The Site of the Inhibition of the Shikimate Pathway by Glyphosate: I. INHIBITION BY GLYPHOSATE OF PHENYLPROPANOID SYNTHESIS IN BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM ESCULENTUM MOENCH)

The nonselective herbicide glyphosate (n-[phosphonomethyl]glycine) inhibited the light-induced accumulation of phenylpropanoid substances (chlorogenic acid, procyanidin, rutin, anthocyanin) in etiolated buckwheat hypocotyls 90% at 1 millimolar. Structurally related compounds, such as n,n-bis[phosphonomethyl]glycine, aminomethylphosphonate, methylglycine, and iminodiacetate, had little or no inhibiting effects. Of all amino acids tested, only l-phenylalanine reversed the inhibition, and partial reversal of anthocyanin synthesis was achieved with chorismate, phenylpyruvate, trans-cinnamate, p-coumarate, and naringenin. Phenylalanine concentrations were reduced in glyphosate-treated hypocotyls, and glyphosate effectively reduced the high level of phenylalanine that was caused by the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase inhibitor l-alpha-aminooxy-beta-phenylpropionate. Glyphosate had no significant effect on the time course of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in hypocotyls incubated either in the dark or in the light. Under appropriate feeding conditions, glyphosate inhibited the incorporation of [(14)C]shikimate into all three aromatic amino acids, and radioactive shikimate accumulated in the tissue. The results lead to the conclusion that glyphosate interferes with the shikimate pathway at or prior to the formation of chorismate.     

Shikimate kinase from spinach chloroplasts : purification, characterization, and regulatory function in aromatic amino Acid biosynthesis

Shikimate kinase was purified to near homogenity from spinach Spinacia oleracea L. chloroplasts and found to consist of a single 31 kilodalton polypeptide. The purified enzyme was unstable, but could be stabilized by a variety of added proteins, including oxidized and reduced thioredoxins. Whereas the isolated enzyme was stimulated by mono- and dithiol reagents, the enzyme in intact chloroplasts was unaffected by added thiols and showed only minor response to dark/light transitions. These results indicate that the previously reported stimulation of shikimate kinase activity by reduced thioredoxins is due to enzyme stabilization rather than to activation. In the current study, the purified enzyme was inhibited by added ADP and showed a strong response to energy charge. When intact chloroplasts were incubated in the dark in presence of shikimate, phosphoenolpyruvate and a source of ATP (dihydroxyacetone phosphate or ATP itself under appropriate conditions), aromatic amino acids were formed: phenylalanine and tyrosine. The data indicate that energy charge plays a role in regulating shikimate kinase, thereby controlling the shikimate pathway. An unidentified enzyme of the latter part of the pathway, leading from shikimate-3-phosphate to phenylalanine, appears to be activated by light.     

Kinetics of batch ethanol fermentation of cheese-whey powder (CWP) solution as function of substrate and yeast concentrations

A lactose utilizing yeast strain, Kluyveromyces marxianus DSMZ-7239 was used for ethanol formation from cheese-whey powder (CWP) solution in batch experiments. Effects of initial substrate (CWP) and yeast concentrations on the rate and extent of ethanol formation were investigated. The initial pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was kept at 5 and -250 mV, respectively. The rate and extent of ethanol formation increased with increasing CWP concentration up to 156 g l(-1) (75 g l(-1) sugar) and then decreased for larger CWP concentrations due to substrate inhibition at high sugar concentrations. The ethanol yield coefficient was also maximum (0.54 g EtOH/g sugar) and equal to the theoretical yield at CWP concentration of 156 g l(-1). The growth yield coefficient was found to be Y(x/s)=1.2+/-0.1g biomass g sugar(-1). The rate of sugar utilization and ethanol formation also increased linearly with increasing initial biomass concentrations. A kinetic model describing the rate of sugar utilization and substrate inhibition as function of the initial substrate and the biomass concentrations was developed. The kinetic constants were determined using the experimental data. Model predictions of sugar utilization rates were in good agreement with the experimental data. The results indicated that the initial sugar concentration should be below 75 g l(-1) (CWP<156 g l(-1)) and the initial biomass should be above 850 mg l(-1) to obtain high rates and yields of ethanol formation and to avoid substrate inhibition.     

