Chitosan production from hemicellulose hydrolysate of corn straw: impact of degradation products on Rhizopus oryzae growth and chitosan fermentation

Aims: To examine the potential use of hemicellulose hydrolysate (HH) for the production of chitosan by Rhizopus oryzae and investigate the influence of contents in HH on mycelia growth and chitosan synthesis. Methods and Results: Compared to xylose medium, HH enhanced mycelia growth, chitosan content and production of R. oryzae by 10·2, 64·5 and 82·1%, respectively. During sulfuric acid hydrolysis of corn straw, sugars (glucose, galactose, etc) and inhibitors (formic acid, acetic acid and furfural) were generated. Acetic acid (2·14 g l^?1) and formic acid (0·83 g l^?1) were stimulative, while furfural (0·55 g l^?1) was inhibitory. Inhibitors, at different concentrations, increased the mycelia growth and chitosan production by 24·5–37·8 and 60·1–207·1%. Conclusions: HH of corn straw is a good source for chitosan production. Inhibitors in HH, at proper concentrations, can enhance chitosan production greatly. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work for the first time reported chitosan production from HH. Chitosan production can be greatly enhanced by cheap chemicals such as inhibitors in HH.     

Postthaw survival of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts loaded onto the inner surface of a plastic vitrification straw

In this study, we investigated whether vitrification of an embryo by attachment to the inner surface of a plastic straw, which requires a small volume of vitrification solution, improves the survival of thawed embryos. In vitro-produced Korean native cattle blastocysts were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) blastocysts attached to the inner surface of a plastic straw (aV); (2) blastocysts loaded into the column of a plastic straw (cV); (3) blastocysts directly dropped into liquid nitrogen (dV); and (4) nonvitrified blastocysts (control). The postthaw recovery rate did not significantly differ among the aV, dV, and cV groups (98.3% vs. 81.5% vs. 91.4%). The postthaw survival rate was greater in the control, aV, and dV groups than in the cV group (100%, 87.7%, and 81.8% vs. 26.4%, P < 0.05), but did not significantly differ among the control, aV, and dV groups. The total number of cells per blastocyst did not significantly differ among the groups (134.4 ± 38.9 in control vs. 114 ± 48.1 in aV, 105.6 ± 33.9 in dV, and 102 ± 35.1 in cV group). However, the number of apoptotic cells per blastocyst was higher in the dV and cV groups than in the control group (10.9 ± 9.6 and 14.5 ± 9.5 vs. 0.4 ± 1.4; P < 0.05), but did not significantly differ between the control and aV groups (0.4 ± 1.4 vs. 6.6 ± 9.5). In addition, the blastocoel of each blastocyst was left intact or was mechanically punctured to reduce its volume, and the blastocysts were then vitrified using the aV method. At 12 hours after thawing, the re-expansion rate did not significantly differ among the control, punctured aV, and nonpunctured aV groups (93.3% vs. 85.2% vs. 82.8%). However, at 24 hours after thawing, the hatching rate was greater in the control and punctured aV groups than in the nonpunctured aV group (75% and 62.9% vs. 37.1%; P < 0.05). The total number of cells per blastocyst was greater in the control group than in the nonpunctured aV group (143 ± 37.2 vs. 94.5 ± 18.6; P < 0.05), but did not significantly differ between the control and punctured aV groups (143 ± 37.2 vs. 119.4 ± 19.7). The number of apoptotic cells per blastocyst was greater in the nonpunctured aV group than in the control and punctured aV groups (11.3 ± 6.1 vs. 5.9 ± 5.8 and 6.3 ± 4.4; P < 0.05). Taken together, the data show that the aV method improved the survival and quality of vitrified-thawed blastocysts. Furthermore, puncture of the blastocoel increased the hatching rate and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in vitrified-thawed blastocysts generated using the aV method.     

球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌(Lysinibacillus sphaericus)和嗜冷芽孢八叠球菌(Sporosarcina psychrophila)介导形成白云石晶体

【目的】白云石(Dolomite)是一种含有钙镁的碳酸盐矿物[CaMg(CO3)2],广泛存在于陆地和海洋等环境并常与油气埋藏共存。尽管白云石(或岩)的发现已经有三百多年的历史,但是对白云石的成因仍然没有定论,地质学上称之为"白云石之谜"。20世纪90年代Vasconcelos C.提出了"微生物白云石模型",为白云石成因的研究带来了新的思路。但是这一模型并不完善,白云石的形成与所介导的微生物生理状态以及环境参数之间的关系不明确。另外,所有报道的实验都是在地表压强条件下进行,无法表征自然界中白云石所处的高压环境。本研究中引入压力这一环境参数,结合菌株本身生理特性参数,综合考察多重因子对微生物介导形成白云岩的影响。【方法】利用球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌(Lysinibacillus sphaericus)和嗜冷芽孢八叠球菌(Sporosarcina psychrophila)两株具有尿素水解活性的细菌作为生物材料,在不同的温度(15°C和30°C)压强(常压和20 MPa)氧气浓度(常压好氧条件和常压微氧条件)不同的尿素水解活性下进行生物矿化实验。通过SEM(扫描电子显微镜)和EDS(X射线能谱分析)相结合的方法观察沉淀物形貌和矿物成分构成。通过XRD(X射线衍射分析)定性测定碳酸盐矿物沉淀物的种类。【结果】球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌和嗜冷芽孢八叠球菌在实验中所设计的所有矿化条件下都能够介导形成碳酸盐矿物沉淀。XRD和SEM检测均证实球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌在30°C的20 MPa微氧条件下能够介导形成不规则菱面型和椭球型白云石。高压条件更有助于白云石的形成。除了白云石晶体,实验中还观察到有其他矿物(如方解石,碳氢镁石,钙镁碳酸石等)。【结论】实验证实球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌和嗜冷芽孢八叠球菌具有矿化能力,特别是球形赖氨酸芽孢杆菌具有介导形成白云石的能力。微生物介导形成的碳酸盐矿物组分受到微生物的代谢活性以及温度、压力等生物矿化实验条件控制。这一研究结果帮助完善"微生物白云石模型",为解释白云石的深部成因提供数据支持。     

Why specific anti‐integrase antibodies from HIV‐infected patients can efficiently hydrolyze 21‐mer oligopeptide corresponding to antigenic determinant of human myelin basic protein

Human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients possess anti‐integrase (IN) catalytic IgGs and IgMs (abzymes), which, unlike canonical proteases, specifically hydrolyze only intact globular IN. Anti‐myelin MBP abzymes from patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus efficiently hydrolyze only intact MBP. Anti‐MBP and anti‐IN abzymes do not hydrolyze several other tested control globular proteins. Here, we show that anti‐IN abzymes efficiently hydrolyze a 21‐mer oligopeptide (OP21) corresponding to one antigenic determinant (AGD) of MBP, whereas anti‐MBP abzymes extremely poorly cleave oligopeptides corresponding to AGDs of IN. All sites of IgG‐mediated and IgM‐mediated proteolysis of OP21 by anti‐IN abzymes were found for the first time by a combination of reverse phase and thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. Several clustered sites of OP21 cleavage were revealed and compared with the cleavage sites within the complete IN. Several fragments of OP21 had good homology with many fragments of the IN sequence. The active sites of anti‐IN abzymes are known to be located on their light chains, whereas heavy chains are responsible for the affinity for protein substrates. Interactions of intact IN with both light and heavy chains of the abzymes provide high affinity for IN and the specificity of its hydrolysis. Our data suggest that OP21 interacts mainly with the light chains of polyclonal anti‐IN abzymes, which possess lower affinity and specificity for substrate. The hydrolysis of the non‐cognate OP21 oligopeptide may be also less specific than the hydrolysis of the globular IN because in contrast to previously described serine protease‐like abzymes against different proteins, anti‐IN abzymes possess serine, thiol, acidic, and metal‐dependent protease activities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of active site cleft residues on oligosaccharide binding,hydrolysis, and glycosynthase activities of rice BGlu1 and its mutants

