Characterization of the Bacillus subtilis ywtD gene,whose product is involved in gamma-polyglutamic acid degradation

The ywtD gene, which codes for an enzyme that degrades gamma-polyglutamic acid (PGA), was cloned from Bacillus subtilis IFO16449. The gene is located immediately downstream of ywsC and ywtABC, a PGA operon involved in PGA biosynthesis, and it showed partial similarity to genes coding for DL-endopeptidase, a peptidoglycan-degrading enzyme. The ywtD gene, from which signal sequence is excised, was inserted into pET15b, and the recombinant plasmid was then transformed into Escherichia coli. Histidine-tagged YwtD was purified from sonicated cells of the transformant. The purified YwtD degraded PGA to yield two hydrolyzed products, a high-molecular-mass product (490 kDa with nearly 100% L-glutamic acid) and an 11-kDa product (with D-glutamic acid and L-glutamic acid in an 80:20 ratio). This finding and results of enzymatic analysis of the two products with carboxypeptidase G suggest that YwtD is a novel enzyme cleaving the gamma-glutamyl bond only between D- and L-glutamic acids of PGA, and it may be designated gamma-DL-glutamyl hydrolase.     

Characterization of gamma-glutamyl hydrolase produced by Bacillus sp. isolated from Thai Thua-nao

Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase with a molecular mass of 28 kDa was purified from the culture broth of Bacillus sp. isolated from Thai Thua-nao, a natto-like fermented soybean food. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed chemically synthesized oligo-gamma-L-glutamates but not oligo-gamma-D-glutamates and degraded gamma-polyglutamic acid to a hydrolyzed product of only about 20 kDa (with D- and L-glutamic acid in a ratio of 70:30), suggesting that the enzyme is a gamma-glutamyl hydrolase that cleaves the gamma-glutamyl linkage between L- and L-glutamic acid of gamma-polyglutamic acid.     

Structure of the Hydrolyzed Product (F-2) Released from γ-Polyglutamic Acid by γ-Glutamyl Hydrolase YwtD of Bacillus subtilis

The structure of the hydrolyzed product (F-2) with a molecular mass of about 2 kDa released from γ-polyglutamic acid by the γ-glutamyl hydrolase YwtD of Bacillus subtilis was analyzed. The results showed that F-2 is an optically heterogeneous polymer consisting of D- and L-glutamic acid in an 80:20 ratio with D-glutamic acid on both the N- and C-terminal sides, suggesting that YwtD is an enzyme that cleaves the γ-glutamyl bond between D- and D-glutamic acid recognizing adjacent L-glutamic acid toward the N-terminal region.     

D-Glutamic acid-induced muscle contraction in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Agonists for muscle contraction in silkworms were screened by injecting test solutions into the hemolymph of decapitated silkworm larvae. Kainic acid, a glutamate receptor agonist, and D-glutamic acid induced muscle contractions, and D-aspartic acid was partially effective, whereas NMDA and AMPA, representative mammalian glutamate receptor agonists, did not induce contraction. L-Glutamic acid inhibited the kainic acid or D-glutamic acid-induced contraction. Amino acid analysis revealed that 3% of the total glutamic acid in the silkworm hemolymph is D-glutamic acid. These results suggest that d-glutamic acid acts physiologically as an agonist for muscle contraction in silkworms, and that L-glutamic acid functions as an inhibitor.     

A novel L-glutamate oxidase from Streptomyces endus. Purification and properties

A new flavoenzyme using molecular oxygen to oxidize L-glutamic acid has been purified to homogeneity, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, from the culture medium of Streptomyces endus. Hydrogen peroxide, 2-oxoglutaric acid and ammonia are formed as products. Among 25 amino acids tested including D-glutamic acid, L-glutamine and L-aspartic acid, only L-glutamic acid is converted. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be about 90 kDa by gel chromatography and 50 kDa by SDS/PAGE. The subunit contains 1 molecule noncovalently bound FAD. The absorption spectrum shows maxima at 273, 355 and 457 nm and the isoelectric point is at pH 6.2. The Km value for L-glutamic acid in air-saturated phosphate pH 7.0 was estimated to be 1.1 mM, the Km for oxygen was calculated to be 1.86 mM at saturating concentration of L-glutamic acid. The enzymic reaction is inhibited by Ag+ and Hg2+ ions. The enzyme described here distinctly differs from two microbial L-glutamate oxidases purified hitherto, with regard to extremely high substrate specificity and to the subunit structure.     

Effect of various analogues of D-glutamic acid on the D-glutamate-adding enzyme from Escherichis coli

Abstract Twenty-four analogues of D-glutamic acid were tested as substrates or inhibitors of the D-glutamate-adding enzyme from Escherichia coli . The best substrates were, in decreasing order of specific activity, D- erythro -4-methylglutamic acid, D- erythro - methylglutamic acid, DL-homocysteic acid, (±)- trans -1-amino-3-carboxy-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid and (±)- trans -1-amino-3-carboxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. Among the different stereoisomers, only the D- erythro isomers for methylglutamic acids, and the trans isomers for the cyclic analogs, were substrates. Apart from the D- erythro -3 and 4-methylglutamic acids and DL-homocysteic acid, none of the examined compounds significantly inhibited the addition of radioactive D-glutamic acid to UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine.     

Proline biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Stoichiometry and end-product identification of the reaction catalysed by glutamate semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

The stoichiometry of the oxidative phosphorylation of glutamic acid 5-semialdehyde by gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase (glutamate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) has been established. Equimolar amounts of NADP+ and L-glutamic acid 5-semialdehyde are consumed and equimolar amounts of 5-oxiopyrroilidine-2-carboxylic acid and NADPH are formed. The end-product of the reaction is demonstrated to be 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, probably arising from the true end-product gamma-glutamyl phosphate.     

Specific interaction between tRNA and its cognate amino acid as detected by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy

Specific interaction was detected between tRNA and its cognate L-amino acid by circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy; fluorescence spectral change with saturation was observed when tRNAAsp was titrated only with L-aspartic acid, but not with D-aspartic acid, L- and D-glutamic acids. It was also the case for tRNA2Glu and L-glutamic acid as detected by CD. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the anticodon, or the complex of four nucleotides (C4N) of the anticodon three bases and the discriminator base in a tRNA (Shimizu, M., J. Mol. Evol. (1982) 18, 297-303) participates in recognition of amino acids.     

Enhancement of UDPgalactose: glycoprotein galactosyltransferase in cultured human skin fibroblasts by cationic polypeptides

UDPgalactose : glycoprotein galactosyltransferase in normal human skin fibroblast homogenates has been assayed using ovalbumin as an acceptor. The activity in the homogenate fraction sedimenting between 51 300 X g and 105 000 X g was enhanced by the addition of a number of catonic polypeptides of L-configuration but not by those of D-configuration. In contrast to the enhancing effect of poly(L-lysine), poly(L-glutamic acid) inhibited the activity. Poly(D-glutamic acid) had no effect. Cationic or anionic amino acid derivatives, spermine or spermidine had no effect on activity. The enhancement of transferase activity by poly(L-arginine) is probably due to an increase in V for UDPgalactose and ovalbumin. The implication of these results for the regulation of glycoprotein synthesis in cultivated skin fibroblasts and for the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis is discussed.     

Design and synthesis of novel metalloproteinase inhibitors

A series of N-benzoyl 4-aminobutyric acid hydroxamate analogs were synthesized and evaluated as matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors. Synthetic work was focused on the chemical modification of the 4-aminobutyric acid part using easily available starting materials. As such, chemical modification was carried out using commercially available starting materials such as 4-aminobutyric acid, (+)- and (-)-malic acid, and D- and L-glutamic acid derivatives. Among the compounds tested, N-[4-(benzofuran-2-yl)benzoyl] 4-amino-4S-hydroxymethylbutyric acid hydroxamates derived from L-glutamic acid demonstrated more potent inhibitory activity against MMP-2 and MMP-9 compared with the corresponding 2S-hydroxy analogs or 3S-hydroxy analogs, respectively, which were derived from (-)-malic acid. Structure-activity relationship study is presented.     