Condensed lignins are synthesized in poplar leaves exposed to ozone

Poplar (Populus tremula x alba) trees (clone INRA 717-1-B4) were cultivated for 1 month in phytotronic chambers with two different levels of ozone (60 and 120 nL L(-1)). Foliar activities of shikimate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.25), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4.3.1.5), and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.195) were compared with control levels. In addition, we examined lignin content and structure in control and ozone-fumigated leaves. Under ozone exposure, CAD activity and CAD RNA levels were found to be rapidly and strongly increased whatever the foliar developmental stage. In contrast, shikimate dehydrogenase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities were increased in old and midaged leaves but not in the youngest ones. The increased activities of these enzymes involved in the late or early steps of the metabolic pathway leading to lignins were associated with a higher Klason lignin content in extract-free leaves. In addition, stress lignins synthesized in response to ozone displayed a distinct structure, relative to constitutive lignins. They were found substantially enriched in carbon-carbon interunit bonds and in p-hydroxyphenylpropane units, which is reminiscent of lignins formed at early developmental stages, in compression wood, or in response to fungal elicitor. The highest changes in lignification and in enzyme activities were obtained with the highest ozone dose (120 nL L(-1)). These results suggest that ozone-induced lignins might contribute to the poplar tolerance to ozone because of their barrier or antioxidant effect toward reactive oxygen species.     

Cloning and expression of the Arthrobacter globiformis KZT1 fcbA gene encoding dehalogenase (4-chlorobenzoate-4-hydroxylase) in Escherichia coli

The fsbA gene controlling the first step of 4-chlorobenzoic acid (4CBA) metabolism in the Gram-positive soil bacterium Arthrobacter globiformis KZT1 has been cloned and analysed in Escherichia coli. The E. coli minicells analysis showed that a polypeptide(s) with Mr = 58 kDa (and/or Mr = 32 kDa) can be the fcbA product(s). Despite the gene dose amplification and control of the E. coli inducible Plac promoter, the level of functional expression of the fcbA gene in E. coli cells seems comparable only with that in the parental KZT1 strain. Effective 4CBA dechlorination by recombinant cells during growth in the presence of substrate within a range of concentrations 0.1 g/l to 0.7 g/l as well as a sudden reduction in the reaction efficiency at higher substrate concentrations were observed.     

Effect of α-Methylphenylalanine and Phenylalanine on Brain Polyribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Abstract: A chronic hyperphenylalanemia was effectively produced in developing mice by daily administrations of phenylalanine (2 mg/g body wt) and a phenylalanine hydroxylase inhibitor α-methyl-D, L-phenylalanine (0.43 mg/g body wt). The presence of α-methylphenylalanine in newborn mice inhibited 65–70% of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase activity within 12 h. Since this maximum inhibition persisted for 24 h or longer, decreased enzyme activity was maintained by daily administrations. Whereas concentrations of phenylalanine increased approximately 40-fold in both plasma and brain following injection of α-methylphenylalanine and phenylalanine, plasma levels of tyrosine were not altered significantly. Concomitant with changes in phenylalanine concentrations we observed the brain polyribosomes' disaggregation, which reached a maximum 3 h after injection and persisted as long as 18 h. Polyribosomes did not become refractory to as many as 10 daily injections of α-methylphenylalanine and phenylalanine. In addition to polyribosome disaggregation, chronic hyperphenylalanemia reduced the rates of polypeptide chain elongation on polyribosomes isolated from brain homogenates.     

