Enzymatic synthesis of α-glucosyl-timosaponin BII catalyzed by the extremely thermophilic enzyme: Toruzyme 3.0L

Timosaponin BII (BII), a steroidal saponin showing potential anti-dementia activity, was converted into its glucosylation derivatives by Toruzyme 3.0L. Nine products with different degrees of glucosylation were purified and their structures were elucidated on the basis of ¹³C NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and FAB-MS spectra data. The active enzyme in Toruzyme 3.0L was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by tracking BII-glycosylase activity and was identified as Cyclodextrin-glycosyltransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) by ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. In this work, we found that the active enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of alpha-(1→4)-linked glucosyl-BII when dextrin instead of an expensive activated sugar was used as the donor and showed a high thermal tolerance with the most favorable enzymatic activity at 100 °C. In addition, we also found that the α-amylases and CGTase, that is, GH13 family enzymes, all exhibited similar activities, which were able to catalyze glucosylation in steroidal saponins. But other kinds of amylases, such as γ-amylase (GH15 family), had no such activity under the same reaction conditions.     

Stability and activity of cross-linking enzyme crystals of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase isolated from Bacillus macerans

Recently, a new technique using cross-linking enzyme crystals (CLECs) was introduced in the field of enzyme technology. CLECs are solid crystalline particles which are insoluble in both water and organic solvents. Chemical cross-linking of the enzyme crystals preserves the catalytic activity even in harsh conditions such as at high temperature, at extreme pH, in organic solvents, and in the presence of proteases and radical chemicals. CLECs of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) could be useful biocatalysts because they were stable at elevated temperature, in organic solvents, and in the presence of enzyme inactivation surfactant. They also maintained their activity against protein-digesting enzyme.     

CGTase,a novel antimicrobial protein from Bacillus cereus YUPP-10, suppresses Verticillium dahliae and mediates plant defence responses

Verticillium wilt is a plant vascular disease caused by the soilborne fungus Verticillium dahliae that severely limits cotton production. In a previous study, we screened Bacillus cereus YUPP-10, an efficient antagonistic bacterium, to uncover mechanisms for controlling verticillium wilt. Here, we report a novel antimicrobial cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) from YUPP-10. Compared to other CGTases, six different conserved domains were identified, and six mutants were constructed by gene splicing with overlap extension PCR. Functional analysis showed that domain D was important for hydrolysis activity and domains A1 and C were important for inducing disease resistance. Direct effects of recombinant CGTase on V. dahliae included reduced mycelial growth, spore germination, spore production, and microsclerotia germination. In addition, CGTase also elicited cotton's innate defence reactions. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines that overexpress CGTase showed higher resistance to verticillium wilt. Transgenic CGTase A. thaliana plants grew faster and resisted disease better. CGTase overexpression enabled a burst of reactive oxygen species production and activated pathogenesis-related gene expression, indicating that the transgenic cotton was better prepared to protect itself from infection. Our work revealed that CGTase could inhibit the growth of V. dahliae, activate innate immunity, and play a major role in the biocontrol of fungal pathogens.     

Directed immobilization of CGTase: The effect of the enzyme orientation on the enzyme activity and its use in packed-bed reactor for continuous production of cyclodextrins

In this study, two different approaches were assessed in order to direct the immobilization of a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase on functionalized silica support, one by amino groups using glutaraldehyde activation (Si-NH-G-CGTase) and other by disulfide bond through the Cys on the enzyme surface (Si-SH-CGTase). The efficiency of the immobilization of the enzyme by the Cys in Si-SH was four times higher than with the amino group linkage in Si-NH-G (2.86% and 11.91%, respectively). After immobilization, the optimum pH remained at 5.5 for the two derivatives and the optimum temperature was 70 °C for the free enzyme, 80 °C for Si-SH-CGTase and 90 °C for Si-NH-G-CGTase. Both preparations were used for continuous production of cyclodextrins, and Si-NH-G-CGTase presented higher total productivity, retaining 100% of its initial activity for at least 200 h, while the Si-SH-CGTase presented only 40% at the same time. The Si-SH-CGTase could be reloaded with new enzymes linked by disulfide bonds and was able to be used for more than 200 h.     

Cyclomaltodextrin Glucanotransferase-Catalyzed Transglycosylation from Dextrin to Alkanol Maltosides

Maltosides of butanol, octanol, and lauryl alcohol were found for the first time to serve as substrates for cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase), and glycosyl residue was transfered from dextrin to the substrate affording novel maltosides with 3–4 glucose units.     

