Characterization of a cellobiose phosphorylase from a hyperthermophilic eubacterium,Thermotoga maritima MSB8

The cepA putative gene encoding a cellobiose phosphorylase of Thermotoga maritima MSB8 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-codonplus-RIL and characterized in detail. The maximal enzyme activity was observed at pH 6.2 and 80 degrees C. The energy of activation was 74 kJ/mol. The enzyme was stable for 30 min at 70 degrees C in the pH range of 6-8. The enzyme phosphorolyzed cellobiose in an random-ordered bi bi mechanism with the random binding of cellobiose and phosphate followed by the ordered release of D-glucose and alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate. The Km for cellobiose and phosphate were 0.29 and 0.15 mM respectively, and the kcat was 5.4 s(-1). In the synthetic reaction, D-glucose, D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucosamine, D-xylose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose were found to act as glucosyl acceptors. Methyl-beta-D-glucoside also acted as a substrate for the enzyme and is reported here for the first time as a substrate for cellobiose phosphorylases. D-Xylose had the highest (40 s(-1)) kcat followed by 6-deoxy-D-glucose (17 s(-1)) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (16 s(-1)). The natural substrate, D-glucose with the kcat of 8.0 s(-1) had the highest (1.1 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)) kcat/Km compared with other glucosyl acceptors. D-Glucose, a substrate of cellobiose phosphorylase, acted as a competitive inhibitor of the other substrate, alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate, at higher concentrations.     

Kinetic studies of a recombinant cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP) of the Clostridium thermocellum YM4 strain expressed in Escherichia coli

A cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP) cloned from the Clostridium thermocellum YM4 strain was purified to homogeneity, and the reaction mechanisms of both the phosphorolytic and synthetic reactions were studied in detail. The enzyme reaction proceeded via an ordered bi bi mechanism, in which P(i) bound to the enzyme prior to D-cellobiose and then G 1-P was released after D-glucose. The order of substrate binding was different from that of CBP from Cellvibrio gilvus, which bound to cellobiose prior to P(i). In the synthetic reaction, the enzyme showed three times higher activity with beta-D-glucose than with alpha-D-glucose, and also showed weak activity with 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, indicating that the beta-anomeric hydroxyl group of D-glucose is highly required. However, even when it is removed enzyme activity remains. The substrate specificity and kinetic studies revealed that the configurations of the C3 and C4 hydroxyl groups were strictly required for the enzyme activity, whereas those of C2 and C6 could be substituted or deleted. The mechanism of substrate inhibition by D-glucose was studied in detail and it was concluded that D-glucose competed with G 1-P for its binding site in the synthetic reaction.     

Synthetic reaction of Cellvibrio gilvus cellobiose phosphorylase.

The synthetic reactions of the cellobiose phosphorylase from Cellvibrio gilvus were investigated in detail. It was found that, besides D-glucose, some sugars having substitution or deletion of the hydroxyl group at C2 or C6 of the D-glucose molecule could serve as a glucosyl acceptor, though less effectively than D-glucose. The enzyme showed higher activity with beta-D-glucose than with the alpha-anomer as an acceptor. This result indicates that it recognizes the anomeric hydroxyl group not involved directly in the reaction. beta-D-Cellobiose was also phosphorolyzed faster than the alpha-anomer. Substrate inhibition was observed with D-glucose, 6-deoxy-D-glucose, or D-glucosamine as an acceptor, with D-glucose being most inhibiting. This inhibition was studied in detail and it was found that D-glucose competes with alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate for its binding site. A model of competitive substrate inhibition was proposed, and the experimental data fit well to the theoretical values that were calculated in accordance with this model.     

