Gene Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase from Arthrobacter sp. CGMCC 3584

Based on thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction, the arpde gene encoding a cyclic nucleotide-specific phosphodiesterase was cloned from Arthrobacter sp. CGMCC 3584 for the first time. The 930-bp region encoded a 309-amino-acid protein with a molecular weight of 33.6 kDa. The recombinant ArPDE was able to hydrolyze 3′,5′-cAMP, 3′,5′-cGMP, and 2′,3′-cAMP. The K _m values of ArPDE for 3′,5′-cAMP and 3′,5′-cGMP were 6.82 and 12.82 mM, respectively. ArPDE was thermostable and displayed optimal activity at 45 °C and pH 7.5. The enzyme did not require any metal cofactors, although its activity was stimulated by 2 mM Co²⁺ and inhibited by Zn²⁺. Nucleotides, reducing agents, and sulfhydryl reagents had different inhibitory effects on the activity of ArPDE. NaF, the actual compound used to improve the industrial yield of cAMP, exhibited 62 % inhibitions at concentrations of 10 mM.     

Expression and Characterization of Recombinant GH11 Xylanase from Thermotolerant Streptomyces sp. SWU10

Xylans are major hemicellulose components of plant cell wall which can be hydrolyzed by xylanolytic enzymes. Three forms of endo-β-1,4-xylanases (XynSW1, XynSW2A, and XynSW2B) produced by thermotolerant Streptomyces sp. SWU10 have been reported. In the present study, we described the expression and characterization of the fourth xylanase enzyme from this bacteria, termed XynSW3. The gene containing 726 bp was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme (rXynSW3) was purified from cell-free extract to homogeneity using Ni-affinity column chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of rXynSW3 was 48 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that it belonged to a xylanase of glycoside hydrolase family 11. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 5.5–6.5 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable up to 40 °C and in wide pH ranges (pH 0.6–10.3). Xylan without arabinosyl side chain is the most preferable substrate for the enzyme. By using birch wood xylan as substrate, rXynSW3 produced several oligosaccharides in the initial stage of hydrolysis, and their levels increased with time, demonstrating that the enzyme is an endo-acting enzyme. The major products were xylobiose, triose, and tetraose. The rXynSW3 can be applied in several industries such as food, textile, and biofuel industries, and waste treatment.     

A Cold-Adapted and Organic Solvent-Tolerant Lipase from a Psychrotrophic Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Strain YY31: Identification, Cloning, and Characterization

A novel cold-adapted lipase (designated as LipYY31) was obtained from a psychrotrophic Pseudomonas sp. YY31. The strain YY31 was gram-negative, rod shaped, motile by means of one polar flagellum, and exhibited chemotaxis toward oil droplets under a microscope. The strain displayed remarkable degradation of edible oil and fat even at 5 °C. The LipYY31 DNA fragment contains an open reading frame of 1,410 bp which encoded a protein of 470 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 49,584 Da. LipYY31 showed high sequence similarity to those of subfamily Ι.3 lipase and had a conserved GXSXG motif around the catalytic Ser residue. Its optimal temperature was 25–30 °C, and it retained 20–40 % of its activity at 0–5 °C. The optimal pH value was 8.0. The activity was strongly inhibited by Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, EDTA and was highly dependent on Ca²⁺. Tricaprin and p-nitrophenyl caprate were the most favorable substrates among the triglycerides and p-nitrophenyl esters, respectively. LipYY31 also had high activity towards natural substrates including edible vegetable oils and animal fat. Furthermore, LipYY31 was very active and stable in the presence of several detergents and organic solvents. In particular, the lipase exhibited high stability against organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol.     

