Production,characterization and properties of beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase from a strain of Aureobasidium sp

beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase production by a yeast-like Aureobasidium sp. was carried out during solid-state and submerged fermentation using different carbon sources and crude enzymes were characterized. beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase gave optimum activity at pH 2.0-2.5 and 3.0, respectively. These enzymes presented maximal activity at 65 degrees, and were stable in a wide pH range and high temperatures.     

Purification, characterization, and properties of beta-glucosidase enzymes from Sclerotium rolfsii

Four β-glucosidase enzymes were extensively purified from the culture filtrates of Sclerotium rolfsii and some of their physicochemical properties studied. All the enzymes showed a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and in disc gel electrophoresis at pH 8.9 and 4.3. The purified β-glucosidases were free of endoglucanase (carboxymethyl cellulose viscosity-lowering activity). All the enzymes are glycoproteins and are composed of one polypeptide chain. The molecular weight of the four β-glucosidases varies between 90,000 and 107,000. The pH and temperature optima of the four β-glucosidases are 4.2 and 68 °C with p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside and 4.5 and 65 °C with cellobiose as substrate. The isoelectric points for the enzymes are 4.10, 4.55, 5.10, and 5.55, respectively. The specific activities of the enzymes with cellobiose as substrate are 55, 78, 175, and 51 μmol glucose released per minute per milligram protein, respectively. The enzymes are inhibited by the reaction product glucose, and by glucono-δ-lactone and nojirimycin. A carboxylate group is implicated in the catalysis of β-glucosidase.     

Production and characteristics of the exocellular polysaccharide of a mutantMycobacterium strain

Mutant strains ofMycobacterium sp. V-649 producing highly mucous colonies on a solid cultivation medium were prepared after treatment with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and production of the exocellular polysaccharide was tested. The strains were cultivated in media with suitable sugar sources under submerged conditions. It was found thatMycobacterium sp. V649/15 produces a maximum of 15–19% polymer after a 5–6-d cultivation. Gas chromatography indicated that the exocellular polysaccharide produced by this strain is of glucan type.     

Purification and properties of beta-galactosidase from fungus, Curvularia inaequalis]

Highly purfied beta-galactosidase from fungus Curvularia inaequalis cultural fluid with a specific activity of 50 units per mg of protein was obtained by 2-fold purification of the enzyme, using chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and on hydroxylapatite. The enzyme was found to hydrolyze o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (pH optimum of 3.7--4.5) and lactose (pH optimum 3.9--5.3). The isoelectric point was observed at pH 4.4 the temperature optimum was 60 degrees C. The molecular weight (115 000--126 000) and the amino acid composition of the enzyme were determined. Km values for o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside and lactose were 0.55-10(-3) M and 4.5-10(-3) M respectively. Disc-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel revealed a single band with a specific activity. The homogeneity of the enzyme was found in ultracentrifuge.     

Structure and properties of a bacterial polysaccharide from a Klebsiella strain (ATCC 12657)

The chemical structure and the rheological behavior of the Klebsiella polysaccharide ATCC 12657 was studied and compared with data described in the literature and obtained for similar polysaccharides. The acetylated polysaccharide presents in solution a normal viscoelastic behavior with no evidence of an ordered conformation whatever the experimental conditions are. The deacetylated form can induce the formation of physical gels, in the presence of salt excess or ethanol. Microcalorimetry, optical rotation, and rheology experiments demonstrate that a thermally reversible and highly cooperative conformational transition occurs at the same temperature than a sol-gel transition. The melting of the gel and the conformational transition temperatures are dependent on the nature of cations and ionic concentration, whereas the gel strength is only influenced by polymer concentration.     

Production and characterization of xylanases of a Bacillus strain isolated from soil

Xylanase production was performed by growing a Bacillus isolate on agricultural by-products, wheat straw, wheat bran, corn cobs and cotton bagasse. A maximum xylanase activity of 180 U/ml was obtained together with a cellulase activity of 0.03 U/ml on 4 (w/v) corn cobs. Electrophoretic analysis showed the presence of three endo--1, 4-xylanases having molecular weights of about 22, 23 and 40 kDa. Xylanolytic activity was stable up to 50 °C in the pH range of 4.5–10 and the highest activity was observed at 70 °C and pH 6.5.     

Production and characterization of collagenase from a new Amazonian Bacillus cereus strain

Abstract

A new collagenase producing a strain of Bacillus cereus, isolated from the pollen of a bee of Amazon Region (Brazil), had its enzyme characterized and the production medium composition and culture conditions enhanced. A two-level design on three factors, namely initial medium pH, the substrate (gelatin) concentration and agitation intensity, allowed identifying the first two variables as the most significant ones, while a central composite design (CCD) was subsequently used to identify their optimal levels. Statistics highlighted maximized collagenolytic activity when substrate concentration and initial medium pH were selected at their highest levels (positive effects), whereas agitation intensity at the lowest (negative effect). Triplicate runs performed under predicted optimal conditions (pH 7.8 and 1.7% gelatin concentration) yielded a collagenolytic activity (305.39?±?5.15?U) 4.6- to 15-fold those obtained with the preliminary design. The enzyme displayed optimum activity at 45?°C and pH 7.2, was stable over wide ranges of pH values and temperatures (7.2–11.0 and 25–50?°C, respectively) and was strongly inhibited by 10?mM phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. The zymogram showed two prominent bands at 50 and 76?kDa. These results are a first attempt to elucidate the features of this new collagenase, its production conditions, and possible scale-up.     

Production and characterization of a dextranase from an isolated Paecilomyces lilacinus strain

Summary Several environments were sampled in a screening procedure to obtain 23 different dextranase-producing fungal strains. The most productive strains were identified as Penicillium purpurogenum and Paecilomyces lilacinus. The culture medium for P. lilacinus strain 6R was optimized, increasing the initial productivity twofold. The enzyme showed optimal activities at pH 5.4 and 65° C, as well as excellent thermal stability at 60° C. An average K _m value of 0.26 g/l was found for dextran over a wide range of substrate molecular mass. The enzyme did not show substrate or product inhibition. From HPLC chromatograms, the 6R dextranase was found to readily reduce dextran to low molecular mass oligosaccharides and isomaltose. An integrated kinetic equation is used to describe batch reactions and application dose. Offprint requests to: A. Lopez-Munguia     

Immunochemical characterization of a polysaccharide antigen isolated from the oral microorganismEubacterium saburreum,strain 02/725

A serologically highly active polysaccharide antigen (PS 02/725) consisting of equimolar amounts ofd-glycero-d-galacto-heptose and a 6-deoxyheptose was isolated fromEubacterium saburreum, strain 02/725, by trypsin digestion and subsequent gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Whole bacterial cells injected intravenously stimulated rabbits to produce precipitins and complement-binding antibodies of the IgG class specific for PS 02/725.     

Production, purification and characterization of glucose oxidase from a newly isolated strain of Penicillium pinophilum

A number of nutritional factors influencing growth and glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4) production by a newly isolated strain of Penicillium pinophilum were investigated. The most important factors for glucose oxidase production were the use of sucrose as the carbon source, and growth of the fungus at non-optimal pH 6.5. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity with a yield of 74%, including an efficient extraction step of the mycelium mass at pH 3.0, cation-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The relative molecular mass (M _r) of native glucose oxidase was determined to be 154 700 ± 4970, and 77 700 for the denatured subunit. Electron-microscopic examinations revealed a sandwich-shaped dimeric molecule with subunit dimensions of 5.0 × 8.0 nm. Glucose oxidase is a glycoprotein that contains tightly bound FAD with an estimated stoichiometry of 1.76 mol/mol enzyme. The enzyme is specific for d-glucose, for which a K _m value of 6.2 mM was determined. The pH optimum was determined in the range pH 4.0–6.0. Glucose oxidase showed high stability on storage in sodium citrate (pH 5.0) and in potassium phosphate (pH 6.0), each 100 mM. The half-life of the activity was considerably more than 305 days at 4 °C and 30 °C, and 213 days at 40 °C. The enzyme was unstable at temperatures above 40 °C in the range pH 2.0–4.0 and at a pH above 7.0. Received: 18 November 1996 / Received revision: 3 March 1997 / Accepted: 7 March 1997     

