Optimization, Purification and Characterization of Polygalacturonase from Mango Peel Waste Produced by Aspergillus foetidus

Kora je manga, preostala nakon industrijske prerade pulpe voća, bogata pektinom, pa je upotrijebljena kao podloga za proizvodnju novog enzima, poligalakturonaze. Metodom odzivnih površina optimirano je pet ključnih čimbenika pri submerznom uzgoju plijesni Aspergillus foetidus, i to: omjeri KH2PO4, peptona, MgSO4 i uree, te pH-vrijednost. Provedeno je ukupno 50 eksperimenata, a dobiveni su podaci bili u skladu s predviđenim optimalnim vrijednostima. Rezultati potvrđuju da se iz kore manga može uspješno proizvesti poligalakturonaza, i to najviše 36,5 U/mL pri optimalnim omjerima (mase po volumenu): KH2PO4 22 %, pepton 0,5 %, MgSO4 0,02 %, urea 0,2 %, te pH-vrijednosti od 5,8. Poligalakturonaza je djelomično pročišćena 3,4 puta i određena je njezina molekularna masa od 34 kDa. Optimalna pH-vrijednost za aktivnost poligalakturonaze bila je 5, a temperatura 55 °C.Pectin-rich mango peel from industrial waste was used as a substrate for the production and characterization of novel polygalactauronase enzyme. Its production was optimized with five important factors; KH2PO4, pH, peptone, MgSO4 and urea by employing response surface methodology using submerged fermentation with Aspergillus foetidus. Total of 50 experimental runs were carried out and the predicted values for optimization were in good agreement with experimental data. The results showed that a satisfactory production of polygalacturonase from the mango peel could be achieved, reaching up to 36.5 U/mL under optimized medium conditions of pH=5.8 and (in %, by mass per volume): KH2PO4 0.22, peptone 0.5, MgSO4 0.02 and urea 0.2 %. The polygalacturonase was partially purified to 3.4-fold and the molecular mass was found to be 34 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for polygalacturonase activity were 5 and 55 °C, respectively

Novel application of Nerium leaf and Image J software in drop collapse assay for rapid screening of biosurfactant producing microorganisms

484-492Biosurfactants are attractive molecules with varied applicationsmainly oil degradation, emulsification, bioremediation, therapeutics and conjugation of nanoparticles. The existing screening methods for biosurfactants are inappropriate and too tedious. Here, we have explored a novel approach with drop collapse assay wherein we replaced the microtiter well plate with the naturally hydrophobic Nerium (Nerium oleander L.) leaf. The stability of beaded drops on the leaf indicates negative phenomenon, and spreading of drop indicates positive phenomenon for surfactant property, as confirmed by the measuring drop diameter using Image J software. Fifty five bacterial cultures isolated from oil contaminated site were screened through this novel approach which revealed that the isolates DNM49 (6.75±0.29 mm), DNM50 (7.45±0.19 mm) and DNM51 (6.14±0.82 mm) were the best in terms of surface tension reduction, although thirty other isolates were also found to be positive. A gradation of activity in terms of surface tension reduction was also established based on drop diameter. The results demonstrated promising application of Nerium leaf with Image J software in drop collapse assay as an eco-friendly and cost-effective and technically authenticated alternative to the existing assays

Novel application of Nerium leaf and Image J software in drop collapse assay for rapid screening of biosurfactant producing microorganisms

Biosurfactants are attractive molecules with varied applicationsmainly oil degradation, emulsification, bioremediation, therapeutics and conjugation of nanoparticles. The existing screening methods for biosurfactants are inappropriate and too tedious. Here, we have explored a novel approach with drop collapse assay wherein we replaced the microtiter well plate with the naturally hydrophobic Nerium (Nerium oleander L.) leaf. The stability of beaded drops on the leaf indicates negative phenomenon, and spreading of drop indicates positive phenomenon for surfactant property, as confirmed by the measuring drop diameter using Image J software. Fifty five bacterial cultures isolated from oil contaminated site were screened through this novel approach which revealed that the isolates DNM49 (6.75±0.29 mm), DNM50 (7.45±0.19 mm) and DNM51 (6.14±0.82 mm) were the best in terms of surface tension reduction, although thirty other isolates were also found to be positive. A gradation of activity in terms of surface tension reduction was also established based on drop diameter. The results demonstrated promising application of Nerium leaf with Image J software in drop collapse assay as an eco-friendly and cost-effective and technically authenticated alternative to the existing assays

