Product enhancement and recovery from transformed root cultures of Nicotiana glauca

Transformed roots of Nicotiana glauce synthesize the alkaloids nicotine and anabasine at levels reflecting the parent plants. Media composition, strength, and pH were evaluated with respect to biomass yield and productivity. Full-strength Gamborg's B5 medium proved the best for biomass yield while half-strength, or low-salt, medium enhanced alkaloid accumulation. A detailed investigation of media nitrate levels demonstrated how these may be manipulated to promote growth and intracellular or extracellular alkaloid levels. High nitrate concentrations were found to significantly enhance media alkaloid levels at the end of the growth phase. Media pH is also important, although transformed roots will grow in Gamborg's B5 medium between pH 3 and 9, root biomass is favored by an increase in medium alkalinity, while alkaloid release is encouraged by mildly acidic pH.Transformed roots release a proportion of their secondary metabolites into the growth medium. By continually removing root products, any feedback inhibition on enzymatic reactions is reduced, as are the toxic effects resulting from product accumulation. In this article we describe the use of Amberlite resins (XAD-2 and XAD-4) to enhance alkaloid levels (nicotine and anabasine) of hairy root cultures of Nicotiana glauca by a factor of 10 with no adverse effect on root growth. The performance of the Amberlite columns was subsequently investigated with respect to alkaloid adsorption and desorption, including an evaluation of the effects of pH and loading capacity. The resins also adsorb media constituents which are identified and quantified as part of this work. Resulting nutritional stresses are thought to be partly responsible for enhancing secondary metabolism at the expense of biomass yield. However, the net effects of using Amberlite resins as a means of product removal significantly increases the overall product yield and the extent to which products are released into the growth medium.     

Evaluation of a high surface area fractional precipitation process for the purification of paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis

In this study, we evaluated a high surface area fractional precipitation process to achieve the effective purification of paclitaxel, an anticancer agent, from plant cell cultures. Fractional precipitation experiments were performed by increasing the surface area per working volume (S/V) to 0.428/mm using a variety of ion exchange resins. When the cation exchange resin Amberlite IR 120 H was used, the highest purity (>85%) and yield (>80%) of paclitaxel could be obtained in the shortest fractional precipitation time (within 6 h). Use of an ion exchange resin resulted in the production of smaller paclitaxel precipitates since it inhibited the growth of particles. When Amberlite IR 120 H in particular was used, paclitaxel particles were 2 ?? 3 times smaller (less than 30 ??m radius) than those obtained in the absence of ion exchange resin. Paclitaxel particle size was inversely correlated with the zeta potential of the fractional precipitation solution after the addition of ion exchange resin.     

Influence of Growth and High Mould Concentration on the Pressure Drop in Solid State Fermentations

Aspergillus niger was grown on Amberlite IRA-900 imbibed with a solution containing high concentrations of sucrose (S_i = 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/litre) in static aerated fermentors. Growth was followed in dry biomass, biomass protein, CO₂ production and pressure drop (DP). The DP allowed the monitoring of germination, vegetative growth, limitation and the onset of sporulation for the four concentrations of sucrose studied. Concentrations up to 103 mg dry biomass/g dry support were obtained with S_i = 400 g/litre and these reduced the relative intrinsic permeability to 0·0125. Under this condition the mould occupies 34% of the free space. DP increase was related to CO₂ production.     

Growth of Candida utilis in solid state fermentation

In this work, the growth of the yeast Candida utilis on different solid substrate (wheat bran) and supports (sugarcane bagasse and Amberlite resin) imbibed with a liquid culture medium was studied. Growth was followed by sugars consumption, carbon dioxide production rate (CDPR) and cell count. The results showed the ability of the yeast to grow on the three solid media with fairly good viability and total dextrose consumption in the case of sugarcane bagasse and Amberlite, and partial consumption of wheat bran sugars. After two or three days of culture, a five hundred fold increase in cell population was observed.     

