Construction of a fusion enzyme of dextransucrase and dextranase: Application for one-step synthesis of isomalto-oligosaccharides

The linear isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) with DP2–DP10 were produced by one-step process using engineered fusion enzyme (DXSR) of endo-dextranase and only α-(1–6) glucan synthesizing dextransucrase. The fusion enzyme was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Compared to individual enzymes, DXSR had 150% increased endo-dextranase activity and 98% decreased dextransucrase activity. The partially purified DXSR displayed molecular mass of 240 kDa as analyzed by SDS–PAGE. It showed both enzyme activities on analysis by zymogram. The thermal- and pH-stability of DXSR was around 28 °C and pH at 5.0–6.4, respectively. IMOs production by DXSR was increased by the addition of metal ions such as Fe²⁺, Li⁺, K⁺ and Ni²⁺, but the enzyme was strongly inhibited by Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺. DXSR produced linear IMO with DP2–DP10 using sucrose as a sole substrate. The molecular weight and amount of IMO could be controlled by the sucrose concentration. DXSR gave 30-fold higher production of IMO than that of an equal activity mixture of the two enzymes such as dextranase and dextransucrase.     

Elucidation of the CMP-pseudaminic acid pathway in Helicobacter pylori: synthesis from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine by a single enzymatic reaction

Flagellin glycosylation is a necessary modification allowing flagellar assembly, bacterial motility, colonization, and hence virulence for the gastrointestinal pathogen Helicobacter pylori [Josenhans, C., Vossebein, L., Friedrich, S., and Suerbaum, S. (2002) FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 210, 165-172; Schirm, M., Schoenhofen, I.C., Logan, S.M., Waldron, K.C., and Thibault, P. (2005) Anal. Chem., 77, 7774-7782]. A causative agent of gastric and duodenal ulcers, H. pylori, heavily modifies its flagellin with the sialic acid-like sugar 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-l-glycero-alpha-l-manno-nonulosonic acid (pseudaminic acid). Because this sugar is unique to bacteria, its biosynthetic pathway offers potential as a novel therapeutic target. We have identified six H. pylori enzymes, which reconstitute the complete biosynthesis of pseudaminic acid, and its nucleotide-activated form CMP-pseudaminic acid, from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The pathway intermediates and final product were identified from monitoring sequential reactions with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, thereby confirming the function of each biosynthetic enzyme. Remarkably, the conversion of UDP-GlcNAc to CMP-pseudaminic acid was achieved in a single reaction combining six enzymes. This represents the first complete in vitro enzymatic synthesis of a sialic acid-like sugar and sets the groundwork for future small molecule inhibitor screening and design. Moreover, this study provides a strategy for efficient large-scale synthesis of novel medically relevant bacterial sugars that has not been attainable by chemical methods alone.     

Expression and characterization of a DNase I-Fc fusion enzyme

Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) is an important clinical agent that is inhaled into the airways where it degrades DNA to lower molecular weight fragments, thus reducing the viscoelasticity of sputum and improving the lung function of cystic fibrosis patients. To investigate DNases with potentially improved properties, we constructed a molecular fusion of human DNase I with the hinge and Fc region of human IgG1 heavy chain, creating a DNase I-Fc fusion protein. Infection of Sf9 insect cells with recombinant baculovirus resulted in the expression and secretion of the DNase I-Fc fusion protein. The fusion protein was purified from the culture medium using protein A affinity chromatography followed by desalting by gel filtration and was characterized by amino-terminal sequence, amino acid composition, and a variety of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and activity assays. The purified fusion contains DNase I, as determined by a DNase I ELISA and an actin-binding ELISA, and an intact antibody Fc region, which was quantified by an Fc ELISA, in a 2:1 stoichiometric ratio, respectively. The dimeric DNase I-Fc fusion was functionally active in enzymatic DNA digestion assays, albeit about 10-fold less than monomeric DNase I. Cleavage of the DNase I-Fc fusion by papain resulted in a specific activity comparable to the monomeric enzyme. Salt was inhibitory for wild type monomeric DNase I but actually enhanced the activity of the dimeric DNase I-Fc fusion. The DNase I-Fc fusion protein was also less Ca2+-dependent than DNase I itself. These results are consistent with a higher affinity of the dimeric fusion protein to DNA than monomeric DNase I. The engineered DNase I-Fc fusion protein described herein has properties that may have clinical benefits.     

