Inhibition by 2-deoxy-D-glucose of synthesis of glycoprotein enzymes by protoplasts of Saccharomyces: relation to inhibition of sugar uptake and metabolism

The synthesis of the glycoprotein enzymes, invertase and acid phosphatase, by protoplasts of Saccharomyces mutant 1016, is inhibited by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-dG) after a 20- to 30-min lag period under conditions (external sugar to 2-dG ratio of 40:1) which cause only a slight decrease in total protein synthesis. Formation of one intracellular enzyme, alpha-glucosidase, is also sensitive, but production of another, alkaline phosphatase, is unaffected. A nonmetabolized glucose analogue, 6-deoxy-d-glucose, had no inhibitory effect. The total uptake of external fructose and maltose was decreased by 2-dG after a lag period of about the same duration as that before the inhibition of synthesis of enzymes or of mannan and glucan; during this time 2-dG was taken up by the protoplasts and accumulated primarily as 2-dG-6-phosphate (2-dG-6-P). Studies in vitro showed that 2-dG-6-P inhibits both yeast phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphomannose isomerase. The intracellular levels of the 6-phosphates of glucose, fructose, and mannose did not increase in the presence of 2-dG. We suggest that the high internal level of 2-dG-6-P blocks synthesis of the cell wall polysaccharides and glycoproteins in two ways. It directly inhibits the conversion of fructose-6-P to glucose-6-P and to mannose-6-P. At the same time, it restricts the transport of fructose and maltose into the cell; however, the continuing limited uptake of the sugars still provides sufficient energy for protein synthesis. The cessation of alpha-glucosidase synthesis is probably a result of depletion of the internal pool of maltose (the inducer). Our findings support the suggestion that restriction of synthesis of the carbohydrate moiety of glycoproteins reduces formation of the active enzyme.     

The relationship between sucrose hydrolysis,sorbitol formation and mineral ion concentration during bioethanol formation using Zymomonas mobilis 2716

Summary Investigations into the relationship between sucrose hydrolysis, sorbitol formation and mineral ion concentration during bioethanol formation by Zymomonas mobilis 2716 revealed two distinct phenomena responsible for carbon flow diversion, a sucrose effect and a salt effect. Neither of the two phenomena affects sucrose hydrolysis, but they divert carbon flow of the fructose monomer leading to its own accumulation, sorbitol or oligosaccharide formation. Sucrose concentrations in excess of 15% (w/v) led to sorbitol formation, the level of which may exceed 2% (w/v) depending upon glucose accumulation during sucrose hydrolysis. Increasing mineral ion concentrations led initially to carbon losses and finally to fructose accumulation instead of sorbitol formation. This carbon loss can be corrected by the addition of invertase, which in turn leads to an increase in sorbitol, fructose and ethanol. Potassium and chloride are the dominant ions responsible for suppression of sorbitol formation and fructose uptake, encouraging oligosaccharide formation. These fructooligosaccharides must be of a type which can be converted to fructose, sorbitol and ethanol through the action of invertase. The requirement of invertase addition to prevent fructooligosaccharide formation is indirect evidence that Z. mobilis 2716 does not produce invertase.Offprint requests to: H. W. Doelle     

Biotransformation of pineapple juice sugars into dietetic derivatives by using a cell free oxidoreductase from Zymomonas mobilis together with commercial invertase

An easy procedure for cell free biotransformation of pineapple juice sugars into dietetic derivatives was accomplished using a commercial invertase and an oxidoreductase from Zymomonas mobilis. First, pineapple juice sucrose was quantitatively converted into glucose and fructose by invertase, thus increasing the concentration of each monosaccharide in the original juice to almost twice. In a second step, glucose-fructose oxidoreductase (GFOR) transformed glucose into gluconolactone, and fructose into the low calorie sweetener sorbitol. The advantage of using GFOR is simultaneous reduction of fructose and oxidation of glucose, allowing the continuous regeneration of the essential coenzyme NADP(H), that is tightly bound to the enzyme. The yield of GFOR catalyzed sugar conversion depends on initial pH and control of pH during the reaction. At optimal conditions (pH control at 6.2) a maximum of 80% (w/v) sugar conversion was obtained. Without pH control, GFOR is inactivated rapidly due to gluconic acid formation. Therefore, conversion yields are relatively low at the natural pH of pineapple juice. The application of this process might be more advantageous on juices of other tropical fruits (papaya, jackfruit, mango) due to their naturally given higher pH.     

