Purfication and properties of a specific isoflavone 7-O-glucoside-6'-malonate malonyestrase from roots of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Protein extracts from roots of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants contained high esterase activity hydrolyzing malonate hemiesters of isoflavone 7-O-glucosides. Using 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (biochanin A) 7-O-glucoside-6"-malonate as a substrate, a specific malonylesterase was purified about 700-fold to near homogeneity. The purified enzyme possesses an extremely low enzyme activity with synthetic esterase substrates. Various putative nonspecific esterases, as tested with alpha-naphthylacetate, were removed during enzyme purification. The malonylesterase demonstrated a very high molecular mass in gel chromatography and in sedimentation analyses with sucrose gradients (greater than or equal to 2 X 10(6)). Analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pointed to a single subunit of 32,000. The catalyzed reaction showed a pH optimum at 7.5 and a temperature optimum between 30 and 35 degrees C. The apparent Km for biochanin A 7-O-glucoside-6"-malonate was (4.2 +/- 1.2) X 10(-4) M. The malonylesterase was insensitive to the esterase inhibitors eserine and neostigmine (10(-3) M) as well as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, paraoxon, and diisopropylfluorophosphate (10(-4) M). On the other hand enzyme activity was totally inhibited by Hg2+ ions (10(-5) M) and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (10(-4) M), whereas iodoacetamide (10(-6)-10(-4) M) inhibited only partially. Di- and tricarboxylic acids strongly stimulated enzyme activity at 10(-2) M. These properties indicate that the malonylesterase from chickpea roots greatly differs from other known esterases. The possible biological function of the specific malonylesterase is discussed in relation to isoflavone conjugate metabolism in chickpea.     

Decapitation impacting effect of topically applied chlorpyrifos on acetylcholinesterase and general esterases in susceptible and resistant German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

The effect of topically applied chlorpyrifos on acetylcholinesterase and other esterases in heads and decapitated bodies of CSMA and Crawford German cockroaches was examined with spectrophotometric enzyme assay and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The toxicity of chlorpyrifos was greatly reduced in decapitated CSMA male cockroaches with LD50 value 17.1-fold higher than that of normal CSMA cockroaches. Acetylcholinesterase activity from heads was significantly higher in the Crawford compared with the CSMA strain and did not change until 24 h after chlorpyrifos in vivo treatment in both strains. The p-nitrophenyl butyrate (NPB) esterase activities from both heads and decapitated bodies of the resistant Crawford strain were significantly greater than the susceptible CSMA strain. The p-NPB esterase activity was significantly inhibited by chlorpyrifos in vivo treatment, and total p-NPB esterase activity was significantly reduced in decapitated bodies compared with heads of both strains. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis of extracts solubilized with Triton X-100 from heads and decapitated bodies revealed five major esterase bands and an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) band with a high capability of hydrolyzing alpha-naphthyl butyrate and acetylthiocholine, respectively. In the heads of susceptible CSMA male cockroaches, the activity of mobile isozymes d1 and d2 was completely inhibited at 24 h after chlorpyrifos application, and isozyme e was partially inhibited. In contrast, isozymes c1 and c2 from the decapitated bodies of CSMA cockroaches were mostly affected at 24 h after the topical application of chlorpyrifos. The activities of acetylcholinesterase and esterase isozymes a and b from the decapitated body remained uninhibited in both strains. Inhibition of isozymes d1 and d2 seems to be more important in chlorpyrifos intoxication than acetylcholinesterase.     

Purification and Properties of Undecyl Acetate Esterase from Pseudomonas cepacia Grown on 2-Tridecanone

Undecyl acetate esterase has been purified from Pseudomonas cepacia grown on the methyl ketone, 2-tridecanone. The K(m) for undecyl acetate was 2.3 x 10(-2) M. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that two esterase bands were being recovered during purification. These bands were separated by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weights were estimated to be approximately 34,500 by several methods. Molecular sieve polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the two esterases had the same molecular weight but different charge, which is indicative of isoenzymes.     

Toxicity and in vitro metabolism of t-permethrin in eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Toxicity and metabolism of t-permethrin were evaluated in two colonies (UF and ARS) of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), collected in Gainesville, FL. The UF colony (LC50 = 1.86 micrograms per vial) was approximately twofold more tolerant of t-permethrin than the ARS colony (LC50 = 0.89 microgram per vial) at the LC50. The synergists piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate increased t-permethrin toxicity four- and threefold (at the LC50) in the UF and ARS colonies, respectively. Despite these differences in t-permethrin susceptibility, microsomal oxidase activities toward surrogate substrate (aldrin epoxidase, and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase), cytochrome P450 content, and microsomal esterase activity toward alpha-naphthyl acetate did not differ significantly between the colonies. Moreover, no significant differences in qualitative and quantitative metabolism of [14C]t-permethrin were observed between the UF and ARS colonies for three enzyme sources (microsomal oxidase, microsomal esterase, and cytosolic esterase). Based on in vitro metabolism assays, the major detoxification route of t-permethrin in the UF and ARS termite colonies appears to be hydrolysis catalyzed by microsomal esterases.     

