O amido resistente de milho (ARM) não é digerido em humanos fornecendo benefícios para a saúde tais como redução do colesterol, do índice glicêmico e fermentação no cólon. Porém, a substituição parcial de farinha de trigo (FT) por ARM em massa de pão resulta na diluição do glúten prejudicando a qualidade do produto. Massa de pão foi produzida com 12,5 g/100g de ARM e os efeitos das enzimas glicose-oxidase (Gox), tranglutaminase (TG) e xilanase (HE) na massa foram estudados. Massa produzida sem ARM e sem enzimas foi considerada padrão e massa produzida com ARM e sem enzimas foi considerada controle para comparação. Uma metodologia foi desenvolvida para medir o torque durante o amassamento em grande escala, utilizando um reômetro dinâmico adaptado. As propriedades reológicas foram avaliadas nos testes de medidas descritivas de textura, adesividade Chen-Hoseney, extensão uniaxial Kieffer, extensão biaxial e testes oscilatórios em reômetro. Pão produzido de acordo com as formulações padrão, controle e ótima foi avaliado com relação ao volume específico (VEP), firmeza do miolo, cor e análise sensorial para o atributo preferência. As três enzimas testadas influenciaram positivamente o torque máximo atingido durante o amassamento que variou entre (8,36 e 9,38) N m. Gox e TG apresentaram efeito positivo na altura máxima desenvolvida pela massa medida em reofermentógrafo enquanto que o efeito da HE foi negativo. Uma formulação com ARM e enzimas apresentou desempenho de panificação similar a massa padrão (altura máxima ajustada igual a (45,5 ± 3,9) mm), correspondente a adição de (4, 2,5 e 0,5) mg/100g de TG, Gox e HE respectivamente (ótima). A formulação ótima apresentou adesividade, trabalho de adesão, coesividade, dureza, resiliência, resistência à extensão e extensibilidade similares a massa padrão e diferentes da massa controle. As enzimas aumentaram o índice de strain hardening reduzido pela adição de ARM. Para o pão de forma, o VEP variou entre (3,16 e 3,64) cm3/g (diferença não significativa) e o pão produzido com a formulação ótima foi o mais escolhido como preferido. Durante o armazenamento por até 7 dias, o ARM diminuiu a taxa de envelhecimento do pão enquanto que as enzimas apresentaram efeito oposto. Em geral, a substituição parcial de FT por ARM reduziu a elasticidade da massa diminuindo a qualidade do pão enquanto que as enzimas minimizaram esse efeito. / Resistant starch (RS) is not digested by humans providing benefits for health such as reduction of blood LDL cholesterol levels, reduction of post-prandial blood glucose and fermentation in the colon. However, partial replacement of wheat flour (WF) with RS prejudices bread quality due to gluten dilution. Dough was formulated with 12.5 g/100g of RS and the effects of the enzymes glucose-oxidase (Gox), tranglutaminase (TG) and xylanase (HE) were studied. Dough produced without RS or enzymes was considered as regular and dough produced with RS and without enzymes was considered as control for comparison. A methodology was developed to measure torque during dough mixing in large scale using a dynamic rheometer. With respect to dough rheology, tests performed included texture profile analysis, Chen-Hoseney stickiness, Kieffer uniaxial extension, biaxial extension and oscillatory tests in rheometer. Bread was produced from regular, control and optimum formulations and the quality was assessed concerning specific volume, firmness, color and preference by sensory panel. The three enzymes tested influenced positively the maximum torque during mixing which varied between (8.36 and 9.38) N m. Gox and TG showed positive effects on the maximum height developed by dough measured in rheofermentometer while HE showed a negative one. A formulation with RS and baking performance similar to regular dough was found (adjusted maximum height equal to (45.5 ± 3.9) mm), corresponding to (4, 2.5 and 0.5) mg/100g of TG, Gox and HE respectively (optimum). The optimum formulation showed stickiness, work of adhesion, cohesiveness, hardness, resilience, resistance to extension and extensibility, similar to the regular dough and statistically different from control dough. Strain hardening index was reduced by the addition of RS and increased by the addition of enzymes. Regarding bread tests, specific volume of bread varied between (3.16 e 3.64) cm3/g (not significant difference) and the bread produced with theoptimum dough was the most preferred by the sensory panel. During 7 days of storage, RS reduced the aging rate while enzymes had the opposite effect. In general, WF replacement by RS reduced dough elasticity affecting the bread quality while enzymes helped minimizing this effect.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:16:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernando Medeiros Bastos.pdf: 1326982 bytes, checksum: fa537bd70ed08e84642f9fc192266e56 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-30 / Endoxylanases are the main group of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of xylan. This enzymes have application in industrial proposes, like as drink, food, feed, clothes industries and for bleaching cellulose paper pulps. In bread making the xylanases have been used to improve processing and product quality of loaf, leading soft dough and loaf with larger volume as well as an improved crumb structure. The xylanolitic enzymes produced by filamentous fungi constitute an enzymatic pool with distinct activities which make their use in industrial process more difficult, the obtainment of recombinant microorganisms constitutes a strategy to achieve suitable enzymes to industrial process. The thermophilic fungus Humicola grisea var. thermoidea has proved to be a good source of xylanolitic enzymes. The gene Hxyn2 from H. grisea codes a xylanase with 23 kDa that belongs to G/11 family of glycosil-hydrolases. Its cDNA was cloned in the vector pHILD2 and expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of the promoter AOX1. The transformants were chosen trough genetic stability and capacity to produce and secrete the enzyme HXYN2r into culture medium. The purified HXYN2r showed a high xylanolitic activity with an optimum temperature of 60 ºC and an optimum pH value of 6.5. The aim of this project was the production, purification and application of HXYN2r enzyme in bread making tests. The production in the optimized medium obtained 100 mg of active xylanase per liter of medium BMMY-U. This quantify of enzyme presented 40% of the total proteins in culture supernatants. The proteins of culture supernatants was concentrated by liofylization and fractionated by into a chromatographic column of gel filtration Sephacryl S-100. The purified xylanase presented specific activity of 2250 U/mg and the purification profit was 6.4%. The 23 kDa protein was confirmed by the activity on Zymogram assay. The pure xylanase was added at the rate of 45 and 90 U/Kg of wheat flour in the bread making tests. In this rates it was not observed any effect of xylanase in specific volume either in crumb structure. The HXYN2r enzyme was partially purified by a heat treatment (45 min at 60 °C) and was concentrated by liofylization and a yield of 17.9% was obtained. The partially purified HXYN2r was added at the rates of 500, 1500, 3000, 4500 and 6000 U/kg of wheat flour. The added xylanase improved the specific volume and the crumb structure, but any effect was observed in the moisture content of the loaf. The best result was the rise of 16.0 % in loaf specific volume with the dose of 3000 U/kg of wheat flour. This effect was similar to the obtained with a commercial xylanase added to the dough in equal dose. The results presented suggest that the xylanase from H. grisea can be used in bread making to improve specific volume. / As endoxilanases formam o principal grupo de enzimas hidrolíticas envolvidas na degradação da xilana. Estas enzimas têm vasta aplicação no setor industrial, como nas indústrias de bebidas, alimentícia, têxtil, de rações e de celulose (biobranqueamento). As xilanases têm sido empregadas na panificação para melhorar o processamento e a qualidade do pão, levando a obtenção de uma massa mais macia, pães com maior volume e com melhor estrutura de miolo. As enzimas xilanolíticas produzidas por fungos constituem um conjunto enzimático com atividades distintas, dificultando a sua utilização direta nos processos industriais. Uma estratégia utilizada atualmente se baseia na obtenção de microrganismos recombinantes que produzam enzimas com atividades específicas e adequadas aos diferentes processos industriais. O fungo termofílico Humicola grisea var. thermoidea tem sido uma boa fonte de enzimas xilanolíticas. O gene Hxyn2 deste fungo codifica uma endoxilanase de 23 kDa pertencente a família G/11 das glicosil hidrolases. Para a produção da enzima recombinante HXYN2r, o cDNA correspondente ao gene Hxyn2 (cDNA-xyn2) foi clonado no vetor pHILD2 e expresso na levedura P. pastoris sob o controle do promotor AOX1. Os transformantes foram selecionados quanto à estabilidade genética e capacidade de produzir e secretar a enzima HXYN2r ativa para o meio de cultura. A enzima HXYN2r purificada apresentou temperatura ótima a 60°C e pH ótimo de 6,5. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a produção, purificação e aplicação da enzima HXYN2r em testes de panificação. A produção da enzima foi realizada em condições ótimas, obtendo 100 mg de proteína/L de meio BMMY-U (Meio de cultura complexo contendo metanol e uréia), sendo que a quantidade de enzima no meio de cultura representou 40% do total das proteínas secretadas. Para a purificação de HXYN2r, as proteínas do sobrenadante de cultura foram concentradas por liofilização e fracionadas por cromatografia de gel filtração S-100. A enzima purificada apresentou uma atividade específica de 2250 U/mg, com um rendimento de purificação de 6,4%. A proteína de aproximadamente 23 kDa foi confirmada pela presença de uma banda de xilanase no gel de zimograma. A enzima pura foi adicionada à massa para testes de panificação nas concentrações de 45 e 90 U /kg de farinha, nestas concentrações não foi observado alteração no volume específico dos pães e nem na estrutura do miolo. A enzima HXYN2r também foi parcialmente purificada por tratamento térmico (60 °C por 45 min) e concentrada por liofilização, obtendo um rendimento de 17,9 %. A enzima HXYN2r parcialmente purificada foi testada na panificação nas concentrações de 500, 1500, 3000, 4500 e 6000 U/Kg de farinha. A suplementação da xilanase aumentou o volume específico dos pães, melhorou a estrutura do miolo e não foi observada nenhuma alteração no conteúdo de umidade dos pães em relação ao pão controle. O melhor resultado apresentado foi o aumento de 16,0 % no volume específico dos pães suplementados com 3000 U de HXYN2r por quilo de farinha, resultado semelhante ao obtido com a adição de uma preparação enzimática comercial contendo xilanase nas mesmas concentrações. Os resultados apresentados sugerem que a xilanase do H. grisea pode ser usada na panificação para a melhoria do volume específico dos pães.

