Production of beta-fructofuranosidase with transfructosylating activity for fructooligosaccharides synthesis by Aspergillus japonicus NTU-1249.

Microbial beta-fructofuranosidases with transfructosylating activity can catalyze the transfructosylation of sucrose and synthesize fructooligosaccharides. Aspergillus japonicus NTU-1249 isolated from natural habitat was found to produce a significant amount of beta-fructofuranosidase with high transfructosylating activity and to have the potential for industrial production of fructooligosaccharides. In order to improve it's enzyme productivity, the medium composition and the cultivation conditions for A. japonicus NTU-1249 were studied. A. japonicus NTU-1249 can produce 83.5 units of transfructosylating activity per ml broth when cultivated in a shaking flask at 28 degrees C for 72 hours with a modified medium containing 80 g/l sucrose, 15 g/l soybean flour, 5 g/l yeast extract and 5 g/l NaCl at an initial pH of 6.0. The enzyme productivity was also optimized by submerged cultivation in a 5-litre jar fermentor with aeration at 1.5 vvm and agitation at 500 rpm. Under these operating conditions, the productivity of transfructosylating activity increased to 185.6 U/ml. Furthermore, the transfructosylating activity was improved to 256.1 U/ml in 1,000-litre pilot-scale fermentor. Enzymatic synthesis of fructooligosaccharides by beta-fructofuranosidase from A. japonicus NTU-1249 was performed in batch type by adding 5.6 units of transfructosylating activity per gram of sucrose to a 50% (w/v) sucrose solution at pH 5.0 and 50 degrees C. The yield of fructooligosaccharides was about 60% after reaction for 24 hours, and the syrup produced contained 29.8% (w/v) fructooligosaccharides, 15.2% (w/v) glucose and 5.0% (w/v) sucrose.     

Size characteristics of the solubilized saxitoxin receptor of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel from rat brain

The saxitoxin receptor of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel from rat brain was solubilized with Triton X-100 and stabilized with phosphatidylcholine. The size characteristics of the detergent . phospholipid . receptor complex were studied by gel filtration and sucrose gradient sedimentation in H2O and D2O. The complex has Stokes radius = 80 A, S20,W = 12 S, v = 0.82 ml/ g, and Mr = 601,000 +/- 48,000. Assuming v = 0.73 ml/g for the saxitoxin receptor protein, the mass of the complex consists of 47.4% detergent and phosphatidylcholine and 52.6% saxitoxin receptor protein with Mr = 316,000 +/- 63,000.     

Enhanced production of exocellular glucansucrase from Leuconostoc dextranicum NRRL B-1146 using response surface method

Statistically-based experimental designs were applied to optimize the fermentation for the production of glucosyltransferase by Leuconostoc dextranicum NRRL B-1146. Eleven medium components were examined for their significance on enzyme production using Plackett-Burman factorial design. Tween 80, sucrose and K2HPO4 significantly improved the enzyme production process. The combined effect of these nutrients on glucansucrase production were studied using a 2 2 full-factorial central composite design, a second-order polynomial was established to identify the relationship between the enzyme output and the three medium components. The optimal concentration of variables for maximum glucansucrase production were Tween 80 (0.55%, v/v); sucrose (5.6%, w/v) and K2HPO4 (1%, w/v). The maximum enzyme activity by predicted model was 6.53 U/ml that was in perfect agreement with the actual experimental value (6.40 U/ml).     

Xanthan gum and ethanol production by Xanthomonas campestris and Zymomonas mobilis from peach pulp

The wild type of Xanthomonas campestris and a mutant strain of Zymomonas mobilis CP4, tolerant to sucrose up to 40% (w/v), were used to produce either xanthan gum or ethanol, respectively, from peach pulp supplemented with different salts. Both bacteria grew well (2.7 mg/ml for X. campestris and 1.45 mg/ml for Z. mobilis) in fine peach pulp and the production of xanthan gum or ethanol was 0.1–0.2 g/l or 110 g/l, respectively.     

