Rhamnose-binding lectins from steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs recognize bacterial lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acid

The interaction between bacteria and three L-rham-nose-binding lectins, named STL1, STL2, and STL3, from steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs was investigated. Although STLs bound to most Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, they agglutinated only Escherichia coli K-12 and Bacillus subtilis among the bacteria tested. The binding was inhibited by L-rhamnose. STLs bound to distinct serotypes of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and showed much higher binding activities to smooth-type LPSs of Escherichia coli K-12 and Shigella flexneri 1A than to their corresponding rough-type LPSs. STLs also bound to lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Bacillus subtilis. These results indicate that STLs bound to bacteria by recognizing LPSs or LTA on the cell surfaces.     

Biotransformation of L-Lysine to L-Pipecolic Acid Catalyzed by L-Lysine 6-Aminotransferase and Pyrroline-5-carboxylate Reductase

The enzyme involved in the reduction of Δ ¹-piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C) to L-pipecolic acid (L-PA) has never been identified. We found that Escherichia coli JM109 transformed with the lat gene encoding L-lysine 6-aminotransferase (LAT) converted L-lysine (L-Lys) to L-PA. This suggested that there is a gene encoding “P6C reductase” that catalyzes the reduction of P6C to L-PA in the genome of E. coli. The complementation experiment of proC32 in E. coli RK4904 for L-PA production clearly shows that the expression of both lat and proC is essential for the biotransformation of L-Lys to L-PA. Further, We showed that both LAT and pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase, the product of proC, were needed to convert L-Lys to L-PA in vitro. These results demonstrate that P5C reductase catalyzes the reduction of P6C to L-PA. Biotransformation of L-Lys to L-PA using lat-expressing E. coli BL21 was done and L-PA was accumulated in the medium to reach at an amount of 3.9 g/l after 159 h of cultivation. It is noteworthy that the ee-value of the produced pipecolic acid was 100%.     

Cloning,Expression, and Identification of Genes Involved in the Conversion of DL-2-Amino-Δ2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic Acid to L-Cysteine via S-Carbamyl-L-cysteine Pathway in Pseudomonas sp. TS1138

Two novel genes (tsB, tsC) involved in the conversion of DL-2-amino-Δ²-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (DL-ATC) to L-cysteine through S-carbamyl-L-cysteine (L-SCC) pathway were cloned from the genomic DNA library of Pseudomonas sp. TS1138. The recombinant proteins of these two genes were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, and their enzymatic activity assays were performed in vitro. It was found that the tsB gene encoded an L-ATC hydrolase, which catalyzed the conversion of L-ATC to L-SCC, while the tsC gene encoded an L-SCC amidohydrolase, which showed the catalytic ability to convert L-SCC to L-cysteine. These results suggest that tsB and tsC play important roles in the L-SCC pathway and L-cysteine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas sp. TS1138, and that they have potential applications in the industrial production of L-cysteine.     

Enzymatic Synthesis of L-Pipecolic Acid by Δ1-Piperideine-2-carboxylate Reductase from Pseudomonas putida

L-Pipecolic acid is a chiral pharmaceutical intermediate. An enzymatic system for the synthesis of L-pipecolic acid from L-lysine by commercial L-lysine α-oxidase from Trichoderma viride and an extract of recombinant Escherichia coli cells coexpressing Δ¹-piperideine-2-carboxylate reductase from Pseudomonas putida and glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis is described. A laboratory-scale process provided 27 g/l of L-pipecolic acid in 99.7% e.e.     

Effects of a Feedback-Resistant Aspartokinase III Gene on L-Isoleucine Production in Escherichia coli K-12

An L-isoleucine-overproducing recombinant strain of E. coli, TVD5, was also found to overproduce L-valine. The L-isoleucine productivity of TVD5 was markedly decreased by addition of L-lysine to the medium. Introduction of a gene encoding feedback-resistant aspartokinase III increased L-isoleucine productivity and decreased L-valine by-production. The resulting strain accumulated 12 g/l L-isoleucine from 40 g/l glucose, and suppression of L-isoleucine productivity by L-lysine was relieved.     

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.     

