IP Library Granted Patent US 7,531,343
Granted Patent B2
US 7,531,343 · App. 11/669,011 · Granted May 12, 2009

Induction and stabilization of enzymatic activity in microorganisms

Assignee: Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,531,343
App. No.
11/669,011
Granted
May 12, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods for inducing desired activity in enzymes or microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes. The invention is further directed to methods of stabilizing activity in microorganisms. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods for inducing and stabilizing nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, and asparaginase I activity. The invention further provides compositions comprising enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity.

Claims (33)

1. A method for inducing an enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, asparaginase I activity, and combinations thereof in a nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprising culturing the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism in a medium comprising at least 50 ppm of one or more amide containing amino acids selected from the group consisting of asparagine, glutamine, asparagine derivatives, glutamine derivatives, and combinations thereof, wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria selected from the group consisting of genus Rhodococcus , genus Brevibacterium , genus Pseudonocardia , genus Nocardia and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enzyme activity includes nitrile hydratase activity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria from the genus Rhodococcus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria selected from the group consisting of Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96622 , Rhodococcus sp. DAP 96253, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amide containing amino acids include asparagine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amide containing amino acids are present in a concentration of 50 ppm to 5000 ppm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium is free of any nitrile containing compounds.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising immobilizing the microorganism.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the induced nitrile hydratase producing microorganism has an enzyme activity greater than or equal to the activity of the same enzyme when induced in a medium comprising a nitrile containing compound.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the induced nitrile hydratase producing microorganism has an enzyme activity that is at least 5% greater than the activity of the same enzyme when induced in a medium comprising a nitric containing compound.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises cobalt.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises urea.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises maltose or maltodextrin.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amide containing amino acids include asparagine and asparagine derivatives, and wherein the asparagine and asparagine derivatives include natural forms of asparagine, anhydrous asparagine, asparagine monohydrate, and L-isomers and D-isomers thereof.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amide containing amino acids include glutamine and glutamine derivatives, and wherein the glutamine and glutamine derivatives include natural forms of glutamine, anhydrous glutamine, glutamine monohydrate and L-isomers and D-isomers thereof.

16. A method for inducing an enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, asparaginase I activity, and combinations thereof in a nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprising culturing the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism in a medium comprising urea and at least 50 ppm of one or more amide containing amino acids selected from the group consisting of asparagine, glutamine, asparagine derivatives, glutamine derivatives, and combinations thereof, wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the medium further comprises cobalt.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the medium is free of any nitrile containing compounds.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the medium further comprises maltose or maltodextrin.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more amide containing amino acids are present in a concentration of 200 ppm to 2000 ppm.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more microorganisms are at least partially immobilized.

22. A method for inducing an enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, asparaginase I activity, and combinations thereof in a nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprising culturing the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism in a medium comprising at least 50 ppm of one or more amide containing amino acids selected from the group consisting of asparagine, glutamine, asparagine derivatives, glutamine derivatives, and combinations thereof, wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas , and wherein the microorganism is at least partially immobilized.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the medium further comprises cobalt.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the medium is free of any nitrile containing compounds.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the medium further comprises maltose or maltodextrin.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more amide containing amino acids are present in a concentration of 200 ppm to 2000 ppm.

27. A method for inducing an enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, asparaginase I activity, and combinations thereof in a nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprising culturing the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism in a medium comprising at least 50 ppm of one or more amide containing amino acids selected from the group consisting of asparagine, glutamine, asparagine derivatives, glutamine derivatives, and combinations thereof, wherein the medium is free of any nitrile containing compounds.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the medium further comprises cobalt.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the medium further comprises maltose or maltodextrin.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the one or more amide containing amino acids are present in a concentration of 200 ppm to 2000 ppm.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the one or more microorganisms are at least partially immobilized.

32. The method of claim 27 , wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria selected from the group consisting of genus Rhodococcus , genus Brevibacterium , genus Pseudomonas , genus Pseudonocardia , genus Nocardia , and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 27 , wherein the nitrile hydratase producing microorganism comprises bacteria selected from the group consisting of Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96622 , Rhodococcus sp. DAP 96253, and combinations thereof.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2020
From: GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
To: CROWPIERCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 052379/0436 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2007
From: PIERCE, GEORGE E.; DRAGO, GENE; GANGULY, SANGEETA
To: GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 019318/0487 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 6076330100 · Jan 30, 2006
Provisional Application 6082257000 · Aug 16, 2006
Related Publication 20070184528A1 · Aug 9, 2007