title: Rapid detection of meso-diaminopimelic acid in lactic acid bacteria by microwave cell wall hydrolysis.
abstract: Two innovative microwave hydrolysis procedures for rapidly detecting meso-diaminopimelic acid in lactic acid bacteria have been developed. Whole-cell hydrolysis was performed both in liquid phase and vapor phase with 6 N HCl in sealed vessels using a microwave oven equipped with pressure and temperature probes. The presence or absence of meso-diaminopimelic acid determined by TLC, after the application of liquid- and vapor-phase microwave hydrolysis procedures, gave the same qualitative results as those obtained by traditional hydrolysis. These standardized microwave hydrolysis procedures permit a drastic reduction in hydrolysis time, from 16-20 h to less than 10 min and, consequently, in the total time of meso-diaminopimelic acid analysis (less than 90 min). Microwave hydrolysis in vapor phase is particularly convenient because, besides reducing hydrolysis time, it also eliminates the successive troublesome step of HCl removal.
authors.affiliation: DISTAAM, Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy. marconi@unimol.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastrocola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coppola
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves
chemical_list: D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid