Glycerol Production Rate Research Articles

Pichia pastoris growth—coupled heme biosynthesis analysis using metabolic modelling

Soy leghemoglobin is one of the most important and key ingredients in plant-based meat substitutes that can imitate the colour and flavour of the meat. To improve the high-yield production of leghemoglobin protein and its main component—heme in the yeast Pichia pastoris, glycerol and methanol cultivation conditions were studied. Additionally, in-silico metabolic modelling analysis of growth-coupled enzyme quantity, suggests metabolic gene up/down-regulation strategies for heme production. First, cultivations and metabolic modelling analysis of P. pastoris were performed on glycerol and methanol in different growth media. Glycerol cultivation uptake and production rates can be increased by 50% according to metabolic modelling results, but methanol cultivation—is near the theoretical maximum. Growth-coupled metabolic optimisation results revealed the best feasible upregulation (33 reactions) (1.47% of total reactions) and 66 downregulation/deletion (2.98% of total) reaction suggestions. Finally, we describe reaction regulation suggestions with the highest potential to increase heme production yields.

Two splice variants of the DsMEK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) are involved in salt stress regulation in Dunaliella salina in different ways

BackgroundDunaliella salina can produce glycerol under salt stress, and this production can quickly adapt to changes in external salt concentration. Notably, glycerol is an ideal energy source. In recent years, it has been reported that the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade pathway plays an important role in regulating salt stress, and in Dunaliella tertiolecta DtMAPK can regulate glycerol synthesis under salt stress. Therefore, it is highly important to study the relationship between the MAPK cascade pathway and salt stress in D. salina and modify it to increase the production of glycerol.ResultsIn our study, we identified and analysed the alternative splicing of DsMEK1 (DsMEK1-X1, DsMEK1-X2) from the unicellular green alga D. salina. DsMEK1-X1 and DsMEK1-X2 were both localized in the cytoplasm. qRT-PCR assays showed that DsMEK1-X2 was induced by salt stress. Overexpression of DsMEK1-X2 revealed a higher increase rate of glycerol production compared to the control and DsMEK1-X1-oe under salt stress. Under salt stress, the expression of DsGPDH2/3/5/6 increased in DsMEK1-X2-oe strains compared to the control. This finding indicated that DsMEK1-X2 was involved in the regulation of DsGPDH expression and glycerol overexpression under salt stress. Overexpression of DsMEK1-X1 increased the proline content and reduced the MDA content under salt stress, and DsMEK1-X1 was able to regulate oxidative stress; thus, we hypothesized that DsMEK1-X1 could reduce oxidative damage under salt stress. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that DsMEK1-X2 could interact with DsMAPKKK1/2/3/9/10/17 and DsMAPK1; however, DsMEK1-X1 interacted with neither upstream MAPKKK nor downstream MAPK. DsMEK1-X2-oe transgenic lines increased the expression of DsMAPKKK1/3/10/17 and DsMAPK1, and DsMEK1-X2-RNAi lines decreased the expression of DsMAPKKK2/10/17. DsMEK1-X1-oe transgenic lines did not exhibit increased gene expression, except for DsMAPKKK9.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that DsMEK1-X1 and DsMEK1-X2 can respond to salt stress by two different pathways. The DsMEK1-X1 response to salt stress reduces oxidative damage; however, the DsMAPKKK1/2/3/9/10/17-DsMEK1-X2-DsMAPK1 cascade is involved in the regulation of DsGPDH expression and thus glycerol synthesis under salt stress.

Kinetic models application on glycerol production from glucose by the marine yeast Candida orthopsilosis

This study aims to investigate the kinetic parameters of carbon source effect on biomass and glycerol production by Candida orthopsilosis HH52 isolated from marine sediment. The yeast isolate HH52 was selected among five tested marine isolates as the most efficient producer of glycerol (64.42 gl-1). Based on the phenotypic and genotypic identification, this isolate was identified as Candida orthopsilosis and was deposited in the GenBank database under the accession number MK156301. The maximum specific glycerol production rate (vmax) was 0.101 gg-1 (glycerol /biomass) at 225 gl-1glucose, whereas the maximum specific growth rate (μmax) was 0.211 hr-1 at 150 gl-1 glucose. The glycerol (YP/S) and biomass (YX/S) yield coefficients were 0.3576 and 0.1128 gg-1, respectively. These findings suggest the possibility of using Candida orthopsilosis HH52 as a promising source for glycerol production.

