Tissue localization of β-glucosidase in rye, maize and wheat seedlings

The localization of β -glucosidase was determined at the tissue level in roots and shoots of rye, wheat and maize seedlings, using an immunohistochemical approach with antibodies directed against purified maize β -glucosidase as the primary antibody. In the roots, the β -glucosidase was found in the epidermis and the underlying cell layer. In the leaves, staining was seen in the epidermis (rye and wheat) and nearby vascular tissue (rye, wheat and maize). In all 3 species, β -glucosidase activity was highest in the coleoptile. Here the enzyme was restricted to the epidermis in wheat and to cells near the vascular tissue in maize, but was found in the whole tissue, except the vascular tissue, in rye. Maize, wheat and rye all contain hydroxamic acid glucosides and results are discussed in relation to a proposed role of β -glucosidase as part of a defense system releasing hydroxamic acid aglucone upon herbivore attack, pathogen penetration or aphid infestation.     

Molecular characterization of a novel glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

We describe a novel G6PD cDNA from potato. The deduced amino acid sequence shares 77% identity with the known chloroplast enzyme, but only 47% with the corresponding cytosolic G6PDH. The sequence comprises the two cysteine residues conserved in other redox-regulated chloroplast G6PDH and a transit peptide capable of directing a GFP fusion protein to chloroplasts, demonstrating that the cDNA codes for a second plastidic G6PD isoform. The mature part was expressed in E. coli. When synthesized with a C-terminal Strep tag, the enzyme retained G6PDH activity upon affinity purification. In the presence of reductively activated spinach thioredoxin, G6PDH activity decreased by about 50%. This protein-mediated activity loss was completely reversed by addition of oxidant. In contrast to the chloroplast enzyme (P1), the presence of reduced dithiothreitol alone destroyed the activity of the new G6PDH (P2), and incubation with GSH had no effect. The Km values determined for both substrates were significantly lower compared to those of P1. The high Vmax and Ki [NADPH] values indicate that the P2 enzyme is more active than P1 and less susceptible to feedback inhibition by its product NADPH. At the level of mRNA accumulation, differences between the two plastid-localized isoforms are most prominent in roots and growing tissues. Immunoblot analyses of isolated plastid preparations revealed that the two plastidic enzymes are present in both root and leaf tissue. The data obtained indicate that we have characterized a second plastidic G6PDH with distinct biochemical features.     

Subcellular localization of beta-glucosidase in rye, maize and wheat seedlings

The subcellular compartmentation of β -glucosidase was studied in rye, maize and wheat seedlings by immunocytochemical methods. For detection, we used a 10 nm gold-labeled secondary antibody, and results were observed using transmission electron microscopy. In all three species, β -glucosidase was found in plastids, cytoplasm and cell walls. In rye, gold particles were seen on cell walls and cytoplasm in epidermal cells of the root tip and shoot, in bundle sheath cells of the shoot and in all cells, except the vascular bundle cells of the coleoptile. Gold labeling was also observed in plastids of the bundle sheath cells of rye shoot tips and in cortical cells of root tips. In wheat, gold labeling was observed on cell walls and cytoplasm of epidermal cells in the shoot base and coleoptile, and on cell walls and plastids in epidermal cells of the root tip. In maize, gold labeling was mainly found in plastids or proplastids in vascular bundle cells and bundle sheath cells of the shoot, in bundle sheath cells of the coleoptile and in epidermal cells of the root. Some gold particles were also found in cell walls and cytoplasm of stomatal guard cells of the shoot base and vascular bundle cells of the shoot tip and in the cell walls of bundle sheath cells of the shoot tip and root tip epidermal cells. Results are discussed in relation to the role of β -glucosidase in hydroxamic acid release and overall defense mechanism of monocotyledons.     

