Methanogenic bacteria as a key factor involved in changes of town gas stored in an underground reservoir

Growth of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in a nitrogen-limited medium buffered with sodium acetate, instead of the commonly used 2,2-dimethylsuccinate (DMS), resulted in quantitative and qualitative differences in the production of various extracellular lignin peroxidases (LIPs) and manganese-dependent peroxidases (MNPs) involved in lignin degradation. The results indicate that production of LIPs and MNPs can be selectively enhanced by manipulation of culture conditions. Partial N-terminal analyses of the major LIPs and MNPs have made it possible to assign a specific protein to the specific genes and cDNAs that have been reported recently. The LIPs and MNPs differed widely in their ability to decolorize various dyes that are known to be degraded by the lignin degrading enzyme system of P. chrysosporium.     

Lignocellulose biotransformation with immobilized cellulase,d-glucose oxidase and fungal peroxidases

Three enzymes, cellulase [see 1,4-(1,3;1,4)-β-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4], d-glucose oxidase (β-d-glucose: oxygen 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.4) and peroxidase (donor:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) immobilized on glass beads, have been incubated with lignocellulose. Fungal peroxidases from Trametes versicolor and Inonotus radiatus when mixed with cellulase and d-glucose oxidase were able to liberate phenolic compounds and d-glucose from lignocellulose. Three lignin monomers were identified. When the immobilized enzymes were incubated individually with lignocellulose they did not degrade lignin.     

Radical Cations in Aromatic Hydrocarbon Carcinogenesis

Most carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), require metabolic activation to produce the ultimate electrophilic species that bind covalently with cellular macromolecules to trigger the cancer process. Metabolic activation of PAH can be understood in terms of two main pathways: one-electron oxidation to yield reactive intermediate radical cations and monooxygenation to produce bay-region diol epoxides. The reason we have postulated that one-electron oxidation plays an important role in the activation of PAH derives from certain common characteristics of the radical cation chemistry of the most potent carcinogenic PAH. Two main features common to these PAH are: 1) a relatively low ionization potential, which allows easy metabolic removal of one electron, and 2) charge localization in the PAH radical cation that renders this intermediate specifically and efficiently reactive toward nucleophiles. Equally important, cytochrome P-450 and mammalian peroxidases catalyze one-electron oxidation. This mechanism plays a role in the binding of PAH to DNA. Chemical, biochemical and biological evidence will be presented supporting the important role of one-electron oxidation in the activation of PAH leading to initiation of cancer.     

Effect of propagators and inhibitors on the ultraweak luminescence from maize roots

This study has investigated the kinetics and mechanism of ultraweak luminescence in maize roots. Mannitol induced the second maximum and enhanced the main maximum of the relative intensity of luminescence from the roots. Hydroquinone and quinone enhanced the relative intensity of the luminescence. Catalase enhanced the maximum of the luminescence and changed the kinetics of the light emission. The effect of catalase on the kinetics was abolished by superoxide dismutase. Ascorbate in the presence of catalase reduced the luminescence maximum, but did not alter the kinetics. In the presence of catalase only, or in the combination with superoxide dismutase, or ascorbate, the luminescence intensity in the stationary phase was significantly lower compared to the control. The results support the participation of superoxide-radical, singlet oxygen, electron transfer and the role of peroxidase in the reactions generating ultraweak luminescence in the roots. Ascorbate, catalase and superoxide dismutase have a protective role in the luminescent reactions.     

Localization of Phloem Oxidases

Among oxidases, cytochrome oxidase has been localized in mitochondria of all phloem cells, catalase has been visualized in parenchyma peroxisomes and peroxidase has been localized in cell walls and in several cell organelles. In angiosperms, peroxidase is present in all phloem cell walls; it is sensitive to cyanide inhibition excepted in sieve areas and around plasmodesmata between sieve tubes and companion cells. In some species, this cyanide resistant oxidasic activity can be localized without exogenous H₂O₂. Peroxidase is localized on ribosomes, inside vacuoles, on the tonoplast and often on the plasmalemma in companion cells and differentiating sieve elements. In young sieve cells some dictyosomes can exhibit a strong peroxidasic activity. In mature parenchyma cells peroxidase can be associated with ER cisternae but not with vacuoles.     

Lignocellulosic residues: Biodegradation and bioconversion by fungi

The ability of fungi to degrade lignocellulosic materials is due to their highly efficient enzymatic system. Fungi have two types of extracellular enzymatic systems; the hydrolytic system, which produces hydrolases that are responsible for polysaccharide degradation and a unique oxidative and extracellular ligninolytic system, which degrades lignin and opens phenyl rings. Lignocellulosic residues from wood, grass, agricultural, forestry wastes and municipal solid wastes are particularly abundant in nature and have a potential for bioconversion. Accumulation of lignocellulosic materials in large quantities in places where agricultural residues present a disposal problem results not only in deterioration of the environment but also in loss of potentially valuable material that can be used in paper manufacture, biomass fuel production, composting, human and animal feed among others. Several novel markets for lignocellulosic residues have been identified recently. The use of fungi in low cost bioremediation projects might be attractive given their lignocellulose hydrolysis enzyme machinery.     

一种新的DyP-type过氧化物酶在大肠杆菌中的重组表达、纯化及鉴定

染料脱色过氧化物酶(DyP-type过氧化物酶)是含有亚铁血红素,能降解各种有毒染料的一类蛋白.为了研究运动发酵单胞菌Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 (ATCC 31821)中一种新的DyP-type过氧化物酶的特点和功能,以Z.mobilis基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增目的基因,克隆到大肠杆菌表达载体pET-21b(+)中.通过ZmDyP与其他DyP-type过氧化物酶的比对,发现它们存在着共同保守氨基酸D149、R239、T254、F256和GXXDG结构基序,说明ZmDyP是Dyp-type过氧化物酶家族的一个新成员.经IPTG诱导大肠杆菌中pET21 b(+)-ZmDyP表达,并将表达的酶进行金属螯合层析纯化.SDS-PAGE分析表明,纯酶分子量为36 kDa,而活性染色显示分子量为108 kDa,表明该酶在活性状态下可能是一个三聚体.光谱扫描显示ZmDyP有一个典型的亚铁血红素吸收峰,说明它是含有亚铁血红素的蛋白.对ZmDyP性质进行了研究,发现以2,2-二氨-双(3-乙基苯并噻唑-6-磺酸)ABTS为底物,ZmDyP表现出更高的转化效率.这些研究结果丰富了DyP-type 过氧化物酶家族信息,并且为ZmDyP的结构功能和反应机制研究奠定了基础.     

Post-translational modifications in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity

Mercury (Hg) exposure remains a major public health concern due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Organic mercurials, such as MeHg, have been extensively investigated especially because of their congenital effects. In this context, studies on the molecular mechanism of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity are pivotal to the understanding of its toxic effects and the development of preventive measures. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation are essential for the proper function of proteins and play important roles in the regulation of cellular homeostasis. The rapid and transient nature of many PTMs allows efficient signal transduction in response to stress. This review summarizes the current knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, including the most commonly PTMs, as well as PTMs induced by oxidative stress and PTMs of antioxidant proteins. Though PTMs represent an important molecular mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis and are involved in the neurotoxic effects of MeHg, we are far from understanding the complete picture on their role, and further research is warranted to increase our knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.     

Screening of Pleurotus ostreatus isolates for their ligninolytic properties during cultivation on natural substrates

Thirteen basidiospore-derived isolates of Pleurotus ostreatus f6 strain differing in the level of ligninolytic enzyme production and other characteristics (mycelium extension rate, colony morphology) from the parental strain were cultivated on natural substrates. Under these conditions ligninolytic enzyme activity, loss of organic mass, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation and colonization of sterile and nonsterile soil were studied. The activity of ligninolytic enzymes was substantially higher in straw than in liquid culture, although the differences between the isolates were less pronounced on this substrate. Some of the isolates showed a very good ability to decompose the lignocellulosic substrate (straw) and a relatively high loss of organic mass was found after 50 days of cultivation in these strains. The original strain f6 and isolates B13 and B26 successfully degraded all seven tested PAH compounds present in experimental soil samples, but the higher or lower ligninolytic enzyme production of isolates tested had no substantial effect on the extent of the degradation. In our screening, six basidiospore-derivedisolates growing well in nonsterile soil were found, whichcould be suitable for the prospective biotechnological exploitation.