Metabolic regulation in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Growth of dihydroxyacetone kinase/glycerol kinase-negative mutants on mixtures of methanol and xylose in continuous cultures

The physiological responses of Hansenula polymorpha wild-type and mutant strains 17B (dihydroxyacetone kinase-negative) and 17BG51 (dihydroxyacetone kinase- and glycerol kinase-negative) to growth on mixtures of xylose and methanol in chemostats were investigated. Increasing methanol concentrations (0–110 mM ) in the feed of the wild-type culture resulted in increasing cell densities and a gradual switch towards methanol metabolism. At the lower methanol feed concentrations the mutant cultures used methanol and xylose to completion and changes in enzyme patterns comparable to the wild type were observed. This was not reflected in significant changes in cell densities. Instead, formaldehyde assimilation resulted in dihydroxyacetone (DHA) production, which was proportional to the amount of methanol added. At intermediate methanol concentration the cultures showed a strong variation in DHA levels and cell densities. Further increased in the methanol feed concentrations resulted in a drop in DHA accumulation rates, repression of alcohol oxidase synthesis and accumulation of residual methanol. The phenomena were studied in more detail in transition experiments and with gradients of methanol. The results indicate that xylulose-5-phosphate (Xu5P) generated in xylose metabolism served as acceptor molecule for formaldehyde assimilation by the peroxisomal enzyme DHA synthase. Accumulation of DHA in the mutant cultures, however, further diminished the availability of carbon for growth. The data suggest that with increasing methanol concentrations Xu5P eventually became growth rate limiting. This resulted in an unstable situation but wash-out of the culture did not occur to a significant extent. Instead, DHA accumulation ceased and cell densities, and enzymes specifically involved in xylose metabolism increase, indicating that the organism resumed its xylose metabolism. The molecular mechanisms controlling the partitioning of Xu5P over xylose (pentose phosphate pathway) and methanol (peroxisome) metabolism under these conditions remain to be elucidated.     

Purification and Characterization of β-Glucosidase from Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger, an isolate of soil contaminated with effluents from cotton ginning mill was grown in Czapek-Dox medium containing sawdust, Triton-X 100 and urea for production of an extracellular β-glucosidase. β-Glucosidase enzyme was purified (86-fold) from culture filtrate of A. niger by employing ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration on sephadex G-75. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 95 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had an optimal activity on p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside at 50°C and pH 5.0. The K_m and V_max of the enzyme on p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside at 50°C and pH 5 were 8.0 mM and 166 µmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. The enzyme could hydrolyze cellobiose and lactose but not sucrose. Heavy metals like Hg²⁺, Al³⁺, and Ag⁺ inhibited the activity, whereas Zn²⁺ and detergents such as Triton-X 100 and Tween-80 increased the activity at 0.01%. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of methanol and ethanol.     

Purification and characterization of an enzyme that has dihydroxyacetone-reducing activity from methanol-grown Hansenula ofunaensis

An intracellular enzyme having reduction activity towards dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and that was induced by DHA, was purified and characterized from a methanol-grown yeast, Hansenula ofunaensis. After harvesting cells grown in a 1% methanol medium until the early stationary phase, the enzyme was purified through ammonium sulfate fractination and a series of ion-exchange, hydrophobic, and gel-filtration column chromatographies. SDS-PAGE and HPLC showed the enzyme to be a homo dimer composed of two identical subunits, each with a molecular mass of 38 kDa. The optimum pHs for DHA reduction and glycerol oxidation were 6.0 and 7.0, respectively. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 55 degrees C. The enzyme reduced several other compounds, including acetaldehyde, acetol, 2-butanone and 3-methyl-2-butanone, more effectively than it did DHA, while its oxidation activity was higher towards ethanol, 2-propanol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol and 1,3-butanediol than towards glycerol. The K(m) values for DHA in reduction and glycerol in oxidation were 430 mM and 4 M, respectively. The K(m) values for DHA in reduction and glycerol in oxidation were 430 mM and 4 M, respectively. The purified enzyme had high K(m) values for glycerol and DHA and low K(m) values for 2-butanol and butanone, although physiologically it had a role in DHA metabolism. There were similarities between the purified enzyme and sec-alcohol dehydrogenases reported previously in their behavior towards inhibitors and metal ions, as well as in their K(m) values for 2-butanol and 2-butanone, but differences in their subunit molecular masses and activities for ethanol. At pH 9.8, the oxidative activity of the purified enzyme for l-2-butanol was about eleven times higher than that for d-2-butanol.     

Mutants of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pinus defective in C2 metabolism

A collection of mutants of Pichia pinus which are unable to grow on ethanol but retain the ability to grow on glucose and methanol, was obtained. Genetic and biochemical analysis of these strains revealed mutations in seven nuclear genes affecting activities of isocitrate lyase (icl1), malate synthase (mls1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pck1), ‘malic’ enzyme (mdd1) and acetyl-CoA synthetase (acs1, acs2 and acs3). All mutations except acs1-acs3 have no effect on the activities of other enzymes involved in C₂ metabolism. Mutations acs1, acs2 and acs3 have a pleiotropic action, leading to partial reduction in activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase. Ethanol-induced repression of the synthesis of the methanol oxidative enzymes, alcohol oxidase and catalase, is not impaired in these seven mutant classes. On the other hand, C₂ compound-induced inactivation of alcohol oxidase and catalase is impaired in mutants acs1, acs2, acs3 and icl1. It was suggested that glyoxylate and acetate (or acetate precursors) act as low molecular weight effectors, ‘switching on’ inactivation and repression, respectively, of alcohol oxidase and catalase in the medium containing ethanol or acetate.     

Production and Characterization of β-Galactosidase from Streptococcus thermophilus

Crude β-galatosidase was produced by lysis of cells of Streptococcus thermophilus grown on deproteinized whey. The enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography to yield a preparation free of protease activity. Highest activity was observed at pH 7.1, in the presence of potassium and manganese ions. Both monovalent and divalent cations were required for maximum activity but not for stability. The K_m for o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside and lactose was 0.98 mM and 6.9 mM, respectively. Galactose was a competitive inhibitor with K_i of 60 mM. Gel-filtration indicated a molecular weight of 530,000. The enzyme seems well suited to hydrolysis of lactose in milk.     

Constitutive expression,purification and characterisation of pectin methylesterase from Aspergillus niger in Pichia pastoris for potential application in the fruit juice industry

BACKGROUND: Pectin methylesterase (PME) catalyses the hydrolysis of the methyl ester of pectin, yielding free carboxyl groups and methanol. PME is widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. RESULTS: PME from Aspergillus niger was constitutively expressed to a high level in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant PME was purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion exchange chromatography, giving an overall yield of 28.0%. It appeared as a single band in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with a molecular mass of about 45 kDa. Optimal activity of the enzyme occurred at a temperature of 50 °C and a pH of 4.7. The K_m, V_max and k_cat values of the enzyme with respect to pectin were 8.6 mmol L^?1 [ ], 1.376 mmol min^?1 mg^?1 and 8.26 × 10² s^?1 respectively. Cations such as K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ slightly inhibited its activity, whereas Na⁺ had no effect. CONCLUSION: PME from A. niger was constitutively expressed to a high level in P. pastoris without methanol induction. The recombinant PME was purified and characterised and shown to be a good candidate for potential application in the fruit juice industry. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Partial purification of a polygalacturonase from a new Aspergillus sojae mutant and its application in grape mash maceration

The use of polygalacturonase (PG) preparations in winemaking promotes the release of phenolic compounds. A PG from a new source, Aspergillus sojae mutant, was semi‐purified and tested for grape mash maceration. Crude extract (CE), a commercial pectinase, and two high PG activity semi‐purified preparations, F_I and F_II, were applied for maceration at PG activity of 3.5 U g^?1 of grape for 46 h. Enzyme‐assisted maceration significantly (P < 0.05) increased the total phenolic content from 255.8 to 916.3 ± 5.2, 5732.9 ± 9.9, 563.4 ± 6.7 and 620.6 ± 18.4 mg L^?1 for CE, commercial pectinase, F_I and F_II, respectively. The content of individual phenolics such as gallic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic and p‐coumaric acids was improved. Principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses suggested that CE has a better performance upon the release of phenols. Semi‐purified preparations acted similar to commercial pectinase. These findings open an opportunity for the potential use of PG from the mutant strain as an alternative macerating enzyme.     

An enzyme possessing both glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase from Antrodia camphorata

Glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (GFD or GSH-FDH) plays important roles in formaldehyde detoxification and antioxidation. A gene encoding GFD from Antrodia camphorata was identified based on sequence homology. The deduced amino acid sequence of 378 amino acid residues is conserved among the reported GFDs. To characterise the Ac-GFD, the coding region was subcloned into a vector pET-20b(+) and transformed into Escherichia coli. The recombinant GFD was expressed and purified by Ni²⁺-nitrilotriacetic acid Sepharose. This purified enzyme showed a single band on a 10% SDS–PAGE. The enzyme retained 50% GFD activity after heating at 50 °C for 5 min. The enzyme is bifunctional. In addition to the GFD activity, it also functions as an effective S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) presumably to safeguard against nitrosative stress. The K_m values for S-hydroxymethylglutathione and S-nitrosoglutathione were 1.20 and 0.28 mM, respectively.     

PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF POLYPHENOL OXIDASE FROM PLUMS (Prunus domestica L., cv. STANLEY)

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was extracted and purified from Stanley plums (Prunus domestica L.) Crude PPO showed pH optima of 5.8 to 6.4 with different substrates. Heating for 5 min at 75C completely inactivated this enzyme. Plum PPO was stable at -20C for 16 weeks. K_mof this enzyme ranged from 17.5 mM with 4-methylcatechol to 31.2 mM with chlorogenic acid. The enzyme was purified 36-fold through (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. PAGE of crude and purified plum PPO showed 7 and 3 bands, respectively, when stained for activity with catechol. The molecular weight of 3 subunits of purified PPO was estimated in the range of 45–66 kD.     

Key role for transketolase activity in erythritol production by Trichosporonoides megachiliensis SN-G42

Erythritol is an important sugar alcohol industrially produced only by fermentation. The highly osmophilic yeast-like fungi, Trichosporonoides megachiliensis SN-G42, enables commercial production of erythritol with a high conversion from glucose to erythritol of more than 47%. However, the microbial production pathway of erythritol remains unclear. In the present study, the activities of enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway of Trichosporonoides megachiliensis SN-G42 used for industrial erythritol production were measured under various culture conditions to examine the production mechanism and the key-enzymes.As a result, the various enzyme activities of this organism are revealed in the pentose phosphate pathway, i.e., those of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, gluconate dehydrogenase, transketolase, transaldolase, and erythrose reductase. In the cultures in which erythritol was produced after completion of cell growth, the enzyme activities of the pentose phosphate pathway were higher than those of the TCA cycle. In particular, transketolase activity was correlated with erythritol productivity under various production cultures with different agitation speeds and thiamine concentrations.These results suggest that erythritol may be produced mainly through the pentose phosphate pathway. In addition, the high activity of transketolase is required to produce abundant intermediates, which results in high erythritol productivity. As such, transketolase appears to be a key-enzyme for erythritol production in the organism studied.     

