Keug-Hyun Ahn

Silver-stained fibrin zymography: separation of proteases and activity detection using a single substrate-containing gel

A new zymogram method, silver-stained fibrin zymography, for separation of protease bands and activity detection using a single substrate gel, was developed. The method takes advantage of the nanoscale sensitivity of both zymography and silver staining. After SDS-PAGE in a gel containing fibrin, the gel was incubated in enzyme reaction buffer and the zymogram was silver-stained. Bands with protease activity were stained with silver in clear areas where the protein substrate had been degraded. The molecular sizes of proteases were accurately determined. Furthermore, proteases of high molecular weight were clearly and sharply resolved.

Optimization of Production Yield for Neohesperidin by Response Surface Methodology

Neohesperidin is a natural new nutrition sweetener, widely existing in plants of dry citrus peel, which can be derived from extraction. Since the sweetness is 1,300-1,500 times greater than that of sugar, neohesperidin are widely used in fruit juices, wines, beverages, bakeries and pharmaceutical formulations, and are particularly suitable for consumption by diabetic patients. However, the yield of extraction from citrus peel waste is very low. In this study optimal yield conditions were determinedusing response surface methodology (RSM) in order to increase the neohesperidin extraction yield. The critical factors for maximum extraction yield were selected extraction pressure (), extraction time (), and concentration of ethanol (). As a result, the extraction yield was improved when the extracting pressure increased. The extraction yield also increased in a time-dependent manner. When adding ethanol as an assistance solvent to the supercritical carbon dioxide, extraction yield was increased as more ethanol concentration was added. Finally, the extraction yield of neohesperidin was improved to about 162.22% compared to ethanol extraction as a conventional method.

Activity assay for nisin-like acidic bacteriocins using an optimal pH-conditioned gel matrix.

A new zymography for detecting nisin-like acidic bacteriocins was developed using a tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel and an acidic gel matrix (pH 4.0). After electrophoresis, proteins in the tricine gel were electrotransferred to an optimal pH-conditioned gel matrix (OP-CGM). The OP-CGM was overlaid with indicator cells (Bacillus cereus) embedded in nutrient broth soft agar (0.8%, w/v). Antibacterial activity shown as a growth inhibition using B. cereus was detected at approximately 3.8kDa. Because nisin is unstable in buffers at pH values over 6.0, the common electrophoretic systems, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and tricine gel, are not suitable for detection of nisin-like acidic bacteriocins.