Reduction of hyperhydricity in tissue cultures of oregano (Origanum vulgare) by extracellular polysaccharide isolated from Pseudomonas spp

Hyperhydricity or vitrification is a physiological malformation affecting tissue culture-based propagation of several plant species. A Pseudomonas spp-mediated approach was recently developed to control hyperhydricity in oregano. This bacterium-induced prevention of hyperhydricity helped the establishment of clonal plants in the greenhouse without extensive acclimatization. The prevention of hyperhydricity was specifically linked to mucoid Pseudomonas spp and was characterized by high chlorophyll and reduced water content in oregano shoots. The focus of research reported in this paper was to purify the extracellular mucoid component from Pseudomonas spp and evaluate the effect on hyperhydricity in oregano tissue culture. The extracellular mucoid component was purified by ethanol precipitation. This extracellular mucoid component was confirmed to be a polysaccharide using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect of purified polysaccharide to prevent or reduce hyperhydricity was tested in oregano clone 0–1. The polysaccharide prevented hyperhydricity in oregano with reduced efficiency compared to bacterial inoculation. This was characterized by higher chlorophyll and reduced water content when compared to uninoculated/untreated oregano shoots. This confirms that the Pseudomonas spp-mediated hyperhydricity reduction in oregano is partially due to its extracellular polysaccharide. This provides a novel approach to develop a media formulation to control hyperhydricity in wide number of plant species where tissue culture is used for clonal propagation.     

Cation-induced thermal stability of an alkaline protease from a Bacillus sp.

An alkaline protease produced from a Bacillus sp. was stimulated by the metal ions Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺; with Ca²⁺ having the maximum effect. The thermal stability of the enzyme was also enhanced to varying degrees in the presence of these ions.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular polysaccharide from haloalkalophilic Bacillus sp. I-450

During the course of investigation of haloalkalophilic bacteria, we screened some heavily polluted soil samples from the mudflats surrounding the city of Inchon, Korea, for their bioflocculant producing ability. Based on the screening, one isolate no. 450 tentatively identified as Bacillus sp. produced an extracellular polysaccharide having flocculation activity. The isolate produced the polysaccharide during the late logarithmic growth phase. The polymer could be recovered from the supernatant of the fermented medium by cold ethanol precipitation and purified by treating with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The polymer was identified as an acidic polysaccharide containing neutral sugars, namely, galactose, fructose, glucose and raffinose, and uronic acids as major and minor components, respectively. The amount of neutral sugars, uronic acid and amino sugars were 52.4, 17.2 and 2.4%, respectively. The molecular weight of the polysaccharide was found to be 2.2×10⁶ Da. The Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) revealed typical characteristics of polysaccharides. ¹H NMR spectrum showed that the polymer is a heteroglycan. Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis indicated the degradation temperature (T_d) at 290 °C. The rheological analysis of the polymer 450 revealed the pseudoplastic property with shear-thinning effect, while the compression test indicated that the polymer had high gel strength, and the S.E.M. studies showed that the polymer has a porous structure with small pore-size distribution indicating the compactness of the polymer.     

一株耐高温产纤维素酶芽胞杆菌的筛选鉴定及其液体发酵条件优化

以获得耐高温纤维素酶菌株为目的,以育苗基质中农业生物质废弃物为原料,通过在发酵高温期(≥50 ℃)取样进行菌种筛选,结合菌株形态特征、生理生化指标及16S rDNA进化树分析结果,菌株E鉴定为枯草芽胞杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）。使用优化后的培养基,通过单因子试验方法对产酶条件进行优化,确定菌株E的发酵最优条件为培养温度50 ℃、时间48 h、初始pH值6.0、装液量100 mL、接种量2%～5%（体积分数）,在该条件下发酵液OD值及酶活性达到最高。研究结果为生产生物活性育苗基质及农业废弃物资源化利用等研究提供参考。     

乳杆菌对致病假单胞菌的抑制作用研究进展*

假单胞菌污染事件在临床就医和日常饮食中频发,屡次产生致病、致死等恶劣后果,有效抑制致病假单胞菌并降低其耐药性作为解决该问题的关键手段,是目前的研究重点。相关研究表明益生菌等天然活性成分对假单胞菌产生多方面影响,以应用范围最广的益生菌——乳杆菌为例,综合国内外最新研究进展,论述了乳杆菌对假单胞菌的生物膜结构、生长活性、生物毒性、黏附细胞表面能力及被假单胞菌感染后的小鼠等产生的影响。深入挖掘乳杆菌等益生菌及其代谢产物成分的作用机制,是防治假单胞菌等微生物污染和感染的关键。     

Purification and properties of lipase from a Bacillus strain for catalytic resolution of (R)-Naproxen

A Bacillus strain was screened for asymmetric resolution of (R)-Naproxen. The optical purity (ee (%)) of (R)-Naproxen was found to be 86.47% and conversion rate was 40–50% in bacterial cells PBS reaction system. The dissolved lipase was clarified from the Bacillus bacterial cells by centrifugation and loaded on a phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B column. After purification by a single hydrophobic chromatography, the activity of lipase was approximately 43 times higher than the crude one. The hydrolytic activity of lipase using Naproxen ethyl ester and p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) as substrate remained essentially constant during the purification procedure. A Bacillus strain with stereochemical selectivity was obtained.     

