Continuous enzymatic regeneration of redox mediators used in biotransformation reactions employing flavoproteins

Oxidoreductases are a group of enzymes that have been regarded uneconomical for industrial processes due to their dependence on cofactors or prosthetic groups for activity and the difficulties of regenerating these. Especially, flavoproteins have long been neglected for biocatalytical applications. The prosthetic group of some of these enzymes, but not all, can be regenerated by oxygen, resulting in hydrogen peroxide formation, which is detrimental to enzyme stability. As a contribution to alleviating this problem, a novel concept for the regeneration of electron acceptors (redox mediators) for flavoenzymes is described. Flavin-containing enzymes such as cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) or pyranose oxidase (P2O) are used in conjunction with laccases and a redox mediator. The flavin of the synthetic enzyme is reduced while the oxidized product of interest is formed, in turn, the flavin is reoxidized with the help of an electron acceptor, which then is regenerated using a laccase. Laccases are copper containing phenol oxidases that can transfer four electrons to oxygen, producing two molecules of water. Preliminary screening experiments with different redox mediators, and a coupled enzyme system of CDH and laccase, showed that a wide variety of different substances can efficiently shuttle electrons between these two enzymes. Among them are substituted and unsubstituted ortho- and para-quinones, benzoquinone imines, cation radicals such as 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), redox dyes such as phenothiazines or phenoxazines, as well as iron complexes.

Experiments in which CDH completely oxidizes lactose to lactobionic acid and P2O entirely converts glucose to 2-keto-glucose are presented. Catalytic amounts of redox mediators are used and continuously regenerated by a laccase. Specific productivities of up to 19.3 g·(h·kU)⁻¹ and 72 g·(h·kU)⁻¹ for CDH and P2O, respectively, were found. The total turnover numbers (TTNs) for the two enzymes used were in the range of 10⁵–10⁶. Oxygen supply for the laccase is a crucial factor in avoiding rate limitation. Undeniably, this system facilitates the efficient use of a hitherto underexploited group of enzymes for preparative purposes.     

Removal of a C-terminal serine residue proximal to the inter-chain disulfide bond of a human IgG1 lambda light chain mediates enhanced antibody stability and antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Optimization of biophysical properties is a critical success factor for the developability of monoclonal antibodies with potential therapeutic applications. The inter-domain disulfide bond between light chain (Lc) and heavy chain (Hc) in human IgG1 lends structural support for antibody scaffold stability, optimal antigen binding, and normal Fc function. Recently, human IgG1λ has been suggested to exhibit significantly greater susceptibility to reduction of the inter Lc-Hc disulfide bond relative to the same disulfide bond in human IgG1κ. To understand the molecular basis for this observed difference in stability, the sequence and structure of human IgG1λ and human IgG1κ were compared. Based on this Lc comparison, three single mutations were made in the λ Lc proximal to the cysteine residue, which forms a disulfide bond with the Hc. We determined that deletion of S214 (dS) improved resistance of the association between Lc and Hc to thermal stress. In addition, deletion of this terminal serine from the Lc of IgG1λ provided further benefit, including an increase in stability at elevated pH, increased yield from transient transfection, and improved in vitro antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). These observations support the conclusion that the presence of the terminal serine of the λ Lc creates a weaker inter-chain disulfide bond between the Lc and Hc, leading to slightly reduced stability and a potential compromise in IgG1λ function. Our data from a human IgG1λ provide a basis for further investigation of the effects of deleting terminal serine from λLc on the stability and function of other human IgG1λ antibodies.     

Tumor suppression in the absence of p53-mediated cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence

Cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence are widely accepted as the major mechanisms by which p53 inhibits tumor formation. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether they are the rate-limiting steps in tumor suppression. Here, we have generated mice bearing lysine to arginine mutations at one (p53(K117R)) or three (p53(3KR); K117R+K161R+K162R) of p53 acetylation sites. Although p53(K117R/K117R) cells are competent for p53-mediated cell-cycle arrest and senescence, but not apoptosis, all three of these processes are ablated in p53(3KR/3KR) cells. Surprisingly, unlike p53 null mice, which rapidly succumb to spontaneous thymic lymphomas, early-onset tumor formation does not occur in either p53(K117R/K117R) or p53(3KR/3KR) animals. Notably, p53(3KR) retains the ability to regulate energy metabolism and reactive oxygen species production. These findings underscore the crucial role of acetylation in differentially modulating p53 responses and suggest that unconventional activities of p53, such as metabolic regulation and antioxidant function, are critical for suppression of early-onset spontaneous tumorigenesis.     

