Identification and characterization of novel esterases from a deep-sea sediment metagenome

A deep-sea sediment metagenomic library was constructed and screened for lipolytic enzymes by activity-based approach. Nine novel lipolytic enzymes were identified, and the amino acid sequences shared 56% to 84% identity to other lipolytic enzymes in the database. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these enzymes belonged to family IV lipolytic enzymes. One of the lipolytic enzymes, Est6, was successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta in a soluble form. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni-nitrilotriacetic affinity chromatography column and characterized using p-nitrophenyl esters with various chain lengths. The est6 gene consisted of 909 bp that encoded 302 amino acid residues. Est6 was most similar to a lipolytic enzyme from uncultured bacterium (ACL67845, 61% identity) isolated from the South China Sea marine sediment metagenome. The characterization of Est6 revealed that it was a cold-active esterase and exhibited the highest activity toward p-nitrophenyl butyrate (C4) at 20°C and pH 7.5.     

Modification of Phospholipid Catabolism in Microsomal Membranes of [gamma]-Irradiated Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.)

Acceleration of membrane deterioration has been observed recently during storage of [gamma]-irradiated cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L., Botrytis group). In the present study, the activity of microsome-associated lipolytic enzymes was investigated in cauliflower florets exposed to 0 or 4 kilograys of [gamma] radiation and stored for 8 d at 13[deg]C. Radiolabeled breakdown products obtained from the metabolism of (16:0/18:2*)-phosphatidylcholine and (16:0/16:0)-phosphatidyl-[N-methyl-3H]choline by microsomal membranes indicated that phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4), phosphatidic acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.4), and lipolytic acyl hydrolase were associated with the membranes. The rate of phosphatidylcholine catabolism by the membranes increased slowly in control cauliflower during storage. [gamma] irradiation caused an immediate rise in phosphatidylcholine catabolism that remained higher than that of the controls during subsequent storage. Collectively, the data suggest that enhancement of membrane lipolytic activity results from free-radical-induced stress. Rapid increase of the membrane-associated phospholipase D activity may be a key event leading to accelerated membrane deterioration following [gamma] irradiation.     

嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌OUC_Est10全基因组测序及脂类水解酶多样性分析

[目的]本研究的目的是研究嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌OUC_Est10中脂类水解酶的多样性。[方法]使用离子交换层析、全基因组测序和异源表达三种方法研究嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌OUC_Est10中脂类水解酶的多样性。[结果]离子交换层析结果显示嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌OUC_Est10可以分泌多种脂类水解酶。通过全基因组测序,我们给出了该菌的全基因组序列,该基因组大小为4668743 bp,GC含量为66.25%。通过详细的基因组序列分析,我们从该基因组中找到33个可能具有脂类水解酶活性的假定基因。通过异源表达OUC_Est10中的5个假定脂类水解酶基因,来研究其催化特性的多样性,结果显示这些脂类水解酶具有不同的催化特性。[结论]我们证明了嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌OUC_Est10拥有多样的脂类水解酶,这暗示了它在不同领域中的应用潜力。     

Inhibitory Effect of an Antimicrobial Preparation from Lipids of Marine Fishes on Tissue and Microbial Enzymes

A new food preservative from marine fish lipids, was obtained possessing pronounced activity in relation to bacteria and microscopic fungi. The effects of this preparation on enzymes of microorganisms and muscle tissue of marine hydrobionts were studied. In vitro, the preparation irreversibly inhibited acid and alkaline proteases and proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes of microorganisms and reduced enzyme activity in fish muscle tissue. The inhibitory effect of this preparation on enzymes contributes to stabilization of hydrolytic processes in meat of hydrobionts and suppresses microorganism growth during storage.     

Inhibitory effect of antimicrobial preparation from lipids of marine fishes on tissue and microbial enzymes

We obtained a new food preservative from marine fish lipids possessing pronounced activity in relation to bacteria and microscopic fungi. The effects of this preparation on enzymes of microorganisms and muscle tissue of marine hydrobionts were studied. In vitro the preparation irreversibly inhibited acid and alkaline proteases and proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes of microorganisms and reduced enzyme activity in fish muscle tissue. The inhibitory effect of this preparation on enzymes contributes to stabilization of hydrolytic processes in meat of hydrobionts and suppresses microorganism growth in storage.     

A novel biotinylated suicide inhibitor for directed molecular evolution of lipolytic enzymes

A bifunctional activity label (8) for directed molecular evolution of lipolytic enzymes has been designed and synthesized. The structure is composed of a 4-nitrophenyl activated phosphonate, that is, a suicide substrate of lipases/esterases, connected to a biotin moiety through a spacer containing a disulfide bridge. The phosphonate (3) was prepared by Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction of trimethylsilyl-protected 11-bromoundecanol (2) with triethyl phosphite. The deprotected omega-hydroxyalkylphosphonate (4) was transformed into an active N-hydroxysuccinimide carbonate (5) followed by 4-nitrophenyl activation of the phosphonate using standard procedures. The biotinylated phosphonate inhibitor (8) was then synthesised by coupling the phosphonate inhibitor (6) to the epsilon-amino-caproic acid and cystamine containing biotinyl spacer (7). The function of all relevant groups of the final activity label (8) (biotin-label, cleavable disulfide bridge, phosphonate-inhibitor) have been successfully tested with the commercial lipase Lipolase (Novo Nordisk). Hence, a tool for directed molecular evolution of lipolytic enzymes has been developed.     

The entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae can modulate the secretion of lipolytic enzymes in response to different substrates including components of arthropod cuticle

The filamentous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is a well-characterized, arthropod pathogen used in the biological control of arthropod pests. Studies on the regulation of enzymes related to host infection such as proteases and chitinases have been reported but little is known about regulation of lipolytic enzymes in this fungus. Here we present the effects of different carbon sources such as components of the arthropod cuticle on the secretion of lipolytic enzymes by M. anisopliae. Differences in the induction of lipolytic activity were observed between the several carbon sources tested. Higher activities of lipase or lipase/esterase were found in culture media containing the arthropod integument components chitin and cholesteryl stearate. Several bands of lipolytic activity were also detected in zymograms, thus suggesting an important set of lipolytic enzymes secreted by the fungus. These results show that the fungus can modulate the secretion of lipolytic activity in response to host integument components, thus reinforcing the potential role of these enzymes during M. anisopliae infection.     

Culturable psychrotrophic bacterial communities in raw milk and their proteolytic and lipolytic traits

During cold storage after milk collection, psychrotrophic bacterial populations dominate the microflora, and their extracellular enzymes, mainly proteases and lipases, contribute to the spoilage of dairy products. The diversity, dynamics, and enzymatic traits of culturable psychrotrophs in raw milk from four farms were investigated over a 10-month period. About 20% of the isolates were found to be novel species, indicating that there is still much to be learned about culturable psychrotrophs in raw milk. The psychrotrophic isolates were identified and classified in seven classes. Three classes were predominant, with high species richness (18 to 21 species per class) in different seasons of the year: Gammaproteobacteria in spring and winter, Bacilli in summer, and Actinobacteria in autumn. The four minor classes were Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, and Sphingobacteria. The dominant classes were found in all four dairies, although every dairy had its own unique "bacterial profile." Most but not all bacterial isolates had either lipolytic or both lipolytic and proteolytic activities. Only a few isolates showed proteolytic activity alone. The dominant genera, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter (Gammaproteobacteria), showed mainly lipolytic activity, Microbacterium (Actinobacteria) was highly lipolytic and proteolytic, and the lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus and Leuconostoc) displayed very minor enzymatic ability. Hence, the composition of psychrotrophic bacterial flora in raw milk has an important role in the determination of milk quality. Monitoring the dominant psychrotrophic species responsible for the production of heat-stable proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes offers a sensitive and efficient tool for maintaining better milk quality in the milk industry.     

