Cleavage of di- and tripeptides by Prevotella ruminicola

The final step in the conversion of protein to amino acids by the common Gram-negative rumen bacterium, Prevotella (formerly Bacteroides) ruminicola , is the cleavage of di- and tripeptides. Dipeptidase and tripeptidase activities were predominantly cytoplasmic, and toluene treatment increased the rate of Ala₂ and Ala₃ hydrolysis by whole cells, suggesting that transport limited the rate of hydrolysis of extracellular di- and tripeptides. The hydrolysis of Ala₂ and Ala₃ by whole cells was not affected by protonophores, ionophores or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, but Ala₂ hydrolysis by EDTA-treated cells was inhibited by the Ca²⁺/H⁺ ionophore, tetronasin. Ala₃ hydrolysis was not affected by protonophores or ionophores in EDTA-treated cells. The dipeptidase of strain M384 was inhibited > 99% by 1,10-phenanthroline and 39% by EDTA but not other protease inhibitors, consistent with the enzyme being a metalloprotease. Tripeptidase was insensitive to protease inhibitors, except for a 33% inhibition by EDTA. Cleavage of tripeptides occurred at the bond adjacent to the N-terminal amino acid. Distinct di-, tri- and oligopeptidase peaks were obtained by anion-exchange liquid chromatography of disrupted cells. Banding patterns on native PAGE using activity staining also indicated that P. ruminicola M384 had separate single dipeptidase and tripeptidase enzymes which hydrolysed a range of peptides. The dipeptidase of strain M384 was different from other strains of P. ruminicola: strains GA33 and B₁4 had activities which ran at the same R_f; strain GA33 had another band of lower activity; strain 23 had two bands different from those of the other strains. The tripeptidases ran at the same R_f for the different strains. Dipeptidase activity of all strains was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline on gels. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that the M_r of the dipeptidases from strains M384 and B₁4 were 115 000 and 114 500 respectively, and 112 500 and 121 500 for the corresponding tripeptidases. Thus the metabolism of small peptides by P. ruminicola involves separate permeases and intracellular peptidases for di- and tripeptides.     

Sequence Analysis of the Plasmid pRRI2 from the Rumen Bacterium Prevotella ruminicola 223/M2/7 and the Use of pRRI2 in Prevotella/Bacteroides Shuttle Vectors

pRRI2 is a small cryptic plasmid from the rumen bacterium Prevotella ruminicola 223/M2/7 which has been used for the construction of shuttle vectors (pRH3 and pRRI207) that replicate in many Bacteroides/Prevotella strains as well as in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis of pRRI2 reveals that it is a 3240-bp plasmid carrying two clear open reading frames. Rep, encoded by ORF1, shows 48 and 47% amino acid sequence identity with RepA proteins from Bacteroides vulgatus and Bacteroides fragilis, respectively. ORF2, named Pre, shares 34% amino acid sequence identity with a putative plasmid recombination protein from the Flavobacterium spp. plasmid pFL1 and 30% amino acid sequence identity with BmpH from B. fragilis Tn5520. Disruption of ORF1 with HindIII prevents replication and maintenance in Bacteroides spp. hosts, but shuttle vectors carrying pRRI2 interrupted within ORF2, by EcoRI*, are able to replicate. pRRI2 shows no significant similarity with the only other P. ruminicola plasmid to have been studied previously, pRAM4.     

Effects of Energy Substrates on Nitrate Reduction and Nitrate Reductase Activity in a Ruminal Bacterium, Selenomonas ruminantium

The factors affecting the rate of nitrate reduction and the nitrate reductase content in Selenomonas ruminantium were examined. The rate of nitrate reduction per cell mass was higher when S. ruminantium was grown on lactate than when grown on glucose, and the rate was further enhanced when grown on succinate. The nitrate reduction rate was parallel to the nitrate reductase content in cells, suggesting that the amount of nitrate reductase limits the rate of nitrate reduction. The amount of nitrate reductase was inversely related to growth rate. The growth rate was related to the level of intracellular ATP, which was inversely related to the levels of ADP and AMP. The ratio of NADH to NAD⁺was related to the rate of nitrate reduction and to the amount of nitrate reductase. From these results, it is conceivable that the synthesis of nitrate reductase is regulated in response to the sufficiency of energy and electron supply. Intracellular concentrations of adenine nucleotides and pyridine nucleotides may be the regulating factors. The amount of nitrate reductase was increased by the presence of nitrate, suggesting that the synthesis of nitrate reductase is enhanced by nitrate. In addition, nitrate reduction altered the fermentation pattern as a result of electron consumption.     

