Thermostable β-Glycosidase from Sulfolobus Solfataricus

The Sulfolobus solfataricus β-glycosidase (Sβgly) is a thermostable and thermophilic glycosyl-hydrolase with broad substrate specificity. The enzyme hydrolizes β-D-gluco-, fuco-, and galactosides, and a large number of /Winked glycoside dimers and oligomers, linked β1-3, β1-4, and β1-6, It is able to hydrolize oligosaccharides with up to 5 glucose residues. Furthermore, it is also able to promote transglycosylation reactions. The corresponding gene has been cloned and overexpressed both in yeast and Escherichia coli. Based on sequence and functional data, the Sβgly has been assigned to the so-called BGA family of glycosyl-hydrolases, including β-glycosidases, β-galactosidases and phosho-β-galactosidases from mesophilic and thermophilic organisms of the three domains. The Sβgly has been crystallized and the resolution of its structure is in progress. Because of its special properties, the enzymes has considerable biotechnological potential.     

Issues in the culture of the extremely thermophilic methanogen, Methanothermus fervidus

Basic issues in the culture of the extremely thermophilic archaeon, Methanothermus fervidus, have been investigated, including culture medium formulation, substrate yield and product yield coefficient, growth rate and stoichiometry, and H(2) uptake kinetics. The pH optimum for growth of this organism was estimated at 6.9. Growth medium buffered with PIPES instead of bicarbonate supported both increased growth rate and maximum biomass concentration. Substitution of titanium(III) citrate for the reducing agent sodium sulfide improved culture performance as well. However, independent adjustment of iron and nickel concentrations from 11 to 111 muM, respectively, and carbon dioxide partial pressure from 5 to 20 psia did not impact the culture of M. fervidus significantly. An elemental balance approach was utilized to aid in design of a defined medium to support growth to a target maximum biomass concentration of at least 1.0 g dry wt/L. The growth of this organism was limited by H(2) availability in this reformulated culture medium. The maximum growth rate and biomass concentration achieved in anaerobic vials with the defined medium was 0.16 h(-1) and 0.74 g dry wt/L, respectively. This maximum biomass concentration was a 72% improvement over that obtained with a literature-based defined medium. The Monod parameter, K(s), with H(2) as limiting substrate, was estimated at 1.1 +/- 0.4 psia (55 +/- 20 muM in the broth), based on a H(2) consumption study. Representative values for the substrate yield, Y(X/CO(2) ), and product yield coefficient, Y(CH(4)/) (X), were determined experimentally to be 1.78 +/- 0.04 g dry wt/mol CO(2), and 0.52 +/- 0.01 mol CH(4)/g dry wt, respectively. A bench-scale fermentation system suitable for the culture of extremely thermophilic anaerobes was designed and constructed and proved effective for the culture of M. fervidus. (c) 1993 Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhanced thermotolerance by hydrostatic pressure in the deep-sea hyperthermophile Pyrococcus strain ES4

Abstract: The combined effect of hydrostatic pressure and heat shock on thermotolerance was examined in the deep-sea hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus strain ES4. Pressure equivalent to the depth of isolation (22 MPa) enhanced ES4's survival at super-optimal temperatures (101–108°C) relative to low pressure (3 MPa). Pressure also raised the temperature at which a putative heat-shock protein (98 kDa) accumulated. ES4 grown at 95°C and 3 MPa displayed immediate enhanced thermotolerance to 105°C after being shifted to 22 MPa. Cultures grown at 95°C and 22 MPa and then heat shocked at 105°C and 3 MPa retained enhanced thermotolerance after decompression. These results suggest that this deep-sea hyperthermophile has developed pressure-induced responses that include increased survival to hyperthermal conditions.     

氨氧化古菌及其对氮循环贡献的研究进展

硝化作用先将氨氮氧化为亚硝酸盐氮并进一步氧化为硝酸盐氮,这一过程是氮进行全球生物化学循环的重要环节。随着氨氧化古菌(Ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA)基因组序列中氨单加氧酶编码基因(amoA)的发现以及AOA在实验室条件下的成功培养(包括分离纯化和富集培养),基于分子生物学的研究表明AOA在各种环境广泛存在,且多数生境中它的数量远远超过氨氧化细菌(Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB)。AOA相对于AOB在氮循环中的贡献也引起了多方面的论证和争论。本文就氨氧化古菌的生态分布、系统进化、生境存在丰度及参与硝化作用等进行综述,指出不同生境AOA的活性及其对氮循环的重要性仍需做进一步的研究。     

水体中亚硝酸盐积累的生物过程及影响因素研究进展

亚硝酸盐是氮循环过程的中间产物,其积累超过一定量则会抑制微生物的生长与代谢,也会给人与水生生物带来健康风险。而在高氮污水生物脱氮工艺中,持续维持亚硝酸盐的积累能实现短程硝化过程,降低生物脱氮的能耗进而降低运营成本。本文综述了在水环境中亚硝酸盐积累的生物过程与积累原因,并对影响亚硝酸盐积累的因素进行了总结,旨在为提高污水处理过程中氮的去除效率,降低运营成本,减少排放污水及自然水体中亚硝态氮含量提供参考。     

象山港网箱养殖区沉积物的古菌空间分布

对象山港网箱养殖区及其周边沉积物中古菌群落的空间分布进行研究,应用基于16S rRNA基因的T-RFLP(末端限制性片段多态性分析)技术分析象山港网箱养殖区及其周边不同深度沉积物中古菌的群落结构和多样性,并构建克隆文库进行系统发育学分析。测定沉积物各项理化因子,通过PCA和RDA分析了古菌群落分布及其与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明,泉古菌是港口沉积物中的优势古菌群,占古菌群落的50%以上。网箱养殖区沉积物的古菌群落结构较非养殖区简单,多样性降低。非养殖区古菌群落随深度呈现有规律的变化。营养盐类和pH是造成养殖区域古菌群落结构区别于非养殖区域的主要环境因素。     

厌氧产氢微生物研究进展

微生物是生物制氢的核心。本文论述了通过厌氧代谢途径产氢的微生物种类及高效产氢微生物选育和应用的研究趋势, 其中重点论述了中温和嗜热厌氧产氢微生物的产氢能力、底物利用范围及代谢特性, 简述了嗜热一氧化碳营养型产氢菌的种类及代谢特点。     

近岸海洋线虫与细菌、古菌的共现性及其对碳、氮循环的影响

【目的】初步探究海洋线虫与微生物的相互作用对碳、氮循环的影响。【方法】利用16S r RNA和18S r RNA基因高通量测序方法,对33个近岸沉积物样品中细菌、古菌和真核生物的多样性进行调查;对海洋线虫与细菌、海洋线虫与古菌的共现性进行网络分析,并采用Spearman统计学方法,识别出与海洋线虫共现性呈显著相关性的微生物种类。【结果】在夏季,红树林和潮间带泥滩样品中线虫OTU平均相对丰度基本呈随深度增加而递减趋势;冬季的红树林样品中发现相类似变化规律,只有在冬季潮间带泥滩样品中线虫OTU平均相对丰度在深层较高于表层。相对丰度最高的海洋线虫隶属于单宫目(47%)、色矛目(19%)、刺嘴目(16%)和垫刃目(9%),它们与热源体古菌、深古菌、γ-和δ-变形菌等微生物有显著正/负相关关系。【结论】在香港米埔湿地沉积物中,与相对丰度最高的5种线虫显著相关的几大类微生物均在碳、氮、硫等元素循环方面起十分重要的作用,暗示海洋线虫与微生物潜在的相互作用对元素地球化学循环具有重要影响。研究结果有助于深入了解线虫在生态系统中未被揭示的生态功能,有助于更清晰地认识海洋线虫在底栖生态系统中所扮演的角色。     

新疆艾比湖和伊吾湖可培养嗜盐古菌多样性

新疆地区盐湖密布,蕴藏着丰富的微生物资源。为保护和利用微生物物种与基因资源,作者从新疆准噶尔盆地的艾比湖和天山山间盆地的伊吾湖分离纯化嗜盐微生物。采用PCR方法扩增其中65株嗜盐古菌16SrRNA基因序列。序列分析表明,分离的嗜盐古菌分属6个属,艾比湖以Haloterrigena和Natrinema属的菌株为主,伊吾湖由Haloarcula和Halorubrum两个属的菌株构成。通过多样性指数、丰富度指数、均匀度指数和物种相对多度模型对分离的菌株进行多样性分析和比较,结果表明,盐湖嗜盐古菌的多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数具有一定相关性,艾比湖可培养嗜盐古菌的多样性高于伊吾湖。研究发现了一些新的物种资源,表明新疆盐湖中孕育的特色微生物资源亟待保护与利用。     

Characterization of Ferroplasma acidiphilum growing in pure and mixed culture with Leptospirillum ferriphilum

Biomining is defined as biotechnology for metal recovery from minerals, and is promoted by the concerted effort of a consortium of acidophile prokaryotes, comprised of members of the Bacteria and Archaea domains. Ferroplasma acidiphilum and Leptospirillum ferriphilum are the dominant species in extremely acid environments and have great use in bioleaching applications; however, the role of each species in this consortia is still a subject of research. The hypothesis of this work is that F. acidiphilum uses the organic matter secreted by L. ferriphilum for growth, maintaining low levels of organic compounds in the culture medium, preventing their toxic effects on L. ferriphilum. To test this hypothesis, a characterization of Ferroplasma acidiphilum strain BRL‐115 was made with the objective of determining its optimal growth conditions. Subsequently, under the optimal conditions, L. ferriphilum and F. acidiphilum were tested growing in each other's supernatant, in order to define if there was exchange of metabolites between the species. With these results, a mixed culture in batch cyclic operation was performed to obtain main specific growth rates, which were used to evaluate a mixed metabolic model previously developed by our group. It was observed that F. acidiphilum, strain BRL‐115 is a chemomixotrophic organism, and its growth is maximized with yeast extract at a concentration of 0.04% wt/vol. From the experiments of L. ferriphilum growing on F. acidiphilum supernatant and vice versa, it was observed that in both cases cell growth is favorably affected by the presence of the filtered medium of the other microorganism, proving a synergistic interaction between these species. Specific growth rates were obtained in cyclic batch operation of the mixed culture and were used as input data for a Flux Balance Analysis of the mixed metabolic model, obtaining a reasonable behavior of the metabolic fluxes and the system as a whole, therefore consolidating the model previously developed. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1390–1396, 2016