Alterations in the Transcriptome of Rye Plants Following the Microdochium nivale Infection: Identification of Resistance/Susceptibility-Related Reactions Based on RNA-Seq Analysis

Microdochium nivale is a progressive and devastating phytopathogen that causes different types of cereal crop and grass diseases that are poorly characterized at the molecular level. Although rye (Secale cereale L.) is one of the most resistant crops to most of the phytopathogens, it is severely damaged by M. nivale. The recent high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of rye genome has improved whole-genome studies of this crop. In the present work, the first transcriptome study of the M. nivale-infected crop plant (rye) with the detailed functional gene classification was carried out, along with the physiological verification of the RNA-Seq data. The results revealed plant reactions that contributed to their resistance or susceptibility to M. nivale. Phytohormone abscisic acid was shown to promote plant tolerance to M. nivale. Flavonoids were proposed to contribute to plant resistance to this pathogen. The upregulation of plant lipase encoding genes and the induction of lipase activity in M. nivale-infected plants revealed in our study were presumed to play an important role in plant susceptibility to the studied phytopathogen. Our work disclosed important aspects of plant-M. nivale interactions, outlined the directions for future studies on poorly characterized plant diseases caused by this phytopathogen, and provided new opportunities to improve cereals breeding and food security strategies.

Investigation on enzymatic activity of rubber seed as source of plant lipase

Rubber seed is a non-edible seed that is abundantly available and considers agricultural wastes. A potential lipase from rubber seed was examined based on the enzymatic activity and its application in the hydrolysis reaction. The enzymatic activity characterization study was determined based on p-nitrophenol release in the hydrolysis reaction. The initial evaluation showed that temperature and pH significantly influence the reaction. The optimum condition based on enzymatic activity for rubber seed was found at 30 ℃ and pH 8. The rubber seed lipase extract was then used in enzymatic hydrolysis reactions of rubber seed oil, palm oil, and canola oil. The highest FFA percentage of 63% was found from the rubber seed oil. The results indicate that rubber seed extract has shown its potential enzymatic activity. However, further studies need to be done to apply this rubber seed in various lipase catalysed reactions.

Explore the Potential of a Plant Phospholipase as an Antimicrobial

Global public health is increasingly threatened by the fast emergence of antibiotic resistance, and novel types of antibiotics are urgently needed. Metazoans have evolved their own antimicrobial mechanism, such as human group IIA secreted phospholipase A (sPLA2), which can efficiently inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria, but with much lower efficiency toward gram-negative bacteria. Here, we verified the antibacterial activity of a plant lipase, PLIP1 from Arabidopsis thaliana, against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, which belongs to the WHO priority 1 (critical) pathogen Enterobacteriaceae family. We also explored the potential of evolving PLIP1 as a more potent antimicrobial agent towards E. coli. Our results imply the possibility of using plant lipases as a potential antimicrobial and shed light on the future exploration of plant enzymes for novel and more efficient antibacterial agents.

Performance of Various Organic Solvents as Reaction Media in Plant Oil Lipolysis with Plant Lipase

Fatty acids are intermediate substances in synthesis of oleochemical products. Enzymatic technology of fatty acids production (also known as lipolysis) is now developing as potential substitution for the conventional production of fatty acid, i.e. thermal hydrolysis of triglyceride. It offers more economical process condition, low energy consumption, and minimal product degradation compared to the conventional process. This research aims to evaluate performance of various organic solvents as reaction media in lipolysis with plant latex lipase. Organic solvents observed were chloroform, n-hexane, diethyl ether, benzene, acetone, ethanol, methanol, n-heptane, and isooctane. Analysis of each organic solvent effect on lipolysis was described based on solvents properties. Conversion of lipolysis with organic solvents is 0,10-1,25 times fold compared to conversion of non-solvent lipolysis. We suggest that dielectric constant and viscosity are the two main organic solvent properties affecting lipase performance in lipolysis. Overall, n-hexane, n-heptane, and isooctane are recommended to be used as reaction media in lipolysis with plant lipase because their effects to degree of lipolysis are positive. Keywords: lipolysis; lipase; organic solvent; frangipani

Immobilization of a Plant Lipase from Pachira aquatica in Alginate and Alginate/PVA Beads

This study reports the immobilization of a new lipase isolated from oleaginous seeds of Pachira aquatica, using beads of calcium alginate (Alg) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). We evaluated the morphology, number of cycles of reuse, optimum temperature, and temperature stability of both immobilization methods compared to the free enzyme. The immobilized enzymes were more stable than the free enzyme, keeping 60% of the original activity after 4 h at 50°C. The immobilized lipase was reused several times, with activity decreasing to approximately 50% after 5 cycles. Both the free and immobilized enzymes were found to be optimally active between 30 and 40°C.

Stability of a Lipase Extracted from Seeds of Pachira aquatica in Commercial Detergents and Application Tests in Poultry Wastewater Pretreatment and Fat Particle Hydrolysis

A protein extract containing a plant lipase from oleaginous seeds of Pachira aquatica was tested using soybean oil, wastewater from a poultry processing plant, and beef fat particles as substrate. The hydrolysis experiments were carried out at a temperature of 40°C, an incubation time of 90 minutes, and pH 8.0-9.0. The enzyme had the best stability at pH 9.0 and showed good stability in the alkaline range. It was found that P. aquatica lipase was stable in the presence of some commercial laundry detergent formulations, and it retained full activity up to 0.35% in hydrogen peroxide, despite losing activity at higher concentrations. Concerning wastewater, the lipase increased free fatty acids release by 7.4 times and promoted the hydrolysis of approximately 10% of the fats, suggesting that it could be included in a pretreatment stage, especially for vegetable oil degradation.

Assaying Arabidopsis lipase activity

A low lipase activity from a crude extract of Arabidopsis seedlings was assayed using three sensitive methods (radiolabelled triacylglycerols, commercial resorufin ester and triacylglycerols containing the naturally fluorescent parinaric acid as substrates). The specific activity of the extract was found to be similar using the three methods. However, the plant lipase activity measured using the radioactivity and the fluorescence assays could be abolished by heating the extract, contrary to the apparent activity measured using the commercial colorimetric assay. Unlike the radioactivity assay, the fluorescence assay can be monitored continuously. The parinaric acid-based method is therefore the only one to provide a sensitive, specific and continuous assay.