Enzymatic characterization and substrate specificity of thermostable beta-glycosidase from hyperthermophilic archaea, Sulfolobus shibatae, expressed in E. coli

Enzymatic properties and substrate specificity of recombinant beta-glycosidases from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus shibatae (rSSG), were analyzed. rSSG showed its optimum temperature and pH at 95 degrees C and pH 5.0, respectively. Thermal inactivation of rSSG showed that its half-life of enzymatic activity at 75 degrees C was 15 h whereas it drastically decreased to 3.9 min at 95 degrees C. The addition of 10 mM of MnCl2 enhanced the hydrolysis activity of rSSG up to 23% whereas most metal ions did not show any considerable effect. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and 2-mercaptoethanol exhibited significant influence on the increase of the hydrolysis activity of rSSG. rSSG apparently preferred laminaribiose (beta1-->3Glc), followed by sophorose (beta1-->2Glc), gentiobiose (beta1-->6Glc), and cellobiose (beta1--4Glc). Various intermolecular transfer products were formed by rSSG in the lactose reaction, indicating that rSSG prefers lactose as a good acceptor as well as a donor. The strong intermolecular transglycosylation activity of rSSG can be applied in making functional oligosaccharides.     

Phosphorolytic cleavage of sucrose by sucrose-grown ruminal bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis</Emphasis> strain k3

Rumen bacterium Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis strain k3 utilized over 90 % sucrose added to the growth medium as a sole carbon source. Zymographic studies of the bacterial cell extract revealed the presence of a single enzyme involved in sucrose digestion. Thin layer chromatography showed fructose and glucose-1-phosphate (Glc1P) as end products of the digestion of sucrose by identified enzyme. The activity of the enzyme depended on the presence of inorganic phosphate and was the highest at the concentration of phosphate 56 mmol/L. The enzyme was identified as the sucrose phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.7) of molar mass ≈54 kDa and maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 45 °C. The calculated Michaelis constant (K _m) for Glc1P formation and release of fructose by partially purified enzyme were 4.4 and 8.56 mmol/L while the maximum velocities of the reaction (v _lim) were 1.19 and 0.64 μmol/L per mg protein per min, respectively.     

Enzymatic properties of cellobiose 2-epimerase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruminococcus albus</Emphasis> and the synthesis of rare oligosaccharides by the enzyme

The gene for cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) from Ruminococcus albus NE1 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant CE was purified to homogeneity by a simple purification procedure with a high yield of 88%, and the molecular mass was 43.1 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 44.0 kDa on gel chromatography. It exhibited optimal activity around at 30 degrees C and pH 7.5, and the enzyme activity was inhibited by Al3+, Fe3+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Ag+, N-bromosuccinimide, iodoacetate, and 4-chloromercuribenzoate. In addition to cello-oligosaccharides, the enzyme was found to effectively 2-epimerize lactose to yield 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-mannose (epilactose), which occurs in cow milk as a rare oligosaccharide. The Km and kcat/Km values toward lactose were 33 mM and 1.6 s(-1) mM(-1), and those toward cellobiose were 13.8 mM and 4.6 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine, uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucose, D-glucose 6-phosphate, maltose, sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiose were inert as substrates for the recombinant CE. We demonstrated that epilactose was resistant to rat intestinal enzymes, utilized by human adult bifidobacteria, and stimulated the tight junction permeability in Caco-2 cells. These results strongly suggest that this rare disaccharide is promising for use as a prebiotic.     

Evaluation of acceptor selectivity of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase in the reverse phosphorolysis and synthesis of a new sugar phosphate

Trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase (TrePP), a member of glycoside hydrolase family 65, catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P) with inversion of the anomeric configuration to produce β-d-glucose 1-phosphate (β-Glc1P) and d-glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P). TrePP in Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (LlTrePP) is, alongside the phosphotransferase system, involved in the metabolism of trehalose. In this study, recombinant LlTrePP was produced and characterized. It showed its highest reverse phosphorolytic activity at pH 4.8 and 40°C, and was stable in the pH range 5.0–8.0 and at up to 30°C. Kinetic analyses indicated that reverse phosphorolysis of Tre6P proceeded through a sequential bi bi mechanism involving the formation of a ternary complex of the enzyme, β-Glc1P, and Glc6P. Suitable acceptor substrates were Glc6P, and, at a low level, d-mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P). From β-Glc1P and Man6P, a novel sugar phosphate, α-d-Glcp-(1?1)-α-d-Manp6P, was synthesized with 51% yield.     

