Modelos de Relações Quantitativas entre Estrutura Química e Atividade Biológica (QSAR), previamente gerados no grupo para uma série de brometos de N-benzil-N,N-dimetil-2-(4-X-benzamido)etan-1-amônio substituídos (compostos estruturalmente análogos à procaína), mostraram uma contribuição positiva da lipofilicidade (expressa pelo parâmetro lipofílico, logPapp) para a atividade de bloqueio da transmissão neuromuscular observada para estes. Como os compostos desta série são sais de amônio quaternários, sendo alguns altamente hidrofílicos, as determinações dos seus valores de logPapp pelo método shake-flask acarretam dificuldades experimentais, levando a altas incertezas. Para contornar estas dificuldades, em outro trabalho iniciado no grupo, sugeriu-se, como estratégia metodológica, avaliar a aplicação do conceito do par iônico, usando, para tanto, um contraíon grande e hidrofóbico. Assim, observou-se, para um único composto desta série, o aumento da sua lipofilicidade, por possível formação de par iônico, tornando-o menos hidrofílico. Nesta dissertação, visando ampliar os estudos envolvendo a aplicação desta estratégia metodológica e seus efeitos sobre a lipofilicidade, outros compostos foram selecionados para que uma faixa mais ampla de valores de LogPapp pudesse ser avaliada. Para tanto, os valores de logPapp de cinco compostos desta série foram determinados pelo método shake-flask, usando o sistema n-octanol/água, avaliando-se, ainda, os efeitos da força iônica na partição. Para estes, a faixa de valores de LogPapp determinados variou de -1,73 a 0,99. Para avaliar a aplicação do conceito do par iônico como estratégia, os valores de LogPapp destes compostos foram determinados na presença de diferentes concentrações do contraíon hidrofóbico n-octil sulfato de sódio (OcS). Verificou-se aumento da lipofilicidade com aumento das concentrações de OcS. Obteve-se, também, os correspondentes valores de LogPapp extrapolados para concentração zero de OcS (LogPapp0), que concordaram, dentro do erro experimental, com os valores determinados diretamente na ausência de OcS. Estes resultados indicam que o conceito do par iônico pode ser aplicado como estratégia metodológica, para melhorar as condições experimentais e diminuir as incertezas nas determinações de valores de LogPapp para esta série de brometos de amônio quaternários hidrofílicos. Finalmente, foram realizados experimentos complementares para verificar a formação de par iônico: (i) determinações dos valores de logP da benzamida (composto sem carga permanente) na presença de OcS; (ii) análise por RMN de um dos compostos desta série, na presença de OcS. Ambos indicaram que, somente para os brometos de amônio quaternários estudados, o aumento da lipofilicidade observado ocorre por possível formação de par iônico. E, ainda, foi avaliada a aplicação do conceito do par iônico e seus efeitos sobre a lipofilicidade do QX-222 e do brometo de neostigmina (compostos altamente hidrofílicos), revelando limitações na sua aplicação como estratégia metodológica. / Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) models previously generated in our group for a set of N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-(4-X-benzamido)ethan-1-ammonium bromides (procaine structural analogs) showed a positive contribution of the lipophilic term (expressed by the partition coefficient, logPapp) to their neuromuscular blockage activity. However, since some of them are hydrophilic quaternary ammonium bromides, their logPapp measurements were usually associated with experimental shortcomings, leading to low accuracy logPapp values. In order to make these experiments more feasible, the application of the ion-pair concept was evaluated as a methodological strategy in another previous work, initially to one compound of this set. For this purpose, logPapp measurements have been done in the presence of a large and hydrophobic counter ion, leading to an increase of its lipophilicity, due to possible ion-pair formation. In the present work, in order to further investigate this strategy and its effects on the lipophilicity, we include more compounds, allowing the assessment of a wider range of logPapp values. Thus, logPapp values of five compounds were obtained by the shake-flask method, using n-octanol/water, with and without ionic strength adjustment. For them, logPapp range values were determined from -1.73 to 0.99. To evaluate the application of the ion-pair concept as strategy, logPapp values of these compounds were determined in the presence of eleven sodium octyl sulfate (OcS) concentrations. It was observed that the lipophilicity