Metabolism of Aromatic Amino Acids in Microorganisms

It was found that when Rhodotorula rubra IFO 0911 was grown in a phenylalanine medium, benzoic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid besides cinnamic acid were formed in the cultured both. The conversions of cinnamic acid into benzoic acid and of benzoic acid into p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and the degradation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid were demonstrated in intact cells of Rhodotorula rubra. These activities were observed in the cells grown on various media, including the medium containing no phenylalanine, and were found to be distributed widely in Rhodotorula. The cells of Rhodotorula rubra were also able to degrade p-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid), p-hydroxyphenyl-acetic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid). From these results, the metabolic pathways for phenylalanine and tyrosine in Rhodotorula were discussed.     

Labeling of Polyethylenimine with Fluorescent Dye to Image Nucleus,Nucleolus, and Chromosomes in Digitonin-Permeabilized HeLa Cells

The effect of a koji (Aspergillus awamori mut.) extract on the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives purified from sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves was examined to develop the mass production of caffeic acid. A koji extract hydrolyzed the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid, to caffeic acid. Furthermore, the koji extract also converted the major polyphenolic components from sweetpotato, burdock (Arctium lappa L.), and mugwort (Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii) leaves to caffeic acid. These results suggest that the production of caffeic acid from plant resources containing caffeoylquinic acid derivatives is possible.     

The Effect of Activated Charcoal on Tissue Cultures: Adsorption of Metabolites Inhibiting Morphogenesis

Cell suspensions of Daucus carota and Haplopappus gracilis and callus suspensions of Allum cepa var. proliferum were grown in media with and without activated charcoal. Differentiation occurred in those Daucus and Allium cultures that contained charcoal. It was shown by mass spectrometry that the media without charcoal contained high amounts of phenylacetic acid and p-OH-benzoic acid (Daucus), 2,6-OH-benzoic acid (Allium) and benzoic acid, pelargonic acid and caprylic acid (Haplopappus), whereas the media with activated charcoal did not. It was also shown that p-OH-benzoic acid had inhibitory effects on the embryogenesis in Daucus cultures.     

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the production of fumaric acid

Fumaric acid is a naturally occurring organic acid that is an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Fungal species belonging to Rhizopus have traditionally been employed for the production of fumaric acid. In this study, Escherichia coli was metabolically engineered for the production of fumaric acid under aerobic condition. For the aerobic production of fumaric acid, the iclR gene was deleted to redirect the carbon flux through the glyoxylate shunt. In addition, the fumA, fumB, and fumC genes were also deleted to enhance fumaric acid formation. The resulting strain was able to produce 1.45 g/L of fumaric acid from 15 g/L of glucose in flask culture. Based on in silico flux response analysis, this base strain was further engineered by plasmid‐based overexpression of the native ppc gene, encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PPC), from the strong tac promoter, which resulted in the production of 4.09 g/L of fumaric acid. Additionally, the arcA and ptsG genes were deleted to reinforce the oxidative TCA cycle flux, and the aspA gene was deleted to block the conversion of fumaric acid into L ‐aspartic acid. Since it is desirable to avoid the use of inducer, the lacI gene was also deleted. To increase glucose uptake rate and fumaric acid productivity, the native promoter of the galP gene was replaced with the strong trc promoter. Fed‐batch culture of the final strain CWF812 allowed production of 28.2 g/L fumaric acid in 63 h with the overall yield and productivity of 0.389 g fumaric acid/g glucose and 0.448 g/L/h, respectively. This study demonstrates the possibility for the efficient production of fumaric acid by metabolically engineered E. coli. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2025–2034. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

酸雨对三峡库区4种植物幼苗光合生理及根际土壤的影响北大核心CSCD

近年来酸雨的酸性和频率越来越高,酸雨类型逐渐由硫酸型向硫酸-硝酸混合型及硝酸型转变。该研究以两年生马尾松、杉木、青冈和毛竹幼苗为试验材料,通过4个月的盆栽实验对幼苗进行硫酸型(SAR)、硝酸型(NAR)和混合型(MAR)酸雨及其各自3个酸雨浓度(pH 2.5、pH 3.5、pH 4.5)的处理,并以pH 5.7的蒸馏水为对照组,对植物的净光合速率、叶绿素含量、树种株高变化量以及植物根际土壤pH值和交换性盐基离子含量进行测定,以探究植物幼苗对模拟酸雨的敏感性及抗性特征,为酸雨受灾区的植被建设和抗酸树种的培育提供参考数据。结果表明:(1)不同浓度及类型酸雨在一定程度上能够抑制植物的净光合速率、阻碍叶绿素的合成,即酸雨浓度越高,植物净光合速率越低,叶绿素含量越少。(2)低浓度酸雨能够促进植物株高的增长,但随着酸雨浓度的增大,植物株高增长量受到严重抑制,且马尾松和青冈的表现最为明显。(3)植物根际土壤在低浓度酸雨胁迫下能够有效释放出盐基离子中和酸根离子从而降低酸雨的毒害,但随着酸雨浓度的增大,盐基离子含量不断衰减,土壤pH值逐渐减小。(4)杉木、马尾松、毛竹、青冈的平均隶属度值在不同酸雨类型作用下的表现不尽相同,总体上杉木对硫酸型和混合型酸雨的抗性最强,而毛竹能耐受硝酸型及混合型酸雨,青冈相比其他3种树种对酸雨的抗性最弱。研究发现,马尾松对硝酸型酸雨最敏感,且受胁迫的pH阈值为2.5~3.5,但对硫酸型酸雨表现出明显的抗性;杉木对3种类型酸雨的抗性较其他3种树种要强,毛竹抵抗硝酸型酸雨能力强于其他2种酸雨,而青冈对硝酸型酸雨的抵抗力强于其他2种酸雨且是抗酸能力最弱的树种,毛竹、杉木及青冈受酸雨胁迫的pH阈值为3.5~4.5;4种植物对酸雨的综合抵抗能力表现为杉木>毛竹>马尾松>青冈。     

Bacterial degradation of 3-chloroacrylic acid and the characterization of cis- and trans-specific dehalogenases

A coryneform bacterium that is able to utilize cis- and trans-3-chloroacrylic acid as sole carbon source for growth was isolated from freshwater sediment. The organism was found to produce two inducible dehalogenases, one specific for the cis- and the other for trans-3-chloroacrylic acid. Both dehalogenases were purified to homogeneity from cells induced for dehalogenase synthesis with 3-chlorocrotonic acid. The enzymes produced muconic acid semialdehyde (3-oxopropionic acid) from their respective 3-chloroacrylic acid substrate. No other substrates were found. The cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase consisted of two polypeptide chains of a molecular weight 16.2 kDa. Trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase was a protein with subunits of 7.4 and 8.7 kDa. The subunit and amino acid compositions and the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the enzymes indicate that they are not closely related.     

Biotransformation of Cinnamic Acid,p-Coumaric Acid,Caffeic Acid,and Ferulic Acid by Plant Cell Cultures of Eucalyptus perriniana

Biotransformations of phenylpropanoids such as cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid were investigated with plant-cultured cells of Eucalyptus perriniana. The plant-cultured cells of E. perriniana converted cinnamic acid into cinnamic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, p-coumaric acid, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid. p-Coumaric acid was converted into 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid, p-coumaric acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, a new compound, caffeic acid, and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid. On the other hand, incubation of caffeic acid with cultured E. perriniana cells gave 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, 3-O-(6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, a new compound, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, ferulic acid, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferulic acid. 4-O-β-D-Glucopyranosylferulic acid, ferulic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferulic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester were isolated from E. perriniana cells treated with ferulic acid.     

Biodegradation of aromatic compounds byRhodopseudomonas gelatinosa

A few photosynthetic bacteria have been isolated from a biological treatment system treating producer gas plant effluent. One of them was identified asRhodopseudomonas gelatinosa on the basis of physiological and morphological characteristics. Biodegradation of aromatic compounds byR. gelatinosa appears not to have been reported in the literature. The culture was found to degrade benzoic acid,p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, andp-coumaric acid. The doubling time for this culture was found to be 18, 19, 23, and 31 h for benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, andp-coumaric acid respectively.     

The Formation of Higher Alcohols in the Fermentation of Amino Acids by Yeast

It was confirmed that washed yeast cells produced isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol from either pyruvic acid or α-ketoisovaleric acid. At the same time α-ketoisocaproic acid, a presumed intermediate to isoamyl alcohol, was found.

These results seem to support the presumptive scheme that pyruvic acid converts to α-ketoisocaproic acid via acetolactic acid and α-keto,isovaleric acid, from which isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol are formed.     

Carboxylic Acids in Cultured Broth of Sporobolomyces odorus

Carboxylic acids found in the cultured broth of Sporobolomyces odorus AHU 3246 which produces γ-lactones as principles of the aromatic flavor, were analyzed. The concentrate of methylated acids was steam-distilled and in the residue, succinic acid, nonanedioic acid (azelaic acid), undecanedioic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid (β-phenyllactic acid) were identified as their methyl esters by GLC and spectroscopic methods. Phthalic acid and its mono-n-butyl ester were also found, but these compounds were thought to arise from di-n-butyl phthalate, one of impurities of deionized water.     