In –silico molecular docking analysis of prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosin as COX-2 inhibitors

Prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosin are tripyrrole red pigmented compounds with medical importance for their anticancer property. In the present investigation, molecular docking studies were performed for both prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosins to evaluate the in- silico anti-inflammatory activity against Cycloxigenase-2 (COX-2) protein as model compound and the data compared with rofecoxib and celcoxid. Cycloprodigiosin showed higher initial potential, initial RMS gradient and potential energy values compared to prodigiosin. Analysis of COX-2 protein and ligand binding revealed that cyclprodigiosin interacted with COX-2 protein amino acid residues of Tyr(324), Phe(487) and Arg(89) while prodigiosin interaction was observed with two amino acids i.e. Leu(321) and Tyr(324). The computational ligand binding interaction suggested > 45% higher fitness score value for prodigiosin to that of cycloprodigiosin with COX-2 protein while the standard compounds rofecoxib and celecoxid revealed fitness score of 44 and 62, respectively. The prodigiosin ligand revealed the best fitness score compared with the standard drug rofecoxib suggesting the prodigiosin could be effective as the potential inhibitor compound against COX-2 protein and can be evaluated as anti-inflammatory drug molecule using clinical trials. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-172) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Value Added Products Generation from Sugarcane Bagasse and Its Impact on Economizing Biorefinery and Sustainability of Sugarcane Industry

Augmenting value-added products generation with the biorefinery process of sugar cane by utilizing the by-products helps to achieve a more sustainable model of the sugarcane industry and in turn, contributes to the circular economy. Among the value-added products produced from sugarcane waste, functional foods offer additional health benefits besides their nutritional and calorific value. In recent years non-digestible sugars gained interest as potential prebiotic functional foods which benefit the host without increasing calorific value. These sugars are produced by the breakdown of carbohydrate polymers like cellulose and xylan, by thermochemical treatment or by enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination of both. Sugar cane bagasse (SB) is an economical source of xylan which can serve as the substrate for xylooligosaccharides (XOS), xylobiose, xylitol, and ethanol. Cellulases, xylanases, and ligninases have wide applications in food processing, agro-fiber, pharmaceutical, and the paper and pulp industries including nutraceuticals production, where these enzymes provide eco-friendly alternatives to some chemical processes and help to reduce environmental impact. Conventional thermochemical methods for nutraceuticals production require chemicals that result in the release of toxic byproducts thus requiring additional steps for refining. In this context, the sustainable and eco-friendly processes for the production of nutraceuticals require employing biocatalysts like microbial enzymes or microbes as a whole, where in addition to averting the toxic byproducts the refining process requires lesser steps. The present chapter discusses the current research and challenges in the production of value-added products from sugarcane byproducts and their contribution to the sustainability of the sugarcane industry

Condensation of nicotinaldehydes with phenylethanones: A convenient synthesis and biological activities of chalcones

Claisen-Schmidt condensation of nicotinaldehydes 1a-e with various phenylethanones 2a-d in the presence of base at room temperature have provided chalcones 3a-t. All the synthesized compounds have been evaluated for their anti-microbial, free-radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds 3d and 3h have been identified as potent anti-fungal and moderate anti-bacterial agents. Compounds 3c, 3h, 3k-m and 3q have shown α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

Production of L (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii immobilized in functionalized alginate matrices

The role of functionalized alginate gels as immobilized matrices in production of L (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii was studied. L. delbrueckii cells immobilized in functionalized alginate beads showed enhanced bead stability and selectivity towards production of optically pure L (+) lactic acid in higher yields (1.74Yp/s) compared to natural alginate. Palmitoylated alginate beads revealed 99% enantiomeric selectivity (ee) in production of L (+) lactic acid. Metabolite analysis during fermentation indicated low by-product (acetic acid, propionic acid and ethanol) formation on repeated batch fermentation with functionalized immobilized microbial cells. The scanning electron microscopic studies showed dense entrapped microbial cell biomass in modified immobilized beads compared to native alginate. Thus the methodology has great importance in large-scale production of optically pure lactic acid