Inhibitory kinetics of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from prawn (Litopenaeus vannamei) by zinc ion

Prawn (Litopenaeus vannamei) beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC 3.2.1.52) is involved in the digestion and molting processes. Zinc is one of the most important metals often found in the pollutant. In this article, the effects of Zn(2+) on prawn NAGase activity for the hydrolysis of pNP-NAG have been investigated. The results showed that Zn(2+) could reversibly and noncompetitively inhibit the enzyme activity at appropriate concentrations and its IC(50) value was estimated to be 6.00 +/- 0.25 mM. The inhibition model was set up, and the inhibition kinetics of the enzyme by Zn(2+) has been studied using the kinetic method of the substrate reaction. The inhibition constant was determined to be 11.96 mM and the microscopic rate constants were also determined for inactivation and reactivation. The rate constant of the inactivation (k(+0)) is much larger than that of the reactivation (k(-0)). Therefore, when the Zn(2+) concentration is sufficiently large, the enzyme is completely inactivated. On increasing the concentration of Zn(2+), the fluorescence emission peak and the UV absorbance peak are not position shifted, but the intensity decreased, indicating that the conformation of Zn(2+)-bound inactive NAGase is stable and different from that of native NAGase. We presumed that Zn(2+) made changes in the activity and conformation of prawn NAGase by binding with the histidine or cysteine residues of the enzyme.     

Inhibition kinetics of hydrogen peroxide on beta-n-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from prawn (Penaeus vannamei)

The effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on prawn NAGase activity for the hydrolysis of pNP-beta-D-GlcNAc have been studied. The results show that H2O2 can reversible inhibit the enzyme (IC50 = 0.85 M) and the inhibition is of a mixed type. The kinetics show that k+o is much larger than k+0, indicating the free enzyme is more susceptible than the enzyme-substrate complex in the H2O2 solution. It is suggested that the presence of the substrate offers marked protection against inhibition by H202. Changes of activity and conformation of the enzyme in different concentrations of H202 have been compared by measuring the fluorescence spectra and residual activity and show that the change of conformation is more rapidly than that of the residual activity, which implies that the whole conformation of the enzyme changes more rapidly than the conformation of the active centre of the enzyme in the H2O2 solution.     

Inhibitory kinetics of phenol on the enzyme activity of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from green crab (Scylla serrata)

Chemical pollution such as chromium and phenol in the sea water has been increasing in recent years in China sea. At the same time, marine shellfish such as prawn and crab are sensitive to this pollution. beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC.3.2.1.52) catalyzes the cleavage the oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) into the monomer. In this paper, the effects of phenol on the enzyme activity from green crab (Scylla serrata) for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (pNP-NAG) have been studied. The results showed that appropriate concentrations of phenol could lead to reversible inhibition on the enzyme and the inhibitor concentration leading to 50% activity lost, IC(50), was estimated to be 75.0+/-2.0 mM. The inhibitory kinetics of phenol on the enzyme in the appropriate concentrations of phenol has been studied using the kinetic method of substrate reaction. The time course of the enzyme for the hydrolysis of pNP-NAG in the presence of different concentrations of phenol showed that at each phenol concentration, the rate decreased with increasing time until a straight line was approached. The results show that the inhibition of the enzyme by phenol is a slow, reversible reaction with fractional remaining activity. The microscopic rate constants are determined for the reaction on phenol with the enzyme.     

Inhibitory kinetics of mercuric ion on the activity of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from green crab (Scylla serrata)

Chemical modification of p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) on beta-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC 3.2.1.52) from green crab (Scylla serrata) has been studied. The results show that sulfhydryl group is essential for the activity of the enzyme. Inhibitory kinetics of the enzyme by mercuric chloride (HgCl2) has been studied using the kinetic method of the substrate reaction during inhibitor of enzyme. The kinetic results show that the inhibition of the enzyme by mercuric ion (Hg2+) at lower than 1.0 microM is a reversible reaction with residual activity and the inhibition belongs to be competitive. The inhibition kinetics model of Hg2+ on the enzyme was set up and the microscopic rate constants were determined and the data obtained were well fitted with the model. It was also turned out that only one molecule of HgCl2 binds to the enzyme molecule to lead the enzyme lose its activity. The above results suggest that the cysteine residue is essential for activity and is situated at the active site of the enzyme.     

Ultrastructural and sequence characterization of Penaeus vannamei nodavirus (PvNV) from Belize

The Penaeus vannamei nodavirus (PvNV), which causes muscle necrosis in Penaeus vannamei from Belize, was identified in 2005. Infected shrimp show clinical signs of white, opaque lesions in the tail muscle. Under transmission electron microscopy, the infected cells exhibit increases in various organelles, including mitochondria, Golgi stacks, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Cytoplasmic inclusions containing para-crystalline arrays of virions were visualized. The viral particle is spherical in shape and 19 to 27 nm in diameter. A cDNA library was constructed from total RNA extracted from infected shrimp. Through nucleotide sequencing from the cDNA clones and northern blot hybridization, the PvNV genome was shown to consist of 2 segments: RNA1 (3111 bp) and RNA2 (1183 bp). RNA1 contains 2 overlapped open reading frames (ORF A and B), which may encode a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a B2 protein, respectively. RNA2 contains a single ORF that may encode the viral capsid protein. Sequence analyses showed the presence of 4 RdRp characteristic motifs and 2 conserved domains (RNA-binding B2 protein and viral coat protein) in the PvNV genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on the translated amino acid sequence of the RdRp reveals that PvNV is a member of the genus Alphanodavirus and closely related to Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV). In a study investigating potential PvNV vectors, we monitored the presence of PvNV by RT-PCR in seabird feces and various aquatic organisms collected around a shrimp farm in Belize. PvNV was detected in mosquitofish, seabird feces, barnacles, and zooplankton, suggesting that PvNV can be spread via these carriers.     

Haliphthoros milfordensis isolated from black tiger prawn larvae (Penaeus monodon) in Vietnam

A marine fungus was isolated from the black tiger prawn Penaeus monodon at Nha Trang, Vietnam, on March 20, 2001 and named isolate NJM 0131. The fungus was identified as Haliphthoros milfordensis from the characteristics of asexual reproduction, and its physiological characteristics were investigated. Although the optimum temperature for growth of the isolate was 25°–30°C, the fungus grew at a wide range of temperatures (15°–40°C). H. milfordensis grew well in 50%–100% seawater, but poorly in PYG agar containing 1.0%–5.0% NaCl and KCl. The fungus grew at a wide range of pH (4.0–11.0) with the optimum pH value of 7.0–9.0. The isolate also showed pathogenicity to swimming crab larvae (Portunus trituberculatus) by artificial infection, but mortality was not high. This is the first report of disease in the black tiger prawn P. monodon in Vietnam caused by H. milfordensis.     

南美白对虾体壁几丁质酶的理化特性研究

报道南美白对虾体壁几丁质酶(EC3.2.1.14)的理化性质。结果表明,酶的最适pH值为5.6,最适温度为55℃。该酶在pH5.0～6.2区域较稳定,而在pH>7和pH<4.6下失活加快;在50℃以下处理1h,酶活力保持稳定,高于55℃,酶稳定性较差,很快失活。研究金属离子对酶活力影响,结果表明:Li 、Na 、K 、Mg2 和Fe2 等对该酶活力没有任何效应;Ca2 、Ba2 对酶有激活作用,Cu2 、Co2 对酶的效应先表现为激活后转为抑制作用;Ni2 、Zn2 、Mn2 、Al3 、Fe3 、Hg2 、Pb2 和Cd2 对该酶活力均具有不同程度的抑制作用,以Hg2 的抑制作用最显著,10mmol/L的Hg2 可抑制酶活力95.6%。     

Properties of acid beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock semen.

Two forms (I and II) of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock seminal plasma and one form (III) from spermatozoa were separated by chromatofocusing. The active enzyme forms I and II had pI values of 6.6 and 6.3, respectively, while form III had two subforms with pI values of 6.3 and 6.1, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing. The molecular weights were 76,000 for forms I and III and 32,000 for form II. The optimum pH of enzyme forms I and III ranged from 3.6 to 4.0. In contrast, form II showed one distinct maximum at pH 3.7. The Km values obtained with p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide as substrate were 0.35, 0.28, and 0.39 mM for forms I, II, and III, respectively. It is assumed that both cock spermatozoa and cock seminal plasma contain a common, enzymatically active beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase subunit with M(r) about 32,000 and pI 6.3.     

Effect of methanol on the activity and conformation of acid phosphatase from the prawn Penaeus penicillatus

Prawn (Penaeus penicillatus) acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) catalyzes the nonspecific hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters. The effects of some pollutants in sea water on the enzyme activity results in the loss of the biological function of the enzyme, which leads to disruption of phosphate metabolism in cells. This paper analyzes the effects of methanol on the activity and conformation of prawn acid phosphatase. The results show that low concentrations of methanol can lead to reversible inactivation. Inhibition of the enzyme by methanol is classified as non-competitive inhibition, and the inhibition constant (Ki) is 8.5%. Conformational changes of the enzyme molecule in methanol solutions of different concentrations were measured using fluorescence emission, differential UV-absorption, and circular dichroism spectra. Increased methanol concentrations caused the fluorescence emission intensity of the enzyme to increase. The ultraviolet difference spectra of the enzyme denatured with methanol had two negative peaks, at 222 and 270 nm, and a positive peak at 236 nm. The changes in the fluorescence and ultraviolet difference spectra reflected the changes of the microenvironments of tryptophan and tyrosine residues of the enzyme. The CD spectrum changes of the enzyme show that the secondary structure of the enzyme also changed some. These results suggest that methanol is a non-competitive inhibitor and the conformational integrity of the enzyme is essential for its activity.     

