Ternary Systems LiBr–LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and KBr–KVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The binary system KVO₃–K₂CrO₄ and two ternary systems, LiBr–LiVO₃–Li₂CrO₄ and KBr–KVO₃–K₂CrO₄, were studied. In the ternary systems, the compositions and melting points of eutectic alloys were determined by differential thermal analysis: (49.0 mol % LiBr, 5.0 mol % LiVO₃, 46.0 mol % Li₂CrO₄, 400°C) and (17.0 mol % KBr, 78.0 mol % KVO₃, 5.0 mol % K₂CrO₄, 458°C), respectively.     

<Superscript>35</Superscript>Cl NQR for the SbCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> complex with aniline,SbCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>·NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>

The temperature dependence of the ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies and spin-lattice relaxation times has been investigated for a trigonal-bipyramidal vn complex SbCl₃·NH₂C₆H₅. Thermally activated motion of chlorine atoms (pseudorotation) was not revealed in the complex, in contrast to the vπ complexes of SbCl₃ with related molecular structures. The high potential barrier of pseudorotation in the aniline complex is likely to be due to the unusually high nonequivalence of Sb-Cl chemical bonds.     

New continuous solid solution in the Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>InV<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript>–Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>InV<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript> system

In this study, mechanical activation process was used for intimate mixing as well as producing finely ground particles, increased surface area and improved chemical reactivity of milled materials for producing SrTiO₃ from commercially pure strontium carbonate and TiO₂ as a contributive process. Characterization of milled powder mixture by X-ray diffraction analysis showed that disappearing, decreasing and/or shifting of the patterns occurred with mechanical activation that means amorphization was taken place. Amorphization was also demonstrated by FT-IR analysis where shift of band centers as well as the decrement of transmittance related to CO₃ was observed. Advantage of amorphization was established with high-temperature XRD analysis which showed 1300 °C was not enough for non-activated mixture to form SrTiO₃, whereas structure only composed of SrTiO₃ at 1000 °C for activated ones. The reason for this phenomenon was investigated by DTA-TG analysis, and it was based on energy accumulation originated from mechanical activation that corresponds to peak temperature shifting to the lower temperatures and CO₂ liberation at mechanical activation step arising from local temperature rising at the vial during high-energy milling that was understood from peak temperature, and area decrement of endothermic peak corresponds to decomposition of SrCO₃.     

Zr<Subscript>5</Subscript>Ir<Subscript>2</Subscript>In<Subscript>4</Subscript> – A Superstructure of the Lu<Subscript>5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>In<Subscript>4</Subscript> Type

Summary. Zr₅Ir₂In₄ was synthesized by reaction of the elements in a glassy carbon crucible in a water-cooled sample chamber of an induction furnace. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction on both powder and single crystals. Zr₅Ir₂In₄ crystallizes with a pronounced Lu₅Ni₂In₄ type subcell, space group Pbam, a=1739.5(6), b=766.3(2), c=338.9(2) pm. Weak additional reflections force a doubling of the subcell c axis. The superstructure of Zr₅Ir₂In₄ is of a new type: Pnma, a=1739.5(6), b=677.8(2), c=766.3(2) pm, wR2=0.0529, 1592 F² values, and 60 variable parameters. The group-subgroup scheme for the klassengleiche symmetry reduction is presented. The formation of the superstructure is most likely due to a puckering effect (size of the iridium atoms). The crystal chemistry of Zr₅Ir₂In₄ is briefly discussed.     

Interactions in the Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>6</Subscript>S<Subscript>11</Subscript>–PbSnSb<Subscript>4</Subscript>S<Subscript>8</Subscript> system

The Sn₂Sb₆S₁₁–PbSnSb₄S₈ system was studied by physicochemical analysis methods (differential thermal, X-ray powder diffraction, and microstructural analyses and microhardness and density measurements). It was found that this system is a quasi-binary section of the SnS–PbS–Sb₂S₃ ternary system of the eutectic type. The coordinates of the eutectic are 42 mol % PbSnSb₄S₈ and 600 K. In the studied system, regions of solid solutions were detected, which extend for solid solutions based on Sn₂Sb₆S₁₁ to 4 mol % PbSnSb₄S₈ (α) and for solid solutions based on PbSnSb₄S₈ to 6 mol % Sn₂Sb₆S₁₁ (β).     

Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-K<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system at 25°C

Phase formation in the Na₂MoO₄-K₂MoO₄-H₂O system was studied at 25°C. Two incongruently saturating complex phases are formed in this system: Na₃K(MoO₄)₂ · 9H₂O and NaK₃(MoO₄)₂. The densities, refractive indices, and dynamic viscosities of saturated solutions of the system were determined; molar volume and ionic strength isotherms were calculated. A correlation relation was found between solubility and solution properties in the system. The indicated double salts were recovered and characterized using chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, complex thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy.     

Transformations of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in Two-Phase Systems C<Subscript>8</Subscript>F<Subscript>18</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and C<Subscript>6</Subscript>F<Subscript>6</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The transformation of carbon dioxide in aqueous emulsions of perfluorons in the presence of oxygen in the air results in the formation of a mixture of oxalic acid and a minor set of organic compounds C₄–C₈. The maximum CO₂ consumption occurs in the emulsion with the C₈F₁₈: H₂O vol/vol ratio of 1: 0.42 at pH 2.4; the H₂C₂O₄ yield is 11 mol %.     

Glass Formation in the Ternary System La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–As<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The boundaries of the glass formation region in the ternary system La₂O₃–As₂S₃–Er₂O₃ were found. Transparent glass of composition (La₂O₃)_0.03(As₂S₃)0.90(Er₂O₃)0.07 was studied by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. The intensities of the bands characterizing As–S, La–O, and Er–O bonds increased, and these bands were shifted toward higher energies. This was due to an increase in the covalence of these bonds and probably due to the formation of new bonds in the glasses. Samples in the glass formation region are resistant at 300 K to air, water, and organic solvents.     

Interaction in the systems TlBiSe<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Tl<Subscript>9</Subscript>BiSe<Subscript>6</Subscript>–PbSe and Tl<Subscript>9</Subscript>BiSe<Subscript>6</Subscript>–Tl<Subscript>4</Subscript>PbSe<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbSe

Phase equilibria in the systems TlBiSe₂–Tl₉BiSe₆–PbSe and Tl₉BiSe₆–Tl₄PbSe₃–PbSe were studied by differential thermal, X-ray powder diffraction, and microstructural analyses. State diagrams of the quasi-binary sections Tl₉BiSe₆–Tl₄PbSe₃, TlBiSe₂–PbSe, and Tl₉BiSe₆–PbSe were constructed, and so were projections of liquidus surfaces and isothermal sections at 600 K for the secondary quasi-ternary systems TlBiSe₂–Tl₉BiSe₆–PbSe and Tl₄PbSe₃–Tl₉BiSe₆–PbSe. The coordinates of invariant points and the boundaries of solid solutions were determined.     

Β-d-Xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium: Catalyzed Reactions with Natural and Artificial Substrates

Catalytically efficient β-d-xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium (SXA) exhibits pK _as 5 and 7 (assigned to catalytic base, D14, and catalytic acid, E186) for k _cat/K _m with substrates 1,4-β-d-xylobiose (X2) and 1,4-β-d-xylotriose (X3). Catalytically inactive, dianionic SXA (D14⁻E186⁻) has threefold lower affinity than catalytically active, monoanionic SXA (D14⁻E186^H) for X2 and X3, whereas D14⁻E186⁻ has twofold higher affinity than D14⁻E186^H for 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (4NPX), and D14⁻E186⁻ has no affinity for 4-nitrophenyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside. Anomeric isomers, α-d-xylose and β-d-xylose, have similar affinity for SXA. 4-Nitrophenol competitively inhibits SXA-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4NPX. SXA steady-state kinetic parameters account for complete progress curves of SXA-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

β-d-Xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium: Thermodynamics of Enzyme-Catalyzed and Noncatalyzed Reactions

