Fungal mycelia as a novel source of eicosapentaenoic acid. Activation of enzyme(s) involved in eicosapentaenoic acid production at low temperature

Several filamentous fungi belonging to the genus Mortierella were found to produce large amounts of 5,8,11,14,17-cis-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in their mycelia only when grown at low temperature (12 degrees C), i.e., not at physiological growth temperature (20-28 degrees C). The results of experiments with cell-free extracts suggested that this unique phenomenon is due to activation of enzyme(s) involved in EPA formation at low temperature. Mortierella alpina 1S-4 produced 0.3 g/l of EPA (27 mg/g dry mycelia). This high productivity show the practical significance of these novel EPA producers.     

Production of Dihomo-gamma-Linolenic Acid by a Delta5-Desaturase-Defective Mutant of Mortierella alpina 1S-4

A mutant, which has low Delta5-desaturase activity, of an arachidonic acid-producing fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, was shown to be a novel potent producer of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHGA). On submerged culture under optimal conditions for 6 days at 28 degrees C in a 10-liter fermentor, the mutant produced 3.2 g of DHGA per liter of culture broth (123 mg/g of dry mycelia), which accounted for 23.4% of the total mycelial fatty acids. Mycelial arachidonic acid amounted to only 19 mg/g of dry mycelia (0.5 g/liter of culture broth), which accounted for 3.7% of the total mycelial fatty acids. The other major mycelial fatty acids were palmitic acid (11.0%), stearic acid (12.8%), oleic acid (22.7%), linoleic acid (8.9%), gamma-linolenic acid (6.5%), and lignoceric acid (7.8%). More than 97 mol% of the DHGA produced was found in the triglyceride fraction irrespective of the growth temperature employed (12 to 28 degrees C).     

Construction of a low-temperature protein expression system using a cold-adapted bacterium, Shewanella sp. strain Ac10, as the host

A recombinant protein expression system working at low temperatures is expected to be useful for the production of thermolabile proteins. We constructed a low-temperature expression system using an Antarctic cold-adapted bacterium, Shewanella sp. strain Ac10, as the host. We evaluated the promoters for proteins abundantly produced at 4 degrees C in this bacterium to express foreign proteins. We used 27 promoters and a broad-host-range vector, pJRD215, to produce beta-lactamase in Shewanella sp. strain Ac10. The maximum yield was obtained when the promoter for putative alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) was used and the recombinant cells were grown to late stationary phase. The yield was 91 mg/liter of culture at 4 degrees C and 139 mg/liter of culture at 18 degrees C. We used this system to produce putative peptidases, PepF, LAP, and PepQ, and a putative glucosidase, BglA, from a psychrophilic bacterium, Desulfotalea psychrophila DSM12343. We obtained 48, 7.1, 28, and 5.4 mg/liter of culture of these proteins, respectively, in a soluble fraction. The amounts of PepF and PepQ produced by this system were greater than those produced by the Escherichia coli T7 promoter system.     

Efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis during anaerobic degradation of cattle waste

The rate of [15N]ammonia (15NH3) uptake or incorporation into bacterial cells was studied, using stirred, 3-liter benchtop digestors fed on a semicontinuous basis with cattle waste. The fermentations were carried out at 40 and 60 degrees C and at four different loading rates (3, 6, 9, and 12 g of volatile solids per liter of reactor volume per day). The rate of NH3-N incorporation for the period 1 to 5 h after feeding at the four different loading rates was 0.49, 0.83, 1.05, and 1.08 mg/liter per h in the mesophilic digestor and 0.68, 1.07, 1.17, and 1.21 mg/liter per h in the thermophilic digestor. Values were lower 7 to 21 h after feeding in both digestors and were related to the rate of fermentation or CH4 production. In the mesophilic digestors, the rate of bacterial cell production ranged from 3.97 to 8.72 mg of dry cells per liter per h, 1 to 5 h after feeding at the different loading rates. Corresponding values for the thermophilic digestors ranged from 5.46 to 9.77 mg of dry cells per liter per h. Cell yield values ranged from 2.3 to 3.1 mg of dry cells per mol of CH4 produced in the mesophilic and thermophilic digestors at the two lower loading rates. The values were higher (2.8 to 3.4) in the mesophilic digestors at the two higher loading rates because of the accumulation of propionate and a consequent reduction in CH4 production. Low cell yields such as those measured in this study are characteristic of low-specific-growth rates under energy-limited conditions.     

Efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis during anaerobic degradation of cattle waste.

The rate of [15N]ammonia (15NH3) uptake or incorporation into bacterial cells was studied, using stirred, 3-liter benchtop digestors fed on a semicontinuous basis with cattle waste. The fermentations were carried out at 40 and 60 degrees C and at four different loading rates (3, 6, 9, and 12 g of volatile solids per liter of reactor volume per day). The rate of NH3-N incorporation for the period 1 to 5 h after feeding at the four different loading rates was 0.49, 0.83, 1.05, and 1.08 mg/liter per h in the mesophilic digestor and 0.68, 1.07, 1.17, and 1.21 mg/liter per h in the thermophilic digestor. Values were lower 7 to 21 h after feeding in both digestors and were related to the rate of fermentation or CH4 production. In the mesophilic digestors, the rate of bacterial cell production ranged from 3.97 to 8.72 mg of dry cells per liter per h, 1 to 5 h after feeding at the different loading rates. Corresponding values for the thermophilic digestors ranged from 5.46 to 9.77 mg of dry cells per liter per h. Cell yield values ranged from 2.3 to 3.1 mg of dry cells per mol of CH4 produced in the mesophilic and thermophilic digestors at the two lower loading rates. The values were higher (2.8 to 3.4) in the mesophilic digestors at the two higher loading rates because of the accumulation of propionate and a consequent reduction in CH4 production. Low cell yields such as those measured in this study are characteristic of low-specific-growth rates under energy-limited conditions.     

New process for T-2 toxin production.

Strains of Fusarium produced high levels of T-2 toxin when cultured on certain media absorbed into vermiculite. Modified Gregory medium was nutritionally complex (2% soya meal, 0.5% corn steep liquor, 10% glucose) and, when inoculated with the appropriate fungal strain, yielded maximum T-2 toxin within 24 days of incubation at 19 degrees C. On Vogel synthetic medium N (H. J. Vogel, Microb. Genet, Bull. 13:42-43, 1956) supplemented with 5% glucose, optimal toxin levels were synthesized after incubation for 12 to 14 days at 15 degrees C. Fusarium tricinctum T-340 produced 714 and 353 mg/liter on modified Gregory medium and Vogel synthetic medium N plus 5% glucose, respectively. Improved analytical procedures were developed and involved aqueous methanol extraction, purification by liquid-liquid partitions, and gas-chromatographic quantitation.     

Production of the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid by the fungus Pythium ultimum

Several strains of species of the fungal genus Pythium, and of Phytophthora cinnamomi, were screened for content of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The aim of the investigation was to establish alternative sources of these PUFAs, which are of importance in human nutrition. As a relatively prolific producer of EPA and AA, P. ultimum strain #144 was selected for a study of conditions that enhance their production over baseline levels that are present in the fungus when cultured for 6 d at 25 degrees C with rotary shaking (120 r.p.m.) in Vogel's medium containing sucrose as the carbon substrate. The levels of AA and EPA under these conditions were 133 +/- 27 and 138 +/- 25 mg l-1 (n = 5), respectively. Maximal production of these fatty acids was accomplished by the following sequence of steps. (1) Incubate the cultures for 6 d after inoculation under the conditions described above. Then (2) add glucose to the cultures (2%, w/v, final concentration) and incubate for a further 6 d at 13 degrees C. Under these conditions, the AA content of the mycelium was 205% higher than baseline levels and the EPA content was 198% higher. (3) Allow the cultures to remain stationary for 10 d which increases the AA content to 253% above baseline levels and the EPA content by 236%. Using such a procedure, 322 mg AA l-1 and 383 mg EPA 1-1 were produced.     

