Protoplasts from Aspergillus nidulans.

A very effective lytic enzyme system for massive micro/macro-scale production of protoplasts from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans is described. A striking coincidence was observed between maximal lytic activity towards Aspergillus mycelium and the presece of both chitinase and alpha-(1 leads to 3)-glucanase activities. The release of protoplasts was greatly enhanced by preincubating the mycelium with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Furthermore, protoplast formation was influenced by fungal age, culture conditions, pH of incubation and the osmotic stabilizer used. From 40 mg of fresh mycelium, grown for 14--16 h on 1% glucose in a low phosphate-citrate medium, preincubated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose for 45 min, and then incubated with the lytic enzyme mixture at pH 6.5 in the presence of 0.3--0.4 M (NH4) SO4, 2.5 x 10(8) stable protoplasts were produced within 3 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Comparable results were obtained with 40--50 g of mycelium. At low osmotic stabilizer concentrations a peculiar type of regeneration was observed in the presence of the lytic enzyme system; within 12 h of incubation aberrant hyphal structure emerged from the large vacuolated protoplasts.     

Formation and regeneration of protoplasts in Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126

AIMS: Different cultural conditions for forming and reverting protoplasts were systematically studied to establish a rapid and efficient protocol for Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126. METHODS AND RESULTS: Osmotic stabilizer, lytic enzymes and mycelial age were the main factors influencing protoplast yields. An optimized protocol involving 1-h hydrolysis of 45-h-old mycelium with Trichoderma harzianum enzymes in a 1 : 1 (w/w) biomass : enzyme ratio and 0.6 mol l-1 MgSO4 as osmotic stabilizer was designed to produce approx. 2 x 109 protoplasts per gram biomass dry weight, with 99% viability. Differences on the lytic activity between batches of commercial enzymes were clearly evidenced. Protoplast release was highly efficient showing no remaining cell wall material as witnessed by fluorescent brightener 28. Up to 26% of purified protoplasts developed into the typical filamentous form after 50 h of incubation on 0.6 mol l-1 sucrose agar media. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology herein proposed allowed a rapid, inexpensive and efficient protoplast production. Optimum yields were higher or in the order of that elsewhere reported for other S. rolfsii strains and the required lytic time was significantly shorter. Purified protoplasts successfully reverted to the filamentous morphology. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present research reports the former protocol for the isolation and reversion of protoplasts in S. rolfsii ATCC 201126 providing key factors to ensure optimum results. In addition, the described procedure constitutes a starting point for downstream genetic manipulation.     

Selectivity to K+ and Na+ of protoplast fractions isolated from different regions of Aspergillus nidulans hyphae

The selectivity to K+ and Na+ of protoplast samples representing cytoplasm isolated from different regions of the hyphal filament of Aspergillus nidulans was investigated. Concentrations of both ions contained in successive protoplast fractions were measured. During lytic digestion, protoplasts were released first from apical regions and subsequently from progressively older regions of hyphae. A low K+/Na+ ratio was found in protoplasts containing primarily apical cytoplasm and a high K+/Na+ ratio was found in protoplasts originating from older regions of hyphae. The ratios were the same whether MgSO4 or mannitol was used as stabilizer. Absolute concentrations of both ions were higher in protoplasts of apical origin. Protoplasts stabilized in mannitol lost more ions than those stabilized in MgSO4 over an 8 h incubation period. Na+ losses were higher from apical protoplasts whereas K+ losses were higher from protoplasts liberated from older regions of hyphae. The addition of divalent metal cations (1.5 mM-Mn2+ or Mg2+) reduced losses of Na+ from protoplasts but did not affect loss of K+. Data obtained using protoplast samples were related to those obtained for intact mycelium. Absolute losses of both ions from mycelium were lower than for protoplasts but when compared on a protein basis the data suggested that protoplasts possess properties similar to those of intact mycelium in terms of K+ and Na+ selectivity.     

Lipase production by free and immobilized protoplasts of Sporotrichum (Chrysosporium) thermophile Apinis

Summary Production of lipase by free and alginate-entrapped protoplasts was studied in batch culture. Cell-wall-degrading enzymes Novozym 234 and cellulase CP improved lipase secretion of normal mycelium by 25%–100%. The protoplast-regenerated mycelium exhibited several-fold higher lipase activity in batch replacements in TRIS buffer over normal spore-derived mycelium. The specific lipase activity of immobilized protoplasts was about four times higher than normal mycelial beads. Protoplasts beads were stable and retained high enzyme activity even after three buffer replacements lasting 120 h; TRIS buffer was better than acetate or normal glucose medium. A minimum of 8 h regeneration period was necessary for lipase synthesis. Triolein, olive oil, tributyrin and oleic acid butylester were able to induce lipase in immobilized protoplasts. Tween 80 enhanced lipase activity of the immobilized protoplasts. Partially degraded immobilized mycelium was nearly as effective as normal immobilized protoplasts for lipase secretion. Both free and immobilized protoplasts could be reused for up to 200 h with some loss in enzyme activity.     