β-d-Xylosidase/α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium is the most active enzyme known for catalyzing hydrolysis of 1,4-β-d-xylooligosaccharides to d-xylose. Temperature dependence for hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (4NPX), 4-nitrophenyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside (4NPA), and 1,4-β-d-xylobiose (X2) was determined on and off (k _non) the enzyme at pH 5.3, which lies in the pH-independent region for k _cat and k _non. Rate enhancements (k _cat/k _non) for 4NPX, 4NPA, and X2 are 4.3?×?10¹¹, 2.4?×?10⁹, and 3.7?×?10¹², respectively, at 25 °C and increase with decreasing temperature. Relative parameters k _cat ^4NPX/k _cat ^4NPA, k _cat ^4NPX/k _cat ^X2, and (k _cat/K _m)^4NPX/(k _cat/K _m)^X2 increase and (k _cat/K _m)^4NPX/(k _cat/K _m)^4NPA, (1/K _m)^4NPX/(1/K _m)^4NPA, and (1/K _m)^4NPX/(1/K _m)^X2 decrease with increasing temperature.     

Purification and Characterization of a Glycoside Hydrolase Family 43 β-xylosidase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08

The gene encoding a glycoside hydrolase family 43 β-xylosidase (GbtXyl43A) from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermoleovorans strain IT-08 was synthesized and cloned with a C-terminal His-tag into a pET29b expression vector. The recombinant gene product termed GbtXyl43A was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity. Michaelis–Menten kinetic parameters were obtained for the artificial substrates p-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranose (4NPX) and p-nitrophenyl-α-l-arabinofuranose (4NPA), and it was found that the ratio k _cat/K _m 4NPA/k _cat/K _m 4NPX was ～7, indicting greater catalytic efficiency for 4NP hydrolysis from the arabinofuranose aglycon moiety. Substrate inhibition was observed for the substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl xylopyranoside (muX) and the arabinofuranoside cogener (muA), and the ratio k _cat/K _m muA/k _cat/K _m muX was ～5. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by monosaccharides, with an arabinose K _i of 6.8?±?0.62 mM and xylose K _i of 76?±?8.5 mM. The pH maxima was 5.0, and the enzyme was not thermally stable above 54 °C, with a t _1/2 of 35 min at 57.5 °C. GbtXyl43A showed a broad substrate specificity for hydrolysis of xylooligosaccharides up to the highest degree of polymerization tested (xylopentaose), and also released xylose from birch and beechwood arabinoxylan.     

Polysaccharide hydrolases from leaves of Boscia senegalensis: properties of endo-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase

The leaves of Boscia senegalensis are traditionally used in West Africa in cereal protection against pathogens, pharmacologic applications, and food processing. Activities of α-amylase, β-amylase, exo-(1→3, 1→4)-β-d-glucanase, and endo-(1→3)-β-d-glucanase were detected in these leaves. The endo-(1→3)-β-d-glucanase (EC3.2.1.39) was purified 203-fold with 57% yield. The purified enzyme is a nonglycosylated monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 36 kDa and pI≥10.3. Its optimal activity occurred at pH 4.5 and 50°C. Kinetic analysis gave V _max, k _cat , and K _m values of 659 U/mg, 395 s⁻¹, and 0.42 mg/mL, respectively, for laminarin as substrate. The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that the enzyme hydrolyzes not only soluble but also insoluble (1→3)-β-glucan chains in an endo fashion. This property is unusual for endo-acting (1→3)-β-d-glucanase from plants. The involvement of the enzyme in plant defense against pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi is discussed.     

β-d-Xylosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium: Role of Glutamate 186 in Catalysis Revealed by Site-Directed Mutagenesis, Alternate Substrates, and Active-Site Inhibitor

β-d-Xylosidase/α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Selenomonas ruminantium is the most active enzyme known for catalyzing hydrolysis of 1,4-β-d-xylooligosaccharides to d-xylose. Catalysis and inhibitor binding by the GH43 β-xylosidase are governed by the protonation states of catalytic base (D14, pK _a 5.0) and catalytic acid (E186, pK _a 7.2). Biphasic inhibition by triethanolamine of E186A preparations reveals minor contamination by wild-type-like enzyme, the contaminant likely originating from translational misreading. Titration of E186A preparations with triethanolamine allows resolution of binding and kinetic parameters of the E186A mutant from those of the contaminant. The E186A mutation abolishes the pK _a assigned to E186; mutant enzyme binds only the neutral aminoalcohol $ \left( {{\text{pH}} - {\text{independent}}\;K_{\text{i}}^{\text{triethanolamine}} = 19\,{\text{mM}}} \right) $ , whereas wild-type enzyme binds only the cationic aminoalcohol $ \left( {{\text{pH}} - {\text{independent}}\;K_{\text{i}}^{\text{triethanolamine}} = 0.065\,{\text{mM}}} \right) $ . At pH 7.0 and 25°C, relative kinetic parameter, $ k_{\text{cat}}^{\text{4NPX}}/k_{\text{cat}}^{\text{4NPA}} $ , for substrates 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (4NPX) and 4-nitrophenyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside (4NPA) of E186A is 100-fold that of wild-type enzyme, consistent with the view that, on the enzyme, protonation is of greater importance to the transition state of 4NPA whereas ring deformation dominates the transition state of 4NPX.     

Effects of Gene Orientation and Use of Multiple Promoters on the Expression of XYL1 and XYL2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The gene encoding a glycoside hydrolase family 39 xylosidase (BH1068) from the alkaliphile Bacillus halodurans strain C-125 was cloned with a C-terminal His-tag, and the recombinant gene product termed BH1068(His)₆ was expressed in Escherichia coli. Of the artificial substrates tested, BH1068(His)₆ hydrolyzed nitrophenyl derivatives of β-d-xylopyranose, α-l-arabinofuranose, and α-l-arabinopyranose. Deviation from Michaelis−Menten kinetics at higher substrate concentrations indicative of transglycosylation was observed, and k _cat and K _m values were measured at both low and high substrate concentrations to illuminate the relative propensities to proceed along this alternate reaction pathway. The pH maximum was 6.5, and under the conditions tested, maximal activity was at 47°C, and thermal instability occurred above 45°C. BH1068(His)₆ was inactive on arabinan, hydrolyzed xylooligosaccharides, and released only xylose from oat, wheat, rye, beech, and birch arabinoxylan, and thus, can be classified as a xylosidase with respect to natural substrate specificity. The enzyme was not inhibited by up to 200 mM xylose. The oligomerization state was tetrameric under the size-exclusion chromatography conditions employed.     

Characterization of a Thermostable Family 1 Glycosyl Hydrolase Enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Putranjiva roxburghii</Emphasis> Seeds

A 66-kDa thermostable family 1 Glycosyl Hydrolase (GH1) enzyme with β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase activities was purified to homogeneity from the seeds of Putranjiva roxburghii belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. N-terminal and partial internal amino acid sequences showed significant resemblance to plant GH1 enzymes. Kinetic studies showed that enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (pNP-Glc) with higher efficiency (K _cat/K _m = 2.27 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) as compared to p-nitrophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside (pNP-Gal; K _cat/K _m = 1.15 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The optimum pH for β-galactosidase activity was 4.8 and 4.4 in citrate phosphate and acetate buffers respectively, while for β-glucosidase it was 4.6 in both buffers. The activation energy was found to be 10.6 kcal/mol in the temperature range 30–65 °C. The enzyme showed maximum activity at 65 °C with half life of ~40 min and first-order rate constant of 0.0172 min⁻¹. Far-UV CD spectra of enzyme exhibited α, β pattern at room temperature at pH 8.0. This thermostable enzyme with dual specificity and higher catalytic efficiency can be utilized for different commercial applications.     

Cloning and Characterization of Two β-Glucosidase/Xylosidase Enzymes from Yak Rumen Metagenome

Two β-glucosidase/xylosidase genes, Rubg3A and Rubg3B, were cloned from yak rumen uncultured microorganisms by metagenome method and function-based screening. Recombinant RuBG3A and RuBG3B purified from Escherichia coli were characterized for enzymatic properties, and they exhibited activity against 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside, suggesting bifunctional β-glucosidase/xylosidase activity. Chromatography analysis showed that they could effectively hydrolyze cellooligosaccharide substrates, indicating the facilitation in saccharification of cellulose. RuBG3A and RuBG3B can also increase the reducing sugar released in xylan hydrolysis to 218% and 169%, respectively, through synergism with xylanase, suggesting their application in hemicellulose saccharification. Molecular modeling and substrate docking showed that there should be one active center responsible for the bifunctional activity in each enzyme, since the active site pocket is substantially wide to allow the entry of both β-glucosidic or β-xylosidic substrates, which elucidated the structure–function relationship in substrate specificities. Therefore, the enzymatic properties, the participation in hydrolysis of cellooligosaccharides, and the synergism with xylanase make RuBG3A and RuBG3B very interesting candidates for saccharification of both cellulose and hemicellulose.     

Novel Activity of UDP-Galactose-4-Epimerase for Free Monosaccharide and Activity Improvement by Active Site-Saturation Mutagenesis

Uridine diphosphogalactose-4-epimerase (UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, GalE, EC 5.1.3.2) mediates the 4-epimerization of nucleic acid-activated galactose into UDP-glucose. To date, no enzyme is known to mediate 4-epimerization of free monosaccharide substrates. To determine the potential activity of GalE for free monosaccharide, Escherichia coli GalE was expressed and purified using Ni-affinity chromatography, and its ability to mediate 4-epimerization of a variety of free keto- and aldohexoses was assessed. Purified GalE was found to possess 4-epimerization activity for free galactose, glucose, fructose, tagatose, psicose, and sorbose at 0.47, 0.31, 2.82, 9.67, 15.44, and 2.08 nmol/mg protein per minute, respectively. No 4-epimerization activity was found for allose, gulose, altrose, idose, mannose, and talose. The kinetic parameters of 4-epimerization reactions were K _m = 26.4 mM and k _cat = 0.0155 min⁻¹ for d-galactose and K _m = 237 mM and k _cat = 0.327 min⁻¹ for d-tagatose. The 4-epimerization of tagatose, a reaction of commercial interest, was enhanced twofold (19.79 nmol/mg protein per minute) when asparagine was exchanged with serine at position 179. The novel activity of GalE for free monosaccharide may be beneficial for the production of rare sugars using cheap natural resources. Potential strategies for developing enhanced GalE with increased 4-epimerization activity are discussed in the context of the above findings and an analysis of a 3D structural model.     

Heterologous Expression of Aspergillus niger β-d-Xylosidase (XlnD): Characterization on Lignocellulosic Substrates

The gene encoding a glycosyl hydrolase family 3 xylan 1,4-beta-xylosidase, xlnD, was successfully cloned from Aspergillus niger strain ATCC 10864. The recombinant product was expressed in Aspergillus awamori, purified by column chromatography, and verified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, tandem time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectroscopy of tryptic digests. The T _max was determined using differential scanning microcalorimetry (DSC) to be 78.2 °C; the K _m and k _cat were found to be 255 μM and 13.7 s⁻¹, respectively, using pNP-β-d-xylopyranoside as substrate. End-product inhibition by d-xylose was also verified and shown to be competitive; the K _i for this inhibition was estimated to be 3.3 mM. XlnD was shown to efficiently hydrolyze small xylo-oligomers to monomeric xylose, making it a critical hydrolytic activity in cases where xylose is to be recovered from biomass conversion processes. In addition, the presence of the XlnD was shown to synergistically enhance the ability of an endoxylanase, XynA from Thermomyces lanuginosus, to convert xylan present in selected pretreated lignocellulosic substrates. Furthermore, the addition of the XynA/XlnD complex was effective in enhancing the ability of a simplified cellulase complex to convert glucan present in the substrates.