Distinctive electrophoretic and isoelectric focusing patterns of esterases from Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Esterases of 53 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica sensu stricto, including five previously defined biotypes, and 30 strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis were analysed by horizontal polyacrylamide-agarose gel electrophoresis and by isoelectrofocusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide gel. Esterase bands were defined by their range of activity towards several synthetic substrates, their resistance to heat and to di-isopropyl fluorophosphate. The two species were characterized by distinct electrophoretic patterns of their esterases. The apparent molecular weights of the heat-resistant esterase of Y. enterocolitica and of the major heat-resistant esterase of Y. pseudotuberculosis, as determined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, were estimated to be 52 000 and 250 000, respectively. On the basis of electrophoretic mobilities and isoelectric points of esterases produced by strains of Y. enterocolitica, five principal zymotypes were observed: two for strains of biotype 1, two for strains of biotypes 2 and 3, respectively, and only one for strains of both biotypes 4 and 5. The zymotypes of strains of biotypes 2, 3, 4 and 5 appeared to be more closely related to one another than to zymotypes of strains of biotype 1. Variations in number or mobility of bands observed within each biotype of Y. enterocolitica and within some serotypes of Y. pseudotuberculosis could represent an additional marker for epidemiological analysis.     

Characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica, Y. intermedia, Y. aldovae, Y. frederiksenii, Y. kristensenii and Y. pseudotuberculosis by electrophoretic polymorphism of acid phosphatase, esterases, and glutamate and malate dehydrogenases

Acid phosphatase, esterases, and glutamate and malate dehydrogenases of 192 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, Y. intermedia, Y. aldovae, Y. frederiksenii, Y. kristensenii and Y. pseudotuberculosis were analysed by horizontal polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis and by isoelectrofocusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide gels. The six species were clearly separated from each other by their distinct enzyme electrophoretic polymorphism. For Y. enterocolitica, the strains of biotype 5 were differentiated from the other biotypes by the mobility of glutamate dehydrogenase. For Y. frederiksenii, six zymotypes were delineated by pI and by the mobility of the enzymes. Variation in number or mobility of esterases within each species could represent a marker for epidemiological and ecological analyses. A linear relationship was obtained between the mean genetic diversity coefficient of enzymes and the mean percentage DNA-DNA relatedness of Y. intermedia, Y. aldovae, Y. enterocolitica and Y. frederiksenii.     

Epidemiological typing of Acinetobacter strains by esterase electrophoresis

Fifty-three strains of Acinetobacter, belonging to the species A baumannii, A. haemolyticus and A. johnsonii, were differentiated by electrophoretic typing of their esterases, on the basis of both the enzyme specific activity profiles and their electrophoretic mobilities. Each esterase was defined by its spectrum of hydrolytic activity toward five synthetic substrates and its sensitivity to di-isopropyl fluorophosphate. Since each enzyme was not detected in all strains of a given species, several zymotypes could be defined by the patterns of combinations of esterases. Thus, 24 zymotypes were defined in the 32 A. baumannii strains, 4 were defined in the 10 A. haemolyticus strains and 6 were defined in the 11 A. johnsonii strains. When the electrophoretic mobilities of the various esterases were included, each of the 53 strains of Acinetobacter (with the exception of three A. haemolyticus strains) showed a distinct electrotype.     

Comparative esterase electrophoretic polymorphism of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from animal and human sources

To determine whether enzyme electrophoretic polymorphism in Escherichia coli populations was influenced by environmental background, the mobilities of four electrophoretically variable esterases (A, B, C and I) were examined. The distinction between isolates was established by significant differences in the electrophoretic distribution and the genetic diversity coefficient of individual esterases. Principal components analysis on each population and on all strains revealed three groups of allozymes. The first, characterized by slow electrophoretic mobilities of esterase B, was frequently observed in strains obtained from human extra-intestinal infections and rarely in commensal organisms. The second, characterized by fast mobilities of esterases A and B, was frequently found in animal isolates. The third, characterized by prominence of the most common mobilities of esterases B and A, was recovered in all populations. These results were confirmed by discriminant analysis. Among the 610 strains investigated, 316 electrophoretic types (distinctive combinations of allozymes of the four varieties of esterases) were distinguished, illustrating high esterase polymorphism.     

Physicochemical characterization and tissue distribution of esterases in two salamandridae species (Mertensiella luschani and Salamandra salamandra)

1. Tissue- and species-specificity of the electrophoretic patterns of the multiple molecular forms of esterases were observed in the urodele amphibians Mertensiella luschani luschani, M.l. helverseni and Salamandra salamandra. All esterases--distributed into two electrophoretic mobility areas in gonads, muscles and brain and into four areas in liver, stomach and intestine--were characterized as carboxylesterases. 2. M. l. luschani and S. salamandra liver esterases were electrofocused into nine and eleven major bands with pIs ranging from 4.60 to 5.65 and from 4.40 to 6.20, respectively. 3. Two size groups of esterases were observed in liver extracts of the above three subspecies by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The mean values of their apparent molecular weights were 70,000 and 230,000 respectively.     

Comparative electrophoretic polymorphism of esterases and other enzymes in Escherichia coli

The electrophoretic polymorphism of esterases was compared with that of other enzymes in Escherichia coli populations by investigating allozyme distribution of four esterases (A, B, C and I) within both the subspecific groups I, II and III and the new groups A, B1, B2, C, D and E, which have been distinguished by electrophoretic analysis of 11 and 35 enzymes respectively in the 72 reference strains of the ECOR collection. Electrophoretic distribution of esterases was distinct for each of the three subspecific groups as indicated by distributions of allozymes and electrophoretic types (distinctive combination of allozyme for the four esterases). Esterase polymorphisms of the three subspecific groups appeared to have similar features to those of three previously studied natural populations of strains obtained from human and animal gastro-intestinal tracts and extra-intestinal infections in humans. Multiple correspondence analyses using data obtained from the four esterases and the 11 other enzymes also distinguished the groups A, B1, B2, C, D and E. All strains of group B2 showed the B2 electrophoretic pattern of esterase B, which appeared to be a marker of a distinct cluster of strains frequently implicated in extra-intestinal infections.     

The electrophoretic polymorphism of bacterial esterases

Abstract: The specific activities of esterases and certain other molecular properties including immunospecificity indicate that the electrophoretic variations of these enzymes in bacterial populations are the result of allelic variations at specific gene loci. The esterase polymorphism of Enterobacteriaceae and some other species isolated from man or animals demonstrates that esterases can distinguish between bacteria at the species or subspecies level, both by their biochemical properties and by their electrophoretic differences. The esterase data complement DNA hybridization studies and agree with ribosomal DNA polymorphism, especially for delineating a phylogenetically distinct group of highly pathogenic strains in Escherichia coli . A two-dimensional electrophoretic profile obtained by establishing a direct correspondence between homologous esterase bands resolved by independent runs of isoelectric focusing and standard electrophoresis considerably improves the detection of allelic variations, whereas protein titration curves (electrophoresis in pH gradient) can be used to demonstrate the real electrophoretic homogeneity of allozymes or evalue their molecular relationship in terms of apparent amino acid substitutions. This overview establishes that esterases, by their significant electrophoretic polymorphism, are reliable molecular markers for systematics and epidemiology, and are suitable enzyme systems for studying population genetics and phylogeny.     

Differentiation of Shigella by esterase electrophoretic polymorphism

The electrophoretic mobilities of four esterases (A, B, C, and I) of 182 strains of Shigella dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. sonnei were compared to those of 636 strains of Escherichia coli from various origins, including the Alkalescens Dispar group and enteroinvasive strains. Discriminant analysis of the distribution of esterases among the strains revealed that Shigella could be distinguished from E. coli by differences in the distribution of allozymes of esterases C and I. Principal components analysis distinguished four major clusters of Shigella strains corresponding to the following: S. dysenteriae serotype 1; S. flexneri serotypes 1 to 5; S. flexneri serotype 6 and S. boydii serotypes 2 and 4; and S. sonnei. The last three were characterized by distinct electrophoretic variants of carboxylesterase B, as judged by the two-dimensional electrophoretic profile and titration curves. The distinct esterase pattern obtained for the strains of S. boydii serotype 13 substantiates the view that this serotype may constitute a new species.     

Esterase electrophoretic polymorphism of human and animal strains of Clostridium perfringens.

Esterase electrophoretic polymorphism in human and animal strains of Clostridium perfringens was studied by using polyacrylamide-agarose gel electrophoresis. Five types of esterases, designated E-I to E-V and defined by their hydrolytic specificities toward five synthetic substrates, were found in protein extracts of bacteria grown without glucose (glucose-containing media allowed only the expression of esterase E-I). Mobility variants of esterase E-I, which hydrolyzes alpha- and beta-naphthyl acetates and butyrates, were used as a basis for the distribution of strains into 11 zymogroups. When all five types of esterases and their electrophoretic variants were considered, 77 electrophoretic types (ETs) could be described for the 89 strains tested. Animal strains did not constitute a distinctive subpopulation, as revealed by their distribution in the zymogroups and by clustering analysis. Statistical analysis also emphasized the importance of esterase E-IV (which hydrolyzes only naphthyl acetates) and esterase E-V (which hydrolyzes only alpha-naphthyl acetate) in clustering by the relatedness of the ETs. ETs allowed the epidemiological characterization of stool isolates recovered from elderly inpatient residents and from adolescent chronic-care psychiatric patients. These results indicate that esterase electrophoretic typing may be a marker for epidemiological and ecological analyses.     

Development of silverleaf assay, protein and nucleic acid-based diagnostic techniques for the quick and reliable detection and monitoring of biotype B of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

The aim of this study was to develop and optimize silverleaf bioassay, esterase analysis and PCR-based techniques to distinguish quickly and reliably biotype B of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), from Indian indigenous biotypes. Zucchini and squash readily develop silverleaf symptoms upon feeding by the B biotype, but they are not readily available in Indian markets. A local pumpkin variety 'Big' was, therefore, used in silverleaf assay, which developed symptoms similar to those on zucchini and squash and can be used reliably to detect B biotype. Analysis of non-specific esterases of B and the indigenous biotypes indicated both quantitative and qualitative differences in esterase patterns. Two high molecular weight bands were unique to B biotype and they occurred in abundance. These esterases were used to develop quick and field-based novel detection methods for differentiating B from the indigenous biotypes. Development of these simple and cost-effective protocols has wider application as they can be potentially used to identify other agricultural pests. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymorphisms, generated using the primer OpB11, were also found useful for detecting B. tabaci biotypes. A B biotype-specific RAPD band of 800 bp was sequenced, which was used to a develop sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. The SCAR marker involved the development of B biotype-specific primers that amplified 550 bp PCR products only from B biotype genomic DNA. Silverleaf assay, esterases, RAPDs or a SCAR marker were used in combination to analyse whitefly samples collected from selected locations in India, and it was found that any of these techniques can be used singly or in combination to detect B biotype reliably. The B biotype was found in southern parts of India but not in the north in 2004-06.     

Conservation of components of the Escherichia coli export machinery in prokaryotes

Esterase electrophoretic typing was used to classify clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One hundred and twenty-seven P. aeruginosa strains belonging to 16 serotypes (including 16 non-typeable strains) and isolated from diverse human infections in three hospitals, and the type strain ATCC 10 145, were tested. Four main kinds of esterase and 4 additional esterases were distinguished by their spectra of hydrolytic activity toward synthetic substrates and by their sensitivity or resistance to di-isopropyl fluorophosphate. The electrophoretic variations of these enzymes were used to define 42 zymotypes. Electrophoretic typing of esterase appeared to be more sensitive than serotyping and the results of the two methods did not correlate. When the two typing methods were used in parallel, 78 different combinations of serotype and zymotype were obtained.     

Change in the tissue spectrum of carboxylic ester esterases in the postnatal period in rats

A comparative investigation of the composition of electrophoretic fractions of esterases of compound ethers of carbonic acids has been carried out in the rat tissues. Carboxyl, aryl, acetyl and choline esterases were identified by the sensitivity to inhibitors. Changes in the composition of these esterases during the postnatal period were followed.     

Variations in the serum esterases of chimpanzees

Seventy chimpanzees, representing Pan paniscus (the pygmy chimp) and all four races of the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), were examined for electrophoretic variation in their serum esterases. Only three variant electromorphs were observed at these six loci. One of these was at the albumin-associated esterase locus, and the other two were at esterase 4. This is the first report of any variation in an esterase or albumin in chimpanzees.     

Isolation of Two Acetyl Esterases from Extracts of Bacillus subtilis

Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of crude cellular extracts of Bacillus subtilis revealed the presence of two acetyl esterases. Esterase A, the slower migrating enzyme, was found to be present in both vegetative and sporulating cells, whereas esterase B activity was more abundant after exponential growth ceased. Both esterases were present in the supernatant fraction of lysed spheroplasts and in a disrupted spore preparation. Of four pleiotropic asporogenous mutants tested, three exhibited decreased esterase B activity. Esterases A and B were partially purified by differential precipitation and co-chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose (pH 7.5) and DEAE-Sephadex (pH 8.5). By employing gel filtration chromatography, the two esterases were separated, and molecular weights of 160,000 and 51,000 were estimated for esterases A and B, respectively. Esterase A was further purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by differential heating and preparative starch block electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified esterase A yielded a single protein band with a molecular weight of 31,000. The pI values of esterases A and B were determined to be 6.4 and 5.4, respectively.     

