Screening of yeasts producing stable L-lactate cytochrome c oxidoreductase and regulation of enzyme synthesis

Screening of strains producing a stable form of L-lactate cytochrome c oxidoreductase (flavocytochrome b2, FC b2) was carried out among 14 yeast species. Enzyme activity was detected in polyacrylamide gel after the electrophoresis of cell-free extracts. The FC b2 of Hansenula polymorpha, Rhodotorula pilimanae, and Kluyveromyces lactis are characterized by high thermostability; in particular, the FC b2 of H. polymorpha retains its activity and tetrameric structure even after heating at 60 degrees C for 10 min. Constitutive synthesis of FC b2 was observed in H. polymorpha grown on either glucose, ethanol, or glycerol. L-Lactate induces de novo synthesis of FC b2, as proved by the use of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis.     

New method for detection of enzymatic activity of flavocytochrome b2 in electrophoregrams

A new method of visualization of the activity of flavocytochrome b2 (FC b2; L-lactate: ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.2.3) in electrophoretograms was developed, based on the interaction between ferrocyanide (generated during the enzymatic reaction) and Fe23+, resulting in the formation of intensely colored precipitates of Berlin blue. The main advantages of this method were its high sensitivity (less than 0.005 U FC b2 was detected within a suitable time period) and the stability of the dye formed. The method developed can be used for determining FC b2 activity in cell-free extracts (e.g., in the selection of FC b2 producers) and monitoring chromatographic purification of proteins, as well as in other cases associated with FC b2 assessment.     

Singlet oxygen scavenging activity of tocopherol and plastochromanol in Arabidopsis thaliana: relevance to photooxidative stress

In the present study, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) scavenging activity of tocopherol and plastochromanol was examined in tocopherol cyclase‐deficient mutant (vte1) of Arabidopsis thaliana lacking both tocopherol and plastochromanol. It is demonstrated here that suppression of tocopherol and plastochromanol synthesis in chloroplasts isolated from vte1 Arabidopsis plants enhanced ¹O₂ formation under high light illumination as monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spin‐trapping spectroscopy. The exposure of vte1 Arabidopsis plants to high light resulted in the formation of secondary lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde as determined by high‐pressure liquid chromatography. Furthermore, it is shown here that the imaging of ultra‐weak photon emission known to reflect oxidation of lipids was unambiguously higher in vte1 Arabidopsis plants. Our results indicate that tocopherol and plastochromanol act as efficient ¹O₂ scavengers and protect effectively lipids against photooxidative damage in Arabidopsis plants.     

Isolation and characterization of mutated alcohol oxidases from the yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hansenula polymorpha</Emphasis> with decreased affinity toward substrates and their use as selective elements of an amperometric biosensor

Background  

Accurate, rapid, and economic on-line analysis of ethanol is very desirable. However, available biosensors achieve saturation at very low ethanol concentrations and thus demand the time and labour consuming procedure of sample dilution.