Enhancement of glycerol production by UV-mutagenesis of the marine yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus HH16: kinetics and optimization of the fermentation process.

The current study aims to enhance glycerol production using UV-mutagenesis of the marine yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus HH16 isolated from marine sediment collected from South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Besides optimization of the culture conditions and analyzing the kinetic parameters of growth and glycerol biosynthesis by the mutant strain were studied. The marine yeast isolate HH16 was selected as the front runner glycerol-producer among all tested isolates, with glycerol yield recorded as 66.55gl-1. The isolate was identified based on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of W. anomalus. The genotypic characterization based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was deposited in the GenBank database with the accession number MK182824. UV-mutagenesis of W. anomalus HH16 by its exposure to UV radiation (254nm, 200 mWcm-2) for 5min; increased its capability in the glycerol production rate with 16.97% (80.15gl-1). Based on the kinetic and Monod equations, the maximum specific growth rate (μ max) and maximum specific glycerol production rate (v max) by the mutant strain W. anomalus HH16MU5 were 0.21h-1 and 0.103gg-1, respectively. Optimization of the fermentation parameters such as nitrogen source, salinity and pH has been achieved. The maximum glycerol production 86.55gl-1 has been attained in a fermentation medium composed of 200gl-1 glucose, 1gl-1 peptone, 3gl-1 yeast extract, and 58.44gl-1 NaCl, this medium was adjusted at pH 8 and incubated for 3days at 30°C. Moreover, results indicated the ability of this yeast to produce glycerol (73.33gl-1) using a seawater based medium. These findings suggest the applicability of using the yeast isolate W. anomalus HH16MU5 as a potential producer of glycerol for industrial purposes.

Effects of diammonia phosphate addition on the chemical constituents in lychee wine fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study evaluated the effects of diammonia phosphate (DAP) on the non-volatile and volatile compounds of lychee wine fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, when added in two different quantities (0.5 mmol/L and 1.5 mmol/L). It was found that DAP supplementation improved the utilization of ammonia and inhibited the consumption of proline and valine, which regulated the production of α-ketoglutaric, succinic and fatty acids. The addition of 0.5 mmol/L DAP improved the rate of sugar catabolism by slightly increasing yeast growth, thus inducing a higher production of glycerol than of ethanol. Additionally, more odor-active terpene derivatives (trans-β-damascenone, o-cymene, δ-guaiene) in lychee juice were retained after the fermentation added with 0.5 mmol/L DAP. However, the addition of 1.5 mmol/L DAP slowed rates of sugar metabolism and glycerol production, and significantly enhanced the production of acetic acid. Furthermore, with the exception of limonene, the higher DAP addition did not retain more terpene derivatives. These findings, therefore, suggest that a moderate addition of DAP could enhance the flavorful character of lychee wine.

Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with hepatic and adipose tissue insulin resistance that improves after viral cure.

SummaryBackgroundChronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with systemic insulin resistance, yet there are limited data on the tissue‐specific contribution in vivo to this adverse metabolic phenotype, and the effect of HCV cure.MethodsWe examined tissue‐specific insulin sensitivity in a cohort study involving 13 patients with CHC compared to 12 BMI‐matched healthy control subjects. All subjects underwent a two‐step clamp incorporating the use of stable isotopes to measure carbohydrate and lipid flux (hepatic and global insulin sensitivity) with concomitant subcutaneous adipose tissue microdialysis and biopsy (subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin sensitivity). Investigations were repeated in seven patients with CHC following antiviral therapy with a documented sustained virological response.ResultsAdipose tissue was more insulin resistant in patients with CHC compared to healthy controls, as evidence by elevated glycerol production rate and impaired insulin‐mediated suppression of both circulating nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and adipose interstitial fluid glycerol release during the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity were similar between patients with CHC and controls. Following viral eradication, hepatic insulin sensitivity improved as demonstrated by a reduction in endogenous glucose production rate. In addition, circulating NEFA decreased with sustained virological response (SVR) and insulin was more effective at suppressing adipose tissue interstitial glycerol release with a parallel increase in the expression of insulin signalling cascade genes in adipose tissue consistent with enhanced adipose tissue insulin sensitivity.ConclusionChronic hepatitis C patients have profound subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin resistance in comparison with BMI‐matched controls. For the first time, we have demonstrated that viral eradication improves global, hepatic and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity.

