Substrate specificity and preference of Delta6-desaturase of Mucor rouxii

The Delta(6)-fatty acid desaturase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of an important fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid. We have characterized, by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, substrate specificity and preference of Delta(6)-desaturase of Mucor rouxii. Fatty acid supplementation was carried out based on the predicted enzyme topology, fatty acid phenotype and the corresponding metabolic pathway in M. rouxii. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity as based on C15-C18. The result also supported classification of the M. rouxii Delta(6)-desaturase into a front-end desaturase. Interestingly, a relatively rare activity based on odd acyl chains and not described previously in other eukaryotic Delta(6)-desaturases was also observed.     

Improved anomeric selectivity for the aroylation of sugars

By manipulating the solvent and using bulky TMEDA as a base, good yields and improved anomeric selectivities were obtained for the aroylation of D-glucose over similar esterifications using pyridine. The reaction has been extended to mannose and the beta-anomer of pergalloylated mannose was predominantly obtained in one step by direct aroylation of the parent sugar.     

A sensitive and robust method for quantification of intracellular short-chain coenzyme A esters

A procedure for the analysis of short-chain intracellular coenzyme A (CoA) esters and adenine nucleotide pools in microbial cells is described. The simultaneous isolation of bacterial cells from media, quenching of their metabolism, and extraction of metabolites was accomplished by centrifugation of cells through a layer of silicone oil into a denser solution of trichloroacetic acid. The acid was neutralized by extraction into Freon containing tri-n-octylamine to provide a salt-free solution of cell metabolites. After high-performance liquid chromatography separation, CoA, CoA esters, and adenine-containing nucleotides were derivatized by postcolumn reaction with bromoacetaldehyde to form the fluorescent 1,N6-ethenoadenine adducts which were analyzed by a fluorescence detector at picomolar levels.     

A QSAR study on some series of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been made on some series of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents, namely, a series of novel bis(L-amino acid) ester prodrugs of 9-[2--(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine, a similar series of compounds comprising of 2- amino-6-arylthio-9-[2-(phosphonoethoxy)ethyl] purine bis(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl) esters, and a series of 1-isopropylsulfonyl-2-amine benzimidazoles. In each case significant correlations are found between the anti-HBV potencies and some physicochemical and steric properties of the compounds, indicating that for the first two series the activity is controlled by the hydrophobic and the bulk properties of the molecules and, for the third series, the steric and hydrogen bonding properties of compounds are crucial for their anti-HBV potency.     

Biocatalytic acylation of carbohydrates with fatty acids from palm fatty acid distillates

Palm fatty acid distillates (PFAD) are by-products of the palm oil refining process. Their use as the source of fatty acids, mainly palmitate, for the biocatalytic synthesis of carbohydrate fatty acid esters was investigated. Esters could be prepared in high yields from unmodified acyl donors and non-activated free fatty acids obtained from PFAD with an immobilized Candida antarctica lipase preparation. Acetone was found as a compatible non-toxic solvent, which gave the highest conversion yields in a heterogeneous reaction system without the complete solubilization of the sugars. Glucose, fructose, and other acyl acceptors could be employed for an ester synthesis with PFAD. The synthesis of glucose palmitate was optimized with regard to the water activity of the reaction mixture, the reaction temperature, and the enzyme concentration. The ester was obtained with 76% yield from glucose and PFAD after reaction for 74 h with 150 U ml⁻¹ immobilized lipase at 40°C in acetone.     

Hydroquinone diglycoside acyl esters from the stems of Glycosmis pentaphylla

Four hydroquinone diglycoside acyl esters, glypentosides A-C (1-3) and seguinoside F (4), were isolated from the stems of Glycosmis pentaphylla. Glypentosides A-B (1-2) were identified as compounds and designated as methoxyquinol 4-O-[(5-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside] (1) and 4-demethylantiarol 4-O-[(3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzoyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside] (2). Glypentoside C (3) is a hydroquinone diglycoside acyl ester with a neolignan moiety in the acyl unit. Their structures were elucidated by the combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR analysis, mass spectrometry and chemical evidences.     

A monolithic lipase reactor for biodiesel production by transesterification of triacylglycerides into fatty acid methyl esters

An enzymatic reactor with lipase immobilized on a monolithic polymer support has been prepared and used to catalyze the transesterification of triacylglycerides into the fatty acid methyl esters commonly used for biodiesel. A design of experiments procedure was used to optimize the monolithic reactor with variables including control of the surface polarity of the monolith via variations in the length of the hydrocarbon chain in alkyl methacrylate monomer, time of grafting of 1-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone used to activate the monolith, and time used for the immobilization of porcine lipase. Optimal conditions involved the use of a poly(stearyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith, grafted first with vinylazlactone, then treated with lipase for 2 h to carry out the immobilization of the enzyme. Best conditions for the transesterification of glyceryl tributyrate included a temperature of 37°C and a 10 min residence time of the substrate in the bioreactor. The reactor did not lose its activity even after pumping through it a solution of substrate equaling 1,000 reactor volumes. This enzymatic reactor was also used for the transesterification of triacylglycerides from soybean oil to fatty acid methyl esters thus demonstrating the ability of the reactor to produce biodiesel.     

Mechanisms involved in the intestinal absorption of dietary vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for humans and is converted to the visual chromophore, 11-cis-retinal, and to the hormone, retinoic acid. Vitamin A in animal-derived foods is found as long chain acyl esters of retinol and these are digested to free fatty acids and retinol before uptake by the intestinal mucosal cell. The retinol is then reesterified to retinyl esters for incorporation into chlylomicrons and absorbed via the lymphatics or effluxed into the portal circulation facilitated by the lipid transporter, ABCA1. Provitamin A carotenoids such as β-carotene are found in plant-derived foods. These and other carotenoids are transported into the mucosal cell by scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). Provitamin A carotenoids are partly converted to retinol by oxygenase and reductase enzymes and the retinol so produced is available for absorption via the two pathways described above. The efficiency of vitamin A and carotenoid intestinal absorption is determined by the regulation of a number of proteins involved in the process. Polymorphisms in genes for these proteins lead to individual variability in the metabolism and transport of vitamin A and carotenoids. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Retinoid and Lipid Metabolism.     

Efficient formation of heterodimers from peptides and proteins using unsymmetrical polyfluorophenyl esters of dicarboxylic acids

An efficient method for the heteroconjugation of biomolecules carrying free amino groups was reported previously, where mixed polyfluorophenyl diesters of dicarboxylic acids with varied aliphatic chain length were shown to be efficient reagents for the conjugation of a variety of model biomolecules. The concept was based on the differential reactivity of the esters towards amines. The concept has now been further optimized, and a 2,6‐difluorophenyl‐pentafluorophenyl diester combination has been demonstrated to be the most efficient, both with respect to selectivity and to reaction rate. A pentafluorophenyl ester reacts faster with an amino group and requires a weaker base than a 2,6‐difluorophenyl ester that requires a stronger base and longer reaction time. With the use of this combination of esters, we obtained considerably shortened reaction times compared with those reported previously, yet still retaining the desired selectivity in heteroconjugation. The increased reactivity of the bifunctional reagent allowed the construction of sophisticated peptide heteroconjugates from peptides, carbohydrates and proteins, showing a wide scope of applicability in the field of assembling functional bioconjugates. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.