The importance of the morphology and hydrophobicity of different carriers on the immobilization and sugar refinery effluent degradation activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

There was no direct correlation between the surface hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of four solid carriers and the amount of immobilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The immobilized biomass was 1.5–1.8 times higher and the fungal degradation activity was 5–8 and 3 times greater in terms of decolorization and phenolics reduction, respectively, with porous carriers than with non-porous carriers. Morphology of the carriers was important and governed the amount of immobilized mycelium and specially the fungal biodegradation activity.     

Sugars as a metabolic regulator of storage protein mobilization in germinating seeds of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.)

The intensity of protein reserve activation in yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) organs cultured in vitro in the presence of saccharose and without sugar in the medium was studied. Isolated embryo axes, excised cotyledons and seeds deprived of their testae were grown on Heller medium: a) with 60 mM saccharose (+S), b) without sugar (−S) and c) for 72 hours without saccharose + for 24 hours in the presence of saccharose (−S→+S). Using nitroanilide substrates, exo- and endopeptidase proteolytic activity was investigated in enzymatic extracts. Proteolytic activity was examined in organs isolated from swollen seeds and also in organs cultured for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The proteolytic activity was higher in organs cultured on medium without saccharose. Stimulation of the proteolytic activity on the first day of culture was not significant, but intensified in the successive days of culture. The organ subcultured onto a medium with saccharose (−S→+S) caused a significant limitation of proteolytic activity, even to a markedly lower level in comparison to that activity level in the material continuously supplemented with saccharose. Observations of ultrastructure in Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed increased protein body degradation in the absence of saccharose in the medium and an increased degree of cell vacuolization, which may be indicative of intensifying autophagic processes under conditions of carbohydrate deficit.     

Diurnal changes in the expressionof glutamate dehydrogenase and nitrate reductase are involved in the C/N balance of tobacco source leaves

A novel cDNA encoding glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum), named gdh1, was characterized.The gdh1 mRNA was detected in roots, stems and source/senescentleaves. In order to investigate diurnal regulation of gdh1 inleaves, the content in gdh1 mRNA was measured every 3 h overa 48 h period and compared to nia and gs2 mRNAlevels, encoding, respectively, nitrate reductase (NR) and chloroplasticglutamine synthetase (GS2). In source leaves, gdh1 mRNA levelsexhibit diurnal fluctuations. A 12 h shift was observedbetween the day–night rhythms of gdh1 and nia expression.Metabolite contents were also measured and a shift in the day–nightfluctuations of both glutamate (GLU) and γ‐aminobutyricacid (GABA) was observed between sink and source leaves, whereasthe diurnal rhythm of α‐ketoglutarate showed no change.A possible role of GDH in the shift of GLU and GABA contents isdiscussed. Leaf disc experiments showed that gdh1 expressionis enhanced in conditions of continuous darkness. This trend isinhibited by sucrose feeding. The opposite was observed for nia expression.An important outcome of this work is the reverse regulation of gdh1 and nia genes.A possible role of sugars and amino acids in the co‐regulation of gdh1 and nia genesis suggested.     

Structure,dynamics, and interactions of jacalin. Insights from molecular dynamics simulations examined in conjunction with results of X‐ray studies

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out on all the jacalin–carbohydrate complexes of known structure, models of unliganded molecules derived from the complexes and also models of relevant complexes where X‐ray structures are not available. Results of the simulations and the available crystal structures involving jacalin permit delineation of the relatively rigid and flexible regions of the molecule and the dynamical variability of the hydrogen bonds involved in stabilizing the structure. Local flexibility appears to be related to solvent accessibility. Hydrogen bonds involving side chains and water bridges involving buried water molecules appear to be important in the stabilization of loop structures. The lectin–carbohydrate interactions observed in crystal structures, the average parameters pertaining to them derived from simulations, energetic contribution of the stacking residue estimated from quantum mechanical calculations, and the scatter of the locations of carbohydrate and carbohydrate‐binding residues are consistent with the known thermodynamic parameters of jacalin–carbohydrate interactions. The simulations, along with X‐ray results, provide a fuller picture of carbohydrate binding by jacalin than provided by crystallographic analysis alone. The simulations confirm that in the unliganded structures water molecules tend to occupy the positions occupied by carbohydrate oxygens in the lectin–carbohydrate complexes. Population distributions in simulations of the free lectin, the ligands, and the complexes indicate a combination of conformational selection and induced fit. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

