The Inhibitory Effect of some Antibiotics on Increase in o-Diphenol Oxidase Activity during Incubation of Sliced Sweet Potato Tissue

The marked increase in o-diphenol oxidase activity which developed in incubating slices of sweet potato roots was suppressed by administration of actinomycin D, puromycin and blastcidin S. This suggests that the rise in enzyme activity resulted from de novo synthesis of enzyme protein during incubation. The formation of component III of o-diphenol oxidase which occured in response to cutting, was strongly inhibited by supplying the above chemicals.     

A STUDY ON INCREASE IN O-DIPHENOL OXIDASE ACTIVITY DURING INCUBATION OF SLICED SWEET POTATO TISSUE

The increase in o-diphenol oxidase activity and polyphenol contentwas investigated in slices excised from sweet potato roots.o-Diphenol oxidase activity increased in a sigmoidal fashionover a 100 hour period. The increase in polyphenols occurredover a shorter period of time and was evident before an increasein o-diphenol oxidase activity could be detected. Thus, it seemedthat the increase in polyphenol content might be involved inthe enhancement of o-diphenol oxidase activity. However, theabove correlation was not found in different kinds of experimentincluding pretreatment with either vacuum infiltration or wetconditioning. (Received October 14, 1965; )     

Changes in o-Diphenol Oxidase During Fibre Development in Cotton

Quantitative and electrophoretic changes in o-diphenol oxidase(o-diphenol: O₂ oxidoreductase, E.C. 1 10,3.1) were studiedduring the entire period of cotton (Gossypium arboreum L. cv.Sanjay) fibre development. A significant increase in o-diphenoloxidase activity was recorded during the fibre initiation phaseand it is suggested that a shift in redox balance towards oxidationmay play an important role in fibre initiation. Low o-diphenoloxidase activity during elongation and its high activity duringthe phase of secondary thickening, together with isoenzyme patterns,suggest an important role of this enzyme in cotton fibre development.The role of o-diphenol oxidase in relation to auxin turnoverand redox balance is discussed. Gossypium arboreum, cotton, fibre development, o-diphenol oxidase, redox balance, auxin turnover     

Preparation and properties of an o-diphenol: O2 oxidoreductase from cocoa husk

A particulate preparation from cocoa husk which shows o-diphenol: O₂, oxidoreductase activity contains a copper protein moiety linked to a partially formed insoluble polyphenol polymer. The particles are easily stained with osmium tetroxide for electron microscopy and show marked o-diphenol-polymerisation properties when incubated with substrate. The activity and kinetic parameters of the particles against a number of substrates and inhibitors have been determined.     

Role of the tertiary structure in the diphenol oxidase activity of Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin

The functional differences between the oxygen transport protein Hemocyanin and the enzymes Tyrosinase and Catechol oxidase are believed to be governed, at least in part, by the tertiary structure, which differs in these molecules and controls the accessibility of their copper containing active site for substrate(s). Accordingly, Octopus vulgaris Hemocyanin catalyses the o-diphenol oxidation to o-quinone at a very low rate. The crystallographic structure of one of the functional units (called Odg) of O. dofleini Hemocyanin shows two domains, a mainly α-helical domain that directly binds the copper ions of the reaction center and a β-strand domain that precludes access to the active site to ligands bigger than molecular oxygen. In this work, we have first cleaved the whole protein and then purified different oxygen binding functional units from O. vulgaris Hemocyanin. These functional units were used in activity assays with l-DOPA, the paradigmatic substrate for Catechol oxidase. All functional units show a negligible enzymatic activity. The procedure to generate the functional units induces in only one of them a proteolytic cleavage. Amino terminal sequencing and mass spectroscopy of the fragments allow to place the cleavage site between the alpha and beta domains of the functional unit homologous to Odd, in the O. dofleini sequence. An increase, up to three orders of magnitude, of Tyrosinase-like activity was observed when the cleaved Odd-like was incubated with the substrate in the presence of trifluoroethanol or hexafluoroisopropanol.     

The O-diphenol-oxygen-oxidoreductase of Agaricus bisporus: Activity and multiple forms during ageing

Mushroom o-diphenol oxidase was separated into multiple forms by isoelectric focusing. Three major bands, as opposed to the four isoenzymes previously found, were separated over the pH range 3.5–9.5. A fourth form was obtained when the pH range was narrowed to 5.0–8.0. Changes in the enzyme activity were investigated during post-harvest ageing at different temperatures. Rapid ageing using tissue discs with or without inhibitors of protein synthesis showed that an increase in activity of the enzyme took place during this time, but was prevented by actinomycin D and 6 methyl purine.     

Effects of Dazomet on Phenolase Activity in Sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Developing sclerotia of the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorumexude a clear liquid which contains the enzyme o-diphenol oxidase.The activity of this enzyme, which is also present in the sclerotialtissue, is inhibited by Dazomet (a soil fumigant), sodium azide,and DIECA. These inhibitions can be prevented in the presenceof sufficient quantities of Cu²⁺. The activity of mushroom o-diphenoloxidase is affected by Dazomet and Cu²⁺ in a similar manner. Unpigmented, exposed surfaces of cut sclerotia darken withina few days due to the synthesis of a melanin-like pigment. Theformation of this pigment is prevented by Dazomet. This effectof Dazomet is compared with its action on the darkening of cutsurfaces of potato tubers which also possess appreciable amountsof o-diphenol oxidase.     

Determination of Copper Content in o-Diphenol Oxidase by Neutron Activation Analysis

A polyphenol oxidase (o-diphenol oxidase) [o-diphenol: O₂ oxidoreductase E. C. 1.10. 3.1] from sweet potato named component II_b was highly purified. The copper content of this enzyme was measured by neutron activation analysis. Samples were analyzed with or without chemical separation after neutron irradiation. The copper content of the enzyme was determined to be 0.27%, and the minimum molecular weight of this enzyme was caluculated to be 23,500.     

Development of three copper metalloenzymes in clover leaves

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv Seaton Park) was grown in solution cultures containing adequate nitrogen both with and without Cu. After Cu deficiency had developed, Cu²⁺ was added to some deficient plants and Cu content, protein content, and activities of three Cu metalloenzymes (diamine oxidase [EC1.4.3.6], ascorbate oxidase [EC1.10.3.3] and o-diphenol oxidase [EC1.10.3.1]) were assayed in young and recently matured leaf blades over 11 days during the development of the next three leaves.

Copper deficiency had little effect on protein concentrations, but markedly depressed enzyme activities and Cu concentration in all leaf blades assayed. Within 4 d of adding Cu²⁺ to Cu-deficient plants, Cu concentrations of all the leaf blades increased to adequate values. Enzyme activities only increased to control levels in leaves which had not yet emerged at the time that Cu²⁺ was added.

The results suggest that active holoenzymes of diamine oxidase, ascorbate oxidase, and o-diphenol oxidase can only be synthesized in leaf blades during very early stages of their development.

     

Properties of copper-dependent o-diphenol oxidase activity in the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (thomas)

Potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) was found to contain high amounts of o-diphenol oxidase activity. Enzyme activity was largely distributed into the postmitochondrial supernatant from Brij-35 extracted aphids and occurs in a latent form that was activated up to 45-fold by pretreatment with isopropanol. The aphid enzyme has a broad pH optimum near 6, and utilized L-dopa (K_m = 1.4 mM, V_max = 348 nmol/min-mg protein), dopamine, and 4-methylcatechol the best out of the twelve substrates tested. In addition, this activity is a typical copper-dependent oxidase in that it is potently inhibited by phenylthiourea (50% inhibition at 30nM) and other copper chelators, including salicylhydroxamic acid. The above properties are common to most insect tyrosinases. However, the aphid enzyme lacked the o-hydroxylase and laccase components and the optimal activity at higher temperatures that are typical of cuticular tyrosinases of other insects. The high levels of o-diphenol oxidase in aphids compared to other insects is surprising, since the major function associated with these enzymes, that of melanization and sclerotization of cuticle, is of much less importance to aphids. The possibility that aphids use this enzyme to metabolize dietary phenolics is discussed.     

Biological Value of Proteins Allowed to React with Phenolic Compounds in Presence of o-Diphenol Oxidase

Studies were made on the influence of phenolic compounds on the nutritive value of casein by the nitrogen-balance technique with rats and by the chemical measurement of available lysine.

It was found that caseins allowed to react with caffeic, isochlorogenic acids and phenolic compounds of red clover leaves in the presence of o-diphenol oxidase were inferior to control casein in biological value, digestibility and available lysine content. In the absence of o-diphenol oxidase, caffeic acid showed none of these effects. p-Coumaric acid lowered the biological value of casein in the presence of o-diphenol oxidase but did not lowered its digestibility.     

Purification and Some Properties of Chlorogenic Acid Oxidase from Apple (Malus pumila)

Chlorogenic acid oxidase was extensively purified to homogeneity from apple flesh (Malus pumila cv. Fuji). The enzyme was purified 470-fold, with a total yield close to 70% from the plastid fraction by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular weight was determined to be 65,000 by both SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. The optimum pH for the enzyme activity was around 4.0, and the enzyme was stable in the range of pH 6–8. The pI obtained by isoelectrofocusing was 5.4, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence was N-Asp-Pro-Leu-Ala-Pro-Pro-. The reaction rate of the purified enzyme was much larger for chlorogenic acid than for other o-diphenols such as (+)-catechin, (?)-epicatechin and 4-methylcatechol, and the enzyme lacked both cresolase activity and p-diphenol oxidase activity. The K_m value for the enzyme was found to be 122μM toward chlorogenic acid. The purified enzyme had far less thermal stability than the enzyme of the plastid fraction. Diethyl-dithiocarbamate, sodium azide, o-phenanthroline and sodium fluoride markedly inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Tissue Browning of Potato Tubers Induced by Gamma Irradiation

A considerable browning was observed especially in cortex tissue and along xylem of potato tubers harvested at Sakai in Osaka Prefecture, after irradiation with 10, 20 and 50 krad doses of cobalt-60 gamma rays. This phenomenon was accompanied by the marked increase in polyphenol content and peroxidase activity, and the transient increase in o-diphenol oxidase activity. Total reducing compounds in the tissue were also increased by gamma irradiation.

The browning phenomenon depended on the storage period from the harvest to gamma irradiation treatment. The browning and the transient increase in o-diphenol oxidase activity were completely suppressed in the case of tubers irradiated 3 months after harvest.

There was no significant change in α-amylase activity in all tubers tested.     

Novel L-amino acid oxidase with algicidal activity against toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa synthesized by a bacterium Aquimarina sp

A brownish yellow pigmented bacterial strain, designated antisso-27, was recently isolated from a water area of saltpan in Southern Taiwan. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicate that strain antisso-27 belongs the genus Aquimarina in the family Flavobacteriacea and its only closest neighbor is Aquimarina spongiae (96.6%). Based on screening for algicidal activity, strain antisso-27 exhibits potent activity against the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Both the strain antisso-27 bacterial culture and its culture filtrate show algicidal activity against the toxic cyanobacterium, indicating that an algicidal substance is released from strain antisso-27. The algicidal activity of strain antisso-27 occurs during the late stationary phase of bacterial growth. Strain antisso-27 can synthesize an algicidal protein with a molecular mass of 190 kDa, and its isoelectric point is approximately 9.4. This study explores the nature of this algicidal protein such as l-amino acid oxidase with broad substrate specificity. The enzyme is most active with l-leucine, l-isoleucine, l-methionine and l-valine and the hydrogen peroxide generated by its catalysis mediates algicidal activity. This is the first report on an Aquimarina strain algicidal to the toxic M. aeruginosa and the algicidal activity is generated through its enzymatic activity of l-amino acid oxidase.     

o-Diphenol: Oxygen oxidoreductase from leaves of sugar cane

A non-particulate o-diphenol: O₂ oxidoreductase (phenolase) has been isolated from leaves of sugar cane. Gel filtration produced two fractions MW 32000 and 130000. The preferred substrate was chlorogenic acid. Other o-diphenols (caffeic acid, catechol, pyrogallol, dihydroxyphenylalanine) all of which were slowly oxidized when tested alone, increased the rates of O₂ consumption obtained with catalytic amounts of chlorogenic acid. Both enzyme fractions were inhibited by thiols; thioglycollate, which acted in a non-competitive manner, was most effective.     

Activation of kidney guanylate cyclase by cobalt.

Guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic nucleotide content were studied in individual slices from guinea pig kidneys. Basal guanylate cyclase activity, assayed in homogenates or in particulate fractions (100,000g × 1 h), and the tissue content of cGMP and cAMP were greater in the inner than in the outer (entirely cortical) slices. The fraction of guanylate cyclase activity recovered in the supernatant was greater in the cortex. Taurodeoxycholate increased activity of the particulate cyclase but decreased that of the supernatant enzyme. Activity of the particulate was increased ca. 200% and that of the supernatant >500% by 1 mm NaN₃. Supernatant activity was markedly increased by 0.1 mm Co²⁺, which had no effect on the particulate enzyme. (Incubation of kidney slices with 2 mm Co²⁺ did not alter their cGMP content, but caused a small increase in the cAMP content of slices containing medullary tissue.) Basal guanylate cyclase activity in fresh supernatants increased linearly with pH from 5.9 to 9, whereas in the presence of Co²⁺ there was a clear maximum at pH 7.3 to 7.5. Incubation of fresh supernatant fractions at 37 °C for 3 h increased guanylate cyclase activity and abolished Co²⁺ activation. The relationship between Co²⁺ activation and that resulting from incubation remains to be defined. It seems probable, however, that these phenomena reflect regulatory properties of the supernatant guanylate cyclases of kidney and other tissues.     

Particulate cytochromes of mung bean seedlings

Efforts have been made to solubilize cytochrome components from particulate fractions of etiolated mung bean seedlings. Low temperature spectrophotometry reveals that the cytochrome composition of mitochondria isolated from whole seedlings is the same as that reported by Bonner for mung bean hypocotyls. On the basis of the identity in position of the α-bands in low temperature difference spectra for mitochondria, for a partially purified haemoprotein from mitochondria, and for purified cytochrome b-555, it is suggested that cytochrome b-555 is an intrinsic component of mung bean mitochondria. Difference spectra show that both the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions contain at least 2 b-type cytochromes. Cytochrome b-555 is almost certainly present in the microsomes, since the low temperature difference spectrum for the cytochrome is identical with the spectrum for this particulate fraction.

By freezing and thawing mung bean mitochondria in 4% cholate and centrifuging, cytochrome oxidase activity can be concentrated in the supernatant fraction, although it is not completely solubilized. The oxidase is inhibited by high concentrations of cytochrome c. A particle-bound cytochrome c can be obtained from mitochondria by digestion with snake venom. However, the autoxidizability of the preparation indicates that the cytochrome has been solubilized in a modified form. A CO-binding pigment can be obtained from mung bean microsomes by digestion with snake venom.

     

Binding of glycolytic enzymes to a particulate fraction in carrot and sugar beet storage roots : dependence on metabolic state

Numerous studies have demonstrated a rapid increase in the respiration rate during aging of slices of tuber and storage roots. To determine the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon, the role of enzyme binding to the subcellular particulate fraction has been assessed in carrot (Daucus carota L.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Soluble versus particulate fractions were separated by centrifugation at 16,000g and both fractions assayed for the activities of six glycolytic enzymes. Preparations from sliced and aged tissues showed elevated percentages of five enzymes associated with the particulate fraction as compared with controls. The stimulation of respiration which occurs during aging of underground storage organ slices may result, in part, from an association of enzymes with the particulate fraction of the cell promoting an elevated glycolytic rate.     

Electron transport and fatty acid synthesis in microsomes and outer mitochondrial membranes of plant tissues

During aging of potato tissue slices, antimycin-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity increases severalfold in microsomes and mitochondrial outer membranes. Fatty acid compositions of both membrane fractions are strikingly similar in fresh and aged tissues. Outer membrane fatty acids, however, show a weak tendency to a higher degree of saturation during aging. In the microsomal fraction, NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity and oleoylcoenzyme A desaturase activity increase in parallel. This is not so for outer mitochondrial membranes, which apparently lack the desaturase activity. It is concluded that unsaturated fatty acids of outer mitochondrial membranes are not synthesized in situ and that NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity has different functions in outer mitochondrial membranes and microsomes.     

The molecular basis of aminoacylase 1 deficiency

Aminoacylase 1 is a zinc-binding enzyme which hydrolyzes N-acetyl amino acids into the free amino acid and acetic acid. Deficiency of aminoacylase 1 due to mutations in the aminoacylase 1 (ACY1) gene follows an autosomal-recessive trait of inheritance and is characterized by accumulation of N-acetyl amino acids in the urine. In affected individuals neurological findings such as febrile seizures, delay of psychomotor development and moderate mental retardation have been reported. Except for one missense mutation which has been studied in Escherichia coli, mutations underlying aminoacylase 1 deficiency have not been characterized so far. This has prompted us to approach expression studies of all mutations known to occur in aminoacylase 1 deficient individuals in a human cell line (HEK293), thus providing the authentic human machinery for posttranslational modifications. Mutations were inserted using site directed mutagenesis and aminoacylase 1 enzyme activity was assessed in cells overexpressing aminoacylase 1, using mainly the natural high affinity substrate N-acetyl methionine. Overexpression of the wild type enzyme in HEK293 cells resulted in an approximately 50-fold increase of the aminoacylase 1 activity of homogenized cells. Most mutations resulted in a nearly complete loss of enzyme function. Notably, the two newly discovered mutations p.Arg378Trp, p.Arg378Gln and the mutation p.Arg393His yielded considerable residual activity of the enzyme, which is tentatively explained by their intramolecular localization and molecular characteristics. In contrast to aminoacylase 1 variants which showed no detectable aminoacylase 1 activity, aminoacylase 1 proteins with the mutations p.Arg378Trp, p.Arg378Gln and p.Arg393His were also detected in Western blot analysis. Investigations of the molecular bases of additional cases of aminoacylase 1 deficiency contribute to a better understanding of this inborn error of metabolism whose clinical significance and long-term consequences remain to be elucidated.