Maternal rates of lipolysis and glucose production in late pregnancy are independently related to foetal weight.

Associations between maternal glucose levels and increased foetal growth are well established, and independent relationships with maternal weight, weight gain and insulin resistance are also observed. The relative roles of lipolysis and glucose production in the determination of these observations remain unclear. We examined, through detailed physiological studies, the relationship between maternal late gestational energy substrate production (glucose and glycerol), maternal weight and weight gain, and estimated foetal size in the third trimester. Twenty-one nulliparous pregnant women, without gestational diabetes (GDM) assessed at 28weeks with oral glucose tolerance test, were recruited. Rates of hepatic glucose production (GPR) and rates of glycerol production (reflecting lipolysis) using [13 C6 ]-glucose and [2 H5 ]-glycerol were measured at 34-36weeks of gestation. Respiratory quotient was assessed by indirect calorimetry and body composition by measurements of total body water (TBW; H218 O) and body density (BODPOD). Foetal weight was estimated from ultrasound measures of biparietal diameter, femoral length and abdominal circumference. At 34-36weeks, bivariate analyses showed that GPR and lipolysis correlated with estimated foetal weight (r=.71 and .72, respectively) as well as with maternal weight, fat mass and fat-free mass, but not maternal weight gain. In multivariate analyses, rates of both glucose production (r=.42) and lipolysis (r=.47) were independently associated with foetal size explaining 63% of the variance. Both maternal rates of lipolysis and hepatic glucose production in late gestation are strongly related to estimated foetal weight.

Increased and early lipolysis in children with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency during fast.

Children with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHAD) have a defect in the degradation of long-chain fatty acids and are at risk of hypoketotic hypoglycemia and insufficient energy production as well as accumulation of toxic fatty acid intermediates. Knowledge on substrate metabolism in children with LCHAD deficiency during fasting is limited. Treatment guidelines differ between centers, both as far as length of fasting periods and need for night feeds are concerned. To increase the understanding of fasting intolerance and improve treatment recommendations, children with LCHAD deficiency were investigated with stable isotope technique, microdialysis, and indirect calometry, in order to assess lipolysis and glucose production during 6 h of fasting. We found an early and increased lipolysis and accumulation of long chain acylcarnitines after 4 h of fasting, albeit no patients developed hypoglycemia. The rate of glycerol production, reflecting lipolysis, averaged 7.7 ± 1.6 µmol/kg/min, which is higher compared to that of peers. The rate of glucose production was normal for age; 19.6 ± 3.4 µmol/kg/min (3.5 ± 0.6 mg/kg/min). Resting energy expenditure was also normal, even though the respiratory quotient was increased indicating mainly glucose oxidation. The results show that lipolysis and accumulation of long chain acylcarnitines occurs before hypoglycemia in fasting children with LCHAD, which may indicate more limited fasting tolerance than previously suggested.

Reduction of Ethanol Yield and Improvement of Glycerol Formation by Adaptive Evolution of the Wine Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under Hyperosmotic Conditions

There is a strong demand from the wine industry for methodologies to reduce the alcohol content of wine without compromising wine's sensory characteristics. We assessed the potential of adaptive laboratory evolution strategies under hyperosmotic stress for generation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strains with enhanced glycerol and reduced ethanol yields. Experimental evolution on KCl resulted, after 200 generations, in strains that had higher glycerol and lower ethanol production than the ancestral strain. This major metabolic shift was accompanied by reduced fermentative capacities, suggesting a trade-off between high glycerol production and fermentation rate. Several evolved strains retaining good fermentation performance were selected. These strains produced more succinate and 2,3-butanediol than the ancestral strain and did not accumulate undesirable organoleptic compounds, such as acetate, acetaldehyde, or acetoin. They survived better under osmotic stress and glucose starvation conditions than the ancestral strain, suggesting that the forces that drove the redirection of carbon fluxes involved a combination of osmotic and salt stresses and carbon limitation. To further decrease the ethanol yield, a breeding strategy was used, generating intrastrain hybrids that produced more glycerol than the evolved strain. Pilot-scale fermentation on Syrah using evolved and hybrid strains produced wine with 0.6% (vol/vol) and 1.3% (vol/vol) less ethanol, more glycerol and 2,3-butanediol, and less acetate than the ancestral strain. This work demonstrates that the combination of adaptive evolution and breeding is a valuable alternative to rational design for remodeling the yeast metabolic network.

Simultaneous production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid and 1,3-propanediol from glycerol using resting cells of the lactate dehydrogenase-deficient recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae overexpressing an aldehyde dehydrogenase

In the present study, the lactate dehydrogenase-deficient (ldhA−) recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae overexpressing an ALDH (KGSADH) was developed and the co-production of 3-HP and PDO from glycerol by this recombinant under resting cell conditions was examined. The new recombinant did not produce any appreciable lactate, which seriously inhibits the production of 3-HP and PDO. The final titers of 3-HP and PDO by the ldhA− recombinant strain at 60h were 252.2mM and 308.7mM, respectively, which were improved by approximately 30% and 50%, respectively, compared to those by the counterpart recombinant strain, which was the wild type for ldhA. In addition, after deleting ldhA, the cumulative yield on glycerol and specific production rate of these two metabolites (3-HP and PDO) were enhanced by 41.4% and 52%, respectively.

A systems biology analysis of long and short-term memories of osmotic stress adaptation in fungi

BackgroundSaccharomyces cerevisiae senses hyperosmotic conditions via the HOG signaling network that activates the stress-activated protein kinase, Hog1, and modulates metabolic fluxes and gene expression to generate appropriate adaptive responses. The integral control mechanism by which Hog1 modulates glycerol production remains uncharacterized. An additional Hog1-independent mechanism retains intracellular glycerol for adaptation. Candida albicans also adapts to hyperosmolarity via a HOG signaling network. However, it remains unknown whether Hog1 exerts integral or proportional control over glycerol production in C. albicans.ResultsWe combined modeling and experimental approaches to study osmotic stress responses in S. cerevisiae and C. albicans. We propose a simple ordinary differential equation (ODE) model that highlights the integral control that Hog1 exerts over glycerol biosynthesis in these species. If integral control arises from a separation of time scales (i.e. rapid HOG activation of glycerol production capacity which decays slowly under hyperosmotic conditions), then the model predicts that glycerol production rates elevate upon adaptation to a first stress and this makes the cell adapts faster to a second hyperosmotic stress. It appears as if the cell is able to remember the stress history that is longer than the timescale of signal transduction. This is termed the long-term stress memory. Our experimental data verify this. Like S. cerevisiae, C. albicans mimimizes glycerol efflux during adaptation to hyperosmolarity. Also, transient activation of intermediate kinases in the HOG pathway results in a short-term memory in the signaling pathway. This determines the amplitude of Hog1 phosphorylation under a periodic sequence of stress and non-stressed intervals. Our model suggests that the long-term memory also affects the way a cell responds to periodic stress conditions. Hence, during osmohomeostasis, short-term memory is dependent upon long-term memory. This is relevant in the context of fungal responses to dynamic and changing environments.ConclusionsOur experiments and modeling have provided an example of identifying integral control that arises from time-scale separation in different processes, which is an important functional module in various contexts.

