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Conversion of Isoeugenol to Vanillin by Psychrobacter sp. Strain CSW4

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Abstract

To screen strains of halotolerant or halophile bacteria which are able to convert isoeugenol to vanillin, 36 different strains of bacteria isolated from the salty environments in Iran were investigated. During growth on isoeugenol, a moderately halotolerant Gram-negative coccobacil showed capability of converting isoeugenol to vanillin. Based on morphological, physiological, and phylogenetic studies, strain CSW4 was classified as a bacterium belonging to the genus Psychrobacter. The bioconversion products were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectral data obtained from UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and mass-spectroscopy. Using growing cells, vanillin reached its maximum level of 88.18 mg L−1 after 24 h of reaction time in the presence of 1 g L−1 isoeugenol, resulting in a molar yield of 10.2%. The use of resting cells led to the optimal yield of vanillin (16.4%) which was obtained after 18-h reaction using 1 g L−1 isoeugenol and 3.1 g of dry weight of cells per liter harvested at the end of the exponential growth phase. To improve vanillin yield, the effect of substrate concentration on vanillin production under resting cells conditions was also investigated. Using 10 g L−1 isoeugenol, the maximal vanillin concentration (1.28 g L−1) was achieved after a 48-h reaction, without further optimization. The present study brings the first evidence for biotransformation of isoeugenol to vanillin in the genus Psychrobacter.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from the Postgraduate Administration Office of the University of Isfahan to M.Ashengroph for obtaining Ph.D. degree.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Azadi Sq., Daneshgah St., 81746-73441, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Morahem Ashengroph, Iraj Nahvi & Hamid Zarkesh-Esfahani

  2. Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Morahem Ashengroph

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran

    Fariborz Momenbeik

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  1. Morahem Ashengroph
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  2. Iraj Nahvi
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  4. Fariborz Momenbeik
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Correspondence to Iraj Nahvi.

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Ashengroph, M., Nahvi, I., Zarkesh-Esfahani, H. et al. Conversion of Isoeugenol to Vanillin by Psychrobacter sp. Strain CSW4. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 166, 1–12 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-011-9397-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-011-9397-6

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