Characterization of chitin and its hydrolysis to GlcNAc and GlcN

Proton NMR spectra of chitin dissolved in concentrated and deuterated hydrochloric acid (DCl) were found to be a simple and powerful method for identifying chitin from samples of biological origin. During the first hour after dissolving chitin in concentrated DCl (25 degrees C), insignificant de-N-acetylation occurred, meaning that the fraction of acetylated units (FA) of chitin could be determined. FA of demineralized shrimp shell samples treated with 1 M NaOH at 95 degrees C for 1-24 h were determined and were found to decrease linearly with time from 0.96 to 0.91 during the treatment with NaOH. Extrapolation to zero time suggested that chitin from shrimp shells has a FA of 0.96, that is, contains a small but significant fraction of de-N-acetylated units. Proton NMR spectra of chitin ( FA = 0.96) dissolved in concentrated DCl were obtained as a function of time until the samples were almost quantitatively hydrolyzed to the monomer glucosamine (GlcN). The initial phase of the reaction involves mainly depolymerization of the chitin chains, resulting in that almost 90% (molar fraction) of the chitin is converted to the monomer N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc).Thus, effective conversion of chitin to GlcNAc in concentrated acid is reported for the first time. GlcNAc is then further de-N-acetylated to GlcN. A new theoretical model was developed to simulate the experimental data of the kinetics of hydrolysis of chitin in concentrated acid. The model uses three different rate constants; two for the hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages following an N-acetylated or a de-N-acetylated sugar unit and one for the de-N-acetylation reaction. The three rate constants were estimated by fitting model data to experimental results. The rate of hydrolysis of a glycosidic linkage following an N-acetylated unit was found to be 54 times higher as compared to the rate of de-N-acetylation and 115 times higher than the rate of hydrolysis of a glycosidic linkage following a de-N-acetylated unit. Two chitin samples with different F A values (0.96 and 0.70) were incubated in concentrated DCl until the samples were converted to the maximum yield of GlcNAc and the oligomer composition analyzed, showing that the maximum yield of GlcNAc was much higher when prepared from the chitin with the highest F A value.     

Recognition of chitooligosaccharides and their N-acetyl groups by putative subsites of chitin deacetylase from a deuteromycete, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

The reaction pattern of an extracellular chitin deacetylase from a Deuteromycete, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum ATCC 56676, was investigated by use of chitooligosaccharides [(GlcNAc)(n)(), n = 3-6] and partially N-deacetylated chitooligosaccharides as substrates. When 0.5% of (GlcNAc)(n)() was deacetylated, the corresponding monodeacetylated products were initially detected without any processivity, suggesting the involvement of a multiple-chain mechanism for the deacetylation reaction. The structural analysis of these first-step products indicated that the chitin deacetylase strongly recognizes a sequence of four N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) residues of the substrate (the subsites for the four GlcNAc residues are defined as -2, -1, 0, and +1, respectively, from the nonreducing end to the reducing end), and the N-acetyl group in the GlcNAc residue positioned at subsite 0 is exclusively deacetylated. When substrates of a low concentration (100 microM) were deacetylated, the initial deacetylation rate for (GlcNAc)(4) was comparable to that of (GlcNAc)(5), while deacetylation of (GlcNAc)(3) could not be detected. Reaction rate analyses of partially N-deacetylated chitooligosaccharides suggested that subsite -2 strongly recognizes the N-acetyl group of the GlcNAc residue of the substrate, while the deacetylation rate was not affected when either subsite -1 or +1 was occupied with a D-glucosamine residue instead of GlcNAc residue. Thus, the reaction pattern of the chitin deacetylase is completely distinct from that of a Zygomycete, Mucor rouxii, which produces a chitin deacetylase for accumulation of chitosan in its cell wall.     