Polyphenoloxidase activity from strawberry fruit (Fragaria ananassa,Duch., cv Selva): characterisation and partial purification

In this work, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) from Selva strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa, Duch) was extracted, characterised and partially purified. The activity of PPO was analysed in crude extracts obtained from either fresh fruits or acetone powder. The presence of NaCl and Triton X‐100 in the extraction buffer caused a marked increase in enzyme extractability. The enzyme showed an apparent K_m value of 11.2 mM with pyrocatechol as substrate. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at 50 °C and pH 5.3–6.0 without SDS and pH 7.2 in the presence of SDS. The presence of SDS increased PPO activity at pH 7.2 but diminished it at pH 6.0. The enzyme showed high thermal stability and maintained activities equal to or greater than 50% of its maximum activity in the 2.6–9.3 pH range. One polyphenoloxidase isoenzyme was detected in crude extracts of all ripening stages, showing an isoelectric point of 7.3. The specific activity of PPO decreased continuously through fruit ripening. Maximum specific activities were found at the ‘small green’ and ‘large green’ ripening stages. A total enzyme extract was partially purified by means of (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and cationic exchange chromatography in an FPLC system. The purification grade achieved was near 25. The partially purified enzyme showed an isoelectric point equal to 7.3 and a molecular mass of 135 ± 4 kDa for the native protein. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mode of action of a minor xylanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus on polysaccharides and model substrates

The mode of action of a minor xylanase on a variety of polysaccharides and model substrates was investigated. The enzyme was excreted by Thermoascus aurantiacus grown in solid state fermentation (SSF). The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 33,000. Thin layer chromatography analysis showed that the endoxylanase liberated short fragments from polysaccharides. The enzyme hydrolysed aryl-β- -cellobioside and the chromogenic (fluorogenic) 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-glycosides of xylobiose (MeUmbXyl₂) and xylotriose (MeUmbXyl₃) at the agluconic linkage. The results suggested that the endoxylanase belonged to family 10.     

The Pichia pastoris dihydroxyacetone kinase is a PTS1-containing,but cytosolic,protein that is essential for growth on methanol

Dihydroxyacetone kinase (DAK) is essential for methanol assimilation in methylotrophic yeasts. We have cloned the DAK gene from Pichia pastoris by functional complementation of a mutant that was unable to grow on methanol. An open reading frame of 1824 bp was identified that encodes a 65·3 kDa protein with high homology to DAK from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although DAK from P. pastoris contained a C-terminal tripeptide, TKL, which we showed can act as a peroxisomal targeting signal when fused to the green fluorescent protein, the enzyme was primarily cytosolic. The TKL tripeptide was not required for the biochemical function of DAK because a deletion construct lacking the DNA encoding this tripeptide was able to complement the P. pastoris dakΔ mutant. Peroxisomes, which are essential for growth of P. pastoris on methanol, were present in the dakΔ mutant and the import of peroxisomal proteins was not disturbed. The dakΔ mutant grew at normal rates on glycerol and oleate media. However, unlike the wild-type cells, the dakΔ mutant was unable to grow on methanol as the sole carbon source but was able to grow on dihydroxyacetone at a much slower rate. The metabolic pathway explaining the reduced growth rate of the dakΔ mutant on dihydroxyacetone is discussed. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank with Accession Number AF019198. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes of strawberry's achenes (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta) and comparison with respective enzymes from Methylobacterium extorquens

Achenes were isolated from strawberries fruits, while the methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens (strain with CABI registration number IMI 369321), which has been isolated from strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta) callus cultures, was grown on a mixture of methanol (0.25% v/v) and 1,2-propanediol (0.75% v/v). The Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymatic activities of the achenes were assessed and the optimum pH for ADH activity was found to be pH 10.0. Enzyme assays were carried out in order to define the best substrate specificity at pH = 10.0. The best substrates were found to be ethanol (Km = 5.950 mM) and methanol (Km = 12.610 mM). Only enzymes from the bacterium showed capability of using aldehydes - especially formaldehyde - as substrates. A wide variety of metals as well as EDTA and NaN₃ were shown to decrease the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE Electrophoresis experiments showed Molecular Weight of 47.0 kDa for the Alcohol Dehydrogenase from achenes of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). Additional experiments were conducted in order to define certain thermodynamic properties of the enzymes, by using the dehydrogenation activities of these three enzyme sources which were calculated by measuring the absorption of NADH at 340 nm, in the Arrhenius equation.     

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     

Partial characterization of a lipoxygenase from fusarium proliferatum

Summary

Biomass of the fungus Fusarium proliferatiim was produced and used to obtain a crude extract (FI) of lipoxygenase. The enzyme was further purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation at 40% of saturation (FII). The enzymatic extract (FII) showed its optimum activity at pH 6.0. The apparent K _m and V _max values for the lipoxygenase (FII) were calculated to be 5.15 × 10^?5 M and 1.61 μmol hydroperoxide/mg protein/min, respectively. Enzyme activity remained relatively stable at potassium cyanide concentrations as high as 60 mM. The presence of 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate activated the enzyme by 50%, whereas the use of 1.2 mM hydroquinone resulted in a 2‐fold increase in lipoxygenase activity. The partially purified enzyme (FII) showed a three‐fold enhancement of activity towards linoleic acid compared to linolenic acid as well as mono‐, di‐ and trilinolein.     

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Protopectin-Solubilizing Enzyme from Aspergillus niger Z-25

A mutant, Aspergillus niger Z-25 derived from A. niger XZ-131 with N⁺ supplementation, produced a protopectin-solubilizing enzyme (protopectinase). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-100 columns. The molecular weight of the protopectinase was estimated at 68.4 KD by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was stable from pH 3.0 to 7.0 and up to 60°C. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity was 4.0 and 50°C, respectively. The purified enzyme had 268-U/mL PPase (protopectinase) activity on citrus protopectin, and also showed 100-U/mL PGase (polygalacturonase) activity, which catalyzed the hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid. The Km value for protopectin was 0.215 mg/mL, while the Km value for polygalacturonic acid was 39.09 mg/ml. The PPase/PGase q-value was 2.68, more than 0.5. Therefore the enzyme was considered a novel pectinase and classified as protopectinase.     

Candida albicans phosphatidylinositol synthase has common features with both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian phosphatidylinositol synthases

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) synthase (cytidine 5′-diphospho (CDP)-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol:myo-inositol 3phosphatidyltransferase, EC 2.7.8.11) was isolated from the microsomal cell fraction of Candida albicans. The Triton X-100 extracted enzyme was enriched 140-fold by affinity chromatography on CDP-diacylglycerol–Sepharose. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 9·5 in glycine/NaOH buffer. It had an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ and was inhibited by Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Maximal activity was at 0·2–0·6 mm-CDP-diacylglycerol, higher concentrations inhibited the enzyme. With 2′-deoxy-CDP-diacylglycerol as the lipid substrate, optimal activity was at 0·7 mm. The K_m for myo-inositol was determined to be 0·55 mm. The optimal temperature for the PI synthase reaction was 55°C. The C. albicans PI synthase shows differences to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme, such as activation by bivalent cations, inhibition by nucleotides, temperature optimum and activation energy, but also to the human PI synthase in preference for the lipid substrates, inhibition by nucleoside monophosphates and stabilization by Mn²⁺ and phospholipids.     

Rapid Purfication of β -Galactosidase (Aspergillus Niger) from a Commercial Preparation

β-Galactosidase (A. niger) was purified from a commercial source in order to study the protein nature of the enzyme and some of its kinetic properties. The enzyme was rapidly purified by acetone precipitation, gel filtratior, and affinity chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was twice as high as that found in previous studies. The K_m and V_max for o-nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside were 2.02 mM and 345 μmoles/min/mg protein respectively at pH 4.5 and 37°C. The procedure described yields a highly active enzyme which may be suitable for immobilization and hydrolysis of lactose. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 117,000 and the isolectric point was 4.9. The enzyme appears to be a glycoprotein and may contain multiple molecular forms.