Ghislain Baré

Purification and characterization of a microbial dehydrogenase - A vanillin : NAD(P)(+) oxidoreductase

Pseudomonas fluorescens (strain BTP9) was found to have at least two NAD(P)-dependent vanillin dehydrogenases: one is induced by vanillin, and the other is constitutive. The constitutive enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel-filtration, and Q-Sepharose chromatography. The subunit Mr value was 55,000, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native Mr value estimated by gelfiltration chromatography gave a value of 210,000. The enzyme made use of NAD+ less effectively than NADP+. Benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, hexanal, and acetaldehyde were not oxidized at detectable rates in the presence of NAD+ or NADP+. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum indicated that there is no cofactor or prosthetic group bound. The vanillin oxidation reaction was essentially irreversible. The pH optimum was 9.5 and the pI of the enzyme was 4.9. Enzyme activity was not affected when assayed in the presence of salts, except FeCl2. The enzyme was inhibited by the thiol-blocking reagents 4-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide. NAD+ and NADP+ protected the enzyme against such a type of inhibition along with vanillin to a lesser extent. The enzyme exhibited esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate and was activated by low concentrations of NAD+ or NADP+. We compared the properties of the enzyme with those of some well-characterized microbial benzaldehyde dehydrogenases.

Effect of Temperature on Growth of Psychrophilic and Psychrotrophic Members of Rhodotorula aurantiaca

The thermodependence of growth kinetic parameters was investigated for the Antarctic psychrophilic strain Rhodotorula aurantiaca and a psychrotrophic strain of the same species isolated in Belgium (Ardennes area). Cell production, maximum growth rate (μmax), and half-saturation constant for glucose uptake (Ks) of both yeasts were temperature dependent. For the two yeasts, a maximum cell production was observed at about 0°C, and cell production decreased when temperature increased. The μmax values for both strains increased with temperature up to a maximum of 10°C for the psychrophilic strain and 17°C for the psychrotrophic strain. For both yeasts, Ks for glucose was relatively constant at low temperatures. It increased at temperatures above 10°C for the psychrophilic strain and 17°C for the psychrotrophic strain. Although its glucose affinity was lower, the psychrotrophic strain grew more rapidly than the psychrophilicone. The difference in growth rate and substrate affinity was related to the origin of the strain and the adaptation strategy of R. aurantiaca to environmental conditions.

Bioconversion of vanillin into vanillic acid by Pseudomonas fluorescens strain BTP9

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain BTP9 is used as biocatalyst to produce vanillic acid from vanillin. Several two-phase reactors were investigated and compared to the corresponding one-phase systems in order to optimize this bioconversion.A water-dodecanol system was set up. High cell density and entrapment of the cells in alginate beads are two characteristics of this reactor. With this kind of reactor, vanillic acid productivity was increased (3.4 g/L/d) compared to the one-phase reactor, with a conversion rate near 80%. Vanillic acid yield and productivity strongly depended on pH, stirring rate, cell immobilization, and substrate concentration.

Modification of the thermoresistance to spray-drying of a cold-adapted subtilisin by genetic engineering

The thermoresistance of a cold-adapted subtilisin dried by spray-drying was studied. Proteolytic activity of this enzyme was measured before and after spray-drying. Without chemical additives, spray-drying yields ranged from 2-13%. The use of arabic gum and lactose in the composition of the enzyme solutions allowed the strengthening of the enzyme structures and increased water mobility in the product. Increase of water mobility led to a shorter residence time of the product in the spray-drier and a net yield increase was obtained (yield higher than 50%). The effect of two selective mutations on the thermoresistance to spray-drying of the cold-adapted subtilisin was also investigated. Mutation T85D (introduction of an additional link with an ion Ca2+ necessary for enzyme activity, by substitution of Asp for Thr 85) had no effect on the thermoresistance of the subtilisin to spray-drying. Mutation H121W (introduction of an additional aromatic link by substitution of Trp for His 121) reduced the drying yield from 66% (not modified subtilisin) to 52%. This higher thermosensitivity could be explained by an increase of the hygroscopic character of the modified subtilisin (mutation H121W).

Purification and characterization of a microbial dehydrogenase

Pseudomonas fluorescens (strain BTP9) was found to have at least two NAD(P)-dependent vanillin dehydrogenases: one is induced by vanillin, and the other is constitutive. The constitutive enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel-filtration, and Q-Sepharose chromatography. The subunit Mr value was 55,000, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis. The native M r value estimated by gelfiltration chromatography gave a value of 210,000. The enzyme made use of NAD+ less effectively than NADP+. Benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, hexanal, and acetaldehyde were not oxidized at detectable rates in the presence of NAD+ or NADP+. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum indicated that there is no cofactor or prosthetic group bound. The vanillin oxidation reaction was essentially irreversible. The pH optimum was 9.5 and the pI of the enzyme was 4.9. Enzyme activity was not affected when assayed in the presence of salts, except FeCl2. The enzyme was inhibited by the thiol-blocking reagents 4-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide. NAD+ and NADP+ protected the enzyme against such a type of inhibition along with vanillin to a lesser extent. The enzyme exhibited esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate and was activated by low concentrations of NAD+ or NADP+. We compared the properties of the enzyme with those of some well-characterized microbial benzaldehyde dehydrogenases.