Enzymatic synthesis of l-β-chloroalanine using amino acid dehydrogenase

l--Chloroalanine is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of several l-amino acids. Conditions for synthesizing optically pure l--chloroalanine from 3-chloropyruvate using alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH), leucine dehydrogenase and phenylalanine dehydrogenase with a regeneration of NADH by formate dehydrogenase (FDH) were investigated. The enzymatic reaction was carried out at neutral pH because of a chemical instability of 3-chloropyruvate on the alkaline side. Commercially available AlaDH from Bacillus stearothermophilus IFO 12550 showed the highest activity for the production of l--chloroalanine at pH 7.5. The K _m and V _max values for 3-chloropyruvate of AlaDH were calculated to be 300 units/mg and 62.5 mm, respectively. Although 3-chloropyruvate had no inhibitory effect on AlaDH, it acted as a non-competitive inhibitor with FDH. 3-Chloropyruvate was added into the reaction mixture in a stepwise manner to avoid the inhibition. l--Chloroalanine was produced with high chemical (>90%) and optical yields (100% enantiometric excess) and at a high concentration (43 g/l).     

Partial purification and characterization of β-hydroxybutyric acid dehydrogenase of a methylotrophic bacterium,Pseudomonas 135

Summary An intracellular enzyme, d(—)--hydroxybutyric acid dehydrogenase involved in an intracellular poly-d(—)--hydroxybutyric acid degredation was isolated from a facultative methylotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas 135, grown on methanol as a sole carbon and energy source. This enzyme was partially purified to 11.6-fold by ammonium sulphate fractionation and a dye-affinity chromatography. The enzyme catalysed simultaneously the oxidation of d(—)--hydroxybutyric acid (D-HB) and the reduction of acetoacetate. The optimum pH was 8.5 for the oxidation reaction and 5.5–6.0 for the reduction reaction, and the enzyme was stable for 2 weeks at — 20° C. The K _m values for oxidation and reduction reactions were determined as 1.84 mm for D-HB, 0.244 mm for NAD⁺, 0.319 mm for acetoacetate and 0.032 mm for NADH, respectively. It was also found that d-lactate and NADH significantly inhibited the oxidation reaction by competitive inhibition, and acetoacetate by non-competitive inhibition, respectively. The inhibition constants were determined as 1.49 mm for d-lactate, 0.196 mm for NADH and 1.82 mm for acetoacetate, respectively. According to an experiment with resting cells, it seemed that the enzyme was constitutive. Correspondence to: J. M. Lebeault     

Bio-resolution of glycidyl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>)-methylphenyl ethers by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis>

A newly isolated Bacillus megaterium with epoxide hydrolase activity resolved racemic glycidyl (o, m, p)-methylphenyl ethers to give enantiopure epoxides in 84–99% enantiomeric excess and with 21–73 enantiomeric ratios. The (S)-enantiomer was obtained from rac-glycidyl (o or m)-methylphenyl ether while the (R)-epoxides was obtained from glycidyl p-methylphenyl ether. The observations are explained at the level by enzyme-substrate docking studies.     

Racemic Resolution of some <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">dl</Emphasis>-Amino Acids using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus fumigatus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Amino Acid Oxidase

The ability of Aspergillus fumigatus l-amino acid oxidase (l-aao) to cause the resolution of racemic mixtures of dl-amino acids was investigated with dl-alanine, dl-phenylalanine, dl-tyrosine, and dl-aspartic acid. A chiral column, Crownpak CR+ was used for the analysis of the amino acids. The enzyme was able to cause the resolution of the three dl-amino acids resulting in the production of optically pure d-alanine (100% resolution), d-phenylalanine (80.2%), and d-tyrosine (84.1%), respectively. The optically pure d-amino acids have many uses and thus can be exploited industrially. This is the first report of the use of A. fumigatus l-amino acid oxidase for racemic resolution of dl-amino acids.     

Production of l (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii immobilized in functionalized alginate matrices

The role of functionalized alginate gels as immobilized matrices in production of l (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii was studied. L. delbrueckii cells immobilized in functionalized alginate beads showed enhanced bead stability and selectivity towards production of optically pure l (+) lactic acid in higher yields (1.74Yp/s) compared to natural alginate. Palmitoylated alginate beads revealed 99% enantiomeric selectivity (ee) in production of l (+) lactic acid. Metabolite analysis during fermentation indicated low by-product (acetic acid, propionic acid and ethanol) formation on repeated batch fermentation with functionalized immobilized microbial cells. The scanning electron microscopic studies showed dense entrapped microbial cell biomass in modified immobilized beads compared to native alginate. Thus the methodology has great importance in large-scale production of optically pure lactic acid.     

Bacillus alcalophilus MTCC10234 catalyzed enantioselective kinetic resolution of aryl glycidyl ethers

The phenyl glycidyl ether derivatives have been kinetically resolved with the growing cells of Bacillus alcalophilus MTCC10234 yielding (S)-epoxides with up to >99% ee and (R)-diols with up to 89% ee. The enantiomeric ratio (E) of up to 67 has been obtained for biohydrolysis process. The effect of different substituents of phenyl glycidyl ether on the biocatalytic efficiency of B. alcalophilus MTCC10234 showed preference for methyl- and chloro-substituted aryl glycidyl ether derivatives whereas nitro-derivatives were transformed at a slower rate. 2,6-Dimethylphenyl glycidyl ether which contains a bulky aryl group having methyl group on both the ortho positions was resolved with an E = 39.     

Enzymatic preparation of optically active 3-trimethylsilylalanine

 We constructed an efficient system for preparing optically active 3-trimethylsilylalanine (TMS-Ala) by kinetic resolution with acylase I (aminoacylase; N-acylamino-acid amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.14). Racemic TMS-Ala was chemically synthesized and acetylated. Enantioselective deacetylation of N-acetyl-DL-TMS-Ala with acylase I from porcine kidney or from Aspergillus melleus was then attempted. Both enzymes could catalyze the deacetylation of N-acetyl-DL-TMS-Ala, and the porcine enzyme was found to have much higher activity than the enzyme from A. melleus. The optimum pH of the porcine-acylase-catalyzed reaction was 7.5, and the addition of 0.5 mM Co²⁺ accelerated the reaction. Optically pure L-TMS-Ala (>99% enantiomeric excess, ee) was obtained in 72% yield under the optimized conditions. Furthermore, highly optically pure D-TMS-Ala (96% ee) could also be obtained in 76% yield by chemically hydrolyzing the residual substrate. Received: 6 June 1995/Received revision: 3 July 1995/Accepted: 19 July 1995     

Purification and characterisation of a microbial l-carnitine amidase

A novel enzyme, l-carnitine amidase, was purified about 140-fold from a newly screened microorganism (DSM 6320) to yield a homogeneous protein. The native enzyme has a molecular mass of 125 kDa (gel filtration) and consists of two identical subunits as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Edman degradation. The pH optimum was found around pH 8.5. Out of 60 chemicals tested as substrates (amides of various aliphatic and aromatic acids, nitriles, amino acid amides and dipeptide amides) the amidase hydrolysed only l-carnitine amide. The Michaelis constant (K_m) was found to be 11.6 mm, and the pure protein had a specific activity of 328 units/mg. Complex kinetics were observed with the racemic mixture of d,l-carnitine amide as starting material during enzymatic hydrolysis. Correspondence to: M.-R. Kula     

Purification and properties of recombinant β-glucosidase of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima

A -glucosidase of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima has been purified from a recombinant Escherichia coli clone expressing the corresponding gene. The enzyme was found to be a dimer with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 95 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography. It was composed of two apparently identical subunits of about 47 kDa (determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). The enzyme had a bbroadsubstrate specificity and attacked -glucoside, -galactoside, -fucoside, and, to a very small extent, also -xyloside substrates. -Glycosidic bonds were not hydrolysed. Kinetic measurement of the hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl--d-glucopyranoside (oNPGlc) and o-nitrophenyl--d-galactopyranoside (oNPGal) in the concentration ranges 0.05–20 mm and 0.1–10 mm, respectively, at 75°C resulted in non-linear Lineweaver-Burk and Eadie-Hofstee 3lots whereas cellobiose and lactose did not induce this type of effect. Lactose caused substrate inhibition above 350 mm. The enzyme was optimally active at about pH 6.1. The T. maritima -glucosidase represents the most thermostable -glucosidase described to date. In 50 mm sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2, at an enzyme concentration of 50 g/ml, the pure enzyme without additives retained more than 60% of its initial activity after a 6-h incubation at 95°C. Correspondence to: W. Liebl     

Synthesis of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide catalyzed with (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-oxynitrilase from loquat seed meal

The synthesis of optically active (R)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide by asymmetric trans-cyanation of acetyltrimethylsilane with acetone cyanohydrin in a biphasic system was achieved using (R)-oxynitrilase from loquat seed meal. Diisopropyl ether was the most suitable organic phase among the organic solvents examined. The optimal concentration of acetyltrimethylsilane, concentration of crude enzyme, volume ratio of the aqueous to the organic phase, temperature and the buffer pH value were 14 mM, 61.4 U ml^-1, 13% (v/v), 30 °C and 4, respectively. The substrate conversion and the product enantiomeric excess were 95% and 98% under the optimized conditions. Acetyltrimethylsilane was a better substrate of the enzyme than its carbon counterpart. Revisions requested 24 August 2004; Revisions received 12 November 2004     

Effect of environmental pollutants and their metabolites on a soil mycobacterium

The relative toxicity of seven major ground-water pollutants (benzene, chlorobenzene, propylbenzene, ethylbenzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and styrene) and their metabolites to a soil mycobacterium (Mycobacterium vaccae strain JOB-5) that can catabolize all of these pollutants was determined. The metabolites of chlorobenzene, styrene and trichloroethylene degradation (4-chlorophenol, styrene oxide, and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol, respectively) were less toxic to M. vaccae than was their parent compound. The pollutants propylbenzene, ethylbenzene and benzene were less toxic than their metabolites (4-propylphenol, 4-ethylphenol, and phenol). Metabolites were also examined for their ability to interfere with the biodegradation of selected groundwater pollutants. The metabolites of ethylbenzene, propylbenzene and chlorobenzene biotransformation by M. vaccae were found to adversely affect biodegradation by M. vaccae. Toluene degradation by M. vaccae was inhibited by 4-chlorophenol, 4-ethylphenol and 4-propylphenol at 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, and 0.4 mm, respectively.Correspondence to: J. J. Perry     

Purification and characterization of a thermostable β-galactosidase with high transgalactosylation activity from Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula

We purified an extracellular thermostable -galactosidase of Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula strain V2-2, a thermophilic actinomycete, to homogeneity and characterized it to be a monomeric enzyme with a relative molecular mass of 145 000 and s°_20,w of 7.1 s. In addition to the hydrolytic activity of 1-O-substituted -d-galactopyranosides such as lactose [a Michaelis constant K _m=0.75 mm and molecular activity (k _cat)= 63.1 s^–1 at pH 7.2 and 55° C] and p-nitrophenyl -d-galactopyranoside (K _m=0.04 mm k _cat= 55.8 s^–1), the enzyme had a high transgalactosylation activity. The enzyme reacted with 1.75 m lactose at 70°C and pH 7.0 for 22 h to yield oligosaccharides in a maximum yield (other than lactose) of 41% (w/w). A general structure for the major transgalactosylic products could be expressed as (Gal)_c-Glc, where n is 1, 2, 3, and 4 with a glucose at a reducing terminal. These oligosaccharides could selectively promote the growth of the genus Bifidobacterium found in human intestines. S. rectivirgula -galactosidase was stable at pH 7.2 up to 60°C (for 4 h in the presence of 10 m MnCl₂) or 70°C (for 22 h in the presence of 1.75 m lactose and 10 m MnCl₂). Thus the enzyme is applicable to an immobilized enzyme system at high temperatures (60°C <) for efficient production of the oligosaccharides from lactose. Correspondence to: T. Nakayama     

Antifungal action of alkoxy ethyl mercuric acetates

The fungitoxic action of alkoxy ethyl mercuric acetates and phenyl mercuric acetate was studied withAspergillus niger, Penicillium italicum andUstilago maydis as test moulds. Concentrations of mercurials from 10^–3 m to 10^–5 m were used in each experiment. The inhibitory action was about the same for each of the compounds tested.     

The Essential Role of Cytosolic Cl− in Ca2+ Regulation of an Amiloride-Sensitive Channel in Fetal Rat Pneumocyte

An amiloride-sensitive, Ca²⁺-activated nonselective cation (NSC) channel in the apical membrane of fetal rat alveolar epithelium plays an important role in stimulation of Na⁺ transport by a beta adrenergic agonist (beta agonist). We studied whether Ca²⁺ has an essential role in the stimulation of the NSC channel by beta agonists. In cell-attached patches formed on the epithelium, terbutaline, a beta agonist, increased the open probability (P _o ) of the NSC channel to 0.62 ± 0.07 from 0.03 ± 0.01 (mean ±se; n= 8) 30 min after application of terbutaline in a solution containing 1 mm Ca²⁺. The P _o of the terbutaline-stimulated NSC channel was diminished in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ to 0.26 ± 0.05 (n= 8). The cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺] _c ) in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ was, respectively, 100 ± 6 and 20 ± 2 nm (n= 7) 30 min after application of terbutaline. The cytosolic Cl⁻ concentration ([Cl⁻] _c ) in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ was, respectively, 20 ± 1 and 40 ± 2 mm (n= 7) 30 min after application of terbutaline. The diminution of [Ca²⁺] _c from 100 to 20 nm itself had no significant effects on the P _o if the [Cl⁻] _c was reduced to 20 mm; the P _o was 0.58 ± 0.10 at 100 nm [Ca²⁺] _c and 0.55 ± 0.09 at 20 nm [Ca²⁺] _c (n= 8) with 20 mm [Cl⁻] _c in inside-out patches. On the other hand, the P _o (0.28 ± 0.10) at 20 nm [Ca²⁺] _c with 40 mm [Cl⁻] _c was significantly lower than that (0.58 ± 0.10; P < 0.01; n= 8) at 100 nm [Ca²⁺] _c with 20 mm [Cl⁻] _c , suggesting that reduction of [Cl⁻] _c is an important factor stimulating the NSC channel. These observations indicate that the extracellular Ca²⁺ plays an important role in the stimulatory action of beta agonist on the NSC channel via reduction of [Cl⁻] _c . Received: 11 August 2000/Revised: 4 December 2000     

Vicia villosa B4 lectin is the second anti-Tn lectin shown to react better with blood group N than M antigen

Earlier studies showed thatMoluccella laevis lectin, which has anti-Tn specificity, reacts more strongly with native or desialylated blood group N glycophorin A than with the respective glycophorins of blood group M. We now present results indicating thatVicia villosa B4 anti-Tn lectin, which does not show detectable reaction with untreated glycophorins or erythrocytes, reacts better with desialylated blood group N antigen than with asialo M antigen. This was demonstrated by three assays: (1) agglutination of asialoerythrocytes; (2) binding of biotinylated lectin to asialoerythrocytes immobilized on ELISA plates; and (3) inhibition of lectin binding to asialo-agalactoglycophorin with asialoglycophorins M and N. These results supply further support for the conclusion that glycophorin of blood group N has more GalNAc residues unsubstituted with Gal (Tn receptors) than glycophorin of blood group M.Abbreviations GPA glycophorin A - GPA-M and GPA-N GPA from OM and ON erythrocytes, respectively - MLL Moluccella laevis lectin - PBS 0.02m phosphate buffer/0.15m NaCl, pH 7.4 - PNA peanut agglutinin - RBC erythrocytes - TBS 0.05m Tris buffer/0.15m NaCl, pH 7.4 - TBS-T TBS containing 0.02% Tween 20 - VVL Vicia villosa B4 lectin     

