Stability and Detergent Compatibility of a Predominantly β-Sheet Serine Protease from Halotolerant B. aquimaris VITP4 Strain

The present study deals with the characterization of halotolerant protease produced by Bacillus aquimaris VITP4 strain isolated from Kumta coast, Karnataka, India. The studies were performed at 40 °C and pH 8 in Tris buffer. Metal ions such as Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ increased the proteolytic activity of the enzyme by 34 and 30 %, respectively, at 10 mM concentration. Cu²⁺ at 1 mM concentration was found to enhance the enzyme activity by 16 %, whereas inhibition was observed at higher concentration (>5 mM). Slight inhibition was observed even with lower (>1 mM) concentrations of Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺.The activity of protease was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that the VITP4 protease is a serine protease. The presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline (>5 mM) moderately inhibited the activity, suggesting that the enzyme is activated by metal ions. The protease was purified to homogeneity with a purification fold of 15.7 with ammonium sulfate precipitation and 46.65 with gel filtration chromatography using Sephadex G-100, resulting in a specific activity of 424?±?2.6 U mg^?1. The VITP4 protease consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 34.7 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight. Among the different substrates used (casein, egg albumin, gelatin, and bovine serum albumin), the activity was higher with casein with V _max, K _m, and k _cat values of 0.817 mg ml min^?1, 0.472 mg ml^?1, and 2.31 s^?1, respectively. Circular dichroism studies revealed that the VITP4 protease has a predominantly β-sheet structure (51.6 %) with a temperature for half denaturation of 85.8 °C in the presence of 1 mM CaCl₂. Additionally, the VITP4 protease was found to retain more than 70 % activity in the presence of 10 mM concentration of different detergents (CTAB, urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate) and surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween-20, and Tween-80), and the results of wash performance test with various commercial detergents confirmed that it can be used in detergent formulations.     

Purification and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Alkaline Protease Produced by Penicillium nalgiovense

Penicillium nalgiovense PNA9 produces an extracellular protease during fermentation with characteristics of growth-associated product. Enzyme purification involved ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and ultrafiltration, resulting in 12.1-fold increase of specific activity (19.5 U/mg). The protein was isolated through a series of BN-PAGE and native PAGE runs. ESI-MS analysis confirmed the molecular mass of 45.2 kDa. N-Terminal sequencing (MGFLKLLKGSLATLAVVNAGKLLTANDGDE) revealed 93 % similarity to a Penicillium chrysogenum protease, identified as major allergen. The protease exhibits simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics and K _m (1.152 mg/ml), V _max (0.827 mg/ml/min), and k _cat (3.2?×?10²) (1/s) values against azocasein show that it possesses high substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency. The protease is active within 10–45 °C, pH 4.0–10.0, and 0–3 M NaCl, while maximum activity was observed at 35 °C, pH 8.0, and 0.25 M NaCl. It is active against the muscle proteins actin and myosin and inactive against myoglobin. It is highly stable in the presence of non-ionic surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, BTNB, and EDTA. Activity was inhibited by SDS, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF, indicating the serine protease nature of the enzyme. These properties make the novel protease a suitable candidate enzyme in meat ripening and other biotechnological applications.     

Kinetic Properties of Two Rhizopus Exo-polygalacturonase Enzymes Hydrolyzing Galacturonic Acid Oligomers Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

The kinetic characteristics of two Rhizopus oryzae exo-polygalacturonases acting on galacturonic acid oligomers (GalpA) were determined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). RPG15 hydrolyzing (GalpA)₂ demonstrated a K _m of 55 μM and k _cat of 10.3 s^?1 while RPG16 was shown to have greater affinity for (GalpA)₂ with a K _m of 16 μM, but lesser catalytic activity with a k _cat of 3.9 s^?1. Both enzymes were inhibited by the product, galacturonic acid, with _app K _i values of 886 and 501 μM for RPG15 and RPG16, respectively. RPG15 exhibited greater affinity for (GalpA)₃ with a K _m of 9.2 μM and a similar k _cat at 10.7 s^?1 relative to (GalpA)₂. Catalytic constants for RPG16 hydrolyzing (GalpA)₃ could not be determined; however, single-injection ITC assays suggest a distinct preference and catalytic rate for (GalpA)₃ relative to (GalpA)₂. Thermodynamic parameters of a series of galacturonic acid oligomers binding to RPG15 were determined and exhibited some distinct differences from RPG16 binding thermodynamics, providing potential clues to the differing kinetic characteristics of the two exo-polygalacturonase enzymes.     

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.     

Characteristics of a High Maltose-Forming, Acid-Stable, and Ca2+-Independent α-amylase of the Acidophilic Bacillus acidicola

The purified acidic α-amylase of Bacillus acidicola is a monomer of 66.0 kDa, optimally active at pH 4.0 and 60 °C. The enzyme is Ca²⁺ independent with T _1/2 for 18 min at 80 °C. The K _m, V _max, and catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _m) of the enzyme are 1.6 mg mL^?1, 23.8 μmol mg^?1 min^?1, and 981 μmol s^?1, respectively. Among detergents, Tween 20, 40, and 80 stimulated enzyme activity, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100 inhibited even at low concentration. EGTA has not affected the activity, whereas EDTA β-mercaptoethanol, iodoacetic acid, and Dithiothreitol exhibited a slight inhibitory action. Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, N-bromosuccinimide, and Hg²⁺ strongly inhibited enzyme activity. The experimental activation energy and temperature quotient are 50.12 kJ mol^?1 and 1.37. When thermodynamic parameters (ΔH and ΔS) of the enzyme have been determined at different temperatures, ΔG is positive suggesting that the enzyme is thermostable. The enzyme hydrolyzes raw starches, and therefore, the enzyme finds application in raw starch saccharification at sub-gelatinization temperatures that saves energy needed for gelatinization of raw starch at 105 °C.     

Self-assembling of Prussian blue nanocubic particles on nanoporous glassy carbon and its use in the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, self-assembled Prussian blue nanocubic particles on nanoporous glassy carbon was developed. The morphology of the PBNP-modified porous glassy carbon was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The PBNP-GCE-red film-modified electrode was used for the sensitive detection of hydrogen peroxide. The electrochemical behavior of the resulting sensor was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The value of α, k _cat, and D was calculated as 0.35, 1.7 × 10⁵ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1, and 2.6 × 10^?5 cm² s^?1, respectively. The calibration curve for hydrogen peroxide determination was linear over 0–600 μM with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.51 μM.     

Acid–Base Properties, Solubility, Activity Coefficients and Na+ Ion Pair Formation of Complexons in NaCl(aq) at Different Ionic Strengths

The protonation constants and solubilities of three complexons [ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (CDTA)] are reported in aqueous solutions of NaCl with different ionic strength values (0 ≤ I ≤ 4.8 mol·L^?1) and, in the case of CDTA, in (CH₃)₄NCl (0.1 ≤ I ≤ 2.7 mol·L^?1). The dependence on ionic strength of the protonation constants of these three complexons and four other complexons that were previously reported (NTA, EDTA, DTPA and TTHA), is analyzed in NaCl solution; the ionic strength influences quite strongly the protonation constants (as an example for CDTA, log₁₀ K ₁ = 10.54 and 9.25 at I = 0.1 and 1 mol·L^?1, respectively), while the effect of (CH₃)₄NCl concentration is lower. Based on the total solubility S ^T and the protonation constant data at different salt concentrations, the solubility of the neutral species S ⁰ and the solubility products K _S0 are obtained. The Setschenow coefficients k _m and the solubility values S ₀ ⁰ in pure water are also reported (S ₀ ⁰  = 0.55, 0.21 and 0.75 mmol·kg^?1 for EDDS, EGTA and CDTA, respectively). The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength is also interpreted in terms of ion pair formation, and the formation constants of Na⁺ species are reported.     

Characterization of Four New Distinct ω-Transaminases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas putida</Emphasis> NBRC 14164 for Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Amines and Amino Alcohols

Four uncharacterized ω-transaminases (ωTAs) from Pseudomonas putida NBRC 14164 have been identified and cloned from the pool of fully sequenced genomes. The genes were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, and the enzymes were purified and characterized. Four TAs showed highly (S)-selective ωTA activity and converted (S)-α-methylbenzylamine and pyruvate to acetophenone and l-Ala. The maximum activity of cloned enzymes was in the pH range of 8.0–8.5 (Pp36420), 8.5–9.5 (Pp21050), 9.0–9.5 (PpspuC), and 9.5–10.5 (PpbauA), and the optimal temperatures were at 35 °C (Pp36420, Pp21050, and PpspuC) and 50 °C (PpbauA), respectively, with K _M of 161.3 mM (Pp21050), 136.7 mM (PpbauA), 398.5 mM (Pp36420), and 130.9 mM (PpspuC) and yielding a catalytic efficiency k _cat/K _M of 0.015, 0.003, 0.012, and 0.023 mM^?1 s^?1. Several racemic amines and amino alcohols were resolved by the cloned ωTAs; perfect conversions (48–50 %) were obtained by at least one enzyme, and the residual substrates were left with 97–99 % ee. Kinetic resolution of racemic phenylglycinol was done with PpspuC in a 100-mL scale. Enaniomeric excess of (S)-phenylglycinol reached 99 % with 45 % isolated yield. The high enantioselectivity and large substrate spectra of the cloned PpTAs showed an attractive potency for biotechnology application in production of chiral amines and amino alcohols.     

A nano self-assembled artificial peroxidase: spectroscopic and electrochemical investigations

A nano-micelle with highly efficient peroxide activity was constructed by self-assembly of sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar, histidine and hematin in 50 mM phosphate buffer at 25 °C. UV–Vis spectrometry methods were utilized for characterization of the nanostructured material or artificial peroxidase (AP). The Michaelis–Menten (K _m) and catalytic rate (k _cat) constants of the AP were obtained to be 5.5 μM and 0.06 s^?1, respectively, in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 8.0. The catalytic efficiency of AP was evaluated to be 0.011 μM^?1 s^?1. The AP was also immobilized on a functional multi-wall carbon nanotubes-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) nano-complex modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The transmission electron microscopy method was utilized for the characterization of the nano-materials. The electron-transfer rate constant (k _s) and the apparent Michaelis–Menten constant K _m ^app of the AP modified GCE were evaluated to be 1.36 s^?1 and 0.19 μM, respectively. For a biosensor without a redox protein, the properties of the AP modified GCE were significant and will further benefit from additional studies and improvement.     

A Novel β-Glucosidase from Humicola insolens with High Potential for Untreated Waste Paper Conversion to Sugars

Humicola insolens produced a new β-glucosidase (BglHi2) under solid-state fermentation. The purified enzyme showed apparent molecular masses of 116 kDa (sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and 404 kDa (gel-filtration), suggesting that it is a homotetramer. Mass spectrometry analysis showed amino acid sequence similarity with a β-glucosidase from Chaetomium thermophilum. Optima of pH and temperature were 5.0 and 65 °C, respectively, and the enzyme was stable for 60 min at 50 °C, maintaining 71 % residual activity after 60 min at 55 °C. BglHi2 hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and cellobiose. Cellobiose hydrolysis occurred with high apparent affinity (K _M?=?0.24?±?0.01 mmol L^?1) and catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _M?=?1,304.92?±?53.32 L mmol^?1 s^?1). The activity was insensitive to Fe⁺³, Cr⁺², Mn⁺², Co⁺², and Ni²⁺, and 50–60 % residual activities were retained in the presence of Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cu²⁺. Mixtures of pure BglHi2 or H. insolens crude extract (CE) with crude extracts from Trichoderma reesei fully hydrolyzed Whatman no. 1 paper. Mixtures of H. insolens CE with T. reesei CE or Celluclast 1.5 L fully hydrolyzed untreated printed office paper, napkin, and magazine papers after 24–48 h, and untreated cardboard was hydrolyzed by a H. insolens CE/T. reesei CE mixture with 100 % glucose yield. Data revealed the good potential of BglHi2 for the hydrolysis of waste papers, promising feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production.     

Extracellular l-Asparaginase from a Protease-Deficient Bacillus aryabhattai ITBHU02: Purification, Biochemical Characterization, and Evaluation of Antineoplastic Activity In Vitro

An extracellular l-asparaginase produced by a protease-deficient isolate, Bacillus aryabhattai ITBHU02, was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate fractionation and subsequent column chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose fast flow and Seralose CL-6B. The enzyme was purified 68.9-fold with specific activity of 680.47 U mg^?1. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was approximately 38.8 kDa on SDS-PAGE and 155 kDa on native PAGE gel as well as gel filtration column revealing that the enzyme was a homotetramer. The optimum activity of purified l-asparaginase was achieved at pH 8.5 and temperature 40 °C. Kinetic studies depicted that the K _m, V _max, and k _cat values of the enzyme were 0.257 mM, 1.537 U μg^?1, and 993.93 s^?1, respectively. Circular dichroism spectroscopy has showed that the enzyme belonged to α?+?β class of proteins with approximately 74 % α-helices and 12 % β-sheets. BLASTP analysis of N-terminal sequence K-T-I-I-E-A-V-P-E-L-K-K-I-A of purified l-asparaginase had shown maximum similarity with Bacillus megaterium DSM 319. In vitro cytotoxicity assays with HL60 and MOLT-4 cell lines indicated that the l-asparaginase has significant antineoplastic properties.     

Rotational relaxation in S1 glyoxal: Cross sections and a search for propensity rules

Details of rotational energy transfer from a few selected K′J′ levels in the zero point vibrational level of ¹Au(S₁) glyoxal vapor have been studied. The cross section for destruction of an initial K′J′ level by rotational relaxation in collision with ground electronic state glyoxal is about 240 A² or 4.5 times gas kinetic. Much of the rotational transfer within the S₁ state occurs with large ΔK′ and ΔJ′. No strong propensities for △K′ = 0, ± 1, ± 2, or ± 3 with small ΔJ′ changes occur in collisions with ground electronic state glyoxal. The study was made by examination of the rotational structure in the 5₁⁰ emission band at various pressures after excitation in the 0,0 band of the S₁—S₀ system with the 454.5 nm argon ion line.     

Fluorescence from the second excited singlet of aromatic thioketones in solution

The spectral characteristics and the quantum yield of the fluorescence from the second excited singlet state S₂ of the aromatic thioketone molecules xanthione (XS) and thioxanthione (TXS) have been determined in solution at room temperature and 77 K. In 3-methylpentane, the measured quantum yields are φ_f (295 K) = 5.1 × 10^?3 and φ_f(77 K) = 1.0 × 10^?2 for XS, and φ_f (295 K) = 1.5 × 10^?3 and φ_f (77 K) = 2.5 × 10^?3 for TXS. Using the Strickler-Berg expression for the radiative lifetime, the decay rate of S₂ is derived. It is concluded that internal conversion S₂ ? S₁ is the dominating deactivation channel of S₂ with k^{77 K}_nr(S₂ ? S₁) = 1.0 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for XS and k^{77 K}_nr (S₂→S₁) = 2.2 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for TXS. Between 295 and 77 K, φ_f increases by a factor of about 2 following an Arrhenius type expression. This temperature dependence of φ_f is considered to be intramolecular in nature and is attributed to a temperature sensitive rate constant k_nr(S₂?S₁) with an activation energy of 190 ± 20 cm^?1 and a frequency factor k′_nr = 3 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for the XS molecule in 3-methylpentane.     

Expression and Characterization of a Novel Propionyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Gene from Candida rugosa in Pichia pastoris

The propionyl-CoA dehydrogenase (PACD) gene was firstly cloned from Candida rugosa by the cDNA RACE technique. The 6× His-tagged recombinant PACD gene was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 and purified with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis and Western blotting revealed that the molecular mass of the purified PACD was 49 kDa. The results showed that the recombinant protein had the activity of catalyzing propionyl-CoA to acrylyl-CoA. The K _m, k _cat, and V _max values of the purified PACD were calculated to be 40.86 μM, 0.566 s^?1 and 0.693 U?mg^?1 min^?1. The optimal temperature and pH of the purified PACD were 30 °C and 7.0, respectively. The recombinant PACD maintained 76.3%, 30.1%, and 4.3% of its original activity after 2 h incubation in standard buffer at 30, 40, and 50 °C, respectively. Mg²⁺ had an activating effect on the enzyme, while Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ had weak inhibition. Since PACD catalyzed the key step (from propionyl-CoA to acrylyl-CoA) in the modified β-oxidation pathway from glucose to 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), the integration of recombinant PACD could benefit the engineered strains for effective production of 3-HP from the most abundant biomass–sugars.     

Mn(III) and Cu(II) complexes of 1-((3-(dimethylamino)propylimino)methyl) naphthalen-2-ol): Synthesis,characterization, catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase activity and DFT-TDDFT study

Two new complexes, [MnL₂](ClO₄) (1) and [CuL₂] (2) (where LH = (E)-1-((3-(dimethylamino)propylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol), have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and their molecular structures are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Complex 1 adopts an octahedral geometry around the central manganese atom which is in + 3 oxidation state, whereas in complex 2, the Cu⁺² ion preferred a square pyramidal environment around it through the ligand donor atoms. Both complexes were tested for catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase activity. Complex 1 catalyzes the oxidation of 3,5-ditertiary-butyl catechol with a k_cat value of 6.8424 × 10² h^?1 in acetonitrile whereas the same for complex 2 is 3.7485 × 10² h^?1 in methanol. Phenoxazinone synthase activity was shown only by complex 2 having k_cat = 74.225 h^?1. Structures of both the title complexes have been optimized by means of DFT calculations. Experimental electronic spectra of the complexes have been corroborated by TDDFT analysis. Electrochemical investigations by means of cyclic voltammetry have been carried out to study the electron transfer processes in the complexes.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrochemical biosensing of glucose oxidase based on CdSe@CdS quantum dots and MWNT-modified electrode

The direct electron transfer of glucose oxidase (GOx) was achieved based on the immobilization of CdSe@CdS quantum dots on glassy carbon electrode by multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-chitosan (Chit) film. The immobilized GOx displayed a pair of well-defined and reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E ^θ’) of ?0.459 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k _s) of GOx confined in MWNTs-Chit/CdSe@CdS membrane were evaluated as 1.56 s^?1 according to Laviron's equation. The surface concentration (Γ*) of the electroactive GOx in the MWNTs-Chit film was estimated to be (6.52?±?0.01)?×?10^?11?mol?cm^?2. Meanwhile, the catalytic ability of GOx toward the oxidation of glucose was studied. Its apparent Michaelis–Menten constant for glucose was 0.46?±?0.01 mM, showing a good affinity. The linear range for glucose determination was from 1.6?×?10^?4 to 5.6?×?10^?3?M with a relatively high sensitivity of 31.13?±?0.02 μA?mM^?1?cm^?2 and a detection limit of 2.5?×?10^?5?M (S/N=3).     

Enzymatic Activation of the Emerging Drug Resveratrol

The plant originated stilbene “resveratrol” (3,4′,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) is well known for its diverse health benefits including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant properties. Besides a significant amount of reports on different aspects of its application as prodrug in the last 50 years, still, a strategy leading to the production of the active drug is missing. The aim of this work was to evaluate the enzymatic activation of prodrug resveratrol to the effective drug piceatannol, without engaging expensive cofactors. Five different heme proteins were analyzed for the transformation of resveratrol. Kinetic parameters of resveratrol transformation and analysis of the transformed products were conducted through HPLC and GC-MS. Effect of pH and organic solvent on the transformation process had also been evaluated. Among all tested heme proteins, only a variant of cytochrome P450_BM3 from Bacillus megaterium (CYP_BM3F87A) was found suitable for piceatannol production. The most suitable pH for the reaction conditions was 8.5, while organic solvents did not show any effect on transformation. For resveratrol transformation, the turnover rate (k _cat) was 21.7 (± 0.6) min^?1, the affinity constant (K _M) showed a value of 55.7 (± 16.7) μM for a catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _M) of 389 min^?1 mM^?1. GC-MS analysis showed that the only product from resveratrol transformation by cytochrome P450_BM3 is the biologically active piceatannol. The enzymatic transformation of resveratrol, an emerging compound with medical interest, to active product piceatannol by a variant of cytochrome P450_BM3 in the absence of expensive NADPH cofactor is demonstrated. This enzymatic process is economically attractive and can be scaled up to cover the increasing medical demand for piceatannol.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of μ-adi-di[N,N′-bis{salicylideneethylenediaminatoiron(III)}] by dithionate ion

The kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of the μ-adi-di[N,N′-bis{salicylideneethylenediaminatoiron(III)}] complex, [Fe₂adi], by dithionate ion, S₂O₆ ^2?, have been investigated in aqueous perchloric acid at 29 °C, I = 0.05 mol dm^?3 (NaClO₄) and [H⁺] = 5.0 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3. Spectrophotometric titrations indicated that one mole of the reductant was oxidized per mole of oxidant. Kinetic profiles indicated first-order rate with respect to [Fe₂adi] but zeroth-order dependence on [S₂O₆ ^2?]. The rate of reaction increased with increase in [H⁺], decreased with increased dielectric constant, but was invariant to changes in ionic strength of the medium. Addition of small amounts of AcO^? and Mg²⁺ ions did not catalyse the reaction. A least-squares fit of rate against [H⁺]² was linear (r ² = 0.984) without intercept. The reaction was analysed on the basis of a proton-coupled outer-sphere electron transfer mechanism.     

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Novel Methylglyoxal Synthase from Thermus sp. Strain GH5

A gene encoding methylglyoxal synthase from Thermus sp. GH5 (TMGS) was cloned, sequenced, overexpressed, and purified by Q-Sepharose. The TMGS gene was composed of 399 bp which encoded a polypeptide of 132 amino acids with a molecular mass of 14.3 kDa. The K _m and k _cat values of TMGS were 0.56 mM and 325 (s^?1), respectively. The enzyme exhibited its optimum activity at pH?6 and 75?°C. Comparing the amino acid sequences and Hill coefficients of Escherichia coli MGS and TMGS revealed that the loss of Arg 150 in TMGS has caused a decrease in the cooperativity between the enzyme subunits in the presence of phosphate as an allosteric inhibitor. Gel filtration experiments showed that TMGS is a hexameric enzyme, and its quaternary structure did not change in the presence of phosphate.     

Modelling and experimental validation of enantioseparation of racemic phenylalanine via a hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane

This paper reports on the enantioseparation of racemic phenylalanine or D-phenylalanine and Lphenylalanine via a hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) and the results are compared with the mathematical model. The enantioseparation results, of 80 % and 73 %, showed the highest extraction and stripping of l-phenylalanine from the feed phase and the enantiomeric excess (% ee) of 60 % from 6 mmol L^?1 of initial rac-phenylalanine in the feed solution. The optimum parameters were feed solution at pH 5, 6 mmol L^L?1 of O,O′-dibenzoyl-(2S,3S)-tartaric acid ((+)-DBTA) as the extractant in octanol as the liquid membrane, and deionised water as the stripping solution. Equal flow-rates of feed and stripping solutions of 100 mL min^L?1 were adjusted in a batch operation mode for 50 min at ambient temperature. From the calculation, the equilibrium constants of extraction (K _ex) and mass transfer coefficients in the feed phase (k _f) and in the liquid membrane phase (k _m) were found to be 1.81 L mmol^?2, 3.50 × 10^?2 cm s^?1, and 1.40 × 10^?2 cm s^?1, respectively. Finally, the change in concentrations of d,l-phenylalanine over time in the feed and stripping solutions by mathematical model were estimated and compared with the experimental results. The values thus calculated were in agreement with the experimental data with the average deviation of approximately 3 %.