PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A SERINE PROTEINASE FROM THE TUNA PYLORIC CAECA

A 15.0 kDa serine proteinase with collagenase activity from pyloric caeca of tuna, Thunnus thynnus, was purified in four steps; acetone precipitation, gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G‐100, ion‐exchange chromatography on a DEAE‐Sephadex α‐50 and gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G‐75 column. The purification and yield were 30.5‐fold and 0.023%, respectively, as compared with those in the starting crude extract. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified collagenolytic enzyme were around pH 7.5 and 55C, respectively. The purified proteinase was strongly inhibited by metal ions (Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺) and serine proteinase inhibitors (PMSF, TLCK and soybean trypsin inhibitor) suggesting it is a serine protease. The K_m and V_max of the purified enzyme for collagen type I were approximately 3.82 mM and 851.5 U, respectively.     

PARTIAL PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEUTRAL TREHALASE FROM COMMERCIAL BAKER'S YEAST, SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

The neutral trehalase of a commercial baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae) strain has been partially purified using ammonium sidfate fractionation and DEAE‐cellulose column chromatography techniques. Trehalase was precipitated between 35–50% ammonium sulfate saturation and approximately 5–8 fold purification was achieved. The yeast cAMP‐dependent protein kinase was also precipitated in the same fraction and these two proteins were separated by DEAE‐cellulose column chromatography. Trehalase became totally inactive after ion exchange chromatography, “cryptic trehalase” (tre‐c), but was later activated with the addition of partially purified protem kinase together with cAMP and ATP. A 215 fold purification was obtained after DEAE‐ceUulose column chromatography. One mM EDTA caused complete inhibition of the enzyme in crude extract, however the inhibition levels in ammonium sulfate and DEAE‐cellulose fractions were 73.5% and 50%, respectively. Optimal pH range and temperature of the enzyme were determined as pH 6–6.8 and 30C, respectively. The kinetic parameters, K_m and V_max, were estimated as 11.78 mM trehalose and 12.47 μmole glucose/min‐mg protein, respectively.     

PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF PANTETHEINASE FROM PIG KIDNEY

Pantetheinase hydrolyzes specifically one of the carboamide linkages in pantetheine, leading to the formation of pantothenate and cysteamine. The enzyme from pig kidney cortex was purified to homogeneity as determined by SDS electrophoresis. Pantetheinase was solubilized by treatment with 1‐butanol, and then purified by thermal treatment, fractionation with ammonium sulfate and chromatography on CM‐Sephadex and DEAE‐Sephadex. The molecular weight of the purified pantetheinase was 72 kDa. No significant differences were found between the mercaptide and cysteamine methods for determination of the kinetic constants of the pantetheinase. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 9.0 and it was inhibited by pantethine and by oxidized glutation.     

Purification and enzymatic identification of an acid stable and thermostable α‐amylase from Rhizopus microsporus

Rhizopus microsporus, recently isolated from a solid culture of Heng‐Shui Lao‐Bai‐Gan (HSLBG, a famous distilled liquor in Northern China) was found to produce a novel extracellular acid stable and thermostable α‐amylase. This fungal α‐amylase was purified using ammonium precipitation, Sephadex G‐25 desalination and DEAE‐52 cellulose chromatography. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 75 kDa by SDS–PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature of this enzyme was pH 5.0 and 70°C respectively. Thermostability and kinetic analysis through the Arrhenius and Michaelis–Menten equations revealed that this enzyme showed an exceptional activity at low pH and high temperature. A combination of this thermostability and acid stability could be a valuable trait for the efficient hydrolysis of amylose to glucose in large‐scale biotechnology applications. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Purification and immobilisation of inulinase from Aspergillus candidus for producing fructose

