Purification and characterization of a recombinant β-galactosidase with transgalactosylation activity from Bifidobacterium infantis HL96

A beta-galactosidase isoenzyme, beta-Gall, from Bifidobacterium infantis HL96, was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the beta-Gall subunit was estimated to be 115 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme appeared to be a tetramer, with a molecular weight of about 470 kDa by native PAGE. The optimum temperature and pH for o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) and lactose were 60 degrees C, pH 7.5, and 50 degrees C, pH 7.5, respectively. The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 5.0-8.5, and remained active for more than 80 min at pH 7.0, 50 degrees C. The enzyme activity was significantly increased by reducing agents. Maximum activity required the presence of both Na+ and K+, at a concentration of 10 mM. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, divalent metal cations, and Cr3+, and to a lesser extent by EDTA and urea. The hydrolytic activity using lactose as a substrate was significantly inhibited by galactose. The Km, and Vmax values for ONPG and lactose were 2.6 mM, 262 U/mg, and 73.8 mM, 1.28 U/mg, respectively. beta-Gall possesses strong transgalactosylation activity. The production rate of galactooligosaccharides from 20% lactose at 30 and 60 degrees C was 120 mg/ml, and this rate increased to 190 mg/ml when 30% lactose was used.     

Characterization and molecular cloning of a heterodimeric beta-galactosidase from the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus R22

Beta-galactosidase from the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus R22 was purified to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulphate fractionation, hydrophobic interaction, and affinity chromatography. The enzyme is a heterodimer consisting of two subunits of 35 and 72 kDa, as determined by gel electrophoresis. The optimum temperature of beta-galactosidase activity was 55 degrees C (10-min assay) and the range of pH 6.5-8, respectively, for both o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (oNPG) and lactose hydrolysis. The Km and Vmax values for lactose and oNPG were 4.04+/-0.26 mM, 28.8+/-0.2 micromol D-glucose released per min per mg protein, and 0.73+/-0.07 mM, 361+/-12 micromol o-nitrophenol released per min per mg protein, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of oNPG with Ki,s=31.7+/-3.5 mM. The enzyme showed no specific requirements for metal ions, with the exception of Mg2+, which enhanced both activity and stability. The genes encoding this heterodimeric enzyme, lacL and lacM, were cloned, and compared with other beta-galactosidases from lactobacilli. Beta-galactosidase from L. acidophilus was used for the synthesis of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose, with the maximum GOS yield of 38.5% of total sugars at about 75% lactose conversion.     

Purification and properties of a novel thermostable galacto-oligosaccharide-producing beta-galactosidase from Sterigmatomyces elviae CBS8119.

A thermostable beta-galactosidase which catalyzed the production of galacto-oligosaccharide from lactose was solubilized from a cell wall preparation of Sterigmatomyces elviae CBS8119. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by means of chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, Butyl-Toyopearl, Chromatofocusing, and p-aminobenzyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside agarose columns. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be about 170,000 by gel filtration with a Highload-Superdex 200pg column and 86,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its isoelectric point, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing, was 4.1. The optimal temperature for enzyme activity was 85 degrees C. It was stable at temperatures up to 80 degrees C for 1 h. The optimal pH range for the enzyme was 4.5 to 5.0, it was stable at pH 2.5 to 7.0, and its activity was inhibited by Hg2+. The Km values for o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside and lactose were 9.5 and 2.4 mM, respectively, and the maximum velocities for these substrates were 96 and 240 mumol/min per mg of protein, respectively. In addition, this enzyme possessed a high level of transgalactosylation activity. Galacto-oligosaccharides, including tri- and tetrasaccharides, were produced with a yield, by weight, of 39% from 200-mg/ml lactose.     

Purification and biochemical properties of a galactooligosaccharide producing β-galactosidase from Bullera singularis

A beta-galactosidase, catalyzing lactose hydrolysis and galactooligosaccharide (GalOS) synthesis from lactose, was extracted from the yeast, Bullera singularis KCTC 7534. The crude enzyme had a high transgalactosylation activity resulting in the oligosaccharide conversion of over 34% using pure lactose and cheese whey permeate as substrates. The enzyme was purified by two chromatographic steps giving 96-fold purification with a yield of 16%. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme (specific activity of 56 U mg(-1)) was approx. 53 000 Da. The hydrolytic activity was the highest at pH 5 and 50 degrees C, and was stable to 45 degrees C for 2 h. Enzyme activity was inhibited by 10 mM Ag3+ and 10 mM SDS. The Km for lactose hydrolysis was 0.58 M and the maximum reaction velocity (V(max)) was 4 mM min(-1). GalOS, including tri- and tetra-saccharides were produced with a conversion yield of 50%, corresponding to 90 g GalOS l(-1) from 180 g lactose l(-1) by the purified enzyme.     

Sulphur metabolism in Paracoccus denitrificans. Purification, properties and regulation of serine transacetylase, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase and beta-cystathionase.

1. Serine transacetylase, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase and beta-cystathionase were purified from Paracoccus denitrificans strain 8944. 2. Serin transacetylase was purified 150-fold. The enzyme has a pH optimum between 7.5 and 8.0, is specific for L-serine and is inhibited by sulphydryl-group reagents. The apparent Km values for serine and acetyl-CoA are 4.0 - 10(-4) and 1.0 - 10(-4) M, respectively. Serine transacetylase is strongly inhibited by cysteine. 3. O-Acetylserine sulphydrylase was purified 450-fold. The enzymes has a sharp pH optimum at pH 7.5. In addition to catalysing the synthesis of cysteine, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase catalyses the synthesis of selenocysteine from O-acetylserine and selenide. The Km values for sulphide and O-acetylserine are 2.7 - 10(-3) and 1.25 - 10(-3) M, respectively. The enzyme was stimulated by pyridoxal phosphate and was inhibited by cystathionine, homocysteine and methionine. 4. beta-Cystathionase was purified approx. 50-fold. beta-Cystathionase has a pH optimum between pH 9.0 and 9.5, is sensitive to sulphydryl-group reagents, required pyridoxal phosphate for maximum activity and has an apparent Km for cystathionine of 4.2 - 10 (-3) M. beta-Cystathionase also catalyses the release of keto acid from lanthionine, djenkolic acid and cystine. Cysteine, O-acetylserine, homocysteine and glutathione strongly inhibit beta-cystathionase activity and homocysteine and methionine represses enzyme activity. 5. O-Acetylserine lyase was identified in crude extracts of Paracoccus denitrificans. The enzyme is specific for O-acetyl-L-serine, requires pyridoxal phosphate and is inhibied by KCN and hydroxylamine. The enzyme has a high Km value for O-acetylserine (50--100 mM).     

Isolation and characterization of a cellobiose dehydrogenase formed by a asporogenic mycelial fungus INBI 2-26(-)

A nonsporulating fungus isolated from dioxine-containing tropical soils forms cellobiose dehydrogenase, when grown in media supplemented by a source of cellulose. The enzyme purified to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE (yield, 43%) had an M(r) of 95 kDa; its pH optimum was in the range 5.5-7.0; more than 50% activity was retained at pH 4.0-8.0 (citrate-phosphate buffer). The absorption spectrum of the enzyme in the visible range had the characteristic appearance of flavocytochrome proteins. Cellobiose dehydrogenase oxidized cellobiose and lactose (the respective K(M) values at pH 6.0 equaled 4.5 +/- 1.5 and 56 microM) in the presence of dichlorophenolindophenol (K(M) app = 15 +/- 3 microM at pH 6.0) taken as an electron acceptor. Other sugars were barely if at all oxidized by the enzyme. Neither ethyl-beta-D-cellobioside, heptobiose, nor chitotriose inhibited the enzymatic oxidation of lactose, even under the conditions of 100-fold molar excess. The enzyme was weakly inhibited by sodium azide dichlorophenolindophenol reduction and exhibited affinity to amorphous cellulose. At 55 degrees C and pH 6.0 (optimum stability), time to half-maximum inactivation equaled 99 min. The enzyme reduced by cellobiose was more stable than the nonreduced form. Conversely, the presence of an oxidizer (dichlorophenolindophenol) decreased the stability eight times at pH 6.0. In addition, the enzyme acted as a potent reducer of the single-electron acceptor cytochrome c3+ (K(M) app = 15 microM at pH 6.0).     

