Construction and evaluation of nagR-nagAa::lux fusion strains in biosensing for salicylic acid derivatives

The NagR protein is a response regulatory protein found in the bacterium Ralstonia sp. U2 that is involved in sensing for salicylic acid and the subsequent induction of the operon just upstream of its gene. The genes encoded for in this operon are involved in the degradation of salicylic acid. Escherichia coli strain RFM443 carrying a fusion of the Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE operon with the nagR gene and upstream region of the nagAa gene was constructed and characterized with respect to its optimum temperature, its response time and kinetics, and its ability to detect numerous benzoic acid derivatives. Although capable of detecting 0.5 mM salicylic acid at any temperature between 28 and 40 degrees C, this E. coli strain, labeled DNT5, showed its greatest relative activity at 30 degrees C, i.e., the temperature at which the largest induction was seen. Furthermore, experiments done with numerous benzoic acid derivatives found the NagR protein to be responsive to only a few of the compounds tested, including salicylic acid and 3-methyl salicylic acid, and acetyl salicylic acid was the strongest inducer. The lower limits of detection for these compounds with E. coli strain DNT5 were also established, with the native inducer, salicylic acid, giving the most sensitive response and detectable down to a concentration of about 2 microM. A second lux fusion plasmid was also constructed and transformed into an NahR background, Pseudomonas putida KCTC1768. Within this strain, NAGK-1768, the supplemental activity of the NahR protein on the nagAa promoter, was shown to extend both the range of chemicals detected and the sensitivity.     

Investigation of the Effect of Four Organic Acids in Radix Isatidis on E. coli Growth by Microcalorimetry

The inhibitory effects of four organic acids (OAs) in Radix Isatidis, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The power‐time curves of E. coli growth with and without OAs were acquired, meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by growth rate constants (k₁, k₂), half inhibitory ratio (IC₅₀), maximum heat output (P_max) and peak time (t_p). The values of k₁ and k₂ of E. coli growth in the presence of the four OAs decreased with the increasing concentrations of OAs. Moreover, P_max was reduced and the value of t_p increased with increasing concentrations of the four drugs. The sequence of anti‐microbial activity of the four OAs was: syringic acid>2‐amino‐benzoic acid>salicylic acid>benzoic acid. IC₅₀ of the four OAs was respectively 56 µg/mL for syringic acid, 75 µg/mL for 2‐amino‐benzoic acid, 86 µg/mL for salicylic acid and 224 µg/mL for benzoic acid. The existence of the functional groups on phenyl ring improves the anti‐microbial activity compared to benzoic acid. The functional groups methoxyl at C(3) and C(5) improve anti‐microbial activity more strongly than the other functional groups, and the functional group amino at C(2) improve anti‐microbial activity more strongly than hydroxyl at C(2) on phenyl ring.     

Biocatalytic Properties of a Recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium proliferatum</Emphasis> Lactonase with Significantly Enhanced Production by Optimal Expression in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

The levo-lactonase gene of Fusarium proliferatum ECU2002 (EC3.1.1.25) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli JM109 (DE3) for biocatalytic resolution of industrially important chiral lactones, including DL-pantoyl lactone which was a key precursor to calcium d-pantothenate. By increasing the biomass concentration and lowering the inducer (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside) concentration and induction temperature, the lactonase production was significantly enhanced up to 20 kU/L, which was 20 times higher than that of wild-type strain F. proliferatum ECU2002. The recombinant Fusarium lactonase was purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography, and its SDS-PAGE revealed a molecular mass of 50 kDa for the recombinant protein, suggesting that the enzyme was a simplex protein. Furthermore, biocatalytic properties of the recombinant lactonase were investigated, including kinetic parameters, additive’s effect, and substrate specificity. The results reported in this paper provide a feasible method to make the whole cells of E. coli JM109 (DE3) expressing lactonase gene to be a highly efficient and easy-to-make biocatalyst for asymmetric synthesis of chiral compounds.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial activity of some odorant Schiff bases derived from naturally occurring carbonyl compounds and anthranilic acid

