Cloning, expression and characterization of alcohol dehydrogenases in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) are a class of enzymes that catalyze the reversible oxidation of alcohols to corresponding aldehydes or ketones, by using either nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), as coenzymes. In this study, a short-chain ADH gene was identified in Bombyx mori by 5'-RACE PCR. This is the first time the coding region of BmADH has been cloned, expressed, purified and then characterized. The cDNA fragment encoding the BmADH protein was amplified from a pool of silkworm cDNAs by PCR, and then cloned into E. coli expression vector pET-30a(+). The recombinant His-tagged BmADH protein was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3), and then purified by metal chelating affinity chromatography. The soluble recombinant BmADH, produced at low-growth temperature, was instrumental in catalyzing the ethanol-dependent reduction of NAD(+), thereby indicating ethanol as one of the substrates of BmADH.     

Reduction of Activity of Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Oxidase by Divalent Cations in Cell-Free Extracts of Bacillus cereus T

A rapid and effective method was devised for the reduction of activity of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase in crude extracts of Bacillus cereus T. The addition of 25 mumoles of MnCl(2) per mg of extract protein in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffer reduced NADH oxidase activity by 90% within 1 min, and this reduction was independent of pH between pH 7.0 and 8.5. Other divalent cations such as Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Ca(2+), and Co(2+) also reduced NADH oxidase activity, but monovalent cations such as Na(+) and K(+) were ineffective. The reduction of NADH oxidase activity by divalent cations was presumably due to the removal of an essential flavine cofactor, since the addition of riboflavine and flavine mononucleotide to treated extracts was shown to completely restore NADH oxidase activity. The specificity, convenience, and efficiency of the procedure were shown to be applicable to crude extracts of B. megaterium and B. subtilis and should facilitate spectrophotometric measurements of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent dehydrogenases in these and other microorganisms.     

Purification and properties of L-alanine dehydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

The l-alanine dehydrogenase from cell-free extracts of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was purified approximately 56-fold. The Michaelis constants for the substrates of the amination reaction and the pH optima for the reactions catalyzed by this enzyme closely agree with those reported for other l-alanine dehydrogenases. Pyruvate was found to inhibit the amination reaction. The enzyme was absolutely specific for l-alanine and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Its sensitivity to para-chloromecuribenzoate suggests that sulfhydryl groups may be necessary for enzymatic activity. These extracts also contained a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific glutamic dehydrogenase which was separated from the l-alanine dehydrogenase during purification.     

Selected dehydrogenases in Yarrowia lipolytica JMY 861: their role in the synthesis of flavor compounds

The presence of selected dehydrogenases, including alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-YL) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-YL), in Yarrowia lipolytica JMY 861, and their potential role in flavor synthesis were investigated. The experimental findings showed that using reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as cofactor, the ADH-YL activity in vitro was 6-fold higher than that with reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH); however, under the experimental conditions used in this study, an ALDH-YL activity was not detected. The in situ hexanal reduction reaction was found to be instantaneous; however, when the yeast cells suspension was diluted 150 times, the initial relative hexanal concentration was increased by 84.1%. The chromatographic analyses indicated the conversion, in situ, of linoleic acid hydroperoxides (HPODs) into volatile C₆-compounds after 60 min of HPODs addition to the yeast cells suspension.     

Involvement of the protocatechuate pathway in the metabolism of mandelic acid by Aspergillus niger

Cell-free extracts of Aspergillus niger UBC 814 grown in the presence of dl-mandelate oxidized both d(-)- and l(+)-mandelate via benzoylformate and benzaldehyde to benzoate. dl-p-Hydroxymandelate was oxidized, presumably through a parallel pathway, to p-hydroxybenzoate. A particulate d(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase and a supernatant fraction l(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase converted their respective substrates to benzoylformate. Both flavine adenine dinucleotide and flavine mononucleotide showed a stimulatory effect on the activity of the l(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase. Benzoylformate was decarboxylated to benzaldehyde by an enzyme requiring thiamine pyrophosphate for maximal activity. Two benzaldehyde dehydrogenases dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), respectively, for their activity dehydrogenated benzaldehyde to benzoate. In the presence of reduced NADP (NADPH), benzoate was oxidized via p-hydroxybenzoate and protocatechuate. Reduced NAD could not replace NADPH. Sensitive methods of assay for d(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase and benzoylformate decarboxylase are described. The fungal pathway is compared with these systems in bacteria.     

A new ternary complex between horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, NAD+, and acetone

Acetone was found to form a dead-end ternary complex with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) when the reactants were incubated for a long time at relatively high concentrations. The complex formation was demonstrated by measuring the increase in absorbance at 320 nm, the quenching of protein fluorescence, and the loss of enzyme activity. Since acetone is a substrate of liver alcohol dehydrogenase, and the presence of acetaldehyde or pyrazole prevents acetone from forming the dead-end complex with liver alcohol dehydrogenase and NAD⁺, the acetone molecule in the complex may be bound to the substrate binding site of liver alcohol dehydrogenase. The dissociation of the complex was demonstrated by prolonged dialysis or by addition of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and iso-butyramide. A modified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was obtained as a main product from the dead-end complex after dissociation of the complex or denaturation of the apoenzyme. The modified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was found to exhibit an absorption spectrum similar to that of NADH; however, it was not oxidizable by liver alcohol dehydrogenase in the presence of acetaldehyde and exhibited no fluorescence.     

Regulation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide- and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent glutamate dehydrogenases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct l-glutamate dehydrogenases. These enzymes are affected in a reciprocal fashion by growth on ammonia or dicarboxylic amino acids as the nitrogen source. The specific activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) (anabolic) enzyme is highest in ammonia-grown cells and is reduced in cells grown on glutamate or aspartate. Conversely, the specific activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) (catabolic) glutamate dehydrogenase is highest in cells grown on glutamate or aspartate and is much lower in cells grown on ammonia. The specific activity of both enzymes is very low in nitrogen-starved yeast. Addition of the ammonia analogue methylamine to the growth medium reduces the specific activity of the NAD-dependent enzyme and increases the specific activity of the NADP-dependent enzyme.     

<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Aspartate dehydrogenase: features and applications

l-Amino acid dehydrogenases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the reversible oxidative deamination of l-amino acids to their corresponding 2-oxoacids, using either nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP⁺) as cofactors. These enzymes have been studied widely because of their potential applications in the synthesis of amino acids for use in production of pharmaceutical peptides, herbicides and insecticides, in biosensors or diagnostic kits, and development of coenzyme regeneration systems for industrial processes. This article presents a review of the currently available data about the recently discovered amino acid dehydrogenase superfamily member l-aspartate dehydrogenase (l-AspDH), their relevant catalytic properties and speculated physiological roles, and potential for biotechnological applications. The proposed classification of l-AspDH on the basis of bioinformatic information and potential role in vivo into NadB (NAD biosynthesis-related) and non-NadB type is unique. In particular, the mesophilic non-NadB type l-AspDH is a novel group of amino acid dehydrogenases with great promise as potential industrial biocatalysts owing to their relatively high catalytic properties at room temperature. Considering that only a few l-AspDH homologs have been characterized so far, identification and prodigious enzymological research of the new members will be necessary to shed light on the gray areas pertaining to these enzymes.     

Glutamate Synthase: Properties of the Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-Dependent Enzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent glutamate synthase has been detected and partially purified from crude extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme is specific for NADH, glutamine, and alpha-ketoglutarate (K(m) values of 2.6 muM, 1.0 mM, and 140 muM, respectively) and has a pH optimum between 7.1 and 7.7. The stoichiometry of the reaction has been determined as 2 mol of glutamate synthesized per mol of glutamine consumed. Glutamate synthase can be distinguished from either of the glutamate dehydrogenases of yeast on the basis of its substrate requirements and behavior during agarose gel and ion exchange chromatography. Variations in the specific activity of glutamate synthase, which occur in response to changes in the growth medium, are similar in character to those observed with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent (anabolic) glutamate dehydrogenase.     