Phenylalanine in the caudate nucleus of dopamine depleted rats

Dopamine depleting lesions of the substantia nigra result in a reduction of the striatal accumulation of 2-phenylethylamine following monoamine oxidase inhibition. It is established that this effect may not be due to a change in availability of aromaticL-amino acid decarboxylase in striatum. Nevertheless, the possibility remains that striatal concentrations of phenylalanine (the precursor of 2-phenylethylamine) may be altered by dopamine-depleting lesions. The present experiments assessed the effects of dopamine depletion induced by 6-OHDA (7 days following 8 g/4 l unilateral substantia nigra injection) on striatal concentrations of phenylalanine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and their metabolites. In addition, the effects of reserpine-induced (10 mg kg^–1, 2h, sc) amine depletion on these striatal levels were also assessed. Under equivalent conditions reserpine is reported to increase striatal accumulationof 2-phenylethylamine. 6-OHDA induced a significant unilateral depletion of dopamine, DOPAC and HVA and increased 5-HIAA but had no significant effect on phenylalanine levels. Reserpine decreased dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine and increased DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA levels, no changes in phenylalanine were observed. This pattern of results was also observed when lesioned animals or reserpine-treated animals were pretreated with (-)-deprenyl (2 mg kg^–1, 2 hr, sc), the treatment previously used to induce accumulation of 2-phenylethylamine. These data indicate that changes in 2-phenylethylamine previously observed under these conditions may not simply be secondary to a change in striatal phenylalanine concentrations.     

Optimization of glycosidases production by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549(T)

AIMS: The present work aimed to design an optimized medium to yield a higher production of glycosides by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549(T). METHODS AND RESULTS: Higher levels of fucoidan hydrolase, alginase, laminaranase and b-N-acetylglucosaminidase production were obtained with peptone concentrations ranging from 2.5 g l(-1) to 10 g l(-1), while the presence of both yeast extract and glucose did not affect enzyme production. The activity of fucoidan hydrolase and laminaranase increased up to 4.83 microM h(-1) mg(-1) and 19.23 microM h(-1) mg(-1) protein, respectively, in growth media containing xylose (1.0 g l(-1)), laminarin (0.5 g l(-1)) or alginate (0.5 g l(-1)), and production of b-N-acetylglucosaminidase substantially increased in the presence of fucoidan (0.5 g l(-1)) or galactose (1 g l(-1)). All polysaccharides tested in concentrations of 0.5 g l(-1) fucoidan and 0.2 g l(-1) fucose induced production of alginase (up to 5.06 microM h(-1) mg-1 protein). CONCLUSIONS: The production of glycosidases is not only stimulated by the presence of algal polysaccharides, but may also be stimulated by monosaccharides (e.g. xylose). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The production of glycosidases by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549(T) was significantly improved by using a simple nutrient medium containing peptone (2.5 g l(-1)) and xylose (5.0 g l(-1)) in 100% natural seawater.     

Novel mutations in the pheA gene of Escherichia coli K-12 which result in highly feedback inhibition-resistant variants of chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase.

The bifunctional enzyme chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase (EC 5.4.99.5/4.2.1.51), which is encoded by the pheA gene of Escherichia coli K-12, is subject to strong feedback inhibition by L-phenylalanine. Inhibition of the prephenate dehydratase activity is almost complete at concentrations of L-phenylalanine greater than 1 mM. The pheA gene was cloned, and the promoter region was modified to enable constitutive expression of the gene on plasmid pJN302. As a preliminary to sequence analysis, a small DNA insertion at codon 338 of the pheA gene unexpectedly resulted in a partial loss of prephenate dehydratase feedback inhibition. Four other mutations in the pheA gene were identified following nitrous acid treatment of pJN302 and selection of E. coli transformants that were resistant to the toxic phenylalanine analog beta-2-thienylalanine. Each of the four mutations was located within codons 304 to 310 of the pheA gene and generated either a substitution or an in-frame deletion. The mutations led to activation of both enzymatic activities at low phenylalanine concentrations, and three of the resulting enzyme variants displayed almost complete resistance to feedback inhibition of prephenate dehydratase by phenylalanine concentrations up to 200 mM. In all four cases the mutations mapped in a region of the enzyme that has not been implicated previously in feedback inhibition sensitivity of the enzyme.     

