Participation in the VI Congress of Industrial Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology

The Applied Biocatalysis Group has participated in the VI Congress of Industrial Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (CMIBM’16) held at the University of Leon, Spain (September 12-14, 2016). The Congress was auspiced by the Spanish Society of Microbiology. Our group presented an abstract entitled "Production of galactooligosaccharides using Kluyveromyces lactis permeabilized cells: effect of entrapment in alginate"

Dual reactor for production of chitosan oligosaccharides

Chitooligosaccharides (COS), obtained by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan, are more soluble and exhibit enhanced biological activities compared with the polysaccharide. COS show antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiangiogenic, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic properties, among others. In this work, a chitosanolytic enzyme was covalently immobilized onto glyoxal agarose beads  and assessed for the continuous production of COS. A two-step process was proposed, in which chitosan was first hydrolyzed in a batch reactor to a viscosity that could flow through a packed-bead reactor (PBR), thus avoiding clogging of the column. This work was performed in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark

Reference: “Continuous production of chitooligosaccharides by an immobilized enzyme in a dual-reactor system”. P. Santos-Moriano, J.M. Woodley, F.J. Plou. Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic 133, 211-217 (2016), doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2016.09.001

The Applied Biocatalysis Group (September 2016)

Immobilization of enzymes in vinyl-sulfone silica

Most methodologies for covalent immobilization of enzymes usually take place at high pH values to enhance the nucleophilicity of protein reactive residues; however, many enzymes inactivate during the immobilization process due to their intrinsic unstability at alkaline pHs. Vinyl sulfone (VS)-activated carriers may react with several protein side-chains at neutral pHs. In this work, levansucrase -an alkaline unstable enzyme of technological interest because it forms fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and levan from sucrose- was covalently attached to VS-activated silica at pH 7.0 in a short time (5 h). The VS-activated biocatalysts showed a notable operational stability in batch reactors. This work was carried out in collaboration with the Department of Organic Chemistry at University of Granada.

Reference: “Vinyl sulfone-activated silica for efficient covalent immobilization of alkaline unstable enzymes: application to levansucrase for fructooligosaccharides synthesis”. P. Santos-Moriano, L. Monsalve-Ledesma, M. Ortega-Muñoz, L. Fernandez-Arrojo, A.O. Ballesteros, F. Santoyo-González, F.J. Plou. RSC Advances 6, 64175–64181 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/C6RA14046G

Francisco Plou at Virginia Tech

Francisco Plou is performing a stay at the Biofuels and Carbohydrates Laboratory at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, USA), directed by Prof. Y.-H. Percival Zhang. This laboratory is a world reference in the use of multienzymatic systems with applications to the fuels, chemicals and food industries. The laboratory of Prof. Zhang belongs to the Department of Biological Systems Engineering (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).

Participation in Bioiberoamerica 2016

Our group has participated in the Iberoamerican Congress of Biotechnology BioIberoamerica2016, recently held in Salamanca, Spain (June 5-8 2016). Paloma Santos presented the poster "Covalent immobilization of a chitosanolytic enzyme on glyoxal agarose beads and the design of reactors for continuous production of chitooligosaccharides" and Noa Miguez presented the work "Enzymatic glycosylation of hesperetin by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Thermoanaerobacter sp. in presence of cosolvents"

Symposium on "Novel tendencies and challenges in the chemical processes of XXI century" organized by UNED

It is the third time that the Applied Biocatalysis Group participates in the Symposium“Novel Tendencies and Challenges in the Chemical Processes of XXI Century" (April 27-29 2016), auspiced by the UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia). Francisco Plou developed a talk entitled "Use of enzymes in sustainable chemical processes".

"The Enzymes", divulgation book by Francisco Plou

Francisco Plou has just published the book "What we know about ...The Enzymes", a disclosure book jointly edited by CSIC and Catarata Publishers. The aim of this book is bringing the world of enzymes to readers, and show them the importance of these biological catalysts in our health and in many aspects of our daily life (food, drugs, fuels, polymers, etc.).

Joint XII Carbohydrate Symposium / III Chemical Biology Meeting

The Applied Biocatalysis Group has participated in the XII Carbohydrate Symposium / III Chemical Biology Meeting that was held  at the "Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas" (CIB-CSIC) in Madrid, from 14th-16th March 2016. This  joint meeting has enabled communication of research embracing the interface between chemistry and biology, with special focus on modern glycosciences, Our group presented two posters in this Symposium:

"Strategies for the enzymatic glycosylation of phenolic groups to improve the bioactivity of polyphenols".  Authors: Noa Míguez, Maria Gimeno-Perez, Mercedes Ramirez-Escudero, Juan Blazquez, J. Daniel Padilla, Laura Leemans, David Piedrabuena, Lucia Fernandez-Arrojo, Georgina Sandoval, Julia Sanz-Aparicio, Maria Fernandez-Lobato, Francisco J. Plou and Antonio O. Ballesteros.

