Detection of extracellular phospholipase activity inCandida albicans andRhodotorula rubra

Phospholipases are important pathogenicity determinants inCandida albicans. They play a significant role in damaging cell membranes and invading host cells. High phospholipase production is correlated with an increased ability of adherence and a higher mortality rate in animal models. By means of an egg yolk-containing agar and thePz (= phospholipase activity zone) value according to Price, the present study investigated phospholipase production in 170 strains ofC. albicans. At an incubation temperature of 37 °C,Pz values ranged from 0.395 to 1; no clear relationship was found between clinical origin of the isolates and severity of the disease. In addition toC. albicans, a total of 110 strains of 16 other yeast species were investigated for possible phospholipase production. Only yeasts of the speciesRhodotorula rubra showed phospholipase activity, with mean values exceeding those observed inC. albicans. This result was confirmed by an assay using sterile culture filtrates and phosphatidyl-[3H-methyl]-choline-dipalmitoyl as a substrate. SinceRh. rubra has only rarely been demonstrated as a pathogen in humans, we believe that factors such as reduced growth at 37 °C, absence of dimorphism and low ability of adherence lessen the importance of high phospholipase activity inRh.rubra as a pathogenicity determinant. Therefore, potential virulence factors should always be considered in the context of the whole spectrum of pathogenic determinants.     

Acid Soluble Peptides in Rat Skeletal Muscle

The acid soluble peptide fraction was prepared from rat skeletal muscle, and the amino acid composition of the fraction was analyzed. The peptide fraction was rich in glutamic acid (or glutamine) and glycine and was poor in branched chain or aromatic amino acids. Since the peptide fraction contained N^τ-methylhistidine, the fraction or at least a part of it was presumed to be composed of intermediate peptides of protein degradation in skeletal muscle. At least 31 spots were detected in the fraction by one dimensional paper electrophoresis.     

Potential of Carotenoids in Aquatic Yeasts as a Phylogenetically Reliable Marker and Natural Colorant for Aquaculture

Apart from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, pink colony-forming yeasts have not been examined as a pigmentation source in captive animals. In this study, aquatic yeasts were screened with a view to abundances of carotenoids. Phylogenetic analyses of these caroetnoid-rich yeasts based on large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) partial sequences showed that all belonged to the order Sporidiobolales. Both the qualitative and the quantitative differences in carotenoids between the yeasts appeared to be consistent with their phylogenetic affiliations. This information might be useful in the selection of pigment-rich yeasts containing specific carotenoids from a large number of strains. We also found, for the first time, the potential of a pigment-rich Rhodotorula strain as a colorant for aquaculture. The integuments of tilapia and carp fed the alkali-treated cells of strain Rhodotorula dairenensis Sag 17 were pigmented after 3 months of cultivation. The fish integuments retained the yeast carotenes shortly after the start of feeding, and were converted to the fish-specific xanthophylls in vivo.     

粘红酵母产L-苯丙氨酸解氨酶的条件和酶法合成苯丙氨酸的研究

研究了粘红酵母(Rhodotorula glutinis)中L-苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)(EC4.3.1.5)的产酶条件及用此酶把反式肉桂酸转化成苯丙氨酸的条件.结果表明,在下列培养基(g/L)及培养条件下PAL的活力较高:酵母膏10.0,蛋白胨10.0,NaCl5.0,KH_2PO_4 0.5,苯内氨酸0.5,(NH_4)_2SO_41.0,葡萄糖5.0,pH6.0—6.5,培养温度为30℃.转化过程中,[NH_4~+]对初速度的影响符合米氏方程,其K_m和V_(max)分别为16.85mol/L和5.96 g·L~(-1)·h~(-1),最适pH为10.0.底物肉桂酸对反应初速度的影响,在低浓度时有激活作用,在高浓度下则有抑制作用.肉桂酸转化为苯丙氨酸的转化率在60.0%以上.     

胶红酵母利用番茄渣和豆粕为原料发酵生产类胡萝卜素的研究

基于降低微生物类胡萝卜素生产成本的考虑,采用番茄渣、豆粕的纤维素酶酶解产物培养胶红酵母,以单位体积发酵液中的总类胡萝卜素浓度增量作为优化目标,先后运用逐步单因素法和均匀设计法系统性地考查了胶红酵母的总类胡萝卜素产量和增量与各个相关因素之间的关系。实验获得的总类胡萝卜素最大产量以及扣除了番茄渣中的类胡萝卜素含量而计算得到的增量分别为12.25 mg/L和10.25 mg/L。实验结果证明设计的生产工艺能够以较低的成本生产出富含类胡萝卜素的饲料,因而是经济可行的。     

Effect of an exponential feeding regime on the production of Rhodotorula araucariae epoxide hydrolase in Yarrowia lipolytica

