S-stereoselective piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide hydrolase from Pseudomonas azotoformans IAM 1603 is a novel L-amino acid amidase.

An amidase acting on (R,S)-piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide was purified from Pseudomonas azotoformans IAM 1603 and characterized. The enzyme acted S-stereoselectively on (R,S)-piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide to yield (S)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid. N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences of the enzyme were determined. The gene encoding the S-stereoselective piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide amidase was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of the strain and sequenced. Analysis of 2.1 kb of genomic DNA revealed the presence of two ORFs, one of which (laaA) encodes the amidase. This enzyme, LaaA is composed of 310 amino acid residues (molecular mass 34 514 Da), and the deduced amino acid sequence exhibits significant similarity to hypothetical and functionally characterized proline iminopeptidases from several bacteria. The laaA gene modified in the nucleotide sequence upstream from its start codon was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The activity of the recombinant LaaA enzyme in cell-free extracts of E. coli was 13.1 units.mg(-1) with l-prolinamide as substrate. This enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation and two column chromatography steps. On gel-filtration chromatography, the enzyme appeared to be a monomer with a molecular mass of 32 kDa. It had maximal activity at 45 degrees C and pH 9.0, and was completely inactivated in the presence of phenylhydrazine, Zn2+, Ag+, Cd2+ or Hg2+. LaaA had hydrolyzing activity toward L-amino acid amides such as L-prolinamide, L-proline-p-nitroanilide, L-alaninamide and L-methioninamide, but did not act on the peptide substrates for the proline iminopeptidases despite their sequence similarity to LaaA. The enzyme also acted S-stereoselectively on (R,S)-piperidine-2-carboxamide, (R,S)-piperazine-2-carboxamide and (R,S)-piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide. Based on its specificity towards L-amino acid amides, the enzyme was named L-amino acid amidase. E. coli transformants overexpressing the laaA gene could be used for the S-stereoselective hydrolysis of (R,S)-piperazine-2-tert-butylcarboxamide.     

A novel S-enantioselective amidase acting on 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide from Arthrobacter sp. S-2

A novel S-enantioselective amidase acting on 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide was purified from Arthrobacter sp. S-2. The enzyme acted S-enantioselectively on 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide to yield (S)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid. Based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of this amidase, the gene coding S-amidase was cloned from the genomic DNA of Arthrobacter sp. S-2 and expressed in an Escherichia coli host. The recombinant S-amidase was purified and characterized. Furthermore, the purified recombinant S-amidase with the C-His₆-tag, which was expressed in E. coli as the C-His₆-tag fusion protein, was used in the kinetic resolution of (±)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide to obtain (S)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid and (R)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide.     

R-stereoselective amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis No. 7 acting on 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyramide

Ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate is an intermediate for the synthesis of Atorvastatin, a chiral drug used for hypercholesterolemia. A Rhodococcus erythropolis strain (No. 7) able to convert 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile into 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyric acid has recently been isolated from soil. This activity has been regarded as having been caused by the successive actions of the nitrile hydratase and amidase. In this instance, the corresponding amidase gene was cloned from the R. erythropolis strain and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. A soluble active form of amidase enzyme was obtained at 18 degrees . The Ni column-purified recombinant amidase was found to have a specific activity of 3.89 U/mg toward the substrate isobutyramide. The amidase was found to exhibit a higher degree of activity when used with midchain substrates than with short-chain ones. Put differently, amongst the various amides tested, isobutyramide and butyramide were found to be hydrolyzed the most rapidly. In addition to amidase activity, the enzyme was found to exhibit acyltransferase activity when hydroxyl amine was present. This dual activity has also been observed in other enzymes belonging to the same amidase group (E.C. 3.5.1.4). Moreover, the purified enzyme was proven to be able to enantioselectively hydrolyze 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyramide into the corresponding acid. The e.e. value was measured to be 52% when the conversion yield was 57%. Although this e.e. value is low for direct commercial use, molecular evolution could eventually result in this amidase being used as a biocatalyst for the production of ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate.     

