Identification of the 7S globulin with β-conglycinin in soybean seeds

The 7S globulin, a major ultracentrifugal component with the 11S globulin, was identical with β-conglycinin one of four antigenic components in the reserve proteins of soybean seeds (Glycine max). Double gel immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis in agar gel were used for their identification. In addition, some characteristic properties on ultracentrifugation and in carbohydrate content agreed well between the proteins. Their MWs were ca 180000.     

Effects of γ-irradiation on antioxidant activity in soybean seeds

There are some reports that low doses of γ-irradiation could induce antioxidant activities in plant material, including soybean. Irradiation, required for the inactivation of some pathogens and induction of mutations, may have adverse effects on sensorial, nutritional and antioxidant qualities. The effects of different γ-irradiation doses (100–200 Gy) on antioxidant properties of soybean seeds was investigated. In this study, we report the results obtained by analysis of antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced glutathione, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyl (HO⁻) radical quantities, soluble protein content, and total antioxidant activity in irradiated soybean seeds. Antioxidant enzyme activities were affected due to high irradiation intensity. Significant changes of total antioxidant activity and MDA and HO.quantities were observed only under the highest irradiation dose, with a 15.7% reduction in total antioxidant activity, MDA quantity increase of 21.6%, and HO⁻ radical quantity increase of 79.3% compared to the non-irradiated control. The total soluble protein content increased slightly.     

Synthesis and assembly of soybean β-conglycinin in vitro

The construction of SP6-derived expression plasmids that encode normal and modified -conglycinin subunits is described. With the exception of an additional methionine at their NH₂-terminal ends and the lack of glycans, the normal subunits synthesized at the direction of these plasmids coresponded to mature and subunits isolated from soybean seeds. The subunits assembled into trimers in vitro that were equivalent in size to those formed in vivo. This result shows that the glycans are not required either for protein folding or oligomer assembly. Subunits produced from other plasmids, which had modifications in a highly conserved hydrophobic region in the COOH-terminal end of the subunits, either did not assemble or assembled at an extremely low rate compared to unmodified subunits. Structural changes at the more hydrophilic NH₂-terminal end had mixed effects. Several subunits modified in this region assembled into trimers at rates that were either equal or greater than those for normal subunits. Others assembled less completely than the normal subunits. Our results indicate that the in vitro synthesis and assembly assay will be useful in evaluating structure-function relationships in modified -conglycinin subunits. The results also show that structural changes at the NH₂-terminal end of the subunits are tolerated to a greater extent than modifications in the hydrophobic conserved region in the COOH-terminal half of the subunits, and this information will be useful in efforts to improve soybean quality.     

Purification and properties of α-galactosidases from Vicia faba seeds

Two forms of alpha-galactosidase, I and II, exist in Vicia faba seeds and these have been purified 3660- and 337-fold respectively. They behaved as homogeneous preparations when examined by ultracentrifugation, disc electrophoresis and gel filtration. The apparent molecular weights of enzymes I and II, as determined by gel filtration, were 209000 and 38000 respectively. The carbohydrate contents of enzymes I and II were 25% and 2.8% respectively, and the enzymes differed in their aromatic amino acid compositions. Enzyme I was split into six inactive subunits in the presence of 6m-urea. alpha-Galactosidases I and II showed different pH optima and K(m) and V(max.) values with p-nitrophenyl alpha-d-galactoside and raffinose as substrates, and also differed in their thermal stabilities.     

Purification and some properties of β-mannanase fromPolyporus versicolor

Multiple enzyme forms of -mannanase activity fromPolyporus versicolor were puritied to molecular homogeneity by a sequence involving DEAE Bio-Gel A chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and high-performance liquid chromatography using anion exchange and hydrophobic Interaction media. Overall, 7.6% of input activity was recovered in four -mannanases, A, B, C and 2A, which were purified 112.6-, 165.5-, 143.7-and 19.9-fold respectivety. The -mannanases were acidic proteins displaying isoelectric points from 3.75 to 4.6, molecular weights in the range of 33,900 to 57,500 and increasing hydrophobicity in the order of C>B>2A>A. Optimal pH and temperature for the hydrotysis of glucomannan by all activities were pH 5.5 and 65°C, respectively. All preparations exhibited activity after 30 min at 65°C, or after protease digestion. Although the response of individual enzymes to selected ions was variable, all -mannanases were inhibited in decreasing order of Hg²⁺>Cu²⁺>Zn²⁺>Mn²⁺. All activities functioned as endomannanases.

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Résumé De multiples formes enzymatiques de l'activité -mannanasique dePolyporus verslcolor ont été purifiées jusqu'à l'homogénéité moléculaire par une séquence impliquant la chromatographie sur Bio-gel DEAE A, la filtration sur gel de Sephadex G-100, et la chromatographie liquide à haute performance utilisant l'échange anionique et les milieux à interaction hydrophobique. On a récupéré en tout 7.6% de l'activité Initiale dans quatre -mannanases, A, B, C, et 2A, qui ont été purifiées respectivement 112.6, 165.5, 143.7 et 19.9 fois. Les -mannanases sont des protéines acidiques exhibant des pointsiso-électriques de 3.75 à 4.6, des poids moléculaires compris entre 33 900 et 57 500, et une hydrophobicité croîssante dans l'ordre C>B>2A>A. Les pH et température optimum pour l'hydrolyse de la glucamannane par toutes les activités sont de 5.5 et 65°C respectivement. Toutes les préparations exhibent encore une activité après 30 minutes et 65°C ou après la digestion protéolytique. Bien que la réponse individuelle des enzymes à quelques ions choisis était variable, toutes les -mannanases sont inhibées dans l'ordre décroissant: Hg²⁺>Cu²⁺>Zn²⁺>Mn²⁺. Toutes les activités fonctionnent comme endomannanases.

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This article is issued as NRCC No. 31269.     

Purification and properties of calf liver γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase

Calf liver γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase has been purified some 400-fold by DEAE, gel permeation, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The homogeneous enzyme is a dimer of 46,000-dalton subunits. The K_m values for substrates and cofactors and the apparent activation constants for ascorbate and catalase have been determined. Inhibition of the enzyme by a number of divalent metals supports the function of sulfhydryl groups in metal binding. An antibody to the enzyme has been obtained; this does not cross-react with homogeneous γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase from a Pseudomonas strain. The antibody, coupled to Sepharose 4B, has been used to purify the calf liver hydroxylase 350-fold in one step.     

Purification and some properties of β-mannanase from Bacillus sp.

-Mannanase produced by Bacillus sp. W-2, isolated from decayed commercial konjak cake, was purified from the culture supernatant by (NH₄)₂ SO₄ precipitation, adsorption to konjak gel, and column chromatography with DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and Sephacryl S-200. Its molecular size was estimated by SDS-PAGE as 40 kDa, and by gel filtration as 36 kDa. The enzyme was most active at pH 7 and 70°C and was stable for at least 1 h between pH 5 and 10 and below 60°C. Its activity was completely inhibited by Hg²⁺. The enzyme hydrolysed galactomannan better than glucomannan and mainly produced mannose and mannobiose.The authors are with the Department of Bioproductive Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University. Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321, Japan     

Elastin-like polypeptide and γ-zein fusions significantly increase recombinant protein accumulation in soybean seeds

Transgenic Research - Soybean seeds are an ideal host for the production of recombinant proteins because of their high content of proteins, long-term stability of seed proteins under ambient...     

Purification and properties of γ-glutamyl transferase from normal rat liver

γ-Glutamyl transferase ((5-glutamyl)-peptide: amino-acid 5-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.2) has been partially purified from both whole rat liver (600-fold) and from isolated biliary tract (1200-fold). The most highly purified fraction gave two protein bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the major band alone having enzyme activity. The enzyme purified from biliary tract appears identical to that from whole liver preparation according to molecular weight, kinetic parameters and the effects of various inhibitors.Three liver cell-types; parenchymal, Kupffer and biliary tract were isolated by perfusion of the rat liver in situ with collagenase, followed by selective cell isolation. Approx. 80–90% of the total recovered enzyme activity was found in the biliary tract. Nearly 50% of the apparent enzyme activity in the parenchymal cell was attributable to a nonspecific hydrolase.     

Porphyrin biosynthesis in RP. Palustris—X. Purification and some properties of rhodanese

• 1.1. Rhodanese from Rhodopseudomonas palustris has been isolated and purified 105-fold with a yield of 3.6 and a sp. act. of 297,900.
• 2.2. A mol. wt of 16,500 d was obtained, indicating that the Rhodanese from this source is a monomer.

     

Purification and some properties of Aspergillus pulverulentus β-xylosidase with transxylosylation capacity

Two β-xylosidases [EC 3.2.1.37], β-Xyl I (molecular mass 180 kDa, pI 4.7) and β-Xyl II (molecular mass 190 kDa, pI 3.5), derived from Aspergillus pulverulentus were separated and purified by successive chromatographies and their characterization and transxylosylation were studied. β-Xyl I and β-Xyl II were stable at temperatures up to 50°C and from pH 1.5 to 6.5 and 2.5 to 7.0, respectively, while their highest activities were in the pH ranges 2.5–3.5 and 4.0–5.0 at 60°C. Although both enzymes were strongly inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide, the inhibitory effect of HgCl₂ was not significant on either. The two enzymes exhibited different resistances against AgNO₃, glucono 1,5-lactone and nojirimycin. They were shown to have broad acceptor specificity in transferring the xylosyl residue of xylooligosaccharides to various alcohol and phenolic compound acceptors. In the presence of 25% or more 2-propanol, the synthesis of the transfer product, 2-propyl β-xyloside, was closely consistent with the theoretical yield.     

Purification and some properties of cytosol 5′-nucleotidase from rat liver

A 5′-nucleotidase (5′-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.5) was highly purified from rat liver. The preparation appeared homogeneous on the criteria of disc-gel electrophoresis.A pH optimum at about 6.5 was observed for all substrates tested. The activity of this enzyme was absolutely dependent on the presence of various bivalent metal salts. The highest V value was attained with MgCl₂ and the concentration at half-enzyme saturation was lowest with MnCl₂. The enzyme had markedly higher affinities for IMP, dIMP, GMP and dGMP than the other 5′-mononucleotides, although V values for all the substrates tested were in the same order of magnitude.The activity of this enzyme was stimulated by various alkali metal salts, some carboxylic acids and adenine nucleotides. When AMP was used as substrate, the substrate-velocity plot was sigmoidal and NaCl, Tris-maleate and ATP stimulated the enzyme by decreasing the sigmoidicity of the plot. When IMP was used as substrate, the substrate-velocity plot was hyperbolic and these three activators stimulated the enzyme by increasing the V and decreasing the K_m value.Some of these results provided consistent evidence for the identity of this enzyme and the cytosol 5′-nucleotidase, the presence of which had been reported in crude preparations from rat liver.     

Solubilization and some properties of γ-glutamyltransferase from human brain microvessels

Detergents Triton X-100, sodium deoxycholate, and octyl--D-glucopyranoside, and proteinase papain proved to be excellent agents solubilizing the -glutamyl-transferase (-GT) from human brain cortex microvessels. Ficin also solubilized -GT but to a lesser extent than papain. The relative molecular mass of the detergent-solubilized enzyme form was greater than 200,000 (in the presence of Triton X-100). The relative molecular mass of the proteinase-solubilized form was slightly greater than that of albumine. -GTs of microvessels from five human brain regions and from the choroid plexus were tested for their specificity toward acceptors. The best acceptors were found to be (in decreasing order of activity)l-cystine, glycylglycine,l-glutamine,l-methionine, andl-alanine. The findings suggest that the main features of -GT of the human blood-brain barrier are very similar to those of -GTs from other human tissues.     

