Purification and characterization of prophenoloxidase from cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera

Phenoloxidases are oxidative enzymes, which play an important role in both cell mediated and humoral immunity. Purification and biochemical characterization of prophenoloxidase from cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) were carried out to study its biochemical properties. Prophenoloxidase consists of a single polypeptide chain with a relative molecular weight of 85 kDa as determined by SDS–PAGE, MALDI–TOF MS and LC–ESI MS. After the final step, the enzyme showed 71.7 fold of purification with a recovery of 49.2%. Purified prophenoloxidase showed high specific activity and homology with phenoloxidase subunit‐1 of Bombyx mori and the conserved regions of copper binding (B) site of phenoloxidase. Purified prophenoloxidase has pH optima of 6.8 and has high catalytic efficiency towards the dopamine as a substrate in comparison to catechol and L‐Dopa. The PO activity was strongly inhibited by phenylthiourea, thiourea, dithiothreitol and kojic acid.     

Comparison of the effects of cereal and legume proteinaceous seed extracts on α-amylase activity and development of the Sunn pest

The Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is a significant limiting factor in the production of wheat and barley in many areas of the world. In the current study, the effect of semi-purified proteinaceous extracts of seeds on digestive enzymes, and the growth and development of the Sunn pest were studied. The results showed that the purified α-amylase inhibitor from Triticum aestivum (type І) and rice semi-purified seed extract did not significantly affect the Sunn pest α-amylase activity. However, bean and cowpea seed extracts significantly affected α-amylase activity in vitro. For example, the bean seed extract at concentrations of 0.125 and 2.0 mg · mL^− 1 inhibited α-amylase activity of the pest by 15% and 45%, respectively, while the cowpea seed extract, at the same concentrations, inhibited α-amylase activity of the pest by 9% and 40%, respectively. Further, incorporation of the seed extracts into the insect diet showed that the rice seed extract did not affect insect development time, while bean and cowpea seed extracts at high concentrations (e.g., 3.0%) significantly affected nymphal development time and survivability (P > 0.05). These results show that semi-purified seed extracts affect α-amylase activity, developmental time, and survivability but not the adult weight of the Sunn pest.     

Characterisation of proteolytic enzymes of Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Sunn bug), a major pest of cereals

Eurygaster integriceps (Sunn pest or Sunn bug) is one of the most significant pests of wheat and is responsible for substantial losses in yield and quality of wheat grain in Europe and Asia. Sunn pest salivary gland-derived proteases and other hydrolases damage grain proteins and starch. Characterisation of protease activities from both Sunn pest salivary glands and Sunn pest-damaged wheat grains revealed a broad range of activities in terms of substrate specificity and diversity of isoelectric point. Neutral and alkaline proteases present in Sunn pest-damaged grains were shown to be capable of hydrolyzing gluten proteins, whilst some proteases were also shown to be active against gelatin. The neutral serine proteases present play the dominant role in degradation of gluten quality. The sensitivity of some proteases to proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous serine proteinase inhibitors was shown, including that of a recombinantly expressed protease. It was found that proteases isolated from Sunn pest salivary glands could be activated by trypsin indicating that they are present as zymogens in vivo. Analysis of individual Sunn pest-damaged grains showed great diversity in the proteases present. This work highlights the challenges of developing proteinase inhibitors to manage Sunn pest damage.     

Purification and characterization of midgut α-amylases of Eurygaster integriceps

In the current study, midgut α-amylase from Sunn pest ( Eurygaster integriceps Puton) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), one of the most serious pests of wheat and barley in the wide area of the Near and Middle East, West Asia, and many of the new independent states of central Asia, were purified and characterized. Amylase activity was detected in the midgut of the insects which were collected from both over-wintering sites during winter and feeding insects during spring. Amylase activities in the midgut of over-wintering and feeding insects were 5.71 and 3.43 U/mg protein, respectively. Initially, a native electrophoretic analysis of E. integriceps crude midgut extract showed that there are two major amylase forms in the midgut. Through the sequence of ammonium sulfate precipitation, first by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-75), anion exchange chromatography (diethylaminoethylcellulose) and second by gel filtration chromatography, specific activity of α-amylase of E. integriceps increased 44-fold from approximately 3 to 133 U/mg protein. Analysis of purified amylases by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that these proteins had estimated molecular masses of 49 and 52 kDa. Optimum temperature was determined to be 30–40°C. The optimum pH value was 6.5 and the K _mapp for soluble starch was 0.54%.     

A amylase activity of nymphal stages of sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Wheat production in Iran has changed substantially over the past one or two decades with development of higher-yielding cultivars and improved methods of planting. Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is the most important cereal pest in Iran. Sunn pest like other insect pests of wheat lives on a polysaccharide-rich diet and depends to a large extent on effectiveness of their alpha-amylases for survival. alpha-amylase (1-4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) hydrolyses starch, and related polysaccharides by randomly cleaving internal alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkages and has a major role in the utilization of polysaccharides. The recent increase in study of insect digestive enzymes seems to make sense in the realization that the gut is the major interface between the insect and its environment. Hence, an understanding of digestive enzyme function is essential when developing methods of insect control such as the use of enzyme inhibitor's and transgenic plants to control phytophagous insects. The aim of the current study is to identify and characterize alpha-amylase activity in order to gain a better understanding of its digestive physiology, which hopefully will lead to new strategies of the insect control. In order to analyze a-amylase activity adult and different nymphal stages were collected from wheat field from Karaj area and midgut complex from these individuals were dissected under a light microscope in ice-cold saline buffer (0.006M NaCl). After homogenization in buffer, homogenate was centrifuged at 15000 g for 20 min at 4 degrees C. The supernatant was pooled and stored at -20 degrees C for subsequent analysis. alpha-amylase activity was assayed by the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) procedure using soluble starch as substrate (starch 1%). Our result showed that enzyme activities in different nymphal stages (first, second, third, fourth and fifth stadium) were 0.19, 0.78, 1.21, 1.23, 1.25 units/mg protein, respectively.     

Effect of plant a-amylase inhibitors on sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), alpha-amylase activity

Plant-insect interaction is a dynamic system, subjected to continual variation and change. In order to reduce insect attack, plants developed different defence mechanisms including chemical and physical barriers such as the induction of defensive proteins, volatiles that attract predators of the insect herbivores and secondary metabolites. Proteinaceous inhibitors of alpha-amylase and proteases are widely distributed in cereals, legumes and some other plants. Because of the possible importance of these inhibitors in plant physiology and animal nutrition, extensive research has been conducted on their properties and biological effects. Sunn pest like other insect pests of wheat lives on a polysaccharide-rich diet and depends to a large extent on effectiveness of their alpha-amylases for survival, a-amylase (1-4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) hydrolyses starch, and related polysaccharides by randomly cleaving internal alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkages and has a major role in the utilization of polysaccharides. The enzyme inhibitors act on key insect gut digestive hydrolyses, alpha-amylase. Several kinds of a-amylase inhibitors present in seeds and vegetative organs of plant, act to regulate number of phytophagous insects. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to study cereal proteinaceous inhibitors of insect digestive enzymes and their potential use as resistance factors against Sunn pest. The proteinaceous inhibitors from different cereal species including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were extracted and tested in in vitro condition against Sunn pest alpha-amylase. Extraction was made with NaCl (0.15 M) at room temperature and further purification was done by ammonium sulphate precipitation. It was found that fractions obtained from barley had more inhibitory effect on amylase activity of Sunn pest than fractions obtained from wheat. Knowledge gained through these studies can be used to select resistant plant against insect pest.     

A DIGESTIVE LIPASE OF Pieris brassicae L. (LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE): PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND HOST PLANTS EFFECTS

The properties of a digestive lipase from the larval midgut of Pieris brassicae were studied by performing biochemical purification, characterization, effect of host plants, and extracted inhibitors. The purification process revealed a lipase with a purification fold of 42, recovery of 18.12%, molecular weight mass of 72.3 kDa, optimal pH at 11, and optimal temperature at 30°C, as well as stability at the optimal temperature for 12 h. The purified enzyme was inhibited by the ions Na(+) , Mn(+) , Fe(2+) , and Cu(2+) and the inhibitors SDS, EDTA, TTHA, and mercaptoethanol. Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) increased activity of the purified lipase, but urea, PMSF, EGTA, and DTC had no effect on enzymatic activity. Feeding of larvae on three host plants, Trepaeolus majus, Brassica olearcea var. alba, and B. olearcea var. rubra revealed the highest lipase activity on T. majus, but the two varieties of B. olearcea significantly decreased lipase activity. Extraction of a crude inhibitor from two varieties of B. olearcea demonstrated that the crude inhibitor inhibited the purified lipase up to 75%. The inhibitor changed the kinetic parameters of the enzyme by elevating the K(m) , as in competitive inhibition. The data suggest a possible role for plant lipase inhibitors in host plant resistance.     

