Co-immobilization of lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and peroxidase on to aryl amine glass beads affixed on plastic strip for determination of triglycerides in serum

Commercial lipase, glycerol kinase (GK), glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase (GPO) and peroxidase (POD) have been co-immobilized covalently on to arylamine glass beads affixed on a plastic strip through diazotization with a conjugation yield of 89.1 mg/g support and 64.1% retention of specific activity. The co-immobilized enzymes showed maximum activity at pH 7.5, when incubated at 40 degrees C for 20 min. The strip was employed for determination of serum triglycerides (Tgs). The minimum detection limit of the method was 0.20 mM/L. The recovery of added Tgs was 88.0%. Within day and between day coefficient of variations were <7.0 % and <11.0%, respectively. A good correlation (r = 0.982) was observed between total serum Tgs values obtained by present method and the most commonly used enzymic colorimetric method, employing free enzymes. Among the various serum substances tested at their physiological concentrations, only cholesterol, ascorbic acid and bilirubin caused 30%, 15%, and 20% inhibition of strip-bound enzymes, respectively. The strip lost 50% of its activity after 150 regular uses over a period of 33 days, when stored in reaction buffer at 4 degrees C. The method reported here has the advantage over other existing methods, as it provides higher sensitivity, better stability and reusability of co-immobilized enzymes and is also economical.     

Stabilization of native and immobilized urease

The stability of native and immobilized urease isolated from Staphylococcus saprophyticus was studied at 4 degrees and 25 degrees C. The activity yield was 20% and 1.4% on the enzyme immobilization in albumin gel and latex membrane, respectively. Inactivation of native microbial urease proceeded 10 times slower in the solution containing 1 mM EDTA and 30 mM sodium sulfite. This solution contributed to a great extent to stabilization of immobilized urease both during storage in the phosphate buffer solution and in case of lyophilization.     

Interaction of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor with sodium tungstate.

Effects of sodium tungstate on various properties of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor were examined at pH7 and pH 8. At pH 7, [3H]triamcinolone acetonide binding in rat liver cytosol preparations was completely blocked in the presence of 10--20 mM-sodium tungstate at 4 degrees C, whereas at 37 degrees C a 30 min incubation of cytosol receptor preparation with 1 mM-sodium tungstate reduced the loss of unoccupied receptor by 50%. At pH 8.0, tungstate presence during the 37 degrees C incubation maintained the steroid-binding capacity of unoccupied glucocorticoid receptor at control (4 degrees C) levels. In addition, heat-activation of cytosolic glucocorticoid-receptor complex was blocked by 1 mM- and 10 mM-sodium tungstate at pH 7 and pH 8 respectively. The DNA-cellulose binding by activated receptor was also inhibited completely and irreversibly by 5 mM-tungstate at pH 7, whereas at pH 8 no significant effect was observed with up to 20 mM-tungstate. The entire DNA-cellulose-bound glucocorticoid-receptor complex from control samples could be extracted by incubation with 1 mM- and 20 mM-tungstate at pH 7 and pH 8 respectively, and appeared to sediment as a 4.3--4.6 S molecule, both in 0.01 M- and 0.3 M-KCl-containing sucrose gradients. Tungstate effects are, therefore, pH-dependent and appear to involve an interaction with both the non-activated and the activated forms of the glucocorticoid receptor.     

Comparison of temperature effects on soil respiration and bacterial and fungal growth rates

Temperature is an important factor regulating microbial activity and shaping the soil microbial community. Little is known, however, on how temperature affects the most important groups of the soil microorganisms, the bacteria and the fungi, in situ. We have therefore measured the instantaneous total activity (respiration rate), bacterial activity (growth rate as thymidine incorporation rate) and fungal activity (growth rate as acetate-in-ergosterol incorporation rate) in soil at different temperatures (0-45 degrees C). Two soils were compared: one was an agricultural soil low in organic matter and with high pH, and the other was a forest humus soil with high organic matter content and low pH. Fungal and bacterial growth rates had optimum temperatures around 25-30 degrees C, while at higher temperatures lower values were found. This decrease was more drastic for fungi than for bacteria, resulting in an increase in the ratio of bacterial to fungal growth rate at higher temperatures. A tendency towards the opposite effect was observed at low temperatures, indicating that fungi were more adapted to low-temperature conditions than bacteria. The temperature dependence of all three activities was well modelled by the square root (Ratkowsky) model below the optimum temperature for fungal and bacterial growth. The respiration rate increased over almost the whole temperature range, showing the highest value at around 45 degrees C. Thus, at temperatures above 30 degrees C there was an uncoupling between the instantaneous respiration rate and bacterial and fungal activity. At these high temperatures, the respiration rate closely followed the Arrhenius temperature relationship.     

Effect of monopropylene glycol and gamma irradiation on Yarrowia lipolytica lipase stabilization

This work investigated the effects of monopropylene glycol, protease inhibitor, and gamma irradiation on Yarrowia lipolytica lipase stability during storage. Enzyme liquid stabilization was achieved by addition of monopropylene glycol (MPG) at respective concentrations of 50, 75, and 90%, the protease inhibitors (P2714 and P8215) at 0.1%, and the gamma irradiation with 10kGy, 15kGy, and 25kGy doses. The results showed that monopropylene glycol limited the microorganism growth and decreased the enzymatic activity at high concentration (up to 50%), at two temperatures (20 and 4 degrees C). Enzyme stored at 20 degrees C lost its activity by 80% after two months. This loss was attributed to the protease's effect. At this temperature, the protease's activities have been limited by the specific inhibitors. The gamma irradiations improve microbial safety of liquid enzyme.     

The effect of pH value and temperature on the stability of L-aminoacidoxidase from the venom of the sand viper]

The stability of highly purified L-amino acid oxidase from the sand viper venom remains practically unaffected by the pH-value at 4degreesC between pH 5 and 8, whereas a sharp activity fall was observed on both sides of this range. At temperatures above 30 degreesC the enzyme is stable only at pH 5.0--5.5. The inactivation pH values above 5.5 follows a first-order rate equation with characteristic changes in the absorption and emission spectra of the enzyme. The stability of the enzyme is dependent on the temperature of storage. At pH 7.5 there is a stability minimum at --10 degrees and -- 30 degreesC. At -- 72 degreesC the enzyme is stable practically for an unlimited period of time; temperatures exceeding 50 degrees C rapidly lead to complete inactivation. Also in the cold, the L-amino acid oxidase is most stable at pH 5.5. There are characteristic changes in absorption and emission spectra in the temperature-stability minimum (--15 degreesC) and at temperatures above 30degreesC. The inactivations follow a first-order rate equation. The cold inactivation is reversible. The stability of the enzyme is diminished by some anions and cations at 37 degreesC. The cold inactivation is promoted by several inorganic anions; organic anions and ammonium sulfate prevent cold inactivation.     

Functional patterns and temperature response of cellulose-fermenting microbial cultures containing different methanogenic communities

The effect of microbial composition on the methanogenic degradation of cellulose was studied using two lines of anaerobic cellulose-fermenting methanogenic microbial cultures at two different temperatures: that at 15 degrees C being dominated by Methanosaeta and that at 30 degrees C by Methanosarcina. In both cultures, CH4 production and acetate consumption were completely inhibited by either 2-bromoethanesulfonate or chloroform, whereas H2 consumption was only inhibited by chloroform, suggesting that homoacetogens utilized H2 concomitantly with methanogens. Hydrogen was the intermediate that was consumed first, while acetate continued to accumulate. At 15 degrees C, acetoclastic methanogenesis smoothly followed H2-dependent CH4 production. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that populations of Methanosaeta steadily increased with time from 5 to 25% of total cell counts. At 30 degrees C, two phases of CH4 production were obtained, with acetate consumed after the abrupt increase of Methanosarcina from 0 to 45% of total cell counts. Whereas populations of Methanosaeta were able to adapt after transfer from 15 to 30 degrees C, those of Methanosarcina were not, irrespective of during which phase the cultures were transferred from 30 degrees C to 15 degrees C. Our results thus show that the community structure of methanogens indeed affects the function of a cellulose-fermenting community with respect to temperature response.     

