Identification of a heroin esterase in Rhodococcus sp. strain H1.

A strain of a Rhodococcus sp. (termed H1) capable of utilizing heroin as its sole carbon and energy source was isolated by selective enrichment. An inducible heroin esterase was partially purified and shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of both of the acetylester groups of heroin. The enzyme displays optimum activity at pH 8.5 and appears to be a trimer of identical subunits with an M(r) or 39,000 and a native M(r) of 120,000.     

Crystal structure of a bacterial cocaine esterase.

Here we report the first structure of a cocaine-degrading enzyme. The bacterial esterase, cocE, hydrolyzes pharmacologically active (-)-cocaine to a non-psychoactive metabolite with a rate faster than any other reported cocaine esterase (kcat = 7.8 s-1 and KM = 640 nM). Because of the high catalytic proficiency of cocE, it is an attractive candidate for novel protein-based therapies for cocaine overdose. The crystal structure of cocE, solved by multiple anomalous dispersion (MAD) methods, reveals that cocE is a serine esterase composed of three domains: (i) a canonical alpha/beta hydrolase fold (ii) an alpha-helical domain that caps the active site and (iii) a jelly-roll-like beta-domain that interacts extensively with the other two domains. The active site was identified within the interface of all three domains by analysis of the crystal structures of transition state analog adduct and product complexes, which were refined at 1.58 A and 1.63 A resolution, respectively. These structural studies suggest that substrate recognition arises partly from interactions between the benzoyl moiety of cocaine and a highly evolved specificity pocket.     

Identification of Oklahoma isolate as a strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics, cellular fatty acid and lipid composition, ubiquinone-8 as the major respiratory quinone, guanine-plus-cytosine content of DNA, DNA-DNA homology value, and sequence alignment of 16S rRNA nucleotides, Oklahoma isolate was reidentified as a strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.     

Peptide utilization by Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas maltophilia.

Pseudomonas putida assimilates peptides and hydrolyses them with intracellular peptidases. Amino acid auxotrophs (his, trp, thr or met) grew on a variety of di- and tripeptides up to twice as slowly as with free amino acids. Pseudomonas putida has separate uptake systems for both dipeptides and oligopeptides (three or more residues). Although the dipeptide system transported a variety of structurally diverse dipeptides it did not transport peptides having either unprotonatable N-terminal amino groups, blocked C-terminal carboxyl groups, D-residues, three or more residues, N-methylated peptide bonds, or beta-amino acids. Oligopeptide uptake lacked amino acid side-chain specificity, required a free N-terminal L-residue and had an upper size limit. Glycylglycyl-D,L-p-fluorophenylalanine inhibited growth of P. putida. Uptake of glycylglycyl[I-14C]alanine was rapid and inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Both dipeptide and oligopeptide uptake were constitutive. Dipeptides competed with oligopeptides for oligopeptide uptake, but oligopeptides did not compete in the dipeptide system. Final bacterial yields were 5 to 10 times greater when P. putida his was grown on histidyl di- or tripeptides rather than on free histidine because the histidyl residue was protected from catabolism by L-histidine ammonia-lyase. Methionine peptides could satisfy the methionine requirements of P. maltophilia. Generation times on glycylmethionine and glycylmethionylglycine were equal to those obtained with free methionine. Methionylglycylmethionylmethionine gave a generation time twice that of free methionine. Growth of P. maltophilia was inhibited by glycylglycyl-D,L-p-fluorophenylalanine.     

