Biomedical subjects

Roland Ulber

Publications and source records attributed to Roland Ulber.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Optimisation of halogenase enzyme activity by application of a genetic algorithm.

A genetic algorithm (GA) was applied for the optimisation of an enzyme assay composition respectively the enzyme activity of a recombinantly produced FADH(2)-dependent halogenating enzyme. The examined enzyme belongs to the class of halogenases and is capable to halogenate tryptophan regioselective in position 5. Therefore, the expressed trp-5-halogenase can be an interesting tool in the manufacturing of serotonin precursors. The application of stochastic search strategies (e.g. GAs) is well suited for fast determination of the global optimum in multidimensional search spaces, where statistical approaches or even the popular classical one-factor-at-a-time method often failures by misleading to local optima. The concentrations of six different medium components were optimised and the maximum yield of the halogenated tryptophan could be increased from 3.5 up to 65%.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Isolation of bovine lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and enzymatically prepared lactoferricin from proteolytic digestion of bovine lactoferrin using adsorptive membrane chromatography.

A new downstream procedure for the isolation of bovine lactoferrin (bLf), lactoperoxidase and bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) from sweet cheese whey was developed at the laboratory scale, based on membrane adsorber technology. The procedure was upscaled later on to an industrially relevant scale for the purificationof sweet whey concentrate with a recovery yield for lactoferrin of more than 90%. Based on these results the industrial process for 1 x 10(8) kg whey per year was projected. These high-value proteins were downstreamed by using cation-exchange membrane systems (Sartobind S, Sartorius, Göttingen, Germany). These strongly acidic membranes trap proteins in its anionic form. The dynamic loading capacity for both proteins as well as the optimal elution profiles with sodium chloride gradients were derived from laboratory experiments using membrane modules with 15-75 cm2 membrane material. Further investigations were performed with 1 m2 modules in a continuous process mode. The enzymatic preparation of LfcinB from bLf was performed by pepsin hydrolysis and the isolation of LfcinB was directly carried out from the enzymatic digest mixture. The identification of the proteins was performed with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). LfcinB and bLf were both tested afterwards in biological assays in order to show not only the efficiency of the downstreaming process in regard to product quantity but also to product quality (biological activity).

Adsorption↗

PubMed2005

Development of a fast spectroscopic enzyme assay for on-site measurement of total polyphenol content in grapes and wine.

In recent years interest in polyphenols as a nutrient in vegetables and fruits has increased because of polyphenols' positive effects on human health. The interest focuses on the sensory properties of polyphenols and their influence on the taste of fruits and derived products. This article presents the development of a bioanalytical measurement technique enabling the determination of the total polyphenol content (TPC) of fresh grapes within a few minutes. Furthermore this technique allows the control of TPC during production processes, e. g. fermentation of wine.

Enzymes↗

PubMed2005

Downstream processing in marine biotechnology.

Downstream processing is one of the most underestimated steps in bioprocesses and this is not only the case in marine biotechnology. However, it is well known, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, that downstreaming is the most expensive and unfortunately the most ineffective part of a bioprocess. Thus, one might assume that new developments are widely described in the literature. Unfortunately this is not the case. Only a few working groups focus on new and more effective procedures to separate products from marine organisms. A major characteristic of marine biotechnology is the wide variety of products. Due to this variety a broad spectrum of separation techniques must be applied. In this chapter we will give an overview of existing general techniques for downstream processing which are suitable for marine bioprocesses, with some examples focussing on special products such as proteins (enzymes), polysaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids and other low molecular weight products. The application of a new membrane adsorber is described as well as the use of solvent extraction in marine biotechnology.

Aquaculture↗

PubMed2005

A new thermostable peroxidase from garlic Allium sativum: purification, biochemical properties, immobilization, and use in H2O2 detection in milk.

Analysis of peroxidase activity by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) from a garlic bulb (Allium sativum L) extract showed two major activities (designated POX1 and POX2). The POX2 isoenzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and cation-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be monomeric with a molecular mass of 36.5 kDa, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. The optimum temperature ranged from 25 to 40 degrees C and optimum pH was about 5.0. The apparent Km values for guaiacol and H2O2 were 9.5 and 2 mM, respectively. POX2 appeared highly stable since 50% of its activity was conserved at 50 degrees C for 5 h. Moreover POX2 was stable over a pH range of 3.5-11.0. Immobilization of POX2 was achieved by covalent binding of the enzyme to an epoxy-Sepharose matrix. The immobilized enzyme showed great stability toward heat and storage when compared with soluble enzyme. These properties permit the use of this enzyme as a biosensor to detect H2O2 in some food components such as milk or its derivatives.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Optical sensor systems for bioprocess monitoring.

