Isolation of potential ligninolytic organisms

Organisms were isolated from soil, bark, ret liquor and other sources by enrichment on Klason lignin or guaiacol. The isolates were screened for their ability to assimilate various phenolic compounds, including methoxylated aromatic compounds, and extracellular production of polygalacturonase, pectinesterase and laccase. Most of the isolates were found to assimilate pectin as a sole source of carbon.     

Isolation and characterization of rhamnolipid-producing bacterial strains from a biodiesel facility

Novel strains of rhamnolipid-producing bacteria were isolated from soils at a biodiesel facility on the basis of their ability to grow on glycerol as a sole carbon source. Strains were identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus , Enterobacter asburiae , Enterobacter hormaechei , Pantoea stewartii , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The strains of the former five species were found to produce rhamnolipids in quantities the same as, or similar to, coisolated strains of P. aeruginosa . Measurements of surface tension revealed that that emulsifying properties of these strains were similar to levels displayed by rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa . Results of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS analyses revealed that the predominant compounds made by all strains were C₁₀–C₁₀ mono- and dirhamnolipids. Notably, E. hormaechei and one strain of A. calcoaceticus produced rhamnolipids in amounts similar to the pseudomonads. As all strains examined were from the same taxonomic class of Proteobacteria , further examination of this group may reveal many additional species not previously known to produce rhamnolipids in addition to novel strains of species currently known to produce rhamnolipids.     

Selection and characterization of mutants of Phanerochaete chrysosporium exhibiting ligninolytic activity under nutrient-rich conditions

Synthesis of the ligninolytic system of the wood-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium is induced during secondary metabolism, brought about by nitrogen, carbon, or sulfur starvation. We describe here a strategy for selection of mutants which are ligninolytic (lignin----CO2) and overproduce lignin-degrading enzymes (ligninases) under nutrient-rich conditions (during primary metabolism). The strategy is based on using an adduct of lysine and a lignin model compound. Ligninase-dependent oxidation of this adduct releases free lysine, which complements the lysine requirements of a lysine auxotroph. Accordingly, a lysine auxotroph was mutagenized by UV irradiation and survivors were plated onto medium containing the adduct and high ammonia nitrogen. Four mutants which overproduce the ligninase isozymes were isolated by this procedure. Further characterization of one of the mutants, PSBL-1, indicated that the predominant isozymes produced are H1 (pI = 4.7) and H2 (pI = 4.4). The ligninase activity of PSBL-1, measured by veratryl alcohol oxidation, peaks on day 5 at over 1,000 U.liter-1. The mutant PSBL-1 was also able to degrade [14C]lignin to 14CO2, indicating that the complete ligninolytic system is deregulated.     

三七皂苷类自毒物质降解细菌分离及其降解特性

三七是我国的名贵药材,但由于连作障碍发生严重,因此土壤中自毒物质的积累成为导致三七连作障碍发生的主要原因之一。生物降解土壤中的自毒物质是缓解连作障碍的有效措施,为筛选并利用降解菌使土壤中皂苷类自毒物质快速消减,该研究以皂苷类自毒物质为筛选靶标,采用富集和驯化策略,从连作三七根际土壤中分离、筛选三七皂苷类自毒物质降解细菌,结合16S rRNA基因测序对高活性菌株进行分类鉴定,并对筛选得到的高活性菌株SC3的降解特性进行了研究。结果表明:(1)从三七根际土壤中成功分离出8株潜在自毒物质降解细菌,初筛评价结果显示SC3菌株对三七总皂苷的降解率最高,达87.42%。(2)通过16S rRNA基因序列分析,编号SC3的高活性菌株被鉴定为寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)细菌。(3)在相同培养条件下,菌株SC3对单体皂苷Rb₁的降解效果强于对Rg₁的降解。(4)在液体培养条件下,底物浓度、接种量和培养温度均会显著影响SC3菌株对单体皂苷Rb₁的降解效果。综上表明,采用富集和驯化策略可以有效筛选自毒物质降解细菌,SC3菌株具有消除连作土壤中皂苷类自毒物质的潜力。该研究结果为连作土壤修复提供了生物资源,并为今后深入研究皂苷降解机制提供了理论依据。     

Isolation and characterization of novel bacterial taxa from extreme alkali-saline soil

In northeast China there are large areas of nearly bare soda saline-alkali soil, in which plant survival is exteremely difficult because the land has a pH greater than 10.5. In order to obtain resistant microbial resources able to grow in such conditions, we analyzed environmental microbial samples from this extreme saline-alkali soil region. Through selective culture conditions, 8 bacterial strains were isolated from medium with no less than 1.5 M NaCl, 12 were isolated in the medium with a pH value of no less than 11.0, and 8 were isolated in the medium with of no less than 200 mM Na₂CO₃. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis 20 novel strains of bacteria were identified and classified into four groups: 8 group I strains belong to the genus Bacillus; three group II belong to genus Nesterenkonia (2 strains) and genus Zhihengliuella (1 strain); eight group III strains belong to the genera Halomonas (6), Stenotrophomonas (1) and Alkalimonas (1); one group IV strain belongs to genus Litoribacter. These four groups belong to the phylum Firmicutes, phylum Actinobacteria, phylum Gamma-Proteobacteria and phylum Bacteroidetes, respectively. The sequence homology of 16S rRNA in strains ANESC-S, H.sp.C4 and H.sp.C6 with that of known strains was 93.2, 96.5 and 96.5%, respectively. Based on the 97.0% identity cutoff commonly used to discriminate bacterial species, our data suggest that H. sp.C4 and H.sp.C6 may be new species, and ANESC-S may be belong to a new genus of classified into order Cytophagales. The morphological characteristics by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that, in addition to the coccal N.sp.N3, the majority (19) of the isolates are bacilli of various lengths. In culture the colonies appeared red, orange, yellow, light yellow, and milk-white, with milk-white being predominant. Based on the resistance to NaCl and pH, the 20 novel strains were classified into obligate alkaliphilic and halophilic bacteria, obligate alkaliphilic halotolerant bacteria, and facultative alkalophilic salt-tolerant bacteria. This is the first study reporting the isolation and characterization of bacterial resources from extreme saline-alkali soils from northeast China.     

Selection and characterization of mutants of Phanerochaete chrysosporium exhibiting ligninolytic activity under nutrient-rich conditions.

Synthesis of the ligninolytic system of the wood-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium is induced during secondary metabolism, brought about by nitrogen, carbon, or sulfur starvation. We describe here a strategy for selection of mutants which are ligninolytic (lignin----CO2) and overproduce lignin-degrading enzymes (ligninases) under nutrient-rich conditions (during primary metabolism). The strategy is based on using an adduct of lysine and a lignin model compound. Ligninase-dependent oxidation of this adduct releases free lysine, which complements the lysine requirements of a lysine auxotroph. Accordingly, a lysine auxotroph was mutagenized by UV irradiation and survivors were plated onto medium containing the adduct and high ammonia nitrogen. Four mutants which overproduce the ligninase isozymes were isolated by this procedure. Further characterization of one of the mutants, PSBL-1, indicated that the predominant isozymes produced are H1 (pI = 4.7) and H2 (pI = 4.4). The ligninase activity of PSBL-1, measured by veratryl alcohol oxidation, peaks on day 5 at over 1,000 U.liter-1. The mutant PSBL-1 was also able to degrade [14C]lignin to 14CO2, indicating that the complete ligninolytic system is deregulated.     

68株北极产蛋白酶菌株的筛选、鉴定以及部分酶学性质

【目的】从北极海水样品中分离产蛋白酶细菌,并对其进行初步的分类鉴定,为低温蛋白酶的低温适应性及其应用研究奠定基础。【方法】通过酪蛋白筛选培养基低温培养的方法从北极水样中分离出68株产蛋白酶细菌,采用16S rRNA基因PCR-RFLP(限制性酶切多态性)方法及传统的表型特性分析对所分离纯化的菌株进行分类,每种细菌类型各取1株代表菌株进行16S rRNA基因序列测定、GenBank数据库blast分析以及通过DNAMAN软件进行系统进化树分析。对代表菌株的蛋白酶酶学性质进行初步研究。【结果】68个菌株可归为3种类型(54.41%、42.65%和2.94%),分别以菌株6、11和52为代表菌株。16S rRNA基因序列分析结果表明,菌株11与比目鱼黄杆菌(Chryseobacterium scophthalmum)具有98.24%的同源性;菌株52与嗜根寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas rhizophila)具有98.55%的同源性;菌株6与Stenotrophomonas rhizophila具有96.50%的同源性,可能为该属的新物种。对3种类型代表菌株进行表型性状研究显示,菌株6、11和52为革兰氏阴性、直杆状、不产胞外脂肪酶和淀粉酶,具有强的蛋白酶活性。菌株6的蛋白酶最适酶活温度为55℃,最适宜pH为6.7;菌株11的蛋白酶最适酶活温度为40℃,属于低温酶,最适酶活pH约为8.5;菌株52的蛋白酶最适酶活温度为65℃,最适酶活pH为7.4。【结论】本文首次报道了Stenotrophomonas和Chryseobacterium的菌株在北极海水样品中的分布,充实了极地产蛋白酶菌的种属分布多样性,为后续低温蛋白酶的研究和应用奠定了基础。     

Isolation,screening, and optimization of bacterial strains for novel transglutaminase production

Transglutaminases are a class of transferases known to form isopeptide bond between glutamine and lysine residues in a protein molecule. Increasing demand for transglutaminase in food and other industries and its low productivity have compelled researchers to isolate and screen micro-organisms with potential to produce it. In the present investigation around 200 isolates were screened for extracellular secretion of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase). Isolate B4 showed enzyme activity of 1.71?±?0.2?U/mL followed by isolate C2 which showed 1.61?±?0.17?U/mL activity, comparable with the activity of industrially used microbial strains. Biochemical analysis along with 16S r-RNA sequencing revealed these isolates (B4 and C2) to be Bacillus nakamurai and a variant of Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Amongst the various production media screened, a medium containing starch and peptone was found best for MTGase production. Correlation between growth, enzyme production, and sugar utilization was also studied and maximum enzyme production was obtained after 48 to 60?hr. Highest MTGase titer (3.95?±?0.03?U/mL for B4 and 2.65?±?0.17?U/mL for C2) was obtained by optimization of parameters. The enzyme was characterized for temperature and pH optima, pH and thermal stability, and effect of metal ions, suggesting its potential use in future applications.     

一株新型莫能菌素高效降解菌的分离鉴定及其降解性能解析

利用微生物对抗生素类污染物进行生物降解是目前的研究热点之一。寻找能高效降解抗生素的微生物是该类研究的重要前提。本研究以莫能菌素为唯一碳源,从莫能菌素污染的鸡粪中分离出一株能高效降解莫能菌素的菌株DM-1。根据菌落形态学特征、生理生化特性和16S r RNA基因系统发育分析,对该菌株进行种属鉴定;利用柱后衍生化法的高效液相色谱(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)检测DM-1对莫能菌素的降解效率;并对DM-1的降解条件进行了优化。结果表明,筛选到的莫能菌素降解菌DM-1为不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)的细菌,命名为鲍曼不动杆菌DM-1(Acinetobacter baumannii DM-1);该菌株在10 mg/L莫能菌素的无机盐液体培养基中,避光培养28 d后,莫能菌素的降解率为87.51%,对照组仅为8.57%;菌株DM-1对莫能菌素降解的最优条件为:p H 7.0、温度30℃,最适初始添加莫能菌素浓度为50 mg/L;本研究结果表明菌株DM-1在莫能菌素污染环境的生物修复方面具有良好的应用前景。     

Isolation from coastal sea water and characterization of bacterial strains involved in non-ionic surfactant degradation

A bacterial community degrading branched alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) was selected from coastal sea water intermittently polluted by urban sewage. This community degraded more than 99% of a standard surfactant, TRITON X 100, but I.R. analysis of the remaining compound showed the accumulation of APE₂ (alkylphenol with a two units length ethoxylated chain) which seemed very recalcitrant to further biodegradation. Twenty-five strains were isolated from this community, essentially Gram negative and were related to Pseudomonas, Oceanospirillum or Deleya genera. Among these strains, only four were able to degrade APE_9–10 (TRITON X 100). They were related to the Pseudomonas genus and were of marine origin. Pure cultures performed with these strains on TRITON X 100 gave APE₅ and APE₄ as end products. These products were further degraded to APE2 by two other strains unable to degrade the initial surfactant.     

4株苯系物降解菌菌株的筛选鉴定、降解特性及其降解基因研究

分别以苯、甲苯为碳源,从厦门污水处理厂活性污泥中富集筛选获得了2株苯降解菌B1、B2和2株甲苯降解菌J2、J6。16S rRNA基因鉴定结果表明B1、J2属于假单胞菌属(Pseudomonassp.),B2、J6属于不动杆菌属(Acinetobactersp.)。研究表明,这些菌在pH7~10的碱性范围内能很好生长。在以0.1%(V/V)苯或甲苯为唯一碳源的无机盐培养基中,B1、B2菌在72小时内对苯的降解率分别为67.7%、94.2%,J2、J6菌对甲苯的降解率分别为92.4%、84.8%。简并PCR扩增、序列分析表明,这些菌含有相同的苯双加氧酶基因,表明苯降解基因在这些降解菌中可能存在水平转移。此外,J2,J6两株菌还含有甲苯双加氧酶基因,而且J2能在甲苯浓度为70%(V/V)的LB培养基中生长。这些降解菌在苯、甲苯污染的生物治理中有应用前景。     

Isolation and characterization of two novel ethanol-tolerant facultative-anaerobic thermophilic bacteria strains from waste compost

In a search for potential ethanologens, waste compost was screened for ethanol-tolerant thermophilic microorganisms. Two thermophilic bacterial strains, M5EXG and M10EXG, with tolerance of 5 and 10% (v/v) ethanol, respectively, were isolated. Both isolates are facultative anaerobic, non-spore forming, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, Gram-negative rods that are capable of utilizing a range of carbon sources including arabinose, galactose, mannose, glucose and xylose and produce low amounts of ethanol, acetate and lactate. Growth of both isolates was observed in fully defined minimal media within the temperature range 50–80°C and pH 6.0–8.0. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences revealed that both isolates clustered with members of subgroup 5 of the genus Bacillus. G+C contents and DNA–DNA relatedness of M5EXG and M10EXG revealed that they are strains belonging to Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius. However, physiological and biochemical differences were evident when isolates M5EXG and M10EXG were compared with G. thermoglucosidasius type strain (DSM 2542^T). The new thermophilic, ethanol-tolerant strains of G. thermoglucosidasius may be candidates for ethanol production at elevated temperatures.     

Isolation and characterization of ethanol tolerant yeast strains

Yeast strains are commonly associated with sugar rich environments. Various fruit samples were selected as source for isolating yeast cells. The isolated cultures were identified at Genus level by colony morphology, biochemical characteristics and cell morphological characters. An attempt has been made to check the viability of yeast cells under different concentrations of ethanol. Ethanol tolerance of each strain was studied by allowing the yeast to grow in liquid YEPD (Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose) medium having different concentrations of ethanol. A total of fifteen yeast strains isolated from different samples were used for the study. Seven strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained from different fruit sources were screened for ethanol tolerance. The results obtained in this study show a range of tolerance levels between 7%-12% in all the stains. Further, the cluster analysis based on 22 RAPD (Random Amplified polymorphic DNA) bands revealed polymorphisms in these seven Saccharomyces strains.     

Isolation and characterization of cold-adapted strains producing beta-galactosidase

beta-Galactosidase is extensively employed in the manufacture of dairy products, including lactose-reduced milk. Here, we have isolated two gram-negative and rod-shaped coldadapted bacteria, BS 1 and HS 39. These strains were able to break down lactose at low temperatures. Although two isolates were found to grow well at 10 degrees , the BS 1 strain was unable to grow at 37 degrees . Another strain, HS-39, evidenced retarded growth at 37 degrees . The biochemical characteristics and the results of 16S rDNA sequencing identified the BS 1 isolate as Rahnella aquatilis, and showed that the HS 39 strain belonged to genus Buttiauxella. Whereas the R. aquatilis BS 1 strain generated maximal quantities of beta-galactosidase when incubated for 60 h at 10 degrees , Buttiauxella sp. HS-39 generated beta-galactosidase earlier, and at slightly lower levels, than R. aquatilis BS 1. The optimum temperature for beta-galactosidase was 30 degrees for R. aquatilis BS-1, and was 45 degrees for Buttiauxella sp. HS-39, thereby indicating that R. aquatilis BS-1 was able to generate a cold-adaptive enzyme. These two cold-adapted strains, and most notably the beta-galactosidase from each isolate, might prove useful in some biotechnological applications.     

一株高效广谱染料降解细菌的分离鉴定及其脱色特性初探

从土壤样品中分离到一株高效染料脱色菌株N-4,根据形态学特征及16S rDNA基因序列分析,该菌株初步鉴定为Leucobacter sp.。利用表面响应法(RSM)对菌株N-4脱色活性深蓝K-R的主要因素进行优化,实验结果表明,菌株N-4脱色K-R的最优条件为:湿菌量10 g/L,染料浓度222 mg/L,硫酸铵1.5 g/L,果糖3.5 g/L,最佳脱色率为100%。此外,实验证明其对多种染料均具有较高的脱色效率。同时,考察了金属离子对染料脱色效率的影响,其中K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Ba2+、Mn2+等对脱色具有促进作用,而Ni2+、Cu2+、Hg2+对脱色具有明显的抑制作用。     

Molecular characterization of a novel peroxidase isolated from the ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus eryngii

