Biochemical and molecular characterization of a quercetinase from Penicillium olsonii

Quercetinase (quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase, EC 1.13.11.24) is produced by various filamentous fungi when grown on rutin as the sole carbon and energy source. From a rutin based liquid culture of Penicillium olsonii, we purified a quercetinase with a specific activity of 175U mg(-1). The enzyme is a monomeric glycoprotein of approximately 55 kDa, containing 0.9+/-0.1 copper atoms per protein. Its substrate specificity is restricted to the flavonol family of flavonoids. It is completely inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate at a concentration of 100 nM and 1H-2-benzyl-3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinolin is a competitive inhibitor with a K(I) of 4 microM. The cDNA poquer1 was cloned and sequenced. It encodes a 365 amino acids long enzyme with a strong sequence identity with the Aspergillus japonicus quercetinase (Q7SIC2). Like the enzyme from A. japonicus, only one of the two cupin domains of the Penicillium olsonii quercetinase is able to bind a metal atom.     

Characterization of Iarvicidal toxin protein from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui specific for scarabaeid beetles

The δ-endo toxin proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis which kill the larvae of various scarabaeid beetles such as Anomala cuprea, A. rufocuprea and Popillia japonica were purified by DEAE ion exchange chromatography. A protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa was purified. During the purification a minor peak was also detected which was estimated to be 67 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Both 130 and 67 kDa proteins showed larvicidal activity against A. cuprea. The lethal concentration of the 130 kDa protein which killed 50% of the larvae tested (LC₅₀) against A. cuprea was 2 μg g¹ compost. A comparison by SDS-PAGE of the V8 protease digestion pattern of the 130 and 67 kDa larvicidal proteins showed that proteolytic resistant core peptides of approximately 60 kDa molecular size were resulted. The N -terminus amino acid sequence of the 130 and 67 kDa proteins was determined to be NH₂-XXPNNQNEYEIIDAL and NH₂-XSRNPGTFI, respectively, which is not identical to the sequence of CryIA, CryIB, CryIC and CryIII proteins.     

Expression of human perlecan domain I as a recombinant heparan sulfate proteoglycan with 20-kDa glycosaminoglycan chains

Recombinant forms of human perlecan domain I were secreted as proteoglycans by stably transfected human 293 cells. A recombinant domain I-only proteoglycan spanned the 95- to 265-kDa region in SDS-PAGE and appeared to be 160 kDa in denaturing gel filtration. Its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was approximately 67% heparan sulfate, and its average GAG chain size of 20 kDa suggested that the true molecular mass of the proteoglycan was 90 kDa. Domain I with enhanced green fluorescent protein fused to its C-terminus had an apparent molecular mass of 210-220 kDa and contained approximately 100% heparan sulfate. Its average GAG chain size (also 20 kDa) suggested a true molecular mass of 117 kDa for this proteoglycan. Its sulfate content of 53-77 mol SO2-4 per mole of protein indicated the presence of one sulfate group per 4-7 GAG sugar residues.     

Germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium

Summary The osmotic effect of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to be sufficient to induce the germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium. The prehydration of the pollen in a saturated atmosphere for approximately 10 h was necessary to obtain maximum in vitro germination. Imbibition of the pollen in water resulted in the rapid leakage of solutes into the medium. These solutes consisted of approximately 50% carbohydrates, of which sucrose (0.65 mol/mg), glucose (0.77 mol/mg) and fructose (0.78 mol/mg) were the major sugars; the remaining 50% comprised proteins with the following major molecular weights 63 kDa, 60 kDa, 59 kDa, 40 kDa, 36 kDa, 35.5 kDa, 31 kDa, other organic matter and minerals.     

