Identification of a cysteine proteinase from Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) hepatopancreas as cathepsin L

A cysteine proteinase from Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) hepatopancreas was partially purified by a two step procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography and further by SDS–PAGE. The molecular weight of the proteinase was 24 kDa determined by SDS–PAGE and 23.7 kDa with mass spectrometry. The activity had an optimum pH of 4.5 and optimum temperature of 55 °C under the assay for cathepsin L specific synthetic substrate Z-PAAFC. The cathepsin B and H specific synthetic substrates Z-AAAFC and H-AMC did not show any hydrolysis with the partially purified enzyme. Peptide mapping of trypsin digests of the 24 kDa band from SDS–PAGE showed the squid cysteine proteinase was homologous to cathepsin L from different animal sources. The activity of the partially purified fraction with the cathepsin L specific substrate Z-PAAFC was inhibited 75–89% by enzyme inhibitors specific for cysteine proteinases but was also significantly inhibited by serine and aspartate proteinase inhibitors.     

Isolation of cathepsin B from the muscle of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and comparison of cathepsins B and L actions on surimi gel softening

Cathepsin B from silver carp muscle was purified to 263-fold by acid treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by a series of chromatographic separations. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 29 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The purified enzyme was activated by dithiothreitol and cysteine while it was substantially inhibited by E-64, suggesting the purified enzyme belongs to the cysteine proteinase family. Optimal pH and temperature were 5.5 and 35 °C, respectively. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of Z-Arg-Arg-MCA with a parameter of K_m (90 μM) and K_cat (20.3 s⁻¹), but hardly hydrolyzed Arg-MCA. Analysis of surimi gel strength and microstructure showed that cathepsins B and L were capable of destroying the network structure of silver carp surimi gels, consequently causing gel softening. Cathepsin L might play an important role in the modori effect.     

Purification and characterisation of cathepsin L from the skeletal muscle of blue scad (Decapterus maruadsi) and comparison of its role with myofibril-bound serine proteinase in the degradation of myofibrillar proteins

The modori phenomenon during surimi production is caused by endogenous proteinases, especially cathepsin L and myofibril-bound serine proteinase (MBSP). Cathepsin L from the skeletal muscle of blue scad (Decapterus maruadsi) was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate fractionation and a series of column chromatographies and revealed a single band with molecular mass of 30 kDa on SDS–PAGE. Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) obtained three fragments with 48 amino acid residues, which were highly identical to cathepsin L from other fish species. Its optimal pH and temperature were 5.5 and 55 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, MBSP was purified from the skeletal muscle of blue scad, and the roles of cathepsin L and MBSP in the degradation of myofibrillar proteins were compared. The results indicated that MBSP is more effective than cathepsin L in promoting the degradation of myofibrillar proteins, especially myosin heavy chain (MHC), suggesting that MBSP plays a more significant role.     

Characteristics of trypsin from the pyloric ceca of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Trypsin was purified from the pyloric ceca of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and Sephadex G-50. The final enzyme preparation was nearly homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and the molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 24 kDa by SDS–PAGE. Trypsin activity was effectively inhibited by serine protease inhibitors, such as soybean trypsin inhibitor and TLCK. Trypsin had maximal activities at around pH 8.0 and 50 °C for the hydrolysis of N^α-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride. Trypsin was unstable above 30 °C and below pH 5.0, and was stabilized by calcium ions. Walleye pollock trypsin was more thermally unstable than trypsin from the Temperate Zone fish and Tropical Zone fish. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the trypsin, IVGGYECTKHSQAHQVSLNS, was found, and the sequential identity between the walleye pollock trypsin and Frigid Zone fish trypsin was higher (85–100%) than with Temperate Zone fish trypsin (75–90%), Tropical Zone fish trypsin (75–85%), or mammalian trypsin (60–65%).     

Thermal Gel Degradation (Modori) in Sturgeon (Acipenseridae) Surimi Gels

Sturgeon meat has been found to be suitable as surimi raw materials. The present study determined the modori phenomenon in sturgeon surimi gels and identified its relationship with cathepsins. In all heat‐treated gels (25 to 90 °C, at 5 °C intervals), the 40 °C‐incubated sturgeon surimi gel showed the weakest gel properties and water‐holding capacity (P < 0.05), a rough protein gel network under SEM, and the highest protein solubility and trichloroacetic acid‐soluble peptides content (P < 0.05). SDS‐PAGE indicated that the myosin heavy chain band of sturgeon surimi gels was almost completely degraded at 40 °C. Moreover, the highest cathepsin L activity was observed in 40 °C‐treated sturgeon surimi gels (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that the modori phenomenon in sturgeon surimi gels occurred at 40 °C, which was partially attributed to cathepsin L, thereby allowing for the better exploitation and utilization of sturgeon surimi.     

