Constitutive optimized production of streptokinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter of Pichia pastoris

A novel expression vector constructed from genes of Pichia pastoris was applied for heterologous gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant streptokinase (SK) was synthesized by cloning the region encoding mature SK under the control of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter of Pichia pastoris in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SK was intracellularly expressed constitutively, as evidenced by lyticase-nitroanilide and caseinolytic assays. The functional activity was confirmed by plasminogen activation assay and in vitro clot lysis assay. Stability and absence of toxicity to the host with the recombinant expression vector as evidenced by southern analysis and growth profile indicate the application of this expression system for large-scale production of SK. Two-stage statistical approach, Plackett-Burman (PB) design and response surface methodology (RSM) was used for SK production medium optimization. In the first stage, carbon and organic nitrogen sources were qualitatively screened by PB design and in the second stage there was quantitative optimization of four process variables, yeast extract, dextrose, pH, and temperature, by RSM. PB design resulted in dextrose and peptone as best carbon and nitrogen sources for SK production. RSM method, proved as an efficient technique for optimizing process conditions which resulted in 110% increase in SK production, 2352 IU/mL, than for unoptimized conditions.Ravi N. Vellanki, Ravichandra Potumarthi, Kiran K. Doddapaneni, Naveen Anubrolu and Lakshmi N. Mangamoor

Enzyme production from food wastes using a biorefinery concept

According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), one-third of food produced globally for human consumption (nearly 1.3 billion tonnes) is lost along the food supply chain. In many countries food waste is currently landfilled or incinerated together with other combustible municipal wastes for possible recovery of energy. However, these two options are facing more and more economic and environmental stresses. Due to its organic- and nutrient-rich nature, theoretically food waste can be converted to valuable products (e.g. bio-products such as methane, hydrogen, ethanol, enzymes, organic acids, chemicals and fuels) through various fermentation processes. Such conversion of food waste is potentially more profitable than its conversion to animal feed or transportation fuel. Food waste valorisation has therefore gained interest, with value added bio-products such as methane, hydrogen, ethanol, enzymes, organic acids, chemicals, and fuels. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide information on the food waste situation with emphasis on Asia–Pacific countries and the state of the art food waste processing technologies to produce enzymes

Mixing of acid and base pretreated corncobs for improved production of reducing sugars and reduction in water use during neutralization

Abstract not availableRavichandra Potumarthi, Rama Raju Baadhe, Annapurna Jett

Chemometrics-based process analytical technology (PAT) tools: Applications and adaptation in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries

Process analytical technology (PAT) is used to monitor and control critical process parameters in raw materials and in-process products to maintain the critical quality attributes and build quality into the product. Process analytical technology can be successfully implemented in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries not only to impart quality into the products but also to prevent out-of-specifications and improve the productivity. PAT implementation eliminates the drawbacks of traditional methods which involves excessive sampling and facilitates rapid testing through direct sampling without any destruction of sample. However, to successfully adapt PAT tools into pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical environment, thorough understanding of the process is needed along with mathematical and statistical tools to analyze large multidimensional spectral data generated by PAT tools. Chemometrics is a chemical discipline which incorporates both statistical and mathematical methods to obtain and analyze relevant information from PAT spectral tools. Applications of commonly used PAT tools in combination with appropriate chemometric method along with their advantages and working principle are discussed. Finally, systematic application of PAT tools in biopharmaceutical environment to control critical process parameters for achieving product quality is diagrammatically represented.Shruthi Challa, Ravichandra Potumarth

Mass transfer aspects of 3D cell cultures in tissue engineering

Naveen Kumar Mekala, Rama Raju Baadhe, and Ravichandra Potumarth

Influence of dilute acid and alkali pretreatment on reducing sugar production from corncobs by crude enzymatic method: a comparative study

Abstract not availableRama Raju Baadhe, Ravichandra Potumarthi, Naveen Kumar Mekal

Sustainable wineries through waste valorisation: A review of grape marc utilisation for value-added products

Grapes are one of the most cultivated fruits worldwide, with one third of total production used in winemaking. Both red and white winemaking processes result in substantial quantities of solid organic waste, such as grape marc (pomace) and stalks, which requires suitable disposal. Grape marc accounts for approximately 10-30% of the mass of grapes crushed and contains unfermented sugars, alcohol, polyphenols, tannins, pigments, and other valuable products. Being a natural plant product rich in lignocellulosic compounds, grape marc is also a promising feedstock for renewable energy production. However, despite grape marc having such potential, advanced technologies to exploit this have not been widely adopted in wineries and allied industries. This review covers opportunities beyond traditional composting and animal feed, and examines value-added uses via the extraction of useful components from grape marc, as well as thermochemical and biological treatments for energy recovery, fuel or beverage alcohol production, and specialty novel products and applications such as biosurfactants and environmental remediation. New advances in relevant technology for each of these processes are discussed, and future directions proposed at both individual producer and regional facility scales, including advanced processing techniques for integrated ethanol production followed by bioenergy generation from the spent marc.Richard A. Muhlack, Ravichandra Potumarthi, David W. Jeffer

Dairy effluent treatment and lipids production by Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Euglena gracilis: study on open and closed systems

Abstract not availableRajasri Yadavalli, C. S. Rao, Ramgopal S. Rao, and Ravichandra Potumarth