Microbial transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 by Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata

Of 49 microbial strains screened for their capabilities to transform ginsenoside Rb₁, Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata produced four key metabolites: 3-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,2)--d-glucopyranosyl]- 20-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl]-3,12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (1), 3-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,2)--d- glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl]-3,12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ol (2), 3-O-[-d-gluco- pyranosyl-(1,2)--d-glucopyranosyl]-3, 12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (3), and 3-O--d-glucopyranosyl-3, 12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (4), identified by TOF-MS, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral data. Metabolites 1, 3 and 4 were from the incubation with R. stolonifer, and 1 and 2 from the incubation with C. lunata. Compound 2 was identified as a new compound.     

Expression of the β-subunit of β-conglycinin in seeds of transgenic plants

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds contain the storage protein -conglycinin, encoded by a multigene family. -Conglycinin consists of three subunits; , , and . A genomic clone for a -subunit of -conglycinin has been characterized by restriction-enzyme mapping and hybrid selected in-vitro translation followed by immunoprecipitation. In order to determine the developmental regulation of this -subunit gene, its expression was studied in seeds of transgenic petunia (Petunia hybrida) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. The -subunit expressed in seeds of petunia and tobacco was recognized by anti--conglycinin serum at a relative molecular mass of 53 000, equivalent to that of the native protein. Separation of the petunia-seed proteins by isoelectric focusing followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis showed that multiple isoelectric forms of the -subunit were produced. There was approximately a twofold variation in the accumulation of the -subunit protein in the mature seeds of transgenic petunia plants, each containing a single -subunit gene. However, the level of protein accumulation in mature seeds and the amount of -subunit mRNA in developing seeds was not correlated. Accumulation of the -subunit protein in transgenic seeds was less than the -subunit protein that accumulated in transgenic petunia seeds containing a single -subunit gene and less than the amount of the -subunit in mature soybean seeds which contain 8–13 -subunit genes. In transgenic tobacco plants, the accumulation of the -subunit protein in seeds was generally well correlated with the number of genes that were incorporated in the different transformants.Abbreviations kb kilobase - kDa kilodalton - M_r relative molecular mass - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Erratum: Cloning and sequencing of the phycocyanin gene from Spirulina maxima and its evolutionary analysis

The genes were cloned for the two apoprotein subunits, and ,of phycocyanin from the cyanobacterium Spirulina maxima = Arthrospiramaxima) strain F3. The - and -subunit gene-coding regionscontain 489 bp and 519 bp, respectively. The -subunit gene is upstreamfrom the -subunit gene, with a 111-bp segment separating them.Similarities between the -subunits of S. maxima and nine othercyanobacteria were between 58% and 99%, as were those between the -subunits. The maximum similarity between the - and -subunits from S. maxima was 27%.     

Carbohydrates of influenza virus. Structure of the oligosaccharides linked to asparagines 406 and 478 in the hemagglutinin of fowl plague virus,strain dutch

Fowl plague virus, strain Dutch, was metabolically labeled withd-[2-³H]mannose, or withd-[6-³H]glucosamine, and the small subunit (HA₂; 0.8 mg in total) of the viral hemagglutinin was isolated by preparative sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After proteolytic digestion, the radioactive oligosaccharides were sequentially liberated from the glycopeptides by treatment with different endo--N-acetylglucosaminidases and with peptide:N-glycosidase or, finally, by hydrazinolysis. In this manner, four groups of glycans could be obtained by consecutive gel filtrations and were subfractionated by HPLC. The structures of the individual oligosaccharides were analyzed by micromethylation, by acetolysis or by digestion with exoglycosidases. The major species amongst the high mannose glycans at Ans-406 of the viral glycopolypeptide were found to be Man1-2Man1-3(Man1-2Man1-6)Man1-6(Man1-2Man1-2Man1-3)Man1-4GlcNac1-4GlcNAc and Man1-3(Man1-2Man1-6)Man1-6(Man1-2Man1-2Man1-3)Man1-4GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc, while the complex glycans at Asn-478 are predominantly GlcNAc1-2Man1-3(GlcNAc1-2Man1-6)Man1-4GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc (lacking, in part, one of the outerN-acetylglucosamine residues) and GlcNAc1-2Man1-3(Gal1-4GlcNAc1-2Man1-6)Man1-4GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc.Abbreviation BSA bovine serum albumin - endo D (F,H) endo--N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase D (F,H) - HA hemagglutinin (HA₁, large subunit of HA - HA₂ small subunit - FPV fowl plague virus - PNGase F peptide:N-glycosidase F - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate     

