• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.149-153
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• 1998

From soils seasonally collected at two depths (0~2 cm, $50{\pm}1cm$) of forest, field, grass land, or paddy field, distinct strains of actinomycetes were isolated and identified to the genus level. The genus-diversity of soil actinomycetes was revealed to be considerably different by seasonal change. It was also affected by soil depths, soil types, or actinomycete groups. At the soil depth of 0~2 cm, the seasonal distribution fluctuation (%) of streptomycete strains was higher in grass land (41%), field (39%) soil than paddy field (18%), or forest (18%), whereas that of streptomycete strains at the soil depth of $50{\pm}1cm$ was high in order of paddy field (36%), field (28%), grass land (26%), and forest (16%). On the other hand, the seasonal distribution fluctuation ratio of rare actinomycete strains at the soil depth of 0~2 cm was above 45% except for paddy field (26%). At the soil depth of $50{\pm}1cm$, the seasonal distribution of rare actinomycete strains exhibited high fluctuation (%) in order of forest (79%), paddy field (36%), field (24%), and grass land (10%).

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1997.10b
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• pp.134.2-134
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• 1997

No Abstract, See Full Text

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.308-314
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• 2004

A degenerate set of PCR primers based on two conserved regions (heme binding region and oxygen ligand pocket) were designed and successfully applied to amplify DNA fragments of cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP) genes from a rare actinomycetes, S. benihana. The PCR amplified products were employed as a DNA probe to clone the entire CYP genes from S. benihana genomic library. Five different CYP-positive cosmids were isolated by colony hybridization as well as PCR confirmation. The complete nucleotide sequencing of five different CYP genes revealed that each unique CYP showed a significant amino acid homology to previously-known CYP genes involved in streptomycetes secondary metabolism. In addition, four CYP genes (CYP502, CYP503, CYP504, CYP506) were found to be linked to ferredoxin genes in the chromosome, and the CYP503 gene showed the high degree of amino acid similarity to the previously well-characterized CYP105 family in streptomycetes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2011

Actinomycetes, Gram positive soil bacteria, are valuable microorganisms which produce useful secondary metabolites including antibiotics, antiparasitic substances, anti-cancer drugs, and immunosuppressants. Although a major family of actinomycetes, known as streptomycetes, has been intensively investigated at the molecular level for several decades, a potentially valuable and only recently isolated non-streptomycetes rare actinomycetes (NSRA) family has been poorly characterized due to lack of proper genetic manipulation systems. Here we report that a PCR-based genome screening strategy was performed with approximately 180 independently isolated actinomycetes strains to isolate potentially valuable NSRA strains. Thanks to this simple PCR-based genome screening strategy we were able to identify only seven NSRA strains, followed by 16S rRNA sequencing for confirmation. Through further bioassays, one potentially valuable NSRA strain (tentatively named Nocardiopsis species MMBL010) was identified which possessed both antifungal and antibacterial activities, along with the presence of polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthase genes. Moreover, Nocardiopsis species MMBL010, which was intrinsically recalcitrant to genetic manipulation, was successfully transformed via E. coli-driven conjugation. These results suggest that PCR-based genome screening, followed by the establishment of an E. coli-driven conjugation system, is an efficient strategy to maximize potentially valuable compounds and their biosynthetic genes from NSRA strains isolated from various environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.295-298
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• 2006

Actinomycetes are ubiquitous Gram-positive soil bacteria and a group of the most important industrial microorganisms for the biosynthesis of many valuable secondary metabolites as well as the source of various bioconversion enzymes. Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP), a hemebinding protein, is known to be involved in the modification of various natural compounds, including polyketides, fatty acids, steroids, and some aromatic compounds. Previously, six different novel CYP genes were isolated from a rare actinomycetes called Sebekia benihana, and they were completely sequenced, revealing significant amino acid similarities to previously known CYP genes involved in Streptomyces secondary metabolism. In the present study, these six CYP genes were functionally expressed in Streptomyces lividans, using an $ermE^{*}$ promoter-containing Streptomyces expression vector. Among six CYP genes, two S. benihana CYP genes (CYP503 and CYP504) showed strong hydroxylation activities toward 7-ethoxycoumarin. Furthermore, the recombinant S. lividans containing both the S. benihana CYP506-ferredoxin genes as well as the S. coelicolor feredoxin reductase gene also demonstrated cyclosporin A hydroxylation activity, suggesting potential application of actinomycetes CYPs for the biocatalysts of natural product bioconversion.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.475-480
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• 2010

