Notch signaling and Notch signaling modifiers

Originally discovered nearly a century ago, the Notch signaling pathway is critical for virtually all developmental programs and modulates an astounding variety of pathogenic processes. The DSL (Delta, Serrate, LAG-2 family) proteins have long been considered canonical activators of the core Notch pathway. More recently, a wide and expanding network of non-canonical extracellular factors has also been shown to modulate Notch signaling, conferring newly appreciated complexity to this evolutionarily conserved signal transduction system. Here, I review current concepts in Notch signaling, with a focus on work from the last decade elucidating novel extracellular proteins that up- or down-regulate signal potency.     

Statistical optimization of medium components for the production of xylanase byAspergillus niger KK2 in submerged cultivation

Medium composition was optimized for the production of xylanase byAspergillus niger KK2 using statistical experimental designs. Corn steep liquor (CSL) and industrial yeast extract (IYE) were the most important factors affecting xylanase activity. The medium that produced the optimum conditions for the production of xylanase contained 3% rice straw, 1% wheat bran, 6.3% CSL, 0.15% IYE, and 0.5% KH₂PO₄. After 4 days of cultivation under optimized conditions in a 2.5-L stirred tank reactor the activity and productivity of xylanase were 620 IU/mL and 6,458 IU/L.h, respectively. The highest xylanase activity obtained using the optimized medium was 80% greater than the activity obtained using basal medium. The xylanase activity predicted by a polynomial model was 670 IU/ml.     

玉米浆在产甘油假丝酵母甘油发酵中的作用机理

以复合培养基和合成培养基进行比较发酵,研究了玉米浆在产甘油假丝酵母甘油发酵过程中的作用机理。结果表明:玉米浆中的磷、氮和微量元素是影响产甘油假丝酵母甘油发酵的3个关键因素。当玉米浆磷浓度为121·75mg/L(玉米浆浓度为14g/L),最大甘油转化率达到53·44%。玉米浆磷可以调节EMP途径与HMP途径之间碳架代谢流的分布,随着玉米浆浓度进一步增加,过量磷能抑制HMP途径而激活EMP途径,因而复合培养基各项发酵参数的变化非常显著。玉米浆氮对磷的调节功能有协同作用,但并不是产甘油假丝酵母甘油发酵的理想氮源。玉米浆中的微量元素能够显著提高葡萄糖的消耗速率、促进菌体的生长和增加甘油的产量。