Gene Overexpression and Biochemical Characterization of the Biotechnologically Relevant Chlorogenic Acid Hydrolase from Aspergillus niger

The full-length gene that encodes the chlorogenic acid hydrolase from Aspergillus niger CIRM BRFM 131 was cloned by PCR based on the genome of the strain A. niger CBS 513.88. The complete gene consists of 1,715 bp and codes for a deduced protein of 512 amino acids with a molecular mass of 55,264 Da and an acidic pI of 4.6. The gene was successfully cloned and overexpressed in A. niger to yield 1.25 g liter⁻¹, i.e., 330-fold higher than the production of wild-type strain A. niger CIRM BRFM131. The histidine-tagged recombinant ChlE protein was purified to homogeneity via a single chromatography step, and its main biochemical properties were characterized. The molecular size of the protein checked by mass spectroscopy was 74,553 Da, suggesting the presence of glycosylation. ChlE is assembled in a tetrameric form with several acidic isoforms with pIs of around 4.55 and 5.2. Other characteristics, such as optimal pH and temperature, were found to be similar to those determined for the previously characterized chlorogenic acid hydrolase of A. niger CIRM BRFM 131. However, there was a significant temperature stability difference in favor of the recombinant protein. ChlE exhibits a catalytic efficiency of 12.5 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ toward chlorogenic acid (CGA), and its ability to release caffeic acid from CGA present in agricultural by-products such as apple marc and coffee pulp was clearly demonstrated, confirming the high potential of this enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of a chlorogenic acid hydrolase from Aspergillus niger catalysing the hydrolysis of chlorogenic acid

Among 15 Aspergillus strains, Aspergillus niger BRFM 131 was selected for its high chlorogenic acid hydrolase activity. The enzyme was purified and characterized with respect to its physico-chemical and kinetic properties. Four chromatographic steps were necessary to purify the protein to homogeneity with a recovery of 2%. Km of the chlorogenic acid hydrolase was estimated to be 10 microM against chlorogenic acid as substrate. Under native conditions, the protein presented a molecular mass of 170 kDa, and SDS-PAGE analysis suggested the presence of two identical 80 kDa subunits. Isoelectric point was 6.0; pH optimum for activity was determined to be 6.0 and temperature optima to be 55 degrees C. The N-terminal sequence did not present any homology with other cinnamoyl ester hydrolases previously described suggesting the purification of a new protein. The chlorogenic acid hydrolase was used successfully for the production of caffeic acid, which possesses strong antioxidant properties, from natural substrates specially rich in chlorogenic acid like apple marc and coffee pulp.     

Cloning,heterologous expression,and enzymatic characterization of a thermostable glucoamylase from Talaromyces emersonii

The gene encoding a thermostable glucoamylase from Talaromyces emersonii was cloned and, subsequently, heterologously expressed in Aspergillus niger. This glucoamylase gene encodes a 618 amino acid long protein with a calculated molecular weight of 62,827Da. T. emersonii glucoamylase fall into glucoside hydrolase family 15, showing approximately 60% sequence similarity to glucoamylase from A. niger. The expressed enzyme shows high specific activity towards maltose, isomaltose, and maltoheptaose, having 3-6-fold elevated k(cat) compared to A. niger glucoamylase. T. emersonii glucoamylase showed significantly improved thermostability with a half life of 48h at 65 degrees C in 30% (w/v) glucose, compared to 10h for glucoamylase from A. niger. The ability of the glucoamylase to hydrolyse amylopectin at 65 degrees C is improved compared to A. niger glucoamylase, giving a significant higher final glucose yield at elevated temperatures. The increased thermal stability is thus reflected in the industrial performance, allowing T. emersonii glucoamylase to operate at a temperature higher than the A. niger enzyme.     

Cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of a novel epoxide hydrolase from Aspergillus niger SQ-6

A novel epoxide hydrolase from Aspergillus niger SQ-6 has now been cloned by inverse PCR. Its gene shows eight exons including a non-coding exon at its 5'-terminal (GenBank Accession No. AY966486). Phylogenetic analysis using deduced amino acid sequence (395 aa) confirms it as an epoxide hydrolase and shares 58.3% identity with that of A. niger LCP521 (GenBank Accession No. AF238460). The predicted catalytic triad is composed of Asp(191), His(369) and Glu(343). Active recombinant epoxide hydrolase has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli as protein fusions with a poly-His tail. Scale-up fermentation can yield 2.5g/L of recombinant protein. The electrophoretic pure recombinant protein, which shows similar characterization as natural enzyme purified from A. niger SQ-6, can be easily purified by Ni(2+)-chelated affinity and gel-filtration chromatography. Optimal pH and temperature for purified enzyme are pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The K(m), k(cat) and maximal velocity (V(max)) for p-nitrostyrene oxide are determined to be 1.02mM, 172s(-1) and 231micromol min(-1)mg(-1), respectively. The enzyme can be inhibited by oxidant (H(2)O(2)), solvent (Tetrahydrofuran) and several metal ions including Hg(2+), Fe(2+) and Co(2+). This (R)-stereospecific epoxide hydrolase exhibits high enantioselectivity (enantiomeric excess value, 99%) for the less hindered carbon atom of epoxide. It may be an industrial biocatalyst for the preparation of enantiopure epoxides or vicinal diols.     

产绿原酸内生菌的分离及其绿原酸合成途径关键基因的克隆和功能研究

【目的】分离产绿原酸的内生菌并对其绿原酸合成途径的一种关键酶基因进行克隆和功能研究。【方法】采用表面消毒法从金银花中分离内生菌,以高效液相色谱(HPLC)和液相色谱-质谱联用(LC-MS)筛选确定产绿原酸的内生菌,克隆、表达该内生菌的组氨酸解氨基酶(HAL)并进行酶活测定。【结果】从金银花根中分离到一株产绿原酸的内生细菌RP1,同时在该内生菌发酵液中检测到了绿原酸代谢的中间物肉桂酸。对RP1的分子鉴定表明该内生菌为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。对RP1的HAL基因进行克隆和原核表达,酶活测定表明该酶具有HAL和PAL (苯丙氨酸解氨基酶)双功能,其PAL活性产生的肉桂酸与LC-MS检测的结果一致。【结论】推测该内生菌可能利用其HAL的苯丙氨酸解氨基活性将苯丙氨酸的催化产物肉桂酸导入苯丙烷途径,从而产生绿原酸。     

The desymmetrization of bicyclic beta -diketones by an enzymatic retro-Claisen reaction. A new reaction of the crotonase superfamily

The enzyme 6-oxocamphor hydrolase, which catalyzes the desymmetrization of 6-oxocamphor to yield (2R,4S)-alpha-campholinic acid, has been purified with a factor of 35.7 from a wild type strain of Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB 9784 grown on (1R)-(+)-camphor as the sole carbon source. The enzyme has a subunit molecular mass of 28,488 Da by electrospray mass spectrometry and a native molecular mass of approximately 83,000 Da indicating that the active protein is trimeric. The specific activity was determined to be 357.5 units mg(-)1, and the K(m) was determined to be 0.05 mm for the natural substrate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was obtained from the purified protein, and using this information, the gene encoding the enzyme was cloned. The translation of the gene was found to bear significant homology to the crotonase superfamily of enzymes. The gene is closely associated with an open reading frame encoding a ferredoxin reductase that may be involved in the initial step in the biodegradation of camphor. A mechanism for 6-oxocamphor hydrolase based on sequence homology and the known mechanism of the crotonase enzymes is proposed.     

Overproduction and characterization of xylanase B from Aspergillus niger

The xynB gene, which encodes endo-beta-1,4-xylanase XynB, in Aspergillus niger BRFM281 was amplified by RT-PCR using mRNA isolated from a culture containing sugar beet pulp as an inducer. The cDNA was cloned into an expression cassette under the control of the strong and constitutive glyceraldhehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene promoter. The expression system was designed to produce the recombinant enzyme XynB with a six-histidine peptide fused to the carboxy end of the protein. Homologous overproduction of XynB was successfully achieved in shake flask cultures, and the secretion yield was estimated to be 900 mg x L(-1). The recombinant XynB was purified 1.5-fold by immobilized metal affinity chromatography to homogeneity using a one-step purification protocol with 71% recovery. The purified recombinant enzyme was fully characterized and has a molecular mass of 23 kDa and an optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 50 degrees C with stability in the pH range 4.0-7.0 and temperature up to 50 degrees C. Using soluble oat spelts xylan, the determined Km and Vmax values were 7.1 mg x mL(-1) and 3881 U x mg(-1), respectively.     

