Proteolytic enzymes of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

1. Of four proteolytic enzymes isolated from autolysing Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, one is inactivated at about 45 degrees C, whereas the others are stable at 50 degrees C. pH optima for activity are from 3.0 to 8.0 but maximum stability is between pH6.0 and 6.5. All appear to be glycoproteins, the carbohydrate moiety containing glucose and mannose residues. 2. Lysed protoplasts of the same yeast release four proteolytic enzymes each of which have two pH optima at pH3.0 and 7.0 approximately. Compared with the enzymes from autolysed yeast, resistance to high temperature is much less, and they are not glycoprotein in nature. 3. The same yeast grown with N-acetyltyrosine ethyl ester as nitrogen source secretes into the medium four proteases believed to be glycoprotein in nature. Generally they resemble the enzymes from lysed protoplasts more than those from autolysing yeast.     

Effects of caffeine,cyclic 3′, 5′ adenosine monophosphate and cyclic 3′, 5′ guanosine monophosphate in the development of the mycelial form of Sporothrix schenckii

The kinetics of the development of the mycelial form of Sporothrix schenckii from yeast cells and conidia in a minimal basal medium with glucose at pH 4.0 and 25 °C were established. Germ tube formation was used as the index of germination for both yeast cells and conidia. Yeast cells were first observed to develop germ tubes after 3 h of incubation, reaching 92±5%, after 12 h of incubation. Germ tubes were first detected in conidia after 9 h of incubation, and 12 h after inoculation 92±6% of the conidia had germ tubes. After 24 h of incubation, fully developed, sporulating mycelia were observed from both yeast cells and conidia. A delay in germ tube formation from yeast cells was observed when But₂cAMP(10 mM) and But₂cGMP (10 mM) were added to the medium. Also the addition of caffeine, a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor, inhibited the yeast to mycelial transition. Conidial germination into the mycelial form was also inhibited when cAMP, But₂cAMP and caffeine were added to the medium. These results suggest the possible involvement of cyclic nucleotides in the control of dimorphism in S. schenckii.     

Protoplast formation and regeneration of dehydrodivanillin-degrading strains of Fusobacterium varium and Enterococcus faecium.

Two strains of rumen anaerobes isolated from dehydrodivanillin-degrading cultures were identified as Fusobacterium varium and Enterococcus faecium. These organisms degraded dehydrodivanillin synergistically to 5-carboxymethylvanillin and vanillic acid. Specific conditions for protoplast formation and cell wall regeneration for both bacteria were determined, under strictly anaerobic conditions, to be as follows. The cell wall of each bacterium in yeast extract medium was loosened by adding penicillin G during early log-phase growth. The cell wall of F. varium was lysed by lysozyme (1 mg/ml) in glycerol (0.2 M)-phosphate buffer (0.05 M; pH 7.0). The addition of NaCl (0.08 M) with lysozyme was necessary for lysis of E. faecium in this solution. Almost all cells were converted to protoplasts after 2 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. Regeneration of both protoplasts was 20 to 30% on an agar-containing yeast extract medium.     

Protoplast formation and regeneration of dehydrodivanillin-degrading strains of Fusobacterium varium and Enterococcus faecium

Two strains of rumen anaerobes isolated from dehydrodivanillin-degrading cultures were identified as Fusobacterium varium and Enterococcus faecium. These organisms degraded dehydrodivanillin synergistically to 5-carboxymethylvanillin and vanillic acid. Specific conditions for protoplast formation and cell wall regeneration for both bacteria were determined, under strictly anaerobic conditions, to be as follows. The cell wall of each bacterium in yeast extract medium was loosened by adding penicillin G during early log-phase growth. The cell wall of F. varium was lysed by lysozyme (1 mg/ml) in glycerol (0.2 M)-phosphate buffer (0.05 M; pH 7.0). The addition of NaCl (0.08 M) with lysozyme was necessary for lysis of E. faecium in this solution. Almost all cells were converted to protoplasts after 2 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. Regeneration of both protoplasts was 20 to 30% on an agar-containing yeast extract medium.     

