Distinct physiological roles of two membrane-bound dehydrogenases responsible for D-sorbitol oxidation in Gluconobacter frateurii

Two different membrane-bound enzymes oxidizing D-sorbitol are found in Gluconobacter frateurii THD32: pyroloquinoline quinone-dependent glycerol dehydrogenase (PQQ-GLDH) and FAD-dependent D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (FAD-SLDH). In this study, FAD-SLDH appeared to be induced by L-sorbose. A mutant defective in both enzymes grew as well as the wild-type strain did, indicating that both enzymes are dispensable for growth on D-sorbitol. The strain defective in PQQ-GLDH exhibited delayed L-sorbose production, and lower accumulation of it, corresponding to decreased oxidase activity for D-sorbitol in spite of high D-sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, was observed. In the mutant strain defective in PQQ-GLDH, oxidase activity with D-sorbitol was much more resistant to cyanide, and the H(+)/O ratio was lower than in either the wild-type strain or the mutant strain defective in FAD-SLDH. These results suggest that PQQ-GLDH connects efficiently to cytochrome bo(3) terminal oxidase and that it plays a major role in L-sorbose production. On the other hand, FAD-SLDH linked preferably to the cyanide-insensitive terminal oxidase, CIO.     

Optimized synthesis of L-sorbose by C(5)-dehydrogenation of D-sorbitol with Gluconobacter oxydans

The optimization of L-sorbose synthesis by regiospecific dehydrogenation of D-sorbitol using Gluconobacter oxydans is reported. The current L-sorbose production processes that are based on G. oxydans and other bacterial strains are suboptimal as to yield and rate of L-sorbose synthesis. One reason for these problems is the toxicity that is induced by the substrate D-sorbitol when used in concentrations of >10% (w/v). This phenomenon significantly limits the potentials of L-sorbose production from an industrial point of view. The goal of this study was to develop a fast production process that yields L-sorbose in stoichiometric amounts starting from D-sorbitol concentrations that exceed 10% (w/v). A gradual improvement of the inoculum build-up procedure, culture medium composition, and process parameters ultimately led to a theoretically maximal L-sorbose productivity (200 g L(-1) of L-sorbose from 200 g L(-1) of D-sorbitol in 28 h of fermentation) using a Gluconobacter oxydans mutant strain that was selected under conditions of substrate inhibition. Because the D-sorbitol/L‐sorbose bioconversion is used to mass-produce vitamin C, the procedure reported here will contribute to a more efficient and more economic synthesis of vitamin C.     

Conversion of L-sorbose to L-sorbosone by immobilized cells of Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293.

Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293 cells capable of converting L-sorbose to L-sorbosone were immobilized in polyacrylamide gel. The preferred polymer composition for high activity and stability was determined to contain a total monomer concentration of 7.2% and 16.6% crosslinking agent. No significant differences in optimal conditions for conversion, e.g., pH and temperature, were found in comparison with free cell suspensions. However, in the absence of L-sorbose, the thermal stability of immobilized cells was lower. After the initial loss, the conversion activity of immobilized cells increased, possibly due to lysis, and this increase was related to the polymerization conditions and the incubation temperature for the L-sorbose conversion. The enzymatic activity and stability of the immobilized cells also depended on the physical form of the gel and the aeration levels. Addition of electron acceptors or addition of L-sorbosone to the medium reduced, while addition of neomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline increased the stability of the enzymatic activity.     

酮古龙酸菌山梨醇脱氢酶的原核表达及活性检测

目的：克隆酮古龙酸菌Y25的山梨醇脱氢酶基因sldh,在大肠杆菌中进行表达并检测表达产物的活性。方法：以酮古龙酸菌Y25基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增sldh基因,连接到表达载体pTIG,转入大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,IPTG诱导表达;取表达菌体、菌体裂解上清和沉淀进行SDS-PAGE分析;以山梨醇为底物,通过活性电泳、体外转化及休止细胞转化进行sldh基因表达产物的活性检测。结果：扩增得到1740 bp的山梨醇脱氢酶基因,构建了表达质粒pTIG-sldh并在大肠杆菌中获得表达,SDS-PAGE结果显示表达产物为可溶性形式,相对分子质量约58×10^3;活性电泳结果说明表达产物在以山梨醇为底物时表现出脱氢酶活性,而经体外转化和休止细胞转化后薄层层析检测出转化产物山梨糖的存在。结论：在大肠杆菌中实现了酮古龙酸菌山梨醇脱氢酶的可溶性表达,且表达的重组脱氢酶能将山梨醇脱氢生成山梨糖。     