Kinetics of hydrolysis of chitin/chitosan oligomers in concentrated hydrochloric acid

The kinetics of hydrolysis in concentrated hydrochloric acid (12.07 M) of the fully N-acetylated chitin tetramer (GlcNAc(4)) and the fully N-deacetylated chitosan tetramer (GlcN(4)) were followed by determining the amounts of the lower DP oligomers as a function of time. A theoretical model was developed to simulate the kinetics of hydrolysis of the three different glycosidic linkages in the tetramers. The model uses two different rate constants for the hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds in the oligomers, assuming that the glycosidic bond next to one of the end residues are hydrolysed faster than the two other glycosidic linkages. The two rate constants were estimated by fitting model data to experimental results. The results show that the hydrolysis of the tetramers is a nonrandom process as the glycosidic bonds next to one of the end residues are hydrolysed 2.5 and 2.0 times faster as compared to the other glycosidic linkages in the fully N-acetylated and fully N-deacetylated tetramer, respectively. From previous results on other oligomers and the reaction mechanism, it is likely that the glycosidic bond that is hydrolysed fastest is the one next to the nonreducing end. The absolute values for the rate constants for the hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages in GlcNAc(4) were found to be 50 times higher as compared to the glycosidic linkages in GlcN(4), due to the catalytic role of the N-acetyl group and the presence of the positively charged amino-group on the N-deacetylated sugar residue.     

Comparative study of the reaction mechanism of family 18 chitinases from plants and microbes

Hydrolytic mechanisms of family 18 chitinases from rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Bacillus circulans WL-12 were comparatively studied by a combination of HPLC analysis of the reaction products and theoretical calculation of reaction time-courses. All of the enzymes tested produced beta-anomers from chitin hexasaccharide [(GlcNAc)(6)], indicating that they catalyze the hydrolysis through a retaining mechanism. The rice chitinases hydrolyzed predominantly the fourth and fifth glycosidic linkages from the nonreducing end of (GlcNAc)(6), whereas B. circulans chitinase A1 hydrolyzed the second linkage from the nonreducing end. In addition, the Bacillus enzyme efficiently catalyzed transglycosylation, producing significant amounts of chitin oligomers larger than the initial substrate, but the rice chitinases did not. The time-courses of (GlcNAc)(6) degradation obtained by HPLC were analyzed by theoretical calculation, and the subsite structures of the rice chitinases were identified to be (-4)(-3)(-2)(-1)(+1)(+2). From the HPLC profile of the reaction products previously reported [Terwisscha van Scheltinga et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 15619-15623], family 18 chitinase from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) was estimated to have the same type of subsite structure. Theoretical analysis of the reaction time-course for the Bacillus enzyme revealed that the enzyme has (-2)(-1) (+1)(+2)(+3)(+4)-type subsite structure, which is identical to that of fungal chitinase from Coccidioides immitis [Fukamizo et al. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 2448-2454]. The Bacillus enzyme also resembled the fungal chitinase in its transglycosylation activity. Minor structural differences between plant and microbial enzymes appear to result in such functional variations, even though all of these chitinases are classified into the identical family of glycosyl hydrolases.     

A novel goose-type lysozyme gene with chitinolytic activity from the moderately thermophilic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ralstonia</Emphasis> sp. A-471: cloning,sequencing, and expression

In this study, we cloned the gene encoding goose-type (G-type) lysozyme with chitinase (Ra-ChiC) activity from Ralstonia sp. A-471 genomic DNA library. This is the first report of another type of chitinase after the previously reported chitinases ChiA (Ra-ChiA) and ChiB (Ra-ChiB) in the chitinase system of the moderately thermophilic bacterium, Ralstonia sp. A-471 and also the first such data in Ralstonia sp. G-type lysozyme gene. It consisted of 753 bp nucleotides, which encodes 251 amino acids including a putative signal peptide. This ORF was modular enzyme composed of a signal sequence, chitin-binding domain, linker, and catalytic domain. The catalytic domain of Ra-ChiC showed homologies to those of G-type lysozyme (glycoside hydrolases (GH) family 23, 16.8%) and lysozyme-like enzyme from Clostridium beijerincki (76.1%). Ra-ChiC had activities against ethylene glycol chitin, carboxyl methyl chitin, and soluble chitin but not against the cell wall of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The enzyme produced α-anomer by hydrolyzing β-1,4-glycosidic linkage of the substrate, indicating that the enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis through an inverting mechanism. When N-acetylglucosamine hexasaccharide [(GlcNAc)6] was hydrolyzed by the enzyme, the second and third glycosidic linkage from the non-reducing end were split producing (GlcNAc)2 + (GlcNAc)4 and (GlcNAc)3 + (GlcNAc)3 of almost the same concentration in the early stage of the reaction. The G-type lysozyme hydrolyzed (GlcNAc)6 in an endo-splitting manner, which produced (GlcNAc)3 + (GlcNAc)3 predominating over that to (GlcNAc)2 + (GlcNAc)4. Thus, Ra-ChiC was found to be a novel enzyme in its structural and functional properties. The sequence data reported in the present paper have been submitted to the DDBJ, EMBL, and NCBI databases under the accession number AB45458.     

Mutation of a conserved tryptophan in the chitin-binding cleft of Serratia marcescens chitinase A enhances transglycosylation

Family 18 chitinases have the signature peptide DGXDXDXE forming the fourth beta-strand in the (beta/alpha)8-barrel of their catalytic domain. The carboxyl-end glutamic acid, E315 in Serratia marcescens chitinase A, serves as the acid/base during chitin hydrolysis, and the side-chain of the preceding aspartic acid, D313, helps to position correctly the N-acetyl moiety of the glycosyl sugar undergoing hydrolysis. Chitin substrates are bound within a long cleft across the top of the barrel, whose floor consists of aromatic residues that hydrophobically stack with every other GlcNAc. Alanine substitution of the conserved Trp167 at the -3 subsite in Serratia marcescens chitinase A enhanced transglycosylation. Higher oligosaccharides were formed from both chitin tetra- and pentasaccharide, and the only hydrolytic product from chitin trisaccharide was the disaccharide. Greater retention of the glycosyl fragment at the active site of the -3 mutant of Serratia marcescens chitinase A might favor transglycosylation due to a stabilized conformation of its D313.     

The effect of ultrasonication on enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin to N-acetyl glucosamine via sequential and simultaneous strategies

In this study, sequential and simultaneous strategies of ultrasonication (ultrasonic bath) were investigated to enhance enzymatic production of N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) from chitin powder. For the sequential strategy, the ultrasonic caused chitin powder to a visible fleecy structure, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the surface of the treated chitin had a fiber-like structure with a diameter of 50 − 200 nm. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Element analysis (EA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the crystallinity of the chitin decreased with little deacetylation. The simultaneous strategy is a one-pot treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin. The concentration of GlcNAc was 2.65 g/L for the strategy, which was 1.18- and 5.0-fold higher than the sequential strategy (2.25 g/L) and untreated chitin (0.53 g/L), respectively. In conclusion, this approach provided an efficient and environmentally friendly method for reducing the crystallinity of chitin and enhancing its enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Oxidative damage due to copper ion and hydrogen peroxide induces GlcNAc-specific cleavage of an Asn-linked oligosaccharide

Cleavage of an asparagine-linked sugar chain by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a copper salt was investigated. Incubation of a 2-aminopyridine (PA)-labeled biantennary sugar chain, GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1-6(GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1-3)Manbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc-PA, with H2O2 and Cu2+ led to formation of four major degradation products. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic analysis coupled with glycosidase digestion indicated that the sugar chain is not randomly degraded but specifically degraded at a GlcNAc residue. Treatment with either of H2O2 or copper alone did not cleave nor degrade the sugar chain to any extent. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra obtained using a spin trap reagent were consistent with the generation of OH* or an OH*-like radical by the H2O2/copper salt mixture. The addition of ascorbic acid enhanced this radical generation as well as the degradation of the sugar chain. It was also found that H2O2/Cu2+ destroys the N-acetyl group of the monosaccharide GlcNAc, as judged by a decrease in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of this group. On the other hand, replacement of copper by Fe2+ caused no cleavage of the sugar chain, although comparable levels of the same radical species were generated. Furthermore, spectrophotometric analysis showed that a GlcNAc-containing sugar chain coordinates to copper but not to iron, and, thus, the coordination appears to play an essential role in the degradation of the sugar chain. These findings suggest that coordination of copper ions to GlcNAc residues localizes the generation of a radical, which cleaves the glycosidic linkage, possibly involving alteration of the N-acetyl group, thereby allowing the GlcNAc-specific cleavage.     

Evidence for a glycosidic linkage between chitin and glucan in the cell wall of Candida albicans

The alkali-insoluble glucan was isolated from regenerating spheroplasts and intact cells of Candida albicans. Sequential enzymic hydrolysis of this fraction by Zymolyase 100T and purified chitinase and subsequent gel filtration produced a fraction which was enriched in glycosaminoglycans. This fraction was analysed by partial acid hydrolysis, TLC and GLC-MS. The GLC-MS peaks identified included 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methylglucitol acetate and 2,3,4-tri-O-methylglucitol acetate of beta-1,6-glucan and the 3,6-di-O-methyl-2-N-methylglucosaminitol acetate of chitin. In addition, 3-O-methyl-2-N-methylglucosaminitol acetate was identified, which indicated a branch point in chitin. These data provide evidence for a covalent linkage between chitin and beta-(1,6)-glucan through a glycosidic linkage at position 6 of N-acetylglucosamine and position 1 of the glucose in the glucan.     

Kinetic modeling analysis of maleic acid-catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis in corn stover

Maleic acid-catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis reaction in corn stover was analyzed by kinetic modeling. Kinetic constants for Saeman and biphasic hydrolysis models were analyzed by an Arrhenius-type expansion which include activation energy and catalyst concentration factors. The activation energy for hemicellulose hydrolysis by maleic acid was determined to be 83.3 +/- 10.3 kJ/mol, which is significantly lower than the reported E(a) values for sulfuric acid catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis reaction. Model analysis suggest that increasing maleic acid concentrations from 0.05 to 0.2 M facilitate improvement in xylose yields from 40% to 85%, while the extent of improvement flattens to near-quantitative by increasing catalyst loading from 0.2 to 1 M. The model was confirmed for the hydrolysis of corn stover at 1 M maleic acid concentrations at 150 degrees C, resulting in a xylose yield of 96% of theoretical. The refined Saeman model was used to evaluate the optimal condition for monomeric xylose yield in the maleic acid-catalyzed reaction: low temperature reaction conditions were suggested, however, experimental results indicated that bi-phasic behavior dominated at low temperatures, which may be due to the insufficient removal of acetyl groups. A combination of experimental data and model analysis suggests that around 80-90% xylose yields can be achieved at reaction temperatures between 100 and 150 degrees C with 0.2 M maleic acid.     

A novel type of family 19 chitinase from Aeromonas sp. No.10S-24. Cloning, sequence, expression, and the enzymatic properties.

A family 19 chitinase gene from Aeromonas sp. No.10S-24 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. From the deduced amino acid sequence, the enzyme was found to possess two repeated N-terminal chitin-binding domains, which are separated by two proline-threonine rich linkers. The calculated molecular mass was 70 391 Da. The catalytic domain is homologous to those of plant family 19 chitinases by about 47%. The enzyme produced alpha-anomer by hydrolyzing beta-1,4-glycosidic linkage of the substrate, indicating that the enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis through an inverting mechanism. When N-acetylglucosamine hexasaccharide [(GlcNAc)6] was hydrolyzed by the chitinase, the second glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end was predominantly split producing (GlcNAc)2 and (GlcNAc)4. The evidence from this work suggested that the subsite structure of the enzyme was (-2)(-1)(+1)(+2)(+3)(+4), whereas most of plant family 19 chitinases have a subsite structure (-3)(-2)(-1)(+1)(+2)(+3). Thus, the Aeromonas enzyme was found to be a novel type of family 19 chitinase in its structural and functional properties.     

