In vitro activation, purification, and characterization of Escherichia coli expressed aryl-alcohol oxidase, a unique H2O2-producing enzyme

Aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO), a flavoenzyme with unique spectral and catalytic properties that provides H2O2 for fungal degradation of lignin, has been successfully activated in vitro after Escherichia coli expression. The recombinant AAO (AAO*) protein was recovered from inclusion bodies of E. coli W3110 transformed with pFLAG1 containing the aao cDNA from Pleurotus eryngii. Optimization of in vitro refolding yielded 75% active enzyme after incubation of AAO* protein (10 microg/ml) for 80 h (at 16 degrees C and pH 9) in the presence of glycerol (35%), urea (0.6 M), glutathione (GSSG/GSH molar ratio of 2), and FAD (0.08 mM). For large-scale production, the refolding volume was 15-fold reduced and over 45 mg of pure active AAO* was obtained per liter of E. coli culture after a single anion-exchange chromatographic step. Correct FAD binding and enzyme conformation were verified by UV-visible spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Although the three enzymes oxidized the same aromatic and aliphatic polyunsaturated primary alcohols, some differences in physicochemical properties, including lower pH and thermal stability, were observed when the activated enzyme was compared with fungal AAO from P. eryngii (wild enzyme) and Emericella nidulans (recombinant enzyme), which are probably related to the absence of glycosylation in the E. coli expressed AAO.     

Heterologous expression of Pleurotus eryngii peroxidase confirms its ability to oxidize Mn(2+) and different aromatic substrates.

A versatile ligninolytic peroxidase has been cloned from Pleurotus eryngii and its allelic variant MnPL2 expressed in Aspergillus nidulans, with properties similar to those of the mature enzyme from P. eryngii. These include the ability to oxidize Mn(2+) and aromatic substrates, confirming that this is a new peroxidase type sharing catalytic properties of lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase.     

A search for ligninolytic peroxidases in the fungus pleurotus eryngii involving alpha-keto-gamma-thiomethylbutyric acid and lignin model dimers

Because there is some controversy concerning the ligninolytic enzymes produced by Pleurotus species, ethylene release from alpha-keto-gamma-thiomethylbutyric acid (KTBA), as described previously for Phanerochaete chrysosporium lignin peroxidase (LiP), was used to assess the oxidative power of Pleurotus eryngii cultures and extracellular proteins. Lignin model dimers were used to confirm the ligninolytic capabilities of enzymes isolated from liquid and solid-state fermentation (SSF) cultures. Three proteins that oxidized KTBA in the presence of veratryl alcohol and H2O2 were identified (two proteins were found in liquid cultures, and one protein was found in SSF cultures). These proteins are versatile peroxidases that act on Mn2+, as well as on simple phenols and veratryl alcohol. The two peroxidases obtained from the liquid culture were able to degrade a nonphenolic beta-O-4 dimer, yielding veratraldehyde, as well as a phenolic dimer which is not efficiently oxidized by P. chrysosporium peroxidases. The former reaction is characteristic of LiP. The third KTBA-oxidizing peroxidase oxidized only the phenolic dimer (in the presence of Mn2+). Finally, a fourth Mn2+-oxidizing peroxidase was identified in the SSF cultures on the basis of its ability to oxidize KTBA in the presence of Mn2+. This enzyme is related to the Mn-dependent peroxidase of P. chrysosporium because it did not exhibit activity with veratryl alcohol and Mn-independent activity with dimers. These results show that P. eryngii produces three types of peroxidases that have the ability to oxidize lignin but lacks a typical LiP. Similar enzymes (in terms of N-terminal sequence and catalytic properties) are produced by other Pleurotus species. Some structural aspects of P. eryngii peroxidases related to the catalytic properties are discussed.     

Biochemical characterization, cDNA cloning and protein crystallization of aryl-alcohol oxidase from Pleurotus pulmonarius

Aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO) involved in lignin degradation by Pleurotus pulmonarius has been purified and characterized. The enzyme was produced in glucose-peptone medium and isolated in a sole chromatographic step using Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme is an extracellular glycoprotein with 14% N-carbohydrate content and an estimated molecular mass of 70.5 kDa and pI of 3.95. The kinetic studies showed the highest enzyme affinity against p-anisyl alcohol, with constants similar to those of Pleurotus eryngii and Bjerkandera adusta AAO but different from the intracellular AAO described in Phanerochaete chrysosporium, which present the highest activity on m-anisyl alcohol. Simultaneously, the cDNA of P. pulmonarius AAO has been cloned and sequenced. The translation of this sequence consisted of 593 amino acids including a signal peptide of 27 amino acids. The comparison with other alcohol oxidases, 35% amino acid identity with glucose oxidase, showed highly conserved amino acid sequences in N-terminal and C-terminal regions, in spite of differences in substrate specificity. Crystallization of AAO, carried out for the first time using the P. pulmonarius enzyme, will permit to obtain a molecular model for this oxidase and establish some characteristic of its catalytic site and general structure.     

Isolation of two laccase genes from the white-rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii and heterologous expression of the pel3 encoded protein

In this paper we report the cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of two new laccase genes from the white-rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii, named pel3 and pel4. Comparison of the protein sequences deduced from these genes with laccases previously described in P. eryngii indicates that these genes codify for new laccases in this fungus. We described the expression of pel3 gene in two different Aspergillus niger strains. Both the laccase signal peptide and the glucoamylase preprosequence of A. niger were used to target the secretion of the active enzyme. The highest levels of laccase expression were obtained by combining the last construction with an A. niger strain deficient in extracellular proteases secretion. The characterization of catalytic properties of the recombinant enzyme, together with the setting-up of a heterologous expression system for pel3, will provide the basis to study the biotechnological applications of this enzyme.     

Aryl-alcohol oxidase protein sequence: a comparison with glucose oxidase and other FAD oxidoreductases

Aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO), an FAD-dependent enzyme involved in lignin degradation, has been cloned from Pleurotus eryngii. The AAO protein is composed of 593 amino acids, 27 of which form a signal peptide. It shows 33% sequence identity with glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger and lower homology with other oxidoreductases. The predicted secondary structures of both enzymes are very similar. For AAO, it is predicted to contain 13 putative alpha-helices and two major beta-sheets, each of the putative beta-sheets formed by six beta-strands. The ADP binding site and the signature-2 consensus sequence of the glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductases were also present. Moreover, residues potentially involved in catalysis and substrate binding were identified in the vicinity of the flavin ring. They include two histidines (H502 and H546) and several aromatic residues (Y78, Y92 and F501), as reported in other FAD oxidoreductases.     

Electron and Fluorescence Microscopy of Extracellular Glucan and Aryl-Alcohol Oxidase during Wheat-Straw Degradation by Pleurotus eryngii

The ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus eryngii grown in liquid medium secreted extracellular polysaccharide (87% glucose) and the H₂O₂-producing enzyme aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO). The production of both was stimulated by wheat-straw. Polyclonal antibodies against purified AAO were obtained, and a complex of glucanase and colloidal gold was prepared. With these tools, the localization of AAO and extracellular glucan in mycelium from liquid medium and straw degraded under solid-state fermentation conditions was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence microscopy. These studies revealed that P. eryngii produces a hyphal sheath consisting of a thin glucan layer. This sheath appeared to be involved in both mycelial adhesion to the straw cell wall during degradation and AAO immobilization on hyphal surfaces, with the latter evidenced by double labeling. AAO distribution during differential degradation of straw tissues was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Finally, TEM immunogold studies confirmed that AAO penetrates the plant cell wall during P. eryngii degradation of wheat straw.     

Southern blot screening for lignin peroxidase and aryl-alcohol oxidase genes in 30 fungal species

Screening to detect genes encoding lignin peroxidase (LiP) and aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO) has been carried out with 30 fungal strain using DNA probes from genes lpo of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (encoding LiP isoenzyme H8) and aao of Pleurotus eryngii. Evidence for the presence of genes closely related to lpo was found in Bjerkandera adusta, Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma australe, Lentinula degener, Peniophora gigantea, P. chrysosporium, Phanerochaete flavido-alba and Trametes tersicolor, whereas the gene aao was detected in Pleurotus species and B. adusta. The presence of both genes was only detected in B. adusta. These results suggest that different enzymatic system, formed by enzymes encoded by different genes, are responsible for lignin degradation by white-rot fungi.     

基于ITS序列分析对我国主要栽培的侧耳品种的鉴定及评价

利用PCR产物克隆测序测定了20个我国主要栽培的侧耳品种的ITS序列,另外从GenBank获得侧耳属15个种25条ITS序列及亚侧耳属2个种的ITS序列。以Hohenbueheliagrisea和H.tremula为外群,运用PAUP软件中的简约分析法(parsimonyanalysis)构建的系统发育树表明:侧耳属Pleurotus是单起源的,20个主要栽培的侧耳品种分别聚在三个组,即Ostreatus-eryngii-populinus复合组、Pulmonarius组、Citrinopileatus-cornucopiae组。Ostreatus-eryngii-populinus组含刺芹侧耳Pleurotuseryngii、白灵侧耳P.nebrodensis、香侧耳Pleurotussp.、阿魏侧耳P.eryngiivar.ferulae、平963-1Pleurotussp.及糙皮侧耳P.ostreatus、日本秀珍Pleurotussp.、平802Pleurotussp.、姬菇Pleurotussp.、灰白侧耳P.spodoleucus、缘刺侧耳Pleurotussp.、凤尾菇P.sajor-caju;Pulmonarius组含肺形侧耳P.pulmonarius、小白平菇Pleurotussp.、平8804Pleurotussp.、平侧5Pleurotussp.、美味侧耳P.sapidus;Citrinopileatus-cornucopiae组含黄白侧耳P.cornucopiae、金顶侧耳P.citrinopileatus、鸡汁菌Pleurotussp.。系统树还显示黄白侧耳与金顶侧耳、白灵侧耳与刺芹侧耳亲缘关系密切,而凤尾菇与肺形侧耳分属于不同的组,属于两个不同的种。基于ITS序列分析,本文还针对目前我国栽培的主要侧耳品种在名称使用上的混淆和混乱进行了初步的评价和讨论。     

中国栽培白灵菇学名的订正

采用形态学方法对采集于新疆野生的阿魏蘑标本进行分类鉴定,结果表明其形态学特征符合刺芹侧耳托里变种Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis的特征范围,它与欧洲已报道的Pleurotus nebrodensis有明显的差异。此外本研究还采用分子生物学方法对从该野生样品分离的菌株CCMSSC 02514进行了rDNA ITS序列分析,结果表明它与我国栽培白灵菇菌种CCMSSC 00973、KH5和AFRL 6022完全相同,以此构建系统发育树,将我国栽培白灵菇种质与意大利的Pleurotus nebrodensis、Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae以及来自荷兰的Pleurotus eryngii等截然分为两组。因此,形态学和rDNA ITS序列分析结果支持我国栽培的白灵菇与欧洲的Pleurotus nebrodensis为不同种,我国的白灵菇是刺芹侧耳独立进化的一个分支,其名称应该为刺芹侧耳托里变种Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis。     

Interaction between gfp-tagged Pseudomonas tolaasii P12 and Pleurotus eryngii

Pseudomonas sp., (formerly reported as strain P12) which produces brown blotch disease symptoms on Pleurotus eryngii, has been identified as P. tolaasii based on its biochemical, physiological properties and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. This pathogen is able to infect basidiocarps when surface-inoculated on mushroom casing soil. However, infected basidiocarps develop the brown blotch disease symptoms when the pathogen concentration in the fruiting body tissues is higher than 10(4) cfu/g d.w. Using gfp-tagged cells and confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was possible to show that the pathogen has the ability to tightly attach to the hyphae of Pleurotus eryngii.     

Pleurotus eryngii species complex: sequence analysis and phylogeny based on partial EF1α and RPB2 genes

The Pleurotus eryngii species complex comprises at least six varieties (var. eryngii (DC.: Fr) Quel., ferulae Lanzi, elaeoselini Venturella et?al., nebrodensis (Inzenga) Sacc., tingitanus Lewinsohn et?al. and tuoliensis C.J. Mou). This species is unique among the genus Pleurotus because in nature it is found in association with certain species of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) and Asteraceae (Compositae) families. Sequences of partial regions of the translation elongation factor (EF1α) and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes were analyzed in order to detect nucleotide polymorphisms that might unequivocally distinguish varieties eryngii, ferulae, elaeoselini and nebrodensis. A phylogenetic analysis was also performed with an aim to establish phylogenetic relationships among those. Sequence analysis of the partial EF1α and RPB2 genes contained nucleotide polymorphisms able to unequivocally distinguish variety nebrodensis from the rest. However, distinction among eryngii, elaeoselini and ferulae was achieved only through the RPB2 gene. The phylogenetic analyses from the combined data sets (EF1α and RPB2) indicated that P. eryngii is a monophyletic group and that varieties eryngii, elaeoselini and ferulae are closely related. P. eryngii var. nebrodensis was placed in a distinct clade clearly differentiated from the other varieties but still monophyletic with the P. eryngii complex. The limited nucleotide variation in partial EF1α and RPB2 among varieties eryngii, ferulae and elaeoselini supports the placement of these groups as varieties and not species within the complex.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of selected residues at the active site of aryl-alcohol oxidase, an H2O2-producing ligninolytic enzyme