Purification and characterization of alpha 2-macroglobulin from the white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

alpha(2)-Macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) is a broad-spectrum protease-binding protein abundant in plasma from vertebrates and several invertebrate phyla. This protein was purified from cell-free hemolymph of the white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, using Blue-Sepharose and Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. The shrimp alpha(2)M is a 380 kDa protein, a homodimer of two apparently identical subunits of approximately 180 kDa linked by disulphide bridges. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminus is similar to the Limulus alpha(2)M counterpart. The shrimp alpha(2)M has a wide inhibition spectrum against different proteinase types including trypsin, leucine amino peptidase, chymotrypsin, elastase and papain. The secondary structure of shrimp alpha(2)M is mainly beta-sheet (36%), with a characteristic minimum elipticity at 217 nm. Evidence for a thiolester-mediated inhibition mechanism of proteases by alpha(2)M was provided by inactivation with methylamine.     

Allatostatins of the tiger prawn,Penaeus monodon (Crustacea: Penaeidea)

More than 40 peptides belonging to the -Y/FXFGL-NH(2) allatostatin superfamily have been isolated and identified from the central nervous system (CNS) of the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon (Crustacea: Penaeidea). The peptides can be arranged in seven sub-groups according to the variable post-tyrosyl residue represented by Ala, Gly, Ser, Thr, Asn, Asp, and Glu. Two of the residues (Thr and Glu) have not been observed in this position previously in either insects or crustaceans. Also reported for the first time for allatostatins, two of the peptides are N-terminally blocked by a pyroglutamic acid residue. The yields of certain peptides with similar amino acid sequences to each other were, in some instances, very different. As an example, the yield of ANQYTFGL-NH(2) was 2pmol, compared with ASQYTFGL-NH(2), with a yield of 156 pmol. There are several possibilities to account for this. If, as in all species so far investigated, there is a single allatostatin gene in P. monodon, then it would appear that different sub-populations have contributed mutant forms of particular peptides to the extract. Another, less likely possibility is that this species has more than one allatostatin gene, producing a variable array of peptides albeit in different molar ratios. Several peptides were present apparently as a result of the loss of one or more residues at the N-terminus of a larger form, either due to N-terminal degradation or specific post-translational processing. The number of peptides identified exceeds that for any other insect or crustacean species previously investigated. None is identical to any of the 60-70 insect allatostatins so far identified, and only three are common to other crustaceans. Immunohistochemical study of the CNS of P. monodon, with the same antisera as used to monitor the purification, confirms the widespread nature and complexity of allatostatinergic neural pathways in arthropods. Thus, all neuromeres of the brain, and all except one of the ventral cord ganglia, possess allatostatin neurons and extensive areas of allatostatin-innervated neuropile. In addition to the cytological evidence that the allatostatins act as neurotransmitters, associated with tissues as varied as eyes and legs, their presence in neurohemal areas such as the sinus gland and the perineural sheath of the thoracic ganglia suggests a neuroendocrine function. As well as posing a challenge to physiologists assigning specific functions to the allatostatins, their extensive intra-species multiplicity, linked to their inter-species variability, also presents a complex problem to geneticists and evolutionists.     

Molecular characterization of vitellin from the ovaries of the white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei

Vitellin (Vt) was purified from ovary extracts of mature females of the white shrimp Penaeus vannamei using Sepharose CL-4B and Q-Sepharose columns. Native Vt had an apparent molecular weight of 388 kDa as detected in Native-PAGE, bound the lipophilic dye Oil Red O and had a total lipid content of approximately 43.8%. Under reducing and denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE), Vt is composed of three major subunits of 87, 78 and 46 kDa, although minor bands of 65, 61 and 31 kDa are also detected. The 87- and 78-kDa polypeptides were strongly recognized by Penaeus semisulcatus anti-Vt polyclonal and Penaeus monodon anti-Vt monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 78-kDa polypeptide is very similar to Penaeus japonicus vitellogenin (Vg) and P. semisulcatus Vt, with an identity of 76%. Circular dichroism indicates that the beta-helix content of Vt is 25% while beta-sheets correspond to 37 and 14% of unordered secondary structure. These values are similar to insect microvitellogenin. Vt has an emission fluorescence maximum at 329 nm, comparable to the shrimp high-density lipoprotein/beta-glucan binding protein (HDL/BGBP).     