In vivo fucosylation of lacto-N-neotetraose and lacto-N-neohexaose by heterologous expression of Helicobacter pylori alpha-1,3 fucosyltransferase in engineered Escherichia coli

We report here the in vivo production of type 2 fucosylated-N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides in Escherichia coli. Lacto-N-neofucopentaose Gal1-4GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)Glc, lacto-N-neodifucohexaose Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)Glc-NAc1-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)Glc, and lacto-N-neodifucooctaose Gal1-4GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)Glc were produced from lactose added in the culture medium. Two of them carry the Lewis X human antigen. High cell density cultivation allowed obtaining several grams of fucosylated oligosaccharides per liter of culture. The fucosylation reaction was catalyzed by an -1,3 fucosyltransferase of Helicobacter pylori overexpressed in E. coli with the genes lgtAB of N. meningitidis. The strain was genetically engineered in order to provide GDP-fucose to the system, by genomic inactivation of gene wcaJ involved in colanic acid synthesis and overexpression of RcsA, positive regulator of the colanic acid operon.To prevent fucosylation at the glucosyl residue, lactulose Gal1-4Fru was assayed in replacement of lactose. Lactulose-derived oligosaccharides carrying fucose were synthesized and characterized. Fucosylation of the fructosyl residue was observed, indicating a poor acceptor specificity of the fucosyltransferase of H. pylori.     

Enzymic synthesis of lacto-N-triose II and its positional analogues

N-acetylhexosaminidase fromNocardia orientalis catalysed the synthesis of lacto-N-triose II glycoside (-d-GlcNAc-(1-3)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OMe,3) with its isomers -d-GlcNAc-(1-6)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OMe (4) and -d-Gal-(1-4)-[-d-GlcNAc-(1-6)]--d-Glc-OMe (5) throughN-acetylglucosaminyl transfer fromN,N-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc₂) to methyl -lactoside. The enzyme formed the mixture of trisac-charides3, 4 and5 in 17% overall yield based on GlcNAc₂, in a ratio of 20:21:59. Withp-nitrophenyl -lactoside as an acceptor, the enzyme also producedp-nitrophenyl -lacto-N-trioside II (-d-GlcNAc-(1-3)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p,6) with its isomers -d-GlcNAc-(1-6)--d-Gal-(1-4)--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p (7) and -d-Gal-(1-4)-[-d-GlcNAc-(1-6)]--d-Glc-OC₆H₄NO₂-p (8). In this case, when an inclusion complex ofp-nitrophenyl lactoside acceptor with -cyclodextrin was used, the regioselectivity of glycosidase-catalysed formation of trisaccharide glycoside was substantially changed. It resulted not only in a significant increase of the overall yield of transfer products, but also in the proportion of the desired compound6.Abbreviations GlcNAc₂ 2-acetamido-2-deoxy--d-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose - NAHase N-acetylhexosaminidase - -CD -cyclodextrin     