Extracellular invertase of Rhizobium japonicum and its role in free sugar metabolism in the developing root nodules of Sesbania grandiflora

Extracellular invertase of Rhizobium japonicum and its role in free sugar metabolism in the developing root nodules of Sesbania grandiflora L. was studied. The enzyme hydrolysed sucrose extracellularly, and its release was substrate inducible. 0.1 Mβ-mercaptoethanol released the cell-bound form of this enzyme. The production of invertase was low when glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose and raffinose were used as carbon sources in the growth medium. In the developing nodules sucrose was the major sugar. The content of fructose was low in comparison with that of glucose – suggesting that in the nodules, fructose is converted to glucose prior to its entry into the bacterial cell. The content of glucose synchronised with the pattern of change in the activity of invertase in the nodules.     

米曲霉两株营养缺陷型原生质体的形成和再生的条件实验*

采用1%溶壁酶加1%玛瑙螺酶(褐云玛瑙螺消化液的冷冻干粉)的混合酶,自米曲霉(Aspergillus oryzae)的两株营养缺陷型中获得了大量的原生质体,并比较了渗透压稳定剂、温度、菌丝体的培养基成分等因素对原生质体形成和再生的作用。无机盐类稳定剂(NaCl、KCl)获得了高产量的原生质体,而有机类(蔗糖、甘露醇、山梨醇)做为稳定剂不甚理想。对120和720菌株的原生质体在高渗再生培养基上进行再生试验,再生率分别为52%和65%。     

Sugar metabolism in germinating soybean seeds: evidence for the sorbitol pathway in soybean axes

Characterization of sugar content and enzyme activity in germinating soybean (Glycine max L. Merrell) seeds led to the discovery of sorbitol accumulating in the axes during germination. The identity of sorbitol was confirmed by relative retention times on high-performance liquid chromatography and gas liquid chromatography and by mass spectra identical with authentic sorbitol. Accumulation of sorbitol in the axes started on day 1 of germination as sucrose decreased and glucose and fructose increased. Sucrose also decreased in the cotyledons, but there was no accumulation of sorbitol, glucose, or fructose. Accumulation of sorbitol and hexoses was highly correlated with increased invertase activity in the axes, but not with sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase activities. Sucrose synthase activity was relatively high in the axes, whereas the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase was relatively high in the cotyledons. Ketose reductase and aldose reductase were detected in germinating soybean axes, but not in cotyledons. Fructokinase and glucokinase were present in both axes and cotyledons. The data suggest a sorbitol pathway functioning in germinating soybean axes, which allows for the interconversion of glucose and fructose with sorbitol as an intermediate.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Narcissus</Emphasis> bulblet formation <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>: effects of carbohydrate type and osmolarity of the culture medium

Shoot clump cultures of Narcissus cultivars St. Keverne and Hawera were used to investigate the effects of culture medium carbon supply, type of carbohydrate and osmolarity on in vitro bulblet development. Increasing the medium osmolarity using mannitol or sorbitol, which did not act as substrates for growth, failed to stimulate bulblet formation with either cultivar. An exception to this was a relatively small increase in total bulblet dry weight per culture, in the cultivar Hawera only, caused by adding 30 g l ^–1 sorbitol in combination with 30 g l^–1 sucrose. Simultaneously increasing the medium osmolarity and carbon supply using the metabolisable carbohydrate sources, sucrose, glucose, fructose or an equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose stimulated bulblet production, total dry matter accumulation and partitioning into bulblets. At comparable levels of carbon supply up to 19.0 g l^–1, bulblet development of both cultivars was similar with monosaccharide and sucrose media. This indicates that substrate supply is more important for bulblet development than osmolarity of the culture medium. The cultivar Hawera also showed similar responses to monosaccharide and sucrose media supplying 37.9 g C l^–1, despite the high osmolarity of monosaccharide media (c. 650 m Osm kg^–1, equivalent to –1.6 MPa, compared to 380 m Osm kg^–1 for sucrose medium). However in St. Keverne total dry matter accumulation and dry weight per bulblet were further stimulated only by increasing the sucrose supply from 19.0 to 37.9 g C l^–1, not by increasing the monosaccharide supply. Implications of the findings for Narcissus micropropagation are discussed.     

Purification and Properties of NAD-Dependent Sorbitol Dehydrogenase from Apple Fruit

This is the first report of the purification of NAD-dependentsorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH) from a plant source. The enzymewas extracted from apple (Malus domestica cv. Ourin) fruit andpurified until it appeared as a single polypeptide chain ona gel after SDS-PAGE. From the apparent molecular mass of 62kDa obtained by SDS-PAGE and that of 120 kDa by gel filtration,the enzyme appeared to be a homodimer. Maximum rates of oxidationof sorbitol and reduction of fructose were observed at pH 9.6and pH 6.0, respectively. The K_m for oxidation of sorbitol was40.3 mM and that for reduction of fructose was 215 mM. The maximumrate of oxidation of sorbitol was about 10 times higher thanthat of the reduction of fructose. The results of the kineticanalysis strongly suggest that in vivo the enzyme would favorthe conversion of sorbitol to fructose over the reverse reaction.None of the divalent cations tested had any effect on the oxidationof sorbitol by NAD-SDH. The reaction catalyzed by NAD-SDH wasnot specific to sorbitol and other substrates could also beoxidized. Among the tested substrates, ethyl alcohol had a particularlyhigh affinity for the enzyme. (Received February 2, 1994; Accepted May 31, 1994)     