Population genetic structure after 125 years of stocking in sea trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta</Emphasis> L.)

Stocking can be an effective management and conservation tool, but it also carries the danger of eroding natural population structure, introducing non-native strains and reducing genetic diversity. Sea trout, the anadromous form of the brown trout (Salmo trutta), is a highly targeted species that is often managed by stocking. Here, we assess the present-day population genetic structure of sea trout in a backdrop of 125 years of stocking in Northern Germany. The study area is characterized by short distances between the Baltic and North Sea river watersheds, historic use of fish from both watersheds for stocking, and the creation of a potential migration corridor between the Baltic and North Sea with the opening of the Kiel Canal 120 years ago. A survey of 24 river systems with 180 SNPs indicates that moderate but highly significant population genetic structure has persisted both within and between the Baltic and North Sea. This genetic structure is characterized by (i) heterogeneous patterns of admixture between the Baltic and North Sea that do not correlate with distance from the Kiel Canal and are therefore likely due to historic stocking practises, (ii) genetic isolation by distance in the Baltic Sea at a spatial scale of <?200 km that is consistent with the homing behaviour of sea trout, and (iii) at least one genetically distinct Baltic Sea river system. In light of these results, we recommend keeping fish of North Sea and Baltic Sea origin separate for stocking, and restricting Baltic Sea translocations to neighbouring river systems.     

Evaluation of promoter sequences for the secretory production of a Clostridium thermocellum cellulase in Paenibacillus polymyxa

Due to their high secretion capacity, Gram-positive bacteria from the genus Bacillus are important expression hosts for the high-yield production of enzymes in industrial biotechnology; however, to date, strains from only few Bacillus species are used for enzyme production at industrial scale. Herein, we introduce Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 292, a member of a different genus, as a novel host for secretory protein production. The model gene cel8A from Clostridium thermocellum was chosen as an easily detectable reporter gene with industrial relevance to demonstrate heterologous expression and secretion in P. polymyxa. The yield of the secreted cellulase Cel8A protein was increased by optimizing the expression medium and testing several promoter sequences in the expression plasmid pBACOV. Quantitative mass spectrometry was used to analyze the secretome in order to identify promising new promoter sequences from the P. polymyxa genome itself. The most abundantly secreted host proteins were identified, and the promoters regulating the expression of their corresponding genes were selected. Eleven promoter sequences were cloned and tested, including well-characterized promoters from Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium. The best result was achieved with the promoter for the hypothetical protein PPOLYM_03468 from P. polymyxa. In combination with the optimized expression medium, this promoter enabled the production of 5475 U/l of Cel8A, which represents a 6.2-fold increase compared to the reference promoter P_aprE. The set of promoters described in this work covers a broad range of promoter strengths useful for heterologous expression in the new host P. polymyxa.

     

The P2X7 Receptor Supports Both Life and Death in Fibrogenic Pancreatic Stellate Cells

The pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) have complex roles in pancreas, including tissue repair and fibrosis. PSCs surround ATP releasing exocrine cells, but little is known about purinergic receptors and their function in PSCs. Our aim was to resolve whether PSCs express the multifunctional P2X7 receptor and elucidate how it regulates PSC viability. The number of PSCs isolated from wild type (WT) mice was 50% higher than those from the Pfizer P2X7 receptor knock out (KO) mice. The P2X7 receptor protein and mRNA of all known isoforms were expressed in WT PSCs, while KO PSCs only expressed truncated versions of the receptor. In culture, the proliferation rate of the KO PSCs was significantly lower. Inclusion of apyrase reduced the proliferation rate in both WT and KO PSCs, indicating importance of endogenous ATP. Exogenous ATP had a two-sided effect. Proliferation of both WT and KO cells was stimulated with ATP in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum effect at 100 µM. At high ATP concentration (5 mM), WT PSCs, but not the KO PSCs died. The intracellular Ca²⁺ signals and proliferation rate induced by micromolar ATP concentrations were inhibited by the allosteric P2X7 receptor inhibitor az10606120. The P2X7 receptor-pore inhibitor A438079 partially prevented cell death induced by millimolar ATP concentrations. This study shows that ATP and P2X7 receptors are important regulators of PSC proliferation and death, and therefore might be potential targets for treatments of pancreatic fibrosis and cancer.