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2017-02-22T10:55:05Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Cândida de Queiroz Brito Cunha - 2016.pdf: 2598077 bytes, checksum: fc0189e22f130ec24f122de4f57a3c02 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-02-22T13:08:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Cândida de Queiroz Brito Cunha - 2016.pdf: 2598077 bytes, checksum: fc0189e22f130ec24f122de4f57a3c02 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-22T13:08:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Cândida de Queiroz Brito Cunha - 2016.pdf: 2598077 bytes, checksum: fc0189e22f130ec24f122de4f57a3c02 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / Outro / The xylan-degrading enzymes are responsible for the hydrolysis of xylan and can be produced by a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Bacteria produce an effective xylanolytic system composed of endoxylanase, β-xylosidases, arabinofuronosidases, glucuronidases, acetyl xylan esterase and esterase ferulic acid and have been the target of several studies on the production and application of these enzymes in biotechnological processes such as hydrolysis of different substrates to obtain fermentable sugars. Actinomycetes comprising a phylum Gram positive, aerobic, which generally form branched filaments, often in the form of mycelium. Among the actinomycetes, bacteria of the genus Streptomyces in particular, have been studied due to their important role biotechnology. In the present study, we report the expression, purification and characterization of xylanase (XynBS27) recombinantly in yeast P. pastoris. To achieve high levels of production, the gene was designed and synthesized by optimizing codon usage for P. pastoris. The synthetic gene (xynBS27) was cloned into expression vector containing the AOXI promoter followed by integration into the yeast genome. The increased production of XynBS27 was after 96 h of induction, 2% methanol at 28 °C and 200 rpm (80 U/mL), the enzyme was purified in one chromatography step molecular exclusion obtained specific activity of 8525 U/ mg its highest activity at 75 °C and pH 6, it is thermostable and showed stability at pH 5, 6 and 7. The XynBS27 has a molecular mass of 19 kDa active in zymography. Many ions were tested Al3+, NH4+, Ba2+ and Mg2+ were inducers and Ag+ ions, Hg2+ and Cu2+ inhibited, the sulfides of Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+ and denaturing agents EDTA and SDS inhibited XynBS27. The enzyme is tolerant to high concentrations of glucose and xylose. The Km and Vmax values were 12.38 mg/mL, 13.679 mmol/(min.mL), respectively, Ki of 180 mM competitive inhibition. The use of the enzyme in baking has proved very promising in the evaluated parameters, volume, density, reducing sugar, stiffness, consistency, firmness and water retention. / As enzimas xilanolíticas são responsáveis pela hidrólise da xilana e podem ser produzidas por uma variedade de micro-organismos como bactérias e fungos. As bactérias produzem um eficiente sistema xilanolítico composto de endoxilanases, β-xilosidases, arabinofuranosidases, glucuronidases, acetil xilana esterase e ácido ferúlico esterase e tem sido alvo de diversos estudos sobre a produção e aplicação destas enzimas em processos biotecnológicos, como a hidrólise de diferentes substratos para obtenção de açúcares fermentáveis. Entre os actinomicetos, as bactérias do gênero Streptomyces em particular, têm sido estudadas devido ao seu importante papel biotecnológico. No presente estudo, é relatada a expressão do gene, purificação e caracterização da xilanase (XynBS27) recombinante pela levedura P. pastoris. Para alcançar altos níveis de produção, o gene foi desenhado e sintetizado, otimizando o códon usage para P. pastoris. O gene sintético (xynBS27) foi clonado em vetor de expressão contendo o promotor AOXI, seguindo-se da integração no genoma da levedura. A maior produção da XynBS27 foi obtida após 96 h de indução, 2% de metanol, à 28 ºC e 200 r.p.m. (80 U/mL), a enzima foi purificada por de cromatografia de exclusão molecular, apresentando atividade específica de 8525 U/mg, sua maior atividade foi a 75 ºC e pH 6, se mostrou termo estável e apresentou estabilidade em pH 5, 6 e 7. A XynBS27 apresenta massa molecular de 19 kDa é ativa em zimograma. Diversos íons foram testados, sendo o Al3+, NH4+, Ba2+ e o Mg2+ indutores e os íons Ag+, Hg2+ e Cu2+ inibidores, os sulfetos de Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+ e os agentes desnaturantes EDTA e SDS também inibiram a XynBS27. A enzima é tolerante à altas concentrações de glicose e xilose. Os valores de Km e Vmáx foram 12,38 mg/mL e 13,679 µmol/(min.mL), respectivamente em xilana, Ki de 180 mM de xilose, indicando inibição competitiva. A utilização da enzima na panificação mostrou-se muito promissora em relação aos parâmetros avaliados, volume, densidade, açúcar redutor, rigidez, consistência, firmeza e retenção de água.