Effect of Initial Cell Concentration on Ethanol Production by Flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Xylose-Fermenting Ability

Different initial cell concentrations of a recombinant flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae MA-R4 were evaluated for their effects on xylose fermentation and glucose–xylose cofermentation. A high initial cell concentration greatly increased both the substrate utilization and ethanol production rates. During xylose fermentation, the highest rates of xylose consumption (2.58 g/L h) and ethanol production (0.83 g/L h) were obtained at an initial cell concentration of 13.1 g/L. During cofermentation, the highest rates of glucose consumption (14.4 g/L h), xylose consumption (2.79 g/L h), and ethanol production (6.68 g/L h) were obtained at an initial cell concentration of 12.7 g/L. However, a high initial cell density had no positive effect on the maximum ethanol concentration and ethanol yield mainly due to the increased amount of by-products including xylitol. The ethanol yield remained almost constant (0.34 g/g) throughout xylose fermentation (initial cell concentration range, 1.81–13.1 g/L), while it was slightly lower at high initial cell concentrations (9.87 and 12.7 g/L) during cofermentation. The determination of the appropriate initial cell concentration is necessary for the improvement of substrate utilization and ethanol yield.     

Production of ceramide with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The possibility of producing the biologically active material of the skin, ceramide, was studied using yeasts. The yeast strain that produced the most ceramide, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (KCCM 50515), was selected, and the optimal conditions for ceramide production were determined using shakeflask culture and batch fermentation. By measuring the production rate of ceramide at various pH values and temperatures, the optimal conditions for ceramide production were found to be pH 6.0 and 30°C. When heat shock was applied to the cells for 1 h by increasing the culture temperature from 30 to 40°C after cell growth, the amount of ceramide produced was increased 5.9-fold. A cell growth and ceramide production model was developed with Monod kinetics and the Leudecking-Piret model. It showed that ceramide production was increased when the cells were in the stationary phase.     

Study on Production of Amino Acids from Bean Dregs by Hydrolysis in Sub-critical Water

This study investigated the production of value‐added amino acids from bean dregs by hydrolysis in subcritical water. It was investigated that the effect of reaction temperature, reaction time and CO₂ on amino acid concentration in the hydrolysates of bean dregs. The product of amino acid was determined by Amino Acid Analyzer. The results show that a variety of amino acids are produced. The concentrations of arginine, lysine and alanine were relatively high in the hydrolysate. Temperature and time have a great influence on the hydrolysis reaction. The effects of reaction temperature and time on concentration of different amino acids vary. The addition of carbon dioxide led to an increase in amino acid yield due to the acceleration of acid hydrolyzed catalysis steps. The highest yield of total amino acids is 22% (0.22 g/g of dry bean dregs) at 330°C and 30 min. This method may provide a practical and economical solution for the disposal of bean dregs wastes.     

The nitrosation of Amino Acids

With a view to clarifying analogies and differences between the mechanisms involved in the nitrosation of amino acids and secondary amines, we studied the kinetics of the nitrosation of five imino acids (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, piperidine-2-carboxylic acid, piperidine-3-carboxylic acid, and piperidine-4-carboxylic acid) and of the ethyl esters of three of them. Reaction kinetics were determined by the initial rate method, by spectrophotometric monitoring of the concentration of nitroso amino acid formed. The presence of the ? COO^? group in the amino acids opens a new mechanistic route for the nitrosation of the secondary amino group: a nitrosyl carboxylate formed initially acts as an internal nitrosating agent, resulting in intramolecular migration of ? N ? O from the carboxylate group to the secondary amino group. The observed order of the α?, β?, and γ-amino acids as regards the ease of N-nitrosation by this route is explained in terms of the relative energies of (a) the equatorial and axial orientations of the C_ring? C_carboxyl bond, and (b) the chair and boat forms of the piperidine ring. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of agitation and aeration on production of hexokinase by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A batch culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of hexokinase was carried out in a 5-L fermentor containing 3 L of culture medium, which was in oculated with cell suspension (about 0.7 g/L), and left ferm entingat 35°C and pH 4.0. The aeration and agitation were adjusted to attain k _La values of 15, 60, 135, and 230 h⁻¹. The highest hexokinase productivity (754.6 U/[L h]) and substrate-cell conversion yield (0.21 g/g) occurred for a k _La of 60 h⁻¹. Moreover, the formation of hexokinase and cell growth are coupled events, which is in accordance with the constitutive character of this enzyme. Hexokinase formation for k _La>60 h⁻¹ was not enhanced probably owing to saturation of the respiratory pathway by oxygen.     

