Isomaltulose production using free cells: optimisation of a culture medium containing agricultural wastes and conversion in repeated-batch processes

The enzyme glucosyltransferase is an industrially important enzyme since it produces non-cariogenic isomaltulose (6-O-alpha-D-glucopyronosyl-1-6-D-fructofuranose) from sucrose by intramolecular transglucosylation. The experimental designs and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied for the optimisation of the nutrient concentrations in the culture medium for the production of glucosyltransferase by Erwinia sp. D12 in shaken flasks at 200 rpm and 30 degrees C. A statistical analysis of the results showed that, in the range studied, the factors had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on glucosyltransferase production and the highest enzyme activity (10.84 U/ml) was observed in culture medium containing sugar cane molasses (150 g l(-1)), corn steep liquor (20 g l(-1)), yeast extract Prodex Lac SD (15 g l(-1)) and K2HPO4 (0.5 g l(-1)) after 8 h at 30 degrees C. The production of cell biomass by the strain of Erwinia sp. D12 was carried out in a 6.6-l fermenter with a mixing rate of 200 rpm and an aeration rate of 1 vvm. Fermentation time, cellular growth, medium pH and glucosyltransferase production were observed. The greatest glucosyltransferase activity was 22.49 U/ml, obtained after 8 h of fermentation. The isomaltulose production from sucrose was performed using free Erwinia sp. D12 cells in a batch process using an orbital shaker. The influence of the parameters sucrose concentration, temperature, pH, and cell concentration on the conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose was studied. The free cells showed a high conversion rate of sucrose into isomaltulose using batch fermentation, obtaining an isomaltulose yield of 72.11% from sucrose solution 35% at 35 degrees C.     

Influence of the fermentation parameters and optimisation of isomaltulose production from free Erwinia sp. D12 cells using response surface methodology

The food industry is constantly seeking novel ingredients to improve existing products or to allow for the introduction of new products. Isomaltulose is a reducing sugar with a sweet taste and very similar physical and organoleptic properties to those of sucrose. The strain Erwinia sp. is able to convert sucrose into isomaltulose. A two level rotatory central composite design and response surface methodology were applied to verify the influence and conditions for the production of isomaltulose by Erwinia sp. D12 free-cells in a batch process. The statistical analysis carried out at a confidence level of 90% gave a coefficient of determination of 0.90, and the polynomial model resulted in a response surface and contour curve that indicated the best parameters for the conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose as follows: temperature 35 °C, pH 6.5, wet cell mass 10% and sucrose 35%. The free-cells of Erwinia sp. D12 were recycled during repeated-batch processes to produce isomaltulose from sucrose obtaining high isomaltulose yields.     

Isomaltulose synthase from Klebsiella sp. strain LX3: gene cloning and characterization and engineering of thermostability

The gene (palI) encoding isomaltulose synthase (PalI) from a soil bacterial isolate, Klebsiella sp. strain LX3, was cloned and characterized. PalI converts sucrose into isomaltulose, trehalulose, and trace amounts of glucose and fructose. Sequence domain analysis showed that PalI contains an alpha-amylase domain and (beta/alpha)(8)-barrel structures, suggesting that it belongs to the alpha-amylase family. Sequence alignment indicated that the five amino acid residues of catalytic importance in alpha-amylases and glucosyltransferases (Asp(241), Glu(295), Asp(369), His(145), and His(368)) are conserved in PalI. Purified recombinant PalI displayed high catalytic efficiency, with a Km of 54.6 +/- 1.7 mM for sucrose, and maximum activity (approximately 328.0 +/- 2.5 U/mg) at pH 6.0 and 35 degrees C. PalI activity was strongly inhibited by Fe3+ and Hg2+ and was enhanced by Mn2+ and Mg2+. The half-life of PalI was 1.8 min at 50 degrees C. Replacement of selected amino acid residues by proline significantly increased the thermostability of PalI. Simultaneous replacement of Glu(498) and Arg(310) with proline resulted in an 11-fold increase in the half-life of PalI at 50 degrees C.     

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.     

The isomaltulose synthesising enzyme ofSerratia plymuthica

Summary An intracellular enzyme was located inSerratia plymuthica which produced isomaltulose from sucrose. The enzyme was purified giving a preparation with a specific activity of 1,285. It has pH and temperature optima of 6.0 and 30°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable retaining 100% activity after 2 weeks at 30°C. It had an isoelectric point at pH 9.0, a Mr of 79,500 and the Km for sucrose was 65.3mM. The enzyme converted 40% (w/v) sucrose to isomaltulose with an efficiency of 87%.     

Whole cell immobilized amperometric biosensor based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae for selective determination of vitamin B1 (thiamine)

A new amperometric whole cell biosensor based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in gelatin was developed for selective determination of vitamin B1 (thiamine). The biosensor was constructed by using gelatin and crosslinking agent glutaraldehyde to immobilize S. cerevisiae cells on the Teflon membrane of dissolved oxygen (DO) probe used as the basic electrode system combined with a digital oxygen meter. The cells were induced by vitamin B1 in the culture medium, and the cells used it as a carbon source in the absence of glucose. So, when the vitamin B1 solution is injected into the whole cell biosensor system, an increase in respiration activity of the cells results from the metabolic activity and causes a decrease in the DO concentration of interval surface of DO probe related to vitamin B1 concentration. The response time of the biosensor is 3 min, and the optimal working conditions of the biosensor were carried out as pH 7.0, 50mM Tris-HCl, and 30 degrees C. A linear relationship was obtained between the DO concentration decrease and vitamin B1 concentration between 5.0 x 10(-3) and 10(-1) microM. In the application studies of the biosensor, sensitive determination of vitamin B1 in the vitamin tablets was investigated.     

Yarrowia lipolytica possesses two plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H+ antiporters with different functions in cell physiology

The family of Nha antiporters mediating the efflux of alkali metal cations in exchange for protons across the plasma membrane is conserved in all yeast species. Yarrowia lipolytica is a dimorphic yeast, phylogenetically very distant from the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A search in its sequenced genome revealed two genes (designated as YlNHA1 and YlNHA2) with homology to the S. cerevisiae NHA1 gene, which encodes a plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H+ antiporter. Upon heterologous expression of both YlNHA genes in S. cerevisiae, we showed that Y. lipolytica antiporters differ not only in length and sequence, but also in their affinity for individual substrates. While the YlNha1 protein mainly increased cell tolerance to potassium, YlNha2p displayed a remarkable transport capacity for sodium. Thus, Y. lipolytica is the first example of a yeast species with two plasma membrane alkali metal cation/H+ antiporters differing in their putative functions in cell physiology; cell detoxification vs. the maintenance of stable intracellular pH, potassium content and cell volume.     

Purification, characterization and decolorization of bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria 3.2190

Myrothecium verrucaria 3.2190 is a nonligninolytic fungus that produces bilirubin oxidase. Both M. verrucaria and the extracellular bilirubin oxidase were tested for their ability to decolorize indigo carmine. The biosorption and biodegradation of the dye were detected during the process of decolorization; more than 98% decolorization efficiency was achieved after 7 days at 26°C. Additionally, the crude bilirubin oxidase can efficiently decolorize indigo carmine at 30°C~50°C, pH 5.5~9.5 with dye concentrations of 50 mg l(-1)~200 mg l(-1). Bilirubin oxidase was purified and visualized as a single band on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Several enzymatic properties of the purified enzyme were investigated. Moreover, the identity of the purified bilirubin oxidase (BOD) was confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). These results demonstrate that the purified bilirubin oxidase in M. verrucaria strain has potential application in dye effluent decolorization.     

Genetic surface-display of methyl parathion hydrolase on Yarrowia lipolytica for removal of methyl parathion in water

In this study, the mph gene encoding methyl parathion hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3 was expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica and the expressed methyl parathion hydrolase was displayed on cell surface of Y. lipolytica. The activity of methyl parathion hydrolase displayed on the yeast cells of the transformant Z51 was 59.5 U mg?1 of cell dry cells (450.6 U per mL of the culture) in the presence of 5.0 mM of Co2?. The displayed methyl parathion hydrolase had the optimal pH of 9.5 and the optimal temperature of 40 °C, respectively and was stable in the pH range of 4.5-11 and up to 40 °C. The displayed methyl parathion hydrolase was also stimulated by Co2?, Cu2?, Ni2? and Mn2?, and was not affected by Fe2?, Fe3?, Na?, K?, Ca2? and Zn2?, but was inhibited by other cations tested. Under the optimal conditions (OD(600 nm) = 2.6, the substrate concentration = 100 mg L?1 and 40 °C), 90.8 % of methyl parathion was hydrolyzed within 30 min. Under the similar conditions, 98.7, 97.0, 96.5 and 94.4 % of methyl parathion in tap water (pH 9.5), tap water (pH 6.8), seawater (pH 9.5) and natural seawater (pH 8.2) were hydrolyzed, respectively, suggesting that the methyl parathion hydrolase displayed on the yeast cells can effectively remove methyl parathion in water.     

Characterization of Pantoea dispersa UQ68J: producer of a highly efficient sucrose isomerase for isomaltulose biosynthesis

AIMS: Isolation, identification and characterization of a highly efficient isomaltulose producer. METHODS AND RESULTS: After an enrichment procedure for bacteria likely to metabolize isomaltulose in sucrose-rich environments, 578 isolates were screened for efficient isomaltulose biosynthesis using an aniline/diphenylamine assay and capillary electrophoresis. An isolate designated UQ68J was exceptionally efficient in sucrose isomerase activity. Conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose by UQ68J (enzyme activity of 90-100 U mg(-1) DW) was much faster than the current industrial strain Protaminobacter rubrum CBS574.77 (41-66 U mg(-1) DW) or a reference strain of Erwinia rhapontici (0.3-0.9 U mg(-1) DW). Maximum yield of isomaltulose at 78-80% of supplied sucrose was achieved in less than half the reaction time needed by CBS574.77, and the amount of contaminating trehalulose (4%) was the lowest recorded from an isomaltulose-producing microbe. UQ68J is a Gram negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile, noncapsulate, straight rod-shaped bacterium producing acid but no gas from glucose. Based on 16S rDNA analysis UQ68J is closest to Klebsiella oxytoca, but it differs from Klebsiella in defining characteristics and most closely resembles Pantoea dispersa in phenotype. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This organism is likely to have substantial advantage over previously characterized sucrose isomerase producers for the industrial production of isomaltulose.     

南极假丝酵母脂肪酶A的表面展示及酶学性质研究

采用a凝集素作为载体蛋白,首次将南极假丝酵母脂肪酶A展示在酿酒酵母细胞表面,通过MD平板筛选获得表面展示型的CALA酵母工程菌株。免疫荧光检测显示CALA被成功展示在酵母细胞壁表面,重组子经诱导后能在三丁酸甘油酯板上形成透明圈,说明展示的CALA具有活性。重组酵母在液体培养基培养72 h,活性达到最高,为80.4 U/g干细胞。酿酒酵母展示的CALA最适温度及pH值为70°C和pH 8.0。经50°C保温2 h,仍含有60%水解酶活力。展示的CALA在pH 7.0和pH 8.0溶液中比较稳定。经DMSO处理2 h,展示的CALA仍保持70%的活性。以上结果表明酵母展示的CALA可作为一种有潜质商业用途的全细胞催化剂。     

