UNIT 11: Proteins of unicellular origin

28 flashcards · Other · by Yaiza Anido

1. What is biomass

   Biomass consists of all organic matter that grows by photosynthetic conversion of solar energy.

2. Named 4 pros of scale SCP production over conventional food production (4)

   Microorganisms have a high rate of multiplication. The microbes can be easily genetically modified to vary the amino acid composition. A broad variety of raw materials, including waste materials, can be used as a substrate. Production is independent of climatic conditions

3. Name 4 cons of large scale SCP production over conventional food production

   High level of nucleic acid in biomass. The biomass may trigger an allergic reaction Elevated levels of uric acid. Development of kidney stone and gout if consumed in high quality. Hypersensitivity and other skin reactions. The capital cost of production.

4. How is large scale SCP production carried out?

   Selection of a suitable strain Fermentation Harvesting Post harvest treatment SCP processing for food

5. Advantages and disadvantages of fungi

   Advantage: easy to grow and harvest Disad: Lower growth rates and lower protein content

6. Advantages and disadvantages of algae

   Ad: Easy to grow and harvest. High protein content Disad: Has non digestible cellulosic cell walls. Concentrate heavy metals

7. Advantages and disadvantages of yeast

   Ad: large size, low NA content, familiarity and acceptability Disad: poor digestibility, low protein content, slow growth rate

8. Advantages and disadvantages of bacteria

   Ad: high protein content and a digestable cell wall Disad: high NA content, small size and low density

9. Aas we can find in seaweed as a food source and name the seaweed species with the highest crude protein content

   EAAs: almost 50% of total aa and the protein profile is close to that of an egg Non EAAs: all thre groups of algae contain the similar amoutn. Highest crude protein content: porphyra sp. (red algae)

10. What kind of microorganisms are cyanobacteria?

    cyanobacteria: photosynthetic gram-negative prokaryotes

11. What do cyanobacteria synthesize

    They synthesize a vast array of novel 2y metabolites: biologically active compounds with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Also enzymes, toxins, UV-absorbing pigments, and certain fluorescent dyes.

12. Name 3 biotecnological applications of cyanobacteria

    Biofuel production. Alcohols and isoprenoids, biopolymers, recombinant proteins, and SCP. N2-fixing cyanobacteria to produce biofertilizer for enriching the fertility of soil.

13. Name one important marketing purpose of cyanobacteria

    Cyanobacteria potentially have anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties which can be used for marketing purposes

14. What is one concern of using cyanobacteria?

    Introduction of these products in the form of whole biomass raises concerns: potential toxicity and longterm effects on human health.

15. Name some regulation tests performed in cyanobacteria

    presence of toxins, (microcystin); however, other, sometimes novel, toxins remain undetected, long-term effects on human health remain unknown.

16. Cyanobacteria processing

    Cultivation (need alkaline watter) Harvesting Pressing and drying.

17. Why is fungi a good food source?

    Edible mushrooms have high protein content, and are an excellent source of fibre, vitamins, and some minerals.

18. Name a fungi whose fillamentous nature resembles the fibers of meat

    Fusarium venenatum

19. What are mycoproteins?

    Protein derived from fungi, especially as produced for human consumption (SCP).

20. Fungi processing

    Inside the biofermentor we inoculate 50g of the biomass and the continuous flow is initiated after 4 days of the inoculation. The m.o. need oxygen so its transfer occurs near the base of the bioreactor and the height of the instrument creates a high hydrostatic pressure. There is turbulence so bubbles are created which contribute to good aeration conditions. In the top there is low pressure which makes the bursting of the bubbles and the release of CO2. Nitrogen supplied as ammonia in sterile c…

21. What are some pros of using torula yeast (candida utilis) as a food source?

    Easy to harvest because of their size (larger than bacteria) High level of malic acid content High lysine content Can grow at acidic pH Dog, cat. fish feed is supplemented with yeasts, it will make the product more palatable to the animals.

22. Name some cons of using yeast as a food sources as opposed to bacteria

    Lower growth rates compared to bacteria Lower protein content than bacteria (45-65%) Lower Met content than bacteria, solved by the addition of methionine in the final product.

23. Name a potential carbohydrate source for growing yeast and what that substrate requires

    Cellulose agricultural byproducts This substrate requires: Preliminary acid hydrolysis of the cellulose. Use of cellulolytic microorganisms or their enzymes for hydrolysis.

24. Name a problem that appears with the present fermentation procedure for the production of yeast

    present fermentation procedure for producing yeast utilizes liquid hydrocarbon and the protein content of several yeast is low on one or more of the essential amino acids.

25. Name 4 raw materials that influence the final cost of SCP

    High-energy sources e.g. alkanes, methane, methanol, ethanol, gas oil. Waste products e.g. molasses, whey, sewage, animal manures, straw, bagasse. Agricultural and forestry sources e.g. cellulose, lignin. Carbon dioxide, the simplest carbon source

26. Name 2 limitations of SCP production from alkenes

    Very complex biotechnological process. Formation of carcinogens.

27. Explain the oxidation of alkenes as a carbon source

    Saccharamycopsis lipolytica, accumulates fat inside the cell. Be obtain acetate, succinate and propionate which enter the Kreb’s cycle or amino acid synthesis pathways to produce energy or proteins.

28. Explain the oxidation of methanol

    phospphogluconate pathway: methanol metabolism to formaldehyde and CO2. Formaldehyde is introduced into the Calvin cycle. Neutralize the action of formaldehyde as is toxic intracellularly. RuMP pathway is one the formaldehyde – fixation pathways found in microorganisms called methylotrophs/methanotrophs. The key enzymes of this pathway are: HPS: 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase: fixes formaldehyde to R-5-P to produce Hu6P, and PHI: 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase, converts Hu6P to F6P. The serine pa…