Peptide-N 4-(N-acetylglucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (PNGase) activity could explain the occurrence of extracellular xylomannosides in a plant cell suspension

We have previously isolated mannoside and xylomannoside oligosaccharides with one or two terminal reducingN-acetylglucosamine residues from the extracellular medium of white campion (Silene alba) suspension culture. We have now demonstrated the presence of peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetylglucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (PNGase) activity in cell extracts as well in the culture medium that could explain the production of those compounds. An additional xylomannoside, (GlcNAc)Man₃(Xyl)GlcNAc(Fuc)GlcNAc, was characterized, and¹H- and¹³C-NMR assignments for the oligosaccharide Man₃(Xyl)GlcNAc(Fuc)GlcNAc were obtained using homonuclear and heteronuclear spectroscopy (COSY).Abbreviations Endo endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase - Fuc fucose - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - Man mannose - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - PNGase peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetylglucosaminyl)asparagine amidase - Xyl xylose     

Use of resorufin-labelled N-glycopeptide in a high-performance liquid chromatography assay to monitor endoglycosidase activities during cultivation ofFlavobacterium meningosepticum

Peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) and endo--N-acetyl glucosaminidase F (Endo F) activities were monitored during cultivation ofFlavobacterium meningosepticum using a new fluorescence-HPLC procedure based on a commercially available substrate. The PNGase F activity reached a maximum level at the end of the log phase and remained constant during the stationary phase, while Endo F continuously increased until late stationary phase. PNGase F obtained at the end of the log phase was less contaminated by other proteins compared with late stationary phase.Abbreviations Con A concanavalin A - Endo F endo--N-acetyl glucosaminidase F (EC 3.2.1.96) - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - PNGase F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase F (EC 3.5.1.52).     

Glycosylation of the thrombin-like serine protease ancrod fromAgkistrodon rhodostoma venom. Oligosaccharide substitution pattern at eachN-glycosylation site

In a previous study, we determined the structures of the glycans present in ancrod, a thrombin-like serine protease from the venom of the Malayan pit viperAgkistrodon rhodostoma (Pfeifferet al. (1992)Eur J Biochem 205:961–78). In order to allocate the various carbohydrate chains to distinctN-glycosylation sites of the molecule, we have now isolated individual glycopeptides. Peptide moieties were identified after deglycosylation with peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F by amino acid analysis and sequencing. Liberated oligosaccharides were assigned to the previously deduced carbohydrate structures by high performance liquid chromatography. Although only quantitative differences were observed, the results indicate that each glycosylation site of ancrod carries its characteristic oligosaccharide pattern. Furthermore, all potential sites were shown to be substituted by carbohydrates.Abbreviations HPAE-HPLC high pH anion exchange HPLC - RP-HPLC reversed phase HPLC - PNGase-F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F - PAD pulsed amperometric detection.     

Theβ-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin containsN-glycosidic trisialo tri- and tri′-antennary carbohydrate chains

TheN-linked carbohydrate chains of the-subunit of highly purified urinary human chorionic gonadotropin have been re-investigated. The oligosaccharides were released enzymatically by peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase-F, and fractionated by a combination of FPLC and HPLC. As a result of the application of improved fractionation methods, apart from the earlier reported carbohydrate chains, also small amounts of trisialo tri- and tri-antennary oligosaccharides were found. The primary structures of the latter carbohydrate chains have been determined by 500-MHz¹H-NMR spectroscopy to beAbbreviations hCG human chorionic gonadotropin - hCG- -subunit - hCG- -subunit - PNGase-F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase-F (E.C. 3.5.1.52) - endo-F endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase-F (E.C. 3.2.1.96) - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - CBB coomassie brilliant blue R 250 - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - NeuAc N-acetylneuraminic acid - Man mannose - Gal galactose - Fuc fucose     

A New Peptide-N 4-(acetyl-β-glucosaminyl)asparagine Amidase from Soybean (Glycine max) Seeds: Purification and Substrate Specificity

We report here the isolation and characterization of a peptide-N ⁴-(acetyl-β-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase (peptide: N-glycanase) from soybean (Glycine max) seeds. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity with 6.5% yield from defatted soybean meal extract by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and hydrophobic chromatography. The purified enzyme, designated PNGase-GM, had the apparent molecular mass of 93 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 90 kDa by gel filtration, indicating this PNGase is a monomeric protein. The enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 4.5-5.0. PNGase-GM was capable of hydrolyzing the β-aspartylglycosylamine linkage (GlcNAcβ1→Asn) of various glycopeptide substrates bearing high-mannose type, hybrid type, and xylose/fucose-containing plant complex type N-glycan units, while this amidase was far less active on the glycopeptides bearing sialylated animal complex-type glycans.     

