Cloning, expression, and nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a second thioredoxin from Corynebacterium nephridii

A gene encoding thioredoxin in Corynebacterium nephridii was cloned in Escherichia coli by complementation of a thioredoxin mutant. Transformants that appeared to complement were analyzed for the presence of thioredoxin by the coupled assay using methionine sulfoxide reductase. Of 18 transformants, four contained high levels of thioredoxin activity. Transformants containing plasmids pLCN2 and pLCN4 were unable to support replication of T7 phage, in spite of their thioredoxin activities, and were studied in more detail. The plasmid pLCN2 contains a 1.85-kilobase Sau3AI insert, whereas pLCN4 contains a 10-kilobase TaqI insert. These plasmids complement all phenotypes of a thioredoxin-deficient strain except for replication of T7 phage. The nucleotide sequence of a 620-base pair HinfI fragment encoding thioredoxin derived from either plasmid indicated that the protein derived from this DNA is different from the thioredoxin of C. nephridii previously reported (Meng, M., and Hogenkamp, H.P.C. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9174-9182). The amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence shows a high degree of homology with other procaryotic thioredoxins. However, the new thioredoxin contains the tetrapeptide -Cys-Ala-Pro-Cys- at the active site and a third half-cystine residue in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the protein. The molecular weight of this thioredoxin, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is smaller than that estimated from the DNA sequence, suggesting that processing may have occurred.     

Purification, characterization, and complete amino acid sequence of a thioredoxin from a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Two thioredoxins (named Ch1 and Ch2 in reference to their elution pattern on an anion-exchange column) have been purified to homogeneity from the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this paper, we described the properties and the sequence of the most abundant form, Ch2. Its activity in various enzymatic assays has been compared with those of Escherichia coli and spinach thioredoxins. C. reinhardtii thioredoxin Ch2 can serve as a substrate for E. coli thioredoxin reductase with a lower efficiency when compared to the homologous system. In the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT), the protein is able to catalyze the reduction of porcine insulin. Thioredoxin Ch2 is as efficient as its spinach counterpart in the DTT or light activation of corn NADP-malate dehydrogenase, but it only activates spinach fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase at very high concentrations. The complete primary structure of the C. reinhardtii thioredoxin Ch2 was determined by automated Edman degradation of the intact protein and of peptides derived from trypsin, chymotrypsin, clostripain, and SV8 protease digestions. It consists of a polypeptide of 106 amino acids (MW 11,808) and contains the well-conserved active site sequence Trp-Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys. The sequence of the algal thioredoxin Ch2 has been compared to that of thioredoxins from other sources and has the greatest similarity (67%) with the thioredoxin from Anabaena 7119.     

Purification, characterization, and the complete amino acid sequence of porcine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease

Porcine pancreatic DNase has been purified to homogeneity. The polypeptide exhibits a single band of Mr = 34,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing glucosamine. The results of end group analyses show leucine at the NH2 terminus and alanine at the COOH terminus. The enzymatic properties of the purified porcine DNase are very similar to those of bovine and ovine DNases. The sequence data on the tryptic and chymotryptic peptides derived from CNBr fragments of porcine DNase, along with the results of automated Edman degradation of the intact polypeptide and of the two largest CNBr fragments, indicate the complete amino acid sequence of porcine DNase to be as follows:L-R- I-A-F-N-I-R-T-F-G-E-T-K-M-S-N-A-T-S-N-Y-I-V-R-I-L-S-R-Y-D-I-A-L-I-Q- E-V-R-D-S-H-L-T-A-V-G-K-L-L-N-E-L-N-Q-D-D-P-N-N-Y-H-H-V-V-S-E-P-L-G-R- S-T-Y-K-E-R-Y-L-F-V-F-R-P-N-Q-V-S-V-L-D-S-Y-L-Y-D-D-G-C-E-P-C-G-N-D-T- F-N-R-E-P-S-V-V-K-F-S-S-P-F-T-Q-V-K-E-F-A-I-V-P-L-H-A-A-P-S-D-A-A-A-E- I-N-S-L-Y-D-V-Y-L-N-V-R-Q-K-W-D-L-Q-D-I-M-L-M-G-D-F-N-A-G-C-S-Y-V-T- T-S-H-W-S-S-I-R-L-R-E-S-P-P-F-Q-W-L-I-P-D-T-A-D-T-T-V-S-S-H-T-C-A-Y- D-R-I-V-V-A-G-P-L-L-Q-R-A-V-V-P-D-S-A-A-P-F-D-F-Q-A-A-F-G-L-S-Q-E-T- A-L-A-I-S-D-H-Y-P-V-E-V-T-L-K-R-A. The polypeptide consists of 262 amino acid residues. One of the two disulfide loops links Cys-101 and Cys-104 and the other Cys-173 and Cys-209. Two carbohydrate side chains are attached at Asn-18 and Asn-106.     

