Staphylococcal lipases: biochemical and molecular characterization

To date, the nucleotide sequences of nine different lipase genes from six Staphylococcus species, three from S. epidermidis, two from S. aureus, and one each from S. haemolyticus, S. hyicus, S. warneri, and S. xylosus, have been determined. All deduced lipase proteins are similarly organized as pre-pro-proteins, with pre-regions corresponding to a signal peptide of 35 to 38 amino acids, a pro-peptide of 207 to 321 amino acids with an overall hydrophilic character, and a mature peptide comprising 383 to 396 amino acids. The lipases are secreted in the pro-form and are afterwards processed to the mature form by specific proteases. The pro-peptide of the S. hyicus lipase is necessary for efficient translocation and for protection against proteolytic degradation. Despite being very similar in their primary structures the staphylococcal lipases show significant differences in their biochemical and catalytic properties, such as substrate selectivity, pH optimum and interfacial activation. The lipase from S. hyicus is unique among the staphylococcal and bacterial lipases in that it has not only lipase activity, but also a high phospho-lipase activity. All staphylococcal lipases are dependent on Ca(2+), which is thought to have a function in stabilizing the tertiary structure of the lipases. Evidence exists that staphylococcal lipases like other bacterial lipases, possess a lid-like domain that might be involved in the interfacial activation of these enzymes.     

Characterization of lipases from Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from human facial sebaceous skin

Two staphylococcal lipases were obtained from Staphylococcus epidermidis S2 and Staphylococcus aureus S11 isolated from sebaceous areas on the skin of the human face. The molecular mass of both enzymes was estimated to be 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE. S2 lipase displayed its highest activity in the hydrolysis of olive oil at 32 degrees C and pH 8, whereas S11 lipase showed optimal activity at 31 degrees C and pH 8.5. The S2 lipase showed the property of cold-adaptation, with activation energy of 6.52 kcal/mol. In contrast, S11 lipase's activation energy, at 21 kcal/mol, was more characteristic of mesophilic lipases. S2 lipase was stable up to 45° C and within the pH range from 5 to 9, whereas S11 lipase was stable up to 50 degrees C and from pH 6 to 10. Both enzymes had high activity against tributyrin, waste soybean oil, and fish oil. Sequence analysis of the S2 lipase gene showed an open reading frame of 2,067 bp encoding a signal peptide (35 aa), a pro-peptide (267 aa), and a mature enzyme (386 aa); the S11 lipase gene, at 2,076 bp, also encoded a signal peptide (37 aa), pro-peptide (255 aa), and mature enzyme (399 aa). The two enzymes maintained amino acid sequence identity of 98-99% with other similar staphylococcal lipases. Their microbial origins and biochemical properties may make these staphylococcal lipases isolated from facial sebaceous skin suitable for use as catalysts in the cosmetic, medicinal, food, or detergent industries.     

Biochemical and molecular characterisation of a thermoactive, alkaline and detergent-stable lipase from a newly isolated Staphylococcus aureus strain

A newly soil-isolated Staphylococcus aureus strain secretes a non-induced lipase in the culture medium. The extracellular lipase from S. aureus (SAL3) is purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme is a tetrameric protein (180 kDa) corresponding to the association of four lipase molecules. The 15 N-terminal amino acid residues showed a high degree of homology with other staphylococcal lipase sequences. The part of the gene encoding the mature SAL3 is cloned and sequenced. The deduced polypeptide sequence, corresponding to the mature SAL3, was very similar to the mature Staphylococcus simulans lipase sequence with two additional amino acid residues (LK) at the N-terminus of SAL3. The lipase activity is maximal at pH 9.5 and 55 °C. The specific activity of about 4200 U/mg or 3500 U/mg was measured using tributyrin or olive oil emulsion as substrate, respectively, at pH 9.5 and 55 °C.In contrast to other staphylococcal lipases previously characterised, SAL3 is found to be stable between pH 5 and 12 after 24 h incubation. The enzyme retained 50% of its activity after 60 min incubation at 60 °C. This novel lipase is able to hydrolyse its substrate in presence of various oxidizing agents as well as some surfactants and some commercial detergents, then SAL3 can be considered as a good candidate for industrial and biotechnological applications.     

Importance of the residue Asp 290 on chain length selectivity and catalytic efficiency of recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">simulans</Emphasis> lipase expressed in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

In addition to their physiological importance, microbial lipases, like staphylococcal ones, are of considerable commercial interest for biotechnological applications such as detergents, food production, and pharmaceuticals and industrial synthesis of fine chemicals. The gene encoding the extracellular lipase of Staphylococcus simulans (SSL) was subcloned in the pET-14b expression vector and expressed in Esherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The wild-type SSL was expressed as amino terminal His6-tagged recombinant protein. One-step purification of the recombinant lipase was achieved with nickel metal affinity column. The purified His-tagged SSL (His6-SSL) is able to hydrolyse triacylglycerols without chain length selectivity. The major differences among lipases are reflected in their chemical specificity in the hydrolysis of peculiar ester bonds, and their respective capacity to hydrolyse substrates having different physico-chemical properties. It has been proposed, using homology alignment, that the region around the residue 290 of Staphylococcus hyicus lipase could be involved in the selection of the substrate. To evaluate the importance of this environment, the residue Asp290 of Staphylococcus simulans lipase was mutated to Ala using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant expression plasmid was also overexpressed in Esherichia coli and purified with a nickel metal affinity column. The substitution of Asp290 by Ala was accompanied by a significant shift of the acyl-chain length specificity of the mutant towards short chain fatty acid esters. Kinetic studies of wild-type SSL and its mutant D290A were carried out, and show essentially that the catalytic efficiency (k cat /K M ) of the mutant was affected. Our results confirmed that Asp290 is important for the chain length selectivity and catalytic efficiency of Staphylococcus simulans lipase.     

Novel zinc-binding center and a temperature switch in the Bacillus stearothermophilus L1 lipase

The bacterial thermoalkalophilic lipases optimally hydrolyze saturated fatty acids at elevated temperatures. They also have significant sequence homology with staphylococcal lipases, and both the thermoalkalophilic and staphylococcal lipases are grouped as the lipase family I.5. We report here the first crystal structure of the lipase family I.5, the structure of a thermoalkalophilic lipase from Bacillus stearothermophilus L1 (L1 lipase) determined at 2.0-A resolution. The structure is in a closed conformation, and the active site is buried under a long lid helix. Unexpectedly, the structure exhibits a zinc-binding site in an extra domain that accounts for the larger molecular size of the family I.5 enzymes in comparison to other microbial lipases. The zinc-coordinated extra domain makes tight interactions with the loop extended from the C terminus of the lid helix, suggesting that the activation of the family I.5 lipases may be regulated by the strength of the interactions. The unusually long lid helix makes strong hydrophobic interactions with its neighbors. The structural information together with previous biochemical observations indicate that the temperature-mediated lid opening is triggered by the thermal dissociation of the hydrophobic interactions.     

Storage oil hydrolysis during early seedling growth

Storage oil breakdown plays an important role in the life cycle of many plants by providing the carbon skeletons that support seedling growth immediately following germination. This metabolic process is initiated by lipases (EC: 3.1.1.3), which catalyze the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TAGs) to release free fatty acids and glycerol. A number of lipases have been purified to near homogeneity from seed tissues and analysed for their in vitro activities. Furthermore, several genes encoding lipases have been cloned and characterised from plants. However, only recently has data been presented to establish the molecular identity of a lipase that has been shown to be required for TAG breakdown in seeds. In this review we briefly outline the processes of TAG synthesis and breakdown. We then discuss some of the biochemical literature on seed lipases and describe the cloning and characterisation of a lipase called SUGAR-DEPENDENT1, which is required for TAG breakdown in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds.     

