Metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum to produce GDP-l-fucose from glucose and mannose

Wild-type Corynebacterium glutamicum was metabolically engineered to convert glucose and mannose into guanosine 5′-diphosphate (GDP)-l-fucose, a precursor of fucosyl-oligosaccharides, which are involved in various biological and pathological functions. This was done by introducing the gmd and wcaG genes of Escherichia coli encoding GDP-d-mannose-4,6-dehydratase and GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-mannose-3,5-epimerase-4-reductase, respectively, which are known as key enzymes in the production of GDP-l-fucose from GDP-d-mannose. Coexpression of the genes allowed the recombinant C. glutamicum cells to produce GDP-l-fucose in a minimal medium containing glucose and mannose as carbon sources. The specific product formation rate was much higher during growth on mannose than on glucose. In addition, the specific product formation rate was further increased by coexpressing the endogenous phosphomanno-mutase gene (manB) and GTP-mannose-1-phosphate guanylyl-transferase gene (manC), which are involved in the conversion of mannose-6-phosphate into GDP-d-mannose. However, the overexpression of manA encoding mannose-6-phosphate isomerase, catalyzing interconversion of mannose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate showed a negative effect on formation of the target product. Overall, coexpression of gmd, wcaG, manB and manC in C. glutamicum enabled production of GDP-l-fucose at the specific rate of 0.11 mg g cell^?1 h^?1. The specific GDP-l-fucose content reached 5.5 mg g cell^?1, which is a 2.4-fold higher than that of the recombinant E. coli overexpressing gmd, wcaG, manB and manC under comparable conditions. Well-established metabolic engineering tools may permit optimization of the carbon and cofactor metabolisms of C. glutamicum to further improve their production capacity.     

Structural insights into the interaction of human S100B and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2): Effects on FGFR1 receptor signaling

S100B is a calcium sensing protein belonging to the S100 protein family with intracellular and extracellular roles. It is one of the EF hand homodimeric proteins, which is known to interact with various protein targets to regulate varied biological functions. Extracellular S100B has been recently reported to interact with FGF2 in a RAGE-independent manner. However, the recognition mechanism of S100B–FGF2 interaction at the molecular level remains unclear. In this study, the critical residues on S100B–FGF2 interface were mapped by combined information derived from NMR spectroscopy and site directed mutagenesis experiments. Utilizing NMR titration data, we generated the structural models of S100B–FGF2 complex from the computational docking program, HADDOCK which were further proved stable during 15 ns unrestrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies indicated S100B interaction with FGF2 is an entropically favored process implying dominant role of hydrophobic contacts at the protein–protein interface. Residue level information of S100B interaction with FGF2 was useful to understand the varied target recognition ability of S100B and further explained its role in effecting extracellular signaling diversity. Mechanistic insights into the S100B–FGF2 complex interface and cell-based assay studies involving mutants led us to conclude the novel role of S100B in FGF2 mediated FGFR1 receptor inactivation.     

Development and application of microwave-assisted extraction technique in biological sample preparation for small molecule analysis

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has emerged as an efficient extraction technique for various kinds of biological samples due to its low usage of extraction solvents and shorter extraction time. This review will focus on the recent developments and advantages of incorporating MAE in sample preparation protocols for the analysis of small molecules in plant, food and clinical samples in recent years. The operating principles of this technique and the key parameters influencing its extraction efficiency, including the nature of solvent, temperature, power and extraction time and their limitations are first mentioned. This is followed by a discussion on the advantages of applying MAE to extract organic contaminants in food for routine food safety analysis and active ingredients recovery. The successful application of MAE technique to recover bioactive compounds from plants in drug discovery studies and quality control purposes is then described. Additionally, the feasibility of using green solvents such as water, micelle and ionic liquids with MAE for plant metabolite profiling studies is evaluated and the associated challenges discussed. Finally, the application of MAE in clinical samples is highlighted. The use of MAE in this field is currently limited to the targeted detection of small molecules in human samples, due to a lack of knowledge of its effects on thermally labile metabolites. Consequently, the need for additional studies on how MAE impacts the recoveries of different metabolite classes in mammalian samples is discussed. The outcome of these studies can potentially broaden MAE applications in the clinical field.     

1H, 15N and 13C assignments of the calcium bound S100P

To determine the three-dimensional solution structure of the calcium bound S100P protein, the backbone and side chain resonance assignments of the S100P protein have been reported based on triple-resonance experiments using uniformly [¹³C, ¹⁵N]-labeled calcium bound protein.     

Enzymatic Characterization of Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms in Field Populations of Malaysian Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background

There has been no comprehensive study on biochemical characterization of insecticide resistance mechanisms in field populations of Malaysian Culex quinquefasciatus. To fill this void in the literature, a nationwide investigation was performed to quantify the enzyme activities, thereby attempting to characterize the potential resistance mechanisms in Cx. quinquefasciatus in residential areas in Malaysia.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Culex quinquefasciatus from 14 residential areas across 13 states and one federal territory were subjected to esterases, mixed function oxidases, glutathione-S-transferase and insensitive acetylcholinesterase assays. Enzyme assays revealed that α-esterases and β-esterases were elevated in 13 populations and 12 populations, respectively. Nine populations demonstrated elevated levels of mixed function oxidases and glutathione-S-transferase. Acetylcholinesterase was insensitive to propoxur in all 14 populations. Activity of α-esterases associated with malathion resistance was found in the present study. In addition, an association between the activity of α-esterases and β-esterases was also demonstrated.

Conclusions/Significance

The present study has characterized the potential biochemical mechanisms in contributing towards insecticide resistance in Cx. quinquefasciatus field populations in Malaysia. Identification of mechanisms underlying the insecticide resistance will be beneficial in developing effective mosquito control programs in Malaysia.     

Semaphorin 3A Binds to the Perineuronal Nets via Chondroitin Sulfate Type E Motifs in Rodent Brains

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and the CS-rich extracellular matrix structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs) restrict plasticity and regeneration in the CNS. Plasticity is enhanced by chondroitinase ABC treatment that removes CS from its core protein in the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans or by preventing the formation of PNNs, suggesting that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the PNNs control plasticity. Recently, we have shown that semaphorin3A (Sema3A), a repulsive axon guidance molecule, localizes to the PNNs and is removed by chondroitinase ABC treatment (Vo, T., Carulli, D., Ehlert, E. M., Kwok, J. C., Dick, G., Mecollari, V., Moloney, E. B., Neufeld, G., de Winter, F., Fawcett, J. W., and Verhaagen, J. (2013) Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 56C, 186–200). Sema3A is therefore a candidate for a PNN effector in controlling plasticity. Here, we characterize the interaction of Sema3A with CS of the PNNs. Recombinant Sema3A interacts with CS type E (CS-E), and this interaction is involved in the binding of Sema3A to rat brain-derived PNN glycosaminoglycans, as demonstrated by the use of CS-E blocking antibody GD3G7. In addition, we investigate the release of endogenous Sema3A from rat brain by biochemical and enzymatic extractions. Our results confirm the interaction of Sema3A with CS-E containing glycosaminoglycans in the dense extracellular matrix of rat brain. We also demonstrate that the combination of Sema3A and PNN GAGs is a potent inhibitor of axon growth, and this inhibition is reduced by the CS-E blocking antibody. In conclusion, Sema3A binding to CS-E in the PNNs may be a mechanism whereby PNNs restrict growth and plasticity and may represent a possible point of intervention to facilitate neuronal plasticity.     

Catch-up growth in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica): relationships with food intake, metabolic rate and sex

The effects of early environmental conditions can profoundly affect individual development and adult phenotype. In birds, limiting resources can affect growth as nestlings, but also fitness and survival as adults. Following periods of food restriction, individuals may accelerate development, undergoing a period of rapid “catch-up” growth, in an attempt to reach the appropriate size at adulthood. Previous studies of altricial birds have shown that catch-up growth can have negative consequences in adulthood, although this has not been explored in species with different developmental strategies. Here, we investigated the effects of resource limitation and the subsequent period of catch-up growth, on the morphological and metabolic phenotype of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), a species with a precocial developmental strategy. Because males and females differ in adult body size, we also test whether food restriction had sex-specific effects. Birds that underwent food restriction early in development had muscles of similar size and functional maturity, but lower adult body mass than controls. There was no evidence of sex-specific sensitivity of food restriction on adult body mass; however, there was evidence for body size. Females fed ad lib were larger than males fed ad lib, while females subjected to food restriction were of similar size to males. Adults that had previously experienced food restriction did not have an elevated metabolic rate, suggesting that in contrast to altricial nestlings, there was no metabolic carry-over effect of catch-up growth into adulthood. While Japanese quail can undergo accelerated growth after re-feeding, timing of food restriction may be important to adult size, particularly in females. However, greater developmental flexibility compared to altricial birds may contribute to the lack of metabolic carryover effects at adulthood.     

Flavonoids as receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 inhibitors

The Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), a receptor tyrosine kinase, is involved in the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of hematopoietic cells. FLT3 is highly overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of the majority of patients. Screening for flavonoids including flavones, flavanones, flavonols, and flavanonols disclosed that luteolin was potent FLT3 enzyme inhibitor. Furthermore, luteolin suppressed cell proliferation in MV4;11 cells with constitutively activated FLT3.