Cloning of a new allelic variant of aSaccharomyces diastaticus glucoamylase gene and its introduction into industrial yeasts

A new allelic variant of theSTA2 gene, designated asSTA2 ^K, coding for a secreted glucoamylase, was cloned. Differences were revealed both in the structural gene and in the promoter region, as compared to otherSTA genes. The most peculiar structural features ofSTA2 ^K are 1. a 1.1-kb natural deletion in its promoter located 189 nucleotides upstream of the translation start codon; and2. an Asn→ Asp single amino acid change within the putative active site of the encoded glucoamylase. Neither the presence of glucose in the medium nor the host cell's mating type constellation affected the expression level ofSTA2 ^K inS. cerevisiae. Self-replicating yeast plasmids containingSTA2 ^K were constructed and used to transform a laboratory yeast strain and various brewing strains. Pilot brewing tests with glucoamylase-secreting transformants of a brewing strain produced superattenuated beers at accelerated fermentation rates.     

Effects of glucose,glutamine, and malate on the metabolism of spodoptera frugiperda clone 9 (sf9) cells

Optimal design and operation of bioreactors for insect cell culture is facilitated by functional relations providing quantitative information on cellular metabolite consumption kinetics, as well as on the specific cell growth rates (μ_G). Initial specific consumption rates of glucose, malate, and oxygen, and associated changes in μ_G, were measured forSpodoptera frugiperda clone 9 (Sf9) cells grown in batch suspension culture in medium containing 7–35 mM glucose, 0–16 mM malate, and 4–16 mM glutamine. The initial specific glucose consumption rate (q _G ) could be described by a modified Michaelis-Menten equation treating malate as a “competitive” inhibitorK ₁ = 6.5 mM) and glutamine as a “noncompetitive” inhibitorK _I = 14 mM) ofq _G , with aK _m of 7.1 mM for glucose. All three carbon sources were found to increase μ_G in a saturable manner, and a modified Monod equation was employed to describe this relationship (μ_Gmax = 0.047 h^-1). The initial specific oxygen consumption rate (q_O2) in Sf9 cells could be related to μ_G by the maintenance energy model, and it was calculated that, under typical culture conditions, about 15–20% of the cellular energy demand comes from functions not related to growth. Fitted parameters in mathematical expression for μg: K₄, Monod constant for glucose (mM); K₅, modified Monod constant for malate (mM); K₆, Monod constant for glutamine (mM); m_o2, specific consumption rate of oxygen by the cells under zero-growth conditions (nmol/cell/h); q_F, initial specific fumarate production rate (nmol/cell/ h);q _G , initial specific glucose consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); q_Gmax, maximum initial specific glucose consumption rate (nmol/cell/h);q _M , initial specific malate consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); q_o2, initial specific oxygen consumption rate (nmol/cell/h); Y_o2, cell yield on oxygen (cells/nmol); μ, initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1); μ_g, initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1); μG_max, maximum initial specific cell growth rate (h^-1).     

Overproduction of Glucoamylase by a Deregulated Mutant of a Thermophilic Mould <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae</Emphasis>

Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae, a glucoamylase-producing thermophilic mould, was mutagenised using nitrous acid and gamma (⁶⁰Co) irradiation in a sequential manner to isolate deregulated mutants for enhanced production of glucoamylase. The mutants were isolated on Emerson YpSs agar containing a non-metabolisable glucose analogue 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) for selection. The preliminary screening for glucoamylase production using starch–iodine plate assay followed by quantitative confirmation in submerged fermentation permitted the isolation of several variants showing varying levels of derepression and glucoamylase secretion. The mutant strain T. indicae-seudaticae CR19 was able to grow in the presence of 0.5 g l⁻¹ 2-DG and produced 1.8-fold higher glucoamylase. As with the parent strain, glucoamylase production by T. indicae-seudaticae CR19 in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks attained a peak in 48 h of fermentation, showing higher glucoamylase productivity (0.67 U ml⁻¹ h⁻¹) than the former (0.375 U ml⁻¹ h⁻¹). A large-scale cultivation in 5-l laboratory bioreactor confirmed similar fermentation profiles, though the glucoamylase production peak was attained within 36 h attributable to the better control of process parameters. Although the mutant grew slightly slow in the presence of 2-DG and exhibited less sporulation, it showed faster growth on normal Emerson medium with a higher specific growth rate (0.138 h⁻¹) compared to the parent strain (0.123 h⁻¹). The glucoamylase produced by both strains was optimally active at 60 °C and pH 7.0 and displayed broad substrate specificity by cleaving α-1,4- and α-1,6-glycosidic linkages in starch, amylopectin, amylose and pullulan. Improved productivity and higher specific growth rate make T. indicae-seudaticae CR19 a useful strain for glucoamylase production.     

Cloning, heterologous expression, and characterization of Thielavia terrestris glucoamylase

Thielavia terrestris is a soil-borne thermophilic fungus whose molecular/cellular biology is poorly understood. Only a few genes have been cloned from the Thielavia genus. We detected an extracellular glucoamylase in culture filtrates of T. terrestris and cloned the corresponding glaA gene. The coding region contains five introns. Based on the amino acid sequence, the glucoamylase was 65% identical to Neurospora crassa glucoamylase. Sequence comparisons suggested that the enzyme belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase family 15. The T. terrestris glaA gene was expressed in Aspergillus oryzae under the control of an A. oryzae α-amylase promoter and an Aspergillus niger glucoamylase terminator. The 75-kDa recombinant glucoamylase showed a specific activity of 2.8 μmol/(min·mg) with maltose as substrate. With maltotriose as a substrate, the enzyme had an optimum pH of 4.0 and an optimum temperature of 60°C. The enzyme was stable at 60°C for 30 min. The K _m and k _cat of the enzyme for maltotriose were determined at various pHs and temperatures. At 20°C and pH 4.0, the enzyme had a K _m of 0.33±0.07 mM and a k _cat of (5.5±0.5)×10³ min⁻¹ for maltotriose. The temperature dependence of k _cat /K _m indicated an activation free energy of 2.8 kJ/mol across the range of 20–70°C. Overall, the enzyme derived from the thermophilic fungus exhibited properties comparable with that of its homolog derived from mesophilic fungi.     

The importance of valencep functions in the bonding of Na2, K2, and Cu2 and their positive and negative ions

Summary The relative importance of the valencep functions for describing the bonding in the valence isoelectronic Na₂, K₂, and Cu₂ molecules and their positive and negative ions is investigated. In absolute magnitude the contribution of thep functions to the dissociation energy follows the trend Cu>Na>K while by percentage of the dissociation energy the importance of thep functions follows the polarizabilities, i.e. K>Na>Cu. The bonding in K₂, K ₂ ⁺ , and K ₂ ^– is analyzed to explain the observed trends.Dedicated to Prof. Klaus Ruedenberg     

Stereochemicai study of 7-aryl-1,7,8,8a-tetrahydro-3(2H)indolizinones by1H and13C NMR

Stereochemistry of 7-aryl-1,7,8,8a-tetrahydro-3(2H)-indolizinones was studied by¹H and¹³C NMR. Complete assignment of¹H NMR signals and analysis of¹H-¹H coupling constants were performed using the iterative PANIC program. Values of³ J _6,7,³ J _7,8endo, and⁴ J _5,7 allow one to unambiguously identify the correspondingexo- andendo-stereoisomers. For stereoisomers with exo-orientation of H(7), complete assignment of¹³C NMR signals was performed on the basis of analysis of the¹³C-¹H coupling constants using two dimensional heteronuclear shift-correlating spectroscopy.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 591–593, March, 1996.     

NMR-spektroskopische Untersuchungen zurE/Z-Isomerie von substituierten Dithiocarbazinsäurederivaten

Summary NMR-spectroscopic investigations of substituted dithiocarbacinic acid derivatives show the existence of configurational isomers relative to the C=N double bond, but no tautomerism. We applied chemical shift differences in the¹H-,¹³C- and¹⁵N-NMR-spectra, N - H and C - H coupling constants and NOE difference measurements in the solvents CDCl₃,DMSO-d ₆ and partly CD₃OD in order to discriminate between the isomers and to determine the configurational composition. Compounds4 and5 exist asE-isomers in all solvents, compounds1, 2 and3 as a mixture ofE/Z-isomers. InDMSO-d ₆ theE-form is the preferred isomer.

     

Hindered rotation of ligands in cis-[PtR2Cl2] complexes

The temperature dependence of the¹H NMR spectra ofcis-[Pt(II)R₂Cl₂] complexes was studied in DMSO at 18–100°C (R is 2-methyl and 2,5-dimethylpyridine). The broadening of the signals from the methyl groups or hydrogen atoms in theortho-positions of heteroaromatic ligands is due to the coexistence of two forms of thecis-complexes in solution. These forms arise from the hindered rotation of asymmetrical ligands around the Pt-N bond.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 424–425, February, 1993.     

Estimated ionicB-coefficients from NMR measurements in aqueous electrolyte solutions

¹⁷O-NMR spin-lattice relaxation timesT ₁ of D₂O molecules were measured at 5–85°C in D₂O solutions of alkali metal halides (LiClCsCl, KBr, and KI), DCl, KOD, Ph₄PCl, NaPh₄B, and tetraalkylammonium bromides (Me₄NBrAm₄NBr) in the concentration range 0.1–1.4 mol-kg^–1 TheB-coefficients of the electrolytes obtained from the concentration dependence of relaxation ratesR ₁=1/T₁ were divided into the ionicB-coefficients by three methods: (i) the assumption ofB (K⁺)=B(Cl^–), (ii) the assumption ofB(Ph₄P⁺)=B(Ph₄B^–), and (iii) the use ofB(Br^–) obtained from a series ofB(R₄NBr). It was found that Methods (ii) and (iii) resulted in an abnormal temperature dependence of theB-coefficients of alkali metal ions and a negative values of rotational correlation times _c at lower temperatures for hydroxide and halide ions. These results suggest that the methods based on the van der Waals volume are not adequate for the ionic separation of NMRB-coefficients. From the analysis using the assumption ofB(K⁺)=B(Cl^–), it was found that D₃O⁺, OD^–, and Me₄N⁺ ions are the intermediates between structure makers and breakers, and that the hydrophobicity of phenyl groups is weaker than that of alkyl groups due to the interactions between water molecules and -electrons in phenyl groups.     

Synthesis of dinitroxylcis-diaminoplatinum(ii) complexes and their interaction with DNA

Dinitroxyl complexes of platinum,cis-Pt^II(APO)₂X₂, where APO is 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, were obtained by either a direct reaction of APO with K₂PtX₄ (X=Cl or I) or a replacement of iodide ligands incis-Pt^II(APO)₂I₂ by nitrate and oxalate ligands. The interation of water-solublecis-Pt^II(APO)₂(NO₃)₂ with, ox spleen DNA resulted in platinated DNA with a degree of modification (r)-7 times lower than that obtained withcis-Pt^II(NH₃)₂Cl₂ (cisplatin). Melting pointT _m, melting range ΔT, and the degree of hyperchromicity ΔH for platinated DNA showed that for equalr values, thecis-Pt^II(APO)₂—DNA adducts increase heterogeneity in the DNA structure much more effectively than thecis-Pt^II(NH₃)₂—DNA adducts. Poor platinating activity, substantial disturbance of the DNA structure, as well as low toxicity and moderate antitumor activity ofcis-Pt^II(APO)₂X₂ complexes are probably explained by steric hindrances caused by two bulky APO ligands. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1640–1644, August, 1998.     

Cloning and expression of the gene for xylose isomerase fromThermus flavus AT62 inEscherichia coli

The gene encoding xylose isomerase (xylA) was cloned fromThermus flavus AT62 and the DNA sequence was determined. ThexylA gene encodes the enzyme xylose isomerase (XI orxylA) consisting of 387 amino acids (calculated Mr of 44,941). Also, there was a partial xylulose kinase gene that was 4 bp overlapped in the end of XI gene. The XI gene was stably expressed inE. coli under the control oftac promoter. XI produced inE. coli was simply purified by heat treatment at 90°C for 10 min and column chromatography of DEAE-Sephacel. The Mr of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 45 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, Mr of the cloned XI was 185 kDa on native condition, indicating that the XI consists of homomeric tetramer. The enzyme has an optimum temperature at 90°C. Thermostability tests revealed that half life at 85°C was 2 mo and 2 h at 95°C. The optimum pH is around 7.0, close to where by-product formation is minimal. The isomerization yield of the cloned XI was about 55% from glucose, indicating that the yield is higher than those of reported enzymes. The Km values for various sugar substrates were calculated as 106 mM for glucose. Divalent cations such as Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mg²⁺ are required for the enzyme activity and 100 mM EDTA completely inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Thermodynamische Untersuchungen ann-Alkan/n-Alkin-Systemen

Heats of mixing (H ^E)ofn-octane with 1,2,3,4-isomers ofn-octyne,n-heptane withn-1-heptyne andn-nonane withn-1-nonyne at temperatures from 298.15 to 318.15 K were measured with aCalvet-type microcalorimeter. The results are presented in tables and correlated with theRedlich-Kister equation.

