Comparison of properties of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes from hare and rabbit hearts

The hare heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) was established to have a much higher electrophoretic mobility than the corresponding enzyme from the rabbit heart. Differences of kinetic properties of both mMDH and cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) from these two sources were shown. The hare heart mMDH and cMDH isoenzymes have a higher affinity to malate (in direct reaction) and oxaloacetate and NADH (in reverse reaction), i.e., they have lower K _M values in comparison with the isoenzymes from the rabbit heart. Malate dehydrogenase seems to operate more effectively in the hare heart, which might be important in adaptive and evolutionary aspects.     

Cloning,expression and biochemical characterization of mitochondrial and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase from Phytophthora infestans

The genes of the mitochondrial and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (mMDH and cMDH) of Phytophthora infestans were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli as active enzymes. The catalytic properties of these proteins were determined: both enzymes have a similar specific activity. In addition, the natural mitochondrial isoenzyme was semi-purified from mycelia and its catalytic properties determined: the recombinant mitochondrial isoform behaved as the natural enzyme. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that mMDH, present in all stramenopiles studied, can be useful to study the relationships between these organisms. MDH with the conserved domain MDH_cytoplasmic_cytosolic is absent in some stramenopiles as well as in fungi. This enzyme seems to be less related within the stramenopile group. The Phytophthora cMDHs have an insertion of six amino acids that is also present in the stramenopile cMDHs studied, with the exception of Thalassiosira pseudonana cMDH, and is absent in other known eukaryotic cMDHs.     

Cloning, sequencing and functional expression of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase from Taenia solium: Purification and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

We report herein the complete coding sequence of a Taenia solium cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (TscMDH). The cDNA fragment, identified from the T. solium genome project database, encodes a protein of 332 amino acid residues with an estimated molecular weight of 36517 Da. For recombinant expression, the full length coding sequence was cloned into pET23a. After successful expression and enzyme purification, isoelectrofocusing gel electrophoresis allowed to confirm the calculated pI value at 8.1, as deduced from the amino acid sequence. The recombinant protein (r-TscMDH) showed MDH activity of 409 U/mg in the reduction of oxaloacetate, with neither lactate dehydrogenase activity nor NADPH selectivity. Optimum pH for enzyme activity was 7.6 for oxaloacetate reduction and 9.6 for malate oxidation. K_cat values for oxaloacetate, malate, NAD, and NADH were 665, 47, 385, and 962 s⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, a partial characterization of TsMDH gene structure after analysis of a 1.56 Kb genomic contig assembly is also reported.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Bioinformatics Analysis of Cytosolic Malate Dehydrogenase from Camellia sinensis(Theaceae)

The complete gene of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) from Camellia sinensis, called Cs cMDH, was obtained by RT PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (GenBank accession number GQ845406). This gene was 1 235 bp in length, encoding a protein of 332 amino acids with the putative molecular weight of 355 kD. The Ecoli Rosetta (DE3) harboring pGEX MDH was induced by 05 mmol·L 1 IPTG at 32℃ for 3 hours, and a 615 kD glutathione Stransferase (GST) fused MDH was obtained in soluble form. The results of NCBI BLAST revealed that Cs cMDH shared 88%-93% of amino acid sequence identity with other cMDH from different higher plants. According to the multiple sequence alignment based on the three dimensional structure of protein, Cs cMDH was predicted to be a dimer with thirteen β sheet and thirteen α helix of each subunit. Cs cMDH contains typical fingerprint sequence (G12AAGQIG18) as all MDHs. The amino acid D43 in Cs cMDH is conserved in all NAD MDHs. Cs cMDH also has some conserved sequence units homologous to other NAD MDHs, such as NAD+ binding sites, catalytic motif and substrate binding sites. Moreover, Cs cMDH contains six Cys which are highly conserved in all plant NAD cMDHs. Therefore, Cs cMDH was inferred to be NAD dependent cMDH. The present study may provide the fundament for the further functional characterization of Cs cMDH.     

Expression of novel cytosolic malate dehydrogenases (cMDH) in Lupinus angustifolius nodules during phosphorus starvation

During P deficiency, the increased activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH, EC 1.1.1.37) can lead to malate accumulation. Cytosolic- and nodule-enhanced MDH (cMDH and neMDH, respectively) are known isoforms, which contribute to MDH activity in root nodules. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the cMDH isoforms in nodule malate supply under P deficiency. Nodulated lupins (Lupinus angustifolius var. Tanjil) were hydroponically grown at adequate P (+P) or low P (−P). Total P concentration in nodules decreased under P deficiency, which coincided with an increase in total MDH activity. A consequence of higher MDH activity was the enhanced accumulation of malate derived from dark CO₂ fixation via PEPC and not from pyruvate. Although no measurable neMDH presence could be detected via PCR, gene-specific primers detected two 1 kb amplicons of cMDH, designated LangMDH1 (corresponding to +P, HQ690186) and LangMDH2 (corresponding to −P, HQ690187), respectively. Sequencing analyses of these cMDH amplicons showed them to be 96% identical on an amino acid level. There was a high degree of diversification between proteins detected in this study and other known MDH proteins, particularly those from other leguminous plants. Enhanced malate synthesis in P-deficient nodules was achieved via increased anaplerotic CO₂ fixation and subsequent higher MDH activities. Novel isoforms of cytosolic MDH may be involved, as shown by gene expression of specific genes under P deficiency.     

Induction of malate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase by 20-hydroxyecdysone and heat shock in Drosophila ovaries

The molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone induces de novo synthesis of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) in Drosophila ovaries, but not mitochondrial MDH (mMDH). A second enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), was found to be heat shock inducible. It is known that MDH and AChE are, respectively, heat shock and 20-hydroxyecdysone inducible (see Introduction). Now it is also known that these enzymes are under dual regulation, with 20-hydroxyecdysone and heat shock being two stimuli which act either separately or in combination, to increase the specific activity of these enzymes. The response to 20-hydroxyecdysone and/or heat shock was found to occur in seven additional D. melanogaster sibling species. In this case, hormone and heat shock maximize the interspecific variability, something which could be acted by natural selection to establish physiological adaptations.     

Clonorchis sinensis: molecular cloning and functional expression of novel cytosolic malate dehydrogenase

The NAD-dependent cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH, EC 1.1.1.37) plays a pivotal role in the malate-aspartate shuttle pathway that operates in a metabolic coordination between cytosol and mitochondria, and thus is crucial for the survival and pathogenicity of the parasite. In the high throughput sequencing of the cDNA library constructed from the adult stage of Clonorchis sinensis, a cDNA clone containing 1152bp insert was identified to encode a putative peptide of 329 amino acids possessing more than 50% amino acid sequence identities with the cMDHs from other organisms such as fish, plant, and mammal. But low sequence similarities have been found between this cMDH and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase as well as glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase from other organisms. Northern blot analysis showed the size of the C. sinensis cMDH mRNA was 1.2 kb. The cMDH was expressed in Escherichia coli M15 as a His-tag fusion protein and purified by BD TALON metal affinity column. The recombinant cMDH showed high MDH activity of 241 U mg(-1), without lactate dehydrogenase and NADP(H) selectivity. It provides a model for the structure, function analysis, and drug screening on cMDH.     