Synthesis and characterization of intermediate and transition-state analogue inhibitors of gamma-glutamyl peptide ligases

The phosphonodifluoromethyl ketone and phosphonofluoridate derivatives of L-glutamic acid were synthesized and characterized as analogues of the gamma-glutamyl phosphate intermediate and the tetrahedral transition state, respectively, for the inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutamine synthetase. The former served as a poor inhibitor of both enzymes, but the latter inhibited glutamine synthetase with a Ki of 59 microM and partially inactivated the enzyme in an NH3- and ATP-dependent manner.     

Composition of the peptidoglycan of alkalophilic Bacillus spp.

Peptidoglycans of 10 alkalophilic Bacillus strains were isolated as trichloroacetic acid-insoluble materials from cell walls prepared by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, disruption with a sonic oscillator, and trypsin digestion. Major constituents detected commonly in hydrolysates of the peptidoglycans were glucosamine, muramic acid, D- and L-alanine, D-glutamic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, and acetic acid. Ammonia derived from amide was found in a portion of the hydrolysates. The composition of peptidoglycan was not changed whether the strain was cultured at pH 7 or 10. All the peptidoglycan examined was of the A1 gamma type of peptidoglycan found in most strains of the genus Bacillus.     

Inhibition of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase decreases amino acid uptake in human keratinocytes in culture

Acivicin inhibits gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in human keratinocytes in culture. Treatment of these cells with acivicin produces a decrease in the uptake of L-[U-14C]alanine, 2-amino-[1-14C]-isobutyrate, L-[U-14C]leucine and 1-aminocyclopentane-1-[14C]carboxylate. D-[U-14C]glucose uptake is not affected by the presence of acivicin. These results support, for the first time in vitro, the hypothesis that the gamma-glutamyl cycle may be involved in amino acid uptake by human cells.     

Characterization of cross-linking of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis by a combination of magic-angle spinning NMR and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of both intact and hydrolyzed 13C- and 15N-labeled cell-wall peptidoglycan.

Cross-polarization magic-angle spinning 13C and 15N NMR, rotational-echo double resonance 13C NMR, and delays alternating with nutation for tailored excitation-difference 13C NMR spectra have been obtained from lyophilized cell walls of Bacillus subtilis grown on a synthetic medium containing D,L-[2-13C, 15N]aspartate and D-[1-13C]alanine. Label from aspartate is incorporated into D-glutamic acid and m-diaminopimelic acid of cell-wall peptidoglycan, while label from alanine appears in the C-1 positions of both D- and L-alanyl residues. The cross-link index (the fraction of peptide stems joined by an isopeptide covalent bond) is obtained directly from analysis of the results of the 13C NMR experiments. However, specific isotopic enrichments of cell-wall components cannot be obtained from NMR data alone. The latter are determined either from a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the amino acids derived from hydrolysis of cell-wall peptidoglycan, or from a combination of NMR and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric results. The combined analysis is overdetermined and so involves the least error for evaluations of both the cross-link index and the isotopic enrichments. The cross-link index is 0.33 +/- 0.03 for cell walls of B. subtilis grown in the presence of the antibiotic, cephalothin.     

Mutations of the Corynebacterium glutamicum NCgl1221 gene, encoding a mechanosensitive channel homolog, induce L-glutamic acid production

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a biotin auxotroph that secretes L-glutamic acid in response to biotin limitation; this process is employed in industrial L-glutamic acid production. Fatty acid ester surfactants and penicillin also induce L-glutamic acid secretion, even in the presence of biotin. However, the mechanism of L-glutamic acid secretion remains unclear. It was recently reported that disruption of odhA, encoding a subunit of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, resulted in L-glutamic acid secretion without induction. In this study, we analyzed odhA disruptants and found that those which exhibited constitutive L-glutamic acid secretion carried additional mutations in the NCgl1221 gene, which encodes a mechanosensitive channel homolog. These NCgl1221 gene mutations lead to constitutive L-glutamic acid secretion even in the absence of odhA disruption and also render cells resistant to an L-glutamic acid analog, 4-fluoroglutamic acid. Disruption of the NCgl1221 gene essentially abolishes L-glutamic acid secretion, causing an increase in the intracellular L-glutamic acid pool under biotin-limiting conditions, while amplification of the wild-type NCgl1221 gene increased L-glutamate secretion, although only in response to induction. These results suggest that the NCgl1221 gene encodes an L-glutamic acid exporter. We propose that treatments that induce L-glutamic acid secretion alter membrane tension and trigger a structural transformation of the NCgl1221 protein, enabling it to export L-glutamic acid.     

中国部分地区马铃薯寄主上致病疫霉SSR基因型分析

利用两对SSR引物对两个基因座Pi4B和Pi4G进行了PCR扩增,测定了中国部分地区66个致病疫霉Phyophthora infestans(马铃薯晚疫病菌)菌株和2个参考菌株的SSR基因型,并对菌株的基因型进行了鉴定和命名.在被测定的66个致病疫霉菌株中,共产生了7种SSR基因型D-03,D-05,D-06,G-02,H-01,F-01和F-06,其中F-06为本研究新命名的基因型.F-01基因型菌株53个,占总菌株数目的80.3%,该基因型为中国致病疫霉的优势基因型.在对两个基因座Pi4B和Pi4G产生的等位基因统计分析发现基因座Pi4B产生的多样性比Pi4G高.对SSR数据揭示的河北、黑龙江和云南3个不同省份致病疫霉遗传多样性的比较发现,河北省和黑龙江省致病疫霉遗传多样性几乎相同,然而与云南省致病疫霉有较大的遗传差异.此外,发现致病疫霉SSR基因型与其对甲霜灵抗性无相关性.     

Role of protein dissociation in the transport of acidic amino acids by the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell.

The pH profile for the uptake of L-glutamic acid by the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell arises largely as a sum of the decline with falling pH of a slow, Na+-dependent uptake by System A, and an increasing uptake by Na+-independent System L. The latter maximizes at about pH 4.5, following approximately the titration curve of the distal carboxyl group. This shift in route of uptake was verified by (a) a declining Na+-dependent component, (b) an almost corresponding decline in the 2-(methylamino)-isobutyric acid-inhibitable component, (c) a rising component inhibited by 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid. Other amino acids recognized as principally reactive with Systems A or L yielded corresponding inhibitory effects with some conspicious exceptions: 2-Aminoisobutyric acid and even glycine become better substrates of System L as the pH is lowered; hence their inhibitory action on glutamic acid uptake is not lost. The above results were characterized by generally consistent relations among the half-saturation concentrations of the interacting amino acids with respect to: their own uptake, their inhibition of the uptake, one by another, and their trans stimulation of exodus, one by another. A small Na+-dependent component of uptake retained by L-glutamic acid but not by D-glutamic acid at pH 4.5 is inhibitable by methionine but by neither 2-(methylamino)-isobutyric acid nor the norbornane amino acid. We provisionally identified this component with System ASC, which transports L-glutamine throughout the pH range studied. No transport activity specific to the anionic amino acids was detected, and the unequivocally anionic cysteic acid showed neither significant mediated uptake nor inhibition of the uptake of glutamic aic or of the norbornane amino acid. The dicarboxylic amino acids take the sequence, aspartic acid less than glutamic acid less than alpha-aminoadipic acid less than S-carboxymethylcysteine, in their rate of mediated, Na+-independent uptake at low pH. Diiodotyrosine and two dissimilas isomers of nitrotyrosine also show acceleration of uptake as the phenolate group on the sidechain is protonated, a result indicating that the acidic group need not be a carboxyl group and need not take a specific position in space to be accepted at the receptor site L. The presence of the carboxyl group does not upset the normal stereospecificity of System L until it falls on the beta-carbon in aspartic acid; even then it is the presence of the carbonyl group and not of the intact carboxyl group nor of its hydroxyl group that cancels out the stereospecificity, as was shown by the absence of normal stereospecificity for aspartic acid and asparagine and its presence in glutamic acid, homoserine and glutamine. In agreement, the uptak of aspartic acid is peculiarly sensitive to the presence of an alpha-methyl group or of other structures that modify the orientation of the sidechain.     

