Efficient Production and Purification of Extracellular 1,2-α-L-Fucosidase of Bacillus sp. K40T

When Bacillus sp. K40T was cultured in the presence of L-fucose, 1,2-α-L-fucosidase was found to be produced specifically in the culture fluid. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from a culture containing only L-fucose by chromatography on hydroxylapatite and chromatofocusing. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 200,000 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The enzyme was optimal at pH 5.5–7.0 and was stable at pH 6.0–9.0. The enzyme hydrolyzed the α(1 → 2)-L-fucosidic linkages in various oligosaccharides and glycoproteins such as lacto-N-fucopentaose (LNF)-I 〈O-α-L-fucose-(1 → 2)-O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 3)-N-acetyl-O-β-D-glucosamine-(1 → 3)-O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 4)-D-glucose〉, porcine gastric mucin, and porcine submaxillary mucin. The enzyme also acted on human erythrocytes, which was confirmed by the hemagglutination test using Ulex anti-H lectin. The enzyme did not hydrolyze α(1 → 3)-, α-(1 → 4)- and α-(1 → 6)-L-fucosidic linkages in LNF-III 〈O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 4)[O-α-L-fucose-(1 → 3)-]-N-acetyl-O-β-D-glucosamine-(1 → 3)-O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 4)-D-glucose〉, LNF-II 〈O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 3)[O-α-L-fucose-(1 → 4)-]-N-acetyl-O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 3)-O-β-D-galactose-(1 → 4)-D-glucose〉 or 6-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl-N-acetylglucosamine.     

Synthesis of α-L-Mannopyranosyl-containing Disaccharides and Phenols as Substrates for the α-L-Mannosidase Activity of Commercial Naringinase

In order to clarify the substrate specificity of the α-L-mannosidase activity of naringinase (Sigma), the following disaccharides and phenol glycosides were freshly prepared: methyl 2-O-(α-L-mannopyranosyl)­β-D-glucoside (1), methyl 3-O-(α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-glucoside (2), methyl 4-O-(α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-glucoside (3), methyl 5-O-(α-L-mannopyranosyl)-β-D-glucoside (4), methyl 6-O-(α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-D­glucoside (5), 6-O-(α-L-mannpyranosyl)-D-galactose (6), p-nitrophenyl α-L-mannoside (7), and 4-methyl umbelliferone α-L-mannoside (8).These compounds, except for 3 and 5, were hydrolyzed with naringinase.     

A Simple Transductional Method for Construction of Adenylate- cyclase or cAMP Receptor Protein-deficient Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

The substrate specificity of α-d-xylosidase from Bacillus sp. No. 693–1 was further investigated. The enzyme hydrolyzed α-1,2-, α-1,3-, and α-1,4-xylobioses. It also acted on some heterooligosaccharides such as O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-d-glucopyranose, O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-glucopyranose, O-α- d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)]-d-glucopyranose, and O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-l-arabinopyranose. The enzyme was unable to hydrolyze tamarinde polysaccharides although it could hydrolyze low molecular weight substrates with similar linkages.     

Studies on Protopectinase-C Mode of Action: Analysis of the Chemical Structure of the Specific Substrate in Sugar Beet Protopectin and Characterization of the Enzyme Activity

Chemical structures of pectic substances degraded by protopectinase-C (PPase-C) were characterized to identify the releasing mechanism of pectin from sugar beet protopectin by the action of that enzyme. The substrate of PPase-C was a polysaccharide isolated from sugar beet pulp by extraction with NaOH and sequential digestions with rhamnogalacturonase (PPase-T), β-1,4-D-galactanase, and α-L-arabinofuranosidase. The structure of this polysaccharide was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), NMR analysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and it was identified as α-1,5-L-arabinan. According to our results, arabinan chains seemed to be connected to rhamnogalacturonan through a chain of β-l,4-D-galactan. PPase-C hydrolyzed both linear α-1,5-L-arabinan and ramified L-arabinan in a random manner, producing L-arabinose. From these results, PPase-C could be classified as arabinan endo-1,5-α-L-arabinase [EC 3.2.1.99]. Moreover, PPase-C seemed to split the L-arabinan of the polysaccharides connecting the rhamnogalacturonan to the other constituents of the plant cell wall in sugar beet pulp, releasing water-soluble pectin.     