Expression of soluble and catalytically active plant (monocot) beta-glucosidases in E. coli

Complementary DNAs encoding mature beta-glucosidase proteins Glu1 and Glu2 of maize were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the expression vector pET21a. Both Glu1 and Glu2 isozymes were expressed in high yield ( approximately 3.8% of the total soluble protein and 32% of the total expressed protein) in E. coli. Recombinant enzymes were active on a variety of artificial and natural substrates at levels similar to those of their native counterparts isolated from maize seedlings. Western blot analysis confirmed that both recombinant isozymes were immunoreactive with maize anti-beta-glucosidase sera and their molecular sizes were identical to those of the native maize Glu1 and Glu2 isozymes. Zymogram assays in native gels revealed that recombinant enzymes had the same electrophoretic mobility and substrate specificity as their native counterparts.     

cDNA cloning and heterologous expression of coniferin β-glucosidase

Coniferin -glucosidase (CBG) catalyzes the hydrolysis of monolignol glucosides to release the cinnamyl alcohols for oxidative polymerization to lignin. Utilizing the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme, the corresponding full-length cDNA sequence was isolated from a Pinus contorta xylem-specific library. The isolated 1909 nucleotide cDNA was confirmed to be that of CBG on the basis of its high homology to family 1 glycosyl hydrolases, the sequence identity with the N-terminal amino acid residues of the purified enzyme, and the coniferin hydrolytic activity and substrate specificity profile displayed by the recombinant protein when expressed in Escherichia coli. The presence of a 23 amino acid N-terminal signal peptide in the deduced 513 amino acid enzyme suggests that CBG is a secretory protein targeted to the ER. The isolation of CBG cDNA will facilitate the evaluation of the importance of this enzyme in the ultimate stages of lignin biosynthesis and could be a valuable tool in manipulating lignin levels in xylem cell walls.     

Structure and function of proteins of the phosphotransferase system and of 6-phospho-β-glycosidases in Gram-positive bacteria

Abstract: New information about the proteins of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and of phosphoglycosidases of homofermentative lactic acid bacteria and related species is presented. Tertiary structures were elucidated from soluble PTS components. They help to understand regulatory processes and PTS function in lactic acid bacteria. A tertiary structure of a membrane-bound enzyme II is still not available, but expression of Gram-positive genes encoding enzymes II can be achieved in Escherichia coli and enables the development of effective isolation procedures which are necessary for crystallization experiments. Considerable progress was made in analysing the functions of structural genes which are in close vicinity of the genes encoding the sugar-specific PTS components, such as the genes encoding the tagatose-6-P pathway and the 6-phospho-β-glycosidases. These phosphoglycosidases belong to a subfamily of the β-glycosidase family I among about 300 different glycosidases. The active site nucleophile was recently identified to be Glu 358 in Agrobacterium β-glucosidase. This corresponds to Glu 375 in staphylococcal and lactococcal 6-phospho-β-galactosidase. This enzyme is inactivated by mutating Glu 375 to Gln. Diffracting crystals of the lactococcal 6-P-β-galactosidase allow the elucidation of its tertiary structure which helps to derive the structures for the entire glycosidase family 1. In addition, a fusion protein with 6-phospho-β-galactosidase and staphylococcal protein A was constructed.     

Purification and characterization of ββ-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger strain 322

An extracellular β-glucosidase enzyme was purified from the fungus Aspergillus niger strain 322 . The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 64 kDa by SDS gel electrophoresis. Optimal pH and temperature for β-glucosidase were 5·5 and 50 °C, respectively. Purified enzyme was stable up to 50 °C and pH between 2·0 and 5·5. The K_m was 0·1 mmol l⁻¹ for cellobiose. Enzyme activity was inhibited by several divalent metal ions.     

