Shifting the biotransformation pathways of L-phenylalanine into benzaldehyde by Trametes suaveolens CBS 334.85 using HP20 resin

AIMS: The biotransformation of L-phenylalanine into benzaldehyde (bitter almond aroma) was studied in the strain Trametes suaveolens CBS 334.85. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cultures of this fungus were carried out in the absence or in the presence of HP20 resin, a highly selective adsorbent for aromatic compounds. For the identification of the main catabolic pathways of L-phenylalanine, a control medium (without L-phenylalanine) was supplemented with each of the aromatic compounds, previously detected in the culture broth, as precursors. Trametes suaveolens CBS 334.85 was shown to biosynthesize benzyl and p-hydroxybenzyl derivatives, particularly benzaldehyde, and large amounts of 3-phenyl-1-propanol, benzyl and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohols as the products of both cinnamate and phenylpyruvate pathways. CONCLUSION: The addition of HP20 resin, made it possible to direct the catabolism of L- phenylalanine to benzaldehyde, the desired target compound, and to trap it before its transformation into benzyl alcohol. In these conditions, benzaldehyde production was increased 21-fold, from 33 to 710 mg l-1 corresponding to a molar yield of 31%. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results showed the good potential of Trametes suaveolens as a biotechnological agent to synthesize natural benzaldehyde which is one of the most important aromatic aldehydes used in the flavour industry.     

Factors Influencing Bacterial Production in a Shallow Estuarine System

The bacterioplankton of the marine and brackish water zones of the complex system Ria de Aveiro was characterized as profiles of bacterial abundance and biomass productivity. During the warm season, total bacteria ranged from 0.2 to 8.5 x 109 cells L-1 and active bacteria number from 0.1 to 3.1 x 109 cells L-1. Total and active bacterial numbers were, on average, three times higher in brackish than in marine water. Bacterial productivity on different dates and different tides in the marine zone varied from 0.05 to 4.5 mg C L-1 h-1. Here the average productivity (1.1 mg C L-1 h-1) was 3.5 times less than in brackish water (average 3.8 mg C L-1 h-1; range 0.7-14.2 mg C L-1 h-1). Specific productivity varied from 0.05 to 2.61 fg C cell-1 h-1, a range that was similar throughout the ecosystem. However, specific productivity per active cell was 19% higher in brackish water. Bacterial production variation was best explained by the number of active bacteria, which, in turn, was highly associated with total bacterial number, temperature, and particulate organic carbon. In the marine zone, bacterial production was also influenced by depth and salinity. In the brackish zone, the set of independent variables explained a smaller percentage of bacterial production variation than in marine zone, suggesting greater importance of other variables. In the marine zone, and mainly near low tide, productivity was significantly higher (average 3.3 times) at the surface (down to 0.5 m) than in the deeper layers of the water column. This stratification of bacterial productivity was linked to the increased specific productivity per active cell, as no modification in the proportion of active cells in the population could be detected. The vertical profile of bacterial production in the deeper zone of this estuarine ecosystem, in which no clear salinity or thermal stratification occurs throughout the tidal cycle, seemed to reflect a biochemical stratification generated by increased phytoplankton exudation and/or by photochemical transformation of semilabile or recalcitrant organic compounds. Shallower water masses tend to blur this surface effect. The relative importance of photochemical transformation in the pattern of estuarine bacterial production will therefore tend to vary with the bathymetry of the system.     

Metabolic engineering of type II methanotroph,Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b,for production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from methane via a malonyl-CoA reductase-dependent pathway

We engineered a type II methanotroph, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, for 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) production by reconstructing malonyl-CoA pathway through heterologous expression of Chloroflexus aurantiacus malonyl-CoA reductase (MCR), a bifunctional enzyme. Two strategies were designed and implemented to increase the malonyl-CoA pool and thus, increase in 3HP production. First, we engineered the supply of malonyl-CoA precursors by overexpressing endogenous acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), substantially enhancing the production of 3HP. Overexpression of biotin protein ligase (BPL) and malic enzyme (NADP⁺-ME) led to a ∼22.7% and ∼34.5% increase, respectively, in 3HP titer in ACC-overexpressing cells. Also, the acetyl-CoA carboxylation bypass route was reconstructed to improve 3HP productivity. Co-expression of methylmalonyl-CoA carboxyltransferase (MMC) of Propionibacterium freudenreichii and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), which provides the MMC precursor, further improved the 3HP titer. The highest 3HP production of 49 mg/L in the OB3b-MCRMP strain overexpressing MCR, MMC and PEPC resulted in a 2.4-fold improvement of titer compared with that in the only MCR-overexpressing strain. Finally, we could obtain 60.59 mg/L of 3HP in 42 h using the OB3b-MCRMP strain through bioreactor operation, with a 6.36-fold increase of volumetric productivity compared than that in the flask cultures. This work demonstrates metabolic engineering of type II methanotrophs, opening the door for using type II methanotrophs as cell factories for biochemical production along with mitigation of greenhouse gases.     

一株富含碳水化合物微藻的筛选和分子鉴定

微藻生长快,单位体积碳水化合物产率高,是发酵生产生物乙醇的理想原料。本研究采用通气培养系统,对初筛得到的10株微藻进行分批培养,以单位体积碳水化合物产率为主要指标,筛选富含碳水化合物的优良藻种。研究结果显示：10株微藻的生物质干重、可溶性糖含量、碳水化合物含量和碳水化合物产率变化范围分别在0.922~1.965 g/L、4.42%~19.23%、26.8%~60.9% 和36.17~149.67 mg·L-1·d-1之间,其中藻株GZ-57的碳水化合物产率和可溶糖含量最高,分别为149.67 mg·L-1·d-1 和19.23%,表明藻株GZ-57是一株具有培养潜力的高产碳水化合物微藻。进一步对其进行形态特征及基于18S rDNA、ITS序列的分子系统学分析,发现藻株GZ-57与栅藻科（Scenedesmaceae）链带藻属（Desmodesmus）的极大链带藻（Desmodesmus maximus）亲缘关系较近,因此将其鉴定为极大链带藻（Desmodesmus maximus）。     

Enhancement of ascomycin production in Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus by combining resin HP20 addition and metabolic profiling analysis

Combinatorial approach of adsorbent resin HP20 addition and metabolic profiling analysis were carried out to enhance ascomycin production. Under the optimal condition of 5 % m/v HP20 added at 24 h, ascomycin production was increased to 380 from 300 mg/L. To further rationally guide the improvement of ascomycin production, metabolic profiling analysis was employed to investigate the intracellular metabolite changes of Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticus FS35 in response to HP20 addition. A correlation between the metabolic profiles and ascomycin accumulation was revealed by partial least-squares to latent structures discriminant analysis, and 11 key metabolites that most contributed to metabolism differences and ascomycin biosynthesis were identified. Based on the analysis of metabolite changes together with their pathways, the potential key factors associated with ascomycin overproduction were determined. Finally, rationally designed fermentation strategies based on HP20 addition were performed as follows: 2 % v/v n-hexadecane was added at 24 h; 1.0 g/L valine was supplemented at 48 h; 1.0 g/L lysine was added at 72 h. The ascomycin production was ultimately improved to 460 mg/L, a 53.3 % enhancement compared with that obtained in initial condition. These results demonstrated that the combination of HP20 addition and metabolic profiling analysis could be successfully applied to the rational guidance of production improvement of ascomycin, as well as other clinically important compounds.     

Simultaneous heat shock and in situ adsorption enhance plumbagin production in Plumbago indica root cultures

Plumbago indica L. is an important source of plumbagin, a commercially valuable bioactive compound. However, the uses of plumbagin are limited due to its low supply as well as low yields and slow growth of the plant sources. This study evaluated the use of a simple, easy, and low‐cost approach using heat shock (HS) and ultrasound (US), and an in situ adsorption using a nonpolar copolymer adsorbent styrene‐divynilbenzene resin (Diaion^® HP‐20) to enhance plumbagin production in Plumbago indica root cultures. Treatment with HS (60°C) for 10 min significantly increased the production of plumbagin (5.51 mg/g DW) by up to five‐fold, compared to the level in untreated root cultures (1.14 mg/g DW). In contrast, treatments with US alone or with HS treatment produced no satisfactory increase of plumbagin production. However, combined treatment of a 20‐day‐old root culture with HS (60°C, for 10 min) in the presence of Diaion^® HP‐20 (10 g/L) markedly increased the production up to 20.28 mg/g DW of plumbagin that was almost 14‐fold higher, compared to the level in an untreated root culture. Such an increase would be sufficient for commercial applications of this method to produce plumbagin.     

Influence of cell immobilization on the production of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol by the white-rot fungi Bjerkandera adusta, Ischnoderma benzoinum and Dichomitus squalens

Three white-rot basidiomycetes, Bjerkandera adusta, Ischnoderma benzoinum and Dichomitus squalens, were cultivated on a liquid medium supplemented with l-phenylalanine, a precursor for benzaldehyde (bitter almond aroma) and benzyl alcohol. Remarkable amounts of benzaldehyde (587 mg l⁻¹) were found in cultures of B. adusta. Immobilization of this fungus on polyurethane foam cubes allowed an 8.3-fold increase of the production of benzaldehyde and a 15-fold increase of the productivity as compared with non-immobilized cells. Aryl-alcohol oxidase activity was only detected in B. adusta. This activity was also significantly enhanced in immobilized cells, suggesting that it plays an important role in benzaldehyde biosynthesis. Conversely, consistent amounts of benzyl alcohol (340 mg l⁻¹ for B. adusta and I. benzoinum and 100 mg l⁻¹ for D. squalens) were produced by the three fungi when immobilized. Laccase activity was found only in the strains I. benzoinum and D. squalens. This activity was markedly enhanced in free cells cultures. Immobilization of the fungi did not promote benzyl alcohol production by comparison with free cell cultures (500 mg l⁻¹). Received: 10 December 1996 / Received revision: 17 February 1997 / Accepted: 22 February 1997     

Effect of environmental conditions on the expression levels of a recombinant 11S amaranth globulin in Escherichia coli

The expression in Escherichia coli strain Rosetta of the recombinant acidic subunit from the 11S amaranth seed storage protein (protein ACM3) was studied at flask and at bioreactor levels. This subunit was modified by inserting four Val-Tyr antihypertensive peptides in tandem into its third variable region and also with the tripeptide Ile-Pro-Pro in the Cterminal region. Flasks experiments allowed us to define the best conditions for the preparation and expression and accumulation of the protein ACM3, including the certainty of its presence within the cells especially as an insoluble fraction. The effects of cultivation temperature, aeration rate and agitation speed on the production of the protein ACM3 was tested in a 5-L batch bioreactor. Applying response surface methodology (RSM) we found that the aeration rate was the most significant factor affecting in a positively way the production yields and productivity of the recombinant protein. Temperature had effect only in conjunction to aeration. The highest recombinant acidic subunit concentration (747 mg L-1) and the highest productivity (186 mg L-1 h-1) were attained in 4 h of cultivation when the factors evaluated were controlled at its central values: 0.1 vvm, 300 rpm, and 30.5° C. Results from this study indicate that RSM is an effective technique to maximize the production of this recombinant protein.     

Effects of conditioned medium factors and passage number on Sf9 cell physiology and productivity

The effects of conditioned medium (CM) and passage number on Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cell physiology and productivity have been studied. Low passage (LP) cells at passages 20-45 were compared to high passage (HP) cells at passages >100. Addition of 20% CM or 10 kDa filtrated CM to LP cells promoted growth. LP cells passed a switch in growth kinetics, characterized by a shorter lag phase and a higher growth rate, after 30-40 passages. After this point, CM lost its stimulating effect on proliferation. HP cells displayed a still shorter lag phase and reached the maximum cell density 24-48 earlier than LP cells. HP cells also exhibited higher specific productivity of recombinant protein compared to LP cells, when infected with baculovirus during the initial 48 h of culture. The specific productivity of LP cells was decreased by 30-50% by addition of 20% CM or 10 kDa filtrated CM, whereas addition of CM to cells having passed the switch in growth kinetics had no negative effect on productivity. Cell cycle analysis showed that a large proportion of HP cells, >60%, was transiently arrested in G2/M after inoculation. In LP cultures this proportion was lower, 40-45%, and addition of CM decreased the arrested population further. This correlated to the cell size, the HP cells being the largest: HP cells > LP > LP + 20% CM > LP + 20% 10 kDa filtrated CM. Since the degree of synchronization in G2/M correlated to the productivity, yeastolate limitation was used to achieve 85% G2/M synchronized cells. In this culture the specific productivity was maintained during a prolonged production phase and a 69% higher volumetric yield was obtained. The results suggest that a decreasing degree of synchronization during the course of culture partly explains the cell-density-dependent drop in productivity in Sf9 cells.     

Fermentative lactic acid production with a metabolically engineered yeast immobilized in photo-crosslinkable resins

In this study, the immobilization technique involving photo-crosslinkable resin gels was used for lactic acid production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae OC-2T T165R, a metabolically engineered yeast that produces optically pure l(+)-lactic acid, was immobilized in hydrophilic photo-crosslinked resin gels as a biocatalyst. Three resin gels, TEP 1, TEP 2 and TEP 3, were examined and all of them showed high performance as to lactic acid production. Resin gel TEP 1, which exhibited the highest productivity among the resin gels was used for 15 consecutive batch fermentations without decreases in productivity and mechanical deformation, indicating that it was a suitable carrier for long-term lactic acid fermentation. Moreover, the use of the immobilization technique can improve the productivity of the metabolically engineered yeast in the fermentation with or without extraction, showing promise for using the immobilized engineered yeast for lactic acid production.     

大孔树脂对三孢布拉霉菌产番茄红素的吸附性能研究

为利用大孔吸附树脂分离纯化三孢布拉霉菌发酵液番茄红素,考察了4种大孔树脂(HP20, HP2MG, SP825, SP207)对番茄红素的吸附 解吸特性,筛选出最佳树脂。结果表明,HP20大孔树脂对番茄红素具有较好的吸附 解吸性能,且吸附迅速,能在1h内达到吸附平衡。用含55%和60%异丙醇的丙酮不连续梯度洗脱,回收率可达89.55%,重结晶后可获得纯度95%以上的番茄红素,经红外、质谱、核磁等鉴定为天然型番茄红素。该方法简单,可操作性强,极具工业应用价值。     

Improved enzymatic two-phase biotransformation for (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol: Effect of dipropylene glycol and modes of pH control

An octanol/aqueous two-phase process for the enzymatic production of (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) has been investigated further with regard to optimal pH control and replacement of 2.5?M MOPS buffer by a low cost solute. The specific rate of PAC production in the 2.5?M MOPS system controlled at pH?7 was 0.60?mg?U^?1?h^?1 (reaction completed at 34?h), a 1.6 times improvement over the same 2.5?M MOPS system without pH control (0.39?mg?U^?1?h^?1 at 49?h). An improved stability of PDC was evident at the end of biotransformation for the pH-controlled system with 84% residual carboligase activity, while 23% of enzyme activity remained in the absence of pH control. Lowering the MOPS concentration to 20?mM resulted in a lower benzaldehyde concentration in the aqueous phase with a major increase in the formation of by-product acetoin and three times decreased PAC production (0.21?mg?U^?1?h^?1). Biotransformation with 20?mM MOPS and 2.5?M DPG as inexpensive replacement of high MOPS concentrations provided similar aqueous phase benzaldehyde concentrations compared to 2.5?M MOPS and resulted in a comparable PAC concentration (92.1?g?L^?1 in the total reaction volume in 47?h) with modest formation of acetoin.     

Fermentative lactic acid production with a metabolically engineered yeast immobilized in photo-crosslinkable resins

In this study, the immobilization technique involving photo-crosslinkable resin gels was used for lactic acid production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae OC-2T T165R, a metabolically engineered yeast that produces optically pure l(+)-lactic acid, was immobilized in hydrophilic photo-crosslinked resin gels as a biocatalyst. Three resin gels, TEP 1, TEP 2 and TEP 3, were examined and all of them showed high performance as to lactic acid production. Resin gel TEP 1, which exhibited the highest productivity among the resin gels was used for 15 consecutive batch fermentations without decreases in productivity and mechanical deformation, indicating that it was a suitable carrier for long-term lactic acid fermentation. Moreover, the use of the immobilization technique can improve the productivity of the metabolically engineered yeast in the fermentation with or without extraction, showing promise for using the immobilized engineered yeast for lactic acid production.     

Polymer characterization and optimization of conditions for the enhanced bioproduction of benzaldehyde by Pichia pastoris in a two‐ ;phase partitioning bioreactor

Benzaldehyde, with its apricot and almond‐like aroma, is the second most abundantly used molecule in the flavor industry, and is most commonly produced via chemical routes, such as by the oxidation of toluene. Biologically produced benzaldehyde, whether by extraction of plant material or via microbial biotransformation, commands a substantial price advantage, and greater consumer acceptance. Methylotrophic yeast, such as Pichia pastoris, contain the enzyme alcohol oxidase (AOX), which, in the presence of alcohols other than methanol, are able to yield aldehydes as dead‐end products, for example, benzaldehyde from benzyl alcohol. In this work, we have determined that benzaldehyde, and not benzyl alcohol, is inhibitory to the transformation reaction by P. pastoris, prompting the development of a selection strategy for identifying sequestering polymers for use in a partitioning bioreactor that was based on the ratio of partition coefficients (PCs) for the two target molecules. Additionally, we have now confirmed for the first time, that the mechanism of solute uptake by amorphous polymers is via absorption, not adsorption. Finally, we have adopted a common strategy used for the production of heterologous proteins by P. pastoris, namely the use of a mixed methanol/glycerol feed for inducing the required AOX enzyme, while reducing the time required for high density biomass generation. All of these components were combined in a final experiment in which 10% of the polymer Kraton D1102K, whose PC ratio of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol was 14.9, was used to detoxify the biotransformation in a 5 L partitioning bioreactor, resulting in a 3.4‐fold increase in benzaldehyde produced (14.4 g vs. 4.2 g) relative to single phase operation, at more than double the volumetric productivity (97 mg L^?1 h^?1 vs. 41 mg L^?1 h^?1). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1098–1105. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Optimization and stability of glucoamylase production by recombinant strains of Aspergillus niger in chemostat culture

