Books

Integrated Product Policy, a report for the European Commission DGXI by Ernst and Young
Product Policy in Europe: New Environmental Per-spectives, by Frans Oosterhuis, Frieder Rubik, and Gerd Scholl     

Degradation pathway of an anthraquinone dye catalyzed by a unique peroxidase DyP from Thanatephorus cucumeris Dec 1

The reactants produced by action of a purified unique dye-decolorizing peroxidase, DyP, on a commercial anthraquinone dye, Reactive Blue 5, were investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and ¹H- and ¹³C- nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results of ESI-MS analysis showed that phthalic acid, a Product 2 (molecular weight 472.5), and a Product 3 (molecular weight 301.5), were produced. Product 2 and Product 3 were generated by usual peroxidase reaction, whereas phthalic acid was generated by hydrolase- or oxygenase-catalyzed reaction. One potential associated product, o-aminobenzene sulfonic acid, was found to be converted to 2,2′-disulfonyl azobenzene by ESI-MS and NMR analyses. From these results, we propose, for the first time, the degradation pathway of an anthraquinone dye by the enzyme DyP.     

Conversion of fumaric acid to L-malic by sol-gel immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a supported liquid membrane bioreactor

Conversion of fumaric acid (FA) to L-malic acid (LMA) was carried out in a bioreactor divided by two supported liquid membranes (SLMs) into three compartments: Feed, Reaction, and Product. The Feed/Reaction SLM, made of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (vol 10%) in ethyl acetate, was selective toward the substrate, fumaric acid (S(FA/LMA) = 10). The Reaction/Product SLM, made of di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (vol 10%) in dichloromethane, was selective toward the product, L-malic acid (S(LMA/FA) = 680). Immobilized yeast engineered to overproduce the enzyme fumarase [E.C. 4.2.1.2] was placed in the Reaction compartment and served as the catalyst. The yeast was immobilized in small glasslike beads of alginate-silicate sol-gel matrix. The construction of the bioreactor ensured unidirectional flow of the substrate from the Feed to the Reaction and of the product from the Reaction to the Product compartments, with the inorganic counterion traveling in the opposite direction. The conversion of almost 100%, above the equilibrium value of ca. 84% and higher than that for the industrial process, 70%, was achieved. In contrast to the existing industrial biocatalytic process resulting in L-malic acid salts, direct production of the free acid is described.     

Effects of yeast probiotic formulation on viability, revival and protection against infection with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium in mice

Aims:  To compare the effects of five yeast probiotic formulations on viability, revival and washout kinetic in the digestive tract of mice, and the protection against an experimental infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.
Methods and Results:  The number of viable cells in five commercial probiotic products codified as A, B, C and D ( Saccharomyces boulardii – lyophilized) and E ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae – aqueous suspension) was determined, as well as revival and washout kinetic in mouse intestine. Protective capacity was evaluated by survival rate and histopathology of liver and intestine of mice treated with each product and then challenged with Salm . Typhimurium.
Conclusions:  Product A contained the highest number of viable cells and, fed to mice, gave the highest counts of viable yeasts and the longest persistence in faeces. Probably as a consequence, the highest survival and protection of intestinal and hepatic tissues were observed when product A was used for mouse treatment. Product E showed low counts in the formulation and was not recovered from mouse intestine.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Formulation (lyophilization or aqueous suspension) is an important factor for revival and survival of a probiotic product in vivo and consequently for its protective properties.     

Biotech News

Biotech news: News on Biofuels Most read in BTJ: HIV host cell RNAi screening platform News from industry: Respiratory disease treatment – German biotech sees light at the end of the tunnel in 2010 – Funding photonics – Analyzing tumor cell heterogeneity – Product news Meeting highlight: Systems Biology of Microorganisms 22–24 March 2010, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France News from academia: How to shoot the messenger – Soybean genome sequence – Canna plant cleans stormwater runoff     