Influence of N- and/or C-terminal regions on activity, expression, characteristics and structure of lipase from Geobacillus sp. 95

GD-95 lipase from Geobacillus sp. strain 95 and its modified variants lacking N-terminal signal peptide and/or 10 or 20 C-terminal amino acids were successfully cloned, expressed and purified. To our knowledge, GD-95 lipase precursor (Pre-GD-95) is the first Geobacillus lipase possessing more than 80 % lipolytic activity at 5 °C. It has maximum activity at 55 °C and displays a broad pH activity range. GD-95 lipase was shown to hydrolyze p-NP dodecanoate, tricaprylin and canola oil better than other analyzed substrates. Structural and sequence alignments of bacterial lipases and GD-95 lipase revealed that the C-terminus forms an α helix, which is a conserved structure in lipases from Pseudomonas, Clostridium or Staphylococcus bacteria. This work demonstrates that 10 and 20 C-terminal amino acids of GD-95 lipase significantly affect stability and other physicochemical properties of this enzyme, which has never been reported before and can help create lipases with more specific properties for industrial application. GD-95 lipase and its modified variants GD-95-10 can be successfully applied to biofuel production, in leather and pulp industries, for the production of cosmetics or perfumes. These lipases are potential biocatalysts in processes, which require extreme conditions: low or high temperature, strongly acidic or alkaline environment and various organic solvents.     

Partial purification and characterization of a triglyceride lipase from pig adipose tissue.

A triglyceride lipase was extracted from defatted pig adipose tissue powder with dilute ammonia and purified about 230-fold by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, heparin-Sepharose 4B, DEAE-cellulose, and Sephadex G-150 column chromatographies and isoelectrofocusing electrophoresis. The enzyme was distinguishable in physical and kinetic properties from the two previously defined lipases in adipose tissue, lipoprotein lipase, and hormone-sensitive lipase. The purified enzyme was fully active in the absence of serum lipoprotein and was not stimulated by adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. In marked contrast to the already defined lipases, the enzyme was strongly inhibited by serum albumin. The enzyme had a molecular weigt of about 43,000, a pI of 5.2, and pH optimum of 7.0. The enzyme hydrolyzed triolein to oleic acid and glycerol, and did not exhibit esterase activity. The apparent Km for triolein was 0.05 mM. Physiological roles of this new species of lipase remained to be explored.     

Isolation and functional expression of a novel lipase gene isolated directly from oil-contaminated soil

A lipase gene SR1 encoding an extracellular lipase was isolated from oil-contaminated soil and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene contained a 1845-bp reading frame and encoded a 615-amino-acid lipase protein. The mature part of the lipase was expressed with an N-terminal histidine tag in E. coli BL21, purified and characterized biochemically. The results showed that the purified lipase combines the properties of Pseudomonas chlororaphis and other Serratia lipases characterized so far. Its optimum pH and temperature for hydrolysis activity was pH 5.5-8.0 and 37°C respectively. The enzyme showed high preference for short chain substrates (556.3±2.8 U/μg for C10 fatty acid oil) and surprisingly it also displayed high activity for long-chain fatty acid. The deduced lipase SR1 protein is probably from Serratia, and is organized as a prepro-protein and belongs to the GXSXG lipase family.     

Extracellular lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an amphiphilic protein.

Lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAC1R was purified from cell-free growth medium by preparative isoelectric focusing. After blotting the N-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid composition were determined and compared to P. fragi and P. cepacia lipases yielding significant homology between all three species. Additionally, a consensus sequence K-Y-P-i-v-l-V-H-G was identified residing at the N-terminus of Pseudomonas lipases and in the central part of Staphylococcus lipases. Treatment of lipase with the serine-specific inhibitor diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate caused a rapid and complete inhibition of enzyme activity indicating the presence of a serine at the catalytic site as expected from lipase consensus sequences. Upon charge-shift electrophoresis the electrophoretic mobility of purified lipase was shifted either anodally or cathodally in the presence of sodium deoxycholate and cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide, respectively. This result demonstrates that extracellular lipase of P. aeruginosa exhibits an amphiphilic character like intrinsic membrane proteins.     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus simulans lipase.