A novel EDTA-degrading Pseudomonas sp.

A bacterial strain LPM-410 capable of utilizing ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) as the sole source of energy, carbon, and nitrogen was isolated from sewage sludge and identified as a Pseudomonas sp. on the basis of its phenotypic characteristics. Suspensions of exponential-phase cells degraded EDTA, Mg–, Ca–, Ba–, and Mn–EDTA at constant specific rates ranging from 0.363 to 0.525 mmol EDTA/(g cells h). The more stable chelate, Zn–EDTA, was degraded at a lower rate (0.195 ± 0.030 mmol EDTA/(g cells h)), and here was no degradation of Co–, Cu–, Pb–, and Fe(III)–EDTA.     

An inducible amidase from Pseudomonas striata.

A mutant of $\text{Pseudomonas striata}$ that grows in mineral medium with acetanilide as the sole carbon and nitrogen source for growth was isolated and a great amount of inducible enzyme was extracted from the cell. The crude enzyme extract was found to be very active toward the substrate acetanilide and the hydrolyzed products were identified as aniline and acetic acid. The enzyme was therefore characterized as an aryl acylamidase (EC 3.5.1.13). The growth and induction of the micro-organism as well as the extraction of the enzyme are described briefly in this paper.     

A novel alkaline, thermostable, protease-free lipase from Pseudomonas sp.

An extracellular, alkali-tolerant, thermostable lipase was from a Pseudomonas sp. It had optimal activity at 65 °C and retained 75% of its activity at 65 °C for 90 min. The pH optimum was 9.6 and it retained more than 70% activity between pH 5 and 9 for 2 h. The culture broth was free of protease and, at 30 °C, the culture filtrate retained all the activity for at least 7 days, without any stabilizer. In shake flask culture, addition of groundnut oil (3 g l^–1) towards the end of growth phase increased the activity from 4 U ml^–1 to 8 ml^–1.     

Kinetic mechanism of the aliphatic amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The kinetic constants for hydrolysis and transfer (with hydroxylamine as the alternate acceptor) of the aliphatic amidase (acylamide amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.4) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined for a variety of acetyl and propionyl derivatives. The results obtained were consistent with a ping-pong or substitution mechanism. Product inhibition, which was pH dependent, implicated an acyl-enzyme compound as a compulsory intermediate and indicated that ammonia combined additionally with the free enzyme in a dead-end manner. The uncompetitive activation of acetamide hydrolysis by hydroxylamine and the observation that the partitioning of products between acetic acid and acetohydroxamate was linearly dependent on the hydroxylamine concentration substantiated these conclusions and indicated that deacylation was at least partially rate limiting. With propionamide as the acyl donor apparently anomalous results, which included inequalities in certain kinetic constants and a hyperbolic dependence of the partition ratio on the hydroxylamine concentration, could be explained by postulating a compulsory isomerisation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate prior to the transfer reaction.     

Two novel species isolated from wheat rhizospheres in Serbia: Pseudomonas serbica sp. nov. and Pseudomonas serboccidentalis sp. nov.

Pseudomonas strains IT-194P, IT-215P, IT-P366^T and IT-P374^T were isolated from the rhizospheres of wheat grown in soils sampled from different fields (some of them known to be disease-suppressive) located near Mionica, Serbia. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes and of whole genome sequences showed that these strains belong to two potentially new species, one containing strains IT-P366^T and IT-194P and clustering (whole genome analysis) next to P. umsongensis DSM16611^T, and another species containing strains IT-P374^T and IT-215P and clustering next to P. koreensis LMG21318^T. Genome analysis confirmed the proposition of novel species, as ANI was below the threshold of 95% and dDDH below 70% for strains IT-P366^T (compared with P. umsongensis DSM16611^T) and IT-P374^T (compared with P. koreensis LMG21318^T). Unlike P. umsongensis DSM16611^T, strains of P. serbica can grow on D-mannitol, but not on pectin, D-galacturonic acid, L-galactonic acid lactone and α-hydroxybutyric acid. In contrary to P. koreensis LMG21318^T, strains of P. serboccidentalis can use sucrose, inosine and α-ketoglutaric acid (but not L-histidine) as carbon sources. Altogether, these results indicate the existence of two novel species for which we propose the names Pseudomonas serbica sp. nov., with the type strain IT-P366^T (=CFBP 9060 ^T = LMG 32732 ^T = EML 1791 ^T) and Pseudomonas serboccidentalis sp. nov., with the type strain IT-P374^T (=CFBP 9061 ^T = LMG 32734 ^T = EML 1792 ^T). Strains from this study presented a set of phytobeneficial functions modulating plant hormonal balance, plant nutrition and plant protection, suggesting a potential as Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR).     

Characterization of an inducible amidase from Pseudomonas acidovorans AE1.

The main molecular and catalytic properties of an acetanilide-hydrolyzing enzyme from Pseudomonas acidovorans AE 1, purified to a homogeneous state, were investigated. The molecular weight was 57 500 as determined by gel filtration and 55 300 as computed from the amino acid composition. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecylsulfate a polypeptide chain weight of 56 700 was obtained. Based on the reaction of the highly purufied enzyme with diethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate an equivalent weight of approximately 59 100 was found. From these results it was concluded that the enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain and contains one active site per molecule. The enzyme hydrolyzed esters as well as certain aromatic amides. It also catalysed the transfer of acetyl groups to phenetidine yielding phenacetin. The activities towards aliphatic esters were much smaller. The enzyme was stable at pH values ranging from 7 to 9 and its pH-optimum was about 10. It was strongly inhibited by organophosphorous compounds, like diethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate or diisopropylphosphorofluoridate, as well as by physostigmine sulfate and -SH-blocking reagents, like HgCl-2 or 4-chloromercuribenzoic acid. o-Nitrophenol caused a competitive inhibition and phenetidine an uncompetitive inhibition.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel thermostable amidase,Xam, from Xinfangfangia sp. DLY26

Objective

Identification and characterization of a novel thermostable amidase (Xam) with wide pH tolerance and broad-spectrum substrate specificity.

Results

Xam was identified from non-thermophilic Xinfangfangia sp. DLY26 and its acyl transfer activity was investigated. Recombinant Xam was optimally active at 60 °C and pH 9.0. The enzyme had a half life of 18 h at 55 °C and maintained more than 60?% of its maximum activity in the range of pH 3.0–11.0. Additionally, Xam exhibited broad substrate specificity towards aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic amides.

Conclusions

These unique properties make Xam a promising biocatalyst for production of important hydroxamic acids at elevated temperatures.

     

Isolation of an inducible amidase from Pseudomonas acidovorans AE1.

A bacterial strain, AEI, which hydrolysed acetanilide, was isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas acidovorans. Numerous amides, esters and enzyme inhibitors were tested as amidase inducers. Phenacetin was chosen as inducer for the large scale cultivation of these organisms because it was less toxic to the bacteria than acetanilide. The induction increased the enzymic activity 250-fold. In comparison, the type culture strain of P. acidovorans, ATTCCI5668, had no amidase activity which could be induced by phenacetin. Optimal growth conditions were established with respect to the concentration of carbon source and inducer so that about 10% of the extractable bacterial protein consisted of the amidase. The organisms were lysed with lysozyme in the presence of EDTA and the enzyme was isolated mainly by column chromatography procedures. A preparation form 60 g (wet wt) bacteria yielded about 100 mg highly purified amidase with a specific activity of 137 mugmol substrate hydrolysed/min/mg protien. In addition to acetanilide, the purified enzyme hydrolysed several other amides and esters. As standard substrate, p-nitroacetanilide was chosen.     

