Cloning, expression, and purification of glyoxysomal 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase from sunflower cotyledons

The glyoxysomal beta-oxidation system in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cotyledons is distinguished by the coexistence of two different thiolase isoforms, thiolase I and II. So far, this phenomenon has only been described for glyoxysomes from sunflower cotyledons. Thiolase I (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, EC 2.3.1.9) recognizes acetoacetyl-CoA only, while thiolase II (3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase, EC 2.3.1.16) exhibits a more broad substrate specificity towards 3-oxoacyl-CoA esters of different chain length. Here, we report on the cloning of thiolase II from sunflower cotyledons. The known DNA sequence of Cucumis sativus 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase was used to generate primers for cloning the corresponding thiolase from sunflower cotyledons. RT-PCR was then used to generate an internal fragment of the sunflower thiolase gene and the termini were isolated using 5'- and 3'-RACE. Full-length cDNA was generated using RT-PCR with sunflower thiolase-specific primers flanking the coding region. The resultant gene encodes a thiolase sharing at least 80% identity with other plant thiolases at the amino acid level. The recombinant sunflower thiolase II was expressed in a bacterial system in an active form and purified to apparent homogeneity in a single step using Ni-NTA agarose chromatography. The enzyme was purified 53.4-fold and had a specific activity of 235 nkat/mg protein. Pooled fractions from the Ni-NTA column resulted in an 83% yield of active enzyme to be used for further characterization.     

Bacterial expression and characterization of functional recombinant triosephosphate isomerase from Schistosoma japonicum

The dimeric enzyme triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) converts glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to dehydroxyacetone phosphate, a key reaction in glycolysis. Previous studies of the native enzyme in the human blood-flukes belonging to the genus Schistosoma have indicated that TPI is a promising anti-schistosome vaccine antigen. However, a recombinant form of the enzyme is required as an alternative to the impractical option of using biochemically purified TPI obtained from worm tissue for large-scale vaccine use. We previously cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA encoding the TPI of the Asian (Chinese strain) schistosome Schistosoma japonicum (SjcTPI). We now report very high level bacterial expression of this cDNA and the subsequent purification of the recombinant protein to >98% homogeneity under nondenaturing conditions. The recombinant SjcTPI (re-SjcTPI) was shown to be enzymatically active with a specific activity of 7687 units/mg protein, an activity higher than that of commercially obtained porcine TPI tested concurrently under the same assay conditions. The K(m) value for the re-SjcTPI using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as substrate was 406.7 microM, which is similar to the K(m) values reported for the yeast enzyme and various mammalian TPIs. With the availability of substantial amounts of enzymatically active and readily purified re-SjcTPI made in bacteria we can now test whether the recombinant protein can induce a similar level of protection in vaccination/challenge experiments as the native, biochemically purified enzyme.     

Bacterial Expression and Characterization of Functional Recombinant Triosephosphate Isomerase from Schistosoma japonicum

The dimeric enzyme triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) converts glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to dehydroxyacetone phosphate, a key reaction in glycolysis. Previous studies of the native enzyme in the human bloodflukes belonging to the genus Schistosoma have indicated that TPI is a promising anti-schistosome vaccine antigen. However, a recombinant form of the enzyme is required as an alternative to the impractical option of using biochemically purified TPI obtained from worm tissue for large-scale vaccine use. We previously cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA encoding the TPI of the Asian (Chinese strain) schistosome Schistosoma japonicum (SjcTPI). We now report very high level bacterial expression of this cDNA and the subsequent purification of the recombinant protein to >98% homogeneity under nondenaturing conditions. The recombinant SjcTPI (re-SjcTPI) was shown to be enzymatically active with a specific activity of 7687 units/mg protein, an activity higher than that of commercially obtained porcine TPI tested concurrently under the same assay conditions. The K_m value for the re-SjcTPI using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as substrate was 406.7 μM, which is similar to the K_m values reported for the yeast enzyme and various mammalian TPIs. With the availability of substantial amounts of enzymatically active and readily purified re-SjcTPI made in bacteria we can now test whether the recombinant protein can induce a similar level of protection in vaccination/challenge experiments as the native, biochemically purified enzyme.     