Staphylococcus simulans strain secretes a non-induced lipase in the culture medium. Staphylococcus simulans lipase (SSL), purified to homogeneity, is a tetrameric protein (160 kDa) corresponding to the association of four lipase molecules. The 30 N-terminal amino acid residues were sequenced. This sequence is identical to the one of Staphylococcus aureus PS54 lipase (SAL PS54) and exhibits a high degree of homology with Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8530 lipase (SAL NCTC8530), Staphylococcus hyicus lipase (SHL) and Staphylococcus epidermis RP62A lipase (SEL RP62A) sequences. But the cloning and sequencing of the part of the gene encoding the mature lipase show some differences from SAL PS54 sequence, which suggest that it is a new sequence. The lipase activity was maximal at pH 8.5 and 37 degrees C. SSL is able to hydrolyze triacylglycerols without chain length specificity. A specific activity of about 1000 U/mg was measured on tributyrin or triolein as substrate at 37 degrees C and at pH 8.5 in the presence of 3 mM CaCl(2). In contrast to other staphylococcal lipases previously characterized, Ca(2+) is not required to express the activity of SSL. SSL was found to be stable between pH 4 and pH 9. The enzyme is inactivated after a few minutes when incubated at 60 degrees C. Using tripropionin as substrate, SSL does not present the interfacial activation phenomenon. In contrast to many lipases, SSL is able to hydrolyze its substrate in the presence of bile salts or amphiphilic proteins.     

A novel thermostable lipase from Basidiomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bjerkandera adusta </Emphasis>R59: characterisation and esterification studies

Microbial lipases are widely diversified in their enzymatic properties and substrate specificities, which make them very attractive for industrial application. Partially purified lipase from Bjerkandera adusta R59 was immobilized on controlled porous glass (CPG) and its properties were compared with those of the free enzyme. The free and immobilized lipases showed optimal activities at 45 and 50°C, respectively. Both enzyme forms were highly thermostable up to 60°C. The enzymes were stable at pH from 6.0 to 9.0 and their optimal pH for activity was 7.0. The free lipase was more thermostable in n-hexane than in aqueous environment. Both lipase preparations had good stabilities in non-polar solvents and were capable of hydrolysing a variety of synthetic and natural fats. Non-immobilized lipase activity was inhibited by disulphide bond reagents, serine and thiol inhibitors, while EDTA and eserine had no effect on enzyme activity. All anionic detergents tested in experiments inhibited lipase activity. The free lipase showed good stability in the presence of commercial detergents at laundry pH and temperatures. Applications of free and immobilized lipases for esterification were also presented.     

Molecular Properties and Extracellular Processing of the Lipase of Staphylococcus warneri M

Staphylococcus warneri M exhibited extracellular lipase activity. By zymogram analysis of extracellular proteins, multiple bands were detected and the profiles changed depending on the bacterial growth phase. N-terminal amino acid sequences of three bands (N1-N3) were determined. From the genome library of S. warneri M whole DNA, the gene-directing lipase activity (named gehC(WM)) was cloned and characterized. The gehC(WM )gene encoded a protein (GehC(WM)), whose calculated molecular mass was 83.4 kDa, and the sequence was similar to the other staphylococcal lipases. Though two lipases have been known from S. warneri 863, GehC(WM) differs from both of them, indicating that this enzyme is the third extracellular lipase of the S. warneri strain. The N-terminal sequences of the N1-N3 polypeptides completely coincided with the deduced amino acid sequences in GehC(WM). GehC(WM) was predicted to be a prepro-protein. In vitro processing and protein sequencing suggested that pro-GehC(WM) is possibly processed by extracellular glutamyl endopeptidase, PROM. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer analysis showed that purified his-tagged mature GehC(WM) possessed zinc ion. A gehC(WM) knockout mutant was constructed by insertion of an erythromycin resistance gene into the gehC(WM). Zymogram and immunoblot analyses of the gehC(WM )mutant indicated that GehC(WM) was a major extracellular lipase of S. warneri M.     

