Stabilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciola mingrelica</Emphasis> firefly luciferase by genetic engineering methods

The results of Luciola mingrelica firefly luciferase stabilization by genetic engineering methods are reviewed. The Cys62, Cys146, and Cys164 to Ser mutant enzymes with an enhanced thermostability and lower sensitivity to dithiothreitol were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. The double mutant G216N, A217L was obtained, which displayed a higher thermostability and resistance to DMSO in comparison with WT luciferase. Random mutagenesis of the gene region encoding residues 1–225 and subsequent screening of the mutants resulted in the production of the mutant MT8 with a higher thermostability, as well as mutants MT3 and MT4 with higher resistance to dimethyl sulfoxide. The mutant 4TS was obtained by the method of directed evolution of the gene site encoding residues 130–390, which was shown to contain eight replacements after four cycles of mutagenesis and had two-fold higher specific activity, eight-fold lower K _m value for ATP, and stability at 42°C, which was 65-fold higher that of WT luciferase. The stabilization mechanism of this mutant is discussed.     

Increased thermal stability of luciferase of lighting beetles <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciola mingrelica</Emphasis> by random mutagenesis

Luciferase of lighting bugs finds wide application in a number of fields in biotechnology and molecular biology, but use of luciferase is often limited by its fast inactivation at elevated temperatures. As a result of four sequential cycles of random mutagenesis, we obtained a mutant of luciferase of Luciola mingrelica lighting bugs with a considerably higher thermal stability. The obtained amino acid substitutions also resulted in an increase in the specific activity and a decrease in the Michaelis constant in terms of ATP by eight times, which evidences higher catalytic activity of the mutant. It is shown that using a random mutant is a highly efficient approach to increase the stability of luciferase.     

Stabilization of ATP reagents containing firefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. mingrelica</Emphasis> luciferase by polyols

ATP reagents containing 2–20% of ethylene glycol, glycerol, or PEG-8000 have been prepared. Polyols inhibit the activity of the ATP reagents by 20–40%, and addition of 0.75 mM Triton X-100 prevents this inhibition. The optimal polyol concentration is 10%. The kinetics of thermoinactivation of the ATP reagents in solution at 37, 20, and 4°C has been studied. At all temperatures, the stability of ATP reagents increases two-to fivefold in the presence of polyols. A solution of ATP reagents kept at 4°C for 180 h retains 100% activity. The activity half-life is 15 days.     

A fusion protein of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciola mingrelica</Emphasis> luciferase with a biotin-binding domain: Production,properties, and application

A plasmid encoding a fusion protein (4TS-bccp87) composed of a thermostable mutant of the Luciola mingrelica firefly luciferase (4TS) and 87 carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of the biotin-binding domain (bccp87) from E. coli was constructed using genetic-engineering techniques. It was established that fusion-protein expression in BL21(DE3) E. coli resulted in 60% of the biotinylated form. The catalytic properties, thermostability, and bioluminescence spectra of the fusion protein were shown to be similar to that of the initial luciferase. The possibility of using the streptavidin-biotinylated luciferase complex for defining the Salmonella typhimurium cell concentration in the range from 10⁴ to 5 × 10⁶ CFU/ml by enzyme immunoassay was shown.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-conformers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chloroacetylcytisine

N-Chloroacetylcytisine was synthesized by acylation of (–)-cytisine. Stable Z- and E-conformers with respect to rotational isomerism around the N-12–CO bond were found in PMR spectra at room temperature. The point at which PMR resonances of the Z- and E-conformers coalesced upon heating was measured. The transition barrier between the conformers was estimated.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.     

Conformations and properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Alkyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-(2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dialkylamino)-ethylmethylthiophosphonates

Conformers of the biologically active compounds CH₃P(O)(OR)(SCH₂CH₂NR ₂ ^′ ), where (I) R = i-C₄H₉, R′ = C₂H₅ and (II) R = C₂H₅, R′ = i-C₃H₇, are calculated within the AM1 level of theory. The elongated and twisted forms with maximum and minimum distances between a nitrogen atom and those of a phosphorus tetrahedron, respectively, and bearing a syn and anti oriented alkoxy group relative to a phosphoryl oxygen, are studied. It is found that the differences between the energy, electronic, and geometric parameters of these forms are apparent in differences between their properties, e.g., the ability to participate in complexation and protonation, reactions that to some extent simulate the interaction between a substance and a biological object.     

RNA detection using peptide-inserted <Emphasis Type="Italic">Renilla</Emphasis> luciferase

A novel complementation system with short peptide-inserted-Renilla luciferase (PI-Rluc) and split-RNA probes was constructed for noninvasive RNA detection. The RNA binding peptides HIV-1 Rev and BIV Tat were used as inserted peptides. They display induced fit conformational changes upon binding to specific RNAs and trigger complementation or discomplementation of Rluc. Split-RNA probes were designed to reform the peptide binding site upon hybridization with arbitrarily selected target RNA. This set of recombinant protein and split-RNA probes enabled a high degree of sensitivity in RNA detection. In this study, we show that the Rluc system is comparable to Fluc, but that its detection limit for arbitrarily selected RNA (at least 100 pM) exceeds that of Fluc by approximately two orders of magnitude.     