     

Calculation of the rotational constants A and C for isotopic species of slightly perturbed CH3CN symmetric top molecules

A technique which was employed earlier to calculate the rotational constants of CH₃CCH has been extended to the ground and two vibrational levels in thev ₈ vibration of CH₃CN for several isotopic species. The moments of inertia and a computer iteration technique over experimental data for each isotopic species were employed to evaluate the constantA _v in an excited vibrational state for a symmetric top molecule. This method gave good estimates forA _v for each isotope. The angle of bending and the orientation of each molecular system in reference frames, one fixed on the carbon atom at the -CN site and the other at the center of mass, were explored. These results are discussed in this paper. The method, which was applied by Tam and Roberts to the nv₁₀,n=1, 2, 3, 4, vibrations of CH₃CCH earlier and which was extended to thev ₁₀=1 vibration of CH₃CCH with¹³C isotopic species, has been applied to¹³C isotopic species of CH₃CN and seems to be a useful tool to extract the value ofA ₀. Each of these molecules shows reasonable dependency ofA _v over vibrational levels. Values ofA _v calculated from the geometrical model are in good agreement with those obtained by fitting the terms in the frequency equations, which containedA _v , to the experimental data through an iteration technique in which the value ofA was allowed to vary.     

Diminished Respirative Growth and Enhanced Assimilative Sugar Uptake Result in Higher Specific Fermentation Rates by the MutantPichia stipitis FPL-061

A mutant strain ofPichia stipitis, FPL-061, was obtained by selecting for growth on L-xylose in the presence of respiratory inhibitors. The specific fermentation rate of FPL-061, was higher than that of the parent,Pichia stipitis CBS 6054, because of its lower cell yield and growth rate and higher specific substrate uptake rate. With a mixture of glucose and xylose, the mutant strain FPL-061 produced 29.4 g ethanol/L with a yield of 0.42 g ethanol/g sugar consumed. By comparison, CBS 6054 produced 25.7 g ethanol/L with a yield of 0.35 gJg. The fermentation was most efficient at an aeration rate of 9.2 mmoles O₂ L^-1 h^-1. At high aeration rates (22 mmoles O₂ L^-1 h^-1), the mutant cell yield was less than that of the parent. At low aeration rates, (1.1 to 2.5 O₂ L^-1 h^-1), cell yields were similar, the ethanol formation rates were low, and xylitol accumulation was observed in both the strains. Both strains respired the ethanol once sugar was exhausted. We infer from the results that the mutant, P.stipitis FPL-061, diverts a larger fraction of its metabolic energy from cell growth into ethanol production.     

Stereochemie von Metallocenen, 43. Mitt.: Torsionsisomere Biphenyl-tricarbonylchrom-Komplexe: Darstellung,Konformationsanalyse und Kinetik der Interkonversion

Complexation of methyl 3-nitro-2-(o-tolyl)-benzoate (2, ano-trisubstituted biphenyl) with hexacarbonyl chromium gave the isomeric Cr(CO)₃ complexes3 and4 both existing as two torsional isomersa andb, as seen by nmr. For the main product3 the preferred conformations of the two torsional isomersa andb were deduced by the lanthanide induced shift (LIS) technique. The activation energy for the interconversion process could be determined from kinetic measurements and especially from¹H-nmr coalescence temperature of the methylsignals. The barrier of 91±1.5 kJ/mol (21.7±0.3 kcal/mol) in3 reflects the interaction of theo-H-atom of the benzene ring passing the Cr(CO)₃ moiety of the benchrotrene ring during the interconversion.A partial optical resolution of3 was achieved by asymmetric reduction with a chiral lithium-aluminium hydride yielding (+)-3 with [] _D ²⁰ +30° (benzene) and the levorotatory alcohol (–)-7.

42. Mitt.:K. Schlögl undR. Schölm, Mh. Chem.109, 1227 (1978).     

Production and secretion patterns of cloned glucoamylase in plasmid-harboring and chromosome-integrated recombinant yeasts employing an SUC2 promoter

To understand the differences in production and secretion patterns between plasmid-harboring and chromosome-integrated recombinant yeasts, the two recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, containing the structural glucoamylase STA gene and the SUC2 promoter, were investigated. Both systems were regulated by glucose concentration in the culture broth. First, the glucoamylase activity per gene copy number of the chromosome-integrated recombinant yeast was 2.8- to 5.6-fold higher than that of the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast. Overburdened owing to high copy number, the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast gave lower glucoamylase activity per gene copy number. Second, the efficiency of signal sequence was compared; the secretion efficiency of glucoamylase in the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast was higher than that in the chromosome-integrated recombinant yeast at 96 h of cultivation (74 vs 65%). We postulated that the higher level of secretion efficiency of the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast resulted because the production level did not reach the capacity of the secretory apparatus of the host yeast. However, the specific secretion rate was much higher in the chromosome-integrated recombinant yeast even though the final secretion efficiency was lower. The lower secretion rate in the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast could be explained by an adverse effect caused by higher production rate. Finally, the optimal glucose concentration for glucoamylase production in the chromosome-integrated recombinant yeast culture was lower than that in the plasmid-harboring recombinant yeast culture owing to gene dosage effect.     