Protoplasts of Pyricularia oryzae P2 : Preparation and Regeneration into Hyphal Form

Protoplasts of Pyricularia oryzae P₂, a rice blast mold, were prepared in high yield from the young mycelium of the fungus using lytic enzymes from Bacillus circulans WL 12. The majority of the protoplasts had one nucleus per cell. The protoplasts formed a cell wall and eventually reverted to normal mycelial form in liquid medium. The process of regeneration was studied under phase-contrast and electron microscopes. The protoplast built a very thick wall prior to the protrusion of a germ-tube like hypha. Golgi apparatus-like structures appeared in the early stage of regeneration and disappeared later. Electron-transparent amorphous structures accumulated during regeneration. Lomasomes were observed in the regenerated cell walls.     

Patulin inhibition of mycovirus replication in Penicillium stoloniferum.

Penicillium stoloniferum NRRL5267 contains two electrophoretically distinct viruses (PsV-F and PsV-S). An in vivo system was developed to test whether a number of fungal metabolites had antiviral properties on PsV-F replication in O.erties on PsV-F replication in P. stoloniferum. Preliminary results indicated that the mycotoxin patulin can block mycovirus replication. Portions of 48 h mycelium were incubated in the presence of varying levels of patulin, and after an additional 48 h incubation, PsV-F content was measured in E260 units by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Patulin at 11, 16 and 20 mug/mg dry wt mycelia blocked PsV-F replication 26, 61 and 71%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. At these levels, host biomass RNA and protein synthesis were minimally affected. No-proliferating fungal mycelium is capable of continued support of PsV-F replication, which is sensitive to patulin. Apparently, inhibitory doses of patulin stimulated PsV-S replication during this 48 h incubation. The preferential action of patulin may arise from metabolite binding to functional enzymes required for virus replication.     

PEG 介导的苹果腐烂病菌原生质体转化

摘要: 【目的】建立PEG 介导的苹果腐烂病菌原生质体遗传转化体系。【方法】本文利用带有hph 基因的质粒,以苹果腐烂病菌(Valsa mali var.mali) 03-8 为受体菌株,通过PEG 融合法对其原生体进行转化。【结果】于YEPD 内培养48 h 的菌丝,在酶解液浓度为50 mg /mL Driselase + 10 mg /mL Lysing Enzymes 情况下,按10 mL酶液/0. 5 g湿菌体比例,酶解2 h时可以释放出4 × 107 个/mL 原生质体,其转化效率为44 个/μg DNA。对转化子的PCR 检测和Southern 杂交分析表明,hph 基因已经整合进苹果树腐烂病菌的基因组中。转化子在PDA 培养基中继代5 次后,87. 5% 的转化子仍能正常生长,表明外源基因hph 能在苹果树腐烂病菌中稳定遗传。【结论】该转化体系的建立为苹果树腐烂病菌致病相关基因的深入研究奠定了基础。     

蓝色犁头霉原生质体的制备与再生

研究了氢化可的松生产菌蓝色犁头霉原生质体的形成与再生。通过对溶解酶系统的选择,影响原生质体形成的因素如渗透压稳定剂、酶浓度、菌龄、菌丝培养基和培养方式等因素进行考察,发现以0．4mol/L NH4Cl做为稳定剂、2．5mg/mL溶壁酶和5mg/mL纤维素酶组成的混合酶液溶解菌丝,4h后原生质体量可达10^6cell/mL。通过显微镜观察原生质体的形成过程以及在高渗培养基上的再生情况,再生率为15．6％。     

Protoplasts of Trichoderma viride: formation and regeneration.

High yields of protoplasts from the 18-hr old mycelium of Trichoderma viride were obtained by using the lytic system, produced by Streptomyces venezuelae RA and Micromonospora chalcea grown on a synthetic medium containing laminarin and chitin, when 0.7 M MgSO4 or (NH4)2SO4 were used as osmotic stabilizers. Regeneration of these protoplasts occurred through the production of an abortive tube and direct germination of the protoplasts. Regeneration could also take place in the medium used to produce protoplasts, but the process was different in many details.     

Uptake of manganese by Penicillium notatum

Intact mycelium and protoplasts of Penicillium notatum were shown to take up manganese ions by an energy-dependent, high affinity uptake mechanism. Uptake was not inhibited by a range of divalent metal ions including Mg2+, indicating that manganese uptake by this process was specific.     

Regeneration and molecular characterization of an intergeneric hybrid between Graphium putredinis and Trichoderma harzianum by protoplasmic fusion

The fungal strains Graphium putredinis and Trichoderma harzianum were selected as parents for fusant development. Protoplasts were isolated using the combination of lysing enzymes Novozym 234 and cellulase with 0.6 M KCl as osmotic stabilizer. The optimum conditions for release of viable protoplasts from the fungal mycelium viz. age of the mycelium, lytic enzymes, osmotic stabilizers, pH, incubation period and regeneration medium were determined. Intergeneric protoplast fusion was carried out using 50% polyethylene glycol with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and glycine buffer and the conditions for effective protoplast fusion, viz. fusogen, osmotic stabilizer, pH, incubation period and regeneration medium were optimized. At optimum conditions, the regeneration frequency of the fused protoplasts on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and fusion frequency were calculated. The regeneration frequency on non-selective (PDA) and selective media (PDA amended with starch) was determined for the parental and fusant strains in which, fusant showed a higher rate of regeneration. Fusant formation was confirmed by morphological markers (colony morphology and spore size and shape) and genetical markers like, mycelial protein pattern, restriction digestion pattern and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The efficiency of these parental strains and their intergeneric fusant in the production of hydrolytic enzymes – amylases (treatment plant for sago factory effluent), cellulases (bioethanol), xylanases (bleaching agents for waste paper pulp) and proteases (additives in commercial detergents) – have probable applications in various industrial processes.     

Characteristic features of protoplast formation and regeneration in Fusidium coccineum

The methods for preparation and regeneration of protoplasts were tested with respect to the strains of F. coccineum markedly differing in their capacity for antibiotic production, sporulation and the growth rate. It was found that the substrate used for the culture growth had a significant effect on the cell wall and sensitivity of the mycelium to lytic enzymes. An enzyme from Hellix pomatia and its combination with lysozyme were used for lysing the culture. The cytological investigation of the time course of the culture lysis revealed a stage-by-stage pattern of protoplast formation by means of fragmentation of the hyphal contents till a ball was formed. Two to 4 protoplasts differing in their size and structure were formed within a cell. The pH value and osmotically stabilizing component had some effect on the rate of protoplast formation. Highly productive strains were characterized by formation of protoplasts heterogenous in their size and by decreased frequency of regenerations. The enzyme-free protoplasts preserved their viability and capacity for germination in osmotically stabilizing media for 72-96 hours of storage at 4 degrees C. On solid media the regeneration frequency reached 38 per cent. The regenerated cells formed colonies morphologically similar to those of the intact culture.     

Protoplast production from filamentous fungi with their own autolytic enzymes

Abstract Production of protoplasts in different genera of filamentous fungi with their own lytic enzymes obtained from autolyzed cultures, as well as the regeneration of these protoplasts, has been studied. The results support the idea that the use of these autolytic enzymes could be a general method of production of protoplasts from filamentous fungi.     

Degradation of lignin and lignin related compounds by protoplasts isolated from Fomes annosus

Protoplasts from a lignolytic fungus Fomes annosus were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis of mycelium utilizing Novozym, a wall lytic enzyme preparation. Isolated protoplasts and living mycelium were compared in their ability to degrade ¹⁴C-labelled lignin related phenols and dehydropolymers of labelled coniferyl alcohol (synthetic lignin). The amounts of ¹⁴CO₂ released from O¹⁴CH₃-groups, ¹⁴C-2-side chains and ¹⁴C-rings by protoplasts was in the same range as those for intact mycelium. The methoxyl groups of synthetic lignin were more rapidly metabolized by protoplasts than by mycelium. When calculated in dpm of released ¹⁴CO₂ per mg protein the decomposition of ¹⁴C-labelled synthetic lignin and lignin-related monomers in a hyphae-free system of protoplasts was considerable higher than that obtained by the intact mycelium. The presence of intact hyphae is thus not necessary for lignin degradation to occur.Non-common-abbreviations used DHP Dehydropolymer of coniferyl alcohol - LS lignosulfonates prepared from DHP     

Preparation and characteristics of protoplasts of Streptomyces kanamyceticus

To prepare actively regenerating protoplasts of S. kanamyceticus, the influence of the conditions of the mycelium cultivation, the culture age, lytic conditions, composition of the regeneration medium, the procedure of the culture inoculation to the regeneration medium and other parameters were studied. The study resulted in development of optimal conditions for preparation of S. kanamyceticus protoplasts in a number of 1.10(9) protoplasts per ml. The cultivation on the ST medium with 10 to 15% sucrose and addition of glycine up to 1% for 30 hours (the stationary growth phase) followed by treatment of the culture with lysozyme in an amount of 2 mg/ml for 1 hour at 32 degrees C provided preparation of up to 100% of actively regenerating protoplasts free of mycelium fragments. The size of the protoplasts increased up to 1.5 micron against the usually observed size of 0.7 to 1.0 micron with using modified lyzing buffer with 20% of sucrose according to the method recommended for S. erythreus. However, 50 to 70% of the protoplasts had point of linear regions in the cell walls, which suggested that spheroplasts were mainly forming and the phenomenon was associated with the characteristic properties of the strain cell wall structure.     