利用冰核蛋白N末端结构域在大肠杆菌表面展示粘质沙雷氏菌脂肪酶

【目的】利用细胞表面工程技术将活性脂肪酶展示于大肠杆菌细胞表面并对展示脂肪酶的酶学性质进行研究。【方法】将丁香假单胞菌冰核蛋白N末端结构域序列与粘质沙雷氏菌脂肪酶编码基因融合,构建成脂肪酶表面展示载体,并转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)。【结果】重组菌以终浓度0.05 mmol/L异丙基硫代-D-半乳糖苷(IPTG)、25°C条件下诱导培养,16 h后表面展示脂肪酶活力达到最大值1 852 U/g细胞干重。表面展示酶的最适pH为9.0,最适反应温度为40°C,表面展示酶热稳定性较游离酶有较大提高,在40°C孵育1 h后仍能保持90%以上的酶活力。【结论】以上结果表明细菌表面展示技术为脂肪酶固定提供了一个很有前景的替代方法。     

Surface display of organophosphorus hydrolase on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The gene encoding organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) from Flavobacterium species was expressed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MT8-1 using a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor linked to the C-terminal region of OPH. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the localization of OPH on the cell surface, and fluorescence intensity measurement of cells revealed that 1.4 x 10(4) molecules of OPH per cell were displayed. Seventy percent of OPH whole-cell activity was detected on the cell surface by protease accessibility assay. The activity of OPH was highly dependent on cell growth conditions. The maximum activity was obtained when cells were grown in a synthetic dextrose medium lacking tryptophan (SD-W) buffered by 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES, 200 mM, pH 7.0) at 20 degrees C, and cobalt chloride was added at 0.1 mM. S. cerevisiae MT8-1 displaying OPH which exhibited a higher activity than Escherichia coli displaying OPH using the ice nucleation protein (INP) anchor. The use of S. cerevisiae MT8-1, which has a "generally regarded as safe (GRAS)" status, as a host for the easy expression of the OPH gene provides a new biocatalyst useful for simultaneous detoxification and detection of organophosphorus pesticides.     

Expression and characterization of recombinant Rhizopus oryzae lipase for enzymatic biodiesel production

The Rhizopus oryzae lipase containing prosequence was expressed in Pichia pastoris. Recombinant lipase subunit showed a molecular mass of 32 kDa. The maximum activity of recombinant lipase obtained from Mut(s) recombinant was 90 IU/ml. The enzyme was stable in broad ranges of temperatures and pH, with the optimal temperature at 35 °C and pH 7.0. The crude recombinant R. oryzae lipase can be directly used for the transesterification of plant oils at high-water content of 60-100% (w/w) based on oil weight. The addition of 80% water to the transesterification systems resulted in the yield of methyl ester of 95%, 94% and 92% after 72 h using soybean oil, Jatropha curcas seed raw oil and Pistacia chinensis seed raw oil as raw material, respectively. These results indicate that the recombinant lipase is an effective biocatalyst for enzymatic biodiesel production.     

Immobilization of glucosyltransferase from Erwinia sp. using two different techniques

Two different techniques of glucosyltransferase immobilization were studied for the conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose. The optimum conditions for immobilization of Erwinia sp. glucosyltransferase onto Celite 545, determined using response surface methodology, was pH 4.0 and 170 U of glucosyltransferase/g of Celite 545. Using this conditions more than 60% conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose can be obtained. The immobilization of glucosyltransferase was also studied by its entrapment in microcapsules of low-methoxyl pectin and fat (butter and oleic acid). The non-lyophilized microcapsules of pectin, containing the enzyme and fat, showed higher glucosyltransferase activity, compared with lyophilized microcapsules containing enzyme plus fat, and also lyophilized microcapsules containing enzyme without fat addition. The non-lyophilized microcapsules of pectin containing the glucosyltransferase and fat, converted 30% of sucrose into isomaltulose in the first batch. However the conversion decreased to 5% at the 10th batch, indicating inactivation of the enzyme.     

Quantitative evaluation of the enhanced green fluorescent protein displayed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fluorometric and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses

The number of foreign protein molecules expressed on the cell surface of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by cell surface engineering was quantitatively evaluated using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The emission from EGFP on the cell surface was affected by changes in pH. The amount of EGFP on the cell surface, displayed as alpha-agglutinin-fusion protein under control of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) promoter, was determined at the optimum pH of 7.0. The fluorometric analysis and the image analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed a similar number of molecules displayed on the cell surface, demonstrating that 10(4)-10(5) molecules of alpha-agglutinin-fused molecules per cell were expressed. Furthermore, the amount of fluorescent protein expressed on cells harboring a multicopy plasmid was three to four times higher than that on cells harboring the gene integrated into the genome.     

Dextran molecular size and degree of branching as a function of sucrose concentration,pH, and temperature of reaction of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM dextransucrase

Reactions of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM dextransucrase with increasing concentrations of sucrose, from 0.1 to 4.0 M, gave a decreasing amount of high-molecular weight dextran (HMWD) (>10(6) Da) with a concomitant increase in low-molecular weight dextran (LMWD) (<10(5) Da). At 0.1 M sucrose, pH 5.5, and 28 degrees C, 99.8% of the dextran had a MW>10(6) Da and at 4.0 M sucrose, 69.9% had a MW<10(5) Da and 30.1% had a MW>10(6) Da, giving a bimodal distribution. The degree of branching increased from 5% for 0.1 M sucrose to 16.6% for 4.0 M sucrose. The temperature had very little effect on the size of the dextran, which was >10(6) Da, but it had a significant effect on the degree of branching, which was 4.8% at 4 degrees C and increased to 14.7% at 45 degrees C. Both the molecular weight (MW) and the degree of branching were not significantly affected by different pH values between 4.5 and 6.0.     

Comparison of temperature and moisture requirements for sporulation of Aspergillus flavus sclerotia on natural and artificial substrates

A key step in the infection cycle by Aspergillus flavus in maize is sporulation of sclerotia present in soil or in crop debris. However, little information is available on this critical and important phase. This study included experiments on artificial (Czapek Dox Agar (CZ)) and natural (maize stalks) substrates under different conditions of temperature (T; from 5 to 45 °C) and water activity (a(w); from 0.50 to 0.99) levels to quantify sporulation from sclerotia. The mean numbers of spores were higher on defined nutritional medium in vitro on CZ agar than on maize stalks (4.5×10(6) spores/sclerotium versus 4.2×10(4) spores/sclerotium) with production initiated after 6 and 24h, respectively. Surprisingly, the optimal temperature was found at 30-35 °C for CZ agar (9.23×10(6) spores/sclerotium) and to be 20-25 °C for maize stalks (6.26×10(4) spores/sclerotium). Water stress imposition only reduced sporulation at ≤0.90 a(w.) With more available water no significant differences were found between 0.90 and 0.99 a(w). This type of data is critical in the development of a mechanistic model to predict the infection cycle of A. flavus in maize in relation to meteorological conditions.     

Nevskia aquatilis sp. nov. and Nevskia persephonica sp. nov., isolated from a mineral water aquifer and the emended description of the genus Nevskia

Four isolates, with an optimum temperature of about 30°C and an optimum pH for growth of 6.0-6.5, were recovered from a borehole head of a mineral water aquifer in Portugal and from the stored bottles produced on site. Strains F2-63(T) and F2-178 were yellow-pigmented and formed non-motile rod-shaped cells. Strains G6M-30(T) and G6-54 were whitish-pigmented, translucent and form rod-shaped cells with a polar flagellum. The four strains were strictly aerobic, oxidase and catalase positive. The major fatty acids of strains F2-63(T) and F2-178 were C(18:1)ω7c and C(16:0), and the major fatty acids of strains G6M-30(T) and G6-54 were C(18:1)ω7c and C(16:1)ω7c. Ubiquinone 8 was the major respiratory quinone. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological and biochemical characteristics two new species of the genus Nevskia are described; Nevskia aquatilis represented by strains F2-63(T) (=LMG 26345 =CECT 7897) and F2-178 (=LMG 26344 =CECT 7898) and Nevskia persephonica represented by strains G6M-30(T) (=DSM 24987 =CECT 7975) and G6-54 (=DSM 25048 =CECT 7976).