Structural Enzymology of Cellvibrio japonicus Agd31B Protein Reveals α-Transglucosylase Activity in Glycoside Hydrolase Family 31

The metabolism of the storage polysaccharides glycogen and starch is of vital importance to organisms from all domains of life. In bacteria, utilization of these α-glucans requires the concerted action of a variety of enzymes, including glycoside hydrolases, glycoside phosphorylases, and transglycosylases. In particular, transglycosylases from glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13) and GH77 play well established roles in α-glucan side chain (de)branching, regulation of oligo- and polysaccharide chain length, and formation of cyclic dextrans. Here, we present the biochemical and tertiary structural characterization of a new type of bacterial 1,4-α-glucan 4-α-glucosyltransferase from GH31. Distinct from 1,4-α-glucan 6-α-glucosyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.24) and 4-α-glucanotransferases (EC 2.4.1.25), this enzyme strictly transferred one glucosyl residue from α(1→4)-glucans in disproportionation reactions. Substrate hydrolysis was undetectable for a series of malto-oligosaccharides except maltose for which transglycosylation nonetheless dominated across a range of substrate concentrations. Crystallographic analysis of the enzyme in free, acarbose-complexed, and trapped 5-fluoro-β-glucosyl-enzyme intermediate forms revealed extended substrate interactions across one negative and up to three positive subsites, thus providing structural rationalization for the unique, single monosaccharide transferase activity of the enzyme.     

A molecular orbital study on the interaction between the cytochrome P-450 and its substrates.

Models for the interaction of the cytochrome P-450 with its substrates, namely for the type I interaction are proposed in which the molecular planes of the aromatic substrate and the porphyrins of P-450 are in parallel. Optical values such as transition energies and oscillator strengths for the isolated P-450 and P-450-substrate complex are calculated by means of molecular orbital method (ASMO SCF CI method), and they are compared with the observed values. The fact that no appreciable shift in the absorption peak of Soret band of P-450 was observed upon addition of substrate is reflected well in the calculation. Similarly, the well-known fact that the absorbance of the P-450 was decreased by mixing it with the substrate is also explained well by the calculated oscillator strength for the isolated P-450 and the stacked complexes. From the good agreement between the calculated results and the observed ones, it is suggested that the proposed models might be true reflections of the interactions between the P-450 and its substrates.     

D-amino acid oxidase in mouse liver

1. An appreciable amount of D-amino acid oxidase was found in the extract of mouse liver by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 2. The content of the enzyme in the kidney and heart extracts was also measured by the assay.     

Enzymatic desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by a cell-free system of Rhodococcus erythropolis D-1

Abstract Pseudomonas syringae cells were exposed to Cu²⁺ alone or in the precence of acetate, proline or cysteine, at concentrations that reduced free Cu²⁺ to 1/10 of the total copper. Ligand concentrations (designated as isoeffective) were determined experimentally using a Cu²⁺-selective electrode and confirmed by computer calculations using published stability constants. Exposure of P. syringae cells to Cu²⁺ alone resulted in rapid and pronounced cell death, and binding of most of the copper in solution. The addition of acetate, proline or cysteine, a few minutes after Cu²⁺ treatment, resulted in a significant reduction in cell death, and in the amount of copper bound to the cells. For short exposures to Cu²⁺, cysteine was more effective than acetate or proline, but after 60 min of treatment, similar results were observed with these ligands. The addition of ligands before Cu²⁺ resulted in even more reduced copper toxicity. The results showed that, at isoeffective concentrations, weak and moderate copper-ligands can effectively antagonize copper toxicity, and that this protective effect does not require previously equilibrated copper-ligand solutions and is not very dependent of the nature of the ligand.     

Adjuvant Action of Capsular Polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae on Antibody Response

The sequence of histological changes in the regional lymph node and other lymphoid organs of mice injected with the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPS-K) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was followed. Injection of CPS-K, but not LPS, induced the following characteristic histological changes in the regional lymph node. In the early stage there was a marked decrease in the number of small lymphocytes, accompanied by the appearance of scattered fragmented nuclei and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes, and in the late stage there was marked proliferation of macrophage-like cells and pyroninophilic cells. Histological changes in the thymus and spleen and changes in cell populations in the bone marrow and peripheral blood after CPS-K injection were essentially the same as after LPS injection. Since CPS-K has a much stronger adjuvant action on antibody response than does LPS, it is suggested that the characteristic histological changes in the regional lymph node after injection of CPS-K are closely related to its extraordinarily strong adjuvant action.     

Mutational analysis of third cytoplasmic loop domains in G-protein coupling of the HM1 muscarinic receptor.

We measured dose-response curves for carbachol stimulation of phosphatidyl inositol (PI) turnover with mutants of the Hm1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor having various deletions from amino acids 219 to 358 of the large third intracellular (i3) loop (208 to 366). These deletions had only small or no effects on the ability of Hm1 transfected into HEK 293 cells to stimulate PI turnover. This result indicates that only small regions of 9 to 11 amino acids adjacent to trans-membrane domains (TMDs) 5 and 6 can be directly involved in G protein coupling. Point mutations were constructed to test the role of charged amino acids in these junctions. A triple point mutation of Hm1 (E214 A/ E216K/ E221 K), which mimics the charge distribution in Hm2 (negatively coupled to cAMP) over the first 14 amino acids of i3, and a double point mutation in the N terminal junction, K359A/K361A, both failed to affect carbachol stimulated PI turnover. Therefore, charge distribution in the loop junctions appears to play a minor role in G protein coupling of Hm1 in HEK 293 cells.