The chitin catabolic cascade in the marine bacterium Vibrio cholerae: characterization of a unique chitin oligosaccharide deacetylase

Chitin, one of the most abundant organic substances in nature, is consumed by marine bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae, via a multitude of tightly regulated genes (Li and Roseman 2004, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101:627-631). One such gene, cod, is reported here. It encodes a chitin oligosaccharide deacetylase (COD), when cells are induced by chitobiose, (GlcNH(2))(2), or crude crab shells. COD was molecularly cloned (COD-6His), overproduced, and purified to apparent homogeneity. COD is secreted at all stages of growth by induced V. cholerae. The gene sequence predicts a 26 N-terminal amino acid signal peptide not found in the isolated protein. COD is very active with chitin oligosaccharides, is virtually inactive with GlcNAc, and slightly active with colloidal ([(3)H]-N-acetyl)-chitin. The oligosaccharides are converted almost quantitatively to products lacking one acetyl group. The latter were characterized by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and treatment with nitrous acid. COD catalyzes the following reactions (n = 2-6): (GlcNAc)(n)--> GlcNAc-GlcNH(2)-(GlcNAc)(n-2) + Ac(-). That is, COD hydrolyzes the N-acetyl groups attached to the penultimate GlcNAc residue. The gene bank sequence data show that cod is highly conserved in Vibrios and Photobacteria. One such gene encodes a deacetylase isolated from V. alginolytics (Ohishi et al. 1997, Biosci Biotech Biochem. 61:1113-1117; Ohishi et al. 2000, J Biosci Bioeng. 90:561-563), that is specific for (GlcNAc)(2), but inactive with higher oligosaccharides. The COD enzymatic products, GlcNAc-GlcNH(2)-(GlcNAc)(n), closely resemble those obtained by hydrolysis of the chitooligosaccharides with Nod B: GlcNH(2)-(GlcNAc)(3-4). The latter are key intermediates in the biosynthesis of Nod factors, critically important in communications between the symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria and plants. Conceivably, the COD products play equally important roles in cellular communications that remain to be defined.     

Heterogonous expression and characterization of a plant class IV chitinase from the pitcher of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes alata

A class IV chitinase belonging to the glycoside hydrolase 19 family from Nepenthes alata (NaCHIT1) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme exhibited weak activity toward polymeric substrates and significant activity toward (GlcNAc)(n) [β-1,4-linked oligosaccharide of GlcNAc with a polymerization degree of n (n = 4-6)]. The enzyme hydrolyzed the third and fourth glycosidic linkages from the non-reducing end of (GlcNAc)(6). The pH optimum of the enzymatic reaction was 5.5 at 37°C. The optimal temperature for activity was 60°C in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5). The anomeric form of the products indicated that it was an inverting enzyme. The k(cat)/K(m) of the (GlcNAc)(n) hydrolysis increased with an increase in the degree of polymerization. Amino acid sequence alignment analysis between NaCHIT1 and a class IV chitinase from a Picea abies (Norway spruce) suggested that the deletion of four loops likely led the enzyme to optimize the (GlcNAc)(n) hydrolytic reaction rather than the hydrolysis of polymeric substrates.     

Purification and characterization of chitinase B from moderately thermophilic bacterium Ralstonia sp. A-471

Chitinase B was purified from a culture medium of Ralstonia sp. A-471 by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 and column chromatography with DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M and Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight was 45,000 by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH was 5.0 and stable pH was from 5.0 to 10.0. In the early stage of the reaction, chitinase B produced beta-anomer of (GlcNAc)2 from the substrate (GlcNAc)6, whereas (GlcNAc)4 produced almost at equilibrium, indicating that the enzyme predominantly hydrolyzes the second glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end of (GlcNAc)6.     