Rice BGlu1 (Os3BGlu7) is a glycoside hydrolase family 1 β‐glucosidase that hydrolyzes cellooligosaccharides with increasing efficiency as the degree of polymerization (DP) increases from 2 to 6, indicating six subsites for glucosyl residue binding. Five subsites have been identified in X‐ray crystal structures of cellooligosaccharide complexes with its E176Q acid‐base and E386G nucleophile mutants. X‐ray crystal structures indicate that cellotetraose binds in a similar mode in BGlu1 E176Q and E386G, but in a different mode in the BGlu1 E386G/Y341A variant, in which glucosyl residue 4 (Glc4) interacts with Q187 instead of the eliminated phenolic group of Y341. Here, we found that the Q187A mutation has little effect on BGlu1 cellooligosaccharide hydrolysis activity or oligosaccharide binding in BGlu1 E176Q, and only slight effects on BGlu1 E386G glycosynthase activity. X‐ray crystal structures showed that cellotetraose binds in a different position in BGlu1 E176Q/Y341A, in which it interacts directly with R178 and W337, and the Q187A mutation had little effect on cellotetraose binding. Mutations of R178 and W337 to A had significant and nonadditive effects on oligosaccharide hydrolysis by BGlu1, pNPGlc cleavage and cellooligosaccharide inhibition of BGlu1 E176Q and BGlu1 E386G glycosynthase activity. Hydrolysis activity was partially rescued by Y341 for longer substrates, suggesting stacking of Glc4 on Y341 stabilizes binding of cellooligosaccharides in the optimal position for hydrolysis. This analysis indicates that complex interactions between active site cleft residues modulate substrate binding and hydrolysis.     

生物炭对农田土壤细菌群落多样性影响的PCR-DGGE分析

为评价生物炭对农田土壤细菌群落多样性的影响,对不同施肥方式农田土壤细菌总DNA进行提取和16S rDNA特异性扩增,运用变性梯度凝胶电泳DGGE的分子生物学技术,对施肥土壤细菌群落的多样性进行表征。DGGE电泳结果表明,不同处理均可得到20条以上的电泳条带,说明水稻土土壤细菌群落较丰富。从泳道条带数量及光密度值方面对细菌群落多样性指标比较发现,施加生物炭的土壤(T2、T3、T4)细菌丰富度最高,细菌种群较多,其次为秸秆还田处理土壤(T1),而空白对照处理土壤(CK1)细菌群落丰富度最低,各处理之间的细菌种群均匀度指数差异不显著;对细菌群落的条带信息与土壤理化性质进行相关性分析得到,细菌群落的结构变化与各土壤理化性质的相关性大小依次为速效钾总有机碳有效磷全氮pH。     

土壤溶解性有机物对CO_2和N_2O排放的影响

农田土壤是温室气体的重要排放源,溶解性有机物作为土壤微生物容易利用的基质,其含量变化与温室气体的产生和排放密切相关。基于室内培养试验,对溶解性有机物影响土壤CO2、N2O的排放过程进行了分析。设置空白(CK)、单施秸秆(S)、单施氮肥(N)、秸秆和氮肥(S+N)4个不同的处理,对添加不同物质条件下土壤溶解性有机碳(DOC)、溶解性有机氮(DON)和CO2、N2O的排放动态进行了研究,对DOC和DON影响CO2、N2O的排放过程进行了探讨。结果表明:不同处理的温室气体排放通量和土壤DOC、DON含量差异显著;各处理的CO2排放通量和DOC动态随培养时间的延长呈现逐渐减小的趋势,S和S+N处理的N2O排放和DON动态呈现先增大后减小的趋势;S+N处理的CO2排放量最高,DON含量也显著高于其他处理,单施秸秆(S)处理的N2O排放量和DOC含量显著高于其它处理,单施氮肥(N)对土壤CO2的排放量和DOC含量的影响较小;土壤CO2和N2O的排放通量与土壤DOC和DON含量呈显著的相关性,相关系数(R2)达0.6以上,说明溶解性有机物的含量和动态对CO2、N2O的排放过程产生显著影响。     

胃蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶水解核桃蛋白工艺研究

以核桃粕为原料,以水解度为考察指标,研究胃蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶对核桃蛋白的水解作用.结果表明：木瓜蛋白酶为酶解核桃蛋白最佳酶,其最佳酶解条件为底物浓度4％、酶质量分数5％、酶解 pH 值为7．0、酶解温度50℃、酶解时间4 h;在该条件下,木瓜蛋白酶酶解核桃蛋白水解度可高于25．76％.