培养条件对头孢霉脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响

为了获得高产量的长链ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸,用十八碳脂肪酸和十六碳脂肪酸的比值考察碳链延长,用α-亚麻酸和亚油酸的比值考察ω-3脱饱和;探讨了八种因子对脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响。有利于碳链延长的条件为：麦芽糖10g/L、(NH4)2SO4 3g/L、起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、20℃培养6d。有利于ω-3脂肪酸生成的条件为：蔗糖30g/L、NH4Cl 3g/L、培养基起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、10℃培养10d。     

培养条件对头孢霉脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响*

为了获得高产量的长链ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸,用十八碳脂肪酸和十六碳脂肪酸的比值考察碳链延长,用α-亚麻酸和亚油酸的比值考察ω-3脱饱和;探讨了八种因子对脂肪酸链长和ω-3脱饱和的影响。有利于碳链延长的条件为：麦芽糖10g/L、(NH4)2SO4 3g/L、起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、20℃培养6d。有利于ω-3脂肪酸生成的条件为：蔗糖30g/L、NH4Cl 3g/L、培养基起始pH为4.0、500mL三角瓶装50mL培养基、接种20%（V/V）、10℃培养10d。     

Characterization of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant with enhanced production of beta-D-fructofuranosidase

The present study focused on the improvement of Saccharomyces cerevisiae through random mutagenesis for enhanced production of beta-D-fructofuranosidase (FFase) using sucrose salt media. Sixty strains of S. cerevisiae were isolated from different fruits and soil samples and screened for FFase production. Enzyme productivity of different yeast isolates ranged from 0.03 to 1.10 U/ml. The isolate with the highest activity was subjected to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and mutagenesis using N-methyl N-nitro N-nitroso guanidine (MNNG). One mutant produced FFase at a level of 17.8+/-0.9 U/ml. The MNNG-treated isolate was exposed to ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS), and a mutant with an enzyme activity of 25.56+/-1.4 U/ml was obtained. Further exposure to UV radiation and chemicals yielded a mutant exhibiting an activity of 34.12+/-1.8 U/ml. After optimization of incubation time (48 h), sucrose concentration (5.0 g/L), initial pH (6.0) and inoculum size (2.0% v/v), enzyme production reached 45.65+/-4.6 U/ml with a noticeable greater than 40-fold increase compared to the wild-type culture. On the basis of kinetic variables, notably Q(p) (0.723+/-0.2U/g/h), Y(p/s) (2.036+/-0.05 U/g) and q(p) (0.091+/-0.02 U/g yeast cells/h), the mutant S. cerevisiae UME-2 was found to be a hyperproducer of FFase (LSD 0.054, p0.05).     

Enzymatic regioselective synthesis of sucrose acrylate esters

Using a protease (at 100 g l^–1) from Bacillus licheniformis, enzymatic acryloylation of sucrose (1 M) with vinyl acrylate (4 M) was carried out in anhydrous pyridine and yielded sucrose acrylate esters with more than 90% of sucrose converted in 24 h. After 5 days of reaction, the ester products consisted of 70% sucrose monoacrylate and 30% sucrose diacrylate. The monoester product was a sucrose 1-acrylate and the diester products consisted of sucrose 6,1-diacrylate and sucrose 6,1-diacrylate in the ratio of 3:2.     

Optimization of medium for lipase production by Acinetobacter haemolyticus from healthy human skin

A lipase producing Acinetobacter haemolyticus TA106 was isolated from healthy human skin of tribal population. The maximum activity of 55 U/ml was observed after medium optimization using the "one variable at a time" and the statistical approaches. The optimal composition of the medium was determined as (% w/v or v/v): tryptone--1, yeast extract--0.5, sodium chloride-1, olive oil-1, Tween-80 1, manganese sulphate--5 mM, sucrose--1, pH-7. It was found that maximum production occurred in late log phase, i.e., after 72 h and at 200 rpm. From factorial design and statistical analysis, it was found that pH, temperature, salt, inoculum density and aeration significantly affected the lipase production. It was also noted that inoculum density of 3% (v/v), sucrose (1% w/v) and manganese sulphate (5 mM) displayed maximum lipase activity of 55 U/ml by conventional as well as statistical method. Optimization studies also indicated the increase in specific activity from 0.2 U/mg to 6.7 U/mg.     

Isomaltulose production from sucrose by Protaminobacter rubrum immobilized in calcium alginate

Different culture conditions for Protaminobacter rubrum and enzymatic reaction parameters were evaluated with the goal of improving isomaltulose production. P. rubrum was grown in a medium with 1% (w/v) cane molasses and 0.5% yeast extract and achieved a maximum cell yield Y_x/s of 0.295 g of cells/g sucrose and a specific growth rate (μ) of 0.192 h⁻¹. The immobilization of P. rubrum cells was carried out with calcium alginate, glutaraldehyde and polyethyleneimine. Stabile immobilized cell pellets were obtained and used 24 times in batch processes. Enzymatic conversion was carried out at different sucrose concentrations and in pH 6 medium with 70% (w/v) sucrose at 30 °C an isomaltulose yield of 89–94% (w/v) was obtained. The specific activity of the P. rubrum immobilized pellets in calcium alginate at 30 °C ranged from 1.6 to 4.0 g isomaltulose g⁻¹ pellet h⁻¹, respectively with 70% and 65% sucrose solution, while in lower sucrose concentration had higher specific activities presumably due to substrate inhibition of the isomaltulose synthase in higher sucrose concentrations.     

Osmotic Fragility and Viability of Lysostaphin-induced Staphylococcal Spheroplasts

When Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209P cells were treated with lysostaphin (1 unit/ml) in hypertonic sodium chloride or sucrose environments, viable, osmotically fragile spheroplasts were produced. Turbidimetric studies indicated that 64% (w/v) sucrose or 20 to 28% (w/v) sodium chloride gives maximal protection against lysis of the lysostaphin-treated cells. The NaCl appeared to give greater protection than the sucrose and proved to be much more suitable for viability and related studies. Viability of both shocked and nonshocked treated cells was determined by S. aureus colony counts on agar plates overlayered with the test dilution of the cells suspended in 4 ml of semisolid agar containing 72% sucrose. The difference in the counts represented the number of revertible spheroplasts. Under these conditions, 30 to 50% of the test cells were recovered as osmotically fragile, but revertible, spheroplasts after 5 to 10 min of exposure to lysostaphin in 24% NaCl. This rewere obtained after 5 to 10 min of exposure to lysostaphin in 24% NaCl. This recovery rate fell off rapidly with prolonged exposure. In view of residual turbidity of 30- and even 60-min exposure preparations, it appeared probable that most of the osmotically fragile cells were eventually converted to protoplasts by the prolonged lysostaphin treatment. Osmotically fragile cells were converted to osmotic stability by fixation with 4% (v/v) Formalin.     

TASTE ACCEPTANCE IN SQUIRREL MONKEYS (SAIMIRI SCIUREUS)

Six squirrel monkeys were presented with solutions representingthe four primary tastes. The solutions included various concentrationsof glucose or sodium saccharine (sweet), sodium chloride (salty),citric acid (sour), and quinine sulfate or sucrose octaacetate(bitter). A 24 hr two-bottle choice technique was employed.Amount of food, water, and solution consumed every 24 hr wasrecorded. The results showed that the maximum intake for glucosesolution was with the 5.0% concentration, although maximum caloricintake was with the 1.25% concentration where there was a potentiationof food intake. Water was preferred over sodium saccharine atthree of the four concentrations which were tested, and waterwas preferred over or equally to the concentrations of sodiumchloride and citric acid that were used. However, quinine sulfateand sucrose octaacetate were preferred over or equally to waterat most of the concentrations which were tested. In conducting the research described in this report, the investigatorsadhered to the ‘Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilitiesand Care’, as promulgated by the Committee on the guidefor Laboratory Animal Resources, National Academy of Sciences- National Research Council.     

Optimization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum ST13BR, a strain isolated from barley beer

The cell-free supernatant containing bacteriocin ST13BR, produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ST13BR, inhibits the growth of L. casei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Based on tricine-SDS-PAGE, bacteriocin ST13BR is 10 kDa in size. Complete inactivation or significant reduction in bacteriocin activity was observed after treatment with Proteinase K, trypsin and pronase, but not with catalase or alpha-amylase. Low bacteriocin activity (200 AU/ml) was recorded in BHI medium, M17 broth, 10% (w/v) soy milk, and 2% and 10% (w/v) molasses, despite good growth. Maximal bacteriocin activity (6,400 AU/ml) was recorded after 23 h in MRS broth, but only at 30 degrees C. Tween 80 in MRS broth increased bacteriocin production by more than 50%. Meat extract or yeast extract as sole nitrogen source, or a combination of the two (1 : 1) in MRS broth, stimulated bacteriocin production (6,400 AU/ml). Only 50% activity (3,200 AU/ml) was recorded with tryptone as sole nitrogen source, whereas a combination of tryptone, meat extract and yeast extract yielded 6,400 AU/ml. Bacteriocin production was not stimulated by the addition of glucose at 2.0% w/v (3,200 AU/ml), nor 2% (w/v) fructose, sucrose, lactose or mannose, respectively (800 AU/ml). Activity levels less than 200 AU/ml were recorded in the presence of 0.05% to 0.5% (w/v) maltose. Maximal bacteriocin production (6,400 AU/ml) was recorded in the presence of 2% (w/v) maltose. Maltose at 4.0% (w/v) led to a 50% reduction of bacteriocin activity. The presence of 1.0% (w/v) and higher KH(2)PO(4), or glycerol at 0.2% (w/v) suppressed bacteriocin production.     

Decrease of growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus caused by spices

Non-commercial spices and herbs Tetrapleura tetrapetra, Triumfetta cordifolia, Garcina kola, Monodora myristica and Xylopia aethiopica at 0.08 to 0.32% (w/v) decreased the mycelial weight of Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in yeast extract/sucrose broth by up to 68%. Aflatoxin production, monitored with ELISA, was most effectively decreased, from 97 to 23 g/ml, when the extract of G. kola was added at 0.32% (w/v).     

Production, purification and characterization of a 50-kDa extracellular metalloprotease from Serratia marcescens

The extracellular metalloprotease (SMP 6.1) produced by a soil isolate of Serratia marcescens NRRL B-23112 was purified and characterized. SMP 6.1 was purified from the culture supernatant by ammonium sulfate precipitation, acetone fractional precipitation, and preparative isoelectric focusing. SMP 6.1 has a molecular mass of approximately 50 900 Da by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The following substrates were hydrolyzed: casein, bovine serum albumin, and hide powder. SMP 6.1 has the characteristics of a metalloprotease, a pH optimum of 10.0, and a temperature optimum of 42° C. The isoelectric point of the protease is 6.1. Restoration of proteolytic activity by in-gel renaturation after SDS-PAGE indicates a single polypeptide chain. SMP 6.1 is inhibited by EDTA (9 μg/ml) and not inhibited by antipain dihydrochloride (120 μg/ml), aprotinin (4 μg/ml), bestatin (80 μg/ml), chymostatin (50 μg/ml), E-64 (20 μg/ml), leupeptin (4 μg/ml), Pefabloc SC (2000 μg/ml), pepstatin (4 μg/ml), phosphoramidon (660 μg/ml), or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (400 μg/ml). SMP 6.1 retains full activity in the presence of SDS (1% w/v), Tween-20 (1% w/v), Triton X-100 (1% w/v), ethanol (5% v/v), and 2-mercaptoethanol (0.5% v/v). The extracellular metalloprotease SMP 6.1 differs from the serratiopeptidase (Sigma) produced by S. marcescens ATCC 27117 in the following characteristics: isoelectric point, peptide mapping and nematolytic properties. Received: 22 November 1996 / Received revision: 27 February 1997 / Accepted: 7 March 1997     

In vitro growth reduction of tomato and carnation microplants

Shoots which proliferated from shoot tip explants of Colorado White Simm carnation and Fantastic tomato on MS medium containing 5 mgl^-1 benzyladenine were rooted and grown in vitro as microplants. Tomato microplants grown in medium with 5 gl^-1 sucrose had less overall shoot and root growth than those with 10,20, or 30 gl^-1 sucrose regardless of NAA level. Carnation shoot growth was reduced by 5 g l^-1 sucrose but root growth was not affected except when no sucrose was supplied. Microplant height and rooting of carnation were maximal when grown in 20 gl^-1 sucrose whereas tomato microplant growth was greatest with 30 gl^-1 sucrose. Microplants of both species had reduced height and root growth when the MS nutrient salts were lowered to 25%, 50%, or 75% compared to full strength when sucrose was supplied at 5 gl^-1.     