Optimisation of gelatine extraction from hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) skins and measurement of gel strength and SDS–PAGE

The extraction of hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) gelatine was optimised using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and gel strength and SDS–PAGE were evaluated. The optimum conditions for extraction were 0.75 M NaCl for 9 min of pre-treatment time and hot water extraction at 49.3 °C for 60 min. Results showed that the predicted yield by RSM (17.4%) closely matched the experimental yield of 17.6%. SDS–PAGE showed that hoki gelatine contained higher molecular weight subunits (∼191 kDa) but lower gel strength (197 ± 5 g) than those from porcine (307 ± 8.4 g) or bovine (273 ± 16.1 g) gelatine determined at 7 °C. However, hoki gelatine gel strength was significantly higher than those from other cold-water fish species reported in literature, which could account for the slight differences in methodologies reported.     

New alkaline trypsin from the intestine of Grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) with high activity at low temperature: Purification and characterisation

A highly alkaline trypsin from the intestine of Grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus), with high activity at low temperature, was purified and characterised. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity using acetone precipitation, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Mono Q-Sepharose anion-exchange chromatography, with a 13.9-fold increase in specific activity and 41.3% recovery. The molecular weight of the purified alkaline trypsin was estimated to be 23.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and size exclusion chromatography. Purified trypsin appeared as a single band on native–PAGE. Interestingly, the enzyme was highly active over a wide range of pH, from 9.0 to 11.5, with an optimum at pH 10.5, using Nα-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) as a substrate. The relative activities at pH 9.0, 11.5 and 12.0 were 86.5%, 92.6% and 52.4%, respectively. The enzyme was extremely stable in the pH range 7.0–12.0. In addition, the enzyme had high activity at low and moderate temperatures with an optimum at around 40 °C and had more than 80% of its maximum activity at 20 °C. The purified enzyme was strongly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), a serine protease inhibitor. The enzyme showed extreme stability towards oxidising agents, retaining about 87% and 80% of its initial activity after 1 h incubation at 40 °C in the presence of 1% sodium perborate and 1% H₂O₂, respectively. In addition, the enzyme showed excellent stability and compatibility with some commercial solid detergents.     

Purification and characterisation of an alkaliphilic esterase from a culinary medicinal mushroom, Sparassis crispa

In this study, we found that the fruiting body of the medicinal and edible mushroom Sparassis crispa produces an alkaliphilic esterase. The substrate specificity of this esterase was high for a p-nitrophenyl acetate substrate. The S. crispa esterase was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The recovery and purification yields of the enzyme were 15–17% and 70–73 folds from six different strains of S. crispa, respectively. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was approximately 60 kDa, as determined by SDS–PAGE. A zymogram analysis using a tributyrin substrate revealed that this enzyme is an esterase. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 50 °C, respectively. The pH and temperature stability profiles show that this enzyme is more stable under alkaline conditions and at 30–40 °C. K_m and V_max for this esterase enzyme acting on p-nitrophenyl acetate were 0.2 mM and 0.5 U/mg proteins, respectively.     

Purification and characterization of trypsin from the pyloric caeca of brownstripe red snapper (Lutjanus vitta)

Trypsin was purified from the pyloric caeca of brownstripe red snapper (Lutjanus vitta) by ammonium sulphate (40–60% saturation) precipitation, soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI)-Sepharose 4B column and DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. Purified trypsin showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and native-PAGE. A yield of 4.9% with the purification-fold of 20 was obtained. Trypsin had an apparent molecular weight of 23 kDa. SBTI and N-ρ-tosyl-l-lysine-chloromethylketone (TLCK) showed a strong inhibitory effect on the purified trypsin, while other protease inhibitors exhibited negligible inhibition. Trypsin had maximal activity at pH 8.5 and 60 °C for the hydrolysis of α-N-benzoyl-dl-arginine-ρ-nitroanilide (BAPNA). It was stable within the temperature range of 25–55 °C and pH range of 7.0–10.0. Purified trypsin had a Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) and catalytic constant (k_cat) of 0.507 mM and 4.71 s⁻¹, respectively, when BAPNA was used as the substrate. For the hydrolysis of α-N-ρ-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester (TAME), K_m and k_cat were 0.328 mM and 112 s⁻¹, respectively.     

A novel aspartic protease from the viscera of Sardinelle (Sardinella aurita): Purification and characterisation

A novel aspartic protease was extracted from the defatted viscera of sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) and purified, with a 9.5-fold increase in specific activity and 23.3% recovery. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 17 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on native-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for protease activity were around 3.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The enzyme showed pH stability between 2.0 and 5.0 and retained more than 50% of its activity after heating for 30 min at 50 °C. The enzyme lost 90% of its activity after incubation with pepstatin A at room temperature, but was not inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Its K_m value was determined to be 0.73 × 10⁻⁴ M using haemoglobin as a substrate. The N-terminal 12 amino acid sequence of the purified acidic protease was R V I I E D X D Q F C T. This sequence showed low homology with aspartic peptidases of several other species of fish, suggesting that the enzyme is a new aspartic protease.     

