Structural prediction of a novel chitinase from the psychrophilic Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 and an analysis of its structural properties and function

The structure of psychrophilic chitinase (CHI II) from Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 has yet to be studied in detail. Due to its low sequence identity (<30?%), the structural prediction of CHI II is a challenge. A 3D model of CHI II was built by first using a threading approach to search for a suitable template and to generate an optimum target-template alignment, followed by model building using MODELLER9v7. Analysis of the catalytic insertion domain structure in CHI II revealed an increase in the number of aromatic residues and longer loops compared to mesophilic and thermophilic chitinases. A molecular dynamics simulation was used to examine the stability of the CHI II structure at 273, 288 and 300?K. Structural analysis of the substrate-binding cleft revealed a few exposed aromatic residues. Substitutions of certain amino acids in the surface and loop regions of CHI II conferred an increased flexibility to the enzyme, allowing for an adaptation to cold temperatures. A substrate binding comparison of CHI II with the mesophilic chitinase from Coccidioides immitis, 1D2K, suggested that the psychrophilic adaptation and catalytic activity at low temperatures were achieved through a reduction in the number of salt bridges, fewer hydrogen bonds and an increase in the exposure of the hydrophobic side chains to the solvent.     

Ethanol production in a membrane bioreactor

Pilot plant trials were conducted in a corn wet mill with a 7000-L membrane recycle bioreactor (MRB) that integrated ceramic microfiltration membranes in a semi-closed loop configuration with a stirred-tank reactor. Residence times of 7.5–10 h with ethanol outputs of 10–11.5% (v/v) were obtained when the cell concentration was 60–100 g/L drywt of yeast, equivalent to about 10⁹−10¹⁰ cells/mL. The performance of the membrane was dependent on the startup mode and pressure management techniques. A steady flux of 70 L/(m²·h) could be maintained for several days before cleaning was necessary. The benefits of the MRB include better productivity; a clear productstream containing no particulates or yeast cells, which should improve subsequent stripping and distillation operations; and substantially reduced stillage handling. The capital cost of the MRB is $21–$34/(m³·yr) ($0.08–$0.13/[gal·yr]) of ethanol capacity. Operating cost, including depreciation, energy, membrane replacement, maintenance, labor, and cleaning, is $4.5–9/m³ ($0.017–$0.034/gal) of ethanol.     

Determination of oil contents from eight varieties of olea europaea (Olive) grown in Pakistan

Abstract

The olive (Olea europaea L.) is a worldwide famous tree crop having valuable commercial role due to nutritional as well as therapeutic benefits obtained from its edible oil. Eight varieties of Olea europaea L. fruits were obtained from three Agricultural research institutes located in different areas of Pakistan including Quetta, Lorallia and Zhob to extract and determine their oil contents by conventional method as solvent extraction (soxhlet apparatus). Statistical analysis showed significant (p?=?0.002) difference in oil composition of collected plants. Highest amount (percentage) of oil was obtained from Gemlik variety (65%) from Lorallia and lowest oil content from Dolece-agogia variety (17.5%) collected from Quetta. Further research is under consideration to rule out best suitable factors including some soil and environmental factors to obtained more potential cultivars of Olea europaea in Pakistan.     

Spectrophotometric estimation of cobalt(II) with nitrilotriacetic acid

A convenient and efficient method for the estimation of cobalt(II) ions in the presence of other metal ions is described. Interference of metal ions such as iron(II), iron(III), nickel(II), manganese(II), and copper(II) have been investigated. Only iron(III) ions seriously affect this determination. Copper(II) and nickel(II) ions do not interfere if present in a molar-ratio less than 1:2 in the cobalt(II) ion solution. Cobalt(II)-nickel(II) and cobalt(II)-copper(II) binary mixtures can be efficiently analyzed at selective wavelengths.     

Simulation study of wave propagation instabilities for the combustion synthesis of transition metals aluminides

Interest in the mode of propagation of self-sustaining reactions has been motivated by the influence of the mode on the microstructure and composition of the final product. However, comprehensive studies relating the onset of the various propagation modes to the chemical and phase transformations taking place in the sample are still lacking. In the present work propagation instabilities in self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of transition metal aluminides are studied using a computer simulation approach. The results are presented for the SHS of NiAl, CoAl, TiAl, and NbAl(3). Particular emphasis is made with respect to the influence of process variables and system parameters on the onset of propagation instabilities, in relation to the physicochemical processes taking place during the propagation of the combustion front.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of neutral chlorpromazine in zwitterionic phospholipid monolayers

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the interactions between chlorpromazine (CPZ), a neuroleptic drug used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a zwitterionic phospholipid, in Langmuir monolayers. The results from simulations carried out at different monolayer surface densities were able to capture important features of the CPZ-lipid interaction. We find that neutral (unprotonated) CPZ is preferentially located in the lipid tail region of the phospholipids, in little contact with the aqueous phase, and that the orientation of its rigid ring structure and tail conformation vary with lipid surface density. CPZ is found to promote ordering of the lipid tails for all surface densities because of a reduction in the effective surface area per lipid upon addition of the drug. Similar effects have been observed in previous studies of cholesterol in DPPC monolayers, in which lipid tails were seen to order around the solute. This feature, however, is quite distinct from what we observe for the most dense monolayer considered here (area per lipid of 50 A(2)), for which we find that CPZ promotes a local distortion of the lipid tails in its immediate vicinity and a concomitant ordering of lipid tails located further away from the solute. This view is further supported by the results obtained for an approximated nonlinear vibrational sum frequency generation susceptibility, which showed greater tail disorder close to CPZ.     

γγ-Disubstituted Itaconic Acids. Part 1. The Stobbe condensation of 1-arylnaphthyl ketones with diethyl succinate

Arylnaphthyl ketones condense with diethyl succinate yielding the stereoisomeric half-esters 2a–2d which were subjected to a series of reactions leading to 1-phenylphenanthrene and 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives. (E)-3-Ethoxycarbonyl-4-(4-methoxynaphth-1-yl)-4-arylbut-3-enoic acids ( 2b–d ) were converted finally into the corresponding naphtho[1,2-c]fluorenones ( 9 ). The structure of the products was established by IR. and UV. spectroscopy. The effect of substituents on the relative proportions of (E)- and (Z)-half-esters 2 was determined by chromatography and UV. spectroscopy.     

Immobilization ofLactobacillus bulgaricus in a hollowfiber bioreactor for production of lactic acid from acid whey permeate

Lactobacillus bulgaricus was immobilized in the shell side of an industrial hollow-fiber ultrafiltration module. Acid whey permeate, containing 46 g/L lactose supplemented with 10 g/L yeast extract, was pumped through the tube side at dilution rates of 0.2–2.5/h. At a cell concentration of 100 g/L, productivity was 1.5–5 g lactic acid/L/h.     

Spectrophotometric determination of vanadium(IV) with nitrilotriacetic acid

A new and convenient spectrophotometric method for the estimation of vanadium(IV) with NTA is described. The minimum ratio of metal ion to ligand, working pH, wavelength for maximum absorbance of the complex ion, and the effect of various cations and anions are described. The complex ion obeys Beer's law in the concentration range 1–32 mmol/liter of the vanadium(IV) ion. It is observed that iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), and oxidizing anions such as chromate and nitrite interfere in this determination, whereas managanese(II), chromium(III), iron(III), and anions like nitrate, chloride, bromide, iodide, thiocyanate, sulfate, and sulfite do not have any effect. Excessive amounts of acetate, phosphate, oxalate, tartrate and thiosulfate must also be avoided in this determination. Anions and cations which interfere in the determination of vanadium(IV) by NTA should not be present in the system.