Biorefinery Concept Employing Bacillus coagulans: LX-Lignin and L-(+)-Lactic Acid from Lignocellulose.

A new biorefinery concept is proposed that integrates the novel LX-Pretreatment with the fermentative production of L-(+)-lactic acid. Lignocellulose was chosen as a substrate that does not compete with the provision of food or feed. Furthermore, it contains lignin, a promising new chemical building material which is the largest renewable source for aromatic compounds. Two substrates were investigated: rye straw (RS) as a residue from agriculture, as well as the fibrous digestate of an anaerobic biogas plant operated with energy corn (DCS). Besides the prior production of biogas from energy corn, chemically exploitable LX-Lignin was produced from both sources, creating a product with a low carbohydrate and ash content (90.3% and 88.2% of acid insoluble lignin). Regarding the cellulose fraction of the biomass, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation experiments were conducted, comparing a separate (SHF), simultaneous (SSF) and prehydrolyzed simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF) approach. For this purpose, thermophilic B. coagulans 14-300 was utilized, reaching 38.0 g L-1 LA in 32 h SSF from pretreated RS and 18.3 g L-1 LA in 30 h PSSF from pretreated DCS with optical purities of 99%.

Transient receptor potential channels in essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The role of nonselective cation channels of the transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) family in essential hypertension has not yet been investigated. METHODS: We studied TRPCs in 51 patients with essential hypertension and 51 age-matched and sex-matched normotensive control subjects. Calcium and gadolinium influx into human monocytes was determined using the fluorescent dye technique. TRPC expression was measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in-cell western assay. Gene silencing by small interfering RNA for specific TRPC knockdown was also performed. RESULTS: We observed an increased gadolinium/calcium-influx ratio through TRPC in essential hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects [cation influx ratio (mean +/- SEM), 125 +/- 14 versus 80 +/- 7%; each n = 51; P < 0.01], due to an increase of gadolinium influx in hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects (48 +/- 4 versus 36 +/- 3%; each n = 51; P < 0.05). We observed a significant increase of TRPC3 and TRPC5 protein expression in essential hypertensive patients compared with normotensive control subjects (normalized TRPC3 expression, 3.21 +/- 0.59 versus 1.36 +/- 0.07; each n = 20; P < 0.01; normalized TRPC5 expression, 2.10 +/- 0.28 versus 1.40 +/- 0.52; each n = 12; P < 0.05). We used small interfering RNA for knockdown of TRPC5. The thereby reduced channel expression caused a significant attenuation of calcium and gadolinium influx. CONCLUSION: This study points to an important role of TRPCs in essential hypertension.