Diversity and enzyme activity of Penicillium species associated with macroalgae in Jeju Island

A total of 28 strains of 19 Penicillium species were isolated in a survey of extracellular enzyme-producing fungi from macroalgae along the coast of Jeju Island of Korea. Penicillium species were identified based on morphological and β-tubulin sequence analyses. In addition, the halo-tolerance and enzyme activity of all strains were evaluated. The diversity of Penicillium strains isolated from brown algae was higher than the diversity of strains isolated from green and red algae. The commonly isolated species were Penicillium antarcticum, P. bialowiezense, P. brevicompactum, P. crustosum, P. oxalicum, P. rubens, P. sumatrense, and P. terrigenum. While many strains showed endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, and protease activity, no alginase activity was detected. There was a positive correlation between halo-tolerance and endoglucanase activity within Penicillium species. Among 19 Penicillium species, three species-P. kongii, P. olsonii, and P. viticola-have not been previously recorded in Korea.

Enhanced cellulase production from Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 by engineering with an artificial zinc finger protein library

Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 is a well-known cellulase producer, and improvement of its cellulase production is of great interest. An artificial zinc finger protein (AZFP) library is constructed for expression in T. reesei Rut-C30, and a mutant strain T. reesei U3 is selected based on its enhanced cellulase production. The U3 mutant shows a 55% rise in filter paper activity and 8.1-fold increased β-glucosidase activity, when compared to the native strain T. reesei Rut-C30. It is demonstrated that enhanced β-glucosidase activity was due to elevated transcription level of β-glucosidase gene in the U3 mutant. Moreover, significant elevation in transcription levels of several putative Azfp-U3 target genes is detected in the U3 mutant, including genes encoding hypothetical transcription factors and a putative glycoside hydrolase. Furthermore, U3 cellulase shows 115% higher glucose yield from pretreated corn stover, when compared to the cellulase of T. reesei Rut-C30. These results demonstrate that AZFP can be used to improve cellulase production in T. reesei Rut-C30. Our current work offers the establishment of an alternative strategy to develop fungal cell factories for improved production of high value industrial products.

Characterization and Strain Improvement of a Hypercellulytic Variant, Trichoderma reesei SN1, by Genetic Engineering for Optimized Cellulase Production in Biomass Conversion Improvement

The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is a widely used strain for cellulolytic enzyme production. A hypercellulolytic T. reesei variant SN1 was identified in this study and found to be different from the well-known cellulase producers QM9414 and RUT-C30. The cellulose-degrading enzymes of T. reesei SN1 show higher endoglucanase (EG) activity but lower β-glucosidase (BGL) activity than those of the others. A uracil auxotroph strain, SP4, was constructed by pyr4 deletion in SN1 to improve transformation efficiency. The BGL1-encoding gene bgl1 under the control of a modified cbh1 promoter was overexpressed in SP4. A transformant, SPB2, with four additional copies of bgl1 exhibited a 17.1-fold increase in BGL activity and a 30.0% increase in filter paper activity. Saccharification of corncob residues with crude enzyme showed that the glucose yield of SPB2 is 65.0% higher than that of SP4. These results reveal the feasibility of strain improvement through the development of an efficient genetic transformation platform to construct a balanced cellulase system for biomass conversion.

Purification, Characterization, and cDNA Cloning of a Prominent β-Glucosidase from the Gut of the Xylophagous Cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica

In this study, a β-glucosidase (PaBG1b) with high specific activity was purified from gut extracts of the wood-feeding cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica using Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography and High-Trap phenyl hydrophobic chromatography. The protein was purified 14-fold to a single band identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with an apparent molecular mass of 56.7 kDa. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 708 μmol/min/mg protein using cellobiose as substrate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest specific activity reported among β-glucosidases to date. The purified PaBG1b showed optimal activity at pH 5.0 and retained more than 65 % of the activity between pH 4.0 and 6.5. The activity was stable up to 50 °C for 30 min. Kinetic studies on cellobiose revealed that the K m was 5.3 mM, and the V max was 1,020 μmol/min/mg. The internal amino acid sequence of PaBG1b was analyzed, and two continuous sequences (a total of 39 amino acids) of the C-terminal region were elucidated. Based on these amino acid sequences, a full-length cDNA (1,552 bp) encoding 502 amino acids was isolated. The encoded protein showed high similarity to β-glucosidases from glycoside hydrolase family 1. Thus, the current study demonstrated the potential of PaBG1b for application in enzymatic biomass-conversion as a donor gene for heterologous recombination of cellulase-producing agents (fungi or bacteria) or an additive enzyme for cellulase products based on the high-performance of PaBG1b as a digestive enzyme in cockroaches.

Immobilization of Glycoside Hydrolase Families GH1, GH13, and GH70: State of the Art and Perspectives

Glycoside hydrolases (GH) are enzymes capable to hydrolyze the glycosidic bond between two carbohydrates or even between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety. Because of the increasing interest for industrial applications of these enzymes, the immobilization of GH has become an important development in order to improve its activity, stability, as well as the possibility of its reuse in batch reactions and in continuous processes. In this review, we focus on the broad aspects of immobilization of enzymes from the specific GH families. A brief introduction on methods of enzyme immobilization is presented, discussing some advantages and drawbacks of this technology. We then review the state of the art of enzyme immobilization of families GH1, GH13, and GH70, with special attention on the enzymes β-glucosidase, α-amylase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, and dextransucrase. In each case, the immobilization protocols are evaluated considering their positive and negative aspects. Finally, the perspectives on new immobilization methods are briefly presented.

A multifunctional GH39 glycoside hydrolase from the anaerobic gut fungus Orpinomyces sp. strain C1A

Background. The anaerobic gut fungi (phylum Neocallimastigomycota) represent a promising source of novel lignocellulolytic enzymes. Here, we report on the cloning, expression, and characterization of a glycoside hydrolase family 39 (GH39) enzyme (Bgxg1) that is highly transcribed by the anaerobic fungus Orpinomycessp. strain C1A under different growth conditions. This represents the first study of a GH39-family enzyme from the anaerobic fungi. Methods. Using enzyme activity assays, we performed a biochemical characterization of Bgxg1 on a variety of substrates over a wide range of pH and temperature values to identify the optimal enzyme conditions and the specificity of the enzyme. In addition, substrate competition studies and comparative modeling efforts were completed. Results. Contrary to the narrow range of activities (β-xylosidase or α-L-iduronidase) observed in previously characterized GH39 enzymes, Bgxg1 is unique in that it is multifunctional, exhibiting strong β-xylosidase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase activities (11.5 ± 1.2, 73.4 ± 7.15, and 54.6 ± 2.26 U/mg, respectively) and a weak xylanase activity (10.8 ± 1.25 U/mg), as compared to previously characterized enzymes. Further, Bgxg1 possesses extremely high affinity (as evident by the lowest K m values), compared to all previously characterized β-glucosidases, β-galactosidases, and xylanases. Physiological characterization revealed that Bgxg1 is active over a wide range of pH (3-8, optimum 6) and temperatures (25-60 °C, optimum 39 °C), and possesses excellent temperature and thermal stability. Substrate competition assays suggest that all observed activities occur at a single active site. Using comparative modeling and bioinformatics approaches, we putatively identified ten amino acid differences between Bgxg1 and previously biochemically characterized GH39 β-xylosidases that we speculate could impact active site architecture, size, charge, and/or polarity. Discussion. Collectively, the unique capabilities and multi-functionality of Bgxg1 render it an excellent candidate for inclusion in enzyme cocktails mediating cellulose and hemicellulose saccharification from lignocellulosic biomass.

Enrichment of two isoflavone aglycones in black soymilk by Rhizopus oligosporus NTU 5 in a plastic composite support bioreactor

BACKGROUND

A plastic composite support (PCS) bioreactor was implemented to evaluate the effects on isoflavone deglycosylation in black soymilk fermented by Rhizopus oligosporus NTU 5.