Purification, characterization, and partial amino acid sequence of nerve growth factor from cobra venom.

The nerve growth factor (NGF) from Naja naja (cobra) venom has been purified and its structure compared to the NGF from mouse submaxillary gland. A two-step purification procedure has been devised, consisting of a gel filtration step in 1 M acetic acid followed by chromatography of the active pool on carboxymethylcellulose at pH 5. The molecular weight of the native protein was found to be 28000, and this value was reduced by approximately one-half under denaturing conditions. These values are comparable to those obtained for mouse 2.5S or betaNGF. Tryptic peptide maps of S-[14C]carboxymethyl NGF gave the number of labeled peptides expected for a structure composed of two identical or very similar subunits. Thus, the quaternary structures of mouse and cobra NGF are the same. Cyanogen bromide (CNBr) treatment of Naja naja NGF produced three fragments, of which two were purified to homogeneity. These fragments and the whole protein were analyzed in the automated protein Sequencer. The amino-terminal CNBr fragment of the protein was also subjected to digestion by thermolysin and the resultant peptides were purified and characterized. These data plus those from the characterization of the tryptic peptides provided the basis of the construction of a tentative primary structure of Naja naja NGF which is approximately 60% identical with mouse NGF.     

Ferredoxin from a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. Purification and amino acid sequence

Marchantia polymorpha ferredoxin was purified by DE-52 and Sephadex G-75 column chromatographies to homogeneity. The complete amino acid sequence of the carboxymethylated (Cm) ferredoxin was determined by conventional methods to be as follows. Thr-Phe-Lys- Val-Thr-Leu-Asn-Thr-Pro-Thr-Gly-Gln-Ser-Val-Ile-Asp-Val-Glu-Asp- Asp-Glu-Tyr-Ile-Leu-Asp-Ala-Ala-Glu-Glu-Ala-Gly-Leu-Ser-Leu-Pro- Tyr-Ser-Cys-Arg-Ala-Gly-Ala-Cys-Ser-Ser-Cys-Ala-Gly-Lys-Val-Thr- Ala-Gly-Glu-Val-Asp-Gln-Ser-Asp-Glu-Ser-Phe-Leu-Asp-Asp-Asp-Gln- Met-Asp-Glu-Gly-Tyr-Val-Leu-Thr-Cys-Ile-Ala-Tyr-Pro-Thr-Ser-Asp- Leu-Thr-Ile-Asp-Thr-His-Gln-Glu-Glu-Ala-Leu-Ile. The total number of amino acid residues was 95 and the molecular weight was calculated to be 10,174, excluding iron and sulfur atoms. The distribution of the four cysteine residues chelating the two iron atoms was identical to those of other [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins. The relationship between M. polymorpha and other plants was discussed in terms of plant phylogeny.     

Purification, amino acid sequence and immunological characterization of Ole e 6, a cysteine-enriched allergen from olive tree pollen

The Ole e 6 allergen from olive tree pollen has been isolated by combining gel permeation and reverse-phase chromatographies. It is a single and highly acidic (pI 4.2) polypeptide chain protein. Its NH₂-terminal amino acid sequence has been determined by Edman degradation. Total RNA from the olive tree pollen was isolated, and a specific cDNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using a degenerate oligonucleotide primer designed according to the NH₂-terminal sequence of the protein. The nucleotide sequencing of the cDNA rendered an open reading frame encoding a 50 amino acid polypeptide chain, in which two sets of the sequential motif Cys-X₃-Cys-X₃-Cys are present. No sequence similarity has been found between this protein and other previously described polypeptides.     

Purification, characterization, and complete amino acid sequence of a trypsin inhibitor from amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) seeds.

A protein proteinase inhibitor was purified from a seed extract of amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, gel-filtration chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. It is a 69-amino acid protein with a high content of valine, arginine, and glutamic acid, but lacking in methionine. The inhibitor has a relative molecular weight of 7400 and an isoelectric point of 7.5. It is a serine proteinase inhibitor that recognizes chymotrypsin, trypsin, and trypsin-like proteinase activities extracted from larvae of the insect Prostephanus truncatus. This inhibitor belongs to the potato-I inhibitor family, showing the closest homology (59.5%) with the Lycopersicum peruvianum trypsin inhibitor, and (51%) with the proteinase inhibitor 5 extracted from the seeds of Cucurbita maxima. The position of the lysine-aspartic acid residues present in the active site of the amaranth inhibitor are found in almost the same relative position as in the inhibitor from C. maxima.     

Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequence of a ubiquitin-like protein from insect eggs

A protein with a primary structure identical to that of human and bovine ubiquitin has been purified from insect eggs. The isolation, secondary structure, and amino acid sequence of this ubiquitin-like protein are reported. The sequence was determined by automatic Edman degradation of the intact molecule as well as by the manual sequence analysis of the enzymatic cleavage products. The polypeptide has 74 amino acid residues and internal homology regions. Interactions of the protein with peptides results in protective effects against proteolysis. This paper reports for the first time the presence of the ubiquitin molecule in invertebrates.     

Glutaredoxin from rabbit bone marrow. Purification, characterization, and amino acid sequence determined by tandem mass spectrometry

A glutaredoxin was purified from rabbit bone marrow, and its amino acid sequence was determined by high performance tandem mass spectrometry. The sequences of peptides generated by digestion with trypsin alone or in combination with thermolysin were determined from their collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra. Alignment of these sequences and additional sequence information were obtained from the collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of peptides obtained from digestion of the intact protein with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and alpha-chymotrypsin. The resulting sequence of 106 amino acids is as follows: Ac-Ala-Gln-Glu-Phe-Val-Asn-Ser-Lys-Ile-Gln-Pro-Gly-Lys-Val-Val-Val-Phe- Ile-Lys-Pro-Thr-Cys-Pro-Tyr-Cys-Arg-Lys-Thr-Gln-Glu-Ile-Leu-Ser-Glu-Leu- Pro-Phe - Lys-Gln-Gly-Leu-Leu-Glu-Phe- Val-Asp-Ile-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ser-Asp-Met-Ser-Glu-Ile- Gln-Asp-Tyr-Leu-Gln-Gln-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ala-Arg- Thr-Val-Pro-Arg-Val-Phe-Leu-Gly-Lys-Asp-Cys-Ile- Gly-Gly-Cys-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ile-Ala-Met-Gln-Glu-Lys- Gly-Glu-Leu-Leu-Ala-Arg-Leu-Lys-Glu-Met-Gly- Ala-Leu-Arg-Gln. This glutaredoxin strongly resembles the corresponding calf and pig proteins (known as glutaredoxin and thioltransferase, respectively) with respect to its primary structure and enzymatic activity as a GSH:disulfide thioltransferase, an activity also found for the glutaredoxin from Escherichia coli. However, rabbit glutaredoxin was not active as a hydrogen donor for the reduction of ribonucleotides in the presence of the ribonucleotide reductases from rabbit bone marrow, Lactobacillus leichmannii, and Corynebacterium nephridii.     

Purification, characterization, and immunolocalization of a thioredoxin reductase from adult Fasciola hepatica

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme belonging to the flavoprotein family of pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases, was isolated from the deoxycholate-soluble extract of the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Purification to homogeneity of the 60-kDa enzyme from the adult worm was achieved by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion exchange, and affinity chromatography on 2',5'-adenosine diphosphate-Sepharose. Using the 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) assay, the purified TrxR showed a specific activity of 7,117 U min(-1) mg(-1). The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by the presence of the gold compound aurothioglucose (IC50 = 120 nm), indicating that F. hepatica TrxR is a selenoenzyme. Also, the enzyme was capable of reducing disulfide bonds in insulin and was activated by the presence of the reduced form of flavin adenine dinucleotide, properties shared with mammalian TrxRs. Furthermore, the isolated enzyme showed very low glutaredoxin (Grx) activity (0.47 U mg(-1)), but no glutathione reductase activity was detected. Affinity-purified IgGs (20 microg ml(-1)) from the antisera produced against the purified TrxR inhibited its activity about 80% with respect to the control. The enzyme was immunolocalized in cells located within the parenchyma and in the testes, but it was not found in the tegument of the adult fluke.     

Purification and partial amino acid sequence of a glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Rhizobium meliloti

A glutamyl-tRNA synthetase has been purified to homogeneity from Rhizobium meliloti, using reversed-phase chromatography as the last step. Amino acid sequencing of the amino-terminal region of the enzyme indicates that it contains a single polypeptide, whose molecular weight is about 54,000, as judged by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The primary structures of the amino-terminus region and of an internal peptide obtained by cleavage of the enzyme with CNBr have similarities of 58 and 48% with regions of the glutamyl-tRNA synthase of Escherichia coli; these are thought to be involved in the binding of ATP and tRNA, respectively. The small amount of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase present in R. meliloti is consistent with the metabolic regulation of the biosynthesis of many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.     

Purification, amino acid sequence and characterization of Bacthuricin F4, a new bacteriocin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis

AIMS: Purification and characterization of a new bacteriocin, Bacthuricin F4 of Bacillus thuringiensis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A newly isolated B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain BUPM4, was shown to produce a novel bacteriocin named Bacthuricin F4. The highest bacteriocin activity was found in the growth medium and evidenced in the late exponential growth phase. Bacthuricin F4 could be purified by a two-step procedure: ammonium sulphate precipitation of protein from culture supernatant followed by a reverse phase chromatography. Upon purification, the specific activity was increased 100-fold. This bacteriocin was heat-stable up to 70 degrees C and resisted up to pH 3.0. Bacthuricin F4 was sensitive to proteases demonstrating its proteinaceous nature. Its molecular mass, determined by mass spectrometry was 3160.05 Da. Direct N-terminal sequencing of Bacthuricin F4 revealed the following sequence: DWTXWSXL. The latter was unique in the databases. Bacthuricin F4 was active against Bacillus species while it had little or no effect on Gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: A strain BUPM4 of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, was shown to produce a new bacteriocin named Bacthuricin F4 of both new molecular mass (3160.05 Da) and new amino acid terminal sequence. This is, to our knowledge, the first bacteriocin exhibiting such characteristics reported to be produced by B. thuringiensis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The bacteriocin produced by the B. thuringiensis strain BUPM4 respond to both criteria of thermostability and stability to low pHs. Thus, it could be used for the control of the related species of Bacillus harmful for agricultural products.     

Purification, characterization, and amino terminal sequence of xylose reductase from Candida shehatae.

D-Xylose is a major component of the carbohydrates derived from agricultural residues and forest products. Among more than two hundred known xylose-utilizing yeasts, only a few species are known to be able to ferment xylose anaerobically. Candida shehatae is one of such xylose-fermenting yeasts. Xylose reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.21) is a key enzyme responsible for xylose metabolism in xylose-utilizing as well as xylose-fermenting yeasts. In this paper, we report the development of a convenient and reliable procedure for the purification of xylose reductase from C. shehatae to near homogeneity. The amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of the enzyme have also been analyzed. C. shehatae seems to contain only a single xylose reductase, but the enzyme has a dual coenzyme specificity for both NADPH and NADH. The enzyme is remarkably stable at room temperature and 4 degrees C.     

Purification,characterization and amino terminal sequence of the superoxide dismutase from Babesia hylomysci

Babesia hylomysci was found to contain two superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes with isoelectric points (pI) of 4.9 and 5.2. The two isoenzymes (45 and 47 kDa) were composed of two subunits of 22 kDa. An unique amino terminal sequence was determined up to 34 residues from the pooled isoenzymes and was identified as a sequence of SOD. The comparison of this N-terminal sequence of B. hylomysci SOD with 29 known Fe- or Mn-SODs showed more homologies with Fe-SODs.     

Purification and N-terminal amino acid sequence of solanapyrone synthase, a natural Diels-Alderase from Alternaria solani

The first natural Diels-Alderase, solanapyrone synthase, was purified 1,630-fold from a crude extract. The 41-kDa protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was identified as truncated solanapyrone synthase, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was found to be QETQNLNNFLESNAINP.     

Purification and characterization of fumarase from Corynebacterium glutamicum

Fumarase (EC 4.2.1.2) from Corynebacterium glutamicum (Brevibacterium flavum) ATCC 14067 was purified to homogeneity. Its amino-terminal sequence (residues 1 to 30) corresponded to the sequence (residues 6 to 35) of the deduced product of the fumarase gene of C. glutamicum (GenBank accession no. BAB98403). The molecular mass of the native enzyme was 200 kDa. The protein was a homotetramer, with a 50-kDa subunit molecular mass. The homotetrameric and stable properties indicated that the enzyme belongs to a family of Class II fumarase. Equilibrium constants (K(eq)) for the enzyme reaction were determined at pH 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0, resulting in K(eq)=6.4, 6.1, and 4.6 respectively in phosphate buffer and in 16, 19, and 17 in non-phosphate buffers. Among the amino acids and nucleotides tested, ATP inhibited the enzyme competitively, or in mixed-type, depending on the buffer. Substrate analogs, meso-tartrate, D-tartrate, and pyromellitate, inhibited the enzyme competitively, and D-malate in mixed-type.     

Mass spectrometrically derived amino acid sequence of thioredoxin from Chlorobium, an evolutionarily prominent photosynthetic bacterium

The amino acid sequence of the thioredoxin isolated from the photosynthetic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum was determined chiefly by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry combined with Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry. For this purpose, the protein was digested with trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, thermolysin, and Staphylococcus aureus protease or combinations thereof. Chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide was also used alone or in combination with trypsin. The resulting sequence of 108 amino acids is as follows: Ala-Gly- Lys-Tyr-Phe-Glu-Ala-Thr-Asp-Lys-Asn-Phe-Gln- Thr-Glu-Xle-Xle-Asp-Ser-Asp-Lys-(Ala-Val)-Xle- Val-Asp-Phe-Trp-Ala-Ser-Trp-Cys-Gly-(Pro-Cys)- Met-Met-Xle-Gly-Pro-Val-Xle-Glu-Gln-Xle-Ala-Asp- Asp-Tyr-Glu-Gly-Lys-Ala-Xle-Xle-Ala-Lys-Xle-Asn- Val-Asp-Glu-Asn-Pro-Asn-Xle-Ala-Gly-Gln-Tyr-Gly- Xle-Arg-Ser-Xle-Pro-Thr-Met-Xle-Xle-Xle-Ly s- (Gly-Gly-Lys)-Val-Val-Asp-Gln-Met-Val-Gly-Ala- Xle-Pro-Lys-Asn-Met-Xle-Ala-Lys-Lys-Xle-Asp-Glu-His-Il e-Gly (where Xle represents leucine or isoleucine; sequences in parentheses are based on homology considerations). It exhibits less than 53% homology with Escherichia coli thioredoxin.     

Purification, characterization, and amino acid sequence of cerato-platanin, a new phytotoxic protein from Ceratocystis fimbriata f. sp. platani.

A new phytotoxic protein (cerato-platanin) of about 12.4 kDa has been identified in culture filtrates of the Ascomycete Ceratocystis fimbriata f. sp. platani, the causal agent of canker stain disease. The toxicity of the pure protein was bioassayed by detecting the inducing necrosis in tobacco leaves. The pure protein also elicited host synthesis of fluorescent substances in tobacco and plane (Platanus acerifolia) leaves. We purified the protein from culture medium to homogeneity. Its complete amino acid sequence was determined; this protein consists of 120 amino acid residues, contains 4 cysteines (S-S-bridged), and has a high percentage of hydrophobic residues. The molecular weight calculated from the amino acid sequence agrees with that determined by mass spectrometry, suggesting that no post-transnational modification occurs. Searches performed by the BLAST program in data banks (Swiss-Prot, EBI, and GenBank(TM)) revealed that this protein is highly homologous with two proteins produced by other Ascomycete fungi. One, produced during infection of wheat leaves, is codified by the snodprot1 gene of Phaeosphaeria nodorum (the causal agent of glume blotch of wheat), whereas the other is the rAsp f13 allergen from Aspergillus fumigatus. Furthermore, the N terminus of cerato-platanin is homologous with that of cerato-ulmin, a phytotoxic protein belonging to the hydrophobin family and produced by Ophiostoma (Ceratocystis) ulmi, a fungus responsible for Dutch elm disease.     

Rat muscle acylphosphatase: Purification, amino sequence, and immunological characterization

Acylphosphatase was purified from rat skeletal muscle essentially by gel filtration and high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. The complete amino acid sequence was reconstructed by using the sequence data obtained from tryptic, peptic, andS. aureus V8 protease peptides. The protein consists of 96 amino acid residues and is acetylated at the NH₂-terminus. The immunological cross-reactivity of acylphosphatase from rat and horse skeletal muscle was examined by ELISA. The reaction with rabbit antiserum revealed the presence of at least five antigenic sites on rat enzyme, two of which are common to horse muscle enzyme. Anti-rat antibodies also recognize the peptide that corresponds to the initial part of the molecule, which varies greatly from equine enzyme. Two completely new antigenic sites are herein described: the first can be considered the main antigenic site and is located within positions 21–36, the second is in the COOH-terminal part of the molecule. A mixture of immunoreactive peptides gives strong antibody-antigen reaction inhibition (94%).