Purification and biochemical characterization of a mycelial alkaline phosphatase without DNAase activity produced by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus caespitosus</Emphasis>

Biochemical properties of a termostable alkaline phosphatase obtained from the mycelium extract of A. caespitosus were described. The enzyme was purified 42-fold with 32% recovery by DEAE-cellulose and concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography. The molar mass estimated by Sephacryl S-200 or by 7% SDS-PAGE was 138 kDa and 71 kDa, respectively, indicating a homodimer. Temperature and pH optima were 80 degrees C and pH 9.0. This enzyme was highly glycosylated (approximately 74% saccharide content). The activity was enhanced by Mg2+ (19-139%), NH4+ (64%), Na+ (51%) and Mn2+ (38%). 4-Nitrophenyl phosphate (4-NPP) was preferentially hydrolyzed, but glucose 1-phosphate (93%), UTP (67%) and O-phosphoamino acids also acted as substrates. V(lim) and K(m) were 3.78 nkat per mg protein and 270 micromol/L in the absence of Mg2+ and 7.35 nkat per mg protein and 410 micromol/L in the presence of Mg2+, using 4-NPP as substrate. The purified alkaline phosphatase removed the 5'-phosphate group of a linearized plasmid without showing DNAase activity, indicating its potential for recombinant DNA technology.     

Preparative synthesis of GDP-beta-L-fucose by recombinant enzymes from enterobacterial sources

The 6-deoxyhexose L-fucose is an important and characteristic element in glycoconjugates of bacteria (e.g., lipopolysaccharides), plants (e.g., xyloglucans) and animals (e.g., glycolipids, glycoproteins, and oligosaccharides). The biosynthetic pathway of GDP-L-fucose starts with a dehydration of GDP-D-mannose catalyzed by GDP-D-mannose 4,6-dehydratase (Gmd) creating GDP-4-keto-6-deoxymannose which is subsequently converted by the GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose 3,5-epimerase-4-reductase (WcaG; GDP-beta-L-fucose synthetase) to GDP-beta-L-fucose. Both biosynthetic genes gmd and wcaG were cloned from Escherichia coli K12 and the enzymes overexpressed under control of the T7 promoter in the expression vectors pET11a and pET16b, yielding both native and N-terminal His-tag fusion proteins, respectively. The activities of the Gmd and WcaG were analyzed. The enzymatic conversion from GDP-D-mannose to GDP-beta-L-fucose was optimized and the final product was purified. The formation of GDP-beta-L-fucose by the recombinant enzymes was verified by HPLC and NMR analyses. The His-tag fusion variants of the Gmd and WcaG proteins were purified to near homogeneity. The His-tag Gmd recombinant enzyme was inactive, whereas His-tag WcaG showed very similar enzymatic properties relative to the native GDP-beta-L-fucose synthetase. With the purified His-tag WcaG Km and Vmax values, respectively, of 40 microM and 23 nkat/mg protein for the substrate GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose and of 21 microM and 10 nkat/mg protein for the cosubstrate NADPH were obtained; a pH optimum of 7.5 was determined and the enzyme was stimulated to equal extend by the divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+. The Gmd enzyme showed a strong feedback inhibition by GDP-beta-L-fucose.     

Heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and single-step purification of a cysteine proteinase from northern shrimp

A distinct cysteine proteinase (NsCys) of northern shrimp Pandalus borealis belonging to cathepsin L subgroup of the papain superfamily has been overexpressed as a precursor form (proNsCys) in Pichia pastoris. We adopted a simple and quick procedure to generate an expression cassette by constructing a donor vector harboring proNsCys followed by recombination with an acceptor vector in a way so that the proNsCys gene was placed downstream of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter and alpha-mating factor signal sequence gene. In addition, we used glycerol complex medium that supported high growth of yeast before induction while induction was carried out in minimal methanol medium thereby facilitating the secreted protein to be purified with a single size-exclusion chromatography. The recombinant enzyme was purified in two enzymatically active fractions: both corresponding to mature NsCys with, however, the major one comprising two molecular species of NsCys which had their severed prodomain non-covalently attached. The overall yield was about 100 mg of crude or 60 mg of purified recombinant enzyme comprising both mature and prodomain-attached forms of NsCys per liter of yeast culture. The recombinant NsCys was biologically active as observed by gelatin zymography and its ability to cleave Z-Phe-Arg-MCA, a synthetic substrate for cathepsin L. The development of the system reported here provides a cost-effective and easy to manipulate expression system to obtain large quantities of fully functional shrimp enzyme that will enable the functional characterization of this unique enzyme for both research and industrial purposes.     

A green 2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA reductase from Clostridium aminovalericum

2,4-Pentadienoyl-CoA reductase from Clostridium aminovalericum was purified to homogeneity (170-182 kDa). PAGE in the presence of SDS revealed a single band (44 kDa) indicating a homotetrameric structure. The native enzyme had a green colour and contained 0.4 mol FAD/subunit. Its unusual ultraviolet/visible-spectrum showed absorption maxima at 270, 402 and 715 nm as well as shoulders at 278, 360, 450 and 500 nm. Removal of the prosthetic group at pH 2 in the presence of salt and charcoal yielded a colourless and completely inactive apoenzyme, which could be reconstituted with FAD (not with FMN) to an active holoenzyme showing a normal flavoprotein spectrum (peaks at 369 nm and 436 nm). Thereby the FAD content increased to 0.9 mol/subunit with a concomitant rise in activity to 200% of the original value. Anaerobic reduction of the green enzyme by dithionite and reoxidation by air afforded a green preparation with a spectrum similar to that of the native enzyme. Addition of excess FAD to the green reductase also increased the activity by a factor of two. The green enzyme catalysed the oxidation of (E)-3-pentenoyl-CoA or (E)-3-hexenoyl-CoA to 2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA or 2,4-hexenoyl-CoA, respectively. 2-Pentenoyl-CoA or 4-pentenoyl-CoA were not oxidised. Meldola blue (8-dimethylamino-2,3-benzophenoxazine) and 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride (V = 26 nkat/mg protein) or ferricenium hexafluorophosphate (V = 1900 nkat/mg), but not NAD(P), served as electron acceptors. Reduction of 2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA (V = 370 nkat/mg) was observed with reduced benzyl viologen, but not with NAD(P)H as an electron donor. Although the enzyme had some pentenoyl-CoA delta-isomerase activity (1.2 nkat/mg), the only product of the reduction was 3-pentenoyl-CoA rather than 2-pentenoyl-CoA.     

Purification and properties of phosphotransacetylase from the eucaryotic green alga Chlorogonium elongatum

Phosphotransacetylase (EC 2.3.1.8) was detected in cell-free crude extracts of starch-fermenting eucaryotic green algae. The enzyme was purified from autotrophically grown Chlorogonium elongatum. The purified enzyme fraction, after affinity chromatography, shows a single protein band upon acrylamide gel electrophoresis and has a molecular weight of 280 000. It consists of six subunits of identical molecular weight (44 000). The pH and temperature optima for the eucaryotic phosphotransacetylase are 7.6 and 28°C, respectively. The K_m values at 25°C (pH 7.6) for acetyl-CoA and phosphate are 0.078 mM and 5.440 mM, respectively, and in the reverse reaction (acetyl-CoA synthesis) for CoA and acetyl phosphate 0.093 mM and 0.310 mM, respectively. The maximum velocity of the forward reaction was 1627 nkat/mg protein and of the reverse reaction 8582 nkat/mg protein. The activity of the eucaryotic phosphotransacetylase strictly depends on the presence of univalent cations (ammonium, K_a = 9 mM; potassium, K_{a = 12.5 mM}). Inactivation studies with iodoacetamide and iodoacetic acid revealed the presence of an essential sulphhydryl group at the catalytic site. Arsenolytic and product inhibition studies indicate a rapid equilibrium random bi-bi reaction mechanism for the enzyme from C. elongatum. The control of the enzyme activity in the forward reaction by both pyruvate and NADH gives evidence for a physiological function of phosphotransacetylase in anaerobic energy metabolism of eucaryotic green algae rather than in aerobic acetate activation.     

Purification and characterization of two recombinant human glucuronyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of HNK-1 carbohydrate in Escherichia coli

Two glucuronyltransferases (GlcAT-P and GlcAT-S) are involved in the biosynthesis of HNK-1 carbohydrate, which is spatially and temporally regulated in the nervous system. To clarify the enzymatic properties of the respective glucuronyltransferases, we established an expression system for producing large amounts of soluble forms of flag-tagged human GlcAT-P and GlcAT-S in Escherichia coli. Approximately 15 and 6 mg of enzymatically active flag-GlcAT-P and flag-GlcAT-S were purified from E. coli cells in 5 liters of culture medium, respectively. These recombinant enzymes transferred GlcA to a glycoprotein acceptor, asialo-orosomucoid (ASOR), as well as a glycolipid acceptor, paragloboside. The specific activity of the recombinant GlcAT-P (1100 nmol/min/mg) toward a glycoprotein acceptor, ASOR, was comparable to that of the enzyme (4300 nmol/min/mg) purified from rat brain. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is specifically required for expression of the activity of the recombinant enzymes toward a glycolipid acceptor, paragloboside. The recombinant GlcAT-P was highly specific for the terminal type II structure, Galbeta1-4GlcNAc, while the recombinant GlcAT-S recognized not only the type II structure, Galbeta1-4GlcNAc, but also the type I structure, Galbeta1-3GlcNAc. These acceptor specificities were similar to those of the native enzymes.     