Enzymatic properties of wild-type and active site mutants of chitinase A from Vibrio carchariae, as revealed by HPLC-MS

The enzymatic properties of chitinase A from Vibrio carchariae have been studied in detail by using combined HPLC and electrospray MS. This approach allowed the separation of alpha and beta anomers and the simultaneous monitoring of chitooligosaccharide products down to picomole levels. Chitinase A primarily generated beta-anomeric products, indicating that it catalyzed hydrolysis through a retaining mechanism. The enzyme exhibited endo characteristics, requiring a minimum of two glycosidic bonds for hydrolysis. The kinetics of hydrolysis revealed that chitinase A had greater affinity towards higher Mr chitooligomers, in the order of (GlcNAc)6 > (GlcNAc)4 > (GlcNAc)3, and showed no activity towards (GlcNAc)2 and pNP-GlcNAc. This suggested that the binding site of chitinase A was probably composed of an array of six binding subsites. Point mutations were introduced into two active site residues - Glu315 and Asp392 - by site-directed mutagenesis. The D392N mutant retained significant chitinase activity in the gel activity assay and showed approximately 20% residual activity towards chitooligosaccharides and colloidal chitin in HPLC-MS measurements. The complete loss of substrate utilization with the E315M and E315Q mutants suggested that Glu315 is an essential residue in enzyme catalysis. The recombinant wild-type enzyme acted on chitooligosaccharides, releasing higher quantities of small oligomers, while the D392N mutant favored the formation of transient intermediates. Under standard hydrolytic conditions, all chitinases also exhibited transglycosylation activity towards chitooligosaccharides and pNP-glycosides, yielding picomole quantities of synthesized chitooligomers. The D392N mutant displayed strikingly greater efficiency in oligosaccharide synthesis than the wild-type enzyme.     

Enzymatic properties of rhea lysozyme

Rhea lysozyme was analyzed for its enzymatic properties both lytic and oligomer activities to reveal the structural and functional relationships of goose type lysozyme. Rhea lysozyme had the highest lytic activity at pH 6, followed by ostrich and goose at pH 5.5-6, whereas the optimum of cassowary was at pH 5. pH profile was correlated to the net charge of each molecule surface. On the other hand, the pH optimum for oligomer substrate was found to be pH 4, indicating the mechanism of rhea catalysis as a general acid. The time-course of the reaction was studied using beta-1,4-linked oligosaccharide of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) with a polymerization degree of n ((GlcNAc)n) (n=4, 5, and 6) as the substrate. This enzyme hydrolyzed (GlcNAc)6 in an endo-splitting manner, which produced (GlcNAc)3+(GlcNAc)3 predominating over that to (GlcNAc)2+ (GlcNAc)4. This indicates that the lysozyme hydrolyzed preferentially the third glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end. Theoretical analysis has shown the highest rate constant value at 1.5 s-1 with (GlcNAc)6. This confirmed six substrate binding subsites as goose lysozyme (Honda, Y., and Fukamizo, T., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1388, 53-65 (1998)). The different binding free energy values for subsites B, C, F, and G from goose lysozyme might responsible for the amino acid substitutions, Asn122Ser and Phe123Met, located at the subsite B.     

Chitosanase-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-chitotrioside.

4-Methylumbelliferyl beta-chitotrioside [(GlcN)(3)-UMB] was prepared from 4-methylumbelliferyl tri-N-acetyl-beta-chitotrioside [(GlcNAc)(3)-UMB] using chitin deacetylase from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, and hydrolyzed by chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. N174. The enzymatic deacetylation of (GlcNAc)(3)-UMB was confirmed by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. When the (GlcN)(3)-UMB obtained was incubated with chitosanase, the fluorescence intensity at 450 nm obtained by excitation at 360 nm was found to increase with proportion to the reaction time. The rate of increase in the fluorescence intensity was proportional to the enzyme concentration. This indicates that chitosanase hydrolyzes the glycosidic linkage between a GlcN residue and UMB moiety releasing the fluorescent UMB molecule. Since (GlcN)(3) itself cannot be hydrolyzed by the chitosanase, (GlcN)(3)-UMB is considered to be a useful low molecular weight substrate for the assay of chitosanase. The k(cat) and K(m) values obtained for the substrate (GlcN)(3)-UMB were determined to be 8.1 x 10(-5) s(-1) and 201 microM, respectively. From TLC analysis of the reaction products, the chitosanase was found to hydrolyze not only the linkages between a GlcN residue and UMB moiety, but also the linkages between GlcN residues. Nevertheless, the high sensitivity of the fluorescence detection of the UMB molecule would enable a more accurate determination of kinetic constants for chitosanases.     