Functional Expression of Dipeptidyl Peptidase I (Cathepsin C) of the Oriental Blood Fluke Schistosoma japonicum in Trichoplusia ni Insect Cells

Proenzyme dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP I) of Schistosoma japonicum was expressed in a baculovirus expression system utilizing Trichoplusia ni BTI-5B1-4 (High Five) strain host insect cells. The recombinant enzyme was purified from cell culture supernatants by affinity chromatography on nickel–nitriloacetic acid resin, exploiting a polyhistidine tag fused to the COOH-terminus of the recombinant protease. The purified recombinant enzyme resolved in reducing SDS–PAGE gels as three forms, of 55, 39, and 38 kDa, all of which were reactive with antiserum raised against bacterially expressed S. japonicum DPP I. NH₂-terminal sequence analysis of the 55-kDa polypeptide revealed that it corresponded to residues −180 to −175, NH₂-SRXKXK, of the proregion peptide of S. japonicum DPP I. The 39- and 38-kDa polypeptides shared the NH₂-terminal sequence, LDXNQLY, corresponding to residues −73 to −67 of the proregion peptide and thus were generated by removal of 126 residues from the NH₂-terminus of the proenzyme. Following activation for 24 h at pH 7.0, 37°C under reducing conditions, the recombinant enzyme exhibited exopeptidase activity against synthetic peptidyl substrates diagnostic of DPP I. Specificity constants (k_cat/K_m) for the recombinant protease for the substrates H-Gly-Arg-NHMec and H-Gly-Phe-NHMec were found to be 14.4 and 10.7 mM⁻1 s⁻¹, respectively, at pH 7.0. Approximately 1 mg of affinity-purified schistosome DPP I was obtained per liter of insect cell culture supernatant, representing 2 × 10⁹ High Five cells.     

Functional Expression and Characterization of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV from the Black-Bellied Hornet Vespa basalis in Sf21 Insect Cells

The maturation of mastoparan B, the major toxin peptide in the venom of Vespa basalis, requires enzymatic cleavage of its prosequence presumably via sequential liberation of dipeptides. The putative processing enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, was expressed as a glycosylated His-tag fusion protein (rDPP-IV) via the baculovirus expression system. rDPP-IV purified by one-step nickel-affinity chromatography was verified by Western blot and LC-MS/MS analysis. The k_cat/K_m of rDPP-IV was determined to be in the range of 10–500 mM^?1·S^?1 for five synthetic substrates. The optimal temperature and pH for rDPP-IV were determined to be 50 °C and pH 9. Enzymatic activity of rDPP-IV was significantly reduced by 80 and 60% in the presence of sitagliptin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride respectively.     

Purification of Two Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases II from Rat Brain and Their Action on Proline-Containing Neuropeptides

From the soluble and membrane fractions of rat brain homogenate, two enzymes that liberate dipeptides of the type Xaa-Pro from chromogenic substrates were purified to homogeneity. The two isolated dipeptidyl peptidases had similar molecular and catalytic properties: For the native proteins, molecular weights of 110,000 were estimated; for the denatured proteins, the estimate was 52,500. Whereas the soluble peptidase yielded one band of pI 4.2 after analytical isoelectric focusing, two additional enzymatic active bands were detected between pI 4.2 and 4.3 for the membrane-associated form. As judged from identical patterns after neuraminidase treatment, both peptidases contained no sialic acid. A pH optimum of 5.5 was estimated for the hydrolysis of Gly-Pro- and Arg-Pro-nitroanilide. Substrates with alanine instead of proline in the penultimate position were hydrolyzed at comparable rates. Acidic amino acids in the ultimate N-terminal position of the substrates reduced the activities of the peptidases 100-fold as compared with corresponding substrates with unblocked neutral or, especially, basic termini. The action of the dipeptidyl peptidase on several peptides with N-terminal Xaa-Pro sequences was investigated. Tripeptides were rapidly hydrolyzed, but the activities considerably decreased with increasing chain length of the peptides. Although the tetrapeptide substance P 1-4 was still a good substrate, the activities detected for the sequential liberation of Xaa-Pro dipeptides from substance P itself or casomorphin were considerably lower. Longer peptides were not cleaved. The peptidases hydrolyzed Pro-Pro bonds, e.g., in bradykinin 1-3 or 1-5 fragments, but bradykinin itself was resistant. The enzymes were inhibited by serine protease inhibitors, like diisopropyl fluorophosphate or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and by high salt concentrations but not by the aminopeptidase inhibitors bacitracin and bestatin. Based on the molecular and catalytic properties, both enzymes can be classified as species of dipeptidyl peptidase II (EC 3.4.14.2) rather than IV (EC 3.4.14.5). However, some catalytic properties differentiate the brain enzyme from forms of dipeptidyl peptidase II of other sources.     

Organisation and Variable Incidence of Genes Concerned with the Utilization of Xylans in the Rumen Cellulolytic Bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens

Strains of the rumen cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens vary in their ability to utilise isolated plant xylans for growth. Here an 11.5 kb fragment of genomic DNA from the xylan-utilizing R. flavefaciens strain 17 that contains the xynD gene, which encodes an extracellular xylanase/β -(1,3-1,4)-glucanase, was analysed. Sequencing revealed five consecutive open reading frames downstream from xynD on the same strand, preceded by the divergently transcribed ORF3. These include the following genes likely to be involved in utilisation of xylan breakdown products: xylA, encoding a β -(1,4)-xylosidase, xsi, encoding a xylose isomerase and ORF8 encoding part of an ABC-type sugar transporter. The products of ORF3 and of a partial ORF1 found upstream of xynD, show significant sequence similarity to AraC-type regulatory proteins while ORF4 and ORF7 show no close relationship to other known proteins. Homologues of the xylA and xsi genes, and inducible β -xylosidase activity, were readily detectable in three xylan-utilizing R. flavefaciens strains 17, B1a and C94 but not in two xylan non-utilizing strains, C1a and B34b, suggesting that this cluster may be absent from xylan non-utilizing strains.     

肽酶PepT参与副溶血弧菌的浮游运动和生物被膜形成

pepT基因编码一种金属依赖性肽酶T (peptidase T,PepT),能特异性催化三肽N端氨基酸,因此也称为氨肽酶T。研究发现大多数氨肽酶参与细菌蛋白质新陈代谢和调节三肽活性,但关于PepT在细菌毒力及致病性方面的报道较少。[目的]本文选取PepT为研究对象,研究其对副溶血弧菌生物学特性及致病性的影响。[方法]通过构建缺失株ΔpepT和回补株CΔpepT,比较菌株在运动性、生物被膜、环境耐受、细胞毒性等方面的差异。[结果]与野生株相比,ΔpepT缺失株的极性鞭毛转录水平极显著下降,浮游运动能力降低;同时生物被膜形成能力减弱,而细菌群集运动及环境耐受能力无显著差异。此外,缺失pepT基因会导致副溶血弧菌的细胞毒性和小鼠毒力作用显著下降。[结论]pepT基因与副溶血弧菌浮游运动和生物被膜形成能力相关,并且影响其致病性。     

Purification and Characterization of a DnaK-like and a GroEL-like Protein from Porphyromonas gingivalis

Heat-shock proteins of Porphyromonas gingivalis were demonstrated and two of them were purified and further characterized. The amplified de novo synthesis of two different proteins, with apparent molecular weights of 75 kDa and 68 kDa, was observed by autofluorography when a P. gingivalis culture incubated in a ¹⁴C-labeled amino acid mixture was shifted from 37°C to 44°C. Both proteins possessed ATP-binding abilities and were purified to almost homogeneity employing affinity chromatography on ATP-agarose followed by preparative SDS-PAGE. Purified 75 kDa and 68 kDa proteins had isoelectric points of 4.4 and 4.6, respectively. They were shown to be immunoreactive with commercial anti-DnaK and anti-GroEL polyclonal antibodies, respectively. Immunoblotting analysis of whole cells using antiserum raised against each purified protein from P. gingivalis, confirmed elevated synthesis of both proteins during thermal shock. A GroEL protein reacted strongly with antiserum against the 68 kDa protein. However, a DnaK protein reacted weakly with antiserum to the 75 kDa protein. Analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the DnaK-like protein (75 kDa) showed a high degree of homology with those of the HSP70 family including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The N-terminal amino acid analysis of the GroEL-like protein (68 kDa) indicated that it was identical to those of cloned GroEL homologues from P. gingivalis.     

Degradation and Utilization of Xylans by the Rumen AnaerobePrevotella bryantii(formerlyP. ruminicolasubsp.brevis) B14

Freshly harvested whole cells from cultures ofP. bryantiiB₁4 grown with oat spelt xylan (OSX) as an energy source showed less than 25% of the enzyme activity against OSX, and less than 15% of the activity against birchwood xylan (BWX) and carboxymethylcellulose, that was detectable in sonicated cell preparations. This indicates that much of this hydrolytic activity is either periplasmic, membrane-associated or intracellular and may be concerned with the processing of transported oligosaccharides.P. bryantiiB₁4 cultures were able to utilise up to 45% and 51% of the total pentose present in OSX and BWX, respectively, after 24 h, but could utilize 84% of a water-soluble fraction of BWX. Analysis of the xylan left undegraded after incubation withP. bryantiishowed that while xylose and arabinose were removed to a similar extent, uronic acids were utilized to a greater extent than xylose. Predigestion of xylans with two cloned xylanases from the cellulolytic rumen anaerobeRuminococcus flavefaciensgave little increase in overall pentose utilization suggesting that externalP. bryantiixylanases are as effective as the clonedR. flavefaciensenzymes in releasing products that can be utilised byP. bryantiicells. The xylanase system ofP. bryantiiis able to efficiently utilise not only xylo-oligosaccharides but also larger water-soluble xylan fragments.     

Purification, Properties, and N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequence of a Kallikrein-like Enzyme from the Venom of Lachesis muta rhombeata (Bushmaster)

Pit viper venoms contain multiple proteinases which cause considerable damage in tissues and systemic effects after envenomation. A proteinase, kallikrein-like enzyme, belonging to the serine group must play a very important role on systemic effects. The corresponding enzyme from Lachesis muta rhombeata venom was purified to homogeneity by a combination of isoelectrofocusing fractionation followed by one step of gel filtration HPLC. The enzyme focused with pI 5.0–6.5, it had a molecular mass of 32 kDa by gel filtration HPLC, had edematogenic activity, and induced a hypotensic effect in anesthetized rats. It exhibited strong N--tosyl-L-Arg methyl esterase (955.38 units/mg) and N-BZ-DL-Arg-pNA amidolytic (233.02 units/mg) activities, hydrolyzed tripeptide nitroanilide derivatives weakly or not at all, and cleaved selectively the A- and B- chains of fibrinogen, apparently leaving the Y-chain unaffected. The 30 N-terminal amino acid sequence of the L. m. rhombeata protein showed greatest identity (74% in 26 amino acids) with Crotalus viridis kallikrein-like protein, but significant similarities in sequence were observed with enzymes from other snake venoms and pig pancreatic kallikrein.     

