Purification and partial characterization of two lectin isoforms fromCratylia mollis mart. (camaratu bean)

Two additional electrophoretically distinct molecular forms, isoforms (iso) 2 and 3, with lectin properties were isolated fromCratylia mollis Mart, seeds (FABACEAE), by extraction with 0.15M NaCl and ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and Bio-Gel P-200 (iso 2), as well as CM-Cellulose and Sephadex G-75 (iso 3). Both isoforms were human group nonspecific and showed distinct specificity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolved iso 2 and 3 in polypeptides of apparent mol wts 60 and 31 kDa, respectively; a distinct isoelectric focusing pattern was obtained for iso 2 and 3, under denaturing and reducing conditions.     

Calculation of the electronic properties of metal dimers

The low-energy excitation spectra of metal dimers are determined by solving exactly a realistic many-body Hamiltonian with inter- and intra-atomic Coulomb interactions. Our results for Cu₂ and Ag₂ are in very good agreement with the excitation energies derived from recent photodetachment experiments. The characteristics of the many-body excited states in these clusters are briefly discussed.     

Optimization of sucrose ethanol fermentation for K,Na, Ca,and cu metal contents

The effect of the trace metals Cu, K, Na, and Ca, separately or in mixture, on fermentation time, ethanol production rate, and cell growth in the fermentation of synthetic media containing sucrose is discussed. The results are related to the range of contents found in raw materials, molasses and raisins, in order to determine their optimum concentrations for alcohol production.     

Enzymatic synthesis of neopentylpolyol esters in organic media

Utilization of lipases for synthesis of esters of hydrophilic polyols has been investigated. The choice of a suitable solvent is crucial in this type of reaction. An interesting case is fatty acid esters from neopentylpolyols, such as trimethylolpropane, which are of great interest as high temperature lubricants. Enzymatic synthesis of trimethylolpropane tricaprylate was studied as an alternative to chemical manufacturing. Triester production occurred only if the water produced by esterification was continuously removed from the medium. In these condition, kinetics of appearance and transformation of mono-, di- and triesters were determined in order to define optimal conditions.     

Growth kinetics and phenolics production inGlycine Max cell suspension cultures

Glycine max was used as a model plant cell suspension culture to establish relationships among growth kinetics, phenolics production, elicitor action, and peroxidase activity. Timing of elictor addition through monitoring of peroxidase provided an excellent means of optimizing yields of phenolics and reduced the time span during which phenolics were formed, negating the need for a secondary production medium. We have also determined that calcium and other cellular effectors like polyamines and organic osmolytes, when used in conjunction with elicitors, enhance phenolics production. Calcium directly enhanced elicitation, whereas polyamines and other osmolytes such as glycerol and proline extended cell viability. The study also demonstrated potential for enhancing secondary metabolite production by a combination of elicitation, cell viability stabilizers, and by addition of nutrients at the time of elicitation.     

Development of a novel laboratory scale high solids reactor for anaerobic digestion of processed municipal solid wastes for the production of methane

Economic evaluations of the capital costs for anaerobic digestion systems for gas production show that the reactor is a significant cost component. The successful application of high solids digestion of processed MSW (e.g., greater than 10% solids within the digester) would allow a decrease in reactor volume with maintenance of relatively high gas production rates. However, high solids slurries do not mix well in conventional stirred tank reactors. A horizontal shaft, hydraulically driven reactor was designed and fabricated to test the anaerobic digestion of high solids concentrations. Digester performance was evaluated as a function of experimental parameters such as nutrient requirements, feeding rates, pH control, and agitator design/ rotation speed; horsepower of mixing was also evaluated for the reactor. Several startup protocols were examined to obtain a biologically stable anaerobic fermentation at high solids levels.     

Purification and characterization of lamb pregastric lipase

Lamb pregastric lipase was purified from a commercial source using delipidation, solubilization with KSCN, acid-precipitation, pepsin-digestion, affinity chromatography with agarose-Cibacron Blue F3GA, gel filtration, and elution from a native 10% (w/v) polyacrylamide gel. The enzyme had a single subunit of 68,000 Da with maximum esterase activity when measured at pH 6.0 and 30 degrees C. The enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed short- and medium-chain (C4, C6, and C8) synthetic esters and short-chain (C4 and C6) monoacid triglycerides. The NH2-terminal sequence demonstrated high homology with gastric and lingual lipases.     

Reaction Engineering Aspects of α-l,4-D-Glucan Phosphorylase Catalysis

Some important process properties of α-l,4-D-ghican phosphorylases isolated from the bacteriumCorynebacterium callunae and potato tubers (Solatium tuberosum) were compared. Apart from minor differences in their stability and specificity (represented by the maximum degree of maltodextrin conversion) and a 10-fold higher affinity of the plant phosphorylase for maltodextrin (K _M of 1.3 g/L at 300 mM of orthophosphate), the performances of both enzymes in a continuous ultrafiltration membrane reactor were almost identical. Product synthesis was carried out over a time course of 300–400 h in the presence or absence of auxiliary pullulanase (increasing the accessibility of the glucan substrate for phosphorolytic attack up to 15–20%). The effect of varied dilution rate and reaction temperature on the resulting productivities was quantitated, and a maximum operational temperature of 40°C was identified.     

{(MesGa)3[GaP(H)Mes](PMes)4}, Ein phosphorsubstituiertes Ga?P-Heterocuban

{(MesGa)₃[GaP(H)Mes](PMes)₄}, a Phosphorus-substituted Ga? P-Heterocubane A mixture of MesGaCl₂/GaCl₃ (ratio 3:1) reacts with 5 equivalents of MesPLi₂ in THF at ?78°C to the title compound {(MesGa)₃[GaP(H)Mes](PMes)₄} ( 1 ) by use of the “dilution principle”. 1 can be obtained in 30% yield. Recrystallization of 1 from DME and toluene, respectively, gives 1 · 0.5 DME and 1 · toluene. 1 was characterized by NMR-, IR-, and MS-techniques. According to the X-ray structure determination of 1 · toluene, 1 has a heterocubane structure, one corner of which is substituted with an P(H)Mes group.