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Thermophilic fungi are a promising source of thermostable enzymes able to hydrolytically or oxidatively degrade plant cell wall components. Among these enzymes are lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), enzymes capable of enhancing biomass hydrolysis through an oxidative mechanism. Myceliophthora thermophila (synonym Sporotrichum thermophile), an Ascomycete fungus, expresses and secretes over a dozen different LPMOs. In this study, we report the overexpression and biochemical study of a previously uncharacterized LPMO (MtLPMO9J) from M. thermophila M77 in Aspergillus nidulans. MtLPMO9J is a single-domain LPMO and has 63% sequence similarity with the catalytic domain of NcLPMO9C from Neurospora crassa. Biochemical characterization of MtLPMO9J revealed that it performs C4-oxidation and is active against cellulose, soluble cello-oligosaccharides and xyloglucan. Moreover, biophysical studies showed that MtLPMO9J is structurally stable at pH above 5 and at temperatures up to 50°C. Importantly, LC-MS analysis of the peptides after tryptic digestion of the recombinantly produced protein revealed not only the correct processing of the signal peptide and methylation of the N-terminal histidine, but also partial autoxidation of the catalytic center. This shows that redox conditions need to be controlled, not only during LPMO reactions but also during protein production, to protect LPMOs from oxidative damage.

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Membranas poliméricas foram produzidas a partir de nanocompósitos de poliamida 6 e argila constituída de silicatos em camadas, utilizando a técnica de imersão-precipitação. A argila foi modificada organicamente com os sais quaternários de amônio, Dodigen e Cetremide. Foram obtidos nanocompósitos de poliamida 6 com argila sem tratamento (MMT) e com argila tratada (OMMT). Os nanocompósitos obtidos foram avaliados por DRX e MET, apresentando estrutura com predominância de lamelas de argila esfoliadas na matriz polimérica. As membranas produzidas pelo método de inversão de fases foram caracterizadas por DRX e MEV. A difração de raios X das membranas confirmou os resultados para os nanocompósitos anteriormente preparados. A superfície da matriz observada por MEV apresentou poros irregulares. Já para as membranas com os nanocompósitos observou-se maior quantidade e melhor distribuição dos poros, indicando que a presença da argila alterou a morfologia da membrana. As fotomicrografias das seções transversais dessas membranas mostraram uma estrutura morfológica assimétrica, constituída de uma pele, onde os poros são muito pequenos ou inexistentes, e uma camada porosa com poros de tamanho e distribuição uniformes.

SbstractPolymer/clay nanocomposites are a new class of composites with polymer matrices where the disperse phase is a silicate with elementary particles that have at least one of dimensions in nanometer order. Polyamide 6/Brazilian organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation, and the mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties were studied. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was verified by XRD and TEM analysis that all systems presented exfoliated structure predominantly. By thermogravimetry (TG), nanocomposites showed higher stabilities in relation to pure polymer. It was observed that the nanocomposites showed better mechanical properties compared to the properties of polyamide 6. The heat deflection temperature (HDT) values of the nanocomposites showed a significant increase in relation to pure polymer.

todos têm sido desenvolvidos para preparação de nanocompósitos polímero/argila [2] . Atualmente, vem sendo dada muita atenção aos nanocompósitos poliméricos, especialmente aos nanocompósitos desenvolvidos com silicatos em camada, devido à grande necessidade de materiais modernos de engenharia e ao fato dos polímeros puros não apresentarem as propriedades necessárias para certas aplicações [3] . IntroduçãoA partir da década de 60, começou-se a se reportar o desenvolvimento dos primeiros nanocompósitos de polímero/argila quando Blumstein citado por Leite [1] demonstrou, por meio da técnica de polimerização de monô-meros vinílicos, a intercalação de moléculas poliméricas entre as lamelas da montmorilonita. A partir daí, outros mé- Resumo: Nanocompósitos de poliamida 6/argila organofílica foram preparados pelo método de intercalação por fusão. A argila foi tratada com o sal quaternário de amônio (Genamin) visando-se a obtenção da argila organofílica (OMMT). Ela foi caracterizada por fluorescência de raio X (FRX) e difração de raio X (DRX) e, os resultados dessas análises mostraram a incorporação do sal entre as camadas da argila, tornando-a organofílica. Os nanocompósitos foram obtidos em extrusora de rosca dupla contra-rotacional, com 3% em peso de argila e, foram caracterizados por difração de raio X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET), caracterização mecânica sob tração, análise térmica dinâmico-mecânica (DMTA) e temperatura de deflexão térmica (HDT). Os resultados de DRX e MET mostraram estrutura esfoliada e/ou parcialmente esfoliada. As propriedades mecânicas sob tração dos nanocompósitos foram superiores às da poliamida 6 e, a análise por DMTA e HDT mostrou que a incorporação da argila organofílica na matriz polimérica, aumentou a rigidez (módulo de armazenamento) e a HDT do sistema, confirmando o efeito reforçante da argila no polímero.Palavras-chave: Nanocompósitos, poliamida 6, argila organofílica. Polyamide 6/Organoclay Nanocomposites: Effect of Matrix Molecular Weight on Structure and Mechanical and ThermalMechanical PropertiesAbstract: Polyamide 6/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by the melt intercalation technique. The clay was treated with a quaternary ammonium salt (Genamin) to obtain the organoclay (OMMT), being characterized by X ray fluorescence (XRF) and X ray diffraction (XRD). The results confirmed the incorporation of the salt into the clay structure, i.e. the organophilization. The nanocomposites were obtained with a counter-rotational twin screw extruder with 3 wt.% of clay and characterized by XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile testing, dynamical-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT). The XRD and TEM results showed exfoliated and/or partially exfoliated structures. The tensile properties were superior to those of the pure polyamide 6.The analysis with DMTA and HDT also showed that the incorporation of the organoclay into the polymer matrix increased the rigidity (storage modulus) of the system, confirming the reinforc...

Polymeric membranes are attracting attention of researchers and industries due to their lower costs. However, they also have lower mechanical resistance and chemical solvents, when compared with other materials. An improvement of polymer properties can be obtained by adding an inorganic nanoload in the structure. This study produced polyamide 6 / bentonite clay nanocomposites with a nominal content of 3%, and this was used in the processed form and in the organically modified form by cation exchange. The nanocomposites were produced by melt intercalation, and then, the membranes were obtained by the technique of immersion-precipitation. Bentonite, organophilic clay, the material processed in the extruder and the membranes were submitted to the x-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). By both techniques, it was possible to prove the organic modification of clay and the change in the crystallinity of the nanocomposites and of the membranes.