Aryl-alcohol oxidase provides H(2)O(2) for lignin biodegradation, a key process for carbon recycling in land ecosystems that is also of great biotechnological interest. However, little is known of the structural determinants of the catalytic activity of this fungal flavoenzyme, which oxidizes a variety of polyunsaturated alcohols. Different alcohol substrates were docked on the aryl-alcohol oxidase molecular structure, and six amino acid residues surrounding the putative substrate-binding site were chosen for site-directed mutagenesis modification. Several Pleurotus eryngii aryl-alcohol oxidase variants were purified to homogeneity after heterologous expression in Emericella nidulans, and characterized in terms of their steady-state kinetic properties. Two histidine residues (His502 and His546) are strictly required for aryl-alcohol oxidase catalysis, as shown by the lack of activity of different variants. This fact, together with their location near the isoalloxazine ring of FAD, suggested a contribution to catalysis by alcohol activation, enabling its oxidation by flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD). The presence of two aromatic residues (at positions 92 and 501) is also required, as shown by the conserved activity of the Y92F and F501Y enzyme variants and the strongly impaired activity of Y92A and F501A. By contrast, a third aromatic residue (Tyr78) does not seem to be involved in catalysis. The kinetic and spectral properties of the Phe501 variants suggested that this residue could affect the FAD environment, modulating the catalytic rate of the enzyme. Finally, L315 affects the enzyme k(cat), although it is not located in the near vicinity of the cofactor. The present study provides the first evidence for the role of aryl-alcohol oxidase active site residues.     

Expression and characterization of an endo-1,4-β-galactanase from Emericella nidulans in Pichia pastoris for enzymatic design of potentially prebiotic oligosaccharides from potato galactans

Potato pulp is a high-volume side-stream from industrial potato starch manufacturing. Enzymatically solubilized β-1,4-galactan-rich potato pulp polysaccharides of molecular weights >100 kDa (SPPP) are highly bifidogenic in human fecal sample fermentations in vitro. The objective of the present study was to use potato β-1,4-galactan and the SPPP as substrates for enzymatic production of potentially prebiotic compounds of lower and narrower molecular weight. A novel endo-1,4-β-galactanase from Emericella nidulans (anamorph Aspergillus nidulans), GH family 53, was produced in a recombinant Pichia pastoris strain. The enzyme was purified by Cu(2+) affinity chromatography and its optimal reaction conditions were determined to pH 5 and 49°C via a statistical experimental design. The specific activity of the E. nidulans enzyme expressed in P. pastoris was similar to that of an endo-1,4-β-galactanase from Aspergillus niger used as benchmark. The E. nidulans enzyme expressed in P. pastoris generated a spectrum poly- and oligo-saccharides which were fractionated by membrane filtration. The potential growth promoting properties of each fraction were evaluated by growth of beneficial gut microbes and pathogenic bacteria. All the galactan- and SPPP-derived products promoted the growth of probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus and generally did not support the propagation of Clostridium perfringens in single culture fermentations. Notably the growth of B. longum was significantly higher (p<0.05) or at least as good on galactan- and SPPP-derived products as fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Except in one case these products did not support the growth of the pathogen Cl. perfringens to any significant extent.     

Molecular genetic analysis of two taxa of the Pleurotus eryngii complex: P. eryngii (DC.Fr.) Quèl. var. eryngii and P. eryngii (DC.Fr.) Quèl. var. ferulae

With the use of isozymes and PCR-fingerprinting analysis molecular markers were found between the varieties Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii and P. eryngii var. ferulae within the Pleurotus eryngii complex, which allowed the identification of the fruitbodies collected in Southern and Central Italy. The study of sympatric localities has shown that there is no gene exchange between them in the field. The post-mating barriers between these taxa are not yet completely efficient. However, in the field the gene pools of the two taxa appear isolated and associated with specific host plants: Eryngium campestre and Ferula communis . On the basis of the genetic and ecological differences observed and given the absence of gene exchange in sympatric localities, P. eryngii and P. ferulae are to be considered distinct biological species. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 75 , 125–136.     

Anisaldehyde production and aryl-alcohol oxidase and dehydrogenase activities in ligninolytic fungi of the genus Pleurotus.

A variety of simple aromatic compounds were identified in liquid cultures of the basidiomycetes Pleurotus cornucopiae, P. eryngii, P. floridanus, P. pulmonarius, P. ostreatus, and P. sajor-caju by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Such compounds were detected in fungal cultures on lignin- and straw-containing media, but it was found that they were also produced in the absence of aromatic precursors. Anisylic and hydroxybenzylic compounds (such as alcohols, aldehydes, and acids) were identified, p-anisaldehyde being the most characteristic extracellular metabolite synthesized by these ligninolytic fungi. Small amounts of 3-chloro-p-anisaldehyde were also detected in several species. It is postulated that the balance between the more-or-less-oxidized aromatic compounds can be explained in terms of the activity of fungal enzymes, including aryl-alcohol oxidase and dehydrogenase. The former enzyme shows high affinity for p-anisyl alcohol, which is oxidized to p-anisaldehyde with production of H2O2. The aryl-alcohol dehydrogenase was detected only in the mycelium, where it reduces aromatic aldehydes in the presence of NADPH. Both enzymes could be involved in the redox cycling of these aromatic compounds, providing H2O2 to ligninolytic peroxidases.     

Genetic Diversity of the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus sp. by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism

Pleurotus strains are the most important fungi used in the agricultural industry. The exact characterization and identification of Pleurotus species is fundamental for correct identification of the individuals and exploiting their full potential in food industry. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method was applied for genomic fingerprinting of 21 Pleurotus isolates of Asian and European origin. Using one PstI restriction endonuclease and four selective primers in an AFLP assay, 371 DNA fragments were generated, including 308 polymorphic bands. The AFLP profiles were found to be highly specific for each strain and they unambiguously distinguished 21 Pleurotus sp. fungi. The coefficient of Jaccard's genome profile similarity between the analyzed strains ranged from 0.0 (Pleurotus sp. I vs. P. sajor-caju 237 and P. eryngii 238) to 0.750 (P. ostreatus 246 vs. P. ostreatus 248), and the average was 0.378. The AFLP-based dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method grouped all the Pleurotus fungi studied into two major clusters and one independent lineage located on the outskirt of the tree occupied by naturally growing Pleurotus species strain I. The results of the present study suggest the possible applicability of the AFLP-PstI method in effective identification and molecular characterization of Pleurotus sp. strains.     

Progress in biopulping of non-woody materials: Chemical, enzymatic and ultrastructural aspects of wheat straw delignification with ligninolytic fungi from the genus Pleurotus

Abstract: During screening of basidiomycetes for wheat straw delignification, considerable lignin degradation with a limited attack to cellulose was attained with Pleurotus eryngii . Straw solid-state fermentation (SSF) was optimized, and the enzymatic mechanisms for lignin degradation were investigated. No lignin peroxidase was detected under liquid or SSF conditions, but high laccase and aryl-alcohol oxidase levels were found. The latter enzyme has been fully characterized in PI. eryngii and it seems to be involved in a cyclic redox system for H₂0₂ generation from aromatic compounds. Results obtained using homoveratric acid suggest that Pleurotus laccase could be involved in degradation of phenolic and non-phenolic lignin moieties. Histological and ultrastructural studies provided some general morphological characteristics of the fungal attack on wheat straw. Whereas a simultaneous degradation pattern was observed in straw treated with Phanerochaete chrysosporium , PI. eryngii caused partial degradation of middle lamella and separation of individual sclerenchymatic fibers. When these straw samples were subjected to refining tests, energy saving after biological treatment was the highest in the case of straw treated with PI. eryngii , which also produced the lowest substrate loss. From these results, a correlation between preferential removal of lignin, separation of sclerenchymatic fibers and pulping properties was provided during fungal treatment of wheat straw.     

刺芹侧耳谷氨酰胺合成酶编码基因克隆和表达分析

谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）是真菌氮素同化代谢和谷氨酸合成中的关键酶,采用3’RACE和5’RACE实验技术,克隆获得刺芹侧耳（杏鲍菇）谷氨酰胺合成酶编码基因（PE-GS）全长序列,长度为1 271bp,具有4个内含子和5个外显子,编码353个氨基酸残基。系统进化树分析表明,刺芹侧耳PE-GS与糙皮侧耳GS在分子进化关系上相近。通过real time RT-PCR方法对PE-GS基因在刺芹侧耳基质菌丝体和子实体中的表达情况进行了分析,结果表明,刺芹侧耳PE-GS基因在子实体具有较高的表达水平,这暗示刺芹侧耳PE-GS基因在子实体的氮素代谢中可能承担重要功能。