Multiple forms of a glucoamylase inhibitory factor fromAspergillus niger and its elution after adsorption onto raw wheat starch

An inhibitory factor (IF) fromAspergillus niger, that inhibited the action of glucoamylase on raw starch, was adsorbed tightly onto raw starch but was almost completely desorbed by 0.02m sodium borate. The IF was a glycoprotein and was partially purified by ion exchange chromatography into three active fractions.     

Studies on carbohydrate moieties ofAspergillus niger glucoamylase II: Isolation,purification and characterization of glycopeptides

Six glycopeptide fractions namely GP-C₁, GP-C₂. GP-C_3a.GP-C_3b.GP-D, and GP-D₂ were isolated after exhaustive digestion of glucoamylase II (Glucozyme) fromAspergillus niger with pronase. They were purified using gel-filtration. high-voltage paper electrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography on Dowex-50 and Dowex-1. They appeared homogeneous on electrophoresis under different conditions of pHs. The molecular weights ranged from 1600 and 4000 for these glycopeptides. Ally of them contained serine at the N-terminal end. Serine and threonine were the major amino acids with glycine, alanine, proline and tryosine present as minor constituents. Carbohydrate analysis revealed the presence of different sugars. Based on this, the glycopeptides were grouped into three types: (1) GP-C₁ and GP-C₂ containing mannose, glucose and galactose; (2) GP-C_3a, and GP-C_3b,containing mannose glucose and glucosamine; and (3) GP-D₁ and GP-D₂, containing mannose. glucose, galactose and xylose. Most sugar constituents in each glycopeptide occured in non-integral ratios implying a microheterogeneity of the carbohydrate moiety inAspergillus niger glucoamylase.     

Influence of water activity on growth and activity of Aspergillus niger for glycoamylase production in solid-state fermentation

Growth of Aspergillus niger and glucoamylase production correlated well with the water activity of the substrate (wheat bran plus corn flour) in a solid-state fermentation. Both were maximal at an initial water activity of 0.936. Glycoamylase reached 550 units/g dry substrate after 96 h.The authors are with the Biotechnology Unit, Regional Research Laboratory, CSIR, Trivandrum-695 019, India     

Studies on carbohydrate moieties of the glycoprotein,glucoamylase II ofAspergillus niger: Nature of carbohydrate-peptide linkage and structure of oligosaccharides

Electrophoretically homogeneous type 1 (GP-C₁ and GP-C₂), type 2 (GP-C_3a and GP-C3b,) and type 3 (GP-D₁, and GP-D₂) glycopeptides fromAspergillus niger glucoamylase II (Manjunath and Raghavendra Rao, preceding paper) were separately treated with alkaline borohydride. The (\-eliminated oligosaccharides were subjected to single and sequential digestion with specific glycosidases and the products analysed by gas liquid chromatography. The studies revealed that carbohydrate moieties were present as mannose, Man-Man-, and trisaccharide structures, namely, (a) GIc-Man-Man-, (b) Gal-Man-Man, (c) Man-Man-Man-, (d) GlcNAc-Man-Man-, and (e) Xyl-Man-Man. None of the glycopeptides contained all the trisaccharide structures (a) to (e). Type 1 glycopeptide contained structures (a), (b) and (c); type 2, (a) and (d) and type 3, (a), (b) and (e). The number of carbohydrate units (mono-, di-and trisaccharides) present in the major glycopeptides was determined and tentative structures for the glycopeptides proposed. Carbohydrate units appeared to occur in clusters of 4 to 7 in each glycopeptide, a structure unique to the carbohydrate moiety inAspergillus niger glucoamylase. Based on carbohydrate analysis and yields of glycopeptide, the number of units of each type of glycopeptide present in glucoamylase II was tentatively calculated to give two of type Man:Glc:Gal = 12–15:l:l, one of type Man:Glc:GlcN = 10-l1:1:2 and one of type Man :GIc :Gal:Xyl = 4–8:0.1:0.5-0.8:0.3-1 glycopeptides.     

Immunochemical relationship between glucoamylases I and II ofAspergillus niger

Rabbit antisera were prepared against the purified glucoamylases I and II ofAspergillus niger. Relationships between the two enzyme forms were investigated by using the antisera in immunodiffusion and immunoinhibition experiments. Both the forms of glucoamylase gave a single continuous precipitin band demonstrating very close structural resemblance. They gave almost identical immunoprecipitation patterns and had the same equivalence points indicating that the two forms ofA. niger gluoamylases were immunologically identical. The enzyme treated with periodate was immunologically identical with the controls and had slightly less enzyme activity but showed greatly reduced stability on storage at 4‡ C.     

Expression and secretion of barley α-amylase and A.niger glucoamylase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

cDNAs of barley α-amylase andA. niger glucoamylase were cloned in oneE. coli-yeast shuttle plasmid resulting in the construction of expression secretion vector pMAG15. pMAG15 was transformed intoS. cerevisiae GRF18 by protoplast transformation. The barley α-amylase andA. niger glucoamylase were efficiently expressed under the control of promoter and terminator of yeast PGK gene and their own signal sequence. Over 99% of the enzyme activity expressed was secreted to the medium. The recombinant yeast strain, S.cerevisiae GRF18 (pMAG15), hydrolyzes 99% of the starch in YPS medium containing 15% starch in 47 h. The glucose produced can be used for the production of ethanol. Project supported by the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation.     

In-depth analysis of the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (glaA) promoter performance using high-throughput screening and controlled bioreactor cultivation techniques

An in-depth characterization of the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (glaA) promoter performance was carried out on defined medium employing multi-well high-throughput screening as well as controlled batch and fed-batch bioreactor culture techniques with GFP as a fluorescent reporter protein. A variety of metabolizable carbon substrates and non-metabolizable analogs were screened with regard to their effect on the glaA expression system. The results clearly demonstrate that only starch and its hydrolytic products, including glucose, act as inducers. However, induction of the glaA expression system through the monosaccharide glucose is significantly lower compared to starch and the higher molecular weight starch degradation products. All other 26 carbon substrates tested do not induce, or even, as in the case of the easily metabolizable monosaccharide xylose, repress glaA-promoter controlled gene expression in the presence of the inducing disaccharide maltose with an increase of repression strength by increasing xylose concentrations. The complex effect of glucose on glaA-promoter controlled expression was also analyzed using non-metabolizable glucose analogs, namely 5-thio-glucose and 2-deoxyglucose, which were identified as novel and potent inducers of the glaA expression system. The results show that the induction strength depends on the inducer concentration with a maximum at defined concentrations and lower induction or even repression at concentrations above. Moreover, controlled fed-batch cultivations using a high maltose feed rate with concomitant extracellular accumulation of glucose resulted in lower levels of the reporter protein compared to cultures with a low-maltose feed rate without extracellular glucose accumulation, thus supporting the conclusion that increasing the glucose concentration beyond a critical point reduces the induction strength or may even cause repression. This way, the speed of polymer hydrolysis, glucose uptake and intracellular breakdown can be fine-tuned for optimal fungal growth and the metabolic burden for glucoamylase synthesis can be limited adequately in response to nutrient availability.     

Absorption, circular dichroism, magnetic circular dichroism and emission study of rat kidney Cd,Cu-metallothionein

Absorption, circular dichroism (CD), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and emission spectra of rat liver and rat kidney cadmium-, zinc- and copper-containing metallothioneins (MT) are reported. The absorption, CD and MCD data of native rat kidney Cd,Cu-MT protein closely resemble data recorded for the rat liver Cd,Zn-MT. This suggests that the major features in all three spectra of the native Cd,Cu-MT are dominated by cadmium-related bands. The CD spectrum of the Cd,Cu-MT recorded at pH 2.7 has the same band envelope that is observed for a Cd,Cu-MT formed in vitro by titration of Cd,Zn-MT with Cu(I), suggesting that the copper occupies the zinc sites in Cd,Cu-MT formed both in vivo and, at low molar ratios, in vitro. Remetallalion of the metallothionein from low pH in the presence of both copper and cadmium results in considerably less cadmium bound to the protein than was present in the native sample. It is suggested that this is due to the effect of the distribution of the copper amongst all available binding sites, thus inhibiting cluster formation by the cadmium. Emission spectra are reported for the first time for a cadmium- and copper-containing metallothionein. An emission band at 610 nm is shown to be a sensitive indicator of Cu(I) binding to metallothionein. Both the native Cd,Cu-MT and a Cd,Cu-MT formed in vitro exhibit an excitation spectrum with a band in the copper-thiolate charge-transfer region.     

