Induction of non-diapause eggs in Bombyx mori by a trehalase inhibitor

The effect of validoxylamine A (VAA), a potent and specific trehalase inhibitor, on the induction of non-diapause in Bombyx mori was examined. The VAA induced non-diapause eggs and prevented the glucogen accumulation in the eggs. Trehalase activity of the pupal ovary was effectively inhibited by the VAA injection.     

Il tipo delle Dicotiledoni e il tipo delle Monocotiledoni nella formazione del vero periplasmodio nella famiglia delle Lauraceae

Raissunto

Nella famiglia delle Lauraceae è stata fino ad oggi riconosciuta la formazione di un vero periplasmodio nei due generi Sassafras e Cinnamomum. Il periodo e le modalità di sviluppo fanno riferire il primo al tipo che si osserva nelle Monocotiledoni, il secondo a quello delle Dicotiledoni. Nei due tipi alcune particolarità morfologiche permettono induzioni sul significato fisiologico del periplasmodio.     

三种杀虫剂对褐飞虱海藻糖含量和海藻糖酶活性的影响

为了解农药处理导致褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens (Stål）飞行能力增强的生理机制, 本文采用蒽酮法和酶促反应终止法, 研究了吡虫啉、 三唑磷和溴氰菊酯3种杀虫剂亚致死剂量对褐飞虱3龄、 5龄若虫及长、 短翅型雌雄成虫体内海藻糖含量和海藻糖酶活性的影响。结果表明： 杀虫剂处理的褐飞虱3龄若虫海藻糖含量和海藻糖酶活性与对照相比没有显著差异（P>0.05）。40 mg/L三唑磷处理的褐飞虱5龄若虫体内海藻糖含量显著低于对照（P<0.05）, 比对照降低了24%; 而20和40 mg/L三唑磷处理的褐飞虱5龄若虫海藻糖酶活性显著高于对照（P<0.05）, 分别比对照高出了100%和129%。10 mg/L吡虫啉, 20 和40 mg/L三唑磷以及3和6 mg/L溴氰菊酯处理的褐飞虱短翅雌成虫和雄成虫体内海藻糖含量显著低于对照（P<0.05）, 雌成虫体内海藻糖含量比对照分别降低了36%, 53%, 67%, 58%和69%, 雄成虫体内海藻糖含量比对照分别降低了59%, 71%, 65%, 70%和77%; 而40 mg/L三唑磷以及3和6 mg/L溴氰菊酯处理的褐飞虱短翅型雌成虫和雄成虫体内海藻糖酶活性显著高于对照（P<0.05）, 雌成虫体内海藻糖酶活性比对照分别高出了124%, 100%和88%, 雄成虫体内海藻糖酶活性比对照分别高出了146%, 132%和118%。10 mg/L吡虫啉, 40 mg/L三唑磷和3 mg/L溴氰菊酯处理的褐飞虱长翅型雌成虫和雄成虫海藻糖含量显著低于对照（P<0.05）, 雌成虫海藻糖含量比对照分别降低了44%, 34%和37%, 雄成虫体内海藻糖含量比对照降低了48%, 54%和43%; 而5和10 mg/L吡虫啉处理的长翅型雌成虫和雄成虫海藻糖酶活性显著高于对照（P<0.05）, 雌成虫体内海藻糖酶活性比对照分别高出了317%和300%, 雄成虫体内海藻糖酶活性比对照分别高出了170%和97%。这些结果说明这3种杀虫剂亚致死剂量处理可以增强褐飞虱体内海藻糖酶活性, 并导致海藻糖含量下降。本研究结果对深入阐明农药诱导褐飞虱再猖獗及杀虫剂处理增强其飞行能力的生理机制具有一定的科学价值。     

On the biochemical classification of yeast trehalases: Candida albicans contains two enzymes with mixed features of neutral and acid trehalase activities

Two enzymes endowed with trehalase activity are present in Candida albicans. The cytosolic trehalase (Ntc1p), displayed high activity in exponential phase regardless of the carbon source (glucose, trehalose or glycerol). Ntc1p activity was similar in neutral (pH 7.1) or acid (pH 4.5) conditions, strongly inhibited by ATP, weakly stimulated by divalent cations (Ca²⁺or Mn²⁺) and unaffected in the presence of cyclic AMP. The Ntc1p activity decreased in stationary phase, except in glycerol-grown cultures, but the catalytic properties did not change. In turn, the cell wall-linked trehalase (Atc1p) showed elevated activity in resting cells or in cultures growing on trehalose or glycerol. Although Atc1p is subjected to glucose repression, exhaustion of glucose in itself did not increased the activity. Significant Atc1p values could also be measured at neutral or acid pH, but Atc1p was insensitive to ATP, cyclic AMP and divalent cations. These results are in direct contrast with the current classification of yeast trehalases based on their optimum pH. They are also relevant in the light of the proposed use of trehalase inhibitors for the treatment of candidiasis.     

Properties of trehalase from different organs of alfalfa, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>

Trehalase activity (THA) was identified in the cell-free extracts of various organs of Medicago sativa: roots, roots nodules, stems and leaves, as well as in seedlings and seeds. It showed the high activity at acid pH and optimal temperature ranged from 45° to 55°C. It was also differently affected by ions, i.e. the presence of calcium stimulated this activity but it was inhibited by Zn²⁺ and NH ₄ ⁺ . After separation by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and purification procedures, trehalase from alfalfa was purified 800 times, and Superose 12 HR gel filtration allowed to determine the molecular weight of 120 kDa for the native enzyme from the stems of alfalfa.     

Properties of larval and imaginal membrane-bound digestive enzymes from Trichosia pubescens

Trichosia pubescens larval midgut ceca cells display in their plasma membranes α-glucosidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 5.7 mM; K_i for TRIS 8.9 mM), trehalases (M_r 69,000; pH_o 5.3; K_m 0.92 mM; K_i for TRIS 57 mM), and aminopeptidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 8.7; K_m 0.19 mM) which are solubilized by Triton X-100. The enzymes were purified by electrophoresis and used to raise antibodies in a rabbit. T. pubescens imaginal midgut cells display in their plasma membranes an α-glucosidase (M_r 156,000; pH_o 5.8; K_m 2.3 mM; K_i for TRIS 0.2 mM), a trehalase (M_r 93,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 0.72 mM; K_i for TRIS 45.5 mM), and an aminopeptidase (M_r 210,000; pH_o 9.0; K_m 0.47 mM). Antiserum produced against the larval enzymes shows no precipitation arc when tested by double immunodiffusion or by immunoelectrophoresis with Triton X-100-solubilized membrane proteins from imaginal midguts. Otherwise, a similar test showed that larval midgut cecal enzymes and larval ventriculus enzymes display complete immunological identity. The data suggest that, despite the fact the larval and imaginal aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, and trehalase probably have similar functions, the genes coding for them in larvae and imagoes must differ.     

Screening for microbial trehalases: extracellular trehalases produced byFusarium species

Two hundred microorganisms comprising actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi and yeasts were screened for extracellular trehalases by their growth on trehalose in solid and liquid culture.Candida albicans, Gelasinospora retispora and four isolates belonging to the genusFusarium produced extracellular trehalases. The production of trehalase by theFusarium spp. was influenced by the nutrient composition of the medium and the carbon source; of the substrates examined starch produced the highest enzyme titre. Trehalase was an inducible enzyme and was repressed when theFusarium spp. were grown on glucose. The properties of the trehalases from two of theFusarium spp. (isolates MU-105 and TR-8) were typical of non-regulatory trehalases. Activity of several α-glucosidases, an amylase, an invertase and a cellobiase was also demonstrated when the two isolates were grown on trehalose.     

Subcellular distribution of digestive enzymes in Ascaris suum intestine

Van den Bossche H. and Borgers M. 1973. Subcellular distribution of digestive enzymes in Ascaris intestine. International Journal for Parasitology3: 59–65. The microvilli of the intestinal cells of Ascaris suum resemble the microvilli of the mammalian intestine in respect to their morphologic structure; their behaviour to homogenization in the presence of a chelating agent; the presence of the disaccharide hydrolases, maltase, sucrase and trehalase and the presence of an enzyme which hydrolyses 5′-AMP at neutral pH. The microvilli of the Ascaris intestinal cells differ completely from those present in mammalian intestine in respect to the presence of non-specific phosphatases. The brush border fraction contains the bulk of acid phosphatase present in the intestinal cells. Although some pinocytotic vesicles have been observed only low endocytotic activity was found. We therefore suggest that the acid hydrolases found on the brush border membrane may be functionally related to extracellular digestion of macromolecules.     

Evolutionary and structure-function analysis elucidates diversification of prokaryotic and eukaryotic trehalases

Trehalase catalyses the breakdown of trehalose into two glucose moieties and is ubiquitous in all organisms. Here, we provide insights into the enigmatic origin and evolution of trehalase in major species. Study of taxonomic distribution, orthology, phylogeny and functional domains indicated that trehalase possibly originates from bacteria and was transmitted to other taxa through horizontal gene transfer. Domain analysis showed that glycosyl hydrolase family 37 is present in most of the sequences and represents dominant activity during evolution, and also, illustrating that cytosolic trehalase is primitive than its transmembrane form. Furthermore, it was observed that trehalase went through domain rearrangement to facilitate its activity in adverse environmental conditions like acidic pH. Gene context analysis depicts that trehalase neighbourhood consists of sugar transport and lipid metabolism genes. This highlights their relatedness in metabolic activity and similarity in gene regulation, respectively. Evolutionary and selection pressure analysis demonstrated that trehalase genes were duplicated and evolved under purifying selection, following horizontal gene transfer. Moreover, site-specific rate of evolution emphasized conservation of functionally important residues. In comparison with acid trehalase, neutral trehalase has an extra N-terminal extension. This study serves as an instigation to understand evolution and functionality of trehalase across diverse species.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Biochemical characterization of neutral trehalase activity in Saccharomyces boulardii

Lyophilized cells of the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are used in many countries for the treatment of several types of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal diseases. Although the cells must be viable, their mechanism of action is unknown. The disaccharide trehalose is a protectant against several forms of environmental stress in yeast and is involved in maintaining cell viability. There is no information on the enzymes involved in degradation of trehalose in S. boulardii. The aim of the present study was to characterize trehalase activity in this yeast. Cells of S. boulardii grown in glucose exhibited neutral trehalase activity only in the exponential phase. Acidic trehalase was not detected in glucose medium. Cells grown in trehalose exhibited acid and neutral trehalase activities at all growth stages, particularly in the exponential phase. The optimum pH and temperature values for neutral trehalase activity were determined as 6.5 and 30 °C respectively, the half-life being approximately 3 min at 45 °C. The relative molecular mass of neutral trehalase is 80 kDa and the K _m 6.4 mM (±0.6). Neutral trehalase activity at pH 6.5 was weakly inhibited by 5 mM EDTA and strongly inhibited by ATP, as well as the divalent ions Cu⁺⁺, Fe⁺⁺ and Zn⁺⁺. Enzyme activity was stimulated by Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ only in the absence of cAMP. The presence of cAMP with no ion additions increased activity by 40%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.