Does an animal peptide:N-glycanase have the dual role as an enzyme and a carbohydrate-binding protein?

Recently, we have reported purification and characterization of a de-N-glycosylating enzyme, peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase) found in C3H mouse fibroblast L-929 cells, and designated L-929 PNGase [Suzuki T, Seko A, Kitajima K, Inoue Y, Inoue S (1994)J Biol Chem 269, 17611–18]. The unique properties of L-929 PNGase are that the enzyme had a high affinity to the substrate glycopeptide (e.g.K _m=114 µm for fetuin derived glycopentapeptide) and that the PNGase-catalysed reaction is strongly inhibited by the released free oligosaccharides but not by the free peptides formed, suggesting that L-929 PNGase is able to bind to a certain type of carbohydrate chain. In this study, we report the new findings of the mannan-binding property of L-929 PNGase; the de-N-glycosylating enzyme activity of L-929 PNGase was inhibited by yeast mannan and triomannose, Man1 3(Man1 6)Man, but not by mannose and -methyl-d-mannoside. Furthermore, L-929 PNGase was revealed to bind to the glycan moiety of yeast mannan by using mannan-conjugated Sepharose 4B gel as a ligand, suggesting that L-929 PNGase could serve not only as an enzyme but also as a carbohydrate recognition proteinin vivo. Such dual properties found for animal-derived L-929 PNGase are unique and are not shared with other previously characterized plant- and bacterial-origin PNGases — PNGase A and PNGase F, respectively.Abbreviations GLC gas liquid chromatography - GlcNAc-Asn 2-acetamido-1--(l-aspartamido)-1,2-dideoxy-d-glucose - BSA bovine serum albumin - DTT dithiothreitol - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - Gal d-galactose - GlcNAc N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - Man d-mannose; triomannose, Man1 3(Man1 6)Man; - MES 2-(N-morphorino)ethanesulfonic acid - NeuAc N-acetyl-neuraminic acid - PNGase peptide:N ⁴-(N-accetyl-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (peptide:N-glycanase,EC 3.5.1.52) - PNP p-nitrophenyl     

Optimized deglycosylation of glycoproteins by peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-β-glucosaminyl)-asparagine amidase fromFlavobacterium meningosepticum

Peptide-N⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) fromFlavobacterium meningosepticum is a highly useful enzyme for the structural analysis of N(asparagine)-linked carbohydrate chains derived from glycoproteins. The enzyme was enriched using a published procedure [Tarentino AL, Gomez CM, Plummer TH, Jr (1984) Biochemistry 1985:4665–71; Tarentino AL, Plummer TH, Jr (1987) Methods Enzymol 138:770–78] and further purified by hydrophobic interaction HPLC on a weak hydrophobic TSK-Ether column from which it was eluted by a decreasing gradient of 1.7 M ammonium sulphate in 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, containing 5 mM EDTA.To determine the optimal conditions for a complete deglycosylation of glycoproteins by PNGase F, experiments were performed with human ₁-acid glycoprotein, because the five complex type carbohydrate chains are quite resistant to enzymic hydrolysis. The influence of different detergents on the enzyme reaction was studied. Complete deglycosylation of human ₁-acid glycoprotein was achieved by the use of 60 mU/ml PNGase F in 0.25 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.6, containing 0.2% (w/v) SDS, 20 mM mercaptoethanol and 0.5% Mega-10.     

Primary structure of the xylose-containingN-linked carbohydrate moiety from ascorbic acid oxidase ofCucurbita pepo medullosa

Ascorbic acid oxidase (E.C.1.10.3.3) from the green zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo medullosa) is a copper-containing glycoprotein which catalyzes the reaction:l-ascorbic acid +1/2 O₂l-dehydroascorbic acid + H₂O. The carbohydrate content of the purified plant glycoprotein amounted to 3% (w/w), and monosaccharide analysis revealed the carbohydrate moiety to be of theN-glycosidic type. The carbohydrate chains were released from the apoenzyme by digestion with PNGase-F immobilized on Sepharose 4B. After fractionation on Bio-Gel P-2 and purification on Mono-Q, the neutral oligosaccharide was investigated by 500-MHz¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The primary structure of theN-linked carbohydrate chain was established to be: Abbreviations AAO ascorbic acid oxidase - PNGase-F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase-F - GalNAc N-acetylgalactosamine - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - Man mannose - Xyl xylose - GLC gas-liquid chromatography - FPLC fast protein liquid chromatography - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Activities of de-N-glycosylation are ubiquitously found in tomato plant

Activities of two de-N-glycosylation enzymes, PNGase (peptide N ⁴(N-acetyl-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase) and ENGase (endo N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase), involved in the release of N-glycans from N-glycoproteins, were monitored in several organs of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill., cv. Dombito) with a fluorescence-HPLC procedure using a resofurin-labelled N-glycopeptide substrate. PNGase and ENGase activities were detected in every organ assayed but with quantitative differences. The highest activities were found in the youngest parts of the plant, i.e. apical buds, flowers and leaf blades. PNGase activities were consistently higher than ENGase activities (three-fold in average). Both de-N-glycosylation activities were associated with high levels of proteins and protease activities. During fruit growth and ripening, these three parameters decreased notably. The ubiquitous detection of these enzyme activities in the different organs is probably associated with the previously characterized unconjugated N-glycans in tomato. The possible role of PNGase and ENGase degradation products (i.e. unconjugated N-glycans) are discussed in relation with their biological functions in plant development.     

Primary structure of the major glycan from human seminal transferrin

Human seminal transferrin (HSmT) is an iron-containing glycoprotein whose structural properties have not been adequately investigated. The carbohydrate content of the purified glycoprotein amount to 6.1%, and monosaccharide analysis revealed the major oligosaccharide moiety to be of the N-glycoside type. The carbohydrate chains were released from the iron-free form by digestion with peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) in the presence of detergents such as SDS and-octylglucoside. After ethanol precipitation and fractionation on Bio-Gel P-6 and Bio-Gel P-2, the oligosaccharide was further purified on Mono-Q and desalted on Bio-Gel P-2. By 600-MHz¹H-NMR spectroscopy, the primary structure of the major N-linked oligosaccharide component was established to be: Abbreviations used HSmT human seminal transferrin - HSrT human serum transferrin - PNGase F peptide-N⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase-F (E.C. 3.5.1.52), commonly known as peptide N-glycosidase F - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - GLC gas-liquid chromatography - FPLC fast liquid protein chromatography - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, disodium salt - PMFS phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - NeuAc N-acetylneuraminic acid - Man, Gal galactose - Fuc fucose     

2-Iminothiolane: a reagent for the introduction of sulphydryl groups into oligosaccharides derived from asparagine-linked glycans

A facile method for introducing reactive sulphydryl groups intooligosaccharides was developed. 1-Amino-oligo-saccharides generatedfrom asparagine-linked glycans by peptide-N⁴(N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (PNGase F) digestion were monitored by high-performanceanion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detectionand derivatized under optimal conditions with 2-iminothiolane—HC1.The resulting mercapto-butyramido oligosaccharides, which wereobtained in high yield, were alkylated with a fluorescent reagentand used to selectively assay for endoglycosidases that hydrolysedi-N-acetyl-chitobiose linkages. 1-amino-oligosaccharides fluorescent oligosaccharides 2-iminothiolane mercapto-butyramido oligosaccharides     

Glycosylation of glycoprotein 55 encoded by the anaemia-inducing strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus

Normal rat kidney cells, non-productively infected with the anaemia-inducing variant of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (F-SFFV_A), were metabolically labelled with [2-³H]mannose. The primary translation product of the viral envelope gene (env), representing a glycoprotein with an apparent molecularM _r of 55 000 (gp55), was isolated from cell lysates by immunoaffinity chromatography and purified by preparative SDS/PAGE. Radiolabelled oligosaccharides, released from tryptic glycopeptides by treatment with endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase H, were characterized chromatographically, by enzymic digestion and by acetolysis. The results revealed that F-SFFV_A gp55 obtained from this source carried predominantly oligomannose type sugar chains with five to nine mannoses. As a characteristic feature, glycans with seven to nine mannoses contained, in part, an additional glucose residue. Although the amount of glucosylated species found was higher in F-SFFV_A gp55 (about 25% of total endo-H-sensitive oligosaccharides) than in gp55 of the corresponding polycythaemia-inducing variant (F-SFFV_P, 16.3%), the overall glycosylation pattern of the F-SFFV_A env product closely resembled that of F-SFFV_P gp55 [Strubeet al. (1988)J Biol Chem 263:3762–71]. Hence, our results demonstrate that the different intracellular processing and transport of the primary F-SFFV_A env product cannot be attributed to aberrant trimming of its oligomannose type glycans.Abbreviations endo H endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase H fromStreptomyces griseus - env envelope gene - Env protein translation product ofenv - F-SFFV Friend spleen focus-forming virus - F-SFFV_A anaemia-inducing variant of F-SFFV - F-SFFV_P polycythaemia-inducing variant of F-SFFV - Hex hexose - NRK normal rat kidney - PNGase F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F fromFlavobacterium meningosepticum     

Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of N5-(carboxymethyl)-L-ornithine and N6-(carboxymethyl)-L-lysine

Summary This report describes the enzyme-catalyzed synthesis, characterization, and chromatographic separation of N⁶-(carboxymethyl)-L-lysine and N⁵-(carboxymethyl)-L-ornithine. The two N -(carboxyalkyl)amino acids are formed via a reductive condensation between glyoxylate and the- or-amino groups of lysine and ornithine, respectively. Both reactions are catalyzed by the NADPH-dependent enzyme, N⁵-(carboxyethyl)ornithine synthase [EC 1.5.1.24], found in some strains of the lactic acid bacteriumLactococcus lactis subsp.lactis.     

Alliinase (alliin lyase) from garlic (Alliium sativum) is glycosylated at ASN146 and forms a complex with a garlic mannose-specific lectin

Alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) catalyses the production of allicin (thio-2-propene-1-sulfinic acid S-allyl ester), a biologically active compound which is also responsible for the characteristic smell of garlic. It was demonstrated that alliinase which contains 5.5–6% of neutral sugars, gives clear PAS-staining, binds to Con A and can form a complex with garlic mannose-specific lectin (ASA). Evidence that the formation of such a complex is mediated by the interaction of the carbohydrate of the glycoprotein enzyme with the lectin was obtained from a radioligand assay which demonstrated the binding of alliinase to ASA and competitive inhibition of this binding by methyl -d-mannoside. ASA I was shown as the lectin mainly present in the complex with alliinase. The results of this study also demonstrate that alliinase is glycosylated at Asn¹⁴⁶ in the sequence Asn¹⁴⁶-Met¹⁴⁷-Thr¹⁴⁸.Abbreviations ASA (Allium sativum agglutini). Garlic mannose specific lectin(s) - PMSF Phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride - HPLC High performance liquid chromatography - SDS-PAGE Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate - PAS Periodic acid-Schiff reagent stain - CAPS 3-(cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid - TFA Trifluoracetic acid - HEPES N-2-HydroxyethylpiperazineN-2-ethanesulfonic acid - Tricine N-[2-hydroxyl-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)]-ethyl glycine - PVDF poly(vinylene difluoride)     

Kinetic comparison of peptide: N-glycosidases F and A reveals several differences in substrate specificity

