Supplemental enzymes and probiotics on the gut health of broilers fed with a newly harvested corn diet.

Gut health is important for digestion and absorption of nutrient for animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of enzymes and probiotics alone or in combination on the gut health of broilers fed with newly harvested corn diets. A total of 624 Arbor Acres Plus male broiler chickens were randomly divided into 8 treatment groups (PC: normal corn diet, NC: newly harvested corn diet, DE: NC + glucoamylase, PT: NC + protease, XL: NC + xylanase, BCC: NC + Pediococcus acidilactici BCC-1, DE + PT: NC + glucoamylase + protease, XL+BCC: NC + xylanase + Pediococcus acidilactici BCC-1). Each group was divided into 6 replicates, with 13 birds each. On d 21, intestinal morphological, intestinal tight junction and aquaporins gene expression, cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, and microflora were measured. Compared with the newly harvested corn diets (NC), supplemental glucoamylase (DE) significantly increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae (P < 0.05) and decreased the relative abundance of Moraxellaceae (P < 0.05). Supplemental protease (PT) significantly increased the relative abundance of Barnesiella (P < 0.05), but the relative abundance of Campylobacter decreased by 44.4%. Supplemental xylanase (XL) significantly increased the jejunal mRNA expressions of MUC2, Claudin-1, and Occludin (P < 0.01), as well as the cecal digesta contents of acetic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid (P < 0.01). Supplemental DE combined with PT increased the ileal mRNA expressions of aquaporins (AQP) 2, AQP5, and AQP7 (P < 0.01). Supplemental BCC significantly increased the jejunal villus height and crypt depth (P < 0.01), the jejunal mRNA expressions of MUC2, Claudin-1 and Occludin (P < 0.01), and the relative abundance of Bacteroides (P < 0.05). Supplemental xylanase in combination with BCC significantly increased jejunal villus height and crypt depth (P < 0.01), the ileal mRNA expressions of AQP2, AQP5 and AQP7 (P < 0.01), and the cecal digesta contents of acetic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid (P < 0.01). This suggests that inclusions of supplemental protease (12,000 U/kg), glucoamylase (60,000 U/kg), or Pediococcus acidilactici BCC-1 (109 cfu/kg) individually or in combination with xylanase (4,800 U/kg) in the newly harvested corn diets can alleviate diarrhea in broilers, and be beneficial for the gut health.

Strain variation in Bacillus cereus biofilms and their susceptibility to extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes.

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen and can form biofilms on food contact surfaces, which causes food hygiene problems. While it is necessary to understand strain-dependent variation to effectively control these biofilms, strain-to-strain variation in the structure of B. cereus biofilms is poorly understood. In this study, B. cereus strains from tatsoi (BC4, BC10, and BC72) and the ATCC 10987 reference strain were incubated at 30°C to form biofilms in the presence of the extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes DNase I, proteinase K, dispase II, cellulase, amyloglucosidase, and α-amylase to assess the susceptibility to these enzymes. The four strains exhibited four different patterns in terms of biofilm susceptibility to the enzymes as well as morphology of surface-attached biofilms or suspended cell aggregates. DNase I inhibited the biofilm formation of strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 but not of strains BC10 and BC72. This result suggests that some strains may not have extracellular DNA, or their extracellular DNA may be protected in their biofilms. In addition, the strains exhibited different patterns of susceptibility to protein- and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. While other strains were resistant, strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 were susceptible to cellulase, suggesting that cellulose or its similar polysaccharides may exist and play an essential role in their biofilm formation. Our compositional and imaging analyses of strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 suggested that the physicochemical properties of their biofilms are distinct, as calculated by the carbohydrate to protein ratio. Taken together, our study suggests that the extracellular matrix of B. cereus biofilms may be highly diverse and provides insight into the diverse mechanisms of biofilm formation among B. cereus strains.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy of the novel enzyme replacement therapy avalglucosidase alfa (neoGAA) in treatment-naïve and alglucosidase alfa-treated patients with late-onset Pompe disease: A phase 1, open-label, multicenter, multinational, ascending dose study.