RESULTS

Evaluation for the optimal PCS for mycelia immobilisation was conducted, which led to the significant results that the most mycelium weight (0.237 g per PCS, P < 0.05) is held by an S-type PCS; therefore, it was selected for black soymilk fermentation. It was found that the PCS fermentation system without pH control exhibits better efficiency of isoflavone bioconversion (daidzin to daidzein, and genistin to genistein) than the one with pH control at pH 6.5. As for the long-run fermentation, those without pH control indeed accelerate the isoflavone bioconversion by continuously releasing β-glucosidase into soymilk. Deglycosylation can be completed in 8 to 24 h and sustained for at least 34 days as 26 batches. The non-pH-control fermentation system also exhibits the highest total phenolic content (ranged from 0.147 to 0.340 mg GAE mL(-1) sample) when compared to the pH-controlled and suspended ones. Meanwhile, the black soymilk from the 22nd batch with 8 h fermentation demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging effect (54.7%).

CONCLUSION

A repeated-batch PCS fermentation system was established to accelerate the deglycosylation rate of isoflavone in black soymilk. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of the recombinant Brettanomyces anomalus β-glucosidase and its potential for bioflavouring

AIM

Plant materials used in the food industry contain up to five times more aromas bound to glucose (glucosides) than free, unbound aromas, making these bound aromas an unused flavouring potential. The aim of this study was to identify and purify a novel β-glucosidase from Brettanomyces yeasts that are capable of releasing bound aromas present in various food products.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We screened 428 different yeast strains for β-glucosidase activity and are the first to sequence the whole genome of two Brettanomyces yeasts (Brettanomyces anomalus and Brettanomyces bruxellensis) with exceptionally high β-glucosidase activity. Heterologous expression and purification of the identified B. anomalus β-glucosidase showed that it has an optimal activity at a higher pH (5·75) and lower temperature (37°C) than commercial β-glucosidases. Adding this B. anomalus β-glucosidase to cherry beers and forest fruit milks resulted in increased amounts of benzyl alcohol, eugenol, linalool and methyl salicylate compared to Aspergillus niger and Almond glucosidase.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly identified B. anomalus β-glucosidase offers new possibilities for food bioflavouring.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study is the first to sequence the B. anomalus genome and to identify the β-glucosidase-encoding genes of two Brettanomyces species, and reports a new bioflavouring enzyme.

Isolation and Properties of an Extracellular β-Glucosidase from a Filamentous Fungus, Cladosporium resinae, Isolated from Kerosene

An extracellular β-glucosidase was purified from a culture filtrate of the fungus Cladosporium resinae strain NK-1 grown on a medium containing starch, Tween 80, and yeast extract. The purified enzyme was monomeric with an Mr 98,000, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and native gel filtration using HPLC. The enzyme had optimal activity with p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucoside (PNPG) at 50°C and pH 4.5. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of cellobiose and PNPG. The Km and Vmax with PNPG as the substrate at 50°C and pH 4.5 were 0.07 mM and 364 μmol/min/mg, respectively; with cellobiose as the substrate, the corresponding values were 2.3 mM and 75 μmol/min/mg. The enzyme activity was competitively inhibited by glucose (Ki=20 mM), while fructose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, xylose (each at 50 mM), sucrose, and lactose (each at 30 mM) were not inhibitory. While the enzyme has activity against sophorose (β-1,2-glucobiose) and laminaribiose (β-1,3-glucobiose), it has no activity against gentiobiose (β-1,6-glucobiose). The activity of the β-glucosidase was inhibited by Ag(+), Fe(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Hg(2+), SDS, and p-chloromercuribenzoate.

Structural and functional studies of the glycoside hydrolase family 3 β-glucosidase Cel3A from the moderately thermophilic fungus Rasamsonia emersonii

The filamentous fungus Hypocrea jecorina produces a number of cellulases and hemicellulases that act in a concerted fashion on biomass and degrade it into monomeric or oligomeric sugars. β-Glucosidases are involved in the last step of the degradation of cellulosic biomass and hydrolyse the β-glycosidic linkage between two adjacent molecules in dimers and oligomers of glucose. In this study, it is shown that substituting the β-glucosidase from H. jecorina (HjCel3A) with the β-glucosidase Cel3A from the thermophilic fungus Rasamsonia emersonii (ReCel3A) in enzyme mixtures results in increased efficiency in the saccharification of lignocellulosic materials. Biochemical characterization of ReCel3A, heterologously produced in H. jecorina, reveals a preference for disaccharide substrates over longer gluco-oligosaccharides. Crystallographic studies of ReCel3A revealed a highly N-glycosylated three-domain dimeric protein, as has been observed previously for glycoside hydrolase family 3 β-glucosidases. The increased thermal stability and saccharification yield and the superior biochemical characteristics of ReCel3A compared with HjCel3A and mixtures containing HjCel3A make ReCel3A an excellent candidate for addition to enzyme mixtures designed to operate at higher temperatures.