Cloning of Candida pelliculosa beta-glucosidase gene and its expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Candida pelliculosa var. acetaetherius is a strain of yeast which can utilize cellobiose as the carbon source. From a gene library prepared from this yeast, the -glucosidase gene has been cloned in a S. cerevisiae host using a chromogenic substrate, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl--glucoside as an indicator. It was proved by Southern analysis that the DNA fragment carrying the -glucosidase gene originated from C. pelliculosa. -Glucosidase produced by S. cerevisiae transformants was secreted into the periplasmic space. In Candida, -glucosidase was not induced by cellobiose but was derepressed by lowering the concentration of glucose. The regulation of -glucosidase synthesis in S. cerevisiae carrying the cloned -glucosidase was not clear compared with that in Candida, however, the enzyme activity in low glucose medium (0.05%) was reproducibly higher than in high glucose medium (2%). We have found the sequence that controls the expression of the -glucosidase gene negatively in S. cerevisiae.     

Variability in the 11S globulin fraction of seed storage proteins ofHelianthus (Asteraceae)

The seed storage globulins from sixHelianthus and four hybrids were studied using mono and bidimensional gel SDS electrophoresis (+ 2 mercaptoethanol). The polypeptide composition of each subunit was determined. Different pairs are specifically expressed according to the species studied. Three typical patterns were discriminated. All the studied species exhibit five subunits: two of them are expressed in all the species (₁₁ and ₂₂). The subunit corresponding to the ₁₁ pair is present inH. petiolaris and in the three populations ofH. annuus studied. The _2b2 pair is common toH. annuus andH. argophyllus. H. petiolaris presents two specific _2a2 and ₄₄ pairs andH. annuus a specific ₃₃ pair. InH. argophyllus _{11 33} or ₄₄ are never observed but are replaced by ₁₃ and ₃₁ pairs. Some globulins, poorly represented, are of forms but present chains of higher molecular weights (in the range 54–56 kDa). Expressing variations in the banding patterns between these species by the use of a similarity index reveals complete identity between the three populations ofH. annuus. Identity between the twoH. petiolaris studied is also observed.H. annuus andH. argophyllus appear to be closer to each other thanH. petiolaris concerning the seed storage globulins.     

Characterization of a second carotenoid β-hydroxylase gene from Arabidopsis and its relationship to the LUT1 locus

Xanthophylls are oxygenated carotenoids that perform critical roles in plants. -carotene hydroxylases (-hydroxylases) add hydroxyl groups to the -rings of carotenes and have been cloned from several bacteria and plants, including Arabidopsis. The lut1 mutation of Arabidopsis disrupts -ring hydroxylation and has been suggested to identify a related carotene hydroxylase that functions specifically on -ring structures. We have used library screening and genomics-based approaches to isolate a second -hydroxylase genomic clone and its corresponding cDNA from Arabidopsis. The encoded protein is 70% identical to the previously reported Arabidopsis -hydroxylase 1. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a common origin for the two proteins, however, their different chromosomal locations, intron positions and intron sizes suggest their duplication is not recent. Although both hydroxylases are expressed in all Arabidopsis tissues analyzed, -hydroxylase 1 mRNA is always present at higher levels. Both cDNAs encode proteins that efficiently hydroxylate the C-3 position of -ring containing carotenes and are only weakly active towards -ring containing carotenes. Neither -hydroxylase cDNA maps to the LUT1 locus, and the genomic region encompassing the LUT1 locus does not contain a third related hydroxylase. These data indicate that the LUT1 locus encodes a protein necessary for -ring hydroxylation but unrelated to -hydroxylases at the level of amino acid sequence.     

A 500-MHz1H-NMR study on theN-linked carbohydrate chain of bromelain

The 500-MHz¹H-NMR characteristics of theN-linked carbohydrate chain Man1-6[Xyl1-2]Man1-4GlcNAc1-4[Fuc1-3]GlcNAc1-NAsn of the proteolytic enzyme bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4) from pineapple stem were determined for the oligosaccharide-alditol and the glycopeptide, obtained by hydrazinolysis and Pronase digestion, respectively. The¹H-NMR structural-reporter-groups of the (1–3)-linked fucose residue form unique sets of data for the alditol as well as for the glycopeptide.     

