Molecular identification and antibacterial properties of an ericoid associated mycorrhizal fungus.

BACKGROUND: The quest for novel sources of antibacterial compounds have necessitated the inclusion of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM) commonly found within the root of ericaceous plants. Agar-well diffusion method was used to detect antibacterial activity and was followed by the microbroth diffusion method [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)]. RESULTS: The results of the phytochemical screening indicated that only alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids were present, while steroids and tannins were absent. The MIC of the extracts ranged between 2 and 16 mg/mL, and the lowest MIC was obtained with Staphylococcus aureus. Also, the result of the MBC study indicated that the fungal extract was most active at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/mL against Bacillus subtilis and S. aureus, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This bioassay showed, for the first time, antibacterial activity of L. incrustata against some bacterial species. Subsequently, ERM fungi should be given attention when searching for antimicrobial agents because they could provide a solution to solve problems associated with conventional disease treatments (i.e. pathogenic microorganisms resistance).

Moderate levels of glyphosate and its formulations vary in their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in a whole blood model and in human cell lines with different estrogen receptor status.

In vitro studies were conducted to determine the short-term cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of pure glyphosate and two glyphosate formulations (Roundup® and Wipeout®) at concentrations relevant to human exposure using whole blood (cytotoxicity) and various cancer cell lines (cytotoxicity and genotoxicity). Pure glyphosate (pure glyph) and Roundup® (Ro) showed similar non-monotonic toxicological profiles at low dose exposure (from 10 µg/ml), whereas Wipeout® (Wo) demonstrated a monotonic reduction in cell viability from a threshold concentration of 50 µg/ml, when tested in whole blood. We evaluated whether using various cancer cells (the estrogen-E2-responsive HEC1A, MCF7 and the estrogen-insensitive MDA-MB-231) exposed to moderate doses (75-500 µg/ml) would indicate varied toxicity and results indicated significant effects in the HEC1A cancer cells. A non-monotonic reduction in cell viability was observed in HEC1A exposed to pure glyph (75-500 µg/ml) and proliferative effects were observed after exposure to Wo (75, 125 and 250 µg/ml). Genotoxicity assessment (test concentration 500 µg/ml) demonstrated DNA damage in the HEC1A and MDA-MB-231 cells. Adjuvants and/or glyphosate impurities were potential contributing factors of toxicity based on the differential toxicities displayed by Ro and Wo in human whole blood and the HEC1A cells. This study contributes to the existing knowledge about in vitro exposure to moderate concentrations of glyphosate or glyphosate formulations at cytotoxic and genotoxic levels. In addition, a suggestion on the relevance of the estrogen receptor status of the cell lines used is provided, leading to the need to further investigate a potential endocrine disruptive role.

Purification and characterization of an amyloglucosidase from an ericoid mycorrhizal fungus (Leohumicola incrustata).

This study aimed to purify and characterize amyloglucosidase (AMG) from Leohumicola incrustata. AMG was purified to homogeneity from cell-free culture filtrate of an ERM fungus grown in a modified Melin-Norkrans liquid medium. The molecular mass of the AMG was estimated to be 101 kDa by combining the results of Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and zymography. The Km and kcat values were 0.38 mg mL-1 and 70 s-1, respectively, using soluble starch as a substrate. The enzyme was stable at 45 °C (pH 5.0), retaining over 65% activity after a pre-incubation period of 24 h. The metal inhibition profile of the AMG showed that Mn2+ and Ca2+ enhanced activity, while it was stable to metals ions, except a few (Al3+, Co2+, Hg2+ and Cd2+) that were inhibitory at a concentration higher than 5 mM. Thin layer chromatography revealed that only glucose was produced as the product of starch hydrolysis. The amylase from L. incrustata is a glucoamylase with promising characteristics such as temperature stability over an extended period, high substrate affinity and stability to a range of chemicals. Also, this study reports for the first time the possibility of using some culturable ERM fungi to produce enzymes for the bio-economy.

Formulation of an optimized synergistic enzyme cocktail, HoloMix, for effective degradation of various pre-treated hardwoods.

In this study, two selected hardwoods were subjected to sodium chlorite delignification and steam explosion, and the impact of pre-treatments on synergistic enzymatic saccharification evaluated. A cellulolytic core-set, CelMix, and a xylanolytic core-set, XynMix, optimised for glucose and xylose release, respectively, were used to formulate HoloMix cocktail for optimal saccharification of various pre-treated hardwoods. For delignified biomass, the optimized HoloMix consisted of 75%:25% protein dosage, CelMix: XynMix, while for untreated and steam exploded biomass the HoloMix consisted of 93.75%:6.25% protein dosage. Saccharification by HoloMix (27.5mgprotein/gbiomass) for 24h achieved 70-100% sugar yields. Pre-treatment of the hardwoods (especially those with a higher proportion of lignin) with a laccase, improved saccharification by HoloMix. This study provided insights into enzymatic hydrolysis of various pre-treated hardwood substrates and showed the same lignocellulolytic cocktail comparable to/if not better than commercial enzyme preparations can be used to efficiently hydrolyse different hardwood species.

Improved endoglucanase production and mycelial biomass of some ericoid fungi.

Fungal species associated with ericaceous plant roots produce a number of enzymes and other bio-active metabolites in order to enhance survival of their host plants in natural environments. This study focussed on endoglucanase production from root associated ericoid mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungal isolates. Out of the five fungal isolates screened, Leohumicola sp. (ChemRU330/PPRI 13195) had the highest relative enzyme activity and was tested along with isolates belonging to Hyloscyphaceae (EdRU083/PPRI 17284) and Leotiomycetes (EdRU002/PPRI 17261) for endoglucanase production under different pH and nutritional conditions that included: carbon sources, nitrogen sources and metal ions, at an optimum temperature of 28 °C. An optimal of pH 5.0 produced enzyme activity of 3.99, 2.18 and 4.31 (U/mg protein) for isolates EdRU083, EdRU002 and Leohumicola sp. respectively. Increased enzyme activities and improved mycelial biomass production were obtained in the presence of supplements such as potassium, sodium, glucose, maltose, cellobiose, tryptone and peptone. While NaFe-EDTA and Co2+ inhibited enzyme activity. The potential role of these fungi as a source of novel enzymes is an ongoing objective of this study.

Increasing the scale of peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1.

AIMS: To optimize peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1, up to 3 l culture volumes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1 was optimized in terms of production temperature and pH and the use of lignin-based model chemical inducers. The highest peroxidase activity (1·30 ± 0·04 U ml(-1) ) in 10 ml culture volume was achieved in a complex production medium (pH 8·0) at 37°C in the presence of 0·1 mmol l(-1) veratryl alcohol, which was greater than those reported previously. Scale-up to 100 and 400 ml culture volumes resulted in decreased peroxidase production (0·53 ± 0·10 and 0·26 ± 0·08 U ml(-1) , respectively). However, increased aeration improved peroxidase production with the highest production achieved using an airlift bioreactor (4·76 ± 0·46 U ml(-1) in 3 l culture volume). CONCLUSIONS: Veratryl alcohol (0·1 mmol l(-1) ) is an effective inducer of peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1. However, improved aeration increased peroxidase production in larger volumes without the use of an inducer, surpassing induced yields in an optimized small-scale process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Only a limited number of reports in literature have focused on the up-scaling of bacterial peroxidase production. There remains opportunity for feasible large-scale production of bacterial peroxidases with potentially novel biocatalytic properties.

The effect of mixtures of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides on acetylcholinesterase and application of chemometrics to identify pesticides in mixtures.

Organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CP) pesticides act by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enables the use of this enzyme for the detection of these pesticides in the environment. While many studies have looked at the effect of single pesticides on AChE, the effect of mixtures of pesticides still requires extensive investigation. This is important to evaluate the cumulative risk in the case of simultaneous exposure to multiple pesticides. Therefore we examined the effect of five different pesticides (carbaryl, carbofuran, parathion, demeton-S-methyl, and aldicarb) on AChE activity to determine whether combinations had an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic inhibitory effect. Results indicated that the mixtures had an additive inhibitory effect on AChE activity. The data from the assays of the mixtures were used to develop and train an artificial neural network (ANN) which was then utilised successfully for the identification of pesticides and their concentrations in mixtures. This study is significant because it evaluated mixtures of OPs and CPs where previous studies focused on either OPs or CPs. Previous studies have only examined up to three pesticides while this study evaluated mixtures of five pesticides simultaneously. This is also the first study where an ANN was able to utilise data from the inhibition of a single enzyme to differentiate five different pesticides and their concentrations from mixtures.

A review of lignocellulose bioconversion using enzymatic hydrolysis and synergistic cooperation between enzymes--factors affecting enzymes, conversion and synergy.

Lignocellulose is a complex substrate which requires a variety of enzymes, acting in synergy, for its complete hydrolysis. These synergistic interactions between different enzymes have been investigated in order to design optimal combinations and ratios of enzymes for different lignocellulosic substrates that have been subjected to different pretreatments. This review examines the enzymes required to degrade various components of lignocellulose and the impact of pretreatments on the lignocellulose components and the enzymes required for degradation. Many factors affect the enzymes and the optimisation of the hydrolysis process, such as enzyme ratios, substrate loadings, enzyme loadings, inhibitors, adsorption and surfactants. Consideration is also given to the calculation of degrees of synergy and yield. A model is further proposed for the optimisation of enzyme combinations based on a selection of individual or commercial enzyme mixtures. The main area for further study is the effect of and interaction between different hemicellulases on complex substrates.

Synergy between EngE, XynA and ManA from Clostridium cellulovorans on corn stalk, grass and pineapple pulp substrates.

The synergistic interaction between various hemi/cellulolytic enzymes has become more important in order to achieve effective and optimal degradation of complex lignocellulose substrates for biofuel production. This study investigated the synergistic effect of three enzymes endoglucanase (EngE), mannanase (ManA) and xylanase (XynA) on the degradation of corn stalk, grass, and pineapple fruit pulp and determined the optimal degree of synergy between combinations of these enzymes. It was established that EngE was essential for degradation of all of the substrates, while the hemicellulases were able to contribute in a synergistic fashion to increase the activity on these substrates. Maximum specific activity and degree of synergy on the corn stalk and grass was found with EngE:XynA in a ratio of 75:25%, with a specific activity of 41.1 U/mg protein and a degree of synergy of 6.3 for corn stalk, and 44.1 U/mg protein and 3.4 for grass, respectively. The pineapple fruit pulp was optimally digested using a ManA:EngE combination in a 50:50% ratio; the specific activity and degree of synergy achieved were 52.4 U/mg protein and 2.7, respectively. This study highlights the importance of hemicellulases for the synergistic degradation of complex lignocellulose. The inclusion of a mannanase in an enzyme consortium for biomass degradation should be examined further as this study suggests that it may play an important, although mostly overlooked, role in the synergistic saccharification of lignocellulose.

Effect of physical conditions and chemicals on the binding of a mini-CbpA from Clostridium cellulovorans to a semi-crystalline cellulose ligand.

AIMS: To investigate the effect that environmental factors have on Clostridium cellulovorans cellulose binding domain (CBD) binding to a semi-crystalline cellulose ligand, namely Avicel. METHODS AND RESULTS: The behaviour of a 58 kDa mini-CbpA protein containing the CBD from the scaffoldin protein of C. cellulovorans was studied in the presence of various environmental factors, in order to determine whether such factors promote or reduce CBD binding to its ligand, thus potentially affecting its activity on the substrate. The amount of binding was found to be dependent on the Avicel concentration and optimal binding occurred when the ligand concentration was 15 mg ml(-1). Optimal CBD binding occurred at pH 7.0 and at an incubation temperature of 28 degrees C. The effects of dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol, acetone, butanol, ethanol and butyric acid were also investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature, pH, DTT, 2-mercaptoethanol and solvents were shown to affect the binding of C. cellulovorans CBD to Avicel. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Clostridium cellulovorans CBD binding to Avicel is affected by physical conditions and chemicals.

The effect of physico-chemical parameters and chemical compounds on the activity of beta-d-galactosidase (B-GAL), a marker enzyme for indicator microorganisms in water.

The presence of coliforms in polluted water was determined enzymatically (in situ) by directly monitoring the activity of beta-d-galactosidase (B-GAL) through the hydrolysis of the yellow chromogenic subtrate, chlorophenol red beta-d-galactopyranoside (CPRG), which produced a red chlorophenol red (CPR) product. The objectives of this study were to monitor the effect of compounds commonly found in the environment and used in water treatment on a B-GAL CPRG assay and to investigate the differences between the environmental B-GAL enzyme and the pure commercial enzyme. Environmental B-GAL was optimally active at pH 7.8. Two temperature optima were observed at 35 and 55 degrees C, respectively. B-GAL activity was strongly inhibited by silver and copper ions. While calcium and ferrous ions at lower concentrations (50-100mgl(-1)) increased the enzyme activity, a reduction was observed at higher concentrations (200mgl(-1)). Sodium hypochlorite, normally used in rural areas to disinfect water gradually decreased B-GAL activity at concentrations between 0 and 5600ppm for both the commercial and environmental enzymes. B-GAL from the environment behaved differently from its commercially available counterpart.

The effect of sulfide on alpha-glucosidases: implications for starch degradation in anaerobic bioreactors.

Membrane associated alpha-glucosidase activity was investigated in a methanogenic bioreactor (MR) and a biosulfidogenic bioreactor (SR). Temperature and pH optima studies showed temperature optima of 50 degrees C and pH optima of 8.0 for the alpha-glucosidases from both the MR and SR. Sulfide (at a concentration of 150 mg l(-1)) resulted in the complete loss of all alpha-glucosidase activity in both the MR and SR. beta-Glucosidase activities in our bioreactors were previously shown to be stimulated in the presence of sulfide. alpha-Glucosidases, in contrast, are inhibited by sulfide. This differential effect of sulfide on alpha-glucosidase and beta-glucosidase activities is highlighted and is of crucial consequence to the respective degradation and utilization of starch and cellulose substrates in natural anaerobic environments and anaerobic bioreactors specifically designed for the accelerated digestion of wastewater sludge under biosulfidogenic conditions.

Co-digestion of primary sewage sludge and industrial wastewater under anaerobic sulphate reducing conditions: enzymatic profiles in a recycling sludge bed reactor.

The first stage in the degradation and recycling of primary sewage sludge and particulate organic matter is the solubilisation and enhanced hydrolysis of complex polymeric organic carbon structures associated with the anaerobic sulphidogenic environment. Solubilization of complex carbon substrates provides the primary reaction in the BioSURE Process, and is effected in the recycling sludge bed reactor (RSBR). During the process of anaerobic digestion, macromolecules are broken down into simpler low molecular weight compounds in the presence of extracellular enzymes. Though hydrolysis of the complex carbon sources was enhanced under biosulphidogenic conditions, no studies have examined the role of enzymes and the enzymatic profiles in the RSBR. To investigate the overall enzymology in the RSBR variations in COD, pH, sulphate, sulphite and sulphide concentrations, carbohydrates, protein and activities of glucosidases, proteases and lipases were studied over 50 days in the reactor at three different depths: 0-16 cm; 16-32 cm; 32-50 cm. While the pH profile remained fairly constant between 6.9 and 7.3 the sulphate and sulphide levels, as expected, changed dramatically as sulphate reduction took place. Proteases, lipases and glucosidases all showed enhanced activity with depth in the bioreactor. It is suggested that the increased sulphide concentration generated during the sulphate reduction process stimulates the enzymes, leading to enhanced solubilisation of primary sewage sludge.

Ostrich pepsinogens I and II: purification, activation and chemical and immunochemical characterization of the enzymes from the proventriculus.

Pepsins are a series of gastric proteases secreted as inactive precursors (pepsinogens) which are active at acidic pH. The aim of this study was to purify ostrich pepsin(ogen)s and to compare their biochemical and immunological characteristics with those of pepsin(ogen)s of mammalian and avian origin. Ostrich pepsinogens were purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, Toyopearl Super Q-650S chromatography and rechromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatography of a pH 8.0 mucosal extract. Pepsins were obtained through acidification, and purified by chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-50. Amino acid compositions, N-terminal sequences, Ouchterlony double-diffusion as well as Western blot analysis were performed. Two pepsinogens were isolated and purified from the proventriculus of the ostrich, pepsinogens I and II. Both pepsinogens and pepsins were purified to homogeneity as shown by PAGE and SDS-PAGE, with SDS-PAGE revealing M(r) values of 40,400 and 41,900 for pepsinogens I and II, respectively. SDS-PAGE revealed M(r) values of 36,000 and 36,300 for ostrich pepsins I and II, respectively. Ostrich pepsinogens I and II were found to have identical N-terminal sequences, with Asp as N-terminal amino acid. Amino acid compositions were obtained for both pepsinogens, with ostrich pepsinogen I being slightly smaller in size with a total of 356 residues compared to 371 for ostrich pepsinogen II. Pepsinogen II showed a pI of 4.29. Ostrich pepsinogens I and II were found to be immunologically separate entities, and no cross-reactivity was observed between anti-(ostrich pepsinogen I/II) sera and porcine pepsin/pepsinogen. The study indicates that only two pepsinogens are present in the ostrich. They differ in terms of electrophoretic mobility, molecular mass and immunological reactivity, but have been found to have identical N-terminal sequences. It is concluded that both pepsinogens belong to the pepsinogen A class of aspartyl proteases (EC 3.4.23.1).