Barbara Żarowska

EFFECT OF AGITATION AND AERATION ON THE CITRIC ACID PRODUCTION BY Yarrowia lipolytica GROWN ON GLYCEROL

The effects of agitation rates from 400 to 900 rpm and aeration rates ranging from 0.18 to 0.6 vvm on biomass and citric acid production on glycerol media by acetate-negative mutants of Yarrowia lipolytica, Wratislavia 1.31 and Wratislavia AWG7, in batch culture were studied. The agitation rates of 800 and 900 rpm (at a constant aeration rate of 0.36 vvm) and aeration rates within the range of 0.24–0.48 vvm (at a constant agitation rate of 800 rpm), which generated dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) higher than 40%, were found the best for citric acid biosynthesis from glycerol. An increase in agitation rate (higher than 800 rpm) and aeration rate (higher than 0.36 vvm) had no impact on DO and citric acid production. The highest citric acid concentration (92.8 g/L) and yield (0.63 g/g) were obtained with Wratislavia 1.31 strain at 0.24 vvm. The highest volumetric citric acid production rate (1.15 g/Lh) and specific citric acid production rate (0.071 g/gh) were reached at 0.48 vvm.

Antimicrobial Activity of Xanthohumol and Its Selected Structural Analogues

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of structural analogues of xanthohumol 1, a flavonoid compound found in hops (Humulus lupulus). The agar-diffusion method using filter paper disks was applied. Biological tests performed for selected strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, fungi (Alternaria sp.), and yeasts (Rhodotorula rubra, Candida albicans) revealed that compounds with at least one hydroxyl group—all of them have it at the C-4 position—demonstrated good activity. Our research showed that the strain S. aureus was more sensitive to chalcones than to the isomers in which the heterocyclic ring C is closed (flavanones). The strain R. rubra was moderately sensitive to only one compound: 4-hydroxy-4’-methoxychalcone 8. Loss of the hydroxyl group in the B-ring of 4’-methoxychalcones or its replacement by a halogen atom (−Cl, −Br), nitro group (−NO2), ethoxy group (−OCH2CH3), or aliphatic substituent (−CH3, −CH2CH3) resulted in the loss of antimicrobial activity towards both R. rubra yeast and S. aureus bacteria. Xanthohumol 1, naringenin 5, and chalconaringenin 7 inhibited growth of S. aureus, whereas 4-hydroxy-4′-methoxychalcone 8 was active towards two strains: S. aureus and R. rubra.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel O-Alkyl Derivatives of Naringenin and Their Oximes

O-Alkyl derivatives of naringenin (1a–10a) were prepared from naringenin using the corresponding alkyl iodides and anhydrous potassium carbonate. The resulting products were used to obtain oximes (1b–10b). All compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC10536, Staphylococcus aureus DSM799, Candida albicans DSM1386, Alternaria alternata CBS1526, Fusarium linii KB-F1, and Aspergillus niger DSM1957. The resulting biological activity was expressed as the increase in optical density (ΔOD). The highest inhibitory effect against E. coli ATCC10536 was observed for 7,4′-di-O-pentylnaringenin (8a), 7-O-dodecylnaringenin (9a), naringenin oxime (NG-OX), 7,4′-di-O-pentylnaringenin oxime (8b), and 7-O-dodecylnaringenin oxime (9b) (ΔOD = 0). 7-O-dodecylnaringenin oxime (9b) also inhibited the growth of S. aureus DSM799 (ΔOD = 0.35) and C. albicans DSM1386 (ΔOD = 0.22). The growth of A. alternata CBS1526 was inhibited as a result of the action of 7,4′-di-O-methylnaringenin (2a), 7-O-ethylnaringenin (4a), 7,4′-di-O-ethylnaringenin (5a), 5,7,4′-tri-O-ethylnaringenin (6a), 7,4′-di-O-pentylnaringenin (8a), and 7-O-dodecylnaringenin (9a) (ΔOD in the range of 0.49–0.42) in comparison to that of the control culture (ΔOD = 1.87). In the case of F. linii KB-F1, naringenin (NG), 7,4′-di-O-dodecylnaringenin (10a), 7-O-dodecylnaringenin oxime (9b), and 7,4′-di-O-dodecylnaringenin oxime (10b) showed the strongest effect (ΔOD = 0). 7,4′-Di-O-pentylnaringenin (8a) and naringenin oxime (NG-OX) hindered the growth of A. niger DSM1957 (ΔOD = 0).