The carotenoids of Flavobacterium strain R1560

The main carotenoid of Flavobacterium strain R1560 has been identified as (3R,3R)-zeaxanthin. Also present were small amounts of 15-cis-phytoene, phytofluene, -carotene (7,8,7,8-tetrahydro-, -carotene plus 7,8,11,12-tetrahydro-, -carotene), neurosporene, lycopene, -zeacarotene, -carotene, -carotene, -cryptoxanthin, rubixanthin, 3-hydroxy--zeacarotene and several apo-carotenals. Zeaxanthin production was inhibited by nicotine (10 mM), and lycopene and rubixanthin accumulated. The biosynthesis of zeaxanthin is discussed in terms of pathways and also of half-molecule reaction sequences. The presence of zeaxanthin may be a characteristic of a group of Flavobacterium species, and may thus be useful in the taxonomic classification of these organisms.     

Steroid-induced regulation of 3α,20β- and 3β,17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in wild type and mutants of Streptomyces hydrogenans

The effect of estradiol, hydrocortisone and progesterone on 3,20-and 3,17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) in mutants of Streptomyces hydrogenans was compared to the steroid response of the wild type. Mutants were defective in arginine biosynthesis and/or aerial mycelial formation and lacked both enzymes or only 17-HSD. Some 17-HSD mutants had lost the ability to be induced by estradiol, by progesterone or by both. Some 20-HSD mutants had lost the ability to be induced by hydrocortisone, by progesterone or by both. Non-inducibility of 17-and 20-HSD by progesterone was not co-ordinate. An additional study of the growth phase-dependent enzyme activity of the wild type after induction with estradiol, hydrocortisone and progesterone was performed.Non-standard abbreviations 17-HSD 3,17-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.51) - 20-HSD 3,20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.53) - AO acridine orange - EBr ethidium bromide - EMS ethyl methanesulfonate - MNNG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine     

A cDNA encoding vacuolar type β-d-fructofuranosidase (Osβfruct3) of rice and its expression in Pichia pastoris

A vacuolar type -d-fructofuranosidase (Osfruct3) was cloned from etiolated rice seedlings cDNA library. It encodes an open reading frame of 688 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence had 58% identity to the vacuolar type -d-fructofuranosidase of maize (Ivr1). Osfruct3 exists as a single copy per genome. Northern analyses showed that Osfruct3 undergoes organ-specific expression and is involved in the adjustment of plant responses to environmental signals and metabolizable sugars. Osfruct3 was also heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant proteins were confirmed to be a vacuolar type -d-fructofuranosidase.     

Structure of a new nonasaccharide isolated from human milk: VI2Fuc,V4Fuc,III3Fuc-p-lacto-N-hexaose

The structure of a new nonasaccharide isolated from human milk has been investigated. By using methylation analysis, FAB-MS and¹H-and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy as basic methods of structural investigation, this oligosaccharide was identified as VI²--Fuc,V⁴-Fuc,III³--Fuc-p-lacto-n-hexaose: Fuc1-2Gal1-3[Fuc1-4]GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4[Fuc1-3]GlcNAc1-3Gal1-4Glc.Abbreviations COSY correlation spectroscope - DP degree of polymerisation - FAB-MS fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - GLC gas-liquid chromatography     

Synthetic substrate analogues for UDP-GlcNAc: Manα1-6R β(1-2)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II. Substrate specificity and inhibitors for the enzyme

UDP-GlcNAc: Man1-6R (1-2)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II (GlcNAc-T II; EC 2.4.1.143) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of complexN-glycans. We have tested a series of synthetic analogues of the substrate Man1-6(GlcNAc1-2Man1-3)Man-O-octyl as substrates and inhibitors for rat liver GlcNAc-T II. The enzyme attachesN-acetylglucosamine in 1-2 linkage to the 2-OH of the Man1-6 residue. The 2-deoxy analogue is a competitive inhibitor (K _i=0.13mm). The 2-O-methyl compound does not bind to the enzyme presumably due to steric hindrance. The 3-, 4- and 6-OH groups are not essential for binding or catalysis since the 3-, 4- and 6-deoxy and -O-methyl derivatives are all good substrates. Increasing the size of the substituent at the 3-position to pentyl and substituted pentyl groups causes competitive inhibition (K _i=1.0–2.5mm). We have taken advantage of this effect to synthesize two potentially irreversible GlcNAc-T II inhibitors containing a photolabile 3-O-(4,4-azo)pentyl group and a 3-O-(5-iodoacetamido)pentyl group respectively. The data indicate that none of the hydroxyls of the Man1-6 residue are essential for binding although the 2- and 3-OH face the catalytic site of the enzyme. The 4-OH group of the Man-O-octyl residue is not essential for binding or catalysis since the 4-deoxy derivative is a good substrate; the 4-O-methyl derivative does not bind. This contrasts with GlcNAc-T I which cannot bind to the 4-deoxy-Man- substrate analogue. The data are compatible with our previous observations that a bisectingN-acetylglucosamine at the 4-OH position prevents both GlcNAc-T I and GlcNAc-T II catalysis. However, in the case of GlcNAc-T II, the bisectingN-acetylglucosamine prevents binding due to steric hindrance rather than to removal of an essential OH group. The 3-OH of the Man1-3 is an essential group for GlcNAc-T II since the 3-deoxy derivative does not bind to the enzyme. The trisaccharide GlcNAc1-2Man1-3Man-O-octyl is a good inhibitor (K _i=0.9mm). The above data together with previous studies indicate that binding of the GlcNAc1-2Man1-3Man- arm of the branched substrate to the enzyme is essential for catalysis. Abbreviations: GlcNAc-T I, UDP-GlcNAc:Man1-3R (1-2)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (EC 2.4.1.101); GlcNAc-T II, UDP-GlcNAc:Man1-6R (1-2)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II (EC 2.4.1.143); MES, 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid monohydrate.     

Transformation of yeast and Podospora: innocuity of senescence-specific DNAs

Summary Two senscence-specific DNAs (sen-DNAs and ) were tested for their ability to drive autonomous replication in yeast and Podospora. The but not the sequence has autoreplicative (ARS) properties in yeast; the ARS sequences of are not included in the region common to all the sen-DNAs. Neither the nor the sequences can confer autoreplicative properties in Podospora. These sequences inserted into a hybrid vector carrying the suppressor tRNA, su4-1, do not change the mode of transformation of a suppressible leu-1-1 strain of Podospora: the transformation is by integration whether or not the plasmid carries a sen-DNA sequence. The su4-1 gene integrates at its homologous site in a minority of cases. It is possible to reisolate free plasmids at a low frequency from some transformants. The presence of a sen-DNA on the transforming vector has no effect upon the longevity of the transformants.     

Characterization of Four Novel Variants of Goat βA-Globin Gene

Four novel alleles of the adult -globin gene of Capra hircus were observed in an extended study on hemoglobin polymorphism in goat breeds living in the island of Sardinia. Nucleotide sequencing showed that one of these alleles is due to a 2 bp substitution at codon 125 ( G, "LeuGlu). Two substitutions, the silent CT for Leu at codon 78 and the conservative A G (Lys Arg) at codon 104, are shared by the other three alleles, two of them having additional mutations, which suggests a common origin. The allele we provisionally called the ^Y shares four out of five amino acid substitutions, together with the same polymorphisms in the IVSII, we observed previously in the rather common ^E gene. This evidence allowed the origin of the ^E gene to be better characterized. The data increase to seven the number of alleles at the goat ^A -globin locus characterized thus far at the molecular level. A simplified nomenclature for the increasing number of goat -globin alleles is presented.