生黑醋酸杆菌在高浓度山梨醇下的半连续发酵特性

目的：调节生黑醋酸杆菌生物和代谢特性,以提高发酵效率。方法：通过改变种液特性,采用半连续培养的方式,对生黑醋酸杆菌在高醇浓度下的生长特性进行了研究。结果：通过优化可以提高VC一步发酵底物山梨醇浓度达38%,32h左右发酵率达95%,山梨糖产量达360mg/ml,半连续培养连续5批之间产糖稳定,没有明显差别。结论：通过优化,有效地提高了山梨糖的产率。     

Microbial production of L-ascorbic acid from D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, L-gulose, and L-sorbosone by Ketogulonicigenium vulgare DSM 4025

Ketogulonicigenium vulgare DSM 4025, known as a 2-keto-L-gulonic acid producing strain from L-sorbose via L-sorbosone, surprisingly produced L-ascorbic acid from D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, L-gulose, and L-sorbosone as the substrate under a growing or resting condition. As the best result, K. vulgare DSM 4025 produced 1.37 g per liter of L-AA from 5.00 g per liter of L-sorbosone during 4 h incubation time at 30 degrees C under the resting cell condition having 5.70 g per liter of wet cells. The precursor of L-AA formation from D-sorbitol and L-sorbose, except for L-gulose, was thought to be the putative furanose form of L-sorbosone. This is the first time it is reported that bacteria can produce vitamin C via L-sorbosone.     

Isolation and characterization of thermotolerant Gluconobacter strains catalyzing oxidative fermentation at higher temperatures

Thermotolerant acetic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Gluconobacter were isolated from various kinds of fruits and flowers from Thailand and Japan. The screening strategy was built up to exclude Acetobacter strains by adding gluconic acid to a culture medium in the presence of 1% D-sorbitol or 1% D-mannitol. Eight strains of thermotolerant Gluconobacter were isolated and screened for D-fructose and L-sorbose production. They grew at wide range of temperatures from 10 degrees C to 37 degrees C and had average optimum growth temperature between 30-33 degrees C. All strains were able to produce L-sorbose and D-fructose at higher temperatures such as 37 degrees C. The 16S rRNA sequences analysis showed that the isolated strains were almost identical to G. frateurii with scores of 99.36-99.79%. Among these eight strains, especially strains CHM16 and CHM54 had high oxidase activity for D-mannitol and D-sorbitol, converting it to D-fructose and L-sorbose at 37 degrees C, respectively. Sugar alcohols oxidation proceeded without a lag time, but Gluconobacter frateurii IFO 3264T was unable to do such fermentation at 37 degrees C. Fermentation efficiency and fermentation rate of the strains CHM16 and CHM54 were quite high and they rapidly oxidized D-mannitol and D-sorbitol to D-fructose and L-sorbose at almost 100% within 24 h at 30 degrees C. Even oxidative fermentation of D-fructose done at 37 degrees C, the strain CHM16 still accumulated D-fructose at 80% within 24 h. The efficiency of L-sorbose fermentation by the strain CHM54 at 37 degrees C was superior to that observed at 30 degrees C. Thus, the eight strains were finally classified as thermotolerant members of G. frateurii.     

Main polyol dehydrogenase of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255, membrane-bound D-sorbitol dehydrogenase,that needs product of upstream gene,sldB, for activity

The D-sorbitol dehydrogenase gene, sldA, and an upstream gene, sldB, encoding a hydrophobic polypeptide, SldB, of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255 were disrupted in a check of their biological functions. The bacterial cells with the sldA gene disrupted did not produce L-sorbose by oxidation of D-sorbitol in resting-cell reactions at pHs 4.5 and 7.0, indicating that the dehydrogenase was the main D-sorbitol-oxidizing enzyme in this bacterium. The cells did not produce D-fructose from D-mannitol or dihydroxyacetone from glycerol. The disruption of the sldB gene resulted in undetectable oxidation of D-sorbitol, D-mannitol, or glycerol, although the cells produced the dehydrogenase. The cells with the sldB gene disrupted produced more of what might be signal-unprocessed SldA than the wild-type cells did. SldB may be a chaperone-like component that assists signal processing and folding of the SldA polypeptide to form active D-sorbitol dehydrogenase.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the membrane-bound L-sorbosone dehydrogenase gene of Acetobacter liquefaciens IFO 12258 and its expression in Gluconobacter oxydans.

Cloning and expression of the gene encoding Acetobacter liquefaciens IFO 12258 membrane-bound L-sorbosone dehydrogenase (SNDH) were studied. A genomic library of A. liquefaciens IFO 12258 was constructed with the mobilizable cosmid vector pVK102 (mob+) in Escherichia coli S17-1 (Tra+). The library was transferred by conjugal mating into Gluconobacter oxydans OX4, a mutant of G. oxydans IFO 3293 that accumulates L-sorbosone in the presence of L-sorbose. The transconjugants were screened for SNDH activity by performing a direct expression assay. One clone harboring plasmid p7A6 converted L-sorbosone to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2KGA) more rapidly than its host did and also converted L-sorbose to 2KGA with no accumulation of L-sorbosone. The insert (25 kb) of p7A6 was shortened to a 3.1-kb fragment, in which one open reading frame (1,347 bp) was found and was shown to encode a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 48,222. The SNDH gene was introduced into the 2KGA-producing strain G. oxydans IFO 3293 and its derivatives, which contained membrane-bound L-sorbose dehydrogenase. The cloned SNDH was correctly located in the membrane of the host. The membrane fraction of the clone exhibited almost stoichiometric formation of 2KGA from L-sorbosone and L-sorbose. Resting cells of the clones produced 2KGA very efficiently from L-sorbosone and L-sorbose, but not from D-sorbitol; the conversion yield from L-sorbosone was improved from approximately 25 to 83%, whereas the yield from L-sorbose was increased from 68 to 81%. Under fermentation conditions, cloning did not obviously improve the yield of 2KGA from L-sorbose.     

Membrane-bound D-sorbitol dehydrogenase of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255--enzymatic and genetic characterization

Gluconobacter strains effectively produce L-sorbose from D-sorbitol because of strong activity of the D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH). L-sorbose is one of the important intermediates in the industrial vitamin C production process. Two kinds of membrane-bound SLDHs, which consist of three subunits, were reportedly found in Gluconobacter strains [Agric. Biol. Chem. 46 (1982) 135,FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 125 (1995) 45]. We purified a one-subunit-type SLDH (80 kDa) from the membrane fraction of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255 solubilized with Triton X-100 in the presence of D-sorbitol, but the cofactor could not be identified from the purified enzyme. The SLDH was active on mannitol, glycerol and other sugar alcohols as well as on D-sorbitol to produce respective keto-aldoses. Then, the SLDH gene (sldA) was cloned and sequenced. It encodes the polypeptide of 740 residues, which contains a signal sequence of 24 residues. SLDH had 35-37% identity to those of membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenases (GDHs) from Escherichia coli, Gluconobacter oxydans and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus except the N-terminal hydrophobic region of GDH. Additionally, the sldB gene located just upstream of sldA was found to encode the polypeptide consisting of 126 very hydrophobic residues that is similar to the one-sixth N-terminal region of the GDH. Development of the SLDH activity in E. coli required co-expression of the sldA and sldB genes and the presence of PQQ. The sldA gene disruptant showed undetectable oxidation activities on D-sorbitol in growing culture, and resting-cell reaction (pH 4.5 and 7); in addition, they showed undetectable activities on D-mannitol and glycerol. The disruption of the sldB gene by a gene cassette with a downward promoter to express the sldA gene resulted in formation of a larger size of the SLDH protein and in undetectable oxidation of the polyols. In conclusion, the SLDH of the strain 3255 functions as the main polyol dehydrogenase in vivo. The sldB polypeptide possibly has a chaperone-like function to process the SLDH polypeptide into a mature and active form.     

Microorganisms immobilized by membrane inclusion: kinetic measurements in a fixed bed bioreactor and oxygen consumption calculations

Cells living in the pores of macroporous carriers can be immobilized by coating the carriers with a porous membrane. To evaluate the performance of cells immobilized with such a technique, a fixed bed bioreactor was used to study the oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose by Acetobacter suboxydans. Comparisons were made of immobilized cells to cells living in the pores of a non-coated carrier and to cells living in the absence of a carrier (“submerged cells”). Productivity was similar in all three cultures (4.6–6.3?g sorbose?l^?1?h^?1). Biomass concentration at the outlet was highest for submerged cells (1.3?·?10⁹?cells?ml^?1) but was equal for coated and non-coated carriers (0.4?·?10⁹?cells?ml^?1). Examination of the coated carriers under the electron microscope revealed that only a thin layer near the surface was actually colonized by bacteria. Interestingly, when normalized on the basis of volume, sorbitol oxidation in the colonized layer appeared to be about 100-fold faster than in the bulk medium. A model was derived for oxygen relations inside the coated carriers. This model implicates that the inner parts of the carrier are not colonized by bacteria due to oxygen limitation. The findings indicate that coated carriers have potential to catalyze biotransformations at very high rates, and identify oxygen supply and confinement of cells to the carriers as issues that need further attention. The mathematical model for oxygen concentration profiles inside the coated carriers will be useful for designing improved carriers.     

L-Sorbose production by cells of the strain Gluconobacter suboxydans entrapped in a polyacrylamide gel

Summary It is shown, that bacteria of the strain Gluconobacter suboxydans entrapped in a polyacrylamide gel are capable to convert D-sorbitol to L-sorbose with a sufficiently high reaction rate. The kinetics of the studied process remains the same as it has been found for the case of free cells. Both semicontinuous and continuous patterns are accomplished.     

Molecular properties of membrane-bound FAD-containing D-sorbitol dehydrogenase from thermotolerant Gluconobacter frateurii isolated from Thailand

There are two types of membrane-bound D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH) reported: PQQ-SLDH, having pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), and FAD-SLDH, containing FAD and heme c as the prosthetic groups. FAD-SLDH was purified and characterized from the PQQ-SLDH mutant strain of a thermotolerant Gluconobacter frateurii, having molecular mass of 61.5 kDa, 52 kDa, and 22 kDa. The enzyme properties were quite similar to those of the enzyme from mesophilic G. oxydans IFO 3254. This enzyme was shown to be inducible by D-sorbitol, but not PQQ-SLDH. The oxidation product of FAD-SLDH from D-sorbitol was identified as L-sorbose. The cloned gene of FAD-SLDH had three open reading frames (sldSLC) corresponding to the small, the large, and cytochrome c subunits of FAD-SLDH respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences showed high identity to those from G. oxydans IFO 3254: SldL showed to other FAD-enzymes, and SldC having three heme c binding motives to cytochrome c subunits of other membrane-bound dehydrogenases.     

Immobilized catalase-containing yeast cells: Preparation and enzymatic properties

The cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae previously induced for catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity were immobilized by entrapment of intact cells in acrylamide polymerized by γ irradiation (100 kR). Yeast cells showed an enhancement in catalase activity on entrapment, an effect similar to that observed on treatment with organic solvents like toluene. The cells pretreated with toluene, however, showed complete loss of catalase activity on entrapment. The entrapped enzyme exhibited a narrow pH optimum, reduced K_m for H₂O₂, and a decrease in thermostability. The temperature optimum of catalase was also decreased from 60 to 40°C on immobilization. A tenfold decrease in the activation energy was also observed. The enzyme in the entrapped cells was, however, stable toward inactivation by γ irradiation. Unlike the intact cells, the entrapped yeast cells did not have the ability to induce catalase.     