Inhibition of β-Glucosidase (Amygdalae dulces) by (+)-Catechin Oxidation Products and Procyanidin Dimers

The sensitivity and specificity of the inhibition of β-glucosidase (Amygdalae dulces) by (+ )-catechin, an oxidized (+)-catechin solution, three dimeric procyanidins, and five (+)-catechin dimers obtained by enzymatic oxidation were evaluated by using a chromatographic method. All the polyphenols tested presented a significant inhibitory effect. Non-competitive inhibition was observed for the oxidized (+)-catechin solution. Some oxidation products were at least as powerful inhibitors as procyanidins which are known for their tanning effect. Yellow oxidation products were among the strongest inhibitors. No marked role of the number of hydroxyl and o-diphenol groups nor of the nature or position of the interflavanic linkage in the inhibitory effect was apparent.

Synergistic Cellulose Hydrolysis Dominated by a Multi-Modular Processive Endoglucanase from Clostridium cellulosi

Recalcitrance of biomass feedstock remains a challenge for microbial conversion of lignocellulose into biofuel and biochemicals. Clostridium cellulosi, one thermophilic bacterial strain dominated in compost, could hydrolyze lignocellulose at elevated temperature by secreting more than 38 glycoside hydrolases belong to 15 different families. Though one multi-modular endoglucanase CcCel9A has been identified from C. cellulosi CS-4-4, mechanism of synergistic degradation of cellulose by various cellulases from strain CS-4-4 remains elusive. In this study, CcCel9A, CcCel9B, and CcCel48A were characterized as processive endoglucanase, non-processive endoglucanase, and exoglucanase, respectively. To understand how they cooperate with each other, we estimated the approximate concentration ratio on the zymogram and optimized it using purified enzymes in vitro. Synergism between individual glycoside hydrolase during cellulose hydrolysis in the mixture was observed. CcCel9A and CcCel48A could degrade cellulose chain from non-reducing ends and reducing ends, respectively, to cello-oligosaccharide. CcCel9B could cut cellulose chain randomly and cello-oligosaccharides with varied length were released. In addition, a β-glucosidase BlgA from Caldicellulosiruptor sp. F32 which could cleave cello-oligosaccharides including G2-G6 to glucose was added to the enzyme mixture to remove the product inhibition of its partners. The combination and ratios of these cellulases were optimized based on the release rate of glucose. Hydrolysis of corn stalk was conducted by a four-component cocktail (CcCel9A:CcCel9B:CcCel48A:BlgA = 25:25:10:18), and only glucose was detected as main production by using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Processive endoglucanase CcCel9A, dominated in secretome of C. cellulosi, showed good potential in developing cellulase cocktail due to its exquisite cooperation with various cellulases.

Investigation of larvae digestive β-glucosidase and proteases of the tomato pest Tuta absoluta for inhibiting the insect development

The tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta is one of the most devastating pests for tomato crops. Digestive proteases and β-glucosidase enzymes were investigated using general and specific substrates and inhibitors. Maximal β-glucosidase and proteolytic activities occurred at temperature and pH optima of 30 and 40°C, 5 and 10-11 unit of pH, respectively. Zymogram analysis showed the presence of distinguished β-glucosidase exhibiting a specific activity of about 183 ± 15 µmol min-1 mg-1. In vitro inhibition experiments suggested that serine proteases were the primary gut proteases. Gel based protease inhibition assays demonstrated that the 28 and 73 kDa proteases might be trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like enzymes, respectively. Overall gut trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities were evaluated to be about 27.2 ± 0.84 and 1.68 ± 0.03 µmol min-1 mg-1, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that T. absoluta gut serine proteases are responsible for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry insecticidal proteins proteolysis. Additionally, bioassays showed that T. absoluta larvae development was more affected by the β-glucosidases inhibitor (D-glucono-δ-lactone) than the serine proteases inhibitor (soybean trypsin inhibitor). These results are of basic interest since they present interesting data of β-glucosidases and gut serine proteases of T. absoluta larvae.

