Permeabilization of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus with Ethanol

Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus cultures were treated with ethanol and tested for viability and β-galactosidase activity. Exposure of the biomass of test cultures to 30%–55% ethanol (vol/vol) caused a 100% loss of viability and up to 15-fold increase in measurable β-galactosidase activity in both streptococci and lactobacilli. Ethanol-treated cell suspensions could be stored for up to 6 months without loss of enzyme activity. The nonviable permeabilized biomass of the more active S. thermophilus was used to achieve up to 80% hydrolysis of lactose in aqueous solutions and non-fat milk. Received: 28 July 1997 / Accepted: 30 September 1997     

The structure of the α-galactosidase gene loci in Thermus brockianus ITI360 and Thermus thermophilus TH125

The Thermus thermophilus TH125 α-galactosidase gene, agaT, and flanking sequences were cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced as well as flanking sequences of the previously cloned agaT from Thermus brockianus ITI360. Different structures of putative α-galactosidase operons in the two Thermus strains were revealed. Downstream of and overlapping with the α-galactosidase genes of both strains, a gene was identified that is similar to the galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase gene (galT) of E. coli and Streptomyces lividans. Upstream of the agaT of T. brockianus ITI360, four open reading frames were observed. The deduced translation products displayed similarity to components of bacterial binding protein-dependent transport systems and a β-galactosidase. No galactoside utilization genes were identified upstream of agaT in T. thermophilus TH125. The inactivation of the α-galactosidase genes of both strains by insertional mutagenesis led to an inability to use melibiose or galactose as a single carbohydrate source. An attempt was made to isolate a gene encoding the enzyme responsible for para-nitrophenyl-(pNP-) β-galactoside hydrolyzing activity in T. thermophilus TH125. A gene designated bglT was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The inactivation of the bglT gene led to 55% reduction of the pNP-β-galactoside hydrolyzing activity in the mutant strain in comparison to the wild type. Received: April 28, 1999 / Accepted: September 9, 1999     

Heterogeneous Properties of Individual Molecules of β-Galactosidase from the Thermophilic Bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Geobacillus stearothermophilus</Emphasis>

Single enzyme molecule assays were performed on β-galactosidase from the thermophilic bacteria Geobacillus stearothermophilus using a capillary electrophoresis-based continuous flow assay and the substrate DDAO-β-d-galactoside. The enzyme was found to be heterogeneous with respect to catalytic rate, electrophoretic mobility and activation energy of catalysis. Catalytic rate was also found to vary over time for individual molecules at elevated temperature. Comparison with β-galactosidase from the mesophilic bacteria Escherichia coli showed that the variation in activity over time was less pronounced and the average activation energy of catalysis was lower for the Geobacillus stearothermophilus enzyme. Attempts to measure the properties of individual β-galactosidase molecules from the thermophilic bacteria Thermus thermophilus and the cold-adapted bacteria Pseudoalteromas haloplanktis using this assay were unsuccessful.     

Production of β-galactosidase by Streptococcus salivarius subsp thermophilus 11F

The production of β-galactosidase by an autolytic strain of Streptococcus salivarius subsp thermophilus 11F was investigated in batch and fed-batch 2-L working volume stirred tank bioreactors. β-Galactosidase was released into the medium upon cell lysis within 1–2 h after the maximum biomass quantity was reached. In batch fermentations the highest β-galactosidase activity of 69 U ml⁻¹ was obtained when the temperature was increased to 42°C after a 4-h growth period at 30°C. In fed-batch experiments the highest β-galactosidase activity of 74 U ml⁻¹ was obtained at a constant 37°C. Received 18 December 1997/ Accepted in revised form 03 February 1998     

Reassembly of an Integral Oligomeric Membrane Protein OmpF Porin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-octyl β-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Glucopyranoside–Lipids Mixtures

The denatured monomers of an integral membrane protein OmpF porin were refolded and reassembled into its sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant trimer in mixtures of n-octyl β-d-glucopyranoside and lipids. Effective reassembly was observed with a yield of 60–70% when the denatured monomers (0.1 mg/mL) were solubilized at 25 °C for 24 h in a refolding medium (pH 6.9) containing 7 mg/mL n-octyl β-d-glucopyranoside, 1 mg/mL sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2–2.5 mg/mL soybean asolectin. The reassembled species was characterized in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate by physicochemical methods. Low-angle laser light scattering measurements revealed that the molecular weight of the reassembled species is 115,000 ± 3,500 which corresponds to that of the trimer of this protein. Circular dichroism spectra suggested that the reassembled species is composed of the same β-structure as the native one. Synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering measurements confirmed that the reassembled species is a trimer that has the same compactness as the native one.     

Operation of packed-bed immobilized cell reactor featuring active β-galactosidase inclusion body-containing recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> cells

In this study, we developed a packed-bed immobilized cell reactor containing active β-gal (β-galactosidase) inclusion body (IB)-containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells in alginate beads. This packed-bed reactor was operated using a substrate feed solution 0.72 ∼ 38.4 mM ONPG (o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactoside) prepared in Z buffer supplemented with chloroform and 0.1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate). The production rate of ONP (o-nitrophenol) in the reactor containing cells that were incubated with α-MG (α-methyl D-glucospyranoside) or D-fucose after induction was superior to those prepared with cells that were not incubated with α-MG or D-fucose. The ONP production rate was increased proportionally with ONPG concentration in the substrate feed up to a concentration of 38.4 mM. However, as the ONPG concentration was increased in the substrate feed solution, galactose inhibition inside the alginate beads was increased. This most likely occurred due to problems with diffusion. In addition, partial breakage of alginate beads was observed during the later periods of operation. In this study, we demonstrated that active β-gal IB-containing E. coli cells were sustained in the immobilized cell reactor during operation. Particularly, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of using active IBs in an enzymatic reaction without the need for any purification step. In addition, we showed that these IB-containing cells could be directly used in an immobilized reactor.     

Lactulose biosynthesis by β-galactosidase from a newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobacter</Emphasis> sp.

Lactulose, a ketose disaccharide, is used in both pharmaceutical and food industries. This study was undertaken to screen and isolate potent β-galactosidase-producing bacteria and to evaluate their enzymatic production of lactulose. Soil samples from fruit gardens were collected. One isolate designated LAS was identified whose cell extract could convert lactose and fructose into lactulose. The 16S rDNA gene analysis of LAS revealed its phylogenetic relatedness to Arthrobacter sp. The β-galactosidase produced by LAS was purified 15.7-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation and subsequent Phenyl-Sepharose hydrophobic chromatography. The optimum pH and temperature for lactulose synthesis by this β-galactosidase were 6.0 and 20°C, respectively. The low optimum temperature of this enzyme compared to the currently used ones for lactulose production has the advantage of reducing the nonenzymatic browning in biotransformations. The results indicated that Arthrobacter could be used as a novel bacterial β-galactosidase source for lactulose production.     

β-Galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli under long-term starvation, alterations in temperature, and different nutrient conditions in lake water

β-Galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli was investigated in response to long-term starvation, changes in temperature and the presence of certain nutrient sources in lake water. β-Galactosidase activity decreased markedly in filtered-autoclaved lake water at 25 °C and 37 °C, whereas it remained almost constant at 4 °C and 15 °C for 60 days. Increases in β-galactosidase activity were observed in response to the following nutrient sources: glycine, serine, methionine and ammonium sulfate at 4 °C; glycine and ammonium sulfate at 15 °C; glycine, serine, methionine and ammonium sulfate at 30 °C. Glycine addition led to an increase in β-galactosidase activity of almost five and seven orders of magnitude at 15 °C and 30 °C, respectively. In addition, L-methionine had the strongest influence on β-galactosidase activity, which was detected as an increase of seven and eleven orders of magnitude at 4 °C and 30 °C, respectively. The effect of several amino acids and other nitrogen sources depended on the concentration of the nutrient source and the temperature. The results showed that, in lake water, long-term starvation, temperature change, and variations in nitrogen sources alter β-galactosidase activity. Those effects should be taken into account when monitoring coliforms from the environment. Electronic Publication     

Purification and characterization of a novel β-galactosidase from Bacillus sp MTCC 3088

An extracellular β-galactosidase which catalyzed the production of galacto-oligosaccharide from lactose was harvested from the late stationary-phase of Bacillus sp MTCC 3088. The enzyme was purified 36.2-fold by ZnCl₂ precipitation, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography with an overall recovery of 12.7%. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be about 484 kDa by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 packed column and the molecular masses of the subunits were estimated to be 115, 86.5, 72.5, 45.7 and 41.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the native enzyme, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing, was 6.2. The optimum pH and temperature were 8 and 60°C, respectively. The Michaelis–Menten constants determined with respect to o-NO₂-phenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside and lactose were 6.34 and 6.18 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited (68%) by galactose, the end product of lactose hydrolysis reaction. The β-galactosidase was specific for β-D anomeric linkages. Enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by metal ions (Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺) in the 1–2.5 mM range. Mg²⁺ was a good activator. Catalytic activity was not affected by the chelating agent EDTA. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 58–63. Received 09 February 1999/ Accepted in revised form 24 September 1999     

Hydrolysis of whey lactose using CTAB-permeabilized yeast cells

Disposal of lactose in whey and whey permeates is one of the most significant problems with regard to economics and environmental impact faced by the dairy industries. The enzymatic hydrolysis of whey lactose to glucose and galactose by β-galactosidase constitutes the basis of the most biotechnological processes currently developed to exploit the sugar content of whey. Keeping this in view, lactose hydrolysis in whey was performed using CTAB permeabilized Kluyveromyces marxianus cells. Permeabilization of K. marxianus cells in relation to β-galactosidase activity was carried out using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to avoid the problem of enzyme extraction. Different process parameters (biomass load, pH, temperature, and incubation time) were optimized to enhance the lactose hydrolysis in whey. Maximum hydrolysis (90.5%) of whey lactose was observed with 200 mg DW yeast biomass after 90 min of incubation period at optimum pH of 6.5 and temperature of 40 °C.     

Inorganic polyphosphates and sensitivity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> cells to membrane-damaging agents

The leakage of ATP and potassium ions from the cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with different levels of inorganic polyphosphate was studied under the action of two detergents (natural cellobiose lipid 16-[6-O-acetyl-2′-O-(3-hydroxyhexanoyl)-β-cellobiosyloxy)-2,15-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate) and silver cations. Cellobiose lipid had practically the same membrane-damaging activity against the cells grown in phosphate-containing medium, under phosphate starvation, and under polyphosphate hypercompensation. The cells grown under the latter conditions were less sensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate and silver cations. The possible protective action of polyphosphates against the membrane-damaging agents under study is discussed.     

Purification and Characterization of a Liver-derived β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase from Marine Mammal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sotalia fluviatilis</Emphasis>

A β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) was purified from hepatic extracts of Sotalia fluviatilis, order Cetacea. The protein was purified by using ammonium sulfate fractionation and four subsequent chromatographies (Biogel A 1.5 m, Chitin, Deae-Biogel and hydroxyapatite resins). After these purification steps, the enzyme was purified 380.5-fold with an 8.4% yield. The molecular mass (10 kDa) was estimated by SDS–PAGE and MALDI-TOF analysis. A Km of 2.72 mM and Vmax 9.5 × 10⁻⁶ μmol/(min.mg) were found for this enzyme, determined by p-nitrophenyl-β-d-hexosaminide substrate digestion. Optimal pH and temperature for β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase activity were 5.0 and 60 °C, respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited by sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄), mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (C₁₂H₂₅SO₄Na), and activated by zinc, calcium, barium and lithium ions. Characterization of the β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase in Sotalia fluviatilis can be a basis for physiological studies in this species.     

Selenium-mediated differential response of β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase of germinatingTrigonella foenum-graecum

β-Glucosidase and β-galactosidase activity profile tested in different seeds during 24 h germination revealed reasonably high levels of activity inVigna radiata, Cicer arietinum, andTrigonella foenum-graecum. In all seeds tested, β-galactosidase activity was, in general, higher than that of β-glucosidase.T. foenum-graecum seedlings exhibited maximal total and specific activities for both the enzymes during 72 h germination. Se supplementation as Na₂SeO₃ up to 0.75 ppm was found to be beneficial to growth and revealed selective enhancement of β-galactosidase activity by 40% at 0.5 ppm Se. The activities of both the enzymes drastically decreased at 1.0 ppm level of Se supplementation. On the contrary, addition of Na₂SeO₃ in vitro up to 1 ppm to the enzyme extracts did not influence these activities. Hydrolytic rates of β-glucosidase in both control and Se-supplemented groups were enhanced by 20% with 0.05M glycerol in the medium and 30% at 0.1M glycerol. The rates were marginally higher in Se-supplemented seedlings than the controls, irrespective of added glycerol in the medium. In contrast, hydrolysis by β-galactosidase showed a trend of decrease in Se-supplemented seedlings compared to the control, when glycerol was present in the medium. Addition of Se in vitro in the assay medium showed no difference in the hydrolytic rate by β-galactosidase when compared to control, while the activity of β-glucosidase declined by 50%. Se-grown seedlings showed an enhancement of transglucosidation rate by 40% in the presence of 0.1M glycerol. The study reveals a differential response to Se among the β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase ofT. foenumgraecum with increase in the levels of β-galactosidase activity.     

Analysis of β-galactosidase production and their genes of two strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus bulgaricus</Emphasis>

A bacterial β-galactosidase delivery system is a potential therapy for lactose intolerance. Currently, two Lactobacillus bulgaricus strains with different biological characteristics are under consideration as potential sources. However, differences in these β-galactosidase genes and their resulting production levels are poorly characterized. The β-galactosidase ORF of L. bulgaricus yogurt isolate had high variability and was terminated at site 1924 due to a stop codon. However, the full 114 kDa β-galactosidase band was still resolved by SDS-PAGE, which may indicate that the interrupted ORF was translated into more than one peptide, and they together were folded into the complete enzyme protein that showed much higher β-galactosidase activity (6.2 U/mg protein) than the enzyme generated from L. bulgaricus reference strain (2.5 U/mg protein).     

Lactose and galactose uptake by genetically engineered Pediococcus species

The ability to utilize lactose is requisite for lactic acid bacteria used as starters in the dairy industry. Modern genetic recombination techniques have facilitated the introduction of the lactose-positive phenotype into bacteria such as Pediococcus species, which traditionally have not been used as dairy starters. This study investigated lactose and galactose uptake along with phospho-β-galactosidase activity in pediococci that had been transformed with a Latococcus lactis lactose plasmid. Lactose-positive transformants, Pediococcus acidilactici SAL and Pediococcus pentosaceus SPL-2, demonstrated an ability to accumulate [¹⁴C]lactose at a rate greater than the Lactococcus lactis control. Phospho-β-galactosidase activity was also higher in transformants versus Lactococcus lactis. Studies of [³H]galactose uptake suggested that a wild-type galactose transport system and the introduced lactose phosphotransferase system both functioned in galactose uptake by Pediococcus spp. transformants. Significantly lower levels of free galactose were detected in milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus LH100 and SAL or SPL-2 than in milk fermented with a LH100 plus Streptococcus thermophilus TA061 control starter blend. Received: 16 September 1997 /  Received revision: 11 November 1997 / Accepted: 21 November 1997     

Cloning and characterization of a β-galactosidase encoding region in Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT 5711

A chromosomal DNA fragment of 7.8 kb from Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT 5711 was cloned in Escherichia coli K-12 and was found to express a functional β-galactosidase. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that this fragment contained two partially overlapping genes, the lacL (1,881 bp) and the lacM (960 bp), that encode the subunits of a heterodimeric β-galactosidase, with estimated molecular masses of 72,129 and 35,233 Da, respectively. Other three incomplete open reading frames showing homology to another β-galactosidase, an α-galactosidase, and a galactokinase, respectively, were also found. The L. coryniformis β-galactosidase was overproduced in E. coli by using an isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) expression system. Two new proteins with an estimated M _r s of approximately 72,000 and 35,000 appeared upon induction with IPTG, and extracts of the recombinant E. coli strain showed β-galactosidase activity.     

The effect of cations on the hydrolysis of lactose and the transferase reactions catalysed by β-galactosidase from six strains of lactic acid bacteria

 β-Galactosidases from Lactobacillus delbruekii subsp. bulgaricus 20056, Lb. casei 20094, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 7962, Streptococcus thermophilus TS2, Pediococcus pentosaceus PE39 and Bifidobacterium bifidum 1901 were partially purified. The rate of hydrolysis of lactose given by the predominant β-galactosidase activity from each of the bacteria studied was in all cases enhanced by Mg²⁺, while the effect of K⁺ and Na⁺ differed from strain to strain. The β-galactosidases from all strains also catalysed transgalactosylation reactions. The types of oligosaccharides produced appeared to be very similar in each case, but the rates of their production differed. All the β-galactosidases were also capable of hydrolysing galactosyl-lactose although, unlike the other bacteria studied, Lb. delbruekii subsp. bulgaricus 20056 and Lc. lactis subsp. lactis 7962 were unable to utilise galactosyl-lactose as a carbon source for growth. Received: 4 October 1995/Received revision: 5 March 1996/Accepted 11 March 1996     

Heterologous expression of a gene encoding a thermostable β-galactosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius</Emphasis>

A genomic DNA library screen yielded the nucleotide sequence of a 12 kb fragment containing a gene (2067 bp) coding a thermostable β-galactosidase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius ATCC 27009. The β-galactosidase gene was expressed in Pichia pastoris, and up to 90 mg recombinant β-galactosidase/l accumulated in shake flask cultures. Using o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside as a substrate, the optimum pH and temperature of the purified recombinant β-galactosidase were 5.8–6.0 and 70°C, respectively. The enzyme retained 90% of its activity when heated at 70°C for 30 min. Approximately 48% of lactose in milk was hydrolyzed following treatment with the recombinant enzyme over 60 min at 65°C.     

Purification and partial characterization of β-galactosidase from Tritrichomonas foetus

The work presented in this paper describes the purification and properties of a β-galactosidase from the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. An inexpensive and straightforward method for extraction of the enzyme involving ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange and affinity chromatography resulted in a high level of purification. After purification β-N-acetylglucosaminidase was the only enzyme present as a contaminant at a significant level. The β-galactosidase isolated had a pH optimum of 5.8. The K_m determined at pH 5.8 was found to be 2.2 mM. Interesting results were obtained when studies were carried out to determine the effect of various metal ions on enzyme activity. Of the metal ions used in this study only manganese ions were found to activate the enzyme. This seems to be a characteristic of trichomonad enzymes, as N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, a-galactosidase and N-acetyl-a-galactosaminidase are also activated by manganese ions. The strongest inhibition was recorded with lead and to a lesser extent by zinc. The result with lead is not unexpected as the heavy metal is known to cause irreversible inhibition by binding to the amino-acid backbone of the enzyme. The result with zinc is interesting as high levels of zinc are present and trichomonads are known to be apathogenic in semen. The purified β-galactosidase was found to have the capacity to hydrolyse lactose (Gal β1-4 Glc), lacto-N-biose 1 (Gal β1-3 GlcNAc) and N-acetyllactosamine (Gal β1-4 GlcNAc). When the enzyme was applied to a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel a single band was observed when stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. This band coincided with that obtained when the gel was stained with p-nitrophenyl β-galactopyranoside. When the same gel was incubated with p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl β-glucopyranoside a band was detected which did not coincide with that of β-galactosidase. Since the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase enzyme does not move to the same position on a non-denaturing gel as the β-galactosidase, we will use this technique to isolate the latter enzyme and determine the N-terminal sequence as a prelude to cloning and further study of the gene. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Functional Identification of a Putative β-Galactosidase Gene in the Special lac Gene Cluster of Lactobacillus acidophilus

The putative β-galactosidase gene (lacZ) of Lactobacillus acidophilus has a very low degree of homology to the Escherichia coli β-galactosidase gene (lacZ) and locates in a special lac gene cluster which contains two β-galactosidase genes. No functional characteristic of the putative β-galactosidase has been described so far. In this study, the lacZ gene of L. acidophilus was hetero-expressed in E. coli and the recombinant protein was purified by a three-step procedure. The product of the lacZ gene was also extracted from L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 and active staining was carried out. The enzymatic properties of the purified recombinant LacZ were assayed. The results of hetero-expression showed the recombinant LacZ without tag had β-galactosidase activity. The purified recombinant LacZ had a specific activity of 43.2 U/mg protein. The result of active staining showed that the functional product of the lacZ gene did exist in L. acidophilus. The L. acidophilus β-galactosidase (LacZ) had an optimal pH of 6, an optimal temperature of 37°C and could hydrolyze 73% of lactose in milk in 30 h at 10°C. The L. acidophilus β-galactosidase (LacZ) was identified as cold-adapted β-galactosidase in this study for the first time, and may be useful for lactose removal from dairy products at low temperatures.