Simultaneous production and partition of chitinase during growth of Serratia marcescens in an aqueous two-phase system

Summary Partition and production of the extracellular chitinase from Serratia marcescens were studied in PEG/dextran aqueous two-phase systems. The enzyme partitions into the bottom phase and the cells segregate into the top phase. The best system is 2% (w/v) PEG 20000 and 5% (w/v) dextran T500. The cell growth and enzyme production kinetics are similar in the aqueous two-phase system and in the polymer-free reference system. However, the maximum enzyme concentration in the former system is 1.5 times that in the latter one.     

Growth and Secondary Metabolite Production by Hairy Roots of Tagetes Patula in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Hairy roots of Tagetes patula have been grown in aqueous two-phase systems. After selecting suitable polymers from single-phase experiments (in which salt phases were unable to support growth in the desired concentrations) several two-phase systems were tested for their influence on cell growth and thiophene production. Cell growth occurred in all aqueous two-phase systems, but the highest growth rate was achieved in normal medium. There was no difference in thiophene production between medium and aqueous two-phase systems. The partition of thiophenes favoured slightly the more hydrophobic top phase in most cases, while the cells were confined to the bottom phase. One aqueous two-phase system (15% polyethyleneglycol 10,000 and 15% Reppal PES 200) was tested in a stirred tank reactor with normal medium as a control. The growth rate in medium was higher than in the aqueous two-phase system, while the thiophene production per unit cell weight was in the same range for both systems. The excretion of thiophenes in the reactor with the aqueous two-phase system was about ten times as high as in the control reactor. The amount excreted was however still not more than 3% of the total production.     

Optimization of bovine serum albumin sorption and recovery by hydrogels

Aqueous two-phase systems are composed of aqueous solutions of either two water-soluble polymers, usually polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (Dx), or a polymer and a salt, usually PEG and phosphate or sulfate. Partitioning of proteins in such systems provides a powerful method for separating and purifying mixtures of biomolecules by extraction. If one of the phase forming polymers is a crosslinked gel, then the solution-controlled gel sorption may be considered as a modification of aqueous two-phase extraction. Since PEG/dextran systems are widely used in aqueous two-phase extraction and dextran gels (Sephadex) are common chromatographic media, we choose a PEG/dextran gel system as a model system in this study. The partitioning behavior of pure bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PEG/dextran gel systems is investigated to see the effects of variations in PEG and NaCl concentrations on the partition coefficient K. By making use of the Box-Wilson experimental design, K is shown to be maximized at 9.8 (%, w/w) PEG and 0.2 M NaCl concentrations, respectively, as 182.     

Optimization of bovine serum albumin partition coefficient in aqueous two-phase systems

Partitioning of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems has been shown to provide a powerful method for separating and purifying mixtures of biomolecules by extraction. These systems are composed of aqueous solutions of either two water-soluble polymers, usually polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (Dx), or a polymer and a salt, usually PEG and phosphate or sulfate. There are many factors which influence the partition coefficient K, the ratio of biomolecule concentration in the top phase to that in the bottom phase, in aqueous two-phase systems. The value of the partition coefficient relies on the physico-chemical properties of the target biomolecule and other molecules and their interactions with those of the chosen system. In this work, the partition behavior of pure bovine serum albumin in aqueous two-phase systems was investigated in order to see the effects of changes in phase properties on the partition coefficient K. The concentration of NaCl and pH were considered to be the factors having influence on K. Optimal conditions of these factors were obtained using the Box-Wilson experimental design. The optimum value of K was found as 0.0126 when NaCl concentration and pH were 0.14 M and 9.8, respectively, for a phase system composed of 8% (w/w) polyethylene glycol 3,350 - 9 (% w/w) dextran 37,500 - 0.05 M phosphate at 20 °C.     

牛血清白蛋白在聚乙二醇/葡聚糖双水相体系中分配特性的研究

采用考马斯亮蓝G250染色法测得室温下BSA在PEG/dextran双水相体系中的分配系数。以BSA在PEG/dextran体系的下相富集为目标,研究了PEG的分子量、浓度、dextran浓度以及所加入中性盐的种类与浓度、体系pH诸因素对其分配特性的影响。实验结果表明,在PEG4000/dextran体系中,采用PEG质量分数9%-dextran质量分数9%的浓度组成,同时在pH=7.0,NaC l浓度为0.2 mol.L-1或pH6.0,NaC l浓度为0.34 mol.L-1的工艺条件下萃取BSA均可达最小分配系数,其值为0.014。     

α-Amylase production in aqueous two-phase systems with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

-Amylase production was studied in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in aqueous two-phase systems composed of polyethyleneglycol (PEG)/dextran T500. Cells and enzyme were obtained in different phases when phase systems were applied to the growth media. Effects of different molecular weights and concentrations of polymers on differences of enzyme separation were established. The effect of PEG used in the system to the release of enzyme was investigated.     

Growth and Secondary Metabolite Production by Hairy Roots of Tagetes Patula in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Hairy roots of Tagetes patula have been grown in aqueous two-phase systems. After selecting suitable polymers from single-phase experiments (in which salt phases were unable to support growth in the desired concentrations) several two-phase systems were tested for their influence on cell growth and thiophene production. Cell growth occurred in all aqueous two-phase systems, but the highest growth rate was achieved in normal medium. There was no difference in thiophene production between medium and aqueous two-phase systems. The partition of thiophenes favoured slightly the more hydrophobic top phase in most cases, while the cells were confined to the bottom phase. One aqueous two-phase system (15% polyethyleneglycol 10,000 and 15% Reppal PES 200) was tested in a stirred tank reactor with normal medium as a control. The growth rate in medium was higher than in the aqueous two-phase system, while the thiophene production per unit cell weight was in the same range for both systems. The excretion of thiophenes in the reactor with the aqueous two-phase system was about ten times as high as in the control reactor. The amount excreted was however still not more than 3% of the total production.     

Production of β-glucosidase withAspergillus phoenicis QM329 in aqueous two-phase systems

Summary The production of -glucosidase withAspergillus phoenicis QM 329 was studied in two different aqueous two-phase systems: polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1550 7.5%/Dextran T2000 9.5% and PEG 8000 4%/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 14000 8%. The enzyme concentrations in the top phase of the phase systems were 3.4 IU/ml and 3.2 IU/ml, respectively, compared with 2.0 IU/ml obtained in a regular medium. The total amount of -glucosidase obtained in the phase systems was 265 IU and 176 IU, respectively, compared with 200 IU in a regular medium.     

Enhanced production of lactic acid through the use of a novel aqueous two-phase system as an extractive fermentation system

 In order to enhance the productivity of lactic acid and reduce the end-product inhibition of fermentation, the partitioning and growth of four different strains of lactic acid bacteria in three different aqueous two-phase systems were studied. Polyethyleneglycol/ dextran, polyethyleneglycol/hydroxypropyl starch polymer (HPS), and a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO-PO)/HPS were used as polymer systems. One strain each of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii partitioned completely to the interface and bottom phase in two-phase systems with low polymer concentrations of EO-PO/HPS100 and EO-PO/ HPS200. The growth and production of lactic acid by two of three L. lactis strains in a two-phase system with 5.5% (w/w) EO-PO and 12.0% (w/w) HPS100 were reduced by less than 10% compared with a reference fermentation in a normal growth medium. The viability of L. lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 19435 was maintained for at least 50 h and with four top-phase replacements during extractive fermentation in the EO-PO/HPS100 system. Moreover, when cell density reached the stationary phase in the first extractive fermentation, the lactate production in this aqueous two-phase system was maintained. Received: 2 October 1995/Received revision: 16 January 1996/Accepted: 22 January 1996     

Aqueous two-phase systems containing urea: influence on phase separation and stabilization of protein conformation by phase components.

During recombinant Escherichia coli fermentation with high expression levels, inclusion bodies are often formed. Aqueous two-phase systems have been used in the presence of urea for the initial recovery steps. To investigate phase behavior of such systems we determined phase diagrams of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/sodium sulfate/urea/water and PEG/dextran T-500 (DEX)/urea/phosphate buffer/water at different concentrations of urea and different molecular weight of PEG. PEG/Na2SO4 aqueous two-phase systems could be obtained including up to 30% w/w urea at 25 degrees C and PEG/dextran T-500 up to 35% w/w urea. The binodial was displaced toward higher concentrations with increasing urea concentrations. The partition coefficient of urea was near unity. An unstable mutant of T4-lysozyme with an amino acid replacement in the core (V149T) was used to analyze the effect of phase components on the conformation of the enzyme. We showed that partitioning of tryptophan was not dependent on the concentration of urea in the phase system.     

Effect of physiological conditions on the autolysis ofStaphylococcus aureus strains

The effect of physiological conditions on autolysis and autolytic activity in various strains ofStaphylococcus aureus was determined. The rate of whole cell autolysis ofS. aureus was growth phase dependent and a maximum rate was observed in early stationary phase cultures. However, the autolysins extracted by the freeze-thaw method (cell-wall bound autolytic activity) did not show any significant increase in activity. The addition of NaCl to the growth medium enhanced the rate of autolysis with the highest rate being displayed by cultures grown in 1.5 M NaCl. However, lower autolytic activity was found in the freeze-thaw extracts of cultures grown at higher concentrations of NaCl. The rate of autolysis of cultures grown at 30°C was higher than cultures grown at 37 or 43°C. Thus, the rate of autolysis seems to be independent of the bacterial growth rate. Cultures grown in slightly acidic conditions showed a faster rate of autolysis compared to cultures grown under alkaline conditions. SDS-polyacrylamide gel containing 0.2% crude cell-wall ofS. aureus did not show any obvious correlation with the appearance of any particular lytic band in the zymogram to autolytic activity or rate of autolysis of cultures grown under various environmental conditions. A nonhemolytic phenotype, mutations in the accessory gene regulator, and lysogeny (phages ø11, ø12, ø13) had no obvious effect either on the rate of autolysis or on the pattern of lytic bands in the zymograms.     

