Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from α-naphthol degrading thermophilic Geobacillus sp. strain: purification and properties

The purpose of this study was purification and characterization of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from Geobacillus sp. G27 strain, which degrades α-naphthol by the β-ketoadipate pathway. The catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C1,2O) was purified using four steps of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-celullose, Sephadex G-150 and hydroxylapatite chromatographies. The enzyme was purified about 18-fold with a specific activity of 7.42 U mg of protein⁻¹. The relative molecular mass of the native enzyme estimated on gel chromatography of Sephadex G-150 was 96 kDa. The pH and temperature optima for enzyme activity were 7 and 60°C, respectively. A half-life of the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase at the optimum temperature was 40 min. The kinetic parameters of the Geobacillus sp. G27 strain catechol 1,2-dioxygenase were determined. The enzyme had apparent K_m of 29 μM for catechol and the cleavage activities for methylcatechols were much less than for catechol and no activity with gentisate or protocatechuate was detected.     

Studies on a beta-fructosidase (inulinase) produced bySaccharomyces fragilis

Summary A study was made of a β-fructosidase, which is produced extracellularly and intracellularly bySaccharomyces fragilis. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of inulin, bacterial levans, sucrose, and the fructose portion of raffinose, by splitting off terminal fructosyl units. It attacks β-2,1 as well as β-2,6 linkages. The enzyme content of inulin-grown cells is sufficient to allow fermentation of inulin at the same rate as glucose. The ratio of hydrolysis rates with sucrose and inulin was about 25 for the β-fructosidase ofS. fragilis and about 14,000 for invertase.S. fragilis does not contain significant amounts of invertase and it ferments inulin, sucrose and raffinose with the aid of a related, but different enzyme, inulinase. Conditions of growth were established which favor inulinase synthesis. Highest yields were obtained with inulin as the carbon source, and somewhat lower yields with raffinose. Glucose, fructose and sucrose were poor inducers of inulinase. The pH of the medium during growth on inulin had to be in the range where inulinase could act, otherwise growth was tardy and poor. In an inulin containing medium aeration favored enzyme production as a result of stimulation of growth. The inulinase content of the cells in a unit volume was generally greater than that in the culture medium. The intracellular inulinase could be solubilized quantitatively by autolysis. The intra-and extracellular inulinases were concentrated and purified to the same extent. Comparison of the two preparations with respect to substrate specificity, rate of inactivation by heat, pH optima with sucrose (4.2) and with inulin (5.0), and elution patterns from a column of diethylaminoethyl cellulose, indicated that the intra-and extracellular enzymes were identical.     

Purification and Characterization of Invertase from Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1100

The invertase of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1100 is a glycoprotein composed by a single subunit with a molecular weight of 58 kDa. The enzyme was stable below 45°C over a wide pH range (4.5–7.0) with maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 37°C. The invertase activity was significantly inhibited by bivalent metal ions (Ca⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺, Cd⁺⁺, and Hg⁺⁺), β-mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol and partially improved by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The enzyme was purified 32 times over the crude extract by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography with a recovery of 17%. The K _m and V_max values for sucrose were 6.66 mM and 0.028 μmol/min, respectively. An invertase is purified and characterized for the first time in Lactobacillus, and it proved to be a β-fructofuranosidase. Received: 13 August 1999 / Accepted: 15 September 1999     

Cleavage of bacillus subtilis endo-β-1,4-glucanase by B. megaterium protease

Summary A protease secreted by B. megaterium ATCC 14945 was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, Q-Sepharose, Sephadex G-75, and hydroxyapatite chromatography and its molecular weight was estimated to be 38 kD. The purified protease caused the cleavage of 52 kD B. subtilis endo--l,4-glucanase expressed in B. megaterium. The enzyme was most active at pH 7.5 and 55 °C. Calcium ion was required for the enzyme activity and the activity was almost completely inhibited by EDTA. The protease was not inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride.     

News & Notes: Production, Purification, and Properties of an Endo-1,3-β-Glucanase from the Basidiomycete Agaricus bisporus

Agaricus bisporus H 25 produced extracellular endo-1,3-β-glucanase when grown in a static culture at 25°C in a minimal synthetic medium supplemented with A. bisporus cell walls plus fructose. Endo-1,3-β-glucanase was purified 17.85-fold from 20-day-old culture filtrates by precipitation at 80% ammonium sulfate saturation, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and preparative PAGE followed by electroelution. The purified enzyme yielded a single band in both native and SDS-polyacrylamide gels with a molecular mass of 32 kDa (SDS-PAGE) and 33.7 kDa (MALDI-MS), showing an isoelectric point of 3.7. The enzyme was active against β-1,3- linkages and, to a lesser extent, against β-1,6-, exhibiting an endohydrolytic mode of action and a glycoprotein nature. Significant activities of the endo-glucanase against laminarin and pustulan were observed between pH 4 and 5.5, and between 40° and 50°C for laminarin, and between 30° and 50°C for pustulan. The optimum pH and temperature were 4.5 and 45°C for both substrates. Received: 17 June 1998 / Accepted: 24 September 1998     

球孢白僵菌胞外壳聚糖酶的纯化和性质*

球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana 1316-V1的培养上清液经硫酸铵分级沉淀,Sephadex G-75凝胶过滤,Chitosan-bead亲和层析,第二次Sephadex G-75凝胶过滤, 得到电泳纯的一种胞外壳聚糖酶,比活力达到45u/mg 。此酶的分子量为36 kD; 最适酶反应温度为60℃;最适pH为4.0;最适离子强度为 0.25mol/L NaCl; 37℃以下,pH 2.0~5.0之间稳定性好; Cu2+、Hg2+、Pb2+、Ni2+ 对该酶有强烈抑制作用;Ag+、Mn2+也有较强抑制作用;Fe2+有轻微激活作用。该壳聚糖酶是一种糖蛋白,含糖约为12.6%。酶的最适底物为脱乙酰度为90%的胶体壳聚糖;也能轻微水解CMC、DEAE-Cellulose和胶体几丁质;但不能水解片状的壳聚糖和几丁质。     

Purification and characterization of a novel β-galactosidase from Bacillus sp MTCC 3088

An extracellular β-galactosidase which catalyzed the production of galacto-oligosaccharide from lactose was harvested from the late stationary-phase of Bacillus sp MTCC 3088. The enzyme was purified 36.2-fold by ZnCl₂ precipitation, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography with an overall recovery of 12.7%. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be about 484 kDa by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 packed column and the molecular masses of the subunits were estimated to be 115, 86.5, 72.5, 45.7 and 41.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the native enzyme, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing, was 6.2. The optimum pH and temperature were 8 and 60°C, respectively. The Michaelis–Menten constants determined with respect to o-NO₂-phenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside and lactose were 6.34 and 6.18 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited (68%) by galactose, the end product of lactose hydrolysis reaction. The β-galactosidase was specific for β-D anomeric linkages. Enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by metal ions (Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺) in the 1–2.5 mM range. Mg²⁺ was a good activator. Catalytic activity was not affected by the chelating agent EDTA. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 58–63. Received 09 February 1999/ Accepted in revised form 24 September 1999     

慈菇（Sagittaria safittifolia）α－半乳糖苷酶的纯化与性质

以对硝基苯糖苷基为底物,测定了慈菇的１２种糖苷酶,其中α－甘露糖苷酶、α－和β－半乳糖苷酶活力较高;经硫酸铵分级沉淀,ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１５０分子筛层析,ＣｏｎＡＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４Ｂ亲和层析,ＤＥＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ离子交换层析,从慈菇抽提液纯化了α－半乳糖苷酶。纯化酶的比活提高１０７２倍,活力回收１５．６％,在圆盘聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上均显示１条蛋白质带,在α－半乳糖苷酶浓度为１５０ｍＵ／ｍｌ的溶液中测不到其他糖苷酶的活力。慈菇α－半乳糖苷酶的分子量用ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００凝胶过滤柱测定或在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上测定均为６０ｋＤ,酶反应的最适ｐＨ在５．８附近,最适温度为６０℃。该酶分解对硝基苯基－α－半乳糖苷的Ｋ＿ｍ值为３．７×１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｖ＿ｍ值为２．１×１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。银离子、汞离子显著抑制酶活力,Ｄ－半乳糖和密二糖均竞争性地抑制该酶水解对硝基苯基α－Ｄ－半乳糖苷的活力,根据Ｄｉｘｏｎ作图求得其Ｋ＿ｉ值分别为０．９２×１０￣（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ和１．９８×１０￣（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。２－脱氧－Ｄ－半乳糖和Ｌ－岩藻糖为酶活力的非竞争性抑制剂。化学修饰     

Properties of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMC constitutive dextransucrase

Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMC, a constitutive mutant for dextransucrase, was grown on glucose, fructose, or sucrose. The amount of cell-associated dextransucrase was about the same for the three sugars at different concentrations (0.6% and 3%). Enzyme produced in glucose medium was adsorbed on Sephadex G-100 and G-200, but much less enzyme was adsorbed when it was produced in sucrose medium. Sephadex adsorption decreased when the glucose-produced enzyme was preincubated with dextrans of molecular size greater than 10 kDa. The release of dextransucrase activity from Sephadex by buffer (20 mM acetate, pH 5.2) was the highest at 28°–30°C. The addition of dextran to the enzyme stimulated dextran synthesis but had very little effect on the temperature or pH stability. Dextransucrase purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and Sephadex G-200 adsorption did not contain any carbohydrate, and it synthesized dextran, showing that primers are not necessary to initiate dextran synthesis. The purified enzyme had a molecular size of 184 kDa on SDS-PAGE. On standing at 4°C for 30 days, the native enzyme was dissociated into three inactive proteins of 65, 62, and 57 kDa. However, two protein bands of 63 and 59 kDa were obtained on SDS-PAGE after heat denaturation of the 184-kDa active enzyme at 100°C. The amount of 63-kDa protein was about twice that of 59-kDa protein. The native enzyme is believed to be a trimer of two 63-kDa and one 59-kDa monomers.     

Studies on Extracellular Ribonuclease from Yeast

An extracellular ribonuclease of Rhodotorula glutinis was purified about 50-fold from the culture broth, by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography, acetone fractionation and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The purified enzyme was homogeneous when examined by the ultracentrifuge and disc electrophoresis. The molecular weight was calculated to be 58,900 and 56,000 by the sedimentation-diffusion method and the sedimentation equilibrium method, respectively.     

Purification and biochemical properties of a glucose-stimulated β-D-glucosidase produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Humicola grisea</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">thermoidea</Emphasis> grown on sugarcane bagasse

The effect of several carbon sources on the production of mycelial-bound β-glucosidase by Humicola grisea var. thermoidea in submerged fermentation was investigated. Maximum production occurred when cellulose was present in the culture medium, but higher specific activities were achieved with cellobiose or sugarcane bagasse. Xylose or glucose (1%) in the reaction medium stimulated β-glucosidase activity by about 2-fold in crude extracts from mycelia grown in sugarcane bagasse. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, showing a single band in PAGE and SDS-PAGE. The β-glucosidase had a carbohydrate content of 43% and showed apparent molecular masses of 57 and 60 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature were 6.0 and 50°C, respectively. The purified enzyme was thermostable up to 60 min in water at 55°C and showed half-lives of 7 and 14 min when incubated in the absence or presence of 50 mM glucose, respectively, at 60°C. The enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-Dgalactopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-fucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside, o-nitrophenyl-β-Dgalactopyranoside, lactose, and cellobiose. The best synthetic and natural substrates were p-nitrophenyl-β-Dfucopyranoside and cellobiose, respectively. Purified enzyme activity was stimulated up to 2-fold by glucose or xylose at concentrations from 25 to 200 mM. The addition of purified or crude β-glucosidase to a reaction medium containing Trichoderma reesei cellulases increased the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse by about 50%. These findings suggest that H. grisea var. thermoidea β-glucosidase has a potential for biotechnological applications in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials.     

粘质赛氏菌胞外蛋白酶的提取、纯化及部分性质研究

经过硫酸铵３０％～５０％分级沉淀、二步柱层析可获聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳均一的粘质赛氏菌胞外蛋白酶制品,收率可达５３％,并制备了酶的结晶,该酶以ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ１００柱层析及ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测得分子量约为８１０００,该酶的最适ｐＨ为７．０,最适温度为４５℃,Ｚｎ２＋、Ｍｎ２＋、Ｆｅ２＋、Ｃｕ２＋、Ｃｏ２＋等重金属离子不同程度地抑制酶活性。     

Purification and Partial Characterization of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Invertase and Its Endogenous Proteinaceous Inhibitor

Invertase plays an important role in the hydrolysis of sucrose in higher plants, especially in the storage organs. In potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers, and in some other plant tissues, the enzyme seems to be controlled by interaction with an endogenous proteinaceous inhibitor. An acid invertase from potato tubers (variety russet) was purified 1560-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity by consecutive use of concanvalin A-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, DEAE-Sephadex A-50-120 chromatography, Sephadex G-150 chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex A-50-120 chromatography. The enzyme contained 10.9% carbohydrate, had an apparent molecular weight of 60,000 by gel filtration, and was composed of two identical molecular weight subunits (M_r 30,000). The enzyme had a K_m for sucrose of 16 millimolar at pH 4.70 and was most stable and had maximum activity around pH 5. The endogenous inhibitor was purified 610-fold to homogeneity by consecutive treatment at pH 1 to 1.5 at 37°C for 1 hour, (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, Sephadex G-100 chromatography, DEAE-Sephadex G-50-120 chromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The inhibitor appears to be a single polypeptide (M_r 17,000) without glyco groups. The purified inhibitor was stable over the pH range of 2 to 7 when incubated at 37°C for 1 hour.     

