Bacillus pumilus WL-11木聚糖酶A的纯化、鉴定及其底物降解方式

对一株Bacilluspumilus WL_11木聚糖酶的纯化、酶学性质及其底物降解模式进行了研究。经过硫酸铵盐析、CM_Sephadex及SephadexG_75层析分离纯化,获得一种纯化的WL_11木聚糖酶A ,其分子量为26.0kD ,pI值9.5 ,以燕麦木聚糖为底物时的表观Km 值为16.6mg mL ,Vmax值为12.63μmol (min·mg)。木聚糖酶A的pH稳定范围为6 0至10 4 ,最适作用pH范围则在7.2至8.0之间,是耐碱性木聚糖酶;最适作用温度为45℃～55℃,在37℃、45℃以下时该酶热稳定性均较好;50℃保温时,该酶活力的半衰期大约为2h ,在超过50℃的环境下,该酶的热稳定较差,55℃和60℃时的酶活半衰期分别为35min和15min。WL_11木聚糖酶A对来源于燕麦、桦木和榉木的可溶性木聚糖的酶解结果发现,木聚糖酶A对几种不同来源的木聚糖的降解过程并不一致。采用HPLC法分析上述底物的降解产物生成过程发现木聚糖酶A为内切型木聚糖酶,不同底物的降解产物中都无单糖的积累,且三糖的积累量都较高;与禾本科的燕麦木聚糖底物降解不同的是,木聚糖酶A对硬木木聚糖降解形成的五糖的继续降解能力较强。采用TLC法分析了WL-11粗木聚糖酶降解燕麦木聚糖的过程,结果表明燕麦木聚糖能够被WL-11粗木聚糖酶降解生成系列木寡糖,未检出木糖,这说明WL-11主要合成内切型木聚糖酶A,同时发酵液中不含木糖苷酶,适合用来酶法制备低聚木糖。     

Bacillus pumilus阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶的重组表达及水解木聚糖的研究

从短小芽孢杆菌中克隆阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶基因xyn43并重组表达,有利于将该酶分离纯化后应用于其他半纤维素多糖的水解。该研究利用E.coli BL21表达系统对实验室克隆到的短小芽孢杆菌的α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶基因xyn43进行重组表达并分析其酶学性质,将重组α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶Xyn43和来源于棒曲霉突变菌株的商业木聚糖酶联合作用于燕麦木聚糖。结果表明:以燕麦木聚糖为底物,重组α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶Xyn43的最适温度为50℃,最适p H为6.0。该酶在p H 5.0~10.0和45~55℃下较稳定。与木聚糖酶单独作用相比,重组Xyn43酶与商业木聚糖酶同时加入以及先用木聚糖酶水解后加入Xyn43酶,水解产物中的还原糖含量分别增加了16%和20%,木糖含量增加了35%和48%。该结果研究结果表明重组Xyn43酶能够和商业木聚糖酶协同降解燕麦木聚糖,提高水解效率,产生更多的木寡糖,阿拉伯糖和木糖。     

链霉菌Strz-2胞外木聚糖酶的纯化和固定化研究

为探讨木聚糖酶被固定化后的酶活力变化 ,采用盐析、离子交换和分子筛层析方法对链霉菌胞外木聚糖酶进行了纯化 ,并采用DNS方法对固定化酶的性质进行了研究。结果如下 :粗酶液被纯化了 30 .5倍 ,比活力达 4 5 7.5 ,活力回收 4 2 .6 %。纯化后的酶固定在戊二醛交联的壳聚糖上 ,残活力为 4 1.8%。固定化酶的最适pH为 6 .0 ,最适温度为 5 5℃ ,且固定化酶在 6 5 -75℃活力都较高。该酶的耐热性比较强 ,固定化酶热稳定性优于原酶 ;以木聚糖为底物 ,固定化酶的表观米氏常数为 0 .83× 10 -2g/L。因此 ,固定化的木聚糖酶优于原酶     