Toward Trash That Thinks: Product Tags for Environmental Management

In this article, we explore several options for linking information technology to materials and products through the use of bar codes and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, and the implications for product life-cycle management. We also describe tests with existing and modified tags, both on and inside products, as would be needed for environmental management applications.
Bar codes are cheap and have an existing infrastructure; RFID tags are more expensive and less widespread, but they can be read without a line of sight between the tag and the reader. Bar codes and RFID tags carrying basic product information could link to different databases for a range of applications. Product tags could increase recycling efficiency by automating the sorting of recyclables or by linking to product dismantling instructions during the recycling process. Product tags could provide incentives for good waste management, through Universal Product Code (UPC) bar-code recycling coupons or through RFID tag automatic recycling credits for curbside collection programs. Measures to encourage the development of these types of applications include moves toward competitive, market-based waste management systems, the encouragement of experimental systems, and coordination between manufacturers and waste management industries.     

Synthesis and purification of radioactive fatty acylcarnitines of high specific activity

Micromole quantities of radiolabeled fatty acylcarnitines of high specific activity were synthesized by a simple one-step, one-pot acylation of [3H]carnitine in the presence of the respective fatty acid and acid chloride. The acylated product was isolated in high yield and high purity using liquid-liquid partitioning with isopropanol:hydrochloric acid:heptane (4:1:12 v/v) followed by butanol extraction. Product recovery was 91% for octanoyl[3H]carnitine and 90% for palmitoyl[3H]carnitine and contamination of both products with carnitine was less than 1%. The method is simple and fast, and results in high yields of pure fatty acylcarnitine in micromole scale.     

Kinetics of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis by rabbit brain dihydrofolate reductase.

Product identification and kinetic data are presented for the conversion of 7,8-dihydrobiopterin into tetrahydrobiopterin by purified rabbit brain dihydrofolate reductase.     

Reading DNA differently

Product inhibition has provided the limiting barrier to efficient template-directed ligation and polymerization reactions. Here we review the attempts to circumvent this limitation and outline a traslation strategy that does overcome the barrier and allows the information encoded in DNA to be read and amplified into backbone-modified oligonucleotides. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 48: 19–28, 1998     

Carbamate kinase of Lactobacillus buchneri NCDO110. II. Kinetic studies and reaction mechanism

The participation of Mg2+ or Mn2+ nucleoside diphosphates in the reverse reaction catalyzed by purified carbamate kinase (ATP:carbamate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.2.2) of Lactobacillus buchneri NCDO110 was studied. The results of initial velocity studies have indicated that Mn2+ ADP is as effective as a substrate as Mg2+ ADP is. Product inhibition studies have revealed that the enzyme has two distinct sites, one for nucleoside diphosphate and the other for carbamyl phosphate. The reaction of the enzyme with the substrates is of the random type.     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Product reports from Japan

Product reports from Japan     

Production of new tricarboxylic acid anhydrides from stearic acid by Pseudomonas cepacia A-1419

Screening for microorganisms converting stearic acid to form new compounds was conducted, Pseudomonas cepacia A-1419 isolated from soil effectively produced two compounds showing strong ultraviolet absorption when the resting cells were incubated with stearic acid. The products were isolated, and identified as (Z)-dec-3-ene-1,3,4-tricarboxylic acid 3,4-anhydride (Product 1) and (Z)-dodec-3-ene-1,3,4-tricarboxylic acid 3,4-anhydride (Product 2) by infrared, mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. Products 1 and 2 were produced from stearic acid at conversion rates of about 18 and 32%, respectively.     

Kinetics of polyol oxidation with Gluconobacter oxydans

Summary The influence of culture pH on the metabolism of Gluconobacter oxydans was determined. An acidic milieu during growth of the organism enhances the oxidation rate. The CO₂ evolution rate representing the assimilation of the product is inhibited by a low pH value. Growth of the bacteria is possible both on glycerol and DHA in separate phases, which is not a controlled as diauxic growth. Product formation follows Luedeking-Piret kinetics.now: Institut für Biotechnologie, TU Graz, Petersgasse 12, 8010 Graz, Austria     

Improving environmental performance in wine production by life cycle assessment: case of Lebanese wine

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - This paper aims to carry out a Product Environmental Footprint study of a Lebanese red wine, “Coteaux Les Cedres” by HF S.A.L...