Purification and characterization of aromatic amine dehydrogenase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans

Aromatic amine dehydrogenase was purified and characterized from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans IFO13495 grown on beta-phenylethylamine. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 95.5 kDa. The enzyme consisted of heterotetrameric subunits (alpha2beta2) with two different molecular masses of 42.3 kDa and 15.2 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the alpha-subunit (42.3-kDa subunit) and the beta-subunit (15.2-kDa subunit) were DLPIEELXGGTRLPP and APAAGNKXPQMDDTA respectively. The enzyme had a quinone cofactor in the beta-subunit and showed a typical absorption spectrum of tryptophan tryptophylquinone-containing quinoprotein showing maxima at 435 nm in the oxidized form and 330 nm in the reduced form. The pH optima of the enzyme activity for histamine, tyramine, and beta-phenylethylamine were the same at 8.0. The enzyme retained full activity after incubation at 70 degrees C for 40 min. It readily oxidized various aromatic amines as well as some aliphatic amines. The Michaelis constants for phenazine methosulfate, beta-phenylethylamine, tyramine, and histamine were 48.1, 1.8, 6.9, and 171 microM respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by carbonyl reagents. The enzyme could be stored without appreciable loss of enzyme activity at 4 degrees C for one month at least in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).     

Multiple catalytic sites of rat brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase

We compared the inhibitory and catalytic effects of various monoamines on forms A and B of monoamine oxidase (MAO) on mitochondrial preparations from rat brain in mixed substrate experiments. MAO activity was determined by a radioisotopic assay. MAO showed lower K_m values for tryptamine and β-phenylethylamine than for tyramine and serotonin. The K_m values of the untreated preparation for tyramine, tryptamine, and β-phenylethylamine obtained were the same as those of the form B enzyme and the K_m value for serotonin was the same as that of the form A enzyme. Tyramine and tryptamine were competitive inhibitors of serotonin oxidation and β-phenylethylamine did not bind with form A enzyme or inhibit the oxidation of serotonin, while tyramine and tryptamine were competitive inhibitors of β-phenylethylamine oxidation. Although serotonin was not oxidized by form B enzyme, serotonin was a competitive inhibitor of β-phenylethylamine oxidation. It is suggested that rat brain mitochondrial MAO is characterized by two kinds of binding sites.     

Purification of Two Nitrate Reductases from Xanthomonas maltophilia Grown in Aerobic Cultures

Xanthomonas maltophilia ATCC 17666 is an obligate aerobe that accumulates nitrite when grown on nitrate. Spectra of membranes from nitrate-grown cells exhibited b-type cytochrome peaks and A_615-630 indicative of d-type cytochrome but no absorption peaks corresponding to c-type cytochromes. The nitrate reductase (NR) activity was located in the membrane fraction. Triton X-100-extracted reduced methyl viologen-NRs were purified on DE-52, hydroxylapatite, and Sephacryl S-300 columns to specific activities of 52 to 67 μmol of nitrite formed per min per mg of protein. The cytochrome-containing NR_I separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into a 135-kDa α-subunit, a 64-kDa β-subunit, and a 23-kDa γ-subunit with relative band intensities indicative of a 1:1:1 α/β/γ subunit ratio and a M_r of 222,000. The electronic spectrum of dithionite-reduced purified NR displayed peaks at 425, 528, and 558 nm, indicative of the presence of a cytochrome b, an interpretation consistent with the pyridine hemochrome spectrum formed. The cytochrome b of the NR was reduced under anaerobic conditions by menadiol and oxidized by nitrate with the production of nitrite. This NR contained 0.96 Mo, 12.5 nonheme iron, and 1 heme per 222 kDa: molybdopterin was detected with the Neurospora crassa nit-1 assay. A smaller reduced methyl viologen-NR (169 kDa), present in various concentrations in the Triton X-100 preparations, lacked a cytochrome spectrum and did not oxidize menadiol. The characteristics of the NRs and the absence of c-type cytochromes provide insights into why X. maltophilia accumulates nitrite.     

Tyramine and β-phenylethylamine,from fermented food products,as agonists for the human trace amine-associated receptor 1 (hTAAR1) in the stomach

The aromatic amines tyramine and β-phenylethylamine are abundant in fermented foods. Recently, a family of human trace amine-associated receptors (hTAARs) was discovered that responds to these compounds. This study examined the expression of hTAAR genes in five human organs. Among them, the stomach expressed hTAAR1 and hTAAR9. Interestingly, more hTAAR1 was expressed in the pylorus than in the other stomach regions. The CRE-SEAP reporter assay revealed that only hTAAR1 functioned as a G_s-coupled receptor in response to tyramine and β-phenylethylamine stimulation. The β-phenylethylamine-mediated hTAAR1 activity could be potentiated using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. These data suggest that tyramine and β-phenylethylamine in fermented foods act at hTAAR1 as agonists in the pylorus of stomach.     

Purification and characterization of β-galactosidase from probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici and its use in milk lactose hydrolysis and galactooligosaccharide synthesis

β-galactosidase is a commercially important enzyme that was purified from probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici. The enzyme was extracted from cells using sonication and subsequently purified using ammonium sulphate fractionation and successive chromatographies on Sephadex G-100 and Q-Sepharose. The enzyme was purified 3.06-fold up to electrophoretic homogeneity with specific activity of 0.883 U/mg and yield of 28.26%. Molecular mass of β-galactosidase as estimated by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF was 39.07 kDa. The enzyme is a heterodimer with subunit mass of 15.55 and 19.58 kDa. The purified enzyme was optimally active at pH 6.0 and stable in a pH range of 5.8–7.0 with more than 97% activity. Purified β-galactosidase was optimally active at 50 °C. Kinetic parameters K_m and V_max for purified enzyme were 400 µM and 1.22 × 10⁻¹ U respectively. Its inactivation by PMSF confirmed the presence of serine at the active site. The metal ions had different effects on enzyme. Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ slightly activated the enzyme whereas NH₄⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ slightly decreased the enzyme activity. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated that suggested that β-galactosidase is less stable at higher temperature (60 °C). Purified enzyme effectively hydrolysed milk lactose with lactose hydrolysing rate of 0.047 min⁻¹ and t_1/2 of 14.74 min. This is better than other studied β-galactosidases. Both sonicated Pediococcus acidilactici cells and purified β-galactosidase synthesized galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) as studied by TLC at 30% and 50% of lactose concentration at 47.5 °C. These findings indicate the use of β-galactosidase from probiotic bacteria for producing delactosed milk for lactose intolerant population and prebiotic synthesis. pH and temperature optima and its activation by Ca²⁺ shows that it is suitable for milk processing.     

Isolation and Characterization of a β-Glucosidase from a Clavispora Strain with Potential Applications in Bioethanol Production from Cellulosic Materials

We previously reported on a new yeast strain of Clavispora sp. NRRL Y-50464 that is capable of utilizing cellobiose as sole source of carbon and energy by producing sufficient native β-glucosidase enzyme activity without further enzyme supplementation for cellulosic ethanol production using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Eliminating the addition of external β-glucosidase reduces the cost of cellulosic ethanol production. In this study, we present results on the isolation and identification of a β-glucosidase protein from strain Y-50464. Using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and blast search of the NCBInr database (National Center for Biotechnology Information nonredundant), the protein from Y-50464 was identified as a β-glucosidase (BGL1) with a molecular weight of 93.3 kDa. The BGL1 protein was purified through multiple chromatographic steps to a 26-fold purity (K _m?=?0.355 mM [pNPG]; K _i?=?15.2 mM [glucose]), which has a specific activity of 18.4 U/mg of protein with an optimal performance temperature at 45 °C and pH of 6.0. This protein appears to be intracellular although other forms of the enzyme may exist. The fast growth rate of Y-50464 and its capability to produce sufficient β-glucosidase activity for ethanol conversion from cellobiose provide a promising means for low-cost cellulosic ethanol production through a consolidated bioprocessing development.     

Cloning and functional expression of a nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 in Escherichia coli, its purification and biochemical characterisation

The nitrile hydratase (NHase, EC 4.2.1.84) genes (α and β subunit) and the corresponding activator gene from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 were cloned and sequenced. This Fe-type NHase consists of 209 amino acids (α subunit, M_r 23 kDa) and 218 amino acids (β subunit, M_r 24 kDa) and the NHase activator of 413 amino acids (M_r 46 kDa). Various combinations of promoter, NHase and activator genes were constructed to produce active NHase enzyme recombinantly in E. coli. The maximum enzyme activity (844 U/mg crude cell extract towards methacrylonitrile) was achieved when the NHase activator gene was separately co-expressed with the NHase subunit genes in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The overproduced enzyme was purified with 61% yield after French press, His-tag affinity chromatography, ultrafiltration and lyophilization and showed typical Fe-type NHase characteristics: besides aromatic and heterocyclic nitriles, aliphatic ones were hydrated preferentially. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 6,290 U/mg towards methacrylonitrile. Enantioselectivity was observed for aromatic compounds only with E values ranging 5–17. The enzyme displayed a broad pH optimum from 6 to 8.5, was most active at 30°C and showed the highest stability at 4°C in thermal inactivation studies between 4°C and 50°C.     

Amine Oxidases of Microorganisms

With the crystalline preparations of amine oxidase of Aspergillus niger, some properties of the enzyme were investigated. The enzyme was stable in phosphate buffer of pH over the range of 6.0 to 7.0. On heating, the enzyme was stable up to 35°C, but, above 40°C, it was rapidly destroyed.

The recrystallized enzyme was at least 90% pure when examined in the ultracentrifuge. The molecular weight was determined to be approximately 252,000. The enzyme was pink in color and shown an absorption maximum at about 480 m/μ. This absorption maximum was abolished by substrates as well as by sodium dithionite, and was restored by oxygenation.

The enzyme oxidized preferentially aliphatic monoamines of C₃—C₆. The other monoamines, such as benzylamine, phenethylamine, histamine and agmatine, were oxidized as well. The aliphatic diamines of C₄—C₆ were oxidized but in rather low rates. The rates of oxidation showed optima at pH 7.5, 7.2, 7.8 and 8.6 for n-butylamine, benzylamine, histamine and putrescine, respectively.     

Subunit structure of anthranilate synthase from Neurospora crassa: Preparation and characterization of a protease-free form

The multifunctional enzyme complex anthranilate synthase from Neurospora crassa has been purified to homogeneity by a new procedure which yields a stable preparation of the enzyme. Unlike earlier preparations of the enzyme, anthranilate synthase prepared by this technique is not degraded during incubation at 37 °C or during freeze-thaw treatment. Purified anthranilate synthase contains two subunits of M_r 84,000 (β-subunit) and 76,000 (α-subunit), which are shown, by partial proteolysis, to be unrelated in sequence. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate that freshly prepared crude extracts of Neurospora contain anthranilate synthase subunits identical in size with those of the purified enzyme. The β-subunit is shown to be the product of the trp1 gene, and the a-subunit, of the trp2 gene.     

Catalytic properties of endo-1,3-β-D-glucanase from the Vietnamese edible mussel Perna viridis

A β-1,3-glucanase with a molecular mass of 33 kDa was isolated in the homogeneous state from a crystalline stalk of the commercially available Vietnamese edible mussel Perna viridis. It hydrolyzes β-1,3-bonds in glucans and is capable of catalyzing the transglycosylation reaction. The β-1,3-glucanase has a K _m value of 0.3 mg/ml for the hydrolysis of laminaran and shows a maximum activity in the pH range from 4 to 6.5 and at 45°C. Its half-inactivation time is 180 min at 45°C and 20 min at 50°C. The enzyme was ascribed to glucan-endo-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.39). The enzyme could be used in the structure determination of β-1,3-glucans and enzymatic synthesis of new carbohydrate-containing compounds.     