Characterization of a novel eukaryotic ATP/ADP translocator located in the plastid envelope of Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Recently, we have sequenced a cDNA clone from Arabidopsis thaliana L. encoding a novel putative ATP/ADP translocator (AATP1). Here, we demonstrate that the radioactively labeled AATP1 precursor protein, synthesized in vitro , is targeted to envelope membranes of isolated spinach chloroplasts. Antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide of AATP1 recognized a single polypeptide of about 62 kDa in chloroplast inner envelope preparations. The cDNA coding for the AATP1 protein was functionally expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli . In both expression systems, increased rates of ATP transport were observed after reconstitution of the extracted protein into proteoliposomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the functional expression of an intrinsic plant membrane protein in E. coli . To yield high rates of ATP transport, proteoliposomes had to be preloaded with ADP, indicating a counter-exchange mode of transport. Carboxyatractyloside did not substantially interfere with ATP transport into proteoliposomes containing the plastidic ATP/ADP translocator. An apparent K_M for ATP of 28 µM was determined which is similar to values reported for isolated plastids. The data presented here strongly support the conclusion that AATP1 represents a novel eukaryotic adenylate carrier and that it is identical with the so far unknown plastidic ATP/ADP translocator.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the bglA gene from Erwinia herbicola and expression of β-glucosidase activity in Escherichia coli

Abstract Genomic DNA fragments encoding β-glucosidase activity from the wild-type strain WD4 of Erwinia herbicola were cloned into Escherichia coli . Two clones containing a common fragment encoded a polypeptide of 58000 Da. Cloned β-glucosidase, expressed in E. coli , showed activity against natural β-glucoside sugars except for cellobiose. An open reading frame of 1442 bp termed bglA was identified by nucleotide sequencing and it coded for a protein of 480 amino acids ( M _r 53896) which showed significant homology with β-glucosidases from glycosyl hydrolase family 1.     

Recombinant anaerobic maize aldolase: overexpression, characterization, and metabolic implications

Complementary DNA sequence of anaerobically induced cytoplasmic maize aldolase was expressed under control of the tac promoter sequence in Escherichia coli using the pKK223-3 plasmid as a vehicle. Levels of recombinant protein expressed exceeded 20 mg of soluble aldolase per liter of culture. The purified recombinant enzyme displayed the expected molecular weight and tetrameric subunit assembly on the basis of mobilities on denaturing electrophoretic gels and gel filtration, respectively. Sequencing of the NH2 terminus and amino acid composition analysis of the recombinant protein including COOH-terminal peptides agreed with the cDNA sequence. Partial kinetic characterization based on product inhibition studies was consistent with the ordered uni-bi reaction mechanism expected of aldolases. Turnover with respect to substrates Fru-1,6-P2 and Fru-1-P by the recombinant enzyme is the highest reported to date for class I aldolases. Fru-1,6-P2 cleavage rate by recombinant cytoplasmic maize enzyme is three times greater than that of the chloroplast enzyme. Fru-1-P cleavage is 8-fold greater than that of the rabbit liver isozyme and 20-fold greater than that of the rabbit muscle isozyme to which maize aldolase exhibits the greatest homology. The implications of such a high Fru-1-P turnover on carbohydrate utilization under anaerobiosis is discussed.     

Plastidic pathway of serine biosynthesis. Molecular cloning and expression of 3-phosphoserine phosphatase from Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants, Ser is biosynthesized by two different pathways: a photorespiratory pathway via Gly and a plastidic pathway via the phosphorylated metabolites from 3-phosphoglycerate. In contrast to the better characterization of the photorespiratory pathway at a molecular level, the molecular regulation and significance of the plastidic pathway are not yet well understood. An Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA encoding 3-phosphoserine phosphatase, the enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of 3-phosphoserine to Ser in the final step of the plastidic pathway of Ser biosynthesis, was cloned by functional complementation of an Escherichia coli serB- mutant. The 1.1-kilobase pair full-length cDNA, encoding 295 amino acids in its open reading frame, contains a putative organelle targeting presequence. Chloroplastic targeting has been demonstrated by particle gun bombardment using an N-terminal 60-amino acid green fluorescence protein fusion protein. Southern hybridization suggested the existence of a single-copy gene that mapped to chromosome 1. 3-Phosphoserine phosphatase enzyme activity was detected in vitro in the overexpressed protein in E. coli. Northern analysis revealed preferential gene expression in leaf and root tissues of light-grown plants with an approximately 1.5-fold abundance in the root compared with the leaf tissues. This indicates the possible role of the plastidic pathway in supplying Ser to non-photosynthetic tissues, in contrast to the function of the photorespiratory pathway in photosynthetic tissues. This work completes the molecular cloning and characterization of the three genes involved in the plastidic pathway of Ser biosynthesis in higher plants.     

