A simple method to express soluble, highly active cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase in recombinant E. coli

The activity of soluble cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase was increased by 40% without formation of inclusion bodies by induction at low temperature with the addition of 10 mM CaCl₂ into the medium, when the corresponding gene was expressed in two recombinant E. coli. Furthermore, the protein expressed at 25°C had approximately 30% higher specific activity than that expressed at 30°C. The two different hosts, promoters, and media showed the same result, indicating that this simple method can be used in expressing other proteins.     

Comparison of theoretical and experimental data to evaluate substrate diffusional limitations for crown ether- and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin-activated serine protease subtilisin Carlsberg in tetrahydrofuran

Simple co-lyophilization of serine protease subtilisin Carlsberg with [12]-crown ether-4 (12-crown-4) or methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) drastically increases its catalytic activity in organic solvents. We investigated whether the improved activity would cause substrate diffusional limitations. To experimentally assess the issue, the enzyme was inactivated with PMSF. Different amounts of active and inactive subtilisin were codissolved in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) followed by lyophilization with or without 12-crown-4 or MbetaCD. Initial rates for the transesterification reaction of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester and 1-propanol in anhydrous THF were plotted vs. the amount of active enzyme present in the formulations. For all three enzyme formulations a linear relationship was observed and the results clearly show that activation of subtilisin Carlsberg by crown ethers and MbetaCD did not cause diffusional limitations. This was somewhat surprising because theoretical models predicted such diffusional limitations for the activated formulations. However, investigation of the protein powder particles obtained after co-lyophilization with 12-crown-4 and MbetaCD revealed a drastically reduced particle size for these formulations when suspended in THF. The particle micronization afforded by the excipients prevented substrate diffusional limitations, a factor that should be taken into account when designing improved enzyme formulations for synthetic applications in organic solvents.     

Stereoselective phosphorylation of branched cyclodextrins with inorganic cyclo-triphosphate

The phosphorylation by inorganic sodium cyclo-triphosphate (P(3m)) having a six-membered ring was examined for cyclomaltohexaose (alpha-cyclodextrin) and branched cyclodextrins (mono-6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylcyclomaltohexaose, mono-6-O-alpha-D-maltosylcyclomaltohexaose, mono-6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylcyclomaltoheptaose, and mono-6-O-alpha-D-maltosylcyclomaltoheptaose) in aqueous solution. For all cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) studied, the 2-OH group was stereoselectively phosphorylated. In the reaction of branched cyclodextrins and P(3m), only the 2-OH on the alpha-D-glucopyranosyl group of the cyclodextrin rings was phosphorylated with maximum yields of more than 27%. The phosphorylation mechanism of branched cyclodextrins with P(3m) is also discussed.     

Anchorage of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase on the outer membrane of Escherichia coli

The gene encoding cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was successfully cloned from B. macerans by PCR. A recombinant plasmid pCS005 with a gene encoding the Lpp-OmpA-CGTase trifusion protein was constructed and transformed into E. coli for the surface display of CGTase. Results of immunoblotting analysis and protease accessibility on the fractionated cell membranes confirmed that the Lpp-OmpA-CGTase trifusion protein was successfully anchored on the outer membrane of E. coli. However, only 50% of the membrane-anchored trifusion proteins were displayed on the outer surface of E. coli with the remaining 50% un-translocated. The low efficiency of surface display is attributed to the large size of CGTase. Only a trace amount of CGTase activity was detected for both the whole cells and the cell debris fractions. Because the results of the protease accessibility study suggested that the trypsin-resistant conformation of CGTase was preserved in the membrane-anchored CGTase, we believe that the lack of enzyme activity is mainly due to the inaccessibility of the CGTase active site, near the N-terminus, for substrate molecules. It can be estimated that the critical size for surface display of protein in E. coli is approximately 70 kDa.     

Preparation and characterization of a new open‐tubular capillary column for enantioseparation by capillary electrochromatography

In order to use the enantioseparation capability of cationic cyclodextrin and to combine the advantages of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) with open‐tubular (OT) column, in this study, a new OT‐CEC, coated with cationic cyclodextrin (1‐allylimidazolium‐β‐cyclodextrin [AI‐β‐CD]) as chiral stationary phase (CSP), was prepared and applied for enantioseparation. Synthesized AI‐β‐CD was characterized by infrared (IR) spectrometry and mass spectrometry (MS). The preparation conditions for the AI‐β‐CD‐coated column were optimized with the orthogonal experiment design L₉(3⁴). The column prepared was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis (EA). The results showed that the thickness of stationary phase in the inner surface of the AI‐β‐CD‐coated columns was about 0.2 to 0.5 μm. The AI‐β‐CD content in stationary phase based on the EA was approximately 2.77 mmol·m^?2. The AI‐β‐CD‐coated columns could separate all 14 chiral compounds (histidine, lysine, arginine, glutamate, aspartic acid, cysteine, serine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, salbutamol, atenolol, ibuprofen, and napropamide) successfully in the study and exhibit excellent reproducibility and stability. We propose that the column, coated with AI‐β‐CD, has a great potential for enantioseparation in OT‐CEC.     

环糊精糖基转移酶产物专一性改造：难题与挑战

生产环糊精所必需的环糊精糖基转移酶与其产物专一性进化研究已经成为当今的研究热点。这项研究中的进展不仅会使环糊精糖基转移酶的应用取得突破结果,还会对其它酶的改造提供帮助。目前,人们对这类酶的性质已经有了较为深入的认识,但还存在着一些尚未解决的问题,如酶产物专一性的决定因素尚未系统阐明等。通过对环糊精糖基转移酶各个方面,尤其是其产物专一性进化方面研究的回顾,指出并分析了研究中尚未解决的问题,并对将来这一研究领域的前景进行了展望。     

环糊精糖基转移酶产物专一性改造：难题与挑战

生产环糊精所必需的环糊精糖基转移酶与其产物专一性进化研究已经成为当今的研究热点。这项研究中的进展不仅会使环糊精糖基转移酶的应用取得突破结果,还会对其它酶的改造提供帮助。目前,人们对这类酶的性质已经有了较为深入的认识,但还存在着一些尚未解决的问题,如酶产物专一性的决定因素尚未系统阐明等。通过对环糊精糖基转移酶各个方面,尤其是其产物专一性进化方面研究的回顾,指出并分析了研究中尚未解决的问题,并对将来这一研究领域的前景进行了展望。     

Optical resolution and enantiomeric purity determination of the analgesic cizolirtine

The optical resolution of (±)‐cizolirtine was accomplished with excellent results (>99% ee) by means of crystallization with (+)‐ or (−)‐di‐p‐toluoyltartaric acid. The optical purity of the samples was controlled by three independent methods: ¹H NMR, capillary electrophoresis (CE) (using β‐cyclodextrins as chiral resolving agents), and HPLC (using a glycoproteic column). The use of a rapid analytical technique like ¹H NMR for estimating the relative amounts of each enantiomer, together with the high sensitivity of CE, afforded a convenient strategy for monitoring the entire process leading to enantiopure compounds. Chirality 11:63–69, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Polar organic chiral separation of propranolol and analogues using a β-cyclodextrin bonded stationary phase

A β-cyclodextrin bonded stationary phase was employed for the enantioresolution of propranolol and several analogues in conjunction with various polar organic mobile phases. The effects of structural alterations in the non-polar regions of the analytes were found to exert profound changes upon chiral resolution and capacity values, indicating that features which cannot hydrogen-bond with the cyclodextrin molecule still play an important role in this chiral recognition process. This was linked to a repulsive steric effect facilitating the necessary conditions for chiral resolution. The degree of ionization of the analytes and the type and concentration of organic modifier used were also seen to influence the analytes¹ enantio-selectivity and capacity values. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Use of a naphthylethylcarbamoylated-β-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase for the separation of drug enantiomers and related compounds by sub- and supercritical fluid chromatography

Enantiomeric separation of a variety of drugs and related compounds was achieved on an (S)-naphthylethylcarbamoylated-β-cyclodextrin (S-NEC-CD) chiral stationary phase (CSP) using sub- and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Compounds previously resolved on native or derivatized cyclodextrin CSPs in liquid chromatography (LC) using reversed phase or polar organic mobile phase modes could be resolved in SFC using a simple carbon dioxide/methanol eluent. Resolution of cromakalim, which is not possible on the S-NEC-CD column in LC, was readily accomplished in SFC. The importance of modifier, temperature, and pressure was assessed in relation to retention, selectivity, and resolution. The nature of the modifier and the modifier concentration were found to be crucial parameters. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Not subject to copyright.