Recognition of arylsulfatase A and B by the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-phosphotransferase

The critical step for sorting of lysosomal enzymes is the recognition by a Golgi-located phosphotransferase. The topogenic structure common to all lysosomal enzymes essential for this recognition is still not well defined, except that lysine residues seem to play a critical role. Here we have substituted surface-located lysine residues of lysosomal arylsulfatases A and B. In lysosomal arylsulfatase A only substitution of lysine residue 457 caused a reduction of phosphorylation to 33% and increased secretion of the mutant enzyme. In contrast to critical lysines in various other lysosomal enzymes, lysine 457 is not located in an unstructured loop region but in a helix. It is not strictly conserved among six homologous lysosomal sulfatases. Based on three-dimensional structure comparison, lysines 497 and 507 in arylsulfatase B are in a similar position as lysine 457 of arylsulfatase A. Also, the position of oligosaccharide side chains phosphorylated in arylsulfatase A is similar in arylsulfatase B. Despite the high degree of structural homology between these two sulfatases substitution of lysines 497 and 507 in arylsulfatase B has no effect on the sorting and phosphorylation of this sulfatase. Thus, highly homologous lysosomal arylsulfatases A and B did not develop a single conserved phosphotransferase recognition signal, demonstrating the high variability of this signal even in evolutionary closely related enzymes.     

Control of glycoprotein synthesis. Purification and characterization of rabbit liver UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:alpha-3-D-mannoside beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:alpha-3-D-mannoside beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I catalyzes an essential first step in the conversion of high mannose to hybrid and complex N-glycans (Schachter, H. (1986) Biochem. Cell Biol. 64, 163-181; Oppenheimer, C.L., and Hill, R.L. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 799-804), i.e. the addition of GlcNAc to (Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6)(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc-OR to form (Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6)(GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1- 3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc-OR. The enzyme has been purified from Triton X-100 extracts of rabbit liver by chromatography on CM-Sephadex, Affi-Gel blue, UDP-hexanolamine-Sepharose, and a novel adsorbent in which UDP-GlcNAc is linked to thiopropyl-Sepharose at the 5-position of uracil. The enzyme exists in crude liver extracts in two molecular weight forms separable on Sephadex G-200. The low molecular weight form was purified 64,000-fold with a specific activity of 19.8 mumol/min/mg. The pure enzyme was free of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II-V activities. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single major band of Mr 45,000 and two minor bands of Mr 54,000 and 50,000. All three bands showed retarded elution from an affinity column in which the acceptor substrate for the transferase was covalently linked to Sepharose. Kinetic analysis indicated a largely ordered sequential mechanism with UDP-GlcNAc binding to the enzyme first and UDP leaving last. Studies with synthetic analogues of the substrate Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc showed that an unsubstituted equatorial hydroxyl on carbon 4 of the beta-linked Man residue was essential for enzyme activity.     

Effect of temperature and enzyme origin on the enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides

The aim of this research is to quantify the effect of temperature and enzyme origin on the enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides. Quantification of these effects is important because temperature and enzyme origin are important process parameters. A kinetic model was used to describe the concentrations in time. The kinetic parameters were determined by using data obtained in batch experiments at various temperatures (20, 30, 40, and 50 degrees C) and by using beta-galactosidases from Bacillus circulans, Aspergillus oryzae, Kluyveromyces lactis, and Kluyveromyces fragilis. The effect of temperature on the kinetic parameters could be described with the Arrhenius equation, except for the inhibition parameter. Slightly higher oligosaccharide yields were found at higher temperatures. However, the influence of the initial lactose concentration was much larger. The higher yield at higher temperatures is an additional advantage when operating at high initial lactose concentrations and consequently elevated temperatures. Clear differences between the beta-galactosidases were found concerning amount, size, and type of oligosaccharides produced. The beta-galactosidase from B. circulans produced the most abundant amount, the most different, and largest-sized oligosaccharides. The beta-galactosidases from Kluyveromyces spp. produced mainly trisaccharides. The kinetic parameters for the different enzymes were determined and differences were discussed.     

Expression, immobilization, and enzymatic characterization of cellulose-binding domain-organophosphorus hydrolase fusion enzymes

Bifunctional fusion proteins consisting of organophosphate hydrolase (OPH) moieties linked to a Clostridium-derived cellulose-binding domain (CBD) were shown to be highly effective in degrading organophosphate nerve agents, enabling purification and immobilization onto different cellulose materials in essentially a single step. Enzyme kinetics studies were performed for the CBD-OPH fusions using paraoxon as the substrate. The kinetics values of the unbound fusion enzymes were similar to OPH with a modest increase in K(m). Immobilization of the enzymes onto microcrystalline cellulose resulted in a further increase in the K(m) values of approximately twofold. The pH profile of the cellulose-immobilized enzymes was also only minimally affected. The CBD-OPH fusion proteins could be immobilized onto a variety of cellulose matrixes, and retained up to 85% of their original activity for 30 days. The durability of the bound fusions increased with the amount of Avicel used, suggesting that protein/cellulose interactions may have a dramatic stabilizing effect. Repeated hydrolysis of paraoxon was achieved in an immobilized enzyme reactor with 100% degradation efficiency over 45 days. These fusion proteins should prove to be invaluable tools for the development of low cost, OPH-based cellulose materials for the simultaneous adsorption and degradation of stored or spilled organophosphate wastes.     

Design and synthesis of novel cell wall inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis GlmM and GlmU

GlmM and GlmU are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), an essential precursor of peptidoglycan and the rhamnose–GlcNAc linker region in the mycobacterial cell wall. These enzymes are involved in the conversion of two important precursors of UDP-GlcNAc, glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) and glucosamine-1-phosphate (GlcN-1-P). GlmM converts GlcN-6-P to GlcN-1-P, GlmU is a bifunctional enzyme, whereby GlmU converts GlcN-1-P to GlcNAc-1-P and then catalyzes the formation of UDP-GlcNAc from GlcNAc-1-P and uridine triphosphate. In the present study, methyl 2-amino-2-deoxyl-α-d-glucopyranoside 6-phosphate (1α), methyl 2-amino-2-deoxyl-β-d-glucopyranoside 6-phosphate (1β), two analogs of GlcN-6-P, were synthesized as GlmM inhibitors; 2-azido-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl phosphate (2) and 2-amino-2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-α-d-glucopyranosyl phosphate (3), analogs of GlcN-1-P, were synthesized firstly as GlmU inhibitors. Compounds 1α, 1β, 2, and 3 as possible inhibitors of mycobacterial GlmM and GlmU are reported herein. Compound 3 showed promising inhibitory activities against GlmU, whereas 1α, 1β and 2 were inactive against GlmM and GlmU even at high concentrations.     

Deficiency of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase in organs of I-cell patients

A N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase is involved in synthesis of a common phosphorylated recognition marker in lysosomal enzymes. Absence of this enzyme in liver, spleen, kidney and brain of two patients with I-cell disease is now reported. In these organs activities of lysosomal enzymes are close to normal. In contrast, in fibroblasts the absence of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase and of the common recognition marker are known to result in a severe intracellular deficiency of lysosomal enzymes. It is proposed that in certain organs the transport of lysosomal enzymes into lysosomes is mediated by alternative systems, which recognize structural features other than the phosphorylated recognition marker.     

Low-molecular-mass purine nucleoside phosphorylase: characterization and application in enzymatic synthesis of nucleoside antiviral drugs

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) that catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of various purine nucleosides is widely distributed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Four pnp genes from Bacillus subtilis 168, Escherichia coli K-12 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. XM2107 were cloned by PCR and expressed in E. coli XL1-Blue. Recombinant PNPs (rPNPs) were purified by Ni²⁺-NTA chromatography. Compared with other rPNPs, PNP₈₁₆ was a low-molecular-mass homotrimer, which exhibited 11-, 4- and 1.5-fold higher values in k _cat/K _m using inosine as the substrate at 37°C. The PNP₈₁₆ or engineered strain XBlue (pQE-816) had a higher catalytic activity than other rPNPs or engineered strains during the enzymatic synthesis of ribavirin, which suggested that the low-molecular-mass homotrimer derived from microorganisms has higher catalytic activity for synthesis of nucleoside antiviral drugs.     

Purification and characterization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from enzymatic hydrolysates of Styela clava flesh tissue

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated from the Styela clava flesh tissue. Nine proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, Alcalase, pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin and papain) were used, and their respective enzymatic hydrolysates and an aqueous extract were screened to evaluate their potential ACE inhibitory activity. Among all of the test samples, Protamex hydrolysate possessed the highest ACE inhibitory activity, and the Protamex hydrolysate of flesh tissue showed relatively higher ACE inhibitory activity compared with the Protamex hydrolysate of tunic tissue. We attempted to isolate ACE inhibitory peptide from the Protamex hydrolysate of S. clava flesh tissue using ultrafiltration, gel filtration on a Sephadex G-25 column and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an ODS column. The purified ACE inhibitory peptide exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 37.1 μM and was identified as non-competitive inhibitor of ACE. Amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Ala-His-Ile-Ile-Ile, with a molecular weight 565.3 Da. The results of this study suggested that the peptides derived from enzymes-assisted extracts of S. clava would be useful new antihypertension compounds in functional food resource.     

Extracellular fibrinogenolytic enzyme of Aspergillus fumigatus: substrate-dependent variations in the proteinase synthesis and characterization of the enzyme

Abstract To get a better understanding of the role of the previously reported fibringenolytic enzyme of Aspergillus fumigatus , we investigated the in vitro conditions of enzyme synthesis and attempted to characterize it. Modification of the nitrogen source did not influence the extracellular serine-proteinase profile, but resulted in important quantitative differences in the yields in batch cultures. The enzyme synthesis appeared to be an inducible phenomenon in A. fumigatus since it was initiated exclusively in the presence of proteins or protein hydrolysate. Free amino acids or inorganic nitrogen compounds could not promote significant enzyme production. Moreover, peptone at a concentration of 0.1% appeared to be the best inducer of enzyme synthesis. Conversely, modification of the carbon source did not affect fungal growth or enzyme synthesis. However, the production of chymotrypsin was highly sensitive to the carbohydrate level in the culture medium and, with peptone as nitrogen source, highest yields were obtained in the presence of 0.3 or 0.5% glucose. Culture filtrates of A. fumigatus CBS 113.26 grown with peptone or nitrate as nitrogen source were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the protein patterns suggested for the proteinase a molecular mass of 33 kDa which was confirmed by chromatographic purification of the enzyme through (Nα-CBZ)- d -phenylalanine agarose.     

G-quadruplex-forming oligonucleotide conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and enzymatic stability assays

In the present work, we report the conjugation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles to a fluorescently labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) able to fold into stable unimolecular guanine quadruple helix under proper ion conditions by means of its thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) sequence. The novel modified ODN, which contained a fluorescent dU(Py) unit at 3'-end and a 12-amino-dodecyl spacer (C(12)-NH(2)) at 5' terminus, was characterized by ESI-MS and optical spectroscopy (UV, CD, fluorescence), and analyzed by RP-HPLC chromatography and electrophoresis. From CD and fluorescence experiments, we verified that dU(Py) and C(12)-NH(2) incorporation does not interfere with the conformational stability of the G-quadruplex. Subsequently, the conjugation of the pyrene-labeled ODN with the magnetite particles was performed, and the ODN-conjugated nanoparticles were studied through optical spectroscopy (UV, CD, fluorescence) and by enzymatic and chemical assays. We found that the nanoparticles enhanced the stability of the TBA ODN to enzymatic degradation. Finally, we evaluated the amount of the TBA-conjugated nanoparticles immobilized on a magnetic separator in view of the potential use of the nanosystem for the magnetic capture of thrombin from complex mixtures.     

基质金属蛋白酶-2/9敏感型可跨膜融合抗氧化酶的表达、纯化和表征北大核心CSCD

融合了跨膜肽的抗氧化酶可进入细胞,保护细胞免受放射损伤。然而跨膜肽的跨膜能力没有靶向性,其也可把抗氧化酶带入肿瘤细胞进而保护肿瘤细胞,降低放疗的效果。为此,根据多数肿瘤细胞微环境中存在活性基质金属蛋白酶(matrix metalloproteinase,MMP)-2或MMP-9的特点,在细胞跨膜肽R9与人铜、锌超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase 1,SOD1)和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferase,GST)之间融合MMP-2/9的底物肽X,设计了融合蛋白GST-SOD1-X-R9。该蛋白在肿瘤微环境中可因MMP-2/9酶切底物肽X而失去跨膜肽,从而无法进入肿瘤细胞,进而只能进入正常细胞。全基因合成SOD1-X-R9序列,并将其插入原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,得到表达质粒,并实现了GST-SOD1-X-R9融合蛋白的可溶表达。GST-SOD1-X-R9经硫酸铵沉淀和GST亲和层析纯化,分子量约为47 kDa,与理论值一致。纯化的融合蛋白的SOD活性和GST活性分别为2954 U/mg和328 U/mg。GST-SOD1-X-R9的SOD活性或GST活性在生理条件下几乎没有变化。该融合蛋白在溶液中可被胶原酶Ⅳ部分水解。分别建立了2D和3D培养的HepG2细胞模型来检验肿瘤微环境中的MMP-2活力对该蛋白跨膜能力的影响。在2D培养模型中,HepG2的MMP-2活力极低,但在3D培养模型中,随着培养时间的增加,HepG2肿瘤球的体积变大,其胞外MMP-2活力也随之增强。GST-SOD1-X-R9在2D培养的HepG2细胞中具有和GST-SOD1-R9蛋白一样的跨膜效率,但在3D培养的HepG2细胞球中的跨膜能力大大降低。本研究为后续深入研究GST-SOD1-X-R9靶向防护正常细胞的氧化损伤效应奠定了基础。     

Hydrolytic enzyme substrates. I. Chemical synthesis and characterization

The synthesis and characterization of a number of new phosphate, sulfate and acetate esters of 3-(p-nitrophenoxy)-1,2-propanediol (PNG); 3-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-1,2-propanediol (DNG); 4-(p-nitrophenoxy)-1,2-butanediol (PNB) and 4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-1,2-butanediol (DNB) are described. These esters were prepared to serve as substrates for their corresponding hydrolytic enzymes. The assay system used to measure enzyme hydrolysis requires periodate oxidation of the diol formed after hydrolysis of the ester. Base treatment of the resulting aldehyde yields either p-nitrophenolate ion or the 2,4-dinitrophenolate ion depending upon the substrate. In the presence of high concentrations of methylamine and excess periodate the oxidation and elimination reactions can be carried out simultaneously at pH 7.5. The reactions leading to these results are described.     

Batch reactor performance for the enzymatic synthesis of cephalexin: influence of catalyst enzyme loading and particle size

A mathematical model is presented for the kinetically controlled synthesis of cephalexin that describes the heterogeneous reaction-diffusion process involved in a batch reactor with glyoxyl-agarose immobilized penicillin acylase. The model is based on equations considering reaction and diffusion components. Reaction kinetics was considered according to the mechanism proposed by Schro?n, while diffusion of the reacting species was described according to Fick's law. Intrinsic kinetic and diffusion parameters were experimentally determined in independent experiments. It was found that from the four kinetic constants, the one corresponding to the acyl-enzyme complex hydrolysis step had the greatest value, as previously reported by other authors. The effective diffusion coefficients of all substances were about 5×10(-10)m(2)/s, being 10% lower than free diffusion coefficients and therefore agreed with the highly porous structure of glyoxyl-agarose particles. Simulations made from the reaction-diffusion model equations were used to evaluate and analyze the impact of internal diffusional restrictions in function of catalyst enzyme loading and particle size. Increasing internal diffusional restrictions decreases the Cex synthesis/hydrolysis ratio, the conversion yield and the specific productivity. A nonlinear relationship between catalyst enzyme loading and specific productivity of Cex was obtained with the implication that an increase in catalyst enzyme loading will not increase the volumetric productivity by the same magnitude as it occurs with the free enzyme. Optimization of catalyst and reactor design should be done considering catalyst enzyme loading and particle size as the most important variables. The approach presented can be extended to other processes catalyzed by immobilized enzymes.     

Rational design of inhibitors of the bacterial cell wall synthetic enzyme GlmU using virtual screening and lead-hopping

An aminoquinazoline series targeting the essential bacterial enzyme GlmU (uridyltransferase) were previously reported (Biochem. J. 2012, 446, 405). In this study, we further explored SAR through a combination of traditional medicinal chemistry and structure-based drug design, resulting in a novel scaffold (benzamide) with selectivity against protein kinases. Virtual screening identified fragments that could be fused into the core scaffold, exploiting additional binding interactions and thus improving potency. These efforts resulted in a hybrid compound with target potency increased by a 1000-fold, while maintaining selectivity against selected protein kinases and an improved level of solubility and protein binding. Despite these significant improvements no significant antibacterial activity was yet observed within this class.