Chemotaxis in Spirochaeta aurantia.

Cell of Spirochaeta aurantia M1 suspended in isotropic buffer solution swam in nearly straight lines and appeared to spin around their longitudinal axis. Occasionally, cells stopped and flexed, and then resumed translational motility, usually in a different direction. The average cell velocity was 26 micron/s. A quantitative assay for chemotaxis was used to test various chemicals for their ability to attract S. aurantia M1. The cells exhibited a tactic response toward 5 X 10(-2) M D-glucose between 10 and 35degree C; the optimum response was at 25degree C. At 5 degree C motility was not impaired, but D-glucose taxis was abolished. Chemotaxis toward D-glucose was stimulated by L-cysteine (2 X 10(-4) M). D-Glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, D-galactose, D-fucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-xylose, maltose, cellobiose, and D-glucosamine were effectve attractants for S. aurantia M1. D-Galactose taxis and D-fucose taxis were induced by the presence of D-galactose in the growth medium. The amino acids tested did not serve as attractants, tgrowing cells of S. aurantia M1 exhibited an aerotactic response.     

Enzymatic synthesis of a library of beta-(1-->4) hetero- D-glucose and D-xylose-based oligosaccharides employing cellodextrin phosphorylase

Enzymatic synthesis was attempted of six trisaccharides and 14 tetrasaccharides comprising beta-(1-->4)-linked D-glucose and D-xylose residues, using cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP, EC 2.4.1.49) as the enzyme catalyst, with alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate (1) or alpha-D-xylose 1-phosphate (2) as the donor substrates, and cellobiose (3), xylobiose (4), betaGlc-(1-->4)-Xyl (5), or betaXyl-(1-->4)-Glc (6) as the acceptor substrates. All enzymatic reactions were performed at pH 7.0 and the products purified by gel-filtration chromatography. We successfully synthesized all six hetero-trisaccharides and 10 of the 14 possible hetero-tetrasaccharides. It was not found possible to synthesize the four tetrasaccharides with a Xyl-->Glc sequence at their non-reducing ends employing this method. The stereochemistries of the isolated products were assessed by analysis of their 2D NMR spectra (DQF-COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC), confirming that all of the glycosidic bonds in the products were beta-(1-->4) linkages.     

Characterization of a Cellobiose Phosphorylase from a Hyperthermophilic Eubacterium,Thermotoga maritima MSB8

The cepA putative gene encoding a cellobiose phosphorylase of Thermotoga maritima MSB8 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-codonplus-RIL and characterized in detail. The maximal enzyme activity was observed at pH 6.2 and 80°C. The energy of activation was 74 kJ/mol. The enzyme was stable for 30 min at 70°C in the pH range of 6-8. The enzyme phosphorolyzed cellobiose in an random-ordered bi bi mechanism with the random binding of cellobiose and phosphate followed by the ordered release of D-glucose and α-D-glucose-1-phosphate. The K _m for cellobiose and phosphate were 0.29 and 0.15 mM respectively, and the k _cat was 5.4 s^-1. In the synthetic reaction, D-glucose, D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucosamine, D-xylose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose were found to act as glucosyl acceptors. Methyl-β-D-glucoside also acted as a substrate for the enzyme and is reported here for the first time as a substrate for cellobiose phosphorylases. D-Xylose had the highest (40 s^-1) k _cat followed by 6-deoxy-D-glucose (17 s^-1) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (16 s^-1). The natural substrate, D-glucose with the k _cat of 8.0 s^-1 had the highest (1.1×10⁴ M^-1 s^-1) k _cat/K _m compared with other glucosyl acceptors. D-Glucose, a substrate of cellobiose phosphorylase, acted as a competitive inhibitor of the other substrate, α-D-glucose-1-phosphate, at higher concentrations.     