甘蔗细胞质型苹果酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及其表达分析

对甘蔗(Saccharum officinarum L.)叶片全长cDNA文库进行测序,获得了1个细胞质型苹果酸脱氢酶(cMDH)基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为Sc-cMDH。生物信息学分析表明,该基因全长1314 bp,开放阅读框为999 bp,编码332个氨基酸。Sc-cMDH与其他植物cMDH的氨基酸序列同源性高达86.5%～97.0%。Sc-cMDH包含典型的NAD+结合基元T11GAAGQI17和催化基元I184WGNH188,还有相当保守的6个半胱氨酸残基,因此推断该基因为细胞质型NAD-MDH。定量PCR分析结果表明,该基因在甘蔗叶片和根中的表达量高于茎。     

Sequence specificity of DNA methylases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus brevis

DNA methylation in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H (Bam)² and Bacillus brevis (Bbv) has been examined by a variety of techniques. In vivo labelling studies revealed that Bam DNA contains no N⁶-methyladenine (MeAde), but contains 5-methylcytosine (MeCyt); approximately 0·7% of the cytosine residues are methylated.DNA methylase activity was partially purified from both Bam and Bbv; the Bam enzyme preparation transferred methyl groups from S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-³H]methionine ([³H]AdoMet) to specific DNA cytosine residues only; in agreement with Vanyushin & Dobritsa (1975), the Bbv enzyme preparation methylated both DNA adenine and cytosine residues. The (partial) sequence specificity of the methylases was determined by analyzing [³H]methyl-labelled dinucleotides obtained from enzymatic digests of DNA methylated in vitro. Bam and Bbv each contain a DNA-cytosine methylase with overlapping sequence specificity; e.g. both enzymes produce G-C1, C1-A and C1-T. This is consistent with a single, twofold symmetrical methylation sequence of 5′ … G-C1-(A or T)-G-C … 3′; this was observed by Vanyushin & Dobritsa (1975) for a different Bbv strain. Bam contains a second DNA-cytosine methylase (not present in Bbv), which produces T-C1 and C1-T. We propose that this methylase is the BamI modification enzyme, and that the modified sequence is 5′ … G-G-A-T-C1-C … 3′.Bbv appears to contain two DNA-adenine methylases which produce the (partial) methylated sequences, 5′ … G-A1-T … 3′ and 5′ … A-A1-G … 3′, respectively; in the former case, all the G-A-T-C sites on Bbv DNA appear to be methylated.     

Purification and characterisation of a novel DNA methyltransferase,M.AhdI

We have cloned the M and S genes of the restriction-modification (R-M) system AhdI and have purified the resulting methyltransferase to homogeneity. M.AhdI is found to form a 170 kDa tetrameric enzyme having a subunit stoichiometry M₂S₂ (where the M and S subunits are responsible for methylation and DNA sequence specificity, respectively). Sedimentation equilibrium experiments show that the tetrameric enzyme dissociates to form a heterodimer at low concentration, with K_d ≈ 2 µM. The intact (tetrameric) enzyme binds specifically to a 30 bp DNA duplex containing the AhdI recognition sequence GACN₅GTC with high affinity (K_d ≈ 50 nM), but at low enzyme concentration the DNA binding activity is governed by the dissociation of the tetramer into dimers, leading to a sigmoidal DNA binding curve. In contrast, only non-specific binding is observed if the duplex lacks the recognition sequence. Methylation activity of the purified enzyme was assessed by its ability to prevent restriction by the cognate endonuclease. The subunit structure of the M.AhdI methyltransferase resembles that of type I MTases, in contrast to the R.AhdI endonuclease which is typical of type II systems. AhdI appears to be a novel R-M system with properties intermediate between simple type II systems and more complex type I systems, and may represent an intermediate in the evolution of R-M systems.     

玉米苹果酸脱氢酶基因的分离与结构分析

以一个玉米（ＺｅａｍａｙｓＬ．）杂种一代超亲表达的ｃＤＮＡ片段为探针,从玉米幼苗期ｃＤＮＡ文库中筛选到一个全长１２８７ｂｐ的ｃＤＮＡ克隆。序列分析表明,该ｃＤＮＡ编码细胞质苹果酸脱氢酶,推导的氨基酸序列与龙须海棠（Ｍｅｓｅｍｂｒｙａｎｔｈｅｍｕｍ　ｃｒｙｓｔａｌｌｉｕｍ　Ｌ．）及拟南芥（Ａｒａｂｉｄｏｐｓｉｓ　ｔｈａｌｉａｎａ（Ｌ．）Ｈｅｙｎｈ．）同一编码基因的氨基酸序列同源性分别为９０％和８４％。这是禾谷类作物中首次克隆的编码细胞质苹果酸脱氢酶的完整基因。     

