Biotransformation of three aromadendrane‐type sesquiterpenoids by Aspergillus wentii

BACKGROUND: The biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids, which are a large class of naturally occurring compounds, using microorganisms as a biocatalyst to produce useful novel organic compounds was investigated. The biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids, (+)‐aromadendrene ( 1 ), (−)‐alloaromadendrene ( 2 ) and (+)‐ledene ( 3 ) has been investigated using Aspergillus wentii as a biocatalyst. Results: Compound 1 was converted to (−)‐(10S,11S)‐10,13,14‐trihydroxyaromadendrane ( 4 ). Compound 2 was converted to (+)‐(1S,11S)‐1,13‐dihydroxyaromadendrene ( 5 ) and (−)‐5,11‐epoxycadin‐1(10)‐en‐14‐ol ( 6 ). Compound 3 was converted to compound 6 , (+)‐(10R,11S)‐10,13‐dihydroxyaromadendr‐1‐ene ( 7 ) and (+)‐(10S,11S)‐10,13‐dihydroxyaromadendr‐1‐ene ( 8 ). The structure of the metabolic products has been elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. CONCLUSION: Compound 1 gave only one product that was hydroxylated at C‐10, C‐13 and C‐14. By contrast, compounds 2 and 3 gave a number of products, one of which was common. The differences in oxidation of 1–3 are due to the configuration of the C‐1 position. Compounds 4–8 were new compounds. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

The influence of the ion content of whey on the pH-activity profile of the β-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae

The pH-dependence of the reaction kinetics of lactase (β-galactosidase) from Aspergillus oryzae in different reaction media is presented in terms of a two-parameter model. The lactase from A. oryzae seems to have replaced the A. niger lactase on the market owing to a better activity/price ratio and may be utilised for lactose hydrolysis in acid as well as in neutral milk products. Its pH optimum is around pH 4.5. However, in the neutral pH-range its activity depended strongly on the salt content of the substrate solution. For example, its activity in whey (pH 6.5) fell to only 30% of its expected activity in a pure lactose solution at the same pH. The whey effect was the same for both soluble and immobilised lactase. The two parameter kinetic model, which included a term for competitive product inhibition gave excellent agreement with experimental data, and may thus be useful for the prediction of reactor performance with this enzyme.     

Ecophysiology of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum isolates. Predictive models for fungal spoilage prevention - a review

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium; among them Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum are two ochratoxigenic species capable of growing in different climates and thus contamination of food crops with OTA can occur worldwide. OTA can be found in a wide range of foods such as cereals, coffee, cocoa, spices, beer, wine, dried vine fruit, grapes and meat products. OTA is toxic to animals, it presents neurotoxic, immunotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. It has been implicated in a human kidney disorder known as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. This review focuses on the ecophysiology of ochratoxin-producing Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum, the effect of environmental factors on their germination, mycelial growth, and OTA production. Knowledge of environmental conditions required for sucessive stages of fungal development represent the first step towards preventing mycotoxin formation. Predictive models for different stages of fungal development are presented, which allow prediction of the time before spoilage as a function of the abiotic factors. Finally, the implications of these studies in management of barley, coffee and grapes are described. This can help to identify the critical control points in their production, storage and distribution processes.     

The AFLATOX® Project: Approaching the Development of New Generation,Natural-Based Compounds for the Containment of the Mycotoxigenic Phytopathogen Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxin Contamination

The control of the fungal contamination on crops is considered a priority by the sanitary authorities of an increasing number of countries, and this is also due to the fact that the geographic areas interested in mycotoxin outbreaks are widening. Among the different pre- and post-harvest strategies that may be applied to prevent fungal and/or aflatoxin contamination, fungicides still play a prominent role; however, despite of countless efforts, to date the problem of food and feed contamination remains unsolved, since the essential factors that affect aflatoxins production are various and hardly to handle as a whole. In this scenario, the exploitation of bioactive natural sources to obtain new agents presenting novel mechanisms of action may represent a successful strategy to minimize, at the same time, aflatoxin contamination and the use of toxic pesticides. The Aflatox^® Project was aimed at the development of new-generation inhibitors of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus spp. proliferation and toxin production, through the modification of naturally occurring molecules: a panel of 177 compounds, belonging to the thiosemicarbazones class, have been synthesized and screened for their antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic potential. The most effective compounds, selected as the best candidates as aflatoxin containment agents, were also evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and epi-genotoxicity to exclude potential harmful effect on the human health, the plants on which fungi grow and the whole ecosystem.     

紫外诱变柠檬酸生产菌黑曲霉的选育

初步研究了柠檬酸生产菌黑曲霉产柠檬酸的影响因素和培养条件,通过紫外诱变考察了出发菌株的受诱变性,统计了紫外诱变黑曲霉引起的生物学效应,在紫外诱变过程中筛选到一株稳定高产菌株10min-3,产酸增加了5.33%,可作为进一步诱变筛选的出发菌株.     

米曲霉在牛乳中最适生长条件的研究

利用米曲霉对牛乳进行发酵,通过单因子及正交试验以菌丝体干重为指标对其在牛乳中的生长进行了研究．结果表明：接种量为4％,装液量为30mL,摇床转速为180r／min时菌丝体干重可达到最大．此外测得最大菌丝体干重时的蛋白质分解率可达35．6％．     

小麦中黄曲霉生长的预测模型

采用预测微生物学的方法研究了小麦中主要霉变微生物黄曲霉的生长规律,建立了小麦中黄曲霉生长的初级和二级预测模型.结果表明:在适温阶段黄曲霉的生长曲线呈典型的S形,用Gompertz模型拟合效果良好;当接近最低生长温度时,适合用线性回归方程拟合;小麦中黄曲霉生长的温度模型符合Rosso模型,并对模型的有效性进行了验证.根据预测模型,在相对湿度60%条件下,小麦中黄曲霉的最低生长温度是6.5℃,最高生长温度是52.7℃,最适生长温度是31.4℃.     

酱油曲菌的选择及酱油发酵条件

研究了日本酱油生产菌AspergillusoryzaeJP DQ 1,AspergillusoryzaeJP W和我国酱油生产菌AspergillusoryzaeAS3.951的酶系。结果表明:3种菌在浓酱油曲和白酱油曲培养基上均可产生α 淀粉酶、糖化酶、纤维素外切酶、果胶酶、酸性蛋白酶和中性蛋白酶;JP W是较好的白酱油生产菌,JP DQ 1是较好的浓酱油生产菌。还对酱油酵母的生理特性进行了部分研究,发现食盐浓度对酱油酵母生长影响较大,酱油发酵过程的盐浓度不宜超过3mol／L,低于2mol／L更佳。酱油酵母的较适生长pH为4.5～5.5。     

紫外线与氯化锂诱变选育高产乳糖酶米曲霉

以产乳糖酶米曲霉（ATCC20423）为出发菌株,通过紫外线和紫外复合氯化锂诱变处理选育高产乳糖酶菌株。利用紫外线辐照诱变得到突变株UV-15-20的乳糖酶活力为114.08U/mL,比出发菌株提高了49.22%;以紫外线复合氯化锂选育得到突变株UV-LiCl-38乳糖酶活力为121.42U/mL,比出发菌株提高了58.82%。传代实验表明两个突变株均具有稳定的遗传性。      

“神州八号”航天搭载诱变选育果胶酶高产菌株

以泡盛曲霉40499为出发菌株,通过\