Whole-exome identifies RXRG and TH germline variants in familial isolated prolactinoma.

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is a rare genetic disorder. In a subset of FIPA families AIP germline mutations have been reported, but in most FIPA cases the exact genetic defect remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine the genetic basis of FIPA in a Brazilian family. Three siblings presented with isolated prolactin genes. Further mutation screening was performed using whole-exome sequencing and all likely causative mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing. In silico analysis and secreting pituitary adenoma diagnosed through clinical, biochemical and imaging testing. Sanger sequencing was used to genotype candidate prolactinoma-mutated additional predictive algorithms were applied to prioritize likely pathogenic variants. No mutations in the coding and flanking intronic regions in the MEN1, AIP and PRLR genes were detected. Whole-exome sequencing of three affected siblings revealed novel, predicted damaging, heterozygous variants in three different genes: RXRG, REXO4 and TH. In conclusion, the RXRG and TH possibly pathogenic variants may be associated with isolated prolactinoma in the studied family. The possible contribution of these genes to additional FIPA families should be explored.

Genomic Sequence of the Yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus CCT 7735 (UFV-3), a Highly Lactose-Fermenting Yeast Isolated from the Brazilian Dairy Industry.

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Kluyveromyces marxianus CCT 7735 (UFV-3), including the eight chromosomes and the mitochondrial genomic sequences.

Production and characterization of ß-glucanase secreted by the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus.

An extracellular ß-glucanase secreted by Kluyveromyces marxianus was identified for the first time. The optimal conditions for the production of this enzyme were evaluated by response surface methodology. The optimal conditions to produce ß-glucanase were a glucose concentration of 4% (w/v), a pH of 5.5, and an incubation temperature of 35 °C. Response surface methodology was also used to determine the pH and temperature required for the optimal enzymatic activity. The highest enzyme activity was obtained at a pH of 5.5 and a temperature of 55 °C. Furthermore, the enzyme was partially purified and sequenced, and its specificity for different substrates was evaluated. The results suggest that the enzyme is an endo-ß-1,3(4)-glucanase. After optimizing the conditions for ß-glucanase production, the culture supernatant was found to be effective in digesting the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showing the great potential of ß-glucanase in the biotechnological production of soluble ß-glucan.

Construction of a Kluyveromyces lactis ku80⁻ host strain for recombinant protein production: extracellular secretion of pectin lyase and a streptavidin-pectin lyase chimera.

In several organisms used for recombinant protein production, integration of the expression cassette into the genome depends on site-specific recombination. In general, the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis shows low gene-targeting efficiency. In this work, two K. lactis ku80⁻ strains defective in the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) were constructed using a split-marker strategy and tested as hosts for heterologous gene expression. The NHEJ pathway mediates random integration of exogenous DNA into the genome, and its function depends on the KU80 gene. KU80-defective mutants were constructed using a split-marker strategy. The vectors pKLAC1/Plg1 and pKLAC1/cStpPlg1 were used to evaluate the recovered mutants as hosts for expression of pectin lyase (PNL) and the fusion protein streptavidin-PNL, respectively. The transformation efficiency of the ku80⁻ mutants was higher than the respective parental strains (HP108 and JA6). In addition, PNL secretion was detected by PNL assay in both of the K. lactis ku80⁻ strains. In HP108ku80⁻/cStpPlg1 and JA6ku80⁻/Plg1 cultures, the PNL extracellular specific activity was 551.48 (±38.66) and 369.04 (±66.33) U/mg protein. This study shows that disruption of the KU80 gene is an effective strategy to increase the efficiency of homologous recombination with pKLAC1 vectors and the production and secretion of recombinant proteins in K. lactis transformants.

Statistical investigation of Kluyveromyces lactis cells permeabilization with ethanol by response surface methodology

The aim of our study was to select the optimal operating conditions to permeabilize Kluyveromyces lactis cells using ethanol as a solvent as an alternative to cell disruption and extraction. Cell permeabilization was carried out by a non-mechanical method consisting of chemical treatment with ethanol, and the results were expressed as β-galactosidase activity. Experiments were conducted under different conditions of ethanol concentration, treatment time and temperature according to a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), and the collected results were then worked out by response surface methodology (RSM). Cell permeabilization was improved by an increase in ethanol concentration and simultaneous decreases in the incubation temperature and treatment time. Such an approach allowed us to identify an optimal range of the independent variables within which the β-galactosidase activity was optimized. A maximum permeabilization of 2,816 mmol L-1 oNP min-1 g-1 was obtained by treating cells with 75.0% v/v of ethanol at 20.0 °C for 15.0 min. The proposed methodology resulted to be effective and suited for K. lactis cells permeabilization at a lab-scale and promises to be of possible interest for future applications mainly in the food industry.

Statistical investigation of Kluyveromyces lactis cells permeabilization with ethanol by response surface methodology.

The aim of our study was to select the optimal operating conditions to permeabilize Kluyveromyces lactis cells using ethanol as a solvent as an alternative to cell disruption and extraction. Cell permeabilization was carried out by a non-mechanical method consisting of chemical treatment with ethanol, and the results were expressed as ß-galactosidase activity. Experiments were conducted under different conditions of ethanol concentration, treatment time and temperature according to a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), and the collected results were then worked out by response surface methodology (RSM). Cell permeabilization was improved by an increase in ethanol concentration and simultaneous decreases in the incubation temperature and treatment time. Such an approach allowed us to identify an optimal range of the independent variables within which the ß-galactosidase activity was optimized. A maximum permeabilization of 2,816 mmol L(-1) oNP min(-1) g(-1) was obtained by treating cells with 75.0% v/v of ethanol at 20.0 °C for 15.0 min. The proposed methodology resulted to be effective and suited for K. lactis cells permeabilization at a lab-scale and promises to be of possible interest for future applications mainly in the food industry.

Cloning and expression of a functional core streptavidin in Pichia pastoris: strategies to increase yield.

Streptavidin is widely used as an analytical tool and affinity tag together with biotinylated surfaces or molecules. We report for the first time a simple strategy that yields high biomass of a Pichia pastoris strain containing a methanol induced core streptavidin (cStp) gene. Three factors were evaluated for biomass production: glycerol concentration, aeration, and feed flow rates in a bioreactor. Recycling of recombinant cells, either free or immobilized, was investigated during induction. Concentration of 2.0 M glycerol, feeding flow rate of 0.11 mL min(-1) , and aeration by air injection dispersed with a porous stone combined with agitation at 500 rpm were the set of conditions resulting into maximum biomass yield (150 g L(-1) ). These parameters yielded 4.0 g L(-1) of cStp, after 96 h of induction. Recombinant biomass was recycled twice before being discarded, which can reduce production costs and simplify the process. Immobilized P. pastoris biomass produced 2.94 and 1.70 g L(-1) of cStp in the first and second induction cycle, respectively. Immobilization and recycling of recombinant P. pastoris biomass opens new possibilities as a potential strategy to improve volumetric productivity for heterologous protein expression.

The influence of presaccharification, fermentation temperature and yeast strain on ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse.

Ethanol can be produced from cellulosic biomass in a process known as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). The presence of yeast together with the cellulolytic enzyme complex reduces the accumulation of sugars within the reactor, increasing the ethanol yield and saccharification rate. This paper reports the isolation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae LBM-1, a strain capable of growth at 42 °C. In addition, S. cerevisiae LBM-1 and Kluyveromyces marxianus UFV-3 were able to ferment sugar cane bagasse in SSF processes at 37 and 42 °C. Higher ethanol yields were observed when fermentation was initiated after presaccharification at 50°C than at 37 or 42° C. Furthermore, the volumetric productivity of fermentation increased with presaccharification time, from 0.43 g/L/h at 0 h to 1.79 g/L/h after 72 h of presaccharification. The results suggest that the use of thermotolerant yeasts and a presaccharification stage are key to increasing yields in this process.

The high fermentative metabolism of Kluyveromyces marxianus UFV-3 relies on the increased expression of key lactose metabolic enzymes.

The aim of this work was to obtain insights about the factors that determine the lactose fermentative metabolism of Kluyveromyces marxianus UFV-3. K. marxianus UFV-3 and Kluyveromyces lactis JA6 were cultured in a minimal medium containing different lactose concentrations (ranging from 0.25 to 64 mmol l(-1)) under aerobic and hypoxic conditions to evaluate their growth kinetics, gene expression and enzymatic activity. The increase in lactose concentration and the decrease in oxygen level favoured ethanol yield for both yeasts but in K. marxianus UFV-3 the effect was more pronounced. Under hypoxic conditions, the activities of ß-galactosidase and pyruvate decarboxylase from K. marxianus UFV-3 were significantly higher than those in K. lactis JA6. The expression of the LAC4 (ß-galactosidase), RAG6 (pyruvate decarboxylase), GAL7 (galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase) and GAL10 (epimerase) genes in K. marxianus UFV-3 was higher under hypoxic conditions than under aerobic conditions. The high expression of genes of the Leloir pathway, LAC4 and RAG6, associated with the high activity of ß-galactosidase and pyruvate decarboxylase contribute to the high fermentative flux in K. marxianus UFV-3. These data on the fermentative metabolism of K. marxianus UFV-3 will be useful for optimising the conversion of cheese whey lactose to ethanol.

Restricted sugar uptake by sugar-induced internalization of the yeast lactose/galactose permease Lac12.

Kluyveromyces lactis Lac12 permease mediates lactose and low-affinity galactose transports. In this study we investigated the effects of carbon sources on internalization of Lac12 using a LAC12-GFP fusion construct. When galactose- or lactose-grown cells are shifted to a fresh sugar medium, Lac12-GFP is removed from the plasma membrane and is localized intracellularly. Surprisingly, either galactose or lactose in the new media caused the internalization, and cells responded differently to these two sugars. Our results reveal that this process is dependent on sugar species and also sugar concentration. Lac12-GFP internalization causes reduction of [C(14) ]lactose uptake rates and also occurs in a Klsnf1 mutant strain; it is therefore independent of KlSnf1 activity. We suggest that glucose-6-phosphate is the intracellular signal, as internalization was induced by 2-deoxyglucose, and inhibition of phosphoglucomutase by lithium prevented galactose- but not lactose- or glucose-induced internalization. Lac12-GFP internalization was not triggered by 6-deoxyglucose, and was irreversible in the absence of protein synthesis.

Use of response surface methodology to evaluate the extraction of Debaryomyces hansenii xylose reductase by aqueous two-phase system.

Xylose reductase (XR) from Debaryomyces hansenii was extracted by partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 in the presence of different salts, specifically sodium sulfate, lithium sulfate and potassium phosphate. Batch extractions were carried out under different conditions of temperature (25-45 degrees C) and tie-line length (TLL) for each system, according to a central composite design face-centered of 36 tests, and the response surface methodology was used to evaluate the results. Quadratic polynomial models were adjusted to the data to predict the behavior of four responses, namely the XR partition coefficient (K(XR)), the selectivity (S), the purification factor (PF(T)) and the activity yield (Y(T)) in the top phase. The optimal extraction conditions were found using the PEG 4000/sodium sulfate system at 45 degrees C and TLL=25.1, which ensured PF(T)=3.1 and Y(T)=131%. The ATPS proved effective for partial purification of D. hansenii xylose reductase in cell-free crude extract, and the response surface methodology revealed to be an appropriate and powerful tool to determine the best dominion of temperature and ATPS composition.

Computational analysis of the interaction between transcription factors and the predicted secreted proteome of the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis.

BACKGROUND: Protein secretion is a cell translocation process of major biological and technological significance. The secretion and downstream processing of proteins by recombinant cells is of great commercial interest. The yeast Kluyveromyces lactis is considered a promising host for heterologous protein production. Because yeasts naturally do not secrete as many proteins as filamentous fungi, they can produce secreted recombinant proteins with few contaminants in the medium. An ideal system to address the secretion of a desired protein could be exploited among the native proteins in certain physiological conditions. By applying algorithms to the completed K. lactis genome sequence, such a system could be selected. To this end, we predicted protein subcellular locations and correlated the resulting extracellular secretome with the transcription factors that modulate the cellular response to a particular environmental stimulus. RESULTS: To explore the potential Kluyveromyces lactis extracellular secretome, four computational prediction algorithms were applied to 5076 predicted K. lactis proteins from the genome database. SignalP v3 identified 418 proteins with N-terminal signal peptides. From these 418 proteins, the Phobius algorithm predicted that 176 proteins have no transmembrane domains, and the big-PI Predictor identified 150 proteins as having no glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) modification sites. WoLF PSORT predicted that the K. lactis secretome consists of 109 putative proteins, excluding subcellular targeting. The transcription regulators of the putative extracellular proteins were investigated by searching for DNA binding sites in their putative promoters. The conditions to favor expression were obtained by searching Gene Ontology terms and using graph theory. CONCLUSION: A public database of K. lactis secreted proteins and their transcription factors are presented. It consists of 109 ORFs and 23 transcription factors. A graph created from this database shows 134 nodes and 884 edges, suggesting a vast number of relationships to be validated experimentally. Most of the transcription factors are related to responses to stress such as drug, acid and heat resistance, as well as nitrogen limitation, and may be useful for inducing maximal expression of potential extracellular proteins.

Xylose reductase activity in Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170 cultivated in semi-synthetic medium and cotton husk hemicellulose hydrolyzate.

To develop a new enzymatic xylose-to-xylitol conversion, deeper knowledge on the regulation of xylose reductase (XR) is needed. To this purpose, a new strain of Debaryomyces hansenii (UFV-170), which proved a promising xylitol producer, was cultivated in semi-synthetic media containing different carbon sources, specifically three aldo-hexoses (D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose), a keto-hexose (D-fructose), a keto-pentose (D-xylose), three aldo-pentoses (D-arabinose, L-arabinose and D-ribose), three disaccharides (maltose, lactose and sucrose) and a pentitol (xylitol). The best substrate was lactose on which cell concentration reached about 20 g l(-1) dry weight (DW), while the highest specific growth rates (0.58-0.61 h(-1)) were detected on lactose, D-mannose, D-glucose and D-galactose. The highest specific activity of XR (0.24 U mg(-1)) was obtained in raw extracts of cells grown on D-xylose and harvested in the stationary growth phase. When grown on cotton husk hemicellulose hydrolyzates, cells exhibited XR activities five to seven times higher than on semi-synthetic media.

Optimal activity and thermostability of xylose reductase from Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170.

Xylose reductase (XR) is the enzyme that catalyzes the first step of xylose metabolism. Although XRs from various yeasts have been characterized, little is known about this enzyme in Debaryomyces hansenii. In the present study, response surface analysis was used to determine the optimal conditions for D. hansenii UFV-170 XR activity. The influence of pH and temperature, ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 and from 25 to 55 degrees C, respectively, was evaluated by a 2(2) central composite design face-centered. The F-test (ANOVA) and the Student's t test were performed to evaluate the statistical significance of the model and the regression coefficients, respectively. The NADPH-dependent XR activity varied from 0.502 to 2.53 U mL(-1), corresponding to 0.07-0.352 U mg(-1), whereas the NADH-dependent one was almost negligible. The model predicted with satisfactory correlation (R (2) = 0.940) maximum volumetric activity of 2.27 U mL(-1) and specific activity of 0.300 U mg(-1) at pH 5.3 and 39 degrees C, which were fairly confirmed by additional tests performed under these conditions. The enzyme proved very stable at low temperature (4 degrees C), keeping its activity almost entirely after 360 min, which corresponded to the half-time at 39 degrees C. On the other hand, at temperatures >or=50 degrees C it was lost almost completely after only 20 min.

Oxygen-dependent transcriptional regulator Hap1p limits glucose uptake by repressing the expression of the major glucose transporter gene RAG1 in Kluyveromyces lactis.

The HAP1 (CYP1) gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is known to regulate the transcription of many genes in response to oxygen availability. This response varies according to yeast species, probably reflecting the specific nature of their oxidative metabolism. It is suspected that a difference in the interaction of Hap1p with its target genes may explain some of the species-related variation in oxygen responses. As opposed to the fermentative S. cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis is an aerobic yeast species which shows different oxygen responses. We examined the role of the HAP1-equivalent gene (KlHAP1) in K. lactis. KlHap1p showed a number of sequence features and some gene targets (such as KlCYC1) in common with its S. cerevisiae counterpart, and KlHAP1 was capable of complementing the hap1 mutation. However, the KlHAP1 disruptant showed temperature-sensitive growth on glucose, especially at low glucose concentrations. At normal temperature, 28 degrees C, the mutant grew well, the colony size being even greater than that of the wild type. The most striking observation was that KlHap1p repressed the expression of the major glucose transporter gene RAG1 and reduced the glucose uptake rate. This suggested an involvement of KlHap1p in the regulation of glycolytic flux through the glucose transport system. The DeltaKlhap1 mutant showed an increased ability to produce ethanol during aerobic growth, indicating a possible transformation of its physiological property to Crabtree positivity or partial Crabtree positivity. Dual roles of KlHap1p in activating respiration and repressing fermentation may be seen as a basis of the Crabtree-negative physiology of K. lactis.

Influence of cultivation conditions on xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion by a new isolate of Debaryomyces hansenii.

About 270 yeast isolates were screened for xylitol production using xylose as the sole carbon source. The best isolate, Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170, released 5.84 g L(-1) xylitol from 10 g L(-1) xylose after 24 h, corresponding to a yield of xylitol on consumed substrate (Y(P/S)) of 0.54 g g(-1). This strain was cultivated batch-wise at variable starting concentrations of xylose (S(o)) and biomass (X(o)) and agitation intensity, in order to improve xylitol production and to evaluate, through simple carbon balances, the influence of these conditions on xylose metabolism. Under the best microaerobic conditions (S(o) = 53 g L(-1), X(o) = 1.4 g L(-1), 200 rpm), xylitol production reached 37.0 g L(-1), corresponding to xylitol volumetric productivity of 1.0 g L(-1)h(-1), specific productivity of 0.22 g g(-1)h(-1) and Y(P/S) = 0.76 g g(-1). Almost 83% of xylose was consumed for xylitol production, the rest being consumed for growth, while respiration was negligible. The new isolate appeared to be a promising alternative for industrial xylitol bioproduction.

Influence of inhibitory compounds and minor sugars on xylitol production by Debaryomyces hansenii.

To obtain in-depth information on the overall metabolic behavior of the new good xylitol producer Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170, batch bioconversions were carried out using semisynthetic media with compositions simulating those of typical acidic hemicellulose hydrolysates of sugarcane bagasse. For this purpose, we used media containing glucose (4.3-6.5 g/L), xylose (60.1-92.1 g/L), or arabinose (5.9-9.2 g/L), or binary or ternary mixtures of them in either the presence or absence of typical inhibitors of acidic hydrolysates, such as furfural (1.0-5.0 g/L), hydroxymethylfurfural (0.01- 0.30 g/L), acetic acid (0.5-3.0 g/L), and vanillin (0.5-3.0 g/L). D. hansenii exhibited a good tolerance to high sugar concentrations as well as to the presence of inhibiting compounds in the fermentation media. It was able to produce xylitol only from xylose, arabitol from arabinose, and no glucitol from glucose. Arabinose metabolization was incomplete, while ethanol was mainly produced from glucose and, to a lesser less extent, from xylose and arabinose. The results suggest potential application of this strain in xyloseto- xylitol bioconversion from complex xylose media from lignocellulosic materials.

Extracellular alpha-galactosidase from Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-1 and its use in the hydrolysis of raffinose oligosaccharides.

Raffinose oligosaccharides (RO) are the factors primarily responsible for flatulence upon ingestion of soybean-derived products. ROs are hydrolyzed by alpha-galactosidases that cleave alpha-1,6-linkages of alpha-galactoside residues. The objectives of this study were the purification and characterization of extracellular alpha-galactosidase from Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-1. The enzyme purified by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatographies presented an Mr value of 60 kDa and the N-terminal amino acid sequence YENGLNLVPQMGWN. The Km values for hydrolysis of pNP alphaGal, melibiose, stachyose, and raffinose were 0.30, 2.01, 9.66, and 16 mM, respectively. The alpha-galactosidase presented absolute specificity for galactose in the alpha-position, hydrolyzing pNPGal, stachyose, raffinose, melibiose, and polymers. The enzyme was noncompetitively inhibited by galactose (Ki = 2.7 mM) and melibiose (Ki = 1.2 mM). Enzyme treatments of soy milk for 4 h at 60 degrees C reduced the amounts of stachyose and raffinose by 100%.

Xylose metabolism in Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170. Effect of the specific oxygen uptake rate.

The new yeast Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170 was tested in this work in batch experiments under variable oxygenation conditions. To get additional information on its fermentative metabolism, a stoichiometric network was proposed and checked through a bioenergetic study performed using the experimental data of product and substrate concentrations. The yeast metabolism resulted to be practically inactive under strict oxygen-limited conditions (qO2 = 12.0 mmol(O2) C-mol(DM)(-1) h(-1)), as expected by the impossibility of regenerating NADH2+. Significant fractions of the carbon source were addressed to both respiration and biomass growth under excess oxygen levels (qO2 > or = 55.0 mmol(O2) C-mol(DM)(-1) h(-1)), thus affecting xylitol yield (Y(P/S) = 0.41-0.52 g g(-1)). Semi-aerobic conditions (qO2 = 26.8 mmol(O2) C-mol(DM)(-1) h(-1)) were able to ensure the best xylitol production performance (Pmax = 76.6 g L(-1)), minimizing the fractions of the carbon source addressed either to respiration or biomass production and increasing Y(P/S) up to 0.73 g g(-1). An average P/O ratio of about 1.0 mol(ATP) mol(O)(-1) allowed estimation of the main kinetic-bioenergetic parameters of the biosystem. The overall ATP requirements of biomass were found to be particularly high and dependent on the oxygen availability in the medium as well as on the physiological state of the culture. Under semi-aerobic and aerobic conditions, they varied in the ranges 13.5-15.4 and 9.74-10.2 mol(ATP) C-mol(DM)(-1), respectively, whereas during the best semi-aerobic bioconversion they progressively increased from 5.68 to 24.7 mol(ATP) C-mol(DM)(-1). After a starting phase of adaptation to the medium, the cell achieved a phase of decelerated growth during which its excellent xylose-to-xylitol capacity kept almost constant after 112 h up to the end of the run.

Molecular diversity of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria in a membrane bioreactor determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization with mxaF- and rRNA-targeted probes.

An evaluation of the efficiency of treatment of kraft mill foul condensates in a membrane bioreactor was carried out in the laboratory. Efficiency and rate of methanol removal were quantified at operating temperatures of 35, 45 and 55 degrees C. The structure of the bacterial community present in the reactor biomass at the different operating temperatures was evaluated by in situ hybridization of the biomass samples with fluorescently-labelled probes (FISH) targeting the Eubacteria, the alpha, beta and gamma subclasses of the Proteobacteria, the low G + C content Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus spp.), while community function was evaluated by in situ hybridization with a methanol dehydrogenase gene (mxaF) probe. Methanol removal efficiency decreased from 99.4 to 92%, and removal rate from 2.69 mg MeOH/l x min to 2.49 mg MeOH/l x min when the operating temperature was increased from 35 to 55 degrees C. This decrease in methanol removal was accompanied by a decrease (from 58% to 42%) in the relative proportion of cells that hybridized with the mxaF probe. The relative proportion of Bacillus spp. increased from 5 to 20% while the proportion of members of the alpha subclass of Proteobacteria decreased from 16% to 6% when the bioreactor operating temperature was raised from 35 to 55 degrees C. The relative proportions of bacteria belonging to the beta (22-25%) and gamma (18-20%) subclasses of the Proteobacteria remained relatively constant regardless of operating temperature. Proteobacteria (alpha, beta and gamma subclasses) and Bacillus spp. represented 61, 67 and 71% of the Eubacteria in the biomass sampled at 35, 45 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The FISH technique was shown to be an efficient method for detection of both structural and functional changes in the bacterial communities that could be related to efficiency of methanol removal in a membrane bioreactor operating at different temperatures.