Anti-Diabetic Effects of a Kaempferol Glycoside-Rich Fraction from Unripe Soybean (Edamame,Glycine max L. Merrill. ‘Jindai’) Leaves on KK-Ay Mice

The anti-diabetic effects of a kaempferol glycoside-rich fraction (KG) prepared from leaves of unripe Jindai soybean (Edamame) and kaempferol, an aglycone of kaempferol glycoside, were determined in genetically type 2 diabetic KK-A^y mice. The hemoglobin A_1c level was decreased and tended to be decreased by respectively feeding KG and kaempferol (K). The area under the curve (AUC) in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) tended to be decreased by feeding K and KG. The liver triglyceride level and fatty acid synthase activity were both decreased in the mice fed with KG and K when compared to those parameters in the control mice. These results suggest that KG and K would be useful to improve the diabetes condition. The major flavonoids in KG were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl) galactopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2,6-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) galactopyronoside, suggesting that these compounds or some of them may be concerned with mitigation of diabetes.     

Detection of α-L-Arabinofuranosidase Activity in Isoelectric Focused Gels using 6-Bromo-2-naphthyl-α-L-arabinofuranoside

For the specific detection of α-L-arabinofuranosidase (α-L-AFase) activity in isoelectric focused gels, 6-bromo-2-naphthyl-α-L-arabino-furanoside (BN-α-L-Araf) was synthesized by the condensation of 2, 3, 5-tri-O-benzoyl-α-L-arabinofuranosyl bromide and 6-bromo-2-naphthol. α-L-AFase activity had been detected in a gel after isoelectric focusing by using the synthesized BN-α-L-Araf as a substrate, and the detection for the enzyme activity was more sensitive than protein detection with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250.     

Synthesis of Certain Disaccharides Containing a α-or β- Rhamnopyranosidic Group and the Substrate Specificity of α-l-Rhamnosidase from Aspergillus niger

To investigate the substrate specificity of α-l-rhamnosidase from Aspergillus niger, the following seven substrates were synthesized: methyl 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (1), methyl 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-α-l-xylopyranoside (2), methyl 3-0-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (3), methyl 4-0-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (4), methyl 4-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (5), methyl 4-0-α-l-rhamnopyra-nosyl-α-d-xylopyranoside (6), and 6-0-β-l-rhamnopyranosyl-d-mannopyranose (7). Compounds 1~6 were well-hydrolyzed by the crude enzyme, but 7 was unaffected.     

Enzyme-Substrate Complex of p-Hydroxybenzoate Hydroxylase; One of the Activated Intermediates of the Overall Reaction

The transglucosidation reaction of brewer’s yeast α-glucosidase was examined under the co-existence of l-sorbose and phenyl-α-glucoside. As the transglucosidation products, three kinds of new disaccharide were chromatographically isolated. It was presumed that these disaccharides consisting of d-glucose and l-sorbose were 1-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-sorbose ([α]_D+89.0), 3-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-sorbose ([α]_D+69.1) and 4-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-sorbose ([α]_D+81.0). The principal product formed in the enzyme reaction was 1-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-sorbose.     

Reactions of O-Substituted L-Homoserines Catalyzed by L-Methionine γ-Lyase and Their Mechanism

L-Methionine γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11) catalyzes α,γ-elimination of O-substituted L-homoserines (i.e., ROCH₂CH₂CH(NH₂)COOH; R = acetyl, succinyl, or ethyl) to produce α-ketobutyrate, ammonia, and the corresponding carboxylate or alcohol, and also their γ-replacement reactions with various thiols to produce the corresponding S-substituted L-homocysteines. The reactivities of O-substituted L-homoserines in α,γ-elimination relative to that of L-methionine were as follows: O-acetyl, 140%; O-succinyl, 17%; and O-ethyl-L-homoserine, 99%. However, the enzyme does not catalyze the synthesis of O-substituted L-homoserines from alcohol or carboxylic acids in a γ-replacement reaction. We have analyzed the α,γ-elimination of O-acetyl-L-homoserine in deuterium oxide by ¹H-NMR. The [β-²H, γ-²H]-species of α-ketobutyrate was exclusively formed from O-acetyl-L-homoserine. The enzyme catalyzes deamination of L-vinylglycine to give the identically labeled α-ketobutyrate species. Incubation of the enzyme with O-acetyl-L-homoserine resulted in the appearance of a new absorption band at 480 nm, which was observed also with L-vinylglycine. These results strongly suggest that the α,γ-elimination and γ-replacement reactions of O-acetyl-L-homoserine proceed through the stabilized α-carbanion of a Schiff base between pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and vinylglycine, which has been suggested as the key intermediate of L-methionine γ-lyase-caralyzed reactions of S-substituted L-homocysteines [N. Esaki, T. Suzuki, H. Tanaka, K. Soda and R. R. Rando, FEBS Lett., 84, 309 (1977).     