A Review of: “HPLC of Biological Macromolecules (Methods and Applications) K.M. Goodring F.E. Regnier,Eds Marcel Dekker,New York, 1990; hardbound, 676 pages, $150”

An ionically unbound and thermostable polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was extracted from the leaf of Musa paradisiaca. The enzyme was purified 2.54-fold with a total yield of 9.5% by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibited a clear single band on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) PAGE. It was found to be monomeric protein with molecular mass of about 40 kD. The zymographic study using crude extract as enzyme source showed a very clear band around 40 kD and a faint band at around 15 kD, which might be isozymes. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 50°C temperature. The enzyme was active in wide range of pH (4.0–9.0) and temperature (30–90°C). From the thermal inactivation studies in the range 60–75°C, the half-life (t_1/2) values of the enzyme ranged from 17 to 77 min. The inactivation energy (Ea) value of PPO was estimated to be 91.3 kJ mol^?1. It showed higher specificity with catechol (K_m = 8 mM) as compared to 4-methylcatechol (K_m = 10 mM). Among metal ions and reagents tested, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, protocatechuic acid, and ferrulic acid enhanced the enzyme activity, while K⁺, Na⁺, Co²⁺, kojic acid, ascorbic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium azide, β-mercaptoethanol, and L-cysteine inhibited the activity of the enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of trypsin inhibitor from seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

A trypsin inhibitor from seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was purified to near homogeneity as judged by native-PAGE with about 11 % recovery using ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration through Sephadex G-100. The inhibitor had a molecular weight of 18 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE and Sephadex G-100. The inhibitor inhibited trypsin and chymotrypsin to the extent of 48 and 12 %, respectively. The inhibtion was of non-competitive type with dissociation constant for the enzyme inhibitor complex in the region of 0.07 mg·ml⁻¹. The inhibtor was stable between pH 4 and 5. It completely lost its activity when heated at 125 °C for 1 h or at 100 °C for 2 h. The inhibitor also lost its activity on exposure to 2-mercaptoethanol. Based on these properties, it could be concluded that Vicia faba trypsin inhibitor belongs to Bowman-Birk type of inhibitors, as it has molecular weight lower than generally observed for Kunitz type inhibitors.     

Purification and properties of methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase from human liver

Methylmalonyl coenzyme A (CoA) mutase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from human liver by a procedure involving column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Matrex-Gel Blue A, hydroxylapatite, and Sephadex G-150. The overall purification achieved is 500- to 600-fold, yield 3–5%. Electrophoresis of the native purified protein on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels shows a single diffuse band coincident with the enzyme activity; dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels show a single protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 77,500. The native protein has a molecular weight of approximately 150,000 by Sephadex G-150 chromatography, suggesting that it is composed of two identical subunits. The activity of the purified enzyme is stimulated only slightly (10–20%) by the addition of its cofactor, adenosylcobalamin, indicating that the purified enzyme is largely saturated with coenzyme. The spectrum of the enzyme is consistent with the presence of about 1 mole of adenosylcobalamin per mole of subunit. The enzyme displays complex kinetics with respect to dl-methylmalonyl CoA; substrate inhibition by l-methylmalonyl CoA appears to occur. The enzyme activity is stimulated by polyvalent anions (PO₄^3? > SO₄^2? > Cl^?); monovalent cations are without effect, but high concentrations of divalent cations are inhibitory. The enzyme activity is insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, is rapidly destroyed at temperatures > 50 °C, and shows a broad pH optimum around pH 7.5.     

Biochemical and immunological properties of alkaline invertase isolated from sprouting soybean hypocotyls.

Alkaline invertase from sprouting soybean (Glycine max) hypocotyls was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity by consecutive use of DEAE-cellulose, green 19 dye, and Cibacron blue 3GA dye affinity chromatography. This protocol produced about a 100-fold purification with about a 11% yield. The purified protein had a specific activity of 48 mumol of glucose produced mg-1 protein min-1 (pH 7.0) and showed a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) (58 kDa) and in native PAGE, as indicated by both protein and activity staining. The native enzyme molecular mass was about 240 kDa, suggesting a homotetrameric structure. The purified enzyme exhibited hyperbolic saturation kinetics with a Km (sucrose) near 10 mM and the enzyme did not utilize raffinose, maltose, lactose, or cellibose as a substrate. Impure alkaline invertase preparations, which contained acid invertase activity, on contrast, showed biphasic curves versus sucrose concentration. Combining equal activities of purified alkaline invertase with acid invertase resulted in a biphasic response, but there was a transition to hyperbolic saturation kinetics when the activity ratio, alkaline: acid invertase, was increased above unity. Alkaline invertase activity was inhibited by HgCl2, pridoxal phosphate, and Tris with respective Ki values near 2 microM, 5 microM, and 4 mM. Glycoprotein staining (periodic acid-Schiff method) was negative and alkaline invertase did not bind to two immobilized lectins, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin; hence, the enzyme apparently is not a glycoprotein. The purified alkaline invertase, and a purified soybean acid invertase, was used to raise rabbit polyclonal antibodies. The alkaline invertase antibody preparation was specific for alkaline invertase and cross-reacted with alkaline invertases from other plants. Neither purified soybean alkaline invertases nor the crude enzyme from several plants cross-reacted with the soybean acid invertase antibody.     

The molecular and biochemical characteristics of proline iminopeptidase from rye seedlings (Secale cereale L.)

A proline iminopeptidase (EC. 3.4.11.5) was isolated from shoots of 3 day old seedlings. The purification procedure consisted of 5 steps: acid precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, ion-exchange chromatography on Sepharose CL 6B, twice repeated hydrophoic chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose HP. The enzyme was purified 404.8-fold, with the specific activity of 8.5 units mg⁻¹ of protein with recovery yield of 3%. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 225 kDa estimated by gel filtration and 55.4 kDa by SDS PAGE. This indicates that native enzyme is composed of four subunits. The enzyme was specific for proline β-naphtylamide among various amino acid β-naphtylamides. An optimal activity was observed at 37 °C at pH 7.75. The enzyme was thermostable up to 37 °C for 30 min. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by pHMB, E-64, heavy metal ions and partially by PMSF, DFP. The results suggest that cysteine and serine residues may participate in the enzyme activity.     

Purification and characterization of cathepsin B from goat brain

Cathepsin B was purified to an apparent homogeneity from goat brain utilizing the techniques of homogenization, autolysis at pH 4, 30–70% (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, Sephadex G-100 column chromatography, organomercurial afinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50. The enzyme had a pH optima of 6 with α-N-benzoyl-D, L-arginine-β-naphthIylamide, benzyloxycarbonyl-arginine-arginme-4-methoxy -β-naphthylamide and azocasein as substrates. TheKm values for the hydrolysis of α-N-benzoyl-D, L-arginine-β-naphthylamide and benzyloxycarbonyl-arginine-arginine-4-methoxy -β-naphthylamide were 2.36 and 0.29 mM respectively in 2.5% dimethylsulphoxide. However, the correspondingKm values for these substrates in 1 % dimethylsulphoxide were 0.51 and 0.09 mM. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by thiol inhibitors and tetrapeptidyl chloromethylketones. Leupeptin inhibited the enzyme competitively withK _i value of 12.5 × l0⁻⁹M. Dithioerythritol was found to be the most potent activator of this sulfhydryl protease. Molecular weight estimations on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and on analytical Sephadex G-75 column were around 27,000 and 29,000 daltons respectively. Cathepsin B was found to reside in the lysosomes of goat brain. The highest percentage of cathepsin B was in cerebrum. However, the specific activity of the enzyme was maximum in pituitary gland.     

Purification and characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate N-malonyltransferase from etiolated mung bean hypocotyls

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) N-malonyltransferase converts ACC, an immediate precursor of ethylene, to the presumably inactive product malonyl-ACC (MACC). This enzyme plays a role in ethylene production by reducing the level of free ACC in plant tissue. In this study, ACC N-malonyltransferase was purified 3660-fold from etiolated mung bean (Vigna radiata) hypocotyls, with a 6% overall recovery. The final specific activity was about 83,000 nmol of MACC formed mg⁻¹ protein h⁻¹. The five-step purification protocol consisted of polyethylene glycol fractionation, Cibacron blue 3GA-agarose chromatography using salt gradient elution, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, MonoQ anion-exchange chromatography, and Cibacron blue 3GA-agarose chromatography using malonyl-CoA plus ACC for elution. The molecular mass of the native enzyme determined by Sephadex G-100 chromatography was 50 ± 3 kD. Protein from the final purification step showed one major band at 55 kD after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that ACC N-malonyltransferase is a monomer. The mung bean ACC N-malonyltransferase has a pH optimum of 8.0, an apparent K_m of 0.5 mm for ACC and 0.2 mm for malonyl-coenzyme A, and an Arrhenius activation energy of 70.29 kJ mol⁻¹ degree⁻¹.