of these compounds, increased with the addition of OcS. Moreover, we obtained the corresponding logPapp values extrapolated to zero OcS concentration (logPapp0), which agreed, within the experimental error, with the corresponding values determined in absence of OcS. These results suggest that the ion-pair concept can be applied as a strategy to improve the experimental conditions, increasing the accuracy of logPapp measurements for this set of hydrophilic quaternary ammonium bromides. Finally, supplementary experiments were done to verify the ion-pair formation: (i) measurement of logP values of benzamide (not a permanent ion) in presence of OcS; (ii) NMR spectroscopy analysis of one compound of this set, also in presence of OcS. Both indicated that only for the studied quaternary ammonium bromides the lipophilicity increase is due to possible ion-pair formation. Additionally, the application of the ion-pair concept and its effects on the lipophilicity was evaluated for QX-222 and for neostigmine bromide (highly hydrophilic compounds), which revealed limitations in its application as a methodological strateg

Modelos de Relações Quantitativas entre Estrutura Química e Atividade Biológica (QSAR), previamente gerados no grupo para uma série de brometos de N-benzil-N,N-dimetil-2-(4-X-benzamido)etan-1-amônio substituídos (compostos estruturalmente análogos à procaína), mostraram uma contribuição positiva da lipofilicidade (expressa pelo parâmetro lipofílico, logPapp) para a atividade de bloqueio da transmissão neuromuscular observada para estes. Como os compostos desta série são sais de amônio quaternários, sendo alguns altamente hidrofílicos, as determinações dos seus valores de logPapp pelo método shake-flask acarretam dificuldades experimentais, levando a altas incertezas. Para contornar estas dificuldades, em outro trabalho iniciado no grupo, sugeriu-se, como estratégia metodológica, avaliar a aplicação do conceito do par iônico, usando, para tanto, um contraíon grande e hidrofóbico. Assim, observou-se, para um único composto desta série, o aumento da sua lipofilicidade, por possível formação de par iônico, tornando-o menos hidrofílico. Nesta dissertação, visando ampliar os estudos envolvendo a aplicação desta estratégia metodológica e seus efeitos sobre a lipofilicidade, outros compostos foram selecionados para que uma faixa mais ampla de valores de LogPapp pudesse ser avaliada. Para tanto, os valores de logPapp de cinco compostos desta série foram determinados pelo método shake-flask, usando o sistema n-octanol/água, avaliando-se, ainda, os efeitos da força iônica na partição. Para estes, a faixa de valores de LogPapp determinados variou de -1,73 a 0,99. Para avaliar a aplicação do conceito do par iônico como estratégia, os valores de LogPapp destes compostos foram determinados na presença de diferentes concentrações do contraíon hidrofóbico n-octil sulfato de sódio (OcS). Verificou-se aumento da lipofilicidade com aumento das concentrações de OcS. Obteve-se, também, os correspondentes valores de LogPapp extrapolados para concentração zero de OcS (LogPapp0), que concordaram, dentro do erro experimental, com os valores determinados diretamente na ausência de OcS. Estes resultados indicam que o conceito do par iônico pode ser aplicado como estratégia metodológica, para melhorar as condições experimentais e diminuir as incertezas nas determinações de valores de LogPapp para esta série de brometos de amônio quaternários hidrofílicos. Finalmente, foram realizados experimentos complementares para verificar a formação de par iônico: (i) determinações dos valores de logP da benzamida (composto sem carga permanente) na presença de OcS; (ii) análise por RMN de um dos compostos desta série, na presença de OcS. Ambos indicaram que, somente para os brometos de amônio quaternários estudados, o aumento da lipofilicidade observado ocorre por possível formação de par iônico. E, ainda, foi avaliada a aplicação do conceito do par iônico e seus efeitos sobre a lipofilicidade do QX-222 e do brometo de neostigmina (compostos altamente hidrofílicos), revelando limitações na sua aplicação como estratégia metodológica. / Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) models previously generated in our group for a set of N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-(4-X-benzamido)ethan-1-ammonium bromides (procaine structural analogs) showed a positive contribution of the lipophilic term (expressed by the partition coefficient, logPapp) to their neuromuscular blockage activity. However, since some of them are hydrophilic quaternary ammonium bromides, their