Induction of Asymmetry by Amino Acids

Since the stereoisomers of molecules with one or more asymmetric centers often exhibit different biological activities (e.g. thalidomide, pheromones), stereoselective synthesis as a method of preparative chemistry is rapidly attaining importance. Of the numerous drugs prepared by total synthesis that contain at least one asymmetric center, only about 20% have so far been used in sterically pure form. Amino acids constitute the greatest “chiral pool” of compounds whose enantiomers can be obtained commercially in large amounts; they are gradually being used more and more frequently as auxiliary agents or educts in asymmetric syntheses.     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Ethanol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLD10 Using Molasses

In this study, we have used ultraviolet (UV) and γ-ray induction to get a catabolite repression resistant and thermotolerant mutant with enhanced ethanol production along with optimization of sugar concentration and temperature of fermentation. Classical mutagenesis in two consecutive cycles of UV- and γ-ray-induced mutations evolved one best catabolite-resistant and thermotolerant mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLD10 which showed improved ethanol yield (0.48?±?0.02 g g^?1), theoretical yield (93?±?3 %), and extracellular invertase productivity (1,430?±?50 IU l^?1 h^?1), respectively, when fermenting 180 g sugars l^?1 in molasses medium at 43 °C in 300 m³ working volume fermenter. Ethanol production was highly dependent on invertase production. Enthalpy (ΔH*) (32.27 kJ M^?1) and entropy (ΔS*) (?202.88 J M^?1 K^?1) values at 43 °C by the mutant MLD10 were significantly lower than those of β-glucosidase production by a thermophilic mutant derivative of Thermomyces lanuginosus. These results confirmed the enhanced production of ethanol and invertase by this mutant derivative. These studies proved that mutant was significantly improved for ethanol production and was thermostable in nature. Lower fermentation time for ethanol production and maintenance of ethanol production rates (3.1 g l^?1 h^?1) at higher temperature (43 °C) by this mutant could decrease the overall cost of fermentation process and increase the quality of ethanol production.     

The influence of inert solids on ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The catalytic role of various inert solid supports on acceleration of alcohol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. The enhanced rate of alcohol production was dependent on the nature of the support as well as on the amount used. Among all the tested supports, chitosan flakes showed the maximum yield of alcohol (93% of theoretical yield). This higher rate of alcohol production was associated with the twofold increase in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase over control. Our results suggest that the addition of a small fraction of solids in submerged fermentations to facilitate cell anchorage for enhanced metabolic activity is easier and more economical compared to cell immobilization processes. IICT Communication No. 4266. Some of the results in this article are covered under a patent.     

The Synthesis of Cyclic Amino Acids

Several cyclic amino acids (1-4) were synthesized from glycine. Isocyanate ester was prepared as the key intermediate and reacted with dibromoalkanes to afford the target compounds.     

The Synthesis of p-Methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl Amino Acids

o-Chlorobenzyloxycarbonylimino-2-phenylacetonitrile (Cl-Z-ON) and p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonylimino-2-phenylacetonitrile (MOZ-ON) have been prepared from 2-hydroxyimino-2-phenylacetonitrile (oxime), phosgene, and the corresponding alcohols. Cl-Z-ON is synthesized for the first time and found to be stable at room temperature. MOZ-ON is utilized for the preparation of MOZ-amino acids under various conditions. The oxime can be recovered and reused. The combination of Cl-Z- and MOZ- for the alternative masking of the N⁴- and N⁴-amino groups of lysine residue has also been studied.     

Ethanol Production by Fermentation Using Immobilized Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Cashew Apple Bagasse

In this work, cashew apple bagasse (CAB) was used for Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilization. The support was prepared through a treatment with a solution of 3% HCl, and delignification with 2% NaOH was also conducted. Optical micrographs showed that high populations of yeast cells adhered to pre-treated CAB surface. Ten consecutive fermentations of cashew apple juice for ethanol production were carried out using immobilized yeasts. High ethanol productivity was observed from the third fermentation assay until the tenth fermentation. Ethanol concentrations (about 19.82–37.83 g L^?1 in average value) and ethanol productivities (about 3.30–6.31 g L^?1 h^?1) were high and stable, and residual sugar concentrations were low in almost all fermentations (around 3.00 g L^?1) with conversions ranging from 44.80% to 96.50%, showing efficiency (85.30–98.52%) and operational stability of the biocatalyst for ethanol fermentation. Results showed that cashew apple bagasse is an efficient support for cell immobilization aiming at ethanol production.     

Effect of Structure on the Adsorption of Amino Acids on Copper Electrodes

The adsorption of amino acids on copper electrodes was studied at negative potentials. The effect of the amino acid structure on the mechanism and extent of adsorption was elucidated. Glycine, alanine, and asparagine molecules were found to reorient upon adsorption. An adsorption mechanism involving either neutral molecules or anions was proposed.     

