Low Temperature Effects on Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Wells) Free Amino Acid Pools during Germination

The free amino acid concentrations in cotyledons and axes of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Wells) seedlings were determined by automated single column analysis after germination at 10 and 23 C. After 5 days germination at 10 C, glutamate and aspartate were in high concentration in both cotyledons and axes (38 and 24% of total free amino acids recovered, respectively), whereas the concentrations of their amide derivatives, asparagine and glutamine, were low in cotyledons (4.4%) and high in axes (21%). In contrast, after 5 days germination at 23 C, asparagine and glutamine accounted for 22 and 45% of total free amino acids in cotyledons and axes respectively, and aspartate and glutamate concentrations were low. The activities of glutamine synthetase and asparagine synthetase were considerably lower in tissues from the 10 C treatment than those from the 23 C treatment.

Aspartate and glutamate concentrations were nearly equal in all but one sample. Both glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities were much higher in axis tissues at 23 C as compared to 10 C. Arrhenius plots of axis glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities were biphasic and triphasic, respectively, with energies of activation for both increasing with low temperature. Energies of activation were identical for glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase from 10 and 23 C treatments but much higher for glutamate dehydrogenase from 23 C-treated axes. This indicates a difference in enzyme complement for glutamate dehydrogenase with the two treatments.

Hydrolysis of free amino acid sample (basic fraction) aliquots showed large quantities of peptides in 23 C-treated axes at 2 days, while few or no peptides were found in the 10 C treatment. Amino acid residues most prevalent in peptides were aspartate, threonine, serine, glutamate, and glycine.

     

Transaminase of brainched chain amino acids. X. High activity in stomach and pancreas.

The activity of branched chain amino acid transaminase (EC 2.6. 1.6) was found to be 8 to 10 times higher in rat stomach and pancreas than in heart and kidney, which were previously thought to be the tissues with the highest activity. For comparison, the activities of two other transaminases, aspartate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1) and alanine transaminase (EC 2.6.1.2) in different parts of the digestive tract were measured. However, their activities were not especially high in the stomach and pancreas, and in the pancreas the activity of branched chain amino acid transaminase was higher than those of the two other transaminases. The isozyme of branched chain amino acid transaminase in the stomach and pancreas was identified as enzyme I by DEAE cellulose chromatography and immunochemistry. The rates of oxidation of [U-¹⁴C]-L-leucine by slices of stomach and pancreas were also higher than by slices of other tissues.     

A new NAD+-dependent opine dehydrogenase from Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C.

A new NAD+-dependent opine dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C isolated from soil by an enrichment culture technique. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 70,000 and consists of two identical subunits with molecular weights of about 36,000. The enzyme catalyzed a reversible oxidation-reduction reaction of opine-type secondary amine dicarboxylic acids. In the oxidative deamination reaction, the enzyme was active toward unusual opines, such as N-[1-R-(carboxyl)ethyl]-S-methionine and N-[1-R-(carboxyl)ethyl]-S-phenylalanine. In the reductive secondary amine-forming reaction with NADH as a cofactor, the enzyme utilized L-amino acids such as L-methionine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-phenylalanine, L-leucine, L-alanine, and L-threonine as amino donors and alpha-keto acids such as pyruvate, oxaloacetate, glyoxylate, and alpha-ketobutyrate as amino acceptors. The product enzymatically synthesized from L-phenylalanine and pyruvate in the presence of NADH was identified as N-[1-R-(carboxyl)ethyl]-S-phenylalanine.     

Hepatoprotective activity of Azadirachta indica leaves on paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats.

Effect of A. indica leaf extract on serum enzyme levels (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) elevated by paracetamol in rats was studied with a view to observe any possible hepatoprotective effect of this plant. It was interesting to observe that serum enzyme levels were much elevated in paracetamol induced animals than in those receiving a combination of paracetamol and lead extract. It is stipulated that the extract treated group was protected from hepatic cell damage caused by paracetamol induction. The findings were further confirmed by histopathological study of liver.     

