Construction and co-expression of polycistronic plasmid encoding d-hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase for the production of d-amino acids

d-Hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase genes from Agrobacterium radiobacter TH572 were cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The plasmid pUCCH3 with a polycistronic structure that is controlled by the native hydantoinase promoter was constructed to co-express the two genes and transformed into Escherichia coli strain JM105. To obtain the highest level of expression of the d-carbamoylase and avoid intermediate accumulation, the d-carbamoylase gene was cloned closer to the promoter and the RBS region in the upstream of it was optimized. This resulted in high active expression of soluble d-hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase that is obtained without any inducer. Thus, by the constitutive recombinant JM105/pUCCH3, d-p-hydroxyphenylglycine (d-HPG) was obtained directly with 95.2% production yield and 96.3% conversion yield.     

Immobilization of d-hydantoinase in polyaniline

Polyaniline (PANI) is a water-insoluble polymer that has been used as support for enzyme immobilization due to its desirable characteristics, such as ease of preparation, high synthesis yield, high stability to temperature and pH, and resistance to microbial attack. In this work an investigation was carried out to determine the best conditions to immobilize d-hydantoinase (E.C. 3.5.2.2) in this support. As result, a simple and fast methodology for d-hydantoinase immobilization in PANI is described. 100% of proteins were immobilized on the support in concentrations up to 2 mg solid/ml. Higher concentrations led to a lower protein percentage immobilized. After five reaction cycles about a half of d-hydantoinase initial activity was conserved.     

The immobilization of d-hydantoinase and characterization under classic condition and microwave irradiation

d-Hydantoinase was covalently immobilized onto polystyrene anion exchange resin via glutaraldehyde. Immobilization conditions were optimized: the carrier as D-92 type polystyrene anion exchange resin, temperature as 25 °C, immobilization time as 12 h, and initial concentration of protein as 6 mg/ml. Under the optimized reaction conditions the activity of the free and immobilized d-hydantoinase was determined. The free and immobilized d-hydantoinase samples were characterized with their kinetic parameters, thermal, and storage stability. The K_m and V_max values were 14.985 mM and 0.6 mM/min for the free, and 27.030 mM and 1.187 mM/min for the immobilized, respectively. Operational stability of the immobilized d-hydantoinase was also detected in a circulating packed-bed reactor. The half-time of the immobilized d-hydantoinase was 11 days. Nearly 90% of activity of the immobilized d-hydantoinase was reserved for 100 days stored at 4 °C. The free and immobilized d-hydantoinases were also characterized under microwave irradiation. Results shown that the reactions catalyzed by both free and immobilized d-hydantoinase were accelerated under microwave irradiation. The half-time of the immobilized d-hydantoinase reduced to 16 min under microwave irradiation.     

Enzymatic synthesis of d-xylulose 5-phosphate from hydroxypyruvate and d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

An enzymatic method for obtaining d-xylulose 5-phosphate has been developed, based on the irreversible reaction catalyzed by transketolase: hydroxypyruvate + d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate → d-xylulose 5-phosphate. The preparations of sodium d-xylulose 5-phosphate, obtained using this approach, were 88% pure and contained no aldehyde admixtures.     

Using native hydantoinase promoter to induce d-carbamoylase soluble expression in Escherichia coli

By use of PCR, the genes encoding d-carbamoylase from A. radiobacter TH572 were cloned in plasmid pET30a and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) to overexpress d-carbamoylase. However, almost all of the protein remained trapped in inclusion bodies. To improve the expression of the properly folded active enzyme, a constitutive plasmid of pGEMT-DCB was constructed using the native hydantoinase promoter (P_Hase) whose optimal length was confirmed to 209 bp. Furthermore, the RBS region in the downstream of P_Hase was optimized to increase the expression level, so the plasmid pGEMT-R-DCB was constructed and transformed into E. coli strain Top10F′. The enzyme activity of Top10F′/pGEMT-R-DCB grown at 37 °C was found to be 0.603 U/mg (dry cell weight, DCW) and increase 58-fold over cells of BL21 (DE3) harboring the plasmid pET-DCB grown at 28 °C.     

Activity of yeast d-amino acid oxidase on aromatic unnatural amino acids

d-Amino acid oxidase is a FAD-dependent enzyme that catalyses the conversion of the d-enantiomer of amino acids into the corresponding α-keto acid. Substrate specificity of the enzyme from the yeast Rhodotorula gracilis was investigated towards aromatic amino acids, and particularly synthetic α-amino acids.A significant improvement of the activity (V_max,app) and of the specificity constant (the V_max,app/K_m,app ratio) on a number of the substrates tested was obtained using a single-point mutant enzyme designed by a rational approach. With R. gracilis d-amino acid oxidase the complete resolution of d,l-homo-phenylalanine was obtained with the aim to produce the corresponding pure l-isomer and to use the corresponding α-keto acid as a precursor of the amino acid in the l-form.     