This multicenter/multinational, open-label, ascending-dose study (NCT01898364) evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy of repeat-dose avalglucosidase alfa (neoGAA), a second-generation, recombinant acid α-glucosidase replacement therapy, in late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). Patients ≥18 years, alglucosidase alfa naïve (Naïve) or previously receiving alglucosidase alfa for ≥9 months (Switch), with baseline FVC ≥50% predicted and independently ambulatory, received every-other-week avalglucosidase alfa 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg over 24 weeks. 9/10 Naïve and 12/14 Switch patients completed the study. Avalglucosidase alfa was well-tolerated; no deaths/life-threatening serious adverse events (SAEs). One Naïve patient withdrew for study drug-related SAEs (respiratory distress/chest discomfort). Infusion-associated reactions (IARs) affected 8 patients. Most treatment-emergent AEs/IARs were non-serious with mild-to-moderate intensity. At screening, 5 Switch patients tested positive for anti-avalglucosidase alfa antibodies; on-treatment, 2 Switch and 9 Naïve patients seroconverted. Post-infusion, avalglucosidase alfa plasma concentrations declined monoexponentially (t1/2z∼1.0 h). AUC was 5-6 × higher in the 20 vs 5 mg/kg group. Pharmacokinetics were similar between Switch and Naïve groups and over time. Baseline quadriceps muscle glycogen was low (∼6%) in most patients, generally remaining unchanged thereafter. Exploratory efficacy parameters (pulmonary function/functional capacity) generally remained stable or improved. Avalglucosidase alfa's well-tolerated safety profile and exploratory efficacy results support further avalglucosidase alfa development.

An in vitro evaluation of hydrolytic enzymes as dental plaque control agents.

The plaque-control potential of commercially available amylase, lipase and protease was evaluated by observing their effects on coaggregation and on bacterial viability within various plaque microcosms. A quantitative coaggregation assay indicated that protease significantly inhibited the extent of coaggregation of Actinomyces naeslundii and Streptococcus oralis (P <0.05) and of Porphyromonas gingivalis and S. oralis. Amylase significantly (P <0.05) increased the coaggregation of A. naeslundii versus Fusobacterium nucleatum and A. naeslundii versus P. gingivalis. Concomitant challenge of constant-depth film fermenter-grown plaques with the enzymes did not result in detectable ecological perturbations (assessed by differential culture and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). Similar dosing and analysis of multiple Sorbarod devices did not reveal increases in bacterial dispersion which could result from disaggregation of extant plaques. A short-term hydroxyapatite colonization model was therefore used to investigate possible enzyme effects on early-stage plaque development. Whilst culture did not indicate significant reductions in adhesion or plaque accumulation, a vital visual assay revealed significantly increased aggregation frequency following enzyme exposure. In summary, although hydrolytic enzymes negatively influenced binary coaggregation, they did not cause statistically significant changes in bacterial viability within plaque microcosms. In contrast, enzyme exposure increased aggregation within extant plaques.

Replacing acid alpha-glucosidase in Pompe disease: recombinant and transgenic enzymes are equipotent, but neither completely clears glycogen from type II muscle fibers.

Pompe disease (type II glycogen storage disease) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) leading to the accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes primarily in cardiac and skeletal muscle. The recombinant human GAA (rhGAA) is currently in clinical trials for enzyme replacement therapy of Pompe disease. Both clinical data and the results of preclinical studies in our knockout model of this disease show that rhGAA is much more effective in resolving the cardiomyopathy than the skeletal muscle myopathy. By contrast, another form of human GAA--transgenic enzyme constitutively produced in liver and secreted into the bloodstream of knockout mice (Gaa-/-)--completely prevented both cardiac and skeletal muscle glycogen accumulation. In the experiments reported here, the transgenic enzyme was much less efficient when delivered to skeletal muscle after significant amounts of glycogen had already accumulated. Furthermore, the transgenic enzyme and the rhGAA have similar therapeutic effects, and both efficiently clear glycogen from cardiac muscle and type I muscle fibers, but not type II fibers. Low abundance of proteins involved in endocytosis and trafficking of lysosomal enzymes combined with increased autophagy in type II fibers may explain the resistance to therapy.

Correction of glycogen storage disease type II by enzyme replacement with a recombinant human acid maltase produced by over-expression in a CHO-DHFR(neg) cell line.

Inherited genetic deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha glucosidase or acid maltase (GAA) results in the autosomal recessive glycogen storage disease type II (GSD II). To investigate whether we could generate a functional recombinant human GAA (rhGAA) for enzyme replacement therapy, we subcloned the cDNAs for human GAA and mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) into DHFR(neg) Chinese hamster ovary cells and established a stable cotransformant that expressed rhGAA. We cultured the recombinant cells in media with progressively increasing concentrations of methotrexate and found that human GAA enzyme activity increased to over 2,000 IU per gram protein. Importantly, the human GAA enzyme activity correlated to equivalent amounts of human GAA protein by rocketimmunoelectrophoresis. We confirmed that the human GAA enzyme activity corresponded to an amplification in human GAA mRNA by Northern analysis and human GAA cDNA copy number by Southern analysis. Exposing the rhGAA to human GSDII fibroblast cells or patient's lymphocytes or monocytes resulted in uptake of the rhGAA and reversal of the enzymatic defect. Mannose-6-phosphate in the media blocked uptake. GAA -/- mice were treated with the rhGAA at 1 mg/kg, which resulted in heterozygous levels of GAA in tissues, most notably skeletal muscle, heart and diaphragm after two infusions. More importantly, after multiple infusions, hind, and fore-limb muscle weakness was reversed. This rhGAA would be ideal for enzyme replacement therapy in GSD II.

Recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase corrects acid alpha-glucosidase-deficient human fibroblasts, quail fibroblasts, and quail myoblasts.

Acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) deficiency causes Pompe disease, a lethal lysosomal glycogen storage disease for which no effective treatment currently exists. We investigated the endocytic process in deficient cells of human recombinant GAA produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, and the potential of GAA-deficient Japanese acid maltase-deficient quail as a model for evaluating the enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease. After 24-h incubation with a single dose of recombinant enzyme, intracellular GAA and glycogen levels in deficient human fibroblasts were normalized, and this correction lasted for 7 d. The 110-kD precursor recombinant enzyme was processed to the 76-kD mature form within 24 h after uptake. Intracellular GAA levels in deficient quail fibroblasts and myoblasts were similarly corrected to their average normal levels within 24 h. Differences existed in the efficiency of endocytosis among subfractions of the enzyme, and among different cell types. Fractions with a larger proportion of precursor GAA were endocytosed more efficiently. Quail fibroblasts required a higher dose, 4200 nmol.h-1.mL-1 to normalize intracellular GAA levels than human fibroblasts, 1290 nmol.h-1.mL-1, whereas primary quail myoblasts required 2800 nmol.h-1.mL-1. In all three cell lines, the endocytosed enzyme localized to the lysosomes on immunofluorescence staining, and the endocytosis was inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) added to the culture medium. Despite structural differences in Man-6-P receptors between birds and mammals, these studies illustrate that Man-6-P receptor mediated endocytosis is present in quail muscle cells, and demonstrate the potential of acid maltase-deficient quail to test receptor mediated enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease.

Nonopsonic binding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to complement receptor type 3 is mediated by capsular polysaccharides and is strain dependent.

The choice of host cell receptor and the mechanism of binding (opsonic versus nonopsonic) may influence the intracellular fate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We have identified two substrains of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, designated H37Rv-CC and -HH, that differed in their modes of binding to complement receptor type 3 (CR3) expressed in transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-Mac-1) cells: H37Rv-CC bound nonopsonically, whereas H37Rv-HH bound only after opsonization in fresh serum. H37Rv-CC also bound nonopsonically to untransfected CHO cells, whereas H37Rv-HH binding was enhanced by serum and was mediated by the 1D1 antigen, a bacterial adhesin previously identified as a polar phosphatidylinositol mannoside. H37Rv-CC and -HH had identical IS6110 DNA fingerprint patterns. Of five M. tuberculosis clinical isolates examined, four displayed the same binding phenotype as H37Rv-CC, as did the Erdman strain, whereas one isolate, as well as Mycobacterium smegmatis, behaved like H37Rv-HH. Nonopsonic binding of H37Rv-CC to CHO cell-expressed CR3 was apparently to the beta-glucan lectin site, as it was cation independent and inhibited by laminarin (seaweed beta-glucan) and N-acetylglucosamine; laminarin also inhibited the binding of H37Rv-CC to monocyte-derived macrophages. Further, binding of H37Rv-CC to CHO-Mac-1 cells was inhibited by prior agitation of bacteria with glass beads (which strips outer capsular polysaccharides) and by preincubation with amyloglucosidase, as well as by the presence of capsular D-glucan and D-mannan from M. tuberculosis Erdman, but not by Erdman D-arabino-D-mannan, yeast mannan, or capsular components from H37Rv-HH. Analysis of capsular carbohydrates revealed that H37Rv-CC expressed 5-fold more glucose and 2.5-fold more arabinose and mannose than H37Rv-HH. Flow cytometric detection of surface epitopes indicated that H37Rv-CC displayed twofold less surface-exposed phosphatidylinositol mannoside and bound complement C3 less efficiently than H37Rv-HH; these differences were eliminated after treatment of H37Rv-CC with glass beads. Thus, outer capsular polysaccharides mediate the binding of H37Rv-CC to CR3, likely to the beta-glucan site. Moreover, there are strain-dependent differences in the thickness or composition of capsular polysaccharides that determine the mode of binding of M. tuberculosis to mammalian cells.

High-concentration ethanol production from cooked corn starch by using medium-temperature cooking process.

An improved process for high-concentration ethanol production from cooked corn starch by Saccharomyces sp. W4 has been well developed. Simultaneous cooking and liquefaction of corn starch were performed by using thermophilic alpha-amylase at 95 degrees to 105 degrees C. The mash was then saccharified at 60 degrees C by using high-efficiency glucoamylase. Saccharomyces sp. W4 could produce 18.3% (v/v) ethanol at 30 degrees C within 60 hrs, with 1.2% reducing sugar and 4.1% total sugar remaining in the fermented mash. It was found that ammonium sulfate could accelerate the fermentation rate. When 0.9 g of ammonium sulfate was added to 280 mL of the fermentation media, 18.9% (v/v) ethanol could be reached in the mash after 50 hrs of fermentation, leaving 0.27% reducing sugar and 3.1% total sugar in the fermented media.

Changes in islet glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase activity modulate sulphonylurea-induced but not cholinergic insulin secretion.

We have previously presented indirect in vivo evidence for the involvement of islet acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase (acid amyloglucosidase), a lysosomal glucose-producing enzyme, in certain insulin secretory processes. In the present in vitro and in vivo investigation, we studied whether differential changes in islet acid amyloglucosidase activity would be related to the insulin secretory response induced by two mechanistically different secretagogues, the sulphonylurea derivative, glibenclamide and the acetylcholine receptor agonist, carbachol. It was observed that the selective alpha-glucosidehydrolase inhibitors emiglitate and acarbose markedly reduced glibenclamide-induced insulin release from isolated islets. Insulin release stimulated by carbachol or the protein kinase C activator TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate), was not inhibited. Basal insulin secretion was unaffected by emiglitate and acarbose. Further, pretreatment of mice with emiglitate resulted in a marked reduction of the in vivo insulin response to glibenclamide. Moreover, in vivo pretreatment with purified fungal amyloglucosidase ('enzyme replacement'), a procedure known to increase islet amyloglucosidase activity, greatly enhanced the insulin response to i.v. glibenclamide. This insulin release was accompanied by a marked depression of the blood glucose levels. In contrast, enzyme pretreatment did not influence the insulin response or the blood glucose levels after carbachol. The data strongly suggest that islet acid amyloglucosidase is involved in the insulin secretory processes induced by glibenclamide but not in those involving stimulation of muscarinic receptors or direct activation of protein kinase C. The results also indicate separate or at least partially separate pathways for insulin release induced by glibenclamide and cholinergic stimulation.

Islet glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase: differential influence on insulin secretion induced by glucose and isobutylmethylxanthine in mice.

In previous in-vivo studies we have presented indirect evidence for the involvement of islet acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase (acid amyloglucosidase), a lysosomal glycogen-hydrolysing enzyme, in certain insulin secretory processes. In the present combined in-vitro and in-vivo investigation, we studied whether differential changes in islet acid amyloglucosidase activity were related to the insulin secretory response induced by two mechanistically different secretagogues, glucose and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). It was observed that addition of the selective alpha-glucosidehydrolase inhibitor emiglitate (1 mmol/l) to isolated pancreatic islets resulted in a marked reduction of glucose-induced insulin release. This was accompanied by a pronounced suppression of islet activities of acid amyloglucosidase and acid alpha-glucosidase, whereas other lysosomal enzyme activities, such as acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, were unaffected. Furthermore, islets first incubated with emiglitate in the presence of high (16.7 mmol/l) glucose released less insulin than untreated controls in response to glucose in a second incubation period in the absence of emiglitate. In contrast, IBMX-induced insulin release was not influenced by emiglitate although accompanied by a marked reduction of islet activities of all three alpha-glucosidehydrolases. Basal insulin secretion (1 mmol glucose/l) was unaffected in the presence of emiglitate. In-vivo pretreatment of mice with highly purified fungal amyloglucosidase ('enzyme replacement'), a procedure known to increase islet amyloglucosidase activity, resulted in a greatly enhanced insulin secretory response to an i.v. glucose load. The increase in insulin release was accompanied by a markedly improved glucose tolerance curve in these animals. In contrast, enzyme pretreatment did not influence the insulin response or the blood glucose levels after an i.v. injection of IBMX. The data lend further support to our hypothesis that islet acid amyloglucosidase is involved in the multifactorial insulin secretory processes induced by glucose but not in those involving direct activation of the cyclic AMP system. The results also indicate separate, or at least partially separate, pathways for insulin release induced by glucose and IBMX.

Specific inhibition by cyclodextrins of raw starch digestion by fungal glucoamylase.

alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) completely inhibited raw starch digestion by glucoamylase I (GA I, MW 90,000) from Aspergillus awamori var. kawachi, and inhibited by 85% the raw starch adsorption of GA I at the CD concentrations of 1-5 mM. CDs at 1-5 mM did not inhibit gelatinized starch hydrolysis by GA I, but at the concentration of 50 mM, they inhibited such hydrolysis slightly. GA I was specifically adsorbed onto CD-Sepharose 6B, but glucoamylase I' (GA I', MW 73,000), which does not adsorb onto or digest raw starch, from the same strain was not adsorbed onto that gel. The adsorption of the glucoamylases onto raw starch and CD-Sepharose 6B was correlated to their digestion of raw starch. The hydrophobic adsorption of GA I onto CDs and raw starch occurred competitively at the Cp region, which is on the C-terminal side of Gp-I in the site for raw starch affinity of GA I, and inclusion complexes were formed.

Islet amyloglucosidase activity: some characteristics, and its relation to insulin secretion stimulated by various secretagogues.

The glucose-producing amylolytic activity in pancreatic islet tissue was characterized with regard to its properties with glycogen (amyloglucosidase) and maltose (maltase) as substrate, its optimum activity in islets from different strains of mice (NMRI, CBA and C-57BL) and after fasting, and its relation to the insulin secretory response after different secretagogues in vivo. Additionally the effects and fate of injected fungal acid amyloglucosidase were assessed. In the pancreatic islets of NMRI mice both the glycogen-splitting activity and the maltose-splitting activity displayed latency and an acid pH-optimum of about 5.0. After differential centrifugation a significant part of amyloglucosidase activity was found to be confined to the mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction. In crude islet homogenate the apparent Km for maltose at pH 5.0 was 2.1 mM. No Km for glycogen could be given because of complex kinetics in the presence of this substrate. The maltase activity was about 30% lower than the amyloglucosidase activity in islet tissue from NMRI mice. The reverse pattern was observed in the liver. Moreover, the liver amyloglucosidase activity was only one fourth of that of the islet tissue. The amyloglucosidase but not the maltase activity in islet tissue from CBA mice was lower than in islets from NMRI mice. Both activities were very low in islets from C-57 mice. A 24 hr fasting period reduced the amyloglucosidase but not the maltase activity in islets from NMRI mice. The insulin secretory response in vivo to an i.v. arginine load in the different strains and after fasting displayed the same pattern as the islet amyloglucosidase activity, whereas the insulin response following a glucagon injection was largest in the C-57 strain and unaffected by the fasting state. Pretreatment of mice with 0.05 mumol/kg of highly purified fungal amyloglucosidase, moderately (about 35%) enhanced the insulin secretory response to arginine, did not affect the response to glucagon, and greatly (about 100%) enhanced the response to glucose and tolbutamide. Moreover, treatment of mice with lysosomal stabilizers (glucocorticoids) reduced the insulin response to sulphonylureas and glucose, had no effect on the insulin response to beta-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation, and increased ACTH-induced insulin release. A lysosomal labilizer (progesterone) enhanced the insulin response induced by glucose and tolbutamide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Lysosomal enzyme activities in pancreatic islets from normal and obese hyperglycemic mice.

Lysosomal enzyme activities in pancreatic islets of obese hyperglycemic ob/ob mice aged 3 to 6 months were investigated and compared with those of normal lean NMRI mice of the same age. It was observed that the glycogenolytic glucose-producing hydrolase acid amyloglucosidase displayed a fivefold higher activity in the islets of obese mice than in the islets of normal NMRI mice. However, other islet lysosomal enzyme activities measured, such as N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase, were of the same magnitude in both obese and lean mice. A starvation period of 24 hours induced a significant depression of islet acid amyloglucosidase activity in obese as well as lean mice, whereas the activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase were unaffected. Further, the activities of other types of islet lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and cathepsin D, were also measured in obese mice. These activities were not found to be affected by the actual fasting period. A good correlation (r = 0.815; P less than 0.01) was observed between islet acid amyloglucosidase activity and plasma insulin concentrations in obese mice, whereas no such relationship was apparent with regard to other islet lysosomal enzyme activities recorded. Acid amyloglucosidase activity in liver tissue of the obese mouse was about 30 times lower than that of islet tissue. Further, the activity of liver amyloglucosidase was of the same order of magnitude in obese and lean mice. Similarly, other lysosomal enzyme activities in the liver of obese and lean mice were not strikingly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fish liver protein synthesis during cold acclimatization: seasonal changes of the ultrastructure of the carp hepatocyte.

A cell-free system, active in protein synthesis, was constructed using ribosomes and supernatant factors isolated from the livers of winter-acclimatized carps. Upon seasonal adaptation, the hepatocytes of these fishes exhibited distinctive morphological features that were not sex dependent. The cytoarchitecture of the liver cell from summer carps is consistent with the cellular arrangements found when the rate of gene expression is high. During winter, several morphological features reveal that macromolecular synthetic activity may be clearly diminished.

A single step polarographic assay of glycogen in muscle tissue and a note on the action of amyloglucosidase.

A rapid, single step polarographic assay of glycogen in KOH digests of muscle is presented. Amyloglucosidase is used to hydrolyse the glycogen to glucose, which is then immediately reacted with glucose oxidase. The method has a good reproducibility, is rapid, and requires as little as 0.7 mg freeze-dried muscle powder. From comparison of the rate of reaction of glycogen in the complete assay mixture with those of alpha- and beta-D-glucose, it was concluded that in the hydrolysis of glycogen--a polymer of alpha-D-glucose--by amyloglucosidase, the immediate and only product is beta-D-glucose. This suggests that during hydrolysis, the pyranose ring is opened at carbon 1, and that carbon 1 is rotated to the beta-configuration before closure.

Releasing of intracellular glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger.

A method is presented for the release of glucoamylase (alpha-D-1,4-glucan glucohydrolase, E. C. 3,2,1, 3) from mycelia of Aspergillus niger. The process involves (a) suspension of mycelia at the stationary phase in water, and (b) homogenization and agitation of the suspension. The released intracellular enzyme is further purified by DEAE-cellulose.

[Enzymatic release of sedimentary bacteria in the presence of antibiotics]. / Débusquement enzymatique des bactéries sédimentaires en présence d'antibiotiques.

Polysaccharases release microorganisms from their natural seat, marine sediments for example. The enzymatic activity works both on the microbial adherence polysaccharides and on the support surfaces (cellulose, pectine, etc.). Dosages of glucose confirm polysaccharase activity. An association of bacitracine, thiophenicol and a few enzymes: cellulase, pectinase, amyloglucosidase, alpha amylase, hyaluronidase, release a considerable number of bacteria. The culture on specific mediums confirm the specificity of this release. E. coli polyresistant strain where isolated by amylo-glucosidase, glucuronidase association in a mixture of thiophenicol and bacitracine. Bacillus and other Gram positive bacteria are frequently isolated by this method. The number of colonizer microorganisms on solid media are considerably higher with sediments treated by enzymes, or by enzyme, antibiotic mixtures, than with untreated ones.