A high‐inulinase‐producing strain of Aspergillus candidus (10 units cm⁻³ of medium) for producing fructose from inulin has been identified. The extracellular inulinase from this fungi was purified 56‐fold by ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G‐150 column chromatography. Invertase to inulinase ratio of 1.8 in culture filtrate was reduced to 0.14 in the purified preparation. The pH and temperature optima were 5.5 and 45°C, respectively. The molecular weight of inulinase was determined as 54±4 kDa. K_m of inulinase with inulin as a substrate was 3.8 mmole dm ⁻³. The purified preparation produced only fructose as the product of inulin, indicating that inulinase has primarily exo‐inulinase activity. Inulinase was immobilised on chitin and casein using glutaraldehyde as a linking agent and on cellulose using FeCl₃‐HCl as a metal chelation agent. Maximum immobilisation of 45.8% was achieved on cellulose. All three immobilised preparations had a higher temperature optima of 55°C. The inulinases immobilised on cellulose and casein were stable at pH 5–7. The cellulose‐immobilised preparation was more stable than the other two preparations after heating for 1 h at 55°C. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

IDENTIFICATION OF PROCYANIDIN A2 AS POLYPHENOL OXIDASE SUBSTRATE IN PERICARP TISSUES OF LITCHI FRUIT

Postharvest browning of litchi fruit results in short shelf life and reduced commercial value. Experiments were conducted to separate, purify and identify polyphenol oxidase (PPO ) substrates that cause litchi fruit to brown. PPO and its substrate were extracted from the pericarp tissues of litchi fruit. The litchi PPO substrate was purified using polyamide column, silica gel column and Sephadex LH‐20 column chromatography. The browning substrate was selected by a 0.5% FeCl₃ solution and then identified using a partially purified litchi PPO. Analyses of ultraviolet spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicated that the PPO substrate was procyanidin A2. The substrate can be oxidized to ο‐quinones by litchi PPO and then form brown‐colored by‐products, resulting in pericarp browning of harvested litchi fruit.     

Purification of yeast proteinase A from fresh beer and its specificity on foam proteins

Yeast proteinase A from fresh beer was first purified with Sephadex G‐100 column chromatography and the active fractions reached to 5.3‐fold purification with 7% of yield. After purification with DEAE Sephadex A50, proteinase A activity increased to be 10.1 times of the initial with 1% of yield. When identifying the sample from chromatography by sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE), only one protein band with 42 kDa was observed, this indicated that the enzyme was purified. The pattern of electrophoresis of hydrolysed beer by crude proteinase A did not show lipid transfer protein (LTP) on the gel. The result of SDS‐PAGE of interaction mixture of purified proteinase A and beer also indicated that LTP was decomposed.     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A MALATE DEHYDROGENASE FROM PHASEOLUS MUNGO

A malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was identified and isolated from the seeds of the mung bean (Phaseolus mungo). The procedure entailed extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on CM‐Sephadex and high performance liquid chromatography on POROS HS‐20. The purified protein exhibited a molecular mass of 38 kDa in SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under both nonreduced and reduced conditions. The pI was 9.7 by isoelectric focusing. The specific activity of the MDH was estimated to be 199 U/mg. The enzyme expressed its optimum activity at pH 7.2, 35C, and showed stable activity below 40C. The Km for oxaloacetate was 112 µM. The partial N‐terminal amino acid sequence data analysis of the first 20 amino acids of the mung bean MDH revealed 95 and 80% homology with two reported MDH from soya bean (Glycine max) and potato (Solanum tuberosum), respectively.     

Purification and characterisation of basic ascorbate oxidase from satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc)

Basic ascorbate oxidase of the multiple enzyme forms existing in young fruit of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc) has been separated and subsequently purified to electrophoretic homogeneity through (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation and chromatographies on DEAE-Toyopearl 650M, CM-Sephadex C-50 and Sephadex G-100. The native molecular weight was estimated to be 141 kDa by gel filtration and composed of two non-identical subunits with an apparent mass of 74 kDa and 62 kDa. The optimum pH was found to be 5.5 with reasonable stability between pH 5 and 8. The enzyme had an optimum temperature at 45°C and was stable up to 50°C upon heat treatment for 5 min. The presence of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, metabisulphite and potassium cyanide completely inhibited the enzyme activity. Fluoride also inhibited the activity substantially at higher concentrations. Other tnonovalent and divalent metal ions did not have inhibitory effects.     

PURIFICATION AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AN EXTRA CELLULAR AMYLASE FROM A STRAIN OF BACILLUS AMYLOLIQUEFACIENS ISOLATED FROM DRY ONION POWDER

An extracellular α-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, isolated from dry onion powder, has been purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, adsorption on starch, column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 column. The enzyme consisted of one polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 60,000. The isoelectric point was pH 5.2, the pH optimum 5.5 and the temperature optimum ranging from 50°-70°C. Prolonged digestion by trypsin did not affect the catalytic properties of the enzyme. The K_m for starch was 6.9 mg/ml. The enzyme was quite stable at 50°C, but lost about 85% of its activity at 60° after 30 min (pH 6.0).     

Purification and characterisation of β‐mannanase from Lactobacillus plantarum (M24) and its applications in some fruit juices

β‐Mannanase was purified 2619.05‐fold from the Lactobacillus plantarum (M24) bacterium by ammonium sulphate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography (DEAE‐Sephadex). The purified enzyme gave two protein bands at a level of approximately 36.4 and 55.3 kDa in the SDS‐PAGE. The purified mannanase enzyme has shown its maximum activity at 50 °C and pH 8, and it has been also determined that the enzyme was stable at 5–11 pH range and over 50 °C. The V_max and K_m values have been identified as 82 mg mannan mL^?1 and 0.178 mm , respectively. The effects of some metal ions such as Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ on the mannanase enzyme have been also investigated, and it has been determined that all metal ions had significant effects on the activation of the mannanase enzyme. In addition, the effectiveness of the purified mannanase enzyme on the clarification of some fruit juices such as orange, apricot, grape and apple has been investigated. During the clarification processes, the enzyme was more effective than crude extracts on the clarification of the peach juice with a ratio of 223.1% at most.     

Purification of diamine oxidase and its properties in germinated fava bean (Vicia faba L.)

Background: γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non‐protein amino acid with bioactive functions for human health. Diamine oxidase (DAO, EC 1.4.3.6) is one of the key enzymes for GABA formation. In the present study, this enzyme was purified from 5 day germinated fava bean and its properties were investigated in vitro. Results: The molecular mass of the enzyme estimated by Sephadex G‐100 gel filtration was 121 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) displayed a single band at a molecular mass of 52 kDa. The enzyme had optimal activity at 40 °C and retained its activity after being incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. It showed higher activity at pH 6.5 than at other pH values. The enzyme was significantly inhibited by Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, aminoguanidine, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA‐Na₂), L ‐cysteine and β‐mercaptoethanol. The K_m value of DAO was 0.23 mmol L^?1 for putrescine and 0.96 mmol L^?1 for spermidine. However, the enzyme did not degrade spermine. Conclusion: DAO from germinated fava bean was purified. The optimal reaction temperature and pH of the enzyme were mild. The enzyme had higher affinity to putrescine than to spermidine and spermine. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Purification and characterization of cathepsin B from the gut of the sea cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stichopus japonicas</Emphasis>)

Cathepsin B from the gut of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicas) was purified 81-fold with a 3% recovery by ammonium sulfate fractionation and a series chromatography on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B, Sephadex G-75, and TSK-Gel 3000 SWxl. The purified protein appeared as a single band on Native-PAGE but showed 2 bands of 23 and 26 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optimum activity was found at pH 5.5 and 45°C. The enzyme was stable at pH 4.5–6.0 and the thermal stability was up to 50oC. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by E-64, iodoacetic acid, and antipain, demonstrating it is a cysteine protease containing sulfhydryl groups. Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺ could strongly inhibit the enzyme activity. The amino acid sequences of the purified enzyme were acquired by mass spectrometer, which did not show any homology with previously described cathepsins, suggesting it may be a novel member.     