Morganella morganii J-8羰基不对称还原酶的分离纯化及性质研究

由本实验室筛选得到的摩尔摩根氏菌J-8菌株可将底物1-苯基-2-甲氨基丙酮专一性地转化为d-伪麻黄碱。以M. morganii J-8为出发菌株,菌体超声破碎后,经硫酸铵沉淀、Phenyl Superose疏水柱层析、DEAD阴离子柱层析和非变性凝胶电泳四步纯化获得电泳纯羰基不对称还原酶。亚基分子质量为42.5 kD,高效液相色谱分析酶的分子质量约为84.1 kD,初步认为该酶为二聚体蛋白。对所得到的部分纯化酶的酶学性质做了初步研究,纯酶进行基质辅助激光解析电离-飞行质谱分析,比对结果显示为与亮氨酸脱氢酶蛋白有很高相似性。     

Morganella morganii J-8羰基不对称还原酶的分离纯化及性质研究

由本实验室筛选得到的摩尔摩根氏菌J-8菌株可将底物1-苯基-2-甲氨基丙酮专一性地转化为d-伪麻黄碱。以M. morganii J-8为出发菌株,菌体超声破碎后,经硫酸铵沉淀、Phenyl Superose疏水柱层析、DEAD阴离子柱层析和非变性凝胶电泳四步纯化获得电泳纯羰基不对称还原酶。亚基分子质量为42.5 kD,高效液相色谱分析酶的分子质量约为84.1 kD,初步认为该酶为二聚体蛋白。对所得到的部分纯化酶的酶学性质做了初步研究,纯酶进行基质辅助激光解析电离-飞行质谱分析,比对结果显示为与亮氨酸脱氢酶蛋白有很高相似性。     

Purification and Characterization of an Extracellular Low Temperature-Active and Alkaline Stable Peptidase from Psychrotrophic Acinetobacter sp. MN 12 MTCC (10786)

An extracellular low temperature-active alkaline stable peptidase from Acinetobacter sp. MN 12 was purified to homogeneity with a purification fold of 9.8. The enzyme exhibited specific activity of 6,540 U/mg protein, with an apparent molecular weight of 35 kDa. The purified enzyme was active over broad range of temperature from 4 to 60 °C with optimum activity at 40 °C. The enzyme retained more than 75 % of activity over a broad range of pH (7.0–11.0) with optimum activity at pH 9.0. The purified peptidase was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, giving an indication of serine type. The K _m and V _max for casein and gelatin were 0.3529, 2.03 mg/ml and 294.11, 384.61 μg/ml/min respectively. The peptidase was compatible with surfactants, oxidizing agents and commercial detergents, and effectively removed dried blood stains on cotton fabrics at low temperature ranging from 15 to 35 °C.     

碱液提取箬叶多糖的纯化及其结构性质的研究

通过高碘酸氧化、Smith降解、部分酸水解分析、NMR分析等多种方法对以不同浓度的NaOH溶液箬叶中提取的两种多糖FⅢ-a及FⅣ-a进行了研究,结果表明二者均具有多分枝结构,FⅢ-a主链以α(1→3)连接的木糖为主,分子侧链由半乳糖、阿拉伯糖、葡萄糖醛酸构成,葡萄糖醛酸主要位于分子的末端;FⅣ-a主链由α(1→3)木糖和β(1→6)半乳糖构成,以阿拉伯糖、葡萄糖醛酸组成侧链,葡萄糖醛酸主要位于分子的末端.     

甘肃扁蓿豆属(豆科)一新变种——天祝扁蓿豆

该文描述了甘肃东祁连山发现的豆科( Leguminosae)扁蓿豆属( Melilotoides)一新变种———天祝扁蓿豆(Melilotoides ruthenica var. tianhzhuensis C. L. Xu )。该变种植株节间(3~18 mm)短于原变种(30~65 mm);叶片小于原变种;小叶宽卵形或倒卵形;花冠外部(背部)和内部(腹部)均为黄色,且不带紫色和条纹。上述特征与原变种明显不同,易于区别。     

