Cloning and heterologous expression of the antibiotic peptide (ABP) genes from Rhizopus oligosporus NBRC 8631

We carried out protein sequencing of purified Antibiotic Peptide (ABP), and cloned two genes encoding this peptide as abp1 and abp2, from Rhizopus oligosporus NBRC 8631. Both genes contain an almost identical 231-bp segment, with only 3 nucleotide substitutions, encoding a 77 amino acid peptide. The abp gene product comprises a 28 amino acid signal sequence and a 49 amino acid mature peptide. Northern blot analysis showed that at least one of the abp genes is transcribed in R. oligosporus NBRC 8631. A truncated form of abp1 encoding only the mature peptide was fused with the alpha-factor signal peptide and engineered for expression in Pichia pastoris SMD1168H. Culture broth of the recombinant Pichia displayed ABP activity against Bacillus subtilis NBRC 3335 after induction of heterologous gene expression. This result indicates that mature ABP formed the active structure without the aid of other factors from R. oligosporus, and was secreted.     

Purification and characterization of an beta-D-xylosidase from Candida utilis IFO 0639

An intracellular beta-D-xylosidase from Candida utilis IFO 0639 was purified to homogeneity through four chromatographic steps. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 92 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme had an isoelectric point at 5.6, and was most active at pH 6.0 and at around 40 degrees C. Ethanol at an optimal concentration (10%, v/v) stimulated the initial enzyme activity by 57%. D-Xylose, the product of the beta-D-xylosidase, has no effect on the enzyme activity at 300 mM. The beta-D-xylosidase was highly specific to the beta-D-xylopyranoside configuration. The enzyme hydrolyzed beta-1,4-linked xylo-oligosaccharides with chain lengths from 2 to 5 by releasing xylose from the non-reducing end. It showed no activity against xylan. The enzyme efficiently released monoterpenols from an aroma precursor extracted from Muscat grape juice. The fermentation of Muscat juice coupled with the enzyme addition produced a small increase in the concentration of monoterpenols.     

Purification of two chitinases from Rhizopus oligosporus and isolation and sequencing of the encoding genes.

Two chitinases were purified from Rhizopus oligosporus, a filamentous fungus belonging to the class Zygomycetes, and designated chitinase I and chitinase II. Their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined, and two synthetic oligonucleotide probes corresponding to these amino acid sequences were synthesized. Southern blot analyses of the total genomic DNA from R. oligosporus with these oligonucleotides as probes indicated that one of the two genes encoding these two chitinases was contained in a 2.9-kb EcoRI fragment and in a 3.6-kb HindIII fragment and that the other one was contained in a 2.9-kb EcoRI fragment and in a 11.5-kb HindIII fragment. Two DNA fragments were isolated from the phage bank of R. oligosporus genomic DNA with the synthetic oligonucleotides as probes. The restriction enzyme analyses of these fragments coincided with the Southern blot analyses described above and the amino acid sequences deduced from their nucleotide sequences contained those identical to the determined N-terminal amino acid sequences of the purified chitinases, indicating that each of these fragments contained a gene encoding chitinase (designated chi 1 and chi 2, encoding chitinase I and II, respectively). The deduced amino acid sequences of these two genes had domain structures similar to that of the published sequence of chitinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, except that they had an additional C-terminal domain. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the molecular weights experimentally determined with the two purified enzymes and those deduced from the nucleotide sequences for both genes. Analysis of the N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences of both chitinases and comparison of them with the amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences revealed posttranslational processing not only at the N-terminal signal sequences but also at the C-terminal domains. It is concluded that these chitinases are synthesized with pre- and prosequences in addition to the mature enzyme sequences and that the prosequences are located at the C terminal.     

日本根霉IFO5318胞外β—葡萄糖苷酶的纯化及部分特性

采用硫酸铵沉淀及柱层析等步骤纯化了日本根霉IFO5318的β—葡萄糖苷酶,回收率为22％。该酶分子量约为4.0×10~5,由四个相同大小的亚基组成;最适反应温度55℃,最适反应pH5.5;对热较敏感,但能在较大的pH范围内保持稳定。用对硝基苯基—β-D-吡喃葡糖苷为底物,测得的K_m和V_(max)值分别为0.825mg·ml~(-1)和135.4μmol·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)。该酶对纤维二糖的水解能力最强,SDS、Fe~(3 )、Hg~2 )等对酶活力有抑制作用。     

Purification and characterization of histamine dehydrogenase from Nocardioides simplex IFO 12069

Histamine dehydrogenase from Nocardioides simplex IFO 12069 was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 170 kDa and was suggested to be a dimer of subunits that had a molecular mass of 84 kDa. The enzyme showed highest activity toward histamine and produced ammonia in its oxidative deamination to imidazole acetaldehyde. The K(m) and V(max) values for histamine were 0.075 mM and 4.76 micromol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. The enzyme was sensitive to the carbonyl reagent iproniazid and a structurally similar compound, tryptophan. The enzyme showed absorption maxima at 442 and 280 nm. Reduction with histamine under anaerobic conditions resulted in a different absorption maximum at 360 nm instead of 442 nm. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 in Tris-HCl buffer and most stable at pH 7.0 in potassium phosphate buffer. The E(1%) value of the enzyme was 8.6 at 280 nm.     

Purification and characterization of two alpha-keto ester reductases from Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus IFO 14271

Two NADPH-dependent alpha-keto ester reductases (Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus keto ester reductase, STKER-II and -III) were purified from S. thermocyaneoviolaceus IFO 14271, one of thermophilic actinomycetes. The molecular masses of native STKER-II and -III were estimated to be 60 kDa and 70 kDa by gel filtration chromatography, respectively. These enzymes were both homodimers, with 29-kDa and 30-kDa subunit molecular masses based on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. STKER-II and -III were stable from pH 7.0 to 10.0 and pH 5.5 to 9.0, respectively. Ethyl 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate was reduced by both enzymes isolated to the corresponding (R)-hydroxy ester with excellent enantiomeric excess. STKER-III showed high stereoselectivity for the reduction of bulky substrates, while the selectivity of the STKER-II-catalyzed reduction was low except for ethyl 3-methyl-2-hydrox-ybutanoate. Both enzymes had small Km values toward aliphatic keto esters having a long alkyl chain.     

Purification and characterization of an endo-beta-galactosidase produced by Diplococcus pneumoniae.

An endo-beta-galactosidase acting on blood group A and B substances was found in the culture fluid of Diplococcus pneumoniae. The enzyme was purified 1000-fold, and its properties were studied in detail. The enzyme preparation, thus obtained, was practically free from various exoglycosidases, endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and proteases. The enzyme releases trisaccharides from blood group A and B active mucins purified from ovarian cyst fluid. The structures of the trisaccharides liberated from A and B active mucins were elucidated to be GalNAcalpha1 leads to 3(Fucalpha1 leads to 2)Gal and Galalpha1 leads to 3(Fucalpha1 leads to 2)Gal, respectively. The enzyme also hydrolyzes blood group A and B active oligosaccharides composed of type 2 chains, yielding the same products as in the case of ovarian cyst blood group substances. An H active mucin from ovarian cyst fluid, H active oligosaccharides, and A and B active oligosaccharides with type 1 chains were not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. Consequently, the enzyme catalyzes the following reaction, resulting in the degradation of blood type A and B determinants. (see article).     

Purification and characterization of an ADP-ribosyltransferase produced by Clostridium limosum.

