Enhanced α-amylase production by a marine protist, Ulkenia sp. using response surface methodology and genetic algorithm

Turning waste into treasure: A new direction for low-cost production of lipid chemicals from Thraustochytrids

Thraustochytrids are marine microorganisms known for their fast growth and ability to store lipids, making them useful for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), biodiesel, squalene, and carotenoids. However, the high cost of production, mainly due to expensive fermentation components, limits their wider use. A significant challenge in this context is the need to balance production costs with the value of the end products. This review focuses on integrating the efficient utilization of waste with Thraustochytrids fermentation, including the economic substitution of carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and fermentation water. This approach aligns with the 3Rs principles (reduction, recycling, and reuse). Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of Thraustochytrids in converting waste into lipid chemicals and promoting sustainable circular production models. The aim of this review is to emphasize the value of Thraustochytrids in converting waste into treasure, providing precise cost reduction strategies for future commercial production.

A review of algorithmic approaches for cell culture media optimization

Cell culture media composition and culture conditions play a crucial role in product yield, quality and cost of production. Culture media optimization is the technique of improving media composition and culture conditions to achieve desired product outcomes. To achieve this, there have been many algorithmic methods proposed and used for culture media optimization in the literature. To help readers evaluate and decide on a method that best suits their specific application, we carried out a systematic review of the different methods from an algorithmic perspective that classifies, explains and compares the available methods. We also examine the trends and new developments in the area. This review provides recommendations to researchers regarding the suitable media optimization algorithm for their applications and we hope to also promote the development of new cell culture media optimization methods that are better suited to existing and upcoming challenges in this biotechnology field, which will be essential for more efficient production of various cell culture products.

Optimization and scale-up of α-amylase production by Aspergillus oryzae using solid-state fermentation of edible oil cakes

Background

Amylases produced by fungi during solid-state fermentation are the most widely used commercial enzymes to meet the ever-increasing demands of the global enzyme market. The use of low-cost substrates to curtail the production cost and reuse solid wastes are seen as viable options for the commercial production of many enzymes. Applications of α-amylases in food, feed, and industrial sectors have increased over the years. Additionally, the demand for processed and ready-to-eat food has increased because of the rapid growth of food-processing industries in developing economies. These factors significantly contribute to the global enzyme market. It is estimated that by the end of 2024, the global α-amylase market would reach USD 320.1 million (Grand View Research Inc., 2016). We produced α-amylase using Aspergillus oryzae and low-cost substrates obtained from edible oil cake, such as groundnut oil cake (GOC), coconut oil cake (COC), sesame oil cake (SOC) by solid-state fermentation. We cultivated the fungus using these nutrient-rich substrates to produce the enzyme. The enzyme was extracted, partially purified, and tested for pH and temperature stability. The effect of pH, incubation period and temperature on α-amylase production using A. oryzae was optimized. Box–Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize and determine the effects of all process parameters on α-amylase production. The overall cost economics of α-amylase production using a pilot-scale fermenter was also studied.

Results

The substrate optimization for α-amylase production by the Box–Behnken design of RSM showed GOC as the most suitable substrate for A. oryzae, as evident from its maximum α-amylase production of 9868.12 U/gds. Further optimization of process parameters showed that the initial moisture content of 64%, pH of 4.5, incubation period of 108 h, and temperature of 32.5 °C are optimum conditions for α-amylase production. The production increased by 11.4% (10,994.74 U/gds) by up-scaling and using optimized conditions in a pilot-scale fermenter. The partially purified α-amylase exhibited maximum stability at a pH of 6.0 and a temperature of 55 °C. The overall cost economic studies showed that the partially purified α-amylase could be produced at the rate of Rs. 622/L.

Conclusions

The process parameters for enhanced α-amylase secretion were analyzed using 3D contour plots by RSM, which showed that contour lines were more oriented toward incubation temperature and pH, having a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the α-amylase activity. The optimized parameters were subsequently employed in a 600 L-pilot-scale fermenter for the α-amylase production. The substrates were rich in nutrients, and supplementation of nutrients was not required. Thus, we have suggested an economically viable process of α-amylase production using a pilot-scale fermenter.

A Mesohaline Thraustochytrid Produces Extremely Halophilic Alpha-Amylases

Halophilic bacteria are well known to produce highly salt-tolerant enzymes that have unusual applications in biotechnology. Production of halophilic proteins is generally not expected in mesohaline microorganisms. Ulkenia sp. AH-2, a mesohaline, marine straminipilan thraustochytrid isolated from waters of a mangrove ecosystem, produces halophilic alpha-amylases. Four enzyme fractions, viz.., A, B, C, and D, were obtained upon ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration. These had a broad salinity tolerance ranging from 0 to 4 M NaCl, with an optimum at 3 M NaCl. Pools A, C, and D each resolved as a single band on PAGE and zymogram analysis, and the purified proteins were designated Amy a, Amy c, and Amy h. The major activity resided in "pool B," consisting of several amylases which could not be further resolved into pure fractions. Together, these had an optimum at 2 M NaCl. All the enzymes were stable to storage for 2 to 24 h at 4 °C in a range of salt concentrations and even showed enhanced activity following such incubations. True to halophilic enzymes, the complex of "pool B" amylases showed improved activity in the presence of a wide range of organic solvents at 20% concentration. These enzymes are of particular interest by virtue of their constitutive nature as well as production under culture conditions that do not require salinity beyond that of seawater.

Update on Marine Carbohydrate Hydrolyzing Enzymes: Biotechnological Applications

After generating much interest in the past as an aid in solving structural problems for complex molecules such as polysaccharides, carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes of marine origin still appear as interesting biocatalysts for a range of useful applications in strong interdisciplinary fields such as green chemistry and similar domains. The multifaceted fields in which these enzymes are of interest and the scarce number of original articles in literature prompted us to provide the specialized analysis here reported. General considerations from modern (2016-2017 interval time) review articles are at start of this manuscript; then it is subsequently organized in sections according to particular biopolymers and original research articles are discussed. Literature sources like the Science Direct database with an optimized W/in search, and the Espacenet patent database were used.