Biotransformation of l‐menthol by twelve isolates of soil‐borne plant pathogenic fungi (Rhizoctonia solani) and classification of fungi

The microbial transformation of l‐menthol ( 1 ) was investigated by using 12 isolates of soil‐borne plant pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solani (AG‐1‐IA Rs24, Joichi‐2, RRG97‐1; AG‐1‐IB TR22, R147, 110.4; AG‐1‐IC F‐1, F‐4, P‐1; AG‐1‐ID RCP‐1, RCP‐3, and RCP‐7) as a biocatalyst. Rhizoctonia solani F‐1, F‐4 and P‐1 showed 89.7–99.9% yields of converted product from 1 , RCP‐1, RCP‐3, and RCP‐7 26.0–26.9% and the other isolates 0.1–12.0%. In the cases of F‐1, F‐4 and P‐1, substrate 1 was converted to (?)‐(1S,3R,4S,6S)‐6‐hydroxymenthol ( 2 ), (?)‐(1S,3R,4S)‐1‐hydroxymenthol ( 3 ) and (+)‐(1S,3R,4R,6S)‐6,8‐dihydroxymenthol ( 4 ), which was a new compound. Substrate 1 was converted to 2 and/or 3 by RRG97‐1, 110.4, RCP‐1, RCP‐3 and RCP‐7. The structures of the metabolic products were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. In addition, metabolic pathways of the biotransformation of 1 by Rhizoctonia solani are discussed. Finally, from the main component analysis and the differences in the yields of converted product from 1 , the 12 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani were divided into three groups based on an analysis of the metabolites. Copyright © 2003 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.     

生物柴油制备方法的应用研究进展

生物柴油以其优良的环境友好性和可再生性引起广泛关注,但较高的生产成本是其商业化生产和应用的障碍之一。综述了生物柴油的化学转酯化法和以游离脂肪酶、固定化脂肪酶、全细胞为催化剂的生物转酯化法的工业研究进展,同时还指出了采用生物转酯化法制备生物柴油时面临的一些问题。     

Performance comparison of free and immobilised chicken liver esterase inhibited by four different pesticides

BACKGROUND: In enzyme inhibition‐based biosensors for the detection of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, the biological element is the immobilised esterase which is inhibited selectively by the pesticides. The free chicken liver esterase, which possesses comparable inhibition response to the pesticides as AChE, has been reported. However, the responses to the pesticides are different between the free and immobilised enzyme due to the diffusion limitation. Therefore, in this study four typical pesticides were selected to compare the ability of free and (ion exchange) immobilised chicken enzyme for pesticide detection and reasons for the difference were investigated. RESULTS: For dichlorvos and malathion at a concentration of 0.1 mg L^?1, the inhibition of the immobilised enzyme was 26.98% and 48.72%, respectively, higher than that for the free enzyme, while the percentage inhibition of free and immobilised enzyme differed very little for trichlorfon at 0.1 mg L^?1. In the meantime, carbaryl at a concentration of 2.5 mg L^?1 showed a 17.72% inhibition for immobilised enzyme which was 13.64% higher than that for the free enzyme. The Michaelis constant of immobilised enzyme was lower than that of the free one and suitable pH values for the free and immobilised enzyme were 7.5 and 8.0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of chicken liver esterase to the pesticide inhibition could be improved by immobilisation. Smaller K_m and a lower pH for the micro‐environment of immobilised enzyme should result in higher percentage inhibition compared with that of the free enzyme. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

卤过氧化物酶在有机合成中的应用研究进展

卤过氧化物酶是一种特殊的过氧化物酶,可以催化多种手性化合物的合成。自上世纪60年代被发现以来,卤过氧化物酶在有机合成中的应用一直是研究热点。综述了卤过氧化物酶的种类及其在手性有机合成中的应用,重点关注了卤化、氧化、环氧化、磺化氧化等反应,并讨论了目前在该领域所面临的问题及今后的发展趋势。     

Enzymatic membrane reactors: the determining factors in two separate phase operations

A two separate phase‐enzymatic membrane reactor is an attractive process since it has a large interfacial area and exchange surfaces, simultaneous reaction and separation and other benefits. Many factors influence its successful operation, and these include characteristics of the enzyme, membrane, circulating fluids and reactor operations. Although the operating conditions are the main factor, other factors must be considered before, during or after its application. At the initial stage of reactor development, the solubility of substrates and products, type of operation, membrane material and size, enzyme preparation and loading procedure, and cleanliness of the recirculated fluids should be specified. The immobilization site, reactor arrangement, dissolved or no‐solvent operation, classic or emulsion operation and immobilized or suspended enzyme(s) are determined later. Some factors still need further studies. Utilization of the technology is described for use from multigram‐ to plant‐scale capacity to process racemic and achiral compounds. The racemates were resolved primarily by kinetic resolution, but dynamic kinetic resolution has been exploited. The technology focused on hydrolytic reactions, but esterification processes were also exploited. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF YEAST RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE BREWING INDUSTRY

The effect that yeast research and development on yeasts has had on the brewing industry is traced from the time of Pasteur to the present time.     

A highly stable whole‐cell biocatalyst for the enantioselective synthesis of optically active alpha‐hydroxy acids

BACKGROUND: Biocatalysts have gained increasing attention because of their inherent advantages over chemical catalysts. However, the poor operational stability has always prevented their broad application. In this study, (R)‐mandelic acid was chosen as a model compound of alpha‐hydroxy acids. The objective was to obtain a new biocatalyst with desired operational stability for the preparation of (R)‐mandelic acid as well as other optically pure alpha‐hydroxy acids of pharmaceutical importance. RESULTS: Using a two‐step screening strategy, Saccharomyces ellipsoideus GIM2.105 was selected as an effective biocatalyst with high enantioselectivity and remarkable operational stability. After 20 cycles of reuse, whole cells of S. ellipsoideus GIM2.105 maintained its activity, and no obvious decrease in conversion or enantiomeric excess (ee) was observed. Furthermore, effects of various reaction parameters, including pH, temperature, co‐substrate (type, concentration), substrate concentration and reaction time, on the bioreduction were studied. Under optimal conditions, (R)‐mandelic acid and four substituted aromatic (R)‐alpha‐hydroxy acids were prepared in high ee (95–>99%) and good conversion (>90%). CONCLUSION: The high enantioselectivity, remarkable operational stability and mild reaction conditions showed S. ellipsoideus GIM2.105 to be an economical biocatalyst with great industrial application potential for the production of optically active alpha‐hydroxy acids. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biotransformation of isoflavones by Aspergillus niger as biocatalyst

Biotransformation of the isoflavones, 6,7,4′‐trimethoxyisoflavone ( 1 ) and 5,7,4′‐trimethoxyisoflavone ( 2 ) by Aspergillus niger was investigated. Compound 1 was transformed to 4′‐hydroxy‐6,7‐dimethoxyisoflavone ( 3 ) and 2 to 4′‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxyisoflavone ( 4 ). This suggested that 1 and 2 were demethylated at the C‐4′ position with regioselectivity by Aspergillus niger. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry