Utilization of oligosaccharides by three imperfect fungi

Summary The utilization of oligosaccharides (maltose, sucrose, lactose and raffinose) by three imperfect fungi viz.Alternaria tenuis Auct.,Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.)Butler &Bisby andColletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. isolated from diseased leaves of tomato,Scindapsus pictus andPolyscias balfuriana respectively, was studied chromatographically. Except for lactose, all the sugars were utilizzed through a hydrolytic pathway and almost all proved to be a suitable source of carbon for the growth of fungi. Along with the utilization of sucrose, a simultaneous synthesis of an oligosaccharide was also observed in case of two species ofColletotrichum. C. gloeosporioides, however, also synthesized an oligosaccharide, maltotriose if it is grown in the medium containing maltose. During the utilization of raffinose, melibiose and fructose were detectted in the culture medium ofA. tenuis. Melibiose was further broken down into glucose and galactose by the two species ofColletotrichum.All the sugars were consumed from the media within 15 days except for lactose which persisted in the media even after 15 days.     

Studies on the nutrition of the genus Pestalotiopsis II. Chromatographic analysis of the medium during the utilization of various carbohydrates

The utilization of 17 different carbohydrates by four isolates ofPestalotiopsis was studied by the paper chromatographic technique.Among the pentoses, xylose, which was recorded as a poor source, was not consumed even in 15 days by any of the isolates. L-arabinose was exhausted in 6–8 days while L-rhamnose was used up in 9–10 days, both supporting growth equal to glucose as a source. There was a good correlation between the efficiency and the rate of utilization of the three pentose sugars.The utilization of the hexoses had no correlation with dry weight output as was in the case of the pentoses. Glucose from the medium was exhausted between 4–9 days; fructose required 7–10 days. Fructose was much superior than glucose but was consumed slowly as compared to glucose. D-galactose which was a poor source was used up only in 7 days byP. royneae but the other three isolates took longer time, 11–14 days to exhaust the sugar. L-sorbose was used up in 10–15 days. D-mannose, which was a good source for mycelial attainment required 6–12 days for complete utilization.Hydrolytic pathway of utilization of oligosaccharides was recorded for all the isolates; in lactose, however, the component sugars could not be detected and the disaccharide was present up to the end of the incubation period. This was obviously due to slow rate of its breakdown. Sucrose was hydrolysed in the shortest period of 2 days in all cases. Glucose was utilized faster than the other hydrolytic products by three isolates.P. royneae, however, finished both in equal time of 6 days. Maltose, cellobiose and trehalose were used slowly. In maltose, one or two transient oligosaccharides were also detected. Trehalose persisted for the longest time. Melibiose was present till the end of the incubation period during the growth ofP. gracilis andP. paeoniae isolate I. The isolate II ofP. paeoniae andP. royneae consumed it in 9 days. Only one of its hydrolytic products, i.e. glucose was detected in the medium, on raffinose solution only fructose and galactose were spotted.The hydrolytic products of starch could not be detected in the medium. In dextrin, however, glucose was detected in the medium used by three isolates other thanP. paeoniae isolate I.Oligosaccharide synthesis was accomplished by all the isolates ofPestalotiopsis under study. On maltose medium,P. gracilis andP. paeoniae isolate I synthesised two such transient oligosaccharides,P. royneae andP. paeoniae II formed only one.     

Specific growth rate of bifidobacteria cultured on different sugars

The ability of six bifidobacterial strains (3 of human origin and 3 isolates from fermented milk products) to utilize glucose, lactose, melezitose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose was determined. Dairy-related bifidobacterial strains were identified asBifidobacterium animalis (2 strains) or asB. pseudolongum (1 strain). Human strains includedB. longum (2 strains) andB. breve (1 strain). All strains fermented lactose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose. Melezitose was utilized only byB. longum. B. pseudolongum did not ferment either glucose or melezitose. All isolates had a higher specific growth rate on raffinose and stachyose than on glucose. Dairy strains grew slowly on glucose compared to human strains.     

Studies on helicostylum piriforme. II. Utilization of mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides

Summary The utilization of mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides has been studied in detail. Out of the six monosaccharides tested, xylose, glucose, fructose and galactose were completely utilized within the incubation period, while rhamnose and sorbose were detected in the medium till the end of the incubation period.Amongst the four oligosaccharides, maltose and raffinose were utilized satisfactorily. The hydrolytic products of these two sugars were detected in the medium. In spite of all the efforts the hydrolytic products of sucrose and lactose could not be traced in the medium. It was noticed that the fungus, during the period of utilizing maltose, synthesized some additional unknown oligosaccharides. Both dextrin and starch were not completely utilized by the fungus.The addition of sorbose affected the utilization of mono-, oligo-and polysaccharides by reducing the amount of mycelium produced by the fungus.     

Viability,cell division and microcallus formation of barley microspores in culture

Barley microspores were viable when cultured in a sugarless medium. Adding 2g of glucose to 1l of this medium resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of viable microspores. The frequency of viable microspores was further reduced when 50g of cellobiose, glucose, maltose, melezitose, raffinose or sucrose were added to 1l of the culture medium containing 2g/l glucose. Adding 50g of melibiose, Ficoll, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a combination 50g each of Ficoll and PEG to 1I of the medium containing 2g/l glucose had very little effect on the viability of the microspores.Up to 66% of the viable microspores were able to divide and many of these developed into microcalli in the basal medium complemented with melibiose, maltose, melezitose, raffinose, Ficoll, PEG or a combination of Ficoll with PEG. Sucrose, cellobiose and glucose added in large quantities inhibited cell division in microspores or destabilized the microspores and only very few of them developed into microcalli.The microcalli in the PEG, Ficoll, Ficoll-PEG and melibiose media were smaller in size than those grown in the melezitose, maltose and raffinose media. Sustained cell division and microcallus formation were observed in a medium with melibiose or maltose as sole source of sugars.Abbreviations 2.4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid - PEG Polyethylene glycol     

Kinetics,nutrition and inhibitor properties of basidiospore germination in schizophyllum commune

Summary The kinetics, nutritional requirements and inhibitor properties of basidiospore germination in the wood-rotting mushroom Schizophyllum commune were investigated. Measurements of changes in absorbancy and dry weight showed a lag period of approximately 15–20 hrs, followed by an abrupt increase in the rate of both processes. Individual basidiospore elongation also showed a lag phase and population changes were heterogenous in this regard.Carbohydrates active for basidiospore germination were grouped into four categories. Those sugars active between 15 and 20 hrs included glycogen, turanose, cellobiose, maltose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose and xylose. Several sugar alcohols were only active between 30 and 60 hrs incubation and these included mannitol, sorbitol, ribitol, xylitol, arabitol, erythritol and glycerol. A third category of carbohydrates active for germination required prolonged incubation between 30 hrs and 7 days and included lactose, sorbose, raffinose, melezitose, trehalose, ribose and melibiose. Compounds without activity after 7 days included galactitol, inositol, acetate, succinate, gluconate, citrate, fumarate, rhamnose, fucose and inulin.Nitrogen sources active in basidiospore germination included complex organic nitrogenous substrates, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, urea and various ammonium salts.Germination was inhibited by cycloheximide, l-ethionine, p-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine, sodium azide, 2,4-dinitrophenol, phenylmercuric acetate and 2-deoxy-d-glucose. Alkali as a trapping agent arrested germination in glucose-(NH₄)₂SO₄ medium but was without ill-effect in glucose peptone broth.     

Transgalactosylation activity of sweet almond α-galactosidase: Synthesis of saccharides

Sweet almond α-galactosidase (α-d-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.22) catalyses hydrolytic, synthetic (de novo) and transfer reactions. Transfer products were formed using p-nitrophenyl α-d-galactoside as the galactosyl donor and glucose, galactose, sucrose, maltose and lactose as acceptors; several of the products were identified. The enzyme also caused elongation of the oligosaccharide chain of two substrates (melibiose and raffinose). In addition, the enzyme catalysed condensation of free galactose, yielding oligosaccharides. The products were identified in all cases by chromatography.     

Production of amylase(s) by Schwanniomyces castellii and Endomycopsis fibuligera

Schwanniomyces castellii and Endomycopsis fibuligera Produced extracellular amylase(s) when grown on various carbon sources and at different pH values. Both yeast species showed significant amylase synthesis in the presence of either maltose or soluble starch. On the other substrates tested (glucose, cellobiose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose, raffinose, ethanol, glycerol) differences were found regarding growth and amylase production. Free glucose in the culture medium apparently inhibited enzyme synthesis. The pH range allowing maximal growth and amylase production was 4.5–6.0 for E. fibuligera and 5.5–7.0 for S. castellii.     

Inhibition of Camellia japonica Pollen Tube Growth by Maltose

Various oligosaccharides were studied with regard to their effecton the in vitro growth of Camellia japonica pollen tube. Sucrose,raffinose, melezitose, cellobiose, turanose and isomaltose,especially the first four, promoted pollen tube growth, whilemaltotriose, trehalose, gentiobiose, palatinose, melibiose,lactose and lactulose had little effect. Maltose strongly inhibitednot only the tube growth on sugar-free medium but also sugar-stimulatedgrowth, except in the case of sucrose stimulation. Glycosidaseactivities toward the growth-stimulating oligosaccharides weredetected in the extract of sucrose-grown pollen, but the activitiesof -glucosidase and -galactosidase were much lower than thoseof ß-fructosidase and ß-glucosidase. Maltosesuppressed the increase in UDP-glucose level of the glucose-grownpollen but not that of the sucrose-grown one. These resultssuggest that maltose acts, directly or indirectly, somewherein the pathway from glucose to UDP-glucose via glucose-1-phosphate,but does not interfere with the direct conversion of sucroseto UDP-glucose. (Received December 1, 1984; Accepted May 24, 1985)     

Nutritional requirements ofXanthomonas phaseoli var.fuscans

As found by Starr (1946),l-glutamic acid is necessary for the growth ofXanthomonas phaseoli var.fuscans. According to our results, the growth is stimulated byl-asparagine in the presence ofl-glutamic acid;l-asparagine itself, however, does not serve as a source of carbon and nitrogen.Xanthomonas phaseoli var.fuscans grew well in a medium containing tryptone. Some peptides of the acidic fraction isolated from tryptone affected the growth as much as tryptone itself. Vitamins and plant growth substances did not affect the growth of the bacteria; proteins appeared to be a poor carbon and nitrogen source. On substituting glucose in a glutamic acid-containing medium with another saccharide, the growth of the bacteria was found equal or better in media containing mannose, sucrose, fructose, maltose or starch. The bacteria grew less satisfactorily in media containing galactose and cellobiose as compared with media containing glucose.     

Nutrition of three species of microsporum

Summary The growth ofMicrosporum Cookei, M. distortum, andM. nanum was compared on solid media containing 23 different carbon sources and 25 different nitrogen sources.M. nanum grew well only on media containing ribose, xylose, levulose, or erythritol as the carbon source.M. distortum andM. Cookei were found to utilize a far greater variety of carbon sources. Both grew well on dextrose, levulose, galactose, mannose, ribose, arabinose, rhamnose, sucrose, cellobiose, lactose, trehalose, melibiose, melezitose, raffinose, dextrin, and mannitol; in additionM. Cookei grew well on xylose, maltose, and erythritol. Aspartic acid, arginine, and citrulline were favorable sources of nitrogen for all three species. M. nanum also grew well on alanine, ornithine, histidine, and proline;M. distortum on glycine, serine, asparagine, glutamic acid, leucine, and cysteine; andM. Cookei on asparagine, tyrosine, ornithine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, and proline.WithM. Cookei andM. distortum grown in liquid media in shake culture, mannitol was the best carbon source and tyrosine the best of the nitrogen sources tested. Nutritional differences exist among these three species,M. Audouini, M. canis, andM. gypseum.From a thesis, under the direction of Dr.Frederick T. Wolf, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts, August 1961.     