Studies of the cellulolytic system of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414. Reaction specificity and thermodynamics of interactions of small substrates and ligands with the 1,4-beta-glucan cellobiohydrolase II

The 1,4-beta-glucan cellobiohydrolase II (CBH II) from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 catalyses the hydrolysis of the 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-glycosides derived from cellotriose, cellotetraose and cellopentaose [MeUmb(Glc)n; n = 3 - 5]. The reaction has been followed by quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography. Specific activity for cellobiose removal at apparent substrate saturation were determined as (0.8 +/- 0.2) min-1 for MeUmb(Glc)3 and (9 +/- 2) min-1 for MeUmb(Glc)4. The enzyme showed a deviant specificity with MeUmb(Glc)5 as substrate. Two chromophoric products were formed simultaneously [MeUmb(Glc)3 and MeUmb(Glc)2] with turn-over numbers (17 +/- 4) min-1 and (21 +/- 6) min-1, respectively. Methylumbelliferyl beta-glucoside (MeUmbGlc) and the corresponding cellobioside [MeUmb(Glc)2] were used in equilibrium binding experiments. Both ligands yielded one binding site per molecule of Mr = 54000 upon forced flow dialysis (diafiltration). The association constants found were in fair agreement with those determined from MeUmb fluorescence quenching titrations. Quenching was total at all temperatures investigated for MeUmb(Glc)2, whereas for MeUmbGlc it increased from 80% to 100% between 2 degrees C and 20 degrees C. The association constants fitted linear van't Hoff plots in both cases. MeUmb(Glc)2 and MeUmbGlc were also used as indicator ligands to determine the association constants and thermodynamic parameters of several non-chromophoric ligands of CBH II. The binding of glucose increased the affinity for MeUmb(Glc)2 whereas it displaced MeUmbGlc from its complex. A putative binding site of the CBH II containing four subsites can be proposed. The thermodynamic data for methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside and cellobiose as ligands also point at an extended binding site.     

Product solubility control in cellooligosaccharide production by coupled cellobiose and cellodextrin phosphorylase

Soluble cellodextrins (linear β-1,4-d -gluco-oligosaccharides) have interesting applications as ingredients for human and animal nutrition. Their bottom-up synthesis from glucose is promising for bulk production, but to ensure a completely water-soluble product via degree of polymerization (DP) control (DP ≤ 6) is challenging. Here, we show biocatalytic production of cellodextrins with DP centered at 3 to 6 (~96 wt.% of total product) using coupled cellobiose and cellodextrin phosphorylase. The cascade reaction, wherein glucose was elongated sequentially from α-d -glucose 1-phosphate (αGlc1-P), required optimization and control at two main points. First, kinetic and thermodynamic restrictions upon αGlc1-P utilization (200 mM; 45°C, pH 7.0) were effectively overcome (53% → ≥90% conversion after 10 hrs of reaction) by in situ removal of the phosphate released via precipitation with Mg²⁺. Second, the product DP was controlled by the molar ratio of glucose/αGlc1-P (∼0.25; 50 mM glucose) used in the reaction. In optimized conversion, soluble cellodextrins in a total product concentration of 36 g/L were obtained through efficient utilization of the substrates used (glucose: 98%; αGlc1-P: ∼80%) after 1 hr of reaction. We also showed that, by keeping the glucose concentration low (i.e., 1–10 mM; 200 mM αGlc1-P), the reaction was shifted completely towards insoluble product formation (DP ∼9–10). In summary, this study provides the basis for an efficient and product DP-controlled biocatalytic synthesis of cellodextrins from expedient substrates.     

Inorganic phosphate self-sufficient whole-cell biocatalysts containing two co-expressed phosphorylases facilitate cellobiose production