Purification and properties of esterases characteristic of adult rat brain

1. A method for the partial purification of an esterase fraction, present in the brain of the adult but not the newborn rat, is described. A 54-fold purification was achieved in three steps. 2. When subjected to starch-gel electrophoresis, the purified fraction resolved into three bands of esterase activity. Two of these bands migrate close together and faster than other esterases in the brain. These two esterases are inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate but not by di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate. The third band is di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate-sensitive and migrates just behind the two leading esterases. 3. After treatment with di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate, to obviate the effects of the di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate-sensitive esterase, the enzyme preparation hydrolyses alpha-naphthyl acetate, alpha-naphthyl propionate and alpha-naphthyl butyrate, but not cholesteryl acetate. The V(max.) for the naphthyl esters decreased with increase in chain length of the acyl group. The acetate ester is hydrolysed 34 times as fast as the butyrate and about seven times as fast as the propionate derivative. The K(m) values for these three esters, measured at pH7.2 and 37 degrees , are 2.8x10(-4)m, 3.1x10(-4)m and 7.3x10(-5)m for the acetate, propionate and butyrate derivatives respectively. 4. The Hofstee (1952) plots for the kinetic data show a single line, indicating that the two most-rapidly migrating esterases, although electrophoretically separable, are not kinetically distinguishable in the substrate ranges examined.     

Characterization of the esterase isozymes of Ips typographus (coleoptera,scolytidae)

Four esterase isozymes hydrolyzing α-naphthyl acetate (α-NA) were detected screening whole body homogenates of larvae and adults of Ips typographus by electrophoresis. Two of the four isozymes (isozymes 3 and 4) were not detected by α-NA staining in the pupal stage, but topical application of juvenile hormone III (JH III) on the pupa induced these isozymes. The JH esterase (JHE) activity on the gel was associated with the proteins of isozyme 2. The compounds OTFP, PTFP, and DFP inhibited this catalytic activity of isozyme 2 on the gel at low concentrations, whereas the proteins of isozyme 3 and 4 were affected only at higher concentrations. A quantitative developmental study was performed to characterize which of the esterases hydrolyzed JH III, using a putative surrogate substrate for JH (HEXTAT) and α-NA. The I₅₀ of several esterase inhibitors and the JH metabolites were also defined. All findings supported the results that a protein associated with isozyme 2 is catabolizing JH and that isozymes 3 and 4 are the main contributors to the general esterase activity on α-NA. The JHE from Tenebrio molitor was purified by affinity chromatography. Although the recovery was low, an analytical isoelectric focusing gel showed that the JHE activity of the purified enzyme. T. molitor cochromatographed at the same pl as the JHE activity of I. typographus. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 34:203–221, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Differential glycosylation produces heterogeneity in elevated esterases associated with insecticide resistance in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål

The major insecticide resistance mechanism in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens involves overproduction of esterases. Esterases purified from a resistant strain appeared as a ladder of bands on isoelectric focussing (IEF) gels from pI 4.7 to 5.0. Two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that isozymes ranged in size from 66 to 68 kDa with those of lower pI being apparently smaller. All isozymes detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis were glycosylated. N-glycosidase A reduced the number of isozymes on IEF to two, with increased pI and an increased molecular weight of 69 kDa. No O-linked glycans were detected. Deglycosylation had no effect on esterase activity, hence glycosylation is not involved in active site conformation. As N-glycosidase F completely deglycosylated the esterases, none of the glycans has an alpha1,3-bound core fucose. Reactivity with the lectins GNA, MAA and DSA, combined with differential cleavage of N-linked glycans with endoglycosidases F1 and F2, indicated that terminally linked mannose is present in high mannose and/or hybrid type glycans and that terminally linked sialic acid and galactose-beta(1-4)-N-acetylglucosamine are present in biantennary complexes. Neuraminidase treatment had the same effect on pI of isozymes as complete deglycosylation. Therefore, the majority of the heterogeneity of elevated esterases on IEF is due to differential attachment of sialic acid to glycans of the two proteins.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular feruloyl esterase from the thermophilic anaerobe Clostridium stercorarium

Feruloyl esterases act as accessory enzymes for the complete saccharification of plant cell wall hemicelluloses. Although many fungal feruloyl esterases have been purified and characterized, few bacterial phenolic acid esterases have been characterized. This study shows the extracellular production of a feruloyl esterase by the thermophilic anaerobe Clostridium stercorarium when grown on birchwood xylan. The feruloyl esterase was purified 500-fold in successive steps involving ultrafiltration, preparative isoelectric focusing and column chromatography by anion exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction. The purified enzyme released ferulic, rho-coumaric, caffeic and sinapinic acid from the respective methyl esters. The purified enzyme also released ferulic acid from a de-starched wheat bran preparation. At pH 8.0 and 65 degrees C, the Km and Vmax values for the hydrolysis of methyl ferulate were 0.04 mmol l-l and 131 micromol min-1 mg-1, respectively; the respective values for methyl coumarate were 0.86 mmol l-l and 18 micromol min-1 mg-1. The purified feruloyl esterase had an apparent mass of 33 kDa under denaturing conditions and showed optimum activity at pH 8.0 and 65 degrees C. At a concentration of 5 mmol l-l, the ions Ca2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Mn2+ reduced the activity by 70-80%.     

Isolation of Two Acetyl Esterases from Extracts of Bacillus subtilis

Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of crude cellular extracts of Bacillus subtilis revealed the presence of two acetyl esterases. Esterase A, the slower migrating enzyme, was found to be present in both vegetative and sporulating cells, whereas esterase B activity was more abundant after exponential growth ceased. Both esterases were present in the supernatant fraction of lysed spheroplasts and in a disrupted spore preparation. Of four pleiotropic asporogenous mutants tested, three exhibited decreased esterase B activity. Esterases A and B were partially purified by differential precipitation and co-chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose (pH 7.5) and DEAE-Sephadex (pH 8.5). By employing gel filtration chromatography, the two esterases were separated, and molecular weights of 160,000 and 51,000 were estimated for esterases A and B, respectively. Esterase A was further purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by differential heating and preparative starch block electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified esterase A yielded a single protein band with a molecular weight of 31,000. The pI values of esterases A and B were determined to be 6.4 and 5.4, respectively.     

Preliminary characterisation of esterase and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase activities from cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) salivary glands

Naphthyl esterase and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase activities were detected in the salivary glands of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Salivary naphthyl esterase activity is disgorged during exploratory probing. Whole extracts of salivary glands contain esterase activity against the short-chain naphthyl esters alpha-naphthyl acetate (approximately 210pmol/min/gland pair; 10.0micromol/min/mg specific activity; K(m) approximately 59microM) and beta-naphthyl acetate (approximately 110pmol/min/gland pair; 5.2micromol/min/mg specific activity; K(m) approximately 132microM). Salivary gland extracts have PAF-acetylhydrolase activity (approximately 5pmol/min/gland pair; 0.24micromol/min/mg specific activity) but do not have detectable acetylcholinesterase activity. Native-PAGE and IEF resolve three and six salivary gland naphthyl esterase bands, respectively, and both patterns are different from carcass esterases. Salivary gland naphthyl esterase activity binds reversibly to Concanavalin A, and enzymatic deglycosylation with glycopeptidase F produced a new, fast-migrating salivary gland naphthyl esterase band on Native-PAGE. Renaturation of esterase activity after SDS-PAGE gave approximately 56kDa, approximately 57kDa and approximately 58kDa naphthyl-esterase-positive bands. On gel filtration naphthyl esterase and PAF-acetylhydrolase activities co-elute as a single peak with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 59kDa. This partially purified pool of enzyme had esterase activity against a series of short-chain alpha- and beta-naphthyl esters. The heterogeneity of salivary gland esterases, their relationship to PAF-acetylhydrolase, and the possible physiological functions of salivary gland PAF-acetylhydrolase activity are discussed.     

Comparison of the property of a novel isozyme E (formerly null mutant, O) with other isozymes of hemolymph acid phosphatase of the silkworm

1. A novel acid phosphatase isozyme E (formerly null mutant 0) was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography, and its properties were compared with those of other isozymes of the silkworm hemolymph. 2. The isozyme E was extremely heat labile and showed lower pH-stability than those of others. 3. Three isozymes hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl phosphate, alpha-naphthyl phosphate, alpha-naphthyl phosphate and glucose-1-phosphate strongly. The isozyme E showed about 50% hydrolyzing activity for alpha-naphthyl phosphate as compared to those of A and B. 4. Activities of three isozymes were inhibited by tartaric acid, sodium fluoride, ammonium molybdate and potassium diphosphate. Inhibitory effects of Cu(2+) and HG(2+) were most remarkable against E isozyme.     

