Functionalized alginate as immobilization matrix in enantioselective L (+) lactic acid production by Lactobacillus delbrucekii.

The imperative role of functionalized natural alginate in immobilization of Lactobacillus delbrucekii (NCIM 2365) cells in production of optically pure L (+) lactic acid was studied. L. delbrucekii cells were immobilized in alginate, succinylated alginate and carrageenan to evaluate the bead stability and selectivity towards production of optically pure L (+) lactic acid. The scanning electron microscopic studies of free and immobilized cells show little morphological changes. The present study highlights the use of functionalized alginate-immobilized L. delbrucekii cells in production of L (+) lactic acid in higher yields (0.93 Yp/s in grams) with an improved enantioselectivity (99%). In addition, they further revealed decreased by-product formation (acetic and propionic acid) when compared to free and other immobilized cell fermentation.

Optimization of fermentation conditions for production of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin by Amycolatopsis orientalis.

Glycopeptides produced by Streptomyces species are the drugs used against beta-lactam drug-resistant staphylococcal infections, and vancomycin is important among them. Increased prevalence of resistant strains increased the usage of vancomycin worldwide and also promoted attempts for indigenous production. The optimum process conditions pH, temperature, inoculum size, agitation, and aeration for vancomycin production by Amycolatopsis orientalis were evaluated, statistically analyzed, and the response surface curves were constructed. The optimum process conditions were a pH of 7.6, a temperature of 29 degrees C, an inoculum size of 4.5%, an agitation of 255 rpm, and an aeration of less than 1:10 medium-to-air ratio.

10H-Phenothiazines: a new class of enzyme inhibitors for inflammatory diseases.

The phenothiazine nucleus is known for their inhibitory activity towards the regulatory enzymes that are contributing to diseases such as asthma, autoimmune diseases including allergic rheumatoid and encephalomyelitis. In this study a number of substituted phenothiazines were synthesized and screened for their biological activity against the regulatory enzymes involved in inflammatory diseases. Our results show that the newly synthesized compounds 4a-c and 5a-c exhibited promising target specific enzyme inhibition against phosphodiesterase, prostaglandin dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase activity depending on steric factors of the molecules.

Efficient enantioselective reduction of ketones with Daucus carota root.

A novel and efficient reduction of various prochiral ketones such as acetopehones, alpha-azido aryl ketones, beta-ketoesters, and aliphatic acyclic and cyclic ketones to the corresponding optically acive secondary alcohols with moderate to excellent chemical yield was achieved by using Daucus carota, root plant cells under extremely mild and environmentally benign conditions in aqueous medium, has been described. Many of these optically active alcohols are the potential chiral building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important molecules and asymmetric chiral ligands. Hence, this biocatalytic approach is found to be the most suitable for the preparation of a wide range of chiral alcohols and gave inspiration for the development of a new biotechnological process.