Production of L-asparaginase by filamentous fungi

L-asparaginase production was investigated in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus terreus. The fungi were cultivated in medium containing different nitrogen sources. A. terreus showed the highest L-asparaginase (activity) production level (58 U/L) when cultivated in a 2% proline medium. Both fungi presented the lowest level of L-asparaginase production in the presence of glutamine and urea as nitrogen sources. These results suggest that L-asparaginase production by of filamentous fungi is under nitrogen regulation.

Production of L-asparaginase by filamentous fungi

ABSTRACT: L-asparaginase production was investigated in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus terreus. The fungi were cultivated in medium containing different nitrogen sources. A. terreus showed the highest L-asparaginase (activity) production level (58 U/L) when cultivated in a 2% proline medium. Both fungi presented the lowest level of L-asparaginase production in the presence of glutamine and urea as nitrogen sources. These results suggest that L-asparaginase production by of filamentous fungi is under nitrogen regulation.

Efficacy of L-asparaginase with methotrexate and dexamethasone (AspaMetDex regimen) in patients with refractory or relapsing extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, a phase 2 study.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a rare and highly aggressive disease with a grim prognosis. No therapeutic strategy is currently identified in relapsing patients. We report the results of a French prospective phase II trial of an L-asparaginase-containing regimen in 19 patients with relapsed or refractory disease treated in 13 centers. Eleven patients were in relapse and 8 patients were refractory to their first line of treatment. L-Asparaginase-based treatment yielded objective responses in 14 of the 18 evaluable patients after 3 cycles. Eleven patients entered complete remission (61%), and only 4 of them relapsed. The median overall survival time was 1 year, with a median response duration of 12 months. The main adverse events were hepatitis, cytopenia, and allergy. The absence of antiasparaginase antibodies and the disappearance of Epstein-Barr virus serum DNA were significantly associated with a better outcome. These data confirm the excellent activity of L-asparaginase-containing regimens in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. L-Asparaginase-based treatment should thus be considered for salvage therapy, especially in patients with disseminated disease. First-line L-asparaginase combination therapy for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma warrants evaluation in prospective trials. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00283985.

Continuous production of L-glutaminase by an immobilized marine Pseudomonas sp BTMS-51 in a packed bed reactor

A marine Pseudomonas sp BTMS-51, immobilized by Ca-alginate gel entrapment was used for the production of extracellular Lglutaminase under repeated batch process and continuous process employing a packed bed reactor (PBR). Immobilized cells could produce an average of 25 U/ml of enzyme over 20 cycles of repeated batch operation and did not show any decline in production upon reuse. The enzyme yield correlated well with the biomass content in the beads. Continuous production of the enzyme in PBR was studied at different substrate concentrations and dilution rates. In general, the volumetric productivity increased with increased dilution rate and substrate concentrations and the substrate conversion efficiency declined. The PBR operated under conditions giving maximal substrate conversion efficiency gave an average yield of 21.07 U/ml and an average productivity of 13.49 U/ml/h. The system could be operated for 120 h without any decline in productivity

Extracellular production of L-glutaminase by alkalophilic Beauveria bassiana BTMF S10 isolated from marine sediment

Beauveria sp. BTMF S10 isolated from marine sediment produced extracellular L-glutaminase. Maximal L- glutaminase yield (46.9 U/ml) was obtained in a medium supplemented with 1% (w/v) yeast extract and sorbitol, 9% (w/v) sodium chloride and 0.2% (w/v) methionine, initial pH 9.0 and at 27 °C after 108 h. This enzyme was inducible and growth-associated.

Continuous Production of Extracellular L-Glutaminase by Ca-Alginate-Immobilized Marine Beauveria bassiana BTMF S-10 in Packed-Bed Reactor

L-Glutamine amidohydrolase (L-glutaminase, EC 3.5.1.2) is a therapeutically and industrially important enzyme. Because it is a potent antileukemic agent and a flavor-enhancing agent used in the food industry, many researchers have focused their attention on L-glutaminase. In this article, we report the continuous production of extracellular L-glutaminase by the marine fungus Beauveria bassiana BTMF S-10 in a packed-bed reactor. Parameters influencing bead production and performance under batch mode were optimized in the order-support (Na-alginate) concentration, concentration of CaCl2 for bead preparation, curing time of beads, spore inoculum concentration, activation time, initial pH of enzyme production medium, temperature of incubation, and retention time. Parameters optimized under batch mode for L-glutaminase production were incorporated into the continuous production studies. Beads with 12 × 108 spores/g of beads were activated in a solution of 1% glutamine in seawater for 15 h, and the activated beads were packed into a packed-bed reactor. Enzyme production medium (pH 9.0) was pumped through the bed, and the effluent was collected from the top of the column. The effect of flow rate of the medium, substrate concentration, aeration, and bed height on continuous production of L-glutaminase was studied. Production was monitored for 5 h in each case, and the volumetric productivity was calculated. Under the optimized conditions for continuous production, the reactor gave a volumetric productivity of 4.048 U/(mL·h), which indicates that continuous production of the enzyme by Ca-alginate-immobilizedspores is well suited for B. bassiana and results in a higher yield of enzyme within a shorter time. The results indicate the scope of utilizing immobilized B. bassiana for continuous commercial production of L-glutaminase

Improvement of L(+)-lactic acid production from cassava wastewater by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Production of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) dry matter under anticipated fertilization of soybeans

Due to the lack of information about the effects of soybean fertilization anticipation and the use of Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaerm. (ANSB Pe-de-galinha 5352) as cover culture, and the need for new techniques for the management of the agro-ecosystem in a more conservationist, sustainable and functional manner the goal of this research was to study the effects of anticipated fertilization on the production of dry matter in E. coracana. The experiments were carried out in an Oxisol, during the growing seasons of 200112002, 200212003 and 200312004, in Piracicaba, SP Brazil (22`50`25""S and 48`01`65""W). The experimental design was of totally randomized blocks and twelve treatments (lev- els of anticipated fertilization) were used with three repetitions. The base fertilization of soybean culture was partially anticipated, in the sowing for the finger-millet crop. Approximately 70 days after sowing, samples of the finger millet plants were collected in order to evaluate the dry matter production and to desiccate them thereafter It is concluded that the anticipation of phosphorus and potassium fertilization of soybean increases the dry matter production of E. coracana; in addition, E. coracana holds a great potential for the production of plant residues and it can be used in culture rotation or in no-tillage production systems.

Production of secondary metabolites in cell suspension cultures of Ocimum sanctum L.

Dissertação de mestrado em Plant Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioentrepreneurship

A comparative study on production of five soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) cultivars

Under greenhouse conditions cultivars Davis, IAC 73-228, PI 227.687, PI 171.451, and PI 229.358 of soybean were compared. PI 171.451 showed lower dry weight of stem in relation to Davis. Higher pod numbers produced by PI 227-687, IAC 73-228, and PI 229. 358 as compared to Davis were observed. Cultivars PI 227.687 and IAC 73-228 produced larger seed numbers. A larger weight of 100 seeds in Davis, PI 229.358, and PI 171. 45I cultivars was observed. The last two cultivars are sources of resistance against pests of soybean.

Empirical models for predicting the production of wild mushrooms in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in the Central Pyrenees

Mushroom picking has become a widespread autumn recreational activity in the Central Pyrenees and other regions of Spain. Predictive models that relate mushroom production or fungal species richness with forest stand and site characteristics are not available. This study used mushroom production data from 24 Scots pine plots over 3 years to develop a predictive model that could facilitate forest management decisions when comparing silvicultural options in terms of mushroom production. Mixed modelling was used to model the dependence of mushroom production on stand and site factors. The results showed that productions were greatest when stand basal area was approximately 20 m2 ha-1. Increasing elevation and northern aspect increased total mushroom production as well as the production of edible and marketed mushrooms. Increasing slope decreased productions. Marketed Lactarius spp., the most important group collected in the region, showed similar relationships. The annual variation in mushroom production correlated with autumn rainfall. Mushroom species richness was highest when the total production was highest.