Partial purification and characterization of sialate O-acetylesterase from bovine brain

From bovine brain an esterase was purified 2,600-fold in an overall yield of 5.6%. For the isolation ion-exchange chromatographies, gel filtration, and preparative isoelectric focusing were used. The molecular mass is 56 kDa after gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 and 51 kDa after HPLC, the pH-optimum at 7.4, and the isoelectric point in the range of pH 5.8-6.1, as estimated from preparative isoelectric focusing. The substrate specificity of this enzyme was tested with various naturally occurring O-acylated sialic acids, synthetic carbohydrate acetates, and other esters. Besides aromatic acetyl esters such as e.g. alpha-naphthyl acetate, the highest preference was for N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid, followed by N-acetyl-4-O-acetylneuraminic acid. Other primary acetyl esters such as 6-O-acetylated D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose were not hydrolyzed. The 9-O-acetyl derivative of the naturally occurring unsaturated sialic acid 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, however, is a substrate for this esterase. Whereas N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as a component of sialyllactose is nearly as well hydrolyzed as the corresponding free sialic acid, O-acetylated sialoglycoconjugates with high molecular weights (mucins, serum glycoproteins, gangliosides) are not hydrolyzed by this esterase. N-Acetylated sialic acids are better substrates than the analogous N-glycoloyl derivatives. Esterification of the carboxyl function of sialic acids prevents the action of the esterase on the O-acetyl groups. The enzyme has no carboxyl esterase or amidase activity, and does not act on acetylcholine. It hydrolyzes almost exclusively acetyl esters. Inhibition studies suggest that it has a catalytically active serine residue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of the isoenzymes of pig-liver esterase. 1. Chemical Studies.

Three different subunits of highly purified pig liver esterase (EC 3.1.1.1) can be separated by analytical dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis, though their relative mobilities are very similar. The same subunit bands are obtained with microsomes, in which the esterases have been labeled with the specific active-site-directed inhibitor bis(4-nitro-[14C]phenyl)phosphate. The heterogeneity of the native trimeric enzyme is much more complex, as is demonstrated by isoelectric focussing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fractions of esterase which were partially separated by preparative isoelectric focussing show differences in their subunit composition, their amino acid analyses, their tryptic peptide maps, and their C-terminal amino acids. From these experiments various features of the differing esterase subunits can be deduced. Based on the chemical results and on various experiments which did not indicate any secondary modification of the protein side-chains, the molecular basis of the esterase heterogeneity is discussed. We conclude that the native trimeric esterase is a mixture of numerous hybrids of at least three protein subunits with differing but closely related primary sequences. A comparison of the relative specificity of various preparations of pig liver microsomes indicates that genetic differences concerning the composition of liver esterase exist between individuals.     

Alpha naphthyl acetate esterase activities in guinea pig Kurloff cells: a cytochemical and electrophoretic study

We established the presence of nonspecific esterases in the Kurloff cell (KC) by cytochemical methods at both light and electron microscope levels. Acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activities were localized on the external face of the plasma membrane and on the external surface of the membrane surrounding the Kurloff body. Different cytosoluble KC extracts were obtained from purified splenic KC suspensions. About 18 isoenzymes were observed by isoelectric focusing, whereas after polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in native conditions almost all activity was observed on a few broad bands with very high apparent molecular weights, suggesting their oligomeric arrangement. After a first aqueous extraction step which released only a few isoenzymes, the remaining pellet was subjected to Triton X-100. This released almost all the isoenzymes observed after direct Triton X-100 extraction. These data suggest that almost all the KC esterases are membrane-bound enzymes, in agreement with the subcellular enzyme distribution. Different substrates were also used to characterize the different specificities of the KC isoesterases. Weak activity was detected with alpha-naphthyl butyrate by light cytochemistry, which essentially corresponded, on zymograms, to the membrane-bound esterase activity.     

Acid phosphatases of the mosquito Culex tarsalis coquillett

1. Spectrophotometric and isoelectric focusing (IEF) electrophoretic characterization of the acid phosphatases (ACP) of the mosquito, Culex tarsalis, are presented. 2. ACP hydrolysis of P-nitrophenylphosphate (Pnp) was optimal at 37 degrees C, pH 5.25 in the presence of 15 mM MgCl2 and 0.1% (w/v) polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP). Vmax and Km values varied significantly between the various mosquito strains examined. 3. Several divalent cations (i.e. Mn2+, Ca2+, Ba2+ and Co2+), either the chloride or sulphate salts, were stimulatory for ACP. Both Cu2+ and Fe2+ (15 mM) were inhibitory. 4. Slight inhibition (i.e. 10%) of ACP activity was observed with dithiothreitol (100 mM) and 50% inhibition by cysteine (100 mM). 5. ACP activity was cyclic during the 15-day post-adult emergence period of the study. No significant differences were noted between the ACP specific activities of males and females nor between geographic strains. 6. IEF electrophoresis revealed three alpha-naphthyl phosphate hydrolytic ACP isozymes within the pH 4.5-5.5 range (i.e. ACP4.8, ACP5.3 and ACP5.5). 7. IEF ACP isozymes were stimulated by PVP, Mg2+, Zn2+ and inhibited by cysteine, EDTA (except ACP5.3) and NaFl. 8. IEF detection of ACP with Pnp revealed an ACP isozyme (ACP4.3) distinct from those ACP isozymes capable of alpha-naphthyl phosphate hydrolysis.     

Esterase and malate dehydrogenase isozyme polymorphisms in 15 Artemia populations.

1. Starch gel electrophoresis of adult brine shrimps from 15 populations revealed little intrapopulation polymorphism in NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isozymes or in the two fastest esterases (demonstrated with alpha-naphthyl propionate as substrate). 2. Interpopulation differences could be summarized as three different electrophoresis band patterns for the five- to seven-banded MDH isozymes and another three patterns for the two fastest esterases. 3. These differences in electrophoresis patterns divide the 15 Artemia populations into four categories (each containing one to seven populations) which may be distinguished by isozyme content and which are congruent with categories established by the criterion of reproductive isolation in an earlier study.     

The effect of phenylacetic acid on cholinesterase activity and on some isoenzymes of esterases and cholinesterases of peain vitro

Phenylacetic acid at 1.5 × 10^-3 M inhibits the activity of some esterase isoenzymes from pea leaves separated by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Some of the inhibited esterases show cholinesterase activity. Inhibition of the total activity has been demonstrated with a partially purified protein fraction from pea leaves containing choline esterase. The inhibition constant established after Dixon was 7.9 × 10^-3 M and the type of inhibition was competitive.     

The genetic control of grain esterases in hexaploid wheat

Summary Analysis of grain esterase isozymes in Chinese Spring aneuploid genotypes by IEF confirmed that genes on the long arms of chromosomes 3A, 3B and 3D (Est-5) control the production of 19 isozymes. Allelic variants have been found for the isozyme pattern controlled by each chromosome. Segregational data involving null alleles and complex phenotypic differences indicate that the wheat grain esterases are encoded by three compound and probably homoeoallelic loci, each capable of producing at least six different isozymes. In a sample of 138 hexaploid genotypes, seven alleles were distinguished.     

Simultaneous azo-coupling method for steroid acetate hydrolyzing enzyme

A simultaneous azo-coupling method for histochemical localization of steroid acetate hydrolyzing enzyme is described. It is based on the observation that d-equilenin, a natural oestrogenic steroid hormone, forms deeply coloured insoluble reaction products with diazonium salts under reaction conditions suitable for histochemical purposes. An acetate at position 3 of d-equilenin is rapidly hydrolysed by tissue esterase and the liberated d-equilenin couples with a diazonium salt to form a coloured precipitate. Steroid acetate hydrolyzing enzyme activity was observed in various tissues of the rat; a comparison with nonspecific esterase activity using alpha-naphthyl acetate as substrate suggested that steroid acetate hydrolyzing enzyme activity represents the activity of one or several isozymes of classical nonspecific esterase. This conclusion has also been drawn previously from biochemical studies using esters of other steroids.     

Nonspecific esterase isozymes that focus at identical isoelectric points are kinetically analogous

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of soluble nonspecific esterases of rat kidney and testis exhibits an identical array of organophosphate-resistant cathodal isozymes. To ascertain whether such isozymes that focus at the same pI are also kinetically analogous, two isozymes, both focused at pI 7.2, were isolated, one from each organ, by elution from cut-out, unstained gel segments. Although the esterases of the whole soluble fraction of kidney and testis exhibited different kinetic properties and organophosphate susceptibility, no differences were observed with regard to the isozymes. Therefore, because of similar electrophoretic and kinetic behavior, the two isozymes can be regarded as phenotypic expressions of similar genetic products.