Nine odorant Schiff bases, namely 2-(4-methoxybenzylideneamino) benzoic acid, 2-(benzylideneamino) benzoic acid, 2-(3-phenylallylidene amino) benzoic acid, 2-(3,7-dimethyloct-2,6-enylideneamino) benzoic acid, 2-(3,7-dimethyloct-6-enylideneamino) benzoic acid, 2-(4-isopropylbenzylideneamino)benzoic acid, 2-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylideneamino) benzoic acid, 2-(1-phenylethylideneamino) benzoic acid, and 2-[(4-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-enyl)-but-2-enylideneamino)benzoic acid, were prepared by condensation of anthranilic acid with corresponding naturally occurring carbonyl compounds (anisaldehyde, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, citral, citronellal, cuminaldehyde, veratraldehyde, acetophenone, and α-ionone) employing conventional and microwave irradiation methods. These compounds were characterized with the aid of elemental and spectral (FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR) analysis. Microwave irradiation method was efficient in terms of reduced reaction time, solvent use, and increased yields of these compounds without affecting their olfactory characteristics. These Schiff bases also exhibited olfactory characteristics for various fragrance compositions and varied antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.     

Manipulation of Single‐Stranded DNA by Using an Artificial Site‐Selective DNA Cutter Composed of Cerium(IV)/EDTA and Phosphonate–Oligonucleotide Conjugates

An artificial site‐selective DNA cutter to hydrolyze single‐stranded DNA at a desired site was prepared from Ce^IV/ethylenediamintetraacetic acid (EDTA) and two ethylenediamine‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid)–oligonucleotide conjugates. By using this cutter, the sense strand of a blue fluorescent protein (BFP) gene was selectively cut at a predetermined site in the chromophore‐coding region. The upstream fragment obtained by the site‐selective scission was ligated with the downstream fragment of the closely related green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene so that the 5′‐ and 3′‐end portions of the chromophore came from the BFP fragment and the GFP fragment, respectively. The recombinant gene was successfully expressed in E. coli and the chimeric chromophore emitted green fluorescence as expected.     

Evaluation of Probiotic Characteristics of Siderophoregenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> spp. Isolated from Dairy Waste

Siderophoregenic Bacillus strain DET9 has been selectively isolated from dairy waste. It was evaluated for probiotic characteristics and susceptibility pattern against antibiotics. Its spores showed excellent tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions and exhibited antimicrobial activity against organisms such as Escherichia coli, Micrococcus flavus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Its susceptibility to antibiotics reduces the prospect to donate resistance determinants if administered in the form of probiotic preparations. It was observed to produce ∼60 mg/l catecholate type of siderophore under iron stressed conditions, identified as a 2,3-dihydroxy benzoic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectral analysis. Partial 16S-rRNA gene sequencing analysis shows that the isolate exhibited homology with Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus weihenstephanensis, whereas biochemical characterization revealed its novelty. DET9 exhibited no mortality of fishes in a 60-day trial, when fishes (surfi tetra) were challenged up to 100 ppm cell concentration, with their daily diet.     

Synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-4-methyl-1-phenyl-5H-1,3,4-benzotriazepin-5-ones

The synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-4-methyl-1-phenyl-5H-1,3,4-benzotriazepin-5-one ( 4a ) and its 8-chloro analog ( 4b ) is described. Attempted synthesis of the 2-methyl analog of 4a from 2-(phenylamino)benzoic acid 1-methylhydrazide ( 10 ) and triethyl orthoaeetate led only to the Schiff base intermediate, 2-(phenylamino)benzoic acid 2-(1-ethoxyethylidene)-1-methylhydrazide ( 11 ). Cyclization of 11 was attempted unsuccessfully with a variety of reagents. The intere?ting reaction products from the treatment of 11 with trifluoroacetic acid are described.     

Synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-1-phenyl-1,4,5-benzotriazocine-2,3,6(1H) triones

The title compounds, 7a and its 9-chloro analog 7b , were prepared in three steps from methyl N-phenylanthranilates. Thus, methyl N-phenylanthranilate ( 3a ) was treated with oxalyl chloride to yield 2-[(2-chloro-1, 2-dioxoethyl) phenylamino]benzoic acid methyl ester ( 4a ). Treatment of 4a with methylhydrazine gave 2-([2-(1-methylhydrazino)-1,2-dioxoethyl]phenylamino) benzoic acid methyl ester ( 6a ), which was cyclized with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide to produce 7a . Alkylation of 7a and 7b with iodomethane afforded the respective 5-methyl derivatives 8a and 8b . A survey of the known literature benzotriazocines is presented.     

