• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

To reutilize fisheries waste, we isolated a bacterial strain from a coastal area located in Busan. It was identified as Bacillus licheniformis TK3-Y. Using plate assay and 500-mL flask experiments, we found that the isolate simultaneously possessed cellulolytic, proteolytic, and lipolytic activities with salt tolerance. 10% (v/v) inoculums, were used to examine the biodegradation characteristics of the TK3-Y strain on carboxymethylcellulose, skim milk, and olive oil media. The optimum conditions for pH, temperature, agitation speed, and NaCl concentration on each 1% substrate were 6, $50^{\circ}C$, 180 rpm, and 17.5%, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the TK3-Y strain showed 1.07 U/mL cellulolytic, 1,426 U/mL proteolytic, and 6.45 U/mL lipolytic activities. Each enzyme was stable within a range of 17.5-35% NaCl. Therefore, the salt tolerance ability of strain TK3-Y was superior to other related strains. In degradation of a mixed medium containing all three substrates, both the cellulolytic and proteolytic activities were somewhat lower than those on each single substrate, while the lipolytic activity was somewhat higher. From the above results, the TK3-Y strain appears to be a good candidate for use in the efficient treatment of fisheries waste in which components are not collected separately.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2127-2137
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• 2016

A mangrove microbial community was analyzed at the gene and protein levels using metagenomic and proteomic methods with the green macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera as the substrate. Total DNA was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 PE-100 platform. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for proteomic analysis. The metagenomic data revealed that the orders Pseudomonadales, Rhizobiales, and Sphingomonadales were the most prevalent in the mangrove microbial community. By monitoring changes at the functional level, proteomic analyses detected ATP synthase and transporter proteins, which were expressed mainly by members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Members of the phylum Proteobacteria expressed a high number of sugar transporters and demonstrated specialized and efficient digestion of various glycans. A few glycoside hydrolases were detected in members of the phylum Firmicutes, which appeared to be the main cellulose-degrading bacteria. This is the first report of multiple "omics" analysis of E. prolifera degradation. These results support the fact that key enzymes of glycoside hydrolase family were expressed in large quantities, indicating the high metabolic activity of the community.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2014

Environmental microorganisms are emerging as an important source of new enzymes for wide-scale industrial application. In this study, novel phytase genes were identified from a soil microbial community. For this, a function-based screening approach was utilized for the identification of phytase activity in a metagenomic library derived from an agricultural soil. Two novel phytases were identified. Interestingly, one of these phytases is an unusual histidine acid phosphatase family phytase, as the conserved motif of the active site of PhyX possesses an additional amino acid residue. The second phytase belongs to a new type, which is encoded by multiple open reading frames (ORFs) and is different to all phytases known to date, which are encoded by a single ORF.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2012

Amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide ($A{\beta}$) is still best known as a molecule to cause Alzheimer's disease (AD) through accumulation and deposition within the frontal cortex and hippocampus in the brain. Thus, strategies on developing AD drugs have been focused on the reduction of $A{\beta}$ in the brain. Since accumulation of $A{\beta}$ depends on the rate of its synthesis and clearance, the metabolic pathway of $A{\beta}$ in the brain and the whole body should be carefully explored for AD research. Although the synthetic pathway of $A{\beta}$ is equally important, we summarize primarily the clearance pathway in this paper because the former has been extensively reviewed in previous studies. The clearance of $A{\beta}$ from the brain is accomplished by several mechanisms which include non-enzymatic and enzymatic pathways. Nonenzymatic pathway includes interstitial fluid drainage, uptake by microglial phagocytosis, and transport across the blood vessel walls into the circulation. Multiple $A{\beta}$-degrading enzymes (ADE) implicated in the clearance process have been identified, which include neprilysin, insulin-degrading enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-9, glutamate carboxypeptidase II and others. A series of studies on $A{\beta}$ clearance mechanism provide new insight into the pathogenesis of AD at the molecular level and suggest a new target for the development of novel therapeutics.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2016

Inflammation is a pathophysiological response to infection or tissue damage during which high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are produced by phagocytes to kill microorganisms. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species serve also in the complex regulation of inflammatory processes. Recently, it has been proposed that peroxiredoxins may play key roles in innate immunity and inflammation. Indeed, peroxiredoxins are evolutionarily conserved peroxidases able to reduce, with high rate constants, hydrogen peroxide, alkyl hydroperoxides and peroxynitrite which are generated during inflammation. In this minireview, we point out different possible roles of peroxiredoxins during inflammatory processes such as cytoprotective enzymes against oxidative stress, modulators of redox signaling, and extracellular pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns. A better understanding of peroxiredoxin functions in inflammation could lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2022

The ability to determine the sex of bovine embryos before the transfer is advantageous in livestock management, especially in dairy production, where female calves are preferred in milk industry. The milk production of female and male cattle benefits both the dairy and beef industries. Pre-implantation sexing of embryos also helps with embryo transfer success. There are two approaches for sexing bovine embryos in farm animals: invasive and non-invasive. A non-invasive method of embryo sexing retains the embryo's autonomy and, as a result, is less likely to impair the embryo's ability to move and implant successfully. There are lists of non-invasive embryo sexing such as; Detection of H-Y antigens, X-linked enzymes, and sexing based on embryo cleavage and development. Since it protects the embryo's autonomy, the non-invasive procedure is considered to be the safest. Invasive methods affect an embryo's integrity and are likely to damage the embryo's chances of successful transformation. There are different types of invasive methods such as polymerase chain reaction, detection of male chromatin Y chromosome-specific DNA probes, Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), cytological karyotyping, and immunofluorescence (FISH). The PCR approach is highly sensitive, precise, and effective as compared to invasive methods of farm animal embryonic sexing. Invasive procedures, such as cytological karyotyping, have high accuracy but are impractical in the field due to embryonic effectiveness concerns. This technology can be applicable especially in the dairy and beef industry by producing female and male animals respectively. Enhancing selection accuracy and decreasing the multiple ovulation embryo transfer costs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2024

Since its outbreak in late 2019, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly caused global morbidity and deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has major complications in cardiovascular and pulmonary system. The increased rate of mortality is due to delayed detection of certain biomarkers that are crucial in the development of disease. Furthermore, certain proteins and enzymes in cellular signaling pathways play an important role in replication of SARS-CoV-2. Most cases are mild to moderate symptoms, however severe cases of COVID-19 leads to death. Detecting the level of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin, creatine kinase, creatine kinaseMB, procalcitonin and Matrix metalloproteinases helps in early detection of the severity of disease. Similarly, through downregulating Renin-angiotensin system, interleukin, Mitogen-activated protein kinases and Phosphoinositide 3-kinases pathways, COVID-19 can be effectively controlled and mortality could be prevented. Ginseng and ginsenosides possess therapeutic potential in cardiac and pulmonary complications, there are several studies performed in which they have suppressed these biomarkers and downregulated the pathways, thereby inhibiting the further spread of disease. Supplementation with ginseng or ginsenoside could act on multiple pathways to reduce the level of biomarkers significantly and alleviate cardiac and pulmonary damage. Therefore, this review summarizes the potential of ginseng extract and ginsenosides in controlling the cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases by COVID-19.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.759-771
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• 2023

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are naturally occurring bacteria that intensively colonize plant roots and are crucial in promoting the crop growth. These beneficial microorganisms have garnered considerable attention as potential bio-inoculants for sustainable agriculture. PGPR directly interacts with plants by providing essential nutrients through nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization and accelerating the accessibility of other trace elements such as Cu, Zn, and Fe. Additionally, they produce plant growth-promoting phytohormones, such as indole acetic acids (IAA), indole butyric acids (IBA), gibberellins, and cytokinins.PGPR interacts with plants indirectly by protecting them from diseases and infections by producing antibiotics, siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, and fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes such as glucanases, chitinases, and proteases. Furthermore, PGPR protects plants against abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity by producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase and modulating plant stress markers. Bacteria belonging to genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Pantoa, and Enterobacter exhibit multiple plant growth-promoting traits, that can enhance plant growth directly, indirectly, or through synergetic effects. This comprehensive review emphasizes how PGPR influences plant growth promotion and presents promising prospects for its application in sustainable agriculture.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2005

