The AlnB protein of the bioemulsan alasan is a peroxiredoxin

Development and Genetic Engineering of Hyper-Producing Microbial Strains for Improved Synthesis of Biosurfactants

Current research energies are fixated on the synthesis of environmentally friendly and non-hazardous products, which include finding and recognizing biosurfactants that can substitute synthetic surfactants. Microbial biosurfactants are surface-active compounds synthesized intracellularly or extracellularly. To use biosurfactants in various industries, it is essential to understand scientific engagements that demonstrate its potentials as real advancement in the 21st century. Other than applying a substantial effect on the world economic market, engineered hyper-producing microbial strains in combination with optimized cultivation parameters have made it probable for many industrial companies to receive the profits of 'green' biosurfactant innovation. There needs to be an emphasis on the worldwide state of biosurfactant synthesis, expression of biosurfactant genes in expressive host systems, the recent developments, and prospects in this line of research. Thus, molecular dynamics with respect to genetic engineering of biosynthetic genes are proposed as new biotechnological tools for development, improved synthesis, and applications of biosurfactants. For example, mutant and hyper-producing recombinants have been designed efficaciously to advance the nature, quantity, and quality of biosurfactants. The fastidious and deliberate investigation will prompt a comprehension of the molecular dynamics and phenomena in new microorganisms. Throughout the decade, valuable data on the molecular genetics of biosurfactant have been produced, and this solid foundation would encourage application-oriented yields of the biosurfactant production industry and expand its utilization in diverse fields. Therefore, the conversations among different interdisciplinary experts from various scientific interests such as microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics are indispensable and significant to accomplish these objectives.

Antioxidant enzymes and reactive oxygen species level of the Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteria during hydrocarbons biotransformation

The level of catalase and superoxide dismutase induction, as well as generation of superoxide anion radical in cells and accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the culture medium were researched in three strains of oil-degrading bacteria Achromobacter xylosoxidans at cultivation in rich nutrient medium and in the media with hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon. The effects of pentane, decane, hexadecane, cyclohexane, benzene, naphthalene and diesel fuel were evaluated. It was determined that in the microbial cell on media with hydrocarbons, the generation of superoxide anion radical increases, accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and induction of superoxide dismutase synthesis occur, and catalase activity is reduced. Oxidative stress in the cells of A. xylosoxidans was caused by biotransformation of all the studied hydrocarbons. The most pronounced effect was observed at incubation of bacteria with cyclohexane, pentane, diesel fuel, benzene and naphthalene.

Genetic regulations of the biosynthesis of microbial surfactants: an overview

Microbial biosurfactants are surface active metabolites synthesized by microbes growing on a variety of substrates. In spite of having great potential for commercial, therapeutic and environmental applications, industrial level production has not been realized for their low yields and productivities. One vital factor determining their biosynthesis is the genetic makeup of the producer organisms. Studies on molecular genetics and biochemistry of the synthesis of several biosurfactants have revealed the operons, the enzymes and the metabolic pathways required for their extracellular production. Surfactin, a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant is a potent antimicrobial agent and is produced as a result of non-ribosomal biosynthesis catalyzed by a large multienzyme peptide synthetase complex called the surfactin synthetase. Pathways for the synthesis of other lipopeptides such as iturin, lichenysin and arthrofactin are also mediated by similar enzyme complexes. These non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) responsible for lipopeptide biosynthesis display a high degree of structural similarity among themselves even from distant microbial species. Plasmid-encoded- rhlA, B, R and I genes of rhl quorum sensing system are required for production of glycolipid biosurfactants by Pseudomonas species. Molecular genetics of biosynthesis of alasan and emulsan by Acinetobacter species and of the fungal biosurfactants such as mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL) and hydrophobins have been deciphered. However, limited genetic information is available about biosynthesis of other biosurfactants such as viscosin, amphisin and putisolvin produced by some strains of Pseudomonas species. Understanding of the genetic regulatory mechanisms would help to develop metabolically engineered hyper-producing strains with better product characteristics and acquired capability of utilizing cheap agro-industrial wastes as substrates. This article thus provides an overview of the role and importance of molecular genetics and gene regulation mechanisms behind the biosynthesis of various microbial surfactants of commercial importance.

Biosurfactants from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BU03 enhance the solubility and biodegradation of phenanthrene

A thermophilic bacterial strain, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BU03, with a biosurfactant-producing capability, was isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil with an improved procedure which employed the solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e. naphthalene in agar plate, as a selection criterion. Crude biosurfactant was recovered from the culture of BU03 by extraction with n-hexane, and its properties were investigated. Biosurfactants from A. calcoaceticus BU03 constitute a thermo-stable mixture, composed of different agents with surface activities. At their critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 152.4 mg L(-1), the crude biosurfactants produced from A. calcoaceticus BU03 decreased the air-water surface tension to 38.4 mN m(-1). In thermophilic conditions, the emulsifying activity is 2.8 times that of Tween 80. The effects of the biosurfactants produced by A. calcoaceticus on the solubility and biodegradation of PAHs were investigated in batch systems. Biosurfactants produced by A. calcoaceticus BU03 at 25 times their CMC significantly increased the apparent aqueous solubility of phenanthrene (PHE), pyrene (PYR) and benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) to 54.3, 6.33 and 2.08 mg L(-1), respectively. In aqueous system, the biosurfactants at concentrations of 0.5 CMC and 1 CMC slightly enhanced the biodegradation of PHE by a consortium of PAH-degrading microrganisms. Results indicate that biosurfactants from A. calcoaceticus BU03 have potential to enhance the removal of PAHs from contaminated sites.