Production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-Mandelic Acid Using Nitrilase from Recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> Cells Immobilized with Tris(Hydroxymethyl)Phosphine

Recombinant Escherichia coli cells harboring nitrilase from Alcaligenes faecalis were immobilized using tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) as the coupling agent. The optimal pH and temperature of the THP-immobilized cells were determined at pH 8.0 and 55 °C. The half-lives of THP-immobilized cells measured at 35, 40, and 50 °C were 1800, 965, and 163 h, respectively. The concentration of R-mandelic acid (R-MA) reached 358 mM after merely 1-h conversion by the immobilized cells with 500 mM R,S-mandelonitrile (R,S-MN), affording the highest productivity of 1307 g L^?1 day^?1 and the space-time productivity of 143.2 mmol L^?1 h^?1 g^?1. The immobilized cells with granular shape were successfully recycled for 60 batches using 100 mM R,S-MN as substrate at 40 °C with 64% of relative activity, suggesting that the immobilized E. coli cells obtained in this study are promising for the production of R-MA.     

Immobilization of Xylanase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus pumilus</Emphasis> Strain MK001 and its Application in Production of Xylo-oligosaccharides

Xylanase from Bacillus pumilus strain MK001 was immobilized on different matrices following varied immobilization methods. Entrapment using gelatin (GE) (40.0%), physical adsorption on chitin (CH) (35.0%), ionic binding with Q-sepharose (Q-S) (45.0%), and covalent binding with HP-20 beads (42.0%) showed the maximum xylanase immobilization efficiency. The optimum pH of immobilized xylanase shifted up to 1.0 unit (pH 7.0) as compared to free enzyme (pH 6.0). The immobilized xylanase exhibited higher pH stability (up to 28.0%) in the alkaline pH range (7.0–10.0) as compared to free enzyme. Optimum temperature of immobilized xylanase was observed to be 8 °C higher (68.0 °C) than free enzyme (60.0 °C). The free xylanase retained 50.0% activity, whereas xylanase immobilized on HP-20, Q-S, CH, and GE retained 68.0, 64.0, 58.0, and 57.0% residual activity, respectively, after 3 h of incubation at 80.0 °C. The immobilized xylanase registered marginal increase and decrease in K _m and V _max values, respectively, as compared to free enzyme. The immobilized xylanase retained up to 70.0% of its initial hydrolysis activity after seven enzyme reaction cycles. The immobilized xylanase was found to produce higher levels of high-quality xylo-oligosaccharides from birchwood xylan, indicating its potential in the nutraceutical industry.     

Syntheses of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-3-styrylchromones

Several (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones were prepared by two different methodologies, the Wittig reaction of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde with benzylic ylides and the Knoevenagel condensation of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde with phenylacetic acids in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide under microwave irradiation. The Knoevenagel reaction followed by a decarboxylation offered an efficient and diastereoselective method for preparing (E)-3-styrylchromones in a shorter reaction time. It was also demonstrated that phenylacetic acid can also be substituted with success by phenylmalonic acid. The stereochemistry of all products was assigned by NMR experiments. Correspondence: Artur M. S. Silva, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.     

Production of Anti-Methicillin-Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus</Emphasis> Activity from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> sp. Strain B38 Newly Isolated from Soil

B38 bacterial strain, isolated from Tunisian soil showed a strong antimicrobial activity. Based on biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, B38 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Cell culture supernatant showed antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species and several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi was also observed. Antibacterial activity production started at early exponential growth phase, and maximum activity was reached at the stationary phase. This antibacterial activity was neither affected by proteases, lipase, and organic solvents, nor by surfactants. It was stable over a wide pH range and still active after autoclaving at 121 °C during 20 min. Thin layer chromatography followed by bioautography assay allowed the detection of four active spots with R _f values of 0.30, 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82. The single spot with R _f 0.30 showed antifungal activity, whereas the spots with R _f values of 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82 exhibited antibacterial activity.     

Humulene and its derivatives from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> buds

Humulene and its derivatives (6R)-hydroxy-α-humulene [(6R)-hydroxy-(1E,4E,8E)-4,8,11,11tetramethylcycloundeca-1,4,8-triene], (6R)-acetoxy-α-humulene [(6R)-acetoxy-(1E,4E,8E)-4,8,11,11tetramethylcycloundeca-1,4,8-triene], a coumaric acid ester, 14-hydroxy-α-humulene [14-coumaroxy(1E,4E,8E)-4,8,11,11-tetramethylcycloundeca-1,4,8-triene], (1E,6R,8E)-4,5-epoxy-6-hydroxy-4,8,11,11tetramethylcycloundeca-1,8-diene, and (6R,9S)-4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-1,4-cycloundecadien-6,9-diol were observed in the hydrocarbon extract of Betula pendula (Betulaceae) buds. The GC retention indices were determined for all identified compounds.     

Two new isomeric lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusideroxylon zwageri</Emphasis>

Two new lignans were isolated with two other known compounds, eusiderin A and eusiderin I, from Eusideroxylon zwageri (billian). The two new lignans have isomeric structure. The structures of the new lignans were determined to be (2R,3R,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy (3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin and (2R,3S,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 303–305, May–June, 2009.     

Two new ceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes candida</Emphasis>

Two new ceramides were isolated from the bulbs of Zephyranthes candida. Their structures were established as (2S,3S,4R,13E)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-13-octadecene, named zephyranamide A (1) and (2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-octacosanoylaminohexadecene, named zephyranamide B (2). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral techniques including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, as well as HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and COSY.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

Physical and Covalent Immobilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lipase</Emphasis> onto Amine Groups Bearing Thiol-Ene Photocured Coatings

In this study, amine groups containing thiol-ene photocurable coating material for lipase immobilization were prepared. Lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) from Candida rugosa was immobilized onto the photocured coatings by physical adsorption and glutaraldehyde-activated covalent bonding methods, respectively. The catalytic efficiency of the immobilized and free enzymes was determined for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate and also for the synthesis of p-nitrophenyl linoleate. The storage stability and the reusability of the immobilized enzyme and the effect of temperature and pH on the catalytic activities were also investigated. The optimum pH for free lipase and physically immobilized lipase was determined as 7.0, while it was found as 7.5 for the covalent immobilization. After immobilization, the optimum temperature increased from 37 °C (free lipase) to 50–55 °C. In the end of 15 repeated cycles, covalently bounded enzyme retained 60 and 70 % of its initial activities for hydrolytic and synthetic assays, respectively. While the physically bounded enzyme retained only 56 % of its hydrolytic activity and 67 % of its synthetic activity in the same cycle period. In the case of hydrolysis V _max values slightly decreased after immobilization. For synthetic assay, the V _max value for the covalently immobilized lipase was found as same as free lipase while it decreased dramatically for the physically immobilized lipase. Physically immobilized enzyme was found to be superior over covalent bonding in terms of enzyme loading capacity and optimum temperature and exhibited comparable re-use values and storage stability. Thus, a fast, easy, and less laborious method for lipase immobilization was developed.     

New lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syringa reticulata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mandshurica</Emphasis>

In the search for platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists, two new lignan compounds were isolated from the leaves of Syringa reticulata Hara var. mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated as (7R,8S, 8'S)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-8,9-dihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol A) and (7R,8S,8'S)-3',4'methylenedioxy-4-methoxy-3,8,9-trihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol B), Mandshuricol A and B showed antagonistic activity on PAF in the [³H] PAF receptor binding assay with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 × 10^–5 M and 3.5 × 10^–5 M, respectively.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

Another two novel ceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes candida</Emphasis>

From the the bulbs of Zephyranthes candida (Amaryllidaceae), another two novel ceramides have been isolated and identified. The structures of the two novel compounds were established as (2S,3S,4R,21E,2′R)2-[N-(2′-hydroxynonadecanoyl)-N-(1′′,2′′-dihydroxyethyl)amino]-21-hexacosene-1,3,4-triol, named zephyranamide C (1), and 1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxy-2-(2′-hydroxyhexacosanoyl-amino)-18-(E)-tetracosene, named zephyranamide D (2). Their structures and stereochemistries were elucidated by spectral techniques including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, as well as HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and COSY.     

Molar Excess Volumes and Excess Isentropic Compressibilities of Ternary Mixtures Containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-Toluidine

Molar excess volumes, V _ijk ^E, and speeds of sound, U _ijk , of o-toluidine (i) + benzene (j) + cyclohexane or n-hexane or n-heptane (k) ternary mixtures have been measured as a function of composition at 308.15 K. The observed speed of sound data have been utilized to determine the excess isentropic compressibilities, (K _S ^E) _ijk , of the ternary (i+j+k) mixtures. The Moelywn-Huggins concept (Huggins in Polymer 12: 389–399, 1971) of connectivity between the surfaces of the binary mixture constituents has been extended to ternary mixtures (using the concept of a connectivity parameter of third degree of molecules, ³ ξ, which in turn depends on its topology) to obtain an expression that describes well the measured V _ijk ^E and (K _S ^E) _ijk data. The observed data have also been analyzed in terms of Flory’s theory.     

Structure of a new xanthone from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Securidaca inappendiculata</Emphasis>

A new xanthone (1, 1,7-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone), in addition to the known metabolites 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (2), 24(R)-stigmast-7,22 (E)-dien-3α-ol (3), and 1,7-dimethoxyxanthone (4), was isolated from the roots of Securidaca inappendiculata. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated by anti-HIV assay and 1–3 showed anti-HIV-1inhibitory activity in vitro. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 348–349, July–August, 2008.     

Phenolic constituents from the stems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopanax senticosus</Emphasis>

A new phenolic glycoside was isolated from the stems of Acanthopanax senticosus together with sixteen known compounds. The structure of the new compound was determined to be 2,6-dimethoxy-4-[(1E)-3,3-dimethoxy-1-propenyl]phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (1) by means of physical, chemical, and spectroscopic methods. Of the known compounds, salvadoraside (7), (7R,8S)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4,9′-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), 3-(4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferuloyl)quinic acid (15), rel-5-(1R,5S-dimethyl-3R,4R,8S-trihydroxy-7-oxa-6-oxobicyclo[3,2,1]oct-8-yl)-3-methyl-2Z,4E-pentadienoic acid (16), and lycoperodine-l (17) were first reported from the title plant. The inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds against α-glucosidase from rat intestine were also reported.     

Characterization of Thermo-stable Endoinulinase from a New Strain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus Smithii</Emphasis> T7

A new thermophilic inulinase-producing strain, which grows optimally at 60 °C, was isolated from soil samples with medium containing inulin as a sole carbon source. It was identified as a Bacillus smithii by analysis of 16s rDNA. Maximum inulinase yield of 135.2 IU/ml was achieved with medium pH7.0, containing inulin 2.0%, (NH₄)H₂PO₄ 0.5%, yeast extract 0.5%, at 50 °C 200 rpm shaker for 72-h incubation. The purified inulinase from the extracellular extract of B. smithii T7 shows endoinulinolytic activity. The optimum pH for this endoinulinase is 4.5 and stable at pH range of 4.0–8.0. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 70 °C, the half life of the endoinulinase is 9 h and 2.5 h at 70 °C and 80 °C respectively. Comparatively lower Michaelis–Menten constant (4.17 mM) and higher maximum reaction velocity (833 IU/mg protein) demonstrate the endoinulinase’s greater affinity for inulin substrate. These findings are significant for its potential industrial application.     

Statistical Optimization of Alpha-Amylase Production with Immobilized Cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces erumpens</Emphasis> MTCC 7317 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis> L. Sponge Discs

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of Streptomyces erumpens cells immobilized in various matrices, i.e., agar–agar, polyacrylamide, and luffa (Luffa cylindrica L.) sponge for production of α-amylase. Luffa sponge was found to be 21% and 51% more effective in enzyme yield than agar–agar and polyacrylamide, respectively. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effect of three main variables, i.e., incubation period, pH, and temperature on enzyme production with immobilized luffa cells. The experimental results showed that the optimum incubation period, pH, and temperature were 36h, 6.0, and 50 °C, respectively. The repeated batch fermentation of immobilized cells in shake flasks showed that S. erumpens cells were more or less equally physiologically active on the support even after three cycles of fermentation (3,830–3,575 units). The application of S. erumpens crude enzyme in liquefying cassava starch was studied. The maximum hydrolysis of cassava starch (85%) was obtained with the application of 4ml (15,200 units) of crude enzyme after 5 h of incubation.     

Polar steroidal compounds from the Far-Eastern starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lethasterias fusca</Emphasis>

Nine steroidal compounds including three new steroidal glycosides, viz., sodium (24S)-3,24-di-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholestane-3β,6β,8,15α,24-pentol 15-sulfate (fuscaside A), (24S)-3,24-di-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholestane-3β,6β,8,15α,24-pentol (fuscaside B), and (22E,24R)-24-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6α,8,15β,24-pentol (desulfated minutoside A); three previously known glycosides, viz., distolasterosides D₁ and D₂ and pycno-podioside A; two previously known polyhydroxysteroids, viz., 5α-cholestane-3β,6α,8,15β,16β,26-hexaol and 5α-cholestan-3β,4β,6α,7⇇8,15β,16β,26-octol; and the known sodium 24,25-dihydro-marthasterone 3-sulfate were isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Lethasterias fusca. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 196–200, January, 2008.     

Phytochemical investigations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vernonia galamensis</Emphasis> seeds

Vernonia galamensis is a new potential industrial oil seed crop for semiarid areas with very high content of naturally epoxidized vernolic acid (80% of the oil). Chemical investigation of the seeds of Vernonia galamensis afforded two compounds, which are vernolic acid derivatives. Their structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques: IR, UV, NMR, and 2D NMR spectra (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), and by comparison with literature data for the known compound methylvernolate. The cis-(12S,13R)-(3-methylpentyl) vernolate (1) and the cis-(12S,13R)-(2,3-propanediol) vernolate (2) were isolated and characterized.     

A new component from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eupatorium cannabinum</Emphasis>

A new compound of formula C₂₈H₄₈O with mp 179-180°C (aqueous ethanol) that was called eucanbin was isolated pure by column chromatography of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Eupatorium cannabinum L. The structure 24α-methylcholest-20(21)-en-3β-ol was assigned based on chemical and spectral data. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 318–320, May–June, 2009.