Enzymatic properties and nucleotide and amino acid sequences of a thermostable beta-agarase from the novel marine isolate, JAMB-A94

A gene, agaA, for a novel beta-agarase from the marine bacterium JAMB-A94 was cloned and sequenced. The 16S rDNA of the isolate had the closest match, of only 94.8% homology, with that from Microbulbifer salipaludis JCM11542(T). The agaA gene encoded a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 48,203 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 37-66% identity to those of known agarases in glycoside hydrolase family 16. A carbohydrate-binding module-like amino acid sequence was found in the C-terminal region. The recombinant enzyme was hyper-produced extracellularly when Bacillus subtilis was used as a host. The purified enzyme was an endo-type beta-agarase, yielding neoagarotetraose as the main final product. It was very thermostable up to 60 degrees C. The optimal pH and temperature for activity were around 7.0 and 55 degrees C respectively. The activity was not inhibited by EDTA (up to 100 mM) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (up to 30 mM).     

Cloning and heterologous expression of a novel insecticidal gene (tccC1) from Xenorhabdus nematophilus strain

We have identified and cloned a novel toxin gene (tccC1/xptB1) from Xenorhabdus nematophilus strain isolated from Korea-specific entomophagous nematode Steinernema glaseri MK. The DNA sequence of cloned toxin gene (3048 bp) has an open reading frame encoding 1016 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 111058 Da. The toxin sequence shares 50-96% identical amino acid residues with the previously reported tccC1 cloned from X. nematophilus, Photorhabdus luminescens W14 P. luminescens TTO1, and Yersinia pestis CO92. The toxin gene was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant toxin protein caused a rapid cessation in mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae (80% death of larvae within 2 days). Conclusively, the heterologous expression of the novel gene tccC1 cloned into E. coli plasmid vector produced recombinant toxin with high insecticidal activity.     

Component A2 of methylcoenzyme M reductase system from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H: nucleotide sequence and functional expression by Escherichia coli.

The gene for component A2 of the methylcoenzyme M reductase system from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene for A2, designated atwA, encodes an acidic protein of 59,335 Da. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed partial homology of A2 to a number of eucaryotic and bacterial proteins in the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transport systems. Component A2 possesses two ATP-binding domains. A 2.2-kb XmaI-BamHI fragment containing atwA and the surrounding open reading frames was cloned into pGEM-7Zf(+). A cell extract from this strain replaced purified A2 from M. thermoautotrophicum delta H in an in vitro methylreductase assay.     

Creation of a heterologous gene expression system on the basis of Aspergillus awamori recombinant strain

A heterologous gene expression system was created in a domestic Aspergillus awamori Co-6804 strain, which is a producer of the glucoamylase gene. Vector pGa was prepared using promoter and terminator areas of the glucoamylase gene, and A. niger phytase, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase, and Penicillium canescens xylanase genes were then cloned into pGa vector. Separation of enzyme samples using FPLC showed the amount of the recombinant proteins to be within the 0.6-14% range of total protein.     

桔青霉木聚糖酶基因克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达及活性分析

通过同源序列PCR克隆的方法,获得桔青霉(Penicillium citrinum)CR-2菌株的木聚糖酶编码基因xyl,该基因全长984 bp,编码327个氨基酸,无内含子序列,具有完整开放阅读框。其编码的氨基酸序列N端具有一段包含19个氨基酸的信号肽序列,并具有糖基水解酶第10家族(GH10)的保守催化域特征,推测该酶属于第10家族成员。将该基因与毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9相连接构建重组载体pPIC9-XYL,电击转化至毕赤酵母GS115菌株中。挑选阳性重组子经测序、酶活性以及SDS电泳分析表明,xyl基因成功在毕赤酵母中分泌表达,重组酶活性可达214.15 IU/mL。该重组酶最适温度与最适pH分别为50℃和4.5,且具有良好的pH和热稳定性。     