Linkage studies on an esterase locus in the mosquito Aedes togoi

An electrophoretic survey of esterases in 7 wild-type and 10 mutant strains of the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi was undertaken using thin-layer agar gels. Three esterases (designated the Est-1, Est-2, and Est-3 loci in decreasing order of electrophoretic mobility) could be detected from fourth-instar larvae, pupae, and 2- to 5-day-old adults. Homogenates of the larvae gave the most intensely stained bands in the gels, especially for Est-3. The three esterases were designated carboxylesterases based on their response to the two esterase inhibitors, eserine and paraoxon (diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate). The Est-3 locus was found to have five alleles including at least one null. The linkage results of six backcrosses suggest that Est-3 is located only 5–8 map units from the sex allele (m) and the gene arrangement is Est-3-m-s (straw-colored larva) in linkage group I.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant AI 16983-01.     

Heat stability of cholinesterase and non-specific esterases during development of hybrids of the sea urchins Stongylocentrotus droebachiensis and S. intermedius]

Acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and non-specific esterases were studied during the development of sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis and S. intermedius and their hybrids by means of electrophoresis and measurements of enzyme thermostability. Two AchE fractions were found which differed by thermostability. At the late gastrula stage, the therolabile form predominated and at the mid-pluteus stage the thermostable one. Non-specific esterases in both the species of sea urchins are represented by complex isozyme systems. Their changes during development are accompanied by the changes in thermostability and electrophoretic patterns. The thermostability of esterases at the pluteus stage in the hybrids is higher than in the maternal species, apparently, due to the appearance of the thermostable enzyme which appears in the paternal species provisionally at the prism stage.     

Larval esterases of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella: Temporal changes and specificity

Disc electrophoresis was used to examine and characterize the esterases present in the fat body, haemolymph, and midgut of last stage larvae of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella. Significant temporal changes were observed in the pattern of the 4 major esterases of the fat body and 3 major esterases of the haemolymph. These changing profiles presumably relate, in part, to a requirement for the degradation of juvenile hormone (JH) in preparation for metamorphosis.The binding capacity of esterases present in the larval midgut towards JH I and three JH mimics (alkyl-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoates) was also examined. The midgut of last stage nondiapausing larvae was shown to contain a carboxylesterase which bound all three JH mimics. Another esterase which bound JH I, but not the mimics, was also present. An esterase with a similar electrophoretic mobility was detected in the haemolymph and integument. Since the JH I binding esterase did not bind the JH mimics, the mimics do not appear to synergize JH by inhibiting its ester hydrolysis.     

Physicochemical characterization and tissue distribution of multiple molecular forms of fish (Trachurus trachurus) esterases

1. Tissue-specific electrophoretic patterns of multiple molecular forms of esterases were observed in fish Trachurus trachurus. They were composed of three (in intestine) to nine (in liver) bands characterized mainly as carboxylesterases and acetylesterases. 2. Two major esterase activity bands of pI 4.60 and 4.77 were accompanied by minor ones of higher pH in tissue extracts. 3. Under optimum assay conditions, liver was the richest source of esterase activity followed by intestine, stomach, brain, red muscles, heart, white muscles and gills. 4. Esterases of 70,000 and 420,000 mol. wt were resolved by gel-filtration in liver, intestine and brain. Low size esterases prevailed in liver while the opposite was the case in brain.     

Genetic variability of leaf esterases in Triticum aestivum L. 2n=6x=42

Summary Starch gel electrophoresis with two different buffer systems and several substrates and inhibitors have been used to study the electrophoretic variability of esterases in leaves of cultivars of Triticum aestivum. Each one of the buffer systems showed different levels of variability, according to the electrophoretic patterns. At the same time green and etiolated leaves showed different patterns in each buffer system. The variability was dependent upon the developmental stage of the leaves. According to the results from chromosomal location, the genes controlling esterases in green leaves were located in homoeology group 3, while the genes controlling esterases in etiolated leaves were in homoeology group 6. But both esterase isozymes showed a similar electrophoretic migration and a similar reponse to substrates and inhibitors. The possible origin of both sets of genes due to an interchromosomal duplication is discussed.     

Comparative study of Agrobacterium biotypes 1, 2 and 3 by electrophoresis and serological methods

A comparative study by electrophoresis and serology of strains representing the three Agrobacterium biotypes was carried out. Thirteen Spanish isolates and strains from international collections were included. Ten antisera were prepared by using strains from the three biotypes and different types of antigens. The strains were studied by immunodiffusion, indirect immunofluorescence and indirect ELISA. Serological relationship among all the strains was observed, although serological heterogeneity within each of the biotypes occurred. Biotype 3 appears as serologically related to biotypes 1 and 2, having an intermediate position. This observation is in agreement with their biochemical characteristics. Electrophoretic analysis of the three biotypes showed that there was high variability. Three main bands appeared in the six strains studied. One specific band occurred in the biotype 1 strains and another in the biotype 3 strains.