臭味假单胞菌β-酮己二酸单酰辅酶A硫解酶的提纯和性质

从臭味假单胞菌中提纯了β-酮己二酸单酰辅酶A硫解酶,在聚丙烯酰胺凝腋电泳上是均一的,比活力提高113倍。该酶分子量为1 52000,每个酶分子包含4个相同的亚基,亚基分子量为40000。用等电聚焦电泳测得该酶的等电点pI为6．5。     

提高光滑球拟酵母乙酰辅酶A水平促进α－酮戊二酸合成

[目的]为了了解光滑球拟酵母中乙酰辅酶A含量对其碳代谢及其通量的影响.[方法]将来源于酿酒酵母中编码乙酰辅酶A合成酶ACS2基因过量表达于发酵法生产丙酮酸的生产菌株Torulopsis glabrata中,获得了一株乙酰辅酶A合成酶活性提高9.2倍(1.20 U/mg protein)的重组菌T. glabrataACS2-1.[结果]与出发菌株WSH-IP303相比,重组菌T glabrataACS2-1:(1)能以乙酸为唯一碳源在胞内积累0.94 mmol/(L·g DCW)的L酰辅酶A;(2)以葡萄糖为唯一碳源时胞内乙酰辅A浓度、α-酮戊二酸产量和Cα-KG,Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303的3.22、2.05和2.52倍;(3)在葡萄糖培养基中添加4 g/L 乙酸,使乙酰辅酶A浓度、α-酮戊二酸产量和CαKG>>/Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303的4.55、2.47和3.75倍,α-酮戊二酸浓度达到17.8 g/L.[结论]这一结果表明,改变细胞内关键辅因子的浓度能使碳代谢流的流向与通量发生改变,从积累丙酮酸转向过量积累α-酮戊二酸.     

提高光滑球拟酵母乙酰辅酶A水平促进a-酮戊二酸合成

【目的】为了了解光滑球拟酵母中乙酰辅酶A含量对其碳代谢及其通量的影响。【方法】将来源于酿酒酵母中编码乙酰辅酶A合成酶ACS2基因过量表达于发酵法生产丙酮酸的生产菌株Torulopsis glabrata中,获得了一株乙酰辅酶A合成酶活性提高9.2倍(1.20 U/mg protein)的重组菌T. glabrata ACS2-1。【结果】与出发菌株WSH-IP303相比,重组菌T. glabrata ACS2-1：(1)能以乙酸为唯一碳源在胞内积累0.94 mmol/(L·g DCW)的乙酰辅酶A;(2)以葡萄糖为唯一碳源时胞内乙酰辅酶A浓度、a-酮戊二酸产量和Ca-KG/Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303 的3.22、2.05和2.52倍;(3)在葡萄糖培养基中添加4 g/L乙酸,使乙酰辅酶A浓度、a-酮戊二酸产量和Ca-KG/Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303的4.55、2.47和3.75倍,a-酮戊二酸浓度达到17.8 g/L。【结论】这一结果表明,改变细胞内关键辅因子的浓度能使碳代谢流的流向与通量发生改变,从积累丙酮酸转向过量积累a-酮戊二酸。     

乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中保守的色氨酸残基的生化功能（英文）北大核心CSCD

甲烷菌与甲烷八叠球菌是仅有的两种已知利用乙酸盐进行甲烷生成的菌属。稻田以及厌氧的废物分解物是甲烷生物生成的主要来源。甲烷菌在自然界广泛分布,相比甲烷八叠球菌,在低乙酸盐的环境中对乙酸盐仍有高亲和力。在甲烷生成第一步即将乙酸盐转化为乙酰辅酶A的过程中,与甲烷八叠球菌利用乙酸激酶与磷酸转乙酰酶激活途径不同,甲烷菌通过腺嘌呤形成乙酰辅酶A合成酶进行催化。在甲烷菌一属(Methanosaeta concilii)中,共发现5个乙酰辅酶A合成酶的编码基因,其中3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的生化及酶活特性已被确定。该3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶均以乙酸盐为其最优底物。尽管在短链乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中,发现酰基底物结合位点高度保守,但乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酰基底物范围极为广泛。本研究对甲烷菌中不同种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的酰基底物结合位点的关键氨基酸进行识别与比较,从而对乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酶活特性有更全面深入的了解。首先,我们对甲烷菌一属中乙酰辅酶A合成酶4进行生化性质测定。结果表明,该酶无催化一系列酰基底物为酰基辅酶A或其中间产物酰基腺苷酸的活性。通过序列对比发现,嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中高度保守的416位色氨酸残基在甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中被替换成528位苯丙氨酸残基。将甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中的528位苯丙氨酸残基点突变为色氨酸残基后,进行酶学性质测定,未检测到该突变体具有乙酰辅酶A/乙酰腺苷酸合成活性。我们进一步对嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中的416位色氨酸残基点突变为苯丙氨酸残基,酶活性质结果显示,突变酶对于乙酸盐以及丙酸盐作为底物时的活性未有明显差异。然而,以丙酸盐为底物时,释放丙酰腺苷酸中间产物。该结果表明,热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1对于底物乙酸盐或丙酸盐的催化作用不甚相同,苯丙氨酸中的苯甲酰环降低该酶保留中间产物丙酰腺苷酸,从而转化为丙酰辅酶A的能力。     

强化乙酰辅酶A供应对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸的影响

细胞液中乙酰辅酶A的持续供应是脂肪酸高效积累的必要条件。考虑到甲羟戊酸和脂肪酸合成途径共用相同的前体乙酰辅酶A,抑制甲羟戊酸途径可能促使更多的乙酰辅酶A流向脂肪酸合成。通过添加前体物质或/和甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂以强化乙酰辅酶A的供应,即在裂殖壶菌发酵起始或/和后期添加乙酸、发酵起始添加甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂辛伐他汀或柠檬酸、发酵起始同时添加乙酸和辛伐他汀或柠檬酸并考察其对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA)的影响,结果发现发酵起始同时添加6mmol/L的乙酸和1μmol/L的辛伐他汀时,DHA产量最高,达到13.21g/L,比对照提高了46.61%。     

乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中保守的色氨酸残基的生化功能（英文）

甲烷菌与甲烷八叠球菌是仅有的两种已知利用乙酸盐进行甲烷生成的菌属。稻田以及厌氧的废物分解物是甲烷生物生成的主要来源。甲烷菌在自然界广泛分布,相比甲烷八叠球菌,在低乙酸盐的环境中对乙酸盐仍有高亲和力。在甲烷生成第一步即将乙酸盐转化为乙酰辅酶A的过程中,与甲烷八叠球菌利用乙酸激酶与磷酸转乙酰酶激活途径不同,甲烷菌通过腺嘌呤形成乙酰辅酶A合成酶进行催化。在甲烷菌一属(Methanosaeta concilii)中,共发现5个乙酰辅酶A合成酶的编码基因,其中3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的生化及酶活特性已被确定。该3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶均以乙酸盐为其最优底物。尽管在短链乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中,发现酰基底物结合位点高度保守,但乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酰基底物范围极为广泛。本研究对甲烷菌中不同种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的酰基底物结合位点的关键氨基酸进行识别与比较,从而对乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酶活特性有更全面深入的了解。首先,我们对甲烷菌一属中乙酰辅酶A合成酶4进行生化性质测定。结果表明,该酶无催化一系列酰基底物为酰基辅酶A或其中间产物酰基腺苷酸的活性。通过序列对比发现,嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中高度保守的416位色氨酸残基在甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中被替换成528位苯丙氨酸残基。将甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中的528位苯丙氨酸残基点突变为色氨酸残基后,进行酶学性质测定,未检测到该突变体具有乙酰辅酶A/乙酰腺苷酸合成活性。我们进一步对嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中的416位色氨酸残基点突变为苯丙氨酸残基,酶活性质结果显示,突变酶对于乙酸盐以及丙酸盐作为底物时的活性未有明显差异。然而,以丙酸盐为底物时,释放丙酰腺苷酸中间产物。该结果表明,热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1对于底物乙酸盐或丙酸盐的催化作用不甚相同,苯丙氨酸中的苯甲酰环降低该酶保留中间产物丙酰腺苷酸,从而转化为丙酰辅酶A的能力。     

大肠杆菌利用葡萄糖和木糖合成乙醇酸、乳酸和3-羟基丁酸共聚酯

以大肠杆菌为宿主,构建了以葡萄糖和木糖为底物获得乙醇酸、乳酸和3-羟基丁酸共聚酯的生物合成途径,包括过表达塔格糖-3-差向异构酶、核酮糖激酶、醛缩酶、醛脱氢酶、丙酰辅酶A转移酶、β-酮硫解酶、乙酰乙酰辅酶A还原酶和聚合酶等。在此基础上,表达聚羟基脂肪酸酯颗粒结合蛋白,提高了聚合物的合成,重组菌的细胞干重达到3.73g/L,含有38.72wt%的共聚酯。采用混菌共培养策略,实现以葡萄糖和木糖混合物为底物合成共聚酯,摇瓶实验中细胞干重达到4.01g/L,含有21.54wt%的聚合物。文中提供了一种以葡萄糖和木糖混合物为碳源合成聚合物的方法,为下一步纤维素水解物的有效利用提供了参考。     