Cellobiose, a natural disaccharide, attracts extensive attention as a potential functional food/feed additive. In this study, we present an inorganic phosphate (Pi) self-sufficient biotransformation system to produce cellobiose by co-expressing sucrose phosphorylase (SP) and cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP). The Bifidobacterium adolescentis SP (BASP) and Cellvibrio gilvus CBP (CGCBP) were co-expressed in Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli cells containing BASP and CGCBP were used as whole-cell catalysts to convert sucrose and glucose to cellobiose. The effects of reaction pH, temperature, Pi concentration, and substrate concentration were investigated. In the optimum biotransformation conditions, 800 mM cellobiose was produced from 1.0 M sucrose, 1.0 M glucose, and 50 mM Pi, within 12 hr. The by-product fructose and residual substrate (sucrose and glucose) were efficiently removed by treatment with yeast, to help purify the product cellobiose. The wider applicability of this Pi self-sufficiency strategy was demonstrated in the production of laminaribiose by co-expressing SP and laminaribiose phosphorylase. This study suggests that the Pi self-sufficiency strategy through co-expressing two phosphorylases has the advantage of great flexibility for enhanced production of cellobiose (or laminaribiose).     

Structural studies on the specific type VII pneumococcal polysaccharide

The specific type VII pneumococcal polysaccharide was isolated from the crude capsular material by precipitative and chromatographic methods. It contained D-galactose, D-glucose, L-rhamnose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose in the molar ratio of 3.5:2.3:3.0:2.1:1.0. Some of its structural features were revealed by methylation studies, time-lapse hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, and enzymic hydrolysis. The polysaccharide is branched at residues of D-galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose. Non-reducing end groups consisted of D-galactopyranose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose residues, with the former predominating. Major components of the linear chains were (1→3)-linked L-rhamnose and (1→4)-linked D-glucose; the minor ones were (1→2)-linked L-rhamnose, (1→6)-linked D-galactose, and (1→6)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose. The (1→4)-linked D-glucose components may be present as cellobiose residues. The results are in accord with structural features deduced from the serological cross-reactivity of this polysaccharide.     

Structure of the glycerol phosphate-containing O-specific polysaccharide and serological studies on the lipopolysaccharides of Citrobacter werkmanii PCM 1548 and PCM 1549 (serogroup O14)

The O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide of Citrobacter werkmanii PCM 1548 and PCM 1549 (serogroup O14) and found to contain D-glucose, D-glucosamine and glycerol-1-phosphate in molar ratios 2 : 2 : 1. Based on methylation analysis and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data, it was established that the O-specific polysaccharides from both strains have the identical branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit with 3,6-disubstituted GlcNAc, followed by 2,4-disubstituted Glc residues carrying at the branching points lateral residues of Glc and GlcNAc at positions 6 and 2, respectively. Glycerol-1-phosphate is linked to position 6 of the chain Glc. All sugars have a beta configuration, except for the side-chain Glc, which is alpha. Serological studies revealed a close relatedness of the lipopolysaccharides of C. werkmanii PCM 1548 and PCM 1549, both belonging to serogroup O14. In immunoblotting, anti-C. werkmanii PCM 1548 serum showed no cross-reactivity with the O-polysaccharide bands of the lipopolysaccharides of Citrobacter youngae PCM 1550 (serogroup O16) and Hafnia alvei PCM 1207, also containing a lateral glycerol phosphate residue.     

Structure of a 2-aminoethyl phosphate-containing O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri 8 from a new serogroup O67.

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the Proteus penneri 8 lipopolysaccharide and found to contain D-glucose, D-galacturonic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-galactose (L-FucNAc) and 2-aminoethyl phosphate (PEtn) in the ratios 2 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy was applied to the intact and dephosphorylated polysaccharides, and the following structure of the hexasaccharide repeating unit was established: The O-specific polysaccharide has a unique structure, and, accordingly, we propose for P. penneri 8 a new Proteus O67 serogroup, in which this strain is at present the single representative. The nature of epitopes on LPS of P. penneri 34, P. mirabilis O16, P. mirabilis O23 and P. vulgaris O22, which cross-react with O-antiserum against P. penneri 8, is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of a carbohydrate: acceptor oxidoreductase from Paraconiothyrium sp. that produces lactobionic acid efficiently

A carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductase from Paraconiothyrium sp. was purified and characterized. The enzyme efficiently oxidized beta-(1-->4) linked sugars, such as lactose, xylobiose, and cellooligosaccharides. The enzyme also oxidized maltooligosaccharides, D-glucose, D-xylose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose. It specifically oxidized the beta-anomer of lactose. Molecular oxygen and 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol were reduced by the enzyme as electron acceptors. The Paraconiothyrium enzyme was identified as a carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductase according to its specificity for electron donors and acceptors, and its molecular properties, as well as the N-terminal amino acid sequence. Further comparison of the amino acid sequences of lactose oxidizing enzymes indicated that carbohydrate:acceptor oxidoreductases belong to the same group as glucooligosaccharide oxidase, while they differ from cellobiose dehydrogenases and cellobiose:quinone oxidoreductases.     

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Serratia marcescens O8

Structural studies have been carried out on the O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of the reference strain (CDC 1604-55) for serogroup O8 of Serratia marcescens. The polymer has a branched, tetrasaccharide repeating unit of D-galactose(Gal),D-glucose(Glc), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose(GlcNAc) with the following structure: (Formula: see text). The anomeric configuration assigned to the glucose residue differs from that (beta) previously proposed [Tarcsay, L., Wang, C. S., Li, S.-C. and Alaupovic, P. (1973) Biochemistry 12, 1948-1955]. The structure of the O8 polymer is identical with that of one of two polymers present in the cell envelope of a strain (CDC 1783-57) of S. marcescens O14.     

Hydrolysis of disaccharides over solid acid catalysts under green conditions

The hydrolysis of the three most important disaccharides: sucrose, maltose and cellobiose, has been comparatively studied in mild conditions (50-80°C) in water over several solid acid catalysts. Strong acidic resins (Amberlite A120 and A200), mixed oxides (silica-alumina and silica-zirconia), and niobium-containing solids (niobic acid, silica-niobia, and niobium phosphate) have been chosen as acid catalysts. The hydrolysis activity was studied in a continuous reactor with fixed catalytic bed working in total recirculation mode. Rate constants and activation parameters of the hydrolysis reactions have been obtained and discussed comparing the reactivity of the α-1,β-2-, α-1,4-, and β-1,4-glycosidic bonds of the employed disaccharides. The following order of reactivity was found: sucrose > maltose > cellobiose. The sulfonic acidic resins, as expected, gave complete sucrose conversion at 80°C and good conversions for cellobiose and maltose. Among the other catalysts, niobium phosphate provided the most interesting results toward the disaccharide hydrolysis, which are here presented for the first time. Relations between activity and surface acid properties are discussed.     

Metabolite pools during starch synthesis and carbohydrate oxidation in amyloplasts isolated from wheat endosperm

Starch synthesis and CO₂ evolution were determined after incubating intact and lysed wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Axona) endosperm amyloplasts with ¹⁴C-labelled hexose-phosphates. Amyloplasts converted [U-¹⁴C]glucose 1-phosphate (Glc1P) but not [U-¹⁴C]glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) into starch in the presence of ATP. When the oxidative pentose-phosphate pathway (OPPP) was stimulated, both [U-¹⁴C]Glc1P and [U-¹⁴C]Glc6P were metabolized to CO₂, but Glc6P was the better precursor for the OPPP, and Glc1P-mediated starch synthesis was reduced by 75%. In order to understand the basis for the partitioning of carbon between the two potentially competing metabolic pathways, metabolite pools were measured in purified amyloplasts under conditions which promote both starch synthesis and carbohydrate oxidation via the OPPP. Amyloplasts incubated with Glc1P or Glc6P alone showed little or no interconversion of these hexose-phosphates inside the organelle. When amyloplasts were synthesizing starch, the stromal concentrations of Glc1P and ADP-glucose were high. By contrast, when flux through the OPPP was highest, Glc1P and ADP-glucose inside the organelle were undetectable, and there was an increase in metabolites involved in carbohydrate oxidation. Measurements of the plastidial hexose-monophosphate pool during starch synthesis and carbohydrate oxidation indicate that the phosphoglucose isomerase reaction is at equilibrium whereas the reaction catalysed by phosphoglucomutase is significantly displaced from equilibrium. Received: 29 March 1997 / Accepted: 5 June 1997