Production of a Novel Extracellular Polysaccharide by Lactobacillus sake 0-1 and Characterization of the Polysaccharide

A novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Lactobacillus sake 0-1 (CBS 532.92) has been isolated and characterized. When the strain was grown on glucose, the produced EPS contained glucose and rhamnose in a molar ratio of 3:2 and the average molecular mass distribution (M(infm)) was determined at 6 x 10(sup6) Da. At a concentration of 1%, the 0-1 EPS had better viscosifying properties than xanthan gum when measured over a range of shear rates from 0 to 300 s(sup-1), while shear-thinning properties were comparable. Rheological data and anion-exchange chromatography suggested the presence of a negatively charged group in the EPS. Physiological parameters for optimal production of EPS were determined in batch fermentation experiments. Maximum EPS production was 1.40 g (middot) liter(sup-1), which was obtained when L. sake 0-1 had been grown anaerobically at 20(deg)C and pH 5.8. When cultured at lower temperatures, the EPS production per gram of biomass increased from 600 mg at 20(deg)C to 700 mg at 10(deg)C but the growth rate in the exponential phase decreased from 0.16 to 0.03 g (middot) liter(sup-1) (middot) h(sup-1). EPS production started in the early growth phase and stopped when the culture reached the stationary phase. Growing the 0-1 strain on different energy sources such as glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, lactose, and sucrose did not alter the composition of the EPS produced.     

Production of Candida utilis protein from peat extracts

Sphagnum peat extracts or hydrolysates have been obtained and used as a culture medium for the production of Candida utilis biomass as single cell proteins. Acid hydrolysis of ground peat (4–60 mesh) in an autoclave operated under a set of conditions for acid strength (0.3-1.5 (v/v) H₂SO₄), holding time (1–4 hr), temperature (100–165°C), and weight ratio of dry peat to solution (3.3–16.7 g dry peat/100 g solution) yielded carbohydrate-rich extracts of different concentrations (1–34g/liter). The best yield (mg total carbohydrate/g dry peat) was obtained for a holding time of I hr and a temperature of 152°C. Low peat concentratio (4.1 g dry peat/100 g solution)resulted in high yield(280mg total carbohydrate/gdry peat) with a corresponding low carbohydrate content in hydrolysate (13 g/liter), while a lower yield with a higher carbohydrate content (34 g/liter)in hydrolysate were found when increasing peat concentration (16.7 g dry peat/100 g solution). Shake-fladk experiments using peat hydrolysates as the culture medium together with NH₄OH (～4.8 g/liter) and K₂HPO₄(5 g/liter) as nitrogen and phosphate supplement, respectively, gave a maximum biomass concentration of 7.5 g/liter after 60 hr at 30°C and 200rpm. Batch cultivation in a fermentor under controlled conditions for aeration (4.2 liter/min), agitation (500rpm), temperature (30°C), and pH (5.0) produced a maximum biomass of 10 g/liter after 20 hr with a specific growth rate of 0.13 hr^?1. For the continuous cultivation, a maximal biomass productivity of 1.24 g/gliter-he was obtained at a dilution rate of 0.125 hr ^?1. Monod's equation's equation has been used for the estimation of the coefficients μ_Max, K_s, and Y. It was found that the yield coefficient Y is not constant during the progress of batch cultivation.     

Effect of incubation temperature on zearalenone production by strains of Fusarium crookwellense.

