Hydrolysis of fish oil by hyperactivated rhizomucor miehei lipase immobilized by multipoint anion exchange

Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML) is greatly hyperactivated (around 20‐ to 25‐fold toward small substrates) in the presence of sucrose laurate. Hyperactivation appears to be an intramolecular process because it is very similar for soluble enzymes and covalently immobilized derivatives. The hyperactivated enzyme was immobilized (in the presence of sucrose laurate) on cyanogen bromide‐activated Sepharose (very mild covalent immobilization through the amino terminal residue), on glyoxyl Sepharose (intense multipoint covalent immobilization through the region with the highest amount of Lys residues), and on different anion exchangers (by multipoint anionic exchange through the region with the highest density of negative charges). Covalent immobilization does not promote the fixation of the hyperactivated enzyme, but immobilization on Sepharose Q retains the hyperactivated enzyme even in the absence of a detergent. The hydrolysis of fish oils by these hyperactivated enzyme derivatives was sevenfold faster than by covalently immobilized derivatives and three and a half times faster than by the enzyme hyperactivated on octyl‐Sepharose. The open structure of the hyperactivated lipase is fairly exposed to the medium, and no steric hindrance should interfere with the hydrolysis of large substrates. These new hyperactivated derivatives seem to be more suitable for hydrolysis of oils by RML immobilized inside porous supports. In addition, the hyperactivated derivatives are fairly stable against heat and organic cosolvents. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011     

Characterisation of Trypanosoma cruzi populations by dna polymorphism of the cruzipain gene detected by single-stranded dna conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing

Fifty fresh isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi from Triatoma dimidiata vectors and 31 from patients with Chagas disease were analysed for DNA polymorphisms within the 432-bp core region of the cruzipain gene which encodes the active site of cathepsin L-like cystein proteinase. The cruzipain gene showed signs of polymorphism consisting of four different DNA sequences in Central and South American isolates of T. cruzi. The PCR fragments of Guatemalan isolates could be divided into three groups, Groups 1, 2 and 3, based on different patterns of single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism. All of the strains isolated from Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay, except for the CL strain, showed a Group 4 pattern. Two to four isolates from each group were analysed by cloning and sequencing. A silent mutation occurred between Groups 1 and 2, and five nucleotides and two aa substitutions were detected between Groups 1 and 3. The DNA sequence of Group 4 contained five nucleotides and one aa substitution from Group 1. All of the DNA sequences corresponded well with the single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism. The Group 1 isolates, the majority in the Guatemalan population (70/81, 86.4%), were isolated from both triatomines and humans, but Group 3 were isolated only from humans. Moreover, the Group 2 isolates were detected only in triatomine vectors (9/50; 18%), but never in humans (0/32, P<0.05) suggesting that this group has an independent life-cycle in sylvatic animals and is maintained by reservoir hosts other than humans.     

Effect of mixing on biogas production during mesophilic anaerobic digestion of screened dairy manure in a pilot plant

The effect of mixing on biogas production of a 1.5‐m³ pilot continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) processing screened dairy manure was evaluated. Mixing was carried out by recirculation of reactor content with a mono pump. The experiment was conducted at a controlled temperature of 37±1°C and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 20 and 10 days. The effect of continuous and intermittent operation of the recirculation pump on biogas production was studied. At 10 days of HRT, the results showed a minimal influence of recirculation rate on biogas production and that continuous recirculation did not improve reactor performance. At 20 days of HRT, the recirculation rate did not affect reactor performance. Combination of low solid content in feed animal slurry and long HRTs results in minimal mixing requirements for anaerobic digestion.     

Effect of organic and conventional farming on soil bacterial diversity of pecan tree (Carya illinoensis K. Kosh) orchard across two phenological stages

We described the bacterial diversity of walnut grove soils under organic and conventional farming. The bacterial communities of rhizospheric and nonrhizospheric soils of pecan tree (Carya illinoensis K. Koch) were compared considering two phenological stages (sprouting and ripening). Sixteen operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified significantly more abundant according to the plant development, only one according to the farming condition, and none according to the soil origin. The OTUs specificaly abundant according to plant development included Actinobateria (2) and Betaproteobacteria (1) related OTUs more abundant at the sprouting stage, while at the fruit ripening (FR) stage the more abundant OTUs were related to Actinobacteria (6), Alphaproteobacteria (6), and unclassified Bacteria (1). The Gaiellaceae OTU18 (Actinobacteria) was more abundant under conventional farming. Thus, our study revealed that the plant development stage was the main factor shaping the bacterial community structure, while less influence was noticed for the farming condition. The bacterial communities exhibited specific metabolic capacities, a large range of carbon sources being used at the FR stage. The identified OTUs specifically more abundant represent indicators providing useful information on soil condition, potential tools for the management of soil bacterial communities.     

α-MELANOCYTE-STIMULATING HORMONE: A POSSIBLE NEURONAL MARKER OF THE AGEING BRAIN

Abstract— The amount of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in the entire hypothalamus as well as the amount of α-MSH in free granule and synaptosome fractions of hypothalamic homogenates was investigated throughout the lifespan of female rats (1-24 months). A 900 g supernatant fluid was prepared from hypothalami following homogenization in an iso-osmotic sucrose solution, and free granules and synaptosomes containing α-MSH were fractionated by means of continuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation. α-MSH was quantified by radioimmunoassay. The total amount of α-MSH in the hypothalamus, as well as the amount in free granules and synaptosomes prepared from hypothalami increased progressively from the 1st to the 5th month of life, and this increase was more pronounced in the free granules than in the synaptosomes. On the other hand, the amount of α-MSH in the hypothalamus and the amount present in free granules and synaptosomes prepared from 5-24-month-old animals decreased with age, and this decrease appeared to proceed at similar rates in both subcellular compartments. Based on these results, it is suggested that ageing of α-MSH neurons in the hypothalamus is accompanied by a degeneration of the axons and/or an alteration in the biosynthetic and degradative activities of the neuron.     

Strain Dependent Variation of Immune Responses to A. fumigatus: Definition of Pathogenic Species

For over a century microbiologists and immunologist have categorized microorganisms as pathogenic or non-pathogenic species or genera. This definition, clearly relevant at the strain and species level for most bacteria, where differences in virulence between strains of a particular species are well known, has never been probed at the strain level in fungal species. Here, we tested the immune reactivity and the pathogenic potential of a collection of strains from Aspergillus spp, a fungus that is generally considered pathogenic in immuno-compromised hosts. Our results show a wide strain-dependent variation of the immune response elicited indicating that different isolates possess diverse virulence and infectivity. Thus, the definition of markers of inflammation or pathogenicity cannot be generalized. The profound understanding of the molecular mechanisms subtending the different immune responses will result solely from the comparative study of strains with extremely diverse properties.     

Polyvalent inhibitory action of fusidic acid in isolated rat liver cells

The steroidic antibiotic fusidic acid showed a polyvalent action on isolated rat liver cells. It displayed a strong inhibitory capability on protein synthesis in intact cells even stronger than that previously reported in cell-free extracts. Also, it inhibited basal gluconeogenesis and promoted an increase of the membrane permeability to trypan blue. However, the effects on both protein synthesis and basal gluconeogenesis were observed at doses smaller than those required to reduce the cell viability.