来源于瘤胃厌氧真菌Neocallimastix frontalis木聚糖酶在毕赤酵母中的表达

厌氧真菌Neocallimastix frontalis是瘤胃中降解木聚糖和纤维素的主要微生物之一,其木聚糖酶具有潜在的应用价值。对来源于Neocallimastix frontalis木聚糖酶基因Xyn11B进行密码子优化;通过全基因合成优化后的木聚糖酶基因Xyn11Bm,构建该基因的酵母表达载体p PIC9K-Xyn11Bm,并在毕赤酵母GS115中诱导表达。摇瓶水平时,重组Xyn11Bm酶活性最高为4 874.8U/m L。在10 L发酵罐中诱导96 h后,重组Xyn11Bm的酶活性为5 139.7 U/m L,菌体湿重和干重达到216.7 g/L和117.3 g/L。酶学性质分析表明,重组Xyn11Bm的最适反应温度为50℃,最适反应p H为5.0。在p H5.0-8.0时该酶具有较好的稳定性,但温度稳定性较差。底物特异性分析表明,重组Xyn11Bm可水解燕麦木聚糖、桦木木聚糖和可溶性木聚糖4-O-Me-D-glucurono-D-xylan,但不降解地衣多糖和大麦β-葡聚糖。结果表明重组Xyn11Bm具有潜在的应用价值。     

嗜热真菌耐热木聚糖酶的产酶条件和酶谱分析*

嗜热真菌Thermomyces lanuginosus CBS288.54-M18耐热木聚糖酶的产酶条件和酶谱分析结果表明：玉米芯水不溶木聚糖相对于其它来源木聚糖为最佳碳源,而酵母提取物和蛋白胨作为复合氮源时效果最好。培养基最适初始pH值为7．0,最适培养温度为50℃。在最适条件下发酵所产木聚糖酶活力最高达1.834u／mL。另外,SDS-PAGE和酶谱分析(变性和非变性状态下)结果都表明该菌只产生一种分子量约为26kD的G/11族木聚糖酶。     

链霉菌Strz-6木聚糖酶的纯化和固定化研究

链霉菌胞外木聚糖酶经过盐析、离子交换和分子筛层析纯化,粗酶液被纯化了32.5倍,比活力达498u/mg,活力回收46.6%。纯化后的酶固定在戊二醛交联的壳聚糖上,酶活回收率为42.8%。固定化酶的最适pH为6.0,最适温度为60℃,且固定化酶在65~75℃活力都较高。该酶的耐热性比较强,固定化酶热稳定性优于原酶;以木聚糖为底物,固定化酶的表观米氏常数为0.93×10-2g/L。     

里氏木霉GXC木聚糖酶的研究

研究了里氏木霉GXC产木聚糖酶的条件和酶学性质。结果表明,适宜产酶碳源为乳糖、甘露糖、棉子糖、木聚糖和麸皮,氮源为牛肉膏和酵母膏;产酶的最适初始pH为4．0,30℃培养60h。对以麸皮为碳源的培养液进行纯化的酶特性研究表明,木聚糖酶的最适反应温度为50℃,pH为5．5,该酶在pH5．0－7．0和40℃以下相对稳定。Fe^2 和Mn^2 对木聚糖酶有较大的促进作用,Cu^2 、Fe^2 具有抑制作用。     

海枣曲霉木聚糖酶降解寡聚木糖的特性

利用滤纸层析或ＡｃｒｙｌｅｘＰ－２凝胶过滤从落叶松木聚糖硫酸水解液中分离纯化子木二糖至木五糖。采用硅胶薄层层析分析底物和产物的方法研究了海枣霉木聚糖酶降解寡聚木糖的特点。此酶作用于寡糖的最适ＰＨ为５．０,终产物为Ｘ和Ｘ２。酶作用于Ｘ３、Ｘ４及Ｘ５的相对初速度分别为１、３４和４００,Ｘ２几乎不被酶解,推断该酶的底物结合部位至少具有５个亚位点,在高底物浓度,低酶量,远离最适ＰＨ以及在反应初期都能检测到     

