Purification and Properties of a Highly Thermostable, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Resistant and Stereospecific Proteinase from the Extremely Thermophilic Archaeon Thermococcus stetteri

The cultivation of the extremely thermophilic archaeon Thermococcus stetteri in a dialysis membrane reactor was paralleled by the production of an extremely heat-stable proteinase(s). By applying preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an SDS-resistant proteinase was purified 67-fold in one step with a yield of 34%. The purified enzyme, which was composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 68 kDa, showed a broad temperature and pH profile (50 to 100(deg)C; pH 5 to 11). The optimal activity with substantial thermal stability was measured with casein at 85(deg)C and pH 8.5 to 9. Inhibition by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and diisopropylfluorophosphate demonstrated that the enzyme was a serine proteinase. The enzyme displayed a relatively narrow substrate specificity, catalyzing the hydrolysis only of N-protected p-nitroanilides or p-nitrophenyl esters of basic (Arg or Lys) or hydrophobic (Phe or Tyr) l-amino acids. l-Phenylglycine amide was also attacked by the proteinase, but with a lower specificity constant. Within the detection limit, no hydrolysis of d-amino acid derivatives was observed. The catalytic efficiency of the enzyme at 80(deg)C (k(infcat)/K(infm) for benzoyl-Arg-p-nitroanilide, 10(sup4)) is the same order of magnitude when compared with that of functionally similar mesophilic enzymes. The proteinase also acts as a transferase, catalyzing the acyl transfer from protected amino acid ester or amide to amino acid amide. The observed thermostability, SDS resistance, relatively narrow substrate specificity, high stereospecificity, and limited catalytic efficiency probably reflect the tighter packing of the thermostable protein molecule and its limited flexibility. This was supported by fluorescence spectra of the enzyme, mainly due to tryptophan residues, in the temperature range of 30 to 90(deg)C. Structural reorganization was observed at temperatures over 100(deg)C. The results obtained could be of relevance for the better understanding of the structure-function relationship of enzymes from extreme thermophiles and suggest possible biotechnological application of the proteinase for resolution of racemic mixtures.

Protective effect of hop ?-acids on microbial degradation of thick juice during storage

AIMS

This study assessed the value of a commercial alkaline solution of hop beta-acids (HBA) for prevention of microbial degradation of thick juice, a concentrated intermediate product in the production of beet sugar.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The antimicrobial effect of different concentrations of HBA against microbial degradation of thick juice was tested in a pilot-scale storage experiment. Chemical, biochemical and microbial parameters were monitored during thick juice storage. Thick juice degradation, indicated as a decrease in pH, was generally accompanied by an increase in the count of fastidious bacteria (FB) on Columbia Agar with Sheep Blood (CAwSB), which were mainly identified as Tetragenococcus halophilus. Addition of HBA delayed juice acidification and the development of FB in a concentration-dependent manner. The susceptibility of FB to HBA was determined by plating degraded thick juice (FB > 10(5) CFU ml(-1) on CAwSB plates with different concentrations of HBA (0-160 ppm). None of the HBA concentrations tested reduced the number of FB colonies formed, but increasing HBA concentrations extended the lag time of colony formation.

CONCLUSIONS

HBA produce no measurable bactericidal effect, but retard the development of FB in thick juice. Moreover, HBA do not prevent the thick juice from deteriorating, but significantly delay its degradation.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These results indicate that adding a commercially available HBA formulation can prolong the storage life of thick juice in the sugar industry, although degradation cannot be eliminated. Future research will focus on the detailed characterization of FB consistently isolated from degraded thick juice and on determining their role in thick juice degradation.

Effect of isomalt consumption on faecal microflora and colonic metabolism in healthy volunteers

Due to its low digestibility in the small intestine, a major fraction of the polyol isomalt reaches the colon. However, little is known about effects on the intestinal microflora. During two 4-week periods in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, nineteen healthy volunteers consumed a controlled basal diet enriched with either 30 g isomalt or 30 g sucrose daily. Stools were collected at the end of each test phase and various microbiological and luminal markers were analysed. Fermentation characteristics of isomalt were also investigated in vitro. Microbiological analyses of faecal samples indicated a shift of the gut flora towards an increase of bifidobacteria following consumption of the isomalt diet compared with the sucrose diet (P<0.05). During the isomalt phase, the activity of bacterial beta-glucosidase decreased (P<0.05) whereas beta-glucuronidase, sulfatase, nitroreductase and urease remained unchanged. Faecal polyamines were not different between test periods with the exception of cadaverine, which showed a trend towards a lower concentration following isomalt (P=0.055). Faecal SCFA, lactate, bile acids, neutral sterols, N, NH3, phenol and p-cresol were not affected by isomalt consumption. In vitro, isomalt was metabolized in several bifidobacteria strains and yielded high butyrate concentrations. Isomalt, which is used widely as a low-glycaemic and low-energy sweetener, has to be considered a prebiotic carbohydrate that might contribute to a healthy luminal environment of the colonic mucosa.

Immobilization of anaerobic thermophilic bacteria for the production of cell-free thermostable ?-amylases and pullulanases

For the production of cell-free thermostable alpha-amylases and pullulanases various anaerobic thermophilic bacteria that belong to the genera Clostridium and Thermoanaerobacter were immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads. The entrapment of bacteria was performed in full as well as in hollow spheres. An optimal limited medium, which avoided bacterial outgrowth, was developed for the cultivation of immobilized organisms at 60 degrees C using 0.4% starch as substrate. Compared to non-immobilized cells these techniques allowed a significant increase (up to 5.6-fold) in the specific activities of the extracellular enzymes formed. An increase in the productivity of extracellular enzymes was observed after immobilization of bacteria in full spheres. In the case of C. thermosaccharolyticum, for instance, the productivity was raised from 90 units (U)/10(12) cells up to 700 U/10(12) cells. Electrophoretic analysis of the secreted proteins showed that in all cases most of the amylolytic enzymes formed were released into the culture medium. Proteins that had a molecular mass of less than 450,000 daltons could easily diffuse through the gel matrix. Cultivation of immobilized bacteria in semi-continuous and fed-batch cultures was also accompanied by an elevation in the concentration of cell-free enzymes.

Production of novel pullulanases at high concentrations by two newly isolated thermophilic clostridia

Two thermophilic bacteria, which are capable of growing on starch at 60-70 degrees C under anaerobic conditions, were isolated from a sugar refinery in Uelzen and from Solar lake in Israel. On the basis of their physiological characteristics they were identified as Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum Uel 1 and C. thermohydrosulfuricum Sol 1, respectively. The product pattern of glucose polymer hydrolysis showed that both strains secreted enzymes that possess amylolytic and pullulytic activities. The major product formed was maltose. In addition, alpha-glucosidase activity could be detected in the supernatants of Uel 1 strain. Compared to most anaerobes investigated these isolates secreted extremely high concentrations of pullulanases in batch culture. Up to 85% of the total enzyme synthesized was detected in the culture fluid. Unlike the pullulanases of type I, which can only attack the alpha-1,6-glycosidic linkages, the pullulanases of both clostridial strains were also capable of hydrolyzing alpha-1,4-linkages. The enzyme system of both bacteria was found to be highly thermoactive; optimal activity was detected at pH 5.0 and 85 degrees C. Even at 95 degrees C and without the addition of metal ions still 15% to 25% of enzymatic activity was detectable.