logPapp measurements were usually associated with experimental shortcomings, leading to low accuracy logPapp values. In order to make these experiments more feasible, the application of the ion-pair concept was evaluated as a methodological strategy in another previous work, initially to one compound of this set. For this purpose, logPapp measurements have been done in the presence of a large and hydrophobic counter ion, leading to an increase of its lipophilicity, due to possible ion-pair formation. In the present work, in order to further investigate this strategy and its effects on the lipophilicity, we include more compounds, allowing the assessment of a wider range of logPapp values. Thus, logPapp values of five compounds were obtained by the shake-flask method, using n-octanol/water, with and without ionic strength adjustment. For them, logPapp range values were determined from -1.73 to 0.99. To evaluate the application of the ion-pair concept as strategy, logPapp values of these compounds were determined in the presence of eleven sodium octyl sulfate (OcS) concentrations. It was observed that the lipophilicity of these compounds, increased with the addition of OcS. Moreover, we obtained the corresponding logPapp values extrapolated to zero OcS concentration (logPapp0), which agreed, within the experimental error, with the corresponding values determined in absence of OcS. These results suggest that the ion-pair concept can be applied as a strategy to improve the experimental conditions, increasing the accuracy of logPapp measurements for this set of hydrophilic quaternary ammonium bromides. Finally, supplementary experiments were done to verify the ion-pair formation: (i) measurement of logP values of benzamide (not a permanent ion) in presence of OcS; (ii) NMR spectroscopy analysis of one compound of this set, also in presence of OcS. Both indicated that only for the studied quaternary ammonium bromides the lipophilicity increase is due to possible ion-pair formation. Additionally, the application of the ion-pair concept and its effects on the lipophilicity was evaluated for QX-222 and for neostigmine bromide (highly hydrophilic compounds), which revealed limitations in its application as a methodological strateg

Solubility is the amount of solute in the solvent system at phase equilibrium with certain temperature and pressure. Many of the new chemical entities are lipophilic molecules that require techniques to enhance solubility. Solubility enhancement can be achieved by either physical and/or chemical modification of the drug. Various techniques are available for solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drugs include particle size reduction, salt formation, solid dispersions, use of surfactants, prodrug, crystal modification, etc. In this study, the three model drugs belong to BCS class II and IV having low solubility with a certain range of physicochemical properties were studies in solubility enhancement using fusion method, co-precipitation, nano-milling and spray drying techniques. The two different polymers employed for solubility enhancement are PEG 8000 and PVP 40,000. Solubility was determined by Shake Flask method at the temperature of 37±0.1 °C. The objective is to investigate the enhancement of solubility of the three model drugs namely Glipizide, Carvedilol and Furosemide in 1:1, 1:5 and 1:10 drug-polymer ratios and are characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The Solubility of Glipizide was enhanced from 11.18 ± 1.78 µg/ml to 35.73 ± 0.04 µg/ml by 219 % increase with nano-milling technique at 1:5 ratio with PEG 8000 as carrier whereas with PVP 40000 as carrier, 286 % increase in solubility to 43.26 ± 7.87 µg/ml was observed at 1:1 ratio by fusion method. The solubility of Carvedilol was enhanced from 5.04 ± 0.55 µg/ml to 17.51 ± 0.94 µg/ml by 246 % at 1:5 ratio by fusion method with PEG8000 as carrier and 2924 % enhancement in solubility to 152.70 ± 9.09 µg/ml at 1:10 ratio by nano-milling with PVP40000 as the carrier. Furosemide showed an increase in solubility from 55.94 ± 2.48 µg/ml to 164.11 ± 9.18 µg/ml by 193 % at 1:10 ratio by nano-milling technique with PEG8000 as carrier whereas with PVP40000 as carrier, 444 % increase was observed at 1:1 ratio by nano-milling technique with solubility of 304.52 ± 23.11 µg/ml. The data showed that the decrease in percentage crystallinity and enthalpy of fusion of the model drugs upon implementing solubility enhancement techniques with the effect of particle size and the carrier used resulted in the increase of aqueous solubility of the model drugs.

Crystallizing RNA has been an imperative facet and a challenging task in the world of RNA research. Assistive methods such as Chaperone Assisted RNA Crystallography (CARC), employing monoclonal antibody fragments (Fabs) as crystallization chaperones have enabled us to obtain RNA crystal structures by increasing the crystal contacts and providing initial phasing information. Using this technology the crystal structure of [delta]C209 P4-P6 RNA (an independent folding domain of the self-splicing Tetrahymena group I intron) complexed to Fab2 (high affinity binding Fab) has been resolved to 1.95 Å (1). Although the complexed class I ligase ribozyme has also been crystallized using CARC (2), in practice, it has been found that the crystallization of, large RNA-Fab complex remains a confrontation. The possible reason for this difficulty is that Fabs have not been optimized for crystallization when complexed with RNA. Here we have used the Surface Entropy Reduction technique (SER) for the optimization process. Candidate residues for mutations were identified based on combining results from visual inspection of [delta]C209 P4-P6/Fab2 crystal structure complex using pyMOL software and a web-based SER software. The protruding lysine and glutamate residues were mutated to a set of alanine (Super Mutant Alanine SMA) and serine (Super Mutant Serine SMS) mutant clones. Filter binding assay studies confirmed that the mutant clones bind to [delta]C209 P4-P6 with similar binding affinities as that of the parent Fab2. Large scale expression of the mutants, parent clone and [delta]C209 P4-P6 RNA were optimised. Crystal trays for [delta]C209 P4-P6 complexed with Fab2, Fab2SMA and Fab2SMS were set-up side-by-side using Hampton crystal screen kits and ~600 conditions including temperature as a variable condition were screened. Crystal screening shows significantly higher crystal-forming ratios for the mutant complexes. As the chosen SER residues are far away from the CDR regions of the Fab, the same set of mutations can be potentially applied to other Fabs binding to a variety of ribozymes and riboswitches to improve the crystallizability of the Fab-RNA complex.

Abstract Small-scale cultivation methods are a necessity for the development of new biotechnological processes. The most common method for submerged microbial cultivation is a shake flask used with a batch operation protocol. Well plate cultivation formats have also increased their importance, due to the need to utilize high-throughput cultivations for efficient product development. However, batch cultivation is often not the optimal method for obtaining high cell densities and good product quality, due to unlimited microbial growth. The aim of this dissertation was to improve small-scale microbial cultivations for microbial growth and product formation. Hydrolytic enzymes were utilized to relieve nutrient limitation by hydrolysis of proteins in lactic acid bacteria cultures to improve lactic acid production from dairy side products. Hydrolytic enzymes were also utilized in the enzymatic release of glucose from starch to create a fed-batch-like cultivation system applicable on small scale. The wireless sensor system developed was applied in shake flask cultivations to monitor oxygen and pH levels. Enzymatic polymer processing was applicable for small-scale cultivations. Lactic acid production by Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius was enhanced four-fold when the proteins were hydrolyzed either by proteases or by proteolytic microbes. The fed-batch-mimicking controlled glucose feeding and growth control were obtained by means of the simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis of starch-polymer during cultivation. Controlled growth, higher cell densities, decreased side product formation and increased amount of soluble protein product were obtained in Escherichia coli cultivations. When this method was applied to the cultivation and recombinant protein production of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, higher cell densities and higher amounts of active protein were obtained. The glucose concentration remained low enough to avoid the substrate repression of the alcohol oxidase promoter. The fed-batch method is suitable for high-throughput cultivations since the method can be utilized in well plate formats without external feeding devices. The method can be utilized in the development of new biotechnological products, especially when the production system is sensitive to growth conditions, and growth control is preferred. / Tiivistelmä Pienen mittakaavan mikrobikasvatusmenetelmiä tarvitaan kehitettäessä uusia bioteknologisia prosesseja. Tavallisin menetelmä mikrobien liuoksessa tapahtuvaan kasvatukseen on panostyyppisesti tehtävä sekoituspullokasvatus. Kuoppalevykasvatukset ovat myös tulleet entistä tärkeämmiksi, koska tuotekehityksen tehostamiseksi on tarvetta käyttää high-throughput-menetelmiä. Tavoiteltaessa korkeita mikrobisolutiheyksiä ja tuotteen hyvää laatua, panostyyppinen kasvatus ei ole usein paras vaihtoehto, johtuen mikrobien rajoittamattomasta kasvusta. Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli parantaa mikrobien kasvua ja tuotteen muodostusta pienen mittakaavan kasvatuksissa. Meijeriteollisuuden sivutuotteiden proteiineja pilkottiin entsyymien avulla, jotta maitohappobakteerit pystyivät hyödyntämään proteiinit tehokkaammin ja tuottamaan enemmän maitohappoa. Hydrolyyttisiä entsyymejä hyödynnettiin myös glukoosin vapauttamiseen tärkkelyksestä, jolloin saatiin luotua pieneen mittakaavaan sopiva panossyöttötyyppinen kasvatusmenetelmä. Työn aikana kehitettyä langatonta mittausjärjestelmää hyödynnettiin sekoituspullokasvatuksissa happipitoisuuden ja pH:n seurantaan. Entsymaattinen polymeerien käsittely oli soveltuva menetelmä pienen mittakaavan kasvatuksiin. Maitohapon tuotto Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius -mikrobilla nelinkertaistui, kun ravinneproteiinit pilkottiin joko proteaasien tai proteolyyttisten mikrobien avulla. Panossyöttömenetelmää muistuttava hallittu glukoosin syöttö ja mikrobin kasvun hallinta saavutettiin pilkkomalla tärkkelystä glukoosiksi kasvatuksen aikana. Escherichia coli kasvatuksissa saavutettiin hallittu solumäärän kasvu, korkeammat solutiheydet, vähentynyt sivutuotteiden muodostus ja suurempi liukoisen tuoteproteiinin määrä. Tätä menetelmää sovellettiin myös vierasproteiinin tuottoon metylotrofisella Pichia pastoris -hiivalla, jolloin saavutettiin korkeammat solutiheydet ja suurempi aktiivisen tuoteproteiinin määrä. Glukoosin määrä kasvatusliuoksessa pysyi riittävän alhaisena, jotta se ei repressoinut hiivan alkoholioksidaasi-promoottoria. Panossyöttömenetelmä on sopiva high-throughput-mikrobikasvatuksiin, koska sitä voidaan käyttää kuoppalevyillä ilman syöttölaitteita. Menetelmää voidaan hyödyntää uusien bioteknisten tuotteiden kehittämisessä erityisesti silloin, kun tuottoisäntä on herkkä kasvuolosuhteiden suhteen ja mikrobin kasvua halutaan hallita.

Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, e.g. to defend themselves against herbivores or to attract pollinating insects. Plant cell biotechnology offers excellent opportunities in order to use such secondary plant metabolites to produce goods with consistent quality and quantity throughout the year, and therefore to act independently from biotic and abiotic environmental factors. This article presents results of an extensive study of plant cell in vitro cultivation in a modern shake flask system with non-invasive online respiration activity monitoring unit. Comprehensive screening experiments confirm the successful transfer of a model culture (sunflower suspension) into the shake flask monitoring device and the suitability of this respiration activity monitoring unit as qualified tool for screening of plant in vitro cultures (sunflower and sage suspension). The authors demonstrate deviations between online and offline data due to varying water evaporation from different culture flask types. The influence of evaporation on growth-specific parameters thereby rises with increasing cultivation time. Furthermore, possibilities to minimize the impact of evaporation, either by adjusting the inlet air moisture or by measuring the evaporation in combination with an appropriate correction of the measured growth values, are shown.

Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, e.g. to defend themselves against herbivores or to attract pollinating insects. Plant cell biotechnology offers excellent opportunities in order to use such secondary plant metabolites to produce goods with consistent quality and quantity throughout the year, and therefore to act independently from biotic and abiotic environmental factors. This article presents results of an extensive study of plant cell in vitro cultivation in a modern shake flask system with non-invasive online respiration activity monitoring unit. Comprehensive screening experiments confirm the successful transfer of a model culture (sunflower suspension) into the shake flask monitoring device and the suitability of this respiration activity monitoring unit as qualified tool for screening of plant in vitro cultures (sunflower and sage suspension). The authors demonstrate deviations between online and offline data due to varying water evaporation from different culture flask types. The influence of evaporation on growth-specific parameters thereby rises with increasing cultivation time. Furthermore, possibilities to minimize the impact of evaporation, either by adjusting the inlet air moisture or by measuring the evaporation in combination with an appropriate correction of the measured growth values, are shown.

