Autocatalytic activation of acetyl-CoA synthase

Acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS ACS/CODH CODH/ACS) from Moorella thermoacetica catalyzes the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from CO, CoA, and a methyl group of a corrinoid-iron-sulfur protein (CoFeSP). A time lag prior to the onset of acetyl-CoA production, varying from 4 to 20 min, was observed in assay solutions lacking the low-potential electron-transfer agent methyl viologen (MV). No lag was observed when MV was included in the assay. The length of the lag depended on the concentrations of CO and ACS, with shorter lags found for higher [ACS] and sub-saturating [CO]. Lag length also depended on CoFeSP. Rate profiles of acetyl-CoA synthesis, including the lag phase, were numerically simulated assuming an autocatalytic mechanism. A similar reaction profile was monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometry, allowing the redox status of the CoFeSP to be evaluated during this process. At early stages in the lag phase, Co²⁺FeSP reduced to Co⁺FeSP, and this was rapidly methylated to afford CH₃-Co³⁺FeSP. During steady-state synthesis of acetyl-CoA, CoFeSP was predominately in the CH₃-Co³⁺FeSP state. As the synthesis rate declined and eventually ceased, the Co⁺FeSP state predominated. Three activation reductive reactions may be involved, including reduction of the A- and C-clusters within ACS and the reduction of the cobamide of CoFeSP. The B-, C-, and D-clusters in the subunit appear to be electronically isolated from the A-cluster in the connected subunit, consistent with the ~70 Å distance separating these clusters, suggesting the need for an in vivo reductant that activates ACS and/or CoFeSP.Abbreviations ACS acetyl-CoA synthase, also known as CODH (carbon monoxide dehydrogenase) or CODH/ACS or ACS/CODH - CH₃-Co³⁺FeSP, Co²⁺FeSP, and Co⁺FeSP corrinoid-iron-sulfur protein with the cobalamin in the methylated 3+, unmethylated 2+, and unmethylated 1+ states - CoA coenzyme A - DTT dithiothreitol - H-THF or THF tetrahydrofolic acid or tetrahydrofolate - MT methyl transferase - MV methyl viologen     

The Formation of 2,6-Dihydroxy-phenylacetic Acid from Phenylacetic Acid by Various Fungi

Two principal toxins of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1, were esterified with 9-anthryldiazomethane in methanol. After cleaning with a Sep-pak silica cartridge column, the fluorescent esters were analyzed on a Develosil ODS column with MeCN- MeOH-H₂0 (8:1:1). The fluorescence intensities of both toxin derivatives measured at an excitation of 365 nm and an emission of 412 nm showed good linearity in the range 1 ~ 80ng.     

Oxalate metabolism by the acetogenic bacterium Moorella thermoacetica

Whole-cell and cell-extract experiments were performed to study the mechanism of oxalate metabolism in the acetogenic bacterium Moorella thermoacetica. In short-term, whole-cell assays, oxalate consumption was low unless cell suspensions were supplemented with CO(2), KNO(3), or Na(2)S(2)O(3). Cell extracts catalyzed the oxalate-dependent reduction of benzyl viologen. Oxalate consumption occurred concomitant to benzyl viologen reduction; when benzyl viologen was omitted, oxalate was not appreciably consumed. Based on benzyl viologen reduction, specific activities of extracts averaged 0.6 micromol oxalate oxidized min(-1) mg protein(-1). Extracts also catalyzed the formate-dependent reduction of NADP(+); however, oxalate-dependent reduction of NADP(+) was negligible. Oxalate- or formate-dependent reduction of NAD(+) was not observed. Addition of coenzyme A (CoA), acetyl-CoA, or succinyl-CoA to the assay had a minimal effect on the oxalate-dependent reduction of benzyl viologen. These results suggest that oxalate metabolism by M. thermoacetica requires a utilizable electron acceptor and that CoA-level intermediates are not involved.     

Facile Construction of Random Gene Mutagenesis Library for Directed Evolution Without the Use of Restriction Enzyme in Escherichia coli

A foolproof protocol was developed for the construction of mutant DNA library for directed protein evolution. First, a library of linear mutant gene was generated by error‐prone PCR or molecular shuffling, and a linear vector backbone was prepared by high‐fidelity PCR. Second, the amplified insert and vector fragments were assembled by overlap‐extension PCR with a pair of 5'‐phosphorylated primers. Third, full‐length linear plasmids with phosphorylated 5'‐ends were self‐ligated with T4 ligase, yielding circular plasmids encoding mutant variants suitable for high‐efficiency transformation. Self‐made competent Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) showed a transformation efficiency of 2.4 × 10⁵ cfu/µg of the self‐ligated circular plasmid. Using this method, three mutants of mCherry fluorescent protein were found to alter their colors and fluorescent intensities under visible and UV lights, respectively. Also, one mutant of 6‐phosphorogluconate dehydrogenase from a thermophilic bacterium Moorella thermoacetica was found to show the 3.5‐fold improved catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) on NAD⁺ as compared to the wild‐type. This protocol is DNA‐sequence independent, and does not require restriction enzymes, special E. coli host, or labor‐intensive optimization. In addition, this protocol can be used for subcloning the relatively long DNA sequences into any position of plasmids.     

Spectroscopic and computational insights into the geometric and electronic properties of the A-cluster of acetyl-coenzyme A synthase

For the last two decades, the bifunctional enzyme acetyl-coenzyme A synthase/carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (ACS/CODH) from Moorella thermoacetica has been the subject of considerable research aimed at elucidating the geometric and electronic properties of the A-cluster, which serves as the active site for ACS catalysis. While the recent success in obtaining high-resolution X-ray structures of this enzyme solved many of the mysteries regarding the number, identities, and coordination environments of the metal centers of the A-cluster, fundamental questions concerning the catalytic mechanism of this highly elaborate polynuclear active site have yet to be answered. This Commentary summarizes relevant information obtained from spectroscopic and computational studies on the oxidized, reduced, and CO-bound forms of the A-cluster and highlights some of the key issues regarding the electronic properties and reactivity of this cluster that need to be addressed in future studies.     

Glycolate as a metabolic substrate for the acetogen Moorella thermoacetica

Glycolate was growth supportive for Moorella thermoacetica ATCC 39073. Growth occurred in undefined and basal culture media containing 20 mM glycolate and was proportional to the concentration of glycolate (10–40 mM). Nitrate inhibited glycolate-dependent growth in the basal medium. Acetate and cell biomass were the major end products recovered from glycolate. The molar ratio (moles of glycolate required to synthesize a mole of acetate) averaged 1.4 and was in close agreement with the theoretical ratio of 1.3 for glycolate-derived acetogenesis. Glycolate-dependent growth yielded approximately 3-fold less biomass per pair of reducing equivalents utilized than did oxalate- or glyoxylate-dependent growth.