德利用工程植物生产可生物降解的塑料

Agrieell Reporter 2003年40卷3期19页报道：已知利用编码β-酮硫解酶（pha A）、乙酰乙酰辅酶A还原酶（phaB）和3-羟基丁酸聚酯（PHB）合酶（pha C）的三种基因细菌（Ralstonia eutropha）的顺序性作用,可使其合成理化特性类似于人工合成聚合物的PHB。由于这种PHB可以生物降解,故认为其可用作工业上生产塑料的原材料。     

乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在治疗肥胖中的潜在作用

肥胖作为一种疾病引起了世界各国越来越多的重视。目前,对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的研究表明,该酶和肥胖的发生有着重大关系．脂肪的代谢异常是导致肥胖的重要原因之一。乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是脂肪代谢过程中的一种重要的调节酶．它的产物丙二酰辅酶A的含量在一定程度上控制着脂肪酸的代谢。因此对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的深入研究很可能为肥胖的治疗提供新的医疗手段。该文介绍乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在脂肪代谢中的作用、分类与调控．以及当前国际上对其研究的最新进展。     

东湖假单胞菌HYS中的精氨酸琥珀酰转移酶途径缺失对秀丽隐杆线虫毒性的影响

【背景】东湖假单胞菌HYS是本实验室从武汉东湖水域中分离并鉴定的一株高产铁载体细菌,HYS菌株对秀丽隐杆线虫具有较强毒性。前期研究发现HYS中编码精氨酸琥珀酰转移酶基因(argS)的插入突变可导致其对线虫毒性明显减弱。【目的】探究argS基因功能及其如何参与细菌毒性,为后续深入研究HYS菌株的毒性机制提供理论依据。【方法】采用生物信息学比对、遗传分析和生理生化实验确认argS基因的生物学功能及其参与的精氨酸琥珀酰转移酶(arginine succinyltransferase,AST)途径与细菌毒性的关系。【结果】生物信息学比对结果显示argS编码精氨酸琥珀酰转移酶,其蛋白序列与铜绿假单胞菌中精氨酸琥珀酰转移酶β亚基具有高达88%的相似度;缺失argS导致菌株不能利用精氨酸作为唯一碳源进行生长;精氨酸脱羧酶(arginine decarboxylase,ADC)、精氨酸脱氢酶(argininedehydrogenase,ADH)以及精氨酸脱亚胺酶(argininedeiminase,ADI)途径中关键基因缺失菌株均可正常利用精氨酸作为唯一碳源,且对线虫并无明显毒性减弱现象;添加外源精氨酸导致菌株对线虫的减毒效果更加明显,且菌株产铁载体能力显著下降。【结论】东湖假单胞菌HYS中AST途径可以通过影响菌株铁载体合成来影响其对秀丽隐杆线虫的毒性,本研究为深入了解假单胞菌精氨酸代谢和致病性机制提供了新依据。     

Degradation of Aromatics and Chloroaromatics by Pseudomonas sp. Strain B13: Purification and Characterization of 3-Oxoadipate:Succinyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) Transferase and 3-Oxoadipyl-CoA Thiolase