After 6 weeks incubation on rice 2 strains of Fusarium crookwellense produced more zearalenone (6060-5010 mg/kg dry wt of culture) at ambient temperature (16-29 degrees C) in daylight than at ambient temperature (18-23 degrees C) in darkness or at controlled temperatures of 11 degrees C, 20 degrees C or 25 degrees C in darkness. Yields at 25 degrees C were low. Incubation at 11 degrees C during the second 3 weeks incubation increased yields only when preliminary incubation had been at 25 degrees C. After 6 weeks incubation at controlled temperatures in darkness, 4 strains produced most zearalenone at 20 degrees C (2460-21 360 mg/kg), 1 strain at 11 degrees C (6570 mg/kg). Yields at a temperature oscillating daily from 10-20 degrees C were less than at 15 degrees C. One of the 5 strains produced appreciable amounts of a-zearlaenol (1645 mg/kg at 20 degrees C) and 2 of nivalenol (340 and 499 mg/kg at 20 degrees C).     

Anaerobic xylose fermentation by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying XYL1, XYL2, and XKS1 in mineral medium chemostat cultures

For ethanol production from lignocellulose, the fermentation of xylose is an economic necessity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been metabolically engineered with a xylose-utilizing pathway. However, the high ethanol yield and productivity seen with glucose have not yet been achieved. To quantitatively analyze metabolic fluxes in recombinant S. cerevisiae during metabolism of xylose-glucose mixtures, we constructed a stable xylose-utilizing recombinant strain, TMB 3001. The XYL1 and XYL2 genes from Pichia stipitis, encoding xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), respectively, and the endogenous XKS1 gene, encoding xylulokinase (XK), under control of the PGK1 promoter were integrated into the chromosomal HIS3 locus of S. cerevisiae CEN.PK 113-7A. The strain expressed XR, XDH, and XK activities of 0.4 to 0.5, 2.7 to 3.4, and 1.5 to 1.7 U/mg, respectively, and was stable for more than 40 generations in continuous fermentations. Anaerobic ethanol formation from xylose by recombinant S. cerevisiae was demonstrated for the first time. However, the strain grew on xylose only in the presence of oxygen. Ethanol yields of 0.45 to 0.50 mmol of C/mmol of C (0.35 to 0.38 g/g) and productivities of 9.7 to 13.2 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) (0.24 to 0.30 g h(-1) g [dry weight] of cells(-1)) were obtained from xylose-glucose mixtures in anaerobic chemostat cultures, with a dilution rate of 0.06 h(-1). The anaerobic ethanol yield on xylose was estimated at 0.27 mol of C/(mol of C of xylose) (0.21 g/g), assuming a constant ethanol yield on glucose. The xylose uptake rate increased with increasing xylose concentration in the feed, from 3.3 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) when the xylose-to-glucose ratio in the feed was 1:3 to 6.8 mmol of C h(-1) g (dry weight) of cells(-1) when the feed ratio was 3:1. With a feed content of 15 g of xylose/liter and 5 g of glucose/liter, the xylose flux was 2.2 times lower than the glucose flux, indicating that transport limits the xylose flux.     

Increase of the yields of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids by the microalga Pavlova lutheri following random mutagenesis

The high commercial values of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids have driven a strain-improvement program, aimed at increasing the content of those fatty acids in the microalga Pavlova lutheri (SMBA 60) as parent strain. After a round of mutation using UV-light as mutagenic agent, an isolate strain (tentatively called II#2) was obtained, the EPA and DHA contents of which (in % dry biomass) were 32.8% and 32.9% higher than those of the control, native strain. The final EPA yields, when the cultures were maintained under appropriate conditions, were 17.4 and 23.1 mg. g(-1) dry biomass, for the wild-type and the II#2 strain, respectively, whereas the final DHA yields were 8.0 and 10.6 mg. g(-1) dry biomass, respectively. These results suggest that random mutagenesis can successfully be applied to increase the yield of n-3 fatty acids by microalgae.     

