O. Volfová

Studies on methanol-oxidizing yeast

The yeast strain 11Bh was studied from the aspect of qualitative and qunatitative composition of lipids formed in cells during growth on methanol, synthetic ethanol and glucose. The strain was found to form some 3% free fatty acids toward the end of the growth phase. More esterified fatty acids are formed on ethanol and glucose (2.75 and 2.86%, respectively) than on methanol (1.6%). The composition of lipids and representation of the various fatty acids in the lipids is similar on all three substrates. The cell lipids contain over 40 rel.% oleic and about 16 rel.% each of palmitoleic, palmitio and linolenic acid. Odd-numbered fatty acids are present after growth on any of the three substrates, amounting to at most 4 rel.%. Of the extracellular fatty acids formed toward the end of growth of cells on methanol, propionic and acetic acid occurred in largest amounts in the medium.

The effect of pH on the production of cellulases in Aspergillus terreus

SummaryThe optimal pH for the production of extracellular cellulolytic enzymes in the wild strain of Aspergillus terreus was shown to be pH 5.0. After 160 h of cultivation, carboxymethyl cellulase reached 9.0 IU/ml, filterpaper, cellulase 0.5 IU/ml and β-glucosidase 0.9 IU/ml. The rate of synthesis of CM- and FP-cellulases decreased after 90 h of cultivation but β-glucosidase was produced linearly for 160 h. Some of the enzymes produced were released into the medium during the fungal growth while others remained bound. The binding of enzymes to cells and residual crystalline cellulose was strongly affected by the pH of the medium. FP-cellulase and particularly β-glucosidase were bound more effectively, at lower pHs. Cold shock treatment of the cell suspension increased the activities of FP- and CM-cellulases but β-glucosidase activity was not affected.

Optimization of culture medium composition for cellulolytic bacteria by mathematical methods

The culture medium composition for cellulolytic bacteria growing on sugar cane wastes was optimized. A modified method of Rosenbrock was employed for shaker culture medium and a factorial plan design for fermentor culture medium optimization. A much more economical and productive medium was obtained for the production of single cell protein (SCP). A biomass concentration of 4.3 g/L was obtained in the optimized medium in batch fermentation, in comparison with 2.8 g/L previously obtained in the traditional medium under similar conditions.

Characterization of catalase-negative mutants of methylotrophic yeastHansenula polymorpha

Three recently isolated catalase-negative mutants ofHansenula polymorpha lost the ability to grow on methanol but grew in media containing glucose, ethanol or glycerol. Their incubation in a medium with methanol resulted in an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and cell death. During growth of a catalase-negative mutant in chemostat on a mixture of methanol and glucose, neither H2O2 accumulation nor cell death were observed up to the molar ratio of 10:1 of the two substrates. Cytochrome-c peroxidase and NADH-peroxidase activities were detected in the cells. In methylotrophic yeasts, catalase seems to be an enzyme characteristic of the metabolism of methanol but not needed for the metabolism of multicarbon substrates. The hydrogen peroxide produced during growth of the mutants on mixed substrates is detoxified by cytochrome-c peroxidase and other peroxidases.

Cultivation of the yeast Candida lipolytica on hydrocarbon. 3. Oxidation and utilization of individual pure hydrocarbons.

The ability of the yeastCandida lipolytica 4-1 to oxidize and utilize various pure aliphatic hydrocarbons occurring in gas oil was studied. It was found that the given strain ofCandida lipolytica oxidized n-alkanes without adaptation, starting with heptane, and utilized them for growth, starting with nonane. Isoalkanes with a single methyl group in the side chain were also oxidized and utilized for growth, but less than the corresponding n-alkanes. The site of the methyl group in the isoalkane chain influences its conversion to biomass. Branched chains at both ends of the isoalkane molecule prevent its utilization for growth ofCandida lipolytica. 1-olefines are also oxidized and utilized for growth, though less than the corresponding n-paraffins. Alkylaromatic hydrocarbons are oxidized from amylbenzene up to decylbenzene, which is utilized only slightly for growth of the yeast.The ability of the yeastCandida lipolytica 4-1 to oxidize and utilize various pure aliphatic hydrocarbons occurring in gas oil was studied. It was found that the given strain ofCandida lipolytica oxidized n-alkanes without adaptation, starting with heptane, and utilized them for growth, starting with nonane. Isoalkanes with a single methyl group in the side chain were also oxidized and utilized for growth, but less than the corresponding n-alkanes. The site of the methyl group in the isoalkane chain influences its conversion to biomass. Branched chains at both ends of the isoalkane molecule prevent its utilization for growth ofCandida lipolytica. 1-olefines are also oxidized and utilized for growth, though less than the corresponding n-paraffins. Alkylaromatic hydrocarbons are oxidized from amylbenzene up to decylbenzene, which is utilized only slightly for growth of the yeast.

Alcohol oxidase of methylotrophic thermo-and acidotolerant yeastHansenula sp

Electrophoretic analysis of alcohol oxidase purified from the methylotrophic thermo- and acidotolerant yeastHansenula sp. revealed the presence of two active forms of the enzyme with molar mass 440 kg/mol (major component) and 724 kg/mol (minor component). A subunitM of the enzyme was found to be 72 kg/mol. Two active forms of the enzyme found by electrophoresis seem to be caused by dissociation of the octameric form to the tetramer under alkaline conditions. Studies of alcohol oxidase showed a kinetic variability of the enzyme with respect to itsKm. It is proposed that the variability ofKm is caused by enzyme binding to formaldehyde.

Cell growth and cellulase production inTrichoderma viride on microcrystalline cellulose

The production of CM and FP cellulases was studied during the growth of a wild strain ofTrichoderma viride on microcrystalline cellulose. Part of the enzymes was found to be released into the medium while another part remained bound to the cell. Bound cellulases are released into the medium at the stage of cell lysis which takes place in the post-stationary phase. In this period extracellular CM and FP cellulases attain maximum activities. When the hyphae are subjected to a cold shock, maximum cellulase activity is detected already at the beginning of the stationary phase. An indirect method of dry cell mass determination showed that during exponential growth of cells on microcrystalline cellulose the μmax was 0.23 and the yield coefficient was 41 %.

Cultivation of Candida lipolytica 4-1 on hydrocarbons. IV. Fatty acids formed during batch cultivation on model gas oils.

The length of the carbon chain of the hydrocarbon substrate affects markedly the fatty acid composition in the cell lipids of the yeastCandida lipolytica 4-1. During cell growth onn-hexadecane dissolved in deparaffinated gas oil, direct incorporation of palmitic acid into lipids takes place. During growth onn-dodecane, on the other hand, an immediate synthesis and incorporation into oleic acid is observed. The cells contain only little lauric acid (maximum 11%). During fermentation of then-alkanes dissolved in deparaffinated gas oil which contains a mixture of isoalkanes, alkylated aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons, free fatty acids accumulate in the oil phase. The fatty acid composition in the oil differs markedly according to the growth stage of cells. At the beginning of the logarithmic phase of growth, the fatty acid composition in the oil phase reflects the acid composition in the cell lipids, toward the end of cell growth, the cooxidation products of the isoalkanes accumulate. The aqueous phase contains lower fatty acids and cooxidation products of isoalkanes and of alkylated aromatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons.The length of the carbon chain of the hydrocarbon substrate affects markedly the fatty acid composition in the cell lipids of the yeastCandida lipolytica 4-1. During cell growth onn-hexadecane dissolved in deparaffinated gas oil, direct incorporation of palmitic acid into lipids takes place. During growth onn-dodecane, on the other hand, an immediate synthesis and incorporation into oleic acid is observed. The cells contain only little lauric acid (maximum 11%). During fermentation of then-alkanes dissolved in deparaffinated gas oil which contains a mixture of isoalkanes, alkylated aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons, free fatty acids accumulate in the oil phase. The fatty acid composition in the oil differs markedly according to the growth stage of cells. At the beginning of the logarithmic phase of growth, the fatty acid composition in the oil phase reflects the acid composition in the cell lipids, toward the end of cell growth, the cooxidation products of the isoalkanes accumulate. The aqueous phase contains lower fatty acids and cooxidation products of isoalkanes and of alkylated aromatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons.

PHYSIOLOGY OF GROWTH OF A MIXED CULTURE OF THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA ON CELLULOSE UNDER MICROAEROPHILIC CONDITIONS.

SummaryA mixed wild culture of thermophilic bacteria degraded 86% of 2% cellulose in 96 h with production of liquid (ethanol, acetic and propionic acids, and ethylesters of these acids) and gaseous products (hydrogen and carbon dioxide).

Alcohol oxidase in candida boioinii on methanol-xylose mixtures

SummaryThe level of alcohol oxidase activity in the cells of acidotolerant yeast Candida boidinii 2 on methanol-xylose mixtures is the same as in methanol grown cells, the cells on the mixtures do not exhibited diauxic growth, both substrates are consumed simultaneously and overallgrowth yield is additive.