Bioreactors are closed systems in which microorganisms can be cultivated under defined, controllable conditions that can be optimized with regard to viability, reproducibility, and product-oriented productivity. To drive the biochemical reaction network of the biological system through the desired reaction optimally, the complex interactions of the overall system must be understood and controlled. Optical sensors which encompass all analytical methods based on interactions of light with matter are efficient tools to obtain this information. Optical sensors generally offer the advantages of noninvasive, nondestructive, continuous, and simultaneous multianalyte monitoring. However, at this time, no general optical detection system has been developed. Since modern bioprocesses are extremely complex and differ from process to process (e.g., fungal antibiotic production versus mammalian cell cultivation), appropriate analytical systems must be set up from different basic modules, designed to meet the special demands of each particular process. In this minireview, some new applications in bioprocess monitoring of the following optical sensing principles will be discussed: UV spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, pulsed terahertz spectroscopy (PTS), optical biosensors, in situ microscope, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIF).

Biomass↗

PubMed2003

Paracoccus seriniphilus sp. nov., an L-serine-dehydratase-producing coccus isolated from the marine bryozoan Bugula plumosa.

A novel marine Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic bacterium, associated with the bryozoan Bugula plumosa, was isolated in a screening programme for strains containing enzymes able to convert the amino acid L-serine. Strain MBT-A4T produced L-serine dehydratase and was able to grow on L-serine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The nearest phylogenetic neighbour was Paracoccus marcusii, as determined by 16S rDNA sequence analysis (97.8% similarity). The DNA-DNA reassociation value obtained for Paracoccus marcusii DSM11574T and MBT-A4T was 32.6%. The major ubiquinone was 0-10. Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics, a new species of the genus Paracoccus is proposed, Paracoccus seriniphilus sp. nov., the type strain being strain MBT-A4T (=DSM 14827T =CIP 107400T).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Controlled enzymatic removal of damaging casein layers on medieval wall paintings.

A new, gentle enzymatic method was developed for a controlled removal of casein layers from medieval wall paintings. These casein layers were applied over the last 60 years on wall paintings in order to decrease substantial damage due to a peeling off of the frescoes from the roughcast surface due to environmental effects. However, due to the aging of the casein layers (at 40-50 years), a more drastic peeling occurred and the danger of total destruction of the wall paintings is severe. Thus, screening was performed to find the most suitable enzyme for casein digestion. Alcalase 2.5 DX L was the most appropriate enzyme for an effective proteolysis reaction. The enzyme was immobilized on functionalized cellulose membrane. A membrane pad system with immobilized enzymes was developed which could be pressed on the casein layers on the wall painting. A controlled removal of the casein layers by proteolytic digestion was observed and it was possible to continuously wash off the hydrolyzed casein fragments from the wall painting surface by an aqueous carbonate buffer flowing through the membrane pad. The removal and the digestion was monitored by reverse HPLC. Additionally, an on-line monitoring system was set up in order to continuously follow the casein layer removal and the digestion procedure directly on the wall painting. This technique is based on noninvasive 2D-fluorescence monitoring. Optical fiber systems were used to continuously monitor the fluorescence intensity of casein-bound tryptophan. The off-line data were verified with the on-line 2D-fluorescence data. Based on the scientific result an appropriate technique for the controlled enzymatic removal of damaging casein layers on the surface of medieval wall paintings using immobilized enzyme is now available. It is now applied to remove such casein layers from medieval wall paintings in the Allerheiligen-Kapelle Cloister, Wienhausen, Germany, and the St. Alexander Kirche, Wildeshausen, Germany.

Caseins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The utilization of renewable resources in German industrial production.

Renewable resources will be an increasingly important issue for the chemical industry in the future. In the context of white biotechnology, they represent the intersection point of agriculture and the chemical industry. The scarcity and related increase in the price of fossil resources make renewable resources an interesting alternative. If one considers the production of bulk chemicals, it is evident that for this area besides the C sources, sugar and starch, new sources of raw materials must be opened up. One possible solution is to utilize lignocellulose both for materials and energy. This article discusses this interesting prospective for the future, particularly from the point of view of the German industry.

Biotechnology↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Innovative modular membrane adsorber system for high-throughput downstream screening for protein purification.

To develop the most efficient strategy for the purification of proteins, two types of adsorber membrane devices with different functionalities were designed and tested: 8-strips and single spin columns. The most suitable type of membrane adsorber and the optimal chromatographic loading/elution conditions for several target proteins from different biological matrices could be determined simultaneously in microliter scale. Ion exchange (IEX), metal chelate (MC), and Concanavalin A (Con A) modified membrane types were tested in the devices. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme were used as model proteins for investigations of the binding capacity and protein recovery percentage of the 8-strip anion exchange and the cation exchange membrane. The isolation of His(6)-tagged proteins, Bgl-His and GFP-His from fermentation broth and lysate, respectively, was performed using an 8-strip metal chelate affinity membrane loaded with different metal ions. Separation behavior of a ternary protein mixture (BSA, lysozyme, and Bgl-His) was studied in 8-strips IEX and metal chelate membrane chromatography. The Con A affinity devices were developed on the basis of metal chelate membrane spin columns loaded with Cu(2+) ions and investigated using glucose oxidase (GOD) as model protein. In summary, the advantages of the membrane adsorber technology, such as fast processing and easy scale-up, were utilized. The devices made it possible to load the membrane directly with preclarified fermentation broth or cell lysate and separate the protein of interest often in a single step.

Adsorption↗