Pathogenesis of barley leaves by Helminthosporium teres II: Carbohydrate involvement

Conidia of Helminthosporium teres had negligible difference in germination and germ tube length between the decolorized and non-decolorized host leaves. Appressoria, penetration and colonization were less on decolorized host leaves, but addition of exogenous nutrients stimulated these stages. Leached conidia had reduced germination on decolorized host leaves, while appressoria formation, penetration and colonization were negligible. The addition of nutrients in the external environment, however, enabled some of the leached conidia to penetrate and colonize. Stimulation by the exogenous nutrients in decreasing order were: sucrose > glucose > yeast extract > leaf leachates. Optimum levels for various nutrients tested were 2% (w/v) each of sucrose and glucose, and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract. Higher concentrations inhibited these stages of infection. Leached conidia and decolorized leaves had smaller amounts of carbohydrates than non-leached conidia and non-decolorized leaves, respectively. Depletion of host carbohydrates reduced appressoria formation, penetration and colonization and loss of carbohydrates from spores reduced germination.     

Acid phosphatases of Sporothrix schenckii

Sporothrix schenckii cells were grown on a medium containing yeast extract, neopeptone and glucose at 20 degrees C to obtain a mixture of mycelia and conidia, and at 35 degrees C to obtain yeast-like cells. The organism was maintained in the mycelial form, and its transformation to yeast at the higher temperature proceeded via conidia and 'intermediate cells' that then gave rise to yeast by a blastic mechanism. Cell-free extracts were analysed by PAGE at pH 8.0 and acid phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.2) were revealed by a sensitive detection reagent at pH 5.0. Mycelial, conidial and yeast extracts all had some acid phosphatase activity (M-I, C-I and Y-I) at the origin, although the proportion was highest for the yeast extracts. All of the bands that penetrated the gels had different electrophoretic mobilities. Mycelial and conidial extracts each had one other isoenzyme (M-II and C-II), while the yeast extracts had a total of five electrophoretically distinct acid phosphatases. Isoenzyme Y-II was further resolved into five closely related bands (Y-IIa to Y-IIe), the relative intensities of which varied with the phosphate nutrition of the yeast cells and the history of the extracts. The acid phosphatase isoenzymes were inhibited to various extents by sodium fluoride, L(+)-tartrate and phosphate, and showed interactions with citrate as opposed to acetate as the background buffer at pH 5.0.     

Pangola grass colonized with Scytalidium thermophilum for production of Agaricus bisporus

This work had the dual objective of selecting a substrate for rapid mycelial growth of Scytalidium thermophilum and then comparing the growth and production of a brown variety of Agaricus bisporus on substrate non-colonized and colonized with S. thermophilum. Mycelial growth of S. thermophilum at 45 degrees C was significantly greater on potato dextrose yeast extract agar (0.58 mm/h) as compared to malt extract glucose agar (0.24 mm/h) and yeast extract glucose agar (0.44 mm/h). On cereal grain, S. thermophilum grew significantly faster on rice (0.31 mm/h) compared to sorghum (0.22 mm/h) and millet (0.18 mm/h). It also grew faster on Pangola grass (0.49 mm/h) compared to corncobs (0.30 mm/h) and sawdust (0.18 mm/h). Colonization of Pangola grass with S. thermophilum was influenced by the addition of calcium salts in the form of gypsum, hydrated lime and ground limestone. For production of A. bisporus, biological efficiency (BE) on pasteurized Pangola grass pre-colonized by S. thermophilum for 4 days at 45 degrees C was more than twice (26.4%) that on grass non-colonized by S. thermophilum (11.0%). The addition of 2% hydrated lime to Pangola grass prior to colonization by S. thermophilum resulted in an additional doubling of BE of mushroom production (48.1%). These results show the possibility of developing a non-composted substrate method for producing A. bisporus without autoclaving the substrate.     

Formation and Germination of Septoria tritici Secondary Conidia as Affected by Environmental Factors

The effects of medium, isolate, temperature, light and pH on the formation and germination of Septoria tritici secondary conidia were tested. Of the six media tested, the malt–yeast extract agar was the best and generated 1.82 × 10⁹ conidia/plate. The ten isolates tested showed different ability of conidia production. Darkness significantly reduced conidial formation and enhanced the transition of intermediates. The conidial germination and germ tube growth was strongly inhibited at 30°C. The suitable pH for conidial budding in malt–yeast broth (MYB) was between 5 and 9. At pH 2, 10 and 11, almost no new conidia were formed. The number of conidia reached 1.27 × 10⁸ conidia/ml after 7 days in MYB, significantly more than that in potato dextrose broth, wheat leaf extract and H₂O.     

Optimized growth kinetics of Pichia pastoris and recombinant Candida rugosa LIP1 production by RSM

A predictive model for Pichia pastoris expression of highly active recombinant Candida rugosa LIP1 was developed by combining the Gompertz function and response surface methodology (RSM) to evaluate the effect of yeast extract concentration, glucose concentration, temperature, and pH on specific responses. Each of the responses (maximum population densities, specific growth rate (mumax), protein concentration, and minimum lag phase duration) was determined using the modified Gompertz function. RSM and 4-factor-5-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) were adopted to evaluate the effects of growth parameters, such as temperature (21.6-38.4 degrees C), glucose concentration (0.3-3.7%), yeast extract (0.16-1.84%), and pH (5.3-8.7) on the responses of P. pastoris growth kinetics.Based on ridge maximum analysis, the optimum population density conditions were: temperature 24.4 degrees C, glucose concentration 2.0%, yeast extract 1.5%, and pH 7.6. The optimum specific growth rate conditions were: temperature 28.9 degrees C, glucose concentration 2.0%, yeast extract 1.1%, and pH 6.9. The optimum protein concentration conditions were: temperature 24.2 degrees C, glucose concentration 1.9%, yeast extract 1.5%, and pH 7.6. Based on ridge minimum analysis, the minimal lag phase conditions were: temperature 32.3 degrees C, glucose concentration 2.1%, yeast extract 1.1%, and pH 5.4. For the predicted value, the maximum population density, specific growth rate, protein concentration, and minimum lag phase duration were 15.7 mg/ml, 3.4 h(-1), 0.78 mg/ml, and 4.2 h, and the actual values were 14.3 +/- 3.5 mg/ml, 3.6 +/- 0.6 h(-1), 0.72 +/- 0.2 mg/ml, and 4.4 +/- 1.6 h, respectively.     

Growth and glucoamylase production by the thermophilic fungusThermomyces lanuginosus in a synthetic medium

Summary The production of glucogenic amylase from the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was studied in shake flasks and laboratory fermentors. As conidia were not able to germinate in media without yeast extract, pregerminated conidia were applied as inoculum. By this procedure it was possible to use different NH _inf4 ^sup+ salts as the sole source of nitrogen for growth and amylase formation in a synthetic medium. In pH-controlled fermentors a fourfold increase in the extracellular glucogenic amylase activity was obtained with (NH₄)H₂PO₄ as the nitrogen source as compared with yeast extract. However, by fractionation of these activities, comparable yields of partially purified glucoamylases were obtained. The glucoamylase preparation from fermentations with either of the nitrogen sources had a temperature optimum at 70° C and showed similar thermal stability. By incubation without substrate at 60° C. 90% of the activity was still present after 5 h. At 70° C, 50% of the activity was retained after 30 min incubation. Offprint requests to: I. Hassum     

Optimization of formation and regeneration of protoplasts from biocontrol agents ofTrichoderma species

The optimal conditions necessary for a large yield and a high frequency of regeneration of protoplasts isolated from the biocontrol agentsTrichoderma koningii andT. harzianum were investigated. Protoplast yields were 1.2×10⁸/ml fromT. koningii and 6×10⁷/ml fromT. harzianum when 20-h mycelial culture was treated with a lytic enzyme solution containing Novozym 234 (15 mg/ml), sucrose (0.6 M) and citrate phosphate buffer (0.02 M), pH 5.6 at 31°C. When the protoplasts were grown in the regeneration medium containing yeast extract (1.5%), 1 I of Mandel's salts, pH 5.6, and glucose (0.8 M), a high frequency of regeneration of the protoplast was obseved: 66% forT. koningii and 45% forT. harzianum. Two patterns of regeneration were observed. First, the hyphae arose directly from the regenerated protoplast mother cell. Second, a chain of bud cells developed from the protoplast and subsequently generating hyphae generally protruded from the terminal bud cells.     

Description of conidia from submerged cultivation of Thermomyces lanuginosus for use as a uniform inoculum.

Conidia produced by submerged cultivation of the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus were superior to conidia from agar plates when used as inoculum, due to a faster and more synchronous germination. With conidia derived from submerged liquid culture at 40-45 degrees C more than 90% germination was achieved at 50 degrees C within 3 h whereas the same percentage germination was only achieved after 5 h incubation of conidia produced on agar plates. The temperature during conidial formation, and conidial age at the time of harvesting, were factors influencing germination of the conidia.     

Involvement of carbohydrates and cytokinins in pathogenicity ofHelminthosporium carbonum

Significant stimulation of the number of appressoria, penetration and colonization by conidia ofHelminthosporium carbonum occurred on decolorized maize leaves when exogenous carbohydrates and leaf leachates were added. Germination and germ tube length, however, did not exhibit appreciable differences on decolorized or non-decolorized maize leaves. Lower germination was recorded by leached conidia on decolorized leaves; while appressoria, penetration and colonization were absent. Addition of exogenous nutrients (sucrose>leaf leachates>yeast extract>glucose) enabled conidia to accomplish appressoria, penetration and colonization. Optimum levels for various nutrients observed were 2% (w/v) sucrose/glucose or 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract. Higher concentrations inhibited the infection stages of the pathogen. Depletion of host carbohydrates from green islands/infection sites adversely affect appressoria formation, penetration and colonization; and the loss of carbohydrates from the spore affects germination. Cytokinin-like activity at the infection site/green islands increased with the period of incubation of the host as compared to the surrounding tissue or tissue under water drops. The culture filtrate extracts ofH. carbonum recorded cytokinin-like activity which increased with growth of the fungus. TLC (thin layer chromatography) of cytokinin-like substances (tissue extract and culture filtrate) revealed major activity was confined to Rf zones 0.6 to 0.8 which co-chromatographed with zeatin and zeatin riboside. These substances increase at infection sites by virtue of which carbohydrates accumulate at these sites ensuring a continuous supply to the growing pathogen.     

Progress in leaf protoplast isolation and culture from virus-free axenic shoot cultures of Vitis vinifera L.

Axenic shoot cultures of virus-free Vitis vinifera L. cv. Soultanina were a highly efficient source for isolation of viable protoplasts. Optimum results were obtained with leaves of 50–100 mg fresh weight, leaf discs of 0.7 cm in diameter, 100 and 15 U ml^-1 Cellulase R-10 and Macerozyme R-10, respectively, and 18 h reaction time in either light or in darkness. Protoplast yield was approx. 25×10⁶ viable protoplasts per g fresh weight and their size ranged from 12 to 44 m. During a 20-day culture period, the maximum survival rate obtained was approx. 40%. A plating density of 10×10⁵ protoplasts per ml resulted in increased survival rates. Various growth regulators and glutamine did not significantly improve survival rates of protoplasts, whereas extract from coconut added to the culture medium caused an increase in the survival rates of protoplasts. Cell elongation at a significant rate and divisions were observed. [¹⁴C]glucose uptake was studied as an index of cell membrane integrity and functioning. Uptake rate of glucose by protoplasts was linear for up to 60 min, fully inhibited by NaN₃, with an optimum pH of 4.8. Protoplasts 24 h old exhibited significantly lower rates of glucose uptake.     

Protoplasts from Aspergillus nidulans.

A very effective lytic enzyme system for massive micro/macro-scale production of protoplasts from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans is described. A striking coincidence was observed between maximal lytic activity towards Aspergillus mycelium and the presece of both chitinase and alpha-(1 leads to 3)-glucanase activities. The release of protoplasts was greatly enhanced by preincubating the mycelium with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Furthermore, protoplast formation was influenced by fungal age, culture conditions, pH of incubation and the osmotic stabilizer used. From 40 mg of fresh mycelium, grown for 14--16 h on 1% glucose in a low phosphate-citrate medium, preincubated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose for 45 min, and then incubated with the lytic enzyme mixture at pH 6.5 in the presence of 0.3--0.4 M (NH4) SO4, 2.5 x 10(8) stable protoplasts were produced within 3 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Comparable results were obtained with 40--50 g of mycelium. At low osmotic stabilizer concentrations a peculiar type of regeneration was observed in the presence of the lytic enzyme system; within 12 h of incubation aberrant hyphal structure emerged from the large vacuolated protoplasts.     

Optimization of a Bifidobacterium longum production process

Bifidobacteria are used as probiotics mainly in the dairy industry as cell suspensions or as freeze-dried additives. So far there have been no reports on a thorough investigation on factors influencing the production process or a statistical approach to the optimization thereof. A 2(8-4) fractional factorial design was used in determining the critical parameters influencing bioreactor cultivations of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707. Glucose, yeast extract and l-cysteine concentrations were found critical for the cultivation of this strain. Glucose and yeast extract concentrations were further studied together with temperature in a three factor central composite design. The optimized cultivation conditions were temperature 40 degrees C, yeast extract concentration 35 gl(-1) and glucose concentration 20 gl(-1). Freeze-drying of frozen cell suspensions of B. longum was studied first in controlled temperatures and thereafter with temperature programming experiments. The results were statistically evaluated. A temperature program with a 2 h temperature gradient from -10 to 0 degrees C, a 10 h temperature gradient from 0 to +10 degrees C and a 12 h temperature hold at +10 degrees C was found best for the freeze-drying process. Temperature programming reduced drying times by over 50% and improved the product activity by over 160%.     

Production of synthetic palm wine

Summary Palm wine was produced in the labora-tory by fermenting a solution containing 12.5% fructose, 5.0% glucose, 12.5% sucrose, 2.5% raffi-nose and 0.01% ammonium phosphate with washed palm wine dregs at 28°C for 24 h. A sec-ond sample was produced from the same solution but with added 0.1% yeast extract. The two prod-ucts were compared with natural palm wine. Syn-thetic palm wine without yeast extract was prefer-red by an organoleptic assessment panel (with 105 points) to natural palm wine (101 points) and syn-thetic palm wine with yeast extract (33 points). It is thus possible to produce palm wine without re-course to the palm tree.     

The formation of protoplasts from Beauveria bassiana

Summary Beauveria bassiana protoplast formation from blastospores, conidia and mycelia was studied. The method of protoplast formation involves preincubation of the fungal cells with dithiothreitol and subsequent treatment with an enzyme mixture consisting of: cellulase, chitinase, -glucuronidase and lysozyme. Using this procedure protoplasts were formed from blastospores and mycelia but not conidia. Formation of protoplasts from 24 hour old mycelia was 100% efficient using the above conditions. A number of ionic and osmotic protoplast stabilizing agents were tested. Ammonium sulfate was shown to be the stabilizer of choice. Protoplasts were stable when stored at 4° C with a loss of only 17% in 6 days. We suggest that this procedure of protoplast production will allow a gentler method for the extraction and isolation of intact high molecular weight DNA from B. bassiana.     

Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids production by and okara-utilizing potential of thraustochytrids

Nine thraustochytrid strains isolated from subtropical mangroves were screened for their eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production potential in a glucose yeast extract medium. Their ability to utilize okara (soymilk residue) for growth and EPA and DHA production was also evaluated. EPA yield was low in most strains, while DHA level was high on glucose yeast extract medium, producing 28.1–41.1% of total fatty acids, for all strains, with the exception of Ulkenia sp. KF13. The DHA yield of Schizochytrium mangrovei strains ranged from 747.7 to 2778.9 mg/l after 52 h of fermentation at 25°C. All strains utilized okara as a substrate for growth, but DHA yield was lower when compared with fermentation in a glucose yeast extract medium. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 27, 199–202. Received 11 December 2000/ Accepted in revised form 29 June 2001