Gene cloning and nucleotide sequencing and properties of a cocaine esterase from Rhodococcus sp. strain MB1

A strain of Rhodococcus designated MB1, which was capable of utilizing cocaine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen for growth, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the tropane alkaloid-producing plant Erythroxylum coca. A cocaine esterase was found to initiate degradation of cocaine, which was hydrolyzed to ecgonine methyl ester and benzoate; both of these esterolytic products were further metabolized by Rhodococcus sp. strain MB1. The structural gene encoding a cocaine esterase, designated cocE, was cloned from Rhodococcus sp. strain MB1 genomic libraries by screening recombinant strains of Rhodococcus erythropolis CW25 for growth on cocaine. The nucleotide sequence of cocE corresponded to an open reading frame of 1,724 bp that codes for a protein of 574 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of cocaine esterase has a region of similarity with the active serine consensus of X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidases, suggesting that the cocaine esterase is a serine esterase. The cocE coding sequence was subcloned into the pCFX1 expression plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant cocaine esterase was purified to apparent homogeneity and was found to be monomeric, with an M(r) of approximately 65,000. The apparent K(m) of the enzyme (mean +/- standard deviation) for cocaine was measured as 1.33 +/- 0.085 mM. These findings are of potential use in the development of a linked assay for the detection of illicit cocaine.     

Digestion of algin by Pseudomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas putida.

Pseudomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas putida were identified as alginolytic species. Two media used for demonstrating alginolytic activity are described. The applied aspects of the ability of these two species to digest algin are discussed.     

Intracellular peptide hydrolysis by Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas maltophilia.

Amino acids liberated by peptidase hydrolysis of di- and oligopeptides by Pseudomonas putida were measured by trinitrobenzenesulphonate assay and high voltage electrophoresis or paper chromatography followed by ninhydrin spray. Intact bacteria or periplasmic contents released by lysozyme treatment did not hydrolyse peptides. Subcellular fractionation showed that glycylmethionine peptidase activity was cytoplasmic. This enzyme had a Km of 2 mM, and was stimulated fivefold by I mM-Co2+. Crude peptidase extract did not cleave peptides with D-residues, acylated N-terminal amino groups or N-methylated peptide bonds but otherwise showed a wide specificity. Di- or tripeptides with blocked C-terminus were hydrolysed. Leucylleucine (12 mM) and leucylglycylglycine (10 mM) did not compete with glycylmethionine (1-2 mM) and glycylmethionylglycine (1-0 mM), respectively, for hydrolysis. Pseudomonas maltophilia also contained peptidase activity (0-84 mumol amino acid released from glycylmethionylglycine/min/mg protein). Peptidases of both P. putida and P. maltophilia were constitutive.     

Demonstration and partial characterization of ADP-ribosylation in Pseudomonas maltophilia.

ADP-ribosylation of proteins occurs in many eukaryotes, and it is also the mechanism of action of a growing number of important bacterial toxins. To date, however, there is only one well-characterized ADP-ribosylation system where the ADP-ribosyltransferase and the substrate protein are both bacterial in origin, namely within the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum. The present paper demonstrates the endogenous ADP-ribosylation of two proteins of Mr 32,000 and 20,000 within Pseudomonas maltophilia, a Gram-negative aerobe. The proteins have been partially purified: two apparently separate species of modified protein can be separated by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration (V0 and Mr 158,000 - Vi). The substrate protein(s) either has, or is co-eluted with, NAD+ glycohydrolase activity. The modification is mono-ADP-ribosyl in nature. The linkage between the acceptor amino acid and the ADP-ribose moiety is alkali-labile and stable to hydroxylamine, possibly indicating an S-glycosidic bond. The activity appears to be a true ADP-ribosylation reaction and not an NAD+ glycohydrolase activity followed by non-enzymic addition of ADP-ribose to protein. The results presented here indicate that ADP-ribosylation may have a wider significance within prokaryotic systems than previously thought.     

Production of an extracellular ribonuclease by Pseudomonas maltophilia.

As part of a screening program for pseudomonad enzymes having an industrial interest, we selected ribonuclease (RNase) producing strains. Of the 150 pseudomonads screened, 6 were found to produce an extracellular RNase activity when grown on solid medium. In broth culture, the RNase activity from these six species remained bound to the cells unless gelatin was added to the medium. Gelatin was essential for the release of RNase in the broth culture, but the pH of the medium, addition of potential inducers such as nucleic acids, or addition of cations did not affect this release. However, gelatin did not appear to induce the synthesis of the enzyme. Strain B-88, identified as Pseudomonas maltophilia, was selected for further study of the enzyme. The extracellular RNase isolated from B-88 broth cultures could be separated in two fractions on the basis of the molecular weight by the ultrafiltration technique. The low molecular weight fraction reacts optimally at temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees C and optimal pH values varying from 7.4 to 9.5. At neutral or alkaline pH, the enzyme was stable at temperatures below 37 degrees C but was inactivated at 55 degrees C. The RNase was inhibited by mercury and cobalt and stimulated by magnesium.     