Metabolism of cyclic carotenoids: a model for the alteration of this biosynthetic pathway in Capsicum annuum chromoplasts

The biosynthetic pathway of cyclic carotenoid is known to be quantitatively and qualitatively different in the non-green plastids of Capsicum annuum fruits compared with chloroplasts. Here, the cloning is described of a novel cDNA from this organism, which encodes an enzyme catalyzing the cyclization of lycopene to β-carotene when expressed in Escherichia coli . The corresponding gene is constitutively expressed during fruit development. Significant amino acid sequence identity was observed between this enzyme and capsanthin/capsorubin synthase which is involved in the synthesis of the species-specific red carotenoids of C. annuum fruits. The latter enzyme was found also to possess a lycopene β-cyclase activity when expressed in E. coli . A model is proposed for the origin of the capsanthin/capsorubin synthase gene and the role of this enzyme, together with the newly cloned lycopene cyclase, in the specific re-channeling of linear carotenoids into β-cyclic carotenoids in C. annuum ripening fruits.     

Characterization of a NifS-like chloroplast protein from Arabidopsis. Implications for its role in sulfur and selenium metabolism

NifS-like proteins catalyze the formation of elemental sulfur (S) and alanine from cysteine (Cys) or of elemental selenium (Se) and alanine from seleno-Cys. Cys desulfurase activity is required to produce the S of iron (Fe)-S clusters, whereas seleno-Cys lyase activity is needed for the incorporation of Se in selenoproteins. In plants, the chloroplast is the location of (seleno) Cys formation and a location of Fe-S cluster formation. The goal of these studies was to identify and characterize chloroplast NifS-like proteins. Using seleno-Cys as a substrate, it was found that 25% to 30% of the NifS activity in green tissue in Arabidopsis is present in chloroplasts. A cDNA encoding a putative chloroplast NifS-like protein, AtCpNifS, was cloned, and its chloroplast localization was confirmed using immunoblot analysis and in vitro import. AtCpNIFS is expressed in all major tissue types. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The enzyme contains a pyridoxal 5' phosphate cofactor and is a dimer. It is a type II NifS-like protein, more similar to bacterial seleno-Cys lyases than to Cys desulfurases. The enzyme is active on both seleno-Cys and Cys but has a much higher activity toward the Se substrate. The possible role of AtCpNifS in plastidic Fe-S cluster formation or in Se metabolism is discussed.     

Cloning, expression, and purification of cytidine deaminase from Arabidopsis thaliana

The complementary DNA (cDNA) coding for Arabidopsis thaliana cytidine deaminase 1 (AT-CDA1) was obtained from the amplified A. thaliana cDNA expression library, provided by R. W. Davis (Stanford University, CA). AT-CDA1 cDNA was subcloned into the expression vector pTrc99-A and the protein, expressed in Escherichia coli following induction with isopropyl 1-thio-beta-d-galactopyranoside, showed high cytidine deaminase activity. The nucleotide sequence showed a 903-bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 301 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 32,582. The deduced amino acid sequence of AT-CDA1 showed no transit peptide for targeting to the chloroplast or mitochondria indicating that this form of cytidine deaminase is probably expressed in the cytosol. The recombinant AT-CDA1 was purified to homogeneity by a heat treatment followed by an ion-exchange chromatography. The final enzyme preparation was >98% pure as judged by SDS-PAGE and showed a specific activity of 74 U/mg. The molecular mass of AT-CDA1 estimated by gel filtration was 63 kDa, indicating, in contrast to the other eukaryotic CDAs, that the enzyme is a dimer composed of two identical subunits. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy analysis indicated that the enzyme contains 1 mol of zinc atom per mole of subunit. The kinetic properties of AT-CDA1 both toward the natural substrates and with analogs indicated that the catalytic mechanism of the plant enzyme is probably very similar to that of the human the E. coli enzymes.     

