Cloning and heterologous expression of a hydrophobin gene Ltr. hyd from the tiger milk mushroom Lentinus tuber-regium in yeast-like cells of Tremella fuciformis

Background: Hydrophobins are small proteins secreted by filamentous fungi, which show a highly surface activity. Because of the signally self-assembling abilities and surface activities, hydrophobins were considered as candidates in many aspects, for example, stabilizing foams and emulsions in food products. Lentinus tuber-regium, known as tiger milk mushroom, is both an edible and medicinal sclerotium-producing mushroom. Up to now, the hydrophobins of L. tuber-regium have not been identified. Results: In this paper, a Class I hydrophobin gene, Ltr.hyd, was cloned from L. tuber-regium and expressed in the yeast-like cells of Tremella fuciformis mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The expression vector pGEH-GH was under the control of T. fuciformis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpd) promoter. The integration of Ltr.hyd into the genome of T. fuciformis was confirmed by PCR, Southern blot, fluorescence observation and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) demonstrated that recombinant hydrophobin rLtr.HYD with an expected molecular mass of 13 kDa was extracted. The yield of rLtr.HYD was 0.66 mg/g dry weight. The emulsifying activity of rLtr.HYD was better than the typical food emulsifiers sodium caseinate and Tween 20. Conclusions: We evaluated the emulsifying property of hydrophobin Ltr.HYD, which can be potentially used as a food emulsifier.

Concentration, characterization and application of lipases from Sporidiobolus pararoseus strain

Lipases produced by a newly isolated Sporidiobolus pararoseus strain have potential catalytic ability for esterification reactions. After production, the enzymatic extracts (conventional crude and precipitated, 'CC' and 'CP', and industrial crude and precipitated, 'IC' e 'IP') were partially characterized. The enzymes presented, in general, higher specificity for short chain alcohols and fatty acids. The precipitated extract showed a good thermal stability, higher than that for crude enzymatic extracts. The 'CC' and 'CP' enzymes presented high activities after exposure to pH 6.5 and 40 ºC. On the other hand, the 'IC' and 'IP' extracts kept their activities in a wide range of pH memory but presented preference for higher reaction temperatures. Preliminary studies of application of the crude lipase extract in the enzymatic production of geranyl propionate using geraniol and propionic acid as substrates in solvent-free system led to a reaction conversion of 42 ± 1.5%.

Halotolerance, ligninase production and herbicide degradation ability of basidiomycetes strains

Fungi have been recently recognized as organisms able to grow in presence of high salt concentration with halophilic and halotolerance properties and their ligninolytic enzyme complex have an unspecific action enabling their use to degradation of a number of xenobiotic compounds. In this work, both the effect of salt and polyols on growth of the basidiomycetes strains, on their ability to produce ligninolytic enzyme and diuron degradation were evaluated. Results showed that the presence of NaCl in the culture medium affected fungal specimens in different ways. Seven out of ten tested strains had growth inhibited by salt while Dacryopinax elegans SXS323, Polyporus sp MCA128 and Datronia stereoides MCA167 fungi exhibited higher biomass production in medium containing 0.5 and 0.6 mol.L-1 of NaCl, suggesting to be halotolerant. Polyols such as glycerol and mannitol added into the culture media improved the biomass and ligninases production by D. elegans but the fungus did not reveal consumption of these polyols from media. This fungus degraded diuron in medium control, in presence of NaCl as well as polyols, produced MnP, LiP and laccase.