Production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate by Azotobacter vinelandii strain UWD during growth on molasses and other complex carbon sources

Summary Azotobacter vinelandii strain UWD formed >2 mg/ml poly--hydroxybutyrate (pHB) during exponential growth in media containing ammonium acetate and 1% w/v glucose, fructose, sucrose, or maltose, and >1.5 mg/ml with 1% w/v sodium gluconate or glycerol. After acetate exhaustion, pHB formation accompanied carbohydrate utilization and pHB rapidly accounted for 53%–70% of the cell mass. Strain UWD also formed >2 mg/ml pHB when it was grown with 2% w/v corn syrup, cane molasses, beet molasses, or malt extract. Beet molasses had a growth stimulatory effect which promoted higher yields of pHB/ml and a high ratio of pHB/protein. Malt extract also promoted higher yields of pHB/ml. In this case, pHB formation was no longer subject to acetate repression and the cells contained a higher ratio of pHB/protein. This study shows that unrefined carbon sources support pHB formation in strain UWD and that the yields of pHB were comparable to or better than those obtained with refined carbon sources.     

Effect of sugars on maturation rate of vitrified-thawed immature porcine oocytes

This study examined the effects of monosaccharide (glucose), disaccharide (sucrose) and polysaccharides (Ficoll and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP)) at different concentrations, using ethylene glycol (EG) as membrane-permeating cryoprotectant, on in vitro maturation of vitrified-thawed immature (GV) porcine oocytes. A total of 1145 oocytes were obtained by follicle aspiration from 496 ovaries of pigs slaughtered at a local abattoir and vitrified using a five-step method. After thawing and removal of cryoprotectant, oocytes were cultured for 44 h at 39 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO(2) in air. Oocytes were stained with DAPI and nuclear maturation was examined. The highest maturation rates were obtained in 1.5M glucose (8.62%), 0.75 M sucrose (20.0%), 3.0 g/ml Ficoll (13.79%) and 0.10 g/ml LBP (20.69%), respectively. The maturation rate using 0.75 M sucrose or 0.10 g/ml LBP was significantly higher compared to 1.5M glucose (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference from using 3.0 g/ml Ficoll (P>0.05). The percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II (MII) stage in the cryopreserved groups was significantly lower than control (P<0.05). These results suggest that LBP is an effective non-permeating membrane cryoprotectant and 0.75 M sucrose or 0.10 g/ml LBP can be used as the vitrification solution for immature porcine oocytes.     

红火蚁诱捕技术

研究了6种引诱剂、2种诱捕器以及不同风向对红火蚁的野外诱捕效果．结果表明：用于试验的引诱剂中有4种对红火蚁有一定的引诱作用．其中,引诱剂TB1（鱼粉50g、蛋白胨40g、10％蔗糖水10ml、大豆油20m1）的效果最好,平均每个诱捕器诱捕红火蚁77．6头;引诱剂TB2（火腿肠）的效果次之,平均每个诱捕器诱捕红火蚁58．7头;TB4（10％蔗糖水10ml、甘蔗粉100g、大豆油20ml）和TB6（玉米粉100g、大豆油20ml）分别能诱捕到红火蚁7．7和29头;TB3（10％蔗糖水10ml、玉米粉100g、大豆油20ml）和TB5（蜂蜜）未诱捕到红火蚁．离心管诱捕器的诱集效果显著好于纸碟诱捕器,两种诱捕器分别诱捕红火蚁75．2和35．0头．各种饵剂在下风区的诱集效果明显好于上风区．     

Production of (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid by fermentation and bioconversion processes with Azohydromonas lata

Feasibility of producing (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)-3-HB) using wild type Azohydromonas lata and its mutants (derived by UV mutation) was investigated. A. lata mutant (M5) produced 780 mg/l in the culture broth when sucrose was used as the carbon source. M5 was further studied in terms of its specificity with various bioconversion substrates for production of (R)-3-HB. (R)-3-HB concentration produced in the culture broth by M5 mutant was 2.7-fold higher than that of the wild type strain when sucrose (3% w/v) and (R,S)-1,3-butanediol (3% v/v) were used as carbon source and bioconversion substrate, respectively. Bioconversion of resting cells (M5) with glucose (1% v/w), ethylacetoacetate (2% v/v), and (R,S)-1,3-butanediol (3% v/v), resulted in (R)-3-HB concentrations of 6.5 g/l, 7.3 g/l and 8.7 g/l, respectively.