Human milk lipases. I. Serum-stimulated lipase

Lipase activity has previously been demonstrated in human milk. This study shows that there are two separate triglyceride lipases in human milk. One is mainly in the skim milk and is stimulated by bile salts; the other is mainly in the cream and is inhibited by bile salts but stimulated by serum. The serum-stimulated lipase was purified by affinity chromatography on heparin-substituted Sepharose 4B. This gave a 9500-fold purification over whole milk. Although polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the enzyme was not purified to homogeneity, it had the highest specific activity so far reported for a human serum-stimulated lipase. The purified enzyme was free from bile salt-stimulated lipase activity and had the characteristics of other serum-stimulated or so-called lipoprotein lipases. Thus, it was almost completely inhibited by 1 M NaCl. The purified enzyme was active against tributyrylglycerol also in the absence of exogenous serum factors.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression of a Cold-Adapted Lipase Gene from an Antarctic Deep Sea Psychrotrophic Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp. 7323

A psychrotrophic bacterium producing a cold-adapted lipase was isolated from the deep-sea sediment of Prydz Bay, Antarctic and identified as a Pseudomonas strain. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding a lipase from Pseudomonas sp. 7323 (lipA) revealed that LipA is composed of 617 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 64,466 Da. LipA has a GXSXG motif, which is conserved in lipases/esterases and generally contains the active-site serine. The lipase purified from the Escherichia coli transformant (rLipA) by metal-chelating chromatography exhibited the same electrophoretic mobility as did the wild-type lipase (wLipA) purified from strain 7323, and both enzymes were quite similar in physicochemical properties. The optimal temperature and pH value for the lipases activity were 30 degrees C and 9.0, respectively. They were unstable at temperatures above 25 degrees C and only retained half of their highest activity after incubation at 60 degrees C for 5 min. These results indicated that the enzymes were typical alkaline cold-adapted enzymes. Both enzymes were particularly activated by Ca(2+). Additionally, the enzymes hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl caprate and tributyrin at the highest velocity among the other p-nitrophenyl esters and triglycerides.     

High-level expression of Rhizopus niveus lipase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and structural properties of the expressed enzyme

Rhizopus niveus lipase (RNL) has a unique structure consisting of two noncovalently bound polypeptides (A-chain and B-chain). To improve this enzyme's properties by protein engineering, we have developed a new expression system for the production of recombinant lipase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For the present study, we developed a more efficient expression system using the strain ND-12B and the multicopy-type plasmid pJDB219. We purified two types of recombinant lipases, each to a single peak by gel-filtration HPLC, although they were found to be heterogeneous by SDS-PAGE. Analysis of reversed-phase HPLC, N-terminal amino acid sequence, and sugar content showed that the difference between the two types of lipases was due mainly to their sugar content (high or low mannose type). Moreover, there were two species within each type of lipase. One kind was processed to the A-chain and B-chain as in the native lipase, while the other remained unprocessed. Although these yeast-purified lipases contained several posttranslational modifications and different glycosylations, their secondary structures were the same as those of the native lipase as measured by circular dichroism spectra and determination of disulfide bonding. This suggests that protein folding of the recombinant lipase occurred correctly in yeast.     

Helicobacter pylori EstV: identification, cloning, and characterization of the first lipase isolated from an epsilon-proteobacterium

Bacterial lipases are attracting an enormous amount of attention due to their wide biotechnological applications and due to their roles as virulence factors in some bacteria. Helicobacter pylori is a significant and widespread pathogen which produces a lipase(s) and phospholipases that seem to play a role in mucus degradation and the release of proinflammatory and cytotoxic compounds. However, no H. pylori lipase(s) has been isolated and described previously. Therefore, a search for putative lipase-encoding genes was performed by comparing the amino acid sequences of 53 known lipolytic enzymes with the deduced proteome of H. pylori. As a result, we isolated, cloned, purified, and characterized EstV, a novel lipolytic enzyme encoded by open reading frame HP0739 of H. pylori 26695, and classified it in family V of the bacterial lipases. This enzyme has the properties of a small, cell-bound carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) that is active mostly with short-chain substrates and does not exhibit interfacial activation. EstV is stable and does not require additional cofactors, and the maximum activity occurs at 50 degrees C and pH 10. This unique enzyme is the first lipase isolated from H. pylori that has been described, and it might contribute to ulcer development, as inhibition by two antiulcer substances (beta-aescin and glycyrrhizic acid) suggests. EstV is also the first lipase from an epsilon-proteobacterium to be described. Furthermore, this enzyme is a new member of family V, probably the least-known family of bacterial lipases, and the first lipase of this family for which kinetic behavior, inhibition by natural substances, and other key biochemical features are reported.     

Purification and characterization of extracellular lipases from Ophiostoma piliferum

Interest in lipases from microorganisms, animals, and plants has greatly increased in the past decade due to their applications in biotransformations and organic syntheses. We are reporting the purification and characterization of two lipases from the fungus, Ophiostoma piliferum, a saprophytic organism commonly found on wood. A major and a minor lipase have been co-purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on octyl sepharose FF, followed by ion exchange chromatography on Q sepharose FF. The lipases bound very tightly to octyl sepharose resulting in greater than 100-fold purification in this one step. The major lipase has a molecular weight of approximately 60 kDa, a pI of 3.79, and is glycosylated as determined by PAS staining. The minor lipase, which composes 10% of the total protein, has a pI of 3.6, and molecular weight of approximately 52 kDa and did not stain with the PAS reagent. Deglycosylation of the major lipase produced two proteins of lower molecular weight, a 55 kDa protein and a 52 kDa protein. The deglycosylated protein at 52 kDa co-migrates with the minor lipase on SDS-PAGE gels. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the major and minor lipases indicated both lipases have the same N-termini and MALDI-TOF mass spectral analysis showed similar peptide patterns. Available data indicate that the lipases are derived from the same protein and appear to differ in their post-translational modification as evidenced by their pIs and molecular weight difference. The pH rate profile and thermal stability were determined for the purified O. piliferum lipase and were consistent with a mesophilic lipase. In aqueous solution, the lipases exhibited a higher rate of hydrolysis for p-nitrophenylbutyrate (C4) than for p-nitrophenylstearate (C18), which is an unexpected result.     

Isoform purification of gastric lipases. Towards crystallization.

Several isoforms of rabbit and human gastric lipases have been purified. These isoforms have the same apparent molecular weight (Mr approximately 50,000), but very different isoelectric points. Some of these isoforms were purified: pI 7.2 and 6.5 in the case of rabbit gastric lipase; and pI 7.4 and 7.2 in that of human gastric lipase. All the purified isoforms were found to have the same specific lipase activity (around 1200 units per mg of protein, measured on tributyrin as substrate). The isoforms of dog gastric lipase are more closely related, and could not be separated. Partial enzymatic deglycosylation of human gastric lipase reduced the apparent molecular weight from Mr approximately 50,000 to Mr approximately 43,000 and induced a change in the isoelectrofocusing pattern and the emergence of a new isoform (pI 7.3). It is concluded that the charge heterogeneity of gastric lipases is at least partly due to the glycan moiety of the molecule, which amounts to approximately 14% of the total molecular weight. Several crystallization trials on purified native preparations of rabbit and human gastric lipases were unsuccessful, whereas crystals were obtained from native dog gastric lipase and all the purified isoforms of rabbit and human gastric lipases, some of which were crystallographically characterized.