Production of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-DOPA) and Its Derivatives by Vibrio tyrosinaticus

Six strains of bacteria belonging to Vibrio and Pseudomonas were selected as good producers of L-DOPA from L-tyrosine out of various bacteria. The condition for the formation of L-DOPA by Vibrio tyrosinaticus ATCC 19378 was examined and the following results were obtained. (1) Intermittent addition of L-tyrosine in small portions gave higher titer of L-DOPA than single addition of L-tyrosine. (2) Higher amount of L-DOPA was produced in stationary phase of growth than in logarithmic phase. (3) Addition of antioxidant, chelating agent or reductant such as L-ascorbic acid, araboascorbic acid, hydrazine, citric acid and 5-ketofructose increased the amount of L-DOPA formed. (4) L-Tyrosine derivatives such as N-acetyl-L-tyrosine amide, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, L-tyrosine amide, L-tyrosine methyl ester and L-tyrosine benzyl ester were converted to the corresponding L-DOPA derivatives.

In the selected condition about 4 mg/ml of L-DOPA was produced from 4.3 mg/ml of L-tyrosine.     

Mutant of Escherichia coli Tolerant to the Lysis Induced by Cephalexin

2,3-Diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase (DAPAL), which catalyzes α,β-elimination of 2,3-diaminopropionate regardless of its stereochemistry, was purified from Salmonella typhimurium. We cloned the Escherichia coli ygeX gene encoding a putative DAPAL and purified the gene product to homogeneity. The protein obtained contained pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and was composed of two identical subunits with a calculated molecular weight of 43,327. It catalyzed the α,β-elimination of both D- and L-2,3-diaminopropionate. The results confirmed that ygeX encoded DAPAL. The enzyme acted on D-serine, but its catalytic efficiency was only 0.5% that with D-2,3-diaminopropionate. The enzymologic properties of E. coli DAPAL resembled those of Salmonella DAPAL, except that L-serine, D- and L-β-Cl-alanine were inert as substrates of the enzyme from E. coli. DAPAL had significant sequence similarity with the catalytic domain of L-threonine dehydratase, which is a member of the fold-type II group of pyridoxal phosphate enzymes, together with D-serine dehydratase and mammalian serine racemase.     

N-Carbamyl-L-Amino Acid Amidohydrolase of Pseudomonas sp. Strain NS671: Purification and Some Properties of the Enzyme Expressed in Escherichia coli

An N-carbamyl-L-amino acid amidohydrolase was purified from cells of Escherichia coli in which the gene for N-carbamyl-L-amino acid amidohydrolase of Pseudomonas sp. strain NS671 was expressed. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by the criterion of SDS–polyacrvlamide gel electrophoresis. The results of gel filtration chromatography and SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested that the enzyme was a dimeric protein with 45-kDa identical subunits. The enzyme required Mn²⁺ ion (above 1 mM) for the activity. The optimal pH and temperature were 7.5 and around 40°C, respectively, with N-carbamyl-L-methionine as the substrate. The enzyme activity was inhibited by ATP and was iost completely with p-chloromercuribenzoate (1 mM). The enzyme was strictly L-specific and showed a broad substrate specificity for N-carbamyl-L-α-amino acids.     

A New Antibiotic K-52B

A new antibiotic K-52B, different from K-52A, was isolated from the culture broth of Streptoverticillium roseoverticillatum subsp. albosporum, strain No. K-52. The antibiotic K-52B was thought to be a similar saccharide to K-52A from its physicochemical properties but differed from K-52A in the presence of nitrogen content. Antibiotic K-52B inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa on a chemically defined medium. The growth inhibition was, however, reversed by l-glutamine, l-glutamic acid, l-asparagine and l-aspartic acid.     

Characterization of Mesorhizobium loti L-Rhamnose Isomerase and Its Application to L-Talose Production

The L-rhamnose isomerase gene (rhi) of Mesorhizobium loti was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and then characterized. The enzyme exhibited activity with respect to various aldoses, including D-allose and L-talose. Application of it in L-talose production from galactitol was achieved by a two-step reaction, indicating that it can be utilized in the large-scale production of L-talose.     

Microbial Production of l-Threonine

l-Threonine producing α-amino-β-hydroxyvaleric acid resistant mutants were derived from E. coli K-12 with 3 x 10^-5 frequency. One of mutants, strain β-101, accummulated maximum amount of l-threonine (1. 9 g/liter) in medium. Among isoleucine, methionine and lysine auxotrophs derived from E. coli K-12, only methionine auxotrophs produced l-threonine. In contrast, among isoleucine, methionine and lysine auxotrophs derived from β-101, l-threonine accumulation was generally enhanced in isoleucine auxotrophs. One of isoleucine auxotrophs, strain βI-67, produced maximum amount of l-threonine (4. 7 g/liter). Methionine auxotroph, βM-7, derived from β-101 produced 3.8 g/liter, and βIM-4, methionine auxotroph derived from β1-67, produced 6.1 g/liter, when it was cultured in 3% glucose medium supplemented with 100 μg/ml of l-isoleucine and l-methionine, respectively. These l-threonine productivities of E. coli mutants were discussed with respect to the regulatory mechanisms of threonine biosynthesis. A favourable fermentation medium for l-threonine production by E. coli mutants was established by using strain βM-4.     

L-Tyrosine Production by Analog-resistant Prototrophic Mutants of Glutamic Acid Producing Bacteria

p-Fluorophenylalanine (PFP) and m-fluorophenylalanine were the most effective inhibitors on the growth of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 among the analogs of phenylalanine and tyrosine tested. Their inhibitory effects were released by L-phenylalanine, and slightly by L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan. 3-Aminotyrosine (3AT), p-aminophenylalanine, o-fluorophenylalanine, and β-2-thienylalanine were weak inhibitors.

Resistant mutants of C. glutamicum isolated on the medium containing both PFP and 3AT or PFP and L-tyrosine were found to accumulate both L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine, while resistant mutants isolated on the medium containing only PFP were found to produce only L-phenylalanine. Resistant mutants from other glutamic acid producing bacteria isolated on the medium containing both PFP and 3AT or both PFP and L-tyrosine were found to accumulate L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine.     

Effect of Feeding Bengal Gram (Cicer arietinum) at Different Protein Levels on Plasma Lipids of Rats

L-Amino acid ligase catalyzes the formation of an α-peptide bond from unprotected L-amino acids in an ATP-dependent manner, and this enzyme is very useful in efficient peptide production. We performed enzyme purification to obtain a novel L-amino acid ligase from Bacillus subtilis NBRC3134, a microorganism producing peptide-antibiotic rhizocticin. Rhizocticins are dipeptide or tripeptide antibiotics and commonly possess L-arginyl-L-2-amino-5-phosphono-3-cis-pentenoic acid. The purification was carried out by detecting L-arginine hydroxamate synthesis activity, and a target enzyme was finally purified 1,280-fold with 0.8% yield. The corresponding gene was then cloned and designated rizA. rizA was 1,242 bp and coded for 413 amino acid residues. Recombinant RizA was prepared, and it was found that the recombinant RizA synthesized dipeptides whose N-terminus was L-arginine in an ATP-dependent manner. RizA had strict substrate specificity toward L-arginine as the N-terminal substrate; on the other hand, the substrate specificity at the C-terminus was relaxed.     

Polylysine Produced by Streptomyces

The xylitol dehydrogenase gene (xdh) of Bacillus pallidus was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli using pQE60 vector, for the first time. The open reading frame of 759 bp encoded a 253 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 27,333 Da. The recombinant xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) was purified to homogeneity by three-step column chromatography, producing a single SDS–PAGE band of 28 kDa apparent molecular mass. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at 55 °C in glycine-NaOH buffer pH 11.0, with 66% of initial enzyme activity retained after incubation at 40 °C for 1 h. In further application of the recombinant bacterium to L-xylulose production from xylitol (initial concentration 5%) using a resting cell reaction, 35% L-xylulose was produced within 24 h. This result indicates that this recombinant XDH is applicable in the large-scale production of L-xylulose.     

Structure-Based Modification of D-Alanine-D-Alanine Ligase from Thermotoga maritima ATCC 43589 for Depsipeptide Synthesis

Depsipeptides are peptide-like polymers consisting of amino acids and hydroxy acids, and are expected to be new functional materials for drug-delivery systems and polymer science. In our previous study, D-alanyl-D-lactate, a type of depsipeptide, was enzymatically synthesized using D-alanine-D-alanine ligase from Thermotoga maritima ATCC 43589 (TmDdl) by Y207F substitution. Thereafter, in this study, further mutagenesis was introduced, based on structural comparison between TmDdl and a well-characterized D-alanine-D-alanine ligase from Escherichia coli. The S137A/Y207F mutant showed higher D-alanyl-D-lactate and lower D-alanyl-D-alanine synthesizing activity than the Y207F mutant. This suggests that substitution at the S137 residue contributes to product selectivity. Saturated mutagenesis on S137 revealed that the S137G/Y207F mutant showed the highest D-alanyl-D-lactate synthesizing activity. Moreover, the mutant showed broad substrate specificity toward D-amino acid and recognized D-lactate and D,L-isoserine as substrates. On the basis of these characteristics, various depsipeptides can be produced using S137G/Y207F-replaced TmDdl.     

Effects of Glycine and d-Amino Acids on Growth of Various Microorganisms

Growth of various microorganisms in media containing high concentrations of glycine or d-amino acids was examined. Susceptibilities to glycine or d-amino acids differed among microorganisms, and the differences in susceptibility have no direct relation with Gram staining, morphological forms, and aerobic or anaerobic nature of the organisms. Certain glycine-resistant bacteria tested, which included Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens, exhibited relatively high oxidative activities towards glycine. The inhibition of the growth of Escherichia coli by either glycine or d-amino acids, which included d-threonine, d-alanine and d-lysine, was reversed by l-alanine, partialy by l-serine, and not by l-lysine or l-threonine. These results suggest that the growth inhibition of microorganisms by d-amino acids was similar to that by glycine. The incorporation of l-alanine into E. coli cells which were preincubated with glycine was less than those of preincubated without glycine. Particularly, the incorporation into the cell wall fraction was most susceptible to glycine. An additive effect of penicillin and glycine was observed in the inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis as determined by the intracellular accumulation of N-acetylamino sugar compounds.     

Effects of Acetylation with Acetic Anhydricle

1. L-Asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) from Escherichia coli A–l–3 was acetylated using acetic anhydride as a modifying chemical. The fully acetylated L-asparaginase retained 60% of the activity of the unmodified L-asparaginase.

2. The acetylated L-asparaginase hydrolyzed D-asparagine and L-glutamine as well as L-asparagine in the same ratio as the unmodified L-asparaginase did.

3. However, the effects of pH on the activity of the acetylated L-asparaginase showed very interesting differences from that of L-asparaginase. On the other hand, both L-asparaginase and the acetylated L-asparaginase exhibited similar pH activity curves on L-glutamine hydrolysis.

4. The acetylated L-asparaginase was found to become more stable against acid or heat in the presence of L-aspartate than in its absence in the same manner as L-asparaginase was.

     

Production of L-Threonine by Mutants Resistant to Both α-Amino-β-hydroxyvaleric Acid and S-(2-Aminoethyl)-L-cysteine Derived from Brevibacterium flavum

Growth of Brevibacterium flavum FA-1-30 and FA-3-115, L-lysine producers derived from Br. flavum No. 2247 as S-(2-aminoethyl)-L-cysteine (AEC) resistant mutants, was inhibited by α-amino-β-hydroxyvaleric acid (AHV), and this inhibition was reversed by L-threonine. All the tested AHV resistant mutants derived from FA-1-30 accumulated more than 4 g/liter of L-threonine in media containing 10% glucose, and the best producer, FAB-44, selected on a medium containing 5 mg/ml of AHV produced about 15 g/liter of L-threonine. Many of AHV resistant mutants selected on a medium containing 2 mg/ml of AHV accumulated L-lysine as well as L-threonine, AHV resistant mutants derived from FA-3-115 produced 10.7 g/liter of L-threonine maximally. AEC resistant mutants derived from strains BB–82 and BB–69, which were L-threonine producers derived from Br. flavum No. 2247 as AHV resistant mutants, did not produce L-threonine more than the parental strains, and moreover, many of them did not accumulate L-threonine but L-lysine. Homoserine dehydrogenases of crude extracts from L-threonine producing AHV resistant mutants derived from FA–1–30 and FA–3–115 were insensitive to the inhibition by L-threonine, and those of L-threonine and L-lysine producing AHV resistant mutants from FA–1–30 were partially sensitive.

Correlation between L-threonine or L-lysine production and regulations of enzymatic activities of the mutants was discussed.