米根霉胞内氨基酸的高效液相色谱测定及其代谢途径分析

建立了米根霉胞内代谢物提取方法定量评价体系,用100％甲醇作为提取剂获得对米根霉胞内能荷物质最佳的提取效果.用HPLC法建立了米根霉产富马酸体系胞内18种氨基酸的含量测定方法.采用异硫氰酸苯酯( PITC)作为柱前衍生化试剂,所有氨基酸在28 min内洗脱完毕.以Sepax AA柱(250 nn×4.6 mm,5μm)为分析柱,流速1.0 mL/min,检测波长254 nm,以0.1 mol/L醋酸钠(pH 6.5)-乙腈(93∶7,V/V)为流动相A,乙腈-水( 80∶ 20,V/V)为流动相B,梯度洗脱.18种氨基酸在1.87～45.3 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数大于0.991;加标回收率在96.3％～102.7％之间;相对标准偏差在1.6％～2.9％之间.运用本方法测定不同发酵时间米根霉胞内氨基酸的含量,得到其在发酵过程中的变化趋势,并结合氨基酸代谢途径分析了该发酵条件下富马酸产量偏低的原因.     

Counteracting Effect of Charged Amino Acids Against the Destabilization of Proteins by Arginine

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Studies on osmolyte-induced effects on proteins help in enhancing protein stability under stressed conditions for various applications. Using mixtures of...     

Improved Bioethanol Production Using Fusants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Xylose-Fermenting Yeasts

The present research deals with the development of a hybrid yeast strain with the aim of converting pentose and hexose sugar components of lignocellulosic substrate to bioethanol by fermentation. Different fusant strains were obtained by fusing protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and xylose-fermenting yeasts such as Pachysolen tannophilus, Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis. The fusants were sorted by fluorescent-activated cell sorter and further confirmed by molecular characterization. The fusants were evaluated by fermentation of glucose?Cxylose mixture and the highest ethanol producing fusant was used for further study to ferment hydrolysates produced by acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton gin waste. Among the various fusant and parental strains used under present study, RPR39 was found to be stable and most efficient strain giving maximum ethanol concentration (76.8?±?0.31?g L^?1), ethanol productivity (1.06?g L^?1 h^?1) and ethanol yield (0.458?g g^?1) by fermentation of glucose?Cxylose mixture under test conditions. The fusant has also shown encouraging result in fermenting hydrolysates of cotton gin waste with ethanol concentration of 7.08?±?0.142?g L^?1, ethanol yield of 0.44?g g^?1, productivity of 0.45?g L^?1?h^?1 and biomass yield of 0.40?g g^?1.     

高效液相色谱法测定羊水中兴奋性氨基酸、抑制性氨基酸的含量

建立了反相高效液相色谱法测定羊水中兴奋性氨基酸天门冬氨酸、谷氨酸,抑制性氨基酸甘氨酸含量的方法,色谱柱为LUNAC18柱(4.6mm×250mm,5μm),流动相为乙腈水(V/V),按低压梯度洗脱,梯度系统0～4min,乙腈40%;4～20min,乙腈40%～52%;20～30min,乙腈52%～60%;30～40min,乙腈60%～40%。流速0.8mL/min,柱温40℃,紫外检测波长260nm;进样量10μL。结果显示,天门冬氨酸、谷氨酸和甘氨酸三者的线性范围均为2.5～85mg/L;标准加入的回收率为99.6%～102.6%。本方法灵敏度高、测定结果可靠。用本方法对201例不同孕期的羊水作兴奋性和抑制性氨基酸检测,发现羊水中3种氨基酸随妊娠进展而增加的趋势,胎儿畸形或宫内缺氧时羊水中这3种氨基酸水平明显升高。     

Biosorption of americium-241 by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The biosorption of radionuclide ²⁴¹Am from solution by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), and the effects of experimental conditions on the adsorption were investigated. The preliminary results showed thatS. cerevisiae is a very efficient biosorbent. An average of more than 99% of the total ²⁴¹Am could be removed by S. cerevisiae of 2.1 g/l (dry weight) from ²⁴¹Am solutions of 17.54–4386.0 mg/l (2.22 MBq/l–555 MBq/l) with adsorption capacities of 7.45–1880.0 mg/g biomass (dry weight) (0.94 MBq/g–237.9 MBq/g). The adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 1 hour and the optimum pH ranged 1–3. No significant differences on ²⁴¹Am adsorption were observed at 10–45 °C, or in solutions containing Au³⁺ or Ag⁺, even 2000 times above ²⁴¹Am concentration. The relationship between concentrations and adsorption capacities of ²⁴¹Am indicated the biosorption process should be described by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.