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana_ Graciano.pdf: 1359694 bytes, checksum: 9321745e3e0faea5a21d91af3579b01a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-27 / The optimization of xylanase production of a new Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen strain (OI-1RT) was obtained by statistical approaches. The Plackett-Burman Design evaluation showed that the following components of Czapeck medium were biologically significant: sodium nitrate, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate and corn straw. These factors were selected to implement the 24 Central Composite Rotational Delineation with the proposed model validation. The response surface plots have indicated a trend for increased xylanase activity with increasing concentrations of maize straw. An additional test was carried out with different concentrations of maize straw and the optimized xylanase activity was 530 U ml-1 in the presence of 6.5% (w / v) of residual biomass, which was 11 times higher than the one obtained only with the Plackett-Burman Planning (45.8 U mL-1). The thermostability of the enzyme was kept at 90% at 50 °C for 6 hours. Enzyma tic hydrolyses tests were performed to obtain reducing sugars from maize straw, hydrolyzed maize straw and beechwood xylan. This procedure has been performed for 96 hours with 2 U ml-1 for xylanase (crude extract) and resulted in net production of 3.89, 20.96 and 21.64 μmol mL-1 for reducing sugars, respectively. This indicated possible biotechnological applications to the crude extract with xylan-degrading enzymes (xylanase). / As xilanases são glicosídeo hidrolases (GHs) com diferentes propriedades físico-químicas e várias aplicações biotecnológicas, como na indústria têxtil, alimentícia e de papel e celulose. Xilanases podem ser utilizadas para a degradação de fontes de carbono renováveis, tais como os resíduos agroindustriais. Desta forma, é possível aproveitar a capacidade energética de compostos disponíveis em abundância e que poderiam ser descartados levando à poluição de solos e corpos hídricos. Atualmente, existe uma busca por estratégias que permitam a otimização de processos biotecnológicos para utilizar a capacidade energética presentes na biomassa para geração de produtos de valor agregado, como a produção de xilitol e do etanol celulósico. Ferramentas bioquímico-moleculares e planejamentos estatísticos de otimização de processos são exemplos de estratégias que visam melhorar o desempenho catalítico de enzimas. Neste contexto, este trabalho objetivou aproveitar resíduos agroindustriais para a indução de xilanases usando duas abordagens. Na primeira, foi realizada a clonagem e expressão do gene xynA1 (CCNA_02894) de Caulobacter crescentus em Escherichia coli com a obtenção de uma proteína recombinante fusionada a uma cauda de histidina carboxi-terminal (XynA1), que foi posteriormente purificada e caracterizada quanto a suas propriedades bioquímicas e cinéticas. Nesta análise, verificou-se que dentre as várias fontes de carbono testadas para indução da XynA1 em C. crescentus, os substratos palha de milho, palha de milho hidrolisada e o sabugo de milho foram os mais eficientes para induzir a atividade xilanásica. Além disso, a caracterização da XynA pura, obtida por cromatografia de afinidade em colunas préempacotadas de níquel-sepharose de elevado desempenho, mostrou que a XynA1 possui atividade enzimática e atividade específica de 18,26 U mL-1 e 2,22 e U mg-1usando xilano de beechwood como substrato na reação. A atividade de XynA1 foi inibida por EDTA e íons metálicos tais como Cu 2+ e Mg 2+. Em contraste, ß-mercaptoetanol, ditiotreitol (DTT), e Ca2+ induziram a atividade da enzima recombinante. Os dados cinéticos para XynA1 revelaram valores de KM e Vmáx de 3,77 mg mL-1 e 10,2 μM min-1, respectivamente. Finalmente, a enzima apresentou um pH ótimo igual a 6 e temperatura ótima de 50 °C. Além disso, 80% da atividade de XynA1 foi mantida a 50 °C por 4 hor as de incubação. Isso sugere estabilidade térmica para aplicação em processos biotecnológicos. Na segunda etapa do trabalho, foi realizada a otimização da produção xilanásica por um novo isolado vii termotolerante de Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen. (OI-1R-T), obtido de bioma de Mata Atlântica, usando metodologias estatísticas de delineamento experimental como Planejamento Plackett-Burman (Plackett-Burman Design-PBD) e Delineamento Composto Central Rotacional (DCCR). Verificou-se, nesses ensaios, uma atividade xilanásica de 530 U mL-1 na presença de 6,5% de palha de milho no meio de cultivo otimizado. Ensaios de hidrólises enzimáticas da palha de milho, palha de milho hidrolisada e do xilano de beechwood foram realizados durante 96 horas com 2 U mL-1 de atividade xilanásica do extrato bruto otimizado no mesmo resíduo, resultando em uma produção líquida de 3,89, 20,96 e 21,64 μmol mL-1 de açúcares redutores, respectivamente. Assim, sugere-se que a enzima fúngica, mesmo em extrato bruto, também poderia ser aplicada em processos biotecnológicos diversos.