Aims: To evaluate the effect of and exponential feeding regime on the production of epoxide hydrolase (EH) enzyme in recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica in comparison to a constant feed strategy. Methods and Results: An exponential feed model was developed and fermentations were fed at six different exponential rates. A twofold increase in EH productivity and a 15% increase in volumetric EH activity was obtained by applying exponential glucose feed rates in fed‐batch cultivation. These responses were modelled to obtain a theoretical optimum feed rate that was validated in duplicate fermentations. The model optimum of 0·06 h^?1 resulted in a volumetric EH activity of c. 5500 U l^?1 h^?1 and a maximum activity of 206 000 U l^?1. This correlated well with model predictions, with a variance of <10%. Conclusions: The use of an exponential feed strategy at a rate of 0·06 h ^{? 1} yielded best results for all key responses which show a clear improvement over a constant feed strategy. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study was the first evaluation of an exponential feed strategy on recombinant Y. lipolytica for the production of EH enzyme. The results suggest a strategy for the commercial production of a valuable pharmaceutical enzyme.     

影响黏红酵母黏附牙鲆肠黏液的因素研究

目的研究pH、温度、二价阳离子对黏红酵母黏附作用的影响以及不同生长阶段的黏红酵母对牙鲆肠黏液的黏附特点。方法以牙鲆肠黏液作为黏附模型,采用MTT比色法测定黏红酵母在上述影响因素作用下的黏附能力。结果在10~30℃黏红酵母对牙鲆肠黏液的黏附随温度升高而增强,中性偏酸的环境有利于黏红酵母的黏附;Ca2 能显著增加黏红酵母的黏附,但Mg2 促黏附作用不明显;处于对数生长期的黏红酵母对牙鲆肠黏液的黏附能力最强,其次是延滞期的酵母,而稳定期和衰亡期的黏红酵母黏附能力显著减弱。结论黏红酵母对牙鲆肠黏液的黏附作用不仅受多种环境因子的影响,也受其自身生理状态的影响,其黏附作用具有可控性,这对黏红酵母在牙鲆肠道内黏附、定植的调控有一定的参考价值。     

Enhanced β-fructofuranosidase biosynthesis by Rhodotorula glutinis using Taguchi robust design method

The aim of this study was to produce β-fructofuranosidase enzyme by Rhodotorula glutinis SO28, using sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) as carbon source due to its high sucrose content and easy availability. β-Fructofuranosidase production was carried out in submerged fermentation. Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) design of experiment (DOE) method was employed for optimization process of β-fructofuranosidase production by R. glutinis SO28. An OA layout of L16 was constructed with five influential factors on β-fructofuranosidase biosynthesis namely, carbon source (sugar beet), initial pH, incubation temperature, agitation speed and incubation time. The average results of β-fructofuranosidase yield obtained from the determined 16 batches were processed with Minitab^® 16.2.3 software at “larger is better” as quality character. The results showed that the maximum β-fructofuranosidase activity was obtained as 21.11?±?0.47?U/mL, which was close to the predicted result (21.78?±?0.43?U/mL). Consequently, sugar beet can be suggested as an economical substrate for β-fructofuranosidase production. Besides, use of Taguchi DOE enhanced enzyme activity about 3-fold when compared with unoptimized condition.     

Invertase from a strain of Rhodotorula glutinis

An invertase (beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.26) from Rhodotorula glutinis was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. Invertase molecular weight was estimated to be 100 kDa by analytical gel filtration and 47 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Molecular mass determinations indicated that the native enzyme exists as a homodimer. It is a glycoprotein that contains 19% carbohydrate. The enzyme attacks beta-D-fructofuranoside (raffinose, stachyose and sucrose) from the fructose end. It has a K(m) of 0.227 M and a V(max) of 0.096 micromol/min with sucrose as a substrate. Invertase activity is stable between pH 2.6 and 5.5 for 30 min, maximum activity being observed at pH 4.5. The activation energy was 6520 cal/mol. The enzyme is stable between 20 and 60 degrees C. Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions stimulated invertase activity 3-fold, while Fe(2+), K(+), Co(2+), Na(+) and Cu(2+) increased activity about 2-fold. The transfructosylation reaction could not be observed. This enzyme is of particular interest since it appears to have a high hydrolytic activity in 1 M sucrose solution. This fact would make the enzymatic hydrolysis process economically efficient for syrup production using by-products with high salt and sugar contents such as sugar cane molasses.     

Maximization of lipid production by Rhodotorula gracilis CFR-1 using response surface methodology

In this study, an attempt has been made to maximize the lipid production using response surface methodology (RMS). Levels of nitrogen, carbon, and inoculum were chosen as factors. The results indicated that inoculum level was very important in lipid production, followed by carbon and nitrogen levels. At higher levels of inoculum, the strain was found to be more tolerant to higher concentrations of sugar, and significantly increased lipid production was noticed. Through the fitted models of second order, as per RSM, carbon at 10.24%, nitrogen at 0.37 g/L, and inoculum at the 20% level resulted in maximum biosynthesis of lipids.