Bacterial conversion of glycerol to beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde

beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) can be oxidized to acrylic acid, an industrially important chemical used in the manufacture of synthetic plastics and other polymers. Of 19 genera and 55 strains tested, 3 Klebsiella and 2 Enterobacter strains produced 3-HPA. The most efficient strain was Klebsiella pneumoniae NRRL B-4011. Under optimum conditions (28 degrees C; 40 g of semicarbazide hydrochloride per liter, 70 g of glycerol per liter; and pH 6.0), 3.1 g of B-4011 cells per liter accumulated 22 g of 3-HPA per liter at a specific rate of 0.83 g/g per h; however, 14.5 g of cells per liter accumulated 46 g of 3-HPA per liter at a specific rate of 0.41 g/g per h.     

Bacterial conversion of glycerol to beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde.

beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) can be oxidized to acrylic acid, an industrially important chemical used in the manufacture of synthetic plastics and other polymers. Of 19 genera and 55 strains tested, 3 Klebsiella and 2 Enterobacter strains produced 3-HPA. The most efficient strain was Klebsiella pneumoniae NRRL B-4011. Under optimum conditions (28 degrees C; 40 g of semicarbazide hydrochloride per liter, 70 g of glycerol per liter; and pH 6.0), 3.1 g of B-4011 cells per liter accumulated 22 g of 3-HPA per liter at a specific rate of 0.83 g/g per h; however, 14.5 g of cells per liter accumulated 46 g of 3-HPA per liter at a specific rate of 0.41 g/g per h.     

Study of conditions of production of roquefortine and other metabolites of Penicillin roqueforti.

Experiments to determine optimum yields of roquefortine, isofumigaclavine A, and PR toxin, metabolites from Penicillum roqueforti Thom, were performed. Four strains, isolated from blue cheese, and five liquid media were evaluated, although not all permutations were studied. Sucrose (15%)-yeast extract (2%) was the medium chosen for time-course studies at 25 and 15 degrees C using one favorable strain. At 25 degrees C, maximum estimated yields of roquefortine were about 100 mg/liter in the mycelium by 16 days, and no subsequent degradation of this alkaloid was observed. On the other hand, production of PR toxin in the medium peaked at 770 mg/liter at 21 days. At 15 degrees C, yields of roquefortine and PR toxin after 49 days were 60 to 70% of the maximum yields obtained at 25 degrees C. However, about three times more isofumigaclavine A (up to 11 mg/liter) was formed in the mycelium at 15 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. All four strains of P. roqueforti procedure both roquefortine and PR toxin on the sucrose-yeast extract medium at 25 degrees C; isofumigaclavine A was detected in all but one strain grown on this medium.     

Effect of ethanol and low-temperature culture on expression of soybean lipoxygenase L-1 in Escherichia coli.

We have constructed a full-length cDNA that encodes soybean seed lipoxygenase L-1 and have expressed it in Escherichia coli. This gene was inserted into a pT7-7 expression vector, containing the T7 RNA polymerase promoter. E. coli, strain BL21 (DE3), which carries the T7 promoter in its genome, was transfected with the plasmid. Expression of this gene when the cells were cultured at 37 degrees C yielded polypeptide that was recognized by anti-L-1 antibody, but had very little lipoxygenase activity. Yields of active enzyme were markedly increased when cells were cultured at 15-20 degrees C. When ethanol, which has been reported to be an excellent elicitor of heat-shock proteins in E. coli, was also present at a level of 3% the yield was further increased by 40%. Under optimum conditions 22-30 mg of soluble active enzyme was obtained per liter of culture.     

Characterization of an Agrobacterium tumefaciens D-psicose 3-epimerase that converts D-fructose to D-psicose

The noncharacterized gene previously proposed as the D-tagatose 3-epimerase gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed enzyme was purified by three-step chromatography with a final specific activity of 8.89 U/mg. The molecular mass of the purified protein was estimated to be 132 kDa of four identical subunits. Mn2+ significantly increased the epimerization rate from D-fructose to D-psicose. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at 50 degrees C and pH 8.0 with Mn2+. The turnover number (k(cat)) and catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/Km) of the enzyme for D-psicose were markedly higher than those for d-tagatose, suggesting that the enzyme is not D-tagatose 3-epimerase but D-psicose 3-epimerase. The equilibrium ratio between D-psicose and D-fructose was 32:68 at 30 degrees C. D-Psicose was produced at 230 g/liter from 700-g/liter D-fructose at 50 degrees C after 100 min, corresponding to a conversion yield of 32.9%.     

