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.     

Cloning of genes coding for L-sorbose and L-sorbosone dehydrogenases from Gluconobacter oxydans and microbial production of 2-keto-L-gulonate, a precursor of L-ascorbic acid, in a recombinant G. oxydans strain.

We have purified L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and L-sorbosone dehydrogenase (SNDH) from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100 that showed an ability to convert D-sorbitol to 2-keto-L-gulonate (2-KLGA). A genomic library of Gluconobacter oxydans T-100 was screened with a probe, a 180-bp PCR product which was obtained from degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotides based on the elucidated sequence of the purified SDH (used as primers) and the genomic DNA of G. oxydans T-100 (used as a template). From sequencing of the DNA from a clone positive to the probe, the SNDH and the SDH were estimated to be coded in sequential open reading frames with 1,497 and 1,599 nucleotides, respectively, which was confirmed by expression of the DNA in Escherichia coli that showed both enzymatic activities. The DNA was introduced to a shuttle vector which was prepared from a plasmid of G. oxydans T-100 and pHSG298 to obtain an expression vector designated pSDH155. The production of 2-KLGA by pSDH155 in G. oxydans G624, an L-sorbose-accumulating strain, was improved to 230% compared to that of G. oxydans T-100. Chemical mutation of the host strain to suppress the L-idonate pathway and replacement of the original promoter with that of E. coli tufB resulted in improving the production of 2-KLGA. Consequently, high-level production from D-sorbitol to 2-KLGA (130 mg/ml) was achieved by simple fermentation of the recombinant Gluconobacter.     

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.     

VC三菌种一步发酵方法的构建与研究

就维生素C微生物一步发酵方法进行了探索,构建了酮古龙酸杆菌、氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌和芽孢杆菌三菌混菌一步发酵的方法。研究发现,植物内生芽孢杆菌可以与酮古龙酸杆菌配合,促进酮古龙酸杆菌生长和产酸。在有山梨醇存在的条件下酮古龙酸杆菌及其伴生菌能够快速地生长增殖,植物内生芽孢杆菌在发酵的10h中不断消耗山梨醇。5L的发酵罐中,酮古龙酸杆菌、氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌和植物内生芽孢杆菌三菌混菌一步发酵在恒定的30℃温度,600r/min搅拌速度和1.5vvm通气条件下,补料发酵过程中醇酸质量转化率达到了81.89%,在分批发酵过程中,醇酸质量转化率达到了87.90%,进一步优化了维生素C生产工艺。     

Direct fermentation of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in recombinant Gluconobacter oxydans

We isolated Gluconobacter oxydans T-100 that had an activity to produce 2-KLGA from D-sorbitol; however, the yield of 2-KLGA was quite insufficient. Therefore, enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of L-sorbosone and 2-KLGA, L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and L-sorbosone dehydrogenase (SNDH), respectively, were purified from G. oxydans T-100. A genomic library of G. oxydans T-100 was screened to clone both genes for SDH and SNDH based on their amino acid sequences. SNDH and SDH were encoded in sequential open reading frames with 1497 and 1596 nucleotides, respectively, which were verified by the expression in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequence of SDH and SNDH showed close similarity with E. coli choline dehydrogenase (CDH) and betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), respectively, which cooperatively play a key role for conferring osmotic tolerance. Because the yield of 2-KLGA by G. oxydans introduced with the genes for SDH and SNDH were insufficient, replacement of the promoter with that of Escherichia coli tufB1 in combination with chemical mutagenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine resulted in improvement of the production level.     

固定化细胞分布对动力学影响的模型化研究

通过对固定化Gluconobacter oxydans和Bacillus cereus的活细胞系统的研究,提出了固定化细胞不均匀分布模型,将此类分布与均匀分布(最劣分布模型)进行比较,分析了它们对固定化细胞内部的基质浓度分布、有效速率因子和选择率的影响,指出不均匀分布和均匀分布对于该固定化活细胞系统的动力学行为无显著影响,这一模型分析结果在实验中得以验证。通过无因次化分析,建立了适用于固定化生物催化剂动力学研究的模型方法。     

Biochemical characterization and sequence analysis of the gluconate:NADP 5-oxidoreductase gene from Gluconobacter oxydans.

