In vivo 13C NMR determines metabolic fluxes and steady state in linseed embryos.

The dynamics of developing linseed embryo metabolism was investigated using (13)C-labelling experiments where the real-time kinetics of label incorporation into metabolites was monitored in situ using in vivo NMR. The approach took advantage of the occurrence in this plant tissue of large metabolite pools - such as sucrose or lipids - to provide direct and quantitative measurement of the evolution of the labelling state within central metabolism. As a pre-requisite for the use of steady state flux measurements it was shown that isotopic steady state was reached within 3 h at the level of central intermediates whereas it took a further 6h for the sucrose pool.

Influence of immobilization parameters on growth and lactic acid production by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus co-immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads.

Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus were co-immobilized in different systems with varying calcium (0.1-1.5 M) and alginate (1-2%, w/v) concentrations.

How to build an adapted and bioactive cell microenvironment? A chemical interaction study of the structure of Ca-alginate matrices and their repercussion on confined cells.

Alginates are increasingly being used as medical materials (matrices for tissue regeneration, surgical sponges, hemostatic bandages, microbial and cell encapsulation, artificial bacterial biofilms, etc.). The constitution of alginate gel networks is a complex phenomenon.

Kinetic study of littorine rearrangement in Datura innoxia hairy roots by (13)C NMR spectroscopy.

The kinetics of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, particularly the isomerization of littorine into hyoscyamine, were studied by analyzing the kinetics of carbon-13 ((13)C) in metabolites of Datura innoxia hairy root cultures fed with labeled tropoyl moiety precursors. Both littorine and hyoscyamine were the major alkaloids accumulated, while scopolamine was never detected. Feeding root cultures with (RS)-phenyl[1,3-(13)C(2)]lactic acid led to (13)C spin-spin coupling detected on C-1' and C-2' of the hyoscyamine skeleton, which validated the intramolecular rearrangement of littorine into hyoscyamine.

Studies of low molecular weight samples of glucuronans with various acetylation degree.

Partially acetylated, high molecular weight glucuronans were produced by a Sinorhizobium meliloti mutant strain. Two native glucuronan samples with various degrees of acetylation were sonicated to obtain lower molecular weight samples and with low viscosity suitable for chemical modification and (13)C NMR experiments. The average degree of substitution (DS) of the polymer was estimated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and NMR.