Production of Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid by a Δ5-Desaturase-Defective Mutant of Mortierella alpina 1S-4

A mutant, which has low Δ5-desaturase activity, of an arachidonic acid-producing fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, was shown to be a novel potent producer of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHGA). On submerged culture under optimal conditions for 6 days at 28°C in a 10-liter fermentor, the mutant produced 3.2 g of DHGA per liter of culture broth (123 mg/g of dry mycelia), which accounted for 23.4% of the total mycelial fatty acids. Mycelial arachidonic acid amounted to only 19 mg/g of dry mycelia (0.5 g/liter of culture broth), which accounted for 3.7% of the total mycelial fatty acids. The other major mycelial fatty acids were palmitic acid (11.0%), stearic acid (12.8%), oleic acid (22.7%), linoleic acid (8.9%), γ-linolenic acid (6.5%), and lignoceric acid (7.8%). More than 97 mol% of the DHGA produced was found in the triglyceride fraction irrespective of the growth temperature employed (12 to 28°C).     

Incorporation of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids by a yeast (FO726A)

An eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)- and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-incorporating yeast, FO726A, was putatively identified as Candida guilliermondii on the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Culture conditions for FO726A were investigated with respect to cell mass productivity, cellular accumulation of total lipid, triglyceride (TG), EPA and DHA. When grown at 20 degrees C for 24 h in an optimal medium containing 1 g scrap fish oil, the yeast yielded 820 mg dry cells which consisted of 40.7% lipid, 40.2% protein and 14.1% carbohydrate. The lipid (334mg) consisted of 300 mg TG (36.6% of dry cells), 23.2 mg EPA (2.8%) and 54.8 mg DHA (6.7%), and the recovery rates of EPA and DHA from the fish oil were 27.1 and 43.6%, respectively. The positional distributions of fatty acids in the TG from the yeast were then investigated and compared with those in the TG from the fish oil. The EPA and DHA in the fish oil were concentrated more in the sn-1,3 positions (8.8 and 13.7%, respectively) than in the sn-2 position (3.7 and 10.8%, respectively). In the case of the TG from the yeast, EPA was present to a greater extent in the sn-1,3 positions than in the sn-2 position. In contrast, DHA was preferentially present in the sn-2 position, approximately twice that in the sn-1,3 positions.     

Physiological characterization of Dunaliella sp. (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) from Yucatan, Mexico

Physiological responses of Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella viridis, isolated from solar saltworks on the Yucatan Peninsula, were studied. Optimal growth temperature for D. salina was 22 degrees C (3.06 x 10(6) cells mL(-1)) and 26 degrees C for D. viridis (4.04 x 10(6)cells mL(-1)). Total carotenoid content in D. salina increased with temperature to a maximum of 35.14 pg cell(-1) at 38 degrees C. Dunaliella salina alpha-carotene and beta-carotene content was 0.083+/-0.003 and 0.598+/-0.020 mg 100g dry wt(-1) respectively, whereas lower values were found in D. viridis cultured under same experimental conditions (0.018+/-0.002 and 0.136+/-0.012 mg 100g dry wt(-1) respectively). The highest specific growth rate in D. salina was obtained at 10% NaCl (0.28 d(-1)), while its cell volume increased from 524 to 2066.93 microm(3) when cultured from 10% to 35% NaCl. Maximum photosynthetic rates were attained when increasing from optimal growing temperature to 30 degrees C for D. viridis (108 n mol O(2)microg chl alpha h(-1)) and D. salina (139 n mol O(2)microg chl alpha h(-1)). Photosynthetic responses to temperature variations indicated physiological adjustments in both species, with higher acclimation in D. salina. Evaluation of physiological attributes of these species will be used for to carry out mass cultivation.