The central role of perilipin a in lipid metabolism and adipocyte lipolysis

The related disorders of obesity and diabetes are increasing to epidemic proportions. The role of neutral lipid storage and hydrolysis, and hence the adipocyte, is central to understanding this phenomenon. The adipocyte holds the major source of stored energy in the body in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG). It has been known for over 35 years that the breakdown of TAG and release of free (unesterified) fatty acids and glycerol from fat tissue can be regulated by a cAMP-mediated process. However, beyond the initial signaling cascade, the mechanistic details of this lipolytic reaction have remained unclear. Work in recent years has revealed that both hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), generally thought to be the rate-limiting enzyme, and perilipin, a lipid droplet surface protein, are required for optimal lipid storage and fatty acid release. There are multiple perilipin proteins encoded by mRNA splice variants of a single perilipin gene. The perilipin proteins are polyphosphorylated by protein kinase A and phosphorylation is necessary for translocation of HSL to the lipid droplet and enhanced lipolysis. Hence, the surface of the lipid storage droplet has emerged as a central site of regulation of lipolysis. This review will focus on adipocyte lipolysis with emphasis on hormone signal transduction, lipolytic enzymes, the lipid storage droplet, and fatty acid release from the adipocyte.     

Identification of a new subfamily of salt-tolerant esterases from a metagenomic library of tidal flat sediment

To search for novel lipolytic enzymes, a metagenomic library was constructed from the tidal flat sediment of Ganghwa Island in South Korea. By functional screening using tributyrin agar plates, 3 clones were selected from among the 80,050 clones of the fosmid library. The sequence analysis revealed that those clones contained different open reading frames, which showed 50–57% amino acid identity with putative lipolytic enzymes in the database. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, they were identified to encode novel members, which form a distinct and new subfamily in the family IV of bacterial lipolytic enzymes. The consensus sequence, GT(S)SA(G)G, encompassing the active site serine of the enzymes was different from the GDSAG motif, conserved in the other subfamily. The genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and recombinant proteins were purified as active soluble forms. The enzymes showed the highest activity toward p-nitrophenyl valerate (C5) and exhibited optimum activities at mesophilic temperature ranges and slightly alkaline pH. In particular, the enzymes displayed salt tolerance with over 50% of the maximum activity remained in the presence of 3 M NaCl (or KCl). In this study, we demonstrated that the metagenomic approach using marine tidal flat sediment as a DNA source expanded the diversity of lipolytic enzyme-encoding genes.     

Screening for novel lipolytic enzymes from uncultured soil microorganisms

The construction and screening of metagenomic libraries constitute a valuable resource for obtaining novel biocatalysts. In this work, we present the construction of a metagenomic library in Escherichia coli using fosmid and microbial DNA directly isolated from forest topsoil and screened for lipolytic enzymes. The library consisted of 33,700 clones with an average DNA insert size of 35 kb. Eight unique lipolytic active clones were obtained from the metagenomic library on the basis of tributyrin hydrolysis. Subsequently, secondary libraries in a high-copy-number plasmid were generated to select lipolytic subclones and to characterize the individual genes responsible for the lipolytic activity. DNA sequence analysis of six genes revealed that the enzymes encoded by the metagenomic genes for lipolytic activity were novel with 34–48% similarity to known enzymes. They had conserved sequences similar to those in the hormone-sensitive lipase family. Based on their deduced amino acid similarity, the six genes encoding lipolytic enzymes were further divided into three subgroups, the identities among which ranged from 33% to 45%. The six predicted gene products were successfully expressed in E. coli and secreted into the culture broth. Most of the secreted enzymes showed a catalytic activity for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate (C₄) but not p-nitrophenyl palmitate (C₁₆).     

Strategies for utilisation of food-processing wastes to produce lipases in solid-state cultures of Rhizopus oryzae

The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of several food-processing wastes as support substrate for lipolytic enzymes production by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae under solid-state conditions. Different experiments were conducted to select the variables that allow obtaining high levels of lipolytic enzyme activity. In particular, the use of inert and non-inert solid materials and lipidic and surfactant compounds was evaluated. It was observed that the addition of Triton X-100 together with barley bran involved lipolytic production values tenfold higher than the cultures exclusively grown on an inert support. In addition, from preliminary thermoinactivation kinetics studies, it was concluded that the strategy proposed in this investigation entails another benefit in terms of resistance of the produced enzymes against thermoinactivation.     

Microbial lipolytic fusion enzymes: current state and future perspectives

Genetic fusion of coding ORFs or connection of proteins in a post translational process are rather novel techniques to build products called fusion proteins that possess combined characteristics of their parental biomolecules. This attractive strategy used to create new enzymes not only diversifies their functionality by improving thermostability, thermo- and catalytic activity, substrate specificity, regio- or enantio-selectivity but also facilitates their purification and increases their yield. Many examples of microbial synthetic fusion biocatalysts are associated with fused enzymes that are involved in biomass degradation. However, one of the leading production segments is occupied by microbial lipolytic enzymes (lipases and esterases). As powerful biocatalysts these enzymes found their application in detergent, food, oil and fat, pulp and paper, leather, textile, cosmetics, biodiesel production industries. Moreover, lipolytic enzymes market is predicted to maintain leadership up to the year of 2024 and exceed millions of dollars. Recently, creation of lipolytic fusion biocatalysts for industrial applications gained more attention since it is not only a way of achievement of enzymes with improved properties but also a way to reduce industrial energy costs and ensure other economic benefits. This paper provides a comprehensive review on current state of microbial lipolytic fusion enzymes and their future potential.     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a lipolytic enzyme gene (lip8) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa LST-03

A lipolytic enzyme gene (lip8) was cloned from organic solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa LST-03 and sequenced. In the sequenced nucleotides, an open reading frame consisting of 1,173 nucleotides and encoding 391 amino acids was found. Lip8 is considered to belong to the family VIII of lipolytic enzymes whose serine in the consensus sequence of -Ser-Xaa-Xaa-Lys- acts as catalytic nucleophile. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation and hydrophobic interaction and ion-exchange chromatographies to homogeneity on SDS-PAGE analysis. The optimum temperature and heat stability of Lip8 were not as high as those of Lip3 and LST-03 lipase, two other lipolytic enzymes from the same strain. Addition of glycerol to a solution containing Lip8 stabilized this enzyme. By measuring the activities against various triacylglycerols and fatty acid methyl esters having carbon chains of different lengths, Lip8 was categorized as an esterase which has higher activities against fatty acid methyl esters with short-chain fatty acids.     

Lipid-degrading enzymes from potato tubers

Three varieties of potato were used to investigate the activity of lipolytic acyl hydrolase, (LAH) and lipoxygenase, (LOX), for a short period after harvest. Both enzymes displayed very low levels of activity during the first few days, followed by an increase in later storage, with the hydrolase activity of Désirée tubers remaining low. An inverse relationship was found between the total LOX activity and the percentage of activity obtained in a particulate form. Only when the total LOX content was below 0.7 units (μmol/g/min fr. wt), was it possible to obtain a highly active particulate fraction. LAH particulate activity was dependent upon both enzymes remaining low. Protoplasts were isolated by the use of cell-degrading enzymes. When the total LOX activity in the tubers was low, 50% of this activity could be obtained in intact protoplasts. Once the LOX concentration in the tubers had risen, fewer intact protoplasts were isolated. No particulate activity of either enzyme was found when these protoplasts were lysed. The two lipid-degrading enzymes were not located in the amyloplasts.     

Histochemical patterns of lipolytic enzymes of the hepatopancreas of Scylla serrata and their possible relation to eyestalk factor(s)

Of the lipolytic enzymes studied histochemically, lipase (Tween 80 specific enzyme) showed highest activity while non-specific esterases (Tween 60, α-naphthyl acetate, β-naphthyl acetate and 5-bromo-indoxyl acetate esterases) and Tween 20 and Tween 40 esterases exhibited medium and lowest activities respectively. The pattern of distribution of these enzymes was found to be variable among the various elements of the hepatopancreas. Lipase. Tween 20 and Tween 40 esterases were localized at the apical parts of the R-cell, F-cell cytoplasm, the B-cell vacuolar contents and the lumina of the hepatopancreatic acini. Non-specific esterases were primarily present in the cytoplasm of the R-cells, brush border of the tubules and connective tissue. A striking reduction in the lipase activity of the R- and B-cells was apparent 4 hours after the bilateral extirpation of eyestalks. Restoration of activity was observed 48 hours after the operation. On the other hand, a rise in the level of non-specific esterases was conspicuous 4 hours after the eyestalk amputation. This increased enzyme activity was restored to normal 24 hours after the operation. Administration of eyestalk extract into normal and de-stalked animals caused an increase in the lipase activity of the R- and B-cells. Surprisingly, the activity of non-specific esterases also enhanced considerably in the R-cell cytoplasm and connective tissue. The enhanced activity of lipase and non-specific was noted 4 hours after the treatment. From the present findings it appears that the eyestalk hormone(s) are directly involved in regulating the activity of the lipolytic enzymes. The physiological role of the F- and B-cells seems to be secretion and extrusion of lipase respectively. The R-cells and connective tissue appear to be associated with storage and mobilization of lipids.     

Lipolytic and esterolytic activity-based profiling of murine liver

In lipid metabolism, the liver acts as a buffer for transient energy fluctuations. It temporarily stores fatty acids as triacylglycerol and secretes them as very low density lipoprotein into the circulation when the period of maximum lipid load has passed. The lipolytic enzymes responsible for mobilization of internal lipid stores in the liver have not been identified yet. We introduced active site-directed chemical probes for lipolytic activity profiling in complex mixtures, known as activity-based proteomics, and employed it for global analysis and functional annotation of lipolytic proteins in mouse adipose tissue. Here we report the combined application of two approaches using fluorescent and biotinylated probes for discovery and discrimination of lipolytic and esterolytic enzymes in mouse liver subproteomes. Proteomes labeled with the fluorescent probes were analyzed by 2-DE while proteomes labeled with the biotinylated probe were subjected to avidin-affinity isolation. Of 37 totally identified proteins, 15 were detected using both approaches while 14 and 8 were solely identified by 2-DE and avidin-affinity isolation, respectively. Moreover, 12 enzymes were classified as potential lipases and/or cholesteryl esterases by their reaction with probes specific for the respective activities directly in their proteomes.     

Production of thermostable lipolytic activity by thermus species

A quantitative screening for intra- and extracellular lipolytic activity was performed in submerged cultures of four Thermus strains using two different media (named T or D medium). Major differences in the extracellular lipolytic activity were observed in T medium, the highest values being for Thermus thermophilus HB27 and Thermus aquaticus YT1 strains (18 and 33 U/L, respectively). Two enzymes with lipase/esterase activity were identified in the four Thermus strains by zymogram analysis, with molecular weights of 34 and 62 kDa. No kinetic typification of the enzymes as primary metabolites was possible for any of the Thermus strains, because of the lack of a good fitting of the experimental lipolytic activity production rates to the Luedecking and Piret model. However, a linear relationship was found between the absolute values of biomass and total lipase/esterase activity (sum of intracellular and extracellular). For T. thermophilus HB27, an increase in the aeration rate caused the increase in the production of biomass and, particularly, intracellular lipolytic activity but the extracellular lipolytic activity was not affected except for the series with the strongest oxygen limitation. Transmission electronic microscopy revealed that T. thermophilus HB27 formed rotund bodies surrounded by a common membrane in cultures in the early stationary phase. The results suggest the occurrence of a specific mechanism of lipase/esterase secretion that might be due to the different composition and permeability of the cell membranes and those surrounding the rotund bodies.     

Degradation of triglycerides by a pseudomonad isolated from milk: molecular analysis of a lipase-encoding gene and its expression in Escherichia coli.

Psychrotrophic lipolytic bacteria represent a significant problem in the storage of refrigerated dairy products. A lipase-encoding gene has been cloned and characterized from a highly lipolytic strain of Pseudomonas. The nucleotide sequence of the gene predicts a polypeptide of M(r) 49,905, which was identified when the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli.