Long-chain acyl CoA synthetase,carnitine and β-oxidation in the pea-seed mitochondrion

Mitochondria from pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds were separated into two fractions, mitoplasts (intact inner membrane) and the outer-membrane fraction. The mitoplasts only oxidised palmitate in the presence of carnitine and added outermembrane fraction. Mitoplasts were able to oxidise palmitoylCoA in the presence of carnitine and added outer-membrane fraction had no effect on this oxidation. It was concluded that a long-chain acylCoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3) was located on the outer membrane and that the activity of this enzyme in assays was more than sufficient to account for any observed rate of O₂ uptake during palmitate oxidation by pea mitochondria. The location of carnitine long-chain acyltransferase (carnitine palmitoyl transferase EC 2.3.1.21) would appear to be the mitoplast i.e. the inner mitochondrial membrane, and confirms the previous work at Newcastle.Abbreviation Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol     

A quantitative cytochemical method for the measurement of β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activity in rat heart muscle

Summary Although cytochemical methods exist for measuring dehydrogenases that act on substrates involved in the production of chemical energy from sugars, virtually no methods exist for measuring the dehydrogenases that act on fatty acids. Yet the oxidation of fatty acids accounts for over 60% of the oxidative activity of cardiac muscle. Consequently a new quantitative cytochemical method, based on a new substrate (DL-S--hydroxybutyryl-N-acetyl cysteamine), has been developed for measuring the activity of hydroxy-acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase, which is the penultimate step of the -oxidation of fatty acids to acetyl-coenzyme A that is used in the Krebs' cycle. Menadione or phenazine methosulphate is used as the intermediate hydrogen-acceptor, with neotetrazolium chloride as the final acceptor. The medium contains nitroprusside, ostensibly to react with any cysteamine liberated by hydrolysis of the substrate. As a control, cysteamine is substituted for the substrate. The concentrations of reactants have been optimized for cardiac muscle; the reaction is linear with thickness of the sections and with time of reaction from 15 to 60 min.     

Studies of Human 2,4-Dienoyl CoA Reductase Shed New Light on Peroxisomal β-Oxidation of Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Peroxisomes play an essential role in maintaining fatty acid homeostasis. Although mitochondria are also known to participate in the catabolism of fatty acids via β-oxidation, differences exist between the peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation. Only peroxisomes, but not mitochondrion, can shorten very long chain fatty acids. Here, we describe the crystal structure of a ternary complex of peroxisomal 2,4-dienoyl CoA reductases (pDCR) with hexadienoyl CoA and NADP, as a prototype for comparison with the mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl CoA reductase (mDCR) to shed light on the differences between the enzymes from the two organelles at the molecular level. Unexpectedly, the structure of pDCR refined to 1.84 Å resolution reveals the absence of the tyrosine-serine pair seen in the active site of mDCR, which together with a lysine and an asparagine have been deemed a hallmark of the SDR family of enzymes. Instead, aspartate hydrogen-bonded to the Cα hydroxyl via a water molecule seems to perturb the water molecule for protonation of the substrate. Our studies provide the first structural evidence for participation of water in the DCR-catalyzed reactions. Biochemical studies and structural analysis suggest that pDCRs can catalyze the shortening of six-carbon-long substrates in vitro. However, the K_m values of pDCR for short chain acyl CoAs are at least 6-fold higher than those for substrates with 10 or more aliphatic carbons. Unlike mDCR, hinge movements permit pDCR to process very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

The tricarboxylic acid cycle in L₃ Teladorsagia circumcincta: metabolism of acetyl CoA to succinyl CoA

Nematodes, like other species, derive much of the energy for cellular processes from mitochondrial pathways including the TCA cycle. Previously, we have shown L₃Teladorsagia circumcincta consume oxygen and so may utilise a full TCA cycle for aerobic energy metabolism. We have assessed the relative activity levels and substrate affinities of citrate synthase, aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (both NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ specific) and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in homogenates of L₃T. circumcincta. All of these enzymes were present in homogenates. Compared with citrate synthase, low levels of enzyme activity and low catalytic efficiency was observed for NAD⁺ isocitrate dehydrogenase and especially α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. Therefore, it is likely that the activity of these to enzymes regulate overall metabolite flow through the TCA cycle, especially when [NAD⁺] limits enzyme activity. Of the enzymes tested, only citrate synthase had substrate affinities which were markedly different from values obtained from mammalian species. Overall, the results are consistent with the suggestion that a full TCA cycle exists within L₃T. circumcincta. While there may subtle variations in enzyme properties, particularly for citrate synthase, the control points for the TCA cycle in L₃T. circumcincta are probably similar to those in the tissues of their host species.     

Is there methylmalonyl CoA mutase in Aspergillus nidulans?

In most animal species and many prokaryotes, methylmalonyl CoA mutase catalyzes isomerization between methylmalonyl CoA and succinyl CoA using adenosylcobalamin as a cofactor. We describe the absence of this enzyme in Aspergillus nidulans based on the absence of enzyme activity in vitro and the failure to metabolize methylmalonate or grow in media containing this organic acid as the sole carbon source. These data contrast previous assumptions that propionate may be metabolized through propionyl CoA and methylmalonyl CoA to the TCA cycle in this organism. This is consistent with the separate evolution of these pathways in animals and lower eukaryotes due to the distinct endosymbiotic origin of their mitochondria.     

Enzymatic β-galactosidation of β-xylopyranosides

Summary The disaccharides formed by enzymatic transfer of the -D-galactopyranosyl residue fromo-nitrophenyl -d-galactopyranoside to -d-xylopyranosides have been identified. The influence of different factors on the yields of the disaccharides obtained was evaluated. Significant changes in selectivity were observed when -galactosidase fromE. coli was used instead of -galactosidase fromA. oryzae.     

水稻4-香豆酸CoA连接酶的基本性质

用硫酸铵盐析,DEAE-纤维素柱层析的方法从水稻黄化幼苗中分离和初步纯化了4-香豆酸CoA连接酶同工酶。发现它们有着明显的底物特异性,其中同工酶Ⅰ对香豆酸、咖啡酸、阿魏酸芥子酸均具有亲和性;而同工酶Ⅱ则只能对香豆酸、咖啡酸发生作用。4CL同工酶Ⅰ的最适pH在8.0左右,最适反应温度为40℃。     

苯丙氨酸CoA酰基转移酶原核表达系统的构建和表达

目的:获得大量的重组红豆杉苯丙基转移酶(BAPT)，为紫杉醇半合成代谢提供廉价的催化剂。方法：根据DNA重组技术，构建原核表达载体pET-BAFF，使目的基因位于原核T7启动子下游，IPTG诱导基因表达。结果：BAPT高效表达，重组蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在。结论：为获得可溶性重组蛋白BAFF奠定了理论基础。     

枇杷4-香豆酸CoA连接酶的某些特性

以枇杷品种‘解放钟’果实为试材,用硫酸铵分级盐析方法提取4-香豆酸CoA连接酶,其最适温度为10和40℃,40和10℃下的热稳定性较好;最适pH为8．0且较稳定;最适底物为咖啡酸。     

降血脂药物对酰基CoA氧化酶基因反式作用因子的影响

从对照和用ＤＥＨＰ处理的大鼠肝脏提取核蛋白,以含酰基ＣｏＡ氧化酶基因表达调控部位的ＤＮＡ片段和该基因的不同蛋白结合位点的ＤＮＡ片段作为核蛋白结合反应的探针,通过凝胶电过移率改变实验和Ｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹分析检查了ＤＥＨＰ对ＡＯＸ基因反式作用因子的含量和（或）与基因的结合活性,在转录水平上促进基因的表达。     

Synthesis of disaccharide derivatives employing β-N-acetyl- d-hexosaminidase, β-d-galactosidase and β-d-glucuronidase

-N-Acetyl-d-hexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae catalysed the stereo- and regiospecific formation of the 6-O-benzylated disaccharide derivatives GalNAc1-3(6- OBn)Gal-SEt and GlcNAc1-3(6-OBn)Gal-SEt, which were obtained in transglycosylation reactions employing ethyl 6- O-benzyl-1-thio--d-galactopyranoside as acceptor. Preparative amounts of the chitobiose derivative GlcNAc1- 3GlcNAc-OPhNO2-p was prepared as well. - N-Acetyl-d-hexosaminidase from bovine testes catalysed the specific synthesis of GlcNAc1-3(6-OBn)GlcNH2-SEt and GalNAc1-3(6-OBn)GlcNH2-SEt, employing ethyl 2-amino-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-1-thio--d-glucopyranoside as acceptor. -d-Glucuronidase from E. coli was found to catalyse the formation of GlcA1-3(6-OBn)GlcNH2- SEt employing the same acceptor.     

油茶3羟酰CoA脱水酶基因的克隆与表达分析

3羟酰CoA脱水酶是一类催化3羟酰CoA脱水转化成为烯酰CoA形式的酶。本研究以国审油茶品种‘华硕’种子为材料,在已构建的转录组和表达谱数据库的基础之上,采用RACE技术,克隆到一个油茶3羟酰CoA脱水酶基因的cDNA全长,命名为CoHCD(Gen Bank登录号KJ910336)。该基因cDNA全长为1145bp,含有666bp的开放读码框,编码221个氨基酸,分子量为25.2kDa,理论等电点p I为9.4,疏水残基占整个氨基酸残基的48.9%,是亲水性蛋白,具有4个比较明显的跨膜区和蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸酶基序"HGXXGXXRS"。在基因c DNA全长序列的基础上,分别成功地构建了原核表达载体、超表达载体和RNA干扰载体,其中,原核表达载体在宿主细胞BL21(DE3)上成功诱导表达,获得表观分子量约为25 k Da的相应目的蛋白。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,在5个不同发育时期的油茶种子中CoHCD高效表达主要集中在8~10月,转录最高峰发生在9月,其表达量在种子发育过程中呈增加趋势。     

产二羧酸热带假丝酵母乙酰CoA合成酶的研究

测定了利用正烷烃积累相应链长二羧酸的热带假丝酵母(Candida tropicalis)突变株U3-2及其亲株Nn,1230乙酰Coa合成酶的活力。该酶反应的最适pH为6．8;作用于醋酸盐的K。值为l㈨01『L;此酶对热极不稳定,突变栋的酶较亲株尤甚o 300c保温半小时,前者的酶活力丧失l 8％,后者丧失50％;保温两小时后,前者丧失5 5％,而后者丧失95％的活力。亲抹乙酰c。A合成酶活力比突变株的高一倍。也j兜察到突变株的生长比亲林慢得多。因此在用突变株u;一菌发酵正烷烃生产二羧酸时,应适当延长种子的培养时间。     

Hydrolysis of β-Galactosyl Ester Linkage by β-Galactosidases

p-Hydroxybenzoyl β-galactose (pHB-Gal) was synthesized chemically to examine the hydrolytic activity of β-galactosyl ester linkage by β-galactosidases. The enzyme from Penicillium multicolor hydrolyzed the substrate as fast as p-nitrophenyl β-galactoside (pNP-Gal), a usual substrate with a β-galactosidic linkage. The enzymes from Escherichia coli and Aspergillus oryzae hydrolyzed pHB-Gal with almost the same rates as pNP-Gal. The enzymes from Bacillus circulans, Saccharomyces fragilis, and bovine liver showed much lower activities. pH-activity profiles, inhibition analysis, and kinetic properties of the enzymic reaction on pHB-Gal suggested that β-galactosidase had only one active site for hydrolysis of both galactosyl ester and galactoside. The Penicillium enzyme hydrolyzed pHB-Gal in the presence of H₂ ¹⁸O to liberate galactose containing ¹⁸O. This result suggests the degradation occurs between the anomeric carbon and an adjacent O atom in the ester linkage of pHB-Gal.     

Preparation of Aryl β-d-Mannopyranoside Derivatives via β-d-arabino-Hexopyranosiduloses

Sequential oxidation and reduction of aryl 4, 6-O-benzylidene-β-d-glucosides with dimethyl sulfoxide-phosphorus pentoxide mixture (DMSO–P₂O₅) and sodium borohydride were carried out as a new means for the preparation of aryl β-d-mannopyranoside derivatives. p-Nitrophenyl 4, 6-O-benzylidene-β-d-mannopyranoside was obtained in 22% yield from the corresponding glucoside 3-O-acetate, whereas from the unprotected acetal, 4, 6-O-benzylidene acetals of the corresponding mannoside and alloside were isolated in the yields of 6.7 and 2.1%, respectively. Similarly, phenyl 4, 6-O-benzylidene β-d-mannoside, alloside, and altroside were obtained from the corresponding glucoside in 2.2, 0.8 and 2.1% yields, respectively.