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the obtusifoliol 14α-demethylase of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, a cytochrome P450 orthologous to the sterol 14α-demethylases (CYP51) from fungi and mammals

Obtusifoliol 14β-demethylase from Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench has been cloned using a gene-specific probe generated using PCR primers designed from an internal 14 amino acid sequence. The sequence identifies sorghum obtusifoliol 14α-demethylase as a cytochrome P450 and it is assigned to the CYP51 family together with the sterol 14α-demethylases from fungi and mammals. The presence of highly conserved regions in the amino acid sequences, analogous substrates and the same metabolic role demonstrate that the sterol 14α-demethylases are orthologous enzymes. The sterol 14α-demethylases catalyse an essential step in sterol biosynthesis as evidenced by the absence of a 14α-methyl group in all known functional sterols. A functional sorghum obtusifoliol 14α-demethylase was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli and purified using an efficient method based on temperature-induced Triton X-114 phase partitioning. The recombinant purified enzyme produced a type I spectrum with obtusifoliol as substrate. Reconstitution of purified recombinant enzyme with sorghum NADPH—cytochrome P450 reductase in dilaurylphosphatidylcholine micelles confirms that obtusifoliol 14α-demethylase catalyses the 14α-demethylation of obtusifoliol to 4α-methyl-5α-ergosta-8,14,24(28)-trien-3β-ol as evidenced by GC—MS. The isolation of a cDNA clone encoding the plant sterol 14α-demethylase, combined with the previously isolated cDNA clones for fungal and mammalian sterol 14α-demethylases, provides an important tool in the rational design of specific inhibitors towards the individual sterol 14α-demethylases.     

Cloning and Biochemical Characterization of BglC, a β-Glucosidase from the Cellulolytic Actinomycete Thermobifida fusca

An operon, bglABC, that encodes two sugar permeases and a β-glucosidase was cloned from a cellulolytic actinomycete, Thermobifida fusca, into Escherichia coli and sequenced. The bglC gene encoding an intracellular β-glucosidase (β-d-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 1 was subcloned and expressed in E. coli. The purified enzyme (MW 53,407 Da; pI 4.69) hydrolyzed substrates containing both β 1 → 4 and β 1 → 2 glycosidic bonds, and was most active against cellobiose (V_max= 29, K _m = 0.34 mm), cellotriose, cellotetraose, and sophorose. The enzyme also showed aryl-β-glucosidase activity on p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl-β-d-cellobioside. BglC had a pH optimum of 7.0 and a temperature optimum of 50°C. The enzyme was stable at 60°C, but was rapidly inactivated at 65°C. BglC was inhibited by low concentrations of gluconolactone, but was insensitive to end-product inhibition by glucose and was not affected by Ca or Mg ions or EDTA. Its properties are well suited for use in a process to hydrolyze biomass cellulose to glucose. Received: 21 August 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000     

The chloroplast-located glutamine synthetase of Phaseolus vulgaris L.: nucleotide sequence,expression in different organs and uptake into isolated chloroplasts

Work using a full-length cDNA clone has revealed that the plastid-located glutamine synthetase (GS) of Phaseolus vulgaris is encoded by a single nuclear gene. Nucleotide sequencing has shown that this cDNA is more closely related to a cDNA encoding the plastidic GS of Pisum sativum than to cDNAs encoding three different cytosolic GS subunits of P. vulgaris. The plastid GS subunits are initially synthesized as higher M _r (47000) precursors containing an N-terminal presequence of about 50 amino acids which is structurally similar to the presequences of other nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins. The precursor has been synthesized in vitro and is imported by isolated pea chloroplasts and processed to two polypeptides of the same size as native P. vulgaris chloroplast GS subunits (M _r 42000). Experiments with fusion proteins show that the N-terminal 68 amino acids of this precursor allow the cytosolic GS subunit also to be imported and processed by isolated chloroplasts. Polyadenylated mRNA specifically related to the plastidic GS gene is most highly abundant in chloroplast-containing organs (leaves and stems) but is also detectable in roots and nodules.