Cloning and antigenic expression of two genes from Chlamydia psittaci avian strain

Abstract: Genes from Chlamydia psittaci P-1041 were cloned into the Bam HI site of pUC19 and were transformed to host Escherichia coli JM109. Two recombinant plasmids that expressed protein antigens of Chlamydia were isolated. The sizes of the DNA fragments were 1350 and 1710 bp, and encoded for polypeptides of M _r 25 and 42 kilodaltons (kDa), respectively. The 25-kDa protein had cross-reactivity with antisera to ten C. psittaci strains and two C. trachomatis strains, whereas the 42-kDa protein reacted only with homologous antiserum to the C. psittaci P-1041 strain. Furthermore, in Southern hybridization analysis these two fragments as probes hybridized with DNA of ten C. psittaci strains and four C. trachomatis strains. These results indicated that the two fragments shared a DNA sequence common to the chlamydial genus.     

Synergistic action of co-expressed xylanase/laccase mixtures against milled sugar cane bagasse

The primary plant cell wall is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and protein in a stable matrix. The concomitant depolymerization of lignin by laccase and of hemicelluloses by xylanase can improve lignocellulose degradation in the production of second generation biofuels. A thermophilic variant of xylanase A (XynAG3) and the thermostable laccase (CotA), both from Bacillus subtilis, were produced in co-transformed Pichia pastoris strain GS115. Mobility changes in SDS-PAGE after Endo H digestion indicated that both enzymes were glycosylated. The maximum catalytic activity of the XynAG3_Pp and the CotA_Pp was observed at 58 °C and 75 °C, respectively, and both enzymes presented high activity at pH 5.0. The half-life at 60 °C of XynAG3_Pp and CotA_Pp was 150 min and 540 min, respectively. The relative levels of CotA_Pp and XynAG3_Pp in culture broths were altered by the concentration of methanol used for induction, and CotA_Pp:XynAG3_Pp ratios of 1:1.5 and 1:2 were evaluated against milled sugar-cane bagasse. The highest activity was observed at a 1:2 ratio of CotA_Pp:XynAG3_Pp, and was 44% higher as compared to the sum of the activities of the individual enzymes in the same assay conditions. These results demonstrate the synergistic action between an endoxylanase and a laccase against the natural lignocellulosic substrate.     

Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus B-6 xylanase Xyn10C capable of producing a doubly arabinose-substituted xylose, α-l-Araf-(1 → 2)-[α-l-Araf-(1 → 3)]-d-Xylp,from rye arabinoxylan

Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus B-6 Xyn10C is a single module xylanase consisting of a glycoside hydrolase family-10 catalytic module. The recombinant enzyme, rXyn10C, was produced by Escherichia coli and characterized. rXyn10C was highly active toward soluble xylans derived from rye, birchwood, and oat spelt, and slightly active toward insoluble wheat arabinoxylan. It hydrolyzed xylooligosaccharides larger than xylotetraose to produce xylotriose, xylobiose, and xylose. When rye arabinoxylan and oat spelt xylan were treated with the enzyme and the hydrolysis products were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), two unknown hydrolysis products, U1 and U2, were detected in the upper position of xylose on a TLC plate. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and enzymatic analysis using Bacillus licheniformis α-l-arabinofuranosidase Axh43A indicated that U1 was α-l-Araf-(1 → 2)-[α-l-Araf-(1 → 3)]-d-Xylp and U2 was α-l-Araf-(1 → 2)-d-Xylp, suggesting that rXyn10C had strong activity toward a xylosidic linkage before and after a doubly arabinose-substituted xylose residue and was able to accommodate an α-1,2- and α-1,3-linked arabinose-substituted xylose unit in both the −1 and +1 subsites. A molecular docking study suggested that rXyn10C could accommodate a doubly arabinose-substituted xylose residue in its catalytic site, at subsite −1. This is the first report of a xylanase capable of producing α-l-Araf-(1 → 2)-[α-l-Araf-(1 → 3)]-d-Xylp from highly arabinosylated xylan.     

Enhanced endoxylanase production by Myceliophthora thermophila using rice straw and its synergism with phytase in improving nutrition

The goal of the present investigation was to attain the enhanced production of endoxylanase in submerged fermentation using different approaches followed by its utility in improving nutrition of wheat and rice flours along with phytase. Myceliophthora thermophila BJTLRMDU3 produced 51.70 U/mL of xylanase using rice straw as a substrate after optimization with ‘one variable at a time’ approach. After Plackett-Burman design study, sodium nitrate, K₂HPO₄ and Tween 20 were selected as critical factors and further optimized by response surface methodology. Increased xylanase production (80.15 U/mL) was attained with 2.5 % (w/v) sodium nitrate, 1.25 % (w/v) K₂HPO₄, and 2 % (v/v) Tween 20 at 40 °C. An overall 1.5-fold increase in xylanase production was achieved after statistical optimization. Applicability of M. thermophila xylanase (200 U/g flour) alone and in combination with phytase (15 U/g flour) from Aspergillus oryzae SBS50 in wheat and rice flours showed enhancement in nutritional qualities of both flours. About 45.67 %, 29.73 %, and 107.91 % increase in reducing sugars, soluble proteins and inorganic phosphate, respectively in wheat flour, while 94.16 %, 134.52 %, and 473.33 % increase in reducing sugars, soluble proteins and inorganic phosphate, respectively in rice flour was achieved at 60 °C and pH 5.0 by synergistic action of xylanase and phytase as compared to control having only xylanase.     

木质纤维素分解复合菌系WSD-5组成菌株的分离及其产酶特性

复合菌系WSD-5具有高效的分解能力和产酶能力,以探明WSD-5的协同分解机理和优化高效组合为目的,通过纯培养分离手段,获得了11株细菌和3株真菌。16S rDNA比对结果表明,细菌分别为Pseudomonas sp.、Pseudomonas aeruginosa、Achromobacter sp.、Stenotrophomonas sp.、Bacillus fusiformis、Bacillus cereus、Brevundimonas sp.、Ochrobactrum sp.、Cytophaga sp.、Benzo(a)pyrene-degrading bacter、Flavobacterium sp.的近缘种;26S rDNA比对结果表明3株真菌分别为Pseudallescheria boydii、Coprinus cinereus的近缘种。分离菌株中有4株细菌和3株真菌能在CMC平板上产生透明圈,但以糖化力法测定酶活结果只有3株真菌具有产酶能力。3株真菌的酶活动态测定结果,酶活的高峰均出现在7?14 d,并且呈现多峰变化;3株真菌的酶活种类表现为,滤纸酶活性、纤维素内切酶活性和外切酶活性均以菌株F1最高,分别达到了1.05、5.53和0.56 U/mL,β-葡萄糖甘酶活性和木聚糖酶活性以菌株FC最高,分别达到0.44和58.95 U/mL,其木聚糖酶活为F1最高值的6倍。     

木聚糖酶与XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白相互作用分子机制的研究进展

Xylanase inhibitor protein (XIP)型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白对大部分GH10、GH11家族的真菌木聚糖酶具有抑制作用,但是却不能抑制细菌来源和植物自身所产生的木聚糖酶。XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白对木聚糖酶的抑制作用主要是通过模拟底物接触酶的活性位点,迅速阻塞底物进入活性位点区域的通道。然而,在对XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白具有抗性的GH10和GH11木聚糖酶晶体结构中,连接二级结构的Loop构象严重阻碍了XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白的抑制功能。与对XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白敏感的木聚糖酶相比,氨基酸残基的插入突变导致抗性木聚糖酶的Loop具有明显的凸出构象;而在GH11家族抗性木聚糖酶中,"拇指"结构中部分氨基酸的替换致使XIP型木聚糖酶抑制蛋白与"拇指"结构无法形成稳固的氢键和疏水建,从而削弱XIP的抑制作用。     

Molecular cloning of fungal xylanases: an overview

Xylanases have received great attention in the development of environment-friendly technologies in the paper and pulp industry. Their use could greatly improve the overall lignocellulosic materials for the generation of liquid fuels and chemicals. Fungi are widely used as xylanase producers and are generally considered as more potent producers of xylanases than bacteria and yeasts. Large-scale production of xylanases is facilitated with the advent of genetic engineering. Recent breakthroughs in genomics have helped to overcome the problems such as limited enzyme availability, substrate scope, and operational stability. Genes encoding xylanases have been cloned in homologous and heterologous hosts with the objectives of overproducing the enzyme and altering its properties to suit commercial applications. Owing to the industrial importance of xylanases, a significant number of studies are reported on cloning and expression of the enzymes during the last few years. We, therefore, have reviewed recent knowledge regarding cloning of fungal xylanase genes into various hosts for heterologous production. This will bring an insight into the current status of cloning and expression of the fungal xylanases for industrial applications.     

Xylanase production using inexpensive agricultural wastes and its partial characterization from a halophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chromohalobacter</Emphasis> sp. TPSV 101

A halophilic and alkali-tolerant Chromohalobacter sp. TPSV 101 with an ability to produce extracellular halophilic, alkali-tolerant and moderately thermostable xylanase was isolated from solar salterns. Identification of the bacterium was done based upon biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequence. The culture conditions for higher xylanase production were optimized with respect to NaCl, pH, temperature, substrates and metal ions and additives. Maximum xylanase production was achieved in the medium with 20% NaCl, pH-9.0 at 40°C supplemented with 1% (w/v) sugarcane bagasse and 0.5% feather hydrolysate as carbon and nitrogen sources. Sugarcane bagasse (250 U/ml) and wheat bran (190 U/ml) were the best inducer of xylanase when used as carbon source as compared to xylan (61 U/ml). The xylanase that was partially purified by protein concentrator had a molecular mass of 15 kDa approximately. The xylanase from Chromohalobacter sp. TPSV 101 was active at pH 9.0 and required 20% NaCl for optimal xylanolytic activity and was active over a broad range of temperature 40–80°C with 65°C as optimum. The early stage hydrolysis products of sugarcane bagasse were xylose and xylobiose, after longer periods of incubation only xylose was detected.