The degradation of 3-oxoadipate in Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 was investigated and was shown to proceed through 3-oxoadipyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to give acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. 3-Oxoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase of strain B13 was purified by heat treatment and chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 gels. Estimation of the native molecular mass gave a value of 115,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 12 column. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions resulted in two distinct bands of equal intensities. The subunit A and B values were 32,900 and 27,000 Da. Therefore it can be assumed that the enzyme is a heterotetramer of the type A2B2 with a molecular mass of 120,000 Da. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of both subunits are as follows: subunit A, AELLTLREAVERFVNDGTVALEGFTHLIPT; subunit B, SAYSTNEMMTVAAARRLKNGAVVFV. The pH optimum was 8.4. Km values were 0.4 and 0.2 mM for 3-oxoadipate and succinyl-CoA, respectively. Reversibility of the reaction with succinate was shown. The transferase of strain B13 failed to convert 2-chloro- and 2-methyl-3-oxoadipate. Some activity was observed with 4-methyl-3-oxoadipate. Even 2-oxoadipate and 3-oxoglutarate were shown to function as poor substrates of the transferase. 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, blue 3GA, and reactive brown-agarose. Estimation of the native molecular mass gave 162,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 6 column. The molecular mass of the subunit of the denatured protein, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was 42 kDa. On the basis of these results, 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase should be a tetramer of the type A4. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was determined to be SREVYI-DAVRTPIGRFG. The pH optimum was 7.8. Km values were 0.15 and 0.01 mM for 3-oxoadipyl-CoA and CoA, respectively. Sequence analysis of the thiolase terminus revealed high percentages of identity (70 to 85%) with thiolases of different functions. The N termini of the transferase subunits showed about 30 to 35% identical amino acids with the glutaconate-CoA transferase of an anaerobic bacterium but only an identity of 25% with the respective transferases of aromatic compound-degrading organisms was found.     

Purification and Properties of Succinyl-CoA:3-Oxo-Acid CoA-Transferase from Rat Brain

Abstract: Rat brain succinyl-CoA:3-oxo-acid CoA-transferase (3-Oxo-acid CoA-transferase, EC 2.8.3.5), the first committed enzyme in the oxidation of ketone bodies in mitochondria, was purified to apparent homogeneity as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of 90,000 as determined by (3-150 Sephadex chromatography, and an apparent subunit molecular weight of 53,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was approximately 161 μmol/min/mg of protein. Initial velocity studies of the forward reaction (acetoacetate → acetoacetyl-CoA) are consistent with a "ping pong" mechanism. Substrate inhibition appears above approximately 1 m M acetoacetate. Apparent K_m, values were 70 μM for acetoacetate and 156 μ M for succinyl-CoA (the forward reaction), and 59 μ M for acetoacetyl-CoA and 25 m M for succinate (the reverse reaction). These values are markedly different from those reported for this enzyme from pig heart.     

Characterization of the genes encoding beta-ketoadipate: succinyl-coenzyme A transferase in Pseudomonas putida.

beta-Ketoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A transferase (beta-ketoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase) (EC 2.8.3.6) carries out the penultimate step in the conversion of benzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in bacteria utilizing the beta-ketoadipate pathway. This report describes the characterization of a DNA fragment from Pseudomonas putida that encodes this enzyme. The fragment complemented mutants defective in the synthesis of the CoA transferase, and two proteins of sizes appropriate to encode the two nonidentical subunits of the enzyme were produced in Escherichia coli when the fragment was placed under the control of a phage T7 promoter. DNA sequence analysis revealed two open reading frames, designated pcaI and pcaJ, that were separated by 8 bp, suggesting that they may comprise an operon. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the P. putida CoA transferase genes with the sequences of two other bacterial CoA transferases and that of succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid CoA transferase from pig heart suggests that the homodimeric structure of the mammalian enzyme may have resulted from a gene fusion of the bacterial alpha and beta subunit genes during evolution. Conserved functional groups important to the catalytic activity of CoA transferases were also identified.     

Differences between human and rodent pancreatic islets: low pyruvate carboxylase, atp citrate lyase, and pyruvate carboxylation and high glucose-stimulated acetoacetate in human pancreatic islets

Anaplerosis, the net synthesis in mitochondria of citric acid cycle intermediates, and cataplerosis, their export to the cytosol, have been shown to be important for insulin secretion in rodent beta cells. However, human islets may be different. We observed that the enzyme activity, protein level, and relative mRNA level of the key anaplerotic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase (PC) were 80-90% lower in human pancreatic islets compared with islets of rats and mice and the rat insulinoma cell line INS-1 832/13. Activity and protein of ATP citrate lyase, which uses anaplerotic products in the cytosol, were 60-75% lower in human islets than in rodent islets or the cell line. In line with the lower PC, the percentage of glucose-derived pyruvate that entered mitochondrial metabolism via carboxylation in human islets was only 20-30% that in rat islets. This suggests human islets depend less on pyruvate carboxylation than rodent models that were used to establish the role of PC in insulin secretion. Human islets possessed high levels of succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid-CoA transferase, an enzyme that forms acetoacetate in the mitochondria, and acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase, which uses acetoacetate to form acyl-CoAs in the cytosol. Glucose-stimulated human islets released insulin similarly to rat islets but formed much more acetoacetate. β-Hydroxybutyrate augmented insulin secretion in human islets. This information supports previous data that indicate beta cells can use a pathway involving succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid-CoA transferase and acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase to synthesize and use acetoacetate and suggests human islets may use this pathway more than PC and citrate to form cytosolic acyl-CoAs.     

