OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of a bioflocculant named MBF7 produced by Penicillum strain HHE-P7 and the effects of cultivation conditions on bioflocculant production.

METHODSThe chemical group in the bioflocculant molecules was shown by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and the average molecular weight of MBF7 was estimated by gel permeation chromatography. The effects of medium components on bioflocculant production and flocculating activity were studied.

RESULTSPhospho-, amino-, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups were the major fractions of MBF7, and the molecule weight was about 3.0x10(5) Da. In addition, the carbon and nitrogen sources favorable for the bioflocculant production were glucose and yeast extract respectively. When the initial pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.0, high flocculant efficiency could be achieved.

CONCLUSIONThe bioflocculant MBF7 is a new macromolecule with high flocculating efficiency for Kaolin suspension, and could be produced under appropriate culture conditions.

Culture Media ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Penicillium ; metabolism

Penicillin is a kind of β-lactam drug which has been applied in the clinical treatment firstly in the world, and it has still been widely used at present. The synthesis and regulation mechanism of Penicillium chrysogenum, which is used to produce penicillin, has been studied quite maturely, but its proteomics research started relatively late and fewer reports were published. This paper reviews the synthesis and application of penicillin, transformation of Penicillium chrysogenum, and the research progress of its proteomics. On this basis, the study highlights the advantages of proteomics in the research of protein expression.
Penicillins ; biosynthesis ; Penicillium chrysogenum ; metabolism ; Proteome ; Proteomics

The efficient production of lignocellulolytic enzyme systems is an important support for large-scale biorefinery of plant biomass. On-site production of lignocellulolytic enzymes could increase the economic benefits of the process by lowering the cost of enzyme usage. Penicillium species are commonly found lignocellulose-degrading fungi in nature, and have been used for industrial production of cellulase preparations due to their abilities to secrete complete and well-balanced lignocellulolytic enzyme systems. Here, we introduce the reported Penicillium species for cellulase production, summarize the characteristics of their enzymes, and describe the strategies of strain engineering for improving the production and performance of lignocellulolytic enzymes. We also review the progress in fermentation process optimization regarding the on-site production of lignocellulolytic enzymes using Penicillium species, and suggest prospect of future work from the perspective of building a "sugar platform" for the biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass.
Biomass ; Cellulase/metabolism* ; Fermentation ; Fungi/metabolism* ; Lignin/metabolism* ; Penicillium

We studied the alteration of the maize straw apoplast proteins in the process of preservation, and analyzed the effects of apoplast proteins on Penicillum expansum cellulase activities. The results show that: the extractable apoplast proteins are gradually decreased during the preservation of maize straw. Meanwhile, their synergistic effects on P. expensum cellulose are also attenuated. The apoplast proteins extracted from fresh maize straw possess endogenous EG activities, which is unstable and completely vanished after 6 months preservation. The apoplast proteins from the preserved straw exhibit significant synergistic effect on FPA, cotton lyase and beta-glucosidase. The maximal synergistic values are 95.32%, 102.06% and 96.6%, respectively. But interestingly, they inhibit the CMCase activity (max. 49.52%). Apoplast proteins show distinctive synergy with betaG and EG, but have no effect on CBH activity. After eliminating the effect of endogenous EG, the apoplast proteins from fresh maize straw have enhanced synergistic or inhibiting effects on FPA, Cotton lyase, betaG and CMCase than those extracted from the preserved straw. Based on our observation, the apoplast proteins play important roles in regulating the cellulase activities. The detailed analysis of the related mechanisms will greatly benefit the studies of the natural biomaterials hydrolysis.
Cellulase ; metabolism ; Penicillium ; enzymology ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; metabolism ; Zea mays ; metabolism

This study is aimed at identifying and determining the percentage of occurrence frequency of cellulose decomposing soil fungi. The soil samples were inoculated into culture plates prepared in Sabouraud medium under sterilized conditions and incubated at 30 degrees C for 4 to 7 d. The identified fungal species were incubated in self-designed cellulose medium for testing their cellulolytic ability. Forty-two species, including 2 nova species, representing sixteen genera showed growth and sporulation in the cellulose medium. Most of the isolated species were from genus Aspergillus and Penicillium. Aspergillus niger and Mucor hiemalis showed highest occurrence frequency (45% and 36% respectively), as these species were collected from about 80% of soil samples. Being agar free and cheaper, the new fungal medium designed showed results equivalent to Sabouraud medium.
Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Mitosporic Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Soil Microbiology

