Production of Omegas-6 and 9 from the Hydrolysis of Açaí and Buriti Oils by Lipase Immobilized on a Hydrophobic Support.

This paper describes a bioprocess to obtain omegas-6 and 9 from the hydrolysis of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) oils by lipases immobilized on octyl-sepharose. For this, oils and butters were initially selected as the carbon source which resulted in higher production of lipases in Beauveria bassiana and Fusarium oxysporum cultures. The carbon source that provided secretion of lipase by B. bassiana was Açaí oil, and for F. oxysporum, Bacuri butter. Lipases obtained under these conditions were immobilized on octyl-sepharose, and both, the derivatives and the crude extracts were biochemically characterized. It was observed that the immobilization promoted an increase of stability in B. bassiana and F. oxysporum lipase activities at the given temperatures and pH. In addition, the immobilization promoted hyperactivation of B. bassiana and F. oxysporum lipase activities being 23.5 and 11.0 higher than free enzyme, respectively. The hydrolysis of Açaí and Buriti oils by the derivatives was done in a biphasic (organic/aqueous) system, and the products were quantified in RP-HPLC. The results showed the potential of these immobilized lipases to obtain omegas-6 and 9 from Brazilian natural oils. This work may improve the enzymatic methodologies for obtaining foods and drugs enriched with fatty acids.

Bioprospection and characterization of the amylolytic activity by filamentous fungi from Brazilian Atlantic Forest / Bioprospecção e caracterização da atividade amilolítica de fungos filamentosos da Mata Atlântica Brasileira

Abstract Filamentous fungi are widely diverse and ubiquitous organisms. Such biodiversity is barely known, making room for a great potential still to be discovered, especially in tropical environments - which are favorable to growth and species variety. Filamentous fungi are extensively applied to the production of industrial enzymes, such as the amylases. This class of enzymes acts in the hydrolysis of starch to glucose or maltooligosaccharides. In this work twenty-five filamentous fungi were isolated from samples of decomposing material collected in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The two best amylase producers were identified as Aspergillus brasiliensis and Rhizopus oryzae. Both are mesophilic, they grow well in organic nitrogen-rich media produce great amounts of glucoamylases. The enzymes of A. brasiliensis and R. oryzae are different, possibly because of their phylogenetical distance. The best amylase production of A. brasiliensis occurred during 120 hours with initial pH of 7.5; it had a better activity in the pH range of 3.5-5.0 and at 60-75°C. Both fungal glucoamylase had wide pH stability (3-8) and were activated by Mn2+. R. oryzae best production occurred in 96 hours and at pH 6.5. Its amylases had a greater activity in the pH range of 4.0-5.5 and temperature at 50-65ºC. The most significant difference between the enzymes produced by both fungi is the resistance to thermal denaturation: A. brasiliensis glucoamylase had a T50 of 60 minutes at 70ºC. The R. oryzae glucoamylase only had a residual activity when incubated at 50°C with a 12 min T50.

Resumo Fungos filamentosos são organismos amplamente diversificados e ubíquos. Esta biodiversidade ainda é pouco caracterizada, desta forma, há um grande potencial a ser descoberto, sobretudo em biomas tropicais, que favorecem o crescimento e diversificação de espécies. Fungos filamentosos são extensivamente utilizados para a produção industrial de enzimas, como as amilases. Esta classe de enzimas atua na hidrólise do amido em glicose ou maltooligossacarídeos. Neste trabalho 25 cepas de fungos filamentosos foram isoladas a partir de amostras de material em decomposição coletados na Mata Atlântica Brasileira. As duas cepas que produziram mais amilases foram identificadas como Aspergillus brasiliensis e Rhizopus oryzae. Ambos os fungos são mesofílicos, crescem bem em meio de cultivo rico em nitrogênio orgânico, e produziram grande quantidade de glucoamilase. As enzimas de A. brasiliensis e R. oryzae possuem características distintas, possivelmente devido à distância filogenética das espécies. A produção de amilase mais expressiva de A. brasiliensis ocorreu em 120 horas de cultivo e pH inicial de 7,5; possui maior atividade em temperaturas entre 60-75ºC e pH entre 3,5-5,0. Ambas glucoamilases fúngicas obtiveram ampla estabilidade de pH (3-8) e foram ativadas por Mn2+. A melhor produção de R. oryzae ocorreu em 96 horas de cultivo e pH 6,5. Suas amilases são mais ativas na faixa de pH de 4,0-5,5 e temperatura entre 50-60ºC. A diferença mais significativa dentre as enzimas produzidas pelos fungos selecionados é a resistência à desnaturação térmica, tendo a glucoamilase de A. brasiliensis um T50 de 60 minutos a 70ºC, já a glucoamilase de R. oryzae somente obteve atividade residual quando incubada a 50°C, com um T50 de apenas 12 minutos.