Fermentative production of succinic acid from glucose and corn steep liquor byAnaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens requires expensive complex nitrogen sources such as yeast extract and polypeptone for its growth and succinic acid production. It was found thatA. succiniciproducens was able to grow in a minimal medium containing glucose when supplemented with corn steep liquor (CSL) as the sole complex nitrogen source. The concentration of CSL had a significant effect on the glucose consumption byA. succiniciproducens. When 10–15 g/L of CSL was supplemented, cells were grown to an OD₆₆₀ of 3.5 and produced 17.8 g/L succinic acid with 20 g/L glucose. These results are similar to those obtained by supplementing yeast extract and polypeptone, thereby suggesting that succinic acid can be produced more economically using glucose and CSL.     

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of intracellular pH,phosphate compartmentation and phosphate transport in yeasts

³¹P NMR spectra were obtained from suspensions of Candida utilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces bailii grown aerobically on glucose. Direct introduction of substrate into the cell suspension, without interruption of the measurements, revealed rapid changes in pH upon addition of the energy source. All ³¹P NMR spectra of the yeasts studied indicated the presence of two major intracellular inorganic phosphate pools at different pH environments. The pool at the higher pH was assigned to cytoplasmic phosphate from its response to glucose addition and iodoacetate inhibition of glycolysis. After addition of substrate the pH in the compartment containing the second phosphate pool decreased. A parallel response was observed for a significant fraction of the terminal and penultimate phosphates of the polyphosphate observed by ³¹P NMR. This suggested that the inorganic phosphate fraction at the lower pH and the polyphosphates originated from the same intracellular compartment, most probably the vacuole. In this vacuolar compartment, pH is sensitive to metabolic conditions. In the presence of energy source a pH gradient as large as 0.8 to 1.5 units could be generated across the vacuolar membrane. Under certain conditions net transport of inorganic phosphate across the vacuolar membrane was observed during glycolysis: to the cytoplasm when the cytoplasmic phosphate concentration had become very low due to sugar phosphorylation, and into the vacuole when the former concentration had become high again after glucose exhaustion.Non-Standard Abbreviations NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - ppm parts per million - PP polyphosphate - P_i,c cytoplasmic inorganic phosphate - P_i,v vacuolar inorganic phosphate - pH_in,c cytoplasmic pH - pH_in,v vacuolar pH - FCCP carbonyl p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone     

Production and partial characterization of two types of phytase from Aspergillus niger NCIM 563 under submerged fermentation conditions

Novel extracellular phytase was produced by Aspergillus niger NCIM 563 under submerged fermentation conditions at 30 °C in medium containing dextrin and glucose as carbon sources along with sodium nitrate as nitrogen source. Maximum phytase activity (41.47 IU/mL at pH 2.5 and 10.71 IU/mL at pH 4.0) was obtained when dextrin was used as carbon source along with glucose and sodium nitrate as nitrogen source. Nearly 13 times increase in phytase activity was observed when phosphate in the form of KH₂PO₄ (0.004 g/100 mL) was added in the fermentation medium. Physic-chemical properties of partially purified enzyme indicate the possibility of two distinct forms of phytases, Phy I and Phy II. Optimum pH and temperature for Phy I was 2.5 and 60 °C while Phy II was 4.0 and 60 °C, respectively. Phy I was stable in the pH range 1.5–3.5 while Phy II was stable in the wider pH range, 2.0–7.0. Molecular weight of Phy I and Phy II on Sephacryl S-200 was approximately 304 kDa and 183 kDa, respectively. Phy I activity was moderately stimulated in the presence of 1 mM Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions and inhibited by Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions while Phy II activity was moderately stimulated by Fe³⁺ ions and was inhibited by Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions at 1 mM concentration in reaction mixture. The Km for Phy I and II was 3.18 and 0.514 mM while Vmax was 331.16 and 59.47 μmols/min/mg protein, respectively.     