Enzymes involved in anaerobic degradation of acetone by a denitrifying bacterium

The pathway of anaerobic acetone degradation by the denitrifying bacterial strain BunN was studied by enzyme measurements in extracts of anaerobic acetone-grown cells. An ADP- and MgCl₂-dependent decarboxylation of acetoacetate was detected which could not be found in cell-free extracts of acetate-grown cells. It is concluded that free acetoacetate is formed by ATP-dependent carboxylation of acetone. Acetoacetate was converted into its coenzyme A ester by succinyl-CoA: acetoacetate CoA transferase, and cleaved by a thiolase into acetyl-CoA. The acetyl residue was completely oxidized in the citric acid cycle. The ADP-dependent decarboxylation of acetoacetate was inhibited by EDTA, but not by avidin. High myokinase activities led to equilibrium amounts of ATP, ADP, and AMP in the reaction mixtures, and prevented determination of the decarboxylase reaction stoichiometry, therefore.Abbreviations ADP adenosine diphosphate - AMP adenosine monophosphate - ATP adenosine triphosphate - BSA bovine serum albumine - MOPS 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis-(2-ethanesulfonic acid) - PHB poly--hydroxybutyrate - Tris Tris-(hydroxymethyl-) aminomethane     

Molecular and catalytic properties of the acetoacetyl-coenzyme A thiolase of Escherichia coli.

The acetoacetyl-CoA-thiolase, a product of the acetoacetate degradation operon (ato) was purified to homogeneity as judged by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at pH 4.5, 7.0, and 8.3. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 166,000 and is composed of four identical subunits. The subunit molecular weight is 41,500. Histidine was the sole N-terminal amino acid detected by dansylation. The thiolase contains eight free sulhydryl residues and four intrachain disulfide bonds per mole. The ato thiolase catalyzes the CoA- dependent cleavage of acetoacetyl-CoA and the acetylation of acetyl-CoA to form acetoacetyl-CoA. The maximal velocity in the direction of acetoacetyl-CoA cleavage was 840 nmol min^? (enzyme unit)^?1 and the maximal velocity in the direction of acetoacetyl CoA formation was 38 nmol min^?1 (enzyme unit)^?1. Like other thiolases, the ato thiolase was inactivated by sulfhydryl reagents. The enzyme was protected from inactivation by sulfhydryl reagents in the presence of the acyl-CoA substrates, acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA; however, no protection was obtained when the enzyme was incubated with the acetyl-CoA analog, acetylaminodesthio-CoA. Consistent with these results was the demonstration of an acetyl-enzyme compound when the thiolase was incubated with [1-¹⁴C]acetyl-CoA. The sensitivity of the acetyl-enzyme bond to borohydride reduction and the protection afforded by acyl-CoA substrates against enzyme inactivation by sulfhydryl reagents indicated that acetyl groups are bound to the enzyme by a thiolester bond.     

Metabolism of resorcinylic compounds by bacteria. Purification and properties of acetylpyruvate hydrolase from Pseudomonas putida 01.

Acetylpyruvate hydrolase, the terminal inducible enzyme of the pathway of orcinol catabolism in Pseudomonas putida, catalyzes the quantitative conversion of acetylpyruvate into acetate and pyruvate. The enzyme has been purified approximately 40-fold from extracts of Ps. putida grown on orcinol. Disc gel electrophoresis of the preparations show one major and one minor band of protein. The molecular weight of the enzyme is approximately 38,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis. Acetylpyruvate is the only known substrate for the enzyme; maleylpyruvate, fumarylpyruvate, acetoacetate, oxalacetate, and acetylacetone are not hydrolyzed by acetylpyruvate hydrolase. Several divalent cations, includ-Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+, enhanced hydrolytic activity, but Cu2+ was inhibitory. The enzyme shows a sharp pH optimum at 7.4. Acetylpyruvate hydrolase has an apparent K-m of 0.1 mM for acetylpyruvate with a molecular activity of 36 min minus 1 at 25 degrees. Pyruvate, oxalacetate, and oxalate are competitive inhibitors of acetylpyruvate hydrolysis by the enzyme with K-i values of 6.0, 4.5, and 0.45 mM, respectively.     