酶法合成2-氧-α-D-葡萄糖基-L-抗坏血酸(AA-2G)条件的研究

采用单因素优化法对环糊精葡萄糖苷转移酶(CGTase)合成糖基抗坏血酸(AA-2G)条件进行优化,AA-2G的产量为2.76 g/L,比未优化前0.46g/L提高了500%。再采用响应面法对AA-2G合成条件进行优化。由Plackett-Burman法筛选出三个主要因素为:pH、V_C和麦芽糊精浓度;由最陡爬坡实验得出最佳响应面区域;最后由Box-Behnken实验,得到最优条件为:pH 5.51,V_C36.16g/L,麦芽糊精28.54 g/L,转化时间24 h,温度37℃。在此条件下,AA-2G的理论产量为3.15 g/L,通过验证实验,得出AA-2G的产量为3.13 g/L,与预测的理论值接近,比单因素优化的结果(2.76g/L)提高了14%。     

Purification and characterization of an intracellular cycloalternan-degrading enzyme from Bacillus sp. NRRL B-21195

A novel intracellular cycloalternan-degrading enzyme (CADE) was purified to homogeneity from the cell pellet of Bacillus sp. NRRL B-21195. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 125 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The pH optimum was 7.0, and the enzyme was stable from pH 6.0 to 9.2. The temperature optimum was 35 degrees C and the enzyme exhibited stability up to 50 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed cycloalternan [CA; cyclo(-->6)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-d-Glcp-(-->3)-alpha-d-Glcp-(1-->)] as the best substrate, to produce only isomaltose via an intermediate, alpha-isomaltosyl-(1-->3)-isomaltose. This enzyme also hydrolyzed isomaltosyl substrates, such as panose, alpha-isomaltosyl-(1-->4)-maltooligosaccharides, alpha-isomaltosyl-(1-->3)-glucose, and alpha-isomaltosyl-(1-->3)-isomaltose to liberate isomaltose. Neither maltooligosaccharides nor isomaltooligosaccharides were hydrolyzed by the enzyme, indicating that CADE requires alpha-isomaltosyl residues connected with (1-->4)- or (1-->3)-linkages. The K(m) value of cycloalternan (1.68 mM) was 20% of that of panose (8.23 mM). The k(cat) value on panose (14.4s(-1)) was not significantly different from that of cycloalternan (10.8 s(-1)). Judging from its specificity, the systematic name of the enzyme should be cycloalternan isomaltosylhydrolase. This intracellular enzyme is apparently involved in the metabolism of starch via cycloalternan in Bacillus sp. NRRL B-21195, its role being to hydrolyze cycloalternan inside the cells.     

Process modeling and simulation can guide process development: case study α-cyclodextrin

Modeling and simulation of biotechnological processes enables the quantification of possible process variations. In this way it provides a tool for guiding research towards the most promising directions. The method is shown on the basis of the case study of α-cyclodextrin production. The production process was modeled and the model is used to evaluate the potential impact of CGTases with new properties. Sensitivity analyses show that yield and selectivity are the crucial parameters. Reaction time has only limited impact and substrate concentration has to be above 20%. The use of thermostable enzymes provides some energy savings. Furthermore, the effect of new CGTases leading to a modified downstream processing was assessed.     

Effect of organic solvents on enzymatic production of cyclodextrins from unliquefied corn starch in an attrition bioreactor

Cyclodextrins were produced from unliquefied corn starch in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents using cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) in an attrition bioreactor. The production yield was singnificatly increased by isopropanol and tertiary butanol, and maximum enhancement was observed to be about 40% by 5% tertiary butnol. Increase in the production of cyclodextrins by organic solvents seems to be due to the fact that organic solvents decreased the product inhibition of CGTase by forming an inclusion complex with cyclodextrins.     

Coriolus versicolor Laccase Catalyzes the Decarboxylation of 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-glycine and 4-Hydroxymandelic Acid

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase [1,4-α-D-glucan 4-α-D-(l,4-α-D-glucano)-transferase (cyclizing), EC 2.4.1.19] from an alkalophilic Bacillus species A2–5a had a wider acceptor specificity than that from B. macerans, which was similar to those from B. stearo-thermophilus and B. circulans.

Glucosyl rhamnose produced by the CGTase was identified as glucopyranosyl-α-l,4-rhamnopyranose by α- and β-glucosidase treatments, and ¹H- and ^{1 3}C-NMR analyses.