Expression, purification, and crystallization of endopolygalacturonase from a pathogenic fungus, Stereum purpureum, in Escherichia coli

Endopolygalacturonases (EC 3.2.1.15) catalyze random hydrolysis of the alpha-1,4 glycosidic linkages in polygalacturonic acid, a component of pectin. Previously, we reported crystal structures of endogenously produced Stereum purprureum endopolygalacturonase I (endoPG I), both in its native form and complexed with its product, galacturonate. However, the substrate-binding mechanism of endoPG I is still unclear, because crystals have not yet been obtained with a substrate analog, or with mutant enzymes that can bind substrates. We describe here an expression system using Escherichia coli and a purification method to prepare functionally active endoPG I for such mutation and crystallographic studies. Expression in E. coli strain Origami (DE3) provided a soluble and active enzyme with proper disulfide bond formation, whereas the enzyme expressed in BL21 (DE3) was localized in inclusion bodies. A sufficient amount of recombinant endoPG I produced by Origami (DE3) was purified by a single-step procedure using cation exchange chromatography. The specific activity of recombinant endoPG I was equivalent to that of the enzyme produced by S. purpureum. Recombinant endoPG I was crystallized under the same conditions as those used for the native enzyme produced by S. purpureum. The crystals diffracted beyond 1.0 A resolution with synchrotron radiation.     

Protein design of geranyl diphosphate synthase. Structural features that define the product specificities of prenyltransferases.

Geranyl diphosphate synthase catalyzes the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate with dimethylallyl diphosphate to give a C(10) compound, geranyl diphosphate, which is a precursor of all monoterpenoids. However, the gene has not been isolated from any organisms. To examine the possibility that geranyl diphosphate synthase has evolved from a common ancestor of the prenyltransferase family and to predict the active site structure, we tried to convert Bacillus stearothermophilus farnesyl diphosphate synthase to geranyl diphosphate synthase, according to our previous findings. Several mutated farnesyl diphosphate synthases that have single amino acid substitutions before the first aspartate-rich motif were constructed. A mutated enzyme that has the replacement of serine by phenylalanine at the fourth position before the motif exclusively produced geranyl diphosphate when dimethylallyl diphosphate was used as the primer, and hardly accepted geranyl diphosphate as a primer, indicating that this mutation causes the conversion to geranyl diphosphate synthase. This result supports the idea that the product specificities of all members of the E-prenyltransferase family are mainly defined by a few structural features: the amino acids at the fourth position and the fifth position before the first aspartate-rich motif, and the insertion of two amino acids in the motif. This suggests that natural geranyl diphosphate synthases might have an active site structure similar to that of the mutated enzyme.     

Comparison between basal and apical dendritic spines in estrogen-induced rapid spinogenesis of CA1 principal neurons in the adult hippocampus

Modulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by estrogen has been attracting much attention. Here, we demonstrated the rapid effect of 17beta-estradiol on the density and morphology of spines in the stratum oriens (s.o., basal side) and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare (s.l.m., apical side) by imaging Lucifer Yellow-injected CA1 neurons in adult male rat hippocampal slices, because spines in s.o. and s.l.m. have been poorly understood as compared with spines in the stratum radiatum. The application of 1nM estradiol-induced a rapid increase in the density of spines of pyramidal neurons within 2h. This increase by estradiol was blocked by Erk MAP kinase inhibitor and estrogen receptor inhibitor in both regions. Effect of blockade by agonists of AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors was different between s.o. and s.l.m. In both regions, ERalpha agonist PPT induced the same enhancing effect of spinogenesis as that induced by estradiol.     

Screening of microorganisms having high fumarase activity and their immobilization with carrageenan

Summary To develop an efficient method for continuous production of L-malic acid from fumaric acid using immobilized microbial cells, screening of microorganisms having high fumarase activity was carried out and cultural conditions of selected microorganisms were investigated. As a result of screening microorganisms belonging to the genera Brevibacterium, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Sarcina were found to produce fumarase in high levels. Among these microorganisms Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, B. flavum, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were further selected for their high fumarase levels in the cultivation on several media. These 4 microorganisms were entrapped into a k-carrageenan gel lattice, and the resultant immobilized B. flavum showed the highest fumarase activity and operational stability.Cultural conditions for the fumarase formation and the operational stability of fumarase activity of immobilized B. flavum are detailed. Productivity for L-malic acid using immobilized B. flavum with k-carrageenan was 2.3 fold of that using immobilized B. ammoniagenes with polyacrylamide.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan, Nagoya, April 3, 1978     

Sulfite induces adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to immobilized fibrinogen through activation of Mac-1 beta2-integrin (CD11b/CD18)

Sulfite is a major air pollutant which can cause respiratory tract inflammation characterized by an influx of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). We have previously shown that human PMN can produce sulfite either spontaneously or in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. We now demonstrate that sulfite activates PMN to adhere to immobilized fibrinogen via the beta2-integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18). Mac-1 expression is not altered by treatment with this agent. Although unaffected by pertussis toxin, sulfite-triggered PMN adhesion was abrogated by pretreating cells with the membrane-impermeant sulfhydryl reagent 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), a modifier of thiol groups on the cell surface. These results suggest that sulfite-induced PMN adhesion is dependent on a modification of thiols at the cell surface. Given its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, sulfite may act as an endogenous mediator in host defense and/or inflammation.     

Organic matter dynamics control plant species coexistence in a tropical peat swamp forest

We studied the relationship between the coexistence of tree species and the dynamics of organic matter in forests. A tropical peat swamp forest was selected as a model ecosystem, where abiotic factors, such as geological topography or parent rock types, are homogeneous and only biological processes create habitat heterogeneity. The temporal or spatial variation of the ground elevation of peat soils is mainly caused by changes in the balance between organic matter inputs to soils and decomposition, which is affected by the growth and death of influential trees. To clarify the processes of elevation dynamics, we measured the microtopography around some tree groups, estimated organic matter (in the form of litter and roots) in soils under three kinds of microtopographic conditions, measured decomposition rates and detected dominant species' shifting distribution patterns in different stages of growth in relation to the locations of tree groups creating specific microtopographic conditions. We found that growth or death of buttressed trees has the greatest effects on the rising or sinking of ground surfaces through changes in litter supply and root production. We discuss here the possibility of extending our model to other forest types.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of truncated α-galactosylceramide derivatives focusing on cytokine induction profile

A series of truncated analogs of α-galactosylceramide with altered ceramide moiety was prepared, and evaluated for Th2-biased response in the context of IL-4/IFN-γ ratio. Phytosphingosine-modified analogs including cyclic, aromatic and ethereal compounds as well as the C-glycoside analog of OCH (2) with their cytokine inducing profile are disclosed.