Characterisation of a serine proteinase from Penaeus vannamei haemocytes

Serine proteinases are involved, besides digestive role, in immune response processes. In addition to the typical serine proteinase domain, proteinases from arthropod haemocytes contain so-called clip domains which are believed to exert regulatory functions. Clones coding for clip domain-containing serine proteinases were isolated from both Penaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon haemocyte cDNA libraries. These proteins have most of the structural characteristics of serine proteinase domain, but in the clip domain there are only four cysteines, whereas in most other clip domains there are six. Such structures are named pseudo-clip domains and apparently seem to be widely distributed in Penaeid shrimp. These proteinases were only expressed in haemocytes and not in muscles, hypodermis, heart, tail stalk, pleopods or hepatopancreas.     

Proteinase activity in the white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) clotting protein

The clottable protein (CP) was isolated from white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei plasma as a 400-kDa protein that splits to two identical 200-kDa subunits when it is reduced with 2-ME. However, using DTT as reducing agent, four main bands were observed; two of them (179 and 125 kDa) had the same N-terminus sequence of the intact CP, indicating that most fragmentation occurs in the carboxy-terminus. The proteinase activity of reduced CP was detected using azoalbumin as substrate. Proteinase activity was only detected in the reduced, but not alkylated protein. Trypsin and papain, as well as soybean trypsin inhibitor and E64, were included for comparison. Proteolytic activity of reduced CP was inhibited by E64, but not by STI, indicating that such activity corresponds to a cysteine type proteinase.     

Major viral diseases of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) in Thailand

There are five different viruses which are currently being studied for their impact on commercial farming of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) in Thailand. Some of these viruses cause disease in other penaeid shrimp species and even other crustacean species. Some occur not only in cultivated shrimp in other Asian countries, but also in those from Australia and the western hemisphere. In descending order from greatest to least economic impact on the Thai shrimp industry, the five viruses are: white-spot baculovirus, yellow-head virus, hepatopancreatic parvo-like virus, infectious hypodermal and hematopoeitic necrosis virus and monodon baculovirus. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent work on these viruses and to suggest future directions of research that may be useful in the effort to develop a sustainable shrimp industry.     

Catalase from the white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei: molecular cloning and protein detection

Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that plays a very important role in the protection against oxidative damage by breaking down hydrogen peroxide. It is a very highly conserved enzyme that has been identified from numerous species including bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, but the information about catalase in crustaceans is very limited. A cDNA containing the complete coding sequence for catalase from the shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei was sequenced and the mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in selected tissues. Catalase was detected in hepatopancreas crude extracts by Western blot analysis with anti-human catalase polyclonal antibodies. The nucleotide sequence is 1692 bp long, including a 72-bp 5′-UTR, a coding sequence of 1515 bp and a 104-bp 3′-UTR. The deduced amino acid sequence corresponds to 505 amino acids with high identity to invertebrate, vertebrate and even bacterial catalases and contains the catalytic residues His71, Asn144, and Tyr354. The predicted protein has a calculated molecular mass of 57 kDa; which coincides with the size of the subunit (55 kDa) and the tetrameric protein (230 kDa) detected in hepatopancreas extracts under native conditions. Catalase mRNA level was higher in hepatopancreas, followed by gills and was not detected in muscle.     

Experimental infection of Penaeus vannamei by a rickettsia-like bacterium (RLB) originating from P. monodon

A rickettsia-like bacterium (RLB), which caused severe mortalities of commercially farmed Penaeus monodon in the southwest region of Madagascar, was investigated to determine whether the organism would produce the same disease in P. vannamei. Two series of bioassays were performed to determine whether this RLB could be transmitted to P. vannamei through injection and per os exposure. The first series of challenge bioassays used frozen, RLB-infected P. monodon tissue from Madagascar as the inoculum and feed for the injection, and per os bioassays with specific pathogen free (SPF) P. vannamei. In the second series of bioassays, frozen RLB-infected P. vannamei tissue derived from the first series of injection bioassays was used as the inoculum to challenge by injection and per os SPF P. vannamei. Disease status was determined through standard histological techniques and by in situ hybridization assays with a digoxigenin-labeled probe specific for this RLB. The results indicated that P. vannamei did develop the RLB infection when injected with either RLB infected P. monodon or P. vannamei tissue homogenates. This contrasts with results from the per os exposure to the RLB in which the disease could not be reproduced.     

南美白对虾卵子发生的组织学

采用组织学方法研究了南美白对虾的卵子发生过程,根据卵细胞大小、核仁形态、卵黄粒的有无、皮质棒的出现以及卵母细胞与滤泡细胞的关系,将南美白对虾的卵子发生划分为卵原细胞、卵黄发生前的卵母细胞和卵黄发生的卵母细胞三个时期,并描述了各期卵细胞的形态特征。