Ethanol production from glucose and dilute-acid hydrolyzates by encapsulated S. cerevisiae

The performance of encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae CBS 8066 in anaerobic cultivation of glucose, in the presence and absence of furfural as well as in dilute-acid hydrolyzates, was investigated. The cultivation of encapsulated cells in 10 sequential batches in synthetic media resulted in linear increase of biomass up to 106 g/L of capsule volume, while the ethanol productivity remained constant at 5.15 (+/-0.17) g/L x h (for batches 6-10). The cells had average ethanol and glycerol yields of 0.464 and 0.056 g/g in these 10 batches. Addition of 5 g/L furfural decreased the ethanol productivity to a value of 1.31 (+/-0.10) g/L x h with the encapsulated cells, but it was stable in this range for five consecutive batches. On the other hand, the furfural decreased the ethanol yield to 0.41-0.42 g/g and increased the yield of acetic acid drastically up to 0.068 g/g. No significant lag phase was observed in any of these experiments. The encapsulated cells were also used to cultivate two different types of dilute-acid hydrolyzates. While the free cells were not able to ferment the hydrolyzates within at least 24 h, the encapsulated yeast successfully converted glucose and mannose in both of the hydrolyzates in less than 10 h with no significant lag phase. However, since the hydrolyzates were too toxic, the encapsulated cells lost their activity gradually in sequential batches.     

Lack of the evidence for the enzymatic catabolism of Man1GlcNAc2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the cytosol of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, most of the free N-glycans (FNGs) are generated from misfolded glycoproteins by the action of the cytoplasmic peptide: N-glycanase (Png1). A cytosol/vacuole α-mannosidase, Ams1, then trims the FNGs to eventually form a trisaccharide composed of Manβ1,4GlcNAc β1,4GlcNAc (Man₁GlcNAc₂). Whether or not the resulting Man₁GlcNAc₂ is enzymatically degraded further, however, is currently unknown. The objective of this study was to unveil the fate of Man₁GlcNAc₂ in S. cerevisiae. Quantitative analyses of the FNGs revealed a steady increase in the amount of Man₁GlcNAc₂ produced in the post-diauxic and stationary phases, suggesting that this trisaccharide is not catabolized during this period. Inoculation of the stationary phase cells into fresh medium resulted in a reduction in the levels of Man₁GlcNAc₂. However, this reduction was caused by its dilution due to cell division in the fresh medium. Our results thus indicate that Man₁GlcNAc₂ is not enzymatically catabolized in S. cerevisiae.     

Direct bioethanol production from brown macroalgae by co-culture of two engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

A co-culture platform for bioethanol production from brown macroalgae was developed, consisting of two types of engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains; alginate- and mannitol-assimilating yeast (AM1), and cellulase-displaying yeast (CDY). When the 5% (w/v) brown macroalgae Ecklonia kurome was used as the sole carbon source for this system, 2.1 g/L of ethanol was produced, along with simultaneous consumption of alginate, mannitol, and glucans.     

Susceptibility of apple clearwing moth larvae,Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) to Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum

Apple clearwing moth larvae, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) were found to be susceptible to infection by two entomopathogenic fungi: an indigenous fungus isolated from S. myopaeformis cadavers and identified as Metarhizium brunneum (Petch); and Beauveria bassiana isolate GHA. In laboratory bioassays, larvae exhibited dose related mortality after exposure to both the M. brunneum and Beauveria bassiana with 7 day LC₅₀'s of 2.9×10⁵ and 3.4×10⁵ spores/mL, respectively. Larval mortalities caused by the two isolates at 1×10⁶ spores/mL were not significantly different and 73% of the M. brunneum-treated, and 76% of the B. bassiana-treated larvae were dead 7 days post treatment, with LT₅₀'s of 5.5 and 5.1 days, respectively.     

Suppression of respiratory growth defect of mutant deficient in mitochondrial phospholipase A1 by overexpression of genes involved in coenzyme Q synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DDL1 encodes a mitochondrial phospholipase A₁ involved in acyl chain remodeling of mitochondrial phospholipids and degradation of cardiolipin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The deletion of DDL1 leads to respiratory growth defects. To elucidate the physiological role of DDL1, we screened for genes that, when overexpressed, suppress the respiratory growth defect of the DDL1 deletion mutant. Introduction of COQ8, COQ9, or COQ5, which are involved in coenzyme Q (CoQ) synthesis, using a multicopy vector suppressed the respiratory growth defect of the DDL1 deletion mutant. In contrast, introduction of COQ8 using a multicopy vector did not accelerate the growth of the deletion mutants of TAZ1 or CLD1, which encode an acyltransferase or phospholipase A₂, respectively, involved in the remodeling of cardiolipin. These results suggest genetic interactions between the mitochondrial phospholipase A₁ gene and the genes involved in CoQ synthesis.     

Significant mortality of eggs and young larvae of two pine processionary moth species due to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum

Bioassays were conducted to determine the susceptibility of egg masses and young larvae of two pine processionary moth species, Thaumetopoea pityocampa and Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni, to two strains (ARSEF4556, V275) of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum. Mortality of treated eggs by both strains ranged from 96% to 99% but not all of this was caused by M. brunneum since control groups also experienced egg mortality due to saprophytic fungi. Still, larvae hatched in the laboratory from eggs treated with M. brunneum were all killed by this fungus, acquiring M. brunneum conidia, whereas larval mortality was 0% in the control groups. Young larvae of both pine processionary moth species were also highly susceptible to ARSEF4556 and V275 with larval mortality ranging between 94% and 100%, 8 days post-inoculation, with the vast majority of larvae being killed within the first 2–4 days. Larval mortality was dose dependent. Results were consistent across the two pine processionary moth species, showing that the pathogenicity of M. brunneum to both eggs and young larvae might be promising for biological control of these insect pests. The study also showed that non-target parasitoids of pine processionary moth eggs were also susceptible to M. brunneum. Further work is required to understand and reduce the M. brunneum effect on non-target insects.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants sensitive to the antimalarial and antiarrhythmic drug, quinidine

Abstract Mutations at three loci in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been shown to confer increased sensitivity to the antimalarial and antiarrhythmic alkaloid, quinidine. Two of these groups are composed of strains carrying recessive mutations, the other group contains two dominant alleles. The largest complementation group has been designated QDS1 , for increased quinidine-sensitivity. Exposure of qds1 cells to lethal concentrations of quinidine results in a novel small-budded terminal morphology in about 70% of the cells in the culture. Strains which carry qds1 alleles share other pleiotropic phenotypes. qds1 mutants are incapable of mating as α but not a cells, due to a defect in α-factor production. Homozygous diploid qds1 strains cannot sporulate. Genetic evidence indicates that QDS1 is allelic to KEX2 , a precursor processing protease. Loss of QDS1 / KEX2 function results in quinidine sensitivity.     

Enhanced production of bioethanol and ultrastructural characteristics of reused Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized calcium alginate beads

Yeast immobilized on alginate beads produced a higher ethanol yield more rapidly than did free yeast cells under the same batch-fermentation conditions. The optimal fermentation conditions were 30 °C, pH 5.0, and 10% initial glucose concentration with 2% sodium alginate beads. The fermentation time using reused alginate beads was 10-14 h, whereas fresh beads took 24 h, and free cells took 36 h. All bead samples resulted in nearly a 100% ethanol yield, whereas the free cells resulted in an 88% yield. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the shortened time and higher yield with the reused beads was due to a higher yeast population per bead as well as a higher porosity. The ultrastructure of calcium alginate beads and the alginate matrix structure known as the “egg-box” model were observed using TEM.     

酿酒酵母乙醇脱氢酶2(ADH2)基因的克隆表达及活性验证

为了从酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae中克隆出乙醇脱氢酶2(Alcoholdehy drogenase2,ADH2)基因并使之在大肠杆菌中高效表达。以酿酒酵母细胞中提取的总RNA为模板,通过反转录获得酿酒酵母乙醇脱氢酶2基因,连接到表达载体pTAT上,得到重组表达质粒pTAT-ADH2,将此重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21中,重组工程菌株经IPTG诱导表达得到ADH2蛋白。将该蛋白纯化后,在体外进行活性检测和小鼠体内进行毒理试验,检测ADH2的酶活性。测序结果表明克隆的基因与GenBank中所报道的adh2基因序列有90%的同源性,经SDS-PAGE电泳分析,目的蛋白得到了有效表达,蛋白条带扫描分析表明,表达量占总蛋白的50%左右,纯化得到的蛋白在小鼠体内进行毒理试验,显示出一定的活性。酿酒酵母adh2基因的克隆正确,不仅在大肠杆菌中进行了高效表达而且表现出了较好的酶活性。     

Stability of niosomes with encapsulated vitamin D3 and ferrous sulfate generated using a novel supercritical carbon dioxide method

Niosomes were prepared using a novel supercritical carbon dioxide based method to simultaneously encapsulate ferrous sulfate and vitamin D₃ as hydrophilic and hydrophobic cargo, respectively. Vesicle particle size was determined to be bimodal with peak diameters of 1.44?±?0.16?μm and 7.21?±?0.64?μm, with the smaller peak comprising 98.8% of the total niosomal volume. Encapsulation efficiency of ferrous sulfate was 25.1?±?0.2% and encapsulation efficiency of vitamin D₃ was 95.9?±?1.47%. Physical stability of the produced niosomes was assessed throughout a storage period of 21 days. Niosomes showed good physical stability at 20?°C, but storage at 4?°C showed an initial burst release, indicating possible rupture of the niosomal membrane. The Korsmeyer–Peppas equation was used to model the release of ferrous sulfate over time at both storage temperatures.     

Comparative analysis of trehalose production by Debaryomyces hansenii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae under saline stress

The comparative analysis of growth, intracellular content of Na⁺ and K⁺, and the production of trehalose in the halophilic Debaryomyces hansenii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were determined under saline stress. The yeast species were studied based on their ability to grow in the absence or presence of 0.6 or 1.0 M NaCl and KCl. D. hansenii strains grew better and accumulated more Na⁺ than S. cerevisiae under saline stress (0.6 and 1.0 M of NaCl), compared to S. cerevisiae strains under similar conditions. By two methods, we found that D. hansenii showed a higher production of trehalose, compared to S. cerevisiae; S. cerevisiae active dry yeast contained more trehalose than a regular commercial strain (S. cerevisiae La Azteca) under all conditions, except when the cells were grown in the presence of 1.0 M NaCl. In our experiments, it was found that D. hansenii accumulates more glycerol than trehalose under saline stress (2.0 and 3.0 M salts). However, under moderate NaCl stress, the cells accumulated more trehalose than glycerol. We suggest that the elevated production of trehalose in D. hansenii plays a role as reserve carbohydrate, as reported for other microorganisms.     

Modeling and optimization of cloned invertase expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The aim of this study is to determine the medium feeding strategy to maximize the invertase productivity of recombinant Saccharomyces Cerevisiae using a fed-batch mode of operation. The yeast contains the plasmid, pRB58, which contains the yeast SUC2 gene, coding for the enzyme invertase. The expression of this gene is repressed at high glucose levels. A Goal-oriented model is development to describe the kinetics of fed-batch fermentations. This simple model could quantitatively describe previous experimental results. A conjugate gradient algorithm is then used, in conjunction gradient algorithm is then used, in conjunction with this mathematical model, to compute the optimum feed rate for maximization of invertase productivity. The optimal feeding procedure results in an initial high cell growth phase followed by a high invertase production phase. (c) 1993 Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Transcriptional repression of ADH2-regulated beta-xylanase production by ethanol in recombinant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The regulation of endo-beta-(1,4)-xylanase production by two different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, each transformed with the XYN2 gene from Trichoderma reesei under control of the promoter of the alcohol dehydrogenase II (ADH2) gene of S. cerevisiae, was investigated. In batch culture, the rate of xylanase production was severely reduced by the pulse addition of 390 mmol ethanol l(-1). Pulses of 190-630 mmol ethanol l(-1) into aerobic glucose-limited steady-state continuous cultures reduced the xylanase activity about five-fold and showed that ethanol repressed the ADH2 promoter, as was evident from Northern blot analyses. Derepression of the ADH2-regulated xylanase gene occurred at ethanol concentrations below approximately 50 mmol l(-1).     

Cryopreservation of encapsulated gentian axillary buds following 2 step-preculture with sucrose and desiccation

Alginate beads containing axillary buds of in vitro-grown gentian (Gentiana scabra Bunge var. buergeri Maxim.), were successfully cryopreserved following 2 step-preculture with sucrose and desiccation. The optimal preculture conditions were as follows: axillary buds were excised from in vitro-grown gentian plants and precultured on semi-solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 M sucrose for 10 days (25 °C, 16-h photoperiod) (first step). This was followed by incubation on semi-solid MS media containing 0.4 M (1 day) and then 0.7 M sucrose (1 day) (second step). After preculture, the buds were encapsulated in alginate beads and desiccated aseptically on silica gel for 9 h to a water content of 10% (fresh weight basis), followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN). With this protocol, 87% of the gentian buds survived exposure to LN and showed normal development of shoots and roots in vitro and in vivo. Depletion of NH₄NO₃ in the regeneration medium did not improve survival following desiccation and exposure to LN. The results show that 2 step-preculture with sucrose is effectively applicable in encapsulation–desiccation based cryopreservation of gentian axillary buds. This preculture can replace the conventionally used lengthy cold-hardening treatment and is useful for routine cryopreservation of gentian germplasm.     

Genetic determination of polygalacturonase production in wild-type and laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The genetic determination of polygalacturonase (PG) production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied by biochemical and classical genetic techniques. Crosses of PG⁺ strains with PG^– strains showed that in the haploid wild-type-derived strain, two structural genes were involved in the production of a hydrolysis halo on plates with polygalacturonic acid. However, in the case of PG⁺ laboratory strain IM1-8b, the phenotype was controlled by only one structural gene although the analysis of PG^– IM1-8b mutants demonstrated the existence of at least two complementation groups. All these genetic results were assessed biochemically by means of cation-exchange chromatography. Two enzymes were separated in the wild-type strain, and only one in the laboratory strain. The three enzymes had different K _m values, molecular masses, and optimal pHs for activity. Received: 24 October 1996 / Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Prevalence and susceptibility of Saccharomyces cerevisiae causing vaginitis in Greek women

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ascomycetous yeast, that is traditionally used in wine bread and beer production. Vaginitis caused by S. cerevisiae is rare.The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of S. cerevisiae isolation from the vagina in two groups of women and determined the in vitro susceptibility of this fungus.

Subjects and methods

Vaginal samples were collected from a total of262 (asymptomaticandsymptomatic) women with vaginitis attending the centre of family planning of General hospital ofPiraeus. All blastomycetes that isolated from the vaginal samples were examined for microscopic morphological tests and identified by conventional methods: By API 20 C AUX and ID 32 C (Biomerieux). Antifungal susceptility testing for amphotericin B,fluconazole itraconazole,voriconazole, posaconazole and caspofungin was performed by E -test (Ab BIODIKS SWEDEN) against S. cerevisiae.

Results

A total of 16 isolates of S. cerevisiae derived from vaginal sample of the referred women, average 6.10%. Susceptibility of 16 isolates of S. cerevisiae to a variety of antimycotic agents were obtained. So all isolates of S. cerevisiae were resistant to fluconazole, posaconazole and intraconazole, but they were sensitive to voriconazole caspofungin and Amphotericin B which were found sensitive (except 1/16 strains). None of the 16 patients had a history of occupational domestic use of baker’s yeast.

Conclusions

Vaginitis caused by S. cerevisiae occur, is rising and cannot be ignored. Treatment of Saccharomyces vaginitis constitutes a major challenge and may require selected and often prolonged therapy.     

2-苯乙醇对酿酒酵母生理生化特性影响

【目的】研究在不同浓度2-苯乙醇作用下,酵母生理生化特性的变化规律,为优化2-苯乙醇生物合成过程提供重要依据。【方法】透射电镜观察细胞形态;流式细胞术检测细胞膜渗透性、胞内ROS浓度、线粒体膜电位;实时荧光定量PCR检测关键酶基因表达。【结果】随着2-苯乙醇浓度增加(从0到4.0 g/L),酵母细胞分解代谢能力、细胞膜渗透性及aro10基因表达量逐渐降低;线粒体膜电位逐渐增加;胞内ROS浓度先增加后减少。当2-苯乙醇浓度从2.4 g/L增加到3.0 g/L,酵母的分解代谢能力、细胞膜渗透性、aro10基因表达水平等生理生化特性都发生较为显著的变化。【结论】产物原位转移过程中水相2-苯乙醇浓度可考虑控制在2.4 3.0 g/L。     

酿酒酵母丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶的功能与调控

从酿酒酵母蛋白磷酸酯酶的分类和结构特征入手,阐述了该蛋白家族中的亚家族成员丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶的功能和表达调控.深入研究酿酒酵母丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶,特别是PP2C蛋白磷酸酯酶的细胞功能及其调控,将对新药研发和疾病干预治疗提供重要基础.