A haem peroxidase different from other microbial, plant and animal peroxidases is described. The enzyme is secreted as two isoforms by dikaryotic Pleurotus eryngii in peptone-containing liquid medium. The corresponding gene, which presents 15 introns and encodes a 361-amino-acid protein with a 30-amino-acid signal peptide, was isolated as two alleles corresponding to the two isoforms. The alleles differ in three amino acid residues and in a seven nucleotide deletion affecting a single metal response element in the promoter. When compared with Phanerochaete chrysosporium peroxidases, the new enzyme appears closer to lignin peroxidase (LiP) than to Mn-dependent peroxidase (MnP) isoenzymes (58–60% and 55% identity respectively). The molecular model built using crystal structures of three fungal peroxidases as templates, also showed high structural affinity with LiP (C_α-distance 1.2 Å). However, this peroxidase includes a Mn²⁺ binding site formed by three acidic residues (E36, E40 and D175) near the haem internal propionate, which accounts for the ability to oxidize Mn²⁺. Its capability to oxidize aromatic substrates could involve interactions with aromatic residues at the edge of the haem channel. Another possibility is long-range electron transfer, e.g. from W164, which occupies the same position of LiP W171 recently reported as involved in the catalytic cycle of LiP.     

Isolation and characterization of two aerobic bacterial strains that completely degrade ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE)

Two bacterial strains, E1 and E2, isolated from gasoline-polluted soil completely degraded ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), as the sole source of carbon and energy, at specific rates of about 80 mg g(-1) and 58 mg g(-1) of cell protein day(-1), respectively. On the basis of morphological and phenotypic characteristics, strain E1 was tentatively identified as Comamonas testosteroni and strain E2 as belonging to Centre for Disease Control group A-5. The inhibitory effect of metyrapone on the degradative ability of both strains was the first evidence indicating the involvement of a soluble cytochrome P-450 in the cleavage of the ETBE ether bond. This observation was confirmed by spectrophotometric analysis of reduced cell extracts that gave, in the presence of carbon monoxide, a major absorbance peak at about 450 nm. Both strains were also able to degrade, as the sole source of carbon and energy, ETBE's major metabolic intermediates (tert-butyl alcohol and tert-butyl formate) and other gasoline oxygenates (methyl tert-butyl ether and tert-amyl methyl ether). The degradation rates varied considerably, with both strains exhibiting a preferential activity for ETBE's metabolic intermediates.     

Isolation of wildXanthomonas strains from agricultural produce, their characterization and potential related to polysaccharide production

One hundred fifty wild strains ofXanthomonas were isolated on five selective and nonselective media. The comparative effectivity of the five media has been discussed. Fifteen polysaccharide-producing strains shortlisted were identified up to species level. These were studied for polysaccharide production in shake flasks using YM media. The highest final yield of 21.3 g/L of the amount of carbon source supplied has been obtained in the optimum medium in shake-flask experiments fromXanthomonas campestris ICa-125 strain isolated from cabbage. Rheological properties of the exocellular polysaccharide (EPS) have been compared with standard xanthan. EPS fromX. campestris ICa-125 was found to be superior with respect to heat stability and effect of electrolytes as compared to standard xanthan.     

Isolation and characterization of Hfr strains of Erwinia amylovora

Hfr strains (Hfr 159 and its derivatives, Hfr 160 and Hfr 161) were constructed from Erwinia amylovora ICPB EA178 by introducing an Escherichia coli F'his+ plasmid and then selecting for integration of F'his+ after treatment with acridine orange. The Hfr strains were relatively stable upon repeated transfers on nonselective media. Interrupted mating experiments and analyses of inheritance of unselected markers showed that his+ is transferred by Hfr 159 as the proximal marker at a relatively high frequency (about 5 x 10(-4) recombinants per input donor cell), followed by ilv+, orn+, arg+, pro+, rbs+, met+, trp+, leu+, ser+, and thr+ (not necessarily in that precise order). The donor strains, previously constructed in E. amylovora by integration of F'lac+ from E. coli transfer cys+ as the proximal marker followed by ser+. Further analysis of one of those earlier donor strains, Hfr99, showed that ser+ is followed by arg+, orn+, met+, pro+, leu+, ilv+, rbs+, his+, trp+, and thr+ (not necessarily in that precise order). Thus, the Hfr strains constructed by integration of F'his+ are different, in terms of origin and direction of transfer, from those derived from integration of F'lac+. The applicability of these Hfr strains to mapping the genes on the E. amylovora chromosome is indicated.