Purification and characterization of cytosol-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from chicken liver

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase of chicken liver cytosol was purified to homogeneity by procedures including affinity chromatography with GTP as a ligand. The purified enzyme showed a molecular weight of 68,000 on gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate. Comparative studies on this enzyme and its isozyme purified from chicken liver mitochondria were performed. As regards amino acid composition, the cytosolic enzyme was quite different from the mitochondrial enzyme, but was rather similar to rat liver cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Specific activities of the cytosolic enzyme were 30-100% higher than those of the mitochondrial enzyme for oxaloacetate-CO2 exchange, oxaloacetate decarboxylation, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation reactions, though the relative rates of the activities were similar, decreasing in the order given. Apparent Michaelis constants for oxaloacetate in the oxaloacetate decarboxylation reaction were 11.6 and 17.9 microM for the cytosolic and the mitochondrial enzyme, respectively, but the values for GTP, GDP, phosphoenolpyruvate, and CO2 in the oxaloacetate decarboxylation and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation reactions were 1.3-2.2 times higher for the cytosolic enzyme than for the mitochondrial enzyme. Thus, the fundamental catalytic properties of the chicken liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase isozymes were rather similar, despite the marked difference in amino acid compositions.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel beta-transaminase from Mesorhizobium sp. strain LUK: a new biocatalyst for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure beta-amino acids

A novel beta-transaminase gene was cloned from Mesorhizobium sp. strain LUK. By using N-terminal sequence and an internal protein sequence, a digoxigenin-labeled probe was made for nonradioactive hybridization, and a 2.5-kb gene fragment was obtained by colony hybridization of a cosmid library. Through Southern blotting and sequence analysis of the selected cosmid clone, the structural gene of the enzyme (1,335 bp) was identified, which encodes a protein of 47,244 Da with a theoretical pI of 6.2. The deduced amino acid sequence of the beta-transaminase showed the highest sequence similarity with glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminomutase of transaminase subgroup II. The beta-transaminase showed higher activities toward d-beta-aminocarboxylic acids such as 3-aminobutyric acid, 3-amino-5-methylhexanoic acid, and 3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid. The beta-transaminase has an unusually broad specificity for amino acceptors such as pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate/oxaloacetate. The enantioselectivity of the enzyme suggested that the recognition mode of beta-aminocarboxylic acids in the active site is reversed relative to that of alpha-amino acids. After comparison of its primary structure with transaminase subgroup II enzymes, it was proposed that R43 interacts with the carboxylate group of the beta-aminocarboxylic acids and the carboxylate group on the side chain of dicarboxylic alpha-keto acids such as alpha-ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate. R404 is another conserved residue, which interacts with the alpha-carboxylate group of the alpha-amino acids and alpha-keto acids. The beta-transaminase was used for the asymmetric synthesis of enantiomerically pure beta-aminocarboxylic acids. (3S)-Amino-3-phenylpropionic acid was produced from the ketocarboxylic acid ester substrate by coupled reaction with a lipase using 3-aminobutyric acid as amino donor.     

The effect of opposing effectors on activation level of succinate dehydrogenase: equilibrium and kinetic studies.

The activation of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase by various activators is a result of dissociation of oxaloacetate tightly bound to the nonactive enzyme. But, quantitative correlation between the effector concentrations and the active fraction of the enzyme was not at hand. In this study we measured the level of active succinate dehydrogenase equilibrated with a wide range of opposing effectors: oxaloacetate (1-500 muM) and activator (0.02-1.5 M NaBr). The results are compatible with a model assuming two stable forms of the enzyme: a nonactive enzyme-oxaloacetate complex and an active enzyme free of oxaloacetate. The active form is stabilized by binding two Br- and one H+. The rate of activation (ka) and exchange between enzyme bound and free oxaloacetate k(ex) were measured. Both ka and kex are hyperbolically dependent on Br- concentration but differ in magnitude and pH dependence. kex at infinite Br- concentration is pH dependent but ka is not. The two reactions, activation and exchange, also differ in their activation energy bein 32 and 21.5 kcal/mol, respectively. It is concluded that, in the course of activation, Br- interacts at two distinct steps. First to produce a ternary, nonactive [enzyme-oxaloacetate-Br-] complex. From this complex, oxaloacetate dissociates and the oxaloacetate-free enzyme assumes its active form. Finally, the active enzyme is stabilized by binding another Br-. The rate-limiting step in deactivation is binding of oxaloacetate to active enzyme. The complex formed undergoes a very rapid transformation to the stable nonactive form. This pathway, under certain conditions, can reverse its direction and contribute to the overall rate of activation. It is suggested that the equilibrium between the two stable forms of the enzyme can be reached by two parallel pathways, each contributing independently to the observed rate of activation, while the final equilibrium is determined by the free energy between the products and the reactants.     

