Bioremediation of Soil Contaminated with Explosives at the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

The explosives TNT, HMX, and RDX are integral components of many munitions. The wastes from the manufacture and the use of these and other explosives has resulted in substantial contamination of water and soil. White rot fungi have been proposed for use in the bioremediation of contaminated soil and water. Strains of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus ostreatus adapted to grow on high concentrations of TNT were studied with regard to their ability to degrade TNT in liquid cultures. Both strains were able to cause extensive degradation of TNT. Field bioremediation studies using P. ostreatus were performed on site at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (Yorktown, VA). In two plots, 6 cubic yards of soil contaminated with TNT, HMX, and RDX were blended with 3 cubic yards of a substrate mixture containing nutrients that promote the growth of fungi. In soil amended with growth substrate and P. ostreatus, concentrations of TNT, HMX and RDX were reduced from 194.0±50, 61±20 mg/kg and 118.0±30 to 3±4, 18±7 and 5±3?mg/kg, respectively, during a 62-day incubation period. Interestingly, in soil that was amended with this substrate mixture, but not with P. ostreatus, the concentrations of TNT, HMX, and RDX were also reduced substantially from 283±100, 67±20, and 144±50?mg/kg to 10±10, 34±20, and 12±10?mg/kg, respectively, during the same period. Thus, it appears that addition of amendments that enhance the growth and activity of indigenous microorganisms was sufficient to promote extensive degradation of these compounds in soil.     

Ultrastructure of wheat straw cell wall delignified by Pleurotus ostreatus

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy of wheat straw cell wall incubated with Pleurotus ostreatus in the presence of glucose or sunflower oil reveals different degradation patterns. Lower lignin content and increased polyphenol-oxidase activity correspond to peculiar features of the substrate at ultrastructural level. Differentiation between cellulose and lignin degradation by electron microscopy might represent a valuable tool to monitor biological delignification during industrial hydrolysis of ligno-cellulose.     

Yield and size of oyster mushroom grown on rice/wheat straw basal substrate supplemented with cotton seed hull

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was cultivated on rice straw basal substrate, wheat straw basal substrate, cotton seed hull basal substrate, and wheat straw or rice straw supplemented with different proportions (15%, 30%, and 45% in rice straw substrate, 20%, 30%, and 40% in wheat straw substrate) of cotton seed hull to find a cost effective substrate. The effect of autoclaved sterilized and non-sterilized substrate on growth and yield of oyster mushroom was also examined. Results indicated that for both sterilized substrate and non-sterilized substrate, oyster mushroom on rice straw and wheat basal substrate have faster mycelial growth rate, comparatively poor surface mycelial density, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation, lower yield and biological efficiency, lower mushroom weight, longer stipe length and smaller cap diameter than that on cotton seed hull basal substrate. The addition of cotton seed hull to rice straw and wheat straw substrate slowed spawn running, primordial development and fruit body formation. However, increasing the amount of cotton seed hull can increase the uniformity and white of mycelium, yield and biological efficiency, and increase mushroom weight, enlarge cap diameter and shorten stipe length. Compared to the sterilized substrate, the non-sterilized substrate had comparatively higher mycelial growth rate, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation. However, the non-sterilized substrate did not gave significantly higher mushroom yield and biological efficiency than the sterilized substrate, but some undesirable characteristics, i.e. smaller mushroom cap diameter and relatively long stipe length.     

Bioconversion of β-myrcene to perillene by Pleurotus ostreatus

Submerged cultures of Pleurotus ostreatus, when supplemented with β-myrcene, produced perillene, a rare furanoid monoterpene with a unique flowery citrus-like flavour. The major volatile products of the conversion were identified from which a substantiated conversion pathway has been derived. The isomeric epoxides 1,2- and 3,10-epoxymyrcene were found among the first enzymatic oxidation products. An unusual opening of both oxirane rings to the E/Z isomers of α-acaridiol was thought to be key to the fungal formation of perillene. Further oxidation of α-(Z)-acaridiol via the corresponding hydroxyaldehydes and lactols resulted in perillene formation. A new natural compound, 3-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-ol (α,α-acarilactol), was among the transformation products.     

湿热预处理对刺芹侧耳蛋白质理化性质、结构和功能特性的影响

以刺芹侧耳Pleurotus eryngii蛋白为研究对象,分别将其在50℃、60℃和70℃下热处理0至30min,探讨了湿热处理对刺芹侧耳蛋白理化性质、结构和功能特性的影响。结果表明,湿热处理后刺芹侧耳蛋白的疏水性先升高后降低（P<0.05）,总巯基含量先降低后升高（P<0.05）,此外,刺芹侧耳蛋白二级结构受到影响,在50℃和60℃下进行湿热处理后,其α螺旋含量降低,而在70℃下则升高,β-折叠含量减少,β-转角和不规则卷曲增加;功能特性方面,刺芹侧耳蛋白在50℃、60℃和70℃湿热处理的20min内,其乳化和发泡性能分别提高（P<0.05）。因此,湿热处理可以增强刺芹侧耳蛋白的功能特性,并改善其在食品加工中的应用。     

Molecular Characterization of β-tubulin gene from Pleurotus sajor-caju

A β-tubulin gene (TUB1) from the basidiomycete Pleurotus sajor-caju was sequenced. TUB1 encodes a 446-amino-acid protein. The coding region is interrupted by 9 introns, all of which had a 5'-GTRNGT…YAG-3' sequence at the boundaries. Locations of the introns in TUB1 were common between the β-tubulin genes of other basidiomycetes, but not with animals, ascomycetes, or plants. This suggests that the introns were inserted independently into the β-tubulin gene after these divisions had diverged.     

Gene cloning and biochemical characterization of eryngase,a serine aminopeptidase of Pleurotus eryngii belonging to the family S9 peptidases

Pleurotus eryngii serine aminopeptidase that has peptide bond formation activity, redesignated as eryngase, was cloned and expressed. Eryngase has a family S9 peptidase unit in the C-terminal region having a catalytic triad of Ser, Asp, and His. In the phylogenetic relations among the subfamilies of family S9 peptidase (S9A, prolyl oligopeptidase; S9B, dipeptidyl peptidase; S9C, acylaminoacyl peptidase; S9D, glutamyl endopeptidase), eryngase existed alone in the neighbor of S9C subfamily. Mutation of the active site Ser524 of the eryngase with Ala eliminated its catalytic activity. In contrast, S524C mutant maintained low catalytic activity. Investigation of aminolysis activity using l-Phe-NH₂ as a substrate showed that S524C mutant exhibited no hydrolysis reaction but synthesized a small amount of l-Phe-l-Phe-NH₂ by the catalysis of aminolysis. In contrast, wild-type eryngase hydrolyzed the product of aminolysis l-Phe-l-Phe-NH₂. Results show that the S524C mutant preferentially catalyzed aminolysis when on an l-Phe-NH₂ substrate.     

新疆阿魏菇与杏鲍菇中氨基酸含量的分析研究

对新疆阿魏菇与杏鲍菇的氨基酸成分进行系统分析,结果显示新疆本地的阿魏菇和杏鲍菇中17种氨基酸含量丰富,种类齐全,阿魏菇中氨基酸总量为16.80%高于杏鲍菇中氨基酸总量(14.34%);两种菇中必需氨基酸含量(EAA)占总氨基酸含量的比例分别为34.72%和37.92%。新疆阿魏菇与杏鲍菇种富含人体必需的氨基酸,可作为饮食氨基酸来源的重要补充。     

糙皮侧耳‘驻研1号’的选育报告

糙皮侧耳‘驻研1号’通过单孢杂交育种选育而获得的优良菌株,中低温型品种,子实体叠生,菌盖扇形,颜色受温度影响,低温下呈深黑色,高温下呈深灰色。菌柄长约5cm,直径1.5cm,六七成熟时菌盖直径5-6cm,厚1cm左右。出菇整齐,菇质韧性强,商品性状好,氨基酸总含量198.1g/kg,蛋白质含量260g/kg。生产周期45-50d,生物学效率高达89.7%,适宜河南地区秋冬季栽培。