Characterization of L-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae to produce L-fuculose from hydrolyzed fucoidan and commercial fucose

Background L-fuculose is an expensive and rare sugar used against different kinds of diseases such as HIV, anti-cancer, anti-viral, Hepatitis-B, human lysosomal disease (fucosidosis), and cardio-protective drugs. The enzymatic way of converting L-fucose into L-fuculose would be an effective method with great industrial applications. The purpose of this research is to introduce a high production of L-fuculose from cheap and natural sources (fucoidan) and commercially source (Sigma-Aldrich) by a recombinant enzyme L-fucose isomerase from Paenibacillus rhizosphaerae (Pa-LFI).Results Fucose containing polysaccharide (FPs) called fucoidan was extracted, hydrolyzed and characterized by U. pinnatifida for enzymatic production of L-fuculose. The FPs provide 35.9% of fucose along with few other monosaccharides. Pa-LFI was characterized and purified with a single band at 65 kDa. It showed an activity of 104.5 U mg -1 and exhibited as a hexamer with native molecular mass 396 kDa. The maximum activity for recombinant Pa-LFI was detected at pH 6.5 and 50 °C in 1 mM of Mn 2+ . The melting temperature observed 75 °C and half-life at 50 °C was 12.6 h. The isomerizing activity of Pa-LFI with aldose substrate (L-fucose) was higher exposing K m , k cat and k cat / K m 86.2 mM, 32831 min -1 and 335 min -1 mM -1 respectively. The conversion ratio of L-fuculose from 100 g L -1 of FPs and commercial fucose after the equilibrium state was about 6% (5.6 g L -1 ) and 30% (30.2 g L -1 ) respectively.Conclusion Pa-LFI catalyzed the reaction to convert L-fucose into L-fuculose. The enzyme will be helpful in the production of L-fuculose with an efficient and simple method without producing any by-product.

Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fruits Contain an Atypical Peroxisomal Catalase That Is Modulated by Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species

During the ripening of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits, in a genetically controlled scenario, enormous metabolic changes occur that affect the physiology of most cell compartments. Peroxisomal catalase gene expression decreases after pepper fruit ripening, while the enzyme is also susceptible to undergo post-translational modifications (nitration, S-nitrosation, and oxidation) promoted by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Unlike most plant catalases, the pepper fruit enzyme acts as a homodimer, with an atypical native molecular mass of 125 to 135 kDa and an isoelectric point of 7.4, which is higher than that of most plant catalases. These data suggest that ROS/RNS could be essential to modulate the role of catalase in maintaining basic cellular peroxisomal functions during pepper fruit ripening when nitro-oxidative stress occurs. Using catalase from bovine liver as a model and biotin-switch labeling, in-gel trypsin digestion, and nanoliquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, it was found that Cys377 from the bovine enzyme could potentially undergo S-nitrosation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a cysteine residue from catalase that can be post-translationally modified by S-nitrosation, which makes it especially important to find the target points where the enzyme can be modulated under either physiological or adverse conditions.

Identification and characterization of phenol hydroxylase from phenol-degrading Candida tropicalis strain JH8

The gene phhY encoding phenol hydroxylase from Candida tropicalis JH8 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene phhY contained an open reading frame of 2130 bp encoding a polypeptide of 709 amino acid residues. From its sequence analysis, it is a member of a family of flavin-containing aromatic hydroxylases and shares 41% amino acid identity with phenol hydroxylase from Trichosporon cutaneum. The recombinant phenol hydroxylase exists as a homotetramer structure with a native molecular mass of 320 kDa. Recombinant phenol hydroxylase was insensitive to pH treatment; its optimum pH was at 7.6. The optimum temperature for the enzyme was 30 °C, and its activity was rapidly lost at temperatures above 60 °C. Under the optimal conditions with phenol as substrate, the Km and Vmax of recombinant phenol hydroxylase were 0.21 mmol·L–1 and 0.077 μmol·L–1·min−1, respectively. This is the first paper presenting the cloning and expression in E. coli of the phenol hydroxylase gene from C. tropicalis and the characterization of the recombinant phenol hydroxylase.

Purification and characterization of guanylate kinase, a nucleoside monophosphate kinase of Brugia malayi

SUMMARYGuanylate kinase, a nucleoside monophosphate kinase of Brugia malayi which is involved in reversible transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to GMP, was cloned, expressed and characterized. The native molecular mass of BmGK was found to be 45 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography and glutaraldehyde cross-linking which revealed that the protein is homodimer in nature. This is a unique characteristic among known eukaryotic GKs. GMP and ATP served as the most effective phosphate acceptor and donor, respectively. Recombinant BmGK utilized both GMP and dGMP, as substrates showing Km values of 30 and 38 μm, respectively. Free Mg+2 (un-complexed to ATP) and GTP play a regulatory role in catalysis of BmGK. The enzyme showed higher catalytic efficiency as compared with human GK and showed ternary complex (BmGK-GMP-ATP) formation with sequential substrate binding. The secondary structure of BmGK consisted of 45% α-helices, 18% β-sheets as revealed by CD analysis. Homology modelling and docking with GMP revealed conserved substrate binding residues with slight differences. Differences in kinetic properties and oligomerization of BmGK compared with human GK can provide the way for design of parasite-specific inhibitors.

A Novel Dialysis Process to Isolate Phosvitin from Hen Egg Yolk

The objective of this work is to develop a novel dialysis process for the isolation of phosvitin from hen egg yolk avoiding the use of organic solvents and polyvalent metals. This bioseparation process consists of NaCl precipitation, heat treatment and dialysis, which was proposed on the basis of the property difference (especially solubility and thermostability) among yolk proteins. The native molecular mass of the purified phosvitin estimated by fast protein liquid chromatography on a Superdex 75 column was about 165 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed two bands around 35 kDa. The nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio of the purified phosvitin was 2.8 ± 0.2, with a yield of 87.1%. The phosvitin product had α-helix of 36%, β-sheet of 28% and random coil of 36% at pH 7.0, consistent with the literature values. This shows that the purified phosvitin folded with a reasonable secondary structure.

Characterization of a broad-specificity non-haem iron N-demethylase from Pseudomonas putida CBB5 capable of utilizing several purine alkaloids as sole carbon and nitrogen source

N-Demethylation of many xenobiotics and naturally occurring purine alkaloids such as caffeine and theobromine is primarily catalysed in higher organisms, ranging from fungi to mammals, by the well-studied membrane-associated cytochrome P450s. In contrast, there is no well-characterized enzyme for N-demethylation of purine alkaloids from bacteria, despite several reports on their utilization as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Here, we provide what we believe to be the first detailed characterization of a purified N-demethylase from Pseudomonas putida CBB5. The soluble N-demethylase holoenzyme is composed of two components, a reductase component with cytochrome c reductase activity (Ccr) and a two-subunit N-demethylase component (Ndm). Ndm, with a native molecular mass of 240 kDa, is composed of NdmA (40 kDa) and NdmB (35 kDa). Ccr transfers reducing equivalents from NAD(P)H to Ndm, which catalyses an oxygen-dependent N-demethylation of methylxanthines to xanthine, formaldehyde and water. Paraxanthine and 7-methylxanthine were determined to be the best substrates, with apparent K m and kcat values of 50.4±6.8 μM and 16.2±0.6 min−1, and 63.8±7.5 μM and 94.8±3.0 min−1, respectively. Ndm also displayed activity towards caffeine, theobromine, theophylline and 3-methylxanthine, all of which are growth substrates for this organism. Ndm was deduced to be a Rieske [2Fe–2S]-domain-containing non-haem iron oxygenase based on (i) its distinct absorption spectrum and (ii) significant identity of the N-terminal sequences of NdmA and NdmB with the gene product of an uncharacterized caffeine demethylase in P. putida IF-3 and a hypothetical protein in Janthinobacterium sp. Marseille, both predicted to be Rieske non-haem iron oxygenases.

Biodegradation of phenanthrene by Pseudomonas sp. strain PPD: purification and characterization of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid dioxygenase

Pseudomonas sp. strain PPD can metabolize phenanthrene as the sole source of carbon and energy via the ‘phthalic acid’ route. The key enzyme, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid dioxygenase (1-HNDO, EC 1.13.11.38), was purified to homogeneity using a 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3-H2NA)-affinity matrix. The enzyme was a homotetramer with a native molecular mass of 160 kDa and subunit molecular mass of ∼39 kDa. It required Fe(II) as the cofactor and was specific for 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (1-H2NA), with K m 13.5 μM and V max 114 μmol min−1 mg−1. 1-HNDO failed to show activity with gentisic acid, salicylic acid and other hydroxynaphthoic acids tested. Interestingly, the enzyme showed substrate inhibition with a K i of 116 μM. 1-HNDO was found to be competitively inhibited by 3-H2NA with a K i of 24 μM. Based on the pH-dependent spectral changes, the enzyme reaction product was identified as 2-carboxybenzalpyruvic acid. Under anaerobic conditions, the enzyme failed to convert 1-H2NA to 2-carboxybenzalpyruvic acid. Stoichiometric studies showed the incorporation of 1 mol O2 into the substrate to yield 1 mol product. These results suggest that 1-HNDO from Pseudomonas sp. strain PPD is an extradiol-type ring-cleaving dioxygenase.