High Soluble Expression of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Amino Acid Oxidase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> Regulated by a Native Promoter

To express high-active soluble d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO), a constitutive plasmid that is regulated by a native hydantoinase promoter (P_Hase), was constructed. A d-amino acid oxidase gene (dao) was ligated with the P_Hase and cloned into pGEMKT to constitutively express protein of DAAO without the use of any inducer such as isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside which is poisonous to the cells and environment. The ribosome binding site region, host strain, and fermentation conditions were optimized to increase the expression level. When cultivated in a 5-m³ fermenter, the enzyme activity of JM105/pGEMKT-R-DAAO grown at 37 °C was found to be 32 U/mL and increase 16-fold over cells of BL21(DE3)/pET-DAAO grown at 28 °C. These results indicate the success of our approaches to overproducing DAAO in soluble form in Escherichia coli.     

13N-NMR spectroscopy. XXXV. Sequence analysis of alternating and random copolyamides made up of aliphatic and aromatic ω-amino acids

Alternating copolyamides of various ω-amino acids were synthesized by base-catalyzed polycondensation of N-isothiocyanatoacyl ω-amino acids in solution. Derivatives of the following amino acids were used: glycine, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, δ-aminovaleric acid, ε-aminocaproic acid, D ,L -β-aminobutyric acid, trans-4-aminocyclohexane 1-carboxylic acid, 4-aminophenyl acetic acid, 3-aminobenzoic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, 3-amino-4-methyl benzoic acid, and 4-amino-3-methyl benzoic acid. The base-catalyzed polycondensation at lower temperatures gave purer products than the bulk condensation at 180–200°C. ¹³C-NMR and natural-abundance ¹⁵N-NMR spectra measured in trifluoroacetic acid demonstrate that in most cases undisturbed alternating sequences were obtained. Strong neighboring residue effects and long-range sequence effects were found in the ¹⁵N-NMR spectra, and structure/shift relationships are discussed. The sequences of copolyamides obtained by copolymerizations of lactams or β-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides were investigated by both ¹⁵N-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy was found to be more useful if the copolyamides consist of ω-amino acid units of different chain length. However, ¹⁵N-NMR spectroscopy is more suited if the monomer units differ exclusively by their substituents.     

Construction of recombinant Escherichia coli strains for polyhydroxybutyrate production using soy waste as nutrient

Construction and comparison of recombinant Escherichia coli strains harboring the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) operon from Ralstonia entropha using vectors possessing different promotors, as well as the production of PHB from soy waste by the recombinant strain, are reported. The lac promotor was the most efficient on expression of the phb operon among the three promotors studied: i.e., lac promotor, T7 promotor and the normal σ⁷⁰ promotor. The pKS/PHB was the most efficient plasmid for phboperon expression among the three plasmids used: i.e., pKS⁻, pAED4, and pJM9131. It was observed that isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside was not required for the induction of the expression of phb operon. The cell dry wt and polyhydroxyalkan cote content by E. coli XL-1 Blue (pKS/PHB) were 3.025 g/L and 27.83%, respectively.     

Internal rotation in the molecular ions of benzoic acid and salicylic acid. An INDO molecular orbital approach

An aspect of the mechanism of the hydroxyl H/ortho H scrambling in the molecular ion of benzoic acid was studied by the open-shell INDO molecular orbital method. Energies of te unrearranged structure, the planar structure in which H is attached to carbonyl oxygen and rotational conformers of the latter were studied to determine a pathway of minimum energy for rotation. The same calculations were made for salicylic acid, m-fluorobenzoic acid and p-fluorobenzoic acid. The results of these calculations agree quite well with experimental results.     

