Cellodextrin utilization and β-glucosidase production by Bacteroides polypragmatus

Bacteroides polypragmatus, a mesophilic obligate anaerobe, was shown to simultaneously ferment glucose and cellobiose giving ethanol as a major metabolic end-product. A mixture of higher cellodextrins was also utilized. The bacterium produced a -glucosidase with a pI value of 4.2 and a molecular weight of approximately 100000 daltons. The enzyme was intracellular and functioned optimally at pH 7. The K _m values obtained with p-nitrophenyl--d-glucoside and cellobiose as substrates were 0.73 mM and 100 mM, respectively. The enzyme was quite stable at elevated temperatures; in the presence of 10% glycerol (v/v), it had a half-life of 4 h at 55°C. It was also stable during long-term storage at either 4°C or-20°C, provided that 10% (v/v) glycerol was added to preparations maintained at-20°C.Abbreviations HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - IEF isoelectric focusing - pNPG p-nitrophenyl--d-glucoside NRCC No. 25676     

Complete nucleotide and derived amino acid sequence of cDNA encoding the mitochondrial uncoupling protein of rat brown adipose tissue: lack of a mitochondrial targeting presequence.

A cDNA clone spanning the entire amino acid sequence of the nuclear-encoded uncoupling protein of rat brown adipose tissue mitochondria has been isolated and sequenced. With the exception of the N-terminal methionine the deduced N-terminus of the newly synthesized uncoupling protein is identical to the N-terminal 30 amino acids of the native uncoupling protein as determined by protein sequencing. This proves that the protein contains no N-terminal mitochondrial targeting prepiece and that a targeting region must reside within the amino acid sequence of the mature protein.     

Regulation of muscle pyruvate metabolism during exercise

Pyruvate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase are important enzymes in the regulation of muscle pyruvate metabolism and their in vitro measured activities have been studied in muscle from rested and exercised rats. In addition, the muscle concentration of metabolic intermediates associated with pyruvate metabolism has been measured after exercise. Phosphoenolpyruvate concentration was decreased to less than half the value found in rested muscle but pyruvate concentration did not change. This suggests an increase in the in vivo rate of conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate. Concentrations of malate and aspartate increased two- to threefold which suggests that oxaloacetate concentration was also increased. An increase in oxaloacetate availability would increase acetyl CoA metabolism and therefore would increase pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in vivo. The basal activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase measured in vitro increased approximately twofold after 2 hr of exercise and returned to control values 5 min after the cessation of exercise. Total pyruvate dehydrogenase activity (activated to the maximal extent) was not changed by exercise. Muscle PEPCK activity was also increased during exercise suggesting an increased rate of conversion of oxaloacetate to pyruvate to provide net oxidation of oxaloacetate and other citric acid cycle intermediates. Results of this study demonstrate that the rates of formation and metabolism of pyruvate are increased during exercise.     

Microbial oxidation of methanol: Purification and properties of formaldehyde dehydrogenase from a Pichia sp. NRRL-Y-11328

An NAD⁺-linked, reduced glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from soluble extracts of methanol-grown yeast, Pichia sp. Formaldehyde and methylglyoxal are oxidized in the presence of NAD⁺ as an electron acceptor. NADP⁺ could not replace NAD⁺. Other straight chain aldehydes (C₂–C₆ tested), branched-chain aldehydes (e.g., isobutyaldehyde), aromatic aldehydes (e.g., salicylal-dehyde, benzaldehyde), glutyraldehyde, glyceraldehyde, glycoaldehyde, and glyoxal-dehyde tested were not oxidized by the purified formaldehyde dehydrogenase. The product of formaldehyde oxidation by purified enzyme was demonstrated to be S-for-mylglutathione by measuring the absorption at 240 nm due to the formation of thioester of formaldehyde and reduced glutathione. The K_m values for NAD⁺, formaldehyde, and reduced glutathione were 0.12, 0.31, and 0.16 mm, respectively, for the forward reaction at pH 8.0. The purified formaldehyde dehydrogenase also catalyzed the reduction of S-formylglutathione in the presence of NADH. Formate was not reduced by the purified enzyme. The K_m values for S-formylglutathione and NADH were 0.60 and 0.25 mm, respectively, for the reverse reaction at pH 6.0. Formaldehyde dehydrogenase has a molecular weight of 84,000 as determined by gel filtration and subunit molecular weight of 41,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. S-Formylglutathione, a product of formaldehyde oxidation, was oxidized by the partially purified formate dehydrogenase from Pichia sp. Formate dehydrogenase has a higher affinity toward S-formylglutathione (K_m value 1.8 mm) than toward formate (K_m value 25 mm). Antiserum prepared against the purified formaldehyde dehydrogenase from Pichia sp. NRRL-Y-11328 forms strong precipitin bands with isofunctional enzymes from methanol-grown Pichia pastoris NRRL-Y-7556 and Torulopsis candida Y-11419 and weak precipitin bands with Hansenula polymorpha NRRL-Y-2214. No cross-reaction was observed with isofunctional enzyme derived from methanol-grown Kloeckera sp.     