Perfluorinated compounds are organic compounds in which all hydrogen atoms in a carbon chain are substituted with fluorine atoms. These compounds are highly stable, persistent and bioaccumulative. They are purely anthropogenic compounds contained in biota and abiota. Partition coefficient between n-octanol and water is the essential toxicological parameter of a compound. This parameter helps us to assess behaviour of compound in the environment as well as in the living organisms. The shake flask method and the RP-HPLC method were employed to measure the Kow of nine perfluorinated acids. Using the shake flask method, the surface activity of compounds and the acid dissociation caused false results of the measurement. But behaviour of these compounds in the environment can be assess. Accurate and precise results were measured by the RP-HPLC method using an acetate buffer. Log Kow of perfluoro- carboxylic acids, with the carbon chain length of 5-14, were found out, their final value ranging between 1.66 and 5.10. Log Kow of acid with 12 carbons was estimated based on the linear regression of dependence of log Kow on the number of carbons. There were significant differences in the results obtained by various software. Thus, the results cannot be considered relevant. These software are not suitable for...

Gruvavfall, i form av gråberg, från Kiirunavaara-gruvan i Kiruna, norra Sverige undersöktes för att se om surt lakvatten kan bildas från gråberget och om detta kan ha en påverkan på hur mycket kväve som kan lakas ut från gråberget. För detta ändamål gjordes dels en mineralogisk undersökning av gråberget, med siktning, röntgendiffraktion (XRD) och grundämnesanalys och dels laborativa skakförsök. Från skakförsöken, där olika kornstorlekar (8-16 mm, 2-4 mm och mindre än 1 mm) blandades med avjoniserat vatten med L/S-kvoten 10, kunde förändringar i pH, alkalinitet och lösta joner undersökas över en 10-veckors period.                       De främsta mineralen i gråberget i Kiirunavaara visades vara plagioklas, kvarts och biotit. I gråberget finns även 18 g pyrit/kg gråberg. Skakförsöken indikerar att lakvattnet från gråberget i Kiirunavaara är alkaliskt med ett pH över 9. Vittring av sulfidmineral sker, men neutraliseras av buffrande mineral som kalcit och ingen potential till produktion av surt lakvatten finns. Kväveutlakningen sker främst under de första dygnen, men mer än hälften av de kväveföreningar som antas finnas i gråberget lakas inte ut. Både nitrat och ammonium visade signifikanta korrelationer med pH, där högre pH-värden tydde på högre nitratkoncentrationer och lägre pH-värden på högre ammoniumkoncentrationer. Detta indikerar att även om inget samband kunde ses mellan produktion av surt lakvatten och kväveutlakning, så är mängden av olika kväveföreningar som lakas ut beroende av lakvattnets pH-värde. / Mining waste rock from the Kiirunavaara-mine in northern Sweden was studied to determine if there is a potential for production of acid mine drainage (AMD), if there is a leaching of nitrogen compounds from the waste rock and if a correlation between the two processes can be seen. A mineralogical characterization of the waste rock was done through dry sieving, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and elemental analysis. Through shake flask experiments, where waste rock of three different grain sizes (8-16 mm, 2-4 mm and less than 1 mm) were mixed with deionized water (L:S-ratio of 10), the change in pH, alkalinity and dissolved ions during a 10-week period was determined.                       The waste rock in Kiirunavaara was found to consist mainly of plagioclase, quartz and biotite, but the waste rock also contains 18 g pyrite per kg waste rock. The shake flask experiments indicate that the mine drainage from the waste rock in Kiirunavaara is alkaline, with a pH above 9. Weathering of sulphide minerals occur, but are neutralised by buffering minerals such as calcite and thus no potential for AMD-production exists. The leaking of nitrogen compounds occurs mainly during the first few days. Both ammonium and nitrate showed significant correlations with pH, where lower pH-values typically exhibited higher ammonium concentrations, while higher pH-values correlated with higher nitrate concentrations.

Abstract Efficient production of biologically functional recombinant proteins is a cornerstone of modern biotechnological research. Laboratory-scale protein production is most commonly accomplished in simple shaking bioreactors such as shake flasks. However, productivity of these cultures is often severely limited by low biomass yield and non-optimal growth conditions regarding medium composition, pH and oxygen supply. In many cases, poor culture performance can constitute a major research bottleneck. This study aims to improve recombinant protein production in shaking Escherichia coli cultures by use of enzyme-controlled, fed-batch-like glucose feeding in a rich medium, and by investigating the effects of culture aeration on different aspects of protein production. The results show that the enzymatic fed-batch medium can provide higher cell densities, volumetric protein yields and, in some cases, improved product solubility or activity compared to traditionally used media. While these improvements could be obtained in ordinary shaking vessels, the results also demonstrate that cultivation in shake flasks with elevated aeration capacity can further improve cell density and volumetric productivity in the fed-batch medium. However, enhanced aeration may also have an adverse effect on the expression of certain proteins such as Fab antibody fragments. Maximum volumetric Fab yield was achieved under reduced aeration rates, and lower oxygen availability also contributed to substantially increased accumulation of periplasmically produced Fab fragments into extracellular medium. Hence modification of aeration conditions and medium composition can be used to control periplasmic/extracellular product localization as outlined in this study. Moreover, high aeration was detrimental to expression in a glycerol-based lactose autoinduction medium, but this strict dependency on aeration level could be mitigated and robustness of expression improved by an autoinduction medium based on the enzymatic glucose feeding as the supporting carbon source instead of glycerol. The results of this study can be utilized to improve volumetric productivity, protein solubility and control of product localization in small-scale protein production, as well as to facilitate robust and efficient high-throughput protein expression for such applications as structural and functional characterization. / Tiivistelmä Biologisesti aktiivisten vierasproteiinien tehokas tuottaminen on yksi bioteknologisen tutkimuksen kulmakivistä. Laboratoriomittakaavan proteiinituotto toteutetaan yleisimmin yksinkertaisissa ravistelubioreaktoreissa, kuten ravistelupulloissa. Näiden viljelmien tuottavuutta rajoittaa kuitenkin usein biomassan matala saanto sekä epäoptimaaliset olosuhteet kasvualustan koostumuksen, pH:n ja hapen suhteen. Monissa tapauksissa viljelmän heikko tuottavuus muodostaa tutkimukselle merkittävän pullonkaulan. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoite on parantaa vierasproteiinien tuottoa Escherichia coli –ravisteluviljelmissä hyödyntäen entsymaattisesti kontrolloitua, panossyöttökasvatusta jäljittelevää glukoosisyöttöä rikkaassa kasvualustassa, sekä selvittää ilmastuksen vaikutusta proteiinituoton eri osatekijöihin. Tulosten mukaan glukoosisyöttöön perustuva kasvualusta mahdollistaa korkeamman solutiheyden sekä proteiinituoton verrattuna tavallisimmin käytettyihin kasvualustoihin. Joissain tapauksissa myös proteiinin liukoisuus tai aktiivisuus voi parantua. Vaikka nämä edut pystyttiin saavuttamaan myös tavanomaisissa ravistelupulloissa, voidaan panossyöttökasvualustan solutiheyttä ja tuottoa tilavuutta kohti edelleen lisätä käyttämällä korkeamman ilmastustehokkuuden ravistelupulloja. Toisaalta tehostetun ilmastuksen havaittiin olevan mahdollisesti haitallista tiettyjen proteiinien, kuten Fab-vasta-ainefragmenttien, tuotolle. Fab-fragmenttien maksimaalinen tuotto saavutettiin ilmastustehokkuutta laskemalla. Lisäksi matalampi hapen saatavuus edisti periplasmaan ohjattujen Fab-fragmenttien kerääntymistä solunulkoiseen kasvualustaan. Näin ollen ilmastusolosuhteita ja kasvualustan koostumusta muokkaamalla voidaan vaikuttaa tuotteen lopulliseen sijoittumiseen. Korkean ilmastustehokkuuden havaittiin myös olevan haitallista proteiinituotolle glyserolipohjaisessa autoinduktiokasvualustassa. Tätä riippuvuutta ilmastuksen tasosta pystyttiin vähentämään ja autoinduktion luotettavuutta parantamaan käyttämällä kasvualustaa jossa hiililähteenä toimii glyserolin sijaan entsymaattinen glukoosisyöttö. Tutkimuksen tuloksia hyödyntäen voidaan parantaa vierasproteiinien saantoa, liukoisuutta ja periplasmisen/solunulkoisen kerääntymisen säätelyä, sekä mahdollistaa luotettava ja tehokas proteiinituotto viljelmien suurta lukumäärää vaativiin sovelluksiin, kuten proteiinien rakenteen ja toiminnan tutkimukseen.