黑曲霉脂肪酶：基因克隆、表达及体外复性

根据黑曲霉F044脂肪酶N-端氨基酸序列,运用生物信息学方法,找到与黑曲霉脂肪酶基因同源的候选基因A84689。根据该基因序列,设计引物直接PCR扩增得到黑曲霉脂肪酶全长基因anl。anl全长1044bp,含3个内含子,编码297个氨基酸(含信号肽27个氨基酸),与其它脂肪酶基因没有明显同源性。将编码成熟脂肪酶的anl连接到pET28a载体上得到重组表达质粒,转化大肠杆菌BL21(De3),诱导表达并纯化出目的蛋白。通过大量稀释和DEAESepharoseFastFlow层析相结合的方法,变性后的纯化蛋白在体外实现再折叠复性。     

耐酸性黑曲霉β-甘露聚糖酶的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达分析

目的:克隆黑曲霉β-甘露聚糖酶基因,研究该基因在毕赤酵母中的表达情况。方法:运用RT-PCR从黑曲霉AN070902中克隆β-甘露聚糖酶cDNA片段,与载体pPIC9K相连,构建重组载体VMAN-pPIC9K,电转化毕赤酵母GS115,筛选产酶最高菌株进行5 L液体发酵,对该菌株所产重组酶进行酶学性质分析。结果:克隆获得1152 bpcDNA,编码由383个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白质,该蛋白质属于GH5家族,理论pI和相对分子质量分别为4.48和41.6×103;筛选获得的重组菌株VMAN-pPIC9K-GS115在5 L液体发酵中上清酶活达11 785 U/mL;表达的重组酶是一种酸性β-甘露聚糖酶,最适反应pH值为3.0,经pH2.0～9.0处理2 h后剩余酶活保持90%以上;该重组酶最适反应温度为65℃,70℃处理1 h后剩余酶活保持75%以上;该重组酶活性被1 mmol/L的Fe3+和Mn2+显著抑制,被1mmol/L的Co2+显著激活。结论:重组耐酸性β-甘露聚糖酶的特性,决定了其在工业生产中,特别是动物饲料和食品加工中具有应用价值。     

Characterization and expression of a genomic pectin methyl esterase-encoding gene in Aspergillus niger

The genomic pectin methylesterase (PME)-encoding gene (pmeA) from Aspergillus niger strain RH5344 was cloned by probing a genomic DNA library with a cDNA coding for PME. The recombinant phage clone was isolated and a 6-kb HindIII fragment was subcloned and characterized. The gene consists of seven exons and six introns. The nucleotide sequences of the coding regions were identical to those found in the pmeA cDNA. Cotransformation of A. niger was achieved with the vector, pAN7-1, and transformants were then tested for PME production. Transformants which produced more PME than the untransformed recipient strain were subjected to Southern-blot and Northern-blot analysis. The results show that there is a reasonable correlation between gene copy number, mRNA levels and PME production. PME was produced by A. niger transformants in an active 43-kDa form, which is similar to that of the mature protein isolated from the strain, RH5344. On the basis of the results of affinity labeling of PME with sugar-specific lectins and the amino acid sequence data, it has been revealed that PME is a glycoprotein and the protein-bound glycans are oligosaccharides with a high mannose content.     

一种新的乙酰高丝氨酸内酯水解酶基因的克隆和表达

目的 获得新的降解革兰阴性细菌数量阈值感应信号分子乙酰高丝氨酸内酯类化合物(AHL)的水解酶基因。方法 选择性富集和培养土壤中耐热细菌,抽取细菌总DNA作为模板,特异性聚合酶链反应扩增乙酰高丝氨酸内酯水解酶基因,进行克隆和DNA序列分析及原核表达。结果 得到1个新的AHL水解酶基因,该基因与已知基因的核苷酸序列和对应的氨基酸序列同源性最高分别为87％和94％。该基因在原核表达系统中表达,得到了与预期相对分子质鲢(Mr)一致的蛋白质。结论 证实乙酰高丝氨酸内酯水解酶广泛存在于环境微生物中。为进一步研究提供条件。     

