壳聚糖酶产生菌的筛选及固定化细胞产酶

旨在筛选得到一株壳聚糖酶产生菌,并研究固定化细胞产酶的条件。在培养基中以壳聚糖为唯一碳源,对土壤样品进行筛选,获得一株无花果沙雷氏菌(Serratia ficaria CH-0203),该菌可被壳聚糖诱导产生壳聚糖酶。固定化细胞产酶的研究结果表明,多孔玻璃可以有效吸附CH—0203菌细胞。在最适发酵条件下(pH6．5,培养基与载体的总体积48ml,载体与培养基的比例为1．5g/4．0ml,吸附时间是20h-26h),发酵液酶活达到4．5U／ml,比游离细胞发酵提高了16％。采用半连续发酵的方式,固定化的细胞可以稳定发酵产酶120h左右。固定化细胞产酶的效率大大高于游离细胞。     

Development of rapid screening method for low-yielding chitosanase activity using Remazol Brilliant Blue-chitosan as substrate

Chitosanolytic activity was monitored using chitosan impregnated with Remazol Brilliant Blue R dye (RBB). Low-yielding chitosan (1%, w/v) hydrolysis was modelled using Viscozyme^® L (50%, w/w), a commercial mixed-glucanase, and was found to perform optimally at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. The chitosanase assay was performed on powdered (RBB-P) and colloidal form (RBB-C) of the dyed chitosan. Hydrolysis of chitosan was accompanied by the release of water-soluble dyed-hydrolysate, which can be monitored rapidly using microplate reader at 595 nm. The result obtained from this method was in agreement with the determination of reducing end by using the traditional, complex and time-consuming DNS method. The method is significantly rapid and more sensitive than DNS method.     

Metal complexes of crosslinked chitosans Part II. An investigation of their hydrolysis to chitooligosaccharides using chitosanase

This paper investigates the behavior of crosslinked chitosans and metal-complexed crosslinked chitosans under similar hydrolytic conditions. Crosslinked chitosans with trimellitic anhydride, diisocyanatohexane, and dibromodecane as crosslinking agents under heterogenous reaction conditions were used as metal complexing agents by equilibrating them with metal salts such as ZnCl₂, MnSO₄, CuSO₄, CdSO₄, Pb(NO₃)₂, and HgCl₂. Crosslinked chitosan without metal complexation had the same hydrolytic behavior as uncrosslinked chitosan. However, when the crosslinked chitosans were complexed with metals, their rates of hydrolysis and extent of hydrolysis were significantly reduced. Thus, while for chitosan about 840 μg/ml reducing sugar was produced in 4 h time, and 780 μg/ml was produced for diisocyanatohexane crosslinked chitosan, only 400 μg/ml and 320 μg/ml reducing sugars were produced for cadmium sulfate with crosslinked chitosan and diisocyanatohexane crosslinked chitosan, respectively. Similar results are obtained for other crosslinking agents. Studies on preincubation of the metal with the enzyme show that of the metals studied, Mn has no effect on preincubatioin with the enzyme, Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu completely deactivates the enzyme, while Zn reduces the enzyme activity by about 43.3%. Preincubation of the metal salts with the chitosan shows that Hg and Cu completely deactivate the molecule from enzyme hydrolysis, Cd and Zn inactivate it to the extent of 56.8% and 43.3%, respectively, while Mn has no effect. Availability of the amino functions seems to be a key feature for the chitosanase to hydrolyze the chitosan polymer. This was also proved by the significant increase in the extent of hydrolysis for chitosan samples with 88% (final value 1120 μg/ml reducing sugar) and 85% deacetylation (final value 840 μg/ml reducing sugar). HPIC studies of the products show that a variety of oligomers are produced in the chitosanase enzyme hydrolytic reaction.     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a thermostable chitosanase produced by the strain Paenibacillus sp. 1794 newly isolated from compost

