Optimization of culture medium and conditions for penicillin acylase production by Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664

The culture medium for Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664 was optimized on a shake-flask scale by using a statistical factorial design for enhanced production of penicillin acylase. This extracellular enzyme recently has been reported to be a penicillin K acylase, presenting also high hydrolytic activity against penicillin V and other natural aliphatic penicillins such as penicillin K, penicillin F, and penicillin dihydroF. The factorial design indicated that the main factors that positively affect penicillin acylase production by S. lavendulae were the concentration of yeast extract and the presence of oligoelements in the fermentation medium, whereas the presence of olive oil in the medium had no effect on enzyme production. An initial concentration of 2.5% (w/v) yeast extract and 3 microg/mL of CuSO4 x 5H2O was found to be best for acylase production. In such optimized culture medium, fermentation of the microorganism yielded 289 IU/L of enzyme in 72 h when employing a volume medium/volume flask ratio of 0.4 and a 300-rpm shaking speed. The presence of copper, alone and in combination with other metals, stimulated biomass as well as penicillin acylase production. The time course of penicillin acylase production was also studied in the optimized medium and conditions. Enzyme production showed catabolite repression by different carbon sources such as glucose, lactose, citrate, glycerol, and glycine.     

Optimization of culture medium and conditions for penicillin acylase production by streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664

The culture medium for Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664 was optimized on a shake-flask scale by using a statistical factorial design for enhanced production of penicillin acylalse. This extracellularenzyme recently has been reported to bea penicillin Kacylase, presenting also high hydrolytic activity against penicillin V and other natural aliphatic penicillins such as penicillin K, penicillin F, and penicillin dihydroF,. The factorial design indicated that the main factors that positively affect penicillin acylase production by S. lavendulae were the concentration of yeast extract and the presence of oligoelements in the fermentation medium, whereas the presence of olive oil in the medium had no effect on enzyme production. An initial concentration of 2.5% (w/v) yeast extract and 3 μg/mL of CuSO₄·5H₂O was found to be best for acylase production. In such optimized culture medium, fermentation, of the microorganism yielded 289 IU/L of enzyme in 72 h when employing a volume medium/volume flask ratio of 0.4 and a 300-rpm shaking speed. The presence of copper, alone and in combination with other metals, stimulated biomass as well as penicillin acylase production. The time course of penicillin acylase production was also studied in the optimized medium and conditions. Enzyme production showed catabolite repression by different carbon sources such as glucose, lactose, citrate, glycerol, and glycine.     

Using Multi-parameter Flow Cytometry to Monitor the Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodotorula glutinis</Emphasis> CCMI 145 Batch Growth and Oil Production Towards Biodiesel

Multi-parameter flow cytometry was used to monitor cell intrinsic light scatter, viability, and lipid content of Rhodotorula glutinis CCMI 145 cells grown in shake flasks. Changes in the side light scatter and forward light scatter were detected during the yeast batch growth, which were attributed to the different yeast growth phases. A progressive increase in the proportion of cells stained with PI (cells with permeabilized cytoplasmic membrane) was observed during the yeast growth, attaining 79% at the end of the fermentation. A high correlation between the Nile Red fluorescence intensity measured by flow cytometry and total lipid content assayed by the traditional gravimetric lipid analysis was found for this yeast, making this method a suitable and quick technique for the screening of yeast strains for lipid production and optimization of biofuel production bioprocesses. Medium growth optimization for enhancement of the yeast oil production is now in progress.     

不同介孔材料固定青霉素酰化酶的稳定性研究

介孔材料由于具有在2～30nm之间可调的纳米级规则孔道、大比表面积和强吸附性能而成为固定化酶的优良载体．将酶固定于介孔材料的孔道中制备成的固定化酶与溶液酶相比,有易于与产物分离,并可回收和反复使用,可降低生产成本,减少酶的自水解和保持酶的活性．青霉素酰化酶（Penicillin acylase,PGA,EC．3．5．1．11）又称为青霉素酰胺酶或青霉素氨基水解酶,该酶属于球蛋白,分子量较大,由2个亚基组成：分子量为19500的含有侧链结合位点的亚基和分子量为60000的含有催化位点的亚基．     

Study of different media for production of penicillin G acylase from Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14945

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - In this study, several fermentation media were tested for the production of penicillin G acylase (PGA) using Bacillus megaterium. The carbon sources studied...     

Capillary hydrodynamic chromatography reveals temporal profiles of cell aggregates

Microbial cells are known to form aggregates. Such aggregates can be found in various matrices; for example, functional drinks. Capillary hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) enables separation of particles by size using nanoliter-scale volumes of samples. Here we propose an approach based on HDC for characterisation of real samples containing aggregated and non-aggregated bacterial and fungal cells. Separation of cells and cell aggregates in HDC arises from the parabolic flow profile under laminar flow conditions. In the presented protocol, hydrodynamic separation is coupled with different on-line and off-line detectors (light absorption/scattering and microscopy). The method has successfully been applied in the monitoring of dynamic changes in the microbiome of probiotic drinks. Chromatographic profiles of yogurt and kefir samples obtained at different times during fermentation are in a good agreement with microscopic images. Moreover, thanks to the implementation of an area imaging detector, capillary HDC could be multiplexed and used to profile spatial gradients in cell suspensions, which arise in the course of sedimentation of cells and cell aggregates. This result shows compatibility of sedimentation analysis and capillary HDC. We believe that the approach may find applications in the profiling of functional foods and other matrices containing aggregated bioparticles.     

Analyzing cell mechanics in hematologic diseases with microfluidic biophysical flow cytometry

Pathological processes in hematologic diseases originate at the single-cell level, often making measurements on individual cells more clinically relevant than population averages from bulk analysis. For this reason, flow cytometry has been an effective tool for single-cell analysis of properties using light scattering and fluorescence labeling. However, conventional flow cytometry cannot measure cell mechanical properties, alterations of which contribute to the pathophysiology of hematologic diseases such as sepsis, diabetic retinopathy, and sickle cell anemia. Here we present a high-throughput microfluidics-based 'biophysical' flow cytometry technique that measures single-cell transit times of blood cell populations passing through in vitro capillary networks. To demonstrate clinical relevance, we use this technique to characterize biophysical changes in two model disease states in which mechanical properties of cells are thought to lead to microvascular obstruction: (i) sepsis, a process in which inflammatory mediators in the bloodstream activate neutrophils and (ii) leukostasis, an often fatal and poorly understood complication of acute leukemia. Using patient samples, we show that cell transit time through and occlusion of microfluidic channels is increased for both disease states compared to control samples, and we find that mechanical heterogeneity of blood cell populations is a better predictor of microvascular obstruction than average properties. Inflammatory mediators involved in sepsis were observed to significantly affect the shape and magnitude of the neutrophil transit time population distribution. Altered properties of leukemia cell subpopulations, rather than of the population as a whole, were found to correlate with symptoms of leukostasis in patients-a new result that may be useful for guiding leukemia therapy. By treating cells with drugs that affect the cytoskeleton, we also demonstrate that their transit times could be significantly reduced. Biophysical flow cytometry offers a low-cost and high-throughput diagnostic and drug discovery platform for hematologic diseases that affect microcirculatory flow.     

微波辐射高效共价固定青霉素酰化酶

为提高青霉素酰化酶的共价固定化效率, 在微波辐射条件下将酶蛋白共价固定于介孔泡沫硅(MCFs)的孔道中. 通过正硅酸四乙酯水解缩合制备介孔泡沫硅, 再于微波辅助下将青霉素酰化酶共价固定在其孔道中. 以固定化酶相对活力和活力回收为指标, 考察了加酶量、固定化温度、微波辐射时间等条件对酶固定化效率的影响. 实验结果表明: 当加酶量为60 mg/g, 固定化温度为20 ℃, 微波辐射140 s, 固定化酶相对活力达到178.1%, 表观活力为1191.3 U/g(以湿重计). 与常规方法相比, 微波辅助固定化酶时, 固定化酶相对活力提高34.5%, 固定化时间亦大幅缩短至数分钟, 这为青霉素酰化酶的高效共价固定化提供了一条新的途径.     