The Rhodococcus sp. cocaine esterase: a bacterial candidate for novel pharmacokinetic-based therapies for cocaine abuse

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous stimulant and among the most abused of drugs. Despite decades of efforts, however, no effective pharmacological treatments are available against cocaine addiction or toxic effects. Classical receptor-antagonist therapeutic approaches have not yielded significant effects, although cocaine targets are well known, thus fostering development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Recent evidence indicates that a sensible approach for treatment of cocaine abuse could be to interfere with cocaine pharmacokinetics, i.e. by preventing the drug from reaching the receptors responsible for its biological effects. Administration of cocaine binding antibodies as well as catalytic antibodies and enzymes that hydrolyze cocaine represent potential alternative therapeutic approach(es). The discovery of the cocaine esterase from the strain MBI of the bacterium Rhodococcus sp. (cocE) could be a major breakthrough in this field; cocE hydrolyzes cocaine faster than any known cocaine esterase and catalytic antibody.     

Utilization of toluene and xylenes by a nitrate-reducing strain of Pseudomonas maltophilia under low oxygen and anoxic conditions

Abstract A nitrate-reducing strain of Pseudomonas maltophilia isolated from sewage sludge degrades toluene, and at least two isomers of mixed xylenes, either in the presence of 2% oxygen or under anoxic conditions when nitrate is present. When individual isomers of xylene are provided only meta and para -xylene are utilized. When mixed xylenes are provided all three isomers may be utilized. In cultures limited by electron acceptor availability, succinate, when present as the major carbon source, does not prevent hydrocarbon utilization. Toluene and xylenes continued to be utilized either with limiting nitrate alone, or with limiting nitrate and oxygen present simultaneously when a hundred-fold excess of succinate is present in the medium. The data suggest that in groundwater containing low levels of oxygen and nitrate, or nitrate only as the electron acceptor, aromatic hydrocarbons may continue to be utilized even in the presence of an excess of readily-degradable non-hydrocarbon organic substrates. These data have implications for bioremediation studies. The strain of Pseudomonas maltophilia used in this study does not degrade benzene, and the presence of benzene does not affect toluene utilization.     

一株海藻糖合成酶产生菌的鉴定及产酶条件优化

目的对一株海洋来源的产海藻糖合成酶菌株进行鉴定及产酶条件的初步优化。方法通过16SrDNA基因序列的同源性分析,对一株来源于东海海水的海藻糖合成酶产生菌进行鉴定,并通过单因素分析初步研究其培养特性和最佳的发酵条件。结果该菌16SrDNA序列与GenBank中已知序列相比,最高相似度为100％,鉴定为假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）,命名为Pseudomonassp．A50。其最佳碳源和氮源分别为2％麦芽糖和0．5％酵母膏,最佳NaCl浓度为2．5％,在初始pH7．8,接种量1％,装液量125mL／250mL,28℃,130r／min发酵48h,海藻糖合成酶活力达到最高。结论此产海藻糖合成酶菌株为假单胞菌属,优化后,海藻糖合成酶活力达到14．16U／mL。     

Identification and characterization of a chitinase antigen from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 385

