Coproduction of inulinase and invertase by Galactomyces geotrichum in whey-based medium and evaluation of additional nutrients.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the suitability of whey as an effective medium for the coproduction of inulinase and invertase by an oleaginous yeast Galactomyces geotrichum and to investigate the effects of some additional carbon and nitrogen sources. The nutritional factors and composition of the medium have a great impact on the production pathways of microbial enzymes. To deepen the research, a Taguchi design was employed to quickly scan the best conditions. First, the cheese whey was partly deproteinized and investigated as the sole medium for the yeast. The next step was performed to study the effects of inulin, sucrose and lactose as carbon sources and ammonium sulfate, yeast extract and casein as nitrogen sources. All analyses (Taguchi and ANOVA) were performed using Minitab software. Whey-based medium without any additional carbon and nitrogen sources gave inulinase and invertase activities as 54.6 U/mL and 47.4 U/mL, respectively. Maximum inulinase activity was obtained as 77.9 U/mL using inulin as the carbon source without any nitrogen source. The highest I/S ratio was found as 2.08. On the other hand, the highest invertase activity was carried out as 50.85 U/mL in whey-based medium using lactose as carbon source without any additional nitrogen source. This is the first report about partly deproteinized whey-based medium utilization for simultaneous inulinase and invertase production by G. geotrichum TS-61. Moreover, the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated in detail.

Whey is a sufficient medium for inulinase and invertase productionInulin is an excellent carbon source for enhanced inulinase activityTaguchi orthogonal array presents an effective and quick screening method for the fermentation process.

Optimization of inulinase production using Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) as cheap substrate and comparison with pure chicory inulin.

Jerusalem artichoke (JA) is a nutritional vegetable for human diet depending on its natural structure, especially high inulin content and it is the second inulin source for commercial production in the world, after chicory. It was aimed to investigate the inulinase production capability of Galactomyces geotrichum TS61 (GenBank accession: MN749818) using JA as an economical and effective substrate comparing with the pure chicory inulin and to optimize the fermentation using Taguchi design of experiment (DOE) in this study. Besides, the effects of sucrose on inulinase production either combined with JA or in its absence were also studied. Taguchi L16 orthogonal array was employed for optimization. Both of inulinase activities obtained from JA and pure inulin gave the maximum result at the 10th experimental run as 40.21 U/mL and 57.35 U/mL, respectively. The optimum levels were detected for each factor as, 30 g/L JA, 30 g/L sucrose, pH 5.5, and four days for time. The predicted value was found as 41.63 U/mL that was similar to the obtained result as 41.17 U/mL. Finally, inulinase activity was increased approximately 8-folds after optimization. The sucrose-free medium had similar effects with higher concentrations of JA at long incubation time. This is the first investigation about inulinase production by G. geotrichum.

Low-cost inulinase production was achieved using an economical substrateSucrose effects were investigated in detail on inulinase productionUse of Taguchi DOE supported effective enzyme production.

Deronectes taron sp. n. from the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae).

Deronectes taron sp. n. from the Mus province in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey is described and illustrated in detail. The species belongs to the D. longipes subgroup of the D. parvicollis species group and resembles in particular D. syriacus Wewalka, 1971. It can be differentiated from this and the other species of the group by the shape of the median lobe which is strongly bent in lateral view. A part of the key to species of the subgroup is updated. Together with the new species the number of the known species of the genus Deronectes Sharp, 1882 is now 59 and that of the longipes-subgroup is 13.

Inulinase production by Geotrichum candidum OC-7 using migratory locusts as a new substrate and optimization process with Taguchi DOE.

Utilization of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria) as a main substrate due to its high protein content for inulinase (2,1-ß-d-fructan fructanohydrolase) production by Geotrichum candidum OC-7 was investigated in this study. To optimize fermentation conditions, four influential factors (locust powder (LP) concentration, sucrose concentration, pH and fermentation time) at three levels were investigated using Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) design of experiment (DOE). Inulinase yield obtained from the designed experiments with regard to Taguchi L9 OA was processed with Minitab 15 software at 'larger is better' as quality character. The results showed that optimal fermentation conditions determined as LP 30 g/l, sucrose 20 g/l, pH 6.0 and time 48 h. Maximum inulinase activity was recorded as 30.12 U/ml, which was closer to the predicted value (30.56 U/ml). To verify the results, analysis of variance test was employed. LP had the greatest contribution (71.96%) among the other factors. Sucrose had lower contribution (13.96%) than LP. This result demonstrated that LP had a strong effect on inulinase activity and can be used for enzyme production. Taguchi DOE application enhanced enzyme activity to about 3.05-fold versus unoptimized condition and 2.34-fold versus control medium. Consequently, higher inulinase production can be achieved by the utilization of an edible insect material as an alternative substrate and Taguchi DOE presents suitable optimization method for biotechnological process.

Citric acid production from Aspergillus niger MT-4 using hydrolysate extract of the insect Locusta migratoria.

Citric acid (CA) is the most important organic acid used in the food and other industries. Locusta migratoria is an insect species, which has rich nutritional composition (especially protein) and cultivated in some countries. Therefore, the present study investigated the usability of hydrolysate extract of L. migratoria biomass as substrate for the production of CA from Aspergillus niger MT-4. The insect extract (IE) was found to be rich in ash (34.9 g/100 g), protein (35.6 g/100 g) and mineral contents. Yeast extract was found to be the most favorable substrate for biomass production, whereas the maximum production of CA (41.8 g/L) was achieved in the medium containing IE. Besides, uniform pellets with the smallest size (4 mm) were observed in IE medium. It was thought that rich magnesium (6.78 g/100 g) and manganese (1.14 g/100 g) contents of IE increased the production of CA, resulting in the formation of small uniform pellets. This is the first report on the effect of protein-rich insect biomasses on the production of CA. In this regard, L. migratoria biomass was tested for the first time as a CA-production substrate.