Maize shoot cell walls under cadmium stress.

The composition of shoot cell walls of two maize hybrids (Zea mays L.), the sensitive Novania and the tolerant Almansa, both after cadmium treatment was studied. Previous results showed a smaller effect of cadmium on shoot physiological parameters (e.

Glucuronoxylan recognition by GH 30 xylanases: A study with enzyme and substrate variants.

XynA from Erwinia chrysanthemi (EcXyn30A), belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 30 subfamily 8, is specialized for hydrolysis of 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan (GX). Carboxyl group of 4-O-methylglucuronic acid serves as a substrate recognition element interacting ionically with positively charged Arg293 of the enzyme. We determined kinetic parameters of EcXyn30A on GX, its methyl ester (GXE) and 4-O-methylglucoxylan (GXR) and compared them with behavior of the enzyme variant in which Arg293 was replaced by Ala.

Impact of cadmium stress on two maize hybrids.

Some physiological parameters and composition of the root cell walls of two maize hybrids (monocots), the sensitive Novania and the tolerant Almansa were studied after treatment with cadmium cations. After 10 days of Cd treatment (1 × 10 M and 5 × 10 M), plant growth inhibition, in the sensitive hybrid in particular, as well as a certain alteration in root structure and pigment content were observed. The Cd accumulation was ten times higher in the roots than in the shoots.

Preparation and characterization of cationic and amphoteric mannans from Candida albicans.

Cationic and amphoteric mannans from Candida albicans were prepared by chemical modification with (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) and sodium chloroacetate under aqueous alkaline conditions. The optimal reaction conditions for mannan cationization were found to be 6h, 60°C, and NaOH/CHPTAC ratio of 1.0.

Glucuronoyl esterases are active on the polymeric substrate methyl esterified glucuronoxylan.

Alkali extracted beechwood glucuronoxylan methyl ester prepared by esterification of 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid side residues by methanol was found to serve as substrate of microbial glucuronoyl esterases from Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Schizophyllum commune and Trichoderma reesei. The enzymatic deesterification was monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and evaluated on the basis of the decrease of the signal of the ester methyl group and increase of the signal of methanol. The results show for the first time the action of enzymes on polymeric substrate, which imitates more closely the natural substrate in plant cell walls than the low molecular mass artificial substrates used up to present.

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethyl derivatives of yeast mannans in aqueous solutions.

Novel carboxymethyl derivatives of yeast mannans of different degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared by optimized reaction of concentrated polysaccharides in alkaline aqueous solution. Mannans from various yeasts differing in size and degree of branching show similar reactivity. Strong alkaline conditions during carboxymethylation caused degradation of the polysaccharides.

Effect of microwave irradiation on the molecular and structural properties of hyaluronan.

Hyaluronan (Na(+) salt of hyaluronic acid, HA) was extensively depolymerised by HCl-catalyzed hydrolysis at pH 3 for up to 500min under temperature-controlled microwave irradiation. The effects of microwave heating on the hydrodynamic properties of the polysaccharide were determined by SEC-MALLS and viscometry. The weight-average molecular mass (Mw) of HA decreased from 1.

Oligogalacturonate hydrolase from carrot roots.

The presence of multiple forms of enzyme with terminal action pattern on pectate was evaluated in the protein mixture obtained from carrot roots. The form with pH optimum 3.8 clearly preferred substrates with a lower degree of polymerization (oligogalacturonates).

Properties of hydrogel materials used for entrapment of microbial cells in production of fermented beverages.

Approaches using immobilized biological materials are very promising for application in different branches of the food industry, especially in the production of fermented beverages. Materials tested by our team for the process of entrapment belong to the family of charged polysaccharides able to form beaded hydrogels by ionotropic gelation (e.g.