温和气单孢菌YH311硫酸软骨素裂解酶的分离纯化与固定化

通过硫酸铵沉淀、QAESephadex-A50柱层析及Sephadex-G150凝胶过滤等纯化步骤,对源自温和气单孢菌YH311的ChSase进行了分离纯化。结果表明,ChSase经上述纯化步骤后被纯化了55倍,其最终纯度可达95%以上,比活为31.86u/mg。经SDSPAGE及IFE测定可知该酶的分子量约为80kD,等电点为4.3～4.8。将纯化后的ChSase用海藻酸钠或纤维素固定化后,ChSase的热稳定性及贮存稳定性均可得到大幅度的提高：固定化酶用80℃水浴处理120min或于4℃冰箱放置30d后仍可保留50%以上的相对活力;但固定化酶的收率较低,仅为18.56%和18.86%。     

Properties of lactate dehydrogenase in a psychrophilic marine bacterium

Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) from Vibrio marinus MP-1 was purified 15-fold and ammonium activated. The optimum pH for pyruvate reduction was 7.4. Maximum lactate dehydrogenase activity occurred at 10 to 15 degrees C, and none occurred at 40 degrees C. The crude-extract enzyme was stable between 15 and 20 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 45 degrees C. The partially purified enzyme was stable between 8 and 15 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 30 degrees C. The thermal stability of lactate dehydrogenase was increased by mercaptoethanol, with 50% remaining activity at 42 degrees C.     

Properties of Lactate Dehydrogenase in a Psychrophilic Marine Bacterium

Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) from Vibrio marinus MP-1 was purified 15-fold and ammonium activated. The optimum pH for pyruvate reduction was 7.4. Maximum lactate dehydrogenase activity occurred at 10 to 15 degrees C, and none occurred at 40 degrees C. The crude-extract enzyme was stable between 15 and 20 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 45 degrees C. The partially purified enzyme was stable between 8 and 15 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 30 degrees C. The thermal stability of lactate dehydrogenase was increased by mercaptoethanol, with 50% remaining activity at 42 degrees C.     

Comparison of hydrolysis and esterification behavior of Humicola lanuginosa and Rhizomucor miehei lipases in AOT-stabilized water-in-oil microemulsions: II. Effect of temperature on reaction kinetics and general considerations of stability and productivity

Humicola lanuginosa lipase (HIL) and Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RrnL), isolated from commercial preparations of Lipolase and Lipozyme, respectively, were solubilized in AOT-stabilized water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions in n-heptane and aspects of their hydrolysis and condensation activity examined. The temperature dependence of HIL hydrolysis activity in unbuffered R = 10 microemulsions matched very closely that for tributyrin hydrolysis by Lipolase in an aqueous emulsion assay. Apparent activation energies were measured as 13 +/- 2 and 15 +/- 2 kJ mol / respectively. Condensation activity, however, was essentially independent of temperature over the range 5 degrees to 37 degrees C. The stability of HIL over a 30-day period was very good at all pH levels (6.1, 7.2, 9.3) and R values studied (5, 7.5, 10, 20), except when high pHs and low R values were combined. The excellent stability was reflected by the linearity of the productivity profiles which facilitate system optimization. The temperature dependence of RmL hydrolysis activity toward pNPC(4) showed a maximum at 40 degrees C and an apparent E(act) = 20 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) was calculated based on the linear region of the profile (5 degrees to 40 degrees C). RmL esterification activity showed only a slight dependence on temperature over the studied range (0 degrees to 40 degrees C) and an apparent E(act) = 5 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) was measured for octyl decanoate synthesis. Both RmL and HIL, therefore, have potential for application in low temperature biotransformations in microemulsion-based media. The stability of RmL over a 30-day period was good in R = 7.5 and R = 10 microemulsions containing pH 6.1 buffer, and this was reflected in the linearity of their respective productivity profiles. RmL stability was markedly poorer at more alkaline pH, however, and proved to be sensitive to relatively small changes in the R value. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Purification and characteristic of endo-(1--4)-beta-xylanase from Geotrichum candidum 3C

A method of purification of endo-(1-->4)-beta-xylanase (endoxylanase; EC 3.2.1.8) from the culture liquid of Geotrichum candidum 3C, grown for three days, is described. The enzyme purified 23-fold had a specific activity of 32.6 U per mg protein (yield, 14.4%). Endoxylanase was shown to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE (molecular weight, 60 to 67 kDa). With carboxymethyl xylan as substrate, the optimum activity (determined viscosimetrically) was recorded at pH 4.0 (pI 3.4). The enzyme retained stability at pH 3.0-4.5 and 30-45 degrees C for 1 h. With xylan from beach wood, the hydrolytic activity of the enzyme (ability to saccharify the substrate) was maximum at 50 degrees C. In 72 h of exposure to 0.2 mg/ml endoxylanase, the extent of saccharification of xylans from birch wood, rye grain, and wheat straw amounted to 10, 12, and 7.7%, respectively. At 0.4 mg/ml, the extent of saccharification of birch wood xylan was as high as 20%. In the case of birch wood xylan, the initial hydrolysis products were xylooligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization in excess of four; the end products were represented by xylobiose, xylotriose, xylose, and acid xylooligosaccharides.     

Effect of copper on liver key enzymes of anaerobic glucose metabolism from freshwater tropical fish Prochilodus lineatus

We investigated the effect of copper on liver key enzymes of the anaerobic glucose metabolism (hexokinase, HK; phosphofructokinase, PFK; pyruvate kinase, PK; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) as well as of the pentose pathway (glycose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PDH) from the fish Prochilodus lineatus. The fish were acclimated at either 20 degrees C or 30 degrees C at pH 7.0, transferred to water at pH 4.5 or 8.0, and exposed to 96 h-CL(50) copper concentrations. Copper accumulation in liver was higher in fish acclimated at 20 degrees C and maintained in water pH 8.0. Three-way analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of temperature on all enzymes, a significant effect of pH on all enzymes except for PK, and a significant effect of copper on only PFK, and LDH in pH 4.5 at 20 degrees C and, at 30 degrees C, on PFK and PK at pH 4.5 and 8.0, HK at pH 4.5 and G6PDH at pH 8.0. There were significant interactions between treatments for many enzymes. These changes suggest that the activity of enzymes in question is modified by a change in ambient water. At least at 30 degrees C, the overall reduction in the glycolytic enzyme activities of copper-exposed fish seems to reduce energy availability via glucose metabolism, thereby contributing to enhance copper toxic effects.     

Characterization and evaluation of Aspergillus oryzae lactase coupled to a regenerable support

A derivative of crosslinked Sepharose, p-(N-acetyl-L-tyrosine azo) benzamidoethyl-CL-Sepharose 4B, was synthesized and used for the selective immobilization of thermostable lactase from Aspergillus oryzae.Preparations of soluble and immobilized lactase were evaluated under initial velocity conditions in a batch process. Immobilization had no significant effect on the pH optimum at 50 degrees C or kinetic parameters at pH 4.5 or pH 6.5 and 50 degrees C. At pH 4.5, the soluble enzyme possessed maximum activity at 60 degrees C and the immobilized at 55 degrees C; at pH 6.5 both showed maximum activity at 55 degrees C. The activation energy, entropy, and enthalpy decreased significantly with immobilization at pH 4.5 but not at pH 6.5. When the immobilized enzyme was placed in a packed-bed reactor, the effect of temperature on activity was altered as reflected by a marked decrease in the thermodynamic parameters of activation at both pH levels. Upon immobilization there was also a dramatic increase in the apparent thermal stability of the lactase, and the mean half-life at 50 degrees C was increased from 7.2 to 13 days at pH 4.5 and from 3.8 to 16 days at pH 6.5.     

Lipolytic activity from Halobacteria: screening and hydrolase production

Strains of Halobacteria from an Algerian culture collection were screened for their lipolytic activity against p-nitrophenyl butyrate (PNPB) and p-nitrophenyl palmitate (PNPP). Most strains were active on both esters and 12% hydrolyzed olive oil. A strain identified as Natronococcus sp. was further studied. It grew optimally at 3.5 M NaCl, pH 8 and 40 degrees C. An increase in temperature shifted the optimum salt concentration range for growth from a wider range of 2-4 M, obtained at 25-30 degrees C, to a narrower range of 3.5-4 M, obtained at 35-40 degrees C. At 45 degrees C the optimum salt concentration was 2 M. These results show a clear correlation between salt and temperature requirement. The optimum conditions for the production of hydrolytic activity during growth were: 3.5 M NaCl and pH 8 for PNPB hydrolytic activity and 4 M NaCl and pH 7.5 for PNPP hydrolytic activity; both at 40 degrees C. The clear supernatant of cells grown at 4 M NaCl showed olive oil hydrolysis activity (in presence of 4 M NaCl) demonstrating the occurrence of a lipase activity in this strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a lipase activity at such high salt concentration.     

Characterization of an adenosine 3'':5''-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase from baker''s yeast. Its binding to subcellular particles, catalytic properties and gel-filtration behaviour.

1. The 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the microsomal fraction of baker's yeast is highly specific for cyclic AMP, and not inhibited by cyclic GMP, cyclic IMP or cyclic UMP. Catalytic activity is abolished by 30 micrometer-EDTA. At 30 degrees C and pH8.1, the Km is 0.17 micrometer, and theophylline is a simple competitive inhibitor with Ki 0.7 micrometer. The pH optimum is about 7.8 at 0.25 micrometer-cyclic AMP, so that over the physiological range of pH in yeast the activity changes in the opposite direction to that of adenylate cyclase [PH optimum about 6.2; Londesborough & Nurminen (1972) Acta Chem. Scand. 26, 3396-3398].2. At pH 7.2, dissociation of the enzyme from dilute microsomal suspensions increased with ionic strength and was almost complete at 0.3 M-KCl. MgCl2 caused more dissociation than did KCl or NaCl at the same ionic strength, but at low KCl concentrations binding required small amounts of free bivalent metal ions. In 0.1 M-KCl the binding decreased between pH 4.7 and 9.3. At pH 7.2 the binding was independent of temperature between 5 and 20 degrees C. These observations suggest that the binding is electrostatic rather than hydrophobic. 3. The proportion of bound activity increased with the concentration of the microsomal fraction, and at 22 mg of protein/ml and pH 7.2 was 70% at I0.18, and 35% at I0.26. Presumably a substantial amount of the enzyme is particle-bound in vivo. 4. At 5 degrees C in 10 mM-potassium phosphate, pH 7.2, the apparent molecular weight of KCl-solubilized enzyme decreased with enzyme concentration from about 200 000 to 40 000. In the presence of 0.5M-KCl, a constant mol.wt. of about 55 000 was observed over a 20-fold range of enzyme concentrations.     

Purification and characterization of the heat-stable serine proteinase from Thermomonospora fusca YX.

The proteinase secreted from Thermomonospora fusca YX grown on cellulose was purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and cation-exchange chromatography. The isolated proteinase readily hydrolysed several proteins and demonstrated activity towards casein from 35 to 95 degrees C (at pH 8.0) with maximum activity at 80 degrees C. It exhibited broad pH and ionic-strength optima centered at pH 9.0 and 0.2 M-NaCl respectively, and it retained high activity in the presence of 2% (w/v) SDS, 20 mM-dithiothreitol and 1.0 M-NaCl. The proteinase, which was fully inhibited by phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride, had an Mr of 14,500 and an isoelectric point at 9.21. A measurement of proteinase thermal stability demonstrated a T50% (15 min) of 85 degrees C at pH 4.5.     

Characterization of Trametes versicolor laccase for the transformation of aqueous phenol

Laccase (oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.2) from Trametes versicolor was thoroughly characterized in terms of its catalytic stability and its effectiveness as a biocatalyst under various reaction conditions when using phenol as a model substrate. This enzyme demonstrated high or moderate degrees of stability at pHs from 5 to 8 at 25 degrees C and at temperatures from 10 to 30 degrees C at pH 6. Exponential decay expressions were successfully used to model laccase inactivation when incubated under various conditions of pH and temperature. Phenol transformation was optimum at pH 6, but significant transformation was observed over a pH range of 4-7, provided that sufficient laccase was present in the reacting solution. Partial inactivation of laccase was observed during the oxidation of phenol, even under conditions of optimal stability (pH 6 and 25 degrees C).     

Enhancement of starch conversion efficiency with free and immobilized pullulanase and alpha-1,4-glucosidase

Glucoamylase and pullulanase were immobilized on reconstituted bovine-hide collagen membranes using the covalent azide linkage method. A pretanning step was incorporated into the immobilization procedure to enable the support matrix to resist proteolytic activity while accommodating an operating temperature of 50 degrees C. The immobilized glucoamylase and pullulanase activities were 0.91 and 0.022 mg dextrose equivalent (DE) min(-1) cm(-2) of membrane, respectively. Immobilized glucoamylase had a half-life of 50 days while the immobilized pullulanase had a half-life of 7 days. This is a considerably improved stability over that reported by other researchers. The enzymes were studied in their free and immobilized forms on a variety of starch substrates including waxy maize, a material which contains 80% alpha-1-6-glucosidic linkages. Substrate concentrations ranged from 1% to a typical commercial concentration of 30%. Conversion efficiencies of 90-92% DE were obtained with free and immobilized glucoamylase preparations. Conversion enhancements of 4-5 mg of DE above this level were obtained by the use of pullulanase in its free or immobilized forms. Close examination of free pullulanase stability as a function of pH indicated improved thermal stability at higher pH values. At 50 degrees C and pH 5.0, the free enzyme was inactivated after 24 h. At pH 7.0, the enzyme still possessed one-half its activity after 72 h. Studies were conducted in both batch and continuous total recycle reactors. All experiments were conducted at 50 degrees C. Experiments conducted with coimmobilized enzymes proved quite promising. Levels of conversion equivalent to those obtained with the individually immobilized enzymes were realized.     

Purification and characterization of chitinases and chitosanases from a new species strain Pseudomonas sp. TKU015 using shrimp shells as a substrate

A chitinase (CHT1) and a chitosanase (CHS1) were purified from the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas sp. TKU015 with shrimp shell wastes as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The optimized conditions of this new species strain (Gen Bank Accession Number EU103629) for the production of chitinases were found to be when the culture was shaken at 30 degrees C for 3 days in 100 mL of medium (pH 8) containing 0.5% shrimp shell powder (SSP) (w/v), 0.1% K2HPO4, and 0.05% MgSO(4).7H2O. The molecular weights of CHT1 and CHS1 determined by SDS-PAGE were approximately 68 kDa and 30 kDa, respectively. The optimum pH, optimum temperature, pH stability, and the thermal stability of CHT1 and CHS1 were pH 6, 50 degrees C, pH 5-7, <50 degrees C and pH 4, 50 degrees C, pH 3-9, <50 degrees C, respectively. CHT1 was inhibited completely by Mn2+ and Fe2+, and CHS1 was inhibited by Mn2+, Cu2+, and PMSF. CHT1 was only specific to chitin substrates, whereas the relative activity of CHS1 increased when the degree of deacetylation of soluble chitosan increased.