Adaptation dynamics of Clostridium butyricum in high 1,3-propanediol content media

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous additions of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) on microbial growth and metabolites production of Clostridium butyricum VPI 1718 strain, during crude glycerol fermentation. Preliminary batch cultures in anaerobic Duran bottles revealed that early addition of 1,3-PDO caused growth cessation in rather low quantities (15?g/L), while 1,3-PDO additions during the middle exponential growth phase up to 70?g/L resulted in an almost linear decrease of the specific growth rate (μ), accompanied by reduced glycerol assimilation, with substrate consumption being used mainly for energy of maintenance requirements. During batch trials in a 3-L bioreactor, the strain proved able to withstand more than 70?g/L of both biologically produced and externally added 1,3-PDO, whereas glycerol assimilation and metabolite production were carried on at a lower rate. Adaptation of the strain in high 1,3-PDO concentration environments was validated during its continuous cultivation with pulses of 1,3-PDO in concentrations of 31 and 46?g/L, where no washout phenomena were noticed. As far as C. butyricum cellular lipids were concerned, during batch bioreactor cultivations, 1,3-PDO addition was found to favor the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Also, fatty acid composition was studied during continuous cultures, in which additions of 1,3-PDO were performed at steady states. Lipids were globally more saturated compared to batch cultures, while by monitoring of the transitory phases, it was noticed that the gradual diol washout had an evident impact in the alteration of the fatty acid composition, by rendering them more unsaturated.     

Effect of impurities in biodiesel-derived waste glycerol on the performance and feasibility of biotechnological processes

The rapid development of biodiesel production technology has led to the generation of tremendous quantities of glycerol wastes, as the main by-product of the process. Stoichiometrically, it has been calculated that for every 100 kg of biodiesel, 10 kg of glycerol are produced. Based on the technology imposed by various biodiesel plants, glycerol wastes may contain numerous kinds of impurities such as methanol, salts, soaps, heavy metals, and residual fatty acids. This fact often renders biodiesel-derived glycerol unprofitable for further purification. Therefore, the utilization of crude glycerol though biotechnological means represents a promising alternative for the effective management of this industrial waste. This review summarizes the effect of various impurities-contaminants that are found in biodiesel-derived crude glycerol upon its conversion by microbial strains in biotechnological processes. Insights are given concerning the technologies that are currently applied in biodiesel production, with emphasis to the impurities that are added in the composition of crude glycerol, through each step of the production process. Moreover, extensive discussion is made in relation with the impact of the nature of impurities upon the performances of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, during crude glycerol bioconversions into a variety of high added-value metabolic products. Finally, aspects concerning ways of crude glycerol treatment for the removal of inhibitory contaminants as reported in the literature are given and comprehensively discussed.     

Production of 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol and ethanol by a newly isolated Klebsiella oxytoca strain growing on biodiesel-derived glycerol based media

The production of 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol and ethanol was studied, during cultivations of strain Klebsiella oxytoca FMCC-197 on biodiesel-derived glycerol based media. Different kinds of glycerol feedstocks and experimental conditions had an important impact upon the distribution of metabolic products; production of 1,3-propanediol was positively influenced by stable pH conditions and by the absence of N₂ gas infusions throughout the fermentation. Thus, during batch bioreactor fermentations conducted at increasing glycerol concentrations, 1,3-propanediol at 41.3 g/L and yield ～47% (w/w) was achieved at initial glycerol concentration ～120 g/L. At even higher initial glycerol media (150 and 170 g/L), growth was not ceased, but 1,3-propanediol production declined. During fed-batch fermentation under optimal experimental conditions, 126 g/L of glycerol were converted into 50.1 g/L of 1,3-propanediol. In this experiment, also 25.2 g/L of ethanol (conversion yield ～20%, w/w) were formed. A batch-bioreactor culture was performed under non-sterilized conditions and the 1,3-propanediol production was almost equivalent to the sterilized process. Concerning 2,3-butanediol formation, the most detrimental parameter was the absence of N₂ sparging and as a result, no 2,3-butanediol was produced. The presence of glucose as co-substrate seriously enhanced 2,3-butanediol production; when commercial glucose was employed as sole substrate, 32.1 g/L of 2,3-butanediol were formed.     