Phase diagrams for dextran-PEG aqueous two-phase systems at 22°C

Summary We have determined phase diagrams at 22°C for the aqueous two-phase systems composed of dextran, polyethylene glycol, and water. The effects of polyethylene glycol and dextran molecular weight on phase separation are reported. These phase diagrams provide more complete data for dextran/PEG/water system, and will be needed for the correlation of biomolecule partitioning.     

Production of cyclodextrin homologues using aqueous two-phase system

Cyclodextrin homologues (CDs), produced by cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase), were simultaneously partitioned in aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Partition coefficients of CDs were measured in PEG/salt and PEG/dextran systems. Phosphate, citrate, sulfate were tested as salt. ATPS of PEG/salt and PEG/dextran had the partition coefficients of the CDs, larger than unity. However, PEG/dextran system was observed better than PEG/salt as CGTase activity decreased sharply with salt concentration. Enzymatic reaction occurred mainly in PEG-rich bottom phase because of the low partition coefficient of CGTase. The resulting CDs transferred to the PEG-rich top phase, obeying the diffusional partition. In the ATPS of 7% PEG (M.W. 20,000) and 9% dextran (M.W. 40,000), 7 mg/ml of CDs were obtained in top phase at 4.5 hours.     

Bioreactor studies of growth and nutrient utilization in alfalfa suspension cultures

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cells were grown in 500 ml, aerated and stirred batch bioreactors using Schenk and Hildebrant medium. For cultures in which the pH was allowed to vary, we observed two fairly distinct growth phases. Evidence is presented which indicates that the two-phase growth is most likely a result of the two nitrogen sources in the medium. The ammonium present in the medium is directly utilized during the first growth phase and ammonium resulting from intracellular nitrate reduction is utilized during the second phase. During the first growth phase, sucrose is completely hydrolyzed to glucose and fructose with some glucose and fructose consumption. In the second growth phase glucose is consumed preferentially over fructose. Attempts at maintaining the pH at 5.5 using 1N NaOH as the base titrant resulted in very little cell growth compared with cultures for which the pH was allowed to vary.     

High concentrations of PEG as a possible uncoupler of the proton motive force: α-Amylase production with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in aqueous two-phase systems and PEG solutions

Summary -Amylase production with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was investigated in two different aqueous two-phase systems and in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 600 solutions of different concentrations. The cells did not partition totally to the bottom phases of the aqueous two-phase systems, and the enzyme production was repressed in both systems as well as in PEG 600 solutions. Concomitantly, the cultivation time was prolonged, indicating an increased maintenance metabolism. The surface properties of cells grown in 200 g/kg PEG 600 were investigated by phase partitioning and compared to the surface properties of Bacillus subtilis, which under these conditions showed increased -amylase production. The cells of B. amyloliquefaciens partitioned to the top phase in a PEG-dextran system, whereas the cells of B. subtilis partitioned to the bottom phase. The results are discussed in relation to water activity, oxygen transfer rate and PEG-induced changes of the surface properties of the cells. The possible role of PEG as an uncoupler of the proton motive force at high concentrations is also discussed.     

Enhancement of nitrogen fixation inAnabaena flos-aquae (Cyanobacteria) via low-dose ultrasonic treatment

Low-dose (50 W), short-duration (5 min) ultrasonic treatments were delivered to log phase batch cultures of the cyanobacteriumAnabaena flos-aquae grown in nitrogen-free medium. Near the mid-point of nine-day experimental periods, ultrasonically-treated cultures exhibited higher growth rates, enhanced chlorophylla content, and greater acetylene reduction capacity when compared to cultures grown with reciprocal shaking alone. Heterocyst frequency was markedly higher in ultrasonically-treated cultures over the duration of five-day experimental periods.Author for correspondence     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in aqueous two-phase systems. I. Partition of cellulases from Trichoderma reesei

