Infection of tubercles of the parasitic weed Orobanche aegyptiaca by mycoherbicidal Fusarium species

Progression of the infection by host-specific strains of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium arthrosporioides of Orobanche aegyptiaca (Egyptian broomrape) tubercles attached to tomato roots was tracked using light, confocal and electron microscopy. Mycelia transformed with the gene for green fluorescent protein were viewed using a confocal microscope. Fungal penetration was preceded by a rapid loss of starch, with approx. 10 % remaining at 9 h and no measurable starch at 24 h. Penetration into the Orobanche tubercles began by 12 h after inoculation. Hyphae penetrated the outer six cell layers by 24 h, reaching the centre of the tubercles by 48 h and infecting nearly all cells by 72 h. Most of the infected tubercles were dead by 96 h. Breakdown of cell walls and the disintegration of cytoplasm in and around the infected cells occurred between 48 and 96 h. Lignin-like material increased in tubercle cells of infected tissues over time, but did not appear to be effective in limiting fungal penetration or spread. Callose, suberin, constitutive toxins and phytoalexins were not detected in infected tubercles, suggesting that there are no obvious defence mechanisms to overcome. Both Fusarium spp. pathogenic on Orobanche produced fumonisin-like ceramide synthase inhibitors, while fusaric acid was produced only by F. oxysporum in liquid culture. The organisms do not have sufficient virulence for field use (based on glasshouse testing), suggesting that virulence should be transgenically enhanced or additional isolates sought.     

Coexpression of a carbonyl reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Pichia pastoris improves the production of (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol

Abstract

To develop an efficient biocatalyst to produce optically active (S)-phenyl ethanediol (PED), a carbonyl reductase SCRII and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were coexpressed intracellularly in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant enzyme PpSCRII was purified with a specific activity of 8.32 U mg^?1, over 36% higher than that of Escherichia coli SCRII. The recombinant cells P. pastoris/SCRIIG catalyzed the reduction of 2-hydroxyacetophenone to give (S)-PED with optical purity of >99% in a yield of 96.3%. The yield was improved by 19.9% and 25.7% over E. coli BL21/SCRII and Candida parapsilosis, respectively, when the reaction duration was shorted from 48 h to 24 h. When using glucose 50 g L^?1 as co-substrate, these P. pastoris/SCRIIG cells could be reused ten times and the optical purity and yield of (S)-PED kept at >99% enantiomeric excess and >85%, respectively.