Exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus plantarum reduces cadmium uptake and mitigates cadmium toxicity in rice seedlings.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) can be used as effective exogenous substances to alleviate the toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) on rice and other crops, thus improving plant growth characteristics under stress conditions, and reducing the accumulation of Cd in grains, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In the present work, the effects of EPSs from Lactobacillus plantarum on the efficiency of Cd absorption and distribution in rice seedlings under Cd stress were investigated. The results revealed that growth of rice seedlings was severely inhibited by exposure to Cd, resulting in the decrease of plant height, leaf length and biomass.

Metabolic differences of industrial acarbose-producing Actinoplanes sp. A56 under various osmolality levels.

Many investigations have revealed that a certain concentration of osmolality was indispensable for efficient acarbose production, but little information was available on the response mechanism of acarbose-producing strains to osmotic stress. By using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis coupled with the enzyme activity determination of central carbon metabolism, the present work investigated the metabolic characteristics of industrial acarbose-producing Actinoplanes sp. A56 under various osmolality levels.

Industrial vitamin B12 production by Pseudomonas denitrificans using maltose syrup and corn steep liquor as the cost-effective fermentation substrates.

The aerobic Pseudomonas denitrificans is widely used for industrial and commercial vitamin B12 fermentation, due to its higher productivity compared to the anaerobic vitamin B12-producing microorganisms. This paper aimed to develop a cost-effective fermentation medium for industrial vitamin B12 production by P. denitrificans in 120,000-l fermenter.

Interactive performances of betaine on the metabolic processes of Pseudomonas denitrificans.

The performances of betaine on the metabolic processes of vitamin B12-producing Pseudomonas denitrificans were investigated in this paper. The results showed that betaine was an indispensable methyl-group donor for vitamin B12 biosynthesis, but large amounts of the extracellular glycine accompanied by betaine metabolism would impose a severe restriction on the cell growth of P. denitrificans.

A novel osmolality-shift fermentation strategy for improving acarbose production and concurrently reducing byproduct component C formation by Actinoplanes sp. A56.

Component C (Acarviosy-1,4-Glc-1,1-Glc) was a highly structural acarbose analog, which could be largely formed during acarbose fermentation process, resulting in acarbose purification being highly difficult. By choosing osmolality level as the key fermentation parameter of acarbose-producing Actinoplanes sp. A56, this paper successfully established an effective and simplified osmolality-shift strategy to improve acarbose production and concurrently reduce component C formation.

Improved vitamin B12 fermentation process by adding rotenone to regulate the metabolism of Pseudomonas denitrificans.

Our previous research had revealed that the dissolved oxygen limitation was more favorable for vitamin B12 fermentation, due to its inducement to the increased glycolytic flux in Pseudomonas denitrificans. In this paper, a novel strategy was implemented to further investigate the metabolic characteristics of P. denitrificans under different oxygen supply levels, by exogenously adding rotenone (a respiratory chain inhibitor interfering with the oxygen consumption) to the fermentation broths.