Purification and characterization of chlorite dismutase: a novel oxygen-generating enzyme

A novel enzyme that catalyzes the disproportionation of chlorite into chloride and oxygen was purified from a gram-negative bacterium, strain GR-1 to homogeneity. A four-step purification procedure comprising Q-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite, and phenyl-Superose chromatography and ultrafiltration resulted in a 13.7-fold purified enzyme with a final specific activity of 2.0 mmol min^–1 (mg protein)^–1. The dismutase obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The V _max and K _m calculated for chlorite were 2,200 U (mg protein)^–1 and 170 μM, respectively. Dismutase activity was inhibited by hydroxylamine, cyanide, and azide, but not by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. Chlorite dismutase had a molecular mass of 140 kDa and consisted of four 32-kDa subunits. The enzyme was red-colored and had a Soret peak at 392 nm. Per subunit, it contained 0.9 molecule of protoheme IX and 0.7 molecule of iron. Chlorite dismutase displayed maxima for activity at pH 6.0 and 30° C. Received: 9 April 1996 / Accepted: 12 August 1996     

Rat Stem-Cell Leukemia Gene Expression Increased during Testis Maturation

Histamine oxidase (EC class 1.4.3) was found in cells of Arthrobacter globiformis IFO 12137 (ATCC 8010) grown on histamine. The enzyme purified to a specific activity of 9.4units/mg had a purity of at least 80%. The enzyme oxidized histamine with concomitant formation of H₂O₂. Phenylethylamine, dopamine, aromatic monoamines, and aliphatic mono- and diamines were oxidized at lower rates. Cu²⁺-chelators inhibited the enzyme, indicating that the enzyme is Cu²⁺-dependent. Carbonyl-blocking reagents also inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme catalyzed the Nitro Blue Tetrazolium/glycinate reaction, which is characteristically catalyzed by quinones and quinoproteins. These results strongly suggest that the enzyme contains a quinonoid cofactor.     

Isolation and characterization of highly (R)-specific N-acetyl-1-phenylethylamine amidohydrolase, a new enzyme from Arthrobacter aurescens AcR5b

A new amidohydrolase deacetylating several N-acetyl-1-phenylethylamine derivatives (R)-specifically was found in Arthrobacter aurescens AcR5b. The strain was isolated from a wet haystack by enrichment culture with (R)-N-acetyl-1-phenylethylamine as the sole carbon source. (R) and (S )-N-acetyl-1-phenylethylamine do not serve as inducers for acylase formation. By improving the growth conditions the enzyme production was increased 47-fold. The amidohydrolase was purified to homogeneity leading to a 5.2-fold increase of the specific activity with a recovery of 67%. A molecular mass of 220 kDa was estimated by gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophorosis shows two subunits with molecular masses of 16 kDa and 89 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature were pH 8 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable in the range of pH 7–9 and at temperatures up to 30 °C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺, and this inhibition was reversed by EDTA.M Received: 20 September 1996 / Received version: 23 December 1996 / Accepted: 30 December 1996     

Characterization of an apo-carotenoid 13,14-dioxygenase from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans that converts β-apo-8′-carotenal to β-apo-13-carotenone

A putative carotenoid oxygenase from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans was purified with a specific activity of 0.8?U/mg by His-Trap affinity chromatography. The native enzyme was estimated to be a 52?kDa monomer. Enzyme activity for β-apo-8′-carotenal was maximal at pH 8.0 and 45?°C, with a half life of 15.3?h, K _m of 21?μM, and k _cat of 25?l/min. The enzyme exhibited cleavage activity only for carotenoids containing one β-ionone ring and its catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _m) followed the order β-apo-8′-carotenal?>?β-apo-4′-carotenal?>?γ-carotene. The enzyme converted these carotenoids to β-apo-13-carotenones by cleaving their C₁₃–C₁₄ double bonds. The oxygen atom of β-apo-13-carotenone originated not from water but from molecular oxygen. Thus, the enzyme was an apo-carotenoid 13,14-dioxygenase.     