Characterization of β-glucosidase from Aspergillus terreus and its application in the hydrolysis of soybean isoflavones

An extracellular β-glucosidase produced by Aspergillus terreus was identified, purified, characterized and was tested for the hydrolysis of soybean isoflavone. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization with tandem time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) revealed the protein to be a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family 3 with an apparent molecular mass of about 120 kDa. The purified β-glucosidase showed optimal activity at pH 5.0 and 65 °C and was very stable at 50 °C. Moreover, the enzyme exhibited good stability over pH 3.0-8.0 and possessed high tolerance towards pepsin and trypsin. The kinetic parameters Km (apparent Michaelis-Menten constant) and Vmax (maximal reaction velocity) for p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) were 1.73 mmol/L and 42.37 U/mg, respectively. The Km and Vmax for cellobiose were 4.11 mmol/L and 5.7 U/mg, respectively. The enzyme efficiently converted isoflavone glycosides to aglycones, with a hydrolysis rate of 95.8% for daidzin, 86.7% for genistin, and 72.1% for glycitin. Meanwhile, the productivities were 1.14 mmol/(L·h) for daidzein, 0.72 mmol/(L·h) for genistein, and 0.19 mmol/(L·h) for glycitein. This is the first report on the application of A. terreus β-glucosidase for converting isoflavone glycosides to their aglycones in soybean products.

Production of cellulase from Aspergillus terreus MS105 on crude and commercially purified substrates

Aspergillus terreus MS105 was originally isolated from soil and screened for cellulase production in the presence of various carbon sources including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel, sigmacell, filter-paper and salicin. CMC induced the production of endoglucanase (EG) and filter-paperase while the levels of β-glucosidase (BGL) were increased when salicin was present in the medium. Nature of production medium influenced the duration of lag- and log-phase of the growth, rate of fungal dry-mass and enzyme production. The volumetric and specific productivity of cellulase under submerged fermentation of grass were 1.7–20-folds higher than sugarcane-bagasse, corncob and commercially available purified substrates. Nonetheless, solid state fermentation (SSF) of crude substrates also yielded high volumetric productivity of EG and BGL. The studies on characterization of enzymes showed that EG was more thermostable than BGL with an optimum activity at 70 °C and a melting temperature of 76 °C. A 1.2–1.5-folds increase in EG activity was observed in the presence of K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, whereas, the EG and BGL activities remained unaffected in the presence of EDTA. Both the enzyme activities performed optimally under acidic range of pH.

Change in Flavonoid Composition and Antioxidative Activity during Fermentation of Onion (Allium cepa L.) by Leuconostoc mesenteroides with Different Salt Concentrations

The aim of this study is to investigate the change in flavonoid composition and antioxidative activity during fermentation of onion (Allium cepa L.) by Leuconostoc mesenteroides with different NaCl concentrations. In order to qualify and quantify the flavonoids during fermentation of onion, 7 flavonoids, [quercetin 3,7-O-β-d-diglucopyranoside (Q3,7G), quercetin 3,4'-O-β-d-diglucopyranoside (Q3,4'G), quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (Q3G), quercetin 4'-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (Q4'G), isorhamnetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (IR3G), quercetin (Q), and isorhamnetin (IR)], were isolated and identified from onion. During fermentation, the contents of flavonoid glucosides (Q3,7G, Q3,4'G, Q3G, Q4'G, and IR3G) gradually decreased, whereas the contents of flavonoid aglycones (Q, IR) gradually increased. Decline rates of the flavonoid glucosides increased with the addition of L. mesenteroides. Furthermore, the activity of β-glucosidase, which is produced by L. mesenteroides, is dose-dependently inhibited with different NaCl concentrations during fermentation. The presence of L. mesenteroides enhanced the antioxidative activity of onion as demonstrated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and reducing power assays. The enhancement of antioxidative activity was considered because the content of flavonoid aglycones increased during fermentation. However, the addition of NaCl may decrease the antioxidative activity; we surmise that this phenomenon occurs because of the inhibition of β-glucosidase by NaCl. Therefore, we conclude that the addition of NaCl may be useful for the regulation of antioxidative activity via the control of β-glucosidase action, during the fermentation of flavonoid glucoside-rich foods.

Production of Ginsenoside F2 by Using Lactococcus lactis with Enhanced Expression of β-Glucosidase Gene from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus

This study aimed to produce a pharmacologically active minor ginsenoside F2 from the major ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd by using a recombinant Lactococcus lactis strain expressing a heterologous β-glucosidase gene. The nucleotide sequence of the gene (BglPm) was derived from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus and synthesized after codon optimization, and the two genes (unoptimized and optimized) were expressed in L. lactis NZ9000. Codon optimization resulted in reduction of unfavorable codons by 50% and a considerable increase in the expression levels (total activities) of β-glucosidases (0.002 unit/mL, unoptimized; 0.022 unit/mL, optimized). The molecular weight of the enzyme was 52 kDa, and the purified forms of the enzymes could successfully convert Rb1 and Rd into F2. The permeabilized L. lactis expressing BglPm resulted in a high conversion yield (74%) of F2 from the ginseng extract. Utilization of this microbial cell to produce F2 may provide an alternative method to increase the health benefits of Panax ginseng.

Heterologous expression of a GH3 β-glucosidase from Neurospora crassa in Pichia pastoris with high purity and its application in the hydrolysis of soybean isoflavone glycosides

Previous studies have shown isoflavone aglycones to have more biological effects than their counterparts, isoflavone glycones. Some β-glucosidases can hydrolyze isoflavone glucosides to release aglycones, and discovery of these has attracted great interest. A glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 3 β-glucosidase (bgl2) gene from Neurospora crassa was heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris with high purity. The recombinant BGL2 enzyme displayed its highest activity at pH 5.0 and 60 °C, and had its maximum activity against p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) (143.27 ± 4.79 U/mg), followed by cellobiose (74.99 ± 0.78 U/mg), gentiobiose (47.55 ± 0.15 U/mg), p-nitrophenyl-β-d-cellobioside (pNPC) (40.07 ± 0.87 U/mg), cellotriose (12.31 ± 0.36 U/mg) and cellotetraose (9.04 ± 0.14 U/mg). The kinetic parameters of Km and Vmax were 0.21 ± 0.01 mM and 147.93 ± 2.77 μM/mg/min for pNPG. The purified enzyme showed a heightened ability to convert the major soybean isoflavone glycosides (daidzin, genistin and glycitin) into their corresponding aglycone forms (daidzien, genistein and glycitein). With this activity against soybean isoflavone glycosides, BGL2 shows great potential for applications in the food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical industries.

Isoflavone metabolism by a collection of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria with biotechnological interest

Almost all soy isoflavones exist as glycosides, daidzin, genistin, and glycitin. We analyzed the capacity of 92 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria with biotechnological interest to process the glycosylated isoflavones daidzin, genistin, and glycitin in their more bioavailable aglycones and their metabolites as dihydrodaidzein (DHD), O-desmethylangolensin, and equol. Representative strains of the four genera studied Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, and Bifidobacterium were able to produce daidzein, genistein, and glycitein, with the exception of the lactobacilli, which did not produced glycitein in soy extracts. The production of the aglycone isoflavones could be correlated with the β-glucosidase activity of the strains. The isoflavone metabolism is limited to the glycoside hydrolysis in the most of these strains. Moreover, Enterococcus faecalis INIA P333 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus INIA P540 were able to transform daidzein in DHD. LAB and bifidobacteria studied in the present work have a great potential in the metabolism of isoflavones and could be selected for the development of functional fermented soy foods.

