Sequential use of ammonium and leucine as nitrogen sources during growth of Geotrichum candidum on a glucose based medium / Uso secuencial del amonio y leucina como fuentes de nitrógeno durante el crecimiento de Geotrichum candidum en un medio basado en glucosa

Geotrichum candidum growth on ammonium and leucine as nitrogen sources and glucose as a carbon source was examined. A clear preference of G. candidum for ammonium over leucine as a nitrogen source was shown. Indeed, ammonium was completely exhausted at the end of exponential growth after less than 35 hrs of culture; in contrast only 5 percent of leucine was concomitantly assimilated. Growth continued at slower rates on glucose and leucine as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively, and at the end of culture (185 hrs), leucine was completely exhausted.

Utilization of various nitrogen, phosphorus, and selenium compounds by Cochlodinium polykrikoides.

The abilityof Cochlodinium polykrikoides to use various nitrogen, phosphorus, and selenium compounds as a nutrient source was examined in batch culture experiments to obtain biological information on the mechanism of C. polykrikoides bloom formation. C. polykrikoides grew using a variety of organic or inorganic nitrogen sources except for L-proline. Maximum yields of C. polykrikoides were obtained by gradually increasing ammonium from 5 to 20 microM, but the yield was inhibited by addition of more than 50 microM. Growth was observed in media containing various phosphorus sources, such as phosphate and 11 different organic compounds. Organic nitrogen and phosphorus seem to play an important role in the dominance of phytoplankton species and mass growth of C. polykrikoides. The ability to use a variety of organic nutrients may allow C. polykrikoides to grow to a high density in spite of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus depletion. C. polykrikoides grew in the presence of selenite, selenate, and Se-(methyl) selenocysteine hydrochloride. However, growth yield was inhibited by addition of more than 500 microM selenate and 1000 microM Se-(methyl) selenocysteine hydrochloride. Therefore, much of the oil effluents seen in 2005 may have a temporary inhibitory action on C. polykrikoides growth but can be expected to have a positive effect in the long term.

The importance of excretion by Chironomus larvae on the internal loads of nitrogen and phosphorus in a small eutrophic urban reservoir / Excreção por quironomídeos em reservatório urbano

Measurements of ammonium and phosphate excretion by the Chironomus larvae were conducted in order to evaluate the importance of these chironomids for the internal loads of a small eutrophic urban reservoir. Ammonium and phosphate excretion rates by Chironomus larvae of small size (6-10 mm total length) were significantly higher than those of the Chironomids having medium (9-11 mm) and large (11-16 mm) sizes. A dependence in relation to temperature was recorded for the ammonium and phosphate excretions that was significantly higher at 25 °C than at 20 and 15 °C. Through a linear relation between biomass (dry weight) and total length and, between excretion and biomass and, data on chironomids densities, after an intense sampling in 33 sites distributed all along the reservoir bottom, the mean phosphate and ammonium excretion rates corresponded to 2,014 ± 5,134 µg.m-2/day and 1,643 ± 3,974 µg.m-2/day, respectively. Considering the mean biomass (34 mg.m-2) of Chironomus, the lake area (88,156 m²) and the mean excretion rates, the contribution of benthic chironomids to the internal loads would be 181 KgP and 147 KgN. for the sampling months (October-November 1998). These values showed that the internal loads by excretion from Chironomus larvae correspond to approximately 33 percent of the external loads of phosphorus in the lake and, in the case of nitrogen, to only 5 percent.

Medidas de excreção de amônia e fosfato por larvas de Chironomus foram executadas com a finalidade de avaliar a importância desses quironomídeos nas cargas internas de um pequeno reservatório urbano eutrófico. Taxas de excreção de amônia e fosfato significativamente mais elevadas foram encontradas nas larvas de Chironomus de pequeno (6-10 mm) tamanho, em relação às de tamanho médio (9-11 mm) e grande (11-16 mm). Uma dependência em relação à temperatura foi registrada para a excreção de amônia e fosfato, significativamente mais alta a 25 °C do que a 20 e 15 °C. Depois da obtenção das relações lineares entre biomassa (peso seco) e comprimento total e excreção com biomassa e dos dados de densidade de quironomídeos, após amostragem em 33 pontos distribuídos por todo o reservatório, foi possível estimar uma taxa média de excreção de fosfato de 2014 ± 5134 µg.m-2/dia e, de amônia em 1643 ± 3974 µg.m-2/dia. Considerando a biomassa média (34 mg.m-2) de quironomídeos, a área do lago (88.156 m²) e as taxas médias de excreção, a contribuição dos quironomídeos bênticos para as cargas internas seria de 181 KgP e 147 KgN, para o mês da amostragem (outubro-novembro de 1998). Esses valores mostraram que as cargas internas por excreção pelas larvas de Chironomus correspondem aproximadamente a 33 por cento das cargas externas de fósforo para o lago e, somente 5 por cento no caso de nitrogênio.

Nutrient consumption and production of isoflavones in bioreactor cultures of Pueraria lobata (Willd).

This paper reports the successful culture of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) suspension cells in a bioreactor. In vitro culture of this Chinese herb has potential as an alternative production method for industrial applications. Calli of P. lobata obtained from leaf explants were cultured in a 5.0 L bioreactor for two weeks. During this period, the pH of the medium declined from 5.8 to 4.5. By the end of the run about 70% of the sugars and reducing sugars and about 50% of nitrate was consumed. Almost 70% of inorganic phosphate and about 80% of the iron was exhausted. The bioreactor results indicated an isoflavone yield of 328.9 microg/ml, with an increase of about 1.77 fold. The yield of puerarin increased about 2.42 fold and reached 73.4 microg/ml in the bioreactor culture.

Effect of cadmium on chlorophyll biosynthesis and enzymes of nitrogen assimilation in greening maize leaf segments: role of 2-oxoglutarate.

Supply of cadmium chloride (0.5 mM) inhibited chlorophyll formation in greening maize leaf segments, while lower concentration of Cd (0.01 mM) slightly enhanced it. Inclusion of 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG, 0.1-10 mM) in the incubation mixture increased chlorophyll content in the absence as well as presence of Cd. Substantial inhibition of chlorophyll formation by Cd was observed at longer treatment both in the absence and presence of 2-OG. When the tissue was pre-incubated with 2-OG or Cd, the inhibition (%) of chlorophyll formation by Cd was lowered in the presence of 2-OG. Treatment with Cd inhibited ALAD activity and ALA formation and the inhibition (%) of ALA formation by Cd was strongly reduced in the presence of 2-OG. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity was increased by the supply of Cd both in the absence as well as presence of 2-OG. In the presence of 2-OG, Cd supply significantly increased glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity and reduced inhibition (%) of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity. The results suggested the involvement of the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase (GS/GOGAT) pathway of ammonia assimilation to provide the precursor, glutamate, for ALA synthesis under Cd toxicity and 2-OG supplementation.

Effect of ammonium and nitrate ratio on glucose oxidase activity during gluconic acid fermentation by a mutant strain of Aspergillus niger.

Of the factors tested, the source and concentration of carbon and nitrogen in the medium exerted maximum effect on growth and acid production. Glucose (15%) and urea (0.14%) induced glucose oxidase synthesis and optimum yield of calcium gluconate. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (0.2%) and magnesium sulphate (0.06%) stimulated glucose oxidase activity and calcium gluconate production. Borax at a concentration of 1.5 g/L induced maximum glucose oxidase and calcium gluconate production with increased glucose utilization.

Interaction of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide with yeast cells.

The interaction of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with two yeast cells, Kluyveromyces fragilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been studied. Strong binding of CTAB to the cell was inferred from 1H and 13C NMR studies, the probable site of binding being the cell-surface. 13C and 31P NMR studies have indicated facilitation of free passage of molecules from outside to inside the cell and vice versa on treatment with CTAB. 31P NMR studies showed that intracellular pH (pHi) was affected in presence of CTAB and the rate of exchange of H+ and PO4(-3) between outside and inside of the cell was 508 s-1. CTAB treatment of yeast cells also affected pH and conductance measurements of the cell-suspension. There was a marked difference in the pH changes around the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of CTAB. The observed pH changes were dependent on (i) CTAB concentration, (ii) pH of the cell-suspension and (iii) pK values of groups from molecules released from the cell. Also, it was shown that ionisation of phosphate diester from polar head groups of membranes constituting cell surface enhanced CTAB binding. Conductance measurements have shown that observed changes were independent of the concentration of yeast cells, but probably dependent on CMC of CTAB.