食源假单胞菌群体感应信号分子的研究

从市售鲜鱼中分离的3株革兰氏阴性菌,经16S rDNA鉴定为假单胞菌属,该菌是一种导致食品腐败的重要腐败细菌。N-酰基-高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)是革兰氏阴性菌群体感应(QS)系统中一类重要的信号分子,以密度依赖的方式调控某些生理性状的表达。利用AHLs检测菌株对3株假单胞菌进行检测发现,均产生AHLs类信号分子,且FML05-1和FML05-2至少产生两种AHLs,主要的信号分子是N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯(N- 3-oxo-C_8-HSL)。同时对菌株FML05-2在生长过程中所产生的AHLs的活性变化进行研究,发现AHLs活性在菌体生长至12h时达到最大。首次对食源假单胞菌所产生的AHLs进行了研究,为以干扰腐败细菌群体感应为靶点的食品防腐保鲜策略提供研究基础。     

Methods for the immobilization of lipases and their use for ester synthesis

The lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens was immobilized onto five different carriers: celite, octyl-silica, aminopropyl-silica, gluterdialdehyde-activated silica and Eupergit C250L. Activities and operational stabilities of the prepared catalysts were compared using the enantioselective acylation of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol by vinyl acetate as acyl donor and t-butylmethyl ether with variable water content (0.038-0.97% v/v) as reaction medium. The above carriers provide catalysts with widely different specific activities ranging from excellent 25 mmol/h mg protein (celite) to 0.07 mmol/h mg protein (glutardialdehyde-activated silica) on the lower end. The lipase immobilized onto Eupergit C250L exhibited the best operational stability among the catalysts studied. It retained 30% of its initial activity after 11 cycles of application, each with a duration between 2 and 6 h.     

高毒力昆虫病原线虫共生细菌菌株的筛选及其杀虫活性的检测

昆虫病原线虫共生细菌是寄生在昆虫病原线虫肠道的一种细菌,二者互惠共生。实验采用6个不同种的菌株为筛选材料。共生细菌菌株的培养液经85%饱和度的(NH₄)_2SO4盐析,浓缩冻干得到杀虫粗提物。以粗提物注射大蜡螟Galleria mellonella、饲喂玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis和棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera,发现Xenorhabdus nematophilus D43、X.bovienii A54、Photorhabdus luminescens HZL和CB-8等4个菌株发酵液的粗提物对昆虫有高的血腔毒性,菌株A54对昆虫又有高的胃毒效果。由此确立A54为高毒力的菌株,其杀虫活性表现为：注射大蜡螟48 h的死亡率为80%,96 h为93.3%;粗提物饲喂玉米螟,72 h死亡率为53.3%,120 h死亡率为100%;饲喂棉铃虫,72 h死亡率为80.1%,120 h死亡率为90%。杀虫粗提物经DEAE-52柱层析分离,得到一个穿透峰和三个盐的梯度洗脱峰,其中穿透峰对昆虫有很好的胃毒效果,但没有血腔毒性;三个盐峰均有很高的血腔毒性,但没有胃毒作用。穿透峰样品饲喂2龄、3龄棉铃虫也有很好的杀虫活性,96 h 2龄棉铃虫的死亡率为65%,3龄棉铃虫的死亡率为30%;处理96 h的棉铃虫同处理前相比体重下降,未死棉铃虫体重明显低于对照。     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure (S)-flurbiprofen by an esterase from Pseudomonas sp. KCTC 10122BP

Esterase PF1-K from Pseudomonas sp. KTCC 10122BP was overproduced by the fed-batch culture of Escherichia coli. The soluble expression of esterase PF1-K was achieved by shifting the culture temperature from 37 to 25 °C at the time of IPTG induction. The enzyme was partially purified to about 75% purity by a single-step hydrophobic interaction column chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibited a fairly high enantioselectivity towards the hydrolysis of rac-flurbiprofen ethyl ester. The enzymatic chiral resolution was further improved by optimizing the reaction conditions in terms of reaction rate and enantioselectivity. The optimal reaction conditions were found to be 40 °C, pH 10.5 and 600 mM of initial rac-flurbiprofen ethyl ester. After 90 min of batch reaction under the optimal conditions, 50% of the initial rac-flurbiprofen was hydrolyzed with an enantiomeric excess of 99%.     

Production of substituted catechols from substituted benzenes by a Pseudomonas sp.

In the presence of a halobenzene or benzonitrile, Pseudomonas T-12 can produce substituted catechols from the corresponding substituted benzenes. A variety of monosubstituted benzenes with substituents containing up to four carbons, and some meta- and para- disubstituted benzenes, can serve as catechol precursors.     

Cloning and expression of a Bacillus cellulase gene in Escherichia coli

A Bacillus cellulase gene coding for carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) has been cloned in Escherichia coli using pBR 322 as a vector. The gene was expressed independently of its orientation in the cloning vector showing enzyme activity 40 times greater than that produced by the original Bacillus species. The high production of CMCase in E. coli by the foreign gene did not impede growth of the host cells and the E. coli produced CMCase responded to various pH values and temperatures in the same way as that produced by the gene donor cells.     

Characterization of co-culture of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacterial biofilm and spoilage potential on refrigerated grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Aeromonas and Pseudomonas are important bacterial species involved in spoilage of refrigerated freshwater fish. In this study, 10 Aeromonas and seven Pseudomonas bacterial strains were isolated from spoiled grass carp and identified. Twelve of seventeen bacterial strains showed high potential of biofilm formation and 14 of 17 can produce extracellular protease. In order to explore the spoilage capacity of dual-species, the sterile grass carp fillets were inoculated with mono- and dual-species of Aeromonas salmonicida and Pseudomonas azotoformans strains. The results revealed significantly higher levels of the total viable count and total volatile basic nitrogen in dual-species as compared to mono-species from day 6. The higher contents of histamine, cadaverine and serious degradation in muscles tissue were also observed in dual-species after 10 days of storage. Results of in vitro experiments showed that the co-culture of A. salmonicida and P. azotoformans significantly increased the bacterial maximum growth rate, promoted the biofilm formation and improved the spoilage capacity of bacterial strains. This study has revealed that the co-culture of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacterial strains accelerated spoilage process of grass carp and increased biofilm formation. It indicates that the mixed-cultures of spoilage micro-organisms pose a huge threat to food industry.     

重水对萎缩芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发的影响

本研究快报报道了重水对细菌芽孢的萌发及其可培养性的抑制作用. 在常温条件下,用L-丙氨酸触发细菌芽孢的萌发,并用Tb-DPA荧光法、相差显微镜观测法和光密度测定法监测萌发过程,用最终萌发水平、萌发半期、萌发速度3个参数来表征萌发过程. 除此之外,我们还用菌落形成单位的个数来评估萌发后芽孢的可培养性. 结果表明,重水对整个萌发过程有抑制作用,同时降低了萌发后芽孢的可培养性,但对最终萌发水平无影响. 我们推测这是因为重水增强了一些芽孢特异性信号蛋白的稳定性.     

芽孢杆菌几种重要抗菌脂肽研究进展

多种芽孢杆菌为益生菌,能分泌多种天然抗菌活性物质,其中脂肽是重要的一类。目前已鉴定的脂肽约有90多种,多数为环脂肽。脂肽中表面活性素(surfactin)、伊枯草菌素(iturin)、芬原素(fengycin)、杆菌霉素(bacillomycin)、多粘菌素(polymyxins)等是研究最广泛的脂肽。其中surfactin、iturin、fengycin由于其具有表面活性剂特性及抗真菌、抗细菌、抗病毒、抗肿瘤、抗炎症等功能,应用潜力巨大。本文对surfactin、iturin及fengycin的结构、功能、合成调控及其分离纯化和生产等方面的研究进展进行了评述。合成生物学是提高脂肽产量的重要手段,未来脂肽可用于种植业、养殖业、食品、医药、石油工业和环保等领域,因此需要在新型脂肽的发现、高产活性脂肽的生产、脂肽低廉生产技术的研发及安全性的评估等方面加强研究。     

来源于嗜碱芽孢杆菌N16-5甘露聚糖利用基因簇的乙酰酯酶AesA的克隆及性质分析*

天然来源的多糖底物上常存在乙酰基取代,特异性的乙酰酯酶能够切割这些底物上的乙酰基,从而有利于聚糖底物的进一步降解.对Bacillus sp. N16-5甘露聚糖利用基因簇上编码的乙酰酯酶AesA进行了基因克隆和异源表达,并对其酶学性质进行了研究.aesA基因长957bp,编码318个氨基酸,属于碳水化合物酯酶第7家族.AesA对4-甲基伞形酮乙酸酯(4-methylumbelliferyl-acetate)表现出较好的催化活性,金属离子Fe³⁺,Fe²⁺,Mn²⁺及Cu²⁺对AesA活性均有不同程度的促进作用.AesA与甘露聚糖酶ManA对乙酰化的甘露聚糖底物具有显著的协同作用.此项研究有助于理解嗜碱芽孢杆菌Bacillus sp.N16-5对甘露聚糖的水解机制,并且在甘露聚糖降解中具有潜在的应用前景.     

