HIGH TEMPERATURE/METAL-FREE FERMENTATION SYSTEM

传统的不锈钢发酵罐不能用来在 高温，高压(易燃或有毒)气体，在 腐蚀性介质(硫化物浓度高或在极端pH下)，或 在具有限定金属含量的介质中(因为金属从 发酵罐墙)。在这份提案中，我们要求两个搪瓷衬里的金属- 免费，63升和400升容量的发酵罐，一台细胞离心机 收割，以及无金属水系统。发酵罐的额定温度为 150摄氏度和6个大气压，专为培养细菌而设计 在极端条件下。它们将被用来种植最近发现的 极端嗜热菌在90-110摄氏度下用于 它们参与多种生物代谢的金属酶的特征 气体(氢气、氮气、硫化氢、甲烷和一氧化碳)。此外，这些和各种 发酵菌、产乙酸菌、产甲烷菌和产硫化物细菌将 在限定的金属介质中生长。这允许表达某些 酶，如V-固氮酶，以及使用昂贵的同位素(Fe，Mo，W， 镍)，用于各种金属酶的光谱分析。整体而言 目的是阐明各种金属簇合物的结构 发现于蛋白质中，以及这些簇在电子中所起的作用 转移和催化活性。如果得到资助，佐治亚大学 将成为美国唯一一家拥有增长能力的工厂 在极端和金属限定的条件下进行大规模细菌培养。

Conventional stainless steel fermentors cannot be used to grow bacteria at high temperatures, with high pressures of (flammable or toxic) gases, in corrosive media (with high sulfide concentrations or at extremes of pH), or in media with a defined metal content (because of metal leaching from the fermentor walls). In this proposal we request two enamel-lined, metal- free, fermentors of 63 liter and 400 liter capacity, a centrifuge for cell harvesting, and a metal-free water system. The fermentors are rated to 150oC and 6 atmospheres and are specifically designed to grow bacteria under extreme conditions. They will be used to grow recently discovered extremely thermophilic bacteria at 90-110oC for the purpose of characterizing their metalloenzymes involved in the metabolism of various gases (H2, N2, H2S, CH4 and CO). In addition, these and various fermentative, acetogenic, methanogenic and sulfide-producing bacteria will be grown in defined metal media. This allows the expression of certain enzymes, e.g. V-nitrogenase, and the use of expensive isotopes (Fe, Mo, W, Ni) for spectroscopic analyses of various metalloenzymes. The overall objectives are to elucidate the structures of a variety of metal clusters found in proteins and the roles that these clusters play in electron transfer and catalytic activity. If funded, the University of Georgia would become the only facility in the US with the capability of growing large scale bacterial cultures under extreme and metal-defined conditions.