半胱氨酸合成酶与β-氰基丙氨酸合成酶活性检测

植物半胱氨酸合成酶(Cysteine synthase,CSase)和β-氰基丙氨酸合成酶(β-cyanoalanine synthase,β-CAS)分别催化合成半胱氨酸(Cysteine,Cys)和β-氰基丙氨酸(β-Cyanoalanine,β-CA),它们在功能上冗余。本研究以山黧豆、苜蓿和玉米为主要材料,结合电泳对8种常见植物CSase和β-CAS粗酶活性进行了分析。结果表明,检测CSase活性时,8种植物两类粗酶的最适反应时间均为10min,最适pH均为8.0,底物O-乙酰-丝氨酸和Na2S最适浓度分别是10和5 mmol·L-1。检测β-CAS活性时,8种植物两类粗酶的最适反应时间均为30min,最适pH均在9~10范围内,底物Cys最适浓度均为3mmol·L-1,而底物KCN最适浓度前者为80mmol·L-1,后者为3mmol·L-1。8种植物中,CSase活性在种、种内组织间差别不是很大,但β-CAS活性则相反,尤其在茎叶和根中差别较大。     

L-肌肽的合成研究

阐述了以β-丙氨酸及L-组氨酸为起始原料合成L-肌肽的合成工艺,并提出改进的工艺路线。该路线总收率在90%以上,质量分数高达99.5%以上,是低成本,高收率的合成方法,满足人们医疗保健要求。     

双酶偶联转化富马酸制备β-丙氨酸的工艺的建立与优化

酶转化法是生产β-丙氨酸的重要途径,但单一酶法转化存在底物价格较高的问题。通过构建双酶催化体系制备β-丙氨酸,即将来源于大肠杆菌的天冬氨酸酶(AspA)和来源于谷氨酸棒杆菌的L-天冬氨酸α-脱羧酶(PanD)偶联,以富马酸和氨为底物进行酶促反应合成β-丙氨酸。催化反应中AspA与PanD的最适加酶比例为1∶80,其中AspA的浓度为10μg/mL,转化温度为37℃,pH为7.0;浓度为100 mmol/L的富马酸可在8 h内被完全转化,转化率为100%,摩尔产率为90.9%,β-丙氨酸的产量为90 mmol/L,约为7 g/L;浓度为200 mmol/L的富马酸在反应8 h后,体系中β-丙氨酸的产量为126 mmol/L,约合9.8 g/L,继续延长反应时间,转化率并没有明显提高。根据该研究提出的双酶偶联转化工艺可将价格低廉的富马酸一步转化为具有高附加值的β-丙氨酸。     

非天然氨基酸β-Homo天冬酰胺的合成研究

以α-氨基酸天冬酰胺为原料,经多步反应合成了β-氨基酸β-Homo天冬酰胺,中间产物和目的产物经熔点、红外、核磁、质谱以及元素分析,其结构得到证实。     

酶法合成中丙氨酸的检测

本文建立了丙氨酸在醋酸缓冲液中形成丙氨酸-铜配离子及其十二烷基磺酸配离子对,使其紫外无吸收的丙氨酸在230nm处于有强紫外吸收,从而对酶法合成中的丙氨酸进行定量分析．该法在0～50mg／L范围内有良好的线性关系,直线方程为A(230)=0.01712·C（n=5）C：mg／L）。相关系数为0．9994,回收率为96．8％～104．0％,且该法不受酶反应液的影响,实验结果证明该检测体系简单、实用、测定结果可靠。     

一类生物催化剂——氰基耐受型腈水合酶

氰基耐受型腈水合酶是一类生物催化剂。与普通腈水合酶相比,它能够耐受体系中较高浓度的氰基而不受抑制,从而为α-羟(氨)基酰胺的工业化合成开辟了崭新途径。研究腈水合酶的氰基耐受性机理及提高其耐受能力是目前需要解决的关键问题。综述了腈水合酶受氰基抑制的机制,氰基耐受型腈水合酶的发现以及其在蛋氨酸和2-羟基异丁酰胺生物合成中的应用。同时,对今后氰基耐受型腈水合酶基础、应用研究的思路进行了探讨。     

杰氏棒杆菌L-天冬氨酸α脱羧酶半理性改造及全细胞催化合成β-丙氨酸

β-丙氨酸是多个药物合成的重要砌块，可以通过天冬氨酸α脱羧酶（Pan D）催化L-天冬氨酸脱羧来合成，但普遍在用的Pan D酶活性不高是制约全细胞催化合成β-丙氨酸的瓶颈。因此，本研究通过酶的挖掘，选择将杰氏棒杆菌来源（Corynebacterium jeikeium）Pan D在Escherichia coli中异源表达。对杰氏棒杆菌来源Pan D进行Alaph Fold2建模和分子对接，采用Rosetta虚拟突变确定突变热点，结合薄层层析初筛和纯化后复筛，最终筛选到突变体L39A，其比酶活为13.45 U/mg，相比野生型酶的比酶活（9.6 U/mg）提升了1.4倍。酶学性质表征数据表明，野生型酶和L39A突变体最适p H均为6.5，且在p H 6.0-7.0之间酶活性稳定；两者最适温度为55℃，但L39A热稳定性较野生型提高；突变体酶的催化效率比野生型提升了1.4倍。对突变体进行结构解析发现，39位取代为侧链基团更小的丙氨酸，亲水性增强，增加了关键催化氨基酸58位酪氨酸与其他氨基酸的相互作用，使活性中心周围的区域稳定性提高，从而提高了催化活性。全细胞催化数据表明，在OD600=4...     

低聚壳聚糖与α-丙氨酸/天冬酰胺的美拉德反应及其衍生物的抗氧化性能研究

研究低聚壳聚糖(COS)与α-丙氨酸/天冬酰胺的美拉德反应,考察了两个体系(低聚壳聚糖的羰基与氨基的物质量比均为1∶1)的pH、吸光度和荧光值的变化。醇沉法提取低聚壳聚糖衍生物CA和CN。对两种衍生物进行红外表征和分子量测定,并研究其对超氧阳离子O2-.、DPPH自由基的清除能力以及还原能力。结果显示:抗氧化能力强弱次序为CA>CN>COS,即美拉德反应后低聚壳聚糖衍生物抗氧化能力得到显著提高,且CA的抗氧化活性优于CN,表明与小分子氨基酸进行美拉德反应制得的壳聚糖衍生物具有更好的抗氧化性。     

生物法合成β-丙氨酸的分离纯化工艺研究

依据天冬氨酸和β-丙氨酸等电点的差异,采用静态吸附和动态吸附法,筛选适于分离β-丙氨酸的最佳树脂,并研究最佳树脂的吸附动力学和料液pH值、上样液流速,洗脱剂浓度等对β-丙氨酸分离的影响。结果表明:β-丙氨酸吸附的最佳树脂为HZ014,HZ014的静态吸附70 min达到动态平衡,吸附容量为72.92 g.kg-1,吸附率高于90%,最佳料液流速是2 ml.min-1,料液最佳pH为5.0,洗脱剂氨水浓度为4%。     

家兔延髓孤束核区微电泳β-丙氨酸抑制呼吸单位放电

在16只切断双侧迷走神经,箭毒麻痹、人工通气的家兔上,用3—5管玻璃微电极记录孤束核区呼吸性单位放电并观察微电泳β-丙氨酸对其放电活动的影响。在68个呼吸性单位中有53个单位的放电活动被抑制,其平均放电频率由38.23±2.13次/s 降至17.14±2.30次/s.β-丙氨酸对吸气与呼气性单位均有抑制作用,而且这种抑制作用随剂量的加大而增强。微电泳马钱子碱可阻断β-丙氨酸对大部份呼吸性单位的作用。实验结果提示,在延髓水平呼吸性神经元抑制过程的产生可能部份与β-丙氨酸的作用有关。     

IGF-1 promotes β-amyloid production by a secretase-independent mechanism

β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) is generated via the sequential proteolysis of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases, and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we sought to clarify the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), implicated in the AD pathomechanism, in the generation of Aβ. Treatment of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing AD-associated Swedish mutant APP with IGF-1 did not alter cellular levels of APP, but significantly increased those of β-C-terminal fragment (β-CTF) and secreted Aβ. IGF-1 also enhanced APP phosphorylation at Thr668. Treatment of β-CTF-expressing cells with IGF-1 increased the levels of β-CTF and secreted Aβ. The IGF-1-induced augmentation of β-CTF was observed in the presence of γ-secretase inhibitors, but not in cells expressing β-CTF with a Thr668 to alanine substitution. These results suggest that IGF-1 promotes Aβ production through a secretase-independent mechanism involving APP phosphorylation.     

Studies on Some Properties of the Apoplastic β-N-Acetyl-D-Hexosaminidase from Tomato Leaves

Some properties of the β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidase purified from intercellular fluid of tomato leaves after the plant was systematically infected by TMV (tobacco mosaic virus) were studied. When pNP β-D-GlcNAc (p nitrophenyl-N-aeetyl β-D-glucosaminide) or pNP β-D- GalNAc (p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-β-D galactosaminide) was used as the substrate, it showed the optical pH between 4. 8--5.0 and optical temperature between 44— 47℃. Studies of thermostabillty indicated that the enzyme had a biphasic denaturation curve. Using pNP-β-D-GIcNAc or pNP-β-D GalNAc as the substrate, the Km value of the enzyme was 0. 36 and 0. 67 mmol/L respectively. N acetyi-D glucosamine and N acetyl-D-galactosamine were competitive inhibitors of the enzyme activities. Ag+ and Hg2+ were sensitive inhibitors and Fe2+ . Fe3+ and Cu2+ were also inhibitors enzyme activities.     

Effect of adiponectin on cardiac β-catenin signaling pathway under angiotensin II infusion

Obesity is associated with heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy. Adiponectin has been shown to play a protective role for cardiovascular diseases. The β-catenin signaling pathway is deeply involved in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the effect of adiponectin on β-catenin signaling has not been investigated in cardiac hypertrophy. Present study aimed to clarify the involvement of adiponectin and β-catenin signaling pathway in the mouse model of angiotensin II (AngII)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In hearts of Wild type (WT) mice, AngII dose-dependently augmented cytosolic β-catenin protein level. WT and adiponectin knockout (Adipo-KO) mice were administered with AngII at 2.4 mg/kg/day for 14 days and were also injected with adenovirus expressing the adiponectin (Ad-Adipo) or the β-galactosidase (Ad-βgal). Cardiac mRNA levels relating to hypertrophy and β-catenin signaling were increased in Adipo-KO mice and these changes were reversed by Ad-Adipo. Phosphorylation of Akt was increased in Adipo-KO mice and such increases were reversed by Ad-Adipo. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Ser⁹ and cytosolic β-catenin level were increased in Adipo-KO mice and they were significantly reduced by Ad-Adipo treatment. Phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was reduced by Ad-Adipo-mediated adiponectin supplementation in WT and Adipo-KO mice. The current study suggests that adiponectin attenuates AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophic signals partly through Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin and Akt/mTOR pathways.     

Differential expression of activin βA and βB genes in female allotriploid and diploid red crucian carp Carassius auratus red var

activin β_A and β_B from diploid and allotriploid crucian carp were cloned.The differential expression of activin β_A and β_B genes in female allotriploid and diploid red crucian carp Carassius auratus red var. were studied and found to be expressed in all the tested tissues; particularly, the expression of activin β_A and β_B was elevated in the ovaries of allotriploids and differential expression in pituitaries during the non-breeding season and the breeding season period. The immunohistochemistry indicated that the abnormal triploid ovaries were dominated by small oogonium-like cells with dense signals and that the elevated expression of activin β_A and β_B in the ovaries of allotriploids may be related to allotriploid sterility.     

