β-Mannoside mannohydrolase and the mobilization of the endosperm cell wall of lettuce seeds,cv. Grand Rapids

Mobilization of the endosperm cell-wall reserves of Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids requires endo--mannanase and -galactosidase activity. A third enzyme, -mannoside mannohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.25) is also involved. We have determined the optimum extraction and assay conditions for this enzyme, which is soluble only in high-salt (1 M NaCl) buffer. It is located exclusively within the cotyledons, in association with a cellulosic cell-wall fraction. Its substrates are the products of endosperm cell-wall mobilization, mannobiose and mannotriose, which diffuse to the cotyledons and are hydrolyzed extracellularly by the -mannoside mannohydrolase.Abbreviation PNPM p-nitrophenyl--mannopyranoside We dedicate this paper to the memory of our friend and colleague Dr. Jacob D. Duerksen     

Effects of glycine supplement on protein production and release in recombinant Escherichia coli

Summary The effect of glycine supplement to growth media on protein expression and release in a recombinant strain RR1 of E. coli was investigated. Addition of glycine to the growth media in moderate amount (up to 1%) was observed to enhance significantly the release of periplasmic proteins from the cell to the broth. The extracellular activities of the model enzymes -amylase and -lactamase were increased by a factor of 16.3 and 3.8 respectively in the presence of glycine. These activities corresponded to about 50% of the total production for each protein. Furthermore, with glycine supplement the total enzyme activity of both -amylase, -lactamase as well as -galactosidase were increased by a factor of about 2.5. Cell growth characteristics and low extracellular activity of the cytoplasmic protein -galactosidase are indicative that glycine does not cause significant cell-lysis for a concentration below 0.7%.     

Binding of the galactose-specificPseudomonas aeruginosa lectin,PA-I,to glycosphingolipids and other glycoconjugates

The carbohydrate-binding specificity ofPseudomonas aeruginosa lectin I (PA-I) in iodinated or biotinylated form was studied. A large number of glycosphingolipids, as well as some glycoproteins and neoglycoproteins were used as ligands. Also, inhibition by free saccharides of PA-I binding to glycosphingolipids was tested. It was found that the lectin binds most strongly to terminal and nonsubstituted Gal3Gal- or Gal4Gal-structures.Abbreviations PA-I Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin I - Cer ceramide - lactosylceramide Gal4GlcCer - iso globotriaosylcerami Gal3Gal4GlcCer - globotriaosylceramide Gal4Gal4GlcCer - globoside or globotetraosylceramide GalNAc3Gal4Gal4GlcCer - Forssman glycolipid GalNAc3GalNAc3Gal4Gal4GlcCer - P1 glycolipid Gal4Gal4GlcNAc3Gal4GlcCer - lactoneotetraosylceramide Gal4GlcNAc3Gal4GlcCer - B5 glycolipid Gal3Gal4GlcNAc3Gal4GlcCer - gangliotetraosylceramide Gal3GalNAc4Gal4GlcCer - GM1 Gal3GalNAc4(NeuAc3)Gal4GlcCer - RBC red blood cells - BSA bovine serum albumin - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - TLC thin-layer chromatography - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - MS mass spectrometry - FAB fast-atom bombardment - EI electron impact     

Structures of the N-linked sugar chains in the PAS-6 glycoprotein from the bovine milk fat globule membrane

The structures of the N-linked sugar chains in the PAS-6 glycoprotein (PAS-6) from the bovine milk fat globule membrane were determined. The sugar chains were liberated from PAS-6 by hydrazinolysis, and the pyridylaminated sugar chains were separated into a neutral (6N) and two acidic chains (6M and 6D), the acidic sugar chains then being converted to neutral sugar chains (6MN and 6DN). 6N was separated into two neutral fractions (6N13 and 6N5.5), while 6MN and 6DN each gave a single fraction (6MN13 and 6DN13). The structure of 6N5.5, which was the major sugar chain in PAS-6, is proposed to be Man16 (Man13) Man14GlcNAc14GlcNAc-PA; 6N13, 6MN13 and 6DN13 are proposed to be Gal13Gal14GlcNAc12Man16 (Gal13Gal14GlcNAc12Man13) Man14GlcNAc14 (Fuc16)GlcNAc-PA;6M and 6D had 1 or 2 additional NeuAc residues at the non-reducing ends of 6MN13 and 6DN13, respectively. © 1998 Rapid Science Ltd     

A gene encoding Achlya bisexualis β-amylase and its expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Part of a -amylase genomic DNA sequence from the oomycete, Achlya bisexualis was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from the conserved regions of other known -amylase sequences. The 5- and 3-regions of the -amylase gene were amplified by genome walking method. The Ach. bisexualis -amylase gene consisted of a 1338bp open reading frame, encoding a protein of 446 amino acids with a molecular weight of 49 381Da, and was not interrupted by any intron. The deduced amino acid sequence of the -amylase gene had 67% similarity to the -amylase of Saprolegnia ferax, followed by 40% similarity to that ofArabidopsis thaliana. The -amylase gene was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae placing it under the control of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADC1) promoter.     

Production,purification, and properties of β-glucosidase from Candida wickerhamii

Summary Candida wickerhamii growing on cellobiose produced -glucosidase with high activity against -nitrophenyl glucoside (PNPG) but low activity against cellobiose. -glucosidase production was constitutive, and was repressed by -glucosides and glucose. -glucosides containing an aromatic moiety in the aglycon were the best substrates for -glucosidase indicating that the enzyme is an aryl--glucosidase. A -glucosidase from C. wickerhamii cells was purified by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, dialysis, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as shown by sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and discontinuous gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme hydrolysed PNPG but not cellobiose. The K_m of the enzyme was 0.185 mM. Glucose inhibited the enzyme competitively and the K_i was 7.5 mM. The apparent molecular mass was 97,000. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were between pH 7 and 7.4 and 40°C respectively. At temperatures of 45°C and greater the enzyme was inactivated. The activation energy of the enzyme was 29.4 kJ · mol^-1.     

Cilia in normal and regenerating islet tissue

Summary Ciliated cells occasionally occur in pancreatic ductule cells and islet -cells of normal Chinese hamsters. In the regenerating pancreatic parenchyma of alloxan-treated Chinese hamsters an increased amount of cilia is observed in the ductule cells and islet -cells. No obvious cilia were found in the other pancreatic cell types of normal and alloxan-treated animals. One and the same ductule cell possesses one, two, or rather often many cilia protruding into the ductule lumen. In the islet -cells there are one or two cilia that often extend into intercellular spaces. The fibre arrangement varies in different parts of the cilia. The basic fibre pattern seems to be 9 + 2, the 9 peripheral fibres consisting of 2 subfibres, and the 2 central being single. The basal bodies (centrioles) consist of 9 groups of 2 or 3 aligned tubular elements. Filaments are associated with the centrioles. The functional significance of the cilia is discussed.This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (Projects No. K67-12X-718-02 and K68-12X-718-03) and the Medical Faculty, University of Umeå.     

β-Carotene production by Flavobacterium multivorum in the presence of inorganic salts and urea

Flavobacterium multivorum, a non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria, normally produces zeaxanthin (3R, 3 R-, -carotene-3, 3 diol) as its main carotenoid. The effect of supplementation of various inorganic salts and urea on the growth, total carotenoid production, and proportion of -carotene (, -carotene), -cryptoxanthin (, -caroten-3-ol), and zeaxanthin produced by F. multivorum was investigated. Urea and several salts, such as calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, lithium chloride, and sodium carbonate, improved total carotenoid production by 1.5- to 2.0-fold. Urea and sodium carbonate had an unexpectedly strong positive effect on -carotene production at the expense of zeaxanthin formation. The effect was found to be independent of incubation time, and -carotene represented 70% (w/w) of the total carotenoid content. The cumulative effect of urea and sodium carbonate was further studied using response surface methodology. An optimum medium was found to contain 4,000 and 4,070 mg l^–1 urea and sodium carbonate, respectively. The maximum -carotene level was 7.85 g ml^–1 culture broth, which represented 80% (w/w) of the total carotenoid produced. Optimization resulted in 77- and 88-fold improvements in the volumetric and specific -carotene levels, respectively, accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in the zeaxanthin level as compared to the control medium. The carotenoid production profile in the optimized medium indicated that -carotene was produced maximally during the late exponential phase at 0.41 g ml^–1 h^–1. It is possible that this organism could be an excellent commercial source of either -carotene or zeaxanthin, depending on initial culture conditions.     