Thesis (PhD (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Although bananas are widely grown worldwide in many tropical and a few subtropical countries, banana beverages are still among the fruit beverages processed by use of rudimentary methods such as the use of feet or/and spear grass to extract juice. Because banana juice and beer remained on a home made basis, there is a research drive to come up with modern technologies to more effectively process bananas and to make acceptable banana juices and wines. One of the main hindrances in the production of highly desirable beverages is the pectinaceous nature of the banana fruit, which makes juice extraction and clarification very difficult. Commercial enzyme applications seem to be the major way forward in solving processing problems in order to improve banana juice and wine quality. The particular pectinolytic enzymes that were selected for this study are Rapidase CB, Rapidase TF, Rapidase X-press and OE-Lallzyme. In addition this study, investigate the applicability of recombinant yeast strains with pectinolytic, xylanolytic, glucanolytic and amylolytic activities in degrading the banana polysaccharides (pectin, xylan, glucan starch) for juice and wine extraction and product clarification. The overall objective of this research was to improve banana juice and wine by enzymatic processing techniques and to improve alcoholic fermentation and to produce limpid and shelf-stable products of clarified juice and wine. The focus was on applying the selected commercial enzyme preparations specifically for the production of better clarified banana juice and wine. This is because the turbid banana juice and beer, which contain suspended solids that are characterised by a very intense banana flavour, require a holistic approach to address challenges and opportunities in order to process pure banana beverages with desirable organoleptic qualities. The specific objectives of applying commercial enzymes in the processing of banana juice and wine, comparing with grape winemaking practices, use of recombinant yeast and analyses of various parameters in the juices and wines made have enabled generation of information that could be of help to prospective banana juice and wine processors. The research findings obtained could be used to establish a pilot plant or small-scale industry in the banana processing beverages producing large quantities,and finally the overall objective of obtaining limpid and shelf stable products would be achieved.

O mundo se depara atualmente com a perspectiva de um significativo aumento na demanda por etanol combustível. O bagaço de cana está entre os maiores subprodutos agroindustriais no Brasil, sendo uma das alternativas na utilização para a produção do etanol de segunda geração. A degradação do bagaço de cana requer a ação de muitas enzimas diferentes que são reguladas transcripcionalmente. Considerando-se que o custo de celulases e hemicelulases contribuem substancialmente no preço do bioetanol, novos estudos visando o entendimento da eficiência e produtividade de celulases são de grande importância. Para entender como melhorar coquetéis de enzimas que podem hidrolizar o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pré-tratado, uitlizou-se um experimento de genômica para investigar-se quais genes e vias são transcripcionalmente moduladas durante o crescimento de A. niger em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Neste trabalho foram identificados genes que codificam celulases e hemicelulases com aumento da expresão durante o crescimento em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Foi também realizada a determinação do acúmulo de mRNA de diversos genes que codificam transportadores para verificar se estes eram induzidos por xilose e por depedência de glicose. Foram identificados 18 genes que corresponde a 58% de celulases preditas em A. niger e 21 genes que correponde a 58% de hemicelulases preditas em A. niger os quias foram altamente expressos durante o crescimento em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Foi investigado também o papel central realizado pelas proteínas quinases e fosfatases não essenciais (NPKs e NPPs, respectivamente) quando em presença de celulose como fonte de carbono, no sensoriamento do estado energético e na subsequente via de sinalização no fungo filamentoso modelo Aspergillus nidulans. O estudo com A. nidulans identificou 11 quinases e 7 fosfatases não essências, NPKs e NPPs, respectivamente, envolvidas na produção de celulases e em alguns casos, na produção também de hemicelulases. O envolvimento destas NPKs identificadas na resposta induzida por avicel e na desrepressão foram acessados pela análise do transcriptoma da cepa selvagem e por microscopia de fluorescência através da cepa de fusão CreA::GFP expressa no selvagem e no background dos mutantes de NPKs. A ausência das quinases snfA e schA reduziu dramaticamente a resposta transcricional induzida por celulose incluindo a expressão de enzimas hidrolíticas e transportadores, enquanto que a ausência de snfA resultou em uma quase completa modulação gênica induzida por celulose. O mecanismo pelo qual essas duas quinases controlam a transcrição gênica foi identificado, onde os dois mutantes de quinases foram capazes de desbloquear o CreA mediante a repressão catabólica do carbono (CCR), sob condições de desrepressão, como em baixa presença de carbono ou crescimento em celulose. Desta forma, este trabalho abriu novas possibilidades para o entendimento da sacarificação do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar por hidrolases de A. niger e para a construção de coquetéis de enzimas mais eficientes para a obtenção do etanol de segunda geração. Também possibilitou a identificação de muitas quinases e fosfatases envolvidas no sensoriamento do carbono e do estado energético, as quais demonstraram papéis sobrespostos e distintos de snfA e schA na regulação da desrepressão de CreA e na produção de enzimas hidrolíticas em A. nidulans. / The world today is faced with the prospect of a significant increase in demand for fuel ethanol. Sugarcane bagasse is among the largest agro-industrial by-products in Brazil, one of the alternatives in use for the production of second generation ethanol. Degradation of sugarcane bagasse requires the action of many different enzymes which are transcriptionally regulated. Considering that the costs of cellulases and hemicellulases contribute substantially to the price of bioethanol, new studies aimed at understanding and improving cellulase efficiency and productivity are of paramount importance. To understand how to improve enzymatic cocktails that