Cloning of a gene encoding cinnamoyl ester hydrolase from the ruminai bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens E14 by a novel method

Abstract A gene ( cin I) encoding a cinnamoyl ester hydrolase (CEH) has been isolated from the ruminai bacterium, Butyrivibrio fibrisohens E14, using a model substrate, MUTMAC [4-methylumbelliferoyl ( p -trimethylammonium cinnamate chloride)]. CinI has significant amino-acid similarities with members of a large and diverse family of hydrolases with a serine/aspartic acid/ histidine catalytic triad. Our analyses identified two previously unclassified amino acid sequences, the amino-terminal domain of unknown function in XynZ from Clostridium thermocellum and XynC, an acetylxylan esterase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus , as members of the same family of hydrolases. A previously described esterase with CEH activity, XylD from Pseudomonas fluorescens ssp. cellulosa , is not similar to CinI. CinI was expressed at high levels in the periplasmic fraction of E. coli TOPP2 and released ferulic acid from Fara [5- O -( trans -feruloyl)-arabinofuranose] prepared from wheat bran.     

Effects of interactions with micellar interfaces on the activity and structure of different lipolytic isoenzymes from Candida rugosa

The conformational and functional changes of cholesterol esterase (CE) and isolipase (CRL) from Candida rugosa after exposure to a micellar interface and subsequent extraction to a fresh buffer were studied. These two enzymes were activated by interaction with the micellar interface of a sulphosuccinic acid bis[2-ethylhexyl] ester/n-heptane/water system. For the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate ester in water, the catalytic efficiencies of CE and CRL were both improved because on activation their k_cat values increased from 378 to 465 and from 250 to 680 s⁻¹, respectively, while their K_m values decreased from 5.08 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.23 × 10⁻⁵ and from 2.28 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.14 × 10⁻⁴ M, respectively. After exposure to the micelles, CE showed a marked increase in its -helical content from 28 to 49%, but only limited changes were detected when CRL was exposed. These proteins exhibit similar capacities for increasing their -helical content in a helicogenic medium. In acetonitrile/water mixtures, CRL exhibits a partial decrease in the extent of its secondary structure, while CE exhibits an increase in its -helical content. The fact that this medium of reduced polarity permits one to simulate the effect of the AOT reverse micelles on the conformation of CE (increased helicity) but not their effect on the structure of CRL (decreased helicity) supports the hypothesis that only CE interacts to a significant extent with the apolar side of the micellar interface. After exposure to micelles of octyl-β-glucopyranoside, CE (but not CRL) showed a 10% increase in its -helical content.     

Mechanisms of organophosphate and carbamate resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus from Saudi Arabia

Broad spectrum organophosphate resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus Say from Saudi Arabia is inherited as a semi-dominant characteristic. The resistance has a metabolic basis and confers cross-resistance against the carbamate propoxur. Organophosphate-selected strains contain two elevated esterases with the same electrophoretic mobilities as those in resistant Cx quinquefasciatus from Sri Lanka and a range of African locations. Alteration in the sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to insecticide inhibition does not play a major role in resistance. There was a significant increase in the amount of Cytochrome P450 in Cx quinquefasciatus lines selected with the pyrethroid permethrin or with the organophosphate pirimiphos-methyl, but no change in lines selected with five other organophosphates or propoxur, compared to the parental strain, which suggests that oxidases are involved in the P450 mediated resistance to both permethrin and pirimiphos-methyl.     

Novel assay for determining the metabolic fate of juvenile hormone III: A study with Drosophila melanogaster

A thin-layer chromatographic assay was developed for the resolution of hydrolytic and conjugative catabolites of juvenile hormone (JH). A single-dimension, dual-development thin-layer system allowed complete resolution of the catabolites. Thus, this system provided a means for the rapid and economic analysis of JH hydrolysis even when different hydrolytic activities were present concurrently. Purified hydrolytic enzymes were found to be superior to chemical methods for the generation of small amounts of standards of JH catabolites. The relative levels of activities of an epoxide hydrolase and an esterase toward JH III were found to be similar in microsomal preparations from three lines of adult Drosophila melanogaster isolated from a field population. However, selection of flies by exposure to cut orange resulted in the elevation of levels of epoxide hydrolase activities, whereas esterase levels were not affected to the same extent. The formation of the JH acid-diol was not detected under the conditions of this study, suggesting that the JH acid and diol were not good substrates for epoxide hydrolase and juvenile hormone esterase, respectively.     

The nature of the prealbumin 'esterases' of horse serum

Evidence is presented to suggest that the acidic prealbumin esterases in horse serum represent a protease-inhibitory protein. The esterase activity may arise from residual enzymic activity of the bound protease.     

Molecular characterization of two novel esterase genes from carmine spider mite,Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

Abstract Two novel esterase complementary DNAs were identified and cloned from the insecticide-susceptible strain of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) (Acarina: Tetranychidae), which were designated as TCE1 and TCE2, respectively. The cDNA of TCE1 gene contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 1701 bp encoding 567 amino acids, and a predicted molecular weight of 62.75 kDa, the cDNA of TCE2 contained an ORF of 1680 bp encoding 560 amino acids, and a predicted molecular weight of 63.14 kDa. TCE1 and TCE2 were submitted to GenBank, accession number EU130461 and EU130462. The well-conserved sequence motif, GXSXG, used as a signature pattern in the esterase family are present in both TCE1 and TCE2 (GQSAG in TCE1, whereas GESAG in TCE2), indicating that these two genes are predicted to be esterases. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the published mite esterase sequence coming from Boophilus microplus showed that TCE1 shares 33.98% identity and TCE2 shares 33.46% identity. TCE1 and TCE2 share 46.4% identity. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that expression level of the TCE2 gene was relatively higher than that of the TCE1 in all instars examined except the protonymph, and the expression level of these two esterase genes in adults of T. cinnabarinus was significantly higher than that in any other instars, respectively. T. cinnabarinus is an important agricultural mite pest and esterases are important in the metabolisms of insects and mites; the genomic information obtained in this study will contribute to esterase molecular biological study on mite pest species.     

Use of isotopically chiral [4′-13C]famciclovir and 13C NMR to identify the chiral monoacetylated intermediates in the conversion of famciclovir to penciclovir by human intestinal wall extract

Famciclovir is the oral form of the potent antiherpesvirus agent, penciclovir. Hydrolysis of one of the acetyl ester groups of famciclovir creates a chiral centre leading to the possible formation of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. During its conversion to penciclovir, famciclovir forms two chiral metabolites, namely monoacetyl-6-deoxy-penciclovir and monoacetyl-penciclovir. The absolute configuration and stereospecificity of the monoacetyl metabolites of famciclovir, produced in human intestinal wall extract, were determined using isotopically chiral famciclovir and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy of the isolated metabolites. ¹³C NMR showed that the esterase(s), in human intestinal wall extract, hydrolysed the acetyl group preferentially from the pro-(S)-acetoxymethyl group of famciclovir. The specificity of esterase action in forming monoacetyl-6-deoxy-penciclovir and monoacetyl-penciclovir was about 77 and 72%, respectively. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Juvenile hormone (JH) esterase activity but not JH epoxide hydrolase activity is downregulated in larval Adoxophyes honmai following nucleopolyhedroviruses infection

Juvenile hormones (JHs) and ecdysteroids are critical insect developmental hormones. JH esterase (JHE) and JH epoxide hydrolase (JHEH) are JH-selective enzymes that metabolize JH and thus regulate the titer of JH. Baculoviruses are known to alter host endocrine regulation. The nucleopolyhedroviruses, AdhoNPV and AdorNPV, are known to have slow and fast killing activity against Adoxophyes honmai (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), respectively. Here we found that when penultimate (4th) instar A. honmai are inoculated with AdhoNPV or AdorNPV, the mean survival time is 9.7 and 8.2 days, respectively. The larvae molted once but did not pupate. The AdhoNPV- or AdorNPV-infected larvae did not show a dramatic increase in JHE activity as was found in mock-infected larvae, instead they showed a marked decrease in JHE activity. In contrast, both viral infections had no effect on JHEH activity. In order to further characterize the JHE activity, the JHE-coding sequence of A. honmai (ahjhe) was cloned and confirmed to encode a biologically active JHE. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of ahjhe expression in 4th and 5th instar A. honmai revealed that AdhoNPV and AdorNPV are able to reduce ahjhe expression levels.     

Variabilité génétique entre les populatiosn de Speonomus zophosinus

Genetic variability was examined in six troglobitic populations of Speonomus zophosinus which were limited to a very small geographical area. Results indicate a high genetic variation and a high degree of heterozygosity (H 0.43). The genetic variability observed between the populations reveals the existence of two genetically heterogeneous groups (one upstream, one downstream. There are significant differences in the frequency of the six alleles of the locus Est 3 found in these two groups.