A Nad/nadh-dependent dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida acting on salbutamol

An arylalcohol dehydrogenase has been isolated from Pseudomonas putida NCIMB 9869 and was used for biosensing of salbutamol. The N-terminal hexadecapeptide sequence showed some homology to the form A of p-cresol methylhydroxylase and no homology to any other protein sequence of the Swiss Protein Sequence Data Bank. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Pseudomonas xanthomarina sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from marine ascidian

Two Pseudomonas-like yellow-orange-pigmented non-fluorescent denitrifying strains KMM 235 and KMM 1447T were isolated from marine ascidian specimens and investigated by a polyphasic approach to clarify their taxonomic status. On the basis of 16S rDNA gene sequence data the new isolates clustered with the Pseudomonas stutzeri species group with sequence similarities of >98%. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and biochemical characterization showed genetic and phenotypic distinction between strains KMM 235 and KMM 1447T and from the other validly described Pseudomonas species. Strain KMM 235 was found to be closely related to the type strain of Pseudomonas stutzeri in their phenotypic and genetic characteristics and represented, probably, a new P. stutzeri genomovar. It is proposed that strain KMM 1447T be classified as a new species of the genus Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas xanthomarina sp. nov., with the type strain KMM 1447T (=JCM 12468T=NRIC 0617T=CCUG 46543T).     

Strain PM2, a novel methylotrophic fluorescent Pseudomonas sp

A novel bacterial strain, PM2, capable of growing on methanol, was isolated in alkaline conditions from a soil inoculum. This bacterium was characterized at the physiological, biochemical and molecular level. Based on biochemical and molecular data strain PM2 was classified as a novel member of the group of fluorescent pseudomonads. Evidence for the presence of a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-linked alcohol dehydrogenase in this organism is presented. Strain PM2 is, to our knowledge, the first example of a methylotrophic Pseudomonas to be characterized in detail. This novel type of metabolism in Pseudomonas broadens even further the metabolic versatility for which this genus is renowned.     

Catabolite repression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa amidase: the effect of carbon source on amidase synthesis.

Synthesis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa aliphatic amidase was repressed severely by succinate and malate and less severely by glucose, acetate or lactate. Amidase synthesis in inducible and constitutive strains was stimulated by cyclic AMP, which also gave partial relief to catabolite repression produced by the addition of lactate to cultures growing in pyruvate medium. Mutants which were resistant to catabolite repression were isolated from succinate+lactamide medium.     

The isolation of an aliphatic amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A pilot-scale process for the isolation of an aliphatic, amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been developed. A constitutive, partially irrepressible mutant was employed to give a high initial enzyme concentration. An existing laboratory isolation procedure has been scaled up and modified particularly by substitution of polyethylene glycol for ammonium sulfate precipitation as the first stage in the conversion of the fractionation to continuous operation. Full recovery of activity was achieved with the modification. The recovery of enzyme from a subsequent chromatographic stage was 85% and the maximum overall purification was 28-fold.     

Purification and characterization of an amidase from an acrylamide-degrading Rhodococcus sp.

A constitutively expressed aliphatic amidase from a Rhodococcus sp. catalyzing acrylamide deamination was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 360,000. Upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified preparation yielded a homogeneous protein band having an apparent molecular weight of about 44,500. The amidase had pH and temperature optima of 8.5 and 40 degrees C, respectively, and its isoelectric point was pH 4.0. The amidase had apparent K(m) values of 1.2, 2.6, 3.0, 2.7, and 5.0 mM for acrylamide, acetamide, butyramide, propionamide, and isobutyramide, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectometry analysis indicated that the enzyme contains 8 mol of iron per mol of the native enzyme. No labile sulfide was detected. The amidase activity was enhanced by, but not dependent on Fe(2+), Ba(2+), and Cr(2+). However, the enzyme activity was partially inhibited by Mg(2+) and totally inhibited in the presence of Ni(2+), Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), specific iron chelators, and thiol blocking reagents. The NH2-terminal sequence of the first 18 amino acids displayed 88% homology to the aliphatic amidase of Brevibacterium sp. strain R312.     

A pyoverdin from Pseudomonas sp. CFML 95-275

From Pseudomonas sp. CFML 95-275 a pyoverdin was isolated with a cyclopeptidic substructure. It could be shown that this pyoverdin is identical with one obtained from Pseudomonas fluorescens BTP 7 for which a lactone structure had been deduced from the interpretation of a FAB spectrum. The elucidation of the correct structure of the pyoverdin is described.