Changes in the activities of various lipid and carbohydrate biosynthetic enzymes in the diatom Cyclotella cryptica in response to silicon deficiency

The effects of silicon deficiency on the activities of several enzymes involved in lipid and storage carbohydrate synthesis in the diatom Cyclotella cryptica were determined. The activity of UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase was not affected after 4 h of silicon-deficient growth, but the activity of UDPglucose: beta-(1----3)-glucan-beta-3-glucosyltransferase (chrysolaminarin synthase) was reduced by 31% during this period. Acetyl-CoA synthetase, acetyl-CoA hydrolase, and citrate synthase activities were present in cell-free extracts of C. cryptica, but did not change in response to 4 h of silicon deficiency. However, the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase increased approximately two- and fourfold after 4 and 15 h of silicon-deficient growth, respectively. This induction could be blocked by cycloheximide (20 micrograms/ml) and actinomycin D (10 micrograms/ml), suggesting that silicon deficiency may induce an increase in the rate of acetyl-CoA carboxylase synthesis. These changes in enzymatic activity may be partially responsible for the accumulation of lipids that has been observed in C. cryptica and other diatoms in response to silicon deficiency.     

Influence of fructose and glucose on the production of exopolysaccharides and the activities of enzymes involved in the sugar metabolism and the synthesis of sugar nucleotides in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772

 The effect of fructose and glucose on the growth, production of exopolysaccharides and the activities of enzymes involved in the synthesis of sugar nucleotides in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus grown in continuous culture was investigated. When grown on fructose, the strain produced 25 mg l^-1 exopolysaccharide composed of glucose and galactose in the ratio 1:2.4. When the carbohydrate source was switched to a mixture of fructose and glucose, the exopolysaccharide production increased to 80 mg l^-1, while the sugar composition of the exopolysaccharide changed to glucose, galactose and rhamnose in a ratio of 1:7.0:0.8. A switch to glucose as the sole carbohydrate source had no further effect. Analysis of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of sugar nucleotides indicates that in cell-free extracts of glucose-grown cells the activity of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase was higher than that in cell-free extracts of fructose-grown cells. The activities of dTDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and the rhamnose synthetic enzyme system were very low in glucose-grown cultures but could not be detected in fructose-grown cultures. Cells grown on a mixture of fructose and glucose showed similar enzyme activities as cells grown on glucose. Analysis of the intracellular level of sugar nucleotides in glucose-grown cultures of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus showed the presence of UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose in a ratio of 3.3:1, respectively, a similar ratio and slightly lower concentrations were found in fructose-grown cultures. The lower production of exopolysaccharides in cultures grown on fructose may be caused by the more complex pathway involved in the synthesis of sugar nucleotides. The absence of activities of enzymes leading to the synthesis of rhamnose nucleotides in fructose-grown cultures appeared to result in the absence of rhamnose monomer in the exopolysaccharides produced on fructose. Received: 1 February 1996/Received revision: 31 May 1996/Accepted: 2 June 1996     

Characterization of Escherichia coli B glycogen synthase enzymatic reactions and products.

Previous reports implicate UDPglucose as an active glucosyl donor for the unprimed reaction and “glucoprotein” formation in glycogen biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Results presented here indicate that UDPglucose and GDPglucose are glucosyl donors in the primed and unprimed reactions catalyzed by purified E. coli B glycogen synthase at less than 5% the rate observed when ADPglucose is the donor. The unprimed reaction is stimulated by 0.25 m citrate and a high molecular weight product is formed similar to that produced when ADPglucose is the glucosyl donor. Physiological amounts of branching enzyme and high concentrations of glycogen inhibit transfer from UDPglucose and GDPglucose. In addition, transfer from UDPglucose is inhibited by ADPglucose. These results strongly suggest that ADPglucose is the physiological donor in both the primed and unprimed reactions. Furthermore, these and previously reported results suggest that one enzyme is involved in the catalysis of the primed, unprimed, and TCA-insoluble product formation reactions. Antiserum prepared against purified E. coli B glycogen synthase inactivates transfer of glucose from either ADPglucose or UDPglucose in the above reactions catalyzed by E. coli B crude extracts. Purified E. coli B glycogen synthase preparations contain significant amounts of α-glucan primer. Evidence shows that this glucan is not covalently attached to the enzyme. Results presented show that formation of material insoluble in TCA and previously considered to be due to “glucoprotein” formation, is in fact due to the generation of long chain length glucan molecules intrinsically acid insoluble. The data suggest that previous results purported to be de novo synthesis of glycogen are due to glucan associated with the glycogen synthase and not to formation of a “glucoprotein” intermediate which then acts as primer for further oligosaccharide synthesis.     