Formation of sorbitol by Zymomonas mobilis

Summary Sorbitol is formed as the major by-product in ethanol fermentations by Zymomonas mobilis when both glucose and fructose are present in the fermentation medium. The amount of sorbitol produced was equivalent to as much as 11% of the original carbon source, decreasing the ethanol yield correspondingly. Only minor amounts of sorbitol were formed from glucose or fructose alone. The formation of sorbitol is apparently a consequence of the inhibition of fructokinase by glucose.     

Regulation and properties of an invertase from Clostridium pasteurianum.

An intracellular invertase was induced in cultures of Clostridium pasteurianum utilizing sucrose as its carbon source for growth. This enzyme synthesis could be repressed by the addition of fructose of a sucrose-growing culture. In contrast, invertase activity was not affected by the addition of glucose to sucrose-growing cells and this enzyme could be induced in a glucose-metabolizing culture by the addition of sucrose. This enzyme was purified 10.5-fold over the induced lese, EC 3.2.1.26) by substrate-specificity studies. Invertase had a pH optimum of 6.5 and an apparent Km of 79.5 mM for sucrose, and required high concentration of potassium phosphate for maximum activity. Invertase was completely inactivated by a 2-min heat treatment at 60 degrees C. This enzyme was strongly inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (pCMB) and weakly inhibited by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), while cysteine could substantially reverse pCMB) inhibition, suggesting that sulfhydryl group(s) were necessary for invertase activity.     

Tunicamycin--an inhibitor of yeast glycoprotein synthesis

Tunicamycin, a glucosamine-containing antibiotic, halted synthesis of the external glycoproteins invertase, acid phosphatase and mannan by yeast protoplasts within 30 min; formation of two intracellular proteins, alpha-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase, and of glucan continued at the control rate for at least 60–80 min. No accumulation of mannan-free acid phosphatase or invertase was evident in treated cells. Utilization of hexoses and incorporation of ¹⁴C-amino acids into protein were not affected. Incorporation of ³H-glucosamine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble products was only partially reduced. In yeast tunicamycin acts primarily as an inhibitor of glycoprotein synthesis and not of general glucosamine metabolism.     

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resistant to carbon catabolite repression.

Summary Mutants with defective carbon catabolite repression have been isolated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a selective procedure. This was based on the fact that invertase is a glucose repressible cell wall enzyme which slowly hydrolyses raffinose to yield fructose and that the inhibitory effects of 2-deoxyglucose can be counteracted by fructose. Repressed cells were plated on a raffinose-2-deoxyglucose medium and the resistant cells growing up into colonies were tested for glucose non-repressible invertase and maltase. The yield of regulatory mutants was very high. All were equally derepressed for invertase and maltase, no mutants were obtained with only non-repressible invertase synthesis which was the selected function. A total of 61 mutants isolated in different strains were allele tested and could be attributed to three genes. They were all recessive. Mutants in one gene had reduced hexokinase activities, the other class, located in a centromere linked gene, had elevated hexokinase levels and was inhibited by maltose. Mutants in a third gene were isolated on a 2-deoxyglucose galactose medium and had normal hexokinase levels. A partial derepression was observed for malate dehydrogenase in all mutants. Isocitrate lyase, however, was still fully repressible.     

Induction of the enzyme aldose reductase in a lens epithelial cell line from a transgenic mouse

A lens epithelial cell line established from a transgenic mouse synthesizes high levels of the enzyme aldose reductase which converts sugars to polyols. This enzyme has been implicated in the formation of sugar cataracts in animals and with diabetic complications in man. The mouse aldose reductase has been characterized and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has an apparent molecular mass of 38,000, similar to the enzyme in rat and man. The cellular enzyme is inhibited by two aldose reductase inhibitors: Sorbinil (IC50 = 1.8 X 10(-7) M) and Alcon 1576 (IC50 = 7.8 X 10(-8) M). The amount and the specific activity of the aldose reductase can be further increased in the cells by raising the osmolarity of the medium to 500 mOSM. Although the amount of aldose reductase is increased approximately sevenfold under these conditions, alpha-crystallin, one of the main lens specific proteins, remained at about the same concentration. No detectable increase in sorbitol was found within the cells, in contrast to published reports on renal cells in which this polyol increases under similar hyperosmotic conditions; however, in the lens cells there was a five-fold increase in the inositol content, suggesting that this polyol rather than sorbitol may be used to compensate for some of the changes in the osmolarity. The induction of the enzyme aldose reductase without the apparent accumulation of its product suggests a complex mechanism for osmoregulation in the lens cells.     

Influence of Different Carbon Sources on Invertase Activity and Growth of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Shoot Cultures

The influence of different sugars on shoot multiplication invitro and on the activity of invertase was studied with sourcherry (Prunus cerasus L.) cultures. The sugars sucrose, glucoseand fructose, and the sugar alcohol sorbitol, were investigatedat a wide range of concentrations. The optimum concentrationsof all carbon sources were 2% and 3% (w/v). Sucrose and glucosefavoured a similar rate of proliferation. However, in the presenceof fructose, proliferation was lowest but was coupled with thehighest frequency of formation of long shoots. The highest activityof total invertase was for tissues growing on a sucrose-containingmedium while, in a sugar-free medium, invertase activity wasmainly found in the ‘salt extracted’ fraction. Inthe remaining treatments, ‘soluble invertase’ dominated.For each sugar investigated, the activity of both forms of invertasewas significantly higher at 2% than at 3% (w/v) sugar. Key words: Tissue culture, sugars, invertase, shoot multiplication, sour cherry     

Conversion of glucose to sorbitol and fructose by liver-derived cells in culture.

Conversion of glucose to fructose and sorbitol is documented in rat hepatoma-derived cultured cells (HTC cells). After addition of 5.5 mM [U-14C]glucose to incubation medium, labeled sorbitol and fructose accumulated intracellularly at a linear rate over a period of 60 min. The sugars were isolated, identified, and quantitated by paper chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, and enzymatic phosphorylation of fructose. Primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes was analyzed similarly and demonstrated no significant accumulation of labeled fructose or sorbitol. The basis for this difference between HTC cells and primary hepatocyte culture was examined both in terms of enzyme activities that mediate the formation of sorbitol and fructose and in terms of the catabolism of these sugars. Both types of culture (as well as extracts of intact rat liver) exhibited enzymatic activities catalyzing the conversion of glucose to sorbitol (aldose reductase) and sorbitol to fructose (sorbitol dehydrogenase). However, the cultures differed strikingly with regard to the catabolism of sorbitol and fructose. The conversion of labeled sorbitol to metabolites in HTC cells was negligible; by contrast, hepatocytes in primary culture utilized the sugars at rates comparable to that of glucose, which may account for the lack of their accumulation in primary culture. The findings suggest that the conversion of glucose to sorbitol and fructose by HTC cells may represent a retained normal liver function, one which is amplified by the inability of HTC cells to dispose of these sugars.     

Purification and properties of sorbitol dehydrogenase from mouse liver

1. The sorbitol dehydrogenase (L-iditol: NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.14) from mouse liver has been purified to homogeneity. 2. The enzyme has a mol. wt of 140,000 and is composed of four identical subunits of mol. wt 35,000. 3. the purified enzyme catalyses both sorbitol oxidation and fructose reduction. 4. It is specific for NAD+ (NADH) and does not function with NADP+ (NADPH). 5. The Michaelis constants for sorbitol, fructose, NAD+ and NADPH are 1.54 and 154 mM, 58.8 and 15 microM, respectively. 6. The enzyme is SH-group reagent sensitive and is strongly inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline.     

Studies on polyol metabolism in Aspergillus niger

Summary Sorbitol dehydrogenase has been purified about 26 fold from a strain of Aspergillus niger, growing on sorbitol as the sole source of carbon. An absolute specificity of this enzyme for sorbitol, fructose, NAD and NADH was observed. The K _m for sorbitol and fructose were found to be 9.8x10^-5 M and 6.6x10^-4 M respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by pCMB, NaF and other metal ions studied. The enzyme was slightly activated by Fe⁺⁺⁺.Part of this work was presented at the All India Conference of Microbiologists held at Baroda, 1968/69.     

Efficient isolation, culture and regeneration of Lotus corniculatus protoplasts

This paper reports an improved protocol for isolation, culture and regeneration of Lotus corniculatus protoplasts. A range of parameters which influence the isolation of L. corniculatus protoplasts were investigated, i.e., enzyme combination, tissue type, incubation period and osmolarity level. Of three enzyme combinations tested, the highest yield of viable protoplasts was achieved with the combination of 2% Cellulase Onozuka RS, 1% Macerozyme R-10, 0.5% Driselase and 0.2% Pectolyase. The use of etiolated cotyledon tissue as a source for protoplast isolation proved vital in obtaining substantially higher protoplast yields than previously reported. Culture of the protoplasts on a nitrocellulose membrane with a Lolium perenne feeder-layer on the sequential series of PEL medium was highly successful in the formation of micro-colonies with plating efficiencies 3–10 times greater than previous studies. Shoot regeneration and intact plants were achieved from 46% of protoplast-derived cell colonies.