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding mammalian cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of mammalian and bacterial malate dehydrogenase

A cDNA clone, named ppcMDH-1 and covering a part of the coding region for the porcine cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) mRNA, was isolated from a porcine liver cDNA library. Subsequently, mouse cMDH cDNA clones were isolated from mouse liver and heart cDNA libraries, using the ppcMDH-1 cDNA as a probe. The longest clone, named pmcMDH-5, was sequenced and the primary structure of the mouse cMDH deduced from its cDNA sequence showed that the mouse cMDH consists of the 334-amino acid residues. When the amino acid sequence of the mouse cMDH was compared with that of the porcine cMDH, they shared a 93% homology. On the other hand, the amino acid sequences of mouse cMDH and mitochondrial MDH (mMDH) showed about 23% overall homology. Surprisingly, comparison of the amino acid sequences among the mammalian and bacterial MDHs revealed that the homology between the mouse cMDH and thermophilic bacterial MDH, as well as the homology between the mouse mMDH and Escherichia coli MDH, markedly exceeds the intraspecies sequence homology between mMDH and cMDH from mice.     

Biochemical analysis of the substrate specificity and sequence preference of endonuclease IV from bacteriophage T4, a dC-specific endonuclease implicated in restriction of dC-substituted T4 DNA synthesis

Endonuclease IV encoded by denB of bacteriophage T4 is implicated in restriction of deoxycytidine (dC)-containing DNA in the host Escherichia coli. The enzyme was synthesized with the use of a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system, given a lethal effect of its expression in E.coli cells, and was purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme showed high activity with single-stranded (ss) DNA and denatured dC-substituted T4 genomic double-stranded (ds) DNA but exhibited no activity with dsDNA, ssRNA or denatured T4 genomic dsDNA containing glucosylated deoxyhydroxymethylcytidine. Characterization of Endo IV activity revealed that the enzyme catalyzed specific endonucleolytic cleavage of the 5′ phosphodiester bond of dC in ssDNA with an efficiency markedly dependent on the surrounding nucleotide sequence. The enzyme preferentially targeted 5′-dTdCdA-3′ but tolerated various combinations of individual nucleotides flanking this trinucleotide sequence. These results suggest that Endo IV preferentially recognizes short nucleotide sequences containing 5′-dTdCdA-3′, which likely accounts for the limited digestion of ssDNA by the enzyme and may be responsible in part for the indispensability of a deficiency in denB for stable synthesis of dC-substituted T4 genomic DNA.     

Isolation and Characterization of a cDNA Encoding Maize Cyto solic Malate Dehydrogenase

A cDNA fragment derived from a gene over-expressing in hybrid maize ( Zea mays L. ) was isolated with RT-PCR and used as probe to screen cDNA library of hybrid maize seedlings. A positive cDNA clone ZH02 corresponding to the full-length mRNA sequence was obtained, which was shown to have an open reading frame encoding 332 a.a. DNA and proteinase database search revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of ZH02 has high similarity with the cMDH of Mesembryaathemum crystallium L. and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. up to 90% and 84%, respectively. This is the first report of the full-length gene coding for the cereal cMDH.     