Alkalitalea saponilacus产木聚糖酶的碳源优化及酶学特性

【目的】确定厌氧盐碱细菌Alkalitalea saponilacus产木聚糖酶所需的碳源,优化木聚糖粗酶的提取条件并分析酶学性质。【方法】应用GC技术分析A.saponilacus发酵木聚糖的主要产物;利用二硝基水杨酸法(DNS)测定木聚糖酶活力以获得最优的碳源、提取粗酶的最佳条件及其酶学特性。【结果】A.saponilacus以不同来源木聚糖为底物时,发酵产生的主要产物丙酸含量都在80%以上。若以0.4%(W/V)蔗糖+0.1%(W/V)桦木木聚糖为复合碳源时,木聚糖酶活力是以桦木木聚糖或者蔗糖为单一碳源时的3.2倍。木聚糖酶的酶活力在盐度2%–6%、pH 7.0和55°C达到最佳且在该条件下的酶活力为590 IU/mg。此外,该酶活力在0.2%Tween 20存在时增加,而在5 mmol/L Mg~(2+)和0.2%Triton X-100存在时无显著影响,但在Cu~(2+)、Fe3+和Ni~(2+)等金属离子存在时则被显著抑制。【结论】A.saponilacus发酵主产物丙酸以及生物合成的木聚糖酶在工业生产中具有广泛的应用前景。     

嗜碱细菌Cellulomonas bogoriensis 69B4T木聚糖酶的表达纯化及性质研究

【目的】对嗜碱细菌Cellulomonas bogoriensis 69B4~T产碱性木聚糖酶进行研究,克隆来源于该菌株的木聚糖酶基因,并对其进行异源表达、纯化及酶学性质的表征,为后续研究碱性木聚糖酶的耐碱机制及应用奠定基础。【方法】采用单因素分析法对菌株产碱性木聚糖酶情况进行研究;通过基因组分析,锚定5个内切木聚糖酶基因,利用同源扩增的方法进行克隆,并在大肠杆菌中重组表达,利用亲和层析对重组酶进行纯化,以木聚糖为底物表征木聚糖酶的酶学性质。【结果】来源于C. bogoriensis 69B4~T的5种木聚糖酶Xyn370、Xyn393、Xyn425、Xyn466和Xyn486均在大肠杆菌内实现了异源表达,并经亲和层析获得纯酶组分,其最适反应温度分别为60、50、40、40、60°C,在50°C范围内保温2h,残余酶活均在90%以上;最适反应p H分别为7.0、8.0、8.0、8.0、9.0,在p H5.0–9.0时具有较好的稳定性;5种重组木聚糖酶对部分金属离子和高浓度盐表现出较好的耐受性,对榉木木聚糖的酶活性最高,均为内切型木聚糖酶。【结论】本研究表达纯化的5种重组木聚糖酶具有耐盐碱的优良特性,且对温度、某些金属离子和化学试剂耐受,为研究木聚糖酶的耐碱机制及工业应用提供了酶源。     

Activity and thermostability increase of xylanase following transplantation with modules sub-divided from hyper-thermophilic CBM9_1-2

Transplantation is useful for elucidating the functions of structural modules and for engineering enzyme properties. Unexpectedly, transplanting a hyper-thermophilic carbohydrate-binding module, CBM9_1-2, into the mesophilic Aspergillus niger GH11 xylanase (Xyn) slightly decreased the thermal inactivation half-life of Xyn. This effect was further investigated by dividing the CBM9_1-2 module into two smaller parts, C1 and C2, which were transplanted into Xyn to create the chimeras Xyn-C1 and Xyn-C2. Both chimeras exhibited higher catalytic activities on xylan than native Xyn. Xyn-C2 exhibited higher binding affinities for both oat spelt and birch wood xylans, and its thermal inactivation half-life (69.3 min) was 4 or 5 times longer than that of Xyn (17.6 min), Xyn-C1 (13.4 min), and the original chimera containing CBM9_1-2 (13.8 min). In contrast, Xyn-C1 exhibited higher binding affinity for oat spelt xylan, but not for birch wood xylan. Through this rational engineering of the fungal xylanase, the C2 sub-module was shown to have a different thermostabilizing effect than the C1 sub-module. The different functions of the smaller parts of a large module can play pivotal roles in transplantation.     

Fusion of family VI cellulose binding domains to Bacillus halodurans xylanase increases its catalytic activity and substrate-binding capacity to insoluble xylan

A tandem repeat of the family VI cellulose binding domain (CBD) from Clostridium stercorarium xylanase (XylA) was fused at the carboxyl-terminus of Bacillus halodurans xylanase (XylA). B. halodurans XylA is an enzyme which is active in the alkaline region of pH and lacks a CBD. The constructed chimera was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and then subjected to detailed characterization. The chimeric enzyme displayed pH activity and stability profiles similar to those of the parental enzyme. The optimal temperature of the chimera was observed at 60 °C and the enzyme was stable up to 50 °C. Binding studies with insoluble polysaccharides indicated that the chimera had acquired an increased affinity for oat spelt xylan and acid-swollen cellulose. The bound chimeric enzyme was desorbed from insoluble substrates with sugars and soluble polysaccharides, indicating that the CBDs also possess an affinity for soluble sugars. Overall, the chimera displayed a higher level of hydrolytic activity toward insoluble oat spelt xylan than its parental enzyme and a similar level of activity toward soluble xylan.     

Production of xylanase by the ruminal anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

Xylanase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) production was investigated in the ruminal anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis. The enzyme was released principally into the culture fluid and had pH and temperature optima of 5.5 and 55 degrees C, respectively. In the presence of low concentrations of substrate, the enzyme was stabilized at 50 degrees C. Xylobiose was the principal product of xylanase action, with lesser amounts of longer-chained xylooligosaccharides. No xylose was detected, indicating that xylobiase activity was absent. Activities of xylanase up to 27 U ml-1 (1 U represents 1 micromol of xylose equivalents released min-1) were obtained for cultures grown on xylan (from oat spelt) at 2.5 mg ml-1 in shaken cultures. No growth occurred in unshaken cultures. Xylanase production declined with elevated concentrations of xylan (less than 2.5 mg ml-1), and this was accompanied by an accumulation of xylose and, to a lesser extent, arabinose. Addition of either pentose to cultures grown on low levels of xylan in which neither sugar accumulated suppressed xylanase production, and in growth studies with the paired substrates xylan-xylose, active production of the enzyme occurred during growth on xylan only after xylose had been preferentially utilized. When cellobiose, glucose, and xylose were tested as growth substrates for the production of xylanase (each initially at 2.5 mg ml-1), they were found to be less effective than xylan, and use of xylan from different origins (birch wood or larch wood) as the growth substrate or in the assay system resulted in only marginal differences in enzyme activity. However, elevated production of xylanase occurred during growth on crude hemicellulose (barley straw leaf). The results are discussed in relation to the role of the anaerobic fungi in the ruminal ecosystem, and the possible application of the enzyme in bioconversion processes is also considered.     

Production of xylanase by the ruminal anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

Xylanase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) production was investigated in the ruminal anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis. The enzyme was released principally into the culture fluid and had pH and temperature optima of 5.5 and 55 degrees C, respectively. In the presence of low concentrations of substrate, the enzyme was stabilized at 50 degrees C. Xylobiose was the principal product of xylanase action, with lesser amounts of longer-chained xylooligosaccharides. No xylose was detected, indicating that xylobiase activity was absent. Activities of xylanase up to 27 U ml-1 (1 U represents 1 micromol of xylose equivalents released min-1) were obtained for cultures grown on xylan (from oat spelt) at 2.5 mg ml-1 in shaken cultures. No growth occurred in unshaken cultures. Xylanase production declined with elevated concentrations of xylan (less than 2.5 mg ml-1), and this was accompanied by an accumulation of xylose and, to a lesser extent, arabinose. Addition of either pentose to cultures grown on low levels of xylan in which neither sugar accumulated suppressed xylanase production, and in growth studies with the paired substrates xylan-xylose, active production of the enzyme occurred during growth on xylan only after xylose had been preferentially utilized. When cellobiose, glucose, and xylose were tested as growth substrates for the production of xylanase (each initially at 2.5 mg ml-1), they were found to be less effective than xylan, and use of xylan from different origins (birch wood or larch wood) as the growth substrate or in the assay system resulted in only marginal differences in enzyme activity. However, elevated production of xylanase occurred during growth on crude hemicellulose (barley straw leaf). The results are discussed in relation to the role of the anaerobic fungi in the ruminal ecosystem, and the possible application of the enzyme in bioconversion processes is also considered.     