Purification and characterization of soluble invertases from suspension-cultured bamboo (Bambusa edulis) cells

An alkaline invertase (IT I) and an acid invertase (IT II) were purified from the soluble fraction of suspension cultured bamboo cells. Both purified invertases were homogeneous as examined by SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and were identified as β-fructofuranosidases able to attack the β-fructofuranoside from the fructose end. With respect to sucrose hydrolysis, the optimal pHs were 7.0 and 4.5 for IT I and IT II, respectively. The Km’s were 10.9 and 3.7 mM. The IT I and IT II molecular masses were 240 and 68 kDa, respectively, as estimated by gel filtration. The isoelectric points were 4.8 and 7.4. IT I was a homotetrameric enzyme activated by bovine serum albumin (BSA). IT II was a monomeric enzyme activated by BSA, concanavalin A (ConA) and urease. Both isoforms were significantly inhibited by heavy metal ions Ag⁺ (5 mM) and Hg²⁺ (1 mM), and mercaptide forming agent ρ-chloromercuribenzoic acid (PCMB; 0.5 mM).     

Biochemical and gelling properties of tilapia surimi and protein recovered using an acid-alkaline process

The biochemical and gel properties of tilapia surimi prepared by a conventional washing method and protein isolated using alkaline-acid-aided processes were studied. Solubility and recovery of protein was found to be highest by using a conventional method, followed by an alkaline- and acid-aided process, respectively. Decreases in myoglobin and lipid contents were found in alkaline- or acid-aided process when compared to the conventional process (p < 0.05). The highest breaking force and deformation of kamaboko and modori gels was found in the gels prepared by the conventional washing method. Higher expressible water and whiteness were found in modori gels when compared to kamaboko gels. TCA-soluble peptide contents of conventional surimi gels were lower than those of acid- and alkaline-recovered protein gels. Degradation of myofibrillar protein was observed in acid-isolated protein. Microstructure of kamaboko gels showed more compact network than in modori gels in both conventional surimi and protein recovered using the pH-shift process.     

Purification and partial characterization of polyphenol oxidase from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb.

The purification and partial enzymology characteristics of polyphenol oxidase from Lonicera japonica (LjPPO) were studied in this paper. The crude enzyme solution was purified in turn by ammonium sulfate, dialysis, and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography after preliminary treatments. Purification resulted in 31-fold enrichment and its molecular weight was estimated to be ∼49 kDa exhibited on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). The pH for optimal conditions of LjPPO was 7.5, and the temperature was 25 °C, in addition, the inhibitive effects of inhibitors were enhanced positively with increasing of the concentration. Moreover, crude enzyme solution showed diphenolase activity toward catechol, l-dopa and chlorogenic acid rather than monophenolase and triphenolase activity, and the best substrate was catechol because of the highest V_max/K_m value. However, the oxidation of diphenol related to browning significantly, so the data obtained in this research provided theoretical basis for the prevention of enzymatic browning of L. japonica during processing.     

Gel properties of croaker–mackerel surimi blend

Gel properties of croaker surimi blended with three types of mackerel surimi at different ratios were evaluated. The gel strength of the croaker–mackerel surimi blend was higher than that of the original mackerel surimi (p < 0.05). The presence of croaker surimi in the blend resulted in the increase in myosin heavy chain (MHC) band intensity. No differences in deformation of gels were observed in croaker surimi and croaker-short-bodied mackerel blend at all ratios (p > 0.05). The addition of short-bodied mackerel surimi into croaker surimi up to a ratio of 1:2 had no effect on whiteness and metmyoglobin content of the gel (p > 0.05). Marked decrease in expressible drip and TCA-soluble peptide of gel was noticeable in croaker–frigate mackerel surimi blend (p < 0.05). Therefore, the gel properties of croaker–mackerel surimi blend were governed by the type and content of mackerel surimi used.     

鲢鱼鱼糜蛋白质凝胶特性的研究

研究了鲢鱼鱼糜在不同的加热条件下 ,其凝胶的色泽、强度及显微结构的变化。结果表明 ,鲢鱼鱼糜在 60℃时达到较理想的色泽 (白色 ) ,较佳的凝胶条件为 ,先经过 3 5～ 40℃、60min的凝胶化 ,再经过 85℃、3 0min加热。在 5 0℃加热时 ,出现凝胶劣化现象     

Purification and characterisation of two enzymes related to endogenous formaldehyde in Lentinula edodes

In this study, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and l-cysteine sulphoxide lyase (C-S lyase) were purified from the fruiting body of Lentinula edodes in three steps and then characterised. We found that GGT together with C-S lyase caused the generation of endogenous formaldehyde in L. edodes. GGT was composed of a large subunit of 41 kDa and a small subunit of 25 kDa, and C-S lyase was composed of two identical subunits of 46 kDa, as determined by SDS–PAGE. GGT was stable at pH 8.0–10.0 with an optimum pH of 8.8, and was stable at 20–50 °C with an optimum activity at 37 °C. C-S lyase was stable at pH 8.0–9.0 with an optimum pH of 8.5, and was stable at 20–60 °C with an optimum activity at 40 °C. The present work supports the study of the mechanism of endogenous formaldehyde in L. edodes.     

Purification and biochemical properties of a fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus subtilis-fermented red bean

Natto-red bean with fibrinolytic activity was prepared by fermenting red beans with Bacillus subtilis. A fibrinolytic enzyme was purified from fermented natto-red bean by sequential steps of ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl S-200 HR gel filtration and PBE 94 chromatofocusing. Through these steps, the purity of the enzyme increased 291-fold with 1.5% activity recovery. SDS–PAGE and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis showed the molecular mass and pI of the purified enzyme to be 29.93 kDa and 6.35, respectively. When N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-ρNA was used as an enzyme substrate, the K_m, V_max, and optimal reaction pH and temperature were 0.59 mM, 79.4 μmole ρNA/min mg, 9 and 60 °C, respectively. Among the synthetic substrates, the most sensitive were N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-ρNA, followed by N-benzoyl-Val-Gly-Arg-ρNA. Chemical modifiers, such as phenylmethyl sulfonyfluoride, N-bromosuccinimide and N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate, almost completely inhibited the activity of the purified enzyme. These results indicated that the purified fibrinolytic enzyme was a subtilisin-like serine protease.     

Biochemical properties of two isoforms of trypsin purified from the Intestine of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)

Two trypsins (A and B) from the intestine of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) were purified by Sephacryl S-200, Sephadex G-50 and DEAE-cellulose with a 177- and 257-fold increase in specific activity and 23% and 21% recovery for trypsin A and B, respectively. Purified trypsins revealed a single band on native-PAGE. The molecular weights of both trypsins were 24 kDa as estimated by size exclusion chromatography and SDS–PAGE. Trypsin A and B exhibited the maximal activity at 55 °C and 60 °C, respectively, and had the same optimal pH at 9.0. Both trypsins were stable up to 50 °C and in the pH range from 6.0 to 11.0. Both trypsin A and B were stabilised by calcium ion. Activity of both trypsins continuously decreased with increasing NaCl concentration (0–30%) and were inhibited by the specific trypsin inhibitors – soybean trypsin inhibitor and N-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone. Apparent K_m and K_cat of trypsin A and B were 0.22–0.31 mM and 69.5–82.5 S⁻¹, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the first 20 amino acids of trypsin A and B were IVGGYECQAHSQPPQVSLNA and IVGGYECQAHSQPPQVSLNS, respectively.     

Characterisation of a thermostable family 42 β-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima

A β-galactosidase gene (TM_0310) of Thermotoga maritima MSB8 was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant β-galactosidase (designated BgalB) was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment and Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. BgalB belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 42. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 78 kDa and 76 kDa by SDS–PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. The enzyme was optimum at pH 5.5, and it was quite stable over the pH range 5.0–11.4 at 70 °C. It was optimally active at 80 °C and was stable up to 75 °C. Besides, BgalB exhibited broad substrate specificity with a preference for p-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (pNPGal). K_m values of the purified enzyme for pNPGal, o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (oNPGal) and pNP-β-fucopyranoside were 2.7 mM, 12.5 mM and 1.4 mM, respectively. These properties make this enzyme an interesting candidate for biotechnological applications. This is the first report of the family 42 β-galactosidases from T. maritima.     

Purification and characterization of glutamate decarboxylase from rice germ

Glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15, GAD) is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme, which catalyses the irreversible α-decarboxylation of l-glutamic acid to γ-aminobutyric acid. GAD was purified 186-fold from rice germ using a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose FF ion exchange chromatography, Superdex-200 gel filtration chromatography, and Glu-Sepharose CL 4B affinity chromatography. The purified preparation showed a single peak on SE-HPLC with an approximate molecular mass of 78 kDa and a single band on SDS–PAGE with a subunit Mr of 40 kDa. This indicated that the GAD from rice germ existed as a dimer of homological subunits. Rice germ GAD has an optimum pH range between 5.5 and 5.8, and an optimum temperature at 40 °C. K_m values for glutamic acid and PLP were determined at 32.3 mM and 1.7 μM, respectively. Chemicals reagents such as HgCl₂, KI and AgNO₃ decreased the enzyme activity by 68.5%, 44.9% and 32.4%, respectively, but 500 μM of CaCl₂ at the optimum pH could increase the activity by 145%.