• The Microorganisms and Industry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 1985

미생물은 고등생물과 그들이 생육하는 환경을 조절할 수 있는 능력이 제한되어 있다. 환경 변화에 따라 자신을 적응시킬 수 있는 능력이 있어야 끊임없이 변하는 환경에서 살아 남을 수 있고 다른 미생물과의 경재에서 이길 수 있다. 온도, 삼투압, 영양물질의 온도, 수소 ion농도는 자연계에서 짧은 시간에 넓은 폭으로 변하며 미생물에서 energy 대사의 중심이 되는 proton motive force를 이루는 proton gradient (.DELTA.pH)의 크기를 결정한는 중요한 환경인자이다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.468-473
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• 2005

The energetics of nitrate uptake by intact cells of the halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica were investigated. Nitrate uptake was inhibited by various protonophores suggesting the coupling of nitrate uptake to the proton motive force. An artificially-generated pH gradient across the membrane (${\Delta}pH$) caused an increase of nitrate uptake. In contrast, the suppression of ${\Delta}pH$ resulted in a decrease of nitrate uptake. The increase of external pH also resulted in an enhancement of nitrate uptake. The generation of the electrical potential across the membrane ($\Delta\psi$) resulted in no elevation of the rate of nitrate uptake. On the other hand, the valinomycin-mediated dissipation of $\Delta\psi$ caused no depression of the rate of nitrate uptake. Thus, it is unlikely that $\Delta\psi$ participated in the energization of the uptake of nitrate. However, $Na^+$-gradient across the membrane was suggested to play a role in nitrate uptake since monensin which collapses $Na^+$-gradient strongly inhibited nitrate uptake. Exogenously added glucose and lactate stimulated nitrate uptake in the starved cells. N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, an inhibitor of ATPase, could also inhibit nitrate uptake suggesting that ATP hydrolysis was required for nitrate uptake. All these results indicate that nitrate uptake in A. halophytica is ATP-dependent, driven by ${\Delta}pH$ and $Na^+$-gradient.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.118-124
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• 2005

In this research, we examined the effect of NaCl on the growth, energy metabolism, and proton motive force of Halomonas salina, and the effect of compatible solutes on the bacterium growing in the high salinity environment. H. salina was isolated from seawater and identified by 16srDNA sequencing. The growth of H. salina was not enhanced by the addition of external compatible solutes (choline and betaine) in the high salinity environment. The resting cells of H. salina absorbed more glucose in the presence of 2.0 M NaCl than in its absence. H. salina did not grow in the medium with either KCl, RbCl, CsCl, $Na_2SO_4$, or $NaNO_3$, in place of NaCl. The optimal concentration of NaCl for the growth of H. salina ranged from 1.4 M to 2.5 M, and the growth yield was decreased in the presence of NaCl below 1.4M and above 2.5M. The activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase of H. salina was not inhibited by NaCl in in vitro test. The proton translocation of H. salina was detected in the presence of NaCl only. These results indicate that NaCl is absolutely required for the normal growth and energy metabolism of H. salina, but the bacterial growth is not enhanced by the compatible solutes added to the growth medium.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2001

Unlike eukaryotic efflux pumps energized by ATPase bacterial efflux pumps are energized by the proton motive force. That is the reason why CCCP, an inhibitor of proton motive forcer is widely used to study the bacterial efflux pump. In many cases, efflux systems have been observed only in quinolone-resistant bacteria. Most of the quinolone-susceptible strains have been found to maintain little efflux pump. However some susceptible bacteria skewed the increased intracellular quinolone concentration only at a low concentration (0.01 or 0.1 mM) but net at a high concentration (1 mM) of CCCP. If bacterial cells were killed at high concentrations of CCCP and lost the integrity of their membranes, the intracellular quinolone would leak out from cells with no efflux system. The efflux pump system in the quinolone-susceptible strains could net be detected at the same concentration used for resistant bacteria. To test this hypothesist the intracellular quinolone concentration in the quinolone-susceptible and -resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus was assayed at various concentrations of CCCP. Since the effect of CCCP is very rapid, the survival of bacteria was observed by assaying the DNA synthesis in 5 min. In the case of E. coli, but not P. aeruginosa or S. aureus, the quinolone susceptible strain was more susceptible to CCCP than the quinolone resistant ones, especially when the incubation with CCCP was extended. Decrease of the intracellular quinolone concentration resulted in a false result-no or weak efflux system in the quinolone susceptible strains. Results suggested that the concentration of CCCP should be optimized in order to detect the efflux system in the quinolone susceptible strains of E. coli.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 1996

Bacteriocins are proteins produced by a heterogeneous group of bacteria that have a bactericidal effect on closely related organisms. Recently, bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria and other food-related organisms have been the subject of much research because of their potential as food biopreservatives. Various modifications of agar plate diffusion assays are the most widely used methods even though the limitations of such assays are generally recognized. The ability to obtain a concentrated crude preparation on bacteriocin by optimizing production parameters greatly simplifies recovery of bacteriocin on subsequent purification steps. Some studies performed to optimize bacteriocins have been purified to homogeneity, and the amino acid sequences of many of these purified bacteriocins have been determined. Obtaining characterization data on purified bacteriocin will minimize the risk of overlapping of research and confusion on identification of these compounds. Several me-chanisms leading to cell death have been hypothesized. These include depletion of the proton motive force(PMF) across the cell membrane: RNase and/or DNase activity within the sensitive cell; and pore formation and lysis of sensitive cells at the cell membrane.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1995

