• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2003

A relatively high homology between Escherichia coli prolidase and Alteromonas organophosphorous acid anhydrolase suggests that E. coli prolidase may have an activity to d egrade toxic organophosphorous compounds. To confirm this suggestion, we cloned and expressed a prolidase gene (pepQ) of E. coliBL2l. The recombinant E. coli prolidase that consisted of 443 amino acid residues exhibited activity and stereochemical selectivity against organopho sphorous compounds, although its activity was two to three orders of magnitude less than that of the other organophosphorous acid hydrolase isolated from Pseudomonas diminuta.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2003

To improve the erythritol productivity of Penicillium sp. KJ81, mutants were obtained using UV irradiation and NTG treatment Among these mutants, Penicillium sp. KJ-UV29 revealed no morphological changes, yet was superior to the wild strain in the following three points: (1) Penicillium sp. KJ-UV29 produced more erythritol than the wild strain under the same conditions, (2) no foam was produced during cultivation, unlike the wild strain, and (3) the mutant produced a Significantly lower amount of glycerol. Penirillium sp. KJ-UV29 produced as much as 15.1 g/L of erythritol, whereas the wild-type Penirillium sp. KJ81 only produced 11.7 g/L. Penicillium sp. KJ-UV29 only generated 6.1 g/L of glycerol, compared to 19.4 g/L produced by the wild strain. When investigating the optimal culture conditions for erythritol production by the mutant strain Penicillium sp. KJ-UV89, sucrose was identified as the most effective carbon source, and the mutant was even able to produce erythritol in a 70% sucrose-containing medium, although a 30% sucrose medium exhibited the highest productivity. The production of erythritol by Penirillium sp. KJ-UV29 was also significantly increased by the addition of ammonium carbonate, potassium nitrate, and sodium nitrate. Accordingly, under optimal conditions, Penicillium sp. KJ-UV29 produced 45.2 g/L of erythritol in a medium containing 30% sucrose, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% (NH$_4$)$_2$C$_2$O$_4$, 0.1% KNO$_3$, 0.1% NaNO$_3$, and 0.01% FeSO$_4$ with 1 vvm aeration and 200 rpm agitation at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in a 5-L jar fermentor.