A pseudo-β-glucosidase in Arabidopsis thaliana: Correction by site-directed mutagenesis, heterologous expression, purification, and characterization

Since At2g25630 is an intronless gene with a premature stop codon, its cDNA encoding the predicted mature beta-glucosidase isoenzyme was synthesized from the previously isolated Arabidopsis thaliana genomic DNA. The stop codon was converted to a sense codon by site-directed mutagenesis. The native and mutated cDNA sequences were separately cloned into the vector pPICZalphaB and expressed in Pichia pastoris. Only the cells transformed with mutated cDNA-vector construct produced the active protein. The mutated recombinant beta-glucosidase isoenzyme was chromatographically purified to apparent homogeneity. The molecular mass of the protein is estimated as ca. 60 kD by SDS-PAGE. The pH optimum of activity is 5.6, and it is fairly stable in the pH range of 5.0-8.5. The purified recombinant beta-glucosidase is effectively active on para-/ortho-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranosides (p-/o-NPG) and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4-MUG) with K(m) values of 1.9, 2.1, 0.78 mM and k(cat) values of 114, 106, 327 nkat/mg, respectively. It also exhibits different levels of activity against para-/ortho-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucopyranosides (p-/o-NPF), amygdalin, prunasin, cellobiose, gentiobiose, and salicin. The enzyme is competitively inhibited by gluconolactone and p-nitrophenyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside with p-NPG, o-NPG, and 4-MUG as substrates. The enzyme is found to be very tolerant to glucose inhibition. The catalytic role of nucleophilic glutamic acid in the motif YITENG of beta-glucosidases and mutated recombinant enzyme is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of Snf1 kinase complexes containing a defined Beta subunit composition

The Snf1 kinase complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains one of three possible beta subunits encoded by either SIP1, SIP2, or GAL83. Snf1 kinase complexes were purified from cells expressing only one of the three beta subunits using a tandem affinity purification tag on the C terminus of the Snf1 protein. The purified kinase complexes were enzymatically active as judged by their ability to phosphorylate a recombinant protein containing the Snf1-responsive domain of the Mig1 protein. The Snf1 kinase complexes containing Gal83 or Sip2 as the beta subunit showed comparable and high levels of activity, whereas the Sip1-containing enzyme was significantly less active. Examination of the protein composition of the purified Snf1 enzyme complexes indicated that the Sip1 protein was present in substoichiometric levels. Increased gene dosage of SIP1 rescued the ethanol growth defect observed in cells expressing Sip1 as their only beta subunit and increased the in vitro activity of Snf1 kinase purified from these cells. Our studies indicate that the reduced activity of Snf1-Snf4-Sip1 kinase is due to low level of Sip1 accumulation rather than a limited ability of the Sip1 form of the enzyme to direct phosphorylation of specific substrates.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-D-glucuronidase from Phlebia radiata

Alpha-D-glucuronidase was isolated from the culture filtrate of Phlebia radiata grown on wheat bran and purified to homogeneity by chromatographic methods. The final enzymic preparation was purified 65-fold with an activity yield of 58%; it showed a high level of specific activity (over 23,000 nkat/mg protein). The molecular and hydrolytic properties of the purified enzyme were studied. The secreted alpha-glucuronidase had a molecular weight of 110 kDa, as established by gel permeation chromatography (GP HPLC), had a determined pI just below 4.4, and was stable at pH 5.5 for prolonged times. The carbohydrate content in protein molecules was found to be 15%. The activity of alpha-D-glucuronidase peaked at pH 3,8 and 60 degrees C with aldouronic acids preparation as the substrate. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)), the maximum reaction velocity (V(max)), and the activation energy (E(a)) were 0.18 mM, 0.13 microM/min and 5.91 kJ/mol, respectively. The alpha-glucuronidase was active mainly on small substituted xylooligomers. When this enzyme was used with endoxylanase for the degradation of oat xylan, synergistic effects were observed.     

Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of a highly active and stable chloroplastic CuZn-superoxide dismutase from Pisum sativum

Background

CuZn-Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a unique enzyme, which can catalyzes the dismutation of inevitable metabolic product i.e.; superoxide anion into molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme has gained wide interest in pharmaceutical industries due to its highly acclaimed antioxidative properties. The recombinant expression of this protein in its enzymatically active and stable form is highly desired and hence optimization of culture conditions and characterization of the related biochemical properties are essential to explore the significance of the enzyme in physiological, therapeutic, structural and transgenic research.

Results

High-level expression of the chloroplastic isoform of Pisum sativum CuZn-SOD was achieved at 18°C, upon isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction and the process was optimized for maximum recovery of the protein in its soluble (enzymatically active) form. Both crude and purified protein fractions display significant increase in activity following supplementation of defined concentration Cu (CuSO₄) and Zn (ZnSO₄). Yield of the purified recombinant protein was ~ 4 mg L⁻¹ of culture volume and the bacterial biomass was ~ 4.5 g L⁻¹. The recombinant pea chloroplastic SOD was found to possess nearly 6 fold higher superoxide dismutase activity and the peroxidase activity was also 5 fold higher as compared to commercially available CuZn-superoxide dismutase. The computational, spectroscopic and biochemical characterization reveals that the protein harbors all the characteristics features of this class of enzyme. The enzyme was found to be exceptionally stable as evident from pH and temperature incubation studies and maintenance of SOD activity upon prolonged storage.

Conclusions

Overexpression and purification strategy presented here describes an efficient protocol for the production of a highly active and stable CuZn-superoxide dismutase in its recombinant form in E. coli system. The strategy can be utilized for the large-scale preparation of active CuZn-superoxide dismutase and thus it has wide application in pharmaceutical industries and also for elucidating the potential of this protein endowed with exceptional stability and activity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12896-015-0117-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Purification and properties of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase from sunflower leaves

Extracts from sunflower leaves possess a high ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase capacity but this enzyme activity is not stable. A purification procedure, developed with preservation of carboxylase activity by MgSO₄, yielded purified RuBP carboxylase with high specific activity (40 nkat mg^-1 protein). Measurement of kinetic parameters showed high Km values (RuBP, HCO ₃ ^- ) and high Vmax of the reaction catalyzed by this sunflower enzyme; the results are compared with those obtained for soybean carboxylase. Enzyme characteristics are discussed in relation to stabilization and activation procedures and to the high photosynthesis rates of this C₃ species.     

Purification and metal requirements of 3-dehydroquinate synthase from Phaseolus mungo seedlings

Dehydroquinate synthase of Phaseolus mungo seedlings was purified 4400-fold from the (NH₄)₂SO₄ fraction of a crude extract, the specific activity being 810 nkat per mg protein. When the purified enzyme was subjected to electrophoresis with or without sodium dodecyl sulfate, a single band was observed. The MW of the enzyme was estimated to be 67 000 by Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography and the minimum MW of the enzyme 43 000 by gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Atomic absorption analysis revealed that the purified enzyme contained small amounts of copper. Cobalt was not detected, although it has been implicated as a cofactor requirement.     

New effective sources of the Staphylococcus simulans lysostaphin

The gene encoding Staphylococcus simulans lysostaphin has been cloned into two Escherichia coli expression systems: pET23b+ (Novagen, UK) and pBAD/Thio-TOPO (Invitrogen, USA), which allow the overexpression of a target protein as a fusion protein. The enzyme produced in the pET system contains a cluster of six histidines at the C-terminus, and the protein produced in the pBAD system contains 133 additional amino acid residues at the N-terminus, including thioredoxin, a cluster of six histidines and a recognition site for endoprotease Factor Xa. The recombinant enzymes were purified by metal-affinity chromatography on a Co2+-Sepharose column. Approximately 20 mg of purified recombinant enzyme were obtained in the pET expression system and 39 mg in the pBAD system, from a 1-L culture. The obtained fusion protein from the pET system revealed specific activity that was approximately 10 times higher than that of the fusion protein from the pBAD system (970 U/mg versus 83 U/mg). The purified enzymes displayed maximum activity at close to 45 degrees C and pH 8.0 or 7.5 for the enzyme obtained from pET and pBAD system, respectively. The lysostaphin activity was strongly inhibited by Zn2+ or Cu2+ (2 mM) with a 70-80% decrease. The Ni2+ (2 mM) also inhibited the enzyme with a 60 and 20% activity decrease for enzyme from the pET and pBAD system, respectively. The Co2+ had no impact on enzymatic activity at the 2 mM concentration; however, 30 and 20% activity decreases were observed at the 10mM concentration for the enzyme obtained from the pET and pBAD expression systems, respectively. EDTA, known as a strong inhibitor of the native lysostaphin, had no impact on the antistaphylococcal activity of either recombinant enzyme.     