For understanding physiological nature of phototaxis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 PTX(S. 6803 PTX), we examined the effects of some metabolic inhibitors and cation ionophore on the phototactic movement. In the presence of DCMU, which blocks the photosynthetic electron transport just after photosystem II acceptor, there was no inhibitory effect on the phototaxis up to $100\;\mu\textrm{M}$. Instead, the respiratory electron chain inhibitor such as sodium azide dramatically impaired the phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX. These observations indicate that the phototaxis is linked not to photo-phosphorylation, but to respiratory phosphorylation. When the cells were treated with un couplers such as CCCP or DNP, which dissipate the electrochemical gradient of proton($\Delta\mu_{H}+$) across the cytoplasmic membrane, these chemicals did not affect phototaxis. In contrast, when cells were treated with DCCD or NBD which deprive cells of A TP but leave $\Delta\mu_{H}+$ intact across the membrane, the phototactic movement was severly reduced. These results imply that ATP production, not proton motive force, is involved in the phototactic movement in this organism as a driving motive force. The application of specific calcium ionophore A23187 strongly impaired positive phototaxis. Calcium fluxes should be engaged in the sensory trans-duction of phototactic orientation. Finally, when ethionine was supplimented to culture media, the photomovement of this organism was inhibited. This implies that methylation/demethylation mechanism controls the process of phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX like chemotaxis in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium.murium.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-265
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• 2002

Iron increased the susceptibilities of clinical isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa to quinolones. In the presence of iron, increased susceptibilities to ofloxacin were observed in twenty-six out of thirty isolates and with no change in four isolates. In the case of norfloxacin, iran increased susceptibilities of twelve isolates but did not render any change in eighteen isolates. In the case of ciprofloxacin, iron decreased the MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) of twenty isolates, increased the MIC of one isolate, and did net change the MICs of nine isolates. To find out how iron increased susceptibility to ofloxacin, bacterial cells were grown in Muller Hinton (MH) media and succinate minimal media (SMM) to induce iran acquisition systems and the intracellular ofloxacin concentrations were assayed in the presence of iron. The addition of iron to the media decreased the MICs of cells whether they were grown in MH or SMM. Siderophores, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (an inhibiter of proton motive force), and ouabain (an inhibitor of ATPase) did not decrease the effect of iron. Results suggested that the increase in the intracellular ofloxacin concentration by iron is accomplished not by decreasing the efflux but by increasing the of ofloxacin permeability.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.680-686
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• 2016

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that function to dissipate proton motive force and mitochondrial membrane potential. One UCP has been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), namely UCP-4. In this study, we examined its expression and localization using a GFP marker in C. elegans. ucp-4 was expressed throughout the body from early embryo to aged adult and UCP-4 was localized in the mitochondria. It is known that increased mitochondrial membrane protential leads to a reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase, which is associated with age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases in humans. A ucp-4 mutant showed increased mitochondrial membrane protential in association with increased neuronal defects during aging, and the neurons of ucp-4 overexpressing animals showed decreased neuronal defects during aging. These results suggest that UCP-4 may be involved in neuroprotection during aging via relieving mitochondrial membrane protential. We also investigated the relationship between UCP-4 and innate immunity because increased ROS can affect innate immunity. ucp-4 mutant displayed increased resistance to the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus compared to wild type. The enhanced immunity in the ucp-4 mutant could be related to increased mitochondrial membrane protential, presumably followed by increased ROS. In summary, UCP-4 might have an important role in neuronal aging and innate immune responses through mediating mitochondrial membrane protential.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.430-435
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• 2013

Multidrug resistance, especially multidrug efflux mechanisms that extrude structurally unrelated cytotoxic compounds from the cell by multidrug transporters, is a serious problem and one of the main reasons for the failure of therapeutic treatment of infections by pathogenic microorganisms as well as of cancer cells. Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary causative agents of dental caries and periodontal disease, which comprise the most common oral diseases. A fragment of chromosomal DNA from S. mutans KCTC3065 was cloned using Escherichia coli KAM32 as host cells lacking major multidrug efflux pumps. Although E. coli KAM32 cells were very sensitive to many antimicrobial agents, the transformed cells harboring a recombinant plasmid became resistant to several structurally unrelated antimicrobial agents such as tetracycline, kanamycin, rhodamin 6G, ampicillin, acriflavine, ethidium bromide, and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. This suggested that the cloned DNA fragment carries a gene encoding a multidrug efflux pump. Among 49 of the multidrug-resistant transformants, we report the functional gene cloning and characterization of the function of one multidrug efflux pump, namely MdeA from S. mutans, which was expressed in E. coli KAM32. Judging from the structural and biochemical properties, we concluded that MdeA is the first cloned and characterized multidrug efflux pump using the proton motive force as the energy for efflux drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2000

Iron increased the susceptibilities of clinical isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa to quinolones. In the presence of iron, increased susceptibilities to ofloxacin were observed in twenty-six out of thirty isolates and with no change in four isolates. In the case of norfloxacin, iran increased susceptibilities of twelve isolates but did not render any change in eighteen isolates. In the case of ciprofloxacin, iron decreased the MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) of twenty isolates, increased the MIC of one isolate, and did net change the MICs of nine isolates. To find out how iron increased susceptibility to ofloxacin, bacterial cells were grown in Muller Hinton (MH) media and succinate minimal media (SMM) to induce iran acquisition systems and the intracellular ofloxacin concentrations were assayed in the presence of iron. The addition of iron to the media decreased the MICs of cells whether they were grown in MH or SMM. Siderophores, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (an inhibiter of proton motive force), and ouabain (an inhibitor of ATPase) did not decrease the effect of iron. Results suggested that the increase in the intracellular ofloxacin concentration by iron is accomplished not by decreasing the efflux but by increasing the of ofloxacin permeability.