拟草果总黄酮制备纯化及抗炎活性研究

该文在前期研究的基础上,以拟草果的甲醇粗提液为原料,研究拟草果总黄酮成分的纯化方法以及考察拟草果总黄酮的抗炎活性。结果表明:通过静态吸附-洗脱试验,筛选出HP-20为纯化拟草果总黄酮的最佳大孔吸附树脂;以吸附率、解吸率等参数为指标,考察上样液和洗脱液的质量浓度、体积、流速等因素对纯化工艺的影响,确定最佳工艺条件为上样液质量浓度0.5 mg·m L^-1、上样体积流量4 m L·min^-1、上样体积15 BV、洗脱剂乙醇浓度70%、洗脱流速2 m L·min^-1、洗脱剂用量10 BV,在此条件下纯化的总黄酮保留率为65.48%;通过检测获得的拟草果总黄酮对脂多糖刺激的小胶质BV2细胞中白介素(IL)-6水平的影响,发现其可显著下调炎症因子IL-6的表达,具有一定的抗炎活性。     

绮丽刺毛霉的一种新型甘氨酸氨肽酶的研究

研究了产自于绮丽刺毛霉（Actinomucor elegans）的一种甘氨酸氨肽酶。分子筛层析表明该酶的天然分子的分子量为320kD,SDSPAGE分析表明蛋白质的亚基分子量为565kD。该酶水解含有甘氨酸残基的底物（如glycinenaphthylamine）的效率要较其它氨基酸残基高得多。该酶的最佳反应温度为30℃,最佳pH为8.0。酶的Km和Kcat值分别为0.24mmol/L与1008 s^-1。1.0mmol/L Zn²⁺,Cu²⁺和Cd²⁺可完全抑制该酶的活性。作用于酶巯基的化学物质对酶活性都有抑制作用。根据络合剂反应的实验结果表明该酶是一种含有金属的酶。当与蛋白酶共同作用时该酶除了甘氨酸外还能提高脯氨酸、精氨酸及谷氨酸的水解率。     

桑叶西番莲——中国西番莲科植物新归化种

外来物种的归化和入侵对全球环境和社会发展造成了严重影响,已成为当今各国生物多样性管理和生态保护中所面临的全球性问题。我国是遭受外来入侵危害最为严重的国家之一,在外来物种入侵的预警、管理和治理等方面形势严峻。该研究报道了中国西番莲科(Passifloraceae)西番莲属(Passiflora Linn.)一个新归化种,即桑叶西番莲(P.morifolia Mast.),并提供了形态描述和野外生态照片。桑叶西番莲原产于中美洲和南美洲的热带地区,现发现新归化于我国云南省普洱市孟连县的竜山龙血树省级自然保护区。桑叶西番莲的主要鉴别特征为叶片草质,掌状3浅裂,疏被短硬毛,托叶卵形,半抱茎,聚伞花序退化,苞片线状,具1~2花,花梗长3~6 cm,花瓣白色,副花冠基部紫色,浆果成熟时紫黑色,被短刺毛和白霜。国产种类中,桑叶西番莲与龙珠果(Passiflora foetida)最为近似,但后者全株被柔毛和腺毛,叶柄不具腺体,花序苞片一至三回羽状分裂,丝状的副花冠基部常粉红色。此外,还简要评估了桑叶西番莲的危害和入侵风险。     

An X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase from Lactococcus lactis: cloning, expression in Escherichia coli, and application for removal of N-terminal Pro-Pro from recombinant proteins

A novel pepX gene was cloned from isolated DNA of Lactococcus lactis by PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 89-kDa protein showed 94, 93, 65, and 44% identity with the pepX protein from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus delbruecki subsp. bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus helveticus, respectively, and contained a serine protease G-K-S-Y-L-G consensus motif. The pepX gene has been cloned into pET17b and was expressed at a high level in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) LysS. PepX was purified to approximate homogeneity with ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE Sephadex A-50 chromatography. Optimal pepX activity was observed at pH 8.0 and 37 degrees C. According to SDS-PAGE analysis, pepX has a molecular mass of approximately 89 kDa. The peptidase can remove completely the unwanted X-Pro from the N-terminal of the target protein, releasing the naturally active protein and peptide, revealing a prospective application of pepX in large-scale production of pharmaceutical protein and peptide products.