• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2018

A edible mushroom, Clitocybe maxima (Lentinus giganteusis) commercially cultivated in China and Taiwan. However, the researches of cultivation and cultural characteristics were not reported in Korea. In this study, we conducted on cultural characteristics and artificial cultivation of C. maxima. Six isolates were collected from China(3 isolates, commercial strain), Taiwan(1 isolate, commercial strain) and Korea(2 isolates, wild type). C. maxima and L. giganteus collected in China and Taiwan, respectively, are the same in China and are estimated to be of the same species as cultured characteristics. The mycelial growth of the collected strains was not significantly different in agar medium but it showed the best growth in YPMG in liquid culture. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth and induction of fruit body were 25℃ and 30℃, respectively. In order to artificial cultivation of C. maxima, cultural characteristics and artificial cultivation were carried out using agricultural by-products and forestry by-products materials. Mycelial growth was suitable in rice straw, cottonwood sawdust, corncob and rice seed medium, and it was selected as a cultivation medium. The suitable medium for artificial cultivation of C. maxima was selected to mixed medium 2(compounding ratio(v/v): 55% of hardwood sawdust, 5% of cottonseed pellets, 10% of cottonseed, 15% of beet pulp, 15% of swollen rice husks). It took about 30 days to be able to harvest, it was faster than oyster mushrooms. The cultivation period was about 30days. A isolate, CMA-002 was not initiation to fruit body primordiuma on the used cultivation substrate. Other 5 isolates were initiate and development to fruit body on the substrate used in this study. The strain CMA-003 was initiated to be fruiting body by 8~10 days after induction of fruiting body in all of the substrates. Isolate CMA-003 was generate to a bundle fruit body. Other isolates, however, were form fruit body individually. The CMA-003 strain was likely highly recommendable strains for farming. The optimum conditions for the induction and growth of C. maxima fruit body were 25~30℃, 8 hr illumination per day with white fluorescent lamp, 90~95% relative humidity, and 1,500 ppm of CO₂ concentration in a cultivation room.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.238-243
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• 2009

To investigate the characteristics of moisture content (MC), moisture distribution and starting point of drainage in a rockwool slab culture, time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors were used in a drip irrigation system. MC values ($0{\sim}100%$) measured by TDR sensors in a slab were compared to those by loadcells. Seventy two seedlings of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) were cultured for $5{\sim}6$ months in a green-house and the starting point of irrigation was determined by the average value of three TDR sensors which were inserted diagonally across the slabs under the plants. MCs as a standard for starting point of irrigation by TDR were determined with 40%, 50%, and 60%. Distribution of MCs in a slab measured with five TDR sensors equally spaced from two irrigation points were not much different when the MC in the slab increased from zero to saturation point. The saturated MCs in the slab were presented at $58{\sim}65%$ and the drain was started when the MC became around $50{\sim}55%$. At the saturated MC in the slab, TDR sensors presented 100% but the values from the loadcell showed 90% at the same time. However, measurement errors between two methods for MC remarkably decreased with a decrease in the MC in a slab. Especially when the MC was maintaining below 60%, the errors between TDR and loadcell methods for measuring MC in the rock-wool slab were less than 5%. There were no significant differences in number of fruits and fresh and dry weights of fruits when they were cultured under the different MC conditions with three irrigation regimes (40%, 50%, and 60%). These results indicated that the MC control by TDR sensors in a rock-wool based paprika culture can be suggested as a method to determine the starting point of irrigation for a soilless culture system.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2024

This study was conducted to selection and investigate appropriate conditions for mass production of antagonistic microbes to control cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. A grampositive bacterium was isolated from spent substrate of Agaricus bisporus and showed significant antagonistic activity against Cladobotryum mycophilum. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus altitudinis. based on the cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA sequence. The isolate is saprophytic, but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivated mushroom whereas it showed strong inhibitory effects against C. mycophilum cells in vitro. The control efficacy of B. altitudinis HC7 against cobweb disease of C. mycophilum was up to 78.2% on Agaricus bisporus. The suppressive bacterium may be useful for the development of biocontrol system. To define the appropriate conditions for the mass production of the Bacillus altitudinis HC7, we have investigated appropriate culture conditions and effects of various nutrient source on the bacterial growth. The appropriate initial pH and temperature were determined as pH 6.0 and 30℃, respectively. The appropriate concentration of medium elements for the growth of pathogen inhibitor bacterium(Bacillus altitudinis HC7) was determined as follows: 3.0% soluble startch, 10% soytone, 1.0% (NH₄)₂HPO₄, 1.0 mmol KCl, and 0.5% L-asparagine.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.768-774
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• 2009

