Pectin extraction from lime pomace by cold-active polygalacturonase-assisted method.

An Antarctic yeast was cultivated to produce and enzymatic extract with polygalacturonase activity, whose biochemical properties were studied. It assisted pectin extraction from lime pomace at 20 °C. The extract produced by Tausonia pullulans 8E had an optimum temperature of 40 °C and optimum pH of 5.0. At 20 °C, it displayed 54% of relative activity. A good pH-stability and thermostability were observed. Hg+2 and Co+2 inhibited its activity in 40 and 11%, respectively. Pectin was obtained from lime pomace at 20 °C, with 15% of yield after 120 min extraction. Uronic acid (46%) and neutral sugars (53%) were determined. Pectin's molecular weight was estimated in the order of 100,000 g mol-1. By anion-exchange chromatography, pectin-linked and free neutral sugars were observed. The high-methoxyl pectin was used to prepare low-calorie gels. It was demonstrated that this cold-active enzyme allows enzymatic-assisted pectin extraction at 20 °C.

The keratinolytic bacteria Bacillus cytotoxicus as a source of novel proteases and feather protein hydrolysates with antioxidant activities.

BACKGROUND: Argentina's geothermal areas are niches of a rich microbial diversity. In 2020, species of Bacillus cytotoxicus were isolated for the first time from these types of pristine natural areas. Bacillus cytotoxicus strains demonstrated the capability to grow and degrade chicken feathers with the concomitant production of proteases with keratinolytic activity, enzymes that have multitude of industrial applications. The aim of this research was to study the production of the proteolytic enzymes and its characterization. Also, feather protein hydrolysates produced during fermentation were characterized. RESULTS: Among the thermotolerant strains isolated from the Domuyo geothermal area (Neuquén province, Argentina), Bacillus cytotoxicus LT-1 and Oll-15 were selected and put through submerged cultures using feather wastes as sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source in order to obtain proteolytic enzymes and protein hydrolysates. Complete degradation of feathers was achieved after 48 h. Zymograms demonstrated the presence of several proteolytic enzymes with an estimated molecular weight between 50 and > 120 kDa. Optimum pH and temperatures of Bacillus cytotoxicus LT-1 crude extract were 7.0 and 40 °C, meanwhile for Oll-15 were 7.0 and 50 °C. Crude extracts were inhibited by EDTA and 1,10 phenanthroline indicating the presence of metalloproteases. Feather protein hydrolysates showed an interesting antioxidant potential measured through radical-scavenging and Fe3+-reducing activities. CONCLUSION: This work represents an initial approach on the study of the biotechnological potential of proteases produced by Bacillus cytotoxicus. The results demonstrated the importance of continuous search for new biocatalysts with new characteristics and enzymes to be able to cope with the demands in the market.

Debaryomyces hansenii F39A as biosorbent for textile dye removal.

Many industries generate a considerable amount of wastewater containing toxic and recalcitrant dyes. The main objective of this research was to examine the biosorption capacity of Reactive Blue 19 and Reactive Red 141 by the Antarctic yeast Debaryomyces hansenii F39A biomass. Some variables, including pH, dye concentration, amount of adsorbent and contact time, were studied. The equilibrium sorption capacity of the biomass increased with increasing initial dye concentration up to 350mg/l. Experimental isotherms fit the Langmuir model and the maximum uptake capacity (qmax) for the selected dyes was in the range of 0.0676-0.169mmol/g biomass. At an initial dye concentration of 100mg/l, 2g/l biomass loading and 20±1°C, D. hansenii F39A adsorbed around 90% of Reactive Red 141 and 50% of Reactive Blue 19 at pH 6.0. When biomass loading was increased (6g/l), the uptake reached up to 90% for Reactive Blue 19. The dye uptake process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetics for each dye system. As seen throughout this research study, D. hansenii has the potential to efficiently and effectively remove dyes in a biosorption process and may be an alternative to other costly materials.

Genetic and phenotypic variability of iris color in Buenos Aires population.

The aim of this work was to describe the phenotypic and genotypic variability related to iris color for the population of Buenos Aires province (Argentina), and to assess the usefulness of current methods of analysis for this country. We studied five Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) included in the IrisPlex kit, in 118 individuals, and we quantified eye color with Digital Iris Analysis Tool. The markers fit Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the whole sample, but not for rs12913832 within the group of brown eyes (LR=8.429; p=0.004). We found a remarkable association of HERC2 rs12913832 GG with blue color (p < 0.01) but the other markers did not show any association with iris color. The results for the Buenos Aires population differ from those of other populations of the world for these polymorphisms (p < 0,01). The differences we found might respond to the admixed ethnic composition of Argentina; therefore, methods of analysis used in European populations should be carefully applied when studying the population of Argentina. These findings reaffirm the importance of this investigation in the Argentinian population for people identification based on iris color.

Genetic and phenotypic variability of iris color in Buenos Aires population

Abstract The aim of this work was to describe the phenotypic and genotypic variability related to iris color for the population of Buenos Aires province (Argentina), and to assess the usefulness of current methods of analysis for this country. We studied five Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) included in the IrisPlex kit, in 118 individuals, and we quantified eye color with Digital Iris Analysis Tool. The markers fit Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the whole sample, but not for rs12913832 within the group of brown eyes (LR=8.429; p=0.004). We found a remarkable association of HERC2 rs12913832 GG with blue color (p < 0.01) but the other markers did not show any association with iris color. The results for the Buenos Aires population differ from those of other populations of the world for these polymorphisms (p < 0,01). The differences we found might respond to the admixed ethnic composition of Argentina; therefore, methods of analysis used in European populations should be carefully applied when studying the population of Argentina. These findings reaffirm the importance of this investigation in the Argentinian population for people identification based on iris color.