Purification, characterization and gene cloning of a novel glutamic acid-specific endopeptidase from Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600.

Twenty strains of Staphylococcus aureus from ATCC type cultures and strains found in clinical studies were cultivated, and their endopeptidase activity specific for glutamic acid was surveyed using benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Glu-p-nitroanilide (Z-Phe-Leu-Glu-pNA) as a substrate. The activity was found in two of the strains, ATCC 12600 and ATCC 25923. A glutamic acid-specific proteinase, which we propose to call SPase, was purified from the culture filtrate of S. aureus strain ATCC 12600 by a series of column chromatographies on DEAE-Sepharose twice and on Sephacryl S-200. A single band was observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the purified SPase. The molecular weight of the proteinase was estimated to be 34000 by SDS-PAGE. When synthetic peptides and oxidized insulin B-chain were used as substrates, SPase showed the same substrate specificity as V8 proteinase, EC 3.4.21.9, which specifically cleaves peptide bonds on the C-terminal side of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Examination with p-nitroanilides of glutamic acid and aspartic acid as substrates, however, revealed that both proteinases are highly specific for a glutamyl bond in comparison with an aspartyl bond. To elucidate the complete primary structure of SPase, its gene was cloned from genomic DNA of S. aureus ATCC 12600, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. Taking the amino acid sequence of SPase from the NH2-terminus to the 27th residue into consideration, the clones encode a mature peptide of 289 amino acids, which follows a prepropeptide of 68 residues. SPase was confirmed to be a novel endopeptidase specific for glutamic acid, being different from V8 proteinase which consists of 268 amino acids.     

High-level production of recombinant glutamic acid-specific protease from Bacilllus licheniformis in Bacillus subtilis expression system

To obtain large quantities of glutamic acid-specific protease isolated originally from Bacillus licheniformis (BLase), an expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the BLase gene into a plasmid vector (pUB110) for Bacillus subtilis. B. subtilis strain ISW1214 harboring the resultant recombinant plasmid containing the coding and 5′-promoter and 3′-terminator regions of BLase gene secreted approximately 0.25 g/l of BLase in a culture medium contained in a 90-l jar fermentor, corresponding to nearly 10 times the natural production level and resulting in a stable large-scale production. The amount of BLase in the culture medium accounted for roughly 60% of the total extracellular proteins secreted from the recombinant strain, simplifying enzyme purification.     

地衣芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白酶的纯化及特性分析

研究不同条件对地衣芽孢杆菌De株产生胞外蛋白酶的量及其酶活性的影响,结果表明在pH为7.4—8.2范围内,温度为30℃时,培养8—12h的菌株所分泌胞外产物中的蛋白酶活性最高。实验先以半透膜法收集芽孢杆菌的胞外产物,然后再经过硫酸铵沉淀过夜S、ephadex G-100凝胶层析和DEAE-Cellulose离子交换层析及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳等四个步骤的分离纯化后,可以得到含有3种主要蛋白质(BLP1、BLP2、BLP3)成分的胞外蛋白酶,其分子量分别为66.2KD、31.0KD及约20.1KD,所得纯化蛋白酶的蛋白浓度为0.773μg/mL,蛋白回收率为11.66%。实验还发现,纯化的胞外蛋白酶在100℃下作用30min,仍可保持其活力,可见具有相当的热稳定性,而其酶活最佳的pH和温度条件分别为7.8和45—65℃。酶活抑制实验显示EDTA、铜、钴、镁离子等均可成为其酶活抑制因子;而丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂甲基磺酰氟(PMSF)、铁、锰、钡、钙离子等对酶活性没有明显影响;锌则会令之酶活性其部分丧失。     

地衣芽胞杆菌碱性蛋白酶基因克隆与表达特性

目的建立高产量和高活力的地衣芽胞杆菌碱性蛋白酶基因表达体系。方法采用PCR技术克隆获得目的基因,将其连入表达质粒pET-32 a构建原核表达重组质粒,经测序鉴定后,转化BL21大肠埃希菌,不同温度下IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白,测定酶活;进一步对该基因和编码蛋白进行同源性比较和酶学性质分析。结果碱性蛋白酶基因序列全长1 149 bp,编码382个氨基酸,同源性为99%,融合蛋白分子质量为62 kD,蛋白酶酶活为29 000 U/mL,并且在25℃时是以可溶蛋白形式表达,37℃时部分蛋白以包涵体形式存在。结论此种表达体系可以成功表达具有生物活性的碱性蛋白酶,诱导温度对蛋白酶存在形式具有较大影响。     

Purification, properties, and regulation of glutamic dehydrogenase of Bacillus licheniformis

Cell-free extracts of Bacillus licheniformis and B. cereus were found to contain high specific activities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-dependent-l-glutamate dehydrogenase [EC 1.4.1.4; l-glutamate: NADP oxidoreductase (deaminating)]. Maximum specific activities were found in extracts of cells during the late exponential phase of growth when ammonium ion served as the sole source of nitrogen. Extremely low specific activities were detected throughout the growth cycle when l-glutamate or Casamino Acids served as the source of carbon and nitrogen. The enzyme was purified 55-fold from crude extracts of B. licheniformis, and apparent kinetic constants were determined. Sigmoidal saturation kinetics were not observed, and various adenylates had no effect on the enzyme. Repression of enzyme synthesis during growth on l-glutamate or Casamino Acids was partially overcome by additions of glucose or pyruvate, and this apparent derepression was totally abolished by inhibitors of ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis. Similarly, additions of l-glutamate or Casamino Acids to cells growing on glucose-ammonium ion resulted in strong repression of enzyme synthesis. It is suggested that the enzyme serves an anabolic role in metabolism. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase activity was not detected in five species of Bacillus, irrespective of nutritional conditions or of the physiological age of cells.     

Purification and structure elucidation of the N-acetylbacillosamine-containing polysaccharide from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945.

The exopolysaccharide of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945 (formerly B. subtilis ATCC 9945) contains among other glycoses 4-acetamido-2-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucose, termed N-acetylbacillosamine (Bac2N4NAc). A similar diamino glycose, 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucose, was found in a surface layer (S-layer) glycoprotein preparation of Clostridium symbiosum HB25. Electron microscopic studies, however, showed that B. licheniformis ATCC 9945 is not covered with an S-layer lattice, indicating that the N-acetylbacillosamine present in that organism might be a constituent of a cell wall-associated polymer. For elucidation of the structure of the N-acetylbacillosamine-containing polysaccharide, it was purified from a trichloroacetic acid extract of B. licheniformis ATCC 9945 cells. Using different hydrolysis protocols and a hydrolysate of the S-layer glycoprotein preparation from C. symbiosum HB25 as reference, the purified polysaccharide was found to contain 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxy-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-galactose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 : 2. One- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, including 800 MHz proton magnetic resonance measurements, in combination with chemical modification and degradation experiments, revealed that the polysaccharide consists of identical pyruvylated pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure: [-->3)-[(S)Py-(3,4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)]-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Bacp2N4NAc-(1-->3)-[(S)Py-(3,4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->](n)     

Efficient Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Inulin to 2,3-Butanediol by Thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580

2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD) is an important starting material for the manufacture of bulk chemicals. For efficient and large-scale production of 2,3-BD through fermentation, low-cost substrates are required. One such substrate, inulin, is a polydisperse fructan found in a wide variety of plants. In this study, a levanase with high inulinase activity and high pH and temperature stability was identified in Bacillus licheniformis strain ATCC 14580. B. licheniformis strain ATCC 14580 was found to efficiently produce 2,3-BD from fructose at 50°C. Then, the levanase was used for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of inulin to 2,3-BD. A fed-batch SSF yielded 103.0 g/liter 2,3-BD in 30 h, with a high productivity of 3.4 g/liter · h. The results suggest that the SSF process developed with the thermophilic B. licheniformis strain used might be a promising alternative for efficient 2,3-BD production from the favorable substrate inulin.     

Purification and characterization of organic solvent stable protease from Bacillus licheniformis RSP-09-37

A protease was purified from the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus licheniformis RSP-09-37, a mutant from a thermophilic bacterial strain, B. licheniformis RSP-09, using affinity chromatography with alpha-casein agarose resin. The protease was purified 85-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity. The apparent molecular mass of purified protease was 55 kDa using gel filtration in high-performance liquid chromatography, which is in agreement with the results obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting a monomeric nature of the protein. The purified protease revealed temperature optima of 50 degrees C and pH optima of 10.0 and was classified as serine protease based on its complete inhibition with phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride. The purified protease exhibited tolerance to both detergents and organic solvent. The synthetic activity of the protease was tested using the transesterification reaction between N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine-ethyl ester and n-propanol in organic solvents varying in their log P values and the kinetic parameters of the enzyme in these organic solvents were studied. The enzyme has potential to be employed for synthetic reactions and in detergent formulations.     

Purification and characterization of a membrane-associated phosphatidylserine synthase from Bacillus licheniformis

A CDP-diacylglycerol-dependent phosphatidylserine synthase was solubilized from Bacillus licheniformis membranes and purified to near homogeneity. The purification procedure consisted of CDP-diacylglycerol-Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by substrate elution from blue dextran-Sepharose. The purified preparation showed a single band with an apparent relative molecular mass of 53 000 daltons when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteolytic digestion of the enzyme yielded a smaller (41 000 daltons) active form. The preparation was free of any phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, CDP-diacylglycerol hydrolase, and phosphatidylserine hydrolase activities. The utilization of substrates and the formation of products occurred with the expected stoichiometry. Radioisotopic exchange patterns between related substrate and product pairs suggest a sequential Bi-Bi reaction as opposed to the ping-pong mechanism exhibited by the well-studied phosphatidylserine synthase of Escherichia coli [Larson, T. J., & Dowhan, W. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 5212-5218]. The B. licheniformis enzyme was also found to be markedly dissimilar to the E. coli enzyme with regard to association with detergent micelles, affinity for ribosomes, and antigenicity.     

地衣芽孢杆菌JF-UN122碱性蛋白酶的分离纯化与性质

地衣芽孢杆菌JF—UN122的发酵液,以硫酸铵分段盐析得粗酶,再经DEAE—Sephadex A—50吸附色素、CM—Sephadex C-50离子交换及Sephadex G—75柱层析等步骤获得电泳纯的碱性蛋白酶。SDS-PAGE测得其分子量为31．6KDa。以酪蛋白为底物时,酶的Km为5．26μg／min,Vm为20．8μg／min。酶的最适pH为9．0,最适温度为55℃,pH5～11,55℃以下酶较稳定,对1mol／LH2O2具有一定的耐氧化性。PMSF对酶抑制,二硫苏糖醇(DTT)有保护作用,钙离子、EDTA、SDS、尿素等对酶无明显影响。     

Sorbitol dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. Purification, characterization, and gene cloning.

Cloning of the sorbitol dehydrogenase gene (gutB) from Bacillus subtilis offers an excellent system for studying zinc binding, substrate specificity, and catalytic mechanism of this enzyme through protein engineering. As a first step to clone gutB, B. subtilis sorbitol dehydrogenase has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. It is a tetrameric enzyme with a molecular mass of 38 kDa for each subunit. Atomic absorption analysis shows the presence of 1 mol of zinc atom/subunit. Substrate specificity and stereospecificity of the enzyme toward C-2 and C-4 of hexitols were established. Sequence of the first 31 amino acids was determined, and a set of oligonucleotide probes was designed for gene cloning. A positive clone carrying a 5-kilobase pair HindIII insert was isolated and sequenced. Sequence alignment indicated that the deduced amino acid sequence of B. subtilis sorbitol dehydrogenase shows 36% identity in sequence with the liver sorbitol dehydrogenase from sheep, rat, and human. In reference to the sequence of alcohol dehydrogenase, two potential zinc binding sites were identified. Sequence information related to the structure-function relationships of the enzyme is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of phosphofructokinase of Bacillus licheniformis