Characterization, expression and localization of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese

A cDNA clone encoding AmphiSAHH [amphioxus SAHH (S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase)] protein was isolated from a cDNA library from the gut of Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese. It contained a 1305 bp open reading frame corresponding to a deduced protein of 434 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of approx. 47.8 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AmphiSAHH and sea-urchin SAHH joined together and positioned at the base of the vertebrate SAHH clade, suggesting that both AmphiSAHH and sea-urchin SAHH might share some characteristics of the archetype of vertebrate SAHH proteins. The genomic DNA sequence of AmphiSAHH contained eight exons and seven introns, which was similar to B. floridae and sea-urchin SAHH exon/intron organization. Sequence comparison suggested the evolutionary appearance of the ten exon/nine intron organization of SAHH genes after the split of invertebrates and vertebrates, after which it has been highly conserved. AmphiSAHH has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Western blotting confirmed that the enzyme has a native molecular mass of approx. 48 kDa, and the catalytic activities and NAD+/NADH binding affinity of recombinant AmphiSAHH were measured. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that SAHH was strongly expressed in hepatic caecum, gill, spermary and ovary of amphioxus.

Bifidobacterium longum Endogalactanase Liberates Galactotriose from Type I Galactans

ABSTRACT A putative endogalactanase gene classified into glycoside hydrolase family 53 was revealed from the genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum strain NCC2705 (Schell et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:14422-14427, 2002). Since only a few endo-acting enzymes from bifidobacteria have been described, we have cloned this gene and characterized the enzyme in detail. The deduced amino acid sequence suggested that this enzyme was located extracellularly and anchored to the cell membrane. galA was cloned without the transmembrane domain into the pBluescript SK(−) vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme was purified from the cell extract by anion-exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The purified enzyme had a native molecular mass of 329 kDa, and the subunits had a molecular mass of 94 kDa, which indicated that the enzyme occurred as a tetramer. The optimal pH of endogalactanase activity was 5.0, and the optimal temperature was 37°C, using azurine-cross-linked galactan (AZCL-galactan) as a substrate. The Km and V max for AZCL-galactan were 1.62 mM and 99 U/mg, respectively. The enzyme was able to liberate galactotrisaccharides from (β1→4)galactans and (β1→4)galactooligosaccharides, probably by a processive mechanism, moving toward the reducing end of the galactan chain after an initial midchain cleavage. GalA's mode of action was found to be different from that of an endogalactanase from Aspergillus aculeatus. The enzyme seemed to be able to cleave (β1→3) linkages. Arabinosyl side chains in, for example, potato galactan hindered GalA.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of an azoreductase from Staphylococcus aureus, a tetrameric NADPH-dependent flavoprotein

Azo dyes are a predominant class of colourants used in tattooing, cosmetics, foods and consumer products. A gene encoding NADPH-flavin azoreductase (Azo1) from the skin bacterium Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was identified and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the azo1 gene was constitutively expressed at the mRNA level in S. aureus. Azo1 was found to be a tetramer with a native molecular mass of 85 kDa containing four non-covalently bound FMN. Azo1 requires NADPH, but not NADH, as an electron donor for its activity. The enzyme was resolved to dimeric apoprotein by removing the flavin prosthetic groups using hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The dimeric apoprotein was reconstituted on-column and in free stage with FMN, resulting in the formation of a fully functional native-like tetrameric enzyme. The enzyme cleaved the model azo dye 2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenylazo]benzoic acid (Methyl Red) into N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and 2-aminobenzoic acid. The apparent K m values for NADPH and Methyl Red substrates were 0·074 and 0·057 mM, respectively. The apparent V max was 0·4 μM min−1 (mg protein)−1. Azo1 was also able to metabolize Orange II, Amaranth, Ponceau BS and Ponceau S azo dyes. Azo1 represents the first azoreductase to be identified and characterized from human skin microflora.