• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1621-1628
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• 2012

The agar-degrading bacterium GNUM-1 was isolated from the brown algal species Sargassum serratifolium, which was obtained from the West Sea of Korea, by using the selective artificial seawater agar plate. The cells were Gram-negative, $0.5-0.6{\mu}m$ wide and $2.0-2.5{\mu}m$ long curved rods with a single polar flagellum, forming nonpigmented, circular, smooth colonies. Cells grew at $20^{\circ}C-37^{\circ}C$, between pH 5.0 and 9.0, and at 1-10% (w/v) NaCl. The DNA G+C content of the GNUM-1 strain was 45.5 mol%. The 16S rRNA sequence of the GNUM-1 was very similar to those of Alteromonas stellipolaris LMG 21861 (99.86% sequence homology) and Alteromonas addita $R10SW13^T$(99.64% sequence homology), which led us to assign it to the genus Alteromonas. It showed positive activities for agarase, amylase, gelatinase, alkaline phosphatase, esterase (C8), lipase (C14), leucine arylamidase, valine arylamidase, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, acid phosphatase, naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, ${\alpha}$-galactosidase, ${\beta}$-galactosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, catalase, and urease. It can utilize citrate, malic acid, and trisodium citrate. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (21.5%, comprising $C_{16:1}{\omega}7c/iso-C_{15:0}$ 2-OH) and C16:0 (15.04%). On the basis of the variations in many biochemical characteristics, GNUM-1 was considered as unique and thus was named Alteromonas sp. GNUM-1. It produced the highest agarase activity in modified ASW medium containing 0.4% sucrose, but lower activity in rich media despite superior growth, implying that agarase production is tightly regulated and repressed in a rich nutrient condition. The 30 kDa protein with agarase activity was identified by zymography, and this report serves as the very first account of such a protein in the genus Alteromonas.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.421-426
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• 2004

This study was performed to report the outbreaks of canine intestinal spirochetosis and to characterize the canine isolates. Three canine isolates were weakly beta-hemolytic and had sharp end shape with 5 flagella. Isolates didn't produce indole but fermented fructose. In $API-ZYM^{(R)}$ study, isolates were alpha-glucosidase negative and alpha-galactosidase positive, which is the typical characteristics of B. pilosicoli. In multilocus enzyme electrophoresis(MEE) study, isolates were divided into 2 electrophoretic types. Isolates showed different properties with B. hyodysenteriae but closely related with pathogenic canine intestinal spirochete(B. pilosicoli). This is the first report of the isolation and characterization of canine intestinal spirochete in Korean dogs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1659-1669
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• 2020

1,3-α-3,6-anhydro-L-galactosidase (α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase) catalyzes the last step of agar degradation by hydrolyzing neoagarobiose into monomers, D-galactose, and 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, which is important for the bioindustrial application of algal biomass. Ahg943, from the agarolytic marine bacterium Gayadomonas joobiniege G7, is composed of 423 amino acids (47.96 kDa), including a 22-amino acid signal peptide. It was found to have 67% identity with the α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase ZgAhgA, from Zobellia galactanivorans, but low identity (< 40%) with the other α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolases reported. The recombinant Ahg943 (rAhg943, 47.89 kDa), purified from Escherichia coli, was estimated to be a monomer upon gel filtration chromatography, making it quite distinct from other α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolases. The rAhg943 hydrolyzed neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarohexaose into D-galactose, neoagarotriose, and neoagaropentaose, respectively, with a common product, 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, indicating that it is an exo-acting α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase that releases 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose by hydrolyzing α-1,3 glycosidic bonds from the nonreducing ends of neoagarooligosaccharides. The optimum pH and temperature of Ahg943 activity were 6.0 and 20℃, respectively. In particular, rAhg943 could maintain enzyme activity at 10℃ (71% of the maximum). Complete inhibition of rAhg943 activity by 0.5 mM EDTA was restored and even, remarkably, enhanced by Ca²⁺ ions. rAhg943 activity was at maximum at 0.5 M NaCl and maintained above 73% of the maximum at 3M NaCl. K_m and V_max of rAhg943 toward neoagarobiose were 9.7 mg/ml and 250 μM/min (3 U/mg), respectively. Therefore, Ahg943 is a unique α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase that has cold- and high-salt-adapted features, and possibly exists as a monomer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.863-868
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• 2004

Lectin activities and chemical characteristics of Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. originating from the porcine cecal mucosal layer were studied based on hemagglutination assay (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition assay (HIA). Although all the bacterial strains were able to agglutinate erythrocytes of porcine or rabbit origin, much higher HA titers were consistently observed for Lactobacillus spp. than for E. coli or for Bifidobacterium spp. A remarkable reduction in HA titers occurred by the treatment of E. coli and Lactobacillus spp. with protease or trypsin and of Bifidobacterium spp. with protease, trypsin or periodate. There were no significant effects on the HA titers of the three groups of bacteria after the treatment with lipase. Hemagglutination of E. coli was strongly inhibited by D (+)-mannose and D (+)-galactose; Lactobacillus spp. by $\alpha$-L-rhamnose and methyl-$\beta$-galactopyranoside; Bifidobacterium spp. by D (+)-alactose, $\alpha$-L-rhamnose, $\alpha$-L-fucose, L (+)-arabinose, D (+)-mannose, D (-)-fructose at a relatively low concentration (1.43 to 3.75 mg/ml). These results, combined with the enhanced HA activities of the three bacterial strains by modification of rabbit erythrocytes with neuraminidase and abolished HA activity of E. coli after treatment with $\beta$-galactosidase, indicate that it might be the glycoproteinous substances surrounding the surface of the bacterial cells that are responsible for the adhesions of these microorganisms by recognizing the specific receptors on the red blood cell.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2011

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked inborn error of glycoshpingolipid metabolism resulting from mutation in the enzyme ${\alpha}$-galactosidase A gene. The disease is an X-linked lipid storage disorder and the lack of ${\alpha}$-Gal A causes an intracellular accumulation of glycosphingolipids, mainly globotriaosylceramide (Gb-3). Measurement of Gb-3 in plasma has clinical importance for monitoring after enzyme replacement therapy for confirmed FD patients. Using electrospray ionization MS/MS we had developed, a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive analytical method for Gb-3 in plasma was used for the purpose of screening FD among high risk groups in Korean population. To date, no comprehensive results for FD screening have been performed and reported in Korea. We screened 1,100 outpatients from 13 hospitals (including clinics) to assess the incidence of FD among patients in high risk groups. For patients with borderline level amount of Gb-3, we repeated Gb-3 or performing complementary or confirmative assay with ${\alpha}$-Gal A activity and DNA mutaion analysis for confirmation diagnosis. Of 1,100 we diagnosed 3 FD with 2 classical type and 1 carrier (0.27%).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.620-627
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• 2014

We have previously shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-760, miR-186, miR-337-3p, and miR-216b stimulate premature senescence through protein kinase CK2 (CK2) downregulation in human colon cancer cells. Here, we examined whether these four miRNAs are involved in the replicative senescence of human lung fibroblast IMR-90 cells. miR-760 and miR-186 were significantly upregulated in replicatively senescent IMR-90 cells, and their joint action with both miR-337-3p and miR-216b was necessary for efficient downregulation of the ${\alpha}$ subunit of CK2 ($CK2{\alpha}$) in IMR-90 cells. A mutation in any of the four miRNA-binding sequences within the $CK2{\alpha}3^{\prime}$-untranslated region (UTR) indicated that all four miRNAs should simultaneously bind to the target sites for $CK2{\alpha}$ downregulation. The four miRNAs increased senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) staining, p53 and $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in proliferating IMR-90 cells. $CK2{\alpha}$ overexpression almost abolished this event. Taken together, the present results suggest that the upregulation of miR-760 and miR-186 is associated with replicative senescence in human lung fibroblast cells, and their cooperative action with miR-337-3p and miR-216b may induce replicative senescence through $CK2{\alpha}$ downregulation-dependent ROS generation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1799-1808
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• 2006

A food-grade integration vector based on site-specific recombination was constructed. The 5.7-kb vector, pIMA20, contained an integrase gene and a phage attachment site originating from bacteriophage A2, with the ${\alpha}$-galactosidase gene from Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 3104 as a selection marker. pIMA20 was also equipped with a controllable promoter of nisA ($P_{nisA}$) and a signal peptide-encoding sequence of usp45 ($SP_{usp45}$) for the production and secretion of foreign proteins. pIMA20 and its derivatives mediated site-specific integration into the attB-like site on the Lactococcus lactis NZ9800 chromosome. The vector-integrated recombinant lactococci were easily detected by the appearance of blue colonies on a medium containing $X-{\alpha}-gal$ and also by their ability to grow on a medium containing melibiose as the sole carbon source. Recombinant lactococci maintained these traits in the absence of selection pressure during 100 generations. The ${\alpha}-amylase$ gene from Bacillus licheniformis, lacking a signal peptide-encoding. sequence, was inserted downstream of $P_{nisA}\;and\;SP_{usp45}$ in pIMA20, and the plasmid was integrated into the L. lactis chromosome. ${\alpha}-Amylase$ was successfully produced and secreted by the recombinant L. lactis, controlled by the addition and concentration of nisin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 1988

Molecular cloning of gene for $\alpha$-acylamino-$\beta$-lactam acylhydrolase (ALAH) III from Acetobacter turbidans has been attempted by immunochemical detection method, in which polyclonal antibody from mouse Balb/c against this enzyme was employed as a probe. As a cloning vector, λ gtll was chosen for this purpose. Two positive clones has been selected from genomic libraries of A. turbidans, which had somewhat different binding affinities on anti-ALAH III umm and anti-$\beta$-galactosidase. By restriction analysis, both clones has been turned out to lose one of EeoRI sites. From these results, it concluded that deletion of DNA between lacZ gene and inserted DNA has occurred during replication of these clones in host cells.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.576-587
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• 2010

Background: Effective decellularization and fixation process is critical, in order to use xenogenic valves clinically. In the present study, we decellularized bovine pericardium using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and N-lauroyl sarcosinate, treated with $\alpha$-galactosidase, and then fixed in various manners, to find out the most effective tissue preservation & fixation procedure. Material and Method: Bovine pericardium was decellularized with SDS and N-lauroyl sarcosinate, and treated with $\alpha$-galactosidase. Both groups were fixed differently, by varying glutaraldehyde (GA) or EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-carbodiimide)/N-hydroxysuccinamide (NHS) treatment conditions. Thereafter, physical examination, tensile strength test, thermal stability test, cytotoxicity test, pronase test, pronase-ninhydrin test, purpald test, permeability test, compliance test, H&E staining, DNA quantification, and $\alpha$-galactose staining were carried out to each groups. Result: GA fixed groups showed better physical properties and thermal stability than EDC/NHS fixed groups, EDC/NHS-GA dual fixed groups showed better physical properties and thermal stability than EDC/NHS fixed groups, and showed better thermal stability than GA fixed groups. In pronase test and pronase-ninhydrin test, GA fixed groups and EDC/NHS-GA dual fixed groups showed stronger crosslinks than EDC/NHS groups. Permeability and compliance tended to increase in EDC/NHS-GA dual fixed groups, compared to GA fixed groups. But, EDC/NHS-GA dual fixed groups had stronger tensile strength and lower cytotoxicity than GA fixed groups. Conclusion: We have verified that EDC/NHS-GA dual fixation can make effective crosslinks and lower the toxicity of GA fixation. Henceforth, we will verify if EDC/NHS-GA dual fixation can lower calcifications & tissue failure in vivo experiment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.778-782
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• 2003

In the course of screening anti-influenza agents from natural products, four neuraminidase inhibitors were isolated from the methanol extract of mushroom Microphorus affinis by purification using solvent partition, silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified as ${\alpha}-lupeol$, methyl linoleate, methyl palmitate, and methyl oleate by means of spectral data including GC-MS, $^1H-,\;and\;^{13}C-NMR\;with\;IC_{50}$ values of 5.65, 7.07, 7.12, and $7.52\;\mu\textrm{M}$, respectively. They did not inhibit other glycosidases such as glucosidase, mannosidase, and galactosidase, indicating that they were relatively specific inhibitors of neuraminidase. The relationship between the fatty acid structure and inhibitory activity was investigated. The result showed that, in the case of an aliphatic linear hydrocarbon skeleton, at least one carboxyl (presumably any carbonyl) moiety and sixteen carbons were the necessary requirements for potent inhibition, whereas saturated, unsaturated, free, and ester forms did not have any significant effect on the activity.