Comparison of catalytic properties of multiple β-glucosidases of Trichoderma reesei

Ten putative Trichoderma reesei β-glucosidase (BGL) isozymes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and Aspergillus oryzae and purified to homogeneity. Catalytic properties of nine enzymes which showed hydrolytic activity on cellobiose and p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) were investigated. Three BGLs, encoded by the genes cel3A, cel3B, and cel3E, contained a predicted signal peptide, showed higher hydrolytic activity on cello-oligosaccharides than on pNPG, and preferred longer oligosaccharides. Another three putative extracellular BGLs, Cel3B, Cel3F, and Cel3G, and two intracellular enzymes, Cel3C and Cel3D, exhibited preference for pNPG. Intracellular Cel1A showed the highest affinity for cellobiose as a typical cellobiase. Four BGLs, Cel3A, Cel3B, Cel3E, Cel1A, that showed high activity against cello-oligosaccharides were capable of catalyzing transglycosylation reactions from cellobiose, leading to formation of cellotriose and isomeric glucobioses. While Cel3A, Cel3B, and Cel3E synthesized mainly gentiobiose, glycosyl transfer reactions of Cel1A led mainly to sophorose and laminaribiose. Conversion of cellobiose to sophorose by Cel1A reached about 3.6 and 10 % at 1 and 10 % cellobiose concentration, respectively. The formation and persistence of individual cellobiose isomers in incubation mixtures of four BGLs (Cel3A, Cel3B, Cel3E, and Cel1A) with cellobiose correlated well with the k cat values for isomeric glucobioses. Cel1A also showed the lowest sensitivity to inhibition by glucose. Based on all studied catalytic properties, Cel1A appears to be unambiguously the best candidate for site-directed mutations or directed evolution toward improvement of activity, thermostability, and, eventually, efficiency of sophorose synthesis.

Directed evolution of a fungal β-glucosidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BACKGROUND

β-glucosidases (BGLs) catalyze the hydrolysis of soluble cellodextrins to glucose and are a critical component of cellulase systems. In order to engineer Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass, a BGL tailored to industrial bioconversions is needed.

RESULTS

We applied a directed evolution strategy to a glycosyl hydrolase family 3 (GH3) BGL from Aspergillus niger (BGL1) by expressing a library of mutated bgl1 genes in S. cerevisiae and used a two-step functional screen to identify improved enzymes. Twelve BGL variants that supported growth of S. cerevisiae on cellobiose and showed increased activity on the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside were identified and characterized. By performing kinetic experiments, we found that a Tyr → Cys substitution at position 305 of BGL1 dramatically reduced transglycosidation activity that causes inhibition of the hydrolytic reaction at high substrate concentrations. Targeted mutagenesis demonstrated that the position 305 residue is critical in GH3 BGLs and likely determines the extent to which transglycosidation reactions occur. We also found that a substitution at Gln(140) reduced the inhibitory effect of glucose and could be combined with the Y305C substitution to produce a BGL with decreased sensitivity to both the product and substrate. Using the crystal structure of a GH3 BGL from A. aculeatus, we mapped a group of beneficial mutations to the β/α domain of the molecule and postulate that this region modulates activity through subunit interactions. Six BGL variants were identified with substitutions in the MFα pre-sequence that was used to mediate secretion of the protein. Substitutions at Pro(21) or Val(22) of the MFα pre-sequence could produce up to a twofold increase in supernatant hydrolase activity and provides evidence that expression and/or secretion was an additional factor limiting hydrolytic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Using directed evolution on BGL1, we identified a key residue that controls hydrolytic and transglycosidation reactions in GH3 BGLs. We also found that several beneficial mutations could be combined and increased the hydrolytic activity for both synthetic and natural substrates.

Production of a high-efficiency cellulase complex via β-glucosidase engineering in Penicillium oxalicum

BACKGROUND

Trichoderma reesei is a widely used model cellulolytic fungus, supplying a highly effective cellulase production system. Recently, the biofuel industry discovered filamentous fungi from the Penicillium genus as a promising alternative to T. reesei.