Optimization of reactive blue 19 biodegradation by Phanerochaetechrysosporium

Problematic dyes extensively used in different industries such as textile, paper, food, plastics and cosmetics have undesirable environmental effects. White rot fungi demonstrating effective extracellular enzyme system, which is capable of degrading dyes and various xenobiotics. The aim of this study was to optimize decolorization of reactive blue 19 [RB19] dye using Phanerochaetechrysosporium. A Box- Behnkendesign and Response Surface Methodology [RSM] were used to study the effect of independent variables, namely glycerol concentration [15, 20 and 25 g/L], temperature [27, 30 and 40°C] and pH [5.5, 6.0 and 6.5] on color removal efficiency in aqueous solution. From RSM-generated model, the optimum conditions for RB19 decolorization were identified to be at temperature of 20°C, glycerol concentration of 120/L and pH: 6.5. At the optimum conditions, predicted decolorization was 98 percent. The confirmatory experiments were conducted, which confirmed the results by 99.8 percent color removal. Thus, the experimental investigation and statistical approach enabled us to improve reactive blue 19 biodegradation process by Phanerochaetechrysosporium up to 1.25 times higher than non-optimized conditions

Grape stalks as substrate for white rot fungi, lignocellulolytic enzyme production and dye decolorization / Uso del escobajo como sustrato para el crecimiento de hongos de la pudrición blanca, la producción de enzimas ligninolíticas y la decoloración de tinturas

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of grape stalks, an agroindustrial waste, for growth and lignocellulolytic enzyme production via solid-state fermentation, using the following three white rot fungi: Trametes trogii, Stereum hirsutum and Coriolus antarcticus. The decolorization of several dyes by the above mentioned cultures was also investigated. Similar values of dry weight loss of the substrate were measured after 60 days (33-43 %). C. antarcticus produced the highest laccase and Mn-peroxldase activities (33.0 and 1.6 U/g dry solid). The maximum endoglucanase production was measured in S. hirsutum cultures (10.4 U/g), while the endoxylanase peak corresponded to T. trogii (14.6 U/g). The C. antarcticus/grape stalk system seems potentially competitive in bioremediation of textile processing effluents, attaining percentages of decolorization of 93, 86, 82, 82, 77, and 58 % for indigo carmine, malachite green, azure B, remazol brilliant blue R, crystal violet and xylidine, respectively, in 5 h.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el potencial del escobajo, un residuo agroindustrial, como sustrato para el crecimiento y la producción de enzimas lignocelulósicas de tres hongos causantes de pudrición blanca en la madera: Trametes trogii, Stereum hirsutum y Coriolus antarcticus. Para ello se utilizaron técnicas de fermentación en estado sólido. También se ensayó la decoloración de colorantes industriales sobre estos cultivos. La pérdida de peso seco del sustrato fue similar después del día 60 (33-43 %). C. antarcticus produjo las mayores actividades de lacasa y Mn-peroxidasa (33,0 y 1,6 U/g peso seco). La mayor actividad endoglucanasa fue medida en cultivos de S. hirsutum (10,4 U/g), y la mayor actividad endoxilanasa en T. trogii (14,6 U/g). El sistema C. antarcticus/escobap mostró un importante potencial para su aplicación en la biorremediación de efluentes textiles, con porcentajes de decoloración de 93, 86, 82, 82, 77 y 58 % para índigo carmín, verde de malaquita, azure B, azul R brillante de remazol, cristal violeta y xilidina, respectivamente, en 5 h.

Seleção de basidiomicetos proteolíticos / Selección de basidiomicetos proteolíticos / Selection of proteolytic basidiomycetes

Basidiomicetos têm sido amplamente utilizados como produtores de enzimas, no entanto são pouco explorados quanto a sua capacidade de produção de proteases. Estes fungos são reconhecidos pelas suas propriedades antitumorais, hipocolesterolêmicas, antimutagênicas, antioxidantes entre outras. Assim, a associação destas propriedades aos derivados do leite pode potencializar estes produtos como alimentos funcionais. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar basidiomicetos produtores de proteases, com potencial uso no processo de fabricação de derivados do leite. Foram utilizadas 27 linhagens de fungos crescidas em meio mínimo adicionado de 0,2% de caseína. A atividade proteolítica foi verificada pela formação de halo pela adição de uma solução saturada de (NH4)2SO4. Concluiu-se que a produção de proteases não apresenta relação com o crescimento micelial. O melhor produtor de proteases é a linhagem Lentinula edodes U8/1, seguida por Pleurotus sp (U2/9, U6/10 e U2/11). Os basidiomicetos Agaricus blazei (U4/3), Agaricus sp (U5/1), Flamulina sp (U5/4), Lycoperdon sp (U8/8), Agaricus blazei (U2/7), Agaricus blazei (U7/2), Agaricus blazei (U7/4) e Agaricus blazei (U7/5) não produzem proteases suficientes para serem medidas pela metodologia. Desta forma, estes resultados embasam o uso de Lentinula edodes e Pleurotus sp para o desenvolvimento de potenciais aplicações na hidrólise de proteínas em alimentos.

Basidiomycetes have been widely used as enzyme producers, but are poorly explored about their ability to produce protease. These fungi are known as antitumor, cholesterol-lowering, antimutagenic, antioxidant among other biological activities. Thus, the combination of basidiomycete properties to dairy products can improve them as functional foods. Therefore, the objective of this work was to screen basidiomycete protease producers to prospect the use of these fungi on dairy products. 27 basidiomycete strains grown on minimal medium supplemented with 0.2% casein were used. The proteolytic activity was verified by halo formation after a (NH4)2SO4 saturated solution addition on the culture medium. The production of proteases is not associated with mycelial growth. The best producers of proteases is Lentinula edodes U8/1 and after Pleurotus sp (U2/9, U6/10 e U2/11). The basidiomycetes of Agaricus blazei (U4/3), Agaricus sp (U5/1), Flamulina sp (U5/4), Lycoperdon sp (U8/8), Agaricus blazei (U2/7), Agaricus blazei (U7/2), Agaricus blazei (U7/4) and Agaricus blazei (U7/5) do not produce enough proteases to be measured by the methodology. Thus, these results support the use of Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus sp as potencial basidiomycetes for protein hydrolysis on food.

Basidiomicetos han sido ampliamente utilizados como productores de enzimas, pero poco exploradas en su capacidad de producción de proteasa. Estos hongos son reconocidos por sus propiedades antitumorales, reductor de colesterol, antimutagénicos, antioxidantes entre otras. Así, la asociación de estas propiedades a los derivados de la leche puede potencializar estos productos como alimentos funcionales. En este sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo fue seleccionar basidiomicetos productores de proteasas, con potencial uso en el proceso de fabricación de productos lácteos. Se utilizó 27 cepas de hongos crecidos en medio mínimo adicionado de 0,2% de caseína. La actividad proteolítica fue verificada por formación de halo por la adición de solución saturada de (NH4)2SO4. Se concluyó que la producción de proteasas no presenta relación con el crecimiento del micelio. El mejor productor de proteasas es la cepa de Lentinula edodes U8/1, seguida por Pleurotus sp (U2/9, U6/10 y U2/11). Los basidiomicetos Agaricus blazei (U4/3), Agaricus sp (U5/1), Flamulina sp (U5/4), Lycoperdon sp (U8/8), Agaricus blazei (U2/7), Agaricus blazei (U7/2), Agaricus blazei (U7/4) y Agaricus blazei (U7/5) no producen proteasas suficientes para que sean medidos por la metodología. Por lo tanto, estos resultados apoyan el uso de Lentinula edodes y Pleurotus sp para el desarrollo de potenciales aplicaciones en hidrólisis de proteínas en alimentos.

Enhancement with inducers of lacasse production by some strains and application of enzyme to dechlorination of 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenol

Lacasse is one of the extracellular enzymes excreted from white and brown rot fungi, which is involved in ligninolysis. In the present study, the effects of the addition of lacasse inducers to the medium on enhancement of enzyme production under conditions of submerged fermentation were researched. At first, a culture medium was selected suitable for lacasse production. To increase the production of lacasse using different inducers and to examine the ability of dechlorination, this article focuses on screen lacasse activity of 21 basidiomycetes isolates grown in five culture media. All inducers evaluated influenced lacasse activity positively except for gallic acid, mannitol, and malt extract for studied isolates. Our findings showed that lacasse activity of Trametes versicolor ATCC (200801) when it was induced with wheat bran reached up to 29.08 U ml-1 and was examined the ability of dechlorination of 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP). The parameters including pH, initial substrate concentration, amount of enzyme, period of reaction, and temperature were tested for dechlorination process. Correlation between oxygen consumption and dechlorination processes under the determined optimum conditions was analyzed. Toxicity of 2, 4, 5-TCP before and after enzymatic treatment was evaluated by Microtox test. The results demonstrated that toxicity of intermediates formed 2, 4, 5-TCP did not change.

Industrial and biotechnological applications of ligninolytic enzymes of the basidiomycota: a review

Ligninolytic enzymes of the basidiomycetes play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. The demand for application of ligninolytic enzymes complexes of white-rot fungi in industry and biotechnology is ever increasing due to their use in a variety of processes. Ligninolytic enzymes have potential applications in a large number of fields, including the chemical, fuel, food, agricultural, paper, textile, cosmetic industrial sectors and more. This ligninolytic system of white-rot fungi is also directly involved in the degradation of various xenobiotic compounds and dyes. Their capacities to remove xenobiotic substances and produce polymeric products make them a useful tool for bioremediation purposes. This paper reviews the applications of ligninolytic enzymes of basidiomycetes within different industrial and biotechnological area.

Ligninases production by Basidiomycetes strains on lignocellulosic agricultural residues and their application in the decolorization of synthetic dyes / Produção de ligninases por linhagens de fungos Basidiomicetos usando resíduos agrícolas lignocelulósicos e aplicação das enzimas na descoloração de corantes sintéticos

Wood rotting Basidiomycetes collected in the ôEstação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulistaõ, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, concerning Aphyllophorales order and identified as Coriolopsis byrsina SXS16, Lentinus strigellus SXS355, Lentinus sp SXS48, Picnoporus sanguineus SXS 43 and Phellinus rimosus SXS47 were tested for ligninases production by solid state fermentation (SSF) using wheat branor rice straw as culture media. C. byrsina produced the highest laccase (200 U mL-1) and Lentinus sp produced the highest activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) (7 and 8 U mL-1, respectively), when cultivated on wheat bran. The effect of N addition on enzyme production was studied in medium containing rice straw and the data showed an increase of 3 up to 4-fold in the laccase production compared to that obtained in SSF on wheat bran. The laccases presented optimum pH at 3.0-3.5 and were stable at neutral pH values. Optimum pH for MnP and LiP activities was at 3.5 and between 4.5 and 6.0, respectively. All the strains produced laccase with optimum activities between 55-60ºC while the peroxidases presented maximum activity at temperatures of 30 to 55ºC. The crude enzymes promoted decolorization of chemically different dyes with around 70% of decolorization of RBBR and cybacron blue 3GA in 6h oftreatment. The data indicated that enzymes from these basidiomycetes strains are able to decolorize synthetic dyes.

Fungos decompositores de madeira, do grupo Basidiomicetes, coletados na ôEstação Ecológica do NoroestePaulistaõ, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil, pertencentes a ordem Aphyllophorales e identificados como Coriolopsis byrsina SXS16, Lentinus strigellus SXS355, Lentinus sp. SXS48,Picnoporus sanguineus SXS 43 e Phellinus rimosus SXS47 foram estudados para a produção de ligninases por FES (fermentação em estado sólido) usando farelo de trigo ou palha de arroz como meio de cultura. A espécie C. byrsina produziu a maior quantidade de lacase (200 U mL-1) enquanto que Lentinus sp. foi o melhor produtor de manganês peroxidase (MnP) e lignina peroxidase (LiP) (7 e 8 U mL-1, respectivamente), quando cultivados em meio composto por farelo de trigo. A avaliação do efeito da suplementação de nitrogênio do substrato sólido lignocelulósico (palha de arroz) indicou um aumento de 3 a 4 vezes na produção de lacase. A caracterização das enzimasmostrou que as lacases apresentaram atividade ótima em pH 3,0-3,5 e foram estáveis em pH de neutro a alcalino. O pH ótimo para atividade de MnP e LiP foi de 3,5 e entre 4,5 e 6,0, respectivamente. Todas as linhagens produziram lacase com atividade ótima a 55-60ºC, enquanto as peroxidases apresentaram atividades máximas entre temperaturas de 30 e 55ºC. A aplicaçãodas soluções enzimáticas brutas, obtidas pelo cultivo das linhagens em meio de farelo de trigo, em testes de descoloração de corantes sintéticos de diferentes grupos químicos levou amais 70% de perda de cor dos corantes RBBR e de cybacron blue 3GA, em 6h de tratamento. Os dados obtidos indicaramque as soluções enzimáticas contendo ligninases produzidas pelas linhagens de basidiomicetos estudadas promoveram adescoloração de corantes sintéticos.

Relationship between cultivation mode of white rot fungi and their efficiency for olive oil mill wastewaters treatment

Four white rot fungi (WRF) strains, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, Coriolopsis polyzona and Pycnoporus coccineus, were tested for efficiency of treatment of Olive Oil mill wastewaters (OOMW) in relation with their cultivation mode, i.e. under the form of free mycelium, mycelium immobilized in alginate beads and solid state cultivation on Petri dishes. Study of biodegradation of phenolic compounds, chemical oxygen demand (COD) decrease and decolourisation of OOMW have shown that Coriolopsis polyzona and Pycnoporus coccineus degradation performances were apparently only slightly affected by the cell cultivation procedures experienced here. In contrast, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor showed respectively marked preferences for solid state and alginate immobilisation procedures. Both mono and polyphenolics were reduced to different extent during incubation depending on the strain, as shown by gel filtration analysis. Final pH obtained after fungal treatment of the OOMW based medium (initial pH of 5.0) was measured in order to evaluate the possibility of releasing friendly the treated wastewater in the environment. Laboratory studies as reported here may be useful for orienting the choice of a strain for treating pollution by OOMW in a particular real situation.

Degradation of xenobiotic compounds by lignin-degrading white-rot fungi: enzymology and mechanisms involved.

White-rot fungi (WRF) are ubiquitous in nature with their natural ability to compete and survive. WRF are the only organisms known to have the ability to degrade and mineralize recalcitrant plant polymer lignin. Their potential to degrade second most abundant carbon reserve material lignin on the earth make them important link in global carbon cycle. WRF degrade lignin by its unique ligninolytic enzymatic machinery including lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, laccase, cellobiose dehydrogenase, H2O2-generating enzymes, etc. The ligninolytic enzymes system is non-specific, extracellular and free radical based that allows them to degrade structurally diverse range of xenobiotic compounds. Lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase carry out direct and indirect oxidation as well as reduction of xenobiotic compounds. Indirect reactions involved redox mediators such as veratryl alcohol and Mn2+. Reduction reactions are carried out by carboxyl, superoxide and semiquinone radicals, etc. Methylation is used as detoxification mechanism by WRF. Highly oxidized chemicals are reduced by transmembrane redox potential. Degradation of a number of environmental pollutants by ligninolytic system of white rot fungi is described in the present review.

Screening of Lentinula Edodes strains by laccase induction and resistence to trichoderma sp

Se estudió la producción de lacasa (E.C. 1.10.3.2) y su inducción por la adición de derivados solubles de la lignina, obtenidos a partir de Indulina AT, en 2 cultivos sucesivos de 39 cepas de lentinula edodes. La actividad enzimática de las cepas se evaluó a través de la oxidación de ABTS en el segundo cultivo. Se determinó el efecto del inductor en el crecimiento micelial de las cepas. Se estudió además la reacción antagónica entre una cepa de Trichoderma sp. y 54 cepas de L. edodes, por la formación de una línea obscura entre los micelios de los dos hongos. La capacidad de las cepas de L. edodes para producir lacasa en los medios de cultivo estudiados no corresponde con su aptitud para rechazar el ataque de Trichoderma sp. Sin embargo, este estudio muestra la existencia de una diversidad que puede ser aplicada a un programa de selección y mejoramiento de cepas