Thermostable NAD+-dependent (R)-specific secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from cholesterol-utilizing Burkholderia sp. AIU 652

An alcohol dehydrogenase produced by Burkholderia sp. AIU 652, which was isolated with a cholesterol medium, was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme had broad substrate specificity, and the best reaction was the reversible oxidation of 2-propanol to acetone and 2-butanol to 2-butanone. The K(m) values for secondary alcohols and ketones were much lower than those for primary alcohols or diols. In addition, the enzyme oxidized R-(-)-alcohols in preference to S-(+)-alcohols, and utilized NAD+, but not NADP+ as the cofactor. The molecular mass was 150 kDa with four identical subunits, and the activity was inhibited by o-phenanthroline, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl. Thus, this enzyme was classified into a group of NAD+-dependent R-(-)-specific secondary alcohol dehydrogenases. However, this enzyme was better than the previously reported NAD+-dependent R-(-)-specific secondary alcohol dehydrogenases for chiral chemical synthesis in terms of substrate specificity, stereospecificity, and thermostability. This enzyme might be applicable as an effective biocatalyst for the production of chiral alcohols and related compounds.     

Purification and characterization of alcohol dehydrogenase reducing N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone from Geotrichum capitatum

(S)-N-Benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol is widely used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals as a chiral building block. We produced 30 mM (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol (enantiometric excess > 99.9%) from the corresponding ketone N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with more than 99.9% yield in 28 h of the resting-cell reaction of Geotrichum capitatum JCM 3908. NAD(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase reducing N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone from G. capitatum JCM 3908 was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation and a series of DEAE-Toyopearl, Butyl-Toyopearl, Superdex 200, and Hydroxyapatite column chromatographies. The results of SDS-PAGE and HPLC showed the enzyme to be a dimer with a molecular mass of 78 kDa. The purified enzyme produced (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol (e.e.>99.9%) from N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone. The enzyme reduced 2,3-butanedione, 2-hexanone, cyclohexanone, propionaldehyde, n-butylaldehyde, n-hexylaldehyde, n-octylaldehyde, n-valeraldehyde, and benzylacetone more effectively than it did N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone. No activity was detected towards N-benzyl-2-pyrrolidinone or 2-pyrrolidinone. The activity towards (R)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol was not detected under the assay conditions employed. The oxidizing activity of the enzyme was higher towards 2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-pentanol, 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, and 1-phenyl-2-propanol than towards (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol. The K(m) values for N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone reduction and (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol oxidation were 0.13 and 8.47 mM, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first time that an N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol/N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone oxidoreductase was purified from a eukaryote; moreover, this is the first report of (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol dehydrogenase activity in microorganisms. This enzyme showed features different from those of known prokaryotic N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone reductases. This enzyme will be very useful for the production of chiral compounds.     

Purification and characterization of NAD-specific 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc lactis SHO-54

The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44) from Leuconostoc lactis SHO-54 was purified with an overall yield of 38% and a specific activity of 140.0 units/mg protein. The enzyme had a tetrameric structure and a molecular mass of 32.8 kDa. The amino acid composition of the purified enzyme was determined, and the enzyme contained no sulfhydryl amino acids. The K(m) values for 6-phosphogluconate and NAD were 0.95 mM and 0.32 mM, respectively.     

Characterization of Ypr1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a 2-methylbutyraldehyde reductase

The metabolism of aldehydes and ketones in yeast is important for biosynthetic, catabolic and detoxication processes. Aldo-keto reductases are a family of enzymes that are able to reduce aldehydes and ketones. The roles of individual aldo-keto reductases in yeast has been difficult to determine because of overlapping substrate specificities of these enzymes. In this study, we have cloned, expressed and characterized the aldo-keto reductase Ypr1p from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and we describe its substrate specificity. The enzyme displays high specific activity towards 2-methylbutyraldehyde, as well as other aldehydes such as hexanal. It exhibits extremely low activity as a glycerol dehydrogenase. The enzyme functions over a wide pH range and uses NADPH as co-factor. In comparison to other mammalian and yeast aldo-keto reductases, Ypr1p has relatively high affinity for D,L-glyceraldehyde (1.08 mM) and hexanal (0.39 mM), but relatively low affinity for 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (1.07 mM). It displays higher specific activity for 2-methylbutyraldehyde than does yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and has a K(m) for 2-methyl butyraldehyde of 1.09 mM. The enzyme is expressed during growth on glucose, but its levels are rapidly induced by osmotic and oxidative stress. Yeast in which the YPR1 gene has been deleted possess 50% lower 2-methylbutyraldehyde reductase activity than the wild-type strain. This suggests that the enzyme may contribute to 2-methyl butyraldehyde reduction in vivo. It may therefore play a role in isoleucine catabolism and fusel alcohol formation and may influence flavour formation by strains of brewing yeast.     