The phosphofructokinase (PFK) of Bacillus licheniformis was purified about 50–65-fold and examined for a number of enzymatic and physical characteristics. The enzyme is quite unstable under normal assay conditions, but Mg²⁺, K⁺, adenosine-5′-diphosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and fructose-6-phosphate (fru-6-P) are fairly effective stabilizing agents. Saturation functions for ATP and fru-6-P were hyperbolic. Several attempts to induce positive cooperative binding of fru-6-P were unsuccessful. However, “sigmoidal” saturation kinetics for fru-6-P could be observed under assay conditions that permitted an irreversible inactivation of the PFK during assay. Several divalent cations could support the catalysis of B. licheniformis PFK and the enzyme was activated by both NH₄⁺ and K⁺ ions. B. licheniformis PFK is inhibited by citrate, ATP, PEP, Ca²⁺, and several other metabolic intermediates, but the inhibition caused by citrate and ATP at high fru-6-P concentration and by calcium can be relieved by Mg²⁺ addition while PEP inhibition is specifically relieved by fru-6-P. There are at least three binding sites for PEP on the PFK molecule. The active form of this PFK has a molecular weight of about 134,000 daltons. In the presence of Mg²⁺, adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP), and PEP, at 0 °C, the PFK molecule is rapidly dissociated to an inactive form with a molecular weight of about 68,000 daltons. Association of these subunits to yield the active form of PFK occurs spontaneously, and rapidly, when the temperature is raised to 30 °C. Ninety percent of the original activity is recovered after activation. Growth of B. licheniformis on several different substrates resulted in minor variations of PFK activity. In a parallel fashion, sporulation involved no irreversible inactivation of PFK and the level of the activity was about the same throughout the life cycle. Control of this enzyme during sporulation could be affected by any or all of the cell constituents found to regulate PFK activity in vitro, but it is considered likely that the most significant in vivo negative effector is PEP, with this inhibition being reversed by fru-6-P.     

Purification and characterization of antimicrobial substances from Bacillus licheniformis BFP011

Bacillus licheniformis BFP011 isolated from papaya (Thailand) could produce extracellular antimicrobial substances which were active against some important phytopathogens, pathogenics and spoilage microorganisms such as Colletotrichum capsici, Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Salmonella typhi ATCC 5784. The antimicrobial substances of this bacterium showed resistance to pronase enzyme and high temperature at 100 and 121°C for 15 min. They were purified by TLC on silica gel plates F254 using the different solvent mixtures. The best solvent mixture was revealed as n-butanol: ethanol: acetic acid: water (30: 60: 5: 30, v/v). The spots F4, F5 and F6 from TLC were able to inhibit growth of S. typhi ATCC 5784 assayed in vitro by the disc diffusion method. The characterization of the active fractions F4, F5 and F6 from TLC and reversedphase HPLC indicated that the antimicrobial substances of B. licheniformis BFP011 contain peptides and unsaturated fatty acids.     

Cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of a glutamate-specific endopeptidase from Bacillus licheniformis

A gene encoding a glutamate-specific endopeptidase (GSE) from Bacillus licheniformis (BL) has been cloned in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant protein was expressed as cytoplasmic insoluble inclusion bodies. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography was employed to purify the protein, and then a 27-kDa GSE intermediate was obtained by gradient urea dialysis. The remaining pro-peptide was completely removed by treatment with trypsin to obtain mature GSE-BL with a molecular weight of 26 kD at a final yield of up to 140.9 mg/L. With Z (benzyloxycarbomyl)-Phe-Leu-Glu-pNA (p-nitroanilide) as the substrate, the optimal temperature and pH conditions for the enzyme were 37 °C and 8.5, respectively, K(m) was 1.495 ± 0.034 mM, and V(max) was 50.237 μmol/mg min. The presence of calcium and ferrous ions enhanced the catalytic activity of GSE-BL. These results suggest that the recombinant protein is a relatively stable specific proteinase that could be effectively utilized in protein structure analysis, peptide synthesis, and the food industry.     

Purification and characterization of a novel alkaline protease from Bacillus horikoshii

An investigation was conducted on the enhancement of production and purification of an oxidant and SDS-stable alkaline protease (BHAP) secreted by an alkalophilic Bacillus horikoshii, which was screened from the body fluid of a unique Korean polychaeta (Periserrula leucophryna) living in the tidal mud flats of Kwangwha Island in the Korean West Sea. A prominent effect on BHAP production was obtained by adding 2% maltose, 1% sodium citrate, 0.8% NaCl, and 0.6% sodium carbonate to the culturing medium. The optimal medium for BHAP production contained (g/l) SBM, 15; casein, 10; K(2)HPO(4), 2; KH(2)PO(4), 2; maltose, 20; sodium citrate, 10; MgSO(4), 0.06; NaCl, 8; and Na(2)CO(3), 6. A protease yield of approximately 56,000 U/ml was achieved using the optimized medium, which is an increase of approximately 5.5-fold compared with the previous optimization (10,050 U/ml). The BHAP was homogenously purified 34-fold with an overall recovery of 34% and a specific activity of 223,090 U/mg protein using adsorption with Diaion HPA75, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) on Phenyl-Sepharose, and ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE- and CMSepharose column. The purified BHAP was determined a homogeneous by SDS-PAGE, with an apparent molecular mass of 28 kDa, and it showed extreme stability towards organic solvents, SDS, and oxidizing agents. The K(m) and k(cat) values were 78.7 μM and 217.4 s(-1) for N-succinyl-Ala- Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA at 37° C and pH 9, respectively. The inhibition profile exhibited by PMSF suggested that the protease from B. horikoshii belongs to the family of serine proteases. The BHAP, which showed high stability against SDS and H(2)O(2), has significance for industrial application, such as additives in detergent and feed industries.     

Purification, characterization and cloning of a thermotolerant isoamylase produced from Bacillus sp. CICIM 304

A novel thermostable isoamylase, IAM, was purified to homogeneity from the newly isolated thermophilic bacterium Bacillus sp. CICIM 304. The purified monomeric protein with an estimated molecular mass of 100 kDa displayed its optimal temperature and pH at 70 °C and 6.0, respectively, with excellent thermostability between 30 and 70 °C and pH values from 5.5 to 9.0. Under the conditions of temperature 50 °C and pH 6.0, the K _m and V _max on glycogen were 0.403 ± 0.018 mg/mg and 0.018 ± 0.001 mg/(min mg), respectively. Gene encoding IAM, BsIam was identified from genomic DNA sequence with inverse PCRs. The open reading frame of the BsIam gene was 2,655 base pairs long and encoded a polypeptide of 885 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 101,155 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of IAM shared less than 40 % homology with that of microbial isoamylase ever reported, which indicated it was a novel isoamylase. This enzyme showed its obvious superiority in the industrial starch conversion process.     

Purification and characterization of a propanol-tolerant neutral protease from Bacillus sp. ZG20

Abstract

A propanol-tolerant neutral protease was purified and characterized from Bacillus sp. ZG20 in this study. This protease was purified to homogeneity with a specific activity of 26,655?U/mg. The recovery rate and purification fold of the protease were 13.7% and 31.5, respectively. The SDS-PAGE results showed that the molecular weight of the protease was about 29?kDa. The optimal temperature and pH of the protease were 45?°C and 7.0, respectively. The protease exhibited a good thermal- and pH stability, and was tolerant to 50% propanol. Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺ and Tween-80 could improve its activity. The calculated K_m and V_max values of the protease towards α-casein were 12.74?mg/mL and 28.57?µg/(min mL), respectively. This study lays a good foundation for the future use of the neutral protease from Bacillus sp. ZG20.     

Purification and characterization of a small size protease from Bacillus sp. APR-4

A thermostable extracellular protease of Bacillus sp. APR-4 was purified by size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatographic methods and its properties were studied. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 21,000 U/mg of protein and gave single band on SDS/PAGE with a molecular mass of 16.9 KDa. This protease had an optimal pH of 9 and exhibited its highest activity at 60 degrees C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by EDTA, suggesting the presence of metal residue at the active site. Ca2+ (5 mM) had stabilising effect on the activity of protease, but Cu2+ (5 mM) had inhibitory effect. The enzyme exhibited highest specificity towards casein (1%) and had a Km of 26.3 mg/ml and a Vmax of 47.6 U/mg with casein as a substrate. The stability of this enzyme was evaluated in the presence of some organic solvents and the enzyme was stable in methanol, petroleum ether and ethanol. Detergents (Wheel, Farishta) had stimulatory effect on the activity of this enzyme.     

Purification and characterisation of an alkaline protease used in tannery industry from Bacillus licheniformis

An extracellular alkaline protease produced by Bacillus licheniformis AP-1 was purified 76-fold, yielding a single 28 kDa band on SDS-PAGE. It was optimally active at pH 11 and at 60 degrees C (assayed over 10 min). The protease was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and diodopropyl fluorophosphate, with little increase upon Ca2+ and Mg2+ addition.