Utilization of the recombinant human β-carotene-15,15′-monooxygenase gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and mammalian cells

In animals, β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase (BCMO) is the key enzyme involved in the metabolism of plant β-carotene to retinal. In the present study, we utilized β-carotene-producing Escherichia coli to screen for mutants with higher BCMO activity which was monitored by color changes derived from β-carotene cleavage. Recombinant wild-type and T381L mutant BCMO proteins were purified to near homogeneity in E. coli, and their enzymatic activities were determined by HPLC analysis. The catalytic efficiency for β-carotene and retinal production of the mutant were 1.5-fold and 1.7-fold higher than those of wild-type, respectively. Further BCMO function in mammalian cells was analyzed by a retinoic acid receptor reporter assay, which responds to the metabolic conversion of β-carotene to retinoic acid in vivo. Overall, these tools can be used to screen more active BCMO for the industrial and pharmacological purpose of retinal production from β-carotene.     

Loss of β-carotene 15,15′-oxygenase in developing mouse tissues alters esterification of retinol,cholesterol and diacylglycerols

We provide novel insights into the function(s) of β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase (CMOI) during embryogenesis. By performing in vivo and in vitro experiments, we showed that CMOI influences not only lecithin:retinol acyltransferase but also acyl CoA:retinol acyltransferase reaction in the developing tissues at mid-gestation. In addition, LC/MS lipidomics analysis of the CMOI −/− embryos showed reduced levels of four phosphatidylcholine and three phosphatidylethanolamine acyl chain species, and of eight triacylglycerol species with four or more unsaturations and fifty-two or more carbons in the acyl chains. Cholesteryl esters of arachidonate, palmitate, linoleate, and DHA were also reduced to less than 30% of control. Analysis of the fatty acyl CoA species ruled out a loss in fatty acyl CoA synthetase capability. Comparison of acyl species suggested significantly decreased 18:2, 18:3, 20:1, 20:4, or 22:6 acyl chains within the above lipids in CMOI-null embryos. Furthermore, LCAT, ACAT1 and DGAT2 mRNA levels were also downregulated in CMOI −/− embryos. These data strongly support the notion that, in addition to cleaving β-carotene to generate retinoids, CMOI serves an additional function(s) in retinoid and lipid metabolism and point to its role in the formation of specific lipids, possibly for use in nervous system tissue.     

Characterization of β-Lactotensin,a Bioactive Peptide Derived from Bovine β-Lactoglobulin,as a Neurotensin Agonist

β-Lactotensin (β-LT: His-Ile-Arg-Leu) is an ileum-contracting peptide derived from residues No. 146-149 of bovine β-lactoglobulin. The ileum-contracting activity of β-LT was blocked by the NT₁ antagonist SR48692. β-LT was selective for the neurotensin NT₂ receptor while neurotensin was selective for the NT₁ receptor. β-LT is the first natural ligand showing selectivity for the NT₂ receptor. β-LT showed hypertensive activity after intravenous administration at a dose of 30 mg/kg in conscious rats, while neurotensin showed hypotensive activity. The hypertensive activity of β-LT was blocked by levocabastine (1 mg/kg, i.v.), an NT₂ antagonist. SR48692, which blocked the hypotensive activity of neurotensin, had no effect on the hypertensive activity of β-LT. These results suggest that the hypertensive activity of β-LT is mediated by the NT₂ receptor. It was concluded that the NT₁ and NT₂ receptors mediate the opposite effect on blood pressure.     

Characterization of a panel of mouse single-chain antibodies against human recombinant interferon β1b

A panel of single-chain Fv-antibodies (ScFv’s) against recombinant human interferon beta 1b (rhIFN-β1b) has been obtained from immune and naïve combinatorial cDNA libraries of the mouse variable immunoglobulin genes. ScFv’s were expressed in Escherichia coli cells. For producers isolated from the immune library a difference in production yield of ScFv’s in periplasm and incubation medium as well as their expression and storage stability have been demonstrated. After sequencing of target DNA the multiple alignment and structural analysis of ScFv’s sequences with different primary structures were carried out and significant difference in both complementarity-determining (CDR) and framework (FR) regions of theirs variable domains has been shown. For the ScFv’s isolated from the immune library, specificity of their binding with native and denatured rhIFN-β1b in ELISA and Western-blotting as well as their high storage stability have been shown. The affinity constants for each representatives of the ScFv’s panel were in the range from 1.96 × 10^?8 to 1.69 × 10^?9 M.     

