Diethylalkylsulfonamido(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl)phosphonate/phosphonic acid derivatives act as acid phosphatase inhibitors: synthesis accompanied by experimental and molecular modeling assessments

Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) are binuclear metallo-hydrolases that have been isolated from various mammals, plants, fungi and bacteria. In mammals, PAP activity is associated with bone resorption and can lead to bone metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis; thus human PAP is an attractive target to develop anti-osteoporotic drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate inhibitory effect of synthesized diethylalkylsulfonamido(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl)phosphonate/phosphonic acid derivatives as potential red kidney bean PAP (rkbPAP) inhibitors accompanied by experimental and molecular modeling assessments. Enzyme kinetic data showed that they are good rkbPAP inhibitors whose potencies improve with increasing alkyl chain length. Hexadecyl derivatives, as most potent compounds (K_i = 1.1 µM), inhibit rkbPAP in the mixed manner, while dodecyl derivatives act as efficient noncompetitive inhibitor. Also, analysis by molecular modeling of the structure of the rkbPAP-inhibitor complexes reveals factors, which may be important for the determination of inhibition specificity.

Highly sensitive detection of acid phosphatase by using a graphene quantum dots-based förster resonance energy transfer

A novel and effective fluorescence strategy was developed for sensitive and selective detection of acid phosphatase (ACP). A förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor was established by attaching nile red (NR) to graphene quantum dots (GQDs) via lecithin/β-Cyclodextrin (lecithin/β-CD) complex as the linker. The introduction of lecithin/β-CD would brought GQDs-NR pair close enough through both electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction, thereby making the FRET occur and thus resulting in the fluorescence quenching of GQDs (donor) and meanwhile the fluorescence enhancement of NR (acceptor). The presence of ACP in the sensing system would catalyze the hydrolysis of lecithin into two parts, resulting in the GQDs-NR pair separation. Meanwhile, considerable fluorescence recovery of GQDs and decreasing of NR was observed due to the inhibition of FRET progress. In this method, the limit of detection (LOD) is 28µUmL^-1 which was considerably low for ACP detection. Using the GQDs-based fluorescence biosensor, we successfully performed in vitro imaging of human prostate cancer cells.

Severe Cardiomyopathy as the Isolated Presenting Feature in an Adult with Late-Onset Pompe Disease: A Case Report

Many inborn errors of metabolism can cause cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy associated with glycogen storage includes PRKAG2-associated glycogen storage disease (GSD), Danon disease, infantile-onset Pompe disease (GSD II), GSD III, GSD IV, and phosphofructokinase deficiency (Tarui disease or GSD VII).We present a 35-year-old female who presented with cardiomyopathy after a pregnancy complicated by primary hyperparathyroidism. She had enjoyed excellent health until her first pregnancy at age 33. One week postpartum, she developed dyspnea and an echocardiogram revealed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35%. A cardiac MRI was consistent with nonischemic cardiomyopathy with an infiltrative process. Endomyocardial biopsy showed striking sarcoplasmic vacuolization, excess glycogen by PAS staining, and frequent membrane-bound glycogen by electron microscopy, consistent with lysosomal GSD. Acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity in skin fibroblasts was in the affected range for Pompe disease. Sequencing of the GAA gene revealed a paternally inherited pathogenic c.525delT (p.Glu176Argfs*45) and a de novo c.309C>G (p.Cys103Trp) with unknown pathogenicity. Testing of the familial mutations in her daughter indicated that the variants in the proband were in trans. 26-gene cardiomyopathy sequencing panel had normal results thereby excluding GSD III, Danon disease, Fabry disease, and PRKAG2-associated cardiomyopathy. Therefore, results strongly suggest a diagnosis of Pompe disease.Pompe disease has a broad disease spectrum, including infantile-onset (IOPD) and late-onset (LOPD) forms. LOPD typically presents with proximal muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency in childhood or late adulthood. Our case may represent a very unusual presentation of adult LOPD with isolated cardiomyopathy without skeletal muscle involvement or respiratory failure.