We purified a novel ADP-ribosyltransferase produced by a Clostridium limosum strain isolated from a lung abscess and compared the exoenzyme with Clostridium botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3. The C. limosum exoenzyme has a molecular weight of about 25,000 and a pI of 10.3. The specific activity of the ADP-ribosyltransferase is 3.1 nmol/mg/min with a Km for NAD of 0.3 microM. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of the tryptic peptides revealed about 70% homology with C3. The novel exoenzyme modifies selectively the small GTP-binding proteins of the rho family in human platelet membranes presumably at the same amino acid (asparagine 41) as known for C3. Recombinant rhoA and rhoB serve as substrates for C3 and the C. limosum exoenzyme. Whereas recombinant rac1 protein is only marginally ADP-ribosylated by C3 or by the C. limosum exoenzyme in the absence of detergent, in the presence of 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate rac1 is modified by C3 but not by the C. limosum exoenzyme. Recombinant CDC42Hs protein is a poor substrate for C. limosum exoenzyme and is even less modified by C3. The C. limosum exoenzyme is auto-ADP-ribosylated in the presence of 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate by forming an ADP-ribose protein bond highly stable toward hydroxylamine. The data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of small GTP-binding proteins of the rho family is not unique to C. botulinum C3 ADP-ribosyltransferase but is also catalyzed by a C3-related exoenzyme from C. limosum.     

Purification and characterization of protease from a newly isolated Rhizopus oryzae

A newly isolated Rhizopus oryzae was found to exhibit some unusual phenomenon of secreting alkaline protease which was purified and characterized. The molecular weight was determined to be 28,600 dalton in gel electrophoresis. The enzyme is stable in the pH range from 3 to 11 and most active at pH 8. The temperature optimum of this thermostable biocatalyst is at 60 °C. The enzyme is sensitive to metal chelators, most of the metal ions (excepting a few monovalent cations) and inhibitor like PMSF. This indicates that the protease of isolated Rhizopus oryzae falls under alkaline serine group.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular lipase from a thermophilic Rhizopus oryzae strain isolated from palm fruit

We have isolated a lipolytic strain from palm fruit that was identified as a Rhizopus oryzae. Culture conditions were optimized and highest lipase production amounting to 120 U/ml was achieved after 4 days of cultivation. The extracellular lipase was purified 1200-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, sulphopropyl-Sepharose chromatography, Sephadex G 75 gel filtration and a second sulphopropyl-Sepharose chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 8800 U/mg. The lipolytic enzyme has a molecular mass of 32 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The enzyme exhibited a single band in active polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its isoelectric point was 7.6. Analysis of Rhizopus oryzae lipase by RP-HPLC confirmed the homogeneity of the enzyme preparation. Determination of the N-terminal sequence over 19 amino acid residues showed a high homology with lipases of the same genus. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was 7.5. Lipase was stable in the pH range from 4.5 to 7.5. The optimum temperature for lipase activity was 35 degrees C and about 65% of its activity was retained after incubation at 45 degrees C for 30 min. The lipolytic enzyme was inhibited by Triton X100, SDS, and metal ions such as Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Hg(2+) and Fe(2+). Lipase activity against triolein was enhanced by sodium cholate or taurocholate. The purified lipase had a preference for the hydrolysis of saturated fatty acid chains (C(8)-C(18)) and a 1, 3-position specificity. It showed a good stability in organic solvents and especially in long chain-fatty alcohol. The enzyme poorly hydrolyzed triacylglycerols containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and appeared as a suitable biocatalyst for selective esterification of sardine free fatty acids with hexanol as substrate. About 76% of sardine free fatty acids were esterified after 30 h reaction whereas 90% of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was recovered in the unesterified fatty acids.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular beta-lactamase produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.

A beta-lactamase was purified 430-fold from the culture supernatant of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex and affinity chromatography on phenylboronic-acid-agarose. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by SDS-PAGE, and was characterized with respect to molecular mass (38 and 41 kDa by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and SDS-PAGE, respectively), pH optimum (pH 7.0), temperature optimum (45 degrees C) and isoelectric point (9.3). The beta-lactamase showed mainly cephalosporinase activity. It was inhibited by cloxacillin, carbenicillin, penicillanic acid sulphone (sulbactam) and aztreonam. It was not inhibited by clavulanic acid up to a concentration of 0.25 mM. Neither EDTA nor p-chlormercuribenzoate, up to concentrations of 1 or 100 mM, respectively, affected activity. According to these characteristics, it is a typical CEP-N cephalosporinase.     