Purification and characterization of enzyme responsible for N-myristoylation of octapeptide in aqueous solution without ATP and coenzyme a from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The enzyme that catalyzes N-acyl linkage between myristic acid and the NH(2)-terminal glycine residue of the octapeptide Gly-Asn-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Arg-Arg-NH(2) in aqueous solution without ATP and coenzyme A was found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The enzyme was purified from cell-free crude extract using DEAE-Cellulose, Sephadex G-200, CM-Sephadex C-50, and hydroxyapatite column chromatographies, and then purified approximately 1900-fold with about 1.5% recovery of enzyme activity from the crude extract. Finally, the purified enzyme showed a main band on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The band corresponded to a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa. The K(m)s of the purified enzyme for the substrate myristic acid and the octapeptide were 0.36 and 2.6 mM, respectively. When myristoyl-CoA instead of myristic acid was used as the substrate for the enzyme reaction, myristoyl octapeptide could be synthesized as observed in the case of myristic acid. The K(m) of myristoyl-CoA was 0.17 mM.     

Purification and characterization of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from Thiobacillus thiooxidans

3-Isopropylmalate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from the acidophilic autotroph Thiobacillus thiooxidans. The native enzyme was a dimer of molecular weight 40,000. The apparent K(m) values for 3-isopropylmalate and NAD+ were estimated to be 0.13 mM and 8.7 mM, respectively. The optimum pH for activity was 9.0 and the optimum temperature was 65 degrees C. The properties of the enzyme were similar to those of the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans enzyme, expect for substrate specificity. T. thiooxidans 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase could not utilize malate as a substrate.     

Purification and characterization of a diacetyl reductase from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides

A diacetyl reductase (acetoin:NAD⁺ oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.5) was purified to homogeneity from a cell-free extract of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides by sequentially using anion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel-filtration. The enzyme was optimally active for the reduction of diacetyl at pH 5.5, while optimum activity for the oxidation of meso-2,3-butanediol by the enzyme was at pH 7.5. The temperature optimum of the enzyme was 40°C. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 26.91, 30 and 95 kDa, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and gel-filtration, respectively, indicating that the native enzyme exists as a trimer or tetramer. The enzyme used only NADH as coenzyme for the reduction of diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, pyruvic acid methyl ester and methyl glyoxal; NADH and NADPH functioned equally well as coenzyme for the reduction of acetoin by the enzyme. The enzyme oxidized meso-2,3-butanediol and (2S, 3S)-(+)-2,3-butanediol but not (2R, 3R)-(+)-2,3-butanediol. The apparent K_m for the reduction of diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione and acetoin were 5.1, 5.57 and 0.34 mm, respectively.     

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, Nitrosomonas sp. K1: purification and properties

The ammonia-oxidizing chemoautotrophic Nitrosomonas sp. strain K1 exhibited marked ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RubisCO) activity. The RubisCO [EC 4.1.1.39] was purified as an electrophoretically homogeneous protein. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be about 460 kDa by gel filtration, and it consists of two subunits [large (L): 52.2 kDa; small (S): 13.3 kDa] as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE. This confirmed that the enzyme has an L(8)S(8) structure. The K(m) values of the enzyme for RuBP, NaHCO3, and Mg2+ were estimated to be 0.112, 0.415, and 1.063 mM, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for its activity were approximately 7.0 and 45 degrees C. The enzyme was stable up to 45 degrees C and in a pH range from 7.0-9.0 (4 degrees C, 48 h). The enzyme activity was inhibited by Cu2+, Hg2+, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and SDS (0.1 mM). The activity was also inhibited by ammonium sulfate at high concentrations (38-303 mM) but the stability of the enzyme showed no inhibition at the same ammonium sulfate concentrations. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the large and small subunits are AIKTYQAGVKEYRQTYW QPDYVPL and AIQAYHLTKKYETFSYLPQM, respectively.     