Removal of selected metal ions from aqueous solution using modified corncobs

The objective of this study was to convert corncobs to metal ion adsorbents for wastewater treatment. Ground corncobs were modified with either 0.6 M citric acid (CA) or 1.0 M phosphoric acid (PA) to help improve their natural adsorption capacity. The effect of a combination of wash and modification treatment was tested for corncob adsorption efficiency with five different metal ions (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc) individually or in a mixed solution containing each metal at a 20 mM concentration. Results were compared to those of commercial resins Amberlite IRC-718, Amberlite 200, Duolite GT-73 and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Modified corncobs showed the same adsorption efficiency as Duolite GT-73 for cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc ions and had greater adsorption than CMC for nickel and zinc ions. For mixed metals, the modified corncobs exhibited the same adsorption efficiency as Duolite GT-73 for cadmium and copper ions and the same or higher adsorption than Amberlite IRC-718 for lead ions. Adsorption capacities of modified samples were compared to those of Amberlite IRC-718, Amberlite 200 and Duolite GT-73. Commercial resins generally had higher adsorption capacities than modified corncobs. However, the adsorption capacity of modified corncobs for copper and lead ions was equivalent to Duolite GT-73, but was lower than for Amberlite IRC-718 or Amberlite 200. Depending on the specific metal ion and the presence or absence of other metal ions, chemically modified corncobs were at least equivalent in adsorption properties to all of the commercial cation exchange resins examined in this study.     

Kinetic behavior of immobilized Penicillin acylase

Penicillin acylase has been immobilized to carboxymethylcellulose and to the resin Amberlite XAD7. The reaction kinetics of the enzyme were affected by both intrinsic (molecular) and microenvironmental effects. The Michaelis constant for the enzyme increased after immobilization as a result of an intrinsic effect of the reagent, glutaraldehyde, used for enzyme immobilization. Microenvironmental effects were of two types: diffusional limitation of access of substrate and a reaction-generated pH depression in the support particles. This depression of internal pH was observed in all the preparations and could be reduced by addition of pH buffering salts to reactor. An adsorbed pH-indicating dyc was used to determine the surface and internal pH of particles of XAD7–penicillin acylase under various reaction conditions. The extent of diffusional rate limitation in XAD7–penicillin acylase was related to the penetration depth of protein into the porous support particles. The penetration depth of protein and thus the diffusional limitation of the reaction rate could be controlled by the conditions of preparation of the immobilized enzyme. A staining technique was used to observe the location of the protein.     

Ion exchange resin: A model support for solid state growth fermentation of Aspergillus niger

An ion exchange resin (Amberlite IRA -900) impregnated with a defined media was used as support for the growth of Aspergillus niger. Growth started 8 hours after spore inoculation and attained a maximum biomass concentration at 24 hours. The maximum oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production rates were achieved at 17 hours. Growth had a strong correlation with the pressure drop in the fermenters.     

Studies related to the metabolism of anabolic steroids in the horse: the metabolism of 1-dehydrotestosterone and the use of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry in the identification of steroid conjugates

The metabolism and urinary excretion of 1,2(n)-3H-1-dehydrotestosterone were studied in cross-bred gelded horses. Approximately 40% of the dose was excreted in 24 h. The steroid metabolites were extracted by Amberlite XAD-2 resin and fractionated into glucuronides and sulphoconjugates. Unchanged 1-dehydrotestosterone was the only component identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry after solvolysis of the sulphoconjugates. Positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectra were obtained on the purified 1-dehydrotestosterone sulphoconjugate isolated from horse urine and on the alkali metal salts of three standard steroid conjugates. Spectra obtained in the different modes were of comparable intensity. Positive ion spectra were generally more complex due to the formation of alkali metal adduct ions containing several sodium cations. The most abundant ion in the negative ion spectra corresponded to the loss of the alkali metal cation to give [M]-. Thus, the structure of a conjugate can be defined from the combination of mass spectrometric techniques.     