Endophytic fungi Penicillium dangeardii, isolated from Lysidice rhodostegia Hance root, was fermented and the secondary metabolites were studied. By means of Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, ODS column chromatography and PHPLC over the fermented culture, 5 compounds were isolated. By using ESI-MS and NMR, the structures of the compounds were determined as N-[9-(β- D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purin-6-yl]-L-aspartic acid (1), 3-caffeoylquinic acid (2), 4-caffeoylquinic acid (3), and 5-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3-hydroxy-benzoic acid-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5).
Biological Factors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fabaceae ; microbiology ; Fermentation ; Molecular Structure ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism

The PDB culture medium was selected to ferment the endophyte strain, and the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi Penicillium polonicum were studied. Combined application of Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC chromatographies over the ethyl acetate extract of the fermented culture led to the isolation of 6 compounds. By spectral methods, the structures were elucidated as [3, 5-dihydroxy-2-(7-hydroxy-octanoyl)]-ethylphenylacetate (1), (3, 5-dihydroxy-2- octanoyl)-ethyl phenylacetate (2), (5, 7-di- hydroxy-9-heptyl)-isobenzo pyran-3-one (3), 3-(hydroxymethyl) 4-(1E)-1- propen-1-yl-(1R, 2S, 5R, 6S)-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] hept-3-ene-2, 5-diol (4), (E)-2-methoxy-3-(prop-1-enyl) phenol (5) and p-hydroxylphenylethanol (6).
Biological Factors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Fabaceae ; microbiology ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the endophyte strain E8 with high activity from Curcuma wenyujin and study its secondary metabolites.

METHODThe strain E8 was identified by morphological observation and ITS sequence analysis. Manifold chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents of fermentation broth from strain E8, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTThe strain E8 belongs to P. oxalicum. Four compounds were isolated from the fermentation broth of this strain and elucidated as chrysophanol, emodin, secalonic acid A and beta-sitosterol.

CONCLUSIONThe endophyte P. oxalicum was isolated from medicinal plant Curcuma wenyujin for the first time. Four compounds were first isolated from endophytic fungus in C. wenyujin. Thus, microbial fermentation is a new access for these compounds production.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Curcuma ; microbiology ; Emodin ; analysis ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Sitosterols ; analysis ; Xanthones ; analysis

Six kinds of elicitors were prepared respectively from Neurospora crassa, Monascus purpureus, Sporobolomyces roseus, Rhodotorula rubra, Nocardia sp. N89 and Actinoplanes sp. A05. When Penicillium sp. PT95 was incubated in Czapek's agar plates containing appropriate amounts of elicitors, both its sclerotia biomass and carotenoid content accumulated in sclerotia were enhanced significantly (P < 0.01). Among tested elicitors, the elicitors from the fungi N. crassa, M. purpureus, S.-roseus and R. rubra were more effective than those from the actinomycetes Nocardia sp. N89 and Actinoplanes sp. A05; the elicitor from M. purpureus gave the highest carotenoid yield of 599 micrograms/plate, 2.76 times higher than that of control. Every one of elicitors except that from M. purpureus could increase significantly the proportion of beta-carotene in total carotenoids (P < 0.01).
Actinomycetales ; physiology ; Biomass ; Carotenoids ; biosynthesis ; Neurospora crassa ; physiology ; Nocardia ; physiology ; Penicillium ; metabolism ; Rhodotorula ; physiology

The periodic change of environment factors in air pressure oscillation solid state fermentation bioreactor was studied. Based this research the effect of the periodic environment stimulations on Penicillium decumbens JUA10 cultured in solid state substrate was researched too. The research results showed that in this bioreactor air temperature and relative humidity had large amplitude periodic change drived by air pressure oscillation. The changes had same frequency with the air pressure Oscillation and had amplitude that increased with the air pressure increased. When the press lower limit and upper limit were 0.0MPa and 0.2MPa respectively, pulsating period was 20 min, contrast to the period gather breath solid state fermentation, the air press pulsating SSF had a 2.29 times total CO2 production increase, 3.2 times enzyme activity increase and 1.04 times biomass increase. The data suggested air press pulsating stimulation not only increased biomass but also the metabolic activity.
Air Pressure ; Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Fermentation ; Humidity ; Penicillium ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Periodicity ; Temperature