Lipase from a Brazilian StrainPenicillium citrinum Cultured in a Simple and Inexpensive Medium st]Heat-Denaturation, Kinetics, and pH Stability

This work is a study of lipase production by a Brazilian strain ofPenicillium citrinum using an inexpensive and simple medium without organic nitrogen sources and of some important industrial properties, including thermostability in relation to ionic strength. The maximal lipase activity (1585 U/L) was obtained whenPenicillium citrinum was cultured on 0.75% ammonium sulfate complemented with minerals salts instead of yeast extract. Although this activity was about 55% lower than that produced in medium with yeast extract (2850 U/L), the specific activity (7.8 U/mg proteins) was higher than that obtained with the yeast extract (4.9 U/mg proteins). The morphology of fungus changed totally, with yeast extract there are smooth, solid, and spherical pellets whereas on ammonium sulfate there are small “hairy” pellets uniformly suspended in the medium. The effect of ferrous (Fe⁺⁺) ions was carried out using medium MA with and without Fe⁺⁺ ions. Lipase production byPenicillium citrinum in medium MA requires Fe⁺⁺ ions, the absence of which caused a decreased of about 50% in the specific activity (3.5 U/mg proteins). The utilization of commercial, locally available oils as carbon sources, such as soybean oil (236 U/L) and corn oil (74 U/L) resulted in lower activity compared to olive oil, showing that lipase production byPenicillium citrinum is specifically induced by olive oil. Potassium concentration in the medium can effects the production of lipase (1 mM (1585 U/L), 10 mM (1290 U/L), and 30 mM (1238 U/L), 50 mM (195 U/L), and 100 mM (2 U/L). The crude culture filtered was susceptable to thermal deactivation. It was stable at pH 6.0, but was not stable at the optimum pH (8.0-8.5) at 50 mM. At the low ionic concentration (1-25 mM) this lipase was stable at low pH (3.5-4.0). The activation energy was 22.4 ±2.2 Kcal. mol 1.     

Penicillones A and B, two novel polyketides with tricyclo [5.3.1.0] undecane skeleton, from a marine-derived fungus Penicillium terrestre

Two novel polyketides, penicillones A (1) and B (2), with tricyclo [5.3.1.0^3,8] undecane skeleton, were isolated from Penicillium terrestre. Their structures and relative stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The absolute configuration of 2 was established by the modified Mosher’s method, while that of 1 was deduced from the similar CD absorptions of 1 and 2. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicities against P338 and A-549 cell lines, while 2 was inactive against P388.     

Biosorption of metal ions with Penicillium chrysogenum

Biosorption of metal ions with Penicillium chrysogenum mycelium is described in this article. Alkaline pretreatment was used to remove proteins and nucleic acids from cells, and this treatment increased the adsorption capacities, for Cr³⁺ from 18.6 mg g⁻¹ to 27.2 mg g⁻¹, for Ni²⁺ from 13.2 mg g⁻¹ to 19.2 mg g⁻¹, for Zn²⁺ from 6.8 mg g⁻¹ to 24.5 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption of metal ions was strongly pH dependent. The mycelium could beused for large-scale removal of Cr³⁺ from tannery wastewater. The results show that this inexpensive mycelium adsorbent has potential in industry because of its high adsorption capacity. The main chelating sites are amino groups (−NH₂) of chitosan in the mycelium. A new model is established, which describes the relation of adsorption of metal ions on pH according to amino group chelating with metal ions and H⁺. The relative errors of simulation for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cr³⁺ are 4.66%, 5.45%, 11.55%, and 1.69%, respectively.     

Purification and characterization of two low molecular weight endoglucanases produced by Penicillium occitanis mutant pol 6

Two endoglucanases (EGs), EG A and EG B, were purified to homogeneity from Penicillium occitanis mutant Pol 6 culture medium. The molecular weights of EG A and EG B were 31,000 and 28,000 kDa, respectively. The pI was about 3 for EG A and 7.5 for EG B. Optimal activity was obtained at pH 3.5 for both endoglucanases. Optimal temperature for enzyme activity was 60 degrees C for EG A and 50 degrees C for EG B. EG A was thermostable at 60 degrees C and remained active after 1 h at 70 degrees C. EGs hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose, phosphoric acid swollen cellulose, and beta-glucan efficiently, whereas microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and laminarin were poorly hydrolyzed. Only EG B showed xylanase activity. Furthermore, these EGs were insensitive to the action of glucose and cellobiose but were inhibited by the divalent cations Hg2+, Co2+, and Mn2+.     

Mode of action and synergism of cellulases fromPenicillium funiculosum

A 1,4-β-d-glucan cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91) and l,4-β-d-glucan glucanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.4) were purified from the culture filtrates ofPenicillium funiculosum by using preparative isoelectric focusing. Both the enzymes were homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel with and without sodium dodecyl sulphate. The mol wt of the cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase were 14,400 and 25,000 respectively. The purified enzymes were free of β-glucosidase activity. Acting in isolation, the cellobiohydrolase had little capacity for solubilizing Avicel or Walseth cellulose, but showed increased rates of hydrolysis when combined with endoglucanase. Cellobiose inhibition (50%) was observed in the initial rate of the hydrolysis of Walseth cellulose. It was also observed that cellobiohydrolase initiates the attack on crystalline cellulose. † NCL communication no. 3898.     

Polyoxygenated dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrrole-4,5-dione derivatives from the marine mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium brocae MA-231 and their antimicrobial activity

A new polyoxygenated dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrrole-4,5-dione derivative, pyranonigrin F (1), together with a related known compound, pyranonigrin A (2), were isolated and identified from Penicillium brocae MA-231, an endophytic fungus obtained from the fresh tissue of the marine mangrove plant Avicennia marina. The structures of these metabolites were determined based on comprehensive spectral interpretation and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 1, and 2 showed potent activity against a broad spectrum of human-, aqua-, and plant-pathogens.     

Biochemical Properties of Tyrosinase from Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium copticola; Undecanoic Acid from Aspergillus flavus,an Endophyte of Moringa oleifera,Is a Novel Potent Tyrosinase Inhibitor

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing monooxygenase catalyzing the O-hydroxylation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine then to dopaquinone that is profoundly involved in melanin synthesis in eukaryotes. Overactivation of tyrosinase is correlated with hyperpigmentation that is metabolically correlated with severe pathological disorders, so, inhibition of this enzyme is the most effective approach in controlling the overproduction of melanin and its hazardous effects. Thus, searching for a powerful, selective inhibitor of human tyrosinase to limit the hyper-synthesis of melanin is a challenge. Unlike the difficulty of overexpression of human tyrosinase, using fungal tyrosinase as a model enzyme to the human one to evaluate the mechanistics of enzyme inhibition in response to various compounds is the most feasible strategy. Thus, the purification of highly catalytic-efficient fungal tyrosinase, exploring a novel inhibitor, and evaluating the mechanistics of enzyme inhibition are the main objectives of this work. Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium copticola were reported as the most potential tyrosinase producers. The biochemical properties suggest that this enzyme displays a higher structural and catalytic proximity to human tyrosinase. Upon nutritional bioprocessing by Plackett–Burman design, the yield of tyrosinase was increased by about 7.5-folds, compared to the control. The purified tyrosinase was strongly inhibited by kojic acid and A. flavus DCM extracts with IC₅₀ values of 15.1 and 12.6 µg/mL, respectively. From the spectroscopic analysis, the main anti-tyrosinase compounds of A. flavus extract was resolved, and verified as undecanoic acid. Further studies are ongoing to unravel the in vivo effect and cytotoxicity of this compound in fungi and human, that could be a novel drug to various diseases associated with hyperpigmentation by melanin.     

Penimethavone A,a flavone from a gorgonian-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

A novel flavone, penimethavone A (1), possessing a rare unique methyl group at ring-B, was isolated from the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum cultured from a gorgonian Carijoa sp. collected from the South China Sea. The structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with related known compound. Compound 1 showed selective and moderate cytotoxicity against cervical cancer (HeLa) and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.41 and 8.18 μM, respectively.     

一株红树内生真菌Penicillium sp.(ZZF29#)次级代谢产物分离与鉴定

研究了一株药用红树内生真菌Penicillium sp.(ZZF29#)的次级代谢产物。用硅胶柱层析、制备薄层层析和重结晶等方法,从该菌发酵液的乙酸乙酯相中分离获得8种单体化合物,运用现代波谱技术并与文献数据对照,鉴定其结构分别为:环(苯丙-丙)二肽(1)、环(苯丙-甘)二肽(2)、环(苯丙-苯丙)二肽(3)、环(苯丙-酪)二肽(4)、大黄素(5)、大黄素甲醚(6)、麦角甾醇(7)和过氧化麦角甾醇(8)。