scholarly journals Cloning and Characterization of the Zymobacter palmae Pyruvate Decarboxylase Gene (pdc) and Comparison to Bacterial Homologues

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 2869-2876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishnan Chandra Raj ◽  
Lee A. Talarico ◽  
Lonnie O. Ingram ◽  
Julie A. Maupin-Furlow

ABSTRACT Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) is the key enzyme in all homo-ethanol fermentations. Although widely distributed among plants, yeasts, and fungi, PDC is absent in animals and rare in bacteria (established for only three organisms). Genes encoding the three known bacterial pdc genes have been previously described and expressed as active recombinant proteins. The pdc gene from Zymomonas mobilis has been used to engineer ethanol-producing biocatalysts for use in industry. In this paper, we describe a new bacterial pdc gene from Zymobacter palmae. The pattern of codon usage for this gene appears quite similar to that for Escherichia coli genes. In E. coli recombinants, the Z. palmae PDC represented approximately 1/3 of the soluble protein. Biochemical and kinetic properties of the Z. palmae enzyme were compared to purified PDCs from three other bacteria. Of the four bacterial PDCs, the Z. palmae enzyme exhibited the highest specific activity (130 U mg of protein−1) and the lowest Km for pyruvate (0.24 mM). Differences in biochemical properties, thermal stability, and codon usage may offer unique advantages for the development of new biocatalysts for fuel ethanol production.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krithika Rajagopalan ◽  
Jonathan Dworkin

AbstractIn bacteria, signaling phosphorylation is thought to occur primarily on His and Asp residues. However, phosphoproteomic surveys in phylogenetically diverse bacteria over the past decade have identified numerous proteins that are phosphorylated on Ser and/or Thr residues. Consistently, genes encoding Ser/Thr kinases are present in many bacterial genomes such asE. coli,which encodes at least three Ser/Thr kinases. Since Ser/Thr phosphorylation is a stable modification, a dedicated phosphatase is necessary to allow reversible regulation. Ser/Thr phosphatases belonging to several conserved families are found in bacteria. One family of particular interest are Ser/Thr phosphatases which have extensive sequence and structural homology to eukaryotic Ser/Thr PP2C phosphatases. These proteins, called eSTPs (eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr phosphatases), have been identified in a number of bacteria, but not inE. coli.Here, we describe a previously unknown eSTP encoded by anE. coliORF,yegK,and characterize its biochemical properties including its kinetics, substrate specificity and sensitivity to known phosphatase inhibitors. We investigate differences in the activity of this protein in closely relatedE. colistrains. Finally, we demonstrate that this eSTP acts to dephosphorylate a novel Ser/Thr kinase which is encoded in the same operon.ImportanceRegulatory protein phosphorylation is a conserved mechanism of signaling in all biological systems. Recent phosphoproteomic analyses of phylogenetically diverse bacteria including the model Gram-negative bacteriumE. colidemonstrate that many proteins are phosphorylated on serine or threonine residues. In contrast to phosphorylation on histidine or aspartate residues, phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues is stable and requires the action of a partner Ser/Thr phosphatase to remove the modification. Although a number of Ser/Thr kinases have been reported inE. coli, no partner Ser/Thrphosphatases have been identified. Here, we biochemically characterize a novel Ser/Thr phosphatase that acts to dephosphorylate a Ser/Thr kinase that is encoded in the same operon.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakda Yainoy ◽  
Thanawat Phuadraksa ◽  
Sineewanlaya Wichit ◽  
Maprang Sompoppokakul ◽  
Napat Songtawee ◽  
...  