Longevity of seven species of cactophilic Drosophila and D. melanogaster on carbohydrates

Adults of 6 species of Drosophila that use decaying prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) as breeding and feeding sites were compared to each other and to D. nigrospiracula, whose host is saguaro cactus, and to the cosmopolitan D. melanogaster, in their utilization of 21 sugars for longevity (time to 50% mortality). In general, the utilization of sugars by these flies for longevity followed the pattern observed with the other insects. None of the species were able to live very long on solutions of pentoses, uronic acids, inositol, rhamnose, sorbose or the β-linked disaccharides, lactose and cellobiose. Althogh all could use glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and melezitose well, their life spans on galactose, mannose, trehalose and raffinose were more variable. Two of the Opuntia feeders were also tested on a number of other carbohydrates. Ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol significantly prolonged the life of D. arizonensis but not that of D. wheeleri. Neither species lived long on solutions of arabitol, galactitol, starch, inulin or on arabogalactan.     

Physiological effect of sugars on various digestive enzymes ofSpodoptera littoralis larvae

Summary Feeding of Styropor lamellae treated with 0.25 M maltose, sucrose, raffinose or melezitose byS. littoralis larvae induced amylase activity to 5–6 fold and invertase and protease activity to 2–3 that of the control. Melibiose induced amylase activity to about 4-fold and invertase and protease activity to 188% and 173%, respectively, that of the control. -lactose stimulated the various digestive enzymes to various extents; cellobiose had practically no effect. Glucose and fructose induced the various digestive enzymes to about the same level but to a much higher extent than galactose.The feeding rate of the various sugar compounds except maltose, correlates well with their stimulating activity on the digestive enzymes. Maltose, which induced the larval digestive enzymes to about the same level as that of sucrose, elicited a considerably lower feeding response. The excretion index of sugars stimulating digestive enzymes and eliciting a feeding response, such as maltose, sucrose, raffinose and melezitose, is considerably lower than that of the other sugars.In a comparative test, sucrose, maltose and raffinose induced the various digestive enzymes to about the same level as their equivalent monosaccharide components. However, -lactose and cellobiose, which have the same components as melibiose and maltose but differ in their configuration, affect the various enzymatic systems weakly.Contribution from The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1972 Series, No. 2171-E. Definitions. Feeding response: express the intake of sugar plus insert Styropor carrier. Excretion index: ratio between weight of fecal pellets and Styropor lamellae consumed.The authors wish to thank Mr. K. R. S. Ascher for fruitful discussions, Dr. A. Genizi for statistical analysis of the results, Mrs. Sara Yablonski and Mrs. Shulamit Cohen for skillful technical assistance, and Mrs. Shoshana Hadad for insect rearing.     

The effects of carbohydrates upon the survival and reproduction of adult female Pimpla turionellae L. (Hym., Ichneumonidae)

In this study the effects of 23 carbohydrates belonging to various groups upon the survival egg production and egg of female adult Pimpla turionellae L. were investigated. The best results among the carbohydrates tested was obtained with sucrose which was also employed as control. Glucose, maltose, trehalose and melezitose on the other hand showed no significant effect. The egg production was observed to be unaffected by glucose and maltose although it showed significant increase with trehalose and significant decrease with melezitose. Fructose and sorbitol caused a significant decrease in the survival of the insect. Fructose and sorbitol did not have any significant effect upon egg production whereas galactose caused a significant decrease. With the exception of galactose, no carbohydrate caused any significant effect upon egg hatching. Although they did not produce any eggs the female insects survived for 13.17, 15.13, 11.58 and 15.83 days in mannose, melibiose, raffinose and mannitol, respectively. The shortest life span was observed in arabinose followed by α-methyl- D -glucoside, dulcitol, rhamnose, cellobiose, xylose, starch, lactose, sarbose, ribose and glycogen.     

Uptake of disaccharides by the aerobic yeast Rhodotorula glutinis

Sucrose (and raffinose), trehalose, maltose, cellobiose, and lactose were examined for their transport into Rhodotorula glutinis. Melibiose and lactose were found not to be transported at all. Sucrose, raffinose and trehalose are split by periplasmic hydrolases prior to the penetration of their monosaccharide components into cells, the hydrolysis being the rate-limiting factor for the uptake process. Maltose and cellobiose appear to use specific uptake systems. Experiments with protoplasts of Rhodotorula glutinis support the conclusions that sucrose and trehalose are not consumed in the absence of exoenzymes.     

Studies on choanephoraceae. VI. The utilization of mono- and oligosaccharides

Summary The utilization of some mono- and oligosaccharides by the members of Choanephoraceae has been studied in detail. The filtrate was analysed by using circular paper chromatography. Amongst the seven monosaccharides tested, viz., glucose, galactose, fructose, mannose, xylose, sorbose and rhamnose, the first five were completely utilized within the specified period, while sorbose and rhamnose remained in the medium throughout the incubation period. A mixture of glucose, galactose and fructose was found to support better growth of all the present species, than that when these sugars were supplied singly. Out of the four oligosaccharides tested, only maltose could be hydrolysed, and it was completely consumed within the specified period. The other three oligosaccharides, viz., sucrose, lactose and raffinose were not hydrolysed and they remained in the medium throughout the incubation period.     

A critical study of the taxonomic value of some tests of assimilation used for the classification of the sporogenous yeasts

Six texts of assimilation used in the taxonomy of yeasts, (lactose, maltose, cellobiose, trehalose, melibiose, sucrose) have been critically tested by the examination of intracellular enzymic systems. The results obtained among the sporogenous species ofSaccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Hansenula, Debaryomyces indicate that cellobiose, lactose, maltose and trehalose tests no longer supply an important value for the speciation, because the number of cryptical osidases is so high.     

Klebsiella ornithinolytica sp. nov., formerly known as ornithine-positiveKlebsiella oxytoca

The nameKlebsiella ornithinolytica sp. nov. is proposed for a group ofKlebsiella strains referred to previously as NIH Group 12 at the National Institute of Health, Tokyo. The members of this species are Gram-negative, encapsulated, nonmotile rods with the general characteristics of the familyEnterobacteriaceae and of the genusKlebsiella. They give positive results in tests for indole production, Voges-Proskauer, citrate utilization, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, urease, -galactosidase, malonate utilization, growth in KCN, and esculin hydrolysis, and they produce acid and gas fromd-glucose, and acid froml-arabinose, cellobiose, lactose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, sucrose, trehalose,d-xylose, adonitol,d-arabitol, myo-inositol, sorbitol, arbutin, salicin, -methyl-d-glucoside, and mucate. They give negative drolysis, DNase, pectinase, and acid production fromd-arabinose, melezitose, and dulcitol. They can grow at 4°C and 42°C, and do not produce any pigment. DNA relatedness of eight strains ofKlebsiella ornithinolytica to three strains including the type strain of this species averaged 88% in reaction at 75°C. DNA relatedness to the already recognizedKlebsiella species inEnterobacteriaceae was 1 to 20%. Phenotypic and DNA relatedness data also indicated that a group of organisms referred to as Enteric Group 47 orKlebsiella Group 47 at the Centers for Disease Control (Atlanta, Georgia) was identical withK. ornithinolytica. The type strain ofK. ornithinolytica is NIH 90-72 (JCM 6096).     

Carbon requirements of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides PENZ

Monosporic isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were made from Punica grantum and one suitable isolate was selected for further work on carbon nutrition. Preliminary experiments showed that a pH value of 5, a temperature of 32°C and a period of 14 days were optimum conditions for the growth of this pathogen. Out of 41 carbon compounds tested, the pathogen showed excellent growth on starch, maltose, melibiose, dextrose, sucrose, raffinose, and dulcitol; good on tartaric acid, mannose, galactose, fructose, mannitol, and castor oil; fair on inulin, isopropyl alcohol, coconut oil, and pectin; poor on sorbose, n-butyl alcohol, arabionose, maleic acid, ethyl alcohol, succinic acid, citric acid, ribose, and malic acid, and no growth on the rest of the carbon compounds. In general, compounds which supported the best mycelial growth, yielded excellent or good sporulation of C. gloeosporioides and vice versa.