Enzymatic Studies on the Oxidation of Sugar and Sugar Alcohol

During the course of studies on the oxidative metabolism of d-sorbitol by acetic acid bacteria, it was found that d-sorbitol was almost quantitatively converted to 5-keto-d-fructose via l-sorbose by a certain strain of Gluconobacter suboxydans. In addition to 5-keto-d-fructose, three γ-pyrone compounds, kojic acid, 5-oxymaltol, and 3-oxykojic acid, 2-keto-l-gulonate, and several organic acids such as succinic, glycolic, and glyceric acids were confirmed in the culture filtrate of this bacterium.

• The most suitable carbon source for 5-ketofructose fermentation by Gluconobacter suboxydans Strain 1 was confirmed to be d-sorbitol or l-sorbose using growing and resting cells. d-Fructose had little effect on the formation of this dicarbonylhexose.

• The optimal pH for the formation from l-sorbose by intact cells was found to be at 4.2.

• The activity of the pentose phosphate cycle in the resting cells was calculated as 13~17 μatoms/hr/mg of dry cells by the use of the manometric techniques.

• There was no strain tested so far which could accumulate a large amount of 5- keto-d-fructose from d-sorbitol except this bacterium.

• The experimental results shown in this paper makes the prediction that a certain dehydrogenating system of l-sorbose is functional in the organism, and the metabolic pathways of d-sorbitol via l-sorbose and 5-keto-d-fructose is proposed.

     

Vital connections

Biodiversity and Human Health edited by F. Grifo and J. Rosenthal Island Press, 1997. $29.95 pbk (xviii+379 pages) ISBN 1 55963 501 9.     

Phenome connections

Human phenomics is about to come of age with studies that systematically assess the overlap and relationships among all human genetic diseases. A recent study by Andrey Rzhetsky and colleagues illustrates the power of phenomics by revealing links between conditions that were thought to be distinct, suggesting that they share a genetic basis. Their results imply that the human phenome can be viewed as a landscape of interrelated diseases, reflecting overlapping molecular causation.     

Phosphoenolpyruvate: Sugar Phosphotransferase Systems and Sugar Metabolism in Brevibacterium flavum

Brevibacterium flavum mutants defective in the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent glucose phosphotransferase system (PTS) were selected with high frequency by 2-deoxyglucose-resistance. Most of them (DOG^r) still had the fructose-PTS and grew not only on fructose but also on glucose like the wild-type strain. A mutant having 1 /8th the fructose-PTS activity of the wild strain but normal glucose-PTS activity was isolated as a xylitol-resistant mutant. It grew on glucose but not on fructose. The glucose-PTS was active on glucose, glucosamine, 2-deoxyglucose and mannose, and slightly on methyl-a-glucoside and N-acetylglucosamine, but not on fructose or xylitol. The fructose-PTS acted on fructose and xylitol, and to some extent on glucose but not on glucosamine or 2-deoxyglucose. Mutants unable to grow on glucose (DOG^rGlc^-) derived from a DOG^r mutant were all defective in the fructose-PTS. All revertants able to grow on glucose derived from a DOG^rGlc“ mutant had the fructose-PTS. The glucokinase activity was about 2/3rds the glucose activity of the fructose-PTS. All the DOG^rGlc^- mutants had normal levels of glucokinase. One of these mutants grew on maltose and sucrose, which were hydrolyzed to glucose. Thus, glucokinase seems to contribute to the phosphorylation of glucose liberated inside the cell. The fructose-PTS was induced by fructose and repressed by glucose. The glucose repression was not observed in a mutant defective in the glucose-PTS.     

Sugar orthocarbonates

A simple procedure is described for preparing sugar orthocarbonates. It is based on treating the corresponding thionocarbonate in pyridine with cupric acetate and an alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol. Treatment of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol 3,4-thionocarbonate with diols, such as 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, or 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol, also gave orthocarbonates. Methyl thionocarbonate, S-methyl xanthate, and dithiobis(thioformate) derivatives of 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose all gave the trimethyl orthocarbonate upon treatment with methanol in the presence of pyridine and cupric acetate. The structure of the orthocarbonates was proved by elemental analysis, n.m.r., and mass spectra, and by treatment with mild acid to form carbonates. Treatment of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-thio-D-altritol 3,4-thionocarbonate with methanol or ethanol gave the corresponding orthothiocarbonate, but on treatment with 1,2-ethanediol or with sodium ethoxide the 3,4-episulfide resulted.     

Making new connections

A Keystone symposium held in Taos, New Mexico, 21-26 March 2002 provided the setting for a pioneering gathering of cell biologists and neuroscientists. Under the guidance of organizers Tom Pollard, James Sabry and Carla Schatz, the meeting, entitled 'Cellular Motility and Signaling in the Wiring and Plasticity of Nervous Systems', brought together two groups of researchers that ordinarily rarely connect at scientific conferences. The goal of this new collegial interchange was to fuse expertise on cytoskeletal dynamics with emerging ideas in neuronal development.     

糖链及其蛋白质糖基化

基因和蛋白质是生物统一性的重要标志,而糖链则是生物多样性最重要的标志分子。糖基化作为蛋白质翻译后重要的修饰方式,有其重要的生物学意义。本文综述了糖链的结构、功能及其蛋白质糖基化的类型、影响因素、表达系统等相关问题。     

Ruminal Fermentation and Sugar Concentrations

The maximal amounts of growth of Selenomonas ruminantium were examined in the media containing various amounts of glucose. The yields of cells per unit weight of glucose are linear functions to glucose concentrations in the ranges between zero to 0.005% and 0.005 to 0.7%, Cell yields per glucose are greater in the former range, indicating greater a-mounts of energy are available per glucose at lower concentrations. Growth responses in lactate media containing various amounts of glucose showed that the preincubation with larger amounts of glucose is inhibitory for the following growth and metabolism of lactate. The organism produces predominantly lactate in the glucose medium. However, volatile fatty acid productions increase when the initial concentrations of glucose become low. Isotopic studies showed that the lactate utilization yielding volatile fatty acids is inhibited by the preceding metabolism of high concentrations of glucose. These results were discussed with regard to normal and abnormal fermentations in the rumen.     

Physiological Functions of Acid and Neutral Invertases in Growth and Sugar Storage in Sugar Cane

The roles of acid invertases, pH optima about 5, and neutral invenase, pH optimum 7, have been examined during growth and maturation of stalks of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) and hybrid cultivars. Bound acid invertases are found in the outer space which includes the cell wall. A soluble acid invertase occurs in immature, elongating internodes, and is located both in the outer space and the vacuole of storage parenchyma cells. This enzyme disappears when internode growth ceases. The outer space component appears to be the major controller for dry matter input accompanying cell extension growth. The vacuolar component appears to be concerned with regulation of both turgor pressure and internal sugar pools. The neutral invertase increases during maturation. The level of enzyme activity correlates with the level of hexoses. This enzyme appears to be part of a system controlling sugar flux in mature storage tissue.