α-α′-Dipyridyl or Ortho-Phenanthroline Stimulation of the Soluble Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Oxidase from Bacillus subtilis Spores and Dipicolinic Acid Inhibition of the Stimulated Enzyme

Soluble reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase activity in extracts of Bacillus subtilis spores was stimulated by the addition of not only flavine mononucleotide (FMN) or flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) but also alpha-alpha'-dipyridyl or o-phenanthroline. These chelating agents showed stronger effect on the enzyme from spores than on that from vegetative cells. Activity stimulated by alpha-alpha'-dipyridyl or o-phenanthroline was inhibited by atabrine or dipicolinic acid, whereas FMN or FAD stimulation was inhibited only by atabrine.     

Selectivity in the binding of NAD(P)+ analogues to NAD- and NADP-dependent pig heart isocitrate dehydrogenases. A nuclear magnetic resonance study.

The coenzyme selectivity of pig heart NAD-dependent and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase has been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance through the use of coenzyme analogues. For both isocitrate dehydrogenases, more than 10-fold lower maximal activity is observed with thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [sNAD(P)+] than with NAD(P)+ or acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide [acNAD-(P)+] as coenzyme. Nuclear Overhauser effect measurements failed to reveal any differences in the adenine-ribose conformations among the enzyme-bound analogues. The 2'-phosphate resonance of the enzyme-bound NADP+ analogues showed the same change in chemical shift observed for the natural coenzyme and revealed the same lack of pH dependence in the range from pH 5.4 to 8.2. NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase exhibits only small differences in Michaelis constants for the coenzymes with various nicotinamide substituents, reflecting a predominant role for the adenosine moiety in binding. The conformation of the bound nicotinamide-ribose of the natural coenzymes was appreciably different from that of the coenzyme, sNAD(P)+, which shows low catalytic activity. For both isocitrate dehydrogenases, sNAD(P)+ bound to the enzymes exhibits a mixture of syn and anti conformations while only the anti conformation can be detected for NAD(P)+. Chemical shifts of NAD(P)+ enriched with 13C in the carboxamide indicate that interaction of this group with the enzymes may play a role in positioning the nicotinamide ring to participate in catalysis. Our results suggest that, although interaction of the nicotinamide moiety with the enzymes contributes relatively little to the energy of interaction in the binary complex, the enzymes must correctly position this group for the catalytic event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Spectral, Physical, and Electron Transport Activities in the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Mesophyll Cells and Bundle Sheath Cells of Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop

Isolated mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells of Digitaria sanguinalis were used to study the light-absorbing pigments and electron transport reactions of a plant which possesses the C₄-dicarboxylic acid cycle of photosynthesis. Absorption spectra and chlorophyll determinations are presented showing that mesophyll cells have a chlorophyll a-b ratio of about 3.0 and bundle sheath cells have a chlorophyll a-b ratio of about 4.5. The absorption spectrum of bundle sheath cells has a greater absorption in the 700 nm region at liquid nitrogen temperature, and there is a relatively greater amount of a pigment absorbing at 670 nm in the bundle sheath cells compared to the mesophyll cells. Fluorescence emission spectra, at liquid nitrogen temperature, of mesophyll cells have a fluorescence 730 nm-685 nm ratio of about 0.82 and bundle sheath cells have a ratio of about 2.84. The reversible light-induced absorption change in the region of P₇₀₀ absorption is similar in both cell types but bundle sheath cells exhibit about twice as much total P₇₀₀ change as mesophyll cells on a total chlorophyll basis. The delayed light emission of bundle sheath cells is about one-half that of mesophyll cells. Both mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells evolve oxygen in the presence of Hill oxidants with the mesophyll cells exhibiting about twice the activity of bundle sheath cells, and both activities are inhibited by 1 μM 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea. Ferredoxin nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reductase is present in both cells although it is about 3- or 4-fold higher in mesophyll cells than in bundle sheath cells. Glyceraldehyde 3-P dehydrogenases, both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, are equally distributed in the two cell types on a chlorophyll basis. Malic enzyme is localized in the bundle sheath cells.     

Location and properties of glucose dehydrogenase in sporulating cells and spores of Bacillus subtilis.