RESULTS

In our study, we present a systematic over-expression analysis of nine β-glucosidase encoding genes in the wild-type strain 114-2 of Penicillium oxalicum. We found that the over-expression of BGL1, BGL4, or BGL5 significantly enhanced both β-glucosidase activity and hydrolysis efficiency of the enzyme system on filter paper. We utilised two strategies to over-express β-glucosidase in the strain RE-10 that-although over-producing cellulase, does so at the cost of the cellulase mixture deficiency. The constitutive promoter of gene pde_02864 encoding 40S ribosomal protein S8 was used to over-express three β-glucosidases: BGL1, BGL4, and BGL5. We found that all mutants show significantly enhanced levels of β-glucosidase at transcriptional, protein, and activity levels. Furthermore, the inducible promoter from bgl2 was used to conditionally over-express the β-glucosidases BGL1 and BGL4. Surprisingly, this induced expression strategy enables significantly improved expression efficiency. The BGL1 over-expressing mutant I1-13 particularly improved the β-glucosidase activity at a factor of 65-folds, resulting in levels of up to 150 U/ml. All our BGL over-expression mutants displayed significant enhancement of cellulolytic ability on both microcrystalline cellulose and filter paper. In addition, they substantially reduced the enzyme loads in the saccharification of a natural lignocellulose material delignified corncob residue (DCCR). The mutant I4-32 with over-expression of BGL4 achieved the highest glucose yield in the saccharification of DCCR at only 25 % enzyme load compared to the parental strain RE-10.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, genetically engineering P. oxalicum to significantly improve β-glucosidase activity is a potent strategy to substantially boost the hydrolytic efficiency of the cellulase cocktail, which will ultimately lead to a considerable reduction of cost for biomass-based biofuel.

Review of lignocellulolytic enzyme activity analyses and scale-down to microplate-based assays

With the increasing use of enzymes in environmental applications, there is a need for analytical methods adapted to large factorial experiments. Existing reference methods are chemical and labor intensive and unsuitable to analyze in parallel a large number of samples. Based on an extensive literature review and on experimental results, this work compares reference and microplate adapted methods to define the most adequate filter paper, carboxymethylcellulase, β-glucosidase and xylanase activity tests. In the adapted methods, the total reaction volume was reduced from 2.2-24.5 mL to 0.21-0.24 mL. Statistical analysis of the activities measured on enzyme mixtures by applying the 96-well plate reduced methods showed that they were not significantly different to the activities obtained with reference tests.

Quality-related enzymes in plant-based products: effects of novel food processing technologies part 2: pulsed electric field processing

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing is an effective technique for the preservation of pumpable food products as it inactivates vegetative microbial cells at ambient to moderate temperature without significantly affecting the nutritional and sensorial quality of the product. However, conflicting views are expressed about the effect of PEF on enzymes. In this review, which is part 2 of a series of reviews dealing with the effectiveness of novel food preservation technologies for controlling enzymes, the scientific literature over the last decade on the effect of PEF on plant enzymes is critically reviewed to shed more light on the issue. The existing evidence indicates that PEF can result in substantial inactivation of most enzymes, although a much more intense process is required compared to microbial inactivation. Depending on the processing condition and the origin of the enzyme, up to 97% inactivation of pectin methylesterase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase as well as no inactivation have been reported following PEF treatment. Both electrochemical effects and Ohmic heating appear to contribute to the observed inactivation, although the relative contribution depends on a number of factors including the origin of the enzyme, the design of the PEF treatment chamber, the processing condition, and the composition of the medium.

Spruce Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Oral Secretions II: Chemistry

As sessile organisms, plants have evolved different methods to defend against attacks and have adapted their defense measures to discriminate between mechanical damage and herbivory by insects. One of the ways that plant defenses are triggered is via elicitors from insect oral secretions (OS). In this study, we investigated the ability of second-instar (L2) spruce budworm [SBW; Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens)] to alter the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of four conifer species [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Picea mariana (Miller) B.S.P., Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, Picea rubens (Sargent)] and found that the emission profiles from all host trees were drastically changed after herbivory. We then investigated whether some of the main elicitors (fatty acid conjugates [FACs], β-glucosidase, and glucose oxidase) studied were present in SBW OS. FACs (glutamine and glutamic acid) based on linolenic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids were all observed in varying relative quantities. Hydroxylated FACs, such as volicitin, were not observed. Enzyme activity for β-glucosidase was also measured and found present in SBW OS, whereas glucose oxidase activity was not found in the SBW labial glands. These results demonstrate that SBW L2 larvae have the ability to induce VOC emissions upon herbivory and that SBW OS contain potential elicitors to induce these defensive responses. These data will be useful to further evaluate whether these elicitors can separately induce the production of specific VOCs and to investigate whether and how these emissions benefit the plant.