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Bedard S, Roxborough E, O'Neill E, Mangal V. The biomolecules of Euglena gracilis: Harnessing biology for natural solutions to future problems. Protist 2024; 175:126044. [PMID: 38823247 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2024.126044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the autotrophic and heterotrophic protist Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) has gained popularity across the studies of environmental science, biosynthesis experiments, and nutritional substitutes. The unique physiology and versatile metabolism of E. gracilis have been a recent topic of interest to many researchers who continue to understand the complexity and possibilities of using E. gracilis biomolecule production. In this review, we present a comprehensive representation of recent literature outlining the various uses of biomolecules derived from E. gracilis across the fields of natural product biosynthesis, as a nutritional substitute, and as bioremediation tools. In addition, we highlight effective strategies for altering metabolite production using abiotic stressors and growth conditions. To better understand metabolite biosynthesis and its role in E. gracilis, integrated studies involving genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics should be considered. Together, we show how the ongoing advancements in E. gracilis related research continue to broaden applications in the biosynthetic sector and highlight future works that would strengthen our understanding of overall Euglena metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bedard
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University. 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catherines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - E Roxborough
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - E O'Neill
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - V Mangal
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University. 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catherines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada.
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Fukuda M, Kinkawa M, Hayashi M. Fed-batch cultivation of Euglena gracilis for the high-yield production and GPC-assisted molecular weight determination of paramylon. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2024; 88:206-211. [PMID: 37974047 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Paramylon, a starch-like carbohydrate accumulated in Euglena gracilis cells, could be a potential source as a raw material for chemical products; its high-yield production would thus be highly desired. Although the molecular weight and polymerization degree of paramylon are important properties for its use as a raw material for chemical products, the available information about paramylon molecular weight remains insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we investigated a high-density E. gracilis culture approach and how culture conditions affect paramylon molecular weight. The nitrogen source, cultivation temperature, and nutrient feeding were optimized for maximum biomass and paramylon productivity. The maximum dry cell weight and paramylon content yields reached 108.9 g/L and 87.2%, respectively. Paramylon molecular weight was in the range of 220 000-320 000 Da. Our gel permeation chromatography analysis showed that the cells with a higher paramylon content tended to contain paramylon of a higher molecular weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Fukuda
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Manato Kinkawa
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hayashi
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, Japan
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Calloni RD, Muchut RJ, Garay AS, Arias DG, Iglesias AA, Guerrero SA. Functional and structural characterization of an endo-β-1,3-glucanase from Euglena gracilis. Biochimie 2022; 208:117-128. [PMID: 36586565 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Endo-β-1,3-glucanases from several organisms have attracted much attention in recent years because of their capability for in vitro degrading β-1,3-glucan as a critical step for both biofuels production and short-chain oligosaccharides synthesis. In this study, we biochemically characterized a putative endo-β-1,3-glucanase (EgrGH64) belonging to the family GH64 from the single-cell protist Euglena gracilis. The gene coding for the enzyme was heterologously expressed in a prokaryotic expression system supplemented with 3% (v/v) ethanol to optimize the recombinant protein right folding. Thus, the produced enzyme was highly purified by immobilized-metal affinity and gel filtration chromatography. The enzymatic study demonstrated that EgrGH64 could hydrolyze laminarin (KM 23.5 mg ml-1,kcat 1.20 s-1) and also, but with less enzymatic efficiency, paramylon (KM 20.2 mg ml-1,kcat 0.23 ml mg-1 s-1). The major product of the hydrolysis of both substrates was laminaripentaose. The enzyme could also use ramified β-glucan from the baker's yeast cell wall as a substrate (KM 2.10 mg ml-1, kcat 0.88 ml mg-1 s-1). This latter result, combined with interfacial kinetic analysis evidenced a protein's greater efficiency for the yeast polysaccharide, and a higher number of hydrolysis sites in the β-1,3/β-1,6-glucan. Concurrently, the enzyme efficiently inhibited the fungal growth when used at 1.0 mg/mL (15.4 μM). This study contributes to assigning a correct function and determining the enzymatic specificity of EgrGH64, which emerges as a relevant biotechnological tool for processing β-glucans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo D Calloni
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Robertino J Muchut
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alberto S Garay
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego G Arias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Feuzing F, Mbakidi JP, Lazar F, Marchal L, Leroy E, Bouquillon S. Biobased Ionic liquids as Solvents of Paramylon. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Gao L, Zhao X, Liu M, Zhao X. Characterization and Antibacterial Activities of Carboxymethylated Paramylon from Euglena gracilis. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14153022. [PMID: 35893986 PMCID: PMC9332863 DOI: 10.3390/polym14153022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Paramylon from Euglena gracilis (EGP) is a polymeric polysaccharide composed of linear β-1,3 glucan. EGP has been proved to have antibacterial activity, but its effect is weak due to its water insolubility and high crystallinity. In order to change this deficiency, this experiment carried out carboxymethylated modification of EGP. Three carboxymethylated derivatives, C-EGP1, C-EGP2, and C-EGP3, with a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.14, 0.55, and 0.78, respectively, were synthesized by varying reaction conditions, such as the mass of chloroacetic acid and temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis confirmed the success of the carboxymethylated modification. The Congo red (CR) experiment, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to study the conformation, surface morphology, crystalline nature, and thermostability of the carboxymethylated EGP. The results showed that carboxymethylation did not change the triple helix structure of the EGP, but that the fundamental particles’ surface morphology was destroyed, and the crystallization area and thermal stability decreased obviously. In addition, the water solubility test and antibacterial experiment showed that the water solubility and antibacterial activity of the EGP after carboxymethylation were obviously improved, and that the water solubility of C-EGP1, C-EGP2, and C-EGP3 increased by 53.31%, 75.52%, and 80.96% respectively. The antibacterial test indicated that C-EGP3 had the best effect on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.50 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL. The diameters of the inhibition zone of C-EGP3 on E. coli and S. aureus were 11.24 ± 0.15 mm and 12.05 ± 0.09 mm, and the antibacterial rate increased by 41.33% and 43.67%.