High-density spore production of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cereus</Emphasis> aquaculture biological agent by nutrient supplementation

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of our Bacillus cereus isolate (NRRL 100132) in reducing concentrations of nitrogenous wastes and inhibiting growth of fish pathogens. In vivo efficacy and tolerance to a range of physiological conditions in systems used to rear Cyprinus carpio make this isolate an excellent candidate for aquaculture applications. Production cost is an important consideration in development of commercially relevant biological products, and this study examines the optimization of nutrient supplementation, which has an impact on high-density production of spores by fermentation. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was identified as a lower cost and more effective nutrient source in comparison to conventional nutrient substrates, in particular yeast extract and nutrient broth. The improved sporulation performance of B. cereus could be related to the increased availability of free amino acids, carbohydrates, and minerals in CSL, which had a positive effect on sporulation efficiency. The impact of nutrient concentration on spore yield and productivity was modeled to develop a tool for optimization of nutrient concentration in fermentation. An excellent fit of the model was confirmed in laboratory fermentation studies. A cost comparison revealed that production using liquid phytase and ultrafiltered-treated CSL was less expensive than spray-dried CSL and supported cultivation of B. cereus spores at densities higher than 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU ml⁻¹.     

一株维氏气单胞菌发酵培养基优化及其制备疫苗免疫效力比较

采用单因素试验、响应面试验法对维氏气单胞菌(Aeromonas veronii)发酵培养基的氮源、碳源、无机盐和磷酸盐成分及用量进行优化组合,确定优化培养基组成：胰蛋白胨10.8 g/L,葡萄糖5.0 g/L,牛肉膏3.0 g/L,磷酸二氢钾2.0 g/L,硫酸镁0.4 g/L,NaCl 5.0 g/L。并与基础培养基的发酵活菌数、制备的灭活疫苗免疫效力进行比较,经过验证试验绘制维氏气单胞菌在优化培养基条件下的7 L发酵罐生长曲线。在优化发酵培养基条件下,维氏气单胞菌活菌数为5.94×10⁹ cfu/mL,比基础培养基增幅43.13%;制备的灭活疫苗相对保护率为77.78%,比基础培养基提高了14.81%。7 L发酵罐发酵培养10 h,活菌数达到最大8.85×10⁹ cfu/mL。通过对发酵培养基的优化,可以获得低成本、优质高效的维氏气单胞菌发酵菌液,为今后维氏气单胞菌灭活疫苗规模化发酵培养提供参考。     

Optimization of a corn steep medium for production of ethanol from synthesis gas fermentation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium ragsdalei</Emphasis>

Fermentation of biomass derived synthesis gas to ethanol is a sustainable approach that can provide more usable energy and environmental benefits than food-based biofuels. The effects of various medium components on ethanol production by Clostridium ragsdalei utilizing syngas components (CO:CO₂) were investigated, and corn steep liquor (CSL) was used as an inexpensive nutrient source for ethanol production by C. ragsdalei. Elimination of Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and PO₄ ³⁻ decreased ethanol production from 38 to 3.7, 23 and 5.93 mM, respectively. Eliminating Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and K⁺ or increasing Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and PO₄ ³⁻ concentrations had no effect on ethanol production. However, increased Na⁺ concentration (171 mM) inhibited growth and ethanol production. Yeast extract (0.5 g l⁻¹) and trace metals were necessary for growth of C. ragsdalei. CSL alone did not support growth and ethanol production. Nutrients limiting in CSL were trace metals, NH₄ ⁺ and reducing agent (Cys: cysteine sulfide). Supplementation of trace metals, NH₄ ⁺ and CyS to CSL (20 g l⁻¹, wet weight basis) yielded better growth and similar ethanol production as compared to control medium. Using 10 g l⁻¹, the nutritional limitation led to reduced ethanol production. Higher concentrations of CSL (50 and 100 g l⁻¹) were inhibitory for cell growth and ethanol production. The CSL could replace yeast extract, vitamins and minerals (excluding NH₄ ⁺). The optimized CSL medium produced 120 and 50 mM of ethanol and acetate, respectively. The CSL could provide as an inexpensive source of most of the nutrients required for the syngas fermentation, and thus could improve the economics of ethanol production from biomass derived synthesis gas by C. ragsdalei.     

Optimization of polyhydroxybutyrate production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> sp. CFR 256 with corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source

Polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs), the eco-friendly biopolymers produced by many bacteria, are gaining importance in curtailing the environmental pollution by replacing the non-biodegradable plastics derived from petroleum. The present study was carried out to economize the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by optimizing the fermentation medium using corn steep liquor (CSL), a by-product of starch processing industry, as a cheap nitrogen source, by Bacillus sp. CFR 256. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the fermentation medium using the variables such as corn steep liquor (5–25 g l⁻¹), Na₂HPO₄ 2H₂O (2.2–6.2 g l⁻¹), KH₂PO₄ (0.5–2.5 g l⁻¹), sucrose (5–55 g l⁻¹) and inoculum concentration (1–25 ml l⁻¹). Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) experiments were carried out to study the complex interactions of the variables. The optimum conditions for maximum PHB production were (g l⁻¹): CSL-25, Na₂HPO₄ 2H₂O-2.2, KH₂PO₄ − 0.5, sucrose − 55 and inoculum − 10 (ml l⁻¹). After 72 h of fermentation, the amount of PHA produced was 8.20 g l⁻¹ (51.20% of dry cell biomass). It is the first report on optimization of fermentation medium using CSL as a nitrogen source, for PHB production by Bacillus sp.     

Components of fermentation medium regulate bacteriocin synthesis by the recombinant strain Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis F-116

The regulation of the synthesis of bacteriocin produced by the recombinant strain Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis F-116 has been studied. The synthesis is regulated by the components of the fermentation medium, the content of inorganic phosphate (KH₂PO₄), yeast autolysate (source of amine nitrogen), and changes in carbohydrates and amino acids. The strain was obtained by fusion of protoplasts derived from two related L. lactis subsp. lactis strains, both exhibiting a weak ability to synthesize the bacteriocin nisin. Decreasing the content of KH₂PO₄ from 2.0 to 1.0 or 0.5% caused bacteriocin production to go down from 4100 to 2800 or 1150 IU/ml, respectively; the base fermentation medium contained 1.0% glucose, 0.2% NaCl, 0.02% MgSO₄, and yeast autolysate (an amount corresponding to 35 mg % ammonium nitrogen). The substitution of sucrose for glucose (as the source of carbon) increased the antibiotic activity by 26%, and the addition of isoleucine, by 28.5%. Elevation of the concentration of yeast autolysate in the low-phosphate fermentation medium stimulated both the growth of the lactococci and the synthesis of bacteriocin. Introduction of 1% KH₂PO₄, yeast autolysate (an amount corresponding to 70 mg % ammonium nitrogen), 2.0% sucrose, and 0.1% isoleucine increased the bacteriocin-producing activity of the strain by 2.4 times.     

Effects of ethanol on Saccharomyces cerevisiae as monitored by in vivo 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

Cell suspensions of a respiratory deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were monitored by in vivo ³¹P and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in order to evaluate the effect of ethanol in intracellular pH and metabolism. In the absence of an added energy source, ethanol caused acidification of the cytoplasm, as indicated by the shift to higher field of the resonance assigned to the cytoplasmic orthophosphate. Under the experimental conditions used this acidification was not a consequence of an increase in the passive influx of H⁺. With cells energized with glucose, a lower value for the cytoplasmic pH was also observed, when ethanol was added. Furthermore, lower levels of phosphomonoesters were detected in the presence of ethanol, indicating that an early event in glycolysis is an important target of the ethanol action. Acetic acid was identified as responsible for the acidification of the cytoplasm, in experiments where [¹³C]ethanol was added and formation of labeled acetic acid was detected. The intracellular and the extracellular concentrations of acetic acid were respectively, 30 mM and 2 mM when 0.5% (120 mM) [¹³C]ethanol was added.Abbreviations P_i inorganic phosphate - P_ic inorganic phosphate in the cytoplasm - P_iv inorganic phosphate in the vacuole - tP terminal phosphate in polyphosphate     

An industrial medium for improved production of carotenoids from a mutant strain of Phaffia rhodozyma

A medium based on less expensive nutrient sources, such as corn starch hydrolyzate (hydrol), corn steep liquor (CSL), urea and potassium phosphate was used for the growth of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma 2A2N strain. A central composite experimental design has been employed to derive a statistical model on the effect of hydrol and CSL on carotenoid production. An initial concentration of sugars as glucose equivalent 73?g/l in hydrol and 43?g/l CSL were found optimal for the maximization of final carotenoid production in shake flask cultures. The carotenoid production was increased by adding urea and phosphate sources. Laboratory scale fermentation was performed with the optimized medium and total carotenoid production of 52.4?mg/l was obtained using constant fed-batch culture.     

Production of inulinase by solid-state fermentation: effect of process parameters on production and preliminary characterization of enzyme preparations

This work was aimed at producing inulinase by solid-state fermentation of sugarcane bagasse, using factorial design to identify the effect of corn steep liquor (CSL) and soybean bran concentration, particle size of bagasse and size of inoculum. Maximum inulinase activity achieved was 250 U per g of dry substrate (gds) at 20% (w/w) of CSL, 5% (w/w) of soybean bran, 1 × 10¹⁰ cells mL⁻¹ and particle size of bagasse in the range 9/32 mesh. The use of soybean bran decreased the time to reach maximum activity from 96 to 24 h and the maximum productivity achieved was 8.87 U gds⁻¹ h⁻¹. The maximum activity was obtained at pH 5.0 and 55.0°C. Within the investigated range, the enzyme extract was more thermostable at 50.0°C, showing a D-value of 123.1 h and deactivation energy of 343.9 kJ gmol⁻¹. The extract showed highest stability from pH 4.5 to 4.8. Apparent K _m and V _max are 7.1 mM and 17.79 M min⁻¹, respectively.     

Legume-Rhizobium interactions: host induced alterations in capsular polysaccharides and infectivity of cowpea Rhizobia

Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC418 was cultured anaerobically under glucose-limited conditions in chemostat cultures at various growth rates, ranging from 0.13 h^-1 to 0.82 h^-1. It was found that the specific uptake rate of glucose varied linearly with the growth rate and that under these conditions glucose was fermented solely to acetate and ethanol plus CO₂+H₂ and formate.When steady-state cultures were pulsed with cell saturating concentrations of glucose, the specific glucose aptake rate increased immediately and substantially. However, at steady-state growth rates lower than 0.5 h^-1, this increase was not accompanied by a change in the growth rate, in contrast to cultures growing at higher rates. It was found that relief of the glucose limitation resulted in a shift in fermentation pattern: at the lower growth rates 50% or more of the extra glucose taken up was fermented to D-lactate.Incubation experiments with sonified cells revcaled that K. aerogenes possessed all the enzymes needed to convert dihydroxyacetone phosphate to methylglyoxal and subsequently to D-lactate, and that the rate at which this overall conversion occurred in vitro was in close agreement with the production rate of D-lactate in vivo. Moreover, it was found that the activities of the enzymes of the methylglyoxal bypass were dependent on the imposed growth rate. At higher growth rates, where cells possessed the potential to increase their growth rate immediately, the activity of methylglyoxal synthase was relatively low.it could be shown that, under low growth rate conditions, the uncoupling effect of the methylglyoxal bypass was highly effective and that, as a consequence thereof, a significant increase in the uptake rate of the energy source was accompanied by only a marginal increase in the rate at which ATP was synthesized.     