Purification and characterization of acetophenone reductase with excellent enantioselectivity from Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597

NADH-dependent enzyme reducing acetophenone derivatives with high stereoselectivities and wide substrate specificities from Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597 was isolated, purified, characterized, and used for asymmetric synthesis. Through five-step purification including ammonium sulfate fractionation and a series of chromatographies, the enzyme was purified about 150-fold with a yield of 5.6%. The active enzyme has a molecular mass of 73 kDa determined by gel filtration chromatography, and the SDS-PAGE result reveals that the molecular size of the subunit is 36 kDa. These results indicate that the enzyme consists of a homodimer of a 36 kDa subunit. The acetophenone reductase exhibited the highest activity at 50°C and optimal pH at 5.5. The enzyme was the most stable at 40°C. No metal ions considerably activated the enzyme, and such metal ions as Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ strongly inhibited the activity of the enzyme. The V _max and the apparent K _m value of the reductase were 77.0 μmol/min per milligram of protein and 0.296 mM for acetophenone, respectively. The N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences were determined by peptide sequencer. Furthermore, the purified enzyme was used for asymmetric reduction of acetophenone, resulting in the formation of corresponding (S)-alcohol with 99% ee.     

Immunochemical Characterization of the β2 Subunit of the GABAA Receptor

To date three β subunits of the GABA_A receptor have been identified in rat brain as a result of cDNA library screening. The β2 subunit has been reported to have a wide distribution in rat brain based on in situ hybridization studies quantifying β2 mRNA. To study the β2 subunit more directly, we have raised a polyclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide representing residues 315–334 of the intracellular loop of the β2 subunit. The antibody, which had been affinity-purified, recognized the β2 peptide but did not immunolabel homologous β1 and β3 subunit peptides, indicating that this antibody is specific for the β2 subunit of the receptor. In western blots of the purified receptor, the antibody recognized a major diffuse band of 54–58 kDa arid exhibited minor labeling of lower-molecular-mass polypeptides. In western blots of cortex homogenate, the antibody exhibited nervous system-specific labeling of a 55-kDa band that comigrated with the 55-kDa band of the purified receptor. Quantitative immunolabeling of this 55-kDa polypeptide permitted direct determination of the relative amounts of the β2 subunit in different brain regions. The brainstem contained the highest relative specific activity of the β2 subunit, followed by the inferior colliculus, olfactory lobe, and cerebellum. Lower levels of immunolabeling were seen in hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and cortex.     

Design,construction, crystallization,and preliminary X-ray studies of a fine-tuning mutant (F133V) of module-substituted chimera hemoglobin

A chimera βα-subunit of human hemoglobin was crystallized into a carbonmonoxy form. The protein was assembled by substituting the structural portion of a β-subunit of hemoglobin (M4 module of the subunit) for its counterpart in the α-subunit. In order to overcome the inherent instability in the crystallization of the chimera subunit, a site-directed mutagenesis (F133V) technique was employed based on a computer model. The crystal was used for an X-ray diffraction study yielding a data set with a resolution of 2.5 Å. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic space group P2₁, with cell dimensions of a = 62.9, b = 81.3, c = 55.1 Å, and β = 91.0°. These dimensions are similar to the crystallographic parameters of the native β-subunit tetramers in three different ligand states, one of which is a cyanide form that was also crystallized in this study. Proteins 32:263–267, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Physico-kinetic and functional features of a novel β-glucosidase isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum Gaertn.) flower petals

