Ethanol induction of laccase depends on nitrogen conditions of Pycnoporus sanguineus

Background Ethanol has been pointed out as a laccase inducer. However, there are controversial reports about its efficiency with some fungi. In this study, we hypothesized that ethanol laccase induced in Pycnoporus sanguineus depends on nitrogen nutriment conditions. To prove this, we assessed laccase production in submerged cultures of P. sanguineus, with different nitrogen concentrations and with, or without ethanol added in a factorial designed experiment. Results In order to analyze the effects of factors on the response variables, a factorial ANOVA, and response-surface models were performed. It was found that the nitrogen source was the main factor that affected laccase production in P. sanguineus. The treatments with yeast extract (2 g/L) and ethanol (3 g/L) induced the highest laccase activity (31.01 ± 4.9 U/L), while the treatments with urea reached the lowest activity (less than 1.6 U/L). Ethanol had positive and synergic effects on laccase production, in accordance with the surface response model, as long as simple nitrogen sources (urea) were not available. Conclusions We suggest that laccase in P. sanguineus is regulated by a catabolic nitrogen repression mechanism; laccase activity is strongly inhibited by urea used as nitrogen source and it decreases when the amount of urea increases; contrarily, a synergic positive effect was observed between yeast extract and ethanol on laccase production.

Characterization of ß-glucosidase produced by the white rot fungus Flammulina velutipes.

ß-Glucosidase production by the white rot fungus Flammulina velutipes CFK 3111 was evaluated using different carbon and nitrogen sources under submerged fermentation. Maximal extracellular enzyme production was 1.6 U/ml, corresponding to a culture grown in sucrose 40 g/l and asparagine 10 g/l. High production yield was also obtained with glucose 10 g/l and asparagine 4 g/l medium (0.5 U/ml). Parameters affecting the enzyme activity were studied using p-nitrophenyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside as the substrate. Optimal activity was found at 50°C and pHs 5.0 to 6.0. Under these conditions, ß-glucosidase retained 25% of its initial activity after 12 h of incubation and exhibited a half-life of 5 h. The addition of MgCl2, urea, and ethanol enhanced the ß-glucosidase activity up to 47%, whereas FeCl2, CuSO4, Cd(NO3)2, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide inflicted a strong inhibitory effect. Glucose and cellobiose also showed an inhibitory effect on the ß-glucosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The enzyme had an estimated molecular mass of 75 kDa. To the best of our knowledge, F. velutipes CFK 3111 ß-glucosidase production is amongst the highest reported to date, in a basidiomycetous fungus.

Vaccination with dendritic cells charged with apoptotic/necrotic B16 melanoma induces the formation of subcutaneous lymphoid tissue.

Antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DC) is of key importance for the initiation of the primary immune response. Mice vaccinated with DC charged with apoptotic/necrotic B16 cells (DC-Apo/Nec) are protected against B16 challenge. The aim of this study was to assess vaccine cell migration in our system and to find out if there is an immunological response taking place at the vaccination site. The formation of a pseudocapsule, peripheral node addresin expression in small venules, and the recruitment of a wide variety of cellular populations, including macrophages, polymorphonuclear lymphocytes, and CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes found in association with DC, evidenced the formation of tertiary lymphoid tissue in the vaccination site in our experimental system.