인삼 근계(근권, 근면, 근내부)로부터 ginsenoside Rb1 전환 효소인 β-glucosidase 생산 균주(BGB)를 분리하였다. 인삼 근계부터 분리된 BGB 28균주의 계통학적 특성을 확인한 결과, 근권에서 Stenotrophomonas 속(3균주), Pseudoxanthomonas 속(1균주), Bacillus 속(1균주)로 확인되었다. 근면로부터 분리된 BGB는 Stenotrophomonas 속(16균주), Streptomyces 속(1균주), Microbacterium 속(1균주)이며, 근내부는 Stenotrophomonas 속(3균주), Lysobacter 속(2균주)를 포함하는 다양한 계통군이 확인 되었다. 특히 인삼 근계로부터 분리된 BGB 균주의 90%가 Stenotrophomonas 계통군에 속하는 특징을 나타내었다. 근권으로부터 분리된 4KR4 균주는 108.17 unit의 β-glucosidase 활성을 나타내었으며, ginsenoside Rb1을 Rd, Rg3 그리고 minor ginsenoside Rh2로 전환되었다. 4KR4 균주는 Stenotrophomonas rhizophila e-p10T (AJ293463)와 99.65%의 높은 상동성을 나타내었다. 본 연구에서 분리된 ginsenoside 전환세균 4KR4 균주의 계통학적 위치와 표현형적 특징, 균체 지방산조성, 생리ㆍ생화학적 특성을 검토한 결과, Stenotrophomonas sp. 4KR4 (=KACC 17635) 균주로 확인되었다.
We isolated the β-glucosidase producing bacteria (BGB) in ginseng root system (rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane, inside of root). Phylogenetic analysis of the 28 BGB based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, BGB from rhizosphere soil belong to genus Stenotrophomonas (3 strains), Bacillus (1 strain), and Pseudoxanthomonas (1 strain). BGB isolates from rhizoplane were Stenotrophomonas (16 strains), Streptomyces (1 strain) and Microbacterium (1 strain). BGB from inside of root were categorized into Stenotrophomonas (3 strains) and Lysobacter (2 strains). Especially, Stenotrophomonas comprised the largest portion (approximately 90%) of total isolates and Stenotrophomonas was a dominant group of the β-glucosidase producing bacteria. We selected strain 4KR4, which had high β-glucosidase activity (108.17 unit), could transform ginsenoside Rb1 into Rd, Rg3, and Rh2 ginsenosides. In determining its relationship on the basis of 16S rRNA sequence, 4KR4 strain was most closely related to Stenotrophomonas rhizophila e-p10T (AJ293463) (99.62%). Therefore, on the basis of these polyphasic taxonomic evidence, the ginsenoside Rb1 converting bacteria 4KR4 was identified as Stenotrophomonas sp. 4KR4 (=KACC 17635).