Isolation, identification and characterization of regional indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

In the present work we isolated and identified various indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and screened them for the selected oenological properties. These S. cerevisiae strains were isolated from berries and spontaneously fermented musts. The grape berries (Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir) were grown under the integrated and organic mode of farming in the South Moravia (Czech Republic) wine region. Modern genotyping techniques such as PCR-fingerprinting and interdelta PCR typing were employed to differentiate among indigenous S. cerevisiae strains. This combination of the methods provides a rapid and relatively simple approach for identification of yeast of S. cerevisiae at strain level. In total, 120 isolates were identified and grouped by molecular approaches and 45 of the representative strains were tested for selected important oenological properties including ethanol, sulfur dioxide and osmotic stress tolerance, intensity of flocculation and desirable enzymatic activities. Their ability to produce and utilize acetic/malic acid was examined as well; in addition, H2S production as an undesirable property was screened. The oenological characteristics of indigenous isolates were compared to a commercially available S. cerevisiae BS6 strain, which is commonly used as the starter culture. Finally, some indigenous strains coming from organically treated grape berries were chosen for their promising oenological properties and these strains will be used as the starter culture, because application of a selected indigenous S. cerevisiae strain can enhance the regional character of the wines.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated waste paper--source of raw material for production of liquid biofuels.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of waste paper is becoming a perspective way to obtain raw material for production of liquid biofuels. Reducing sugars solutions that arise from the process of saccharification are a precursors for following or simultaneous fermentation to ethanol. Different types of waste paper were evaluated, in terms of composition and usability, in order to select the appropriate type of the waste paper for the enzymatic hydrolysis process. Novozymes® enzymes NS50013 and NS50010 were used in a laboratory scale trials. Technological conditions, which seem to be the most suitable for hydrolysis after testing on cellulose pulp and filter paper, were applied to hydrolysis of widely available waste papers - offset paper, cardboard, recycled paper in two qualities, matte MYsol offset paper and for comparison again on model materials. The highest yields were achieved for the cardboard, which was further tested using various pretreatment combinations in purpose of increasing the hydrolysis yields.

Pectate hydrolases of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots.

The presence of various enzyme forms with terminal action pattern on pectate was evaluated in a protein mixture obtained from parsley roots. Enzymes found in the soluble fraction of roots (juice) were purified to homogeneity according to SDS-PAGE, partially separated by preparative isoelectric focusing and characterized. Three forms with pH optima 3.6, 4.2 and 4.6 clearly preferred substrates with a lower degree of polymerization (oligogalacturonates) while the form with pH optimum 5.2 was a typical exopolygalacturonase [EC 3. 2.1.67] with relatively fast cleavage of polymeric substrate. The forms with pH optima 3.6, 4.2 and 5.2 were released from the pulp, too. The form from the pulp with pH optimum 4.6 preferred higher oligogalacturonates and was not described in plants previously. The production of individual forms in roots was compared with that produced by root cells cultivated on solid medium and in liquid one.

Purification and biochemical characterization of polygalacturonases produced by Aureobasidium pullulans.

The extracellular polygalacturonases produced by Aureobasidium pullulans isolated from waters of the Danube river were partially purified and characterized. The pH optima of polygalacturonases produced in the first phases of cultivation (48 h) and after 10 d as well as their optima of temperature, thermal stabilities, molecular masses, isoelectric points, action pattern and ability to cleave polymeric and oligomeric substrates were compared. Polygalacturonases with a random action pattern (random cleavage of pectate forming a mixture of galactosiduronides with a lower degree of polymerization) [EC 3.2.1.15] were produced only in the first phases of growth, while exopolygalacturonases [EC 3.2.1.67] with a terminal action pattern (cleavage of pectate from the nonreducing end forming D-galactopyranuronic acid as a product) were found during the whole growth. The main enzyme form with a random action pattern was glycosylated and its active site had the arrangement described previously for the active site of polygalacturonase of phytopathogenic fungi.

Oligogalacturonate hydrolase from carrot roots.

The presence of multiple forms of enzyme with terminal action pattern on pectate was evaluated in the protein mixture obtained from carrot roots. The form with pH optimum 3.8 clearly preferred substrates with a lower degree of polymerization (oligogalacturonates). Its molecular mass, isoelectric point, glycosylation as well as cleavage of pectate from nonreducing end corresponded to an exopolygalacturonase [EC 3.2.2.67]. The affinity of this enzyme to the substrates increased with the increasing degree of polymerization, and the difference was observed only in the maximal ratio of catalysis of oligomeric and polymeric substrates. Sterical hindrance for substrates with more than six D-galactopyranuronic acid units is supposed and an oligogalacturonate hydrolase rather than exopolygalacturonase is considered.