The Pattern of Acetylation Defines the Priming Activity of Chitosan Tetramers.

The biological activity of chitosans depends on their degree of polymerization (DP) and degree of acetylation (DA). However, information could also be carried by the pattern of acetylation (PA): the sequence of β-1,4-linked glucosamine (deacetylated/D) and -acetylglucosamine (acetylated/A) units. To address this hypothesis, we prepared partially acetylated chitosan oligosaccharides from a chitosan polymer (DA = 35%, DP = 905) using recombinant chitosan hydrolases with distinct substrate and cleavage specificities.

Low oocyte yield during IVF treatment and the risk of a trisomic pregnancy.

A low number of antral follicles may result in the selection of suboptimal oocytes that are prone to meiotic errors. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate women receiving IVF treatment with low oocyte yield (defined as three or fewer oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation) who are at an increased risk of a trisomic pregnancy. Data were obtained from Danish and Dutch medical registries between 1983 and 2011.

In-utero cigarette smoke exposure and the risk of earlier menopause.

Objective: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for earlier menopause. Animal studies show that in-utero smoke exposure is toxic to developing ovaries. Our aim was to evaluate whether in-utero smoke exposed women reach menopause earlier compared with nonexposed women.

Effect of pH and Temperature on Enzyme Activity of Chitosanase Produced Under Solid Stated Fermentation by Trichoderma spp.

Trichoderma strains were extensively studied as biocontrol agents due to their ability of producing hydrolytic enzymes, which are considered key enzymes because they attack the insect exoskeleton allowing the fungi infection. The present work aimed to evaluate the ability of chitosanase production by four Trichoderma strains (T. harzianum, T.

Kinetic study of mannitol production using cashew apple juice as substrate.

The use of agriculture excess as substrate in industrial fermentations became an interesting alternative to reduce production costs and to reduce negative environmental impact caused by the disposal of these products. In this work, a kinetic study of mannitol production using cashew apple juice as substrate was studied. The carbohydrates of cashew apple juice are glucose and fructose.

Dextransucrase production using cashew apple juice as substrate: effect of phosphate and yeast extract addition.

Cashew apples are considered agriculture excess in the Brazilian Northeast because cashew trees are cultivated primarily with the aim of cashew nut production. In this work, the use of cashew apple juice as a substrate for Leuconostoc mesenteroides cultivation was investigated. The effect of yeast extract and phosphate addition was evaluated using factorial planning tools.

Enzymatic synthesis of prebiotic oligosaccharides.

Prebiotic oligosaccharides are nondigestible carbohydrates that can be obtained by enzymatic synthesis. Glucosyltransferases can be used to produce these carbohydrates through an acceptor reaction synthesis. When maltose is the acceptor a trisaccharide composed of one maltose unit and one glucose unit linked by an alpha-1,6-glycosidic bond (panose) is obtained as the primer product of the dextransucrase acceptor reaction.