Expression of manganese lipoxygenase in Pichia pastoris and site-directed mutagenesis of putative metal ligands

Manganese lipoxygenase is secreted by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. We expressed the enzyme in Pichia pastoris, which secreted approximately 30 mg Mn-lipoxygenase/L culture medium in fermentor. The recombinant lipoxygenase was N- and O-glycosylated (80-100 kDa), contained approximately 1 mol Mn/mol protein, and had similar kinetic properties (K(m) approximately 7.1 microM alpha-linolenic acid and V(max) 18 nmol/min/microg) as the native Mn-lipoxygenase. Mn-lipoxygenase could be quantitatively converted, presumably by secreted Pichia proteases, to a smaller protein (approximately 67 kDa) with retention of lipoxygenase activity (K(m) approximately 6.4 microM alpha-linolenic acid and V(max) approximately 12 nmol/min/microg). Putative manganese ligands were investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. The iron ligands of soybean lipoxygenase-1 are two His residues in the sequence HWLNTH, one His residue and a distant Asn residue in the sequence HAAVNFGQ, and the C-terminal Ile residue. The homologous sequences of Mn-lipoxygenase are H274VLFH278 and H462HVMN466QGS, respectively, and the C-terminal amino acid is Val-602. The His274Gln, His278Glu, His462Glu, and the Val-602 deletion mutants of Mn-lipoxygenase were inactive, and had lost >95% of the manganese content. His-463, Asn-466, and Gln-467 did not appear to be critical for Mn-lipoxygenase activity, as His463Gln, Asn466Gln, Asn466Leu, and Gln467Asn mutants metabolized alpha-linolenic acid to 11- and 13-hydroperoxylinolenic acids. We conclude that His-274, His-278, His-462, and Val-602 likely coordinate manganese.     

Purification and characterization of a flavonol 3-O-beta-heterodisaccharidase from the dried herb of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench

A flavonol-3-O-beta-heterodisaccharide glycosidase (FHG I) was isolated from dried aerial tissues of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (Fagopyri herba). It has a specific enzyme activity of ca. 3.5 nkat mg(-1) protein in buffered extracts when rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) was used as substrate and an optimal enzyme activity was seen at around pH 4.8 and 30 degrees C. FHG I was purified about 156-fold to apparent homogeneity by hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange and size exclusion chromatographic steps. The apparent molecular mass of FHG I was 74.5+/-2 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and it is a monomeric glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 23%. The isoelectric point as determined by isoelectric focusing was 5.7 and the energy of activation was 32 kJ mol(-1). FHG I exhibits a high substrate specificity, preferring flavonol 3-O-glycosides comprising the disaccharide rutinose. The K(m) and V(max) values for the natural substrate rutin were calculated to be 0.561 microM and 745 nkat mg (-1) protein, respectively. Two oligopeptide fragments obtained after enzymatic digestion of FHG I were sequenced and showed similarities to sequences of beta-glucohydrolases from other plant species. Polyclonal antibodies were raised and their specificities determined. Another flavonol 3-O-beta-heterodisaccharide glycosidase (FHG II) could also be detected in buckwheat herb, having a molecular mass of 85.3+/-2 kDa and an isoelectric point between pH 6.0 and 6.5.     

A novel meta-cleavage dioxygenase that cleaves a carboxyl-group-substituted 2-aminophenol. Purification and characterization of 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoate 2,3-dioxygenase from Bordetella sp. strain 10d.

A bacterial strain that grew on 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from farm soil. The isolate, strain 10d, was identified as a species of Bordetella. Cell extracts of Bordetella sp. strain 10d grown on 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid contained an enzyme that cleaved this substrate. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity with a 110-fold increase in specific activity. The purified enzyme was characterized as a meta-cleavage dioxygenase that catalyzed the ring fission between C2 and C3 of 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid, with the consumption of 1 mol of O2 per mol of substrate. The enzyme was therefore designated as 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoate 2,3-dioxygenase. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was 40 kDa based on gel filtration; the enzyme is composed of two identical 21-kDa subunits according to SDS/PAGE. The enzyme showed a high dioxygenase activity only for 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid. The Km and Vmax values for this substrate were 35 micro m and 12 micro mol.min-1.(mg protein)-1, respectively. Of the 2-aminophenols tested, only 4-aminoresorcinol and 6-amino-m-cresol inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme reported here differs from previously reported extradiol dioxygenases, including 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase, in molecular mass, subunit structure and catalytic properties.     

Identification of a novel gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silicibacter pomeroyi</Emphasis>

A 1,125-bp long ORF encoding a novel gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase with two-domain bicupins was cloned from Silicibacter pomeroyi DSS-3 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The resulting product was purified to homogeneity and partially characterized. Non-reductive SDS-PAGE and gel filtration showed that the active recombinant gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase had an estimated molecular mass of 132 kDa, and reductive SDS-PAGE indicated an approximate size of 45 kDa. The enzyme thus appears to be a homotrimeric protein. This is in contrast to the homotetrameric or dimeric protein of the gentisate 1,2-dioxygenases that have been characterized thus far. The K (m) and K (cat)/K (m) for gentisate were 12 muM and 653 x 10(4) M(-1 )s(-1); the pI was 4.6-4.8. It was optimally active at 40 degrees C and pH 8.0.     

Negligible amount of copper in hepatic L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase.

During the purification of L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, a protohemoprotein from rat liver, both copper and heme contents of the preparations were found to be progressively increased as purification proceeded. However, the greater part of copper was removed in the late stages of the purification giving a copper to heme ratio less than 0.4. The small amounts of copper could further be reduced by one-half, by a mild treatment of enzyme with chelators such as ethylenedi aminetetraacetate, without any accompanying decrease in enzymatic activity. Since the turnover number of these enzyme preparations expressed per mol of enzyme-bound heme, 200 to 277 min-1 at 25 degrees, were either comparable to or slightly higher than those reported with homogeneous enzyme preparations, the heme in the preparation was considered to be of fully active L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and, therefore, such a small ratio of copper to heme, 0.1 to 0.3, indicated that copper is not a constituent of L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase of rat liver. The findings were thus inconsistent with the results of Brady et al. (Brady, F. O., Monaco, M. E. Forman, H. J. Schutz, G., and Feigelson, P. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 7915-7922), who found that L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase contained 2 g atoms of copper and 2 mol of heme/mol of enzyme. Possible reasons for this discrepancy have been discussed.     

Polymeric IgA are sulfated proteins

The main sulfated proteins secreted by rabbit mammary gland tissue had M(r) of approximately 67 000, 63 000 and 23 000, and one component which most likely corresponded to proteoglycans had a diffuse electrophoretic mobility (M(r)200 000). The sulfate groups in the 67-63 kDa proteins were mostly linked to carbohydrates. These proteins and the 23 kDa protein were co-purified and identified to heavy chains of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and J chain, respectively. Sulfation of alpha-chains also occurred in rat mammary and rabbit lacrimal glands. We conclude that polymeric IgA which are produced by plasma cells and released in secretion fluids after transcytosis through epithelia are sulfated.     

Purification and some kinetic properties of carbonic anhydrase from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver and metal inhibition

In the present study, carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme was purified from rainbow trout (RT) liver with a specific activity of 4318 EUxmg(-1) and a yield of 38% using Sepharose-4B-L tyrosine-sulfanilamide affinity gel chromatography. The overall purification was approximately 2260-fold. To check the purity and determine subunit molecular weight of enzyme, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed, which showed a single band and MW of approx. 29.4 kDa. The molecular weight of native enzyme was estimated to be approx. 31 kDa by Sephadex-G 200 gel filtration chromatography. Optimum and stable pH were determined as 9.0 in 1 M Tris-SO(4) buffer and 8.5 in 1 M Tris-SO(4) buffer at 4 degrees C, respectively. The optimum temperature, activation energy (E(a)), activation enthalpy ((DeltaH) and Q(10) from Arrhenius plot for the RT liver CA were 40 degrees C, 2.88 kcal/mol, 2.288 kcal/mol and 1.53, respectively. The purified enzyme had an apparent K(m) and V(max) of 0.66 mM and 0.126 micromol x min(-1) for 4-nitrophenylacetate, respectively. K(cat) of the CA was found to be 32.8 s(-1). The inhibitory effects of low concentrations of different metals (Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ag(I)) on CA activity were determined using the esterase method under in vitro conditions. The obtained IC(50) values, 50% inhibition of in vitro enzyme activity, were 0.03 mM for cobalt, 30 mM for copper, 47.1 mM for zinc and 0.01 mM for silver. K(i) values for these substances were also calculated from Linewaever-Burk plots as 0.050 mM for cobalt, 1.950 mM for copper, 7.035 mM for zinc and 2.190 mM for silver respectively and determined that cobalt and zinc inhibit the enzyme a competitive manner and copper and silver inhibit the enzyme in an uncompetitive manner.     

Biochemical and Genetic Evidence for meta-Ring Cleavage of 2,4,5-Trihydroxytoluene in Burkholderia sp. Strain DNT

2,4,5-Trihydroxytoluene (THT) oxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain DNT catalyzes the conversion of THT to an unstable ring fission product. Biochemical and genetic studies of THT oxygenase were undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of the ring fission reaction. The THT oxygenase gene (dntD) was previously localized to the 1.2-kb DNA insert subcloned in the recombinant plasmid designated pJS76 (W. C. Suen and J. C. Spain, J. Bacteriol. 175:1831–1837, 1993). Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of DntD revealed the presence of the highly conserved residues characteristic of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene family I. The deduced amino acid sequence of DntD corresponded to a molecular mass of 35 kDa. The native molecular masses for the THT oxygenase estimated by using gel filtration chromatography and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis were 67.4 and 77.8 kDa, respectively. The results suggested that the native protein consists of two identical subunits. The colorless protein contained 2 mol of iron per mol of protein. Stimulation of activity in the presence of ferrous iron and ascorbate suggested a requirement for ferrous iron in the active site. The properties of the enzyme are similar to those of the catechol 2,3-dioxygenases (meta-cleavage dioxygenases). In addition to THT, the enzyme exhibited activity towards 1,2,4-benzenetriol, catechol, 3- and 4-methylcatechol, and 3- and 4-chlorocatechol. The chemical analysis of the THT ring cleavage product showed that the product was 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoic acid, consistent with extradiol ring fission of THT.     

Functional expression and mutational analysis of flavonol synthase from Citrus unshiu.

Flavonols are produced by the desaturation of flavanols catalyzed by flavonol synthase. The enzyme belongs to the class of intermolecular dioxygenases which depend on molecular oxygen and FeII/2-oxoglutarate for activity, and have been in focus of structural studies recently. Flavonol synthase cDNAs were cloned from six plant species, but none of the enzymes had been studied in detail. Therefore, a cDNA from Citrus unshiu (Satsuma mandarin) designated as flavonol synthase was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified recombinant enzyme was subjected to kinetic and mutational chacterizations. The integrity of the recombinant synthase was revealed by a molecular ion from MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry at m/z 37888 +/- 40 (as compared to 37899 Da calculated for the translated polypeptide), and by partial N-terminal sequencing. Maximal flavonol synthase activity was observed in the range of pH 5-6 with dihydroquercetin as substrate and a temperature optimum at about 37 degrees C. Km values of 272, 11 and 36 micro m were determined for dihydroquercetin, FeII and 2-oxoglutarate, respectively, with a sixfold higher affinity to dihydrokaempferol (Km 45 micro m). Flavonol synthase polypeptides share an overall sequence similarity of 85% (47% identity), whereas only 30-60% similarity were apparent with other dioxygenases. Like the other dioxygenases of this class, Citrus flavonol synthase cDNA encodes eight strictly conserved amino-acid residues which include two histidines (His221, His277) and one acidic amino acid (Asp223) residue for FeII-coordination, an arginine (Arg287) proposed to bind 2-oxoglutarate, and four amino acids (Gly68, His75, Gly261, Pro207) with no obvious functionality. Replacements of Gly68 and Gly261 by alanine reduced the catalytic activity by 95%, while the exchange of these Gly residues for proline completely abolished the enzyme activity. Alternatively, the substitution of Pro207 by glycine hardly affected the activity. The data suggest that Gly68 and Gly261, at least, are required for proper folding of the flavonol synthase polypeptide.     

The calmodulin-binding domain on microtubule-associated protein 2

Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) binds calmodulin with a stoichiometry approaching 1-1.5 mol of calmodulin/mol of MAP2 in the presence of calcium ion. The calmodulin-binding domain(s) of MAP2 were probed by cross-linking 125I-calmodulin with partially digested MAP2, by limited digestion of the preformed 125I-calmodulin-MAP2 adduct, and by cross-linking 125I-calmodulin with the projection- and assembly-promoting portions of MAP2. Cross-linking 125I-calmodulin with partially digested MAP2 resulted in radioactive adducts of approximately 300, approximately 235, approximately 205, approximately 58, and approximately 40 kDa. The radioactive adducts with smaller molecular mass became prominent with increasing time of digestion concomitant with loss of those with higher molecular size. Limited chymotryptic digestion of preformed 125I-calmodulin-MAP2 adducts also produced a approximately 58-kDa radioactive band followed later by a approximately 40-kDa band. Brief chymotryptic digestion and subsequent centrifugation of microtubules preformed with pure tubulin and MAP2 permitted separation of microtubule-bound MAP2 fragments (molecular mass = approximately 215, approximately 180, and approximately 36 kDa) from unbound fragments (molecular mass = approximately 240, approximately 180, and approximately 140 kDa). 125I-Calmodulin cross-linked only with the microtubule-bound MAP2 fragments (forming mainly the approximately 58-kDa adduct) and not with unbound MAP2 fragments. Since the apparent molecular size of calmodulin is approximately 21 kDa on these sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, the results indicate that partial digestion of MAP2 by chymotrypsin produces a approximately 37-kDa fragment which can be further degraded to a approximately 20-kDa fragment. The approximately 37-kDa fragment that is labeled corresponds to the previously identified assembly-promoting fragment that attaches to the microtubule.     

Isolation and characterization of copper-binding sites of human ceruloplasmin

A tryptic cleavage procedure was used to obtain stable copper-containing peptide regions of human ceruloplasmin. Tryptic digestion-derived copper peptides were fractionated by gel filtration chromatography, yielding two fractions, one with an apparent molecular weight of 11000 and the other 1000. The high molecular weight fraction (11K fraction) was found to contain 50% of the copper atoms of the ceruloplasmin molecule and behaved as a single copper-containing component by gel filtration chromatography and by isoelectric focusing. The low molecular weight fraction (1K fraction) was found to be a mixture of three or four copper peptides by isoelectric focusing. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis studies, amino acid composition analysis and terminal amino acid determinations showed the 11K fraction to be a complex composed of at least three peptides arising from different regions of the ceruloplasmin molecule. Two of the peptides of the 11K complex appear to be derived from the 19K fragment of the ceruloplasmin molecule (18); one peptide in the complex appears to correspond to the aspartic acid-rich portion, residues 7-30, and the other to the histidine-rich portion, residues 103-157. Most preparations of ceruloplasmin are reported to consist of three non-covalently linked fragments that have molecular weights of 67K, 50K and 19K. Dwulet and Putnam (20) proposed a model for the sequence structure of ceruloplasmin where the molecule exhibits a three-fold repeat pattern of two alternating structures, here termed X and Y.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of β-lactoglobulin from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) colostrum and its possible interaction with erythrocyte lipocalin-interacting membrane receptor

Lipocalins form a widespread class of proteins involved in the transport of weakly soluble vitamins, hormones or hydrophobic molecules. β-lactoglobulin (BLG-col), a major lipocalin present in whey was purified and characterized from buffalo colostrum. The molecular weight of BLG-col as determined by Liquid chromatography -electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was 18.257 kDa and the peptide mass fingerprint of the purified protein revealed 67% sequence homology to buffalo milk β-lg. The N-terminal-IIVTQ and LC-ESI-collision-induced dissociation-Electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analyses of doubly (m/z 1156(+2)) and triply (m/z 546(+3)) charged ion pairs corresponding to VYVEELKPTPEGDLEILLQK (41-60) and TPEVDDEALEKFDK (125-138) sequences confirmed the identity of BLG-col. Using these peptide sequences, the location of a gene encoding for BLG-col was identified on chromosome 11 at 11q28 loci of bovine genome. The unique property of the BLG-col isolated from buffalo colostrum was its strong and specific haemagglutinating activity with 'O' blood of human erythrocytes with 10,309 HAU/mg protein. The cell surface localization of BLG-col on human erythrocytes was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and the specificity of interaction was established by immunoblot analysis of human erythrocyte membrane proteins. Based on these observations, we suggest the presence of lipocalin receptor (70 kDa) on human erythrocyte membrane and the multiple sequence alignment supported structural diversity among lipocalin receptors.     

Detection of ricin in complex samples by immunocapture and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Ricin, the toxin component of Ricinus communis is considered as a potential chemical weapon. Several complementary techniques are required to confirm its presence in environmental samples. Here, we report a method combining immunocapture and analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the accurate detection of different species of R. communis. Liquid environmental samples were applied to magnetic particles coated with a monoclonal antibody directed against the B-chain of the toxin. After acidic elution, tryptic peptides of the A- and B-chains were obtained by accelerated digestion with trypsin in the presence of acetonitrile. Of the 20 peptides observed by MALDI-TOF MS, three were chosen for detection ( m/ z 1013.6, m/ z 1310.6 and m/ z 1728.9, which correspond to peptides 161-LEQLAGNLR-169, 150-YTFAFGGNYDR-160, and 233-SAPDPSVITLENSWGR-248, respectively). Their selection was based on several parameters such as detection sensitivity, specificity toward ricin forms and absence of isotopic overlap with unrelated peptides. To increase assay reproducibility, stable isotope-labeled peptides were incorporated during the sample preparation phase. The final assay has a limit of detection estimated at approximately 50 ng/mL ( approximately 0.8 nM) of ricin in buffer. No interference was observed when the assay was applied to ricin-spiked milk samples. In addition, several varieties of R. communis or from different geographical origins were also shown to be detectable. The present assay provides a new tool with a total analytical time of approximately 5 h, which is particularly relevant in the context of a bioterrorist incident.     

Biophysical studies of eIF4E cap-binding protein: recognition of mRNA 5' cap structure and synthetic fragments of eIF4G and 4E-BP1 proteins

mRNA 5'-cap recognition by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E has been exhaustively characterized with the aid of a novel fluorometric, time-synchronized titration method, and X-ray crystallography. The association constant values of recombinant eIF4E for 20 different cap analogues cover six orders of magnitude; with the highest affinity observed for m(7)GTP (approximately 1.1 x 10(8) M(-1)). The affinity of the cap analogues for eIF4E correlates with their ability to inhibit in vitro translation. The association constants yield contributions of non-covalent interactions involving single structural elements of the cap to the free energy of binding, giving a reliable starting point to rational drug design. The free energy of 7-methylguanine stacking and hydrogen bonding (-4.9 kcal/mol) is separate from the energies of phosphate chain interactions (-3.0, -1.9, -0.9 kcal/mol for alpha, beta, gamma phosphates, respectively), supporting two-step mechanism of the binding. The negatively charged phosphate groups of the cap act as a molecular anchor, enabling further formation of the intermolecular contacts within the cap-binding slot. Stabilization of the stacked Trp102/m(7)G/Trp56 configuration is a precondition to form three hydrogen bonds with Glu103 and Trp102. Electrostatically steered eIF4E-cap association is accompanied by additional hydration of the complex by approximately 65 water molecules, and by ionic equilibria shift. Temperature dependence reveals the enthalpy-driven and entropy-opposed character of the m(7)GTP-eIF4E binding, which results from dominant charge-related interactions (DeltaH degrees =-17.8 kcal/mol, DeltaS degrees= -23.6 cal/mol K). For recruitment of synthetic eIF4GI, eIF4GII, and 4E-BP1 peptides to eIF4E, all the association constants were approximately 10(7) M(-1), in decreasing order: eIF4GI>4E-BP1>eIF4GII approximately 4E-BP1(P-Ser65) approximately 4E-BP1(P-Ser65/Thr70). Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 at Ser65 and Thr70 is insufficient to prevent binding to eIF4E. Enhancement of the eIF4E affinity for cap occurs after binding to eIF4G peptides.     

Degradation of sulfonated azo dyes by the purified lignin peroxidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevibacillus laterosporus</Emphasis> MTCC 2298

Lignin peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.14) was purified from the Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298 by ion exchange chromatography. The K_m value of the purified lignin peroxidase (using n-propanol as substrate) was 1.6 mM. The MW of purified enzyme determined with the help of MW-standard markers was approximately 205 kDa. Purity of the enzyme was confirmed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the activity staining using a substrate L-DOPA. Sulfonated azo dyes such as Methyl orange and Blue-2B were degraded by the purified lignin peroxidase. Degradation of the dyes was confirmed by HPLC, GC-MS, and FTIR spectroscopy. The mainly elected products of Methyl orange were 4-substituted hexanoic acid (m/z = 207), 4-cyclohexenone lactone cation (m/z = 191), and 4-isopropanal-2, 5-cyclohexa-dienone (m/z = 149) and for Blue-2B were 4-(2-hexenoic acid)-2, 5-cyclohexa-diene-one (m/z = 207; M − 1 = 206) and dehydro-acetic acid derivative (m/z = 223).     

Hierarchy of globin complexes. The quaternary structure of the extracellular chlorocruorin of Eudistylia vancouverii.

The molecular dimensions of the extracellular, hexagonal bilayer chlorocruorin of the polychaete Eudistylia vancouverii, determined by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of negatively stained specimens, were diameter of 27.5 nm and height of 18.5 nm. STEM mass measurements of unstained, freeze-dried specimens provided a molecular mass (Mm) of 3480 +/- 225 kDa. The chlorocruorin had no carbohydrate and its iron content was 0.251 +/- 0.021 wt%, corresponding to a minimum Mm of 22.4 kDa. Mass spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the prosthetic group confirmed it to be protoheme IX with a formyl group at position 3. SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, reversed-phase chromatography and N-terminal sequencing suggested that the chlorocruorin consists of at least three chains of approximately 30 kDa and five chains of approximately 16 kDa; the two types of subunits occur in the ratio 0.26:0.74(+/- 0.08). Complete dissociation of the chlorocruorin at neutral pH in the presence of urea or guanidine hydrochloride, followed by gel filtration, produced elution profiles consisting of three peaks, B, C and D. Fractions B and C consisted of the approximately 16 kDa chains and fraction D consisted of the approximately 30 kDa subunits. Mass measurements of particles in STEM images of unstained, freeze-dried fractions B and C provided Mm of 208 +/- 23 kDa and 65 +/- 12 kDa, respectively, in agreement with 191 +/- 13 kDa and 67 +/- 5 kDa obtained by gel filtration. Particles with Mm = 221 +/- 21 kDa were also observed in STEM images of unstained, freeze-dried chlorocruorin. These results imply that the chlorocruorin structure, in addition to the approximately 30 kDa linker subunits that have 0.26 to 0.47 heme groups/chain, comprises approximately 65 kDa tetramers and approximately 200 kDa dodecamers (trimers of tetramers) of globin chains. The stoichiometry of the tetramer and linker subunits calculated from molar amino acid compositions was 34 +/- 4 and 43 +/- 9. The complete dissociation of the chlorocruorin was accompanied by a 50 to 75% loss of the 55 +/- 14 Ca2+/mol protein, and was decreased to approximately 35% by the presence of 10 to 25 mM-Ca2+. Reassociation of dissociated chlorocruorin was maximal in the presence of 2.5 to 5 mM-Ca2+. The dodecamer and/or tetramer subunits in the absence or presence of Ca2+ exhibited very limited (less than 10%) reassociation into hexagonal bilayer structures, only in the presence of the linker subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)