Euterpe oleracea Mart (Açaizeiro) from the Brazilian Amazon: A Novel Font of Fungi for Lipase Production.

Lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) are hydrolases that catalyze triglycerides hydrolysis in free fatty acids and glycerol. Among the microorganisms that produce lipolytic enzymes, the entophytic fungi stand out. We evaluated 32 fungi of different genera, Pestalotiopsis, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Chaetomium, Mucor, Botryodiplodia, Xylaria, Curvularia, Neocosmospora and Verticillium, isolated from Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaizeiro) from the Brazilian Amazon for lipase activity. The presence of lipase was evidenced by the deposition of calcium crystals. The endophytic Pestalotiopsis sp. (31) and Aspergillus sp. (24) with Pz 0.237 (++++) and 0.5 (++++), respectively, were the ones that showed the highest lipolytic activity in a solid medium. Lipase activity was rated in liquid medium, in a different range of temperatures (°C), pH and time (days). The values obtained in the production of lipase by the endophytic fungi were 94% for Pestalotiopsis sp. (31) and 93.87% for Aspergillus sp. (24). Therefore, it is emphasized that the endophytic fungus isolated the E. oleracea palm may be a potential candidate to produce enzymes of global commercial interest.

Silver nanoparticle from whole cells of the fungi Trichoderma spp. isolated from Brazilian Amazon.

Metal nanoparticles are a promising approach for the development of new antimicrobial systems. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have a significant antibacterial activity through bacterial surface adsorption and oxidative stress induction, as indicated by recent observations. This research aimed to use endophytic fungi from the genus Trichoderma spp. isolated from the Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil-nut) seeds and the soil to biosynthesize AgNPs and also test their antibacterial activity. The use of these fungi for this purpose not only valorizes the Amazon biodiversity but it also uses cleaner and cheaper processes, being part of the Green Chemistry concept. The particles were analyzed through Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy and ZetaSizer and the band of absorption at 420 nm was analyzed through Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance. After characterization, the AgNP were tested for antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains, when it was observed that their antibacterial activity was superior in Gram-negative bacteria.

Purification and characterization of an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase produced by Trichoderma asperellum.

Trichoderma asperellum produces at least two extracellular beta-1,3-glucanases upon induction with cell walls from Rhizoctonia solani. A beta-1,3-glucanase was purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. A typical procedure provided 35.7-fold purification with 9.5% yield. The molecular mass of the purified exo-beta-1,3-glucanases was 83.1 kDa as estimated using a 12% (w/v) SDS-electrophoresis slab gel. The enzyme was only active toward glucans containing beta-1,3-linkages and hydrolyzed laminarin in an exo-like fashion to form glucose. The K(m) and V(max) values for exo-beta-1,3-glucanase, using laminarin as substrate, were 0.087 mg ml(-1) and 0.246 U min(-1), respectively. The pH optimum for the enzyme was pH 5.1 and maximum activity was obtained at 55 degrees C. Hg(2+) strongly inhibited the purified enzyme.