转运蛋白提高凝结芽孢杆菌酸耐受性

光学纯乳酸作为可降解生物材料——聚乳酸(polylactic acid,PLA)的前体物质,正在受到广泛关注。乳酸发酵过程中酸性产物的积累会影响菌株的生长,提高菌株酸耐受性具有重要意义。本研究以乳酸生产菌株凝结芽孢杆菌(Bacillus coagulans) DSM1为出发菌株,通过对凝结芽孢杆菌DSM1及其乳酸脱氢酶双敲除菌株(DldhL1DldhL2)进行比较转录分析,筛选酸耐受相关的转运蛋白基因。对关键基因RS16330、RS06895、RS16325、RS10595、RS00500、RS07275、RS10635及RS01930进行实时定量PCR分析,发现基因RS06895、RS10595、RS00500和RS10635在发酵12 h和24 h转录水平显著增强。过表达RS10595基因的菌株,在中性(pH 6.0)条件下生长状况和发酵性能均受到抑制,但在酸性条件下(pH 4.6),其乳酸生成相比对照组显著提高。上述结果表明,RS10595基因与菌株DSM1的酸耐受性密切相关。本研究有助于进一步探究凝结芽孢杆菌酸耐受的机制,也为构建耐酸菌株提供了基础。     

Co-production of caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid from p-coumaric acid by Streptomyces caeruleus MTCC 6638

In a culture medium of Streptomyces caeruleus MTCC 6638 grown with p-coumaric acid (5 mM) as the sole source of carbon, co-production of caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid was observed. Both caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid are important phenolic compounds with pharmaceutical importance. These biotransformed products were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Obtained data suggest that p-coumaric acid was possibly utilized by two different routes, resulting in the formation of a hydroxycinnamate and a hydroxybenzoate compound. However, higher concentration of p-coumaric acid (10 mM) favoured caffeic acid formation. Addition of 5 mM p-coumaric acid into S. caeruleus cultures pre-grown on minimal medium with 1.0 g/l glucose resulted in the production of 65 mg/l caffeic acid. Furthermore, S. caeruleus cells were able to produce the maximum amount of caffeic acid when pre-grown on nutrient broth for 16 h. Under this condition, the addition of 5 mM p-coumaric acid was sufficient for the S. caeruleus culture to produce 150 mg/l caffeic acid, with a molar yield of 16.6% after 96 h of incubation.     

Indoleacetic acid enhancement of the inhibition of Lemna growth caused by abscisic acid

Summary Indoleacetic acid substantially increased the inhibitory influence of abscisic acid on growth measured on fresh weight basis of Lemna gibba L. A similar synergistic action was obtained with indolebutyric acid while neither naphthylacetic acid nor 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid showed any synergism. The antiauxin para-chlorophenoxy-isobutyric acid did not counteract the synergistic action of IAA and ABA. The results indicate that the enhancing effect of IAA on the ABA action is not a typical auxin effect.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid - NAA naphthylacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - PCIB para-chlorophenoxy-iso-butyric acid     

Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds by Microbes

The metabolic products of m-hydroxybenzoic acid formed by certain Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, and Bacterium strains which possess oxidizing ability of this acid were detected by paperchromatography. It was recognized that protocatechuic acid or gentisic acid are intermediary metabolites of m-hydroxybenzoic acid by these bacteria and the both acids are not detected in one cultural broth.     

Allelopathic activity of different plant parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peganum harmala</Emphasis> L. and identification of their growth inhibitors substances

This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory potential of P. harmala leaf, stem and root extract on germination and growth of Avena fatua L. and Convolvulus arvensis L., as well as identification of the phytotoxic substances responsible for this activity. According to our results, the degree of toxicity of different P. harmala plant parts can be arranged in the following order: leaves > stems > roots. The two test species differed in their sensitivity to P. harmala extracts. Inhibitory effect on shoot length and seedling dry weight was more pronounced in C. arvensis, whereas higher reduction in germination, root length and total chlorophyll content occurred in A. fatua. A significant amount of water-soluble phenolic acids were found in P. harmala plant extracts. Total phenolic acids content was higher in leaf extracts when compared to that of stem or root extracts. Seven phenolic acids including gallic acid, vanillic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid and ferulic acid were found in P. harmala leaf extracts. On the other hand, we identified four phenolic acids from stem (galllic acid, vanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and caffeic acid) and root (galllic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid and cinnamic acid) extracts. The greater number of growth inhibitors detected in the leaves might explain the stronger inhibitory activity. Overall, our results suggest that P. harmala might be used as a natural herbicide for weed control and consequently reduce dependence on synthetic herbicides.     

Regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism by exogenous precursors in axenic cultures of Sphagnum fallax

Sphagnum plantlets, cultivated in continuous-feed bioreactors, are characterised by high levels of free endogenous phenolics and a pronounced excretion of some phenolics into the effluent culture medium. The transfer of Sphagnum fallax, precultivated in continuous-feed bioreactors, to batch cultures resulted in an increased flux through phenylpropanoid metabolism and an accumulation of p-coumaric acid to 0.1 μM and of trans-sphagnum acid up to 0.5 μM in the external medium [³H]-labelled L-phenylalanine (7.7 GBq mol^?1) was rapidly taken up, resulting in an enhanced synthesis and excretion of p-coumaric and trans-sphagnum acid. Specific activities were 6.9 and 5.4 GBq mol^?1, respectively, for these cinnamic acids excreted into the external medium. Endogenous pools of trans-cinnamic and p-coumaric acid did not increase and no labelling could be detected in these compounds. Cell wall-bound activity amounted to ca 14% of the applied activity after 48 h of incubation, 59% of which was recovered in dioxane/2 M HCl extracts of the cell wall. Exogenously applied trans-cinnamic acid (0.1 mM) was taken up to 46% and resulted in a transient endogenous accumulation of trans-cinnamic acid, the level of free endogenous p-coumaric and trans-sphagnum acid was found to have decreased. The concentrations of p-coumaric and trans-sphagnum acid in the culture medium rose to 17 and 2.4 μM, respectively, after 48 h of incubation in 0.1 mMtrans-cinnamic acid. Exogenously applied p-coumaric acid (0.1 mM) was taken up to 79% from the incubation solution but not stored endogenously, as metabolic products trans-sphagnum acid and an unknown p-coumaric acid-conjugate accumulated in the external medium and endogenously. These results give evidence for the biosynthetical route from phenylalanine to sphagnum acid and a channelling of pathway intermediates by the enzymes L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5) and cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.11).     

Studies on the Metabolism of Gallic Acid by Microorganisms

The intermediary metabolism of gallic acid by Aspergillus niger under the influence of some added inhibitors has been studied. The decomposition of gallic acid by lyophilized cells under fluoroacetate inhibition allowed cis-aconitic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid and citric acid to accumulate. A mechanism of gallic acid decomposition via cis-aconitic acid has been inferred.     

2-Methylsorbic acid,an antifungal metabolite of Penicillium vermiculatum

Summary 2-Methylsorbic acid (MA), (2Z,4E)-2-methyl-2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a new metabolite of Penicillium vermiculatum. Antifungal activity of this acid was higher than that of sorbic acid or the bromoderivatives bromomethylsorbic acid and bromosorbic acid. MA suppressed the growth of Talaromyces flavus and germination of its conidia. In P. vermiculatum this acid lowered production of vermiculin and inhibited proteosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Correspondence to: B. Proksa     

Metabolism of Phenylalanine in Aspergillus sojae

It was found that a new compound of phenylalanine metabolites (2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropenoic acid) and phenylacetic acid were formed in the cultured Czapek medium containing phenylalanine by Aspergillus sojae. 2-Hydroxy-3-phenylpropenoic acid (HPPA) was formed from phenylalanine (d- and l-form) via phenyllactic acid (d- and l-form), and degraded to benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and catechol in this order.

On the other hand, phenylacetic acid was formed from phenylpyruvic acid, and converted to homogentisic acid via o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. From these results, a metabolic pathway of phenylalanine in Asp. sojae was proposed.     

Characterisation,differentiation and biochemical diversity of Fusarium solani and Fusarium proliferatum based on cellular fatty acid profiles

The biochemical relationships between Fusarium solani and Fusarium proliferatum isolates were investigated using fatty acid analysis. Cellular fatty acid composition showed that palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were the most abundant fatty acids in these species and accounted for 93.88 and 94.02% of the fatty acid profiles in F. solani and F. proliferatum, respectively. The most predominant fatty acids were linoleic acid (37.44%) in F. solani and oleic acid (39.81%) in F. proliferatum. The fatty acid compositions of F. solani and F. proliferatum were significantly different (p?<?0.05) for most of the individual fatty acids. This study demonstrated that fatty acid profiles may be useful to characterise and differentiate F. solani and F. proliferatum isolates at the species level. Using fatty acid analysis, biochemical diversity was observed among isolates of these species. The dendrogramme revealed that F. solani and F. proliferatum formed two distinct clusters with a distance of 7.2. Isolates of each species were clustered with each other, having a Euclidean distance of 6 and 6.6 for F. solani and F. proliferatum, respectively.