Porphyrin biosynthesis in rhodopseudomonas palustris—V. Purification of porphyrinogen decarboxylase and some unusual properties

• 1.1. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) has been purified 16-fold from Rp. palustris to a specific activity of 210 nmol of total decarboxylated porphyrinogens III formed/hr per mg of protein and about 50% yield. The Rp. palustris enzyme exhibits some unusual properties as compared with URO-D from other sources.
• 2.2. The purified enzyme is a monomer with a molecular weight of ∼46,000, an isoelectric point of 4.6 and an optimum pH of 6.9 and 6.8 with urogen III and I substrate. Neither GSH nor EDTA seem to be necessary for activity, and the decarboxylation rate and the distribution of the reaction products was not affected either by the presence or absence of oxygen.
• 3.3. The Rp. palustris enzyme is a thermo-stable protein, heating at 60°C for 15 min enhanced several times activity. This is the first time that the heat treatment is included as one of the steps to purify URO-D.
• 4.4. Thermal activation followed an identical profile using either substrate. The ratios of specific activity for the type III and I isomer of urogen remained constant throughout the purification. These findings are indicating that a single enzyme catalyzes the four decarboxylations occurring from urogen to coprogen.
• 5.5. Kinetic data employing urogen III and I as substrate showed that the pattern of accumulated intermediates was rather different depending on whether type III or I isomer was used.
• 6.6. While decarboxylation of urogen III responds to the usual scheme:
  where v₁⪢v₂ and decarboxylation of heptagen III is the rate-controlling step.
• 7.7. Decarboxylation of urogen I revealed a completely different and characteristic picture fitting the scheme:
  where again v′₁⪢v′₂ and the removal of the final carboxyl group from pentagen I becomes the rate-limiting step.

     

Expression of the β-subunit of β-conglycinin in seeds of transgenic plants

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds contain the storage protein -conglycinin, encoded by a multigene family. -Conglycinin consists of three subunits; , , and . A genomic clone for a -subunit of -conglycinin has been characterized by restriction-enzyme mapping and hybrid selected in-vitro translation followed by immunoprecipitation. In order to determine the developmental regulation of this -subunit gene, its expression was studied in seeds of transgenic petunia (Petunia hybrida) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. The -subunit expressed in seeds of petunia and tobacco was recognized by anti--conglycinin serum at a relative molecular mass of 53 000, equivalent to that of the native protein. Separation of the petunia-seed proteins by isoelectric focusing followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis showed that multiple isoelectric forms of the -subunit were produced. There was approximately a twofold variation in the accumulation of the -subunit protein in the mature seeds of transgenic petunia plants, each containing a single -subunit gene. However, the level of protein accumulation in mature seeds and the amount of -subunit mRNA in developing seeds was not correlated. Accumulation of the -subunit protein in transgenic seeds was less than the -subunit protein that accumulated in transgenic petunia seeds containing a single -subunit gene and less than the amount of the -subunit in mature soybean seeds which contain 8–13 -subunit genes. In transgenic tobacco plants, the accumulation of the -subunit protein in seeds was generally well correlated with the number of genes that were incorporated in the different transformants.Abbreviations kb kilobase - kDa kilodalton - M_r relative molecular mass - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Purification and some properties of an α-amylase glucoamylase fusion protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A fusion gene containing the Bacillus subtilis -amylase gene and Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The resulting bifunctional fusion protein having both -amylase and glucoamylase activities secreted into the culture medium was purified to apparent homogeneity by affinity chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 150 kDa and showed an optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 60 °C, respectively. The main hydrolysis products from soluble starch were glucose and maltose.     

Inheritance and biochemical analysis of four electrophoretic variants of β-conglycinin from soybean

Summary Three genes which code for variant -conglycinin subunits were identified. Alleles Cgy ₁ ^S and Cgy ₂ ^S were codominant with Cgy ₁ and Cgy ₂ and produced and subunits, respectively, with reduced electrophoretic mobility. Allele Cgy ₃ ^D increased the mobility of at least one polypeptide in the subunit family and exhibited incomplete dominance. Gene loci Cgy ₂/Cgy ₂ ^S and Cgy ₃ ^D /cgy ₃ ^D were linked, whereas Cgy ₁/Cgy ₁ ^S / cgy ₁ segregated independently of the others. Techniques developed for purification of normal -conglycinin subunits were effective in purifying the altered subunits. Deglycosylated variant proteins from seeds containing the alleles Cgy ₁ ^S , Cgy ₂ ^S , or Cgy ₃ ^D also has altered mobility relative to deglycosylated normal proteins. Therefore, the altered subunits contained changes in their amino acid sequences rather than in their carbohydrate moieties. This interpretation is consistent with the observed codominant or incompletely dominant mode of inheritance for these alleles and suggests that each contains an altered nucleotide sequence in the structural gene. A fourth variant, which exhibited doublet and a electrophoretic bands, was inherited in a recessive fashion. Deglycosylated subunit proteins from this variant were identical in electrophoretic mobility to those of the deglycosylated normal protein. This suggests that the doublet phenotype resulted from an alteration in the carbohydrate moiety of these subunits. The gene or genes which condition this variant presumably are required for normal post-translational modification of the subunit carbohydrates and as such may be useful for investigating these events.Cooperative research of USDA-ARS and the Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Article 10,323. Financial support from the American Soybean Research Foundation is gratefully acknowledged     

Free amino acids and γ-glutamyl peptides in seeds of Fagus silvatica

The contents of amino acids and peptides have been investigated in seeds of Fagus silvatica L. (beechnuts). In addition to the common amino acids, the following compounds have been isolated and identified: 4-hydroxyproline (probably the cis-l-isomer), N⁵-acetylornithine, 3-(2-furoyl)-l-alanine, methionine sulfoxide (probably an artefact), pipecolic acid (probably partially racemized d-isomer), l-willardiine (with a small amount of the d-isomer), N-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, N-[N-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)-3-amino-3-carboxypropyl]azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, 2(S),5(S),6(S)-5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid, 2(S),5(R),6(S)-5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid, γ-glutamylalanine, γ-glutamylglutamic acid, γ-glutamylisoleucine, γ-glutamylleucine, γ-glutamylmethionine sulfoxide (probably an artefact), γ-glutamylphenylalanine, γ-glutamyltyrosine, γ-glutamylvaline, glutathione, γ-glutamylwillardiine, and γ-glutamylphenylalanylwillardiine. γ-Glutamylphenylalanine and willardiine are the dominating components of the amino acid fraction.The isolations were performed by use of ion exchange chromatography, taking advantage of the different pK-values of the amino acids, mainly on acid resins in the 3-chloropyridinium form with aq. 3-chloropyridine as eluant and on basic resins in the acetate form with aqueous acetic acid as eluant. These methods in combination with preparative paper chromatography have permitted the isolation and identification of compounds present in amounts as low as 1/6000 of the dominant ninhydrin-reactive component. The implications of the occurrence of this large variety of compounds in the Fagaceae are briefly discussed.     

Purification and physical properties of sweet-almond α-galactosidase

1. α-Galactosidase from sweet almonds was purified about 2000-fold through eight steps. 2. The enzyme preparation was free from other related enzymes known to occur in sweet almonds, and behaved as a homogeneous protein on filtration through Sephadex G-75. 3. A molecular weight of about 33000 was determined from the gel-filtration data. 4. The ultraviolet-absorption spectrum and thermal inactivation of the enzyme are described. 5. The purified enzyme hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl α-d-galactoside at a much faster rate than melibiose. 6. The pH optimum was at 5·5–5·7. 7. Besides hydrolysis, it also catalysed transfer of galactosyl residues, chain elongation of melibiose and the synthesis of oligosaccharides from galactose.     

Isolation and characterization of key contributors to the “kokumi” taste in soybean seeds

The water extract of soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is nearly tasteless, but “kokumi” taste sensation was confirmed upon addition of a basic umami solution containing glutamic acid, inosine monophosphate, and sodium chloride. To identify the key contributors to the “kokumi” taste sensation in soybean seeds, sensory-guided fractionation, taste sensory analyses, and LC–MS/MS analyses were utilized. γ-glutamyl-tyrosine and γ-glutamyl-phenylalanine were identified as contributors to “kokumi taste”; specifically, these γ-glutamyl peptides imparted the “kokumi” taste sensation at a low taste threshold in a basic umami solution. Raffinose and stachyose, which are sufficiently present in soybean seeds, exhibited a synergistic effect in regard to the enhanced “kokumi” taste sensation of γ-glutamyl peptides. This is the first report that the combined use of γ-glutamyl peptides and oligosaccharides can increase the “kokumi” intensity, which suggests that soybean extracts or soymilk can be used to enhance the “kokumi” taste sensation in food products.