Novel mutations in the pheA gene of Escherichia coli K-12 which result in highly feedback inhibition-resistant variants of chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase.

The bifunctional enzyme chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase (EC 5.4.99.5/4.2.1.51), which is encoded by the pheA gene of Escherichia coli K-12, is subject to strong feedback inhibition by L-phenylalanine. Inhibition of the prephenate dehydratase activity is almost complete at concentrations of L-phenylalanine greater than 1 mM. The pheA gene was cloned, and the promoter region was modified to enable constitutive expression of the gene on plasmid pJN302. As a preliminary to sequence analysis, a small DNA insertion at codon 338 of the pheA gene unexpectedly resulted in a partial loss of prephenate dehydratase feedback inhibition. Four other mutations in the pheA gene were identified following nitrous acid treatment of pJN302 and selection of E. coli transformants that were resistant to the toxic phenylalanine analog beta-2-thienylalanine. Each of the four mutations was located within codons 304 to 310 of the pheA gene and generated either a substitution or an in-frame deletion. The mutations led to activation of both enzymatic activities at low phenylalanine concentrations, and three of the resulting enzyme variants displayed almost complete resistance to feedback inhibition of prephenate dehydratase by phenylalanine concentrations up to 200 mM. In all four cases the mutations mapped in a region of the enzyme that has not been implicated previously in feedback inhibition sensitivity of the enzyme.     

Inhibition of growth of cells in culture by L-phenylalanine as a model system for the analysis of phenylketonuria. I. Amino acid antagonism and the inhibition of protein synthesis

Phenylalanine in high concentrations inhibits the growth of mouse A9 cells. Protein synthesis is inhibited earlier and more severely than RNA or DNA synthesis. Phenylalanine inhibits the uptake and decreases the intracellular pool of several amino acids. Certain amino acids added in excess reverse the phenylalanine inhibition. The strongest reversing amino acids appear to function by excluding phenylalanine. The phenylalanine inhibition does not appear to be due to a deficiency of any amino acid, but to the high intracellular phenylalanine concentration and/or an amino acid imbalance resulting from the large ratio of phenylalanine to other amino acids.     

Optimization of L-phenylalanine production of Corynebacterium glutamicum under product feedback inhibition by elevated oxygen transfer rate.

Production feedback inhibition both on cell growth and on product formation of phenylalanine fermentation might be alleviated by elevated oxygen supply. Batch fermentations by a high phenylalanine producing strain Corynebacterium glutamicum CCRC 18335 at various initial phenylalanine concentrations (P(0)) ranging from 0 to 20 g/L and different oxygen transfer rate coefficients (K(L)a) ranging from 23 to 76 h(-1) were studied. The fermentation parameters with respect to P(0) were strongly dependent on K(L)a. Cell yield favored higher K(L)a and lower P(0). Product yield with respect to varying phenylalanine concentration was evaluated by the relative oxygen availability (ROA). The optimal ROA for phenylalanine formation was strongly dependent on the product concentration. While P(0) was low, the product inhibition was less significant and the maximum product yield occurred while ROA was at 0.5-0.6. While P(0) was high, the product inhibition was significant and the maximum product yield occurred while ROA was at 0.8-0.9. These results suggest that the product feedback inhibition of phenylalanine fermentation processes can be alleviated by a gradual increase in oxygen supply rate while the increasing product concentration is taken into account. The strategy is demonstrated in a fed-batch culture with elevated oxygen supply. The final phenylalanine concentration was 23.2 g/L, which was 45% better than that of the fed-batch fermentation without elevated oxygen supply. Likewise, the maximum productivity was improved by 42% at 0.37 g/(L x h).     

Improved taxol yield by aromatic carboxylic acid and amino acid feeding to cell cultures of taxus cuspidata

Cell culture of Taxus cuspidata represents an alternative to whole plant extraction as a source of taxol and related taxanes. Feeding phenylalanine to callus cultures was previously shown to result in increased taxol yields, probably due to the involvement of this amino acid as a precursor for the N-benzoylphenylisoserine side chain of taxol. Inthis study, we have examined the effect of various concentrations of phenylalanine, benzoic acid, N-benzoylglycine, serine, glycine, alanine, and 3-amino-3-phenyl-propionic acid on taxol accumulation in 2-year-old cell suspensions of Taxus cuspidata, cell line FCL1F, and in developing callus cultures of T. cuspidata. All compounds tested were included in media at stationary phase (suspensions) or after the period of fastest growth (calli). Alanine and 3-amino-3-phenyl-propionicacid were tested only in callus cultures and did not affect taxol accumulation. Significant increases or trends toward increases in taxol accumulationin callus and suspensions were observed in the presence of phenylalanine, benzoic acid, N-benzoylglycine, serine, and glycine. The greatest increases in taxol accumulation were observed in the presence of various concentrations of phenylalanine (1 mM for callus; 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mM for suspensions) and benzoic acid (0.2 and 1 mM for callus and 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mM for suspensions). Increases in taxol yields of cell suspensions in the presence of the most effective precursors brought taxol amounts at stationary phase from 2 mug . g(-1) to approximately 10 mug . g(-1) of the extracted dry weight. The results are discussed in termsof possible implications to taxol biosynthesis and in terms of practical applications to large-scale cell culture systems for the production ofthis drug. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Isolation and description of a menaquinone mutant from Bacillus licheniformis.

A menaquinone mutant (SG1) of Bacillus licheniformis has been isolated by selecting for colonies that are resistant to low levels of kanamycin (1.5 mug/ml) but sensitive to the same concentration of kanamycin in the presence of shikimate (25 mug/ml). The wild type (IU1) contained 0.38 +/- 0.02 nmol of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) per mg (dry weight) of cells when grown +/- shikimate, whereas SG1 had less than 0.01 nmol of MK-7 per mg (dry weight) of cells when grown in the presence of shikimate. SG1 had a generation time of 85 min, as compared to 24 min for IU1 grown +/- shikimate. SG1 doubled with a generation time of 28 min when grown in the presence of shikimate. IU1 consumed O2 at various rates depending on the stage of growth. A triphasic O2 consumption curve with maxima at mid-exponential phase, the transition from exponential to stationary phase, and early stationary phase was found for IU1 +/- shikimate and SG1 + shikimate. SG1 grown without shikimate consumed O2 at a low level (10 to 20% of IU1). Normal respiration could be restored to SG1 8.5 min after shikimate addition, whereas normal growth was not restored until 40 min after shikimate addition. Electron microscopic studies of SG1 and IU1 have indicated a morphological alteration in the mutant. SG1 is a dwarf cell as compared to IU1, when grown without shikimate. However, SG1 grown with shikimate became morphologically indistinguishable from IU1.     

Yarrowia lipolytica chassis strains engineered to produce aromatic amino acids via the shikimate pathway

Yarrowia lipolytica is widely used as a microbial producer of lipids and lipid derivatives. Here, we exploited this yeast’s potential to generate aromatic amino acids by developing chassis strains optimized for the production of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. We engineered the shikimate pathway to overexpress a combination of Y. lipolytica and heterologous feedback-insensitive enzyme variants. Our best chassis strain displayed high levels of de novo Ehrlich metabolite production (up to 0.14 g l⁻¹ in minimal growth medium), which represented a 93-fold increase compared to the wild-type strain (0.0015 g l⁻¹). Production was further boosted to 0.48 g l⁻¹ when glycerol, a low-cost carbon source, was used, concomitantly to high secretion of phenylalanine precursor (1 g l⁻¹). Among these metabolites, 2-phenylethanol is of particular interest due to its rose-like flavour. We also established a production pathway for generating protodeoxyviolaceinic acid, a dye derived from tryptophan, in a chassis strain optimized for chorismate, the precursor of tryptophan. We have thus demonstrated that Y. lipolytica can serve as a platform for the sustainable de novo bio-production of high-value aromatic compounds, and we have greatly improved our understanding of the potential feedback-based regulation of the shikimate pathway in this yeast.