When grown on a medium containing 5 g maltodextrin L-1, Aspergillus niger transformant N402[pAB6-10]B1, which has an additional 20 copies of the glucoamylase (glaA) gene, produced 320 +/- 8 mg (mean +/- S.E.) glucoamylase (GAM) L-1 in batch culture and 373 +/- 9 mg GAM L-1 in maltodextrin-limited chemostat culture at a dilution rate of 0.13 h-1. These values correspond to specific production rates (qp) of 5.6 and 16.0 mg GAM [g biomass]-1 h-1, respectively. In maltodextrin-limited chemostat cultures grown at dilution rates from 0.06 to 0.14 h-1, GAM was produced by B1 in a growth-correlated manner, demonstrating that a continuous flow culture system operated at a high dilution rate is an efficient way of producing this enzyme. In chemostat cultures grown at high dilution rates, GAM production in chemostat cultures was repressed when the limiting nutrient was fructose or xylose, but derepressed when the limiting nutrient was glucose (qp, 12.0), potassium (6.2), ammonium (4.1), phosphate (2.0), magnesium (1.5) or sulphate (0.9). For chemostat cultures grown at a dilution rate of 0.13 h-1, the addition of 5 g mycopeptone L-1 to a glucose-mineral salts medium resulted in a 64% increase in GAM concentration (from 303 +/- 12 to 496 +/- 10 mg GAM L-1) and a 37% increase in specific production rate (from 12.0 +/- 0.4 to 16.4 +/- 1.6 mg GAM [g biomass]-1 h-1). However, although recombinant protein production was stable for at least 948 h (191 generations) when A. niger B1 was grown in chemostat culture on glucose-mineral salts medium, it was stable for less than 136 h (27 generations) on medium containing mycopeptone. The predominant morphological mutants occurring after prolonged chemostat culture were shown to have selective advantage in the chemostat over the parental strain. Compared to their parental strains, two morphological mutants had similar GAM production levels, while a third had a reduced production level. Growth tests and molecular analysis revealed that the number of glaA gene copies in this latter strain (B1-M) was reduced, which could explain its reduced GAM production. Shake-flask cultures carried out with the various morphological mutants revealed that in batch culture all three strains produced considerably less GAM than their parent strains and even less than N402. We show that physiological changes in these morphological mutants contribute to this decreased level of GAM production.     

Simultaneous saccharification and L-(+)-lactic acid fermentation of protease-treated wheat bran using mixed culture of lactobacilli

Protease-treated wheat bran (20% w/v) of particle size less than 300 μm containing 65% (w/w) starch was used for the simultaneous saccharification and l-(+)-lactic acid fermentation by the mixed cultures of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Maximum lactate yield after various process optimizations was 123 gl⁻¹ with a productivity of 2.3 gl⁻¹ h⁻¹ corresponding to a conversion of 0.95 g lactic acid per gram starch after 54 h at 37°C. By using protease-treated wheat bran around tenfold decrease in supplementation of the costly medium component, like yeast extract, was achieved together with a considerable increase in the production level.     