Purification and characterization of an invertase produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS.

Purification and characterization of an extracellular invertase produced by Aspergillus ochraceus TS are reported. The enzyme was purified (42-fold) from culture filtrate by salt precipitation, ion-exchange and gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the purified enzyme showed a single band of molecular mass 66 kDa. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was found to be 130 kDa by gel filtration. The purity of the protein was also checked against its antiserum raised in rabbits by two-dimensional immunodiffusion in agarose gel and Western blot that showed a single band. It is a glycoprotein with mannose as its carbohydrate residue. The enzyme showed high affinity for sucrose with a Km of 3.5 mM. The amino acid analysis revealed a high proportion of acidic residues but it had a low content of cysteine, histidine and arginine comparable to other fungal invertases.     

Purification and characterization of a novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Rhizopus chinensis 12

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Rhizopus chinensis 12 was purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, ionic exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. The purification protocol resulted in a 893-fold purification of the enzyme, with a final yield of 42.6%. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was 18.0 kDa, determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 16.6 kDa by gel filtration chromatography, which revealed a monomeric form of the enzyme. The isoelectric point of the enzyme estimated by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis was 8.5±0.1. The enzyme hydrolyzed fibrin. It cleaved the , , and chains of fibrinogen simultaneously, and it also hydrolyzed casein and N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA. The enzyme had an optimal temperature of 45°C, and an optimal pH of 10.5. EDTA, PCMB, and PMSF inhibited the activity of the enzyme, and SBTI, Lys, TPCK, and Aprotinine had no obvious inhibition, which suggested that the activity center of the enzyme had hydrosulfuryl and metal. The first 12 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme were S-V-S-E-I-Q-L-M-H-N-L-G and had no homology with that of other fibrinolytic enzyme from other microbes.     

Penetration of Rhizopus oligosporus into Soybeans in Tempeh

Histological observations were made on the penetration of hyphae of Rhizopus oligosporus into soybean cotyledons in tempeh, an Indonesian soybean food. Hyphal penetrations averaged one per 1,400 μm² (±390 μm²) on the curved (outer) cotyledon surface and one per 1,010 μm² (±340 μm²) on the flat (inner) one. Hyphae infiltrated to a depth of 742 μm, or about 25% of the average width of a soybean cotyledon. This previously unreported degree of penetration offers partial explanation for the rapid physical and chemical changes in soybeans during tempeh fermentation.     

Changes in the antibiotic production by co-culture of Rhizopus peka P8 and Bacillus subtilis IFO3335

The co-culture of Bacillus subtilis IFO 3335 with Rhizopus peka P8 or Rhizopus oligosporus P12 in liquid medium was found to increase production of antibiotic activity and to alter the spectrum of activity relative to the pure cultures. However, a mixed culture of Rhizopus arrhizus P7 and Rhizopus oryzae P17 did not produce antibiotic activity. The concentration, ratio, and time of addition of B. subtilis to the R. peka culture was found to influence antibiotic yields. Solid-state fermentations using mixed cultures of R. peka and B. subtilis were investigated. The growth of Escherichia coli IFO 3792 as a target bacterium was inhibited by the mixed culture. These results suggest the possibility of biopreservation of fermented foods by novel co-culture systems.     

Production of fungal protein and glucoamylase by Rhizopus oligosporus from starch processing wastewater

A simple, non-aseptic, low-cost single process had been developed for the treatment of starch processing wastewater (SPW) with the production of fungal protein and glucoamylase enzyme. The selected fungus Rhizopus oligosporus DAR 2710 has the ability to covert more than 95% starch materials in SPW to produce 4.5–5.2 g of dry fungal biomass from a litre of SPW in 14 h cultivation at 35°C and initial pH 4.0. The fungal biomass contained 46% protein and was safe for human and animal consumption. The process using an air lift bioreactor was successfully carried out in a batch system without sterilization and/or preliminary hydrolysis of SPW. In addition to the production of fungal protein and glucoamylase, the removal of 95% COD and total suspended solids would lead to a potential benefit to the environment.