The initial velocities of hydrolysis of nineteen glycopeptides by peptide: N-glycosidase F and A were determined. Substrates were prepared from bovine fetuin, hen ovalbumin, pineapple stem bromelain, bovine fibrin and taka-amylase. From these glycopeptides, several variants with regard to peptide and carbohydrate structure were prepared and derivatized with dabsyl chloride, dansyl chloride or activated resorufin. Tyrosine containing glycopeptides were also used without an additional chromophore. Enzymatic hydrolysis of glycopeptides was quantified by narrow bore, reversed phase HPLC with turnaround cycle times of down to 6 min, but usually 15 min.K _M values ranging from 30 to 64 µm and from 4 to 36 µm were found for N-glycosidase F and A, respectively. Relative velocities of hydrolysis of the different substrates by each enzyme varied considerably. Little, if any, similarity of the performance of N-glycosidase F and A with the different substrates was observed. The minimal carbohydrate structure released by peptide: N-glycosidase F was a di-N-acetylchitobiose. N-glycosidase A could release even a singleN-acetylglucosamine, albeit 3000 times slower than a di-N-acetylchitobiose or larger glycans. In general the structure of the intact glycan had little effect on activity, and with both enzymes the rate of hydrolysis appeared to be primarily governed by peptide structure and length. However, N-glycosidase F did not release glycans 1,3-fucosylated at the asparagine linkedN-acetylglucosamine irrespective of the presence of xylose in the substrate.Abbreviations CAMCys S-carboxamidomethyl cystein - CMCys S-carboxymethyl cystein - Fib, Fet, Ova, Taa and Brl glycopeptides derived from bovine fibrin, fetuin, ovalbumin, taka-amylase A, and bromelain, respectively - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - PLA phospholipase A₂ - PNGase peptide N-glycosidase - RESOS N-(Resorufin-4-carbonyl)piperidine-4-carboxylic acidN-hydroxysuccinimide ester     

A general strategy for the isolation of carbohydrate chains fromN-,O-glycoproteins and its application to human chorionic gonadotrophin

For the structural analysis of the carbohydrate chains ofN-,O-glycoproteins a straightforward strategy was developed based on the cleavage of theN-linked chains with immobilized peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase-F (PN-Gase-F) fromFlavobacterium meningosepticum, followed by alkaline borohydride treatment of the remainingO-glycoprotein material. This methodology was applied to the isolation of the Asn- and Ser-linked carbohydrate chains of human chorionic gonadotrophin. The structures of the isolated oligosaccharides were verified by 500-MHz¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The Asn-linked sugar chains were shown to be: NeuAc2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc1-2Man1-6[NeuAc2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc1-2Man1-3]Man 1-4GlcNAc1-4[Fuc1-6]_0-1GlcNAc and Man1-6[NeuAc2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc1-2Man 1-3]Man1-4GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc. Also some minor constituents occurred. The structures of the Ser-linked oligosaccharides were established in the form of their oligosaccharide-alditols as: NeuAc2-3Gal1-3[NeuAc2-6]GalNAc, NeuAc2-3Gal 1-3GalNAc and NeuAc2-3Gal1-3[NeuAc2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc1-6]GalNAc.Abbreviations hCG human chorionic gonadotrophin - hCG- -subunit - hCG- -subunit - ElA enzyme immunoassay - PNGase-F peptide-N ⁴-(N-acetyl--glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase-F (EC 3.5.1.52) - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - GalNAc N-acetylgalactosamine - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - NeuAc N-acetylneuraminic acid - Man mannose - Gal galactose - Fuc fucose     

Isolation and properties of a sialidase fromTrypanosoma rangeli

In the culture supernatant ofTrypanosoma rangeli, strain El Salvador, a sialidase was present with an activity of 0.1 U/mg protein as determined with the 4-methylumbelliferyl glycoside of -N-acetylneuraminic acid as substrate. This enzyme was purified about 700-fold almost to homogeneity by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and Blue Sepharose, and affinity chromatographies on 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydroneuraminic acid and horse submandibular gland mucin, both immobilized on Sepharose. The pH optimum is at 5.4–5.6, and the molecular weight was determined by gel chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis to be 70 000. The substrate specificity of the enzyme is comparable to bacterial, viral and mammalian sialidases with cleavage rates for the following substrates in decreasing order: N-acetylneuraminyl-(2–3)-lactose> N-glycoloylneuraminy-(2–3)-lactose> N-acetylneuraminyl-(2–6)-lactose >sialoglycoproteins>gangliosides>9-O-acetylated sialoglycoproteins.4-O-Acetylated derivatives are resistant towards the action of this sialidase. The enzyme activity can be inhibited by 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, Hg²⁺ ions, andp-nitrophenyloxamic acid; it is not dependent on the presence of Ca²⁺ Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - BSM bovine submandibular gland mucin - CMP cytidine monophosphate - EDIA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - ESM equine submandibular gland mucin - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - Lac lactose - MU-Neu5Ac 4-methylumbelliferyl glycoside of -N-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu5Ac N-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu5Ac2en 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu4Ac5Gc N-glycoloyl-4-O-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu2en 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydroneuraminic acid - Neu5Gc N-glycoloylneuraminic acid - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - PSM pig submandibular gland mucin - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - Tris tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane Dedicated to Professor Dr. Heinz Mühlpfordt on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Regulation of proline catabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO

Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa deficient in the utilization of l-proline as the only carbon and nitrogen source have been found to be defective either in proline dehydrogenase activity or in both proline dehydrogenase and ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activities of the bifunctional proline degradative enzyme. The latter type of mutants was unable to utilize l-ornithine, indicating that a single ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity is involved in the degradation of ornithine and proline. Proline dehydrogenase and ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activities were strongly and coordinately induced by proline. It was excluded that ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate acted as an inducer of the bifunctional enzyme and it was shown that the low level induction observed during growth on ornithine was due to the intracellular formation of proline. The formation of the proline degradative enzyme was shown to be subject to catabolite repression by citrate and nitrogen control.Abbreviations EMS Ethylmethane sulfonate - NG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine - P Minimal medium P - Pro-DH Proline dehydro-genase - P5C ¹-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate - P5C-DH ¹-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase     

Non-PTS uptake and subsequent metabolism of glucose in Pediococcus halophilus as demonstrated with a double mutant defective in phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system and in phosphofructokinase

Pediococcus halophilus possesses phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system (man:PTS) as a main glucose transporter. A man:PTS defective (man:PTS^d) strain X-160 could, however, utilize glucose. A possible glucose-transport mechanism other than PTS was studied with the strain X-160 and its derivative, man:PTS^d phosphofructokinase defective (PFK^–) strain M-13. Glucose uptake by X-160 at pH 5.5 was inhibited by any of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, nigericin, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, or iodoacetic acid. The double mutant M-13 could still transport glucose and accumulated intracellularly a large amount of hexose-phosphates (ca. 8 mM glucose 6-phosphate and ca. 2 mM fructose 6-phosphate). Protonophores also inhibited the glucose transport at pH 5.5, as determined by the amounts of accumulated hexose-phosphates (< 4 mM). These showed involvement of proton motive force (P) in the non-PTS glucose transport. It was concluded that the non-PTS glucose transporter operated in concert with hexokinase or glucokinase for the metabolism of glucose in the man:PTS^d strain.Abbreviations BM basal medium - BM-G basal medium containing glucose - CM complex medium - man:PTS phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system - CCCP carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide - P proton motive force - pH transmembrane pH gradient - transmembrane electrical potential difference - MNNG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis(-ethanesulfonic acid) - MES 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid - G-6-P glucose 6-phosphate - F-6-P fructose 6-phosphate - FDP fructose 1,6-bisphosphate - EMP Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway - PFK phosphofructokinase - GK glucokinase - HK hexokinase - IAA iodoacetic acid - II^man enzyme II component of man:PTS     

Electron transport and respiration in Beggiatoa and Vitreoscilla

Seven strains of bacteria belonging to the Beggiatoa-Vitreoscilla group were studied for their respiratory activity and for the presence of electron transport conponents. All strains tested oxidized [1-¹⁴C] and [2-¹⁴C] acetate to ¹⁴CO₂ at relatively high rates. All strains tested were N,N,N,N-tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD)-oxidase positive and contained spectra representing a-type and carbon monoxide-binding cytochromes. Most of the strains also contained spectra representing c-type and b-type cytochromes. Beggiatoa alba B18LD contained b-type, a-type, c-type and CO-binding cytochromes, the latter two being located in the 144,000 x g soluble fraction. B. alba also contained ubiquinone-8 as its only detectable quinone.Non-standard abbreviations BSS basal salts solution - BH Beggiatoa heterotrophic medium - BSO Beggiatoa sulfide oxidation medium - TMPD N,N,N,N-tetramethylphenylenediamine - Q8 ubiquinone-8