• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2015

Three new fungal species of the genus Mortierella, Mortierella zychae, Mortierella ambigua, and Mortierella indohii, have been reported in Korea. The fungi were encountered during a study on the fungal community of soil samples collected from different locations in Korea. The species were identified based on molecular and morphological analyses. This study presents detailed descriptions of the morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analysis of these three fungi. All three species were found to be sensitive to triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. M. zychae demonstrated the highest intensity of mycelial staining, indicating that this species has the highest potential to produce arachidonic acid of the three species. The staining results indicated that the newly recorded species could potentially be useful for arachidonic acid production.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2018

Members of the genus Mortierella (Mortierellales) are filamentous fungi, which are found on nearly all substrates, but more frequently in soil. Till date, 7 species of Mortierella have been reported in Korea, but being a ubiquitous group with high species diversity in temperate zones, this number is still low. During a survey of fungal biodiversity in Korea, we collected many isolates of Mortierella, and through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, identified them to be 3 previously unrecorded species, namely, M. chienii, M. epicladia, and M. gamsii. A total of 10 Mortierella species in Korea, including the 3 species reported in the present study, are widely distributed in 5 out of 7 phylogenetic groups of this genus. This indicates that the diversity of Mortierella was so far underestimated in Korea. Multi-locus sequence analysis is required to provide a more reliable backbone for some uncertain phylogenetic groupings and to more clearly define a species of Mortierella, which would encourage deeper research in the diversity and ecological roles of Mortierella and allied genera.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1084-1091
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• 2002

Mortierella alpina, a common soil fungus, is the most efficient organism for production of production acid presently known. Since arachidonic acid are important in human brain and retina development, it was undertaken the growing effect containing diet as a food ingredient. Arachidonic acid rich oil derived from Mortierella alpina, was subjected to a program of studies to establish for use in diet supplement. This study was compared the growth and learning effect of fungal oil rich in arachidonic acid by incorporated into diets ad libitum. Sprague-Dawley rats received experimental diets 5 groups (standard AIN 93 based control with beef tallow, extract oil 8%, and 4%, and Mortierella alpina in diet 10% and 20%) over all experiment duration (pre-mating, mating, gestation, lactation, and after weaning 4 weeks). Pups born during this period consumed same diets after wean for 4 weeks. There was no statistical significance of diet effects in reproductive performance and fertility from birth to weaning. But the groups of Mortierella alpine diet were lower of weight gain and diet intake after weaning. The serum lipids were significantly different with diet groups, higher TG in LO (oil 4%) group of dams, and higher total cholesterol in LF (M. alpina 10%) of pups, although serum albumin content was not significantly different in diet group. The spent-time and memory effect within 4 weeks of T-Morris water maze pass test in dam and 7-week- age pups did not differ in diet groups. On the count of backing error in weaning period of pups was lower in HO(extracted oil 8%) group. In the group of 10% and 20% Mortierella alpina diet, DNA content was lower in brain with lower body weight, but liver DNA relative to body weight was higher than control. Further correlation analyses would be needed DNA and arachidonic acid intakes, with Mortierella alpina diet digestion rate.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.401-404
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• 2014

A new recorded species of Mortierella was recovered during the investigation of fungal communities in soil samples collected from different locations of Gangwon-do, Korea. The species was identified and described as Mortierella alpina on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences and morphological characteristics. This species has not been officially reported from Korea thus far.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 2004

Experiments were carried out to select an organic nitrogen source and optimize the culture conditions for the production of arachidonic acid by Mortierella alpina DSA-12. Corn steep powder(CSP) was selected as an organic nitrogen source based on arachidonic acid production and raw material price. The optimum C/N ratio was in the range of 15 to 17 with the medium containing glucose as carbon source and CSP as nitrogen source. The optimum culture conditions for arachidonic acid production showed 500 rpm agitation and 25$^{\circ}C$ culture temperature at 0.5 vvm aeration. Under the optimum conditions, the concentration of cell, total lipid and arachidonic acid were 21.8 g/L, 10.2 g/L and 3.70 g/L, respectively, from 50 g/L glucose and 18 g/L CSP. In the 500 L fermenter with 0.5 vvm aeration and 200 rpm agitation, the concentration of cell, total lipid and arachidonic acid were 19.8 g/L, 9.1 g/L and 3.67 g/L, respectively, from 50 g/L glucose and 18 g/L CSP. This result showed that an arachidonic acid production could be possible with a bench-scale fermenter using corn steep powder as a nitrogen source.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.405-408
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• 2015

