Integral Use of Amaranth Starch to Obtain Cyclodextrin Glycosyltransferase, by Bacillus megaterium, to Produce ß-Cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is an enzyme that produces cyclodextrins (CDs) from starch and related carbohydrates, producing a mixture of α-, ß-, and γ-CDs in different amounts. CGTase production, mainly by Bacillus sp., depends on fermentation conditions such as pH, temperature, concentration of nutrients, carbon and nitrogen sources, among others. Bacillus megaterium CGTase produces those three types of CDs, however, ß-CD should prevail. Although, waxy corn starch (CS) is used industrially to obtain CGTase and CDs because of its high amylopectin content, alternative sources such as amaranth starch (AS) could be used to accomplish those purposes. AS has high susceptibility to the amylolytic activity of CGTase because of its 80% amylopectin content. Therefore, the aim of this work was evaluate the AS as carbon source for CGTase production by B. megaterium in a submerged fermentation. Afterwards, the CGTase was purified partially and its activity to synthesize α-, ß-, and γ-CDs was evaluated using 1% AS as substrate. B. megaterium produced a 66 kDa CGTase (Topt = 50°C; pHopt = 8.0), from the early exponential growth phase which lasted 36 h. The maximum CGTase specific activity (106.62 ± 8.33 U/mg protein) was obtained after 36 h of culture. CGTase obtained with a Km = 0.152 mM and a Vmax = 13.4 µM/min yielded 40.47% total CDs using AS which was roughly twice as much as that of corn starch (CS; 24.48%). High costs to produce CDs in the pharmaceutical and food industries might be reduced by using AS because of its higher α-, ß- and γ-CDs production (12.81, 17.94, and 9.92%, respectively) in a shorter time than that needed for CS.

Effects of heat and pH treatments and in vitro digestion on the biological activity of protein hydrolysates of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. grain.

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of temperature (T), time (t) and pH treatments and an in vitro digestion on the stability of the angiotensin I-converting-enzyme-inhibitory activity (ACEIA) and antithrombotic activity (ATA; assessed as inhibition of platelet aggregation) of selected protein hydrolysates of amaranth named Alb1H103 and GloH88 and GluH24 with dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activity (DPPIVIA). Heat treatment (40-100 °C) for 1 h showed no significant differences among ACEIA, DPPIVIA and ATA of the heated hydrolysates at pH 4 and 7. There was no statistically significant loss of any bioactivity under heat treatment for 3 h at pH 4.0. Alb1H103 and GluH24 maintained the inhibitory activity of ACE and ATA at pH 7.0 for 3 h, whereas GloH88 maintained ACEIA and ATA for 2.0 h at pH 7.0. The pH effect on hydrolysates bioactivity was assessed in the range of 2.0-12.0. This was negligible on ACEIA, ATA and DPPIVIA. The in vitro digestion was performed using pepsin, trypsin (T) and α-chymotrypsin (C). A previous treatment of hydrolysates with pepsin improved the proteolytic activities of T and C. The hydrolysates kept at 100 °C for 1 h at pH 4.0, showed a significant increase in bioactivity. Conversely, a treatment at pH 7.0 showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the hydrolysates bioactivities after their digestion. Thus, biological activity of hydrolysates may be preserved or enhanced, depending on their processing conditions.

Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities and surfactant properties of protein hydrolysates as obtained of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. grain.

Even though some research has been carried out on surfactant properties of amaranth protein hydrolysates, their bio-functionality has not been studied yet. In this work amaranth grain Alb 1 and Glob were hydrolyzed (Alb 1H, Glob H) and foams and emulsions at optimal conditions (t, E/S, pH5) were prepared in order to assess techno-functional properties such as foaming (F) and emulsifying (E) (capacity (C) and stability (S)). FC and EC were much better for Glob H than for Alb H. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme-inhibitory activity was higher for Alb 1H (roughly 50 %) than that of Glob H (roughly 30 %). Scavenging of radicals activity (DPPH· or ABTS· (+) ) of Alb 1H and Glob H, at 2 mg/mL, was similar (approx. 40 %), but lower than Alb 1 (approx. 70 %), which was the best antioxidant. The low reducing power showed that hydrolysates barely donate an electron or hydrogen. Chelating activity on Cu(2+) was lower than that exhibited by Fe(2+,) which was remarkable, approx. 80 % as long as DH% > 10 %, where hydrolysates displayed high solubility (Alb 1H = 85 %, Glob H = 70 %) because of occurrence of 1-10 kDa peptides. Amaranth foams and emulsions prepared with protein hydrolysates have a potential as a nutraceutical food.

Fungal biodegradation of dibutyl phthalate and toxicity of its breakdown products on the basis of fungal and bacterial growth.