Characterization of function and activity of domains A, B and C of xylanase C from Fibrobacter succinogenes S85

Xylanase C from the ruminant bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes is comprised of two catalytic domains, A and B, and a third domain, C, of unknown function. The DNA coding for domains A and B of xylanase C were separately cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with glutathione-S:-transferase. The fusion proteins were isolated by affinity chromatography on glutathione-Sepharose 4B, cleaved with thrombin and the released xylanase C catalytic domains A and B were purified to apparent homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q. Electrospray mass spectrometry provided a molecular mass of 27 818 Da (expected, 27 820 Da) for domain B. The pH and temperature optima for activity of domain B on oat spelt xylan were 5.0 and 52 degrees C, respectively. A kinetic analysis of the activity of the catalytic domain A on oat spelt xylan, birch wood xylan and xylooligomers at pH 6.5 and 37 degrees C provided data significantly different to those obtained previously with a protease-derived form of the enzyme [Zhu et al. (1994) J. Bacteriol. 176, 3885-3894]. The isolated domain A was more active on barley-glucan than the protease-derived form and its affinity for birch wood xylan was enhanced resulting in greater overall catalytic efficiency as reflected by k(cat)/K:(M) values. Likewise, significant differences in the Michaelis-Menten parameters K:(M), k(cat) and k(cat)/K:(M) were obtained with domain B compared with values previously reported with this domain attached to domain C. In general, the presence of domain C appeared to decrease the overall efficiency of domain B 7- and 36-fold with birch wood xylan and xylopentaose as substrates, respectively, as reflected by values of k(cat)/K:(M). The removal of domain C also affected the mode of action of domain B such that it more closely resembled that of catalytic domain A. However, no change in either pH and temperature optima or stability were found with domain B compared with the combined domains B and C. The function of domain C remains unknown, but hydrophobic cluster analysis indicated that it may belong to a class of dockerin domains involved in the protein-protein interactions of cellulolytic and xylanolytic complexes.     

Purification and Characterization of Aeromonas caviae ME-1 Xylanase V, Which Produces Exclusively Xylobiose from Xylan

A xylanase, which produces exclusively xylobiose from oat spelt and birch xylans, was isolated from the culture medium of Aeromonas caviae ME-1. The enzyme (xylanase V) was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic interaction, and ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies. The homogeneity of the final preparation was demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and agarose gel electrofocusing. The molecular mass and isoelectric point of the xylanase were 46 kDa and 5.4, respectively. Xylanase V had a maximum activity at a pH of 6.8 and at a temperature between 30 and 37 degrees C. It was relatively stable at a pH between 5.0 and 8.6 and a temperature between 25 and 37 degrees C. When soluble birch xylan was used as the substrate, the enzyme had a K(m) and V(max) of 2 mg/ml and 182 mumol of xylose equivalent liberated . min . mg of protein, respectively. By the action of xylanase V on xylans (from oat spelt and birch), only one product corresponding to xylobiose was observed by thin-layer chromatography. The xylanase V putative product was confirmed to be xylobiose by acid and enzymatic hydrolyses. The xylanase had neither beta-xylosidase, alpha-l-arabinofuranosidase, cellulase, nor beta-1,3-xylanase activities. Xylotriose was the shortest substrate which the enzyme could attack. These findings suggest that xylanase V is a novel enzyme that cleaves a xylobiose unit from one of the ends of xylans, probably by an exomechanism.     