Influence of structure of lactones with the methylcyclohexene and dimethylcyclohexene ring on their biotransformation and antimicrobial activity

Abstract The aim of this article is influence of the structure of lactones with the methylcyclohexene and dimethylcyclohexene ring on their biotransformation and antimicrobial activity. This work was based on the general remark that even the smallest change in the structure of a compound can affect its biological properties. The results of the biotransformation of four bicyclic unsaturated lactones with one or two methyl groups in the cyclohexene ring was tested using fifteen fungal strains (Fusarium species, Penicillium species, Absidia species, Cunninghamella japonica, and Pleurotus ostreatus) and five yeast strains (Yarrowia lipolytica, Rhodorula marina, Rhodorula rubra, Candida viswanathii, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). During these transformations, new epoxylactone and hydroxylactone were obtained. The relationship between the substrate structure and the ability of the microorganisms to transform them were analysed. Only compounds with C–O bond of lactone ring in the equatorial position were transformed by fungus. All presented here lactones were examined also for their antimicrobial activity. It turned out that these compounds exhibited growth inhibition of bacteria and fungi, mainly Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium expansum.

Biotransformation of Bicyclic Halolactones with a Methyl Group in the Cyclohexane Ring into Hydroxylactones and Their Biological Activity

The aim of this study was the chemical synthesis of a series of halo- and unsaturated lactones, as well as their microbial transformation products. Finally some of their biological activities were assessed. Three bicyclic halolactones with a methyl group in the cyclohexane ring were obtained from the corresponding γ,δ-unsaturated ester during a two-step synthesis. These lactones were subjected to screening biotransformation using twenty two fungal strains. These strains were tested on their ability to transform halolactones into new hydroxylactones. Among the six strains able to catalyze hydrolytic dehalogenation, only two (Fusarium equiseti, AM22 and Yarrowia lipolytica, AM71) gave a product in a high yield. Moreover, one strain (Penicillium wermiculatum, AM30) introduced the hydroxy group on the cyclohexane ring without removing the halogen atom. The biological activity of five of the obtained lactones was tested. Some of these compounds exhibited growth inhibition against bacteria, yeasts and fungi and deterrent activity against peach-potato aphid.

Microbial transformations of 4′-methylchalcones as an efficient method of obtaining novel alcohol and dihydrochalcone derivatives with antimicrobial activity

Biotransformations are an alternative method of receiving dihydrochalcones as a result of the reduction of α,β-unsaturated ketones – chalcones. In presented research, two strains of bacteria – Gordonia sp. DSM44456 and Rhodococcus sp. DSM364 – were selected as effective biocatalysts that are able to transform chalcones in a short period of time. As a result of our investigation 3 new dihydrochalcones and one novel alcohol were obtained with high isolated yields. All 4′-methylchalcone derivatives and biotransformations products were tested for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC10536, Staphylococcus aureus DSM799, Candida albicans DSM1386, Alternaria alternata CBS1526, Fusarium linii KB-F1, and Aspergillus niger DSM1957. The best inhibitory effect was observed for all chalcones against E. coli ATCC10536 – compounds 1–6 and 8 prevented thorough growth of this strain (ΔOD = 0). Moreover, dihydrochalcones showed about 2–3 times stronger inhibitory effect against S. aureus DSM799 in comparison to their chalcones. Excluding the E. coli ATCC10536 strain, 3-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-ol (8b) had weaker biological activity than 4-carboxy-4′-methyl-α,β-dihydrochalcone (8a).

MOESM6 of New keratinolytic bacteria in valorization of chicken feather waste

Additional file 6: Table S5. Concentration of dominant amino acids in feather hydrolysates prior to and after treatments.

Biotransformation of α-Acetylbutyrolactone in Rhodotorula Strains

Due to its structural similarity, the α’-1′-hydroxyethyl-γ-butyrolactone obtained by reduction of (±)-α-acetyl-γ-butyrolactone may have a similar function in the body to γ-butyrolactone (GBL). In the work presented, biotransformation of α-acetyl-γ-butyrolactone by three Rhodotorula strains was performed obtaining enantiomerically enriched alcohol. The process was carried out in growing and resting cultures. We studied how both media composition and organic solvent volume affected stereoselectivity and effectiveness of biotransformation. After 2 h, the enantiomerically pure (3R, 1′S)-α’-1′-hydroxyethyl-γ-butyrolactone was obtained using the R. marina AM77 strain in YPG (Yeast extract-Peptone-Glucose) medium enriched with 5% glycerol. To our best knowledge there is no previous information in the literature about the (±)-α-acetyl-γ-butyrolactone biotransformation performed in medium with addition of organic and deep eutectic solvents.