不同还田方式对Bt玉米秸秆中Bt蛋白田间降解的影响

采用网袋法在田间研究了Bt（Bacillus thuringiensis）玉米(Zea may)1246×1482和H9235Bt/RR秸秆中Bt蛋白的降解动态,并应用移动对数模型进行拟合及估算DT₅₀和DT₉₀,探讨不同还田方式对降解的影响。结果表明:1246×1482和H9235Bt/RR秸秆中Bt蛋白在埋入土壤和地表覆盖2种还田方式下均能在7 d内降解90%以上,但还田180 d时仍能检测到占初始含量0.004%～0.069%的Bt蛋白;不同还田方式并没有显著影响到1246×1482秸秆中Bt蛋白的降解过程,其埋入土壤和地表覆盖处理的DT₅₀分别为0.90 d和0.79 d,DT₉₀则分别为3.45 d和5.03 d;但不同还田方式影响了另一Bt玉米H9235Bt/RR秸秆中Bt蛋白的降解过程,在秸秆还田前期,埋入土壤处理下Bt蛋白的降解比地表覆盖处理慢,其埋入土壤和地表覆盖处理下Bt蛋白降解的DT₅₀分别为6.80 d和0.54 d,DT₉₀则分别为21.76 d和7.12 d。由此可见,2个Bt玉米品种秸秆中Bt蛋白在2种还田方式下均能快速降解,不同还田方式只影响到H9235Bt/RR秸秆中Bt蛋白的田间降解,使得地表覆盖处理下Bt蛋白的降解比埋入土壤处理快。     

HPLC—ELSD法与HPLC—RID法检测蜂蜜中糖分的比较

采用高效液相-蒸发光散射检测方法测定蜂蜜中的果糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖、麦芽糖的含量,从而判断蜂蜜中的糖是否符合国家标准有无掺假。采用ELSD法检测结果表明,果糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖、麦芽糖的线性范围均是0．6—10mg／mL,相对标准偏差分别为0．308％、0．424％、0．327％、0．539％。并将ELSD法与国标中的RID法进行比较,结果显示前者的灵敏度更高,检出限更低,线性范围更广。由此看来,蒸发光散射检测器的比示差折光检测器的在我们检测糖项目上应用较好。     

Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani damping-off of sugar beet with native Streptomyces strains under field conditions

A 3-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two disease-suppressive Streptomyces spp. to control sugar beet Rhizoctonia solani damping off under field conditions. Streptomyces seed treatments reduced seedling damping off in naturally (2005) and artificially (2006 and 2007) infested soils. All biocontrol agents provided better efficacy than Vitavax to control seedling damping-off. There were no significant differences among Streptomyces isolates. Isolate C increased plant stand by 19.5, 50.5 and 53.75% in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Evaluation of final harvest revealed that the root yield of the biocontrol agents increased compared to untreated control in these years.     

Chemical characteristics and ethanol fermentation of the cellulose component in autohydrolyzed bagasse

The chemical characteristics, enzymatic saccharification, and ethanol fermentation of autohydrolyzed lignocellulosic material that was exposed to steam explosion were investigated using bagasse as the sample. The effects of the steam explosion on the change in pH, organic acids production, degrees of polymerization and crystallinity of the cellulose component, and the amount of extractive components in the autohydrolyzated bagasse were examined. The steam explosion decreased the degree of polymerzation up to about 700 but increased the degree of crystallinity and the micelle width of the cellulose component in the bagasse. The steam explosion, at a pressure of 2.55 MPa for 3 mins, was the most effective for the delignification of bagasse. 40 g/L of glucose and 20 g/L of xylose were produced from 100 g/L of the autohydrolyzed bagasse by the enzymatic saccharification using mixed cellulases, acucelase and meicelase. The maximum ethanol concentration, 20 g/L, was obtained from the enzymatic hydrolyzate of 100 g/L of the autohydrolyzed bagasse by the ethanol fermentation usingPichia stipitis CBS 5773; the ethanol yield from sugars was 0.33 g/g sugars.