Fermentation of mannitol by Clostridium butyricum: role of acetate as an external hydrogen acceptor

Summary The continuous fermentation of mannitol (pH 6, dilution rate (D)=0.087 h^-1) by Clostridium butyricum LMG 1213t1 was investigated under several conditions. Mannitol was readily fermented when glucose or acetate were added in the in-flow medium as co-substrate. Butyrate, CO₂ and H₂ were the major fermentation products. In mannitol-glucose mixtures (ratios 4 or 8) the amount of mannitol fermented depended upon the amount of glucose in the in-flow medium. In mannitol-acetate mixtures, 1 mol of acetate was needed for the fermentation of approximately 5.5 mol mannitol. We detected d-mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, responsible for the generation of supplementary reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as a source for extra H₂ gas. Fermentation of mannitol-acetate in the presence of [¹⁴C]-labelled acetate revealed butyrate as the only labelled fermentation end-product.     

Fermentation performance of Candida guilliermondii for xylitol production on single and mixed substrate media

Semidefined media fermentation simulating the sugar composition of hemicellulosic hydrolysates (around 85 g l^-1 xylose, 17 g l^-1 glucose, and 9 g l^-1 arabinose) was investigated to evaluate the glucose and arabinose influence on xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii. The results revealed that glucose reduced the xylose consumption rate by 30%. Arabinose did not affect the xylose consumption but its utilization by the yeast was fully repressed by both glucose and xylose sugars. Arabinose was only consumed when it was used as a single carbon source. Xylitol production was best when glucose was not present in the fermentation medium. On the other hand, the arabinose favored the xylitol yield (which attained 0.74 g g^-1 xylose consumed) and it did not interfere with xylitol volumetric productivity (Q _P=0.85 g g^-1), the value of which was similar to that obtained with xylose alone.     

Production of a fusion protein of sweet potato sporamin from recombinant E. coli XL1 Blue by fed-batch fermentations

Glucose-stat and pH-stat control strategies were employed in order to culture a recombinant E. coli XL1 Blue to produce a fusion protein of sweet potato sporamin (SPA) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the recombinant E. coli XL1 Blue. Cell densities up to 25 g l^–1 and 28.9 mg fusion protein (GST-SPA) g^–1 cell dry weight (CDW) was achieved from a fed-batch fermentation controlled by glucose-stat strategy. A pH-stat control fermentation using glycerol as a carbon source gave E. coli up to 27 g l^–1 and 31.5 mg GST-SPA g^–1 CDW. Additionally, a pH-stat control strategy using glucose as a carbon source gave E. coli up to 15 g l^–1 and about 22.7 mg g^–1 CDW of GST-SPA.     

Effect of phosphate concentration on the production of dextransucrase by<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Leuconostoc mesenteroides</Emphasis> NRRL B512F

Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B512F is the main strain used in industrial fermentations to produce dextransucrase and dextran. This process has been studied since the Second World War, when it was used as blood plasma expander. A study about the effect of phosphate concentration on cell propagation in a semicontinuous shake-flask culture is described in this work. Dextransucrase is obtained by fermentation of the Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B512F in the presence of sucrose as substrate, a nitrogen source (corn liquor or yeast extract) and minerals. Phosphate is currently used in order to buffer the culture medium. Cell propagation can be done through a repeated batch culture, where dilution in a fresh medium is made with relatively short periods. The standard medium for dextransucrase production is prepared using 0.1 M of K₂HPO₄. In this work the level of phosphate was increased to 0.3 M, and an increase on biomass and on the enzyme activity was found when phosphate enriched medium was used. Higher phosphate buffer concentration was also able to keep the pH values above 5.0 during the entire process, avoiding enzyme denaturation.     