The deacidified oil obtained from the oleaginous fungus, Mortierella sp. (M-12) was bleached, after degumming, using activated clay under a 50-100 mmHg vacuum. The bleaching conditions were partially optimized as follows: activated clay, 1%, bleaching temperature $90^{\circ}C$, and treatment time 20 min. After bleaching, the color of bleached oil as determined by the Lovibond Tintometer, satisfied the specification for edible fats and oils. The bleaching process also decreased the contents of free fatty acids and phosphorus in the deacidified oil. The acid value of the bleached oil also satisfied the specification for edible fats and oils. It was early shown that the normal bleaching process can be used for the bleaching of heavily-colored microbial lipids for human consumption.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.252-262
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• 2002

The growing interest in the application of arachidonic acid (ARA) in various fields of health and dietary requirements has elicited much attention on the industrial production of ARA-containing oil by the cultivation of Mortierella fungi. For the industrial production of ARA, various studies, such as isolation of a high-potential strain and optimization of culture conditions, have been conducted. Studies including the investigation of morphology are important because ARA is accumulated in the mycelia, and thus cultivation with high biomass concentration is essential for obtaining a high ARA yield. Combining the results derived from various studies, a high ARA yield was attained in an industrial fermentor. These ARA production techniques are applicable to the production of other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and will contribute to the improvement of fermentation technology especially in the field of fungal cultivation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.346-349
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• 2016

During a survey of fungal diversity of the order Mortierellales, a zygomycete strain, EML-YS717-1, was isolated from a freshwater sample collected from the Yeongsan River in Gwangju, Korea. Based on its morphological characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S rDNA sequences, the strain was identified as Mortierella minutissima. To the best of our knowledge, M. minutissima, has not previously been authentically reported in Korea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2011

[ ${\alpha}$ ]Galactosidase was purified from a culture filtrate of Mortierella sp. by CM-sephadex C-50, and subsequent Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The final preparation thus obtained showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was determined to be 56 kDa. $Gal^3Man^4$ ($6^3$-mono-O-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-${\beta}$-D-mannotetraose), $Gal^{2,3}Man_5$ ($6^{2,3}$-di-O-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-${\beta}$-D-mannopentaose), $Gal_2Man_3$ ($6^2$-mono-O-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-${\beta}$-D-mannotriose), $Gal^2Man_6$ ($6^2$-mono-O-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-${\beta}$-D-mannohexaose) and $Gal^2Man_5$ ($6^2$-mono-O-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-${\beta}$-D-mannopentaose), prepared from 3 types of microbial ${\beta}$-mannnanase, were used as substrates. $Gal^3Man_4$ and $Gal^2Man_3$ had a stubbed ${\alpha}$-galactosyl residue on the $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ mannose from the reducing end of mannotetraose and mannotriose, thus ${\alpha}$-galactosidase showed a preference for stubbed ${\alpha}$-galactosyl residue. ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase hydrolyzed $Gal^3Man_4$ more rapidly than $Gal^2Man_3$. However, ${\alpha}$-galactosidase hardly acted on $Gal^{2,3}Man_5$, $Gal^2Man_6$ or $Gal^2Man_5$. The enzyme hydrolyzed melibiose to galactose and glucose, raffinose to galactose and sucrose, and also stachyose to galactose and raffinose.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.155-165
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• 2023

In this study, we isolated several fungal strains from filtered water and sediment collected from rivers and streams. The strains were identified by molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA sequences (internal transcribed spacer [ITS], large subunit of ribosomal DNA [LSU]). The morphological characteristics of the fungi were investigated using microscopy, and the culture characteristics of fungi grown on several media were examined. We identified four species previously unknown in South Korea, namely, Dissophora globulifera, Linnemannia exigua, Mortierella rishikesha and Umbelopsis autotrophica.