Determination of hydroxyl radical by capillary electrophoresis and studies on hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of Chinese herbs

High-performance capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrochemical detection (ED) was employed to determine hydroxyl radicals in the Fenton reaction. Hydroxyl radicals can react with salicylic acid to produce 2,3-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid, which can be analyzed by CE-ED. Based on this principle, hydroxyl radicals were determined indirectly. In a 20 mmol/L phosphate running buffer (pH 7.4), 2,3-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid would elute simultaneously from the capillary within 6 min. As the working electrode, a 300 m diameter carbon-disk electrode exhibits good responses at +0.60 V (vs. SCE) for the two analytes. Peak currents of the two analytes are additive. Excellent linearity was obtained in the concentration range from 1.0×10^-3 mol/L to 5.0×10^-6 mol/L for 2,3-dihydroxy benzoic acid. The detection limit (S/N=3) was 2.0×10^-6 mol/L. This method was successfully applied for studying hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of Chinese herbs. It is testified that Apocynum Venetum L., Jinkgo bibola L., Morus alba L. and Rhododendron dauricum L. have strong hydroxyl radical scavenging activities.     

The role of benzoic acid in proline‐catalyzed asymmetric michael addition: A density functional theory study

In asymmetric Michael addition between ketones and nitroolefins catalyzed by L ‐proline, we observed that it was benzoic acid or its derivatives rather than other proton acid that could accelerate the reaction greatly, and different benzoic acid derivatives brought different yields. To explain the experimental phenomena, a density functional theory study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of proline‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition with benzoic acid. The results of the theoretical calculation at the level of B3LYP/6‐311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6‐31G(d) demonstrated that benzoic acid played two major roles in the formation of nitroalkane: assisting proton transfer and activating the nitro group. In the stage of enamine formation from imine, the energy profiles of benzoic acid derivatives were also calculated to investigate the reasons why different benzoic acid derivatives caused different yields. The results demonstrated that the pK_a value was the major factor for p‐substituted benzoic acid derivatives to improve the yields, whereas for m/o‐substituted benzoic acid derivatives, both pK_a value and electronic and steric effects could significantly increase the yields. The calculated results would be very helpful for understanding the reaction mechanism of Michael addition and provide some insights into the selection of efficient additives for similar experiments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Molecular characterisation of Bacillus chitinase for bioconversion of chitin waste

In this work chitin was extracted chemically from shrimp shells. Seventeen Bacillus isolates were screened for chitinolytic activity. The chitinolytic strains of Bt. were screened at different temperatures and pHs for their hydrolytic potentials. By using a pair of specific primers, endochitinase gene was amplified from SBS Bt-5 strain through PCR, and then cloned into pTZ57 TA cloning vector and transferred in Escherichia coli DH5α strain. The sequenced gene (GenBank Accession No: HE995800) consists of 2031 nucleotides capable of encoding 676 residues. The protein consisted of three functional domains with a calculated molecular mass of 74.53 kDa and a pI value of 5.83. The amino acid sequence of chi gene showed 99% similarity to the genes of Bt MR11 endochitinase, Bt serovar kurstaki chitinase (kchi), Bt strain MR21 endochitinase and Bacillus cereus B4264.     

Cloning and expression of L-asparaginase gene in Escherichia coli

The L-asparaginase (ASN) from Escherichia coli AS1.357 was cloned as a DNA fragment generated using polymerase chain reaction technology and primers derived from conserved regions of published ASN gene sequences. Recombinant plasmid pASN containing ASN gene and expression vector pBV220 was transformed in different E. coli host strains. The activity and expression level of ASN in the engineering strains could reach 228 IU/mL of culture fluid and about 50% of the total soluble cell protein respectively, more than 40-fold the enzyme activity of the wild strain. The recombinant plasmid in E. coli AS1.357 remained stable after 72h of cultivation and 5h of heat induction without selective pressure. The ASN gene of E. coli AS1.357 was sequenced and had high homology compared to the reported data.     

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.     

Preparation and antibacterial activity of aromatic derivatives of β-aminopropionic and γ-aminobutyric acid

Ten aromatic derivatives of β-aminopropionic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid were prepared.Their compositions and structures were identified by elemental analysis,IR,and 1H NMR.They have been examined for their antibacterial action against Staphylococcua aurens and Escherichia coli.These compounds showed higher activity than the aromatic derivatives of ct-amino acid which were reported previously.The general conclusion to be drawn is that the distance between amino and carboxylic group in these molecules could affect their antibacterial activity.Furthermore,those compounds with p-methyl substituent in phenyl ring exhibit higher activity than the others,and all the compounds exhibit higher activity against Escherichia coli and against Staphylococcua aureus.