A chitinase antigen has been identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 385 using sera from animals immunized with a whole-cell vaccine. The majority of the activity was shown to be in the cytoplasm, with some activity in the membrane fraction. The chitinase was not secreted into the culture medium. Purification of the enzyme was achieved by exploiting its binding to crab shell chitin. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 58 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a pI of 5.2. NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed two sequences of M(I/L)RID and (Q/M/V)AREDAAAAM that gave an exact match to sequences in a translated putative open reading frame from the P. aeruginosa genome. The chitinase was active against chitin azure, ethylene glycol chitin, and colloidal chitin. It did not display any lysozyme activity. Using synthetic 4-methylumbelliferyl chitin substrates, it was shown to be an endochitinase. The Km and kcat for 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N,N'-diacetylchitobiose were 4.28 mM and 1.7 s(-1) respectively, and for 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose, they were 0.48 mM and 0.16 s(-1) respectively. The pH optimum was determined to be pH 6.75, and 90% activity was maintained over the pH range 6.5 to 7.1. The enzyme was stable over the pH range 5 to 10 for 3 h and to temperatures up to 50 degrees C for 30 min. The chitinase bound strongly to chitin, chitin azure, colloidal chitin, lichenan, and cellulose but poorly to chitosan, xylan, and heparin. It is suggested that the chitinase functions primarily as a chitobiosidase, removing chitobiose from the nonreducing ends of chitin and chitin oligosaccharides.     

Physiological studies of the regulation of beta-lactamase expression in Pseudomonas maltophilia.

The kinetics of beta-lactamase induction in Pseudomonas maltophilia IID1275/873 were investigated. Upon induction with beta-lactam antibiotics, a correlation was seen between the increase in specific beta-lactamase activity and the generation time, as well as the concentration of inducer in the medium. The specific beta-lactamase activity increased slowly within the first 0.5 generation and then more rapidly; it decreased regularly after about 2 generations of growth in the presence of inducer. This decrease could presumably be attributed to the continuous breakdown of inducer by beta-lactamases in the culture medium. In a chemostat culture with continuous supply of fresh inducer-containing medium, the specific beta-lactamase activity could be stabilized at a high level over several generations. Removal of the beta-lactam after a certain induction time showed that a short exposure of the bacteria to inducer caused induction kinetics comparable to those resulting from continuous exposure of the cells to inducer. The two beta-lactamases of P. maltophilia, L1 and L2, were induced simultaneously under various experimental conditions.     

A three-component dicamba O-demethylase from Pseudomonas maltophilia, strain DI-6: purification and characterization

Dicamba O-demethylase is a multicomponent enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of the herbicide 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (dicamba) to 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (DCSA). The three components of the enzyme were purified and characterized. Oxygenase(DIC) is a homotrimer (alpha)3 with a subunit molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa. FerredoxinDIC and reductaseDIC are monomers with molecular weights of approximately 14 and 45 kDa, respectively. EPR spectroscopic analysis suggested the presence of a single [2Fe-2S](2+/1+) cluster in ferredoxinDIC and a single Rieske [2Fe-2S](2+; 1+) cluster within oxygenaseDIC. Consistent with the presence of a Rieske iron-sulfur cluster, oxygenaseDIC displayed a high reduction potential of E(m,7.0) = -21 mV whereas ferredoxinDIC exhibited a reduction potential of approximately E(m,7.0) = -171 mV. Optimal oxygenaseDIC activity in vitro depended on the addition of Fe2+. The identification of formaldehyde and DCSA as reaction products demonstrated that dicamba O-demethylase acts as a monooxygenase. Taken together, these data suggest that oxygenaseDIC is an important new member of the Rieske non-heme iron family of oxygenases.     

嗜麦芽假单胞菌（P.maltophila）质粒的研究

本文用4种不同的方法对18株嗜麦芽假单胞菌是否含有质粒进行了检测,实验结果表明其中5株含有质粒。对其中的P2株不同生长期质粒存在状况的研究表明,该菌所含质粒与宿主不同生长期具有明显的相关性,其最高含量出现在稳定生长期,当细菌进入衰亡期时,其质粒量也随之减少,直至完全消失。 通过双向琼脂糖凝胶电泳、限制酶切分析以及分子量测定等方法,确定了嗜麦芽假单胞菌P2只含有1种质粒,分子量约为4.4×10~6道尔顿。有BamHⅠ、PitⅠ、XbaⅠ、EcoRⅠ和HindⅢ单一酶切位点。该质粒可望进一步改建成十分有用的克隆载体。