Kinetic study on the β-glucosidase-catalysed reaction of Trichoderma viride cellulase

A kinetic study of the -glucosidase-catalysed reaction of a commercial cellulase preparation from Trichoderma viride is described. The K _m and V _max values of the -glucosidase system were: (a) 0.5 mm and 6.6 mol/min, respectively, using p-nitrophenyl -d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as substrate; and (b) 2.5 mm and 8.1 mol/min, respectively, using cellobiose as subtrate. The glucose effect on initial reaction velocity agrees with a mixed-inhibition pattern. The inhibition constant (K _i) values were, 0.53 and 0.39 mm with nNPG and cellobiose as substrates, respectively. The temperature and pH optima were determined. Correspondence to: A. Romeu     

Methylglyoxal Bypass Identified as Source of Chiral Contamination in l(+) and d(−)-lactate Fermentations by Recombinant Escherichia coli

Two new strains of Escherichia coli B were engineered for the production of lactate with no detectable chiral impurity. All chiral impurities were eliminated by deleting the synthase gene (msgA) that converts dihydroxyacetone-phosphate to methylglyoxal, a precursor for both l(+)- and d(−)-lactate. Strain TG113 contains only native genes and produced optically pure d(−)-lactate. Strain TG108 contains the ldhL gene from Pediococcus acidilactici and produced only l(+)-lactate. In mineral salts medium containing 1 mM betaine, both strains produced over 115 g (1.3 mol) lactate from 12% (w/v) glucose, >95% theoretical yield.     

Pyranose 2-oxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium– further biochemical characterisation

Pyranose 2-oxidase (P2O) was purified 43-fold to apparent homogeneity from the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium using liquid chromatography on phenyl Sepharose, Mono Q (twice) and phenyl Superose. The native enzyme has a molecular mass of about 250 kDa (based on native PAGE) and is composed of four identical subunits of 65 kDa. It contains three isoforms of isoelectric point (pI) 5.0, 5.05 and 5.15 and does not appear to be a glycoprotein. P2O is optimally stable at pH 8.0 and up to 60 °C. It is active over a broad pH range (5.0–9.0) with maximum activity at pH 8.0–8.5 and at 55 °C, and a broad substrate specificity. d-Glucose is the preferred substrate, but 1-β-aurothioglucose, 6-deoxy-d-glucose, l-sorbose, d-xylose, 5-thioglucose, d-glucono-1,5-lactone, maltose and 2-deoxy-d-glucose are also oxidised at relatively high rates. A Ping Pong Bi Bi mechanism was demonstrated for the P2O reaction at pH 8.0, with a catalytic constant (k _cat) of 111.0 s⁻¹ and an affinity constant (K _m) of 1.43 mM for d-glucose and 83.2 μM for oxygen. Whereas the steady-state kinetics for glucose oxidation were unaffected by the medium at pH ≥ 7.0, at low pH both pH and buffer composition affected the P2O kinetics with the k _cat/K _m value decreasing with decreasing pH. The greatest effect was observed in acetate buffer (0.1 M, pH 4.5), where the k _cat decreased to 60.9 s⁻¹ and the K _m increased to 240 mM. The activity of P2O was completely inhibited by 10 mM HgCl₂, AgNO₃ and ZnCl₂, and 50% by lead acetate, CuCl₂ and MnCl₂. Received: 28 August 1996 / Received revision: 25 November 1996 / Accepted: 29 November 1996     

Pure culture studies of inhibitors for methanogenic bacteria

Methane production in pure cultures ofMethanobacterium ruminantium andMethanobacterium M.o.H. strains is inhibited by halogenated methane analogues in Μm concentrations and by unsaturated long-chain fatty acids or sulfite inmm concentrations. With the long-chain fatty acids a free carboxyl group is required for the depressing effect on methanogenesis, while the toxicity is increased with a higher degree of unsaturation of these acids. The direct toxic effect of these compounds on methane bacteria in pure cultures is in accord with earlier observations regarding their effect on the mixed rumen microbes.