The interplay between sulphur and selenium metabolism influences the intracellular redox balance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for most eukaryotic organisms, including humans. The balance between Se toxicity and its beneficial effects is very delicate. It has been demonstrated that a diet enriched with Se has cancer prevention potential in humans. The most popular commercial Se supplementation is selenized yeast, which is produced in a fermentation process using an inorganic source of Se. Here, we show that the uptake of Se, Se toxic effects and intracellular Se-metabolite profile are largely influenced by the level of sulphur source supplied during the fermentation. A Yap1-dependent oxidative stress response is active when yeast actively metabolizes Se, and this response is linked to the generation of intracellular redox imbalance. The redox imbalance derives from a disproportionate ratio between the reduced and oxidized forms of glutathione and also from the influence of Se metabolism on the central carbon metabolism. The observed increase in glycerol production rate, concomitant with the inhibition of ethanol formation in the presence of Se, can be ascribed to the occurrence of redox imbalance that triggers glycerol biosynthesis to replenish the pool of NAD(+) .

Continuous culture for the bioproduction of glycerol and ethanol by Hansenula anomala growing under salt stress conditions

Continuous cultures of Hansenula anomala were carried out in media at low water activity, resulting from NaCl addition. Three dilution rates were compared and it was shown that a clear steady state was only recorded for the lowest dilution rate tested (0.03 h−1), leading to a biomass concentration of 4.3 g L−1. At 0.06 h−1 dilution rate, steady state was maintained for no more than 20 h and a clear wash-out was observed at 0.12 h−1. The experimental ratio ethanol on glycerol produced at steady state (D = 0.03 h−1) was similar to that previously recorded in batch culture in similar conditions after 30 h of growth, 7.8 and 7.9, respectively. The comparison of continuous culture to repeated batch culture was clearly in favour of the continuous culture, which led to significantly higher glycerol and ethanol production rates, 4.5 and 4 times higher than those recorded in repeated batch culture, respectively, even if significant amounts of glucose remained in the bleeding of the bioreactor.

Generation and characterisation of stable ethanol-tolerant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces spp. are widely used for ethanologenic fermentations, however yeast metabolic rate and viability decrease as ethanol accumulates during fermentation, compromising ethanol yield. Improving ethanol tolerance in yeast should, therefore, reduce the impact of ethanol toxicity on fermentation performance. The purpose of the current work was to generate and characterise ethanol-tolerant yeast mutants by subjecting mutagenised and non-mutagenised populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae W303-1A to adaptive evolution using ethanol stress as a selection pressure. Mutants CM1 (chemically mutagenised) and SM1 (spontaneous) had increased acclimation and growth rates when cultivated in sub-lethal ethanol concentrations, and their survivability in lethal ethanol concentrations was considerably improved compared with the parent strain. The mutants utilised glucose at a higher rate than the parent in the presence of ethanol and an initial glucose concentration of 20 g l(-1). At a glucose concentration of 100 g l(-1), SM1 had the highest glucose utilisation rate in the presence or absence of ethanol. The mutants produced substantially more glycerol than the parent and, although acetate was only detectable in ethanol-stressed cultures, both mutants produced more acetate than the parent. It is suggested that the increased ethanol tolerance of the mutants is due to their elevated glycerol production rates and the potential of this to increase the ratio of oxidised and reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)/NADH) in an ethanol-compromised cell, stimulating glycolytic activity.

Aeration alleviates ethanol inhibition and glycerol production during fed-batch ethanol fermentation

In this study, we investigated the effects of aeration on ethanol inhibition and glycerol production during fed-batch ethanol fermentation. When aeration was conducted at 0.13, 0.33, and 0.8 vvm, the ethanol productivity, specific ethanol production rate, and ethanol yield in the presence of greater than 100 g/L of ethanol were higher than when aeration was not conducted. In addition, estimation of the parameters (α and β) in a model equation of ethanol inhibition kinetics indicated that aeration alleviated ethanol inhibition against the specific growth rate and the specific ethanol production rate. Specifically, when aeration was conducted, the glycerol yield and specific glycerol production rate decreased approximately 50 and 70%, respectively. Finally, the results of this study indicated that aeration during fed-batch ethanol fermentation may improve the ethanol concentration in the final culture broth, as well as the ethanol productivity.

Correlation between TCA cycle flux and glucose uptake rate during respiro-fermentative growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Glucose repression of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated under different environmental conditions using (13)C-tracer experiments. Real-time quantification of the volatile metabolites ethanol and CO(2) allowed accurate carbon balancing. In all experiments with the wild-type, a strong correlation between the rates of growth and glucose uptake was observed, indicating a constant yield of biomass. In contrast, glycerol and acetate production rates were less dependent on the rate of glucose uptake, but were affected by environmental conditions. The glycerol production rate was highest during growth in high-osmolarity medium (2.9 mmol g(-1) h(-1)), while the highest acetate production rate of 2.1 mmol g(-1) h(-1) was observed in alkaline medium of pH 6.9. Under standard growth conditions (25 g glucose l(-1) , pH 5.0, 30 degrees C) S. cerevisiae had low fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway and the TCA cycle. A significant increase in TCA cycle activity from 0.03 mmol g(-1) h(-1) to about 1.7 mmol g(-1) h(-1) was observed when S. cerevisiae grew more slowly as a result of environmental perturbations, including unfavourable pH values and sodium chloride stress. Compared to experiments with high glucose uptake rates, the ratio of CO(2) to ethanol increased more than 50 %, indicating an increase in flux through the TCA cycle. Although glycolysis and the ethanol production pathway still exhibited the highest fluxes, the net flux through the TCA cycle increased significantly with decreasing glucose uptake rates. Results from experiments with single gene deletion mutants partially impaired in glucose repression (hxk2, grr1) indicated that the rate of glucose uptake correlates with this increase in TCA cycle flux. These findings are discussed in the context of regulation of glucose repression.

A permease encoded by STL1 is required for active glycerol uptake by Candida albicans

Candida albicans accumulates large amounts of the polyols glycerol and d-arabitol when the cells are exposed to physiological conditions relevant to stress and virulence in animals. Intracellular concentrations of glycerol are determined by rates of glycerol production and catabolism and of glycerol uptake and efflux through the plasma membrane. We and others have studied glycerol production in C. albicans, but glycerol uptake by C. albicans has not been studied. In the present study, we found that [(14)C]glycerol uptake by C. albicans SC5314 was (i) accumulative; (ii) dependent on proton-motive force; (iii) unaffected by carbon source; and (iv) unaffected by large molar excesses of d-arabitol or other polyols. The respective K(m) and V(max) values were 2.1 mM and 460 micromol h(-1) (g dry wt)(-1) in glucose medium and 2.6 mM and 268 micromol h(-1) (g dry wt)(-1) in glycerol medium. To identify the C. albicans glycerol uptake protein(s), we cloned the C. albicans homologues of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes GUP1 and STL1, both of which are known to be involved in glycerol transport. When multicopy plasmids encoding C. albicans STL1, C. albicans STL2 and C. albicans GUP1 were introduced into the corresponding S. cerevisiae null mutants, the transformants all acquired the ability to grow on minimal glycerol medium; however, only S. cerevisiae stl1 null mutants transformed with C. albicans STL1 actively took up extracellular [(14)C]glycerol. When both chromosomal alleles of C. albicans STL1 were deleted from C. albicans BWP17, the resulting stl1 null mutants grew poorly on minimal glycerol medium, and their ability to transport [(14)C]glycerol into the cell was markedly reduced. In contrast, deletion of both chromosomal alleles of C. albicans STL2 or of C. albicans GUP1 had no significant effects on [(14)C]glycerol uptake or the ability to grow on minimal glycerol medium. Northern blot analysis indicated that C. albicans STL1 was expressed in both glucose and glycerol media, conditions under which we detected wild-type active glycerol uptake. Furthermore, STL1 was highly expressed in salt-stressed cells; however, the stl1 null mutant was no more sensitive to salt stress than wild-type controls. We also detected high levels of STL2 expression in glycerol-grown cells, even though deletion of this gene did not influence glycerol uptake activity in glycerol-grown cells. We conclude from the results above that a plasma-membrane H(+) symporter encoded by C. albicans STL1 actively transports glycerol into C. albicans cells.