Gluconate:NADP 5-oxidoreductase (GNO) from the acetic acid bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans subsp. oxydans DSM3503 was purified to homogeneity. This enzyme is involved in the nonphosphorylative, ketogenic oxidation of glucose and oxidizes gluconate to 5-ketogluconate. GNO was localized in the cytoplasm, had an isoelectric point of 4.3, and showed an apparent molecular weight of 75,000. In sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, a single band appeared corresponding to a molecular weight of 33,000, which indicated that the enzyme was composed of two identical subunits. The pH optimum of gluconate oxidation was pH 10, and apparent Km values were 20.6 mM for the substrate gluconate and 73 microM for the cosubstrate NADP. The enzyme was almost inactive with NAD as a cofactor and was very specific for the substrates gluconate and 5-ketogluconate. D-Glucose, D-sorbitol, and D-mannitol were not oxidized, and 2-ketogluconate and L-sorbose were not reduced. Only D-fructose was accepted, with a rate that was 10% of the rate of 5-ketogluconate reduction. The gno gene encoding GNO was identified by hybridization with a gene probe complementary to the DNA sequence encoding the first 20 N-terminal amino acids of the enzyme. The gno gene was cloned on a 3.4-kb DNA fragment and expressed in Escherichia coli. Sequencing of the gene revealed an open reading frame of 771 bp, encoding a protein of 257 amino acids with a predicted relative molecular mass of 27.3 kDa. Plasmid-encoded gno was functionally expressed, with 6.04 U/mg of cell-free protein in E. coli and with 6.80 U/mg of cell-free protein in G. oxydans, which corresponded to 85-fold overexpression of the G. oxydans wild-type GNO activity. Multiple sequence alignments showed that GNO was affiliated with the group II alcohol dehydrogenases, or short-chain dehydrogenases, which display a typical pattern of six strictly conserved amino acid residues.     

Coenzyme-induced slow transitions of NADP-sorbitol dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter oxydans]

The kinetic properties of NADP-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase from G. oxydans cell extract were studied at pH 8.8 and 9.3 in the direction of D-sorbitol oxydation. It was shown that the shape of the kinetic curves of NADPH accumulation in time is characterised by initial burst whose magnitude depends on the concentration of the enzyme extract used. Preincubation of the enzyme with NADP or D-sorbitol eliminated the initial burst on these curves and transformed them into straight lines coming from the start of co-ordinates. The dependence of the stationary reaction rate on the enzyme extract concentration is not a linear one. The kinetic dependences of stationary rate of the reaction catalysed by the enzyme on the concentration of D-sorbitol and NADP at pH 8.8 and 9.3 were examined under all conditions studied; the shape of these kinetic curves altered to considerable extent with the alteration of the enzyme extract concentration in the reaction mixture and pH. At pH 9.3 several intermiediate plateaux were found on the curves of the D-sorbitol concentration dependent stationary rate of the reaction. The preincubation of the enzyme extract with NADP during 1.5 h removed the intermediate plateau on these curves and made them hyperbolic. Disk-electrophoresis of the enzyme extract in PAAG concentration gradient showed that at pH 8.8 the enzyme exists in one active form, while at pH 9.3 it exists in three major and three minor active forms of the enzyme differing in their molecular weights are found. It is assumed that the enzyme from G. oxydans cell extract can exist in a great number of molecular equilibrium forms, the rate of quilibrium being comparable or significantly less than that of the enzymatic reaction. NADP significantly influences on the equilibrium of the molecular forms of the enzyme.     

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 pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent dehydrogenase in Gluconobacter oxydans M5, responsible for production of 6-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-6-deoxy-L-sorbose

A membrane-bound protein purified from Gluconobacter oxydans M5 was confirmed to be a pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent D-sorbitol dehydrogenase. Gene disruption and complementation experiments demonstrated that this enzyme is responsible for the oxidation of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-1-deoxy-D-sorbitol (1NSL) to 6-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-6-deoxy-L-sorbose (6NSE), which is the precursor of an antidiabetic drug, miglitol.     

Gluconobacter oxydans: its biotechnological applications

Gluconobacter oxydans is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family Acetobacteraceae. G. oxydans is an obligate aerobe, having a respiratory type of metabolism using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Gluconobacter strains flourish in sugary niches e.g. ripe grapes, apples, dates, garden soil, baker's soil, honeybees, fruit, cider, beer, wine. Gluconobacter strains are non-pathogenic towards man and other animals but are capable of causing bacterial rot of apples and pears accompanied by various shades of browning. Several soluble and particulate polyol dehydrogenases have been described. The organism brings about the incomplete oxidation of sugars, alcohols and acids. Incomplete oxidation leads to nearly quantitative yields of the oxidation products making G. oxydans important for industrial use. Gluconobacter strains can be used industrially to produce L-sorbose from D-sorbitol; D-gluconic acid, 5-keto- and 2-ketogluconic acids from D-glucose; and dihydroxyacetone from glycerol. It is primarily known as a ketogenic bacterium due to 2,5-diketogluconic acid formation from D-glucose. Extensive fermentation studies have been performed to characterize its direct glucose oxidation, sorbitol oxidation, and glycerol oxidation. The enzymes involved have been purified and characterized, and molecular studies have been performed to understand these processes at the molecular level. Its possible application in biosensor technology has also been worked out. Several workers have explained its basic and applied aspects. In the present paper, its different biotechnological applications, basic biochemistry and molecular biology studies are reviewed.     