Concanavalin A distorts the beta-GlcNAc-(1-->2)-Man linkage of beta- GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-Man-(1-->3)-[beta-GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-Man- (1-- >6)]-Man upon binding

Carbohydrate recognition by proteins is a key event in many biological processes. Concanavalin A is known to specifically recognize the pentasaccharide core (beta-GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha- Man-(1-->3)-[beta- GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-Man-(1-->6)]-Man) of N-linked oligosaccharides with a Ka of 1.41 x 10(6 )M-1. We have determined the structure of concanavalin A bound to beta-GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-Man-(1-->3)-[beta- GlcNAc-(1-->2)-alpha-Man- (1-->6)]-Man to 2.7A. In six of eight subunits there is clear density for all five sugar residues and a well ordered binding site. The pentasaccharide adopts the same conformation in all eight subunits. The binding site is a continuous extended cleft on the surface of the protein. Van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds anchor the carbohydrate to the protein. Both GlcNAc residues contact the protein. The GlcNAc on the 1-->6 arm of the pentasaccharide makes particularly extensive contacts and including two hydrogen bonds. The binding site of the 1-->3 arm GlcNAc is much less extensive. Oligosaccharide recognition by Con A occurs through specific protein carbohydrate interactions and does not require recruitment of adventitious water molecules. The beta-GlcNAc-(1-->2)-Man glycosidic linkage PSI torsion angle on the 1-->6 arm is rotated by over 50 degrees from that observed in solution. This rotation is coupled to disruption of interactions at the monosaccharide site. We suggest destabilization of the monosaccharide site and the conformational strain reduces the free energy liberated by additional interactions at the 1-->6 arm GlcNAc site.      

Expression of a synthetic gene coding for ostrich egg-white lysozyme in Pichia pastoris and its enzymatic activity

To investigate the structure-function relationships of goose-type lysozyme, a gene coding for ostrich egg-white lysozyme (OEL) was designed based on the published amino acid sequence and constructed by assembling 32 chemically synthesized oligonucleotides. To obtain the recombinant OEL (rOEL), the synthetic gene was fused to the alpha-factor signal peptide in the expression vector pPIC9K and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The secreted protein from the transformed yeast was found to be processed at three different sites, including the correct site. The correctly processed rOEL was purified to homogeneity and shown to be indistinguishable from the authentic form in terms of circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and enzyme activity. Furthermore, the time-course of the reaction catalyzed by OEL was studied using (GlcNAc)(n) (n = 5 and 6) as the substrate and compared to that of goose egg-white lysozyme (GEL) [Honda and Fukamizo (1998) BIOCHIM: Biophys. Acta 1388, 53-65]. OEL hydrolyzed (GlcNAc)(6) in an endo-splitting manner producing mainly (GlcNAc)(2), (GlcNAc)(3), and (GlcNAc)(4), and cleavage to (GlcNAc)(3) + (GlcNAc)(3) predominated over that to (GlcNAc)(2) + (GlcNAc)(4). This indicates that OEL hydrolyzes preferentially the third glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end of (GlcNAc)(6) as in the case of GEL. The cleavage pattern seen for (GlcNAc)(5) was similar to that seen for (GlcNAc)(6). Theoretical analysis of the reaction time-course for OEL revealed that the binding free energy values for subsites B, E, and G were different between OEL and GEL, although these lysozymes were estimated to have the same type of subsite structure.