• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 1995

The high viscous ${\gamma}$-polyglutamic acid(${\gamma}$-PGA) from alkalophilic Alcaligenes sp. was purified and its solution property was investigated. The intrinsic viscosities for Na+ form and H+ form of ${\gamma}$-PGA were 31.1 and 0.38d$\ell$/g, respectively. The viscosity of H+-PGA was not influenced by pH or salts while that of Na+-PGA was influenced. The intrinsic viscosity of Na+-PGA solution decreased remarkably at the alkaline or acidic pH and showed the sharp decrease when salts were added. ${\gamma}$-PGA exhibited the property of the polyelectrolyte showing the .sharp decrease of intrinsic viscosity by the addition of NaCl, and intrinsic viscosity of dilute solution with the low concentration of NaCl was exponentially dependent on temperature and its temperature dependency increased with increasing NaCl concentration. The chain stiffness, coil overlap parameter and critical concentration of Na+-PGA were 0.08, 5.25 and 0.07g/d$\ell$, respectively.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.547-552
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• 1995

Some functional and rheological properties of the ${\gamma}$-polyglutamic acid(${\gamma}$-PGA) produced from alkalophilic Alcaligenes sp. were investigated. Viscosity synergism with thickening agents, capacities for gelling, entrapig of heavy metals, and flocculability of ${\gamma}$-PGA were not observed, but the relatively good compatability with various polyvalent metallic ins, excellent absorption ability and spinability were observed. The ${\gamma}$-PGA solution showed non-Newtonian flow behavior and exhibited pseudoplastic property with a yield stress at above 1% concentration. The values of flow index for 1% solution were in the range of 0.41∼0.75 showing shear rate dependency and the value of yield stress was 2.28 Pa. The value of consistency index was 0.868 Pa$.$Sn and was exponentially dependent on concentration.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 1993

For the production of biodegradable polymers from microorganisms a bacterial strain producing a biopolymer was isolated from soil. The bacteriological characteristics of this strain and physicochemical Properties of the biopolymer produced were investigated. The bacterial strain was identified as an alkalophilic Alcaligenes sp. The Purified biopolymer treated with cetylpridinium chloride and acetone was identified as an acidic biopolymer having carboxyl groups and showed strong UV absorbance (at 210nm). The biopolymer was composed of 100% glutamic acid and glutamic acid existed as $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid($\gamma$-PGA) in the form of the $\gamma$-peptide bond. The equivalent weight of this $\gamma$-PGA was estimated about 350, indicating that one acidic fraction per 2.7 residue of $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid existed. The molecular weight was $6.5{\times}10^5$ Daltons.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 2007

In this study, we optimized the production of ${\gamma}-polyglutamic$ acid (PGA) in soybean milk cakes (SMC) fermented with Bacillus subtilis GT-D and B. subtilis KU-A, to be utilized as a functional food ingredient. PGA production was dependent upon the glutamate content, fermentation time, and type of Bacillus sp. The consistencies of the SMCs fermented by B. subtilis GT-D and B. subtilis KU-A were highest after 36 hr of fermentation, and then decreased gradually. The SMC fermented by B. subtilis KU-A had a higher consistency than the SMC fermented by B. subtilis GT-D. In the presence of 10% defatted soy flour (DFS), 5% glutamate in the SMC was efficiently converted into polyglutamic acid (PGA) for 24 hr, indicating a conversion yield above 96%, but its conversion then decreased with higher concentrations of glutamate. The soluble solid content (mucilage) of the SMC fermented with B. subtilis KU-A was 9.5%(w/w), and composed of 65.6% PGA (Mw 1,536 kDa) and some polysaccharides. However, the SMC fermented with B. subtilis GT-D had a mucilage content of 7.8%(w/w), and was composed of 66.4% PGA (Mw 1,409 kDa), 11.5% levan, and some polysaccharides. The viscoelastic values of the mucilage obtained using B. subtilis KU-A were much higher than those of mucilage obtained using B. subtilis GT-D. Also, the G'-value (elastic modulus) was higher than the G"-value (viscous modulus).

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.722-727
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• 2007

Mucilage containing ${\gamma}-polyglutamic$ acid (PGA) was efficiently generated by the solid-state fermentation (SSF) of soybean grit by Bacillus firmus NA-1. B. firmus NA-1 was shown to be a glutamate-dependent strain for PGA production. The SSF of soybean grit was optimized in order to produce mucilage with a fortification of 5% glutamate, resulting in higher levels of mucilage production (6.14%) and a higher consistency index ($1.1\;Pa\;sec^n$). The sticky mucilage was comprised of 38% PGA, 7% levan, and some biopolymers. With regard to the viscoelastic properties of the mucilage solution, the viscous modulus (G") obtained from soybean grit fortified with 5% glutamate was approximately 64 times higher titan that of the mucilage solution obtained without glutamate. Although the addition of glutamate in the SSF of soybean grit influenced the rate of PGA production, the molecular weight of PGA remained unaltered, and was detected in a range between 1,400-1,440 kDa.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2006

The components of the media used to elicit the biosynthesis of $poly-{\gamma}-glutamic$ acid $({\gamma}-PGA)$ by Bacillus subtilis ZJU-7 were investigated, particularly the carbon and nitrogen sources Of the 7 carbon sources investigated, sucrose induced the highest rate of ${\gamma}-PGA$ productivity; among the nitrogen sources, tryptone had the best effect for ${\gamma}-PGA$ production. A $2^{6-2}$ fractional factorial design was used to screen factors that influence ${\gamma}-PGA$ production significantly, and a central composite design was finally adopted to formulate the optimal medium. ${\gamma}-PGA$ productivity improved approximately 2-fold when the optimal medium was used compared with the original nonoptimized medium, and volumetric productivity reached a maximum of 58.2 g/L after a 24-h cultivation period.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2021

Background: Red ginseng (RG) extract, especially ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 fractions has been reported to have antithrombotic activities. However, gastric instability and low intestinal permeability are considered to be obstacles to its oral administration. We hypothesized that stability, permeability, and activities of RG might be improved by encapsulation within nanoparticles (NPs) prepared with antithrombotic coating materials. Methods: RG-loaded chitosan (CS) NPs (PF-NPs) were prepared by complex ionic gelation with the antithrombotic wall materials, polyglutamic acid (PGA), and fucoidan (Fu). The concentrations of PGA (mg/mL, X₁) and Fu (mg/mL, X₂) were optimized for the smallest particle size by response surface methodology. Antithrombotic activities of RG and PF-NPs were analyzed using ex vivo and in vivo antiplatelet activities, in vivo carrageenan-induced mouse tail, and arteriovenous shunt rat thrombosis models. Results: In accordance with a quadratic regression model, the smallest PF-NPs (286 ± 36.6 nm) were fabricated at 0.628 mg/mL PGA and 0.081 mg/mL Fu. The inhibitory activities of RG on ex vivo and in vivo platelet aggregation and thrombosis in in vivo arteriovenous shunt significantly (p < 0.05) increased to approximately 66.82%, 35.42%, and 38.95%, respectively, by encapsulation within PF-NPs. For an in vivo carrageenan-induced mouse tail thrombosis model, though RG had a weaker inhibitory effect, PF-NPs reduced thrombus significantly due to the presence of PGA and Fu. Conclusion: PF-NPs contributed to improve the activities of RG not only by nanoencapsulation but also by antithrombotic coating materials. Therefore, PG-NPs can be suggested as an efficient delivery system for oral administration of RG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.664-670
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• 2016

Cheonggukjang (CKJ) is a Korean traditional food made of fermented soybeans. In comparison to normal intake of soybeans, Cheonggukjang has high digestibility with bioactive, antioxidant substances, and thrombolytic enzymes. Recent studies have reported anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity activities as well as inhibitory activities against osteoporosis for CKJ. In this study, we identified the effects of CKJ on osteoblast differentiation by increasing the polyglutamic acid (PGA) content of CKJ. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization significantly increased in response to treatment with both natural CKJ (CKJ A) and PGA-increased CKJ (CKJ B). However, CKJ B exhibited higher ALP activity and mineralization than CKJ A. Real-time reverse transcription PCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of osteoblastic-associated genes such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteopontin in C2C12 cells was significantly up-regulated by CKJ A or B treatment. These results indicate that treatment with CKJ has an anabolic effect on bone by increasing osteoblastic differentiation and ALP activity. Increasing PGA content in CKJ had a greater effect than CKJ A on up-regulation of osteoblastic gene expression in osteoblast cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2005

Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (PGA) is an unusual anionic polypeptide and has great potential as an environmentally and industrially significant biodegradable material. A new ${\gamma}$-PGA producer, Bacillus mesentericus MJM1, with high production capacity was isolated from Korean domestic Chungkuckjang bean paste. It produced ${\gamma}$-PGA at the level of 10 g/l in suitable media. The viscosities of 5% initially extracted mucin and purified ${\gamma}$-PGA solutions were 660 cps and 600 cps, respectively. The produced ${\gamma}$-PGA polymer consisted of 2,000 glutamic acid residues with even proportion of L and D types with molecular mass of about 200- 300 kDa. Bacillus mesentericus MJM1 displayed ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP) activity that is known to play a key role in ${\gamma}$-PGA biosynthesis. The ${\gamma}$-GTP coding region was located on the plasmid of 5.8 kb. The plasmid, named pMMH1, is a rolling-circle replication (RCR) plasmid and additionally contained a replication origin and type I signal peptidase (sipP) coding region.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2000

Screening was performed to isolate biopolymer-producing microorganisms from natural sources. The bacteriological characteristics of this strain and physicochemical properties of the biopolymer produced were investigated. The bacterial strain was identified as a Bacillus coagulans. Crude biopolymer treated with ethanol and actone was purified to fraction I and II by ion exchange chromatography and gel chromatography (Shephadex G-100 and Shepharose CL-2B). Analysis of chemical composition and various color reaction revealed that the polymer is composed of amino acids. It was confirmed that fraction II is a homopolymer of glutamic acid and fraction I is a homopolymer of lysine by analysis data of amino acid analyzer, GC and IR.