Continuous production of extracellular l-glutaminase by ca-alginate-immobilized marine Beauveria bassiana BTMF S-10 in packed-bed reactor

l-Glutamine amidohydrolase (l-glutaminase, EC 3.5.1.2) is a therapeutically and industrially important enzyme. Because it is a potent antileukemic agent and a flavor-enhancing agent used in the food industry, many researchers have focused their attention on l-glutaminase. In this article, we report the continuous production of extracellular l-glutaminase by the marine fungus Beauveria bassiana BTMF S-10 in a packed-bed reactor. Parameters influencing bead production and performance under batch mode were optimized in the order-support (Na-alginate) concentration, concentration of CaCl₂ for bead preparation, curing time of beads, spore inoculum concentration, activation time, initial pH of enzyme production medium, temperature of incubation, and retention time. Parameters optimized under batch mode for l-glutaminase production were incorporated into the continuous production studies. Beads with 12×10⁸ spores/g of beads were activated in a solution of 1% glutamine in seawater for 15 h, and the activated beads were packed into a packed-bed reactor. Enzyme production medium (pH 9.0) was pumped through the bed, and the effluent was collected from the top of the column. The effect of flow rate of the medium, substrate concentration, aeration, and bed height on continuous production of l-glutaminase was studied. Production was monitored for 5 h in each case, and the volumetric productivity was calculated. Under the optimized conditions for continuous production, the reactor gave a volumetric productivity of 4.048 U/(mL·h), which indicates that continuous production of the enzyme by Ca-alginate-immobilized spores is well suited for B. bassiana and results in a higher yield of enzyme within a shorter time. The results indicate the scope of utilizing immobilized B. bassiana for continuous commercial production of l-glutaminase.     

Catecholato complexes of palladium(II)–naphthylazoimidazoles: synthesis,spectral characterization,electrochemistry and solvatochromic studies

[Pd(-NaiR)(O,O)] [-NaiR = 1-alkyl-2-(naphthyl--azo)imidazoles; R = Me (a), Et (b), CH₂Ph (c) and O,O = pyrocatecholato (cat) (3), 4-t-butylcatecholato (tbcat) (4), 3,5-di-t-butylcatecholato (dtbcat) (5), and tetracholorocatecholato (tccat) (6)] complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectral data. Studies by cyclic voltammetry suggest the existence of two redox couples, positive saturated calomel electrode (s.c.e.) that are due to catecholes to semiquinone, and semiquinone to quinone oxidations, respectively; two couples at negative to s.c.e. are associated with azo reductions. The complexes exhibit ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer transition in the near-i.r. region. The band position is largely dependent upon the substituent on the catechole frame and exhibits a negative solvatochromic effect. The transition is qualitatively assigned to the HOMO (cat) LUMO (-NaiR) transition.     

New phenylethanoid glycosides from Bacopa monniera

Three new phenylethanoid glycosides, viz. monnierasides I-III (1-3) along with the known analogue plantainoside B were isolated from the glycosidic fraction of Bacopa monniera. Their structures were elucidated mainly on the basis of two dimensional (2D) NMR spectral analyses.     

Synthesis of pyrroloquinolines as indole analogues of flavonols

7-Acetyl-4,6-dimethoxy-3-phenylindole 10 was converted into a range of 7-indolyl chalcones 13 by reaction with aryl aldehydes under basic conditions. Oxidation of the chalcones 13 with alkaline hydrogen peroxide gave the isolable epoxides 14, which were cyclized with further base treatment into the indole flavonols, or 5-hydroxy-6-oxopyrroloquinolines 15. The related compounds 25 and 26, examples of indole flavanones and flavones, respectively, were also synthesized. UV spectroscopic comparisons between flavonoids and indole flavonoids are discussed.     

Spectroscopic and crystallographic studies on the stability of self-assembled coordination nanotubes

On complexation with (en)Pd(NO3)2, tetrakis(3,5-pyridine) ligand gives two isomeric coordination nanotubes, which are in slow equilibrium despite the presence of sixteen Pd-N bonds in the tube framework.     

Crystal engineering of metalloporphyrin assemblies. New supramolecular architectures mediated by bipyridyl ligands

Targeted synthesis of new supramolecular motifs of metalloporphyrins in crystals by a concerted mechanism of molecular recognition in three dimensions, aided by organic ligands, is presented; it involves induced assembly of [tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrinato]zinc species by a combination of axial coordination through bridging bipyridyls and of lateral hydrogen bonding.     

Conjugation of linoleic acid over a hydrogen pre-activated heterogeneous catalyst

Development of a new heterogeneous catalytic pathway for isomerization of linoleic acid to conjugated linoleic acids at mild reaction conditions over Ni/H-MCM-41 in a soluted system.     

Optical properties of Nd3+ ions doped in oxyfluoroborate glass

Laser induced excitation spectrum of the Nd3+ ions doped in oxyfluoroborate glass have been recorded. Stark components of different electronic states have been reported. Judd-Ofelt analysis has also been accomplished on the basis of ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) absorption spectrum. Various radiative parameters such as electric dipole line strength, transition probability, life time of the various energy levels, branching ratio etc., have been estimated.     

Conductimetric immunosensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

A conductimetric reagentless immunosensor using the biospecific binding pair of goat antirabbit IgG and rabbit IgG has been designed and fabricated using poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) as the immobilization matrix-cumtransducer.     

High throughput synthesis of ester library utilizing selective molecular reactivity and recognition technology

This paper reports a new solid support reagent that showed high degrees of selective molecular reactivity and molecular recognition in homo-functional reactions (reactions having similar reactive functionality in reactants and products).