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Feuzing F, Mbakidi JP, Marchal L, Bouquillon S, Leroy E. A review of paramylon processing routes from microalga biomass to non-derivatized and chemically modified products. Carbohydr Polym 2022; 288:119181. [PMID: 35450615 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Paramylon is a linear β-1,3-glucan, similar to curdlan, produced as intracellular granules by the microalga Euglena gracilis, a highly versatile and robust strain, able to grow under various trophic conditions, with valorization of CO2, wastewaters, or food byproducts as nutrients. This review focuses in particular on the various processing routes leading to new potential paramylon based products. Due to its crystalline structure, involving triple helices stabilized by internal intermolecular hydrogen bonds, paramylon is neither water-soluble nor thermoplastic. The few solvents able to disrupt the triple helices, and to fully solubilize the polymer as random coils, allow non derivatizing shaping into films, fibers, and even nanofibers by a specific self-assembly mechanism. Chemical modification in homogeneous or heterogeneous conditions is also possible. The non-selective or regioselective substitution of the hydroxyl groups of glucosidic units leads to water-soluble ionic derivatives and thermoplastic paramylon esters with foreseen applications ranging from health to bioplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérica Feuzing
- Université de Nantes, Oniris, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, F- 44470 Carquefou, France; Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims, CNRS UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Jean Pierre Mbakidi
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims, CNRS UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Luc Marchal
- Université de Nantes, Oniris, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, F- 44470 Carquefou, France
| | - Sandrine Bouquillon
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims, CNRS UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Eric Leroy
- Université de Nantes, Oniris, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, F- 44470 Carquefou, France.
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Cactus Cladode Juice as Bioflocculant in the Flocculation-Thickening Process for Phosphate Washing Plant: A Comparative Study with Anionic Polyacrylamide. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14138054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In the phosphate industry, the thickening process is vital to increasing the solid slurry concentration and to recovering water that is as clear as possible. The performance of the thickening process depends mainly on the coagulation–flocculation effect. The thickening process is based on flocculant agents to concentrate particles: flotation and washing plant rejects as large flocs, which accelerate their sedimentation velocity. The phosphate industry worldwide uses synthetical flocculants such as polyacrylamides. These flocculants are non-biodegradable, limiting the process efficiency regarding cost and harmful effects on the environment. This study proposes cactus cladodes juice as an eco-friendly alternative to industrial flocculants. The particle size of the phosphate samples ranges from 0 μm to 160 μm, with a solid concentration of 8%. This bioflocculant allowed for an increase in sedimentation velocity of 95% compared with the case without flocculant. The optimal amount of cactus bioflocculant for decanting 1 tonne of phosphate pulp at pH 7–8 is 1.12 kg. Special attention is paid to understanding the flocculation mechanism. The results of the physicochemical characterization show that the flocculant biopolymers have similar characteristics to anionic polyacrylamide. This work indicates the promising application of the cactus juice bioflocculant in phosphate washing plants.
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Feregrino-Mondragón RD, Vega-Segura A, Sánchez-Thomas R, Silva-Flores M, Rodríguez-Zavala JS, Marín-Hernández Á, Pérez-Torres I, Torres-Márquez ME, Moreno-Sánchez R, Jasso-Chávez R. The essential role of mitochondria in the consumption of waste-organic matter and production of metabolites of biotechnological interest in Euglena gracilis. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Berardi A, Bisharat L, Quodbach J, Abdel Rahim S, Perinelli DR, Cespi M. Advancing the understanding of the tablet disintegration phenomenon - An update on recent studies. Int J Pharm 2021; 598:120390. [PMID: 33607196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Disintegration is the de-aggregation of particles within tablets upon exposure to aqueous fluids. Being an essential step in the bioavailability cascade, disintegration is a fundamental quality attribute of immediate release tablets. Although the disintegration phenomenon has been studied for over six decades, some gaps of knowledge and research questions still exist. Three reviews, published in 2015, 2016 and 2017, have discussed the literature relative to tablet disintegration and summarised the understanding of this topic. Yet, since then more studies have been published, adding to the established body of knowledge. This article guides a step forward towards the comprehension of disintegration by reviewing, concisely, the most recent scientific updates on this topic. Initially, we revisit the mechanisms of disintegration with relation to the three most used superdisintegrants, namely sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone. Then, the influence of formulation, storage, manufacturing and media conditions on disintegration is analysed. This is followed by an excursus on novel disintegrants. Finally, we highlight unanswered research questions and envision future research venues in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Berardi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutics Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan.
| | - Lorina Bisharat
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Julian Quodbach
- Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Safwan Abdel Rahim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutics Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan
| | - Diego R Perinelli
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Marco Cespi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
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