Mutants of Bacillus subtilis resistant to lysine analog S-2 aminoethyl-L-cysteine

AECR mutants of Bacillus subtilis were obtained and analyzed. The mutants were characterized by derepression of aspartokinase II and diaminopimelate decarboxylase synthesis and the synthesis of the precursor of lysine--DAP. According to genetic mapping data, aec mutations are localized in some B. subtilis chromosomal regions; they are linked to the thr5, leuA8, lys21 markers.     

Production of acid proteinases by Humicola lutea mycelium immobilized in polyurethane sponge.

Humicola lutea 120-5 spores were entrapped in polyurethane sponge cubes and were cultivated inside the carrier to form an immobilized mycelium further used for production of acid proteinases in batch mode. A carrier—spore suspension ratio of 10:0.5 (wt) should be used to obtain optimal results. The polyurethane sponge-immobilized mycelium could be applied repeatedly, the enzyme activity secreted during the first 10 cycles being about the same as that produced by free cells. The advantages of immobilizing fungal cells by germinating conidia entrapped inside the supporting material are discussed.     

Biodegradation of phenol by Trichosporon cutaneum cells covalently bound to polyamide granules

Polyamide granules with high specific area were used for covalent immobilization of Trichosporon cutaneum R57. In order to increase the concentration of active (amino) groups necessary for cell immobilization, the polyamide (PA) sorbent was chemically modified. The optimal conditions for covalent immobilization of the cells were determined. Phenol degradation was studied with chemically immobilized cells. For comparison, parallel experiments were carried out with physically immobilized and free cells. Both covalently-bound and free cells fully degraded phenol at concentrations up to 1·0 g/litre. The optimal pH of phenol degradation by covalently bound cells was 6·0. The number of cycles of effective phenol degradation by immobilized cells was studied. The results obtained for covalently bound Trichosporon cutaneum R57 cells on PA granules clearly show the possibility for their application for the purification of waste water containing phenol.