A novel laccase from Trametes polyzona with high performance in the decolorization of textile dyes.

Laccases are multicopper oxidases able to oxidize several phenolic compounds and find application in numerous industrial applications. Among laccase producers, white-rot fungi represent a valuable source of multiple isoforms and isoenzymes of these multicopper oxidases. Here we describe the identification, biochemical characterization, and application of laccase 2 from Trametes polyzona (TP-Lac2), a basidiomycete fungus emerged among others that have been screened by plate assay.

Conversion of sugar beet residues into lipids by Lipomyces starkeyi for biodiesel production.

Background: Lipids from oleaginous yeasts emerged as a sustainable alternative to vegetable oils and animal fat to produce biodiesel, the biodegradable and environmentally friendly counterpart of petro-diesel fuel. To develop economically viable microbial processes, the use of residual feedstocks as growth and production substrates is required.

Results: In this work we investigated sugar beet pulp (SBP) and molasses, the main residues of sugar beet processing, as sustainable substrates for the growth and lipid accumulation by the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae poly (A) binding protein (Pab1): Master regulator of mRNA metabolism and cell physiology.

Pab1, the major poly (A) binding protein of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is involved in many intracellular functions associated with mRNA metabolism, such as mRNA nuclear export, deadenylation, translation initiation and termination. Pab1 consists of four RNA recognition motifs (RRM), a proline-rich domain (P) and a carboxy-terminal (C) domain. Due to its modular structure, Pab1 can simultaneously interact with poly (A) tails and different proteins that regulate mRNA turnover and translation.

Copper homeostasis as a target to improve Saccharomyces cerevisiae tolerance to oxidative stress.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is widely used as a cell factory for the biotechnological production of various industrial products. During these processes, yeasts meet different kinds of stressors that often cause oxidative stress and thus impair cell growth. Therefore, the development of robust strains is indispensable to improve production, yield and productivity of fermentative processes.

The recruitment of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae poly(A)-binding protein into stress granules: new insights into the contribution of the different protein domains.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae poly(A)-binding protein Pab1 is a modular protein composed of four RNA recognition motifs (RRM), a proline-rich domain (P) and a C-terminus. Thanks to this modularity, Pab1 is involved in different interactions that regulate many aspects of mRNA metabolism, including the assembly of stress granules. In this work, we analyzed the contribution of each domain for the recruitment of the protein within stress granules by comparing the intracellular distribution of synthetic Pab1-GFP variants, lacking one or more domains, with the localization of the endogenous mCherry-tagged Pab1.

The importance of fermentative conditions for the biotechnological production of lignin modifying enzymes from white-rot fungi.

White-rot fungi are the main natural producers of lignin-modifying enzymes, i.e. laccases and peroxidases, whose secretion and activity allows the depolymerization of lignin and the release of polysaccharides contained in lignocellulose.

Microbial stress: From molecules to systems (Sitges, November 2015).

The meeting "Microbial Stress: from Molecules to Systems" - the third in this series - was held in Sitges (Spain) in November 2015. The meeting offered the opportunity for international scientists to share their viewpoints and recent outcomes concerning microbial stress responses. Particular attention was given to the characterisation of mechanisms triggered by stress, from detailed molecular biology through whole organism systems biology up to the level of populations.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae poly(A) binding protein Pab1 as a target for eliciting stress tolerant phenotypes.

When exploited as cell factories, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells are exposed to harsh environmental stresses impairing titer, yield and productivity of the fermentative processes. The development of robust strains therefore represents a pivotal challenge for the implementation of cost-effective bioprocesses. Altering master regulators of general cellular rewiring represents a possible strategy to evoke shaded potential that may accomplish the desirable features.

Different response to acetic acid stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild-type and l-ascorbic acid-producing strains.

Biotechnological processes are of increasing significance for industrial production of fine and bulk chemicals, including biofuels. Unfortunately, under operative conditions microorganisms meet multiple stresses, such as non-optimal pH, temperature, oxygenation and osmotic stress. Moreover, they have to face inhibitory compounds released during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses, which constitute the preferential substrate for second-generation processes.