Structure of Oligosaccharides Obtained by Controlled Degradation of Mung Bean Xyloglucan with Acid and Aspergillus oryzae Enzyme Preparation

A xyloglucan (MBXG) from the cell walls of etiolated mung bean hypocotyls was characterized by analyzing the fragment oligosaccharides from controlled degradation products of the polymer with acid and enzyme.

Cellobiose, cellotriose and cellotetraose were isolated from the partial acid hydrolyzate of MBXG. Isoprimeverose (6-O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-d-glucopyranose) and a pentasaccharide, α-l-fucosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-galactosyl-(1 → 2)-α-d-xylosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucosyl-(1 → 4)-d-glucose, were isolated from the hydrolyzate of MBXG with an Asp. oryzae enzyme preparation.     

Acceptor Specificity of Cyclodextrin Glycosyltransferase from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Synthesis of α-D-Glucosyl O-β-D-galactosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucoside

Bacillus stearothermophilus CGTase had a wider acceptor specificity than Bacillus macerans CGTase did and produced large amounts of transfer products of various acceptors such as D-galactose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D- and L-arabinose, d- and L-fucose, L-rhamnose, D-glucosamine, and lactose, which were inefficient acceptors for B. macerans CGTase. The main component of the smallest transfer products of lactose was assumed to be α-D-glucosyl O-β-D-galactosyl-(l→4)-β-D-glucoside.     

The Mutational Effect of Ile58 at Subsite C in Hen Egg-White Lysozyme on Substrate Binding,Enzymatic Activity,and Protein Stability

Partial acid hydrolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan gave 2-O-α-d-Manp-d-Man (1), 3-O-α-d-Manp-d-Man (2), 6-O-α-d-Manp-d-Man (3), O-α-d Manp-(1→2)O-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-d-Man (4), O-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-d-Man (5), O-α-d Manp-(1→6)-6-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-d-Man (6), O-α-d Manp-(1→2)-O-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-6-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-d-Man (7), O-α-d-Manp-(1→2)-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-d-Man (8), and O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-O-[α-d-Manp-(1→2)]-O-α-d-Manp-(1→6)-d-Man (9).     

Glycosidic Aroma Precursors of 2–Phenylethyl and Benzyl Alcohols from Jasminum sambac Flowers

Benzyl 6-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (β-primeveroside) (1), 2-phenylethyl β-primeveroside (2), and 2-phenylethyl 6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (β-rutinoside) (3) were isolated as aroma precursors of benzyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol from flower buds of Jasminum sambac Ait. The isolation was guided by an enzymatic hydrolysis and GC and GC-MS analyses.     

Glycosidase-catalyzed Deoxy Oligosaccharide Synthesis. Practical Synthesis of Monodeoxy Analogs of Ethyl β-Thioisomaltoside Using Aspergillus niger α-Glucosidase

Enzymatic transglycosylation using four possible monodeoxy analogs of p-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside (Glcα-O-pNP), modified at the C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-6 positions (2D-, 3D-, 4D-, and 6D-Glcα-O-pNP, respectively), as glycosyl donors and six equivalents of ethyl β-D-thioglucopyranoside (Glcβ-S-Et) as a glycosyl acceptor, to yield the monodeoxy derivatives of glucooligosaccharides were done. The reaction was catalyzed using purified Aspergillus niger α-glucosidase in a mixture of 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0)/CH₃CN (1: 1 v/v) at 37°C. High activity of the enzyme was observed in the reaction between 2D-Glcα-O-pNP and Glcβ-S-Et to afford the monodeoxy analogs of ethyl β-thiomaltoside and ethyl β-thioisomaltoside that contain a 2-deoxy α-D-glucopyranose moiety at their glycon portions, namely ethyl 2-deoxy-α-D-arabino-hexopyranosyl-(1,4)-β-D-thioglucopyranoside and ethyl 2-deoxy-α-D-arabino-hexopyranosyl-(1,6)-β-D-thioglucopyranoside, in 6.72% and 46.6% isolated yields (based on 2D-Glcα-O-pNP), respectively. Moreover, from 3D-Glcα-O-pNP and Glcβ-S-Et, the enzyme also catalyzed the synthesis of the 3-deoxy analog of ethyl β-thioisomaltoside that was modified at the glycon α-D-glucopyranose moiety, namely ethyl 3-deoxy-α-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1,6)-β-D-thioglucopyranoside, in 23.0% isolated yield (based on 3D-Glcα-O-pNP). Products were not obtained from the enzymatic reactions between 4D- or 6D-Glcα-O-pNP and Glcβ-S-Et.     

Characterization of an Extracellular Polysaccharide Elaborated by TX-1, a New Strain of Beijerinckia indica

An extracellular polysaccharide elaborated by a new species of Beijerinckia indica, named TX-1, was composed of D-glucose, L-fucose, D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, and D-glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 5.0:1.0:2.0:0.9, in addition to 16.2% of the acetyl group. Among the polysaccharides of the Beijerinckia species, the present polysaccharide might be the first acidic type having an L-fucose residue. A methylation analysis, Smith degradation study and fragmentation analysis show that this polysaccharide consisted of non-reducing terminal D-glucose, O-4 substituted D-glucose, O-2 substituted D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, O-4 substituted D-glucuronic acid, O-3 and O-4 substituted D-glucose, and O-3 substituted L-fucose residues. A D-glucuronic acid residue was linked to the O-3 position of the L-fucose residue by an α-glycosidic linkage. Most of the D-glucose residues in the backbone chain were substituted at the O-3 position, with the side chain having non-reducing terminal D-glucose residues. It is suggested by the reaction with Con A that the anomeric configuration of the terminal D-glucose residues was β.     

Studies on the Chemical Structure of Konjac Mannan

The electrophoretically homogeneous glucomannan isolated from konjac flour was composed of d-glucose and d-mannose residues in the approximate ratio of 1: 1.6. Controlled acid hydrolysis gave 4-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-mannose, 4-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-glucose_T 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-glucose(cellobiose), 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-mannose(epicellobiose), O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannose, O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- (1→4)-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannose, O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-glucopy- ranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannose and O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-mannose.     

Increase of β-Fructofuranosidase Content in Tomato Fruit during the Ripening Process

β-Chloro-l-alanine was catalytically converted to pyruvate, ammonia and chloride by α-aminoisobutyrate (AIB) decomposing enzyme (α, β elimination), which was synchronously inactivated. There was a linear relationship between α, β elimination and inactivation. With apoenzyme, neither α, β elimination nor inactivation occurred. These facts suggest that α, β elimination is dependent on pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, and inactivation cooperates with α, β elimination (syncatalytic inactivation). But it seemed that d-form of β-chloroalanine was not a substrate for AIB decomposing enzyme, because just half amount of β-chloro-dl-alanine was decomposed to pyruvate by the enzyme.

An identical active site for each of following three reactions were shown by the fact that AIB decomposing activity, transamination activity and α, β elimination activity were lost in parallel. From a kinetic study, the affinity of the enzyme toward β-chloro-l-alanine was shown to be higher than that toward AIB or l-alanine. The turnover number, about 8,000, of α, β elimination during the inactivation of one mol of the enzyme was much larger than that of d-amino acid transaminase or alanine racemase.     

Oligonucleotides Containing Disaccharide Nucleosides: Synthesis,Physicochemical, and Substrate Properties

Abstract

The efficient synthesis of oligonucleotides containing 2′-O-β-D-ribofuranosyl (and β-D-ribopyranosyl)nucleosides, 2′-O-α-D-arabinofuranosyl (and α-L-arabinofuranosyl)nucleosides, 2′-O-β-D-erythrofuranosylnucleosides, and 2′-O-(5′-amino-5-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)nucleosides have been developed.     

2-O-(3-O-Carbamoyl-D-mannosyl)-6-deoxy-L-gulose The Constitutional Sugar of the Antibiotic YA-56

From the methanolysis product of the antibiotic YA–56 X (Zorbamycin) and Y belonging to phleomycin-bleomycin group, two monosaccharides and one disaccharide were isolated as their fully acetylated derivatives. The structures of these compounds were determined to be methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-β-L-gulopyranoside, methyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranoside and methyl 2-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-3,4-O-0-acetyl-6-deoxy-β-L-“gulopyranoside,

Based on these results, it was concluded that 2-O-(3-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannosyl)-6-deoxy-L-gulose is present as a sugar moiety of the antibiotic YA–56.     

Flavonoids from Seeds of Camellia semiserrata Chi. and Their Estrogenic Activity

Two new flavonol glycosides and three known flavonoids were isolated from seeds of Camellia semiserrata Chi. The structures of these new flavonol glycosides were established as kaempferol 3-O-[(2'''',3'''',4''''-triacetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)(2''',4'''-diacetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] and kaempferol 3-O-[(3'''',4''''-diacetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)(2''',4'''-diacetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] by spectroscopic methods. The estrogenic activity of these compounds was investigated by a recombinant yeast screening assay.