Metabolism of dimethylterephthalate byAspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger (AG-1) metabolized dimethylterephthalate through monomethylterephthalate, terephthalate and protocatechuate. Degradation of dimethylterephthalate was followed by extraction of residual dimethylterephthalate from the spent medium. The quantitative UV analysis showed that 58% of the dimethylterephthalate supplement was taken up in 144 h. The metabolites were isolated from resting cell cultures. Thin layer chromatography analysis of the extract revealed the presence of two intermediates, monomethylterephthalate and terephthalate. Use of an inhibitor in resting cell culture experiment demonstrated the accumulation of protocatechuate. The time course of protocatechuate accumulation was also studied. Metabolites were identified by employing various physicochemical methods. Enzyme studies using cell-free extracts exhibited dimethylterephthalate esterase and protocatechuate dioxygenase activities. Protocatechuate was oxidized by themeta cleavage pathway. A tentative pathway for the degradation of DMTP has been proposed inA. niger.Abbreviations A. niger Aspergillus niger (AG1) - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - DMTP dimethylterephthalate - MMTP monomethylterephthalate - MS mass spectra - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance spectra - PCA protocatechuate - TLC thin layer chromatography - TP terephthalate - UV ultra violet spectra     

Comparison of citric acid production byAspergillus niger immobilized in gels and cryogels of polyacrylamide

Aspergillus niger was immobilized in cryogels and in conventional gels of polyacrylamide. The growth of cells entrapped in two kinds of gels and the production of citric acid by the immobilized cells were investigated and compared. Cells immobilized in cryogels were more suitable for citric acid production.     

黑曲霉产糖化酶黑箱模型的构建和应用

利用碳限制恒化实验研究了黑曲霉生长和糖化酶生产之间的相关性,结果表明当比生长速率低于0.068 h–1时,菌体生长与产酶是相关的,当比生长速率大于0.068 h–1时,菌体生长与产酶不相关。根据恒化实验结果获得黑曲霉葡萄糖底物消耗的Monod动力学模型,并结合葡萄糖和氧消耗的Herbert-Pirt方程和产物形成的Luedeking-Piret方程构建黑曲霉产糖化酶的黑箱模型。应用该模型设计指数补料分批发酵实验控制菌体比生长速率在0.05 h–1,使糖化酶的得率最高达到0.127 g糖化酶/g葡萄糖,并成功地使用模型描述了黑曲霉产糖化酶的发酵过程。实验值和模拟值进行比较表现出很好的适用性,表明黑箱模型可以用于指导黑曲霉产糖化酶发酵过程的设计和优化。     

Purification and characterization of a nitrilase from Aspergillus niger K10

Aspergillus niger K10 cultivated on 2-cyanopyridine produced high levels of an intracellular nitrilase, which was partially purified (18.6-fold) with a 24% yield. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was highly homologous with that of a putative nitrilase from Aspergillus fumigatus Af293. The enzyme was copurified with two proteins, the N-terminal amino acid sequences of which revealed high homology with those of hsp60 and an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. The nitrilase exhibited maximum activity (91.6 U mg^-1) at 45°C and pH 8.0. Its preferred substrates, in the descending order, were 4-cyanopyridine, benzonitrile, 1,4-dicyanobenzene, thiophen-2-acetonitrile, 3-chlorobenzonitrile, 3-cyanopyridine, and 4-chlorobenzonitrile. Formation of amides as by-products was most intensive, in the descending order, for 2-cyanopyridine, 4-chlorobenzonitrile, 4-cyanopyridine, and 1,4-dicyanobenzene. The enzyme stability was markedly improved in the presence of d-sorbitol or xylitol (20% w/v each). p-Hydroxymercuribenzoate and heavy metal ions were the most powerful inhibitors of the enzyme.     

Biochemical characterisation of extracellular phytase (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase) from a hyper-producing strain of Aspergillus niger van Teighem

Aspergillus niger van Teighem, isolated in our laboratory from samples of rotten wood logs, produced extracellular phytase having a high specific activity of 22,592 units (mg protein)^–1 . The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity using ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The molecular properties of the purified enzyme suggested the native phytase to be oligomeric, with a molecular weight of 353 kDa, the monomer being 66 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 2.5 and 52–55°C. The enzyme retained 97% activity after a 24-h incubation at 55°C in the presence of 10 mM glycine, while 87% activity was retained when no thermoprotectant was added. Phytase activity was not affected by most metal ions, inhibitors and organic solvents. Non-ionic and cationic detergents (0.1–5%) stabilise the enzyme, while the anionic detergent (SDS), even at a 0.1% level, severely inhibited enzyme activity. The chaotropic agents guanidinium hydrochloride, urea, and potassium iodide (0.5–8 M), significantly affected phytase activity. The maximum hydrolysis rate (V_max) and apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) were 1,074 IU/mL and 606 M, respectively, with a catalytic turnover number of 3×10⁵ s^–1 and catalytic efficiency of 3.69×10⁸ M^–1 s^–1.     

Methanol utilization by a strain of Aspergillus niger: influence on the synthesis and activity of pectinases

During the production of pectinases by a strain of Aspergillus niger isolated from rotten lemons, methanol was liberated into the medium due to the cleavage of the pectin molecule used as the carbon source. The methanol was subsequently consumed by the microorganism but neither the synthesis nor the activity of pectinesterase and polygalacturonase was affected. Although not studied in detail, the mechanism involved in the utilization of methanol is similar to that described for methylotrophic yeasts.     

Vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism study of saccharides by synchrotron radiation spectrophotometry

Vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism (VUVCD) spectra of five monosaccharides (D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, and D-lyxose) and five disaccharides (maltose, isomaltose, cellobiose, gentiobiose, and lactose) were measured to 160 nm using a synchrotron-radiation VUVCD spectrophotometer in aqueous solution under high vacuum at 25 degrees C. Most of the saccharides show a positive peak with some shoulders at around 170 nm, except for D-galactose and lactose, which show two distinct negative peaks at around 165 and 177 nm. These spectra are influenced by such structural factors as alpha and beta anomers at C-1, axial and equatorial hydroxyl groups at C-2 and C-4, trans (T) and gauche (G) conformations of the hydroxymethyl group at C-5, and the type of glycosidic linkage. Deconvolution of the VUVCD spectra of D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-galactose into six independent Gaussian components for alpha-GG, alpha-GT, alpha-TG, beta-GG, beta-GT, and beta-TG conformations suggests that the alpha anomer has red-shifted spectra relative to the beta anomer, and that GG and GT conformations have positive and negative circular dichroism signs, respectively, while the sign for TG conformation is anomer dependent. These speculations from the deconvolution analyses are also supported by the VUVCD spectra of disaccharides. These results give new insight into the equilibrium conformations of saccharides, demonstrating the usefulness of synchrotron-radiation VUVCD spectroscopy.     

Immobilization of the epoxide hydrolase from Aspergillus niger

Three methods for the immobilization of the epoxide hydrolase from the fungus Aspergillus niger were tested. The highest immobilization yield (90%) and retention of activity (65%) were obtained by adsorption onto DEAE-cellulose compared to adsorption onto hydrophobic porous polypropylene and covalent linkage using Eupergit resin. The enzymatic properties of the immobilized enzyme were similar to those of the free enzyme with respect to the effect of temperature and pH on both activity and stability as well as the effect of solvent (DMF) on activity. The kinetic parameters were affected leading to lower K _M(app) and higher Vm _(app).     

Induction,purification and characterisation of arabinases produced by Aspergillus niger

The induction of arabinases in Aspergillus niger N400 was studied on different simple and complex carbon sources. Sugar beet pulp was found to be an inducer of three arabinan degrading enzymes (-l-arabinofuranosidase A, -l-arabinofuranosidase B and endoarabinase). These enzymes were purified from A. niger culture fluid after growth of the fungus in medium employing sugar beet pulp as the carbon source and were characterised both physico-chemically (Mw 83 000, 67 000, 43 000 Da and, pI 3.3, 3.5 and 3.0 for -l-arabinofuranosidases A and B and endo-arabinase, respectively) and kinetically (K _m on p-nitrophenyl--l-arabinofuranoside 0.68 and 0.52 mM for -l-arabinofuranosidases A and B, resp.; K _m on sugar beet arabinan 0.24 and 3.7 g/l for -l-arabinofuranosidase B and endoarabinase, resp.). The amino acid compositions of the three enzymes were determined also. The enzymic properties were compared with those of arabinases purified from a commerical A. niger enzyme preparation. Differences were found though the kinetic data suggest considerable similarity between the enzymes from the different sources. Antibodies raised in mice against the three enzymes were found to be highly specific and no crossreactivity with other proteins present in culture filtrates was observed. A mixture of these antibodies has been used to analyze specific induction of these individual enzymes on simple and complex substrates by Western blotting.Abbreviation PNA p-nitrophenyl--l-arabinofuranoside