Attenuation of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion induced liver and lung injury by intraperitoneal administration of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ( - )-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant, on liver and lungs after warm intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Thirty male Wistar rats were equally divided into a sham-operation group, an intestinal I/R group and an intestinal I/R group pretreated with EGCG intraperitoneally. Intestinal ischemia was induced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min. Immediately after reperfusion, liver, lung and blood samples were collected and analyzed. Results showed that intestinal I/R increased the levels of aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) transaminase in serum to 987 and 752 IU/l, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased in liver to 1.524 nmol/g in the group subjected to intestinal I/R compared to 0.995 nmol/g in the sham operation group. MDA was also increased in lungs to 1.581 nmol/g compared to 0.896 nmol/g in the sham operation group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased in liver, after intestinal I/R, to 5.16 U/g compared to 1.59 U/g in the sham operation group. MPO was also increased in lungs to 3.89 U/g compared to 1.65 U/g in the sham operation group. Pretreatment with EGCG decreased serum levels of AST and ALT to 236 and 178 IU/l, respectively. It also decreased mean MDA levels in liver and lungs to 1.061 and 1.008 nmol/g, respectively, and mean MPO levels in liver and lungs to 1.88 and 1.71 U/g, respectively. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy examinations showed significant alteration in liver and lungs and protection of liver and lung parenchyma in the animals treated with EGCG.     

Accumulation of a Cocoa-Butter-Like Lipid by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis> Cultivated on Agro-Industrial Residues

Yarrowia lipolytica was cultivated on mixtures of saturated free fatty acids (an industrial derivative of animal fat called stearin), technical glycerol (the main by-product of bio-diesel production facilities), and glucose. The utilization of technical glycerol and stearin as co-substrates resulted in higher lipid synthesis and increased citric acid production than the combination of glucose and stearin. The lipids produced contained significant amounts of stearic acid (50–70%, wt/wt) and lower ones of palmitic (15–20%, wt/wt), oleic (7–20%, wt/wt), and linoleic (2–7%, wt/wt) acid. Single-cell oil having a composition similar to cocoa-butter up to 3.4 g/L was produced, whereas in some cases relatively increased citric acid quantities (up to 14 g/L) were excreted into the growth medium. The microorganism presented a high specificity for lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid, while a discrimination for the stearic acid was observed. As a conclusion, microbial metabolism could be directed by using mixtures of inexpensive saturated fats, glycerol, and glucose as co-substrates, in order to accumulate lipids with predetermined composition, e.g., cocoa-butter equivalents. Received: 1 April 2002 / Accepted: 4 May 2002     

Diallyl sulfide enhances azoxymethane-induced preneoplasia in Fischer 344 rat colon

Azoxymethane (AOM) is an indirect-acting colon carcinogen that produces a high incidence of precancerous lesions, referred to as aberrant crypt foci (ACF), in rats. This study was undertaken to determine whether high dose gavage administration of the cytochrome P-450 2E1 (CYP2E1) inhibitor and chemopreventive agent, diallyl sulfide, would reduce the incidence and severity of ACF formation in the distal colons of AOM-treated Fischer 344 rats. Seven-week-old male rats received 150 or 50 mg/kg diallyl sulfide by gavage 24 and 2 h prior to two weekly i.p. injections of AOM (20 mg/kg). Ten weeks after the last injection of AOM the rats were sacrificed and the colons removed and stained with 0.2% methylene blue. ACF were visualized using stereomicroscopy. Rats pretreated with diallyl sulfide exhibited a significant increase in the number of ACF/cm in the distal colon compared with rats receiving AOM alone. This increase in ACF number was seen in ACF of all sizes. To examine the effects of diallyl sulfide on the initiation stage of AOM-induced carcinogenesis, mutations in the K-ras proto-oncogene were also investigated. ACF and normal appearing colonic mucosa (0.2-0.5 mm3) were microdissected for subsequent PCR-RFLP analysis of a codon 12 (GGT-GGA) activating mutation in the K-ras gene. Greater than 90% of ACF from AOM-treated animals, regardless of diallyl sulfide treatment, exhibited activating K-ras mutations. K-ras mutations were also detected in normal appearing mucosa of AOM-treated animals, although at a lesser frequency (15-35%). These studies demonstrate that diallyl sulfide given in large gavage doses enhances AOM-induced preneoplasia in rats and suggests that diallyl sulfide may alter the disposition of AOM intermediates and/or enhance colonic promotional activity in the rat.     

Modeling lipid accumulation and degradation in Yarrowia lipolytica cultivated on industrial fats

A modeling approach was used to quantify the kinetic behavior of a Yarrowia lipolytica strain capable of producing significant lipid amounts when cultivated on industrial fats. Biomass and cellular lipid evolution were successfully simulated, while the optimized parameter values were similar to those experimentally measured. The maximum specific formation rate of fat-free biomass seemed unaffected by the substrate fatty acid composition. On the contrary, the maximum concentration of lipid accumulated inside the yeast cell, as well as the maximum specific accumulation rate of cellular lipids, was favored in high stearic acid content media. The microorganism presented the tendency to degrade its accumulated lipids, although remarkable substrate fat amounts remained unconsummated in the culture medium. This degradation slowly occurred in the yeast cell as the specific rate of the intracellular carbon pool (storage lipid consumption) was significantly lower compared with that of the extracellular carbon pool (substrate fat). However, the fat-free biomass yield on storage lipids (g of fat-free biomass formed per g of storage lipids consumed) was higher than the one on the substrate (g of fat-free biomass formed per g of medium fat consumed).     

Effect of nifedipine in cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in rats: roles of the thromboxane and endothelin systems

Cyclosporine (CsA) (45 mg/kg/day for 7 days) administration in female Wistar rats induced significant decrease in creatinine clearance (Ccr) and body weight loss (BWL). Urine volume (V) was not altered and proteinuria (PU) not provoked. These changes were associated with increased urinary endothelin 1 (ET-1) and thromboxane B(2)(TXB(2)) concentrations, and decreased urinary ratios of prostaglandin (6ketoPGF(1 alpha)and PGE(2)) to TXB(2)excretions.Nifedipine (NFD) (0.1 mg/kg/day for 7 days), a calcium channel blocker, administrated in addition to CsA, to another group of animals, significantly augmented Ccr and urine V but did not prevent BWL in comparison to CsA-only treated rats. The urinary ET-1 and TXB(2)concentrations displayed significant and non-significant decrease respectively, while the urinary excretion ratios of 6ketoPGF(1 alpha)/TXB(2)and PGE(2)/TXB(2)were significantly enhanced.These observations indicate that the partial protection of NFD in CsA-induced nephrotoxicity could be attributed to augmented urinary prostanoid ratios of renal vasodilators (6ketoPGF(1 alpha)and PGE(2)) to vasoconstrictor (TXB(2)) excretions, and also to reduced release of rather renal origin ET-1, the most potent mamalian vasoconstrictor peptide known to date. In a previous study, we found that NFD only slightly prevented structural renal damage, induced by CsA. So, the NFD protection refers only to functional toxicity and not to structural damage, mediated at least in part by the preservation of relatively high renal TXB(2)levels. However, other nephrotoxic factors and additional mechanisms could also be implicated in this CsA-induced syndrome.     

Yarrowia lipolytica as a potential producer of citric acid from raw glycerol

AIMS: To study the biochemical response of Yarrowia lipolytica LGAM S(7)1 during growth on raw glycerol (the main by-product of bio-diesel production units) in order to produce metabolic products of industrial significance. METHODS AND RESULTS:Yarrowia lipolytica was cultivated on raw glycerol or glucose in flasks. Although nitrogen-limited media were employed, growth was not followed by production of reserve lipid. Nitrogen limitation led to citric acid excretion. Growth and citric acid production parameters on glycerol were similar to those obtained on glucose. When high initial glycerol media were used, citric acid up to 35 g l(-1) (yield 0.42-0.44 g acid g(-1) glycerol consumed) was produced. CONCLUSIONS: Raw glycerol was an adequate substrate for Y. lipolytica. Growth was not followed by reserve lipid accumulation, but amounts of citric acid were produced. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Raw glycerol is an industrial feedstock appearing in increasing quantities as the main by-product of bio-diesel production facilities. The present study describes an alternative way of glycerol valorization, with the production of remarkable amounts of citric acid, in addition to its main valorization way (production of 1,3-propanediol by bacteria).