Metabolism of organic acids, nitrogen and amino acids in chlorotic leaves of ‘Honeycrisp’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh) with excessive accumulation of carbohydrates

Metabolite profiles and activities of key enzymes in the metabolism of organic acids, nitrogen and amino acids were compared between chlorotic leaves and normal leaves of ‘Honeycrisp’ apple to understand how accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates affects the metabolism of organic acids, nitrogen and amino acids. Excessive accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates and much lower CO₂ assimilation were found in chlorotic leaves than in normal leaves, confirming feedback inhibition of photosynthesis in chlorotic leaves. Dark respiration and activities of several key enzymes in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, ATP-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, citrate synthase, aconitase and isocitrate dehydrogenase were significantly higher in chlorotic leaves than in normal leaves. However, concentrations of most organic acids including phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), pyruvate, oxaloacetate, 2-oxoglutarate, malate and fumarate, and activities of key enzymes involved in the anapleurotic pathway including PEP carboxylase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase and NAD-malic enzyme were significantly lower in chlorotic leaves than in normal leaves. Concentrations of soluble proteins and most free amino acids were significantly lower in chlorotic leaves than in normal leaves. Activities of key enzymes in nitrogen assimilation and amino acid synthesis, including nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, ferredoxin and NADH-dependent glutamate synthase, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase were significantly lower in chlorotic leaves than in normal leaves. It was concluded that, in response to excessive accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates, glycolysis and TCA cycle were up-regulated to “consume” the excess carbon available, whereas the anapleurotic pathway, nitrogen assimilation and amino acid synthesis were down-regulated to reduce the overall rate of amino acid and protein synthesis.     

Subcellular distribution and properties of kynurenine pyruvate transaminase in rat kidney.

Kynurenine transaminase activity in rat kidney was found in both the mitochondrial and supernatant fractions. These fractions contained (a) kynurenine pyruvate transaminase, which showed a preference for pyruvate as amino acceptor, and had a pH optimum between 8.0 and 8.5, and (b) kynurenine 2-oxoglutarate transaminase, with a preference for 2-oxoglutarate and a pH optimum between 6.0 and 6.5. The apparent Km value of the former enzyme for L-kynurenine was much lower than that of the latter enzyme.     

Transaminase B from Escherichia coli: quaternary structure, amino-terminal sequence, substrate specificity, and absence of a separate valine-alpha-ketoglutarate activity.

Transaminase B (branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.42), the ilvE gene product, was purified to apparent homogeneity from an Escherichia coli K-12 strain which carries the ilvE gene both on the host chromosome and on a plasmid. The oligomeric structure of the enzyme, as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was confirmed to be that of a hexamer with a molecular weight of about 182,000 and apparently identical subunits. Cross-linking with dimethylsuberimidate yielded trimers, dimers, and monomers, but essentially no species of higher molecular weight. These results are consistent with a double-trimer arrangement of the subunits in native enzyme. The amino-terminal sequence was found to be: Gly Thr Lys Lys Ala Asp Tyr Ile (Trp) Phe Asn Gly (Thr) (Met) Val. Purified transaminase B catalyzed transamination between alpha-ketoglutarate and l-isoleucine, l-leucine, l-valine, and, to a lesser extent, l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine, the latter reacting very sluggishly. The enzyme was free of aspartate transaminase and of transaminase C. The apparent K(m) values for the branched-chain alpha-ketoacids were smaller than those for the corresponding amino acids. The lowest K(m) was recorded for dl-alpha-keto-beta-methyl-n-valerate, and the highest was recorded for l-valine. The ratio of the valine- and isoleucine-alpha-ketoglutarate activities did not change significantly during purification, and both activities were quantitatively removed from crude extract by antibody raised against purified transaminase B. These observations argue against the existence of a separate valine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase. Anti-E. coli transaminase B antibody cross-reacted with crude extract from Salmonella typhimurium, but not with extract obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Characterization of Soy Polysaccharide and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation for Application in Colon Drug Delivery

The objective of the present investigation was to establish potential of commercially available soy polysaccharide (Emcosoy®) for colon drug delivery. The soy polysaccharide–ethyl cellulose films were fabricated and characterized. The effect of the pectinase enzyme on the tensile strength and surface morphology of the film was evaluated. The permeation of chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM), a model hydrophilic drug from pectinase enzyme treated and untreated films was measured in pH 7.4 buffer. The soy polysaccharide–ethyl cellulose films were also incubated with Lactobacillus sp. culture for a specific duration, and effect on the CPM permeation was evaluated. The CPM capsules were coated with the soy polysaccharide–ethyl cellulose mixture, and Eudragit S100 was applied as a secondary coat. The coated CPM capsules were radiolabelled, and their in vivo transit was evaluated in human volunteers on oral administration. The pectinase enzyme had a significant influence on the tensile strength and surface morphology of the soy polysaccharide–ethyl cellulose films. The permeability of pectinase enzyme-treated and Lactobacillus sp.-treated films was significantly higher than that of untreated films. The CPM capsules were coated with the soy polysaccharide–ethyl cellulose mixture and Eudragit S100 and were successfully radiolabelled by a simple method. Gamma scintigraphic studies in human volunteers showed that the radiolabelled capsules maintained integrity for at least 9 h after oral administration. Thus, the soy polysaccharide has a potential in colon drug delivery.     

Ammonia assimilation and glutamate incorporation in coenzyme F420 derivatives ofMethanosarcina barkeri

Methanosarcina barkeri was able to grow on L-alanine and L-glutamate as sole nitrogen sources. Cell yields were 0.5 g/l and 0.7 g/l (wet wt), respectively. The mechanism of ammonia assimilation inMethanosarcina barkeri strain MS was studied by analysis of enzyme activities. Activity levels of nitrogen-assimilating enzymes in extracts of cells grown on different nitrogen sources (ammonia, 0.05–100 mM; L-alanine, 10 mM; L-glutamate, 10 mM) were compared. Activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase could be measured in cells grown on these three nitrogen sources. Alanine dehydrogenase was not detected under the growth conditions used. None of the measured enzyme activities varied significantly in response to the NH₄ ⁺ concentration. The length of the poly--glutamyl side chain of F₄₂₀ derivatives turned out to be independent of the concentration of ammonia in the culture medium.Abbreviations ADH alanine dehydrogenase - FO 7,8-didemethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin - GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - GOGAT glutamate synthase - GOT glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase - GPT glutamate pyruvate transaminase - GS glutamine synthetase - H₄MPT tetrahydromethanopterin     

Rerouting Citrate Metabolism in Lactococcus lactis to Citrate-Driven Transamination

Oxaloacetate is an intermediate of the citrate fermentation pathway that accumulates in the cytoplasm of Lactococcus lactis ILCitM(pFL3) at a high concentration due to the inactivation of oxaloacetate decarboxylase. An excess of toxic oxaloacetate is excreted into the medium in exchange for citrate by the citrate transporter CitP (A. M. Pudlik and J. S. Lolkema, J. Bacteriol. 193:4049-4056, 2011). In this study, transamination of amino acids with oxaloacetate as the keto donor is described as an additional mechanism to relieve toxic stress. Redirection of the citrate metabolic pathway into the transamination route in the presence of the branched-chain amino acids Ile, Leu, and Val; the aromatic amino acids Phe, Trp, and Tyr; and Met resulted in the formation of aspartate and the corresponding α-keto acids. Cells grown in the presence of citrate showed 3.5 to 7 times higher transaminase activity in the cytoplasm than cells grown in the absence of citrate. The study demonstrates that transaminases of L. lactis accept oxaloacetate as a keto donor. A significant fraction of 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyrate formed from methionine by citrate-driven transamination in vivo was further metabolized, yielding the cheese aroma compounds 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyrate and methyl-3-methylthiopropionate. Reducing equivalents required for the former compound were produced in the citrate fermentation pathway as NADH. Similarly, phenylpyruvate, the transamination product of phenylalanine, was reduced to phenyllactate, while the dehydrogenase activity was not observed for the branched-chain keto acids. Both α-keto acids and α-hydroxy acids are known substrates of CitP and may be excreted from the cell in exchange for citrate or oxaloacetate.     

In vitro enzyme activities and products of 14CO2 assimilation in flag leaf and ear parts of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Activities of key enzymes of Calvin cycle and C₄ metabolism, rate of ¹⁴CO₂ fixation in light and dark and the initial products of photosynthetic ¹⁴CO₂ fixation were determined in flag leaf and different ear parts of wheat viz. pericarp, awn and glumes. Compared to the activities of RuBP carboxylase and other Calvin cycle enzymes viz. NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, NAD-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ribulose-5-phosphate kinase, the levels of PEP carboxylase and other enzymes of C₄ metabolism viz. NADP-malate dehydrogenase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase, NADP-malic enzyme, NAD-malic enzyme, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase genase, NADP-malic enzyme, NAD-malic enzyme, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase, were generally greater in ear parts than in the flag leaf. In contrast to CO₂ fixation in light, the various ear parts incorporated CO₂ in darkness at much higher rates than flag leaf. In short term assimilation of ¹⁴CO₂ by illuminated ear parts, most of the ¹⁴C was in malate with less in 3-phosphoglyceric acid, whereas flag leaves incorporated most into 3-phosphoglyceric acid. It seems likely that ear parts have the capability of assimilating CO₂ by the C₄ pathway of photosynthesis and utilise PEP carboxylase for recapturing the respired CO₂.     

Purification and Characterization of l-Leucine-α-ketoglutarate Transaminase from Acetobader suboxydans

l-Leucine-α-ketoglutarate (α-KGA) transaminase from Acetobacter suboxydans was purified to the state of homogeneity by the criteria of ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate membrane. The molecular weight was about 80,000 and one mole of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate was bound per mole of enzyme as a coenzyme. The enzyme exhibited absorption maxima at 280, 337 and 414 nm.

The branched-chain amino acids and α-KGA were specific as amino donors and an acceptor. l-Leucine-α-KGA transaminase is suggested to correspond to the enzyme so-called Transaminase B.     

Intermediary carbohydrate metabolism in the adult filarial worm Setaria digitata.

Several key enzymes related to carbohydrate metabolism were assayed in Setaria digitata. In the cytosolic fraction pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were found. Among the TCA cycle enzymes succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate reductase, fumarase (malate dehydration), malate dehydrogenase (malate oxidation and oxaloacetate reduction) and malic enzyme (malate decarboxylation) were detected in the mitochondrial fraction. Only reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, NADH oxidase and NADH-cytochrome c reductase were found in the mitochondrial fraction. The significance of these results with respect to the metabolic capabilities of the worm are discussed.     

Regional and subcellular distribution of cysteine sulfinate transaminase in rat nervous system

The distribution of the cysteine sulfinate transaminase activity in adult and newborn rat central nervous system was studied and compared with the distribution of the glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity. The subcellular localization of both enzyme activities was also investigated. These experiments suggest that both enzymes, sometimes considered as identical, are different.     

A population study of leukocyte enzymes (GOT2, ME2 and PGM3) in Galicia (NW Spain)

Genetic variants of leukocyte mitochondrial glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, mitochondrial malic enzyme and phosphoglucomutase locus III were studied in the Galician population. There was no significant heterogeneity between 8 Galician subpopulations. The gene frequencies in the total population were: GOT(2)2 = 0.025; ME(2)2 = 0.408; PGM(2)3 = 0.333. No rare variants were found.     

Biochemical effects of sublethal doses of cypermethrin on the sixth-instar larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.)

Effects of sublethal doses ie, 2, 4, 10, and 20 ppm of cypermethrin, were studied on the sixth-instar larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.). Of all the biochemical parameters tested, the free amino acids and cholesterol content and the activity of amylase were found to be the most sensitive components. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity was elevated at all doses except 2 ppm. The activities of alkaline phosphatase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glucose content were raised significantly at doses of 10 and 20 ppm. Acid phosphatase activity and the soluble protein content increased at a dose of 20 ppm. Total lipid and triglycerides, however, decreased significantly at this sublethal dose. Other biochemical parameters, such as cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase activities and the total protein, urea, glycogen, DNA, and RNA contents, were not significantly affected by exposure to different doses of cypermethrin.