Starch Synthesis in Developing Potato Tubers

The activities of enzymes involved in starch metabolism were measured at intervals during tuberization and the early stages of tuber growth in Solanum tubersum grown in water culture under controlled environmental conditions. Starch synthase, ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase, UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase and phosphorylase activities all increased during tuber development, the most pronounced increases occurring in the activities of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and phosphorylase. The activity ratio ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase/phosphorylase was lowest in slow growing tubers and hightest in fast growing tubers. In addition, high sugar concentrations in fast growing tubers and low sugar concentrations in slow growing tubers suggested that enzyme levels might be influenced by sugar concentration. The activities of starch synthase, phosphorylase and ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase were increased 2–2.5 fold by the presence of 100 mM K⁺. It is concluded that the major enzyme changes occur as a consequence of tuber initiation and that starch accumulation is controlled, at least in part, by the activities of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase and phosphorylase.     

Purification and characterisation of a novel starch synthase selective for uridine 5′-diphosphate glucose from the red alga Gracilaria tenuistipitata

Red algae (Rhodophyceae) are photosynthetic eukaryotes that accumulate starch granules in the cytosol. Starch synthase activity in crude extracts of Gracilaria tenuistipitata Chang et Xia was almost 9-fold higher with UDP[U-¹⁴C]glucose than with ADP[U-¹⁴C]glucose. The activity with UDP[U-¹⁴C]glucose was sensitive to proteolytic and oxidative inhibition during extraction whilst the activity with ADP[U-¹⁴C]glucose appeared unaffected. This indicates the presence of separate starch synthases with different substrate specificities in G. tenuistipitata. The UDPglucose: starch synthase was purified and characterised. The enzyme appears to be a homotetramer with a native M_r of 580 kDa and displays kinetic properties similar to other α-glucan synthases such as stimulation by citrate, product (UDP) inhibition and broad primer specificity. We propose that this enzyme is involved in cytosolic starch synthesis in red algae and thus is the first starch synthase described that utilises UDPglucose in vivo. The biochemical implications of the different compartmentalisation of starch synthesis in red algae and green algae/plants are also discussed. Received: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 11 March 1999     

Measurement of the inorganic pyrophosphate in tissues of Pisum sativum L.

Purified pyrophosphate: fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.90) was used to measure the inorganic pyrophosphate in unfractionated extracts of tissues of Pisum sativum L. The fructose 1,6-bisphosphate produced by the above enzyme was measured by coupling to NADH oxidation via aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13), triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8). Amounts of pyrophosphate as low as 1 nmol could be measured. The contents of pyrophosphate in the developing embryo of pea, and in the apical 2 cm of the roots, were appreciable; 9.4 and 8.9 nmol g^-1 fresh weight, respectively. The possibility that pyrophosphate acts in vivo as an energy source for pyrophosphate: fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase and for UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.9) is considered.     

Regulation of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase in cucumber plants infected with the cucumber mosaic virus

ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase level and mechanisms regulating its activity were studied in cucumber plants infected with the cucumber mosaic virus at the stage of chronic infection. Studies carried out with partially purified preparations of the enzyme have shown that there was no substantial difference in the regulatory influence of the ratio 3-PGA/P₁, or in the number of binding sites of the effectors on the enzyme, but that the virus infection reduced the level of the enzyme in the tissues to 74% of the control and the 3-PGA/P₁ ratio to one half which resulted in a further decrease in ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase activity. In crude homogenate prepared from diseased plants, activity of the enzyme was reduced to 42% of the healthy control. The level of UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase was three times higher in cucumber leaf tissues than the level of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase which was inhibited by both 3-PGA and P₁. Inhibitory effects of both these effectors were cumulated. The enzyme isolated from healthy plants was inhibited by inorganic phosphate more strongly than the enzyme isolated from diseased plants. UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase activity was increased in crude homogenate of diseased plants to 127% of the healthy control when the level of the enzyme was the same in the tissues of both healthy and diseased plants which was presumably connected with the enhanced rate of sucrose catabolism.     

Isolation and Properties of Dextranases from Bacteroides oralis Ig4a

Extracellular dextranases were extracted from a dextran-degrading microorganism, Bacteroides oralis Ig4a, which had been isolated from human dental plaque, and purified. Crude enzyme preparations obtained from a broth culture supernatant by salting out with ammonium sulfate were subjected to column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and subsequent Bio-Gel p-100, followed by isoelectric focusing. Two kinds of enzyme preparations, Enzymes I and II, with the ability to degrade soluble dextran were obtained. The optimal pHs of Enzymes I and II were 5.5 and 6.8, and the isoelectric points were pH 4.5 and 6.5, respectively. The molecular weights of Enzymes I and II were estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 44,000 and 52,000. Both enzymes were inhibited by Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺, but not by Ca²⁺, Mg²+, Zn²⁺, or Fe²⁺. Neither the presence of EDTA nor iodoacetamide had any appreciable effect on the enzyme activity. The enzyme activity was independent of any of these metal ions. Enzyme I liberated glucose, isomaltose, maltotriose and higher oligosaccharides from dextran. In contrast, Enzyme II liberated only glucose from dextran and was assumed to be an exoglycosidase. Neither of the enzymes degraded modified insoluble glucan, which is a partially oxidized mutan of S. mutans containing predominantly α-(1, 3) linkages.     

Purification and properties of glycogen phosphorylase from Streptococcus salivarius

Glucose-grown cells of Streptococcus salivarius have been shown to contain a polyglucose phosphorylase which had maximum activity in the stationary phase of growth. Despite the fact that activity in crude cell-free extracts was two- to threefold greater in the presence of corn dextrin than with oyster glycogen, subsequent purification (200-fold) of the enzyme from the soluble fraction of the organism by protamine sulfate treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation (30–50%), ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 demonstrated that this dextrin/glycogen activity was associated with a single enzyme. Since glucose-grown cells of S. salivarius are known to synthesize a typical glycogen polymer, the enzyme was named: glycogen phosphorylase. The purified enzyme preparation was devoid of phosphoglucomutase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, but contained a small amount of ADP-glucose: α-1,4 glucan transferase activity. The enzyme was stable at ?10 °C in the presence of 0.2 m NaF, while the pH optimum for the enzyme was 6.0 both with glycogen and with dextrin. With the purified enzyme, corn dextrin was the best primer, both in the direction of synthesis and in the direction of phosphorolysis, being 1.8–1.9 times more effective than purified S. salivarius glycogen. When the enzyme was assayed in the direction of glycogen synthesis, a K_m value of 3.4 mm was obtained for glucose-1-P, while the values for S. salivarius glycogen, oyster glycogen and corn dextrin were 25, 42, and 40 mg/ml, respectively. In the direction of phosphorolysis, K_m values were 20 mm for P_i obtained with oyster glycogen, 25 mm for P_i with corn dextrin, and 20 mg/ml and 26 mg/ml for oyster glycogen and corn dextrin, respectively. Present data suggests no involvement of -SH groups in enzyme catalysis, while the enzyme was inhibited by divalent ions with the severest inhibition being observed with Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺. The two ion chelators, EDTA and EGTA, had no effect on enzyme activity.     

Properties of uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase from Golgi apparatus of liver

Golgi apparatus isolated from cat liver contained UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase (UTP:alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.9) activity. The results of washing suggested that pyrophosphorylase was bound firmly to Golgi membranes. Moreover, the enzyme was activated by Triton X-100 in the same extent as galactosyltransferase, a typical Golgi apparatus enzyme. Two-substrate kinetic studies were performed with the enzymes from cytosol and Golgi fractions. The soluble enzyme showed an apparent 2.5-fold greater activity for the glucose 1-phosphate than for UTP, while pyrophosphorylase of Golgi apparatus had the same affinity for the two substrates. A random mechanism was observed with a direct dependence of apparent Michaelis constant values on the concentration of second substrate for soluble enzyme. In contrast, with Golgi enzyme one ligand had no effect on the binding of the other.     

An improved radiochemical assay for uridine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase

UDP glucose is an important intermediate in numerous metabolic pathways (1). It is therefore not surprising that the enzyme which catalyses its formation, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is ubiquitous (see (2) for references). The reaction catalysed by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is:

$\text{glucose-1}\text{-P +}\text{UTP ? UDP glucose + PPi}$

and the enzyme has been assayed either in the direction of pyrophosphorolysis of the nucleoside diphosphate sugar or in the direction of UDP-glucose formation.Spectrophotometric assays of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in the direction of pyrophosphorolysis are often nonspecific by virtue of the nature of the coupling enzymes (3), whereas similar assays in the direction of UDPG formation may lack the expected stoichiometry of reaction (3,4). Radioisotopic techniques for the assay of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (5,6) are to be preferred to spectrophotometric assays both for their increased sensitivity and specificity. However, these methods depend upon the specific isolation of the radioactive UDP glucose formed, either by a somewhat tedious adsorption to and elution from charcoal (5) or a hazardous precipitation using mercuric acetate. For routine assay of a large number of samples it would be advantageous to replace these techniques with one involving a safer, more rapid method of radioactive UDP-glucose isolation. The radiochemical assay described in this note utilises the binding of UDP glucose to commercially available, anion-exchange filter-paper discs for this purpose. Although the technique was designed to assay UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in cell extracts of the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum, it should be applicable to most sources of the enzyme.     

Regulation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase from the citric-acid-accumulating fungus Aspergillus niger

Summary Phosphofructokinase 2 (PFK 2) was isolated from mycelia of the citric-acid-accumulating fungus Aspergillus niger, and partially purified by Trisacryl-Blue chromatography and Mono Q fast protein liquid chromatography. The appearance of a 96/94-kDa double band correlated with PFK 2 activity during purification. Purified PFK 2 had a half-life of 240 min at 4° C. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten type kinetics with respect to its substrates fructose-6-phosphate and ATP, required inorgaic phosphate for activity, and was only weakly inhibited by phospho(enol)pyruvate, AMP and citrate. The enzyme activity was not influenced by incubating partially purified PFK 2 preparations with ATP, MG²⁺ and the catalytic subunit of bovine heart protein kinase, although such treatment phosphorylated the 96/94-kDa protein. Consistently, treatment with alkaline phosphatase had no effect on PFK 2 activity. Also, no influence on PFK 2 activity was observed when cell-free extracts (containing A. niger protein kinases) from either glucose or citrate-grown mycelia were incubated with ATP and Mg²⁺ alone. It is concluded that, in A. niger, regulation of PFK 2 by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation does not occur, and this is related to the development of high glycolytic flow and citrate accumulation under conditions of supplying high sugar concentrations. Correspondence to: C. P. Kubicek     

Purification and Properties of Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase from Streptomyces cyanogenus

Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) of a strain of Streptomyces cyanogenus was purified 1,900-fold to an apparent homogenity from cell-free extracts. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 150,000 and consisted of eight identical subunits with a molecular weight of 18,000. The isoelectric point was at pH 4.4. The enzyme required Mg²⁺ or Ma²⁺ for activity and had a pH optimum at 8.5. Hypoxanthine and guanine were good substrates for the enzyme. Xanthine was a very poor substrate and adenine was not a substrate. Apparent Km values of the enzyme for hypoxanthine, guanine and 5-phosphoribose-1-pyro-phosphate were 1.6 × 10^?8, 2.7 × 10^?6 and 6.3 × 10^?5 m, respectively. All purine nucleotides tested inhibited the activity significantly, apparently by competing with 5-phosphoribose-1-pyrophosphate.     

Incorporation of UDPGlucose into Cell Wall Glucans and Lipids by Intact Cotton Fibers

The [¹⁴C] moiety from [³H]UDP[¹⁴C]glucose was incorporated by intact cotton fibers into hot water soluble, acetic-nitric reagent soluble and insoluble components, and chloroform-methanol soluble lipids; the [³H] UDP moiety was not incorporated. The ³H-label can be exchanged rapidly with unlabeled substrate in a chase experiment. The cell wall apparent free space of cotton fibers was in the order of 30 picomoles per milligram of dry fibers; 25 picomoles per milligram easily exchanged and about 5 picomoles per milligram more tightly adsorbed. At 50 micromolar UDPglucose, 70% of the [¹⁴C]glucose was found in the lipid fraction after both a short labeling period and chase. The percent of [¹⁴C]glucose incorporated into total glucan increased slightly with chase, but the fraction of total glucans incorporated into insoluble acetic-nitric reagent (cellulose) did increase within a 30-minute chase period. The data supports the concept that glucan synthesis, including cellulose, as well as the synthesis of steryl glucosides, acetylated steryl glucosides, and glucosyl-phosphoryl-polyprenol from externally supplied UDPglucose occurs at the plasma membrane-cell wall interface. The synthase enzymes for such synthesis must be part of this interfacial membrane system.     

Ethylene formation by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli

The pathway leading to the formation of ethylene as a secondary metabolite from methionine by Escherichia coli strain B SPAO has been investigated. Methionine was converted to 2-oxo-4-methylthiobutyric acid (KMBA) by a soluble transaminase enzyme. 2-Hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid (HMBA) was also a product, but is probably not an intermediate in the ethylene-forming pathway. KMBA was converted to ethylene, methanethiol and probably carbon dioxide by a soluble enzyme system requiring the presence of NAD(P)H, Fe³⁺ chelated to EDTA, and oxygen. In the absence of added NAD(P)H, ethylene formation by cell-free extracts from KMBA was stimulated by glucose. The transaminase enzyme may allow the amino group to be salvaged from methionine as a source of nitrogen for growth. As in the plant system, ethylene produced by E. coli was derived from the C-3 and C-4 atoms of methionine, but the pathway of formation was different. It seems possible that ethylene production by bacteria might generally occur via the route seen in E. coli.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - HMBA 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid (methionine hydroxy analogue) - HSS high speed supernatant - KMBA 2-oxo-4-methylthiobutyric acid - PCS phase combining system     

Zymomonas mobilis mutants blocked in fructose utilization

Summary A mutant ofZymomonas mobilis deficient in the utilization of fructose for growth and ethanol formation was shown to lack fructokinase activity. When grown in media which contained glucose+fructose or sucrose, both the mutant and wild type produced sorbitol in amounts up to 60 g·l^-1, depending on the initial concentrations of sugars. Sorbitol formation was accompanied by an accumulation of acetaldehyde, gluconate, and acetoin. A ferricyanide-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase could be localized in the cell membrane; it thus resembles the sorbitol dehydrogenase ofGluconobacter suboxydans. Neither a NAD(P)H dependent reduction of fructose nor a NAD(P) dependent dehydrogenation of sorbitol could be detected in cell-free extracts. The use of fructose-negative mutants ofZ. mobilis for the enrichment of fructose in glucose+fructose mixtures is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of β-galactosidase fromLactobacillus crispatus

β-Galactosidase was isolated from the cell-free extracts ofLactobacillus crispatus strain ATCC 33820 and the effects of temperature, pH, sugars and monovalent and divalent cations on the activity of the enzyme were examined.L. crispatus produced the maximum amount of enzyme when grown in MRS medium containing galactose (as carbon source) at 37°C and pH 6.5 for 2 d, addition of glucose repressing enzyme production. Addition of lactose to the growth medium containing galactose inhibited the enzyme synthesis. The enzyme was active between 20 and 60°C and in the pH range of 4–9. However, the optimum enzyme activity was at 45°C and pH 6.5. The enzyme was stable up to 45°C when incubated at various temperatures for 15 min at pH 6.5. When the enzyme was exposed to various pH values at 45°C for 1 h, it retained the original activity over the pH range of 6.0–7.0. Presence of divalent cations, such as Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺, in the reaction mixture increased enzyme activity, whereas Zn²⁺ was inhibitory. TheK _m was 1.16 mmol/L for 2-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranose and 14.2 mmol/L for lactose.     

Role of Acetyl CoA: Deacetylcephalosporin C Acetyltransferase in Cephalosporin C Biosynthesis by Cephalosporium acremonium

Existence of an acetyltransferase, which catalizes acetylation of deacetylcephalosporin C to cephalosporin C, was demonstrated for the first time in cell-free extracts of Cephalosporium acremonium. The pH optimum of the enzyme appeared to be 7.0 to 7.5 and the enzyme required essentially Mg²⁺ as a cofactor for its reaction. The activity of this enzyme was not observed in the cell-free extracts of deacetylcephalosporin C-producing mutants Nos. 20, 29, 36 and 40, but was recovered in a revertant obtained from the mutant No. 40. These results indicate that deacetylcephalosporin C accumulation by these mutants was due to the lack of the acetyltransferase and made it reasonable that the terminal reaction of cephalosporin C biosynthesis in Cephalosporium acremonium proceeded by the catalytic action of acetyltransferase.     

Isolation and characterization of α‐(1→3)‐glucan‐degrading bacteria from the gut of Diaperis boleti feeding on Laetiporus sulphureus

Bacteria degrading α‐(1→3)‐glucan were sought in the gut of fungivorous insects feeding on fruiting bodies of a polypore fungus Laetiporus sulphureus, which are rich in this polymer. One isolate, from Diaperis boleti, was selected in an enrichment culture in the glucan‐containing medium. The bacterium was identified as Paenibacillus sp. based on the results of the ribosomal DNA analysis. The Paenibacillus showed enzyme activity of 4.97 mU/cm³ and effectively degraded fungal α‐(1→3)‐glucan, releasing nigerooligosaccharides and a trace amount of glucose. This strain is the first reported α‐(1→3)‐glucan‐degrading microorganism in the gut microbiome of insects inhabiting fruiting bodies of polypore fungi.