The partitioning of endo-beta-glucanase, exo-beta-glucanase, and beta-glucosidase from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 in aqueous two-phase systems has been studied with the object of designing a phase system for continuous bioconversion of cellulose. The partitioning of the enzymes in two-phase systems composed of various water soluble polymeric compounds were studied. Systems based on dextran and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were optimal for one-sidedly partitioning the enzymes to the bottom phase. The influence of polymer molecular weights, polymer concentration, ionic composition of the medium, pH, temperature, and adsorption of the enzymes to cellulose on the enzyme partition coefficients (K) were studied. By combining the effects of polymer molecular weight and adsorption to cellulose, K values could be reduced for endo-beta-glucanase to 0.02 and for beta-glucosidase to 0.005 at 20 degrees C in a phase system of Dextran 40-PEG 40000 in the presence of excess cellulose, At 50 degrees C, K values were increased by a factor of two. In a phase system based on inexpensive crude dextran and PEG, the partition coefficient for endo-beta-glucanase was 0.16 and for beta-glucosidase was 0.14 at 20 degrees C with excess cellulose present.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of soluble starch in a polyethylene glycol-dextran aqueous two-phase system

Hydrolysis of soluble starch by glucoamylase and β-amylase was investigated as a model reaction in an aqueous two-phase system consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (DEX). Changes in glucose concentration observed in the batch reaction experiments with glucoamylase were almost identical for the aqueous two-phase and pure water systems, showing that the enzymic reactions investigated were not influenced by the presence of PEG and DEX. The partition of β-amylase into the DEX phase was insufficient compared to that of glucoamylase. Hence, the former enzyme was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to increase its apparent molecular weight and, as a consequence, the partition coefficient, defined as the concentration ratio of the component partitioned into the PEG phase to that into the DEX phase, was decreased to 17% of that of the original enzyme. In the operation in which the enzyme and substrate are partitioned selectively into the DEX phase and allowed to react there while the product, thus transferring to the PEG phase, is recovered, the aqueous two-phase system with a smaller partition coefficient provided longer operational stability.     

Extractive fermentation for improved production of endoglucanase by an intergeneric fusant of Trichoderma reesei/Saccharomyces cerevisiae using aqueous two-phase system

Extractive aqueous two-phase fermentation of endoglucanase, a key enzyme for the conversion of cellulosic substances to fermentable sugars, from an intergeneric fusant of Trichoderma reesei/Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a meaningful approach for better production and simple recovery of this enzyme. A phase composition of 6.5% (w/w) dextran and 7.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol 6000, having a partition coefficient of 2.89 and 1.31 for endoglucanase from an intergeneric fusant of T. reesei/S. cerevisiae and T. reesei (WT) (being a control in this study), respectively, was chosen for extractive fermentation of the enzyme. Endoglucanase production is higher in medium containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 than in medium without PEG 6000. Comparative analysis of endoglucanase fermentation by fusant and T. reesei was carried out in shake culture and environment-controlled bioreactor conditions. The fusant produced 0.43U of endoglucanase (overall production: 0.34U) in the top phase of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), compared to 0.3U in medium without the phase system in shake culture. In a batch reactor, the endoglucanase level for the fusant in the top phase of ATPS was 0.49U (overall production: 0.40U), compared to 0.38U produced in medium without aqueous two-phase components. To corroborate this study, T. reesei produced 8.41U of endoglucanase (overall production: 5.96U) in the top phase of ATPS, compared to 7.18U in the medium without the phase system in shake culture. On the other hand, in a batch bioreactor, T. reesei produced 10.13U of endoglucanase (overall production: 6.90U) in the top phase of ATPS, compared to 8.56U of the enzyme in medium without aqueous two-phase components. The lower overall enzyme production by T. reesei in the two-phase system might be due to limitation in oxygen transfer to the dispersed phase where the enzyme is produced. A higher cell concentration and a reduced lag phase was obtained in ATPS, compared to a similar medium without phase forming polymers for both the intergeneric fusant of T. reesei/S. cerevisiae and T. reesei.     

Aqueous two-phase metal affinity extraction of heme proteins

An iminodiacetic acid derivative of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-IDA) that chelates metal cations has been synthesized and used to extract proteins in metal affinity aqueous two-phase PEG/dextran systems. With less than 1% of the PEG substituted with chelated copper, partition coefficients are shown to increase by factors of up to 37 over extraction with unsubstituted PEG. The proteins studied are preferentially extracted into the Cu(II)PEGIDA phase in proportion to the number of accessible histidine residues on their surface. The affinity contribution to partitioning is proportional to the number of exposed histidine over a very wide range. The partition coefficients of heme-containing proteins measured in the Cu(II)PEG-IDA/dextran systems increase with the pH of the extraction mixture from pH 5.5 to pH 8.0, while partition coefficients in the unsubstituted PEG/dextran systems are very nearly independent of pH. The strong pH dependence of the metalaffinity extraction can be utilized in the recovery of the extracted protein.