"Feasibility of the production of carbohydrate fatty acid esters from Agave tequilana fructans by enzymatic acylation". Authors: Leticia Casas-Godoy, Javier Arrizon, Daniel Arrieta, Antonio O. Ballesteros, Francisco Plou and Georgina Sandoval.

Fatty acid esters of fructans from Agave tequilana

In collaboration with CIATEJ (Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico) and the National Polytechnic Institute (Mexico D.F.) we have participated in the enzymatic synthesis of fatty acid esters of fructans from Agave tequilana.This is the first report of a successful enzymatic synthesis of esters of branched fructans.The lipase used produced mono- and diacylated products.The carbohydrate fatty acid esters were good stabilizers of water in oil emulsions.

Reference: “Synthesis and emulsifying properties of carbohydrate fatty acid esters produced from Agave tequilana fructans by enzymatic acylation”. L. Casas-Godoy, J. Arrizon, D. Arrieta, F.J. Plou and G. Sandoval. Food Chemistry, in press. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.02.153 (2016).

Visit of the High School IES Averroes (Cordoba)

Two teachers and 29 students from the High School IES Averroes (Cordoba, Spain) have visited the Applied Biocatalysis Group at the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry. The students have carried out a series of experiments related with the field of Biocatalysis. They have also visited the Directed Evolution Laboratory and the Bioelectrocatalysis Group.

Enzymatic synthesis of ferulic acid derivatives

Lipophilic and stable derivatives of ferulic acid are required to improve its efficacy in fatty foods and to optimize its use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. In collaboration with the University of  Buenos Aires (Argentina) and CIATEJ (Guadalajara, Mexico), we have developed an improved synthesis of ferulic acid monoesters (ethyl ferulate and lauryl ferulate) by using immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica B in diisopropyl ether. Ethyl ferulate was further acylated with vinyl esters to form ferulate diesters. The anti-inflammatory activity of the synthesized derivatives was evaluated in vitro.

Reference: “Lipase-catalyzed preparation of mono- and diesters of ferulic acid”. G. Sandoval, P.G. Quintana, A. Baldessari, A.O. Ballesteros, F.J. Plou. Biocatalysis & Biotransformation 33, 89-97 (2015), doi:10.3109/10242422.2015.1060228

Specialization Course on "Industrial and Pharmaceutical Technology" at Universidad de Navarra

The group has participated in the specialization course on "Industrial and Pharmaceutical Technology", organized by the University of Navarra, which is accessed exclusively through the FIR, This course forms professionals highly qualified in the field of research, development and industrial production of drugs. Barbara Rodriguez and Francisco Plou gave a series of seminars focused on the application of enzyme technology for the production of pharmaceuticals.

Postgraduate course on enzyme applications

Francisco Plou has taught a course on "Applications of enzymes in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries" at the School of Biochemical Engineering of the PUCV (Chile). The course was attended by around 20 postgraduate and PhD students and the lessons were divided in three days. More information

Conference at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (Chile)

During his visit to the School of Biochemical Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica "Transformation of carbohydrates into bioactive compounds using glycosidic enzymes", This conference was the starting point of a series of activities that are taking place this week, in the context of the collaboration between the group of biocatalysis of the School of Biomedical Engineering and our research group.

Master of Biotechnology at the International Campus of Excellence UAM+CSIC

The Applied Biocatalysis Group and the Directed Enzyme Evolution Laboratory are participating  in the official Master of Biotechnology at the International Campus of Excellence UAM+CSIC. In addition to a series of seminars on the different aspects of biocatalysis, the students (23) have visited our laboratories at the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry.

Open Day at the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry

The Applied Biocatalysis Group has participated in the Open Day of the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (11-13 November 2015) in the context of Science Week 2015. Students from different High Schools of the Madrid Region have visited our laboratory. They have carried out a laboratory practice entitled "Removing lactose from milk with enzymes".

Symposium "Biocatalysis in Industrial Biotechnology" in Mexico DF

Our research group has participated in the Symposium "Biocatalysis in Industrial Biotechnology" organized by the former BIOCATEM network. The Symposium was held in Mexico DF, and Francisco Plou pronounced a conference on "Enzymes in the preparation of functional ingredients: prebiotics and antioxidant derivatives". Several Mexican companies and researchers from different countries contributed to the meeting. Link to the videos of the conferences.

Antonio Ballesteros, appointed Academic of the RANF

Prof. Antonio Ballesteros has been appointed Academic of  the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Spain (RANF). Congratulations!

Presence of ABG Group in LIGNOCEL Meeting

In the last meeting of the LIGNOCEL Network (Biotechnology of Lignocellulolosic Materials), which took place in Madrid (October 1-2 2015), our laboratory presented the work "Enzymatic transformation of xylan into xylooligosaccharides by the synergistic action of two endoxylanases". The meeting was very fruitful to establish new collaborations between research groups involved in the exploitation of lignocellulosic residues.