The ideal therapeutic uricase (UOX) is expected to have the following properties; high expression level, high activity, high thermostability, high solubility and low immunogenicity. The latter property is believed to depend largely on sequence identity to the deduced human UOX (dH-UOX). Herein, we explored L. menadoensis uricase (LM-UOX) and found that it has 65% sequence identity to dH-UOX, 68% to the therapeutic chimeric porcine-baboon UOX (PBC) and 70% to the resurrected ancient mammal UOX. To study its biochemical properties, recombinant LM-UOX was produced in E. coli and purified to more than 95% homogeneity. The enzyme had specific activity up to 10.45 unit/mg, which was about 2-fold higher than that of the PBC. One-litre culture yielded purified protein up to 132 mg. Based on homology modelling, we successfully engineered I27C/N289C mutant, which was proven to contain inter-subunit disulphide bridges. The mutant had similar specific activity and production yield to that of wild type (WT) but its thermostability was dramatically improved. Up on storage at −20 °C and 4 °C, the mutant retained ~100% activity for at least 60 days. By keeping at 37 °C, the mutant retained ~100% activity for 15 days, which was 120-fold longer than that of the wild type. Thus, the I27C/N289C mutant has potential to be developed for treatment of hyperuricemia.


Author(s):  
Fatma Ben Abid ◽  
Clement K. M. Tsui ◽  
Yohei Doi ◽  
Anand Deshmukh ◽  
Christi L. McElheny ◽  
...  

AbstractOne hundred forty-nine carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales from clinical samples obtained between April 2014 and November 2017 were subjected to whole genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing. Klebsiella pneumoniae (81, 54.4%) and Escherichia coli (38, 25.5%) were the most common species. Genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases were detected in 68 (45.8%) isolates, and OXA-48-like enzymes in 60 (40.3%). blaNDM-1 (45; 30.2%) and blaOXA-48 (29; 19.5%) were the most frequent. KPC-encoding genes were identified in 5 (3.6%) isolates. Most common sequence types were E. coli ST410 (8; 21.1%) and ST38 (7; 18.4%), and K. pneumoniae ST147 (13; 16%) and ST231 (7; 8.6%).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peixian Bai ◽  
Liyuan Wang ◽  
Kang Wei ◽  
Li Ruan ◽  
Liyun Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Alanine decarboxylase (AlaDC), specifically present in tea plants, is crucial for theanine biosynthesis. Serine decarboxylase (SDC), found in many plants, is a protein most closely related to AlaDC. To investigate whether the new gene AlaDC originate from gene SDC and to determine the biochemical properties of the two proteins from Camellia sinensis, the sequences of CsAlaDC and CsSDC were analyzed and the two proteins were over-expressed, purified, and characterized. Results The results showed that exon-intron structures of AlaDC and SDC were quite similar and the protein sequences, encoded by the two genes, shared a high similarity of 85.1%, revealing that new gene AlaDC originated from SDC by gene duplication. CsAlaDC and CsSDC catalyzed the decarboxylation of alanine and serine, respectively. CsAlaDC and CsSDC exhibited the optimal activities at 45 °C (pH 8.0) and 40 °C (pH 7.0), respectively. CsAlaDC was stable under 30 °C (pH 7.0) and CsSDC was stable under 40 °C (pH 6.0–8.0). The activities of the two enzymes were greatly enhanced by the presence of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate. The specific activity of CsSDC (30,488 IU/mg) was 8.8-fold higher than that of CsAlaDC (3467 IU/mg). Conclusions Comparing to CsAlaDC, its ancestral enzyme CsSDC exhibited a higher specific activity and a better thermal and pH stability, indicating that CsSDC acquired the optimized function after a longer evolutionary period. The biochemical properties of CsAlaDC might offer reference for theanine industrial production.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 1925-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Ichi Inoue ◽  
Kanako Saita ◽  
Toshiaki Kudo ◽  
Sadaharu Ui ◽  
Moriya Ohkuma

