Microbiome signature of different stages of hypoxia event in Wonmun Bay.

We investigated how microbial communities associated with different hypoxic stages respond to environmental changes across three water depths in Wonmun Bay, South Korea. Analysis of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and nutrient concentrations revealed prominent seasonal shifts and strong stratification during summer hypoxia. Metabarcoding of prokaryotic 16 S rRNA genes and phototrophic eukaryotic chloroplasts along with quantitative PCR (qPCR) revealed variations in the abundance and composition of these communities.

Food carbohydrates in the gut: structural diversity, microbial utilization, and analytical strategies.

Carbohydrates, which are a vital dietary component, undergo digestion and gut fermentation through microbial enzymes to produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Certain carbohydrates selectively modulate the gut microbiota, impacting host health. Carbohydrate-active enzymes within the gut microbiota significantly contribute to carbohydrate utilization and microbial diversity.

Correlation between monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, and microbial community profile changes in traditional soybean brick (meju) fermentation.

Meju is essential for making diverse traditional fermented soybean foods in Korea. To understand the changes in carbohydrates during fermentation, we aimed to identify autochthonous microorganisms from spontaneously fermented meju and compare the alterations in monosaccharides and oligosaccharides throughout the fermentation process. Microbial diversity was determined using a metabarcoding approach, and monosaccharide and oligosaccharide profiles were obtained by HPLC-Q-TOF MS and HPLC-MS/MS analyses, respectively.

Taxonomic Variations of Bacterial and Fungal Communities depending on Fermentation Temperature in Traditional Korean Fermented Soybean Food, Doenjang.

Meju, a fermented soybean brick, is a key component in soybean foods like doenjang and ganjang, harboring a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms significantly contribute to the nutritional and sensory characteristics of doenjang and ganjang. Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing was applied to investigate how the microbial communities of meju fermented at low and high temperatures differ and how this variation affects the microbial communities of doenjang, a subsequently fermented soybean food.

Identification of the antibacterial action mechanism of diterpenoids through transcriptome profiling.

Effective antibacterial substances of have anti-biofilm and bactericidal activity to the oral pathogen . In this study, three compounds extracted from were identified as acanthoic acid, continentalic acid, and kaurenoic acid by NMR and were further investigated how these diterpenoids affect the physiology of the . When was exposed to individual or mixed fraction of diterpenoids, severe growth defects and unique morphology were observed.

Engineering of for Hemicellulosic Biomass Utilization.

The saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose is essential for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass as a biofuel. While cellulose is composed of glucose only, hemicelluloses are composed of diverse sugars such as xylose, arabinose, glucose, and galactose. is a good potential candidate for biofuel production using hemicellulose as this archaeon simultaneously utilizes various sugars.

Transcriptome Analysis of Halotolerant Isolated from Korean Fermented Shrimp.

Saeu-jeotgal, a Korean fermented shrimp food, is commonly used as an ingredient for making kimchi and other side dishes. The high salinity of the jeotgal contributes to its flavor and inhibits the growth of food spoilage microorganisms. Interestingly, was discovered to be capable of growth even after treatment with 20% NaCl.

Anticancer Activity of Continentalic Acid in B-Cell Lymphoma.

has been used in Korea as a folk remedy for arthralgia, rheumatism, and inflammation. However, its anti-lymphoma effect remains uncharacterized. Here, we demonstrate that extract and its three diterpenes efficiently kill B-lymphoma cells.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Resveratrol α-Glucoside by Amylosucrase of .

Glycosylation of resveratrol was carried out by using the amylosucrase of , and the glycosylated products were tested for their solubility, chemical stability, and biological activities. We synthesized and identified these two major glycosylated products as resveratrol-4'--α-glucoside and resveratrol-3--α-glucoside by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis with a ratio of 5:1. The water solubilities of the two resveratrol--glucoside isomers (-piceid isomers) were approximately 3.

Identification of the Genes Related to the Glycogen Metabolism in Hyperthermophilic Archaeon, .

Glycogen is a polysaccharide that comprises α-1,4-linked glucose backbone and α-1,6-linked glucose polymers at the branching points. It is widely found in organisms ranging from bacteria to eukaryotes. The physiological role of glycogen is not confined to being an energy reservoir and carbon source but varies depending on organisms.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Thermostable GDSL-Type Lipase from .

Two putative genes, and , encoding lipolytic enzymes from the thermophilic bacterium KCTC 3921 were cloned and overexpressed in . The recombinant Lip29 and Est29 were purified 67.3-fold to homogeneity with specific activity of 2.

Salt Stress Response of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Involves Complex Trehalose Metabolism Utilizing a Novel Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase (TPS)/Trehalose-6-Phosphate Phosphatase (TPP) Pathway.

The crenarchaeon has been described to synthesize trehalose via the maltooligosyltrehalose synthase (TreY) and maltooligosyltrehalose trehalohydrolase (TreZ) pathway, and the trehalose glycosyltransferring synthase (TreT) pathway has been predicted. Deletion mutant analysis of strains with single and double deletions of Δ and Δ in revealed that in addition to these two pathways, a third, novel trehalose biosynthesis pathway is operative : the trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase/T6P phosphatase (TPS/TPP) pathway. In contrast to known TPS proteins, which belong to the GT20 family, the TPS belongs to the GT4 family, establishing a new function within this group of enzymes.

Fermentation of Leaves Enhances Antioxidant Activity and Osteoblast Differentiation.

also known as Chinese mallow, is an herbaceous plant with colorful flowers and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. This study investigated this herb for potential antioxidant activity or an association with osteoblast differentiation. leaves were fermented with MV1 at 30 °C for 7 days to enhance their biological activities.

Metabolic Profiling-Based Evaluation of the Fermentative Behavior of and for Soybean Residues Treated at Different Temperatures.

Soybean processing, e.g., by soaking, heating, and fermentation, typically results in diverse metabolic changes.

Enhancement of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Roots Fermented with .

The roots of are known to exhibit antioxidant and antibacterial activities. To improve the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of roots, the roots were fermented with at 25 °C for 3 weeks. The non-fermented (SME) and fermented (SMBE) roots of were extracted with 70% ethanol, respectively, and then fractionated with organic solvents.

Comparison of the Structural Properties and Nutritional Fraction of Corn Starch Treated with Thermophilic GH13 and GH57 α-Glucan Branching Enzymes.

Two thermophilic 1,4-α-glucan branching enzymes (GBEs), CbGBE from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and PhGBE from Pyrococcus horikoshii, which belong to the glycoside hydrolase family 13 and 57 respectively, were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Two GBEs were identified to have α-1,6 branching activity against various substrates, but substrate specificity was distinct. Starch was modified by two GBEs and their in vitro digestibility and structural properties were investigated.

Profiling of glucose-induced transcription in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639.

Sulfolobus species can grow on a variety of organic compounds as carbon and energy sources. These species degrade glucose to pyruvate by the modified branched Entner-Doudoroff pathway. We attempted to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under sugar-limited and sugar-rich conditions.

Synthesis of Aesculetin and Aesculin Glycosides Using Engineered Expressing Amylosucrase.

Because glycosylation of aesculetin and its 6-glucoside, aesculin, enhances their biological activities and physicochemical properties, whole-cell biotransformation and enzymatic synthesis methodologies using amylosucrase were compared to determine the optimal production method for glycoside derivatives. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of reaction products revealed two glycosylated products (AGG1 and AGG2) when aesculin was used as an acceptor, and three products (AG1, AG2, and AG3) when using aesculetin. The whole-cell biotransformation production yields of the major transfer products for each acceptor (AGG1 and AG1) were 85% and 25%, respectively, compared with 68% and 14% for enzymatic synthesis.

Saci_1816: A Trehalase that Catalyzes Trehalose Degradation in the Thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeon .

Previously, a cytosolic trehalase (TreH) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon was reported; however, the gene responsible for the trehalase activity was not identified. Two genes, and , that encode the glycoside hydrolase family 15 type glucoamylase-like proteins in were targeted and expressed in , and their abilities to hydrolyze trehalose were examined. Recombinant Saci_1816 hydrolyzed trehalose exclusively without any help from a cofactor.

Synthesis of aesculetin and aesculin glycosides using engineered expressing amylosucrase.

Because glycosylation of aesculetin and its 6-glucoside, aesculin, enhances their biological activities and physicochemical properties, whole-cell biotransformation and enzymatic synthesis methodologies using amylosucrase were compared to determine the optimal production method for glycoside derivatives. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of reaction products revealed two glycosylated products (AGG1 and AGG2) when aesculin was used as an acceptor and three products (AG1, AG2, and AG3) when using aesculetin. The whole-cell biotransformation production yields of the major transfer products for each acceptor (AGG1 and AG1) were 85% and 25%, respectively, compared to 68% and 14% for enzymatic synthesis.

Therapeutic outcomes of methotrexate injection in unruptured interstitial pregnancy.

Objective: To examine the therapeutic outcomes of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of unruptured interstitial pregnancy.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with interstitial pregnancy and received MTX as first-line treatment between January 2003 and July 2014 at CHA Gangnam Medical Center. The treatment success rates and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were examined.

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Transports Pentoses via a Carbohydrate Uptake Transporter 2 (CUT2)-Type ABC Transporter and Metabolizes Them through the Aldolase-Independent Weimberg Pathway.

spp. possess a great metabolic versatility and grow heterotrophically on various carbon sources, such as different sugars and peptides. Known sugar transporters in predominantly belong to ABC transport systems.

Glycosylation Enhances the Physicochemical Properties of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester.

In this study, we synthesized a glycosylated derivative of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) using the amylosucrase from with sucrose as a substrate and examined its solubility, chemical stability, and anti-inflammatory activity. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the resulting glycosylated CAPE (G-CAPE) was the new compound caffeic acid phenethyl ester-4--α--glucopyranoside. G-CAPE was 770 times more soluble than CAPE and highly stable in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and buffered solutions, as estimated by its half-life.

Characterization of a thermostable glycoside hydrolase family 36 α-galactosidase from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii.

The putative gene cluster involved in the degradation of the raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) was identified in Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. Within the cluster, the gene encoding a putative α-galactosidase (CbAga36) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Size exclusion chromatography of the purified rCbAga36 indicated that the native form was a tetramer.

Structural basis for the transglycosylase activity of a GH57-type glycogen branching enzyme from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

Glycogen branching enzyme (GBE) catalyzes the formation of α-1,6-branching points during glycogenesis by cleaving α-1,4 bonds and making new α-1,6 bonds. Most GBEs belong to the glycoside hydrolase 13 family (GH13), but new GBEs in the GH57 family have been isolated from Archaea. Here, we determined the crystal structure of a GH57 GBE from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii (PhGBE) at a resolution of 2.