Inactivation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, but not of glutamine synthetase, by S-sulfocysteine and S-sulfohomocysteine

The reactions catalyzed by gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutamine synthetase are thought to proceed via enzyme-bound gamma-glutamyl phosphate intermediates. We investigated the possibility that S-sulfocysteine and S-sulfohomocysteine might act as analogs of gamma-glutamyl phosphate or of the associated putative tetrahedral intermediates. The D- and L-enantiomers of S-sulfocysteine and S-sulfohomocysteine were found to rapidly inactivate rat kidney gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase but to be reversible inhibitors of sheep brain glutamine synthetase. Inactivation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase does not require ATP and is associated with noncovalent binding of close to 1 mol of inactivator/mol of enzyme. The findings indicate that the S-sulfo amino acids are transition-state analogs, and that binding of S-sulfo amino acid to the enzyme induces formation of a very stable enzyme-inactivator complex. The data suggest that stabilization of the enzyme-inactivator complex results from interactions involving the sulfenyl sulfur atom of the S-sulfo amino acid and the active site thiol group of the enzyme.     

Isolation of the murI gene from Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 encoding d-glutamate racemase

The murI gene encoding D-glutamate racemase plays an important role in the biosynthesis of D-glutamic acid, an essential component of cell wall peptidoglycan of almost all eubacteria. A DNA fragment that could rescue the auxotrophy of D-glutamic acid in the Escherichia coli murI mutant strain WM335 was isolated from Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 belonging to the coryneform bacteria. DNA sequencing reveals that it encodes a protein of 284 amino acid residues, which shows a high level of homology with D-glutamate racemases from several other bacteria.     

一株多花黄精内生真菌的鉴别及其抗菌代谢产物

【目的】药用植物内生真菌是一类重要的微生物资源,能代谢产生多种生物活性物质。本研究从浙江庆元百山祖自然保护区多花黄精(Polygonatum cyrtonema)分离获得1株具有抗菌活性的菌株zjqy610。【方法】通过形态和ITS rDNA序列分析,鉴定为变灰青霉(Penicillium canescens)。采用正相硅胶柱层析和凝胶(Sephadex LH-20)柱层析,以紫外光或碘蒸汽显迹,配合活性追踪等,从zjqy610发酵液中分离获得3个具抗真菌活性的化合物。【结果】通过质谱和核磁共振波谱技术分别将其结构鉴定为:乙基氧苯氨基亚胺乙酸(o-acetylbenzeneamidinocarboxylic acid)、灰黄霉素(griseofulvin)和[1,2-b]呋喃2-甲基3-羧甲基4-羟基-5-甲氧基萘(naphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-carboxylic acid,4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-methyl-)。抑菌活性测试表明,3个化合物对多种植物病原真菌具有抑制活性,其中化合物zjqy610D-4对番茄灰葡萄孢、圆形炭疽菌、泻根亚隔孢壳和核盘菌4种病原真菌的活性最强,半抑制浓度EC50分别为0.68、0.38、0.91和0.61mg/L。【结论】该化合物具有开发成农用抗生素的价值。