A highly abundant β-glucosidase from petals of Silybum marianum has been purified and characterized for its physico-kinetic properties. The 135 kDa enzyme was a homodimer with subunit molecular mass of 67.6 kDa. The characteristic catalytic properties of the enzyme included acidic pH optimum (5.5), meso-thermostability, and β-linked substrate specificity with preference for gluco-conjugate but a marked (>50 %) activity with D-fuco-conjugates and considerable (~16 %) activity towards D-galacto-conjugates. The enzyme showed high affinity for p-nitrophenyl glucoside (pNPG) with K_m and V_max values of 0.25 mM and 5.35 μkat.mg^?1 enzyme protein. Thus, the enzyme had a very high (292,000 M^?1.s^?1) catalytic efficiency (K_cat/K_m). Thermal catalytic optimum of enzyme was 40 °C with activation energy value 8.26 kCal.Mol^?1. The enzyme showed significant insensitivity to D-gluconic acid lactone inhibition (57 % at 5 mM) with an apparent K_i 3.8 mM. The transglucosylating ability of enzyme was noticed for glucosylation of geraniol and withaferin-A with pNPG as glucosyl donor but cellobiose did not serve as the glycosyl donor. Partial proteomics of the enzyme revealed two peptide fragment sequences, VTPSNEVH and KRSEESNF. These motifs showed significant matching/sequence conservation with some other glycohydrolases. The novelties of purified enzyme hold potential to expand a library of catalytically characteristic members of the hydrolase family from plants for use in biotransformation applications.     

Isolation from Nocardioides sp. Strain CT16, Purification,and Characterization of a Deoxycytidine Deaminase Extremely Thermostable in the Presence of D,L…

A deoxycytidine deaminase that was extremely thermostable in the presence of dithiothreitol was found in a mesophilic bacterium isolated from soil. The bacterium was classified as a Nocardioides sp. The enzyme was purified to a homogeneous protein by treatment at 100°C, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, hydroxyapatite, and then Sephacryl S-100. Twenty micrograms of the pure enzyme was obtained from 811 mg of the starting crude protein. After treatment at 50°C for 15 min in the absence of dithiothreitol, enzyme activity was 44% of the starting activity; after treatment at 100°C for 2 h in the presence of 50 mM dithiothreitol, activity was 56% of the starting activity. Dithiothreitol greatly stabilized the enzyme. Activity was maximum at 99°C. The K_m values for deoxycytidine, cytidine, and methyl-deoxycytidine were 55.2, 140, and 130 μM, respectively. The molecular mass was estimated to be 52 kDa by gel permeation chromatography. The enzyme molecule was dissociated into two subunits each of 18 kDa subunit when reduced with mercaptoethanol.     

Sulfite Oxidation Catalyzed by aa 3-Type Cytochrome c Oxidase in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Sulfite is produced as a toxic intermediate during Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sulfur oxidation. A. ferrooxidans D3-2, which posseses the highest copper bioleaching activity, is more resistant to sulfite than other A. ferrooxidans strains, including ATCC 23270. When sulfite oxidase was purified homogeneously from strain D3-2, the oxidized and reduced forms of the purified sulfite oxidase absorption spectra corresponded to those of A. ferrooxidans aa ₃-type cytochrome c oxidase. The confirmed molecular weights of the α-subunit (52.5 kDa), the β-subunit (25 kDa), and the γ-subunit (20 kDa) of the purified sulfite oxidase and the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the γ-subunit of sulfite oxidase (AAKKG) corresponded to those of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 cytochrome c oxidase. The sulfite oxidase activities of the iron- and sulfur-grown A. ferrooxidans D3-2 were much higher than those cytochrome c oxidases purified from A. ferrooxidans strains ATCC 23270, MON-1 and AP19-3. The activities of sulfite oxidase purified from iron- and sulfur-grown strain D3-2 were completely inhibited by an antibody raised against a purified A. ferrooxidans MON-1 aa ₃-type cytochrome c oxidase. This is the first report to indicate that aa ₃-type cytochrome c oxidase catalyzed sulfite oxidation in A. ferrooxidans.