PLGA nanoparticles and to investigate the effect of Polymers and temperatures. PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated with poloxamer 188 (P188) or poloxamer 407 (P407) by using spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. As a model plasmid DNA, pCMV-Taq2B/1L-18 was encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles. Then, the particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles containing plasmid DNA were investigated. Particle sizes of PLGA nanoparticles prepared with P188 and P407 were in the range of 200-330 nm and 250-290 nm, respectively. Zeta potentials of nanoparticles were negative regardless of nanoparticle compositions. Encapsulation efficiency of P407 nanoparticles prepared at $30^{\circ}C$ was higher than those at other preparation condition. From the results, the PLGA nanoparticles prepared with poloxamers at different temperature, could modulate the particles size of nanoparticles, and encapsulation efficiency of plasmid DNA.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 1999

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 54 specimens of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) species complex sampled from the southern coast of Korea was assayed for polymorphism with a portion of the COIII gene (336 bp). Fifteen haplotypes were found. PAUP, one-step networks, and PHYLIP analyses revealed the presence of two clearly differentiated mitochondrial clades (termed clades B and E), separated by 3.6% of minimum sequence divergence. The distribution pattern of the species appears to be consistent with category II of the phylogeographic pattern sensu (Avise et al., 1987): the presence of two discontinuous and distinct mtDNA genotypes in the same geographic region. This unusual mitochondrial polymorphism was explained by the presence of the Mediterranean species, M. galloprovincialis, possessing mtDNA of both M. galloprovincialis and M. edulis.