can hydrolyze pretreated sugarcane bagasse, we used a genomics approach to investigate which genes and pathways are transcriptionally modulated during growth of A. niger on steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse. We also sought to determine whether the mRNA accumulation of several steam-exploded sugarcane bagasseinduced genes encoding putative transporters is induced by xylose and dependent on glucose. We identified 18 genes that corresponds to 58% of A. niger predicted cellulases and 21 genes that correspond to 58% of A. niger predicted hemicellulases, that were highly expressed during growth on sugarcane bagasse. The central role performed by nonessential protein kinases (NPK) and phosphatases (NPP) when grown on cellulose as a sole carbon source, in the sensing energetic status and the subsequent signalling pathways was assessed in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This study identified multiple kinases and phosphatases (NPKs and NPPs, respectively) involved in the sensing of carbon or energetic status, while demonstrating the overlapping and distinct roles of snfA and schA in the regulation of CreA derepression and hydrolytic enzyme production in A.nidulans. The involvement of the identified NPKs in avicel-induced responses and CreA derepression was assessed by genome-wide transcriptomics and fluorescent microscopy of a CreA::GFP fusion proteinexpressed in the wild-type and NPK-deficient mutant backgrounds. The absence of either the schA or snfA kinase dramatically reduced cellulose-induced transcriptional responses including the expression of hydrolytic enzymes and transporters, while the absence snfA resulted in a near complete loss of wild-typecellulose-induced gene modulation. The mechanism by which these two NPKs controlled gene transcription was identified, as neither of NPK-deficient mutants were able to unlock CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression, under derepressing conditions, such as carbon starvation or growth on cellulose. Our presently reported work opens new possibilities for understanding sugarcane biomass saccharification by A. niger hydrolases and for the construction of more efficient enzymatic cocktails for second-generation bioethanol. This work also enable the identification of multiple kinases and phosphatases involved in the sensing of carbon or energetic status, while demonstrating the overlapping and distinct roles of snfA and schA in the regulation of CreA derepression and hydrolytic enzyme production in A.nidulans.

The most abundant organic compound produced by plants is cellulose, however it has long been accepted that animals do not secrete the hydrolytic enzymes required for its degradation, but rely instead on cellulases produced by symbiotic microbes. The recent discovery of an endogenous cDNA transcript encoding a putative GHF9 endoglucanase in the parastacid crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Byrne et al., 1999) suggests that similar cellulase genes may have been inherited by a range of crustacean taxa. In this study, the evolutionary history of the C. quadricarinatus endoglucanase gene and the presence of additional GHF9 genes in other decapod species were investigated. The activity of endoglucanase and endoxylanase enzymes within several cultured decapod species were also compared. The evolutionary history of the C. quadricarinatus endoglucanase gene was assessed by comparing intron/exon structure with that of other invertebrate and plant GHF9 genes. The coding region of the gene was found to be interrupted by eleven introns ranging in size from 102-902 bp, the position of which was largely conserved in both termite and abalone GHF9 genes. These structural similarities suggest GHF9 genes in crustaceans and other invertebrate taxa share a common ancestry. In addition, two introns were observed to share similar positions in plant GHF9 genes, which indicates this enzyme class may have been present in ancient eukaryote organisms. The presence of GHF9 genes in C. quadricarinatus and various other decapod species was then explored via degenerate primer PCR. Two distinct GHF9 gene fragments were determined for C. quadricarinatus and several other Cherax and Euastacus parastacid freshwater crayfish species, and a single GHF9 gene fragment was also determined for the palaemonid freshwater prawn Macrobrachium lar. Phylogenetic analyses of these fragments confirmed the presence of two endoglucanase genes within the Parastacidae, termed EG-1 and EG-2. The duplication event that produced these two genes appears to have occurred prior to the evolution of freshwater crayfish. In addition, EG-2 genes appear to have duplicated more recently within the Cherax lineage. The presence of multiple GHF9 endoglucanase enzymes within the digestive tract of some decapod species may enable more efficient processing of cellulose substrates present in dietary plant material. Endoglucanase and endoxylanase enzyme activities were compared in several parastacid crayfish and penaeid prawn species using dye-linked substrates. Endoglucanase activity levels were higher in crayfish compared with prawn species, which corresponds with the known dietary preferences of these taxa. Endoglucanase temperature and pH profiles were found to be very similar for all species examined, with optimum activity occurring at 60°C and pH 5.0. These results suggest endoglucanase activity in penaeid prawns may also be derived from endogenous sources. Additional in vitro studies further demonstrated crayfish and prawn species liberate comparable amounts of glucose from carboxymethyl-cellulose, which indicates both taxa may utilise cellulose substrates as a source of energy. Endoxylanase temperature and pH profiles were also similar for all crayfish species examined, with optimal activity occurring at 50°C and pH 5.0. These results suggest xylanase activity in crayfish may originate from endogenous enzymes, although it is unclear whether this activity is derived from GHF9 enzymes or a different xylanase enzyme class. In contrast, no endoxylanase activity was detected in the three prawn species examined. Together, these findings suggest a wide range of decapod crustacean species may possess endogenous GHF9 endoglucanase genes and enzymes. Endoglucanases may be secreted by various decapod species in order to digest soluble or amorphous cellulose substrates present in consumed plant material. Further biochemical studies may confirm the presence and functional attributes of additional endoglucanase genes and enzymes in decapods, which may ultimately assist in the design of optimal plant based crustacean aquaculture feeds.