Limitation of growth and lactic acid production in batch and continuous cultures of Lactobacillus helveticus

Summary Continuous and batch cultures of Lactobacillus helveticus operated under different conditions were studied with respect to the limitation of growth and lactic acid production by increasing undissociated lactic acid and hydrogen ion concentrations, respectively. In a single-stage continuous culture without pH control a final pH of 3.8 and 65 mm undissociated lactic acid was obtained. In two-stage continuous cultures provided with different growth media and run at different pH values, 65–70 mm free acid was obtained in the second stage. Further batch-culture experiments showed growth limitation at 60–70 mm lactic acid. After growth ceased, production of lactate continued until a lactic acid concentration of about 100 mm was reached; obviously an uncoupling of growth and acid production had occurred. Examining the effect of different concentrations of either lactic acid or hydrochloric acid, added to growing batch cultures of L. helveticus, it was shown that the undissociated lactic acid concentration was responsible for growth limitation and lactic acid production in this organism, whereas the pH value had only an indirect effect.     

Numerical simulation for electrochemical cultivation of iron oxidizing bacteria

A numerical simulation model was constructed for electrochemical cultivation of iron oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, based on Monod's dual limitation equation. In this model, two limiting factors were examined, low supply of Fe(II) ion and dissolved oxygen, from empirical viewpoints. The simulation model was constructed taking into consideration the energy balance based on the amount of the electronic flow from the electrode to bacteria via an iron ion, and then to oxygen. The model consisted of a logarithmic bacterial growth phase during the first three days, followed by a plateau and growth limitation thereafter. The predicted results were in agreement with the actual growth under electrochemical cultivation. It was predicted the growth limiting factor would be changed from insufficient supply of Fe(II) ions to that of oxygen by decreasing the value of oxygen transfer constant K, which correlated with the aeration rate. The optimum aeration rate was determined for the ideal electrochemical cultivation. The algorithm described here can be used in any electrochemical cultivation by modifying the parameters for each system.     

Control of Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Pyrimidine-Limited Escherichia coli

The effects of pyrimidine limitation on chromosome replication and the control of ribosomal and transfer ribonucleic acid syntheses were investigated. Chromosome replication was studied by autoradiography of (3)H-thymine pulse-labeled cells. Pyrimidine limitation did not affect the fraction of cells incorporating radioactive thymine during a short pulse, indicating that when growth is limited by the supply of pyrimidine, the time required for chromosome duplication increases in proportion to the time required for cell duplication. Control of ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA syntheses was examined by chromatographing cell extracts on methylated albumin kieselguhr columns. When growth was controlled by carbon-nitrogen limitation, the ratio of tRNA to total RNA remained roughly constant at growth rates above 0.5 doublings per hour. During pyrimidine limitation, however, the control of rRNA synthesis was apparently dissociated from the control of tRNA synthesis: the ratio of tRNA to total RNA increased as the growth rate decreased.     

Contributions of juvenile and adult diet to the lifetime reproductive success and lifespan of a spider

Food availability can vary widely for animals in nature and can have large effects on growth, reproduction and survival. While the consequences of food limitation for animals have been extensively studied, significant questions still remain including how ontogenetic variation in food availability contributes to lifetime reproductive success. We tested the effects of juvenile and adult food limitation on the lifetime reproductive success and lifespan of bridge spiders, Larinioides sclopetarius. Food availability was manipulated (low or high) over the entire juvenile and adult stage in a full‐factorial design and reproductive output and lifespan were measured. Juvenile and adult food limitation both reduced lifetime egg and hatchling production with effect sizes that were not significantly different from each other. Unlike some other arthropods, where juvenile food limitation reduces fecundity by reducing adult body size, body size was not affected by juvenile diet in bridge spiders. Clutch size was also significantly reduced by both juvenile and adult food limitation. The effect of adult diet on clutch size was stronger than that of juvenile diet. Juvenile and adult food limitation both extended total lifespan, and adult food limitation extended adult longevity (i.e. time from maturation to death). However, juvenile food limitation decreased adult longevity, in contrast to what would be predicted by dietary or caloric restriction. Compensatory feeding and growth are widely recognized mechanisms through which animals can ameliorate some of the negative effects of periods of food limitation. Yet our results combined with studies of a range of other species suggest that there may be lasting consequences of juvenile food limitation on lifetime reproductive success that cannot be compensated for by adult feeding in some species.     

