Influence of arginine on the growth, arginine metabolism and amino acid consumption profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus T1C2 in controlled pH batch fermentations.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of arginine on the growth, arginine metabolism and amino acid consumption profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus T1C2. METHODS AND RESULTS: The growth kinetics, intracellular pH, extracellular osmotic pressure, expression of key genes in the arginine metabolism pathway and amino acid consumption profiles were analysed in chemically defined medium with different initial arginine concentrations. The results showed that arginine stimulated the growth of Strep. thermophilus T1C2 under low intracellular pH and high extracellular osmotic pressure. The expression of key genes in the arginine degradation pathway indicated that arginine relieved the drop in the intracellular pH by consuming protons and generating NH3 . Additionally, the results showed that arginine degradation did not occur via the arginine deiminase pathway but through the arginine decarboxylase-urease pathway. Furthermore, the utilization efficiency of amino acids was improved in the presence of arginine. CONCLUSIONS: Arginine improved the growth of Strep. thermophilus due to protecting Strep. thermophilus against intracellular acid stress, which was revealed at the transcriptional level of key genes. This study showed that the acid resistance of Strep. thermophilus was achieved through the arginine decarboxylase-urease pathway. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The arginine-stimulated growth of Strep. thermophilus improved the utilization efficiency of amino acids and reduced nitrogen waste, which could be useful for the optimization of cultivation media.

Evaluation of autochthonous micrococcus strains as starter cultures for the production of Kedong sufu.

AIMS: The technological properties of 22 micrococcus strains from traditional fermented Kedong sufu were evaluated in order to develop autochthonous starter cultures. METHODS AND RESULTS: The proteolytic, autolytic and lipolytic activity, salt tolerance, production and degradation of the biogenic amines of six Micrococcus luteus, nine Kocuria kristinae and seven Kocuria rosea were evaluated. The results indicated that these micrococcus strains exhibited a certain technological diversity, and the results also indicated the best properties to be used in mixed starter cultures. Based on the above findings, two sets of autochthonous starters were formulated. Considering the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of sufu, the maturation period of sufu was shortened by 30 days. The profiles of free amino acids and peptides partly revealed the mechanism of sensory quality and shorter ripening time of sufu manufactured using autochthonous mixed starters. Compared to back-slopping fermentation, sufu manufactured with selected autochthonous starter cultures exhibited lower levels of total biogenic amines. CONCLUSIONS: The selected strains could be used as starter to avoid the accumulation of high concentrations of biogenic amines while also maintaining typical sensory characteristics and preserving the autochthonous strains of the traditional Kedong sufu. The maturation times of Kedong sufu were shortened by 30 days with application of the autochthonous starter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Autochthonous mixed starters can reduce the generation of biogenic amines, speed up the sufu maturation process and preserve typical sensory quality. Furthermore, the rotation of two sets of mixed starter cultures can effectively resist phage attack during the production of sufu.

[Reversing effect of retinoic acid on some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line].

Reversing effect of retinoic acid (RA) on some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line was studied. It was found that the growth of SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line was markedly inhibited when cultured in 10 mumol/L RA. Morphology of cells treated with RA reversed to normal when observed under light and electron microscopes and by image analysis. The 3H-TdR incorporation declined. By flow cytometry, it was observed that cells in G0/G1 phase increased from 49.6% to 59.1%, whereas cells in S or G2 + M phase decreased from 50.4% to 40.9% after 3-day RA treatment. The major distribution of chromosomes changed from 48-56 to 44-50 with an increase in diploid (from 4% to 15%). The results indicate that RA could reverse some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line.