Injury caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as oxidative stress, is one of the major damaging factors in plants exposed to environmental stress. Chloroplasts are specially sensitive to damage by ROS because electrons that escape from the photosynthetic electron transfer system are able to react with relatively high concentration of $O_2$ in chloroplasts. To cope with oxidative stress, plants have evolved an efficient ROS-scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and low molecular weight antioxidants including ascorbate, glutathione and phenolic compounds. To maintain the productivity of plants under the stress condition, it is possible to fortify the antioxidative mechanisms in the chloroplasts by manipulating the antioxidation genes. A powerful gene expression system with an appropriate promoter is key requisite for excellent stress-tolerant plants. We developed a strong oxidative stress-inducible peroxidase (SWPA2) promoter from cultured cells of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) as an industrial platform technology to develop transgenic plants with enhanced tolerance to environmental stress. Recently, in order to develop transgenic sweetpotato (tv. Yulmi) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Atlantic and Superior) plants with enhanced tolerance to multiple stress, the genes of both CuZnSOD and APX were expressed in chloroplasts under the control of an SWPA2 promoter (referred to SSA plants). As expected, SSA sweetpotato and potato plants showed enhanced tolerance to methyl viologen-mediated oxidative stress. In addition, SSA plants showed enhanced tolerance to multiple stresses such as temperature stress, drought and sulphur dioxide. Our results strongly suggested that the rational manipulation of antioxidative mechanism in chloroplasts will be applicable to the development of all plant species with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses to contribute in solving the global food and environmental problems in the 21st century.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2002

This study evaluated the concentrations of urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in industrial waste incineration workers. The effect of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes on urinary concentration of PAH metabolites was assessed. And, aromatic DNA adduct levels were also determined in total white blood cells. Fifty employees were recruited from a company handling industrial wastes located in Ansan, Korea: non-exposed group (n=21), exposed group (n=29). Sixteen ambient PAHs were determined by GC/MSD (NIOSH method) from personal breathing zone samples of nine subjects near incinerators. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG), a major pyrene metabolite, was assayed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immunoaffinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11 (SFS/IAC). Multiplex PCR was used for genotyping for GSTMI/TI and PCR-RFLP for genotyping of CYP1A1 (MspI and Ile/Val). PAH-DNA adducts in peripheral blood WBC were measured by the nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling assay. Smoking habit, demographic and occupational information were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The range of total ambient PAH levels were 0.00-7.00 mg/㎥ (mean 3.31). Urinary 1-OHPG levels were significantly higher in workers handling industrial wastes than in those with presumed lower exposure to PAHs (p=0.006, by Kruskal-Wallis test). There was a statistically significant dose-response increase in 1-OHPG levels with the number of cigarettes consumed per day (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.686, p<0.001). Urinary 1-OHPG levels in occupationally exposed smoking workers were highest compared with non-occupationally exposed smokers (p=0.053, by Kruskal-Wallis test). Smoking and GSTMI genotype were significant predictors for log-transformed 1-OHPG by multiple regression analysis (overall model R²=0.565, p<0.001), whereas smoking was the only significant predictor for log-transformed aromatic DNA adducts (overall model R²=0.249, p=0.201). Aromatic DNA adducts was also a significantly correlation between log transferred urinary 1-OHPG levels (pearson's correlation coefficient=0.307, p=0.04). However, the partial correlation coefficient adjusting for Age, Sex, and cigarette consumption was not significant (r=0.154, p=0.169). The significant association exists only in individuals with the GSTMI null genotype (pearsons correlation coefficient=0.516, p=0.010; partial correlation coefficient adjusting for age, sex, and cigarette consumption, r=0.363, p=0.038). Our results suggest that the significant increase in urinary 1-OHPG in the exposed workers is due to higher prevalence of smokers among them, and that the association between urinary PAH metabolites and aromatic DNA adducts in workers of industrial waste handling may be modulated by GSTMI genotype. There results remain to be confirmed in future larger studies.