• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1427-1437
• /
• 2014

Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars is a key step in the conversion of agricultural by-products to biofuels and value-added chemicals. Utilization of a robust microorganism for on-site production of biomass-degrading enzymes has gained increasing interest as an economical approach for supplying enzymes to biorefinery processes. In this study, production of multi-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from Aspergillus aculeatus BCC199 by solid-state fermentation was improved through the statistical design approach. Among the operational parameters, yeast extract and soybean meal as well as the nonionic surfactant Tween 20 and initial pH were found as key parameters for maximizing production of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes. Under the optimized condition, the production of FPase, endoglucanase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, xylanase, and ${\beta}$-xylosidase was achieved at 23, 663, 88, 1,633, and 90 units/g of dry substrate, respectively. The multi-enzyme extract was highly efficient in the saccharification of alkaline-pretreated rice straw, corn cob, and corn stover. In comparison with commercial cellulase preparations, the BCC199 enzyme mixture was able to produce remarkable yields of glucose and xylose, as it contained higher relative activities of ${\beta}$-glucosidase and core hemicellulases (xylanase and ${\beta}$-xylosidase). These results suggested that the crude enzyme extract from A. aculeatus BCC199 possesses balanced cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities required for the efficient saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks, and supplementation of external ${\beta}$-glucosidase or xylanase was dispensable. The work thus demonstrates the high potential of A. aculeatus BCC199 as a promising producer of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes for the biomass conversion industry.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.584-590
• /
• 2005

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) was purified from Aspergillus aculeatus, a filamentous fungus previously isolated from infected tongue of a patient. The enzyme, apparently homogeneous, had a specific activity of $220\;units\;mg^{-1}$/, a molecular weight of $105,000{\pm}5,000$ Dal by gel filtration and subunit size of $52,000{\pm}1,100$ Dal by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The substrate specificity was extremely strict, with glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) being oxidized by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) only. At assay pH of 7.5, the enzyme had $K_m$ values of $6\;{\mu}m$ and $75\;{\mu}m$ for NADP and G6P respectively. The $k_{cat}$ was $83\;s^{-1}$. Steady-state kinetics at pH 7.5 produced converging linear Lineweaver-Burk plots as expected for ternary-complex mechanism. The patterns of product and dead-end inhibition suggested that the enzyme can bind NADP and G6P separately to form a binary complex, indicating a random-order mechanism. The enzyme was irreversibly inactivated by heat in a linear fashion, with G6P providing a degree of protection. Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), and fructose 6-phosphate (F6P), in decreasing order, are effective inhibitors. Zinc and Cobalt ions were effective inhibitors although cobalt ion was more potent; the two divalent metals were competitive inhibitors with respect to G6P, with $K_i$ values of $6.6\;{\mu}m$ and $4.7\;{\mu}m$ respectively. It is proposed that inhibition by divalent metal ions, at low NADPH /NADP ratio, is another means of controlling pentosephosphate pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.946-954
• /
• 2020

Platycodon grandiflorum root (Platycodi radix) saponins, platycosides, have been used as health supplements and food items for the treatment of respiratory disorders and pulmonary diseases. Deglycosylated saponins have been known to exert stronger biological effects than their glycosylated forms. In the present study, glycosylated platycosides in Platycodi radix extract were biotransformed into deglycosylated 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides, including 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycodigenin, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl polygalacic acid, and 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platyconic acid, by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus. This is the first report on the quantitative enzymatic production of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides. The chemical structures of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were identified with LC/MS. Moreover, the biotransformation pathways of the three types of platycosides in Platycodi radix into 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were established.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.847-854
• /
• 2021

Platycodon grandiflorum (balloon flower) root (Platycodi radix, PR) is used as a health supplement owing to its beneficial bioactive properties. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening effects of deglycosylated platycosides (saponins) from PR biotransformed by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus were investigated. The bioactivities of the platycosides improved when the number of sugar moieties attached to the aglycone platycosides was decreased. The deglycosylated saponins exhibited higher lipoxygenase inhibitory activities (anti-inflammatory activities) than the precursor platycosides and the anti-inflammatory compound baicalein. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the pectinasetreated PR extract was higher than that of the non-treated PR extract. The trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed improved values as the saponins were hydrolyzed. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities (whitening effects) of deglycosylated platycosides were higher than those of the precursor platycosides. Furthermore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides showed higher anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening activities than their precursor glycosylated platycosides. Therefore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides may improve the beneficial effects of nutritional supplements and cosmetic products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.889-892
• /
• 2010

We investigated a potential for glucose production from cellulose material using two kinds of hyperthermophilic enzymes, endocellulase (EG) and beta-glucosidase (BGL). Two BGLs, from hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus and mesophile Aspergillus aculeatus, were compared with P. horikoshii endocellulase (EGPh) for complete hydrolysis of cellulose. The combination reactions by each BGL enzyme and EGPh could produce only glucose without the other oligosaccharides from phosphoric acid swollen Avicel (PSA). The combination of both the hyperthermophilic cellulases, BGLPf and EGPh, will be adaptable to a high efficiency system to produce glucose at high temperature.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.167-178
• /
• 2020

Lipase-producing fungi have been isolated from environments containing lipids. The non-dairy creamer industrial waste has a high amount of lipids so it is a potential source for the isolation of lipase-producing fungi. However, the study of fungi that secrete lipase from this industrial waste has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to obtain lipase-producing filamentous fungi from non-dairy creamer industrial waste. Mineral salt and potato dextrose agar were used as media for the isolation process. The qualitative screening was conducted using phenol red agar medium and the quantitative screening using broth medium containing glucose and olive oil. Isolates producing the highest amounts of lipase were identified with molecular methods. We found that 5 out of 19 isolated filamentous fungi are lipase producers. Further analysis showed that isolate Ms.11 produced the highest amount of lipase compared to others. Based on ITS sequence Ms.11 was identified as Aspergillus aculeatus. The lipase activity in medium containing 1% glucose + 1% olive oil at pH 7.0 and 30℃ after 96 and 120 h of incubation was 5.13 ± 0.30 U/ml and 5.22 ± 0.59 U/ml, respectively. The optimum lipase activity was found at pH 7.0, 30℃ and using methanol or ethanol in the reaction tube. Lipase was more stable at 20-30℃ and maintained 85% of its activity. It was concluded that isolate Ms.11 is a potential source of lipase that catalyzes transesterification reactions. Further studies are required to optimize lipase production to make the strain suitable for industry purposes.