Effect of Enzyme Preparation from the Marine Mollusk Littorina kurila on Fucoidan from the Brown Alga Fucus distichus

A fucoidanase preparation from the marine mollusk Littorina kurila cleaved some glycosidic bonds in fucoidan from the brown alga Fucus distichus, but neither fucose nor lower oligosaccharides were produced. The main product isolated from the incubation mixture was a polysaccharide built up of disaccharide repeating units -->3)-alpha-L-Fucp-(2,4-di-SO3(-))-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Fucp-(2SO3(-))-(1-->, the structure coinciding with the idealized formula proposed for the initial substance. A polymer fraction with the same carbohydrate chain but sulfated only at positions 2 and nonstoichiometrically acetylated at positions 3 and 4 of fucose residues was isolated as a minor component. It is suggested that the native polysaccharide should contain small amounts of non-sulfated and non-acetylated fucose residues, and only their glycosidic bonds are cleaved by the enzyme. The enzymatic hydrolysis showed that irregular regions of the native polysaccharide containing acetylated and partially sulfated repeating units were assembled in blocks.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Fucoidan-Degrading Marine Bacterial Strain and Its Fucoidanase

A marine bacterial strain that degraded fucoidan from Kjellmaniella crassifolia (class Phaeophyceae, order Laminariales, family Laminariaceae) was isolated in our laboratory. The strain was gram-negative, ubiquinone 8 was the predominant respiratory quinone, and the GC-content of its genomic DNA was 36%. The cells of the strain were rod-shaped (2.0 m long × 1.0 m wide), and each cell was motile by means of one polar flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis of its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence indicated that it was a member of the family Alteromonadaceae. It produced a type of extracellular fucoidanase, an endosulfated fucan-digesting enzyme. The enzyme was purified with 3500-fold purity at 12.0% yield. Optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction were approximately pH 6.5 to 8.0 and temperature 30° to 35°C. The enzyme was activated by calcium ions, and maximum activity was observed in the presence of greater than 30 mM calcium ion.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Fucoidan-Degrading Marine Bacterium

Fucoidan, a mixture of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides, was prepared from the algal bodies of Cladosiphon okamuranus (class Phaeophyceae, order Chordariales, family Chordariaceae) with a yield of 2.0% of the wet weight of the alga. To obtain enzymes that digest the fucoidan, we screened bacteria in the gut contents of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus for their ability to decrease the fucoidan in their culture media, and successfully isolated one bacterial strain that could decrease it. The bacterial strain was gram-negative and possessed menaquinone 7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and the GC content of its genomic DNA was 52%. The results of the phylogenetic analysis of its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence indicated that the bacterial strain was a member of the division Verrucomicrobia. However, as the bacterial strain is phylogenetically and phenotypically distinct from verrucomicrobial species described previously, the strain was assumed to be a new member of the division Verrucomicrobia. When the bacterial strain was cultivated in an algal fucoidan-containing medium, the strain decreased fucoidan from C. okamuranus (44%), Nemacystus decipiens (19%), Laminaria japonica (31%), Kjellmaniella crassifolia (23%), sporophyl of Undaria pinnatifida (22%), Fucus vesiculosus (42%), and Ascophyllum nodosum (61%).     

Sulfated galactofucan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lobophora variegata</Emphasis>: Anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties

Sulfated polysaccharides (fucans and fucoidans) from brown algae show several biological activities, including anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities. We have extracted a sulfated heterofucan from the brown seaweed Lobophora variegata by proteolytic digestion, followed by acetone fractionation, molecular sieving, and ion-exchange chromatography. Chemical analyses and ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy showed that this fucoidan is composed of fucose, galactose, and sulfate at molar ratios of 1:3:2. We compared the anticoagulant activity of L. variegata fucoidan with those of a commercial sulfated polysaccharide (also named fucoidan) from Fucus vesiculosus and heparin. The experimental inflammation models utilized in this work revealed that fucoidan from L. variegata inhibits leukocyte migration to the inflammation site. Ear swelling caused by croton oil was also inhibited when sulfated polysaccharides from F. vesiculosus and L. variegata were used. The precise mechanism of different action between homo-and heterofucans is not clear; nevertheless, the polysaccharides studied here may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 9, pp. 1265–1273.     