ABSTRACT Cellulolytic flagellated protists in the guts of termites produce molecular hydrogen (H2) that is emitted by the termites; however, little is known about the physiology and biochemistry of H2 production from cellulose in the gut symbiotic protists due to their formidable unculturability. In order to understand the molecular basis for H2 production, we here identified two genes encoding proteins homologous to iron-only hydrogenases (Fe hydrogenases) in Pseudotrichonympha grassii, a large cellulolytic symbiont in the phylum Parabasalia, in the gut of the termite Coptotermes formosanus. The two Fe hydrogenases were phylogenetically distinct and had different N-terminal accessory domains. The long-form protein represented a phylogenetic lineage unique among eukaryotic Fe hydrogenases, whereas the short form was monophyletic with those of other parabasalids. Active recombinant enzyme forms of these two Fe hydrogenases were successfully obtained without the specific auxiliary maturases. Although they differed in their extent of specific activity and optimal pH, both enzymes preferentially catalyzed H2 evolution rather than H2 uptake. H2 evolution, at least that associated with the short-form enzyme, was still active even under high hydrogen partial pressure. H2 evolution activity was detected in the hydrogenosomal fraction of P. grassii cells; however, the vigorous H2 uptake activity of the endosymbiotic bacteria compensated for the strong H2 evolution activity of the host protists. The results suggest that termite gut symbionts are a rich reservoir of novel Fe hydrogenases whose properties are adapted to the gut environment and that the potential of H2 production in termite guts has been largely underestimated.


Author(s):  
Yuki Sasaki ◽  
Ayako Horigome ◽  
Toshitaka Odamaki ◽  
Jin-Zhong Xiao ◽  
Akihiro Ishiwata ◽  
...  

Gum arabic arabinogalactan (AG) protein (AGP) is a unique dietary fiber that is degraded and assimilated by only specific strains of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum. Here, we identified a novel 3-O-α-d-galactosyl-α-l-arabinofuranosidase (GAfase) from B. longum JCM7052, and classified it into the glycoside hydrolase family 39 (GH39). GAfase released α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara and β-l-Arap-(1→3)-l-Ara from gum arabic AGP and β-l-Arap-(1→3)-l-Ara from larch AGP, and the α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara release activity was found to be 594-fold higher than that of β-l-Arap-(1→3)-l-Ara. The GAfase gene was part of a gene cluster that included genes encoding a GH36 α-galactosidase candidate and ABC transporters for the assimilation of the released α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara in B. longum. Notably, when α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara was removed from gum arabic AGP, it was assimilated by both B. longum JCM7052 and the non-assimilative B. longum JCM1217, suggesting that the removal of α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara from gum arabic AGP by GAfase permitted the cooperative action with type-II AG degradative enzymes in B. longum. The present study provides new insight into the mechanism of gum arabic AGP degradation in B. longum. IMPORTANCE Bifidobacteria harbor numerous carbohydrate-active enzymes that degrade several dietary fibers in the gastrointestinal tract. B. longum JCM7052 is known to exhibit the ability to assimilate gum arabic AGP, but the key enzyme involved in the degradation of gum arabic AGP remains unidentified. Here, we cloned and characterized a GH39 3-O-α-d-galactosyl-α-l-arabinofuranosidase (GAfase) from B. longum JCM7052. The enzyme was responsible for the release of α-d-Galp-(1→3)-l-Ara and β-l-Arap-(1→3)-l-Ara from gum arabic AGP. The presence of a gene cluster including the GAfase gene is specifically observed in gum arabic AGP assimilative strains. However, GAfase-carrier strains may affect GAfase-noncarrier strains that express other type-II AG degradative enzymes. These findings provide insights into the bifidogenic effect of gum arabic AGP.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 922-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Hoang Thu Trang ◽  
Tran Vu Thieu Nga ◽  
James I Campbell ◽  
Nguyen Trong Hiep ◽  
Jeremy Farrar ◽  
...  

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes capable of hydrolyzing oxyimino-β-lactams and inducing resistance to third generation cephalosporins. The genes encoding ESBLs are widespread and generally located on highly transmissible resistance plasmids. We aimed to investigate the complement of ESBL genes in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections in hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Methodology: Thirty-two non-duplicate isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections, isolated between March and June 2010, were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All isolates were PCR-amplified to detect the blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M ESBL genes and subjected to plasmid analysis. Results: We found that co-resistance to multiple antimicrobials was highly prevalent, and we report the predominance of the blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27 genes, located on highly transmissible plasmids ranging from 50 to 170 kb in size. Conclusions: Our study represents a snap shot of ESBL-producing enteric bacteria causing nosocomial infections in this setting. We suggest that antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae is rampant in Vietnam and ESBL organisms are widespread. In view of these data and the dramatic levels of antimicrobial resistance reported in Vietnam we advocate an urgent review of antimicrobial use in the Vietnamese healthcare system.


1992 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
G McAllister ◽  
P Whiting ◽  
E A Hammond ◽  
M R Knowles ◽  
J R Atack ◽  
...  

Inositol monophosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25) is a key enzyme in the phosphoinositide cell-signalling system. Its role is to provide inositol required for the resynthesis of phosphatidylinositol and polyphosphoinositides. It is the probable pharmacological target for lithium action in brain. Using probes derived from the bovine inositol monophosphatase cDNA we have isolated cDNA clones encoding the human and rat brain enzymes. The enzyme is highly conserved in all three species (79% identical). The coding region of the human cDNA was inserted into a bacterial expression vector. The expressed recombinant enzyme was purified and its biochemical properties examined. The human enzyme is very similar to the bovine enzyme.


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 638-650
Author(s):  
Ruth Ololade Amiola ◽  
Adedeji Nelson Ademakinwa ◽  
Zainab Adenike Ayinla ◽  
Esther Nkechi Ezima ◽  
Femi Kayode Agboola

Abstract Background β-Cyanoalanine synthase plays essential roles in germinating seeds, such as in cyanide homeostasis. Methods β-Cyanoalanine synthase was isolated from sorghum seeds, purified using chromatographic techniques and its biochemical and catalytic properties were determined. Results The purified enzyme had a yield of 61.74% and specific activity of 577.50 nmol H2S/min/mg of protein. The apparent and subunit molecular weight for purified β-cyanoalanine synthase were 58.26±2.41 kDa and 63.4 kDa, respectively. The kinetic parameters with sodium cyanide as substrate were 0.67±0.08 mM, 17.60±0.50 nmol H2S/mL/min, 2.97×10−1 s−1 and 4.43×102 M−1 s−1 for KM, Vmax, kcat and kcat/KM, respectively. With L-cysteine as substrate, the kinetic parameters were 2.64±0.37 mM, 63.41±4.04 nmol H2S/mL/min, 10.71×10−1 s−1 and 4.06×102 M−1 s−1 for KM, Vmax, kcat and kcat/KM, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for activity were 35°C and 8.5, respectively. The enzyme retained more than half of its activity at 40°C. Inhibitors such as HgCl2, EDTA, glycine and iodoacetamide reduced enzyme activity. Conclusion The biochemical properties of β-cyanoalanine synthase in germinating sorghum seeds highlights its roles in maintaining cyanide homeostasis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Sun ◽  
Jo Han Gan ◽  
Jennifer J. Paynter ◽  
Stephen J. Tucker

Our understanding of the mammalian inwardly rectifying family of K+ channels (Kir family) has recently been advanced by X-ray crystal structures of two homologous prokaryotic orthologs (KirBac1.1 and KirBac3.1). However, the functional properties of these KirBac channels are still poorly understood. To address this problem, we cloned and characterized genes encoding KirBac orthologs from a wide variety of different prokaryotes and a simple unicellular eukaryote. The functional properties of these KirBacs were then examined by growth complementation in a K+ uptake-deficient strain of Escherichia coli (TK2420). Whereas some KirBac genes exhibited robust growth complementation, others either did not complement or showed temperature-dependent complementation including KirBac1.1 and KirBac3.1. In some cases, KirBac expression was also toxic to the growth of E. coli. The KirBac family exhibited a range of sensitivity to the K+ channel blockers Ba2+ and Cs+ as well as differences in their ability to grow on very low-K+ media, thus demonstrating major differences in their permeation properties. These results reveal the existence of a functionally diverse superfamily of microbial KirBac genes and present an excellent resource for the structural and functional analysis of this class of K+ channels. Furthermore, the complementation assay used in this study provides a simple and robust method for the functional characterization of a range of prokaryotic K+ channels that are difficult to study by traditional methods.


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