Copolymer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid as drug carrier

A copolymer of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid of constant composition was prepared under the conditions of radical initiation. The possibility of the functionalization of the copolymer with drugs containing amino groups by polymer-analogous transformations was examined. Conditions were found for preparing conjugates of the copolymer with isoniazid. The structures and the quantitative compositions of the conjugates were determined by ¹³С NMR spectroscopy, and the possibility of preparing conjugates with controlled drug content was demonstrated.     

Synthesis of new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aminoglycosides based on halo-substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamines and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminophenols

Condensation of the monosaccharides D-glucose and D-galactose with synthesized halo-substituted p-phenylenediamines and 4-amino-2,6-dibromophenol was studied. It was found that glycosylation occurred only at the 4-amino group that was sterically unhindered by the halogen atom. The position of the aglycon in the glycoside was established by PMR spectroscopy.     

Molecular structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine

The molecular structures of N-(o-and p-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, x-ray structure analysis, and molecular modeling. It was found that NMR resonances of the OH and aromatic protons in N-(o-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were doubled because of the presence of two conformers in solution. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 165–168, March–April, 2008.     

Synthesis of 6-methyl-8<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-dibenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>]quinolizin-8-imines <Emphasis Type="Italic">via Reissert</Emphasis> compounds

Alkylation of Reissert compounds derived from 3-methylisoquinolines with several 2-cyanobenzylbromides followed by hydrolytic cleavage provided the corresponding 1-benzyl-3-methylisoquinolines. Treatment of the latter with methylmagnesiumiodide caused cyclization to the title compounds rather than formation of 2-acetylbenzylisoquinolines.     

Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase mutants <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

Adenylation of nicotinate mononucleotide to nicotinate adenine dinucleotide is the penultimate step in NAD⁺ synthesis. In Escherichia coli, the enzyme nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase is encoded by the nadD gene. We have earlier made an initial characterization in vivo of two mutant enzymes, NadD72 and NadD74. Strains with either mutation have decreased intracellular levels of NAD⁺, especially for one of the alleles, nadD72.     

Robust Parameter Identification to Perform the Modeling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">pta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">poxB</Emphasis> Genes Deletion Effect on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia Coli</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to design a robust parameter identification algorithm to characterize the effect of gene deletion on Escherichia coli (E. coli) MG1655. Two genes (pta and poxB) in the competitive pathways were deleted from this microorganism to inhibit pyruvate consumption. This condition deviated the E. coli metabolism toward the Krebs cycle. As a consequence, the biomass, substrate (glucose), lactic, and acetate acids as well as ethanol concentrations were modified. A hybrid model was proposed to consider the effect of gene deletion on the metabolism of E. coli. The model parameters were estimated by the application of a least mean square method based on the instrument variable technique. To evaluate the parametric identifier method, a set of robust exact differentiators, based on the super-twisting algorithm, was implemented. The hybrid model was successfully characterized by the parameters obtained from experimental information of E. coli MG1655. The significant difference between parameters obtained with wild-type strain and the modified (with deleted genes) justifies the application of the parametric identification algorithm. This characterization can be used to optimize the production of different byproducts of commercial interest.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-trimethylsilyl-substituded anililes

N-Metallation of bromoanilines with ethylmagnesium bromide followed by a reaction with trimethylchlorosilane provided N-mono and N-bis(trimethylsilyl)bromoanilines depending on the structure of substrate. The metallation of bissilylated bromoanilines with butyllithium permitted the introduction of a trimethylsilyl substituent in the aromatic ring. Previously unknown 2-bromo-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline, 2,6-dibromo-N-trimethylsilylaniline, 2,6-dibromo-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline, 2-bromo-6-trimethylsilylaniline, 2-bromo-6-trimethylsilyl-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline, 2-bromo-6-trimethylsilyl-N-trimethylsilylaniline, 2,4,6-tribromo-N-trimethylsilylaniline, and 2,4,6-tribromo-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline were prepared. The structures of the compounds obtained were established by the chromato-mass spectrometry and ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-disubstituted (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-methylnicotinamide oximes

A number of (Z)-N,N-dialkyl- and (Z)-N-acyl-N-alkyl-O-methylnicotinamide oximes was synthesized. Their configuration was confirmed by the NOESY experiment. Evaluation of fungicidal activity of compounds obtained was performed.     

Lipids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halostachys caspica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halocharis hispida</Emphasis>

The composition of lipids from the aerial parts of two species of halophytes from the family Chenopodiaceae, Halostachys caspica C. A. Mey. and Halocharis hispida Bge. was determined. Neutral lipids (NL, 62.1 and 54.2%, respectively) dominated the total lipids (TL) of these plants. More than a third of the NL were esters of aliphatic alcohols and phytosterols (FAE). Fatty acids 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 dominated the acids of FAE; 16:0, 18:1, and 18:3, the phospholipids. The principal fatty acids of glycolipids were unsaturated acids (68.3 and 75.1%) with linolenic acid dominating (44.9 and 43.5%). Presented at the 7th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Tashkent, October 16–18, 2007. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 276–278, May–June, 2009.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>)-carborane-containing azomethines

A method of preparative synthesis of o(m)-carborane-containing azomethines via the condensation of o(m)-carboranyl-C-methylene-4-formylbenzoates with aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic amines was developed.