Structure activity relationships of anthranilic acid-based compounds on cellular and in vivo mitogen activated protein kinase-5 signaling pathways

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Production of lactic acid by direct fermentation of starchy wastes by an amylase-producing Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus cellobiosus, isolated from city wastes, produced an extracellular alpha-amylase and produced lactic acid by direct fermentation of waste potato mash. Using a 5% (w/v) potato mash with 3% (w/v) CaCO to neutralise the lactic acid produced, 50% conversion of starch to lactic acid occurred in 48 h without any other media supplement.     

The environment,microbes and bioremediation: microbial activities modulated by the environment

Microorganisms in nature are largely responsible for the biodegradation and removal of toxic and non-toxic chemicals. Many organisms are also known to have specific ecological niches for proliferation and colonization. The nature of the environment dictates to a large extent the biodegradability of synthetic compounds by modulating the evolutionary processes in microorganisms for new degradative genes. Similarly, environmental factors often determine the extent of microbial gene expression by activating or repressing specific gene or sets of genes through a sensory signal transduction process. Understanding how the environment modulates microbial activity is critical for successful bioremediative applications.     

Induction and regulation of alpha-amylase synthesis in a cellulolytic thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila D14 (ATCC 48104).

The alpha-amylase enzyme synthesis was higher when M. thermophila D-14 (ATCC 48104) was grown in culture medium incorporated with starch or other carbohydrates containing maltose units. Maximum enzyme production was attained with 1% starch followed by a gradual decrease with increasing concentration. Marked decrease in alpha-amylase synthesis occurred with the addition of glucose to the culture medium and this decreasing activity was proportional to the concentration of glucose. The enzyme synthesis was resumed as soon as the glucose concentration fell below a critical level. The addition of cAMP did not eliminate the repressive activity of glucose. The findings suggest that extracellular alpha-amylase synthesis in M. thermophila D-14 was inducible and subject to catabolite repression.