Abstract In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the hydrolysis of phytate of defatted rice bran (DRB) by a pretreatment with non-commercial phytase produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (DRB-PS) compared to the application of Natuphos® (commercial phytase produced by the BASF Company) (DRB-PN) in diets for grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella. Fish (57.55 ± 0.4 g) fed one of the experimental diets in triplicates for 35 days. Effects of the phytase used on blood parameters, intestinal proteases and hepatic glucose were not observed (p > 0.05). Similarly, no differences were found for serum phosphorus (P). However, were found higher levels of calcium (9 and 5.25%) in the control treatment in relation to DRB-PS and DRB-PN respectively, besides higher calcium-phosphorus ratio was found in this treatment. For the fish carcass composition was not statistically different (p > 0.05) except total lipids, which showed its highest content in fish fed on the DRB-PN diet (p < 0.05). The obtained results suggested that the use of the phytase, irrespective to its source may eliminate the use of traditional P sources in fish diets.

A biochemical characterization of the tannase from a Paecilomyces variotii strain isolated in São Paulo, Brazil was carried out. Paecilomyces variotii is a strain obtained from the screening of five hundred fungi that were tested for their production of tannase. The enzyme produced was partially purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange chromatography, diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-Sepharose. Effects of temperature and pH on the activity of crude tannase crude and purified tannase was studied. Km was found to be 0.61 µmol and Vmax = 0.55 U/mL. Temperature of 40 to 65ºC and pH 4.5 to 6.5 were optimum for tannase activity and stability; it could find potential use in the food-processing industry. The effects of different inhibitors, surfactants and chelators on the enzyme activity were also studied

Foram testadas cinco lipases microbianas produzidas no Laboratório de Bioquímica de Alimentos-FEA-UNICAMP, quanto à capacidade de catalisar a síntese de ésteres formadores de aroma por esterificação em meio isento de solvente orgânico. A natureza da enzima assim como o tamanho da cadeia dos ácidos afetaram as taxas de conversão obtidas.Os melhores resultados obtidos foram 88 % de conversão na síntese de laurato de isoamila e 72% para propionato de isoamila pela lipase de Rhizopus sp após 24 horas de incubação, seguido de 82% de conversão na síntese de acetato de isopropila por Alcaligenes sp após 24 horas de incubação.

Five lipases produced at UNICAMP were screened for their ability to synthesize flavor esters by esterification in organic solvent free system. The nature of the enzyme, as well as the chain length of the acyl donor used affected the product yields. Lipase from Rhizopus sp and Alcaligenes sp gave the best overall yield (88 and 82%).