Pegvisomant Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Reduces Overnight Free Fatty Acid Concentrations in Patients with Acromegaly

Acromegaly is complicated by an increased incidence of diabetes mellitus caused by impaired insulin sensitivity and reduced beta-cell function. Pegvisomant blocks activity at GH receptors, normalizing IGF-I in over 90% of patients and improving insulin sensitivity. The mechanisms for this increase in insulin sensitivity are not fully determined. We used stable isotope techniques to investigate the effects of pegvisomant on glucose and lipid metabolism in acromegaly. Five patients (age, 43 yr +/- sd) with active acromegaly were studied on two occasions: before pegvisomant and after 4 wk of pegvisomant (20 mg daily sc). (2)H(5)-glycerol was infused overnight to measure overnight and early morning (basal) glycerol production rate (Ra). The next morning (2)H(2)-glucose was infused for 2 h before and throughout a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic (1.5 mU/kg x min insulin) clamp to measure basal glucose Ra and insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose disposal (Rd). Mean IGF-I was significantly reduced after pegvisomant treatment (mean, 539 +/- 176 vs. 198 +/- 168 microg/ml; P = 0.001). The insulin sensitivity of endogenous glucose production was significantly increased after pegvisomant [mean glucose Ra *insulin, 118.5 +/- 28 vs. 69.2 +/- 22 micromol/kg x min *(mU/liter); P = 0.04]. No differences in glucose Rd were seen after pegvisomant. All patients showed a reduction in glycerol Ra adjusted for insulin [mean, 18.12 +/- 1.75 vs. 14.4 +/- 4.75 micromol/kg x min *(mU/liter); P = 0.08] and overnight FFA concentrations (mean area under the curve, 278 +/- 84 vs. 203 +/- 71; P < 0.05) after pegvisomant. Short-term administration of pegvisomant leads to a reduction in overnight endogenous glucose production, and this may be related to reduced levels of FFA.

Low temperature directly activates the initial glycerol antifreeze response in isolated rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) liver cells

Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) accumulate high levels of glycerol in winter that serve as an antifreeze. Liver glycogen is a source of glycerol during the early stages of glycerol accumulation, whereas dietary glucose and amino acids are essential to maintain rates of glycerol synthesis. We presently report rates of glycerol and glucose production by isolated hepatocytes. Cells from fish held at 0.4 to -1.5 degrees C and incubated at 0.4 degrees C were metabolically quiescent with negligible rates of glycerol or glucose production. Hepatocytes isolated from fish maintained at 8 degrees C and incubated at 8 degrees C produced glucose but not glycerol. Glycerol production was activated in cells isolated from 8 degrees C fish and incubated at 0.4 degrees C without substrate or when glucose, aspartate, or pyruvate was available in the medium. Incubation at 0.4 degrees C without substrate resulted in similar molar rates of glucose and glycerol production in concert with glycogen mobilization. Glycogenolysis and glycerol production were associated with increases in total in vitro activities of glycogen phosphorylase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Maximal in vitro activities of hexokinase and glucokinase were not influenced by temperature, but high activities of a low-K(m) hexokinase may serve to redirect glycogen-derived glucose to glycolysis as opposed to releasing it from the cells. Rates of glycerol production were not enhanced in cells from fish held at 8 degrees C and incubated at 0.4 degrees C with adrenergic or glucocorticoid stimulation. As such, low temperature alone is sufficient to activate the glycerol production mechanism and results in a shift from glucose to a mix of glucose and glycerol production.

Effects of pH and temperature on growth and glycerol production kinetics of two indigenous wine strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from Turkey.

The study was performed in a batch system in order to determine the effects of pH and temperature on growth and glycerol production kinetics of two indigenous wine yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kalecik 1 and Narince 3. The highest values of dry mass and specific growth rate were obtained at pH 4.00 for both of the strains. Maximum specific glycerol production rates were obtained at pH 5.92 and 6.27 for the strains Kalecik 1 and Narince 3, respectively. Kalecik 1 strain produced maximum 8.8 gL−1 of glycerol at pH 6.46. Maximum glycerol concentration obtained by the strain Narince 3 was 9.1 gL−1 at pH 6.48. Both yeasts reached maximum specific growth rate at 30°C. Optimum temperature range for glycerol production was determined as 25-30°C for the strain Kalecik 1. The strain Narince 3 reached maximum specific glycerol production rate at 30°C. Maximum glycerol concentrations at 30°C were obtained as 8.5 and 7.6 gL−1 for Kalecik 1 and Narince 3, respectively.