Estradiol Protects Against Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation in Rat Hippocampal Organotypic Cultures and Activates Akt and Inactivates GSK-3β

Here we investigated the neuroprotective effect of 17-estradiol in an in vitro model of ischemia. We used organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, acute or chronically treated with 17-estradiol (10 nM), and exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Cellular death was quantified by measuring uptake of propidium iodide (PI), a marker of dead cells. In OGD exposed cultures, treated only with vehicle, about 70% of the CA1 area of hippocampus was labeled with PI, indicating a great percentage of cellular death. When cultures were treated with 17-estradiol (acute or chronically), this cellular death was reduced to 15%. This effect was prevented by LY294002 but was not by PD98059. Immunoblotting revealed that both, chronic and acute, treatments with 17-estradiol induced the phosphorylation/activation of Akt and the phosphorylation/inactivation of GSK-3. Our results show a clear neuroprotective effect of 17-estradiol and suggest that this effect could involve PI3-K pathway.     

Patterns and conformations of commonly occurring supersecondary structures (basic motifs) in protein data bank

Short peptides connecting-helices and-strands have been analyzed in 240 proteins refined at resolutions of 0.25 nm or better. Connecting peptides of lengths between one and five residues have been classified as part of supersecondary motifs of four types:, , , and. Careful consideration has been given to the definition of secondary structures on the basis of hydrogen bonds and main-chain conformational angles. Using five classes of residue conformation—a, b, e, l, t—in the nonregular structure regions of, space, 34 classes of supersecondary motifs occurring at least five times have been identified. Among these 34 classes, 11 classes that occur more than 25 times are commonly occurring supersecondary structure motifs. The patterns and conformations of the 11 commonly occurring supersecondary structure motifs have been characterized, demonstrating that patterns and conformations adopted by supersecondary structure motifs are limited. The results have relevance to structure prediction, comparative modeling, and protein folding.     

The genetic defect in the various types of human β-galactosidase deficiency

Summary Gene localization studies revealed the presence of two structural -galactosidase (GAL) loci on the human chromosomes 3 and 22 (de Wit et al., 1979). To determine the function of these genes, proliferating hybrid cell lines were isolated following fusion of fibroblasts from two different patients with a GAL deficiency and Chinese hamster cells. The hybrids were analyzed electrophoretically and immunologically.Fibroblasts from a patient with an adult type of GAL deficiency associated with a neuraminidase deficiency were used for the first fusion. No evidence for a structural GAL mutation was found in these hybrids. The absence of a structural GAL mutation is consistent with a primary defect in neuraminidase in this adult patient.Fibroblasts from a patient with the infantile type 1 G_M1-gangliosidosis were used for the second fusion. It is concluded that the human determinants present in the isolated hybrid lines occur in heteropolymeric man-Chinese hamster molecules. The heteropolymeric isoenzyme in (+3–22) hybrids is very labile and is sensitive to neuraminidase treatment. Therefore it is concluded that the infantile type 1 patient is mutated in the structural GAL gene on chromosome 3. Because this patient has a primary defect in G_M1-GAL, the GAL gene on chromosome 3 is apparently a G _M1-GAL gene. Interaction of the two GAL loci results in an additional band of GAL activity on electrophoresis. This suggests that the gene on chromosome 22 is also a structural G _M1-GAL gene.     

Genetic characterization of a new splice variant of the β2 subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel

This study reports a novel splice variant form of the voltage-dependent calcium channel ₂ subunit (_2g). This variant is composed of the conserved amino-terminal sequences of the _2a subunit, but lacks the -subunit interaction domain (BID), which is thought essential for interactions with the ₁ subunit. Gene structure analysis revealed that this gene was composed of 13 translated exons spread over 107 kb of the genome. The gene structure of the ₂ subunit was similar in exon-intron organization to the murine ₃ and human ₄ subunits. Electrophysiological evaluation revealed that _2a and _2g affected channel properties in different ways. The _2a subunit increased the peak amplitude, but failed to increase channel inactivation, while _2g had no significant effects on either the peak current amplitude or channel inactivation. Other subunits, such as ₃ and ₄, significantly increased the peak current and accelerated current inactivation.     

Identification of beta subunit of the rhesus monkey chorionic gonadotropin (rmCG)

Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) is a placental derived hormone that plays a crucial role in successful implantation and establishment of early pregnancy in the primates. The rhesus monkey was chosen as a model to understand the feasibility of developing human DNA immuno-contraceptive. The coding region of rhesus monkey CG -subunit (rmCG) was isolated by the TDRT-PCR method. The nucleotide sequence including the leader peptide was 499 nucleotide long and encoded 166 amino acids. In comparing with the previous known primates CG -subunits, the rmCG was the highest degree of homology with baboon CG -subunit at the deduced amino acid sequence (94%), 79.5% homology with human CG -subunit and 70.4% homology with marmoset monkey CG -subunit. The eukaryotic expression vector pCMV4-rmCG inserted full-coding cDNA sequence of rmCG was constructed, and the expression of rmCG -subunit in HeLa cells transient expressing system in vitro and BALB/c mice in vivo was determined. The results demonstrated that the recombinant PCMV4-rmCG eukaryotic expression vector could express rmCG -subunit in vitro and in vivo.     

Enzymic synthesis of lacto-N-triose II and its positional analogues

N-acetylhexosaminidase fromNocardia orientalis catalysed the synthesis of lacto-N-triose II glycoside (-d-GlcNAc-(1-3)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OMe,3) with its isomers -d-GlcNAc-(1-6)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OMe (4) and -d-Gal-(1-4)-[-d-GlcNAc-(1-6)]--d-Glc-OMe (5) throughN-acetylglucosaminyl transfer fromN,N-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc₂) to methyl -lactoside. The enzyme formed the mixture of trisac-charides3, 4 and5 in 17% overall yield based on GlcNAc₂, in a ratio of 20:21:59. Withp-nitrophenyl -lactoside as an acceptor, the enzyme also producedp-nitrophenyl -lacto-N-trioside II (-d-GlcNAc-(1-3)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p,6) with its isomers -d-GlcNAc-(1-6)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p (7) and -d-Gal-(1-4)-[-d-GlcNAc-(1-6)]--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p (8). In this case, when an inclusion complex ofp-nitrophenyl lactoside acceptor with -cyclodextrin was used, the regioselectivity of glycosidase-catalysed formation of trisaccharide glycoside was substantially changed. It resulted not only in a significant increase of the overall yield of transfer products, but also in the proportion of the desired compound6.Abbreviations GlcNAc₂ 2-acetamido-2-deoxy--d-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose - NAHase N-acetylhexosaminidase - -CD -cyclodextrin     

Properties of β-glucosidase purified from Aspergillus niger mutants USDB 0827 and USDB 0828

Summary Two extracellular -glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) were isolated from Aspergillus niger USDB 0827 and A. niger USDB 0828, and their physical and kinetic properties studied. Both enzymes were very similar in terms of molecular size (230000 Da), pH optimum (pH 4.6), temperature optimum (65° C), stability at high temperatures and substrate preferences. They were capable of hydrolysing -linked disaccharides, phenyl -d-glucoside, p-nitrophenyl -d-glucoside (PNPG), o-nitrophenyl -d-glucoside, salicin and methyl -d-glucoside but lacked activity towards -linked disaccharides, a range of p-nitrophenyl monoglycosides and p-nitrophenyl diglycosides. Both -glucosidases were better at hydrolysing cellobiose than cellotriose, cellotetraose or cellopentaose. For both enzymes, glucose showed competitive inhibition with PNPG as substrate but had no effect with cellobiose. However, the two -glucosidases differed in inhibition by glucono-1,5-lactone and affinity for cellobiose. -Glucosidase from A. niger USDB 0827 also gave lower specific activity, and was more susceptible to metal ions (Ag⁺, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) inhibition than that of A. niger USDB 0828. Correspondence to: Y. K. Hoh     

Metal Cations Defibrillize the Amyloid Beta-Protein Fibrils

Amyloid beta-protein (A) is the major constituent of amyloid fibrils composing -amyloid plaques and cerebrovascular amyloid in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the effect of metal cations on preformed fibrils of synthetic A by Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence spectroscopy and electronmicroscopy (EM) in negative staining. The amount of cross beta-pleated sheet structure of A 1–40 fibrils was found to decrease by metal cations in a concentration-dependent manner as measured by ThT fluorescence spectroscopy. The order of defibrillization of A 1–40 fibrils by metal cations was: Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ (IC₅₀ = 100 M) > Mg²⁺ (IC₅₀ = 300 M) > Al³⁺ (IC₅₀ =1.1 mM). EM analysis in negative staining showed that A 1–40 fibrils in the absence of cations were organized in a fine network with a little or no amorphous material. The addition of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺ to preformed A 1–40 fibrils defibrillized the fibrils or converted them into short rods or to amorphous material. Al³⁺ was less effective, and reduced the fibril network by about 80 % of that in the absence of any metal cation. Studies with A 1–42 showed that this peptide forms more dense network of fibrils as compared to A 1–40. Both ThT fluorescence spectroscopy and EM showed that similar to A 1–40, A 1–42 fibrils are also defibrillized in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Ca²⁺. These studies suggest that metal cations can defibrillize the fibrils of synthetic A.     