以甘油为唯一碳源的氧化葡糖杆菌适应性驯化及催化合成米格列醇中间体6NSL

氧化葡糖杆菌(Gluconobacter oxydans)来源的山梨醇脱氢酶可催化N-羟乙基葡萄糖胺合成6-脱氧-6-氨基(N-羟乙基)-α-L-呋喃山梨糖,即合成降血糖药物米格列醇的关键中间体。本文采用适应性驯化策略,以甘油为唯一碳源,通过40 g/L、60 g/L、80 g/L和100 g/L甘油梯度连续传代培养,筛选获得了一株以甘油为碳源的高活力菌株G.oxydans A-3-D,扫描电镜结果表明该细胞表面褶皱较原始菌株有显著增加。在80 g/L甘油培养基摇瓶培养24 h后,菌体浓度为4.58 g DCW/L,山梨醇脱氢酶的发酵体积酶活与比酶活分别为原始菌株G.oxydans ZJB-605的1.3倍及1.5倍。此外,在摇瓶培养条件下对影响催化反应进程的关键因素进行了考查,结果表明在摇瓶体系中,G.oxydans A-3-D的最适催化反应条件为80.0 g/L底物、2.0 g DCW/L菌体细胞、20 mmol/L Mg~(2+)浓度,15℃反应48 h后底物转化率达到90.8%,6NSL累积浓度为72.6 g/L,较G.oxydans ZJB-605有显著提升。     

基于重组氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌生物合成吡咯喹啉醌

吡咯喹啉醌(Pyrroloquinoline quinone,PQQ)是一种重要的氧化还原酶辅基,具有多种生理生化功能,在食品、医药卫生及农业等领域具有广泛的应用。文中采用重组氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌生物合成吡咯喹啉醌。首先构建丙酮酸脱羧酶基因GOX1081敲除的重组菌G. oxydans T1,减少副产物乙酸的形成。然后利用筛选的内源性组成型启动子P0169融合表达pqqABCDE基因簇及tldD基因,构建重组菌G. oxydans T2。最后对发酵培养基添加物和发酵条件进行优化。结果显示重组菌G. oxydans T1、G. oxydans T2生物量较野生菌分别提高43.02%和38.76%,而PQQ的产量分别是野生菌的4.82倍和20.5倍。进一步优化G. oxydans T2碳源及培养条件,最终PQQ产量达(51.3241±0.8997)mg/L,是野生菌的345.62倍。通过基因工程手段,可以有效提高氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌的生物量和合成PQQ的产量,为改善PQQ生物合成效率奠定基础。     

Complete genome sequence of the acetic acid bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans

Gluconobacter oxydans is unsurpassed by other organisms in its ability to incompletely oxidize a great variety of carbohydrates, alcohols and related compounds. Furthermore, the organism is used for several biotechnological processes, such as vitamin C production. To further our understanding of its overall metabolism, we sequenced the complete genome of G. oxydans 621H. The chromosome consists of 2,702,173 base pairs and contains 2,432 open reading frames. In addition, five plasmids were identified that comprised 232 open reading frames. The sequence data can be used for metabolic reconstruction of the pathways leading to industrially important products derived from sugars and alcohols. Although the respiratory chain of G. oxydans was found to be rather simple, the organism contains many membrane-bound dehydrogenases that are critical for the incomplete oxidation of biotechnologically important substrates. Moreover, the genome project revealed the unique biochemistry of G. oxydans with respect to the process of incomplete oxidation.     

葡萄糖酸氧化杆菌木糖醇脱氢酶基因的克隆与表达

【目的】获得葡萄糖酸氧化杆菌(Gluconobacter oxydans CGMCC 1.637)的木糖醇脱氢酶基因,研究其酶学性质及碳源特别是D-阿拉伯醇和木糖醇对该酶活性的影响。【方法】通过已报道序列的木糖醇脱氢酶的保守区设计引物,用聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)扩增获得目的基因片段。根据获得的片段序列设计引物克隆目的基因的5’和3’片段,将所获得的片段拼接,获得完整的木糖醇脱氢酶基因。通过构建工程菌获得重组蛋白,并利用氧化还原反应测定重组酶的活性。用含不同碳源的培养基培养G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637,并测定其破胞上清液木糖醇脱氢酶氧化木糖醇的活性;用不同碳源培养的G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637转化木酮糖,用高效液相色谱法测定木糖醇的产量。【结果】获得一个新的798bp的木糖醇脱氢酶基因,所编码的木糖醇脱氢酶含265个氨基酸,属于短链脱氢酶家族。酶学性质研究发现,该木糖醇脱氢酶催化木糖醇氧化的最适合条件为35℃、pH 10.0,最高活性为23.27 U/mg,催化木酮糖还原为木糖醇的最适条件为30℃、pH 6.0。最高活性为255.55 U/mg;该木糖醇脱氢酶的对木糖醇的Km和Vmax分别为78.97 mmol/L和40.17 U/mg。碳源诱导实验表明,d-山梨醇对G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637木糖醇脱氢酶的活性有明显的促进作用,而葡萄糖、果糖、木糖、木糖醇、D-阿拉伯醇对木糖醇脱氢酶活性有明显的抑制作用。而在转化实验中,用d-甘露糖培养的G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637的转化能力明显高于其他碳源培养的G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637的转化能力,其中,用阿拉伯醇培养的G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637的转化能力最低,仅为对照的35%。【结论】克隆自G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637的木糖醇脱氢酶基因是一个新的基因,用阿拉伯醇培养的G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637破胞液木糖醇脱氢酶活性低;且阿拉伯醇对G.oxydans CGMCC 1.637木酮糖的还原能力具有抑制作用。     

Painting and printing living bacteria: engineering nanoporous biocatalytic coatings to preserve microbial viability and intensify reactivity

Latex biocatalytic coatings containing approximately 50% by volume of microorganisms stabilize, concentrate and preserve cell viability on surfaces at ambient temperature. Coatings can be formed on a variety of surfaces, delaminated to generate stand-alone membranes or formulated as reactive inks for piezoelectric deposition of viable microbes. As the latex emulsion dries, cell preservation by partial desiccation occurs simultaneously with the formation of pores and adhesion to the substrate. The result is living cells permanently entrapped, surrounded by nanopores generated by partially coalesced polymer particles. Nanoporosity is essential for preserving microbial viability and coating reactivity. Cryo-SEM methods have been developed to visualize hydrated coating microstructure, confocal microscopy and dispersible coating methods have been developed to quantify the activity of the entrapped cells, and FTIR methods are being developed to determine the structure of vitrified biomolecules within and surrounding the cells in dry coatings. Coating microstructure, stability and reactivity are investigated using small patch or strip coatings where bacteria are concentrated 102- to 103-fold in 5-75 microm thick layers with pores formed by carbohydrate porogens. The carbohydrate porogens also function as osmoprotectants and are postulated to preserve microbial viability by formation of glasses inside the microbes during coat drying; however, the molecular mechanism of cell preservation by latex coatings is not known. Emerging applications include coatings for multistep oxidations, photoreactive coatings, stabilization of hyperthermophiles, environmental biosensors, microbial fuel cells, as reaction zones in microfluidic devices, or as very high intensity (>100 g.L-1 coating volume.h-1) industrial or environmental biocatalysts. We anticipate expanded use of nanoporous adhesive coatings for prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell preservation at ambient temperature and the design of highly reactive "living" paints and inks.     

The response of virally infected insect cells to dissolved oxygen concentration: recombinant protein production and oxidative damage

The effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on virally infected insect cells were investigated in 3-L bioreactor culture. Specifically, cultures of Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 (Sf-9) and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Tn-5B1-4) were infected with Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus expressing secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP). Following infection at a DO concentration of 50% air saturation, the DO concentration was adjusted to a final value of either 190%, 50%, or 10% air saturation. Recombinant SEAP production, cell viability, protein carbonyl content, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content were monitored. The increases in protein carbonyl and TBARS contents are taken to be indicators of protein oxidation and lipid oxidation, respectively. DO concentration was found to have no noticeable effect on SEAP production or cell viability decline in the Sf-9 cell line. In the Tn-5B1-4 cell line, cells displayed an increased peak SEAP production rate for 190% air saturation and displayed an increased rate of viability decline at increased DO concentration. Protein carbonyl content showed no significant increase in the Sf-9 cell line by 72 h postinfection (pi) at any DO concentration but showed a twofold increase at 10% and 50% DO concentration and a threefold increase at 190% DO concentration by 72 h pi in Tn-5B1-4 cells. TBARS content was found to increase by approximately 50% in Sf-9 cells and by approximately twofold in Tn-5B1-4 cells by 72 h pi with no clear relationship to DO concentration. It is hypothesized that oxygen uptake changes due to the viral infection process may bear a relation to the observed increases in protein and lipid oxidation and that lipid oxidation may play an important role in the death of virally infected insect cells.     

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.     

Effect of toluene-permeabilization on oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose by Gluconobacter suboxydans cells immobilized in calcium alginate

Summary The effect of permeabilization of G. suboxydans cells with toluene on the oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose was investigated. Treatment of the cells with 10% toluene resulted in a three fold increase in the specific sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and a two fold increase in the efficiency of D-sorbitol conversion to L-sorbose of the free cell suspension. When the permeabilized cells were immobilized in calcium alginate, the operational stability during air-lift reactor operation was also found to increase with up to three times longer half-life(44 days) of catalytic activity compared with immobilized intact cells.