MEK inhibitors suppress β-amyloid production by altering the level of a β-C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein in neuronal cells

β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) is generated via sequential proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases. Cell-based screening experiments disclosed that the MEK (MAP kinase kinase) inhibitors, U0126 and PD184352, suppress Aβ secretion from human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells expressing Swedish mutant APP. These inhibitors did not affect the cellular levels of APP but significantly reduced those of the APP β-C-terminal fragment (β-CTF). Additionally, β-CTF levels were markedly reduced by these inhibitors in cells expressing the fragment in a γ-secretase-independent and proteasome-dependent manner. Our results suggest that MEK inhibitors reduce Aβ generation via secretase-independent alteration of β-CTF levels.     

Knockdown of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 modulates basal glycogen synthase kinase-3β kinase activity and regulates cell migration

GSK-3β is a basally active kinase. Axin forms a complex with GSK-3β and β-catenin; this complex promotes the GSK-3β-dependent phosphorylation of β-catenin, thereby inducing its degradation. However, the inhibition of GSK-3β provokes cell migration via the dysregulation of β-catenin. In this study, we determined that the level of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) was lower in a metastatic breast cancer cell line, compared to that of non-metastatic cancer cell lines and the knockdown of ASK1 not only induces β-catenin activation via the inhibition of GSK-3β and collapsing the subsequent protein complex by regulating Axin dynamics, but also stimulates cell migration. Together, the blockage of the GSK-3β-β-catenin pathway resulting from the knockdown of ASK1 modulates the migration of breast cancer cells.     

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) targets β-catenin for phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation

The regulation of intracellular β-catenin levels is central in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade and the activation of the Wnt target genes. Here, we show that homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) acts as a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Knock-down of endogenous HIPK2 increases the stability of β-catenin and results in the accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus, consequently enhancing the expression of Wnt target genes and cell proliferation both in vivo and in cultured cells. HIPK2 inhibits TCF/LEF-mediated target gene activation via degradation of β-catenin. HIPK2 phosphorylates β-catenin at its Ser33 and Ser37 residues without the aid of a priming kinase. Substitutions of Ser33 and Ser37 for alanines abolished the degradation of β-catenin associated with HIPK2. In ex vivo mouse model, HIPK2 knock-down resulted in accumulation of β-catenin, thereby potentiated β-catenin-mediated cell proliferation and tumor formation. Furthermore, the axis duplication induced by the ectopic expression of β-catenin was blocked by co-injection of HIPK2 mRNAs into Xenopus embryos. Taken together, HIPK2 appears to function as a novel negative regulator of β-catenin through its phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation.     

Thymosin β4 induces invasion and migration of human colorectal cancer cells through the ILK/AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a 43-amino-acid peptide involved in many biological processes. However, the precise molecular signaling mechanism(s) of Tβ4 in cell invasion and migration remain unclear. In this study, we show that Tβ4 was significantly overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and high levels of Tβ4 were correlated with stage of colorectal cancer, and that Tβ4 expression was associated with morphogenesis and EMT. Tβ4-upregulated cancer cells showed increased adhesion, invasion and migration activity, whereas Tβ4-downregulated cells showed decreased activities. We also demonstrated that Tβ4 interacts with ILK, which promoted the phosphorylation and activation of AKT, the phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3β, the expression and nuclear localization of β-catenin, and integrin receptor activation. These results suggest that Tβ4 is an important regulator of the ILK/AKT/β-catenin/Integrin signaling cascade to induce cell invasion and migration in colorectal cancer cells, and is a potential target for cancer treatment.     

Preparation and conformational analysis of C-glycosyl β- and β/β-peptides

Ten C-glycosyl β²- and β/β²-peptides with three to eight amino acid residues have been prepared. Solution and solid-phase peptide syntheses were employed to assemble β²-amino acids in which C-glycosylic substituents are attached to the C-2 position of β-amino acids. Conformational analysis of the C-glycosyl β²-peptides using NMR and CD spectra indicates that the tripeptide can form a helical secondary structure. Besides, helix directions of the C-glycosyl β/β²-peptides are governed by the configuration at the α-carbon of the peptide backbone that originates from the stereocenter of the C-glycosyl β²-amino acids.