Purification and characterization of hemolymph prophenoloxidase from Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

Prophenoloxidase (PPO) was isolated from the hemolymph of Ostrinia furnacalis larvae and purified to homogeneity. A 369.85-fold purification and 35.34% recovery of activity were achieved by employing ammonium sulfate precipitation, Blue Sepharose CL-6B chromatography and Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibits a band with a molecular mass of 158 kDa on native PAGE and two spots with a molecular mass of 80 kDa and a pI of 5.70, and a molecular mass of 78 kDa and a pI of 6.50, respectively, on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of two subunits are as follows: PPO1, FGEEPGVQTTELKPLANPPQFRRASQLPRD; PPO2, FGDDAGERIPLQNLSQVPQFRVPSQLPTD. The amino acid composition of purified PPO was similar to that from Galleria mellonella. The enzyme kinetic property of the purified protein showed that the affinity of the enzyme for dopamine was higher than that for l-DOPA and N-acetyldopamine. The phenoloxidase (PO) reaction was strongly inhibited by phenylthiourea, thiourea, dithiothreitol and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), but poorly inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) and triethylenetetramine hexaacetic acid (THAA), and was not inhibited by o-phenanthroline and ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Both Mg(2+) and Cu(2+) stimulated PO activity when compared with controls. The beta-sheet content of PPO treated with Mg(2+) and Cu(2+) increased significantly (P<0.05). The purified PPO has magnesium level of 5.674+/-2.294 microg/mg and copper level of 1.257+/-0.921 microg/mg as determined with ICP-MS, suggesting that the purified PPO is a metalloprotein.     

Comparison of α- and β-mannosidase activity in the three cereal pests,Haplothrips tritici Kurdjumov (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

The Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps, the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, and wheat thrips, Haplothrips tritici are the major pests of wheat and other cereals in a wide area of the world. All these three insect species could produce damage to the wheat to some extent. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine α- and β-mannosidase of the three mentioned insect pests. These insects were collected from the wheat farm and their guts (the Sunn pest and the aphid) and salivary glands of Sunn pest were removed. However, regarding tiny body of thrips, the whole body used in order to extract the enzymes. The enzymes, including α- and β-mannosidase activity, were measured by the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (pNPαGal) and p-nitrophenyl-β-d-mannopyranoside (pNPβGal), respectively, using phosphate citrate buffer (pH 5.0). Mannosidases were not active in all three tested insect species, and also there were significant differences in activities of the two enzymes in three species. The greatest activity of α-mannosidases was observed in the Sunn pest salivary glands, E. integriceps, and the least activity was found in Sunn pest midgut with no activity. However, the activity of β-mannosidase was established in Sunn pest midgut, but there was no activity in the aphid midgut, R. padi. Activities of these two enzymes were modest in the thrips, H. tritici. The greatest amount of β-mannosidases in the Sunn pest midgut makes sense, since the Sunn pest is the main pest in the wheat farm that can feed on wheat grains. In the wheat grains, the highest amount of glycoproteins and glycolipids are present. Thus, it has been known that these enzymes (α- and β-mannosidases) are active on digestion of carbohydrates.     

Can plants mediate the humoral immunity and biochemical metabolism of entomopathogen‐infected caterpillars?

Plant‐insect herbivore‐entomopathogen interactions are one of the hot topics in biological control and humoral immunity, and biochemical metabolism are important responses of herbivores to pathogen infection. Entomopathogens are key biocontrol agents of caterpillars, but how plants affect the responses of caterpillars to these organisms is not well understood. We studied hormonal immunity (lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities) and biochemical metabolism (total protein and lipid contents) of Beauveria bassiana‐infected beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) larvae that feed on five different host plants (soya bean, Chinese cabbage, edible amaranth, water convolvulus and pepper). Results indicated that plant species differentially affected lysozyme and phenoloxidase activity and lipid content, but had no effect on protein content of pathogen‐infected caterpillars. Both lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities were generally higher in entomopathogen‐infected larvae that feed on edible amaranth or water convolvulus compared with the other three plants from days 1 to 5 after treatment. Plant species did not affect in regular changes during the 5 days in the lipid content of infected or non‐infected caterpillars. Our study reveals that plants fail to affect the biochemical metabolism but plants can mediate the humoral immunity of caterpillars to defend against pathogens. This study provides insight into plant‐mediated effects on the response of herbivores to pathogens.     