Purification of a recombinant histidine-tagged lactate dehydrogenase from the malaria parasite,Plasmodium vivax,and characterization of its properties

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax (Pv), serves as a drug target and immunodiagnostic marker. The LDH cDNA generated from total RNA of a clinical isolate of the parasite was cloned into pRSETA plasmid. Recombinant his-tagged PvLDH was over-expressed in E. coli Rosetta2DE3pLysS and purified using Ni²⁺-NTA resin giving a yield of 25–30 mg/litre bacterial culture. The recombinant protein was enzymatically active and its catalytic efficiency for pyruvate was 5.4 × 10⁸ min^?1 M^?1, 14.5 fold higher than a low yield preparation reported earlier to obtain PvLDH crystal structure. The enzyme activity was inhibited by gossypol and sodium oxamate. The recombinant PvLDH was reactive in lateral flow immunochromatographic assays detecting pan- and vivax-specific LDH. The soluble recombinant PvLDH purified using heterologous expression system can facilitate the generation of vivax LDH-specific monoclonals and the screening of chemical compound libraries for PvLDH inhibitors.     

Nitrous oxide reductase from denitrifying Pseudomonas perfectomarina. Purification and properties of a novel multicopper enzyme

Nitrous oxide reductase from the denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas perfectomarina has been isolated and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme contained about eight copper atoms/120 kDa and was composed of two presumably identical subunits. The isoelectric point was 5.1. Several spectroscopically distinct forms of the enzyme were identified. A 'pink' form of the enzyme was obtained when the purification was done aerobically. The specific activity of this species was around 30 nkat/mg protein as measured by the nitrous-oxide-dependent oxidation of photochemically reduced benzyl viologen. A 'purple' form of the enzyme, whose catalytic activity was 2-5-fold higher, was obtained when the purification was done anaerobically. The activity of both forms of the enzyme was substantially increased by dialyzing the protein against 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonate buffer at pH approximately equal to 10. A maximal activity of 1000 nkat/mg protein has been obtained for the purple form using this procedure. A 'blue', enzymatically inactive form of the enzyme resulted when either the pink or the purple species was exposed to excess dithionite or ascorbate. Anaerobic, potentiometric titrations of both the purple and the pink form of the enzyme gave a Nernst factor, n540, of 0.95 and a midpoint potential, E'0,540 of +260 mV (vs SHE, 25 degrees C, Tris/HCl buffer, pH 7.5). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectra of N2O reductase suggested the presence of an unusual type 1 copper center. Type 2 copper was absent. The hyperfine splitting in the g parallel region consisted of a seven-line pattern. In the presence of excess of reductant, a broad EPR signal with g values at 2.18 and 2.06 was observed. The EPR spectra of the pink and purple forms of the enzyme were similar; however, the spectrum of the purple form was better resolved with g parallel = 2.18 (A parallel = 3.83 mT) and g perpendicular = 2.03 (A perpendicular = 2.8 mT). Most of the copper in N2O reductase was removed by anaerobic dialysis against KCN. Reaction of the apoprotein with Cu(en)2SO4 partially regenerated the optical and EPR spectra of the holoprotein; the resulting protein was enzymatically inactive. Monospecific antibodies against the copper protein strongly inhibited the N2O reductase activity of purified samples and cell-free extracts.     

Agmatine deiminase in rice seedlings

Agmatine deiminase activity in rice embryos increased gradually upto 24 hr during germination and then decreased. Gibberellic acid and kinetin inhibited the activity when added to the germination medium. The enzyme was purified 717 fold with specific activity 788.5 nkat/mg protein and yield 8.8%. The M_r of the native enzyme was 18.3 x 10⁴ and the enzyme was a dimer of two identical subunits. The pH and temperature optimum of the enzyme were 6.0 and 28° respectively. The enzyme followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K_m value of 1.5 x 10^?2 M. The enzyme activity was inhibited by various divalent cations and spermidine and spermine, but putrescine showed no effect.