乙内酰脲水解酶基因在大肠杆菌中的克隆表达

节杆菌BT801的乙内酰脲酶系能够水解5-苄基乙内酰脲生成L-苯丙氨酸,其中乙内酰脲水解酶负责乙内酰脲的水解开环。乙内酰脲水解酶的表达对于乙内酰脲酶的催化机制研究及氨基酸的生物不对称合成都具有重要意义。通过PCR技术扩增得到乙内酰脲水解酶基因(hyuH),置于表达载体pT221的,17启动子下游,将构建的重组质粒引入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)。SDS-PAGE分析在相对分子量50kD处有一较强的表达带,经薄层扫描分析目的蛋白占全菌蛋白的40％,主要以可溶性形式存在,活性分析表明表达产物具有天然的酶活性。     

单宁酶基因在黑曲霉ST31中的克隆与表达

利用PCR扩增得到米曲霉(Aspergillusoryzae)单宁酶(tannase)基因的编码序列,经DNA测序证实单宁酶基因已成功克隆,然后将其连接到黑曲霉的表达载体ANED2-SP2上构建单宁酶基因表达载体。将构建好的单宁酶基因表达载体通过原生质转化法导入黑曲霉菌株ST31中进行表达研究。结果表明重组菌株的单宁酶活力最高为104.02U/ml发酵液,比原始出发菌株米曲霉提高2~3倍。研究构建了黑曲霉的高效转化体系,提高了黑曲霉表达系统的应用水平,为其它新酶的研究提供有价值的参考。     

Construction and characterization of an oxalic acid nonproducing strain of Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger produces oxalic acid as a by-product which causes problems with downstream processing of industrial enzymes. To overcome this problem the oah gene encoding oxaloacetate hydrolase (EC 3.7.1.1) was disrupted in a glucoamylase-producing strain of A. niger and the resulting strain was incapable of producing oxalic acid. The strain with the disrupted gene was compared with the wild-type strain producing oxalic acid in batch cultivations. The specific growth rate of both strains was 0.20 h(-1). The citric acid yields were identical, but the glucoamylase yield was only 50% in the disruptant compared with the wild-type strain. Batch experiments with 13C-labeled glucose as substrate were carried out to determine the metabolic fluxes through the central metabolism. The two strains had almost identical metabolic fluxes, which suggested that it was possible to disrupt the oah gene without pleiotropic consequences. The flux through the pentose phosphate pathway was around 60% of the glucose uptake for both strains, which suggested that a sufficient supply of NADPH was available for biosynthesis.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the gene encoding family 19 chitinase from Streptomyces sp. J-13-3

The gene encoding chitinase from Streptomyces sp. (strain J-13-3) was cloned and its nucleotide structure was analyzed. The chitinase consisted of 298 amino acids containing a signal peptides (29 amino acids) and a mature protein (269 amino acids), and had calculated molecular mass of 31,081 Da. The calculated molecular mass (28,229 Da) of the mature protein was almost same as that of the native chitinase determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Comparison of the encoded amino acid sequences with those of other chitinases showed that J-13-3 chitinase was a member of the glycosyl-hydrolase family 19 chitinases and the mature protein had a chitin binding domain (65 amino acids) containing AKWWTQ motif and a catalytic domain (204 amino acids). The J-13-3 strain had a single chitinase gene. The chitinase (298 amino acids) with C-terminal His tag was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The recombinant chitinase purified from the cell extract had identical N-terminal amino acid sequence of the mature protein in spite of confirmation of the nucleotide sequence, suggesting that the signal peptide sequence is successfully cut off at the predicted site by signal peptidase from E. coli and will be a useful genetic tool in protein engineering for production of soluble recombinant protein. The optimum temperature and pH ranges of the purified chitinase were at 35-40 degrees C and 5.5-6.0, respectively. The purified chitinase hydrolyzed colloidal chitin and trimer to hexamer of N-acetylglucosamine and also inhibited the hyphal extension of Tricoderma reesei.