Olefinierungsreaktionen an tetracyclischen Pseudohydroxyphenalenonabkömmlingen

Reactions of symmetric resp. asymmetric ketene-derivatives with pseudophenalenones yield the symmetrically substituted pseudophenafulvenesulvenes2 and6, resp. a mixture ofZ- andE-isomers3 a, 3 b or only theE-isomer4 and theZ-isomer5. The steric influence of the substituents of the ketenes determine the reaction products.

Gartner, R., Dissertation, Universität Heidelberg, 1980, und nach Vorträgen vonNeidlein, R., 1980 an den Departments of Chemistry der Universitäten Berkeley/Calif., Cambridge (Mass., Harvard-Universität), Erlangen (Institut für Angewandte Chemie), Houston/Texas, Tübingen.     

The distribution coefficient of60Co in sediments from the Solway Firth, UK

The behaviour of⁶⁰Co in sea water and sediments typical of the Solway Firth has been investigated. The distribution coefficient,K _d, of⁶⁰Co²⁺ in sediments was determined using the batch sorption method and theK _d variation with aqueous phase composition, sediment type and pH has been studied. Adsorption of⁶⁰Co by sediments was found to be highest in de-ionised water and lower in NaCl solution (31 salinity). Adsorption was lowest in natural sea water, where theK _d range was 2,270 to 2,750. Variation ofK _d with sediment grain size was observed. It was shown that⁶⁰Co adsorption was strongly dependent on pH in de-ionised water, with less variation in NaCl solution. Variance of⁶⁰CoK _d values were lowest in sea water in the range pH 5–8 indicating a more conservative behaviour of⁶⁰Co than previously recognised. Hence⁶⁰Co dispersion will be predominantly govemed by tidal behaviour.     

Zur Struktur der Produkte der Reaktion vonE/Z-1-Benzolsulfonyl-3-(1-pentenyl)-indol mit N-Phenylmaleinimid: Ein erster Beitrag zur Konfigurations- und Konformationsanalyse in der Vinylindol-Cycloadditionsreihe

The products2,3 of the reaction ofE/Z-1-benzenesulfonyl-3-(1-pentenyl)-indole (1) and N-phenylmaleimide were analysed by¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Exemplarily, the structure elucidation of theendo-cyclo-adduct2 b was achieved by using several NMR techniques (diff. NOE-, INDOR-measurements, decoupling experiments, spectra simulation). The¹H-NMR-spectroscopically gained prediction of relative configuration and conformation of2 b was supported on X-ray analysis. The cyclohexene ring of the new cycloadducts adopts in the liquid phase and in the crystal a slightly twisted boat conformation.

     

On the electrochemical reduction of some Cr(III) complexes inDMSO investigated by cyclic voltammetry

The compounds investigated were: [Cr(en)₃]³⁺, [Cr(ur)₆]³⁺, [Cr(DMSO)₆]³⁺, [Cr(dien)₂]³⁺, [Cr(en)₂(acac)]²⁺, [Cr(en) (acac)₂]⁺ and Cr(acac)₃.A distinctly different behaviour is caused by the introduction of one or moreacac ligands into the molecule. The first step is much more cathodic and quite irreversible, while it is reversible or quasi reversible for the first group of ions. This is due to a -type interaction between theacac ligand and the central ion. This interaction is responsible for a third peak occurring for the second group of compounds and may be attributed to the reduction of the Cr(I) ion.Some correlations were found e.g. between the extinction of thed-d band of the first group of ions and the potential of the first peak, and the number ofacac groups introduced in the second group of compounds and the shift of the potential of the first peak.The determined electrochemical data are tabulated.

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Untersuchungen zur elektrochemischen Reduktion einiger Cr(III)-Komplexe in DMSO mittels zyklischer Voltammetrie

Zusammenfassung Die elektrochemischen Daten einer Reihe von Cr(III)-Komplexen miten-, ur-, DMSO-, dien- undacac-Liganden werden präsentiert und einige Möglichkeiten der Korrelation der physikalischen Eigenschaften der Komplexe werden aufgezeigt.Die erste Stufe bei der Einführung vonacac-Liganden ist auf Grund einer -Wechselwirkung zwischen Ligand und Zentralion irreversibel.