A new method for the quantification of chitin and chitosan in edible mushrooms

Along with β-glucans, chitin is the dominant component of the fungal cell wall. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, has found quite a number of biomedical and biotechnological applications recently. Mushroom chitin could be an important source for chitosan production. A direct determination of chitin and chitosan in mushrooms is of expedient interest. In this paper, a new method for the quantification of chitin and chitosan is described. This method is based on the specific reaction between polyiodide anions and chitosan and on measuring the optical density of the insoluble polyiodide–chitosan complex. After deacetylation, chitin can also be quantified. The specificity of the reaction is used to quantify the polymers in the presence of complex matrices. With this new spot assay, the chitin content of mycelia and fruiting bodies from several basidiomycetes and an ascomycete were analysed. The presented method could also be used for the determination in other samples as well. The chitin content of the analysed species varies between 0.4 and 9.8 g chitin per 100 g of dry mass. Chitosan could not be detected in our mushroom samples, indicating that the glucosamine units are mostly acetylated.     

Influence of alkali-freezing treatment on the solid state structure of chitin

Chitin was soaked in frozen sodium hydroxide for further modification. The solid state structural changes of the resulting chitin powders were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy measurements. During the alkali-freezing process, the crystal space parameters of chitin changed, and the order of the hydrogen bonds of chitin was modified. The study explains how the treatment is beneficial for further modification of chitin. The crystallinity of chitin was assessed according to XRD results. It decreased by half after the alkali-freezing treatment for the first 3 days, and then a few changes happened on the following days while the crystallinity of chitin was kept in the scale of 13.5-18%. That means that the alkali-freezing treatment of chitin for several days is suitable and sufficient.     

中华绒蟹幼体消化道甲壳质消化细菌的研究

1　引　　言随着中华绒螯蟹 (Eriocheirsinensis)人工育苗规模的扩大 ,生产实践中有关小型甲壳类活体饵料投喂问题受到生产者和一些学者的重视[1,3 ,4] ,本研究分析中华绒螯蟹幼体消化道内甲壳质消化细菌 ,试图从该方面探讨中华绒螯蟹幼体与甲壳类活体饵料动物之间的关系 .有关水生动物消化道内甲壳质消化细菌 ,曾在鱼胃中有发现 .中华绒螯蟹消化道内微生物的研究未见有报道 ,我们对中华绒螯蟹 氵蚤Ⅰ大眼幼体消化道内甲壳质消化细菌进行了分离筛选 ,以探讨其消化机理 ,并为人工育苗生产中合理选择时机投喂卤虫 (Artemiasalina)、枝角类等…     

Cloning and characterization of a chitin synthase cDNA from the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Characterization of the enzymes involved in the chitin biosynthetic pathway in mosquitoes is critical due to the importance of chitin in the formation of the peritrophic matrix [PM] and its potential impact on vector competence. Chitin is the homopolymer of the amino sugar N-acetyl-D glucosamine [GlcNAc]. The final step of incorporation of GlcNAc into the chitin polymer is catalyzed by the enzyme chitin synthase [CS]. CS is a membrane bound enzyme, but the mechanism of its action in the biosynthesis of the PM is not understood. We have isolated and sequenced a CS-encoding cDNA clone from the mosquito Aedes aegypti, compared its sequence with CS from other organisms and studied its RNA expression. The cDNA is 3.5 kb in length with an open reading frame of 2.6 kb that encodes a protein of 865 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 99.5 kDa. The putative translation product shares 90% similarity to two CS proteins from Caenorhabditis elegans and 50% similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the catalytic domain of CS enzymes. Data suggest that CS is a single copy gene. RT-PCR analysis shows CS message in whole non-blood-fed females, whole blood-fed females, non-blood-fed midguts and in midguts dissected at different time points post-blood-feeding. In situ hybridization studies of midgut samples revealed that CS mRNA increases following a bloodmeal and is localized to the periphery of the epithelial cells facing the midgut lumen.     

Purification of an active, oligomeric chitin synthase complex from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm

Chitin formation depends on the activity of a family II glycosyltransferase known as chitin synthase, whose biochemical and structural properties are largely unknown. Previously, we have demonstrated that the chitin portion of the peritrophic matrix in the midgut of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is produced by chitin synthase 2 (CHS-2), one of two isoenzymes encoded by the Chs-1 and Chs-2 genes (also named Chs-A and Chs-B), and that CHS-2 is located at the apical tips of the brush border microvilli. Here we report the purification of the chitin synthase from the Manduca midgut as monitored by its activity and immuno-reactivity with antibodies to the chitin synthase. After gel permeation chromatography, the final step of the developed purification protocol, the active enzyme eluted in a fraction corresponding to a molecular mass between 440 and 670 kDa. Native PAGE revealed a single, immuno-reactive band of about 520 kDa, thrice the molecular mass of the chitin synthase monomer. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting indicated finally that an active, oligomeric complex of the chitin synthase was purified. In summary, the chitin synthase from the midgut of Manduca may prove to be a good model for investigating the enzymes' mode of action.     

中华绒螯蟹幼体消化道甲壳质消化细菌的研究

The foregut,mid gut and hind gut of Eriocheir sinensis from the first Zoea to Megalopa were dissected under asepsis condition. Bacteria were separated by plate culture after liquid medium culture. Achitin digestive bacterium was separated from the first Zoea foregut. The chitin digestive bacteria weren't founded in the same experiment from the second Zoea to Megalopa. The chitin digestive bacteria showed roundness, protuberance, glassy humid, margin regular, milk yellow, aerotolerant anaerobe,and growing intently surrounding the chitin on the plate culture medium. The chitin could promote the growth rate of some digestive bacteria in larval gut of the crab.     

Preparation of biodegradable chitin/gelatin membranes with GlcNAc for tissue engineering applications

Chitin is a natural biopolymer have been used for several biomedical applications due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. By using the calcium solvent system, chitin regenerated hydrogel (RG) was prepared by using -chitin. And also, the swelling hydrogel (SG) was prepared by using β-chitin with water. Then, both RG and SG were mixed with gelatin and N-acetyl-d-(+)-glucosamine (GlcNAc) at 120 °C for 2 h. The chitin/gelatin membranes with GlcNAc were also prepared by using RG and SG with GlcNAc. The prepared chitin/gelatin membranes with or without GlcNAc were characterized by mechanical, swelling, enzymatic degradation, thermal and growth of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell studies. The stress and elongation of chitin/gelatin membrane with GlcNAc prepared from RG was showed higher than the chitin/gelatin membranes without GlcNAc. But, the chitin/gelatin membranes prepared from SG with GlcNAc was showed higher stress and elongation than the chitin/gelatin membranes without GlcNAc. It is due to the crosslinking effect of GlcNAc. The chitin/gelatin membranes prepared from SG showed higher swelling than the chitin/gelatin membranes prepared from RG. In contrast, the chitin/gelatin membranes prepared from RG showed higher degradation than the chitin/gelatin membranes prepared from SG. And also, these chitin/gelatin membranes are showing good growth of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell. So these novel chitin/gelatin membranes are useful for tissue engineering applications.     

Kinetic models and process parameters for ultrasound-assisted extraction of water-soluble components and polysaccharides from a medicinal fungus

This study was on the kinetics and process parameters for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of water-soluble components and polysaccharides (PS) from the dry mycelium of a medicinal fungus, Cordyceps sinensis Cs-HK1. Four process variables (factors) were evaluated at different levels, ultrasound intensity (2.44–44.1 W/cm²), temperature (40–70 °C), solid particle size (156.5–750 μm), and solid-to-liquid ratio (1/30–1/70 g/mL). The experimental data of yields versus time in most cases were fitted closely to two empirical kinetic models for solid–liquid extraction, parabolic diffusion equation (y = y_o + y₁t^1/2) and power law (y = βtⁿ) with high correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.95–0.99 for total extract yield, and 0.90–0.96 for PS yield. The PS yield was increased more significantly than the total extract yield with the ultrasound intensity. Reducing the particle size and increasing the extraction temperature led to a higher yield and extraction rate; increasing the solid-to-liquid ratio (or decreasing the liquid volume) increased the PS yield and extraction rate but had little influence on the total extract. Significant correlations were found between extraction rate (dy/dt) and ultrasound power density (P/V), and between extract yield (y) and energy density (Pt/V). The kinetic and process parameters are useful for rational design and efficient operation of UAE processes.     

Optimization of extraction process by response surface methodology and preliminary structural analysis of polysaccharides from defatted peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cakes

In this work, response surface methodology was used to determine optimum conditions for extraction of polysaccharides from defatted peanut cake. A central composite design including independent variables, such as extraction temperature (x₁), extraction time (x₂), and ethanol concentration (x₃) was used. Selected response which evaluates the extraction process was polysaccharide yield, and the second-order model obtained for polysaccharide yield revealed coefficient of determination of 97.81%. The independent variable with the largest effect on response was ethanol concentration (x₃). The optimum extraction conditions were found to be extraction temperature 48.7 °C, extraction time 1.52 h, and ethanol concentration of 61.9% (v/v), respectively. Under these conditions, the extraction efficiency of polysaccharide can increase to 25.89%. The results of structural analysis showed that the main composition of defatted peanut cake polysaccharide was α-galactose.     

番茄红素提取工艺的优化

通过研究预处理方法、有机溶剂及混合溶剂、温度、时间和固液比等因素对分离番茄红素的影响,探索最优化工艺,为工业化高效提取提供依据.实验结果表明:优化温度55℃,温浴番茄果皮浆状物2.5 h后,经离心、乙醇洗涤,再按照固液比为1:4(g/mL),用V(石油醚):V(丙酮)为1:2的混合溶剂在封口容器中,于50℃水浴中萃取番茄红素25 min,期间不断轻微摇晃以确保萃取充分.用此法提取番茄红素成本低、效率高、易于自动化,具有广阔的工业化应用前景.     

An easy,inexpensive, and sensitive method for the quantification of chitin in insect peritrophic membrane by image processing

ABSTRACT

Chitin, poly (β-(1→4)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine), is an important biopolymer for insects that is utilized as a major component of peritrophic membrane. The chitin content in peritrophic membrane is of expedient interest from a pest control perspective, although it is hard to quantify chitin. In this study, we establish a facile method for the quantification of chitin in peritrophic membrane by image processing. In this method, chitin was indirectly quantified using chitosan–I₃^? complex, which exhibited a specific red-purple color. A calibration curve using a chitosan solution showed good linearity in a concentration range of 0.05–0.5 μg/μL. We quantified the amount of chitin in peritrophic membrane of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae using this method. Throughout the study, only common inexpensive regents and easily attainable apparatuses were employed. This method can be easily applied to the sensitive quantification of the amounts of chitin and chitosan in materials by wide range of researchers.

Abbreviations: LOD: limit of detection; LOQ: limit of quantification; ROI: region of interest; RSD: relative standard deviation.     

Bioconversion of shellfish chitin wastes for the production of Bacillus subtilis W-118 chitinase

Bacillus subtilis W-118, a strain that produces antifungal materials, excreted a chitinase when cultured in a medium containing shrimp- and crab-shell powder as the major carbon source. This chitinase, purified by sequential chromatography, had a molecular mass of 20,600 Da and a pI of 6. The optimum pH, optimum temperature, and pH stability of the chitinase were pH 6, 37 degrees C, and pH 5-7, respectively. The unique characteristics of the purified chitinase include low molecular mass and acidic pI. In the investigation of the inhibitory activity, it was found that the growth of Fusarium oxysporum was 100% inhibited after incubation for 1 day with sterilized W-118 chitinase solution (5.6 units/mL). The chitinase hydrolyzates of chitin with low degrees of polymerization (DP 1-6) were analyzed by HPLC. Longer reaction times led to the generation of chitin oligosaccharides with lower DP. The chitin oligosaccharides were examined for their inhibitory effects on F. oxysporum and human leukemia cell lines.     

薏苡仁油回流提取工艺参数优化及其动力学研究

探索加热回流法提取薏苡仁油的最佳工艺条件,并对提取过程进行深入探讨。采用单因素法考察溶剂、料液比、药材粒径、提取时间等对薏苡仁油提取率的影响,在此基础上研究其提取动力学。结果表明薏苡仁油较佳的提取条件为采用丙酮作为溶剂,液固比7倍,药材平均粒径0.25 mm,提取3 h。动力学研究表明,粒径较小时(0.25~0.83 mm),薏苡仁油的提取动力学符合二阶溶出动力学模型,即减小药材粒径,可明显增加有效成分的提取率。     

广东石豆兰多糖的提取工艺及其抗氧化活性

为优化广东石豆兰多糖的提取工艺并评价其抗氧化活性。在单因素试验基础上,采用正交设计和方差分析,研究液料比、提取温度、时间及沉淀多糖的乙醇浓度对石豆兰多糖浸提量的影响并优化了工艺条件,确定最优条件为液料比50∶1 (mL/g),提取温度90℃,时间6 h,醇沉浓度为95%,此条件下多糖提取量为79.060 mg/g,RSD为0.132%。抗氧化结果表明广东石豆兰多糖的总还原力为L-抗坏血酸的3.46%;对DPPH、·OH、·O■自由基半清除浓度(EC₅₀)分别为2769.58、594.60、586.94μg/mL,其清除能力分别是L-抗坏血酸的0.68%、47.17%和29.00%;对Fe²⁺的半螯合浓度(EC₅₀)为160.83μg/mL,螯合能力是EDTA的2.12%。本研究结果为石豆兰多糖的提取及进一步开发利用提供参考依据。     

响应面法优化芦荟中抗氧化活性成分的提取工艺

对芦荟中抗氧化活性物质提取工艺及其成分进行研究,通过单因素实验和响应面优化,以提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率为抗氧化的考察指标,得到芦荟中抗氧化活性成分的提取工艺条件:提取温度29 ℃、料液比(g/mL)1:33、提取时间107 s、微波功率500 W,微波辅助水提,此条件下得到的提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率达91.414%.提取物活性成分分析表明:提取物中芦荟甙含量为1.5 mg/g、黄酮为1.13 mg/g、多酚为4.33 mg/g、多糖为126.36 mg/g.     

古尼拟青霉麦角甾醇高产液体培养条件及提取工艺的优化

以古尼拟青霉生物量和麦角甾醇含量为指标,对古尼拟青霉的高产麦角甾醇培养条件及麦角甾醇提取工艺进行了优化。正交试验结果表明,高产麦角甾醇的最适液体培养基为蔗糖4%,麸皮2%,KH2PO4 0.025%和NaCl 0.05%;响应面实验结果表明,麦角甾醇最佳提取工艺为：提取溶剂浓度为80%乙醇,液料比为200:1,提取时间为65min。