Purification, Characterization, and Cloning of Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1. 195) has been purified to homogeneity from differentiating xylem tissue and developing seeds of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The enzyme is a dimer with a native molecular weight of 82,000 and a subunit molecular weight of 44,000, and is the only form of CAD involved in lignification in differentiating xylem. High levels of loblolly pine CAD enzyme were found in nonlignifying seed tissue. Characterization of the enzyme from both seeds and xylem demonstrated that the enzyme is the same in both tissues. The enzyme has a high affinity for coniferaldehyde (K_m = 1.7 micromolar) compared with sinapaldehyde (K_m in excess of 100 micromolar). Kinetic data strongly suggest that coniferin is a noncompetitive inhibitor of CAD enzyme activity. Protein sequences were obtained for the N-terminus (28 amino acids) and for two other peptides. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on the protein sequences were used to amplify by polymerase chain reaction a 1050 base pair DNA fragment from xylem cDNA. Nucleotide sequence from the cloned DNA fragment coded for the N-terminal protein sequence and an internal peptide of CAD. The N-terminal protein sequence has little similarity with the λCAD4 clone isolated from bean (MH Walter, J Grima-Pettenati, C Grand, AM Boudet, CJ Lamb [1988] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:5546-5550), which has homology with malic enzyme.     

Characteristics of thermostable pullulanase from Bacillus stearothermophilus and the nucleotide sequence of the gene

Thermostable pullulanase was purified to homogeneity on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel from the culture supernatant of Bacillus stearothermophilus TRS128. However, multiformity of the pullulanase was suggested by activity staining on a pullulan-reactive red plate. The thermostability of the enzyme was tested. In the presence of Ca²⁺, the optimum temperature of the pullulanase was 75°C, and nearly 100% of the enzyme activity was retained even after treatment at 68°C for 60 min. Since the thermostable pullulanase gene (pulT) has been cloned, the nucleotide sequence was determined. Although the DNA sequence revealed only one large open reading frame, two possible pairs of SD sequence and initiation codon were found in the frame. To analyze the regulatory region, several mutations (deletion, insertion and substitution of nucleotides) were introduced in the flanking region of pulT, using site-directed mutagenesis. A putative promoter, SD sequence and initiation codon were inferred. The pulT gene was composed of 1974 bases and 658 amino acid residues (molecular weight 75,375). The deduced amino acid sequence of the thermostable pullulanase exhibited a fairly low homology with that of the thermolabile pullulanase from Klebsiella aerogenes. However, four consensus sequences containing catalytic and/or substrate binding sites for amylolytic enzymes were also found in the thermostable pullulanase and the thermolabile enzyme.     

Characterization and inhibition kinetics of cadmium on cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase from the pyloric caeca of Luidia clathrata (say) (echinodermata: asteroidea)

1. Cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) was purified 200-fold.2. Disc gel electrophoresis showed a single major band of activity of cMDH.3. MDH in crude cytoplasmic extract was less sensitive to Cd²⁺ than purified cytoplasmic MDH.4. Purified cMDH had a Km of 0.14 mM OAA.5. Concentrations of Cd²⁺ of 0.312 mM significantly inhibited the cMDH.6. The inhibition by Cd²⁺ was completely reversed by 1.54 and partly reversed by 0.56 mM 2-mercaptoethanol.7. The inhibition by Cd²⁺ was non-competitive. Calculated Ki values are below those reported for Cd²⁺-imidazole and Cd²⁺-cysteine interactions, but above those reported for other Cd²⁺-thiol group interactions.     

Molecular and physical organization of highly repetitive,undermethylated DNA from Pennisetum glaucum

A HaeIIl monomer of a repetitive DNA family from Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. cv. Massue has been cloned and characterized. The repeat is 137 bp long and is organized in head-to-tail orientation in tandem arrays. The HaeIII monomer contains 55% A+T residues. The distribution of this highly repetitive sequence in different Pennisetum species and in other cereals was investigated. The HaeIII satellite is present in all Pennisetum species investigated but absent from other genera examined. In situ hybridization revealed a centromeric localization of this sequence on all seven chromosome pairs and indicated chromosome-specific differences in copy number. Methylation was investigated by comparative restriction enzyme analysis (Msp/HpaII) which showed a greater extent of methylation of the internal C of the enzyme recognition site 5′-CCGG. A South-Western analysis, using an anti-methylcytosine antibody to examine the methylation status in P. glaucum confirmed that the sequence is not highly methylated.