Isolation and purification of d-mannose from palm kernel

An economically viable procedure for the isolation and purification of d-mannose from palm kernel was developed in this research. The palm kernel was catalytically hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid at 100 °C and then fermented by mannan-degrading enzymes. The solution after fermentation underwent filtration in a silica gel column, desalination by ion-exchange resin, and crystallization in ethanol to produce pure d-mannose in a total yield of 48.4% (based on the weight of the palm kernel). Different enzymes were investigated, and the results indicated that endo-β-mannanase was the best enzyme to promote the hydrolysis of the oligosaccharides isolated from the palm kernel. The pure d-mannose sample was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Unique transglycosylation potential of extracellular α-d-galactosidase from Talaromyces flavus

The transglycosylation potential of the extracellular α-d-galactosidase from the filamentous fungus Talaromyces flavus CCF 2686, chosen as the best enzyme from the screening, was investigated using a series of sterically hindered alcohols (primary, secondary and tertiary) as galactosyl acceptors. Nine alkyl α-d-galactopyranosides derived from the following alcohols – tert-butyl alcohol, 2-methyl-2-butyl alcohol, 2-methyl-1-propyl alcohol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl alcohol, 2-propyn-1-ol, n-pentyl alcohol, 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol, 1-phenylethyl alcohol and 1,4-dithio-dl-threitol – were prepared on a semi-preparative scale. This demonstrates a broad synthetic potential of the T. flavus α-d-galactosidase that has not been observed with another enzyme tested. Moreover, this enzyme exhibits good transglycosylation yields (6–34%). The enzymatic synthesis of tert-butyl α-d-galactopyranoside by transglycosylation was studied in detail.     

Modification of optimal pH in l-arabinose isomerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus for d-galactose isomerization

l-Arabinose isomerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GSAI; EC 5.3.1.4) has been genetically evolved to increase the reaction rate toward d-galactose, which is not a natural substrate. To change the optimal pH of GSAI for d-galactose isomerization (pH optimum at 8.5), we investigated the single point mutations influencing the activity based on the sequences of the previously evolved enzymes. Among the seven point mutations found in the evolved enzymes, mutations at Val⁴⁰⁸ and Asn⁴⁷⁵ were determined to be highly influential mutation points for d-galactose isomerization activity. A random mutation was introduced into sites Val⁴⁰⁸ and Asn⁴⁷⁵ (X408V and X475N), and candidates were screened based on non-optimal pH conditions. Among the mutations of X408V and X475N, mutations of Q408V and R408V were selected. The optimal pH of the both mutations Q408V and R408V was shifted to pH 7.5. At the shifted optimal pH, the d-galactose isomerization activities of Q408V and R408V were 60 and 30% higher than that of the wild type at pH 8.5, respectively.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of new d-seco and d-homo androstane derivatives

Starting from 3β-hydroxy-17-oxo-16,17-secoandrost-5-ene-16-nitrile (1), the new 16,17-secoandrostane derivatives 4–9 were synthesized. On the other hand, 3β-hydroxy-17-oxa-d-homoandrost-5-ene-16-one (10) yielded the new d-homo derivatives 12, 13 and 15. In vitro antiproliferative activity of selected compounds against three tumor cell lines (human breast adenocarcinoma ER+, MCF-7, human breast adenocarcinoma ER−, MDA-MB-231, prostate cancer AR−, PC-3, and normal fetal lung fibroblasts, MRC-5) was evaluated. Compounds 3 and 12 showed strong antiproliferative activity against PC-3 cells, the IC₅₀ values being 2 μM and 0.55 μM, respectively. Compounds 6 (10 μM) and 14 (9 μM) showed moderate activity against MDA-MB-231 cells. The synthesized compounds 1–3, 5–8, 10 and 12–15 were not toxic to normal fetal lung fibroblasts cells, MRC-5.     

Development of an interference-free biosensor for l-glutamate using a bienzyme salicylate hydroxylase/l-glutamate dehydrogenase system

An amperometric biosensor was developed for the interference-free determination of l-glutamate with a bienzyme-based Clark electrode. This sensor is based on the specific dehydrogenation by l-glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH, EC 1.4.1.3) in combination with salicylate hydroxylase (SHL, EC 1.14.13.1). The enzymes were entrapped by a poly(carbamoyl) sulfonate (PCS) hydrogel on a Teflon membrane. The principle of the determination scheme is as follows: the specific detecting enzyme, GLDH, catalyses the specific dehydrogenation of l-glutamate consuming NAD⁺. The product, NADH, initiates the irreversible decarboxylation and the hydroxylation of salicylate by SHL in the presence of oxygen. This results in a detectable signal due to the SHL-enzymatic consumptions of dissolved oxygen in the measurement of l-glutamate. The sensor has a fast steady-state measuring time of 20 s with a quick response (1 s) and a short recovery (1 min). It shows a linear detection range between 10 μM and 1.5 mM l-glutamate with a detection limit of 3.0 μM. A Teflon membrane, which is used to fabricate the sensor, makes the determination to avoid interferences from other amino acids and electroactive substances.     

Synthesis of acryloyl guar gum and its hydrogel materials for use in the slow release of l-DOPA and l-tyrosine

Acryloyl guar gum (AGG) and its hydrogel materials were synthesized for use as carriers and slow release devices of two pro-drugs, l-tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine (l-DOPA). To evaluate their structure-properties relationship, these were characterized by scanning electron micrography (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy and swelling studies. The hydrogel materials responded to the change of pH of the swelling medium, and exhibited reversible transitions in 0.9% saline solution. These were loaded with two pro-drugs, and their cumulative release behavior was studied at pH 2.2 and pH 7.4. The hydrogel materials exhibited structure-property relationship in the release of these pro-drugs. The % cumulative release of l-tyrosine was the maximum from the AGG-g-poly(methacrylic acid), while the maximum release of l-DOPA was observed from AGG-g-poly(AAc) in both the media. On the other hand, the AGG-g-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and AGG-g-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) retained 42.33% and 49.05% of the drug even after 12 h.     

Biodegradation pathway of l-glutamatediacetate by Rhizobium radiobacter strain BG-1

An aerobic bacterium was isolated from activated sludge in a medium containing l-glutamate-N,N-diacetate (l-GLDA) as sole carbon and energy source. The isolate was identified as a Rhizobium radiobacter species. Besides l-GLDA, the strain utilized nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and proposed intermediates in l-GLDA metabolism such as glyoxylate and l-glutamate. l-GLDA-grown cells oxidized l-GLDA, l-glutamate but not iminodiacetate (IDA), and trans-ketoglutaconate, indicating removal of a carboxymethyl group as an initial degradation reaction. The removal of the first carboxymethyl group of l-GLDA is catalyzed by an NADH-dependent mono-oxygenase. The oxidative deamination of l-glutamate by a dehydrogenase resulting in the formation of oxoglutarate was also detected in cell-free extracts of R. radiobacter sp. A pathway for the metabolism of l-GLDA R. radiobacter sp. is proposed: First, l-GLDA leads to l-glutamate-N-monoacetate (l-GLMA) which in turn leads to l-glutamate. Then, l-glutamate leads to oxoglutarate, an intermediate of the TCA cycle.     

Inhibitors of bacterial N-succinyl-l,l-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) and demonstration of in vitro antimicrobial activity

The dapE-encoded N-succinyl-l,l-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) is a critical bacterial enzyme for the construction of the bacterial cell wall. A screen biased toward compounds containing zinc-binding groups (ZBG’s) including thiols, carboxylic acids, boronic acids, phosphonates and hydroxamates has delivered a number of micromolar inhibitors of DapE from Haemophilus influenzae, including the low micromolar inhibitor l-captopril (IC₅₀ = 3.3 μM, K_i = 1.8 μM). In vitro antimicrobial activity was demonstrated for l-captopril against Escherichia coli.     

Antioxidative defense organization in retroperitoneal white adipose tissue during acclimation to cold—The involvement of l-arginine/NO pathway

1. Retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RpWAT) antioxidative defense was investigated in untreated, l-arginine-treated and N^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-treated rats kept at 4±1 °C (1, 3, 7, 12, 21 and 45 days) and compared to control rats at 22±1 °C.

2. Cold-acclimation-induced RpWAT weight decrease was accompanied by a decline in glutathione level and increased activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase at different time-points.

3. l-arginine accelerated RpWAT weight decrease, the increase in MnSOD and GST activities and the prolonged increase of catalase, MnSOD and GST activities. l-NAME delayed cold-induced catalase activity increase and tissue weight decrease. Prolonged l-NAME-treatment had a similar effect on RpWAT as l-arginine.

4. Results suggest the involvement of l-arginine/NO pathway in RpWAT oxidative metabolic augmentation induced by cold-acclimation.

Evaluation of l-glutamine for cryopreservation of boar spermatozoa

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of l-glutamine (l-Gln) against cryopreservation injuries on boar sperm. In Experiment 1, l-Gln from 20 to 80 mM was evaluated as a supplement for a standard freezing extender (egg yolk – EY – 20%, and glycerol 3%). No significant improvement (P > 0.05) was obtained for any post-thaw sperm parameter assessed (objective sperm motility – CASA system – and flow cytometric analysis of plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity −SYBR14/PI/PE-PNA− and plasma membrane stability −M540/YoPro1−). In Experiment 2, l-Gln was evaluated as a partial glycerol substitute in the freezing extender. Significant (P < 0.05) enhancement of post-thaw sperm motion parameters was achieved in sperm frozen in the presence of 2% glycerol and 80 mM l-Gln compared to control (3% glycerol). In Experiment 3, l-Gln was evaluated as an EY substitute in the freezing extender, and no functional sperm were recovered after thawing sperm frozen in the presence of l-Gln and the absence of EY. In conclusion, l-Gln has the ability to cryoprotect boar sperm when it is used as a partial glycerol substitute in the freezing extender.     

