Effect of Isothiocyanates on the Activity of Lactobacillus plantarum Exposed to Irradiation

Two isothiocyanates, i.e., sulforaphane (SFA) and sulforaphene (SFE), are suggested to be used as an alternative chemopreventive diet. This study was focused on the effect of SFA and SFE on Lactobacillus plantarum, which has been subjected to the irradiation (2-50 Gy). The cultures grown in De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) and Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB) were compared in terms of bacteria physiological activity under tested conditions. Broth composition notably influenced the bacteria growth kinetic parameters, as well as culture response to the oxidative stress. Activity of L. plantarum cells after irradiation was evaluated by their dehydrogenase (DHA) and quinone-reductase (QR) activities. The enzyme activity was quantified in living cells. Bacterial cultures obtained in MRS and TSB broth, demonstrated contrasting characteristics in their enzyme activities. The MRS-grown culture did not show any QR activity, whereas the TSB-grown cells showed a non-linear response towards gamma-irradiation with a maximum inhibition being at 10 Gy. Addition of SFA or SFE in concentration of 1 µg/mL to the cultures before irradiation exposure recovered the QR activity from 23% in a non-amended variant up to 102% and 121%, respectively, taking the non-irradiated non-amended variant as 100%.

Effect of length and thermal time of the growing season on blueberry production

Highbush blueberry is one of the most popular fruit-bearing culture in the world. But its cultivation is associated with a number of peculiarities, which must be considered when setting up plantations in a given region. To ensure large stable harvests cultivars require sufficient heat sum and time for successful formation of flower buds, which provide the next year’s harvest of berries. Initiation and formation of flower buds begins during crop maturation and ends with the growing season. According to our observation data, blueberry cultivars require no less than 100 days and a heat sum of no less than 900°C (of temperatures above 0°C) during this period to successfully initiate flower buds. Failing to meet this mark leads to a significant (2,0-2,5 times) drop in yield. When setting up industrial plantations it is important to consider these circumstances and to select the cultivars, maturation times of which allow the plants to successfully form the number of flower buds, which provide a consistent high yield and profitability of the grown culture in the given region.

Cometabolic transformation of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene epoxide by a butane-grown mixed culture

Aerobic cometabolism of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (c-DCE) by a butane-grown mixed culture was evaluated in batch kinetic tests. The transformation of c-DCE resulted in the coincident generation of c-DCE epoxide. Chloride release studies showed ∼75% oxidative dechlorination of c-DCE. Mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of a compound with mass-to-charge-fragment ratios of 112, 83, 48, and 35. These values are in agreement with the spectra of chemically synthesized c-DCE epoxide. The transformation of c-DCE required O2, was inhibited by butane and was inactivated by acetylene (a known monooxygenase inactivator), indicating that a butane monooxygenase enzyme was likely involved in the transformation of c-DCE. This study showed c-DCE epoxide was biologically transformed, likely by a butane monooxygenase enzyme. c-DCE epoxide transformation was inhibited by both acetylene and c-DCE indicating a monooxygenase enzyme was involved. The epoxide transformation was also stopped when mercuric chloride (HgCl2) was added as a biological inhibitor, further support a biological transformation. To our knowledge this is the first report of the biological transform c-DCE epoxide by a butane-grown culture.

Environmental Factors That Control Microbial Perchlorate Reduction

ABSTRACT As part of a study to elucidate the environmental parameters that control microbial perchlorate respiration, we investigated the reduction of perchlorate by the dissimilatory perchlorate reducer Dechlorosoma suillum under a diverse set of environmental conditions. Our results demonstrated that perchlorate reduction by D. suillum only occurred under anaerobic conditions in the presence of perchlorate and was dependent on the presence of molybdenum. Perchlorate reduction was dependent on the presence of the enzyme chlorite dismutase, which was induced during metabolism of perchlorate. Anaerobic conditions alone were not enough to induce expression of this enzyme. Dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 2 mg liter−1 were enough to inhibit perchlorate reduction by D. suillum. Similarly to oxygen, nitrate also regulated chlorite dismutase expression and repressed perchlorate reduction by D. suillum. Perchlorate-grown cultures of D. suillum preferentially reduced nitrate in media with equimolar amounts of perchlorate and nitrate. In contrast, an extended (40 h) lag phase was observed if a similar nitrate-perchlorate medium was inoculated with a nitrate-grown culture. Perchlorate reduction commenced only when nitrate was completely removed in either of these experiments. In contrast to D. suillum, nitrate had no inhibitory effects on perchlorate reduction by the perchlorate reducer Dechloromonas agitata strain CKB. Nitrate was reduced to nitrite concomitant with perchlorate reduction to chloride. These studies demonstrate that microbial respiration of perchlorate is significantly affected by environmental conditions and perchlorate reduction is directly dependent on bioavailable molybdenum and the presence or absence of competing electron acceptors. A microbial treatment strategy can achieve and maintain perchlorate concentrations below the recommended regulatory level, but only in environments in which the variables described above can be controlled.

Superoxide Dismutase During Glucose Repression Of Hansenula Polymorpha CBS 4732

Hansenula polymorpha CBS 4732 was studied during cultivation on methanol and different glucose concentrations. Activities of Cu/Zn and Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase and methanol oxidase were investigated. During cultivation on methanol, increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and an induced methanol oxidase were achieved. Transfer of a methanol grown culture to medium with a high glucose concentration caused growth inhibition, low consumption of carbon, nitrogen and phosphate substrates, methanol oxidase inactivation as well as decrease of catalase activity (21.8 ± 0.61 ΔE240 × min -1 × mg protein -1). At the same time, a high value for superoxide dismutase enzyme was found (42.9 ± 0.98 U × mg protein-1, 25% of which was represented by Mn superoxide dismutase and 75% - by the Cu/Zn type). During derepression methanol oxidase was negligible (0.005 ± 0.0001 U × mg protein -1), catalase tended to be the same as in the repressed culture, while superoxide dismutase activity increased considerably (63.67 ± 1.72 U × mg protein -1, 69% belonging to the Cu/Zn containing enzyme). Apparently, the cycle of growth inhibition and reactivation of Hansenula polymorpha CBS 4732 cells is strongly connected with the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase