High-level Expression of a Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (PoMn-SOD) from Pleurotus ostreatus in Pichia pastoris

The full-length cDNA of Pleurotus ostreatus superoxide dismutase (PoMn-SOD) was cloned and successfully expressed by using the pPIC9K vector under the control of alcohol oxidase 1 promoter with a secretion signal peptide (α-factor) in Pichia pastoris. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting demonstrated that recombinant PoMn-SOD, a 21.8 kDa protein, was secreted into the culture medium. Nondenaturing PAGE experiments confirmed that recombinant PoMn-SOD was secreted in a functionally active form and the expression system did not require any acid activation process. The factors affecting the expression level were optimized in shaking flask cultures. The maximum enzyme activity (156.9 U/mg) was observed under the following conditions: Initial medium pH was 6.0, induction time point was at the 6th day, and methanol concentration was 0.7 % (v/v). This was the first report on secretory expression of recombinant PoMn-SOD in P. pastoris, which might provide a reference for further practical applications.     

Production of Milk-Clotting Protease from Bacillus subtilis

An indigenous Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from soil was found to be a potent milk-clotting protease (mcp) producer. Production optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) yielded 1,190 U/ml of enzyme in medium containing 6% fructose, 1% casein, 0.3% NH₄NO₃, 10 mM CaCl₂, pH 6.0 and inoculated with 3% inoculum and incubated at 250 rpm for 72 h. Solid-state fermentation resulted in 1,080 and 952.3 U/gds of milk-clotting protease using soybean meal and rice bran, respectively, with higher proteolytic values of 18.97 and 9.1 IU/gds. Production in a biphasic system using an overlay of RSM-optimized medium on solid layer of 6% fructose and 1% casein with 1.5% agar resulted in significant enzyme production. Maximum mcp was obtained using a biphasic system where solid: liquid ratio of 3.0 resulted in a final yield of 1,276.65 U/ml with a yield index of 1.80 as compared to static liquid culture. However, significant increase or difference was noted as compared to yield obtained after RSM. This is the first report on the use of RSM for production of mcp from a bacterial species.     

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.     

Gene Cloning,Expression, and Characterization of an Exo-inulinase from Paenibacillus polymyxa ZJ-9

An inulinase-producing strain, Paenibacillus polymyxa ZJ-9, was isolated from natural sources to produce R,R-2,3-butanediol via one-step fermentation of raw inulin extracted from Jerusalem artichoke tubers. The inulinase gene from P. polymyxa ZJ-9 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the purified recombinant inulinase was estimated to be approximately 56 kDa by both sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography. This result suggests that the active form of the inulinase is probably a monomer. Terminal hydrolysis fructose units from the inulin indicate that enzymes are exo-inulinase. The purified recombinant enzyme showed maximum activity at 25 °C and pH 6.0, which indicate its extreme suitability for industrial applications. Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Mg²⁺ stimulated the activity of the purified enzyme, whereas Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺ inhibited enzyme activity. The K _m and V _max values for inulin hydrolysis were 1.72 mM and 21.69 μmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein, respectively. The same parameters toward sucrose were 41.09 mM and 78.7 μmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein, respectively. Considering its substrate specificity and other enzymatic characteristics, we believe that this inulinase gene from P. polymyxa ZJ-9 could be transformed into other special bacterial strains to allow inulin conversion to other biochemicals and bioenergy through one-step fermentation.     

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.     

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.     

Molecular Cloning,Expression, and Functional Analysis of Glycosyltransferase (TbUGGT) Gene from Trapa bispinosa Roxb.

Trapa bispinosa Roxb. is an economical crop for medicine and food. Its roots, stems, leaves, and pulp have medicinal applications, and its shell is rich in active ingredients and is considered to have a high medicinal value. One of the main functional components of the Trapa bispinosa Roxb. shell is 1-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (βG), which can be used in medical treatment and is also an essential substrate for synthesizing the anticancer drug beta-penta-o-Galloyl-glucosen (PGG). Furthermore, gallate 1-beta-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.136) has been found to catalyze gallic acid (GA) and uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) to synthesize βG. In our previous study, significant differences in βG content were observed in different tissues of Trapa bispinosa Roxb. In this study, Trapa bispinosa Roxb. was used to clone 1500 bp of the UGGT gene, which was named TbUGGT, to encode 499 amino acids. According to the specificity of the endogenous expression of foreign genes in Escherichia coli, the adaptation codon of the cloned original genes was optimized for improved expression. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic tree analyses revealed the high homology of TbUGGT with squalene synthases from other plants. The TbUGGT gene was constructed into a PET-28a expression vector and then transferred into Escherichia coli Transsetta (DE3) for expression. The recombinant protein had a molecular weight of 55 kDa and was detected using SDS-PAGE. The proteins were purified using multiple fermentation cultures to simulate the intracellular environment, and a substrate was added for in vitro reaction. After the enzymatic reaction, the levels of βG in the product were analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS, indicating the catalytic activity of TbUGGT. The cloning and functional analysis of TbUGGT may lay the foundation for further study on the complete synthesis of βG in E. coli.     

Cloning,Heterologous Expression,and Characterization of the Gene Cluster Required for Gougerotin Biosynthesis

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Highlights? The complete gougerotin biosynthetic gene cluster is cloned ? Heterologous production of gougerotin is accomplished in S. coelicolor M1146 ? Biosynthetic pathway is proposed based on bioinformatics, genetic, and chemical analyses ? Preliminary data support an uncommon enzymatic reaction for peptide bond formation     

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.     

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Aspartic Protease Gene from Marine-Derived <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metschnikowia reukaufii</Emphasis> and its Expression in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

Metschnikowia reukaufii W6b isolated from marine environment was found to produce a cell-bound acid protease. The full-length cDNA (cDNASAP6 gene) of the acid protease (SAP6) from the marine-derived yeast M. reukaufii W6b was cloned. The insert was 1,755-bp long and contained an open reading frame of 1,527-bp encoding 508 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence included a signal peptide of 16 amino acids. The consensus motifs contained a VLLDTGSSDLRM active site and an ALLDSGTTITQF active site. The protein sequence deduced from the cDNASAP6 gene exhibited 12.9% overall identity with Cwp1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a hydropathy profile characteristic of glycosylphosphatidylinositol cell-wall proteins. The cDNASAP6 gene without 48 bp encoding the signal peptide sequence was subcloned into an expression plasmid pET-24a (+) and fused with a 6-His Tag and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) for recombinant expression of the protease. The expressed fusion protein was found to have a unique band with molecular mass of about 54 kDa. The crude acid protease of the culture of the marine yeast strain W6b and the crude recombinant acid protease had milk clotting activity.     

Antimicrobial and Antineoplasic Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the antimicrobial and antineoplasic activity of Pleurotus ostreatus DSM 1833. To study the antimicrobial activity, the following extracts were prepared: water infusion of the fresh fruiting bodies (B1), dehydrated fruiting bodies (B2), fresh mycelium (M1), and dehydrated mycelium (M2). Polysaccharides from the fresh mycelium were also obtained by water infusion followed by ethanol treatment (EP). The extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. To investigate the antineoplasic effect of P. ostreatus, the culture broth in natura, the extract from the culture broth (ECB), and the extract from the fruiting bodies were tested in female Swiss albino mice inoculated with the Ehrlich ascitic tumor (EAT). B1, B2, and M1 showed more than 50.0% inhibition against C. albicans. M2 presented a high degree of inhibition against E. coli (87.5%) and B. subtilis (57.5%), while EP was not effective. All the tested substances inhibited the development of EAT at levels near 70% when injected intraperitoneally in mice. The highest tumor inhibition (76%) was achieved for the treatment with ECB. The intragastric treatment did not promote any reduction in tumor cell development, independent of the test substance.     

Cloning and Characterization of a Heme Oxygenase-2 Gene from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Heme oxygenase (HO, EC 1.14.99.3) catalyzes the oxidation of heme and performs vital roles in plant development and stress responses. Two HO isozymes exist in plants. Between these, HO-1 is an oxidative stress-response protein, and HO-2 usually exhibited constitutive expression. Although alfalfa HO-1 gene (MsHO1) has been investigated previously, HO2 is still poorly understood. In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of HO2 gene, MsHO2, from alfalfa (Medica sativa L.). The full-length cDNA of MsHO2 contains an ORF of 870 bp and encodes for 290 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 33.3 kDa. Similar to MsHO1, MsHO2 also appears to have an N-terminal transit peptide sequence for chloroplast import. Many conserved residues in plant HO were also conserved in MsHO2. However, unlike HO-1, the conserved histidine (His) required for heme-iron binding and HO activity was replaced by tyrosine (Tyr) in MsHO2. Further biochemical activity analysis of purified mature MsHO2 showed no HO activity, suggesting that MsHO2 may not be a true HO in nature. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR confirmed its maximum expression in the germinating seeds. Importantly, the expression levels of MsHO2 were up-regulated under sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and H(2)O(2) (especially) treatment, respectively.     

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.     

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.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of an Actin Gene from Chinese Licorice（Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch）

A PCR-based homologous cloning strategy was used to identify an actin gene from the roots of Chinese licorice(Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch). Results of sequence analysis indicate that a 1137 bp cDNA with an open reading frame encoding 377 amino acids,actin ortholog,GuActin,was successfully cloned and characterized(GenBank accession No. EU190972). Thus far,GuActin is the first actin of Chinese licorice that has been identified at a molecular level. Analysis by Northern blot shows that GuActin was expressed st...