Application of Urethane Prepolymers to Immobilization of Biocatalysts: Δ1Dehydrogenation of Hydrocortisone by Arthrobacter simplex Cells Entrapped with Urethane Prepolymers

Acetone-dried cells of Arthrobacter simplex having appreciable steroid Δ¹-dehydrogenase activity were immobilized by mixing the cell suspension with water-miscible urethane prepolymers synthesized from toluene diisocyanate and polyether diols. The entrapped cell activity in the transformation of hydrocortisone to prednisolone was affected by the properties of urethane prepolymers, such as the isocyanate group content in prepolymers, the molecular weight of polyether diols and the ethylene oxide content in diols. The addition of 10% of organic solvents, such as methanol and glycols, to the aqueous reaction mixture enhanced the solubility of the substrate greatly and the reaction rate of the immobilized cells. The activity of immobilized cells remained high even in the system containing 30% of methanol, which drastically inhibited the activity of free cells. The presence of an electron acceptor, phenazine methosulfate or 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, significantly stimulated the steroid conversion with entrapped cells, as well as free cells. The stability of the cells over repeated reactions was greatly improved by immobilization.     

Stimulation by organic solvents and detergents of conversion of L-sorbose to L-sorbosone by Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293.

Treatment of Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293 cells with benzene, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, deoxycholate, toluene, or xylene stimulated their conversion of L-sorbose to L-sorbosone two- to threefold. The degree of stimulation depended upon the length of exposure time to the agent and the age of the G. melanogenus cells. A rapid decrease in viability of the cells and degradation of cell RNA was noted after treatment with the effective agents. The G. melanogenus cells were unable to absorb L-sorbose actively after toluene treatment.     

Screening of microorganisms having high fumarase activity and their immobilization with carrageenan

Summary To develop an efficient method for continuous production of L-malic acid from fumaric acid using immobilized microbial cells, screening of microorganisms having high fumarase activity was carried out and cultural conditions of selected microorganisms were investigated. As a result of screening microorganisms belonging to the genera Brevibacterium, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Sarcina were found to produce fumarase in high levels. Among these microorganisms Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, B. flavum, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were further selected for their high fumarase levels in the cultivation on several media. These 4 microorganisms were entrapped into a k-carrageenan gel lattice, and the resultant immobilized B. flavum showed the highest fumarase activity and operational stability.Cultural conditions for the fumarase formation and the operational stability of fumarase activity of immobilized B. flavum are detailed. Productivity for L-malic acid using immobilized B. flavum with k-carrageenan was 2.3 fold of that using immobilized B. ammoniagenes with polyacrylamide.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan, Nagoya, April 3, 1978     

Medium engineering on modified Geobacillus thermocatenulatus lipase to prepare highly active catalysts

The influence of additives on the activity of different covalently and site-specific chemically modified immobilized preparations of a lipase from Geobacillus thermocatenulatus (BTL2) was investigated with a view to obtain a very high active biocatalyst. Non-ionic surfactant and co-solvents at different concentration range were applied. The CNBr-BTL2 immobilized preparation, a very mild immobilized enzyme with similar properties to the soluble enzyme, exhibited an increase in activity of 3 fold in the presence of 20% (v/v) co-solvent (e.g., 1,4-dioxane) and 2.6 fold when Triton X-100 (v/v) was added in the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylbutyrate. This immobilized preparation was hyper-activated in the presence of both additives although without a synergistic effect. The CNBr-BTL2 modified with polymers showed mild hyperactivation in the presence of each additives and even a synergy in the presence of both.In the best of cases, the HOOC-PEG1500-CNBr-BTL2 preparation showed up to 11 fold higher activity in the presence of additives combination than in absence of them.The glyoxyl-BTL2 preparation was hyper-activated in a similar way than CNBr-BTL2 in the presence of detergents but much less with co-solvents. However, the modified glyoxyl-BTL2 preparations were hyper-activated with solvent (2 fold) but not with detergent. An increase of 3 fold in activity for the modified glyoxyl-BTL2 preparations was observed in the presence of both additives.