"2003". / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Environmental & Life Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 136-160. / Introduction: The Antarctic environment; Antarctic inhabitants; Microfungi; Identification of microfungi; Physiological factors affecting Antactic microfungi; Flow cytometry and microfungi; Hydrolytic enzymes of industrial interest; Isolation of genes from microfungi; Aims of this study -- Materials and methods: Fungal strains and cultivation conditions; Molecular identification of fungal isolates; Fungal physiology; Hydrolase activity of secreted proteins; Gene cloning and expression -- Results and discussion: Microfungal identification; Physiological factors affecting Antarctic microfungi; Activity in microfungi when grown on solid media; Characterisation of hemicellulases from selected Antarctic microfungi; Cloning of an Antarctic Penicillium allii lipase gene and its expression in Trichoderma reesei -- Conclusions and future prospects. / The Antarctic occupies that region of the planet that falls below the 60th parallel of South latitude. Although it has been frequented by adventurers, journeyman scientists and tourists for the past 100 years, the Continent has remained virtually unoccupied. The intense cold, the absence of human occupation and the limited range of local higher animal species have combined to create the impression that the Continent is virtually devoid of life. -- Although the microbiota of the Antarctic has attracted some small level of attention in the past, the examination of filamentous microfungi has been largely overlooked and fallen to a small group of dedicated investigators. In this study it will be shown that far from being an insignificant component of the Antarctic network, microfungi represent a potentially large and so far untapped bioresource. -- From just 11 bryophyte samples collected at four sites in the Ross Sea/Dry Valleys region of Southern Antarctica, some 30 microfungal isolates were recovered. Using molecular techniques, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced to reveal no less than nine unique microfungal species. For only two of these species did the ITS sequence data produce a 100% match with records held on the public databases. This investigation also highlighted the problems inherent in the traditional morphological identification system which are now being perpetuated in the molecular database records. -- A set of seven notionally identified isolates obtained from ornithogenic soil samples gathered in the Windmill Islands in Eastern Antarctica (offshore from the Australian Antarctic Division's Casey Station) were also subjected to molecular identification based on ITS sequence data. Each of the seven isolates was identified as a unique species; six were cosmopolitan in nature and the one remaining bore very little resemblance at the molecular level to any of the recorded species although it was provided with an epithet commonly used in the identification of Antarctic microfungal species. -- To evaluate their potential as a bioresource, samples of Antarctic microfungi were examined to determine if the same physiological factors common to mesophilic species also applied to their Antarctic analogues. It is known that when placed under stress, trehalose can act as a protectant against cold (cryoprotection) and dehydration in mesophilic yeasts and fungi. The level of trehalose produced by the Antarctic isolates and their mesophilic analogues when subjected to stress was compared. A similar comparison was made for the production of glycerol which is well established as a compatible solute providing protection to mesophilic species against osmotic stress. Only in the case of trehalose production by an Antarctic Embellisia was there any indication that either of these two compounds could play a significant role in providing protection to the Antarctic fungi against the rigours of their environment, which leaves open to question what in fact does. -- In the course of investigating the means by which Antarctic microfungi guard against the damage which can ensue when subjected to oxidative stress, flow cytometry was introduced as an investigatory tool. It was established that there is a window of opportunity during which flow cytometry can be used to undertake a detailed analysis of the early stages of fungal growth from germination through hyphal development. -- Of major significance in determining the potential of Antarctic microfungi as a resource is their ability to produce new and novel enzymes and proteins. The microfungal isolates were screened for hydrolytic activity on solid media containing indicative substrates and proved to be a fruitful source of enzymes active over a range of temperatures. A detailed characterisation of two hemicellulases, β-mannanase and xylanase, secreted into a liquid medium by a subset of the Antarctic fungi and a high producing mesophilic reference strain permitted direct comparisons to be made. It was shown that the maximum hemicellulase activity of the Antarctic strains occurred at least 10°C and as much as 30°C lower than that of the reference strain and that mannanase activity for two of the Antarctic isolates exceeded 40% of their maximum at 0°C. These assay results highlight the potential of Antarctic microfungi to yield novel cold-active enzymes. -- As a final measure of the capacity of the Antarctic to yield novel enzymes from its microfungal stock, a lipase gene was selected as a target for isolation and expression in a heterologous fungal host. Using PCR techniques, the gene of interest was isolated from an Antarctic isolate of Penicillium allii, transformed into the mesophilic production host Trichoderma reesei and the active protein successfully produced in the growth medium. The recombinant lipase was assayed and found to exhibit novel characteristics consistent with a cold-adapted enzyme. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 186 leaves ill

