Peptones are among the most expensive culture components used in the cultivation of microorganisms. This study was performed to prepare a protein hydrolysate from sheep wool using a locally isolated keratinolytic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis EY2 (GenBank: MN809476), and to investigate the usability of the prepared hydrolysate as a peptone in a microbial medium. The optimum pH, temperature, and incubation time for wool hydrolysis and keratinolytic activity were determined as 7.0, 55 °C, and 6 days, respectively. Optimum concentrations of KH2PO4, MgSO4, and NaCl were determined as 1.5, 0.5, and 2 g/L, respectively. After the prepared hydrolysate was partially purified, it was converted to wool peptone (WP). The total protein, ash, carbohydrate, and lipid content of WP was found to be 82.7, 7.2, 0.1, and 0.2 g/100 g, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of WP confirmed the formation of sulfoxide bonds (S=O), which indicated the breaking of disulfide bonds. When compared with commercial tryptone peptone (TP), WP was found to be superior for the cell growth performances of Esherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Candia albicans and Aspergillus niger. A protein hydrolysate (including wool protein hydrolysate) prepared via microbial hydrolysis was tested for the first time as a peptone source. The cost of WP is much lower than commercial peptones. At the same time, the method developed offers an environmentally friendly approach for the reduction of the amount of unutilized or waste sheep wool. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Lipases are widely used in textile, food, medical and chemical industries. The present study was performed to produce lipase from thermophilic bacterial strains using waste frying oil as substrate. Among four bacterial strains, Bacillus licheniformis A7 (GenBank accesion number: KC310458) was determined to be the best lipase producer. A frying oil concentration of 40 mL/L, temperature of 55 °C, initial pH of 6.0 and incubation time of 72 h were found to be optimal for lipase production from Bacillus sp. Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximum cell growth and lipase activity were determined as 2.219 0D600nm and 1607 U/L, respectively.

Background: Larynx cancer (LCa) is the most common head and neck cancer and accounts for 1-2.5% of all human cancers worldwide. Metformin, an oral anti-diabetic drug, has been recently shown to have anti-cancer activity in various cancer types, and there are several studies in the literature pointing to its potential to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Objective: This study was aimed at exploring the anti-cancer effects of metformin alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on Hep-2 cells. Methods: The effects of metformin and/or 5-FU on the proliferative, clonogenic, and apoptotic potential of Hep-2 cells were evaluated with Cell Viability Detection Kit-8, soft agar assay and Annexin VFITC Apoptosis assay, respectively. Migratory and invasive potential of cells was tested using scratch, transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assays. Gene expression of cells exposed to metformin and/or 5-FU was profiled using RT2 mRNA PCR Array plates. Results: Treatment of Hep-2 cells with metformin inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis, and suppressed cell migration. Besides, treatment of metformin along with 5-FU improved the antiproliferative and anti-migratory effects of 5-FU. However, unexpectedly, metformin was found to enhance cellular invasion and reverse the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on the invasive potential of Hep-2 cells. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that metformin might be used as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of LCa. However, the potential of metformin to promote the invasion of cancer cells should not be neglected.