To improve the productivity of 1,3-propanediol(1,3-PD) with K. pneumoniae DSM4799 using pure glycerol and crude glycerol derived from the biodiesel process, optimizing fermentation conditions was performed by changing environmental factors such as anaerobic/aerobic condition, temperature, glycerol concentration, and pH. When anaerobic conditions were maintained, there was an improved 1,3-PD production compared with that from aerobic/anaerobic 2-stage fermentation. From the results with temperature $26{\sim}37^{\circ}C$, the higher 1,3-PD production yield was observed at $30{\sim}33^{\circ}C$. For an initial glycerol concentration higher than 60 g/L, cell growth and 1,3-PD production were inhibited. When crude glycerol was used, the initial 1,3-PD production appeared to be inhibited. After 48 hr of incubation, however, 1,3-PD production with crude glycerol was even higher than that with pure glycerol, demonstrating the feasibility of 1,3-PD production using crude glycerol as a substrate. Fed-batch fermentation was applied for the high concentration of 1,3-PD without substrate inhibition. By regulating pH at 7 during the fed-batch with glycerol lower than 40 g/L, the yield of 1,3-PD was 25% higher than that without pH regulation(0.56 g/g vs. 0.45 g/g). In conclusion, based on our results, anaerobic conditions, temperature at $30^{\circ}C$, pure or crude glycerol lower than 40 g/L, and pH regulation at 7 were the optimized conditions for 1,3-PD production using K. pneumoniae DSM4799, making it more feasible to produce 1,3-PD at higher concentration and a lower price.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2012

A bacterial strain, CK214, exhibiting high motility on an LB agar (1.5%, w/v) surface was isolated from the environment. The formation of unusual agar shrinking around colonies on agar plates was observed. The strain grew on minimal media containing pure agar as a sole carbon source. The cell-free culture supernatant of CK214 generated a reduced form of sugar in the in vitro reaction with the use of pure agar as a substrate, suggesting the secretion of an agar-degrading enzyme. The CK214 strain showed swarming motility on the solid media containing a wide range of concentrations of agar (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% w/v). Various tests, including Gram staining, API analysis, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences identified that the CK214 strain was a G(+) rod-shaped bacterium grouped in genus Paenibacillus. Electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the P. CK214 strain is peritrichously flagellated. Through transposon random mutagenesis, several agar-degrading activity defective mutants (ADMs) were generated. These mutants will be used in the future experimentation for the study of the correlation between agar-degrading activity and motility.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.56-70
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the structural characteristics of kraft lignin and the wood degrading characteristics, the productivity of ligninolytic enzymes and the enzymatic degradation of kraft lignin by white-rot fungi. To purify kraft lignin, precipitation of kraft pulping black liquors of pitch pine meal was done by titration with lN $H_{2}SO_{4}$ reaching to pH 2, and isolation of the precipitates done by centrifugation. The isolated precipitates from pitch pine were redissloved in lN NaOH, reprecipitated by titration with lN $H_{2}SO_{4}$, washed with deionized water, and kept ofr analysis after freeze drying. Fractionation of the precipitates in solution by successive extraction with $CH_{2}Cl_{2}$ and MeOH, and the fractionates were named SwKL, SwKL I, SwKL II, and SwKL III for pitch pine kraft lignin. The more molecular weights of kraft lignin increased, the less phenolic hydroxyl groups and the more aliphatic hydroxyl groups. Because as the molecular weights increased, the ratio of etherified guaiayl/syringyl(G/S ratio) and the percentage were increased. The spectra obtained by 13C NMR and FTIR assigned by comparing the chemical shifts of various signals with shifts of signals from autherized ones reported. The optimal growth temperature and pH of white-rot fungi in medium were $28^{\circ}C$ and 4.5-5.0, respectively. Especially, in temperature and pH range, and mycelial growth, the best white-rot fungus selected was Phanerochaete chrysosporium for biodegradation. For the degradation pathways, the ligninolytic fungus jcultivated with stationary culture using medium of 1% kraft lignin as a substrate for 3 weeks at $28^{\circ}C$. The weight loss of pitch pine kraft lignin was 15.8%. The degraded products extracted successively methoanol, 90% dioxane and diethyl ether. The ether solubles were analyzed by HPLC. Kraft lignin degradation was initiated in $\beta$-O-4 bonds of lignin by the laccase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and the degraded compounds were produced from the cleavage of $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ linkages at the side chains by oxidation process. After $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ cleavage, $C\alpha$-Carbon was oxidized and changed into aldehyde and acidic compounds such as syringic acid, syringic aldehyde and vanilline. And the other compound as quinonemethide, coumarin, was analyzed. The structural characteristics of kraft lignin were composed of guaiacyl group substituted functional OHs, methoxyl, and carbonyl at C-3, -4, and -5 and these groups were combinated with $\alpha$ aryl ether, $\beta$ aryl ether and biphenyl. Kraft lignin degradation pathways by Phanerochaete chrysosporium were initially accomplished cleavage of $C\alpha$-$C\beta$ linkages and $C\alpha$ oxidation at the propyl side chains and finally cleavage of aromatic ring and oxidation of OHs.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 1997

In case of tissue invading nematode, proteolytic enzyme was required at their parasitic life. Proteinases obtained from these parasites(Toxocara canis, Ansakis spp. and Trichinella spiralis) were extracted, isolated and further purified. And then the analysis for activity and inhibitory effect of proteinases were performed by appropriate substrate. Determination of protein as a circulating antigen was done in use of infected animal serum with above parasites, respectively. For above experimental objects, following procedures were performed. First, enzymatic activity was measured in use of azocasein and inhibitory effect of porteinase were studied by various inhibitors. Second, partially purified proteins containing enzymatic activity were obtained by ion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and electrophoretic elution. Third, role of the partially purified protein as a circulating antigen. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Enzymatic activity of each nematode proteinase was varied according to pH. Optimal pH of Toxocara canis, Ansakis spp. and Trichinella spiralis were pH 6.0, pH 5.5 and pH 6.5, respectively. The optimal molarity of buffer was 0.1M phosphate buffer. Although little difference between these proteinases was observed, temperature stability was at least maintained at $4^{\circ}C$ until 5 days. 2. In case of Ansakis spp. and Toxocara canis, enzymatic activity of these proteinases was considerably inhibited by Leupeptin and EDTA. For maximum enzymatic activity of above proteinases, it was required that cysteine residue of enzyme should be protected. And it was suggested that metallo type was contained in enzyme active site. Proteinase of Trichinella spiralis contained metallo type also. 3. Although partial purification was performed in Ansakis spp. and Toxocara canis, proteins maintaining enzymatic activity were identified as a circulating antigen. From SDS-PAGE and immunoblot, 25 kDa was presented in Ansakis spp.. Specific antigen of Toxocara cains was 110 kDa protein fraction. 55 and 42 kDa proteins were reacted with normal serum. Trichinella spiralis 60 kDa protein fraction was successfully purified from excretory materials in culture. As a result of immune-reaction with Trichinella spiralis infected serum, highly purified 60 kDa protein was maintained antigenicity until final purification step.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The development of Japanese geoduck, Panopea japonica, grown under culture conditions, has been examined through the morphological characteristics in fertilized egg, larvae and juvenile. Gametes were stripped from ripe broodstock and placed into two separate containers. Eggs were washed through a $40{\mu}m$ sieve and fertilized with dilute sperm solution. Developing larvae were maintained at $19{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. Fertilized eggs with $81.6{\mu}m$ diameter developed to trochophores within 14 h and to D-stage larvae ($116{\mu}m$ shell length) within 27 h. Larvae were spontaneously settled at shell length of $311{\mu}m$ after 20 days. The hatching from fertilized eggs and larval rearing were normally available in $18.5-21.5^{\circ}C$, and the growth was good in a cashmilon substrate, as well as sand. After rearing of day 108 from metamorphosis, the shell length of juvenile P. japonica reached 13 mm, and growth rate of shell length of the juvenile was $117.5{\mu}m/d$.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2002

Two kinds of crude oil-degrading microorganisms from soil and one kind from sea were isolated and named strain Al32, strain F722 and strain OM1, respectively. These microorganism were identified Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, respectively. The optimum cultivation temperature of Acinetobacter sp. A132 and P. aeruginosa F722 was $35^{\circ}C$ and optimum growth pH was 8 and 9, respectively. The growth was the highest at 2.0% (w/v) substrate concentration when crude oil was only carbon source. The growth of A. calcoaceticus OM1 isolated from sea was the highest at 3.0% (w/v) of crude oil. In inspection of crude oil degradability, strain Al32 showed 5.49 g/L.day with Eleuthera (OMAN), 2.0% (w/v). P. aeruginosa F722 showed 1.19 g/L g/L.day with L-Zakum (AFRICA). In case of kerosene $nC_9\simnC_{20}$ and diesel $nC_9\simnC_{28}$, A. calcoaceticus OM1 was degraded 95% and 75%, respectively, for 7 days culture, and P. aeruginosa F722 was 80% after 10 days.