O mundo se depara atualmente com a perspectiva de um significativo aumento na demanda por etanol combustível. O bagaço de cana está entre os maiores subprodutos agroindustriais no Brasil, sendo uma das alternativas na utilização para a produção do etanol de segunda geração. A degradação do bagaço de cana requer a ação de muitas enzimas diferentes que são reguladas transcripcionalmente. Considerando-se que o custo de celulases e hemicelulases contribuem substancialmente no preço do bioetanol, novos estudos visando o entendimento da eficiência e produtividade de celulases são de grande importância. Para entender como melhorar coquetéis de enzimas que podem hidrolizar o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pré-tratado, uitlizou-se um experimento de genômica para investigar-se quais genes e vias são transcripcionalmente moduladas durante o crescimento de A. niger em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Neste trabalho foram identificados genes que codificam celulases e hemicelulases com aumento da expresão durante o crescimento em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Foi também realizada a determinação do acúmulo de mRNA de diversos genes que codificam transportadores para verificar se estes eram induzidos por xilose e por depedência de glicose. Foram identificados 18 genes que corresponde a 58% de celulases preditas em A. niger e 21 genes que correponde a 58% de hemicelulases preditas em A. niger os quias foram altamente expressos durante o crescimento em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar explodido. Foi investigado também o papel central realizado pelas proteínas quinases e fosfatases não essenciais (NPKs e NPPs, respectivamente) quando em presença de celulose como fonte de carbono, no sensoriamento do estado energético e na subsequente via de sinalização no fungo filamentoso modelo Aspergillus nidulans. O estudo com A. nidulans identificou 11 quinases e 7 fosfatases não essências, NPKs e NPPs, respectivamente, envolvidas na produção de celulases e em alguns casos, na produção também de hemicelulases. O envolvimento destas NPKs identificadas na resposta induzida por avicel e na desrepressão foram acessados pela análise do transcriptoma da cepa selvagem e por microscopia de fluorescência através da cepa de fusão CreA::GFP expressa no selvagem e no background dos mutantes de NPKs. A ausência das quinases snfA e schA reduziu dramaticamente a resposta transcricional induzida por celulose incluindo a expressão de enzimas hidrolíticas e transportadores, enquanto que a ausência de snfA resultou em uma quase completa modulação gênica induzida por celulose. O mecanismo pelo qual essas duas quinases controlam a transcrição gênica foi identificado, onde os dois mutantes de quinases foram capazes de desbloquear o CreA mediante a repressão catabólica do carbono (CCR), sob condições de desrepressão, como em baixa presença de carbono ou crescimento em celulose. Desta forma, este trabalho abriu novas possibilidades para o entendimento da sacarificação do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar por hidrolases de A. niger e para a construção de coquetéis de enzimas mais eficientes para a obtenção do etanol de segunda geração. Também possibilitou a identificação de muitas quinases e fosfatases envolvidas no sensoriamento do carbono e do estado energético, as quais demonstraram papéis sobrespostos e distintos de snfA e schA na regulação da desrepressão de CreA e na produção de enzimas hidrolíticas em A. nidulans. / The world today is faced with the prospect of a significant increase in demand for fuel ethanol. Sugarcane bagasse is among the largest agro-industrial by-products in Brazil, one of the alternatives in use for the production of second generation ethanol. Degradation of sugarcane bagasse requires the action of many different enzymes which are transcriptionally regulated. Considering that the costs of cellulases and hemicellulases contribute substantially to the price of bioethanol, new studies aimed at understanding and improving cellulase efficiency and productivity are of paramount importance. To understand how to improve enzymatic cocktails that can hydrolyze pretreated sugarcane bagasse, we used a genomics approach to investigate which genes and pathways are transcriptionally modulated during growth of A. niger on steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse. We also sought to determine whether the mRNA accumulation of several steam-exploded sugarcane bagasseinduced genes encoding putative transporters is induced by xylose and dependent on glucose. We identified 18 genes that corresponds to 58% of A. niger predicted cellulases and 21 genes that correspond to 58% of A. niger predicted hemicellulases, that were highly expressed during growth on sugarcane bagasse. The central role performed by nonessential protein kinases (NPK) and phosphatases (NPP) when grown on cellulose as a sole carbon source, in the sensing energetic status and the subsequent signalling pathways was assessed in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This study identified multiple kinases and phosphatases (NPKs and NPPs, respectively) involved in the sensing of carbon or energetic status, while demonstrating the overlapping and distinct roles of snfA and schA in the regulation of CreA derepression and hydrolytic enzyme production in A.nidulans. The involvement of the identified NPKs in avicel-induced responses and CreA derepression was assessed by genome-wide transcriptomics and fluorescent microscopy of a CreA::GFP fusion proteinexpressed in the wild-type and NPK-deficient mutant backgrounds. The absence of either the schA or snfA kinase dramatically reduced cellulose-induced transcriptional responses including the expression of hydrolytic enzymes and transporters, while the absence snfA resulted in a near complete loss of wild-typecellulose-induced gene modulation. The mechanism by which these two NPKs controlled gene transcription was identified, as neither of NPK-deficient mutants were able to unlock CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression, under derepressing conditions, such as carbon starvation or growth on cellulose. Our presently reported work opens new possibilities for understanding sugarcane biomass saccharification by A. niger hydrolases and for the construction of more efficient enzymatic cocktails for second-generation bioethanol. This work also enable the identification of multiple kinases and phosphatases involved in the sensing of carbon or energetic status, while demonstrating the overlapping and distinct roles of snfA and schA in the regulation of CreA derepression and hydrolytic enzyme production in A.nidulans.