Production,partial purification and characterization of ligninolytic enzymes from selected basidiomycetes mushroom fungi

In recent years, many research on the quantity of lignocellulosic waste have been developed. The production, partial purification, and characterisation of ligninolytic enzymes from various fungi are described in this work. On the 21st day of incubation in Potato Dextrose (PD) broth, Hypsizygus ulmarius developed the most laccase (14.83 × 10⁻⁶ IU/ml) and manganese peroxidase (24.11 × 10⁻⁶ IU/ml), while Pleurotus florida produced the most lignin peroxidase (19.56 × ⁻⁶ IU/ml). Laccase (Lac), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and manganese peroxidase (MnP), all generated by selected basidiomycetes mushroom fungi, were largely isolated using ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis. Laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase purification findings indicated 1.83, 2.13, and 1.77 fold purity enhancements, respectively. Specific activity of purified laccase enzyme preparations ranged from 305.80 to 376.85 IU/mg, purified lignin peroxidase from 258.51 to 336.95 IU/mg, and purified manganese peroxidase from 253.45 to 529.34 IU/mg. H. ulmarius laccase (376.85 IU/mg) with 1.83 fold purification had the highest specific activity of all the ligninolytic enzymes studied, followed by 2.13 fold purification in lignin peroxidase (350.57 IU/mg) and manganese peroxidase (529.34 IU/mg) with 1.77-fold purification. Three notable bands with molecular weights ranging from 43 to 68 kDa and a single prominent band with a molecular weight of 97.4 kDa were identified on a Native PAGE gel from mycelial proteins of selected mushroom fungus. The SDS PAGE profiles of the mycelial proteins from the selected mushroom fungus were similar to the native PAGE. All three partially purified ligninolytic isozymes display three bands in native gel electrophoresis, with only one prominent band in enzyme activity staining. The 43 kDa, 55 kDa, and 68 kDa protein bands correspond to laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase, respectively.     

Production of protoplasts from the fungi Curvularia inaequalis and Trichoderma reesei

Summary Protoplast formation in Curvularia inaequalis was achieved using non-commercial and commercial snail gut enzymes or Trichoderma harzianum enzymes. The cells were grown for enzyme treatment on cellophane sheets or in liquid cultures for varying periods of time. The production of T. harzianum enzymes is discussed. The highest protoplast yields were 2.6x10⁷ protoplasts/ml enzyme solution. Protoplasts were shown to have zero to four nuclei. Protoplast regeneration was succesfully carried out in semisolid agar.     

Enzymatic properties of immobilized beta-galactosidase from Curvularia inaequalis]

beta-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from fungus Curvularia inaequalis was modified by active brilliant orange KH and adsorbed on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The lactose hydrolysis was studied in a continous flow on the column packed with the immobilized enzyme. The pH and temperatures optima for the substrate hydrolysis by the immobilized enzyme were shown to remain unchanged. A certain destabilizing effect of the matrix on the enzyme resistance to hear denaturation was observed. The activation parameters of denaturation of the native enzyme as well as those of the dye-modified and immobilized preparations were determined.     

Production, purification and properties of endoglucanase from a newly isolated strain of Mucor circinelloides

A newly isolated strain of the fungus, Mucor circinelloides (NRRL 26519), when grown on lactose, cellobiose, or Sigmacell 50 produces complete cellulase (endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and β-glucosidase) system. The extracellular endoglucanase (EG) was purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant by ethanol precipitation (75%, v/v), CM Bio-Gel A column chromatography, and Bio-Gel A-0.5 m gel filtration. The purified EG (specific activity 43.33 U/mg protein) was a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 27 000. The optimum temperature and pH for the action of the enzyme were at 55 °C and 4.0–6.0, respectively. The purified enzyme was fully stable at pH 4.0–7.0 and temperature up to 60 °C. It hydrolysed carboxymethyl cellulose and insoluble cellulose substrates (Avicel, Solka-floc, and Sigmacell 50) to soluble cellodextrins. No glucose, cellobiose, and short chain cellooligosaccarides were formed from these substrates. The purified EG could not degrade oat spelt xylan and larch wood xylan. It bound to Avicell, Solka-floc, and Sigmacell 50 at pH 5.0 and the bound enzyme was released by changing the pH to 8.0. The enzyme activity was enhanced by 27±5 and 44±14% by the addition of 5 mM MgCl₂ and 0.5 mM CoCl₂, respectively, to the reaction mixture. Comparative properties of this enzyme with other fungal EGs are presented.     

Isolation and characterization of a regulated form of actin depolymerizing factor

Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) is an 18.5-kD protein with pH- dependent reciprocal F-actin binding and severing/depolymerizing activities. We previously showed developing muscle down-regulates ADF (J. R. Bamburg and D. Bray. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 105: 2817-2825). To further study this process, we examined ADF expression in chick myocytes cultured in vitro. Surprisingly, ADF immunoreactivity increases during the first 7-10 d in culture. This increase is due to the presence of a new ADF species with higher relative molecular weight which reacts identically to brain ADF with antisera raised against either brain ADF or recombinant ADF. We have purified both ADF isoforms from myocytes and have shown by peptide mapping and partial sequence analysis that the new isoform is structurally related to ADF. Immunoprecipitation of both isoforms from extracts of cells prelabeled with [32P]orthophosphate showed that the new isoform is radiolabeled, predominantly on a serine residue, and hence is called pADF. pADF can be converted into a form which comigrates with ADF on 1-D and 2-D gels by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. pADF has been quantified in a number of cells and tissues where it is present from approximately 18% to 150% of the amount of unphosphorylated ADF. pADF, unlike ADF, does not bind to G-actin, or affect the rate or extent of actin assembly. Four ubiquitous protein kinases failed to phosphorylate ADF in vitro suggesting that ADF phosphorylation in vivo is catalyzed by a more specific kinase. We conclude that the ability to regulate ADF activity is important to muscle development since myocytes have both pre- and posttranslational mechanisms for regulating ADF activity. The latter mechanism is apparently a general one for cell regulation of ADF activity.     

Production of native-starch-degrading enzymes by a Bacillus firmus/lentus strain

Summary A bacterium belonging to the Bacillus firmus/lentus-complex and capable of growth on native potato starch was isolated from sludge of a pilot plant unit for potato-starch production. Utilization of a crude enzyme preparation obtained from the culture fluid after growth of the microorganism on native starch, resulted in complete degradation of native starch granules from potato, maize and wheat at a temperature of 37°C. Glucose was found as a major product. Production of maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose was also observed. Native-starch-degrading activity (NSDA) could be selectively adsorbed on potato-starch granules, whereas soluble-starch-degrading activity (SSDA) remained mainly in solution. The use of such a starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation on native starch resulted in a completely changed product pattern. An increase in oligosaccharides concomitant with less glucose formation was observed. An increased conversion of soluble starch to maltopentaose was possible with this starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation. It is concluded that NSDA comes from -amylase(s) and SSDA from glucoamylase(s) and/or -glucosidase(s). Cultivation of B. firmus/lentus on glucose, maltose, or soluble starch resulted in substantially smaller quantities of (native) starch-degrading activity.Offprint requests to: D. J. Wijbenga     

Production, properties and application to nonaqueous enzymatic catalysis of lipase from a newly isolated Pseudomonas strain

A potent bacterium for lipase production was isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas species. It produced lipase constitutively. A mutant of this strain with a lipase productivity 3.25-fold higher was obtained by treatment with ultraviolet (UV) and nitrosoguanidine (NTG). Its fermentation condition was optimized to a lipase yield of 87.5 U/ml. The lipase had maximum activity at pH 9.0 and 45 degrees C. It was stable at pHs from 7.0 to 11.0 and below 60 degrees C. The effects of metal ions, surfactants and bile salts were also studied. The lipase was 1,3-specific. In organic solvents, the thermal stability of the lipase was significantly enhanced. Its optimum temperature was also slightly increased. The optimum water activity was found between 0.5 and 0.6. The lipase was successfully applied in organic phase to catalyze the glycerolysis of palm oil for monoglyceride (MG) production, and the enantioselective esterification of (R,S)-2-octanol. The enantioselectivity of the lipase could be enhanced substantially by treatment with an amphipathic.