Use of basidiomycetes in industrial waste processing and utilization technologies: Fundamental and applied aspects (review)

This review provides an analysis of recent data on the mechanisms of degradation of lignocellulosic materials and xenobiotics by basidiomycetes. Special attention is given to the analysis of the current state of research of ligninolytic enzymes and their involvement in the degradation of xenobiotics. Data on the practical use of basidiomycetes for bioconversion of industrial wastes are systematized. The most promising areas of bioconversion technologies are considered, such as contaminated water purification (including wastewater), cleanup of soils contaminated with heavy metals and xenobiotics, and degradation of difficult-to-degrade substrates (lignin and lignocellulose wastes, low-energy coal, and synthetic polymers).     

Motor activity of infusoria: fundamental and applied aspects

The article considers morpho-functional organization of the cilia, locomotor organelle of the infusoria, and demonstrates the complicity of locomotor behavior of these protista. The problem of control of locomotion of infusoria is whole organism in discussed; and conclusion is drawn that system of control of movements could be multilevel and include receptor, afferent, central, efferent and effector units. In this context the macronucleus, could act as a central integrator and coordinator of the locomotor behavior being closely connected with periphery by dynamic elements of cytoskeleton. The eradication of infusoria parasitizing in humans and animals by interrupting of locomotion of the protista is also discussed.     

Functional genomic technologies: creating new paradigms for fundamental and applied biology.

New technologies that analyze the behavior of thousands of genes in parallel are creating, for the first time, a foundation of data for building integrated models of cellular processes. This review discusses the general issues of utilizing genomic methods in fundamental and applied research settings, using the study of stress responses and improvement of secondary metabolite production as examples. A fusion of concepts from biological and nonbiological disciplines, including mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, and engineering, is required to address the theoretical and experimental challenges facing the field of genomics, and together promise great breakthroughs in our understanding and engineering of cellular systems.     

Macroalgae (seaweeds): industrial resources and their utilization

Summary Seaweeds are distributed widely in all oceans of the world, but exploited in limited areas. These plants have been used for food and as soil conditioners for centuries, with industrial application of extractives a relatively recent innovation generally limited to the more developed areas of the world. There are relatively few species of industrial importance, and these occur in both the red (Rhodophyta) and brown (Phaeophyta) algal divisions.The principal value of phycocolloids is in their gelling and stabilizing properties. Species of red algae may elaborate agar or carrageenan. Both are complex polysaccharides with innumerable structural possibilities, hence physical properties, and phycocolloids from various species can have specific applications. Carrageenans are employed mostly in the food industry, and agars in both the food and pharmaceutical sectors of the economy. Alginates, another family of complex polysaccharides, are obtained from various species of brown algae and are the third major algal gum of commerce. Alginates are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries and have other industrial applications.Issued as NRCC No. 23603.     

Potential utilization of guar gum industrial waste in vermicompost production

Recycling of guar gum industrial waste through vermitechnology was studied under laboratory conditions by using composting earthworm Perionyx excavatus (Perrier). Three different combination of guar gum industrial waste namely guar gum industrial waste:cow dung:saw dust in 40:30:30 ratio (T1), guar gum industrial waste:cow dung:saw dust in 60:20:20 ratio (T2), and guar gum industrial waste:cow dung:saw dust in 75:15:10 ratio (T3) were used for vermicomposting experiments. Chemical changes during vermicomposting were measured and comparatively T2 showed great increase (from its initial level) for total N (25.4%), phosphorus (72.8%) and potassium (20.9%) than the other treatments. T2 also showed higher vermicomposting coefficient (VC), higher mean biomass for P. excavatus (146.68 mg) and higher cocoon production (about 21.9% and 645.5% more than the T1 and T3, respectively). Maximum earthworm mortality during vermicomposting was recorded with T3 treatment while zero mortality was recorded for T2 treatment after 150 days. Overall, T2 treatment appeared to be an ideal combination for enhancing maximum biopotential of earthworms to management guar gum industrial waste as well as for earthworm biomass and cocoon production.     

Quorum-sensing regulation of gene expression: fundamental and applied aspects and the role in bacterial communication

Quorum sensing (QS) is a specific type of regulation of gene expression in bacteria; it is dependent on the population density. QS systems include two obligate components: a low-molecular-weight regulator (autoinducer), readily diffusible through the cytoplasmic membrane, and a regulatory receptor protein, which interacts with the regulator. As the bacterial population reaches a critical level of density, autoinducers accumulate to a necessary threshold value and abrupt activation (induction) of certain genes and operons occurs. By means of low-molecular-weight regulators, bacteria accomplish communication between cells belonging to the same or different species, genera, and even families. QS systems have been shown to play a key role in the regulation of various metabolic processes in bacteria and to function as global regulators of the expression of bacterial genes. Data are presented on different types of QS systems present in bacteria of various taxonomic groups, on the species specificity of these systems, and on communication of bacteria by means of QS systems. The possibility is considered of using QS regulation systems as targets while combating bacterial infections; other applied aspects of QS investigation are discussed.     

Studies on Brachionus (Rotifera): an example of interaction between fundamental and applied research

The genus Brachionus has been the main subject of studies reported in about 1000 papers published since 1950. About three-fourths of these deal with Brachionus plicatilis and B. rotundiformis and are mainly related to their use as prey for aquatic organisms. Also abundant, but to a lesser extent, are studies on B. calyciflorus, many of which are concerned with aquatic ecotoxicology. These studies constitute an interesting interaction between fundamental and applied research. For example, advances in fundamental biology have been applied to improve the production of rotifer biomass. Alternatively, new perspectives in fundamental research on rotifers have emerged while solving technical and biological problems related to the rearing of aquatic animal larvae. This review describes some aspects that have shown a significant advance due to such interaction between fundamental and applied research on rotifers, e.g. growth conditions, biochemical composition and morphotypes.     

Micellar enzymology: potentialities in fundamental and applied areas

Micellar enzymology, a new trend in molecular biology, studies catalysis by enzymes entrapped in hydrated reversed micelles of surfactants (phospholipids, detergents) in organic solvents. In this review, the key research problems of micellar enzymology are formulated and examples of biocatalysis in microheterogeneous media are discussed. In particular, new applications are presented of micellar enzymology in fine organic syntheses, in clinical and chemical analyses (bioluminescence and enzyme immunoassays), in bioconversion of energy and mass, in therapy (engineering of new drugs capable of targeted penetration into cells), as well as in biotechnology (processes using nanogranulated or nanocapsulated enzymes).     

Bioremediation of organic waste sites: A critical review of microbiological aspects

An overview is presented of the potential for bioremediation of a range of contaminated sites. Most of the compounds belong to groups that are widespread and are generally persistent or toxic. Although attention has been focused on microbiological aspects of their application, it is pointed out that a successful programme requires integrated input from geologists, engineers, chemists and microbiologists. It is emphasized that a protocol must be available for evaluating the success of the procedures that have been implemented. Attention is directed to critical issues, including partial degradation, formation of metabolites, and recalcitrance of specific components in complex mixtures. An attempt is made to discuss the basic aspects of the biodegradation of components specific to the various sites and to illustrate the outcome of experiments in bioremediation in laboratory-based, pilot-scale or full-scale field operations. Brief discussion is given of some less commonly perceived contaminants that may be present simultaneously.     

昆虫卵黄原蛋白受体( VgＲs) 及其主要功能综述

卵黄原蛋白受体(VgRs)属于低密度脂蛋白受体家族成员,具有该家族典型的保守结构域,包括配体结合域,表皮生长因子前体同源域,跨膜域,O-联糖功能域,以及胞质尾域。昆虫VgRs通常具有卵巢特异性,是卵黄原蛋白Vg的专一性胞吞作用受体,可介导Vg进入昆虫卵母细胞,而后沉淀积累形成昆虫生殖必须的卵黄蛋白YP。VgRs介导的胞吞作用是一个动态循环过程,它是卵黄发生的基础,对昆虫卵母细胞发育起着至关重要的作用。近年来的研究表明,VgRs不仅与卵巢激活、卵黄发生与卵子形成密切相关,而且在昆虫信息交流、社会分化、行为构建以及免疫调控等中也起到了至关重要的作用,已成为潜在的害虫控制新靶标。本文首次对昆虫VgRs基因的序列信息,分子结构,系统进化,表达模式以及调控功能等方面进行了综述,旨在为了解VgRs基因的研究进展及前景提供参考,对进一步改进害虫生态控制的策略和措施也具有指导意义。     

The aerobic degradation of dichloromethane: Structural-functional aspects (a review)

This review summarizes current notions on the mechanisms of transport and degradation of dichloromethane (DCM) by aerobic methylotrophic bacteria as well as enzymological and genetic aspects of DCM dehalogenation, including probable pathways used by cells to overcome accompanying stresses (acid, osmotic, and oxidative). The topicality of the problem of the degradation of this genotoxic solvent is associated with the search for and creation of new DCM-destroying strains, which would provide for more efficient bioremediation of industrial sewage and ecosystems with extreme pH and salinity and could be used for the development of modern techniques for DCM degradation on the basis of existing strains. Special attention is given to the consideration of methodological approaches to the interpretation of physiological—biochemical and molecular bases of adaptation of bacteria to the utilization of DCM and other halogenated pollutants.