介孔材料MCFs的合成及组装青霉素酰化酶的性质研究

介孔材料由于具有纳米级规则孔道和巨大的比表面积而在催化、吸附及分离等方面存在较大的应用价值．近年来,由介孔分子筛如MCM-41和SBA-15州等组装功能性材料已成为研究的热点．酶作为高效催化剂有许多优点,但在溶液中易失活,使用后无法回收,有的酶在溶液中还存在自水解问题：将酶组装在介孔材料中制成固定化酶则可解决上述问题．目前已成功地将辣根过氧化物酶     

Quantitative measurement of quantum dot uptake at the cell population level using microfluidic evanescent-wave-based flow cytometry

The intracellular uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) is an important process for molecular and cellular labeling, drug/gene delivery and medical imaging. The vast majority of investigations into NP uptake have been conducted using confocal imaging that is limited to observation of a small number of cells. Such data may not yield quantitative information about the cell population due to the tiny sample size and the potential heterogeneity. Flow cytometry is the technique of choice for studying cell populations with single cell resolution. Unfortunately, classic flow cytometry detects fluorescence from whole cells and does not shed light on subcellular dynamics. In this report, we demonstrate the use of microfluidics-based total internal reflection fluorescence flow cytometry (TIRF-FC) for examining initial quantum dot (QD) entry into cells and the associated subcellular movement at the single cell level with a rate of ～200 cells s(-1). Our cytometric tool allows extraction of quantitative data from a large cell population and reveals details about the QD transport in the periphery of the cell membrane (～100 nm deep into the cytosol). Our data indicate that the fluorescence density at the membrane vicinity decreases after initial QD dosage due to the decline in the density of QDs in the evanescent field and the transport into the cytosol is very rapid.     

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of N-Acylated 1-Aminophosphonic Acids

Abstract

Penicillin acylase from E. coli (FC 3.5.1.11) was found to hydrolyse N-phenylacetylated 1-aminoalkylphosphonic acids and their esters. Enzyme preferentially converts the R-form of the substrates: the ratios of the bimolecular rate constants of penicillin acylase-catalysed hydrolysis of R-and S- forms of 1-(N-phenylacetaminol-ethylphosphonic acid and its dimethyl- and diisopropyl- esters are 58000, 2600, 1800; these derivatives were shown to have the greatest values of the catalytic constants for enzymatic hydrolysis of all known substrates of penicillin acylase: 237, 148, and 134 s; corresponding values of Michaelis constants are 3.7×10^?5, 6.8×10^?4, and 6.2×10^?4 M. The kinetics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of 1-(N-phenylacetaminol-ethylphosphonic acid was investigated up to high degrees of conversion. The inhibition of penicillin acylase by high concentrations of the R-form of the substrate (with substrate inhibition constant 0.07 Ml and competitive inhibition by the reaction product phenylacetic acid (K_i=3.5×10_?5 M) was observed. Penicillin acylase was shown to possess quite broad substrate specificity among N-acylated 1-aminoalkylphosphonic acids and was found to be capable of hydrolysing 1-(N-phenylacetaminol-substituted 2-phenylethyl-, 1-phenylmethyl- and 3-methylbutylphosphonic acids with high efficiency and enantioselectivity.     

Cross-linked enzyme aggregates: a simple and effective method for the immobilization of penicillin acylase

[reaction--see text] Penicillin G acylase (penicillin amidohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.1.11) was immobilized in a simple and effective way by physical aggregation of the enzyme, using a precipitant, followed by chemical cross-linking to form insoluble cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs). These had the same activity in the synthesis of ampicillin as cross-linked crystals of the same enzyme, but the accompanying hydrolysis of the side-chain donor was much less. Penicillin G acylase CLEAs also catalyzed the synthesis of ampicillin in a broad range of organic solvents.     

Beaded reactive polymers 3 effect of triacrylates as crosslinkers on the physical properties of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers and immobilization of penicillin G acylase

Various glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymers were synthesized by suspension polymerization, using pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as crosslinking comonomers. These copolymers were evaluated for the immobilization of penicillin G acylase. Broad pore-size distribution that was observed was in the range 5-300 nm. Both surface area and pore volume increased with increase in the mole fraction of crosslinking comonomer (increasing crosslink density). The pore volume of the copolymers was more than doubled by including lauryl alcohol as porogen. Binding of penicillin G acylase (PGA) was quantitative on highly crosslinked copolymers. The expression of bound PGA was better on the relatively more hydrophilic GMA-TMPTA and GMA-PETA copolymer supports compared to the GMA-TRIM copolymers. Among the different copolymers studied, GMA-TMPTA copolymer 7411 exhibited highest activity of immobilized penicillin G acylase (167.4 IU/g) with 35.1% expression.     

介孔材料的修饰及固定青霉素酰化酶的稳定性研究

利用扩孔剂的作用合成出较大孔径(12 nm)的介孔材料SBA-15, 并进行表面氨基修饰, 以此为载体, 以戊二醛为交联剂, 对青霉素酰化酶进行组装固定, 并对固定化青霉素酰化酶(PGA)的稳定性进行了深入的研究. 实验结果表明, PGA与载体交联后仍保持活性. 热稳定性研究结果表明, 制备的固定化青霉素酰化酶在低于60 ℃时保持稳定; pH在6~11范围内保持稳定; 固定化酶重复使用10次之后, 仍具有高达90%的残留活力.     

Exacerbating effect of vitamin E supplementation on DNA damage induced in cultured human normal fibroblasts by UVA radiation

The effects of vitamin E supplementation were evaluated in cultured human normal fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet A radiation (320-380 nm) (UVA). Cells were incubated in medium containing alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol acetate or the synthetic analog Trolox for 24 h prior to UVA exposure. DNA damage in the form of frank breaks and alkali-labile sites, collectively termed single-strand breaks (SSB), was assayed by the technique of single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay), immediately following irradiation or after different repair periods. The generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide ion (O2.-) was measured by flow cytometry through the oxidation of indicators into fluorescent dyes. It was observed that pretreatment of cells with any form of vitamin E resulted in an increased susceptibility to the photoinduction of DNA SSB and in a longer persistence of damage, whereas no significant change was observed in the production of H2O2 and O2.- reactive oxygen species, compared to untreated controls. These findings indicate that in human normal fibroblasts, exogenously added vitamin E exerts a promoting activity on DNA damage upon UVA irradiation and might lead to increased cytotoxic and mutagenic risks.     

Adsorption and expression of penicillin G acylase immobilized onto methacrylate polymers generated with varying pore generating solvent volume

Adsorption and expression of penicillin G acylase was studied on macroporous methacrylate polymer beads of differing pore volume, generated with kerosene. The absorption and expression of the penicillin G acylase was dependent on pore volume. Maximum expression of 57% of adsorbed enzyme was obtained on beads synthesized with 40 mL of kerosene, indicating minimum pore-diffusion limitations.     

Quantitative monitoring of yeast fermentation using Raman spectroscopy

Compared to traditional IR methods, Raman spectroscopy has the advantage of only minimal interference from water when measuring aqueous samples, which makes this method potentially useful for in situ monitoring of important industrial bioprocesses. This study demonstrates real-time monitoring of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation process using a Raman spectroscopy instrument equipped with a robust sapphire ball probe. A method was developed to correct the Raman signal for the attenuation caused by light scattering cell particulate, hence enabling quantification of reaction components and possibly measurement of yeast cell concentrations. Extinction of Raman intensities to more than 50 % during fermentation was normalized with approximated extinction expressions using Raman signal of water around 1,627 cm^?1 as internal standard to correct for the effect of scattering. Complicated standard multi-variant chemometric techniques, such as PLS, were avoided in the quantification model, as an attempt to keep the monitoring method as simple as possible and still get satisfactory estimations. Instead, estimations were made with a two-step approach, where initial scattering correction of attenuated signals was followed by linear regression. In situ quantification measurements of the fermentation resulted in root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) of 2.357, 1.611, and 0.633 g/L for glucose, ethanol, and yeast concentrations, respectively.     

青霉素酰化酶交联酶聚体的制备及热失活动力学

以0.53 g/mL硫酸铵为沉淀剂, 0.35%(体积分数)戊二醛为交联剂制得青霉素酰化酶交联酶聚体(CLEAs), 酶活收率30.1%, 其最适温度(57 ℃)比游离酶提高10 ℃, 最适pH(10.0)向碱性偏移1.7个单位. 对比游离酶及其CLEAs的热稳定性和热失活动力学模型发现, 游离青霉素酰化酶制成CLEAs后, 其热失活动力学模型由一步失活转变为连串失活, 失活反应活化能由248.8 kJ/mol增加至549.2 kJ/mol, 对CLEAs热稳定性大幅提高的原因进行了解释. CLEAs重复利用7次后, 酶活保留56%以上, 具有良好的重复利用性.     

532—Re-evaluation of Feulgen stain for image cytometry: Part II. Application to electrochemically induced chromatin reactivation

Automated cytometry has been proposed by us as an extremely sensitive probe of the electrochemical reactivation of quiescent cells, provided that quantitative and specific staining techniques are available for absorption or fluorescence measurements.A complete re-evaluation is given of cell staining by means of the Feulgen reaction for absorption image cytometry, in order to obtain quantitative specificity for DNA amount and chromatin conformation.The possibility of computing from image cytometry the number of chromatin sites accessible to intercalation of small molecules, which should be related to template activity, was previously anticipated by us on an experimental basis, and is now assessed on a theoretical basis, linking together fluorescence flow cytometry and absorption image cytometry.The Feulgen staining technique has been applied to measure the amount of DNA during reactivation of frog erythrocytes and human lymphocytes induced by exposure to electromagnetic (e.m.) fields and by chemical changes of cell environment.Static automated absorption image analysis of Feulgen stained nuclei allows us to evaluate the onset of DNA synthesis and the effectiveness of the electrochemical stimulus on chromatin conformation.     

'Living cantilever arrays' for characterization of mass of single live cells in fluids

The size of a cell is a fundamental physiological property and is closely regulated by various environmental and genetic factors. Optical or confocal microscopy can be used to measure the dimensions of adherent cells, and Coulter counter or flow cytometry (forward scattering light intensity) can be used to estimate the volume of single cells in a flow. Although these methods could be used to obtain the mass of single live cells, no method suitable for directly measuring the mass of single adherent cells without detaching them from the surface is currently available. We report the design, fabrication, and testing of 'living cantilever arrays', an approach to measure the mass of single adherent live cells in fluid using silicon cantilever mass sensor. HeLa cells were injected into microfluidic channels with a linear array of functionalized silicon cantilevers and the cells were subsequently captured on the cantilevers with positive dielectrophoresis. The captured cells were then cultured on the cantilevers in a microfluidic environment and the resonant frequencies of the cantilevers were measured. The mass of a single HeLa cell was extracted from the resonance frequency shift of the cantilever and was found to be close to the mass value calculated from the cell density from the literature and the cell volume obtained from confocal microscopy. This approach can provide a new method for mass measurement of a single adherent cell in its physiological condition in a non-invasive manner, as well as optical observations of the same cell. We believe this technology would be very valuable for single cell time-course studies of adherent live cells.