Cutting off functional loops from homodimeric enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) leaves monomeric β-barrels

Demetallation of the homodimeric enzyme Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is known to unleash pronounced dynamic motions in the long active-site loops that comprise almost a third of the folded structure. The resulting apo species, which shows increased propensity to aggregate, stands out as the prime disease precursor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Even so, the detailed structural properties of the apoSOD1 framework have remained elusive and controversial. In this study, we examine the structural interplay between the central apoSOD1 barrel and the active-site loops by simply cutting them off; loops IV and VII were substituted with short Gly-Ala-Gly linkers. The results show that loop removal breaks the dimer interface and leads to soluble, monomeric β-barrels with high structural integrity. NMR-detected nuclear Overhauser effects are found between all of the constituent β-strands, confirming ordered interactions across the whole barrel. Moreover, the breathing motions of the SOD1 barrel are overall insensitive to loop removal and yield hydrogen/deuterium protection factors typical for cooperatively folded proteins (i.e. the active-site loops act as a "bolt-on" domain with little dynamic influence on its structural foundation). The sole exceptions are the relatively low protection factors in β-strand 5 and the turn around Gly-93, a hot spot for ALS-provoking mutations, which decrease even further upon loop removal. Taken together, these data suggest that the cytotoxic function of apoSOD1 does not emerge from its folded ground state but from a high energy intermediate or even from the denatured ensemble.     

Synthesis and characterization of new dinuclear complexes of molybdenum(V) with β′-hydroxy-β-enaminones

New dinuclear molybdenum(V) complexes have been obtained by the reaction of [Mo₂O₃(acac)₄] (acac=acetilacetonate ion) with the polydentate ligands, β′-hydroxy-β-enaminones. All prepared complexes consist of Mo₂O₄ ²⁺ core coordinated by two ligands as in the β-diketonates only through two donor oxygen atoms. Such bonding gives the opportunity for the sixth coordination place around molybdenum to be completed by the monodentate solvent molecule D. All compounds have been characterized by means of elemental analyses, one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy as well as by thermal analyses. The molecular and crystal structures of the molybdenum(V) complexes 1a and 1b coordinated by two different isomeric ligands as well as of the isomer a itself have been determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction method.     

Characterization of oxidized guanosine 5′-triphosphate as a viable inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase

The guanine base is prone to oxidation by free radicals regardless of the cellular moiety it is bound to. However, under conditions of oxidative stress, 8-oxoguanosine triphosphate (oxo⁸GTP) formation has been shown to occur without oxidation of the guanine base in DNA. In vitro studies have suggested that oxo⁸GTP could impact G-protein signaling and RNA synthesis. Whether increased levels of oxo⁸GTP translate into cellular malfunction is unknown. Data presented herein show that oxo⁸GTP is formed in cell-free preparations as well as in PC12 cells after exposure to physiologically relevant oxidative conditions generated with 10 μM copper sulfate and 1 mM l-ascorbic acid (Cu/Asc). We also determined that oxo⁸GTP has biological activity as a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide-stimulated soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). The increase in oxo⁸GTP formation in purified GTP and PC12 cells exposed to Cu/Asc caused a significant reduction in the product of sGC activity, cGMP. This oxidation of GTP was attenuated by the addition of reduced glutathione under these same Cu/Asc conditions, thus preventing the decrease in sGC activity. This suggests that oxo⁸GTP is produced by free radicals in vivo and could have significant impact on cell functions regulated by sGC activity such as synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system.     

Characterization of inhibitor(s) of β-glucuronidase enzyme activity in <Emphasis Type=Italic>GUS</Emphasis>-transgenic wheat

The uidA gene, encoding for β-glucuronidase (GUS), is the most frequently used reporter gene in plants. As a reporter enzyme, GUS can be assayed both qualitatively and quantitatively. In wheat, there are numerous reports of failure in detecting GUS enzyme activity in tissues of transgenic plants, while other reports have suggested presence of β-glucuronidase inhibitor(s) in wheat tissues. In the present study, we show that the β-glucuronidase enzyme activity is not only tissue-specific but also genotype-dependent. Our data demonstrate that the glucuronic acid could be the candidate inhibitor for β-glucuronidase enzyme activity in wheat leaves and roots. It should be noted that the assays to detect β-glucuronidase enzyme activity in wheat should be interpreted carefully. Based on the data of our present study, we recommend studying the chemical pathways, the unintended effects and the possible loss-of-function of any candidate transgene prior to transformation experiments.     