Chemical role of α-tocopherol in salt stress mitigation by improvement in morpho-physiological attributes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Elevated concentrations of salts in soil and water represent abiotic stresses. It considerably restricts plant productivity. However, the use of alpha-tocopherol (α-toc) as foliar can overcome this problem. It can improve crop productivity grown under salinity stress. Limited literature is documented regarding its optimum foliar application on sunflower. That’s why the need for the time is to optimize α-toc foliar application rates for sunflower cultivated in salt-affected soil. A pot experiment was performed to select a better α-toc foliar application for mitigation of salt stress in different sunflower cultivars FH (572 and 621). There were 2 levels of salts, i.e., control (no salt stress) and sodium chloride (120 mM) and four α-toc foliar application (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg L^?1). Results showed that foliar application of 100 mg/L- α-toc triggered the remarkable increase in fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, shoot, and root lengths under salinity stress in FH-572 and FH-621 over 0 mg/L- α-toc. Foliar application of 200 mg/L- α-toc was most effective for improvement in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids compared to 0 mg/L- α-toc. Furthermore, an increase in A was noted in FH-572 (17%) and FH-621 (22%) with α-toc (300 mg L^?1) application under saline condition. In conclusion, the 100 and 200 mg/L- α-toc are the best application rates for the improvement in sunflower FH-572 and FH-621 growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange attributes. Further investigations are needed to select a better foliar application rate between 100 and 200 mg/L- α-toc at the field level under the different agro-climatic zone and soil types.     

Effect of environmental factors on production of lichenin, a chromosomally encoded bacteriocin-like compound produced by Bacillus licheniformis 26L-10/3RA

Effect of environmental factors on production of lichenin, a bacteriocin-like compound produced by Bacillus licheniformis 26L-10/3RA isolated from buffalo rumen was studied. Lichenin represents the first anaerobiosis-specific expression of broad-spectrum antibacterial compound effective only under anaerobic conditions. Production of lichenin by B. licheniformis 26L-10/3RA was found to be very high at 39 degrees C in L-10 medium supplemented with 0.5% glucose and 20% (w/v) inert thermocol beads. Lichenin production was highest at pH 6.8 after 72-96h of incubation. Our study also indicated that Lichenin is not a plasmid-linked characteristic and is encoded by chromosomal DNA. Results obtained can be used in large-scale production of Lichenin for potential application in manipulating rumen function intended for improving productivity of the ruminants.     

Influence of bcl-2 on antibody productivity in high cell density perfusion cultures of hybridoma

Apoptosis is an active, genetically determined death mechanism which can be induced by a wide range of physiological factors and by mild stress. It is the predominant form of cell death during the production of antibodies from murine hybridoma cell lines. A number of studies have now demonstrated that the suppression of this death pathway, by means of over-expression of survival genes such as bcl-2, results in improved cellular robustness and antibody productivity during batch culture. In the present study, the influence of bcl-2 expression on hybridoma productivity in two high density perfusion bioreactor systems was investigated. In the first system, a fixed-bed reactor, the DNA content in the spent medium was 25% higher in the control (TB/C3-pEF) culture than that found in the bcl-2 transfected (TB/C3-bcl2) cultures at all perfusion rates. This is indicative of a higher level of cell death in the control cell line. The average antibody concentration for the TB/C3-pEF cell line was 14.9 mg L-1 at perfusion rates of 2.6 and 5.2 d-1. However, for the TB/C3-bcl2 cell line it was 33 mg L-1 at dilution rates of 2 and 4 d-1. A substantial increase in antibody concentration was also found in the Integra Tecnomouse hollow fibre reactor. The antibody titre in the TB/C3-bcl2 cassette was nearly 100% higher than that in the TB/C3-pEF cassette during the cultivation period which lasted 6 weeks. Clearly, these results demonstrate the positive impact of bcl-2 over-expression on production of antibody in hybridoma perfusion cultures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stimulation of ajmalicine production and excretion from Catharanthus roseus: effects of adsorption in situ,elicitors and alginate immobilization

Summary More efficient bioreactors for the production and recovery of secondary metabolites from plant cell cultures are needed. Three factors that have the potential to increase productivity are adsorption in situ, elicitors, and cell immobilization. The effects of these factors on ajmalicine production from Catharanthus roseus are reported in this paper. Elicitation using autoclaved cultures of the mold, Phytophthora cactorum, stimulates a 60% increase in ajmalicine production. The response time to elicitor addition was under 11 h. Adsorption of ajmalicine from the extracellular medium with the neutral resin, Amberlite XAD-7, greatly enhanced the release of ajmalicine (less than 10% extracellular to 40%) with a 40% increase in total productivity. Immobilization in Caalginate beads resulted in a significant increase in the accumulation of ajmalicine in the medium. The effects of elicitation, adsorption and immobilization were synergistic. For a 23-day culture period the amount of ajmalicine in the medium for cells subjected to all three treatments was 90 mg/L compared to 2 mg/L for suspension cultures cultured under otherwise identical conditions. These results suggest that immobilized cell bioreactors may be feasible for continuous production of products normally stored intracellularly in vacuoles in plant cells.