Enzymatic resolution of methyl dl-β-acetylthioisobutyrate and dl-β-acetylthioisobutyramide using a stereoselective esterase from Pseudomonas putida IFO12996

Esterase (PpEST) from Pseudomonas putida IFO12996 catalyzes the stereoselective hydrolysis of methyl dl-β-acetylthioisobutyrate (DL-MATI) and dl-β-acetylthioisobutyramide (DL-ATIA) to give d-β-acetylthioisobutyric acid (DAT). DAT is a key intermediate for the synthesis of a series of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. To use enzyme for the DAT production, the PpEST gene of P. putida IFO12996 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. PpEST with a molecular weight of 33 kDa could hydrolyze DL-MATI and DL-ATIA to give DAT with enantiometric excess value (e.e. value) about 97% and enantioselectivity value (E-value) >150, respectively. The kinetic constants of PpEST for DL-MATI and DL-ATIA were examined and they showed that DL-ATIA was a poorer substrate than DL-MATI for PpEST. However, DL-ATIA was 20-fold more soluble in water than DL-MATI, it was more stable than DL-MATI and it did not show substrate inhibition of the PpEST up to 780 mM. This result suggested that PpEST is an esterase but with amidase activity, which can kinetically resolve DL-ATIA to yield DAT and DL-ATIA is a better choice than DL-MATI for industrial production of DAT by the enzymatic resolution method.     

Expression, purification and characterization of the chitinolytic β-N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidase from the insect Ostrinia furnacalis

Insect β-N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidases are of particular interest due to their multiple physiological roles in many life processes. Chitinolytic β-N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidases, which function only in chitin degradation in insects, have long been regarded as species-specific target potentials in developing environmental friendly pesticides. Here the chitinolytic β-N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidase from the insect Ostrinia furnacalis was cloned and expressed in the yeast strain, Pichia pastoris, to meet the demands of biochemical studies and drug development. Enzymatic assay as well as Western blot confirmed that the high-level expression could be achieved after the induction of methanol for 120 h. Through the sequential combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, metal chelating chromatography as well as anion exchange chromatography, 7.7 mg of the recombinant OfHex1 with high purity was obtained from 1 liter of culture supernatant. The recombinant OfHex1, characterized as a homodimer with molecular weight of 130 kDa, exhibited the same enzymatic activities as its native form, which could efficiently degrade the chitooligosaccharide substrate (GlcNAc)₂ and release 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) from substrates, 4MU-β-GlcNAc and 4MU-β-GalNAc. This work provides a low-costing and high-efficient purification procedure for the preparation of insect β-N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidases.     

Hydroxylation of l-proline to cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline by recombinant Escherichia coli expressing a synthetic l-proline-3-hydroxylase gene

A synthetic gene encoding a Streptomyces l-proline-3-hydroxylase was constructed and used to produce the hydroxylase protein in recombinant Escherichia coli. A fermentation process for growth of this recombinant E. coli for enzyme production was scaled-up to 250 L. A biotransformation process was developed using cell suspensions of the recombinant E. coli and subsequently scaled-up to 10 L for conversion of l-proline to cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline. A reaction yield of 85 M% and d.e. of 99.9% was obtained for cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline.     

Screening strains for directed biosynthesis of β-d-mono-glucuronide-glycyrrhizin and kinetics of enzyme production

One fungus, tentatively named Penicillium sp. Li-3, was screened to biosynthesize β-d-mono-glucuronide-glycyrrhizin (GAMG), directly. Using glycyrrhizin as elicitor and the sole carbon source, this strain was capable of expressing β-d-glucuronidase, one intracellular enzyme with high substrate specificity. And glycyrrhizin was hydrolyzed directly into GAMG by enzyme from Penicillium sp. Li-3 with high production. It was found that the mol conversion ratio of this reaction was up to 88.45%. Research about kinetics of β-d-glucuronidase production showed that the cell growth and enzyme production of this strain was partial coupled. During the expressing of target enzyme, carbon catabolite repression existed, so only glycyrrhizin was the best carbon source as well as the elicitor. It was found that the surfactant (Tween 80 0.12%) could improve the ability of enzyme production markedly. Under the condition of initial pH 4.8 of the medium and 32 °C of the culture temperature, the maximum enzyme activity of 181.53 U ml⁻¹ was obtained.