Isolation,purification and properties of the peroxidase from the hull of Glycine max var HH2

Soybean hull peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), an acidic peroxidase isolated from soybean (Glycine max var HH2) hulls was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a combination of ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE‐Sephadex A‐50 chromatography, concanavalin A‐Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and Bio‐Gel P‐60 gel filtration. The specific activity of purified peroxidase was about 57‐fold higher than that of crude extract. The yield was about 16.4%. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 38 000 by SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peroxidase was a glycoprotein containing about 18.7% carbohydrate, approximately one‐quarter of which was shown to be glucosamine residues. It was found to have an isoelectric point of 3.9. The enzyme was most active at pH 4.6 and 45°C, and was stable in the pH range 2.5–11.5. The enzyme could tolerate heating for 10 min at 75°C without being inactivated, and at 85°C, it took 40 min to inactivate the enzyme 50%, confirming that the peroxidase was a novel thermostable enzyme. Fe ²⁺, Fe³⁺, Sn²⁺, CN ⁻ and N₃⁻ inhibited enzyme activity, while Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, Pb ²⁺, Cr³⁺, EDTA and SDS were not significantly inhibitory. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Isolation and characterisation of trypsin from sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) viscera

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) catches totalled about 13 300 t in 2002. During processing, solid wastes including heads and viscera are generated, representing about 30% of the original raw material. Viscera, one of the most important by‐products of the fishing industry, are recognised as a potential source of digestive enzymes, especially proteases with high activity over a wide range of pH and temperature conditions. This paper describes the purification procedure and some biochemical characterisation of trypsin from S. aurita viscera. RESULTS: Trypsin from the viscera of sardinelle (S. aurita) was purified by fractionation with ammonium sulphate, Sephadex G‐75 gel filtration, Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and a second Sephadex G‐75 gel filtration, resulting in a 5.42‐fold increase in specific activity and 6.1% recovery. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 24 kDa using size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme showed esterase‐specific activity on N‐α‐benzoyl‐L ‐arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) that was four times greater than its amidase‐specific activity on N‐α‐benzoyl‐DL ‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide (BAPNA). The optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were pH 8 and 55 °C respectively using BAEE as a substrate. The trypsin kinetic constants K_m and k_cat on BAPNA were 1.67 mmol L^?1 and 3.87 s^?1 respectively, while the catalytic efficiency k_cat/K_m was 2.31 s^?1 L mmol^?1. CONCLUSION: Trypsin was purified from sardinelle (S. aurita) viscera. Biochemical characterisation of S. aurita trypsin showed that this enzyme can be used as a possible biotechnological tool in the fish‐processing and food industries. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HOMOGENEOUS ACID PHOSPHATASE FROM NONGERMINATED BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM ESCULENTUM) SEEDS

A buckwheat acid phosphatase (orthophosphoric‐monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.2) was purified about 250‐fold from nongerminated buckwheat seeds to apparent homogeneity with a recovery of 4% from the acid phosphatase activity in the crude extract. It is the major acid phosphatase among eight different acid phosphatases identified in the crude extract. The purified enzyme behaved as a monomeric protein of molecular mass about 45 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited a single pH optimum at 5.25. Optimum temperature for the degradation of p‐nitrophenyl phosphate was 50C. The kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of p‐nitrophenyl phosphate were determined to be K_M= 76 μmol L^?1 and k_cat= 924 s^?1 at pH 5.25 and 37C. While the enzyme failed to act on phytate as a substrate, the enzyme exhibited a broad substrate selectivity. The purified enzyme showed no measureable carboxylesterase activity and no divalent metal ion requirement.     

Characterization of a β-glucosidase isolated from an alpeorujo strain of Candida adriatica

A β-glucosidase-producing strain, Candida adriatica CECT13142, was isolated from olive oil wastes (alpeorujo) and identified by PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer and sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene techniques. The enzyme was purified by sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. The relative molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 50 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The hydrolytic activity of the β-glucosidase had an optimum pH of 8.2 and an optimum temperature of 40°C. The enzyme displayed high substrate specificity and high catalytic efficiency (K_m 0.85 mM, V_max 12.5 U/g of cells) for p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside. Although β-glucosidases have been purified and characterized from several other organisms, the C. adriatica β-glucosidase is able to have optimal activity at alkaline pH.     

Purification and characterisation of a novel antioxidant peptide from porcine haemoglobin hydrolysate

Porcine haemoglobin, which is normally discarded as a by‐product of meat industry, was hydrolysed using pepsin, AS1398 neutrase, trypsin, flavorzyme, papain and alcalase respectively. The peptic hydrolysate exhibited the highest antioxidant activities than those of other hydrolysates, which was separated using ultrafiltration membranes, and consecutively using chromatographic methods including ion‐exchange chromatography on SP Sephadex C‐25 column, gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G‐25 column and reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography. Finally, a novel antioxidant peptide from porcine haemoglobin (APPH) was purified, and its sequence was identified to be ARRLGHDFNPDVQAA (1666 Da) using mass spectrometry. APPH exhibited significant higher lipid peroxidation inhibitory ability than that of α‐tocopherol as positive control (P < 0.05), and efficiently quenched hydroxyl radical (IC₅₀ = 26.9 μm ). APPH agrees with the 115–129 residues of the β‐chain from porcine haemoglobin. These results indicate that APPH would be a beneficial ingredient for functional food and pharmaceuticals.     

Purification of trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor from jack fruit seeds

A trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor (JSTI) was isolated from jack fruit seeds (Artocarpus integrifolia Hook f) by ammonium sulphate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE–cellulose and Sephadex G-100. During all stages of purification, the ratio of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activities remained constant. The purified preparation was found to be homogeneous by gel filtration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and ultra-centrifugation. From the sedimentation coefficient, S _20w value of 3·5 ± 0·15 S. the molecular weight of JSTI was calculated to be 30·00 ± 2·50 kamu. The inhibitor showed a molecular weight of 24·55 kamu on a Sephadex G-75 column when eluted with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, Under non-denaturing conditions, JSTI exhibited anomalous behaviour on a Sephadex G-200 column. On SDS–PAGE, the inhibitor showed two major bands with molecular weights of 26·30 and 15·00 kamu and two minor bands with molecular weights of 19·50 and 12·00 kamu. The carboxyamidomethylated JSTI showed three trypsin inhibitory activity bands on PAGE, suggesting the presence of isoinhibitors.     

Purification and characterisation of carrot (Daucus carota L) pectinesterase

A pectinesterase isoform with an alkaline isoelectric point of over 8.66 was detected in crude extracts of carrot. The enzyme was purified by ion exchange and molecular exclusion chromatography. The molecular weight of the isoform was 25 kDa, determined in native conditions by filtration through Sephadex G‐75 SF. The enzyme showed a high affinity for its substrate, with K_m and V_max values of 0.031 mg ml^?1 and 6.77 units respectively for apple pectin. The pectinesterase activity exhibited an optimum around pH 7.4 and was activated by metallic ions, with optimum activities at NaCl concentrations between 130 and 330 mM and at CaCl₂ concentrations between 15 and 50 mM . The enzyme was activated most by Ca²⁺ and exhibited a greater tolerance of high concentrations of Na⁺. Comparison of its heat stability with other pectinesterases of vegetable origin indicated that the purified isoform was very thermolabile, being rendered inactive by heating for 5 min at 70 °C. The enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of polygalacturonic acid and competitively inhibited by D ‐galacturonic acid, with a K_i value of 1 mM . Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry