Ellen C. Giese

A new role for veratryl alcohol: Regulation of synthesis of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in the ligninolytic ascomyceteous fungus, Botryosphaeria sp.; influence of carbon source

A new physiological role for veratryl alcohol in fungi important in the biodegradation of the lignified plant cell wall is presented. Botryosphaeria sp., grown on starch, pectin, cellulose or xylan produced amylase, pectinase, cellulase, xylanase and laccase, whereas glucose and xylose repressed the synthesis of cellulase and xylanase, but not laccase. When cultured on each of these substrates in the presence of veratryl alcohol, laccase activity increased but the activities of amylase, pectinase, cellulase and xylanase significantly decreased. Basal medium containing softwood kraft lignin in the presence of veratryl alcohol induced laccases above constitutive levels. Ethyl alcohol also stimulated laccase production.

Caracterização química de glucanas fúngicas e suas aplicações biotecnológicas

This article gives an overview of exopolysaccharides produced by fungi. The structural characterization of b-D-(1®3) and b-D-(1®3, 1®6)- glucans is discussed focusing on different chemical and physical procedures. The industrial applications are also considered mainly from the point of view of human health.

Pretreatment of Sugarcane Bagasse and Leaves: Unlocking the Treasury of “Green Currency”

Sugarcane residues (bagasse and leaves/trash) are the principal feedstock in Asia, South America, Africa, and other parts of the world. The judicious application of this feedstock into value-added products such as fuel ethanol, xylitol, organic acids, industrial enzymes, etc. may provide a strong economic platform along with clean and safe environment. Pretreatment is an inevitable process to harness the carbohydrate fraction of sugarcane bagasse and leaves into readily available sugars by cellulase-mediated process for the production of house-hold commodities. Several methods (physical, physico-chemical, chemical, and biological) have been adopted for the pretreatment of sugarcane residues. Pretreatment methods with pros and cons are employed either to depolymerize hemicellulosic fraction or lignin degradation to make cellulose more amenable for improved cellulolytic enzymes action. The choice of pretreatment methods depends upon its precise mechanistic action on lignin or hemicelluloses with fewer inhibitory products, minimal sugar loss by increasing the cellulosic surface area for subsequent enzymatic action to obtain desired sugars recovery. Furthermore, economics and environmental impacts are two important considerations for the selection of pretreatment method. This chapter aims to explore a better understanding of multiple pretreatment methodologies applied to the sugarcane residues along with economics and environmental impacts.

Effect of Metal Ions, Chemical Agents and Organic Compounds on Lignocellulolytic Enzymes Activities

Lignocellulolytic enzymes have been extensively studied due to their potential for industrial applications such as food, textile, pharmaceutical, paper, and, more recently, energy. The influence of metal ions, chemical agents, and organic compounds on these enzyme activities are addressed in this chapter, based on data available in the scientific literature.

Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications of Magnetic Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles

In the past few years, due to the rapid development of the advances in the pharmaceutical and biomedical field, the magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles have received considerable attention for their attractive properties. Magnetic nanoparticles are perfect candidates for use in diagnosis and disease treatment because they have properties as superparamagnetic behavior, a high superficial area that allows functionalizing, biocompatibility, nanometric size (10–100 nm), low toxicity, possibility of in vivo manipulation by a low external magnetic field, and placement in a specific place. The key point of magnetic iron-oxide nanomaterials is to develop effective synthesis techniques that allow particles to have with a uniform size, high magnetic saturation, and stability, preventing aggregation and oxidation with air since these result in the loss of its magnetic properties. This chapter presents a review of various strategies to synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and their use in pharmaceutical and biomedical field.