Intracellular Alginolytic Enzymes of the Marine Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas citrea KMM 3297

The marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas citrea KMM 3297 is an associate of the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus. When grown in a medium containing glucose, the strain produces two intracellular alginolytic enzymes, AlI and AlII. Fucoidan from the brown alga Fucus evanescens induces synthesis of one more alginolytic enzyme, AlIII. These enzymes were separated using anion-exchange chromatography. The alginate lyase AlI completely retains its activity at 35 degrees C, AlII and AlIII being stable at 45 degrees C. The alginate lyases exhibit maximal activities in the range of pH 7-8. The molecular weights of AlI, AlII, and AlIII determined by gel filtration are 25, 79, and 61 kD, respectively. All the investigated enzymes are endo-type alginate lyases. They catalyze degradation of polyguluronate (poly-G) and polymannuronate (poly-M) yielding oligosaccharides of the polymerization degree of 5 > or = n > or = 3 with the unsaturated bond between the C4 and C5 atoms of the non-reducing terminus. A mixture of these three enzymes exhibits synergism while acting on the polymeric substrate. The Km values of the alginate lyase AlI for poly-G and poly-M are 24 and 34 micro g/ml, respectively. Alginate lyase AlIII exhibits less affinity to poly-M (Km = 130.0 microg/ml) than to poly-G (Km = 40.0 microg/ml). NaCl (0.2 M), MgCl2 and MgSO4 (0.01 M) activate all three enzymes more than twofold. The presence of several alginolytic enzymes of different specificity provides efficient destruction of alginic acids of brown algae by the strain P. citrea KMM 3297.     

Review: Prospects for the Use of Extracts and Polysaccharides from Marine Algae to Prevent and Treat the Diseases Caused by Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori possesses a broad spectrum of pathogenic factors that allow it to survive and colonize the gastric mucosa, and thus, the pathogenetic targets, which have the same diversity, require search for and the development of alternative, effective, and innocuous means for the eradication of H. pylori. In recent years, fucoidans have been extensively studied due to the numerous interesting biological activities, including the anti‐adhesive, anti‐oxidative, antitoxic, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, and anti‐infection effects. This review summarizes the data on the effects of extracts and sulfated polysaccharides of marine algae, mainly fucoidans, on pathogenic targets in Helicobacter infection. The pathogenetic targets for therapeutic agents after H. pylori infection, such as flagellas, urease, and other enzymes, including adhesins, cytotoxin A (VacA), phospholipase, and L‐8, are characterized here. The main target for the sulfated polysaccharides of seaweed is cell receptors of the gastric mucosa. This review presents the published data about the pleiotropic anti‐inflammatory effects of polysaccharides on the gastric mucosa. It is known that fucoidan and other sulfated polysaccharides from algae have anti‐ulcer effects, prevent the adhesion of H. pylori to, and reduce the formation of biofilm. The authors speculate that the effect of sulfated polysaccharides on the infectious process caused by H. pylori is related to their action on innate and adaptive immunity cells, and also anti‐oxidant and antitoxic potential. Presented in the review are materials indicated for the study of extracts and sulfated polysaccharides from seaweed during H. pylori infection, as these compounds are characterized by multimodality actions. Based on the analysis of literary materials in recent years, the authors concluded that fucoidan can be attributed to the generation of new candidates to create drugs intended for the inclusion in the scheme of eradication therapy of H. pylori infection.     

A comparative study of specificity of fucoidanases from marine microorganisms and invertebrates

Specificities of actions of fucoidanases from the marine microorganism Pseudoalteromonas citrea KMM 3296 and the marine mollusk Littorina kurila were studied. The enzymes possess similar specificities and catalyze the cleavage of accessible α-(1→3)-fucoside bonds in fucoidans with highly sulfated α-(1→4; 1→3)-L-fucooligosaccharides. A high degree of sulfation of the fucose residues in fucoidans makes α-(1→3)-L-fucoside bonds inaccessible for the action of the studied enzymes. The maximum degree of cleavage of fucoidan was achieved by the fucoidanase from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas citrea KMM 3296.     

