Development of biosensor based on immobilized L-glutamate oxidase for determination of monosodium glutamate in food.

A monosodium glutamate (MSG) biosensor with immobilized L-glutamate oxidase (L-GLOD) has been developed and studied for analysis of MSG in sauces, soup etc. The immobilized enzymatic membrane was attached with oxygen electrode with a push cap system. The detection limit of the sensor was 1 mg/dl and the standard curve was found to be linear upto 20 mg/dl. Response time of the sensor was 2 min. Cross-linking with glutaraldehyde in presence of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a spacer molecule has been used for immobilization. Optimization of the sensor was done with an increase in L-GLOD concentration (6.3-31.5 IU) and also with increase in loading volume of enzyme solution (5-20 microl). Optimization of pH and temperature was also studied. The permeability of O2 through different membrane was studied with and without immobilized L-GLOD. The enzymatic membrane was used for over 20 measurements and stability of the membrane was observed.

Development of an amperometric hypoxanthine biosensor for determination of hypoxanthine in fish and meat tissue.

A hypoxanthine (Hx) biosensor based on immobilized xanthine oxidase (XO) as the bio-component was developed and studied for the rapid analysis of fish (sweet water and marine) and goat meat samples. The biosensor was standardized for the determination of Hx in the range of 0.05 to 2 mM. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde in presence of BSA as a spacer molecule was used for the method of immobilization. One layer of gelatin (10%) was applied over the immobilized enzyme layer to reduce the leaching out of enzyme from the membrane (cellulose acetate) matrix. The optimum pH of the immobilized system was determined to be 8.5 at 25 degrees C instead 7.0-7.2 for free enzyme system. Km and Vmax values were determined for the immobilized system. The developed sensor was applied to determine the amount of Hx present in fish and meat over a period of time. The stability of the enzyme immobilized membrane was also tested over a period of 30 days.

Production of a new antibacterial antibiotic from a mutated strain of Streptomyces kanamyceticus M27 in submerged fermentation.

A new antibacterial antibiotic was produced (136.5 microg/ml) using a 5 L EYELA Fermenter using 2 L fermentation medium at temperature: 27 degrees C, pH: 7.2, agitator speed: 200 rpm, aeration rate 1 vvm having KLa 251.74 hr(-1) at 96 hrs. The optimised conditions for antibiotic using washed cells of the selected strain are pH: 7.2, temperature: 27 degrees C, age of the biomass: 72 hr, amount of washed cell: 4 g in 50 ml normal saline, incubation time 72 hr. The antibacterial activity of the fermented broth was also examined against some bacterial species and it was found that it is active against gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria.

Production of lipase in a fermentor using a mutant strain of Corynebacterium species: its partial purification and immobilization.

Extracellular Corynebacterium lipase was produced using a 2.5 L Chemap fermentor using 1300 ml fermentation medium at temperature 33 degrees C, agitator speed 50 rpm, aeration rate 1 VVM having KLa 16.21 hr(-1). Crude lipase was purified by salting out method followed by dialysis and immobilized using calcium alginate gel matrix followed by glutaraldehyde cross linking Purification process increased specific activity of enzyme from 2.76 to 114.7 IU/mg. Activity of immobilized enzyme was 107.31 IU/mg. Optimum temperature for purified and immobilized enzyme activity were 65 degrees and 50 degrees C respectively. Optimum pH was 8.0 in both the cases, Km and Vmax value for purified lipase were 111.1 micromol/min and 14.7% respectively. Ca2+ (5 mM) was found to be stimulator for enzyme activity. Immobilized lipase retained 68.18% of the original activity when stored for 40 days.