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive soil bacteria and one of the most important industrial microorganisms due to superior biosynthetic capabilities of many valuable secondary metabolites as well as production of various valuable bioconversion enzymes. Among them are cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP), which are hemoproteins encoded by a super family of genes, are universally distributed in most of the organisms from all biological kingdoms. Actinomycetes are a rich source of soluble CYP enzymes, which play critical roles in the bioactivation and detoxification of a wide variety of metabolite biosynthesis and xenobiotic transformation. Cyclosporin A (CyA), one of the most commonly-prescribed immunosuppressive drugs, was previously reported to be hydroxylated at the position of 4th N-methyl leucine by a rare actinomycetes called Sebekia benihana, leading to display different biological activity spectrum such as loss of immunosuppressive activities yet retaining hair growth-stimulating side effect. In order to improve this regio-selective CyA hydroxylation in S. benihana, previously-identified several secondary metabolite up-regulatory genes from Streptomyces coelicolor and S. avermitilis were heterologously overexpressed in S. benihana using an $ermE^*$ promoter-containing Streptomyces integrative expression vector. Among tested, SCO4967 encoding a conserved hypothetical protein significantly stimulated region-specific CyA hydroxylation in S. benihana, implying that some common regulatory systems functioning in both biosynthesis and bioconversion of secondary metabolite might be present in different actinomycetes species.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.201-204
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• 1983

Antioxidant, tentatively named PA-29B substance was isolated from the fermentation broth of rare Actinomycetes. It was isolated by means of silica gel column chromatography and obtained as colorless plates, mp 155-157$^{\circ}C$. The structure of PA-29B substance was assigned to be $\alpha$-phenyl acetamide by $^1$HNMR spectrometer and mass spectrometer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1634-1639
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• 2015

Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (CYP) in actinomycetes plays an important role in the biosynthesis and bioconversion of various secondary metabolites. Two unique CYPs named CYP-sb21 and CYP-pa1, which were identified from Sebekia benihana and Pseudonocardia autotrophica, respectively, were proven to transfer a hydroxyl group at the 4^th or 9^th N-methyl leucine position of immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CsA). Interestingly, these two homologous CYPs showed different CsA regio-selectivities. CYP-sb21 exhibited preferential hydroxylation activity at the 4^th position over the 9^th position, whereas CYP-pa1 showed the opposite preference. To narrow down the CYP domain critical for CsA regio-selectivity, each CYP was divided into four domains, and each domain was swapped with its counterpart from the other CYP. A total of 18 hybrid CYPs were then individually tested for CsA regio-selectivity. Although most of the hybrid CYPs failed to exhibit a significant change in regio-selectivity in the context of CsA hydroxylation, hybrid CYP-pa1 swapped with the second domain of CYP-sb21 showed a higher preference for the 9^th position. Moreover, hybrid CYPsb21 containing seven amino acids from the 2nd domain of CYP-pa1 showed higher preference for the 4^th position. These results imply that the 2nd domain of CsA-specific CYP plays a critical role in CsA regio-selectivity, thereby setting the stage for biotechnological application of CsA regio-selective hydroxylation.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 1998

About 300 actinomycetes were isolated from two forest and one sea-shore soil and tested for inhibitory effects on mycelial growth of six plant pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe grisea, Alternaria mali, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phytophthora capsici, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Rhizoctonia solani. Among 300 actinomycetes tested, only 16 actinomycetes showed the antifungal activity against the test fungi. Isolate NH 50 was selected for production and purification of antifungal antibiotic substances. Actinomycete isolate NH 50 displayed the broad antifungal spectra against 11 plant pathogenic fungi. To identify actinomycete isolate NH 50, cultural characteristics on various agar media, diaminopimelic acid type, and morphological characteristics by scanning electron microscopy were examined. As a result, actinomycete isolate NH 50 was classified as a rare actinomycete that had LL-DAP type and did not produce spores. After incubation of isolate NH 50 in yeast extract-malt extract-dextrose broth, antifungal compound NH-B1 that inhibited mycelial growth of some plant pathogenic fungi was purified from the methanol eluates of XAD-16 resins by a series of purification procedures, i.e., silica gel flash chromatography, C18 flash chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, silica gel medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), C18 MPLC, and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). UV spectrum and 1HNMR spectrum of antifungal compound NH-B1 dissolved in methanol were examined. The antibiotic NH-B1 showed the major peaks at 230 and 271.2nm. Based on the data of 1H-NMR spectrum, NH-B1 was confirmed to be an extremely complex polymer of sugars called polysaccharides. The antibiotic NH-B1 showed strong antifungal activity against Alternaria solani and Cercospora kikuchi, but weak activity against M. grisea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.534-539
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• 1996

Total 276 soil actinomycete strains were isolated from 46 soil samples collected at domestic natural caves; the Kosu, Chundong, and Nodong caves at Chungbook province, the Kossi cave at Kangwon province, the Sungruye cave at Kyungbook province, the Hyupjae, Ssangyong, and Manjang caves at Cheju province. All of these isolates were identified to the genus level based on morphological and physiological characteristics. As the result, 52.5% of those isolates were Streptomyces, 16.3% were Micromonospora, 22.8% were Nocardioform group, 1.1% were Actinomadura, 0.3% were Nocardiopsis, 0.3% were Streptosporangium, 0.3% were Nocardioides, 1.4% were Kineosporia, 4.7% were the others. Streptomycete strains were the most abundant, but were relatively less comparing to general distribution pattern. Nocardioform and Micromonospora strains were quite abundant, and other rare actinomycete groups were somewhat abundant comparing to general distribution pattern previously reported. Especially Nocardioform strains were highly abundant at almost of the natural caves.