Characterization of a β-xylosidase from Aspergillus terreus (IJIRA 6.2)

Aspergillus terreus (IJIRA 6.2), a common soil microorganism, produces an extracellular β-xylosidase during its growth on wheat bran. The enzyme has been purified 328 fold (with a sp act of 4233 units/mg protein) by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25, hydroxyapatite, ConA-Sepharose and gel filtration on Sephacryl-S-300. Molecular mass of β-xylosidase by gel filtration was estimated to be about 95,000 and sedimentation coefficient of 5.6S was determined by glycerol density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and 40°C; and in the absence of substrate, the β-xylosidase was stable up to 50°C and between pH 4.5 to 6.5. The purified enzyme hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl-β-Dxylopyranoside (PNPX) and xylooligosaccharides but not xylan, carboxymethyl cellulose or cellobiose. With PNPX as the substrate, the purified β-xylosidase exhibited a Km of 1.0 mM and D(+) xylose served as a competitive inhibitor with a K₁ of 10.5 mM.     

Discovery of 3-hydroxy-4-cyano-isoquinolines as novel, potent, and selective inhibitors of human 11β-hydroxydehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1)

Derived from the HTS hit 1, a series of hydroxyisoquinolines was discovered as potent and selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors with good cross species activity. Optimization of substituents at the 1 and 4 positions of the isoquinoline group in addition to the core modifications, with a special focus on enhancing metabolic stability and aqueous solubility, resulted in the identification of several compounds as potent advanced leads.     

Hydrophobicity of residue 108 specifically affects the affinity of human <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase for substrates with two ionone rings

The Lys residue at position 108 of human β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase is located on the outside surface of the active tunnel of the enzyme. Hydrophobic mutations (K108F and K108L) at this position substantially decreased the affinity of the enzyme for substrates with ionone rings at both ends, such as α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthine. In contrast, these mutations had little effect on the affinity of the enzyme for substrates with one ionone ring and one open-chain end, such as β-apo-4′-carotenal and β-apo-8′-carotenal. The residue 108 may be related to the indirect interaction with the second ionone ring of the substrates with two ionone rings.     

Substrate Specificity of Purified Recombinant Human β-Carotene 15,15′-Oxygenase (BCO1)

Humans cannot synthesize vitamin A and thus must obtain it from their diet. β-Carotene 15,15′-oxygenase (BCO1) catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of provitamin A carotenoids at the central 15–15′ double bond to yield retinal (vitamin A). In this work, we quantitatively describe the substrate specificity of purified recombinant human BCO1 in terms of catalytic efficiency values (k_cat/K_m). The full-length open reading frame of human BCO1 was cloned into the pET-28b expression vector with a C-terminal polyhistidine tag, and the protein was expressed in the Escherichia coli strain BL21-Gold(DE3). The enzyme was purified using cobalt ion affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme preparation catalyzed the oxidative cleavage of β-carotene with a V_max = 197.2 nmol retinal/mg BCO1 × h, K_m = 17.2 μm and catalytic efficiency k_cat/K_m = 6098 m⁻¹ min⁻¹. The enzyme also catalyzed the oxidative cleavage of α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-apo-8′-carotenal to yield retinal. The catalytic efficiency values of these substrates are lower than that of β-carotene. Surprisingly, BCO1 catalyzed the oxidative cleavage of lycopene to yield acycloretinal with a catalytic efficiency similar to that of β-carotene. The shorter β-apocarotenals (β-apo-10′-carotenal, β-apo-12′-carotenal, β-apo-14′-carotenal) do not show Michaelis-Menten behavior under the conditions tested. We did not detect any activity with lutein, zeaxanthin, and 9-cis-β-carotene. Our results show that BCO1 favors full-length provitamin A carotenoids as substrates, with the notable exception of lycopene. Lycopene has previously been reported to be unreactive with BCO1, and our findings warrant a fresh look at acycloretinal and its alcohol and acid forms as metabolites of lycopene in future studies.     

Characterization of the ‘reserve cellulose’ of the endosperm of Carum carvi as a β(1–4)-mannan

The reserve polysaccharide of the endosperm of Carum carvi consists of more than 90% mannose and was characterized as a β(1–4)-mannan. Total or partial acid hydrolysis, enzymatic breakdown or acetolysis of either palm or Carum carvi mannan yielded the same mono- and oligosaccharides, indicating a similar chemical structure of the two reserve polysaccharides. However, Carum carvi contains only traces of the alkali soluble mannan A dominant in the palm endosperm polysaccharide.     

Crystal structure of a lactosucrose-producing enzyme,Arthrobacter sp. K-1 β-fructofuranosidase

Arthrobacter sp. K-1 β-fructofuranosidase (ArFFase), a glycoside hydrolase family 68 enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis and transfructosylation of sucrose. ArFFase is useful for producing a sweetener, lactosucrose (4^G-β-d-galactosylsucrose). The primary structure of ArFFase is homologous to those of levansucrases, although ArFFase catalyzes mostly hydrolysis when incubated with sucrose alone, even at high concentration. Here, we determined the crystal structure of ArFFase in unliganded form and complexed with fructose. ArFFase consisted of a five-bladed β-propeller fold as observed in levansucrases. The structure of ArFFase was most similar to that of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus levansucrase (GdLev). The structure of the catalytic cleft of ArFFase was also highly homologous to that of GdLev. However, two amino acid residues, Tyr232 and Pro442 in ArFFase, were not conserved between them. A tunnel observed at the bottom of the catalytic cleft of ArFFase may serve as a water drain or its reservoir.     

The formation of a β-(1→4)-d-galactan chain catalysed by a Phaseolus aureus enzyme

With a particulate enzyme preparation from Phaseolus aureus hypocotyls, UDP-alpha-d-[U-(14)C]galactose served as a precursor for a number of products. One of these products was characterized as a beta-(1-->4)-linked galactan. The ADP-, GDP-, TDP- and CDP- derivatives of alpha-d-galactose did not serve as biosynthetic precursors for any products insoluble in 70% ethanol, nor as substrates for a sugar nucleotide 4-epimerase which is present in the particulate enzyme preparation. The (14)C-labelled beta-(1-->4)-galactan is alkali-insoluble and was characterized by analysis of partial acetolysis products. The labelling pattern of the [(14)C]oligosaccharides derived from acetolysis indicates that (1) only slightly more than two [(14)C]galactose moieties are added to the growing polysaccharide chain on average, and (2) these additions take place at the reducing end of the polysaccharide chain. The radioactive beta-(1-->4)-linked galactan chain represented 8.5% of the radioactivity initially added, and 20% of the water- and butanol-insoluble products derived from UDP-alpha-d-[(14)C]galactose. Total hydrolysis of the alkali-insoluble fraction of Phaseolus aureus hypocotyl yielded d-glucose and d-mannose in a 5:1 ratio but no detectable quantities of d-galactose. A trace quantity of a radioactive disaccharide, identified as (1-->3)-linked galactobiose, was isolated from the partial acetolysate of the alkali-insoluble [(14)C]polysaccharide material. Also isolated from this partial acetolysate was a C-1 derivative of [(14)C]galactose, which could not be identified. An alkali-soluble galactose-containing polysaccharide was also synthesized in this enzymic reaction, and represented 20% of the water- and butanol-insoluble products derived from UDP-alpha-d-[(14)C]galactose. The spectrum of radioactive oligosaccharides produced by partial acetolysis of this alkali-soluble polysaccharide material was different from that obtained from the alkali-insoluble polysaccharide, indicating a different structure.     

Characterization of a new β-glucosidase/β-xylosidase from the gut microbiota of the termite (Reticulitermes santonensis)

The gut of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis contains an interesting diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms not found elsewhere. These microorganisms produce many enzyme-digesting lignocellulosic compounds, probably in cooperation with endogenous enzymes. Regarding cellulose and hemicellulose digestion in the termite gut, much remains to be learned about the relative contributions of termite enzymes and enzymes produced by different microorganisms. Here we grew bacterial colonies from termite gut suspensions, identifying 11 of them after PCR amplification of their 16S rRNA genes. After constructing in Escherichia coli a genomic DNA library corresponding to all of the colonies obtained, we performed functional screening for α-amylase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, and endoglucanase activities. This screen revealed a clone producing β-glucosidase activity. Sequence analysis showed that the cloned genomic DNA fragment contained three complete ORFs (bglG, bglF, and bglB) organized in a putative bgl operon. The new β-glucosidase (BglB), identified with its regulators BglG and BglF, belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 1. The new β-glucosidase was expressed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme shows maximal activity at pH 6.0 and 40?°C. It also displays β-xylosidase activity.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a protein with limited similarity to β1, 3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase

Glycosyltransferases constitute a large group of enzymes that are involved in a wide range of functions in all living organisms. By large-scale sequencing analysis of a human fetal brain cDNA library, we isolated a novel human putative glycosyltransferase gene named beta3GnTL1. Its cDNA is 1372 base pair in length, encoding a predicted protein with 361 amino acid residues. The human beta3GnTL1 is located to chromosome 17q25.3 by comparison of its cDNA with human gemome database. RT-PCR result shows the beta3GnTL1 is expressed at various levels in most of tissues examined.