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid that give flexibility to polyvinyl chloride. Diverse studies have reported that these compounds might be carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or teratogenic. Radial growth rate, biomass, hyphal thickness of Neurospora sitophyla, Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus niger, grown in two different concentrations of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (500 and 1,000 mg/l) in agar and in submerged fermentation were studied. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the constant of biodegradation of dibutyl phthalate in Escherichia coli cultures were used to evaluate toxicity. The radial growth rate and thickness of the hypha were positively correlated with the concentration of phthalate. The pH of the cultures decreased as the fermentation proceeded. It is shown that these fungi are able to degrade DBP to non-toxic compounds and that these can be used as sole carbon and energy sources by this bacterium. It is demonstrated that the biodegradation of the DBP is directly correlated with the IC50. This is the first study that reports a method to determine the biodegradation of DBP on the basis of the IC50 and fungal growth, and the effect of this phthalate on the growth and thickness of hyphae of filamentous fungi in agar and in submerged fermentation.

Effect of culture conditions on production of butter flavor compounds by Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus acidophilus in semisolid maize-based cultures.

Two series of 120 h mixed cultures of Pediococcus pentosaceus MITJ-10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus Hansen 1748 were grown in semisolid maize-based media, applying an orthogonal factorial design in order to establish the most adequate parameters to get compounds related to butter-like flavor. Conditions of maize pre-treatment established in the first series were hot lime-treatment for 20 min, grinding and sieving to 0.0165 in., partial defatting and cooking for 25 min. While the culture conditions established for the second series were the addition of yeast extract (0.2% w/w), and culture starting with 2x10(6) CFU g(-1) and a ratio of P. pentosaceus and L. acidophilus, 3:1. The fermentation profile was studied in a last culture. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) prevailed over the native microorganisms, with a specific growth rate of 0.47 h(-1). Diacetyl production correlated (r2=0.9972) with the 12 h exponential growth phase of LAB. The concentration of diacetyl at that time was 779.56 mg kg(-1). The contents of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids were low at 12 h, 665 and 1312 mg kg(-1), respectively. During the long stationary phase, they increased up to 4800 and 1886 mg kg(-1), respectively. This procedure might be useful to prepare naturally aromatized raw materials for the food industry.

Exopectinases produced by Aspergillus niger in solid-state and submerged fermentation: a comparative study.

Exopectinase production by Aspergillus niger was compared in submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF). SSF was carried out using polyurethane foam (PUF) as the solid support. The purpose was to study the effect of sucrose addition (0 or 40 g/l) and water activity level (A(w)=0.99 or 0.96) on the level of enzyme activity induced by 15 g/l of pectin. Mycelial growth, as well as extracellular protease production, was also monitored. Sucrose addition in SmF resulted in catabolite repression of exopectinase activity. However, in SSF, an enhancement of enzyme activity was observed. Protease levels were minimal in SSF experiments with sucrose and maximal in SmF without sucrose. Exopectinase yields (IU/g X) were negligible in SmF with sucrose. The high levels of exopectinase with sucrose and high A(w) in SSF can be explained by a much higher level of biomass production without catabolite repression and with lower protease contamination.

Diacetyl formation by lactic bacteria

Los aromas o sustancias aromatizantes son compuestos intermediarios empleados ampliamente en la industria alimentaria. Estos aditivos pueden ser producidos por síntesis química o naturalmente por fermentación. Ultimamente los más solicitados por los industriales debido a la tendencia que tienen los consumidores hacia los productos naturales son los producidos por fermentación. El diacetilo es uno de los componentes primordiales del aroma a mantequilla, aunque también deben estar presentes otros compuestos como la acetoína, el acetaldehído y el 2,3-butanodiol en menor proporción. La mezcla de todos estos compuestos en proporciones adecuadas es lo que origina el aroma característico a mantequilla. El diacetilo, así como los compuestos de acompañamiento son producidos por la fermentación de las bacterias lácticas. La ruta metabólica del piruvato. En este caso la biosíntesis del diacetilo depende de la presencia de citrato en el medio. Otra ruta alternativa es a partir del acetaldehído, en esta ruta parece que no interviene el citrato. En este trabajo se hace una revisión de los mecanismos de formación del diacetilo por bacterias lácticas; así como de los factores más importantes que influyen en la biosíntesis de este metabolito

Diacetyl formation by lactic bacteria.

Some of the most widely used products in the food industry are flavour compounds. These products can be obtained either by chemical synthesis and therefore are called synthetic or by fermentation thus called natural flavors. There is a tendency towards the use of natural products by the consumer, therefore there is an increasing industrial interest in them. One of these products is diacetyl, an important component in the flavor of butter, although others, like acetoin, acetaldehyde and 2,3-butanediol play a role in the flavor, they are present in trace amounts. The mixture of all these compounds produced during the lactic acid fermentation in suitable proportions is what gives butter its characteristic flavor. The most common metabolic route that produces diacetyl is the one starting from pyruvate, in this case it seems that the biosynthesis is related to the presence of citrate in the medium. An alternative route for the production is from acetaldehyde, in this route citrate does not seem to intervene. In the present paper a review of the mechanisms of formation of diacetyl by lactic acid bacteria, as well as the most important factors that influence the biosynthesis of this metabolite is made.