Recovery of lactic acid from simultaneous saccharification and fermentation media using anion exchange resins

The physicochemical properties (capacity, kinetics and selectivity) of the ion exchange resins Amberlite IRA900, IRA400, IRA96 and IRA67 were determined to evaluate their comparative suitability for lactic acid recovery. Both the kinetics of lactic acid sorption from aqueous solutions and the equilibrium were assessed using mathematical models, which provided a close interpretation of the experimental results. The best resins (Amberlite IRA96 and IRA67) were employed in further fixed-bed operation using aqueous lactic acid solutions as feed. In this set of experiments, parameters such as capacity, regenerant consumption, percentage of lactic acid recovery and product concentration were measured. Amberlite IRA67, a weak base resin, was selected for lactic acid recovery from SSF (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) broths. Owing to the presence of nutrients and ions other than lactate, a slightly decreased capacity was determined when using SSF media instead aqueous lactic acid solutions, but quantitative lactic acid recoveries at constant capacities were obtained in four sequential load/regeneration cycles.     

Antibacterial Activity of the Purified Peroxidase from Human Parotid Saliva

The peroxidase of human parotid saliva has been purified by concentration, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, and ion exchange chromatography on Amberlite CG-50. The purified product was devoid of amylase activity, lysozyme activity, and immunoglobulin A (IgA). However, it had an inhibitory effect on the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus in complete growth medium and on lysine accumulation by L. acidophilus in a buffer-glucose medium, when combined with thiocyanate ions. The concentrations of peroxidase and thiocyanate ions employed were within the range found in saliva. The fractions which contained IgA did not have an anti-bacterial effect on L. acidophilus under the conditions employed. Parotid saliva also contained low molecular weight inhibitors of peroxidase activity. These studies support the involvement of the salivary peroxidase in an antibacterial system in saliva.     

Improvement of a crystallization process for the purification of vancomycin

We evaluated the effects of the sample feeding and mixing methods on the efficiency of vancomycin crystallization and developed a method to dramatically shorten the time required for crystal formation by increasing the available surface area inside the reactor. The highest purity (97%) and yield (99%) of vancomycin could be obtained with an initial one-step feeding and mixing method, resulting in the formation and growth of spherical fan-shaped crystals. The yield of vancomycin increased when the surface area per working volume (S/V) was increased to 0.428 mm⁻¹ using glass beads (0.5 mm), the cation exchange resin Amberlite 200, or the anion exchange resin Amberlite IRA-400. In particular, most of the vancomycin (>99%) could be recovered after 6 h of crystallization using Amberlite 200, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the time required for crystallization. On the other hand, increasing S/V had almost no effect on vancomycin purity and crystal size.     

Growth and dry-mass partitioning in tomato as affected by phosphorus nutrition and light

We studied the effects of phosphorus (P) and light on the physiological and morphological components of growth of young tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Capita). The importance of dry‐mass partitioning and starch accumulation in explaining the effects of P limitation on growth was examined more closely. Plants were grown at a wide range of exponential P supply rates (between 70 and 320 mg g^?1 d^?1) and one free‐access treatment (1 mm ). Two light levels (70 and 300 µmol m^?2 s^?1) were applied. Growth response coefficients (GRCs) were calculated to address the importance of different growth parameters in explaining relative growth rate (RGR). At both light levels, net assimilation rate (NAR) was more important than leaf area ratio (LAR) in explaining the effects of P on growth as indicated by GRCs. At less severe P limitation, LAR became more important and NAR less important. Dry‐mass partitioning to both roots and leaves played a minor role in determining the effects of P limitation on growth as indicated by low GRCs. The increase in starch at mild P limitation showed that the assimilate supply was not limiting. At severe P limitation, the rate of photosynthesis was decreased, as suggested by the decrease in starch accumulation.     

Sulfate Reduction Relative to Methane Production in High-Rate Anaerobic Digestion: Microbiological Aspects

In the high-rate anaerobic reactors studied (ca. 10 g of chemical oxygen demand [COD] removed per liter of reactor per day), the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were poor competitors of methane-producing bacteria (MPB), scavenging only on the order of 10 to 20% of the total electron flow. The relatively noncompetitive nature of the SRB in this type of reactor is in sharp contrast to the tendency of the SRB to dominate in natural environments and in other types of anaerobic digesters. Various factors such as the feedback inhibition of H₂S on the SRB, iron limitation, the origin of the SRB inocula, biokinetics, and thermodynamics were investigated. The outcome of the SRB-MPB competition under the reactor conditions studied appeared to be particularly determined by two factors. The SRB, as predicted by the V_max-K_m kinetics, competed most effectively at low substrate levels (<0.5 g of COD per liter). The MPB, however, appeared to colonize and adhere much more effectively to the polyurethane carrier matrix present in the reactor, thus compensating for the apparent lower growth rates. Even if the reactor was initially allowed to be predominantly colonized by SRB, the MPB could regain dominance.     

Growth and aroma production byCeratocystis fimbriata in various fermentation media

The ability ofCeratocystis fimbriata to generate aroma notes from different carbon and nitrogen sources was studied in liquid culture. The medium that gave the best sensory results produced a strong banana aroma. Other notes such as pineapple, apple, pear and nuts, with varied, intensities were obtained from other culture media. Biomass and metabolite productions are reported. In solid state fermentation, the mould was, grown on wheat bran, sugar cane gagasse and a synthetic resin (Amberlite IRA 900) imbibed with a nutritive solution. Mould respirometry was used as growth indicator. While growth was regular, the aromas were not strong as those obtained in liquid culture.     

Large-scale HPLC purification of calbindin D9k from porcine intestine

Two efficient procedures for large-scale purification of calbindin D9k from porcine intestine by HPLC were developed. Both protocols start with heat treatment of the intestinal tissue followed by acetic acid extraction, a capture with alginic acid, NaCl precipitation of other proteins, and a concentration step on Amberlite XAD-2. In the first method, a single reverse-phase HPLC step completes the purification and results in milligram quantities of pure calbindin. In the second method, an additional ion exchange HPLC step was introduced, followed by a reverse-phase HPLC resulting in 100 milligram-scale preparations of homogeneous calbindin in a 56% yield from the Amberlite step. Both methods yielded a homogeneous metal-free apoprotein with a molecular weight of 8838.0 +/- 8.8 as analyzed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry corresponding to N-acetylated porcine calbindin. The isolated apocalbindin was fully reconstituted with 2 molar equivalents of Ca(2+) and the protein displayed UV and fluorescence spectra characteristic of those of native calbindin D9k.     

Production of gramicidin S synthetases by Bacillus brevis in continuous culture.

The effects of different nutrient limitations on the production of the two enzymes of gramicidin S biosynthesis were studied during continuous culture of Bacillus brevis. Gramicidin S synthetases I and II were produced in the chemostat under carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus or sulphur limitation. The growth rate, rather than the nature of the limitation, was the major controlling factor in regulating the level of the gramicidin S synthetases. Synthetase production was low at high dilution rates (0.45 to 0.50 h-1) but increased as the dilution rate was lowered. The highest specific activities occurred at dilution rates that were different for each type of limitation: 0.40 h-1 for nitrogen, 0.32 h-1 for carbon, 0.24 h-1 for sulphur and 0.20 h-1 for phosphorus. Phosphorus limitation gave the highest specific activities. At low dilution rates (0.10 to 0.15 h-1), enzyme activities were again low. Sporulation occurred under carbon limitation, but at a lower dilution rate than that which supported optimal gramicidin S synthetase formation. The specific productivity of the synthetases in the chemostat was higher than the highest productivity obtained in batch growth.