Low-molecular-weight trypsin inhibitors of microbial origin

Three hundred actinomyces cultures newly isolated from the soil of different regions of the Soviet Union were tested for their ability to produce inhibitors of trypsin-like proteases. Seven previously not known to produce trypsin inhibitors (Streptomyces bikiniensis 17-5, S. sporoclivatus 28-1, S. filamentosus 32-11, S. diastatochromogenes 20-4, S. lavendulae 29-4, S. violacens 52-8, and Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum 36-8) were found to possess high antitrypsin activity. The morphological and cultural properties of the strains and the dynamics of inhibitor production were investigated. S. bikiniensis 17-5 was studied in greatest detail. Its culture filtrate contained several inhibitors for trypsin and one for chymotrypsin. A mixture of oligopeptides with Mr of 300-500 was obtained by the described procedure which included the adsorption of the culture fluid filtrate on charcoal followed by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose. Four trypsin inhibitors (Sb-IT1, Sb-IT2, Sb-IT3, and Sb-IT4) were isolated from the mixture in a highly purified state by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Sb-IT2 has been recognized as formylhistidylvaline with an Mr of 282. No trypsin inhibitor of this structure has been described previously.     

Enzymatic reactions in biotechnology (48th Bach lecture)]

The paper is the 48th Bach Lecture presented under the same title. It covers the biochemical mechanisms of the biogenesis of microbial biosynthetic products, role of acetyl-CoA, function of the succinate-glycine cycle, reactions of the hexose-monophosphate pathway of carbon metabolism. The reversible action of hydrolases in enzymatic catalysis and degradation of xenobiotics are discussed. The data on redox reactions are pooled. Such modern biotechnological processes as epoxidation, synthesis of acrylamide and some monomers involved in chemical syntheses of polymers, synthesis of oligosaccharide and fluorine-containing amino acids are considered. Promising commercial applications of biocatalysis are discussed.     

Catabolism of naphthalene and salicylate byPseudomonas fluorescens

Analysis of spent naphthalene growth media ofPseudomonas fluorescens by GC-MS revealed the presence of salicylate. Gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase and pyrocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase were induced by growth on naphthalene, whereas only pyrocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase was induced during growth on salicylate. These results suggest the existence of alternative degradative routes of salicylate,via gentisate and pyrocatechol, which are involved in the catabolism of naphthalene.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Isolation,Purification, and Characterization of Acetolactate Synthase from a Lactococcus lactis Culture

Acetolactate synthase catalyzing the synthesis of -acetolactate was isolated from lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactissubsp. lactisbiovar. diacetylactis4 and purified. Acetolactate synthase was shown to be an allosteric enzyme with low affinity for the substrate: the K _Mfor pyruvate was 70 mM. The curve relating the dependence of enzyme activity to pyruvate concentration had a sigmoid shape. The enzyme activity persisted for 24 h in the presence of stabilizers, pyruvate, and thiamine pyrophosphate. Acetolactate synthase had pH optimums of 5.8 and 6.5–7.0 in acetate and phosphate buffers, respectively. The temperature optimum for this enzyme was 38–40°C at pH 6.5. The molecular weight of acetolactate synthase was 150 kDa. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that the enzyme consisted of three identical subunits with a molecular weight of 55 kDa.