Epoxidation of Short-Chain Alkenes by Resting-Cell Suspensions of Propane-Grown Bacteria

Sixteen new cultures of propane-utilizing bacteria were isolated from lake water from Warinanco Park, Linden, N.J. and from lake and soil samples from Bayway Refinery, Linden, N.J. In addition, 19 known cultures obtained from culture collections were also found to be able to grow on propane as the sole carbon and energy source. In addition to their ability to oxidize n-alkanes, resting-cell suspensions of both new cultures and known cultures grown on propane oxidize short-chain alkenes to their corresponding 1,2-epoxides. Among the substrate alkenes, propylene was oxidized at the highest rate. In contrast to the case with methylotrophic bacteria, the product epoxides are further metabolized. Propane and other gaseous n-alkanes inhibit the epoxidation of propylene. The optimum conditions for in vivo epoxidation are described. Results from inhibition studies indicate that a propane monooxygenase system catalyzes both the epoxidation and hydroxylation reactions. Experiments with cell-free extracts show that both hydroxylation and epoxidation activities are located in the soluble fraction obtained after 80,000 × g centrifugation.     

Production of Methyl Ketones from Secondary Alcohols by Cell Suspensions of C2 to C4n-Alkane-Grown Bacteria

Nineteen new C₂ to C₄n-alkane-grown cultures were isolated from lake water from Warinanco Park, Linden, N.J., and from lake and soil samples from Bayway Refinery, Linden, N.J. Fifteen known liquid alkane-utilizing cultures were also found to be able to grow on C₂ to C₄n-alkanes. Cell suspensions of these C₂ to C₄n-alkane-grown bacteria oxidized 2-alcohols (2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-pentanol, and 2-hexanol) to their corresponding methyl ketones. The product methyl ketones accumulated extracellularly. Cells grown on 1-propanol or 2-propanol oxidized both primary and secondary alcohols. In addition, the activity for production of methyl ketones from secondary alcohols was found in cells grown on either alkanes, alcohols, or alkylamines, indicating that the enzyme(s) responsible for this reaction is constitutive. The optimum conditions for in vivo methyl ketone formation from secondary alcohols were compared among selected strains: Brevibacterium sp. strain CRL56, Nocardia paraffinica ATCC 21198, and Pseudomonas fluorescens NRRL B-1244. The rates for the oxidation of secondary alcohols were linear for the first 3 h of incubation. Among secondary alcohols, 2-propanol and 2-butanol were oxidized at the highest rate. A pH around 8.0 to 9.0 was found to be the optimum for acetone or 2-butanone formation from 2-alcohols. The temperature optimum for the production of acetone or 2-butanone from 2-propanol or 2-butanol was rather high at 60°C, indicating that the enzyme involved in the reaction is relatively thermally stable. Metal-chelating agents inhibit the production of methyl ketones, suggesting the involvement of a metal(s) in the oxidation of secondary alcohols. Secondary alcohol dehydrogenase activity was found in the cell-free soluble fraction; this activity requires a cofactor, specifically NAD. Propane monooxygenase activity was also found in the cell-free soluble fraction. It is a nonspecific enzyme catalyzing both terminal and subterminal oxidation of n-alkanes.     

The role of the Asp-32 residue of cholecystokinin in gastric acid secretion and gastrin receptor recognition

The aspartic acid residue at the penultimate position is known to be essential for the hormonal activity of CCK and gastrin on gastric acid secretion. This residue was successively replaced by beta-aspartic acid, beta-alanine, and glutamic acid in the C-terminal heptapeptide of CCK 27-33. The analogues obtained were tested on rat gastric acid secretion and for recognition by gastrin receptors. The replacement by beta-aspartic or beta-alanine decreased gastric secretion and gastrin receptor recognition. In contrast, replacement by glutamic acid affected these two parameters less. The nature of the N-blocking group (Boc or Z) also influenced these activities, Boc derivatives being more potent than Z derivatives. The results were compared to those previously obtained on pancreatic secretion and on stimulation of gall bladder contraction where the modifications were found capable of differentiating between cholecystokinin, pancreozymin and gastrin activities.     

Sequence homology between human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and antithrombin III

alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin mRNA was isolated by specific polysome immunoprecipitation from turpentine-treated baboon liver. The highly enriched mRNA was used for synthesis and cloning of the corresponding cDNA. Baboon alpha 1-antichymotrypsin cDNA clones were identified by hybrid-selected translation, and the insert DNA fragment from one of the putative clones was used as a probe to screen a human liver cDNA library comprised of 40 000 independent transformants. One of the human cDNA clones was unambiguously identified to contain alpha 1-antichymotrypsin DNA sequences by comparison of its 5'-terminal nucleotide sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein. This cDNA clone, designated phACT235, contains 1524 base pairs of human DNA, which was sequenced in its entirety. The inserted DNA codes for a 25 amino acid signal peptide sequence and the entire mature alpha 1-antichymotrypsin of 408 amino acid residues. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin with that of the human alpha 1-antitrypsin has revealed a homology level similar to that between chymotrypsin and trypsin.     

Effects of sulfhydryl and other reagents on the diffusional permeability of dog erythrocytes to small solutes

The effects of p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMBS), 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), phloretin and thiourea on the diffusional permeability of dog erythrocytes to tritiated water and to small 14C-labeled lipophilic and hydrophilic solutes were measured at 37 degrees C by means of the linear diffusion technique. Permeability to 3HHO was significantly decreased by PCMBS but was not affected by the other reagents. The permeability to the small hydrophilic solutes acetamide and urea was decreased by phloretin and thiourea but only the permeability to acetamide was reduced to a statistically significant extent by PCMBS. The permeability to the lipophilic solutes methanol, ethanol and antipyrine was not affected by any of these agents. We interpret these results as an indication that the small lipophilic solutes probably move through lipid areas, that the small hydrophilic solutes probably move through protein associated areas in the erythrocyte membrane and that pathways for the small hydrophilic solutes are distinct from those for water. While the pathways for water may be associated with membrane protein they do not appear to be associated specifically with band 3 protein as has been suggested for human erythrocytes. Diffusional water movement through the dog erythrocyte occurs by two distinct pathways.