A novel surface autolysin of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b, IspC, contains a 23-residue N-terminal signal peptide being processed in E. coli

The 86-kDa protein IspC of 774 amino acids in Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b has been recently identified as the target of humoral immune response to listerial infection and as a novel surface autolysin. A signal peptide is predicted at the N-terminal end of IspC, but no biochemical data has been shown to confirm the presence of the cleavage site of a signal peptidase. To address this and prepare sufficient amount of the protein for biochemical and structural characterization, we present a strategy for efficient expression and purification of IspC and analyze the purified protein by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry. Expression of IspC in Escherichia coli using a pET30a-based expression construct was efficiently improved by incubating the culture at 37 degrees C for 2h followed by 4 degrees C for 16-18 h. The recombinant product rIspC remained as a soluble form in the cellular extract and was purified to electrophorectic homogeneity by the combination of metal chelate affinity chromatography with cation-exchange chromatography. The IspC was shown to contain a 23-residue N-terminal signal peptide being processed between Thr 23 and Thr 24 in E. coli, resulting in an 84-kDa mature protein. The highly purified form of rIspC from this study, exhibiting both peptidoglycan hydrolase activity and immunogenicity as previously reported, would facilitate further biochemical, structural, and functional studies of this autolysin.     

Inhibitory effect of proteinaceous seed extract of three Iranian wheat cultivars on Eurygaster integriceps (Sunn pest) digestive enzymes

Abstract

To investigate interaction between proteinaceous extracts of three Iranian wheat cultivars and digestive enzymes of Sunn pest, a population of adult insects was collected in summer from a wheat field located in Borkhar Region, Isfahan, Iran. Seed proteins were extracted by 0.15?M NaCl solution and partially purified using ammonium sulphate. Spectrophotometric assays were implemented to determine enzyme activities. Results indicated cultivar- and dose-dependent efficacy of seed protein extracts. Inhibition percentages of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase and proteolytic activities at concentration of 32?μg/mL and saturation percentage of 70% ammonium sulphate were 54, 37, 25 and 59% by Hamoon, 16, 28, 18 and 19% by Karkheh and 15, 16, 15 and 23% by Dena, respectively. Zymography also confirmed the effect of inhibitors on α-amylase activity. Among wheat cultivars, Hamoon has the highest biological activity against Sunn pest major digestive enzymes and could contribute towards the development of new insect pest control strategies.     

Vaccinia virus-mediated high level expression and single step purification of recombinant Jak2 protein

Jak2 functions as a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and has been linked to pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Because of this, many studies have tried to better understand its function. Unfortunately, very little information is known about its catalytic or biochemical properties as purification of significant amounts of functional Jak2 protein has been exceedingly difficult. Here, Jak2 was expressed in BSC-40 cells using a vaccinia virus-mediated expression system. Significant amounts ( approximately 10microg) of Jak2 protein were expressed from a single 100-mm cell culture dish. The protein was first harvested using three different methods of extraction to determine the relative efficiency of each lysis method with respect to Jak2 protein yield and catalytic activity. We found that lysis methods utilizing detergents increased the efficiency of protein extraction about 3-fold when compared to a method lacking detergent. However, with respect to catalytic activity, Jak2 isolated from cells using detergent-containing lysis buffers had significantly less catalytic activity than when compared to the method that was detergent free. Expression was then scaled up and Jak2 protein was purified via a one step immunoaffinity purification scheme using both the detergent-free and a modified detergent-containing method of extraction that maintained catalytic activity. In vitro kinase assays demonstrated that the purified product was highly catalytic as measured by its ability to tyrosine phosphorylate Stat1. Collectively, the results show that (1) Jak2 can be expressed at very high levels in mammalian cells, (2) it can be purified to homogeneity via a single step purification scheme, and (3) the purified product is biologically active.     

High-level expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant type A botulinum neurotoxin light chain

Botulinum neurotoxin light chain (BoNT LC, 50 kDa) is responsible for the zinc endopeptidase activity specific for proteins of neuroexocytosis apparatus. We describe the expression of recombinant type A BoNT LC in Escherichia coli as well as the purification and characterization of the recombinant protein. A high level of expression of BoNT/A LC was obtained by an extended postinduction time of 15 h at 30 degrees C. Recombinant BoNT/A LC was isolated from an Ni(2+) column. Due to its high pI ( approximately 8.7), purification was achieved by a single step of passing the protein through anion-exchange chromatography at pH 8.0 without the need of elution. The purified recombinant BoNT/A LC retained proteolytic activity and had a secondary structure similar to that of native LC determined by CD measurement.     

Subunit composition and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of the vacuolar ATPase from barley roots.

The vacuolar ATPase was purified from a tonoplast-enriched membrane fraction from barley (Hordeum vulgare cv CM72) roots. The membranes were solubilized with Triton X-100 and the membrane proteins were separated by chromatography on Sephacryl S-400 followed by fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono-Q column. The purified vacuolar ATPase was inhibited up to 90% by KNO3 or 80% by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCI). The ATPase was resolved into polypeptides of 115, 68, 53, 45, 42, 34, 32, 17, 13, and 12 kDa. An additional purification step of centrifugation on a glycerol gradient did not result in loss of any polypeptide bands or increased specific activity of the ATPase. Antibodies against the purified holoenzyme inhibited proton transport by the native ATPase. Two peaks of solubilized Ca(2+)-ATPase were obtained from the Sephacryl S-400 column. A peak of Ca(2+)-ATPase copurified with the vacuolar ATPase during all of the purification steps and was inhibited by NO3- and DCCI. It is proposed that this Ca(2+)-ATPase is a partial reaction of the plant vacuolar ATPase. The second Ca(2+)-ATPase was greatly retarded on the Sephacryl S-400 column and eluted after the main protein peak. It was not inhibited significantly by NO3- or DCCI. The second Ca(2+)-ATPase is a major component of ATP hydrolysis by the native membranes.     

Enzymatic properties of two beta-glucosidases from Ceriporiopsis subvermispora produced in biopulping conditions

AIMS: Ceriporiopsis subvermispora produces endoglucanase and beta-glucosidase when cultivated on cellulose or wood, but biodegradation of cellulose during biopulping by C. subvermispora is low even after long periods. To resolve this discrepancy, we grew C. subvermispora on Pinus taeda wood chips and purified the major beta-glucosidases it produced. Kinetic parameters were determined to clear if this fungus produces enzymes capable of yielding assimilable glucose from wood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ceriporiopsis subvermispora was grown on P. taeda wood chips under solid-state fermentation. After 30 days, the crude extract obtained from enzyme extraction with sodium acetate buffer 50 mmol l(-1), pH 5.4, was filtrated in membranes with a molecular mass exclusion limit of 100 kDa. Enzyme purification was carried out using successively Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The retained fraction attained 76% of beta-glucosidase activity with 3.7-fold purification. Two beta-glucosidases were detected with molecular mass of 110 and 53 kDa. We have performed a characterization of the enzymatic properties of the beta-glucosidase of 110 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature were 3.5 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The K(m) and V(max) values were respectively 3.29 mmol l(-1) and 0.113 micromol min(-1) for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-beta-glucopyranoside (pNPG) and 2.63 mmol l(-1) and 0.103 micromol min(-1), towards cellobiose. beta-Glucosidase activity was strongly increased by Mn(2+) and Fe(3+), while Cu(2+) severely inhibited it. CONCLUSIONS: Ceriporiopsis subvermispora produces small amounts of beta-glucosidase when grown on wood. The gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis data revealed the existence of two beta-glucosidases with 110 and 53 kDa. The 110 kDa beta-glucosidase from C. subvermispora can be efficiently purified in a single step by gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme has an acid pH optimum with similar activity on pNPG and cellobiose and is thus typical beta-glucosidase. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Ceriporiopsis subvermispora produces beta-glucosidase with limited action during wood decay making able its use for the production of biomechanical and biochemical pulps. The results presented in this paper show the importance of studying the behaviour of beta-glucosidases during biopulping.     

Purification and characterization of a magnesium-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase from bovine brain

The magnesium-dependent, plasma membrane-associated neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) catalyzes hydrolysis of membrane sphingomyelin to form ceramide, a lipid signaling molecule implied in intracellular signaling. We report here the biochemical purification to apparent homogeneity of N-SMase from bovine brain. Proteins from Nonidet P-40 extracts of brain membranes were subjected to four purification steps yielding a N-SMase preparation that exhibited a specific enzymatic activity 23,330-fold increased over the brain homogenate. When analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the purified enzyme presented as two major protein species of 46 and 97 kDa, respectively. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic peptides revealed at least partial identity of these two proteins. Amino acid sequencing of tryptic peptides showed no apparent homologies of bovine N-SMase to any known protein. Peptide-specific antibodies recognized a single 97-kDa protein in Western blot analysis of cell lysates. The purified enzyme displayed a K(m) of 40 microM for sphingomyelin with an optimal activity at pH 7-8. Bovine brain N-SMase was strictly dependent on Mg(2+), whereas Zn(2+) and Ca(2+) proved inhibitory. The highly purified bovine N-SMase was effectively blocked by glutathione and scyphostatin. Scyphostatin proved to be a potent inhibitor of N-SMase with 95% inhibition observed at 20 microM scyphostatin. The results of this study define a N-SMase that fulfills the biochemical and functional criteria characteristic of the tumor necrosis factor-responsive membrane-bound N-SMase.     

Subunit protein-affinity isolation of Drosophila DNA polymerase catalytic subunit

gfLittle is known at present about the biochemical properties of very large-sized Drosophila DNA polymerases. In a previous study, we tried to purify Drosophila pol. catalytic subunit from embryos through seven column chromatographies and study its biochemical properties. However, we failed to characterize it precisely because an insufficient amount of the enzyme was generated. In this report, we describe direct purification from Drosophila embryos to near homogeneity using Drosophila DNA polymerase second subunit (Drosophila pol. 2) protein-conjugated affinity column chromatography and characterization of the enzyme in detail. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of native DNA polymerase purification with activity using a subunit protein-affinity column. We observed new characteristics of Drosophila pol. catalytic subunit as follows: Drosophila pol. catalytic subunit synthesized DNA processively in the presence of both Mn(2+) and Mg(2+) ions, but Mn(2+) inhibited the 3'-5' proofreading activity, thereby decreasing the fidelity of DNA replication by 50%.     

Post-translational modifications and lipid binding profile of insect cell-expressed full-length mammalian synaptotagmin 1

Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is a Ca(2+) sensor for SNARE-mediated, Ca(2+)-triggered synaptic vesicle fusion in neurons. It is composed of luminal, transmembrane, linker, and two Ca(2+)-binding (C2) domains. Here we describe expression and purification of full-length mammalian Syt1 in insect cells along with an extensive biochemical characterization of the purified protein. The expressed and purified protein is properly folded and has increased α-helical content compared to the C2AB fragment alone. Post-translational modifications of Syt1 were analyzed by mass spectrometry, revealing the same modifications of Syt1 that were previously described for Syt1 purified from brain extract or mammalian cell lines, along with a novel modification of Syt1, tyrosine nitration. A lipid binding screen with both full-length Syt1 and the C2AB fragments of Syt1 and Syt3 isoforms revealed new Syt1-lipid interactions. These results suggest a conserved lipid binding mechanism in which Ca(2+)-independent interactions are mediated via a lysine rich region of the C2B domain while Ca(2+)-dependent interactions are mediated via the Ca(2+)-binding loops.     

Humoral defence factors in Indian river prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii

A preliminary study on humoral defence factors of Indian river prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii was carried out. The serum of animals collected from intermoult stage had an average total protein content of 9.65 g dl(-1) and lysozyme-like activity of 0.04 unit ml(-1). The phenoloxidase activity in haemocyte lysate supernatant was triggered significantly (P < 0.05) by chitosan, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells in comparison to other elicitors viz., levamisole, trypsin and glucan. The serum contained an agglutinin against Gram-negative bacteria and a haemagglutinin against a wide range of vertebrate erythrocytes. The haemagglutinin was stable over a wide range of pH (3.0-7.0) and temperatures (-30 degrees C to 60 degrees C). A 413 kDa N-acetyl galactosamine-specific haemagglutinin was purified by single step affinity chromatography and the protein was found to be calcium ion-dependent in nature and made up of five different subunits of varied molecular weights on denaturing SDS-PAGE.