Carbonic anhydrase of blue-green alga Spirulina platensis]

Carboanhydrase (carbonate-hydroliase EC 4.2.1.1.) is found in the extract of Spirulina platensis cells. A linear dependency of the enzyme activity on the protein concentration; pH optimum is found to be 8.0. Specific activity of carboanhydrase is 3 muM/min-mg of protein under the concentration of CO2 of 4-10(-3) M, appearing Michelis constant being 4.9-10(-3) M. The enzyme was stabilized with 10 mM of cisteine, its activity was inhibited by 50% with sulphanylamide (1-10(-5) M), acetazolamide (8--10(-7) M) and Cl- ions (5-10(-2) M). The activity of carboanhydrase, as well as the rate of NaH14CO3 fixation, depended on the pH value of cultural medium.     

Isolation and some properties of a deoxyribonuclease from Turbo cornutus.

1. Four DNases were found in the dried liver extract of a top shell, Turbo cornutus. The major one was purified 120-fold by phosphocellulose column chromatography, sulfoethylcellulose column chromatography and gel-filtration on Sephadex G-150. The yield was 2.7%. 2. The enzyme activity was not affected by Mg2+ (10(-3)--10(-2)M), EDTA (10(-3)--10(-2)M), or NaCl (10(-1)M). It showed a pH optimum of 4.7--4.8. Ionic strength was found to be critical for the maximal activity. The isoelectric point was 8.5--9.0. On heating at 50 degrees C C for 5 min the enzymic activity fell to half the initial value. 3. The enzyme preparation degraded native as well as heat-denatured DNA, but not RNA. It degraded heat-denatured DNA endonucleolytically to give oligonucleotides with 3'-phosphates. 4. The 3'-phosphate and 5'-hydroxy termini of oligonucleotides were investigated. At both the 3'- and 5'-terminal positions, purine nucleotides were predominant.     

Rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II. Properties of the highly purified enzyme and its inactivation by iodoacetic acid.

A highly purifed preparation of rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II (oligonucleate 3'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.18) has been studied using a synthetic substrate, thymidine 3'(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate. The enzyme was most active between pH 6.1 and pH 6.7 and was inhibited by Cu2+ and Zn2+ but unaffected by EDTA, Mg2+, Co2+, and Ni2+. The reaction rate decreased at high levels of enzyme because of competitive inhibition by deoxythymidine 3'-phosphate, a reaction product, which showed a Ki of 2-10(-5) M. The molecular weight of the enzyme by gel-filtration was 150 000-170 000. In electrofocusing experiments multiple peaks of activity were found at pH 3.4, 4.2-4.5and 7.2. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of freshly purified phosphodiesterase II showed up to 10 protein bands in the gels. If the preparations were stored at 4 degrees C for some time only one or two bands appeared. Investigation of the reaction of rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II with a number of possible phosphodiesterase substrates indicated that the enzyme required a nucleoside 3'-phosphoryl residue for the initiation of hydrolysis. Thus compounds such as NAD, ATP, bis-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, thymidine 5'-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, glycerylphosphorylcholine, guanylyl-(2' leads to 5')-adenosine and 3',5'-cyclic AMP which contain phosphodiester bonds, nevertheless were not substrates for the enzyme. The enzyme was inhibited reverisbly by p-chloromercuribenzoate and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and inactivated irreversibly by iodoacetic acid. Activity of the phosphodiesterase II was reduced to 50% by incubation with 2.0-10(-3)--5.0-10(-3) M iodoacetate for 20--30 min at 24 degrees C at pH 5.0--6.1. Iodoacetamide had no effect. The degree of inactivation by iodoacetate was reduced by the presence of a substrate for the enzyme or, more effectively by deoxythymidine 3'-phosphate, a competitive inhibitor. It is concluded that iodoacetic acid alkylates an essential residue at the active centre of the enzyme.     

beta-Galactosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Several strains of thermophilic aerobic spore-forming bacilli synthesize beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) constitutively. The constitutivity is apparently not the result of a temperature-sensitive repressor. The beta-galactosidase from one strain, investigated in cell-free extracts, has a pH optimum between 6.0 and 6.4 and a very sharp pH dependence on the acid side of its optimum. The optimum temperature for this enzyme is 65 degrees C and the Arrhenius activation energy is about 24 kcal/mol below 47 degrees C and 16 kcal/mol above that temperature. At 55 degrees C the Km is 0.11 M for lactose and 9.8 X 10(-3) M for 9-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The enzyme is strongly product-inhibited by galactose (Ki equals 2.5 X 10(-3) M). It is relatively stable at 50 degrees C, losing only half of its activity after 20 days at this temperature. At 60 degrees C more than 60% of the activity is lost in 10 min. However, the enzyme is protected somewhat against thermal inactivation by protein, and in the presence of 4 mg/ml of bovine serum albumin the enzyme is only 18% inactivated in 10 min at 60 degrees C. Its molecular weight, estimated by disc gel electrophoresis, is 215 000.     

Characterization of a thermostable extracellular beta-galactosidase from a thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor sp

An extracellular beta-galactosidase from a thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor sp. has been purified to homogeneity by successive DEAE cellulose chromatography followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The native molecular mass of the enzyme is 250,000 and it is composed of two identical subunits with molecular mass of 120,000. It is an acidic protein with a pI of 4.2. Purified beta-galactosidase is a glycoprotein and contains 8% neutral sugar. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity are 4.5 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme is stable at 60 degrees C for 4 h, and has a t(1/2) of 150 min(-1) at 70 degrees C which is one of the highest reported for fungal beta-galactosidases. Substrate specificity studies indicated that the enzyme is specific for beta-linked galactose residues with a preference for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (pNPG). The Km and Vmax values for the synthetic substrates pNPG and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (oNPG) were 0.66 mM and 1.32 mM; and 22.4 mmol min(-1) mg(-1) and 4.45 mmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively, while that for the natural substrate, lactose, was 50.0 mM and 12 mmol min(-1) mg(-1). The end product galactose and the substrate analogue isopropyl thiogalactopyranoside (ITPG) inhibited the enzyme with Ki of 2.6 mM and 12.0 mM, respectively. The energy of activation for the enzyme using pNPG and oNPG were 27.04 kCal and 9.04 kCal, respectively. The active site characterization studies using group-specific reagents revealed that a tryptophan and lysine residue play an important role in the catalytic activity of the enzyme.     

Characterization of a soluble glycolipid galactosyltransferase which occurs in bovine milk.

Bovine milk was found to contain, in soluble form, an enzyme which transfers galactose from UDPgalactose to glucosylceramide. This enzyme was partially purified by the same procedure used to isolate the galactosyltransferase of lactose synthetase. The partially purified enzyme required detergents for activity, had a pH optimum of 7.2--7.3 and required Mn2+. The apparent Km calculated for glucosylceramide was 1.33 . 10(-4) M. With glucosylceramide as acceptor the product of the reaction was identified as lactosylceramide by autoradiography on thin-layer chromatograms. Lactosylceramide was also an effective acceptor for the transferase reaction but neutral glycosphingolipids or gangliosides with terminal galactose of N-acetylgalactosamine residues were ineffective or poorly effective as acceptors. Addition of alpha-lactalbumin inhibited the transferase reaction.     

Production of a Thermostable beta-d-Galactosidase by Alternaria alternata Grown in Whey

In the course of exploring new microbial sources of extracellular beta-d-galactosidase (EC. 3.2.1.23), Alternaria alternata was found to excrete elevated quantities of a thermostable form of the enzyme when cultivated in whey growth medium. Optimum cultural conditions for maximum enzyme production were a whey lactose concentration of 6%, supplementation of the medium with 0.050 M (NH(4))(2)SO(4), an inoculum size of 10 conidia per ml, and a cultivation time at 28 to 30 degrees C of 5 days. The fungus utilized whey lactose for the production of the enzyme most efficiently, and the observed maximum yield, 280 nanokatals of hydrolyzed o-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside per g of whey lactose, was comparable to maximum yields reported for certain commercial fungi. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzymatic reaction were 4.5 to 5.5 and 60 to 70 degrees C, respectively, and the enzyme lost half of its activity when heated at 65 degrees C for 84 min. These properties make the enzyme particularly suitable for processing acid and less-acid (pH 5 to 6) dairy products and by-products.     

Trehalase immobilization on aminopropyl glass for analytical use

Trehalase is the enzyme which hydrolyzes the disaccharide trehalose into two alpha-D-glucose molecules. In this article, we present the immobilization of trehalase on aminopropyl glass particles. The enzyme was extracted from Escherichia coli Mph2, a strain harboring the pTRE11 plasmid, which contains the trehalase gene. The partially purified enzyme had a specific activity of 356 U/mg and could be used for quantifying trehalose in the presence of sucrose, maltose, lactose, starch, and glycogen. Partially purified trehalase was immobilized by covalent coupling with retention of its catalytic activity. The support chosen for the majority of the experiments reported was aminopropyl glass, although spherisorb-5NH(2) and chitin were also tested. The immobilized enzyme was assayed continuously for 40 h, at pH 6.0 and 30 degrees C, and no release of enzyme molecules was detected during this procedure. The best condition found for storing the enzyme-support complex was at 4 degrees C in the presence of 25 mM sodium maleate, containing 7 mM beta-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 50% glycerol. The enzyme under these conditions was stable, retaining approximately 100% of its initial activity for at least 28 days. The immobilized enzyme can be employed to detect trehalose molecules in micromolar concentration. The optimum pH value found was 4.5 and the K(m) app. 4.9 x 10(-3) M trehalose at pH 4.6 and 30 degrees C, with V(max) of 5.88 mumol glucose . min.(-1), as calculated by a Lineweaver-Burk plot. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 54: 33-39, 1997.     

Purification and characterization of bile salt hydrolase from Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis.

A high-molecular-weight (250 000) bile salt hydrolase (cholylglycine hydrolase, EC 3.5.-.-) was isolated and purified 128-fold from the "spheroplast lysate" fraction prepared from Bacteroids fragilis subsp. fragilis ATCC 25285. The intact enzyme had a molecular weight of approx. 250 000 as determined by gel infiltration chromatography. One major protein band, corresponding to a molecular weight of 32 500, was observed on 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of pooled fractions from DEAE-cellulose column chromatography (128-fold purified). The pH optimum for the 64-fold purified enzyme isolated from Bio-Gel A 1.5 M chromatography was 4.2 and bile salt hydrolase activity measured in intact cell suspensions had a pH optimum of 4.5. Substrate specificity studies indicated that taurine and glycine conjugates of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid were readily hydrolyzed; however, lithocholic acid conjugates were not hydrolyzed. Substrate saturation kinetics were biphasic with an intermediate plateau (0.2--0.3 mM) and a complete loss of enzymatic activity was observed at high concentration for certain substrates. The presence or absence of 7-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was absolutely correlated with that of bile salt hydrolase activity in six to ten strains and subspecies of B. fragilis.     

Entrapment of β-galactosidase in polyvinylalcohol hydrogel

β-Galactosidase isolated from Aspergillus oryzae was immobilized in lens-shaped polyvinylalcohol capsules (with activity 25 U g⁻¹) giving 32% of its original activity. Immobilization did not change the pH optimum (4.5) of lactose hydrolysis. The relative enzyme activity during product inhibition testing was, in average, 10% higher for immobilized enzyme. No decrease of activity was observed after 35 repeated batch runs and during 530 h of continuous hydrolysis of lactose (10%, w/v) at 45°C. The immobilized enzyme was stable for 14 months without any change of activity during the storage at 4°C and pH 4.5.     

Soluble NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from rabbit liver cytosol: partial purification and characterization.

A soluble form of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (NADH: ferricytochrome b5 oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.2.2) was found in the cytosolic fraction of rabbit liver. The partially purified enzyme was strictly specific for NADH. It catalyzed the reduction of several substrates such as the methemoglobin-ferrocyanide complex (Hegesh, E. and Avron, M. (1967) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 146, 91-101) (apparent Km: 8 micrometer), potassium ferricyanide (apparent Km: 10 micrometer) and ferricytochrome b5 (apparent Km: 15 micrometer). Upon acrylamide gel isoelectro-focusing followed by specific staining, the enzyme was resolved into four bands (isoelectric pH: 7.05, 6.70, 6.50 and 6.30). The optimum pH of activity with ferricytochrome b5 as a substrate was 6.5. The estimated molecular weight was 25 000--30 000. The enzyme was unsensitive to cyanide. It was strongly inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. The cytosolic liver cytochrome b5 reductase was immunologically related to the soluble cytochrome b5 reductase from human and rabbit red-cells, and to the microsomal cytochrome b5 reductase from rabbit liver.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from wheat sprouts. Purification, properties, effect of systemic fungicides

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from wheat sprouts was isolated and partially purified. The molecular weight of the enzyme is about 83 000. The enzyme activity sharply rises as the inhibiting factors present in the homogenate are separated. The pH optimum of the enzymatic reaction is 4,8. Divalent cations (Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+) within the concentration range of 1--5 mM and complexons (EDTA, EGTA) at the concentration of 1 mM do not affect the PDE activity. The temperature optimum for the reaction is 60 degrees. The enzyme hydrolyzes 3' : 5'-AMP, 3' : 5'-GMP and 2':3'-AMP. The Km value for cAMP is 4 . 10(-3) M. The enzyme activity is inhibited by chemical agents possessing the fungicide activity, the strongest effect being exerted by anylate.     

Thymidylate synthetase from Diplococcus pneumoniae, properties and inhibition by folate analogs.

Thymidilate synthetase (methylenetetrahydrofolate:dUMP C-methyltransferase) in crude extract from Diplococcus pneumoniae exhibits a partial but variable requirement for Mg-2+ depending upon the buffer. Optimum Mg-2+ concentration is between 0.014 and 0.02 M. The optimum pH for activity in a variety of buffers occurred as a broad peak between 7.0 and 7.7. In Tris/acetate buffer, but not in potassium phosphate buffer, the pH optimum was different in the presence and absence of Mg-2+. Methylation of uridylate, cytidylate and deoxycytidylate could not be demonstrated over a pH range of 5.0-8.0. The enzyme exhibited an apparent Km for deoxyuridylate of 3.08 - 10-5 M and an apparent Km for L-(+)(minus)-5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate of 2.66 - 10-4 M. During molecular-sieve chromatography and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation, the enzyme was detectable only as a single catalytically active form of Mr 34 000-38 000. 2,4-Diamino quinazoline antifolates were better competitive inhibitors (Ki = 3-8 -10-6 M) of thymidylate synthetase than 2,4-diamino pteridines (Ki = 3- 10-5 M). 2-Amino-4-hydroxy-quinazolines were the best inhibitors (Ki = 1.3-2.9 - 10-6 M). All of the 2,4-diamino quinazolines and pteridines inhibited dihydrofolate reductase from D. pneumoniae in a nearly stoichiometric fashion (Ki = less than 10-10 M). The 2-amino-4-hydroxy-quinazolines were poor inhibitors of this enzyme (Ki = 10=5 M).     

Isolation and properties of alpha-D-mannosidase from human kidney.

Alpha-D-Mannosidase activity exists in three forms that can be separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, alpha-D-Mannosidase was isolated from human kidney in a homogeneous state, and was purified 2100-fold, with p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannoside as substrate. The purified alpha-D-mannosidase was practically free from all other glycosidases tested. The Km of the synthetic substrate with the enzyme was 1 X 10(-3) M and the pH optimum 4.5. It was inhibited by heavy metals, sodium dodecyl sulphate, urea and compounds that react with the thiol groups, and was activated by Zn2+, Na+, 2-mercaptoethanol, human albumin and gamma-globulin. The mol. wt. of the enzyme was estimated to be 180 000 +/- 4500. After pretreatment with 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecyl sulphate, alpha-D-mannosidase dissociated into subunits of mol. wts. of 58 000 +/- 600 and 30 000 +/- 380 respectively. Subunits of the same molecular weights were also obtained after the enzyme was heated at 100 degrees C.