Cladosporium tenuissimum URM 7803: a promising new β-galactosidase producer

The Cladosporium genus, defined by Link in 1816, is one of the largest and most heterogeneous Hyphomycetes genus. It comprises more than 189 species still rarely explored biotechnologically. One of the most studied microbial enzymes, -galactosidase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of -galactosides into monosaccharides through the breaking of a glycosidic bond. Recently, new studies comprising new microbial sources of -galactosidase, presenting biotechnologically interesting characteristics, have been encouraged. In this context, the present study evaluated the production of -galactosidase by a new isolate of Cladosporium tenuissimum. A C. tenuissimum inoculum was prepared adding 107 spore/mL in sterile saline solution 0.85% (w/v) NaCl containing 0.01% (w/v) Tween 80 and added to fermentation medium for enzyme production. The fermentation medium, composed of (% w/v): lactose (2), peptone (0.4), yeast extract (0.4) and salts (KH2PO4 (0.2), Na2HPO4.12H2O (0.8) and MgSO4.7H2O (0.025), pH 6.5, was maintained at 28° C and 180 rpm for 13 days. One sample (50 mL erlenmeyer) was removed every 24 hours and -galactosidase activity was evaluated using ONPG (ortho-Nitrophenyl--galactoside) method. The results showed maximum -galactosidase production by C. tenuissimum URM 7803 on thirteenth day, displayed enzymatic activity of 462.13 U/mL. The C. tenuissimum URM 7803 isolate proved to be a powerful new -galactosidase producer with potential application for food processing.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora