Extremolyte-like applicability of an archaeal exopolymer, poly-gamma-L-glutamate

Cellulosic and hemicellulosic fractions of sugarcane bagasse: Potential, challenges and future perspective

Sugarcane bagasse is a rich source of cellulose (32-45%), hemicellulose (20-32%) and lignin (17-32%), 1.0-9.0% ash and some extractives. Huge amount of the generation of sugarcane bagasse has been a great challenge to industries and environment at global level for many years. Though cellulosic and hemicellulosic fractions in bagasse makes it a potential raw substrate for the production of value-added products at large scale, the presence of lignin hampers its saccharification which further leads to low yields of the value-added products. Therefore, an appropriate pretreatment strategy is of utmost importance that effectively solubilizes the lignin that exposes cellulose and hemicellulose for enzymatic action. Pretreatment also reduces the biomass recalcitrance i.e., cellulose crystallinity, structural complexity of cell wall and lignification for its effective utilization in biorefinery. Sugarcane bagasse served as nutrient medium for the cultivation of diverse microorganisms for the production of industrially important metabolites including enzymes, reducing sugars, prebiotic, organic acids and biofuels. Sugarcane bagasse has been utilized in the generation of electricity, syngas and as biosorbant in the bioremediation of heavy metals. Furthermore, the ash generated from bagasse is an excellent source for the synthesis of high strength and light weight bricks and tiles. Present review describes the utility of sugarcane bagasse as sustainable and renewable lignocellulosic substrate for the production of industrially important multifarious value-added products.

Poly-L-gamma-glutamic acid production by recombinant Bacillus subtilis without pgsA gene

Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) is a promising bio-based polymer that shares many functions with poly (acrylic acid) and its derivatives. Thus, technologies for efficient production and molecular size control of PGA are required to expand the application of this useful biopolymer. In Bacillus strains, PGA is synthesized by the PgsBCA protein complex, which is encoded by the pgsBCA gene operon, otherwise is known as ywsC and ywtAB operons and/or capBCA operon. Hence, we investigated responsible components of the PgsBCA complex in B. subtilis for over-production of PGA. In particular, we constructed genomic pgsBCA gene-deletion mutants of B. subtilis. And also, we assembled high copy-number plasmids harboring σA-dependent promoter, leading to high-level expression of all combinations of pgsBCA, pgsBC, pgsBA, pgsCA, pgsB, pgsC, and/or pgsA genes. Subsequently, PGA production of the transformed B. subtilis mutant was determined in batch fermentation using medium supplemented with l-glutamate. PGA production by the transformants introduced with pgsBC genes (lacking the genomic pgsBCA genes) was 26.0 ± 3.0 g L⁻¹, and the enantiomeric ratio of d- and l-glutamic acid (d/l-ratio) in the produced PGA was 5/95. In contrast, d/l-ratio of produced PGA by the transformants introduced with pgsBCA genes (control strains) was 75/25. In conclusion, B. subtilis without pgsA gene could over-produce PGA with an l-rich enantiomeric ratio.

Inhibition of Steel Corrosion and Alkaline Zinc Oxide Dissolution by Dicarboxylate Bola-Amphiphiles: Self-Assembly Supersedes Host-Guest Conception

For many decorative applications like industrial and architectural paints, prevention of metal substrates from corrosion is a primary function of organic coatings. Triggered release of inhibitor species is generally accepted as a remedy for starting corrosion in case of coatings damage. A polyurethane based coating, doped with bola-amphiphiles of varying molecular weight but with a common head group motif that stems from ring-opened alkenyl succinic anhydride, enables passivation of the defect and mitigates cathodic delamination, if applied on cold rolled steel. An antagonistic effect results from the intercalation of the bola-amphiphiles into layered double hydroxide Zn2Al(OH)6 and subsequent incorporation of the hybrid phase into the organic matrix. In particular higher molecular weight bola-amphiphiles get immobilized through alkaline degradation of the layered framework in the basic milieu at the cathode. By means of sediments from colloidal states it is demonstrated that in-situ formed zinc oxide encapsulates the hybrid phase, evidenced by impeded dissolution of the ZnO based shell into caustic soda. While inhibition of steel corrosion results from a Donnan barrier layer, impeded zinc oxide dissolution is rooted in zinc catalyzed bola-amphiphile hydrolysis and layered deposition of the crystalline spacer diol hydrogenated bisphenol-A.

Cooperative adsorption of critical metal ions using archaeal poly-γ-glutamate

Antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt (Co), gallium (Ga), germanium, indium (In), lithium, niobium, tantalum, the platinoids, the rare-earth elements (including dysprosium, Dy), and tungsten are generally regarded to be critical (rare) metals, and the ions of some of these metals are stabilized in acidic solutions. We examined the adsorption capacities of three water-soluble functional polymers, namely archaeal poly-γ-glutamate (L-PGA), polyacrylate (PAC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), for six valuable metal ions (Co(2+), Ni(2+), Mn(2+), Ga(3+), In(3+), and Dy(3+)). All three polymers showed apparently little or no capacity for divalent cations, whereas L-PGA and PAC showed the potential to adsorb trivalent cations, implying the beneficial valence-dependent selectivity of anionic polyelectrolytes with multiple carboxylates for metal ions. PVA did not adsorb metal ions, indicating that the crucial role played by carboxyl groups in the adsorption of crucial metal ions cannot be replaced by hydroxyl groups under the conditions. In addition, equilibrium studies using the non-ideal competitive adsorption model indicated that the potential for L-PGA to be used for the removal (or collection) of water-soluble critical metal ions (e.g., Ga(3+), In(3+), and Dy(3+)) was far superior to that of any other industrially-versatile PAC materials.

Microbial production and chemical transformation of poly-γ-glutamate

Poly-γ-glutamate (PGA), a novel polyamide material with industrial applications, possesses a nylon-like backbone, is structurally similar to polyacrylic acid, is biodegradable and is safe for human consumption. PGA is frequently found in the mucilage of natto, a Japanese traditional fermented food. To date, three different types of PGA, namely a homo polymer of D-glutamate (D-PGA), a homo polymer of L-glutamate (L-PGA), and a random copolymer consisting of D- and L-glutamate (DL-PGA), are known. This review will detail the occurrence and physiology of PGA. The proposed reaction mechanism of PGA synthesis including its localization and the structure of the involved enzyme, PGA synthetase, are described. The occurrence of multiple carboxyl residues in PGA likely plays a role in its relative unsuitability for the development of bio-nylon plastics and thus, establishment of an efficient PGA-reforming strategy is of great importance. Aside from the potential applications of PGA proposed to date, a new technique for chemical transformation of PGA is also discussed. Finally, some techniques for PGA and its derivatives in advanced material technology are presented.

Pivotal Enzyme in Glutamate Metabolism of Poly-g-Glutamate-Producing Microbes

The extremely halophilic archaeon Natrialba aegyptiaca secretes the L-homo type of poly-g-glutamate (PGA) as an extremolyte. We examined the enzymes involved in glutamate metabolism and verified the presence of L-glutamate dehydrogenases, L-aspartate aminotransferase, and L-glutamate synthase. However, neither glutamate racemase nor D-amino acid aminotransferase activity was detected, suggesting the absence of sources of D-glutamate. In contrast, D-glutamate-rich PGA producers mostly possess such intracellular sources of D-glutamate. The results of our present study indicate that the D-glutamate-anabolic enzyme "glutamate racemase" is pivotal in the biosynthesis of PGA.