Characterization of a thermostable family 10 endo-xylanase (XynB) from Thermotoga maritima that cleaves p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside

Thermotoga maritima MSB8 possesses two xylanase genes, xynA and xynB. The xynB gene was isolated from the genomic DNA of T. maritima, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli. XynB was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, affinity chromatography and ion-exchange column chromatography. The purified enzyme produced a single band upon SDS-PAGE corresponding to a molecular mass of 42 kDa. At 70 degrees C, the enzyme was stable between pH 5.0 and pH 11.4, and it was stable at temperatures of up to 100 degrees C from pH 7.0 to pH 8.5. At 50 degrees C, XynB displayed an optimum pH of 6.14 and at this pH the temperature for optimal enzyme activity was 90 degrees C. XynB exhibited broad substrate specificity and was highly active towards p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylobioside with K(m) and k(cat) values of 0.0077 mM and 5.5 s(-1), respectively, at 30 degrees C. It was also active towards p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside. The initial product of the cleavage of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside was xylobiose, indicating that the major reaction in the cleavage was transglycosylation, not hydrolysis.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular protease from alkaliphilic and thermophilic Bacillus sp. PS719

An alkaline protease was purified to apparent homogeneity from culture supernatants of Bacillus sp. PS719, a novel alkaliphilic, thermophilic bacterium isolated from a thermal spring soil sample, by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE-cellulose and alpha-casein agarose column chromatographies. The purified enzyme migrated as a single protein band of 42 kDa during both denaturing and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis, suggesting that it consists of a single polypeptide chain. Its isoelectric point was approximately 4.8. The protease exhibited maximum activity towards azocasein at pH 9.0 and at 75 degrees C. The enzyme activity was stimulated by Ca2+, but was inhibited in the presence of Fe2+ or Cu2+. The enzyme was stable in the pH range 8.0 to 10.0 and up to 80 degrees C in the absence of Ca2+. Since phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI) in addition to N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) completely inhibited the activity, this enzyme appears to be a trypsin-like serine protease. Among the various oligopeptidyl-p-nitroanilides tested, the protease showed a preference for cleavage at arginine residues on the carboxylic side of the scissile bond of the substrate, liberating p-nitroaniline from N-carbobenzoxy (CBZ)-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide with the K(m) and V(max) values of 0.6 mM and 1.0 micromol.min(-1).mg protein(-1), respectively.     

Classical transketolase functions as the formaldehyde-assimilating enzyme during growth of a dihydroxyacetone synthase-negative mutant of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha on mixtures of xylose and methanol in continuous cultures

Contrary to expectation, a mutant of Hansenula polymorpha blocked in dihydroxyacetone (DHA) synthase was able to assimilate methanol-carbon when grown in chemostat culture on mixtures of xylose and methanol. Incubation of a DHA synthase- and DHA kinase-negative double mutant resulted in DHA accumulation, indicating that a DHA synthase-type of reaction was involved. Low residual DHA synthase activity subsequently was shown to be present when using an assay with improved sensitivity. This activity was not associated with the (mutated) DHA synthase protein, which was still present in the peroxisomes, but with the enzyme transketolase. Transketolase from methanol grown cells was purified (525-fold) to homogeneity in 9% yield. The native enzyme was dimeric, as has been reported fro other transketolases, with a subunit molecular weight of 74000. The affinity of the purified enzyme for formaldehyde was low (K_m = 5 mM ), but high for xylulose-5-phosphate (ca. 10 μM ). The in vivo functioning of transketolase in formaldehyde assimilation, and the influence of the hydration state of formaldehyde is discussed.     

生物电化学法转化甘油生产1,3-二羟基丙酮

氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌中依赖辅基吡咯喹啉醌(Pyrroloquinoline Quinone,PQQ)的膜结合甘油脱氢酶(Glycerol dehydrogenase,GDH)是酶法转化甘油生成1,3-二羟基丙酮(1,3-Dihydroxyacetone,DHA)的关键酶。以铁氰化钾为电子媒介体,采用生物电化学法,再生甘油脱氢酶的辅基PQQ,从而实现酶法循环转化甘油生产DHA。设计电耦联反应装置,在(28±2)℃,370mV电压下反应18h,DHA质量浓度达到27.21g/L,甘油转化率为52.93%。     

Highly active metallocarboxypeptidase from newly isolated Geobacillus strain SBS-4S: cloning and characterization

The carboxypeptidase gene from Geobacillus SBS-4S was cloned and sequenced. The sequence analysis displayed the gene consists of an open reading frame of 1503 nucleotides encoding a protein of 500 amino acids (CBP(SBS)). The amino acid sequence comparison revealed that CBP(SBS) exhibited a highest homology of 41.6% (identity) with carboxypeptidase Taq from Thermus aquaticus among the characterized proteases. CBP(SBS) contained an active site motif (265)HEXXH(269) which is conserved in family-M32 of carboxypeptidases. The gene was expressed with His-Tag utilizing Escherichia coli expression system and purified to apparent homogeneity. The purified CBP(SBS) showed highest activity at pH 7.5 and 70°C. The enzyme activity was metal ion dependent. Among metal ions highest activity was found in the presence of Co(2+). Thermostability studies of CBP(SBS) by circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated the melting temperature of the protein around 77°C. The enzyme exhibited K(m) and V(max) values of 14 mM and 10526 μmol min(-1) mg(-1) when carbobenzoxy-alanine-arginine was used as substrate. k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) valves were 10175 s(-1) and 726 mM(-1) s(-1). To our knowledge this is the highest ever reported enzyme activity of a metallocarboxypeptidase and the first characterization of a metallocarboxypeptidase from genus Geobacillus.     

Purification and characterization of an acid trehalase from Acidobacterium capsulatum

We purified an acid trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28, alpha,alpha'-trehalose glucohydrolase) from an acidophilic bacterium, Acidobacterium capsulatum. The enzyme was homogeneous based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 57 kDa. Maximum trehalase activity was observed at pH 2.5. The acid trehalase exhibited an apparent K(m) of 1.0 mM for trehalose at 30 degrees C and pH 3.0. The trehalase was located in the periplasmic space. The activity of the enzyme was activated by 1.0 mM MnCl2 or CoCl2, and inhibited by 1.0 mM PbCl2, HgCl2, NiCl2, p-chloromercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide, monoiodoacetate, or EDTA. The enzyme showed high specificity for trehalose. It was found that an equimolar mixture of alpha-D-glucose and beta-D-glucose was formed on hydrolysis of trehalose by the trehalase.     

Purification and characterization of a p-coumarate decarboxylase and a vinylphenol reductase from Brettanomyces bruxellensis

The presence of Brettanomyces bruxellensis has been correlated with an increase of phenolic aromas in wine. The production of these aromas results from the metabolization of cinnamic acids, present in the wine, to their ethyl derivatives. Hence, the participation of two enzymes has been proposed: a p-coumarate decarboxylase (CD) and a vinylphenol reductase (VR). Both enzymes were purified and characterized from B. bruxellensis. In denaturing conditions, the CD enzyme had a molecular mass of 21 kDa, while in native conditions its mass was 41 kDa. The optimal activity was obtained at a temperature of 40 degrees C and a pH of 6.0. For p-coumaric acid, the K(m) value and V(max) were 1.22+/-0.08 mM and 98+/-0.15 micromol/min mg, respectively. The VR enzyme had a molecular mass of 37 kDa in SDS-PAGE, while in natural conditions its mass was 118 kDa. The K(m) value was >3.37+/-2.05 mM and its V(max) was 107.62+/-50.38 micromol/min mg for NADPH used as a cofactor. Both enzymatic activities were stable at pH 3.4, but in the presence of ethanol the CD activity decreased drastically while the VR activity was more stable. This is the first report that shows the presence of a CD and a VR enzyme in B. bruxellensis.     

弱氧化醋酸杆菌静止细胞氧化活性的研究及1,3-二羟基丙酮的制备

利用在非生长培养基中弱氧化醋酸杆菌(AcebobacterSuboxydans)静止细胞发酵甘油制备1,3-二羟基丙酮(DHA)。通过改变培养条件,研究了影响静止细胞氧化特性的因素。结果表明,处于非生长期的弱氧化醋酸杆菌表现出稳定的高氧化活性,DHA转化周期缩短,获得了较高产率。此外考察了弱氧化醋酸杆菌静止细胞在重复利用多批次发酵中的氧化稳定性,经重复利用9个批次后,菌体细胞仍保持较高的氧化活性。当甘油浓度为60g/L时,DHA总产量可达491.6g,甘油平均转化率为91%,体积产率为8.97g/(L.h),较生长细胞培养提高10~15倍。     

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.     

Enhancing the thermostability of α-glucosidase from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4 by single proline substitution

Thermostability can be increased by introducing prolines at suitable sites in target proteins. In this study, we compared five thermostable α-glucosidases and the moderate thermostable α-glucosidase (TtGluA) from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4. Based on the amino acid sequence alignment, four sites (Leu152, Asn208, Lys285, and Thr430) of TtGluA were chosen for proline substitution to improve its thermostability. Thermostability of mutants L152P, K285P, and T430P increased evidently, but no thermostability improvement was observed for N208P. Compared to the wild-type enzyme, T₅₀¹⁵ of T430P had a rise of 2 °C without distinct loss of activity. However, T₅₀¹⁵ values of L152P and K285P increased 2 °C and 10.5 °C, respectively, while retaining activity of only 26.6% and 24.9% of wild-type enzyme. The K_m of L152P, K285P, T430P and wild-type enzyme was 1.61, 0.32, 1.64, and 1.08 mM, respectively. These indicate that the selected sites are not only important for the thermostability but also related to the substrate binding and catalytic activity of TtGluA. The CD spectra analysis of the improved mutants and wild-type enzyme showed no distinct changes in their secondary structures. Combining analysis of secondary structure prediction and 3D structure modeling, the proline substitution at the three sites stabilized TtGluA possibly by reducing the flexibility of loop and random coil or (and) increasing the hydrophobic effect at these strategic regions with no evident structure change.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular lipase from Mucor hiemalis f. corticola isolated from soil

We have screened 39 microfungi isolates originated from soil in terms of lipolytic activity. Out of all screened, a novel strain of Mucor hiemalis f. corticola was determined to have the highest lipase activity. The extracellular lipase was produced in response to 2% glucose and 2.1% peptone. The lipase was purified 12.63-folds with a final yield of 27.7% through following purification steps; ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, gel filtration column chromatography and ion exchange chromatography, respectively. MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed 31% amino-acid identity to a known lipase from Rhizomucor miehei species. The molecular weight of the lipase was determined as 46kDa using SDS-PAGE and analytical gel filtration. Optimal pH and temperature of the lipase were determined as 7.0 and 40°C, respectively. The enzyme activity was observed to be stable at the pH range of 7.0-9.0. Thermostability assays demonstrated that the lipase was stable up to 50°C for 60min. The lipase was more stable in ethanol and methanol than other organic solvents tested. Furthermore, the activity of the lipase was slightly enhanced by SDS and PMSF. In the presence of p-NPP as substrate, K(m) and V(max) values of the lipase were calculated by Hanes-Woolf plot as 1.327mM and 91.11μmol/min, respectively.     

Purification, characterization, and primary structure of a novel N-acyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase from Microbacterium natoriense TNJL143-2

A novel N-acyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase (DAA) was purified from the cells of a novel species of the genus Microbacterium. The purified enzyme, termed AcyM, was a monomeric protein with an apparent molecular weight of 56,000. It acted on N-acylated hydrophobic d-amino acids with the highest preference for N-acetyl-d-phenylalanine (NADF). Optimum temperature and pH for the hydrolysis of NADF were 45°C and pH 8.5, respectively. The k(cat) and K(m) values for NADF were 41?s(-1) and 2.5?mM at 37°C and pH 8.0, although the enzyme activity was inhibited by high concentrations of NADF. Although many known DAAs are inhibited by 1?mM EDTA, AcyM displayed a 65% level of its full activity even in the presence of 20?mM EDTA. Based on partial amino acid sequences of the purified enzyme, the full-length AcyM gene was cloned and sequenced. It encoded a protein of 495 amino acids with a relatively low sequence similarity to a DAA from Alcaligenes faecalis DA1 (termed AFD), a binuclear zinc enzyme of the α/β-barrel amidohydrolase superfamily. The unique cysteine residue that serves as a ligand to the active-site zinc ions in AFD and other DAAs was not conserved in AcyM and was replaced by alanine. AcyM was the most closely related to a DAA of Gluconobacter oxydans (termed Gox1177) and phylogenetically distant from AFD and all other DAAs that have been biochemically characterized thus far. AcyM, along with Gox1177, appears to represent a new phylogenetic subcluster of DAAs.