Chitosan raises a great interest among biotechnologists due to its potential for applications in biomedical or environmental fields. Enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan is a recognized method allowing control of its molecular size, making possible its optimization for a given application. During the industrial hydrolysis process of chitosan, viscosity is a major problem; which can be circumvented by raising the temperature of the chitosan solution. A thermostable chitosanase is compatible with enzymatic hydrolysis at higher temperatures thus allowing chitosan to be dissolved at higher concentrations. Following an extensive micro-plate screening of microbial isolates from various batches of shrimp shells compost, the strain 1794 was characterized and shown to produce a thermostable chitosanase. The isolate was identified as a novel member of the genus Paenibacillus, based on partial 16S rDNA and rpoB gene sequences. Using the chitosanase (Csn1794) produced by this strain, a linear time course of chitosan hydrolysis has been observed for at least 6 h at 70 °C. Csn1794 was purified and its molecular weight was estimated at 40 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Optimum pH was about 4.8, the apparent K _m and the catalytic constant k_cat were 0.042 mg/ml and 7,588 min^?1, respectively. The half-life of Csn1794 at 70 °C in the presence of chitosan substrate was >20 h. The activity of chitosanase 1794 varied little with the degree of N-acetylation of chitosan. The enzyme also hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose but not chitin. Chitosan or cellulose-derived hexasaccharides were cleaved preferentially in a symmetrical way (“3?+?3”) but hydrolysis rate was much faster for (GlcN)₆ than (Glc)₆. Gene cloning and sequencing revealed that Csn1794 belongs to family 8 of glycoside hydrolases. The enzyme should be useful in biotechnological applications of chitosan hydrolysis, dealing with concentrated chitosan solutions at high temperatures.     

Synthesis of exo-β-glucosaminidase BY FUNGUS <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> sp. IB-37-2

A new strain Penicillium sp. IB-37-2, which actively hydrolyzes chitosan (SD ～80–85%) but possesses low activity against colloidal chitin, was isolated. The fungus was observed to have a high level chitosanase biosynthesis (1.5–3.0 U/mL) during submerged cultivation at 28°C, with a pH of 3.5–7.0 and 220 rpm in nutrient media containing chitosan or chitin from shells of crabs. Purification of the chitosanase enzyme complex from Penicillium sp. IB-37-2 by ultrafiltration and hydrophobic chromatography, followed by denaturing electrophoresis, revealed two predominant proteins with molecular weights of 89 and 41 kDa. The purified enzyme complex demonstrated maximal activity (maximal rate of hydrolysis of dissolved chitosan) and stability at 50–55°C and a pH of 3.5–4.0. The enzyme preparation also hydrolyzed laminarin, β-(1,3)-(1,4)-glycan, and colloidal chitin. Exohydrolysis of chitosan by the preparation isolated from Penicillium sp. IB-37-2 resulted in the formation of single product, D-glucosamine.     

Effect of bipolar membrane electrobasification on chitosanase activity during chitosan hydrolysis

Chitosanase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes chitosan, a beta-(1-4) glucosamine polymer, into size-specific oligomers that have pharmaceutical and biological properties. The aim of the present work was to use the bipolar membrane technology, in particular the OH(-) stream produced by water splitting, for inactivation of chitosanase at alkaline pH in order to terminate the enzymatic reaction producing chitosan oligomers. The objectives consisted of studying the effect of pH: (a) on the stability of chitosanase, and (b) on the catalytic activity of chitosanase during chitosan hydrolysis. The enzyme was found to be stable in the pH range of 3-8 during at least 7h, and partially lost its activity after 1h at pH 8. The catalytic activity of chitosanase during chitosan hydrolysis decreased after pH adjustment by electrobasification. The reaction rate decreased by 50% from pH 5.5 to 6, whereas the reaction was completely inhibited at pH>7. The decrease of reaction rate was due to chitosan substrate insolubilization and chitosanase denaturation at alkaline pH values.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the measurement of the novel microtubule inhibitor 1069C85 in biological tissues and fluids

1069C85 is a novel tubulin binder developed to circumvent the resistance associated with the Vinca alkaloids. Cytotoxic activity has been demonstrated in vitro against a variety of tumour cell lines, including a variant of the P388 leukaemia with acquired resistance to vincristine. A phase I clinical trial is planned and an assay suitable for preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics has been developed. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay is described which allows measurement of 1069C85 in plasma, urine, and tissue samples. The method uses reversed-phase chromatography with isocratic elution and detection by fluorescence at 406 nm following excitation at 340 nm. The assay is specific, sensitive (limit of sensitivity 0.25 ng/ml) and reproducible (coefficient of variation <5%). The method has been used to study the pharmacokinetics of 1069C85 in Balb C mice following a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg. The maximum plasma concentration was reached 15 min after administration and subsequent elimination was slow with a half life of 6.5 ± 2.2 h. The drug remained detectable in plasma, at 1 ± 0.5 ng/ml, 24 h after this dose. This assay will be used to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of 1069C85 in mice and in a forthcoming phase I clinical trial.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic, L-749,345, in human plasma and urine

A column-switching, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic assay using ultraviolet detection has been developed for a new carbapenem antibiotic L-749,345 in human plasma and urine. A plasma sample is centrifuged and then injected onto an extraction column using 25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.5. After 3 min, using a column-switching valve, the analyte is back-flushed with 10.5% methanol–phosphate buffer for 3 min onto a Hypersil 5 μm C₁₈ BDS 100×4.6 mm analytical column and then detected by absorbance at 300 nm. The sample preparation and HPLC conditions for the urine assay are similar, except for a longer analytical column 150×4.6 mm. The plasma assay is specific and linear from 0.125 to 50 μg/ml; the urine assay is linear from 1.25 to 100 μg/ml.     

Chitin/chitosan transformation by thermo-mechano-chemical treatment including characterization by enzymatic depolymerization

Chitosan, the deacetylated derivative of chitin, was until recently produced by hydrolysis in 50% (w/v) NaOH. Application of thermo-mechano-chemical technology to chitin deacetylation was evaluated as an alternative method of chitosan production. This process consists of a cascade reactor unit operating under reduced alkaline conditions of 10% (w/v) NaOH. Prior mercerization of chitin at 4 degrees C for 24 h was required for high deacetylation yields. Sudden decompression of the aqueous alkaline suspension of mercerized chitin resulted in near complete deacetylation of chitin. Reactor residence time was 90 s at 230 degrees C prior to decompression. The chitosan produced was characterized by elemental analysis, (13)C-NMR and enzymatic depolymerization. Enzymatic determination of the degree of acetylation of chitin/chitosan mixtures was also investigated. Relative chitinase and/or chitosanase digestibilities were shown to be strongly dependent on chitin deacetylation. Based on enzymatic digestibilities, the alkaline aqueous high shear process does not appear to produce significant secondary products. Correlation of chitosanase digestibility with percentage of deacetylation provides a simple biological assay to study chitosan composition.     

Purification and Characterization of Three Chitosanase Activities from Bacillus megaterium P1

Bacillus megaterium P1, a bacterial strain capable of hydrolyzing chitosan, was isolated from soil samples. Chitosan-degrading activity was induced by chitosan but not by its constituent d-glucosamine. Extracellular secretion of chitosanase reached levels corresponding to 1 U/ml under optimal conditions. Three chitosan-degrading proteins (chitosanases A, B, and C) were purified to homogeneity. Chitosanase A (43 kilodaltons) was highly specific for chitosan and represented the major chitosan-hydrolyzing species. Chitosanases B (39.5 kilodaltons) and C (22 kilodaltons) corresponded to minor activities and possessed comparable specific activities toward chitosan, chitin, and cellulose. Chitosanase A was active from pH 4.5 to 6.5 and was stable on the basis of activity up to 45 degrees C. The optimum temperature for enzymatic chitosan hydrolysis was 50 degrees C. Kinetic studies on chitosanase A suggest that the enzyme is substrate inhibited. The apparent K(m) and V(max) determined at 22 degrees C and pH 5.6 were 0.8 mg/ml and 280 U/mg, respectively. End products of chitosan hydrolysis by each of the three chitosanases were identified as glucosamine oligomers, similar to those obtained for previously reported chitosanase digestions.     

Fermentation conditions and properties of a chitosanase from Acinetobacter sp. C-17

A species of bacterium with high chitosanase activity was isolated from soil samples in Haiyan City, China, and identified as an Acinetobacter species. This strain, named Acinetobacter sp. strain C-17, produced a chitosanase that was inducible and secreted into the medium. The optimal conditions for enzyme production were cells used to inoculate a medium containing 1% chitosan (pH 7.0) followed by culture at 30 degrees C. The chitosanase activity reached 1.7 U/ml when strain C-17 was incubated in a 250-ml flask under the optimal conditions for 24 h, and reached 2.8 U/ml when cells were incubated in a 3-l fermentor. The optimal pH and temperature for hydrolysis of chitosanase were 7.0 and 36 degrees C, respectively. The chitosanase activity was stable in the pH range of 5-8 and temperature range of 30-40 degrees C. The chitosanase of the strain was extracted by zinc acetate and ammonium sulfate precipitation. The molecular mass was estimated to be 35.4 kDa by SDS-PAGE.     

Recombinant expression of a chitosanase and its application in chitosan oligosaccharide production

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) due to their various biological activities. COSs can be prepared by enzymatic degradation of chitosan, which is the deacetylation product of chitin, one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature. In the current study, we recombinantly expressed a chitosanase and used it for COS preparation. A bacillus-derived GH8 family chitosanase with a 6×His tag fused at its N-terminal was expressed in the Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) as a soluble and active form. Its expression level could be as high as 500 mg/L. Enzymatic activity could reach approximately 140,000 U/L under our assay conditions. The recombinant chitosanase could be purified essentially to homogeneity by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography. The enzyme could efficiently convert chitosan into monomer-free COS: 1 g of enzyme could hydrolyze about 100 kg of chitosan. Our present work has provided a cheap chitosanase for large-scale COS production in industry.     

Spectroscopic determination of succinylcholine in dosage forms using eosin Y

Two simple and sensitive analytical assay methods using spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry techniques were developed for the estimation of succinylcholine chloride (SUC) in pharmaceutical preparations. The suggested methods are based on the formation of an ion pair complex formed between the drug and eosin Y spectrophotometrically (Method I), or the suppressive effect of succinylcholine on the native fluorescence property of eosin Y (Method II). The spectrophotometric method (Method I) involves measuring the absorbance of the complex between succinylcholine and eosin Y at 550 nm in Britton Robinson buffer of pH 3. However, the spectrofluorimetric method (Method II) involves measuring the quenching effect of the studied drug on the native fluorescence property of eosin Y at the same pH at 550 nm after excitation at 480 nm. The absorbance versus concentration of the drug is rectilinear over the range of 0.5 to 15 μg/ml. The formation constant was 3.5 × 10⁴ and the Gibb's free energy change was ?2.5 × 10⁴ J/mol. In Method II, the relative fluorescence intensity was directly proportional to SUC concentration over the range of 0.05 to 1 μg/ml. The proposed methods allowed a successful application to the estimation of succinylcholine ampoules. An explanation of the reaction pathway was postulated.     

Effective production of chitinase and chitosanase byStreptomyces griseus HUT 6037 using colloidal chitin and various degrees of deacetylation of chitosan

The advantages of the organismStreptomyces griseus HUT 6037 is that the chitinase and chitosanase using chitinaceouse substrate are capable of hydrolyzing both amorphous and crystalline chitin and chitosan. We attempted to investigate the optimization of induction protocol for high-level production and secretion of chitosanase and the influence of chitin and partially deacetylated chitosan sources (75–99% deactylation). The maximum specific activity of chitinase has been found at 5 days cultivation with the 48 hours induction time using colloidal chitin as a carbon source. To investigate characteristic of chitosan activity according to substrate, we used chitosan with various degree of deacetylation as a carbon source and found that this strain accumulates chitosanase in the culture medium using chitosanaceous substrates rather than chitinaceous substrates. The highest chitosanase activity was also presented on 4 days with 99% deacetylated chitosan. The partially 53% deacetylated chitosan can secrete both chitinase and chitosanase which was defined as a soluble chitosan. The specific activities of chitinase and chitosanase were 0.89 at 3 days and 1.33 U/mg protein at 5 days, respectively. It indicate that chitosanase obtained fromS. griseus HUT 6037 can hydrolyze GlcNAc-GlcN and GlcN-GlcN linkages by exo-splitting manner. This activity increased with increasing degree of deacetylation of chitosan. It is the first attempt to investigate the effects of chitosanase on various degrees of deacetylations of chitosan byS. griseus HUT 6037. The highest specific activity of chitosanase was obtained with 99% deacetylated chitosan.     

Purification and characterization of chitosanase from Bacillus sp. strain KCTC 0377BP and its application for the production of chitosan oligosaccharides

For the enzymatic production of chitosan oligosaccharides from chitosan, a chitosanase-producing bacterium, Bacillus sp. strain KCTC 0377BP, was isolated from soil. The bacterium constitutively produced chitosanase in a culture medium without chitosan as an inducer. The production of chitosanase was increased from 1.2 U/ml in a minimal chitosan medium to 100 U/ml by optimizing the culture conditions. The chitosanase was purified from a culture supernatant by using CM-Toyopearl column chromatography and a Superose 12HR column for fast-performance liquid chromatography and was characterized according to its enzyme properties. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 45 kDa by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme demonstrated bifunctional chitosanase-glucanase activities, although it showed very low glucanase activity, with less than 3% of the chitosanase activity. Activity of the enzyme increased with an increase of the degrees of deacetylation (DDA) of the chitosan substrate. However, the enzyme still retained 72% of its relative activity toward the 39% DDA of chitosan, compared with the activity of the 94% DDA of chitosan. The enzyme produced chitosan oligosaccharides from chitosan, ranging mainly from chitotriose to chitooctaose. By controlling the reaction time and by monitoring the reaction products with gel filtration high-performance liquid chromatography, chitosan oligosaccharides with a desired oligosaccharide content and composition were obtained. In addition, the enzyme was efficiently used for the production of low-molecular-weight chitosan and highly acetylated chitosan oligosaccharides. A gene (csn45) encoding chitosanase was cloned, sequenced, and compared with other functionally related genes. The deduced amino acid sequence of csn45 was dissimilar to those of the classical chitosanase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 46 but was similar to glucanases classified with glycoside hydrolase family 8.     

A rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of esterase activity

We have developed a spectrophotometric assay method which continuously records esterase activity at 510 nm by monitoring absorbance changes due to the formation of a diazo dye complex. In our method, α-naphthyl ester substrates are hydrolyzed by enzymatic action to α-naphthol which couples to Fast Blue RR salt (a diazonium salt) forming a diazo dye complex. Our method is unique in directly monitoring the formation of the diazo dye complex without extracting the color of the complex as in other methods that use naphthyl esters and diazo coupling of reaction products. The method appears to be limited to α-naphthyl ester substrates, however, since β-naphthyl esters did not give a linear change in absorbance in the enzymatic reactions tested. With this assay method, one can use a single substrate both to determine esterase units quantitatively in solution and to detect esterase staining activity on gel electrophoresis.     

A high throughput method for rapid screening of chitosanase-producing fungal strain under acidic conditions

A novel high-throughput method was established for rapid screening of a large numbers of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) mutants with high chitosanase production under acidic culture condition by exploiting the fact that iodine can be used as the indicator to stain chitosan but is ineffective for chitooligosaccharides. The mutant population was generated by irradiating A. fumigatus CICC 2434 with Co⁶⁰-γ rays. Mutants were cultured on acidic plates containing colloidal chitosan and preliminary screened according to diameter of haloes formed around colonies. Then, chitosanase production of the isolates were verified by dinitrosalicylic acid assay. Lastly, molecular masses on enzymolysis products of isolated mutants were rapidly compared by aniline blue plate assay. Using this method, the mutant strain Co-8 was selected, which had chitosanase activity of 24.87 U/mL (increased by 369.2 % as compared to that of its parental strain).Taking together, the method is easy, efficient and particularly suited to rapid screen acidophilic fungal strains with high chitosanase-production.     

Characterization of antifungal activity of the GH-46 subclass III chitosanase from Bacillus circulans MH-K1

We characterized the antifungal activity of the Bacillus circulans subclass III MH-K1 chitosanase (MH-K1 chitosanase), which is one of the most intensively studied glycoside hydrolases (GHs) that belong to GH family 46. MH-K1 chitosanase inhibited the growth of zygomycetes fungi, Rhizopus and Mucor, even at 10 pmol (0.3 μg)/ml culture probably via its fungistatic effect. The amino acid substitution E37Q abolished the antifungal activity of MH-K1 chitosanase, but retained binding to chitotriose. The E37Q mutant was fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) at its N-terminus and proved to act as a chitosan probe in combination with wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), which is a chitin-specific binding lectin. The GFP-fused MH-K1 chitosanase mutant E37Q (GFP-E37Q) bound clearly to the hyphae of the Rhizopus and Mucor strains, indicating the presence of chitosan. In contrast, Cy5-labelled WGA (Cy5-WGA), but not GFP-E37Q, stained the hyphae of non-zygomycetes species, i.e. Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium expansum, and Aspergillus awamori. When the mycelia of Rhizopus oryzae were treated with wild type MH-K1 chitosanase, they could not bind to GFP-E37Q but were stained instead by Cy5-WGA. We conclude that chitin is covered by chitosan in the cell walls of R. oryzae.     

A simple spectrophotometric method for the measurement of ribonuclease activity in biological fluids

We have developed a rapid and sensitive method for detecting ribonuclease (RNAase). The method makes use of a RNa-Pyronine Y complex which has a different absorption spectrium from that of Pyronine Y alone. When the RNA is hydrolyzed by RNAase, the spectrum of the complex changes to that of unbound Pyronine Y. The resultant decrease in absorbance at 572 nm is linear for final RNAase concentrations ranging from 2 to 45 ng/ml. Optimal assay conditions were 11.5 μg/ml Pyronine Y, 0.56 mg/ml RNA, 80 μmol/ml Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.8 and 2–45 ng/ml RNAase. The effect of complex concentration, PH, molarity and temperature upon the rate of the reaction were determined.The assay is applicable to crude cell-free extracts.     

Detection of Novel Visible-Light Region Absorbance Peaks in the Urine after Alkalization in Patients with Alkaptonuria

Background

Alkaptonuria, caused by a deficiency of homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase, results in the accumulation of homogentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, HGA) in the urine. Alkaptonuria is suspected when the urine changes color after it is left to stand at room temperature for several hours to days; oxidation of homogentisic acid to benzoquinone acetic acid underlies this color change, which is accelerated by the addition of alkali. In an attempt to develop a facile screening test for alkaptonuria, we added alkali to urine samples obtained from patients with alkaptonuria and measured the absorbance spectra in the visible light region.

Methods

We evaluated the characteristics of the absorption spectra of urine samples obtained from patients with alkaptonuria (n = 2) and compared them with those of urine specimens obtained from healthy volunteers (n = 5) and patients with phenylketonuria (n = 3), and also of synthetic homogentisic acid solution after alkalization. Alkalization of the urine samples and HGA solution was carried out by the addition of NaOH, KOH or NH4OH. The sample solutions were incubated at room temperature for 1 min, followed by measurement of the absorption spectra.

Results

Addition of alkali to alkaptonuric urine yielded characteristic absorption peaks at 406 nm and 430 nm; an identical result was obtained from HGA solution after alkalization. The absorbance values at both 406 nm and 430 nm increased in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the absorbance values at these peaks were greater in strongly alkaline samples (NaOH- KOH-added) as compared with those in weakly alkaline samples (NH4OH-added). In addition, the peaks disappeared following the addition of ascorbic acid to the samples.

Conclusions

We found two characteristic peaks at 406 nm and 430 nm in both alkaptonuric urine and HGA solution after alkalization. This new quick and easy method may pave the way for the development of an easy method for the diagnosis of alkaptonuria.