Recycling of carbon in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in non-photosynthetic plastids

Recycling of carbon in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) of intact pea root plastids has been studied. The synthesis of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and evolution of CO₂ was followed in relation to nitrite reduction. A close coupling was observed between all three measured fluxes which were linear for up to 60 min and dependent upon the integrity of the plastids. However, the quantitative relationship between 1-¹⁴CO₂ evolution from glucose 6-phosphate and nitrite reduction varied with available hexose phosphate concentration. When 10 mM glucose 6-phosphate was supplied to intact plastids a stoichiometry of 1.35 was observed between ¹⁴CO₂ evolution and nitrite reduction. As exogenous glucose 6-phosphate was decreased this value fell, becoming 0.47 in the presence of 0.2 mM glucose 6-phosphate, indicative of considerable recycling of carbon. This conclusion was reinforced when using [2-¹⁴C]glucose-6-phosphate. The measured release of 2-¹⁴CO₂ was consistent with the data for 1-¹⁴CO₂, suggesting complete recycling of carbon in the OPPP. Ribose 5-phosphate was also able to support nitrite reduction and DHAP production. A stoichiometry of 2 NO ₂ ^? reduced: 1 DHAP synthesised was observed at concentrations of 1 mM ribose 5-phosphate or less. At concentrations of ribose 5-phosphate greater than 1 mM this stoichiometry was lost as a result of enhanced DHAP synthesis without further increase in nitrite reduction. It is suggested that this decoupling from nitrite reduction is a function of excess substrate entering directly into the non-oxidative reactions of the OPPP, and may be useful when the demand for OPPP products is not linked to the demand for reductant. The significance of recycling in the OPPP is discussed in relation to the coordination of nitrate assimilation with carbohydrate oxidation in roots and with the utilisation of carbohydrate by other pathways within plastids.     

Production of PHB and P (3HB-co-3HV) biopolymers by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis> strain OU303A isolated from municipal sewage sludge

Bacillus megaterium strain OU303A isolated from municipal sewage sludge was selected for the study of biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate P (HB-co-HV) copolymer. The strain yielded a maximum of 62.43% DCW polymer in the medium containing glycerol as carbon source, which was followed by 58.63% DCW polymer in glucose containing medium. We found that this strain was capable of producing 2.5% hydroxyvalerate copolymer from a single carbon substrate, glucose. The strain showed an increase in the amount of HV monomer content, when the precursor for the copolymer was included in the fermentation medium. The characterization of the biopolymers was carried out using FTIR, GC-MS, H¹ NMR and DSC. This is the first report of B. megaterium strain producing HV copolymer, without the addition of any precursor in the fermentation medium.     

A novel yeast-binding lectin from hemolymph Cyclina sinensis (Gmelin) and its effects on yeast cells

A lectin, Cyclina sinensis (Gmelin) (CSL), was isolated from hemolymph C. sinensis by ion-exchange on Cellulose DE52 and purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and HPLC on TSK gel G4000PW_XL. SDS-PAGE showed that the CSL protein had a molecular mass of 72 kDa, had consisted of 40 and 18 kDa subunits. The lectin activity of CSL was Ca²⁺-denpendent. The total carbohydrate content of CSL was found to be 16.2%. According to the principle of β-elimination reaction, the oligosaccharide moiety and peptide moiety of CSL might belong to O-glucosidic linkage. CSL was found to agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hemagglutination activity was inhibited by GalNAc and Man. CSL was observed to promote the yeast cells growth and ethanol production by yeast cells. The number of yeast and ethanol production increased with increasing concentration of CSL. In addition, the nitric oxide (NO) production increased as CSL concentration increased. The results indicate that CSL can be a potential yeast stimulator in fermentation process.     

Acetate production byClostridium thermoaceticum in corn steep liquor media

A low-cost nutrient medium based on corn steep liquor (CSL) was developed for the production of acetates byClostridium thermoaceticum. Pre-treatment of CSL with dolime and vitamin supplementation increased the rate of acetate production. Adding excess nutrients in a fed-batch mode minimized by-product formation and increased final acetate concentration from 19 g L^–1 to 40 g L^–1 acetic acid. High yields of acetic acid (0.95 g g^–1 glucose in fed-batch mode) was probably due to the conversion of the lactic acid in CSL into acetic acid by the organism.