Fungal fermentation of whey incorporated with certain supplements for the production of proteases.

The pattern and the extent of formation of proteases and secretion varied with the fungus, age and/or the nature of the co-supplement. Addition of yeast extract induced the best yield of proteases from both Aspergillus niger and A. terreus. Proteases from A. niger were highly induced by glutamic acid, alanine or albumin, with minor differences, whereas gelatin, peptone, aspartic acid, casein or acetamide stimulated the accumulation of proteases in the culture medium of A. terreus. Galactose stimulated the yield of the enzyme particularly with A. terreus while most C-supplements inhibited such processes, more prominently in the presence of cellulose or starch. Incorporation of nicotinic acid and wheat bran initiated the maximum productivity of proteases from A. niger and A. terreus, respectively. Co+2 and Cu+2 highly stimulated the output of proteases from A. niger and A. terreus, respectively. Co+2 and Ca+2 stimulated the enzyme activity of alkaline and acid proteases from A. terreus and acid proteases from A. niger. The other six cations and DTT inhibited variably the three proteases particularly alkaline proteases from A. terreus indicating that proteases from various sources even from closely related species showed different properties.

Intracellular location of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme in C 3 plants.

The aim of this work was to determine the maximum catalytic activity and intracellular location of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) in C3 plants. Appreciable activities, ranging from 80 to 712 nmol · (gFW)(-1) · min(-1), were found in a wide range of tissues (roots and leaves of Pisum sativum L., cotyledons of Cucurbit a pepo Alef., developing seeds of Brassica napus L., mesocarp of Persea americana Gaertn., and suspension cultures of Glycine max L.). Overall, activity showed a rough positive correlation with biosynthesis. Differential and density-gradient fractionation of extracts of the cotyledons of germinating marrow (C. pepo) and lysates of protoplasts of suspension cultures of G. showed that the enzyme had the same distribution as the plastid marker enzymes. It is suggested that in C3 plants NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme is confined to the plastids and involved in biosynthesis.