海洋褐藻多糖的复杂结构、降解酶系以及生物学功能

海洋大型藻类(包括褐藻、红藻和绿藻)具有生物质资源产量高、生长过程中不占用耕地和淡水资源等优点,是未来生物炼制的优良原料。2021年,中国褐藻产量为190万吨,远高于其他经济藻类。但是与绿藻相比,褐藻所含的褐藻酸盐和红藻所含的3,6-脱水-L-半乳糖等多糖组分不容易发酵,极大地限制了其高值转化的进程。本文针对褐藻多糖的高效降解与高值转化这一研究热点,总结了褐藻的系统发育与褐藻多糖(褐藻胶、岩藻多糖以及昆布多糖)的复杂结构组成,分析了3类海洋多糖降解酶系的家族、空间结构及其特异性识别专一底物的活性架构等特征,并对褐藻多糖降解产物及其衍生寡糖的生物学功能进行了构效分析,以期揭示海洋多糖降解酶系的高效催化机制和特异性识别机理,推动褐藻的高效生物降解转化,为精准定制生物活性寡糖,构建绿色低碳工业化生产工艺提供参考。     

Isolation, Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of an Aerobic Bacterium Capable of Degrading Bensulfuronmethyl

Summary An aerobic bacterium named strain BH was isolated from soil samples based on its bensulfuronmethyl-degrading characteristics using continuous enrichment cultures. The cells of the strain were non-motile, gram-positive short rods. Colonies formed on agar medium were round, smooth, sticky, white-yellow in colour and of butyrous consistency. Analyses of nutritional utilization in Biolog microplates, conventional phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were consistent with assigning strain BH to the genus Brevibacterium. Growth of the cells and their ability to degrade bensulfuronmethyl were simultaneously monitored under different liquid medium conditions during 7 days of incubation. They degraded bensulfuronmethyl from 100 to 70.6 mg l⁻¹ in mineral M9 medium and exhibited more effective degradation in the presence of yeast extract, completely removing an initial concentration of 100 mg l⁻¹ and at best 80% of an initial concentration of 200 mg l⁻¹. Further studies are required to determine the potential use of the isolate in the disposal of bensulfuronmethyl residues in agriculture and industry.     

A Highly Active Alkaline Phosphatase from the Marine Bacterium Cobetia

An alkaline phosphatase with unusually high specific activity has been found to be produced by the marine bacterium Cobetia marina (strain KMM MC-296) isolated from coelomic liquid of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus. The properties of enzyme, such as a very high specific activity (15000 DE U/1 mg of protein), no activation with divalent cations, resistance to high concentrations of inorganic phosphorus, as well as substrate specificity toward 5′ nucleotides suggest that the enzyme falls in an intermediate position between unspecific alkaline phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.1) and 5′ nucleotidases (EC 3.1.3.5).     

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Epipolasterol and 22,23-Dihydroepipolasterol from the Marine Sponge Epipolasis sp.

Two new sterols, epipolasterol and 22(23)-dihydroepipolasterol, have been isolated from the marine sponge Epipolasis sp. These are unusual metabolites as they both contain a t-butyl group in the sterol side chain. In addition, the presence of two degrees of unsaturation in the side chain of epipolasterol is rare. The known sterol, 22-dehydro-24-isopropylcholesterol was also found in this sponge.     

Submersed Culture Production of Extracellular Wax Esters by the Marine Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundibacter jadensis</Emphasis>

Fundibacter jadensis strain T9, a marine gram-negative bacterium, was isolated from the intertidal sediment of the German North Sea coast by our group. The cells were able to produce considerable amounts of extracellular wax esters when cultivated with n-alkanes (hexadecane or tetradecane) as a carbon source. The dependence of wax ester production and the composition of the purified wax on different culture conditions (C:N:P ratio and dissolved oxygen tension) were tested. Our results show that wax ester production was not directly growth-linked. The C:N:P ratio had no significant influence on the yield of alkane-free purified wax. The dissolved oxygen tension affected the produced amount of the alkane-free purified wax and the composition of the purified wax; when lower than 2% it decreased the yield of purified wax and led to an altered wax ester composition. Tetradecane as a carbon source enhanced the spectrum of the wax ester composition.     

Elucidation of Structure of Lipid A from the Marine Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis ATCC 14393T

The chemical structure of lipid A, from the marine -proteobacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis 14393, a main product of lipopolysaccharide hydrolysis (1% AcOH), was determined using chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy. The lipid A was shown to be -1,6-glucosaminobiose 1,4-diphosphate acylated with two (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid residues at C3 and C3 and amidated with one (R)-3-hydroxydodecanoyl and one (R)-3-dodecanoyloxydodecanoyl residue at N2 and N2, respectively.     

Purification and Partial Identification of Novel Antimicrobial Protein from Marine Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoalteromonas</Emphasis> Species Strain X153

A marine bacterium, X153, was isolated from a pebble collected at St. Anne du Portzic (France). By 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequence analysis, X153 strain was identified as a Pseudoalteromonas sp. close to P. piscicida. The crude culture of X153 was highly active against human pathogenic strains involved in dermatologic diseases, and marine bacteria including various ichthyopathogenic Vibrio strains. The active substance occurred both in bacterial cells and in culture supernatant. An antimicrobial protein was purified to homogeneity by a 4-step procedure using size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. The highly purified P-153 protein is anionic, and sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gives an apparent molecular mass of 87 kDa. The X153 bacterium protected bivalve larvae against mortality, following experimental challenges with ichthyopathogenic Vibrio. Pseudoalteromonas sp. X153 may be useful in aquaculture as a probiotic bacterium.     

CvL, a lectin from the marine sponge Cliona varians: Isolation, characterization and its effects on pathogenic bacteria and Leishmania promastigotes

CvL, a lectin from the marine sponge Cliona varians was purified by acetone fractionation followed by Sepharose CL 4B affinity chromatography. CvL agglutinated papainized treated human erythrocytes with preference for type A erythrocytes. The lectin was strongly inhibited by monosaccharide d-galactose and disaccharide sucrose. CvL is a tetrameric glycoprotein of 28 kDa subunits linked by disulphide bridges with a molecular mass of 106 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 114 kDa by Sephacryl S300 gel filtration. The lectin was Ca2+ dependent, stable up to 60 degrees C for 60 min, with optimum pH of 7.5. CvL displays a cytotoxic effect on gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. However, CvL did not affect gram negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Leishmania chagasi promastigotes were agglutinated by CvL up to 2(8) titer. These findings are indicative of the physiological defense roles of CvL and its possible use in the antibiosis of bacteria and protozoa pathogenic.     

2株海洋来源产浅蓝霉素A的异壁放线菌的分离和鉴定

利用抗菌及卤虫致死活性模型,从中国南海海底沉积物来源的微生物中筛选到2株放线菌SCSIO WJ01和SCSIO ZJ63,其发酵产物具有较强活性,经16S rRNA基因序列分析这2株放线菌均为异壁放线菌Actinoalloteichus sp.。HPLC-DAD分析显示2株放线菌能产生同一个主要的次级代谢产物,通过正相硅胶柱色谱、反相中压柱色谱、半制备高效液相色谱等手段,从SCSIO WJ01的发酵产物中分离获得了该化合物,运用ESI-MS、1H及13C NMR波谱分析鉴定为浅蓝霉素A(Caerulomycin A)。此外,还从SCSIO WJ01的发酵产物中分离鉴定了浅蓝霉素D。     

黄杆菌菌株RC2-3基因组生物信息学分析及高效降解岩藻多糖功能基因的挖掘

以从海带中筛选获得的一株具有降解岩藻多糖能力的黄杆菌菌株RC2-3为研究对象，该菌株产的岩藻多糖酶可以高效降解不同来源的岩藻多糖。为进一步探究菌株RC2-3降解岩藻多糖的机制，推动岩藻寡糖的酶法生产，采用Illumina测序技术对菌株RC2-3进行基因组测序、基因功能注释和碳水化合物活性酶注释以及岩藻多糖降解相关基因的生物信息学分析。结果表明，黄杆菌菌株RC2-3基因组全长3 414 532 bp,共编码2 967个基因，GC含量为30.92%。经碳水化合物活性酶数据库注释获得213个基因，与岩藻多糖降解有关的包括7个岩藻糖结合结构域的基因；2个β-D-岩藻糖苷酶(EC 3.2.1.38)基因；2个属于GH141家族的α-L-岩藻糖苷酶(EC 3.2.1.51)基因；12个属于GH29家族的α-1, 3/1, 4-L-岩藻糖苷酶(EC 3.2.1.111)基因；9个属于GH95家族的α-1, 2-L-岩藻糖苷酶(EC 3.2.1.63)基因。此外，通过与已报道的蛋白序列比对发现，岩藻多糖酶基因RC2.3＿GM001247编码的蛋白序列与FunA蛋白序列同源性达到70.98%,岩藻多糖酶...     

1株水产饵料用光合细菌粪红假单胞菌的分离筛选

从凡纳滨对虾池塘水样、底泥中分离光合细菌,依次通过菌株培养液性状、菌体粗蛋白含量、类胡萝卜素、氨基酸及辅酶Q种类和含量综合评价,筛选营养成分较丰富的菌株,为鱼虾贝类提供优良的开口饵料。试验共分离得到35株光合细菌,其中11株菌液均一、稳定且颜色鲜艳;9株菌粗蛋白含量高于60%;3株菌Rh16、Rh25、Rh34类胡萝卜素含量显著高于其他菌株(P0.05),必需氨基酸与总氨基酸的比值分别为41%、41%和40%,含有的泛醌种类为Q_(10),其中Rh16的Q_(10)含量最高,达6.49μg/mL,可以开发为水产养殖动物优良开口饵料。经培养形态、生理生化特征、16S rRNA基因序列鉴定及系统发育分析表明,菌株Rh16为粪红假单胞菌(Rhodopseudomonas faecalis)。     

Polar Constituents of Brown Seaweed Colpomenia peregrina (Sauv.) Hamel from the Black Sea

GC-MS of trimethylsilyl derivatives of the compounds present in the butanolic extract of biomass of brown seaweed Colpomenia peregrina from the Black Sea aided in identification of 24 components, including aliphatic hydroxy and keto and aromatic acids, glycerol, mannitol, floridoside, and monosaccharides. The polysaccharide composition of the biomass was also studied, with high sodium alginate and laminaran contents and a comparatively low level of fucoidan being revealed. The polysaccharides were isolated from the biomass by fractional extraction and purified by precipitation or ion exchange chromatography. The structures of alginic acid and laminaran were deduced from ¹³C NMR spectra and confirmed, in the case of laminaran, by methylation analysis. The sodium alginate was shown to contain more guluronic (G) than mannuronic acid (M) residues, the M/G ratio being 0.48. Laminaran was demonstrated to be a -glucan with 1 3 linkages in its backbone and 1 6 linkages in its branching points, which is characteristic of brown algae. Fucoidan turned out to be a complex heteropolysaccharide containing, in addition to fucose and sulfate, other neutral monosaccharides and uronic acids.     

The Photosynthetic Reaction Centre from the Purple Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis

We first describe the history and methods of membrane protein crystallization, and show how the structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis was solved. The structure of this membrane protein complex is correlated with its function as a light-driven electron pump across the photosynthetic membrane. Finally we draw conclusions on the structure of the photosystem II reaction centre from plants and discuss the aspects of membrane protein structure.Published in Les Prix Nobel–The Nobel Prizes 1988 (Nobel Foundation, Stockholm, 1989) and republished here with the permission of the Nobel Foundation the copyright holders.