Antimicrobial activity of steady-state cultures of Bacillus sp. CCMI 1051 against wood contaminant fungi

The effect of changing dilution rate (D) on Bacillus sp. CCMI 1051 at dilution rates between 0.1 and 0.55 h⁻¹ in a glucose-limited medium was studied. Biomass values varied between 0.88 and 1.1 g L⁻¹ at D values of 0.15–0.35 h⁻¹. Maximal biomass productivity was found to be 0.39 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, obtained at D = 0.35 h⁻¹ and corresponding to a 54.4% conversion of the carbon into cell mass. The highest rate of glucose consumption was 4.45 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ occurring at D = 0.4 h⁻¹. The glucose concentration inside the chemostat was below the detection level starting to accumulate around 0.4 h⁻¹. Growth inhibition of fifteen strains of fungi by the broth of the steady-state cell-free supernatants was assessed. Results showed that the relative inhibition differ among the target species but was not influenced by the dilution rate changing.     

Two acidothermotolerant lipases from new variants of Bacillus spp.

Two acidothermotolerant lipases from new isolates of Bacillus stearothermophilus SB-1 and Bacillus licheniformis SB-3 are reported. In addition, a thermotolerant, neutral lipase from Bacillus atrophaeus SB-2 that hydrolyses castor oil is also reported. The lipase from B. stearothermophilus SB-1 retained 70% activity and that from B. licheniformis SB-3 retained 50% activity at pH 3.0 at 50 °C. In addition, at 100 °C B. stearothermophilus SB-1 lipase had a half life of 25 min at pH 3.0 and 15 min at pH 6.0. Lipase activity was markedly stimulated by glycerol in case of B. stearothermophilus SB-1 and by diethylether in cases of B. atrophaeus SB-2 and B. licheniformis SB-3. The lipases varied in their substrate specificity towards triacylglycerols. The rate of hydrolysis of neem oil with B. stearothermophilus SB-1 and B. atrophaeus SB-2 lipases was, respectively, nearly 4-fold and 2-fold more than with olive oil.     

Resolution of 2-octanol by SBA-15 immobilized Pseudomonas sp. lipase

Lipase from Pseudomonas sp. (PSL) was immobilized on SBA-15 (a highly ordered hexagonal array mesoporous silica molecular sieve) through physical adsorption and the immobilized PSL was used in resolution of (R,S)-2-octanol with vinyl acetate as acyl donor. Enhanced activity and enantioselectivity were observed for the immobilized PSL compared with those of the free one. The effects of reaction conditions, such as solvents, temperature, water activity and substrate ratio were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the residual (S)-2-octanol was recovered with 99% enantiomeric excess at 52% conversion. The results also indicated that the immobilized PSL maintained 90% of its initial activity even after reusing it five times.     

Industrial production of (R)-1,3-butanediol by new biocatalysts

We have developed the economical and convenient biocatalytic process for the preparation of (R)-1,3-butanediol (BDO) by stereo-specific microbial oxido-reduction on an industrial scale. (R)-1,3-BDO is an important chiral synthon for the synthesis of various optically active compounds such as azetidinone derivatives lead to penem and carbapenem antibiotics.

We studied on two approaches to obtain (R)-1,3-BDO. The first approach was based on enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone; the second approach was based on enantio-selective oxidation of the undesired (S)-1,3-BDO in the racemate. As a result of screening for yeasts, fungi and bacteria, the enzymatic resolution of racemic 1,3-BDO by the Candida parapsilosis IFO 1396, which showed differential rates of oxidation for two enantiomers, was found to be the most practical process to produce (R)-1,3-BDO with high enantiomeric excess and yield.

We characterized the (S)-1,3-BDO dehydrogenase purified from a cell-free extract of C. parapsilosis. This enzyme was found to be a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (CpSADH). We have attempted to clone and characterize the gene encoding CpSADH and express it in Escherichia coli. The CpSADH activity of a recombinant E. coli strain was more than two times higher than that of C. parapsilosis. The production yield of (R)-1,3-BDO from the racemate increased by using the recombinant E. coli strain. Interestingly, we found that the recombinant E. coli strain catalyzed the reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxo-butanoate to ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hyroxy-butanoate with high enantiomeric excess.