Purification and partial characterization of an endo-(1→3)-β-D-glucanase fromEuphausia superba Dana (Antarctic Krill)

Summary We have found out that cell-free extracts from frozen krill decompose many oligo-and polysacharides, particularly with (13)--and (14)--linkages. Two individual proteins have very high activity with laminaran as the substrate. One of them has been isolated and purified 980-fold. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of purified preparation of krill (13)--glucanase [(13)--D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.6] demonstrated that it was slightly contaminated by one protein band inactive in laminaran hydrolysis. Studies on the hydrolysis of different substrates showed that the enzyme was able to break down only (13)--D-linkages by an endo-splitting mechanism. Glucono--lactone and heavy metal ions such as Hg²⁺ inhibited enzyme activity. The activity of the endo-(13)--glucanase of krill strictly depended on free thiol groups in a enzyme molecule. The Michaelis constant value for laminaran was 0.063 mg/ml. Optimal determined temperature was 65°C and optimal pH 5.0. Because of this enzyme's strong interaction with concavalin A-Sepharose it is suggested that it might be a glycoprotein.This work was supported by the Institute of Ecology of Polish Academy of Sciences as a part MR I/29 programme     

Differences in N-acetyllactosamine synthesis between β-1,4-galactosyltransferases I and V

Unlike classical -1,4-galactosyltransferase (-1,4-GalT I), -1,4-GalT V (formerly IV*) has little activity towards 1 mM N-acetylglucosamine [Sato et al. (1998) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95: 472-477]. The human -1,4-GalTs I and V were expressed individually in Sf-9 cells by transfection of the full coding sequences, and their N-acetyllactosamine synthetase activities were determined towards different N-acetylglucosamine concentrations. Kinetic studies using the cell homogenates as an enzyme source revealed that -1,4-GalTs I and V possess Km values of 0.6 mM and 33 mM towards N-acetylglucosamine, and of 48 µM and 41 µM towards UDPGal, respectively. No significant inhibition of N-acetyllactosamine synthesis with -lactalbumin was observed for -1,4-GalT V but the significant inhibition with -lactalbumin was observed for -1,4-GalT I.     

Cloning and expression of a new Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare) beta-1,3-glucanase gene

A new full-length -1,3-glucanase cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and RACE techniques from Tibet hulless barley and its complete gene sequence obtained by DNA Walking. Sequence alignment with the BLAST program showed that cDNA has high similarity with barley -1,3-glucanase II. The gene was functionally expressed in E. coli and the recombinant protein catalysed the hydrolysis of -1,3-glucan with an action pattern characteristic of a -1,3-glucan endohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.39). Southern blot analysis indicated that the gene is a member of a small gene family. RT-PCR and northern blot analysis indicated it is constitutively expressed in barley shoots.     

Transforming growth factor-β1 immobilises dendritic cells within skin tumours and facilitates tumour escape from the immune system

Human skin tumours often regress spontaneously due to immune rejection. Murine skin tumours model this behaviour; some regress and others progress in syngeneic immunocompetent hosts. Previous studies have shown that progressor but not regressor skin tumours inhibit dendritic cell (DC) migration from the tumour to draining lymph nodes, and transforming growth factor-₁ (TGF-₁) has been identified as a responsible factor. To determine whether increased production of TGF-₁ in the absence of other differences inhibits DC migration from the tumour and enables it to evade immune destruction, a murine regressor squamous cell carcinoma clone was transfected with the gene for TGF-₁. This enhanced growth in vitro and in vivo, causing it to become a progressor. TGF-₁ transfection reduced the number of infiltrating DCs by about 25%. Quantitation of CD11c⁺ E-cadherin⁺ (epidermally derived) DCs in lymph nodes determined that TGF-₁ reduced the number of DCs that migrated from the tumour to undetectable levels. This was supported by showing that TGF-₁ reduced DC migration from cultured tumour explants by greater than tenfold. TGF-₁ transfection also reduced the number of infiltrating CD4 and CD8 T cells. Thus, TGF-₁ production by skin tumours is sufficient to immobilise DCs within the tumour, preventing their migration to lymph nodes. This reduces the number of T cells that infiltrate the tumour, preventing regression. Thus, TGF-₁ is a key regulator of whether skin tumours regress or progress.