Development of Low-Molecular Weight Collagen Peptide Complex with Glycosaminoglycan Components.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of biopolymers of the cartilage tissue was studied for obtaining a complex of type II collagen peptides and glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides. Hydrothermal hydrolysis in a high pressure homogenizer followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the cartilage tissue biopolymers with proteolytic enzyme preparation Karipazim yielded a complex of collagen peptides and glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides with molecular weights of 240-720 Da. Low molecular weight of the components increases their bioavailability. Entering into the cells (chondrocytes), low-molecular-weight peptides, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides as structural elements of the matrix can participate in the formation of fibrils of collagen and proteoglycans. Exogenous substances replenish deficient components of the matrix and/or their concentrations, affect the formation and strengthen the cartilage tissue. Thus, using cattle and porcine hyaline cartilages, we prepared a complex of biopolymers with lower molecular weights in comparison with previously developed nutraceuticals.

[Bacterial methane generation and methods of its optimization].

Presented are the results of studying bacterial methane generation and oxidation in the body of solid domestic wastes dump and intensity of gas release into atmosphere. The investigation revealed active microbial degradation of organic wastes with a distinct biogeochemical zoning. Quantitative and qualitative composition of micro-organisms depends on the depth of horizon. Disintegration of organic components of warehoused foods by various microorganisms occurs with production of volatile and gaseous compounds (carbonic acid, methane and others). Anaerobic conditions set the scene for active production of biogas, major components of which are methane and CO2. The final process in the sequence of organics transformations within the body of solid domestic wastes dump is predominant production of CH4 and CO2 in the ratio of approximately 60 and 40%, respectively, and trace quantities of other volatile compounds. Active bacterial methane oxidation is evidenced by the 13C isotope increase in methane and decrease in carbonic acid. The developed model of animal and plant wastes management demonstrated efficiency of the system using frozen-dried preparations of microbial associations and its practicability in municipal economy.

[Prevalence of nonmevalonate and mevalonate pathways for isoprenoid biosynthesis among bacteria of different systematic groups].

The effect of fosmidomycin and mevinoline, inhibitors of the nonmevalonate and the mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, respectively, on the growth of 34 anaerobic and 10 aerobic prokaryotic strains was studied. Fosmidomycin at the concentrations used was shown to inhibit the growth of 9 (of 10) representatives of the family Microbacteriaceae, 4 (of 5) strains of Thermoanaerobacter, and 11 (of 12) strains of Clostridium, whereas mevinoline inhibited the growth of lactobacilli (Carnobacterium), methanogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria insensitive to fosmidomycin. During the late growth phase, four strains of actinobacteria (of nine) accumulate the compound, which, upon oxidation, generates a long-lived free radical; three strains synthesize 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate (MEC). It was concluded that the difference in the sensitivity of the organisms to fosmidomycin and mevinoline might serve as a test to differentiate several representatives of the family Microbacteriaceae. The use of mevinoline for inhibiting methanogens in ecological investigations seems to be promising.

[Methanogenic sarcina from an anaerobic microbial community degrading p-toluene sulfonate]. / Metanoobrazuiushchaia sartsina iz anaerobnogo soobshchestva, razrushaiushchego p-toluolsul'fonat.

The methanogenic strain MM isolated from an anaerobic microbial community degrading p-toluene sulfonate showed optimal values of temperature and pH for growth equal to 37 degrees C and 6.3-6.9, respectively. The doubling times of the isolate grown on methanol, acetate, and methylamines under the optimal conditions were 8.8, 19.1, and 10.3-28.1 h, respectively. The growth of strain MM was observed only when the cultivation medium contained casamino acids or p-toluene sulfonate. The G + C content of the DNA of the isolate was 40.3 mol%. This, together with DNA-DNA hybridization data, allowed the new isolate to be identified as a strain of the species Methanosarcina mazei. The new isolate differed from the known representatives of this species in that it was resistant to alkylbenzene sulfonates and able to demethylate p-toluene sulfonate when grown on acetate.

[Analysis of the anaerobic microbial community capable of degrading p-toluene sulphonate]. / Analiz anaérobnogo soobshchestva mikroorganizmov, razrushaiushchego n-toluolsul'fonat.

Three strains of Clostridium sp., 14 (VKM B-2201), 42 (VKM B-2202), and 21 (VKM B-2279), two methanogens, Methanobacterium formicicum MH (VKM B-2198) and Methanosarcina mazei MM (VKM B-2199), and one sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio sp. SR1 (VKM B-2200), were isolated in pure cultures from an anaerobic microbial community capable of degrading p-toluene sulfonate. Strain 14 was able to degrade p-toluene sulfonate in the presence of yeast extract and bactotryptone and, like strain 42, to utilize p-toluene sulfonate as the sole sulfur source with the production of toluene. p-Toluene sulfonate stimulated the growth of Ms. mazei MM on acetate. The sulfate-reducing strain Desulfovibrio sp. SR1 utilized p-toluene sulfonate as an electron acceptor. The putative scheme of p-toluene sulfonate degradation by the anaerobic microbial community is discussed.

[Microbiological oxidation of methane in the stratal waters of the Lower Volgian]. / Mikrobiologicheskoe okislenie metaba v plastovykh vodakh Nizhnego Povolzh'ia.

Methanotrophic bacteria are rather widely distributed in bed waters of oil and gas deposits in the Nizhneye Povolzhye. Their number reaches 250 cells per 1 ml of water. However, bacterial methane oxidation is active only in waters whose redox potential exceeds +250 mV. In a number of cases, microbial methane oxidation is limited by the absence of oxygen from bed waters. If air is added to samples of such water, methane dissolved in the water is oxidized by microorganisms at a high rate (2--451 X 10(-4) cm3 of methane per litre of water per day).

Microbiological oxidation of methane in freshwater lakes of the Mari ASSR.

The quantity of methane-oxidizing microorganisms and intensity of microbiological methane oxidation in lakes of the Mari ASSR were studied. Maximum numbers of bacteria and highest intensity of methane oxidation were observed during summer stagnation in the thermocline, at the interface of aerobic and anaerobic zones. The intensity of oxidation was 4.6--28.1 x 10(-10) cm3 of methane per day per viable cell. During winter stagnation, the intensity of methane oxidation per cell was an order of magnitude lower. Over 69% of oxidized methane carbon was detected in extracellular metabolites, primarily CO2.

[Determination of the rate of microbiological oxidation of methane using 14CH4]. / Opredeleni intensivnosti protsessa mikrobiologicheskogo okisleniia metana s ispol'zovaneem 14CH4

The rate of microbiological oxidation of methane was determined by a technique using 12CH4. About 75-96 percent of the carbon form the methane oxidized by microorganisms was found in carbon dioxide, the remaining part was incorporated into the microbial cells. The rate of microbiological mehtane oxidation in the water of the Mari lakes was 6.4 times 10(-3) to 464.4 times 10(-3) cm3 CH4/litre per day.