Molecular analysis of ancient caries

An 84 base pair sequence of the Streptococcus mutans virulence factor, known as dextranase, has been obtained from 10 individuals from the Bronze Age to the Modern Era in Europe and from before and after the colonization in America. Modern samples show four polymorphic sites that have not been found in the ancient samples studied so far. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity of this region have increased over time, which could be reflecting the footprint of a population expansion. While this segment has apparently evolved according to neutral evolution, we have been able to detect one site that is under positive selection pressure both in present and past populations. This study is a first step to study the evolution of this microorganism, analysed using direct evidence obtained from ancient remains.     

Studies on dextranase from Penicillium aculeatum

A strain of Penicillium aculeatum has been found to synthesize large quantities of dextranase (1,6-α-d-glucan 6-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.11) in culture filtrate. Some of the conditions governing the enzyme production have been standardized. The enzyme in crude state was found to be highly stable, its activity being maximum at 50 to 60°C and at pH 5 to 6. About 90% of the substrate dextran was converted to isomaltose in a 4 h period at 40°C. The enzyme when purified by salt and solvent fractionation gave 1500 units per mg protein and retained its activity over a long period when stored at 4°C.     

Structural basis for proteolytic processing of Aspergillus sojae α-glucosidase L with strong transglucosylation activity

An α-glucosidase from Aspergillus sojae, AsojAgdL, exhibits strong transglucosylation activity to produce α-1,6-glucosidic linkages. The most remarkable structural feature of AsojAgdL is that residues 457–560 of AsojAgdL (designated the NC sequence) is not conserved in other glycoside hydrolase family 31 enzymes, and part of this NC sequence is proteolytically cleaved during its maturation. In this study, the enzyme was expressed in Pichia pastoris, and electrophoretic analysis indicated that the recombinant enzyme, rAsojAgdL, consisted of two polypeptide chains, as observed in the case of the enzyme produced in an Aspergillus strain. The crystal structure of rAsojAgdL was determined in complex with the substrate analog trehalose. Electron density corresponding to residues 496–515 of the NC sequence was not seen, and there were no α-helices or β-strands except for a short α-helix in the structures of residues 457–495 and residues 516–560, both of which belong to the NC sequence. The residues 457–495 and the residues 516–560 both formed extra components of the catalytic domain. The residues 457–495 constituted the entrance of the catalytic pocket of rAsojAgdL, and Gly467, Asp468, Pro469, and Pro470 in the NC sequence were located within 4 Å of Trp400, a key residue involved in binding of the substrate. The results suggest that the proteolytic processing of the NC sequence is related to the formation of the catalytic pocket of AsojAgdL.