Kinetic and Spectroscopic Characterization of 1-Naphthol 2-hydroxylase from Pseudomonas sp. Strain C5

1-Naphthol 2-hydroxylase (1-NH) catalyzes the conversion of 1-naphthol to 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. 1-NH from carbaryl degrading Pseudomonas strain C5 was purified and characterized for its kinetic and spectroscopic properties. The enzyme was found to be NAD(P)H-dependent external flavin monooxygenase. Though the kinetic parameters of 1-NH from strain C5 appear to be similar to 1-NH enzyme from strains C4 and C6, however, they differ in their N-terminal sequences, mole content of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), reconstitution of apoenzyme, and K _i. 1-NH showed narrow substrate specificity with comparable hydroxylation efficiency on 1-naphthol and 5-amino 1-naphthol (~30 %) followed by 4-chloro 1-naphthol (~9 %). Salicylate was found to be the nonsubstrate effector. The flavin fluorescence of 1-NH was found to increase in the presence of 1-naphthol (K _d?=?11.3 μM) and salicylate (K _d?=?1027 μM). The circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed significant perturbations in the presence of NAD(P)H, whereas no changes were observed in the presence of 1-naphthol. Naphthalene, 1-chloronaphthalene, 2-napthol, and 2-naphthoic acid were found to be the mixed inhibitors. Chemical modification studies showed the probable involvement of His, Cys, and Tyr in the binding of 1-naphthol, whereas Trp was found to be involved in the binding of NAD(P)H.     

Separation,Purification, Structural Characterization,and Anticancer Activity of a Novel Exopolysaccharide from Mucor sp.

Mucor sp. has a wide range of applications in the food fermentation industry. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide, labeled MSEPS, was separated from Mucor sp. fermentation broth through ethanol precipitation and was purified by ion-exchange chromatography, as well as gel filtration column chromatography. MSEPS was composed mostly of mannose, galactose, fucose, arabinose, and glucose with a molar ratio of 0.466:0.169:0.139:0.126:0.015 and had a molecular weight of 7.78 × 10⁴ Da. The analysis of methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance results indicated that MSEPS mainly consisted of a backbone of →3,6)-α-d-Manp-(1→3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, with substitution at O-3 of →6)-α-d-Manp-(1→ and →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→ by terminal α-l-Araf residues. MTT assays showed that MSEPS was nontoxic in normal cells (HK-2 cells) and inhibited the proliferation of carcinoma cells (SGC-7901 cells). Additionally, morphological analysis and flow cytometry experiments indicated that MSEPS promoted SGC-7901 cell death via apoptosis. Therefore, MSEPS from Mucor sp. can be developed as a potential antitumor agent.     

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Recombinant Esterase from Cold-Adapted Pseudomonas mandelii

A gene coding for the extracellular esterase (EstK) was cloned from the psychrotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas mandelii based on its partial amino acid sequence as determined by mass spectrometry. The entire open reading frame consisting of 1,011 bp was expressed in Escherichia coli as a soluble protein and purified by nickel-chelated affinity chromatography and Capto Q column chromatography. Here, we show that the 33-kDa recombinant EstK protein (rEstKsp) had a substrate preference for esters of short-chain fatty acids, especially, p-nitrophenyl acetate. Optimum activity of rEstKsp was at pH 8.5 and 40 °C. The esterase activity remained similar from a range of 4～20 °C, but the maximum activity varied depending upon pH. With p-nitrophenyl acetate as the substrate, K _M was 210 μM and k _cat was 3.4 s^?1. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy results revealed that rEstKsp had a predominantly α-helical structure and maintained its folded state at 4～40 °C. Interestingly, the tertiary structure of rEstKsp was predicted based on the structures of other hyperthermophilic esterases. Our results demonstrated that both native and rEstKsp are active at low temperatures and have a unique substrate preference for p-nitrophenyl acetate.     

Purification and Characterization of Novel Halo-Acid-Alkali-Thermo-stable Xylanase from Gracilibacillus sp. TSCPVG

An aerobic xylanolytic moderately halophilic and alkali-tolerant bacterium, Gracilibacillus sp. TSCPVG, produces multiple xylanases of unusual halo-acid-alkali-thermo-stable nature. The purification of a major xylanase from TSCPVG culture supernatant was achieved by hydrophobic and gel permeation chromatographic methods followed by electroelution from preparatory PAGE. The molecular mass of the purified xylanase was 42 kDa, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE, with a pI value of 6.1. It exhibited maximal activity in 3.5 % NaCl and retained over 75 % of its activity across the broad salinity range of 0–30 % NaCl, indicating a high halo-tolerance. It showed maximal activity at pH 7.5 and had retained 63 % of its activity at pH 5.0 and 73 % at pH 10.5, signifying the tolerance to broad acid to alkaline conditions. With birchwood xylan as a substrate, K _m and specific activity values were 21 mg/ml and 1,667 U/mg, respectively. It is an endoxylanase that degrades xylan to xylose and xylobiose and had no activity on p-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl acetate, carboxymethylcellulose, and filter paper. Since it showed remarkable stability over different salinities, broad pH, and temperature ranges, it is promising for application in many industries.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Acetohydroxyacid Synthase Inhibitors

IntroductionAcetohydroxyacid synthase(AHAS)serves as thefirst common enzyme in the pathway for the biosynthesisof the branch-chained amino acids,isoleucine,valine,and leucine[1].This pathway is found in bacteria,fun-gi,algae,and higher plants,butnotin ani…     

Purification,Gene Cloning,and Characterization of a Novel Halohydrin Dehalogenase from Agromyces mediolanus ZJB120203

A novel halohydrin dehalogenase (HHDH), catalyzing the transformation of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) to epichlorohydrin (ECH), was purified from Agromyces mediolanus ZJB120203. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 28 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A 735-bp nucleotide fragment was obtained based on the N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences of the purified HHDH. The gene codes a protein sequence with 244 amino acid residues, and the protein sequence shows high similarity to Hhe A_AD2 (HHDH from Arthrobacter sp. AD2), defined as Hhe A_Am, which is the seventh reported HHDH. Expression of Hhe A_Am was carried out in Escherichia coli and purification was performed by nickel-affinity chromatography. The recombinant HheA_Am possessed an optimal pH of 8.5 and an optimal temperature of 50 °C and manifested a K _m of 4.58 mM and a V _max of 3.84 μmol/min^/mg. The activity of Hhe A_Am was not significantly affected by metal ions such as Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, and EDTA, but was strongly inhibited by Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺. In particular, the Hhe A_Am exhibits an enantioselectivity for the conversion of prochiral 1,3-DCP to (S)-ECH. The applications of the Hhe A_Am as a catalyst for asymmetric synthesis are promising.     

Cloning, Expression and Characterization of NADP-Dependent Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus

The Krebs cycle dictates oxidative and reductive conditions in Staphylococcus aureus and is mainly regulated by isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) which plays pivotal role in the growth and pathogenesis of the bacteria. In the present study, IDH gene from S. aureus ATCC12600 was cloned in the Sma I site of pQE 30 vector; the resultant clone was named as UVIDH1. The insert in the clone was sequenced (accession number HM067707), and the sequence showed complete homology with IDH sequence of other S. aureus strains reported in the database indicating presence of single enzyme in S. aureus, and considerable sequence homology with other bacteria was observed; however, only 24 % homology was found with NADP-dependent human IDH. Phylogenetically, the S. aureus IDH showed close identity with Bacillus subtilis and high degree of variability with other bacteria and human IDH. The expression of IDH in the clone UVIDH1 was induced with 1 mM IPTG, and the recombinant IDH was purified by passing through nickel metal chelate column; the purified recombinant IDH showed a single band in SDS–PAGE with a molecular weight of 40 kDa; K _m and V _max for isocitrate are 8.2?±?0.28 and 525?±?25 μM NADPH/mg/min, respectively, and for cofactor NADP 67.5?±?2.82?μM and V _max 50.5?±?2.12 μM NADPH/mg/min.     

Expression and Characterization of a Novel Enantioselective Lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus

A 1,080-bp cDNA (CGMCC 2873) encoding of a cold-active lipase of Aspergillus fumigatus (AFL67) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli for the first time. The new lipase, AFL67, was one-step purified by 8.30 folds through Ni?CNTA affinity chromatography with a recovery of 86.8?%. The specific activity of purified AFL67 was 449?U?mg^?1 on p-NP hexanoate. AFL67 preferentially hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl esters of short- and medium-chain fatty acids, with p-nitrophenyl hexanoate the maximum. The optimum temperature and pH was 15?°C and 7.5, respectively. The purified AFL67 was stable at 10?C25?°C for 30?min, and in the pH range of 6.0?C9.0 for 16?h (at 4?°C). Its activity was increased by 47 and 50?%, in the presence of 10?% (v/v) ethanol and isopropanol, respectively. The new lipase AFL67 highly enantioselectively deacylated (S)-??-acetoxyphenylacetic acid (APA) and o-Cl-APA, m-Cl-APA, and p-Cl-APA to (S)-mandelic acid and its derivates. These features render this cold-active novel lipase AFL67 attractive for biotechnological applications in the field of enantioselective synthesis of chiral mandelic acids, o-acylated mandelic acids, and their derivates and detergent additives.     

Characterization of Eight New Secondary Metabolites from the Mutant Strain G‐444 of Tubercularia sp. TF5

Eight new metabolites, including five new sesquiterpenoids, 10,11‐epoxyguaian‐10‐ol ( 1 ), 10,11‐epoxyguaian‐13‐ol ( 2 ), a new backbone sesquiterpene rearranged from guaiane ( 3 ), two 1,5 : 1,10‐disecoguaianes, 4 and 5 , two new dihydroisocoumarins, 7‐chloromellein‐4‐ol ( 6 ) and 7‐chloromellein‐5‐ol ( 7 ), and one new tetralone, 7‐chloroscytalone ( 8 ), were isolated from the mutant strain G‐444 of Tubercularia sp. TF5, an endophytic fungus of Taxus mairei, along with ten known compounds, 3,4‐dihydro‐4,8‐dihydroxy‐2H‐naphthalen‐1‐one ( 9 ), (3R,4S)‐4‐hydroxymellein ( 10 ), 5‐formylmellein ( 11 ), 5‐carboxymellein ( 12 ), sporogen‐AO1 ( 13 ), tuberculariols A ( 14 ) and B ( 15 ), hymatoxin E ( 16 ), 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyran‐3‐acetic acid ( 17 ), and penicillic acid ( 18 ). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (HMQC, HMBC, ¹H,¹H‐COSY and NOESY). The antimicrobial activities of 1 – 8 were evaluated, but none showed any substantial effect.     

Gene Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Thermostable Xylanase from Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis CCTCC AA001025

An endo-β-1,4-xylanase-encoding gene, xyn11NX, was cloned from Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis CCTCC AA001025 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene encoded a 192-amino acid polypeptide and a putative 50-amino acid signal peptide. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited a high degree of similarity with the xylanases from Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus (68%) and Thermobifida fusca (66%) belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 11. After purification to homogeneity, the recombinant Xyn11NX exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 55 °C and remained stable at weakly acidic to alkaline pH (pH 5.0–11.0). The enzyme was thermostable, retaining more than 80% of the initial activity after incubation at 60 °C for 1 h and more than 40% of the activity at 90 °C for 15 min. The K _m and V _max values for oat spelt xylan and birchwood xylan were 16.08 mg ml^?1 and 45.66 μmol min^?1 mg^?1 and 9.22 mg ml^?1 and 16.05 μmol min^?1 mg^?1, respectively. The predominant hydrolysis products were xylobiose and xylotriose when using oat spelt xylan or birchwood xylan as substrate.     

Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Heat Inactivation of a Novel Keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. Strain kr6

A novel keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. strain kr6 was purified to homogeneity by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, gel permeation on Sephadex G-100, and Q-Sepharose Fast Flow anion-exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was around 20 kDa. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal inactivation were determined. The influence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions and purification degree on the enzyme stability was evaluated in the range of 50 to 60 °C. The results showed that first-order kinetics explained well the thermal denaturation of the keratinase in this temperature interval. The presence of Ca²⁺ increases significantly the enzyme stability. Compared with the controls, the half-life of the purified enzyme after two purification steps in the presence of Ca²⁺ increased 7.3, 20.2, and 9.8 fold at 50, 55, and 60 °C, respectively. Thermodynamics parameters for thermal inactivation were also determined.     

Cloning, Expression, and Identification of a Novel Extracellular Cold-Adapted Alkaline Protease Gene of the Marine Bacterium Strain YS-80-122

As one of the most important groups of industrial enzymes, cold-adapted protease has been studied widely. An extracellular cold-adapted alkaline protease metalloproteinase (MP), produced by a marine bacterium strain YS-80-122, has been purified. The NH₂-amino acid sequence of the purified alkaline protease MP was ANGTSSAFTQ, which was identical to that of the serralysin from Pseudomonas sp. “TAC II 18”. The MP structural gene (lupA gene) was cloned by inverse PCR, and the open reading frame of 1,443 bp encoded a 463 amino acid protein (without signal peptide). Sequence alignment reveals that the alkaline protease MP belongs to the serralysin-type metalloproteases. The recombinant protein LupA was expressed in Escherichia coli, and Western blotting confirmed that the LupA was homologous to the cold-adapted alkaline protease MP.     

Isolation of a Novel Polyketide from Neodidymelliopsis sp.

Fungi have become an invaluable source of bioactive natural products, with more than 5 million species of fungi spanning the globe. Fractionation of crude extract of Neodidymelliopsis sp., led to the isolation of a novel polyketide, (2Z)-cillifuranone (1) and five previously reported natural products, (2E)-cillifuranone (2), taiwapyrone (3), xylariolide D (4), pachybasin (5), and N-(5-hydroxypentyl)acetamide (6). It was discovered that (2Z)-cillifuranone (1) was particularly sensitive to ambient temperature and light resulting in isomerisation to (2E)-cillifuranone (2). Structure elucidation of all the natural products were conducted by NMR spectroscopic techniques. The antimicrobial activity of 2, 3, and 5 were evaluated against a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens. A sodium [1-¹³C] acetate labelling study was conducted on Neodidymelliopsis sp. and confirmed that pachybasin is biosynthesised through the acetate polyketide pathway.     

Cloning,Expression, and Characterization of a Milk-Clotting Aspartic Protease Gene (Po-Asp) from Pleurotus ostreatus

An aspartic protease gene from Pleurotus ostreatus (Po-Asp) had been cloned based on the 3′ portion of cDNA in our previous work. The Po-Asp cDNA contained 1,324 nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,212 bp encoding 403 amino acid residues. The putative amino acid sequence included a signal peptide, an activation peptide, two most possible N-glycosylation sites and two conserved catalytic active site. The mature polypeptide with 327 amino acid residues had a calculated molecular mass of 35.3 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.57. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis showed 68–80 % amino acid sequence identical to other basidiomycetous aspartic proteases. Sequence comparison and evolutionary analysis revealed that Po-Asp is a member of fungal aspartic protease family. The DNA sequence of Po-Asp is 1,525 bp in length without untranslated region, consisting of seven exons and six introns. The Po-Asp cDNA without signal sequence was expressed in Pichia pastoris and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the molecular mass of recombinant Po-Asp was about 43 kDa. The crude recombinant aspartic protease had milk-clotting activity.     

Gene Cloning,Expression, and Characterization of a Novel Phytase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dickeya paradisiaca</Emphasis>

A novel phytase gene, appA, was isolated by degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR from Dickeya paradisiaca. The full-length appA comprises 1278 bp and encodes 425 amino acid residues, including a 23-residue putative N-terminal signal peptide. The deduced amino acid sequence of appA reveals the conserved motifs RHGXRXP and HD, which are typical of histidine acid phosphatases; significantly, APPA shows maximum identity (49%) to a phytase from Klebsiella pneumoniae. To characterize the properties of APPA, appA was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified recombinant APPA has two pH optima at pH 4.5 and 5.5, optimum temperature at 55 °C, specific activity of 769 U/mg, and good pH stability. The K _m value for the substrate sodium phytate is 0.399 mM with a V _max of 666 U/mg. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a phytase or phytase gene isolated from Dickeya. Weina Gu and Huoqing Huang contributed equally to this work.