Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to provide a process for efficiently producing poly-?-glutamic acid having a high L-glutamic acid content and excellent quality. The process for producing poly-?-glutamic acid according to the present invention is characterized in using a bacterium belonging to species Bacillus megaterium.

Abstract: There are provided a microorganism characterized by producing poly-?-L-glutamate with a molecular weight of 1,300,000 or greater and uniform optical purity under liquid culture conditions, a method of screening for the microorganism, a method of producing poly-?-L-glutamate having large molecular weight by using the microorganism, and poly-?-L-glutamate having an average molecular weight of 1,300,000 or greater. In addition, usages of these are provided.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to provide a process for efficiently producing poly-?-glutamic acid having a high L-glutamic acid content and excellent quality. The process for producing poly-?-glutamic acid according to the present invention is characterized in using a bacterium belonging to species Bacillus megaterium.

Abstract: Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang, accession no. KCTC 0697BP, a salt-resistant B. subtilis variant isolated from “chungkookjang,” a traditional Korean fermented soy bean paste. This B. subtilis variant produces poly-gamma-glutamic acid (or poly-gamma-glutamate, ?-PGA), an edible, soluble, anionic, and biodegradable high molecular-weight polymer. Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang produces ?-PGA with a higher molecular weight than other extracellular ?-PGAs derived from general Bacillus sp. strains. Accordingly, the ?-PGA produced by Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang can be utilized for the development of high value-added products, such as cosmetics, absorption agents, and biodegradable plastic materials.

Abstract: There are provided a microorganism characterized by producing poly-?-L-glutamate with a molecular weight of 1,300,000 or greater and uniform optical purity under liquid culture conditions, a method of screening for the microorganism, a method of producing poly-?-L-glutamate having large molecular weight by using the microorganism, and poly-?-L-glutamate having an average molecular weight of 1,300,000 or greater. In addition, usages of these are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface expression vector having pgsBCA, a gene coding poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase and a method for expression of target protein at the surface of microorganism using the vector. The vector, in which foreign genes are inserted, transforms microorganisms and makes foreign proteins expressed stably on the surface of microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel L-glutamate oxidase, a gene encoding the enzyme, and a method for producing the enzyme. By use of a gene encoding the enzyme, L-glutamate oxidase can be readily prepared at low costs through a recombinant DNA technique. The novel L-glutamate oxidase has the following physicochemical properties: (A) action: catalyzing the following reaction: L-glutamic acid+O2+H2O??-ketoglutaric acid+H2O2+NH3; (B) substrate specificity: being specific to L-glutamic acid; (C) molecular weight and subunit structure: molecular weight as determined through SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 70,000±6,000, molecular weight as determined through gel filtration of 140,000±10,000, and being a dimer formed of the same subunits having a molecular weight of 70,000±6,000; (D) optimum pH: around pH 6.0 to 8.5; (E) heat stability: being stable up to 60° C. at a pH of 7.4 for 30 minutes; and (F) coenzyme: flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel L-glutamate oxidase, a gene encoding the enzyme, and a method for producing the enzyme. By use of a gene encoding the enzyme, L-glutamate oxidase can be readily prepared at low costs through a recombinant DNA technique. The novel L-glutamate oxidase has the following physicochemical properties: (A) action: catalyzing the following reaction: L-glutamic acid+O2+H2O??-ketoglutaric acid+H2O2+NH3; (B) substrate specificity: being specific to L-glutamic acid; (C) molecular weight and subunit structure: molecular weight as determined through SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 70,000±6,000, molecular weight as determined through gel filtration of 140,000±10,000, and being a dimer formed of the same subunits having a molecular weight of 70,000±6,000; (D) optimum pH: around pH 6.0 to 8.5; (E) heat stability: being stable up to 60° C. at a pH of 7.4 for 30 minutes; and (F) coenzyme: flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).

Abstract: Salt-resistant Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang, accession no. KCTC 0697BP, separated from “chungkookjang” a traditional Korean fermented soy bean paste and its poly-gamma-glutamic acid (or poly-gamma-glutamate, g-PGA), an edible, soluble, anionic, and biodegradable high molecular-weight polymer. Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang produces g-PGA with a higher molecular weight than other extracellular g-PGAs derived from general Bacillus sp. strains and can be utilized for the development of high value-added products, such as cosmetics, absorption agents, and biodegradable plastic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a poly-gamma-glutamate (PGA) having an ultra-high molecular weight greater than 5,000 kDa. The ultra-high molecular weight PGA according to the present invention has a mean molecular weight greater than 13,000 kDa, and more than 95% of its molecules have a molecular weight ranging from 3,000 to 15,000 kDa. Also, it can be produced by the culturing of Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang. The ultra-high molecular weight PGA according to the present invention shows very excellent moisture-absorbing, moisture-retaining, sustained release, mineral solubility, and water-absorbing properties, and thus, can be used as a new and high value-added material in various applications.

Abstract: Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang, accession no. KCTC 0697BP, a salt-resistant B. subtilis variant isolated from “chungkookjang,” a traditional Korean fermented soy bean paste. This B. subtilis variant produces poly-gamma-glutamic acid (or poly-gamma-glutamate, ?-PGA), an edible, soluble, anionic, and biodegradable high molecular-weight polymer. Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang produces ?-PGA with a higher molecular weight than other extracellular ?-PGAs derived from general Bacillus sp. strains. Accordingly, the ?-PGA produced by Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang can be utilized for the development of high value-added products, such as cosmetics, absorption agents, and biodegradable plastic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface expression vector having pgsBCA, a gene coding poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase and a method for expression of target protein at the surface of microorganism using the vector. The vector, in which foreign genes are inserted, transforms microorganisms and makes foreign proteins expressed stably on the surface of microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel L-glutamate oxidase, a gene encoding the enzyme, and a method for producing the enzyme. By use of a gene encoding the enzyme, L-glutamate oxidase can be readily prepared at low costs through a recombinant DNA technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the salt-resistant Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang, accession no. KCTC 0697BP separated from “chungkookjang” a traditional Korean fermented soy bean paste and to its poly-gamma-glutamic acid (or poly-gamma-glutamate, &ggr;-PGA) an edible, soluble, anionic, and biodegradable high molecular-weight polymer.