Purification of the alkaliphilic xylanases from Myceliophthora sp. IMI 387099 using cellulose-binding domain as an affinity tag

Ten xylanase isoforms produced by Myceliophthora sp. were characterized for their ability to bind to avicel. Three of the xylanases showing differential affinity for avicel were purified by column chromatography. The purified xylanase Xyl IIa, IIb and IIc showed molecular mass of 47, 41 and 30 kDa and pI of ∼3.5, 4.8 and 5.2, respectively. Xyl IIa was optimally active at pH 8.0 and temperature 70 °C, while Xyl IIb and IIc were optimally active at pH 9.0 and 60 °C and 7.0 and 80 °C, respectively. Xyl IIa and Xyl IIb showed higher stability under alkaline conditions (pH 9.0) and retained 80% of the original activity upto 1 h and 3 h respectively, at 50 °C. All three purified iso-xylanases showed enhanced activities in presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and K⁺ ions, whereas, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ showed negative effect on Xyl IIa. The activity of Xyl IIa increased in presence of reducing agents DTT and mercaptoethanol, however, SDS showed inhibitory effect. Kinetic studies showed that Xyl IIb and IIc degrade rye arabinoxylan, much more efficiently than oat spelt xylan, whereas, Xyl IIa showed much higher Kcat/Km value for birch wood xylan as compared to oat spelt xylan. The purified xylanases were apparently classified in family 10.     

Fusarium graminearum xylanases show different functional stabilities,substrate specificities and inhibition sensitivities

When grown on arabinoxylan as the sole carbon source, the cereal phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum expresses four xylanases. Cloning and heterologous expression of the corresponding xylanase encoding genes and analysis of general biochemical properties, substrate specificities and inhibition sensitivities revealed some marked differences. XylA and XylB are glycoside hydrolase family (GH) 11 xylanases, while XylC and XylD belong to GH10. pH and temperature for optimal activity of the enzymes were between 6.0 and 7.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Interestingly, XylC displayed remarkable pH stability as it retained most of its activity even after pre-incubation at pH 1.0 and 13.0 for 120 min at room temperature. All xylanases hydrolysed xylotetraose, xylopentaose and xylohexaose, but to different extents, while only XylC and XylD hydrolysed xylotriose. The two GH10 xylanases released a higher percentage of smaller products from xylan and xylo-oligosaccharides than did their GH11 counterparts. Analysis of kinetic properties revealed that wheat arabinoxylan is the favoured XylC substrate while XylA and XylB prefer sparsely substituted oat spelt xylan. XylC and XylD were inhibited by xylanase inhibiting protein (XIP), while XylA and XylB were sensitive to Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor (TAXI). Because of its pH stability and preference for arabinoxylan, XylC is a valuable candidate for use in biotechnological applications.     

Identification of a novel cellulose-binding domain within the endo-β-1,4-xylanase KRICT PX-3 from Paenibacillus terrae HPL-003

The model 3-D structure of xylanase KRICT PX3 (JF320814) identified by DNA sequence analysis revealed a catalytic domain and CBM4-9 which functions as a xylan binding domain (XBD). To identify its role in xylan hydrolysis, six expression plasmids were constructed encoding the N-terminal CBM plus the catalytic domain or different glycosyl hydrolases, and the biochemical properties of the recombinant enzymes were compared to the original structure of PX3 xylanase. All six of the recombinant xylanases with the addition of CBM in the pIVEX-GST expression vector showed no improved PX3 hydrolytic activity. However, the absence of the CBM domain resulted in a decrement of 40% in thermostability, movement of the optimal temperature from 55 °C to 45 °C, alteration of the optimal pH range from 5⿿10 to 6⿿8, and reduction of the enzymatic activity to one-second under the same condition, respectively. The putative XBD in PX3 comprises a new N-terminal domain homologous to the catalytic thermostabilizing domains from other xylanases. Analysis of the main products released from xylan indicate that the recombinant enzymes act as endo-1,4-β-xylanases but differ in their hydrolysis of xylan from beech wood, birch wood, and oat spelt.     

Extracellular xylanase production by two thermophilic alkali-tolerant Bacillus strains in batch and continuous cultures

Xylanase production of newly isolated thermophilic alkali-tolerant Bacillus sp. strain SP and strain BC was investigated in batch and continuous cultures. Enzyme synthesis was inducible with both strains and was observed only in xylan-containing media. Xylan from oat spelt is a better inducer than xylan from birch for strain Bacillus sp. BC while such difference was not observed for strain SP. Compared with batch cultures xylanase production of both strains increased about two times and its rate became more than four times faster in continuous cultures at a dilution rate of 0.2 h(-1).