Late during sporulation, Bacillus subtilis produces glucose dehydrogenase (GlcDH; EC 1.1.1.47), which can react with D-glucose or 2-deoxy-D-glucose and can use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) as a cofactor. This enzyme is found mainly in the forespore compartment and is present in spores; it is probably made exclusively in the forespore. The properties of GlcDH were determined both in crude cell extracts and after purification. The enzyme is stable at pH 6.5 but labile at pH 8 or higher; the pH optimum of enzyme activity is 8. After inactivation at pH 8, the activity can be recovered in crude extracts, but not in solutions of the purified enzyme, by incubation with 3 M KCl and 5 mM NAD or NADP. As determined by gel filtration, enzymatically active GlcDH has a molecular weight of about 115,000 (if the enzyme is assumed to be globular). GlcDH is distinct from a catabolite-repressible inositol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.18), which can also react with D-glucose, requires specifically NAD as a cofactor, and has an electrophoretic mobility different from that of GlcDH.     

Evidence for two species of glutamate dehydrogenases in Thiobacillus novellus

When grown autotrophically in a thiosulfate-mineral salts medium, cells of the facultative chemoautotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus novellus, produced two distinct glutamate dehydrogenases, one specific for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and the other specific for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). When glutamate was supplied exogenously as the sole carbon source, the NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase was fully induced. Lower levels of the enzyme were found in bacteria grown in l-arginine, l-alanine, glucose, glycerol, lactate, citrate, or succinate. Arginine, histidine, and aspartate, on the other hand, caused a marked repression of the NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase activity. The NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase was allosteric. Adenosine-5'-monophosphate and adenosine-5'-diphosphate acted as positive effectors. Both glutamate dehydrogenases were purified about 250-fold and were shown to be distinct protein with different physical properties.     

A Metaphosphate-dependent Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Kinase from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes

The enzyme utilizing metaphosphate for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphorylation was purified 500-fold from B. ammoniagenes and its properties were studied. The isolated enzyme appeared homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis; its molecular weight was determined to be 9.0 × 10⁴ by gel filtration. This enzyme specifically phosphorylated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide at the optimum pH at 6.0. Of phosphoryl donors tested, metaphosphate was most effective for the reaction, and adenosine-5′-triphosphate was less effective. The activity was inhibited by adenosine-5′-monophosphate, adenosine-5′-diphosphate or reduced pyridine nucleotides. The enzyme did not exhibit catalytic activity in the absence of a divalent cation. We concluded that the enzyme phosphorylating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the presence of metaphosphate is distinct from adenosine-5′-triphosphate-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase, and tentatively designated it metaphosphate-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase.     

Pyridine coenzyme analogues. Synthesis and characterization of alpha- and beta-nicotinamide arabinoside adenine dinucleotides

The synthesis and characterization of a new pyridine coenzyme analogue containing a nicotinamide arabinonucleotide moiety are reported. The redox potentials are -339 mV for beta-oxidized nicotinamide arabinoside adenine dinucleotide and -319 mV for alpha-oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and the lambda max is 346 and 338 nm for beta- and alpha-reduced nicotinamide arabinoside adenine dinucleotides (araNADH), respectively. Anomerization of the reduced analogues leads to a 5:1 ratio of alpha-araNADH to beta-araNADH at 90 degrees C. These results establish that the relative configuration of the 2'-hydroxyl to the base is the primary determinant for the configuration-dependent changes in lambda max, the redox potential of the pyridine nucleotides, and the preferred anomeric configuration of the reduced coenzymes. Comparison of the 1H and 31P NMR spectral data of the analogues with those for the ribo coenzymes is reported and the conformational analysis discussed. The coenzyme properties of the arabino analogues have been evaluated with yeast and horse liver alcohol dehydrogenases. Both the alpha- and beta-anomers are found to serve as coenzymes, and the stereochemistry of hydride transfer is identical for both anomers.     

Purification and Characterization of the Two 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase Species from Pseudomonas multivorans

The two species of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.43) from Pseudomonas multivorans were resolved from extracts of gluconate-grown bacteria and purified to homogeneity. Each enzyme comprised between 0.1 and 0.2% of the total cellular protein. Separation of the two enzymes, one which is specific for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and the other which is active with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate was facilitated by the marked difference in their respective isoelectric points, which were at pH 5.0 and 6.9. Comparison of the subunit compositions of the two enzymes indicated that they do not share common peptide chains. The enzyme active with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was composed of two subunits of about 40,000 molecular weight, and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific enzyme was composed of two subunits of about 60,000 molecular weight. Immunological studies indicated that the two enzymes do not share common antigenic determinants. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate strongly inhibited the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase active with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by decreasing its affinity for 6-phosphogluconate. Guanosine-5'-triphosphate had a similar influence on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. These results in conjunction with other data indicating that reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate stimulates the conversion of 6-phosphogluconate to pyruvate by crude bacterial extracts suggest that in P. multivorans, the relative distribution of 6-phosphogluconate into the pentose phosphate and Entner-Doudoroff pathways might be determined by the intracellular concentrations of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and purine nucleotides.     

Regulation of enzyme activity of alcohol dehydrogenase through its interactions with pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase in Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis

Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) from thermophilic microorganisms are interesting enzymes that have their potential applications in biotechnology and potentially provide insight into the mechanisms of action of thermo-tolerant proteins. The molecular mechanisms of ADHs under thermal stress in vivo have yet to be explored. Herein, we employed a proteomic strategy to survey the possible interactions of secondary-ADH (2-ADH) with other proteins in Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (T. tengcongensis) cultured at 75°C and found that 2-ADH, pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) and several glycolytic enzymes coexisted in a protein complex. Using anion exchange chromatography, the elution profile indicated that the native 2-ADH was present in two forms, PFOR-bound and PFOR-free. Immuno-precipitation and pull down analysis further validated the interactions between 2-ADH and PFOR. The kinetic behaviours of 2-ADH either in the recombinant or native form were evaluated with different substrates. The enzyme activity of 2-ADH was inhibited in a non-competitive mode by PFOR, implying the interaction of 2-ADH and PFOR negatively regulated alcohol formation. In T. tengcongensis, PFOR is an enzyme complex located at the upstream of 2-ADH in the alcohol generation pathway. These findings, therefore, offered a plausible mechanism for how alcohol metabolism is regulated by hetero-interactions between 2-ADH and PFOR, especially in anaerobic thermophiles.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase from Mycoplasma laidlawii

Mycoplasma laidlawii possesses a single glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) with dual coenzyme specificity [specificity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (H) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (H)]. A purification procedure is reported which results in an enzyme preparation with a specific activity of 79.5 units/mg and which displays only one significant protein band after gel electrophoresis. This one band was determined, by activity staining, to have all of the GDH nucleotide specificities. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 250,000 +/- 10%, and it has a subunit size of about 48,000. The enzyme exhibits measurable activity with aspartate and pyruvate but is inactive with eight other possible substrates. Purine nucleotides do not affect the activity. The K(m) for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was 1.8 x 10(-4)m. The optimal substrate concentrations and pH optimum for each of the respective GDH activities are also reported.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on pyridine dinucleotides. The pH dependence of the carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance of NAD+ analogs.

The pH dependence of the ¹³C chemical shifts for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (TNAD⁺), pyridine adenine dinucleotide (PyrAD⁺), N-methyl-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (N-Me-NAD⁺), acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide (AcPyAD⁺), nicotinamide hypoxanthine dinucleotide (NHD⁺), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP⁺) are reported. In these analogs the ¹³C chemical shifts of the pyridinium moiety reflect the pK_a of the opposing purine base, while the ¹³C chemical shift dependence on pD for the pyridinium carbons of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN⁺) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP), 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (N(a)AD⁺) are not influenced by the adenine ring in the pD range tested. Through the use of ¹³C-labeled NAD⁺, the source of the pH dependence of the ¹³C chemical shifts was shown to be intramolecular in origin. However, serious doubt is cast on the utility of employing the pD dependence of chemical shift data to determine the nature of solution conformers or their relative populations.