Changes in Lipogenic Capacity and Activities of Ketolytic and Lipogenic Enzymes in Brain Regions of Developing Rats

Oxidation of ketone bodies (KBs) generates acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA), which can be further incorporated into fatty acid. We have determined the rates of lipogenesis from ketone bodies in developing rats and their relation to the activities of enzymes involved in the production of cytoplasmic AcCoA via different pathways in brain regions. In the cerebrum (Cbr), rates of fatty acid synthesis from [3-14C]acetoacetate ([3-14C]AcAc) were high during the early postnatal period but decreased rapidly thereafter until weaning. Although similar developmental patterns of synthesis characterized the cerebellum (Cbl), midbrain (Mb), brain stem (Bs), and thalamus (Th), maximal rates were highest in the Cbr and lowest in the Th. In all regions, synthetic rates were higher throughout the entire suckling period than in adulthood. There were not appreciable differences in synthetic rates among brain regions of adult rats. The developmental changes in rates AcAc incorporation into fatty acids were closely related to AcAcCoA synthetase activity, but not to activities of ATP-citrate lyase or AcCoA synthetase. During the early postnatal stage enhanced rates of lipogenesis were accompanied by increased activities of AcAcCoA synthetase in all regions, with the highest activity occurring in the Cbr. The sequence of reactions coupling AcAcCoA synthetase and AcAcCoA thiolase in cytoplasm may be an important pathway for generation of AcCoA from KBs for fatty acid synthesis in all regions of the developing brain. This interpretation is strengthened by evidence of concomitant increases in the activities of fatty acid synthetase and AcCoA carboxylase.     

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates with high 3-hydroxydodecanoate monomer content by fadB and fadA knockout mutant of Pseudomonas putida KT2442

Pseudomonas putida KT2442 produces medium-chain-length (MCL) polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) consisting of 3-hydroxyhexanoate (HHx), 3-hydroxyoctanoate (HO), 3-hydroxydecanoate (HD), and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (HDD) from a wide-range of carbon sources. In this study, fadA and fadB genes encoding 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in P. putida KT2442 were knocked out to weaken the beta-oxidation pathway. Two-step culture was proven as the optimal method for PHA production in the mutant termed P. putida KTOY06. In a shake-flask culture, when dodecanoate was used as a carbon source, P. putida KTOY06 accumulated 84 wt % PHA, much higher than 50 wt % PHA in its wild type KT2442. The PHA monomer composition was completely different: the HDD fraction in PHA produced by KTOY06 was 41 mol %, much higher compared with 7.5 mol % only in KT2442. The fermentor-scale culture indicated the HDD fraction in PHA decreased during the culture time from 35 to 25 mol % in a one-step fermentation process or from 75 to 49 mol % in a two-step fermentation process. It is for the first time that PHA with a dominant HDD fraction was produced. Thermal and mechanical properties assays indicated that this new type PHA with a high HDD fraction had higher crystallinity and tensile strength than PHA with a low HDD fraction did, demonstrating an improved application property.     

Analysis of the proteome of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 grown on different sources of carbon and energy

Using 2D electrophoresis the protein expression pattern during growth on carbon sources with different impact on carbon catabolite repression of phenol degradation was analysed in a derivative of Pseudomonas putida KT2440. The cytosolic protein pattern of cells growing on phenol or the non-repressive substrate pyruvate was almost identical, but showed significant differences to that of cells growing with the repressive substrates succinate or glucose. Proteins, which were mainly expressed in the presence of phenol or pyruvate, could be assigned to the functional groups of transport, detoxification, stress response, amino acid, energy, carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism. The addition of succinate to cells growing with phenol ('shift-up') resulted in the inhibition of the synthesis of these proteins. Proteins with enhanced expression at growth with succinate or glucose were proteins for de novo synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids and enzymes of the TCA cycle. The synthesis of proteins, necessary for phenol catabolism was regulated in different manners following the addition of succinate. Whereas the synthesis of Phl-proteins (subunits of the phenolhydroxylase) only decreased slowly, was the translation of the Cat-proteins (catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, cis,cis-muconate cycloisomerase and muconolactone isomerase) repressed immediately and the synthesis of the Pca-proteins (beta-ketoadipate enolactone hydrolase, beta-ketoadipate succinyl-CoA transferase and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase) remained unaffected.