Formation and regeneration of protoplasts in the moldRhizopus nigricans

Wall-less protoplasts of the moldRhizopus nigricans were obtained by means of enzymic digestion of the walls of vegetative hyphae by Helix pomatia digestive juice. After removing the enzymes the protoplasts transferred to a nutrition medium regenerate. In the first stage of this process the protoplasts from a firm wall and then the hyphae begin to grow. Regeneration results in the formation of a normal mycelium. If in the course of regeneration of the protoplasts snail enzymes are present, they partially block the synthesis of the wall and the protoplasts transform into incessantly growing giant formations. Re-establishment of morphogenesis begins only after eliminating the effect of the snail enzymes.     

Penicillium ochrochloron MTCC 517 chitinase: An effective tool in commercial enzyme cocktail for production and regeneration of protoplasts from various fungi

Penicillium ochrochloron MTCC 517 is a potent producer of chitinolytic enzymes. Novozyme 234, traditional enzyme cocktail for protoplast generation is not available in the market. So, new enzyme cocktail is prepared for protoplast formation from various filamentous fungi which consists of 5 mg ml⁻¹ lysing enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum, 0.06 mg ml⁻¹ β-glucuronidase from Helix pomatia and 1 mg ml⁻¹P. ochrochloron chitinase. The greatest number of protoplasts could be produced from most of the fungi in 0.8 M sorbitol and by incubation for about 2 h at 37 °C, but the number was decreased by incubation for more than 3 h. About twice as many protoplasts were produced from different species of fungi by involvement of P. ochrochloron chitinase than with combined commercial enzymes.     

Instability of actinomadurae protoplasts generated by lytic enzyme treatment

The effect of lytic enzyme treatment upon protoplast formation and reversion in three species of Actinomadura has been determined. Incubation in the presence of lytic enzyme L2 generates large protoplasts (4 μm diameter) which remain intact for only 2h. In comparison, protoplasts formed by the degradative effects of the enzymes lysozyme and L1 are smaller (2 μm diameter), and remain stable for up to 18h. This results in a greater efficiency of regeneration. Lytic enzyme L2 has been shown to contain impurities, including proteolytic activity, which may affect cell wall regeneration.     

Laser mutagenesis of protoplasts of Penicillium sp. PT95 for the enhancement of carotenoid yield

Aims: To isolate the protoplasts from Penicillium sp. PT95 and carry out laser mutagenesis to attain high-yield mutant strain for carotenoid production. Methods and Results: The mycelial pellets of PT95 strain were digested with the lytic enzyme for 3 h in order to attain protoplasts. The prepared protoplasts were irradiated using helium neon (He–Ne) laser. Among all regenerated colonies isolated from irradiated protoplasts, five colonies proved to be able to form sclerotia. The five colonies were named as strains L01, L02, L03, L04 and L05, respectively. Whereas, among all regenerated colonies isolated from no-irradiated protoplasts, no colonies were found to form sclerotia. Strains L01, L02, L03, L04 and L05 showed higher carotenoid yield than the original strain in Czapek’s agar medium. Strain L05 gave the highest pigment yield of 381 μg per plate, which was 2·54 times higher than that of original strain. Conclusions: These results suggest that PT95 strain may be mutagenized using laser-irradiation to obtain higher-yield mutant strains for carotenoid production. Significance and Impact of the Study: These data prompted us to consider that several attempts should be made to improve carotenoid production in PT95 by strain selection using classical screening and mutagenesis techniques.     

Protoplasts of Trichoderma viride

High yields of protoplasts from the 18-hr old mycelium of Trichoderma viride were obtained by using the lytic system, produced by Streptomyces venezuelae RA and Micromonospora chalcea grown on a synthetic medium containing laminarin and chitin, when 0.7 M MgSO₄ or (NH₄)₂SO₄ were used as osmotic stabilizers. Regeneration of these protoplasts occurred through the production of an abortive tube and direct germination of the protoplasts. Regeneration could also take place in the medium used to produce protoplasts, but the process was different in many details.