STUDIES ON ENZYME ACTION : XXXIII. LIPASE ACTIONS OF EXTRACTS OF THE WHOLE RAT AT DIFFERENT AGES.

The ester-hydrolyzing or lipase actions of extracts of whole rats whose ages ranged from 3 days before birth to 3 years 15 days were tested on ten simple esters by the method described in previous papers. The results are presented in the form of curves, both as absolute actions and as relative actions on the different substrates. The "pictures" of the relative actions changed progressively with increasing age of the rat. For the embryo and the youngest rats, the curves approached those given by the Flexner-Jobling rat carcinoma and by a number of tumors of human origin, changing to a type characteristic of the adult rat, and appearing to revert again to some extent to the embryonic type for the oldest rats. The changes in the actions on individual esters and the relative changes in the actions on different esters are discussed in detail. The greatest increases in actions as the rats became older were found with methyl and ethyl butyrates; at the same time that the actions on some of the other esters were also found to change in characteristic ways. Similar experiments with the protease actions of the extracts of whole rats of different ages on three protein preparations did not give differences similar to those found for the lipase actions. The probable reasons for these observed differences in the two sets of enzyme actions are discussed.     

STUDIES ON ENZYME ACTION : XXXIX. LIPASE ACTIONS OF EXTRACTS OF THE WHOLE MOUSE AT DIFFERENT AGES.

The ester-hydrolyzing or lipase actions of extracts of whole mice whose ages ranged from approximately 6 days before birth to 1 year 8 months 21 days were tested on ten simple esters by the method described in previous papers. The "pictures" of the relative enzyme actions changed from a type approaching the "embryonic" as found with embryo rats and a number of tissues of rabbit embryo, to a type characteristic of the adult mouse. The mouse embryos corresponded to the rat embryos in type and differed markedly from the mouse carcinomas which have been studied. The relative and absolute enzyme actions are discussed in some detail, and the results compared with the results obtained for the life cycle of the rat.     

STUDIES ON ENZYME ACTION : XLV. LIPASE ACTIONS OF THE WHOLE TROUT AT DIFFERENT AGES.

The ester-hydrolyzing or lipase actions of extracts and whole solids of trout eggs and whole trout of different ages were tested on ten simple esters by the method described in previous papers. Differences in solubility of the enzyme materials of the eggs were found. The "pictures" of the relative enzyme actions changed from a type found with immature eggs to a type which became constant for the fish after they had eaten for 2 weeks. After this, the type did not change up to the age of 4 to 5 years (the oldest trout studied). The absolute ester-hydrolyzing actions of the materials were also presented and discussed.     

Identification of the Volatile Compounds Produced in Sterile Fish Muscle (Sebastes melanops) by Pseudomonas fragi

Volatile compounds produced by Pseudomonas fragi strain 18 in sterile fish muscle (Sebastes melanops) were identified by combined gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Compounds positively identified included dimethyl sulfide, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, and dimethyl disulfide. Methyl mercaptan, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and butanone were tentatively identified by relative retention times of the authentic compounds. The fruity odor that developed in fish muscle during incipient spoilage was attributed to a synergistic flavor interaction involving the ethyl esters of acetate, butyrate, and hexanoate.     

Odoriferous compounds from the flowers of the conifers Picea abies,pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica

A GC/MS analysis of the volatile constituents from the flowers of Norway Spruce, Picea abies, has been carried out. The volatile constituents of the female flowers were distinctly different from those of the male flowers and the twigs. Characteristic constituents are methyl and ethyl benzoate, methyl and ethyl salicylate, methyl and ethyl butanoate, borneol and bornyl acetate. In the scent from the male flowers we could only detect the same monoterpenes as in the twigs. In Larix sibirica methyl benzoate, methyl salicylate, borneol and bornyl acetate were detected in the female flowers and, in the female flowers of Pinus sylvestris, methyl salicylate was found.     

Characterization of the CoA ligases of human liver mitochondria catalyzing the activation of short- and medium-chain fatty acids and xenobiotic carboxylic acids.

Two distinct forms of xenobiotic/medium-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase (XM-ligase) were isolated from human liver mitochondria. They were referred to as HXM-A and HXM-B based on their order of elution from a DEAE-cellulose column. Activity of the two ligases was determined toward 15 different carboxylic acids. HXM-A represented 60-80% of the benzoate activity in the lysate, and kinetic analysis revealed that benzoate was the best substrate (highest V(max)/K(m)). The enzyme also had medium-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase activity. HXM-B had the majority of the hexanoate activity and hexanoate was its best substrate. It was, however, also active toward many xenobiotic carboxylic acids. Comparison of these two human XM-ligases with the previously characterized bovine XM-ligases indicated that they were kinetically distinct. When assayed with benzoic acid as substrate, both HXM-A and HXM-B had an absolute dependence on either Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) for activity. Further, addition of monovalent cation (K(+), Rb(+), or NH(4)(+)) stimulated HXM-A activity by >30-fold and HXM-B activity by 4-fold. For both forms, activity toward straight-chain fatty acids was stimulated less by K(+) than was activity toward benzoate or phenylacetate. A 60 kDa short-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase was also isolated. It had activity toward propionate and butyrate, but not acetate, hexanoate or benzoate. The K(m)(app) values were high but similar for propionate and butyrate (285 microM and 250 microM, respectively) but the V(max)(app) was nearly 6-fold greater with propionate as substrate. While the K(m) values are somewhat high, the enzyme is still more efficient with these substrates than either of the XM-ligases.     

STUDIES ON ENZYME ACTION : XXXVIII. THE ESTER-HYDROLYZING ACTIONS OF THE WHOLE EEL.

The hydrolyzing actions of various preparations of the adult eel were studied on ten esters in the usual way. The results are presented in the form of curves for the relative actions and in a table for the absolute actions obtained in one complete experiment. The separation of the enzyme material in some cases into an active portion and a co-enzyme, the mixture showing greater actions on some esters than the sums of the individual actions, is described and discussed.     

Carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.1). A comparison of some kinetic properties of horse, sheep, chicken, pig, and ox liver carboxylesterases.

A comparative study of the kinetic be,avior of horse, sheep, chicken, pig, and ox liver carboxylesterases is reported. The enzymes exhibit similar specificites towards a series of phenyl esters in which the acyl group is varied, and towards a series of butyrate esters in which the alcohol group is varied. Non-Michaelis-Menten kinetics are exhibited by the horse enzyme in the hydrolysis of methyl and ethyl butyrates, and by the pig enzyme with ethyl butyrate. Each enzyme exhibits inhibition by one or more substrates. A simple scheme which accounts for both activation and inhibition is discussed. pH-k(cat) profiles for the horse and chicken liver carboxylesterase-catalyzed hydrolyses of phenyl butyrate demonstrate dependencies on pK(a)S of 4.75 and 5.0, respectively.     

Physiology of Geobacter metallireducens under excess and limitation of electron donors. Part I. Batch cultivation with excess of carbon sources

For microorganisms that play an important role in bioremediation, the adaptation to swift changes in the availability of various substrates is a key for survival. The iron-reducing bacterium Geobacter metallireducens was hypothesized to repress utilization of less preferred substrates in the presence of high concentrations of easily degradable compounds. In our experiments, acetate and ethanol were preferred over benzoate, but benzoate was co-consumed with toluene and butyrate. To reveal overall physiological changes caused by different single substrates and a mixture of acetate plus benzoate, a nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach (nano-LC–MS/MS) was performed using label-free quantification. Significant differential expression during growth on different substrates was observed for 155 out of 1477 proteins. The benzoyl-CoA pathway was found to be subjected to incomplete repression during exponential growth on acetate in the presence of benzoate and on butyrate as a single substrate. Peripheral pathways of toluene, ethanol, and butyrate degradation were highly expressed only during growth on the corresponding substrates. However, low expression of these pathways was detected in all other tested conditions. Therefore, G. metallireducens seems to lack strong carbon catabolite repression under high substrate concentrations, which might be advantageous for survival in habitats rich in fatty acids and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF INSECTICIDAL ACTION OF ORGANO-PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THEIR ANTIESTERASE ACTIVITY

The preparation of an extract of the mealworm larvae, Tenebrio molitor L. which hydrolyses ethyl butyrate and o -nitrophenyl acetate, but not acetylcholine, is described. The inhibition of this esterase by TEPP-containing materials and parathion was determined.
An enzyme that hydrolysed o -nitrophenyl acetate and was inhibited by a TEPP-containing material was demonstrated in the five other insect species used.
The relative toxicities as contact insecticides to adult Tribolium castaneum Hbst. of ten samples of TEPP-containing materials were compared with their relative activities as esterase inhibitors. There was not an exact quantitative correlation between TEPP content estimated chemically, insecticidal activity and anti-esterase activity; but the correlation was sufficient to suggest interdependence of these factors.
Eggs of Diataraxia oleracea L. and Ephestia kühniella Zell, were shown to contain an enzyme that hydrolysed o -nitrophenyl acetate and was inhibited by the TEPP-containing materials. This enzyme was present in eggs less than 24 hr. old, i.e. before there was any visible signs of development. The TEPP was shown to be toxic to these eggs and in high concentrations kills at an early stage of development before differentiation of the nervous system. This, in conjunction with the other evidence, suggests that esterases other than the choline-esterase of the nervous system are important when considering the toxic action of these compounds.
Comparison of the anti-esterase activity and toxicity of parathion and TEPP-containing materials as insecticides showed that although the TEPP materials were the more potent enzyme inhibitors, parathion was the more potent contact insecticide to five species of insects. This appears to be due to the relative instability of TEPP. The study of the rates of action of the two poisons applied at different concentrations supports this view.     

瑞香狼毒提取物对试验动物急性毒性及活性的初步研究

采用急性经口、眼刺激、皮肤试验方法,研究了瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物的急性毒性作用,同时以番茄晚疫病菌为供试菌,研究了瑞香狼毒提取物的抑菌活性.初步研究表明,瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物对小白鼠经口急性毒性为低毒,对白兔的急性皮肤刺激属无刺激性,对白兔的眼刺激属轻度刺激性,对鲫鱼的毒性属于中毒级;瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物及其分段物流分B、c、D对番茄晚疫病菌有较好的抑制活性,这为瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物进一步开发为产品提供了毒理学依据.     

CO2-dependent fermentation of phenol to acetate, butyrate and benzoate by an anaerobic, pasteurised culture

Fermentative degradation of phenol was studied using a non-methanogenic, pasteurised enrichment culture containing two morphologically different bacteria. Phenol was fermented to benzoate, acetate and butyrate and their relative occurrence depended on the concentration of hydrogen. Proportionately more benzoate was formed with high initial levels of H2. The influence of PH2 on the fermentation pattern was studied both in dense cell suspensions and in growing cultures by addition of hydrogen. An increase in growth yield (OD578) was observed, compared to controls, as a consequence of phenol degradation; however, the increase was less in H2-amended treatments, in which most of the phenol ended up as benzoate. The degradation of phenol in the dense cell suspension experiments was dependent on CO2. Benzoate was not degraded when added as a substrate to the growing culture. This is, to our knowledge, the first report concerning the fermentative degradation of phenol to nonaromatic products.     

The Chemical Components of the Absolute Oil from Jasminun sarnbac (L.) Aiton

This plant is widely cultivated in southeastern and southern China. The concrete and absolute got from their flower are used in perfumery industry. It is also used popularly as ornamental plant and sometimes as medicine. The main chemical components of the absolute have been determined by the methods of chromatography, GC-MS, IR and NMR. The quantitative determination of these components was carried out by GLC also. The result is as follows: 3-hexenyl acetate 1.09%, cis-3-hcxen-l-ol 1.40%, dipentene oxide 1.09%, linalool 14.33%, methyl benzoate 2.96%, benzyl acetate 11.04%, benzyl alcohol 10.12%, cadinene 4.67%, hexenylbenzoat 16.51%, methyl anthranilate 0.62%, octadecene 6.54%, methyl oleate 2.02%, methyl' octadeca-9-ynoate 0.62%. Three minor components have been determined also.     

Purification and properties of an acetate kinase from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

An acetate kinase from the photolithoautotrophically grown purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris was purified to apparent homogeneity by use of high resolving liquid chromatography steps. The monomeric enzyme was characterized by a relative molecular mass of 46,500 and an isoelectric point of 4.9. There was an absolute requirement for divalent metal ions in the enzymatic reaction. Mg2+ and Mn2+ were the most activating cations. The acetate kinase used pyrimidine and purine nucleotides almost equally well as phosphoryl donors. The enzyme phosphorylated acetate, propionate, butyrate and isobutyrate. ATP and acetate revealed the lowest apparent Km values and seemed to act as the favoured substrates. The apparent Km values for ATP formation were considerable lower than those for the formation of acetyl phosphate. The activation energy Ea = 21 kJ/mol of the acetyl phosphate formation was determined by application of Arrhenius plots.     

Isolation and physiological characterization of Syntrophus buswellii strain GA from a syntrophic benzoate-degrading,strictly anaerobic coculture

A stable, syntrophic benzoate-degrading bacterial consortium was enriched from sewage sludge. It oxidized benzoate or 3-phenylpropionate to acetate, H₂ and CO₂. As hydrogen scavengers Methanospirillum hungatei and Desulfovibrio sp. were present. The benzoate-degrading bacteria of this syntrophic culture and of Syntrophus buswelli were able to grow with benzoate/crotonate or crotonate alone in the absence of a hydrogen-utilizing partner organism. If crotonate was the only substrate, acetate and butyrate were produced, while during growth on benzoate or 3-phenylpropionate crotonate served as a reducible co-substrate and was exclusively converted to butyrate. In the presence of crotonate interspecies hydrogen transfer was not necessary as a hydrogen sink. The benzoate degrader was isolated as a pure culture with crotonate as the only carbon source. The pure culture could also grow with benzoate/crotonate or 3-phenylpropionate/crotonate. The effect of high concentrations of crotonate and of acetate or butyrate on growth of the benzoate degrader was investigated. The benzoate degrader was compared with S. buswellii for its morphology, physiology and DNA base composition. Except for the fact that S. buswellii was also able to grow on cinnamate, no differences between the two organisms were detected. The isolate is named S. buswelli, strain GA.     

A new irreversible enzyme-aided esterification method in organic solvents

A new irreversible esterification method for carboxylic acids catalyzed by a lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435) in organic solvents has been developed. The water produced during the process is chemically destroyed by a corresponding ester of acetoacetate, which acts as a sacrificial substrate in this reaction. The flavour esters isobutyl acetate, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate and benzyl butyrate were synthesized either in small scale (0.05 mol) or large scale (1 mol). The yields range from 82 to 92% within 24 h at 52°C. Optimal molar ratios of reactants were 1:1:1 (carboxylic acid:alcohol:acetoacetate).     

大白鼠DNA拓扑异构酶Ⅰ生物学性质的研究

对大白鼠组织作DNA拓扑弄构酶Ⅰ(拓扑酶Ⅰ)活力测定,见酶活力出现在胚胎早期,在胚胎发育过程及出生后不同年龄期,酶活力基本稳定;几种成年大鼠组织的酶活力彼此无显著差异;肝细胞再生及癌变,酶活力亦无显著变化。     

Isoenzymes of naphthyl acetate esterase in senescing leaves of Festuca pratensis

Naphthyl acetate esterase (NAE) of leaves of Festuca pratensis had an apparent MW of 55000. Five major NAE isoenzymes were resolved by gel electrophoresis. During leaf senescence the proportions of these isoenzymes altered and two novel isoenzymes became active. Cycloheximide applied to leaves delayed and diminished the responses of NAE isoenzymes during senescence. The two novel NAEs were similar in MW and substrate affinity to pre-existing NAEs. Partially-purified NAE had no cholinesterase, carboxypeptidase, ethyl acetate esterase or ethyl butyrate esterase activity. Lack of inhibition by eserine, PCMB and organophosphorus insecticide classified these enzymes as acetylesterases.     

Studies on acid lipase, and E 600-resistant acid esterase activities in human tissue homogenates.

Detailed comparison of acid lipase and acid esterase activities of human spleen, liver and kidney homogenates has been carried out by means of the following substrates: 14C-tripalmitin, alpha-naphthyl acetate, alpha-naphthyl butyrate, alpha-naphthyl laurate, p-nitro-phenyl acetate, butyrate and laurate. In addition, homogenates of the three tissues were subjected to isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels and histochemical staining with the above mentioned naphthyl substrates in the presence and absence of the organophosphate esterase inhibitor diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (E 600). These studies provide extensive support for the proposal that E 600-resistant acid naphthyl butyryl and lauryl esterase activities in human tissues derive largely from the enzyme acid lipase. The studies suggest that the most specific chromogenic substrate for this enzyme at a biochemical and histochemical level is alpha-napthyl laurate in the presence of E600 (3 X 10(-6) M).     

Purification of rat kidney carboxylesterase and its comparison with other tissue esterases

Carboxylesterase was purified from rat kidney in an electrophoretically homogeneous form by acetone precipitation, followed by successive chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and hydroxyapatite and then isoelectric focusing. The purified enzyme catalyzed the hydrolyses of monoacylglycerols and short-chain triacylglycerols, such as tributyrin, but not the hydrolysis of long-chain triacylglycerol. Its optimum pH with methyl butyrate as a substrate was 8.0. The relation of its activity to the methyl butyrate concentration differed from those for pancreatic lipase and liver esterase, and also from those for lipolytic enzymes from various other tissues. The relations of methyl butyrate-hydrolyzing activity with methyl butyrate concentration were compared among various carboxylester hydrolyzing enzymes. Based on the results, these enzymes were classified into four classes.