Subcellular localization of proflavine derivative and induction of oxidative stress—In vitro studies

Acridines have been studied for several decades because of their numerous biological effects, especially anticancer activity. Recently, cytotoxicity of novel acridine derivatives, 3,6-bis((1-alkyl-5-oxo-imidazolidin-2-yliden)imino)acridine hydrochlorides (AcrDIMs), was confirmed for leukemic cell lines [Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2011, 19, 1790]. The mechanism of action of the most cytotoxic hexyl-AcrDIM was studied in this paper focusing attention on a subcellular distribution of the drug. Accumulation of hexyl-AcrDIM in mitochondria was confirmed after labeling mitochondria with MitoRED using ImageStream Imaging Flow Cytometer. The derivative significantly decreased intracellular ATP level (reduction of ATP level was decreased by vitamin E), and induced oxidative stress (ROS production detected by DHE assay) as well as cell cycle arrest in the S-phase (flow cytometry analysis) already after short-time incubation and induction of apoptosis. Cytotoxicity of hexyl-AcrDIM is closely connected with induction of oxidative stress in cells.     

Induction of cellulase in trichoderma reesei grown on lactose

Intracellular concentrations of ATP, cyclic AMP and glucose-6-phosphate were monitored during growth of partially catabolically derepressed strain of Trichoderma reesei CC II in medium containing lactose as the sole carbon source. The induction of cellulase synthesis occured when the concentration of lactose in the medium decreased below 7 mg/ml. The onset of cellulase synthesis was preceded by a transient peak of intracellular concentration of ATP and by the increase of the cyclic AMP contents in the mycelium whereby the intracellular level of glucose-6-phosphate was at its minimum. By keeping the lactose concentration in the medium at 2 mg/ml, it was possible to support the continuation of cellulase synthesis over the prolonged periods without appreciable growth of biomass.     

PCR cloning of a protein-coding part of the thioredoxin gene fromStreptomyces aureofaciens

Summary The method of two-stage half-specific amplification was described and successfully used in the isolation of the protein-coding part of the thioredoxin gene from Streptomyces aureofaciens BMK. The efficiency of a new PCR modification for the specific amplification of the target DNA fragments (genes) with unknown sequences is compared with the used half-specific PCR. The determined target sequence demonstrates the highest homology with the thioredoxin genes from Corynebacterium nephridii C-1 and Anabaena 7119.     

Preparation of mutants ofTrichoderma viride with increased production of cellulase

Four mutant strains exhibiting increased production of cullulases were prepared by UV irradiation of conidia ofTrichoderma viride QM 9414. Selected mutants were tested for production of cellulases in submerged cultivations in shake flasks and in a 30-L fermentor in a synthetic medium containing 1 % microcrystaline cellulose as the carbon source. Some mutants showed considerable morphological differences when compared to the parent strain, the most noticeable being a higher degree of branching of the mutant hyphae. The branched mutants produced 2 to 3 times higher levels of β-glucosidase than the parent strain QM 9414.     

Characterization of cellulolytic enzyme complexes obtained from mutants of Trichoderma reesei with enhanced cellulase production

Summary The cellulolytic enzyme complexes secreted by the fungus Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 and its mutants M 5, M 6, MHC 15, and MHC 22 were characterized by determining their specific filter-paper (FP)-, carboxymethylcellulase (C_x)-and -glucosidase (G)-activities. They were characterised further by measuring their C_x and G profiles after separation on an isoelectrofocusing column over the pH range 3–10. While the overall FP-activity was roughly equal in all preparations, the specific -glucosidase activity was highest in mutants MHC 15 and MHC 22 which are distingiushed morphologically from the parent strain, QM 9414, by a higher degree of branching of their hyphae. Two peaks of -glucosidase activity were detected by isoelectric focusing in preparations from QM 9414 and M 6, none in the enzyme from the mutant M 5 while 3 and 4 peaks respectively were found in preparations from morphological mutants MHC 15 and MHC 22. The higher -glucosidase activity in these last two preparations was also reflected in the higher glucose to cellobiose ratio in the initial stages of cellulose hydrolysis by the individual enzyme preparations.