Activity of selected hydrolytic enzymes in Allium sativum L. anthers

The aim of the study was to determine enzymatic activity in sterile Allium sativum anthers in the final stages of male gametophyte development (the stages of tetrads and free microspores). The analysed enzymes were shown to occur in the form of numerous isoforms. In the tetrad stage, esterase activity was predominant, which was manifested by the greater number of isoforms of the enzyme. In turn, in the microspore stage, higher numbers of isoforms of acid phosphatases and proteases were detected. The development of sterile pollen grains in garlic is associated with a high level of protease and acid phosphatase activity and lower level of esterase activities in the anther locule. Probably this is the first description of the enzymes activity (ACPH, EST, PRO) in the consecutives stages of cell wall formation which is considered to be one of the causes of male sterility in flowering plant.

Phosphorus homeostasis in legume nodules as an adaptive strategy to phosphorus deficiency

Legumes have a significant role in effective management of fertilizers and improving soil health in sustainable agriculture. Because of the high phosphorus (P) requirements of N2-fixing nodule, P deficiency represents an important constraint for legume crop production, especially in tropical marginal countries. P deficiency is an important constraint for legume crop production, especially in poor soils present in many tropical degraded areas. Unlike nitrogen, mineral P sources are nonrenewable, and high-grade rock phosphates are expected to be depleted in the near future. Accordingly, developing legume cultivars with effective N2 fixation under P-limited conditions could have a profound significance for improving agricultural sustainability. Legumes have evolved strategies at both morphological and physiological levels to adapt to P deficiency. Molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptive strategies to P deficiency have been elucidated in legumes. These include maintenance of the P-homeostasis in nodules as a main adaptive strategy for rhizobia-legume symbiosis under P deficiency. The stabilization of P levels in the symbiotic tissues can be achieved through several mechanisms, including elevated P allocation to nodules, formation of a strong P sink in nodules, direct P acquisition via nodule surface and P remobilization from organic-P containing substances. The detailed biochemical, physiological and molecular understanding will be essential to the advancement of genetic and molecular approaches for enhancement of legume adaptation to P deficiency. In this review, we evaluate recent progress made to gain further and deeper insights into the physiological, biochemical and molecular reprogramming that legumes use to maintain P-homeostasis in nodules during P scarcity.

Insights into the physiological responses of the facultative halophyte Aeluropus littoralis to the combined effects of salinity and phosphorus availability

In this work, we investigate the physiological responses to P deficiency (5μM KH2PO4=D), salt stress (400mM NaCl=C+S), and their combination (D+S) on the facultative halophyte Aeluropus littoralis to understand how plants adapt to these combined stresses. When individually applied, both P deficiency and salinity significantly restricted whole plant growth, with a more marked effect of the latter stress. However, the effects of the two stresses were not additive in plant biomass production since the response of plants to combined salinity and P deficiency was similar to that of plants grown under salt stress alone. In addition the observed features under salinity alone are kept when plants are simultaneously subjected to the combined effects of salinity and P deficiency such as biomass partitioning; the synthesis of proline and the K(+)/Na(+) selectivity ratio. Thus, increasing P availability under saline conditions has no significant effect on salt tolerance in this species. Plants cultivated under the combined effects of salinity and P deficiency exhibited the lowest leaf water potential. This trend was associated with a high accumulation of Na(+), Cl(-) and proline in shoots of salt treated plants suggesting the involvement of these solutes in osmotic adjustment. Proline could be involved in other physiological processes such as free radical scavenging. Furthermore, salinity has no significant effect on phosphorus acquisition when combined with a low P supply and it significantly decreased this parameter when combined with a sufficient P supply. This fact was probably due to salt's effect on P transporters. In addition, shoot soluble sugars accumulation under both P deficiency treatments with and without salt likely play an important role in the adaptation of A. littoralis plants to P shortage applied alone or combined with salinity. Moreover, there was a strong correlation between shoot and root intracellular acid phosphatase activity and phosphorus use efficiency which strengthens the assumption that intracellular acid phosphatase enzymes are involved in P remobilization in this species. Finally, our results showed that P availability has no significant effect on salt excretion in A. littorlais which suggests that independently of the P status in the plant, excretion remains priority over other functions requiring energy such as growth. This result could also indicate that salt excretion is not energy-dependent in this species.

Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase Levels in GCF during Orthodontic Tooth Movement

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The present constituents of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can reflect the changes occurring in underlying tissues. Considering variety of biologic bone markers, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase have been examined as bone turn over markers in orthodontic tooth movement.

PURPOSE

The current study designed in a longitudinal pattern to determine the changes of acid and alkaline phosphatase (ACP & ALP) in GCF during orthodontic tooth movement.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

An upper canines from twelve patients (mean age: 14±2 years) undergoing extraction orthodontic treatment for distal movement served as the test tooth (DC), and its contralateral (CC) and antagonist (AC) canines were used as controls. The CC was included in orthodontic appliance without orthodontic force; the AC was free from any orthodontic appliance. The GCF around the experimental teeth was harvested from mesial and distal tooth sites immediately before appliance placement (T0), and 14 (T2) and 28 days (T3) after it and ALP and ACP concentration were determined spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS

ALP concentration was elevated significantly in DC and CC groups at days 14 and 28 compared with the AC. In DC group, the ALP was significantly greater in mesial sites than distal site, while no significant changes were found between both sites of CC. The peak level of ALP was observed in mesial sites of DC at T2. Regarding ACP, significant elevation of this enzyme was seen in DC group both in mesial and distal sites at T2 and T3. The peak level of this enzyme was seen at T2.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring simultaneous changes of ALP and ACP levels in GCF can reflect the tissue responses occur in periodontium during bone formation and bone resorption during orthodontic tooth movement, respectively.

High acid phosphatase level in the gingival tissues of periodontitis subjects

Aim:

Periodontitis is one of the major problems slowly progressing and could affect 70% of the global population. The prevalence of periodontitis differs from mild to moderate forms of race and geographic region. The aim of this study is to determine the acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in the gingival tissues of periodontitis subjects. In this study, the activity of ACP in the gingival tissue of subjects with periodontitis was examined.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 30 subjects were selected for the study and are divided into group I (n = 15, healthy subjects in control) and in group II (n = 15, periodontitis subjects). The gingival tissue from group I and group II subjects were collected after the surgery and the ACP enzyme level was analyzed using ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Assessment of periodontitis was done based on periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The statistical analysis applied was independent sample t-test, P < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results:

The results of group II periodontitis subjects showed statistically significant increased gingival tissues ACP level when compared with the control group I subject. The mean levels of CAL and PPD were significantly >4 mm in periodontitis subjects when compared to control.

Conclusions:

The elevated level of ACP in the gingival tissue and Gram-negative microorganisms found in sub-gingival plaque was greater in periodontitis. Based on these results, gingival tissue ACP level can be considered as an independent risk factor for evaluating the microbial status and periodontal tissue damage.

The Effect of Calcium Peroxide on the Phenol Oxidase and Acid Phosphatase Activity and Removal of Fluoranthene from Soil

A study has been conducted to enhance fluoranthene degradation by combining biodegradation with hydrogen peroxide oxidation, as a chemical oxidant calcium peroxide has been used. The impacts of addition of calcium peroxide on microbial activity (phenol oxidase and acid phosphatase) as well as fluoranthene removal efficiency were investigated. It was observed that in the presence of calcium peroxide, the removal efficiency of fluoranthene on day 30 of the experiment was threefold higher as compared to a reference sample. It was found that the activity of phenol oxidase was stimulated on days 1, 7, and 14, by the presence of fluoranthene, whereas stimulation of the acid phosphatase activity in the samples of soil contaminated by fluoranthene was observed only after 14 days of the experiment. This may indicate that the induction period for this enzyme is longer compared with the induction period for phenol oxidase. The inhibition of the activity of both enzymes was observed in the presence of calcium peroxide.

Phosphatase activity and culture conditions of the yeast Candida mycoderma sp. and analysis of organic phosphorus hydrolysis ability

Orthophosphate is an essential but limiting macronutrient for plant growth. About 67% cropland in China lacks sufficient phosphorus, especially that with red soil. Extensive soil phosphorus reserves exist in the form of organic phosphorus, which is unavailable for root uptake unless hydrolyzed by secretory acid phosphatases. Thus, many microorganisms with the ability to produce phosphatase have been exploited. In this work, the activity of an extracellular acid phosphatase and yeast biomass from Candida mycoderma was measured under different culture conditions, such as pH, temperature, and carbon source. A maximal phosphatase activity of 8.47×10(5)±0.11×10(5)U/g was achieved by C. Mycoderma in 36 hr under the optimal conditions. The extracellular acid phosphatase has high activity over a wide pH tolerance range from 2.5 to 5.0 (optimum pH3.5). The effects of different phosphorus compounds on the acid phosphatase production were also studied. The presence of phytin, lecithin or calcium phosphate reduced the phosphatase activity and biomass yield significantly. In addition, the pH of the culture medium was reduced significantly by lecithin. The efficiency of the strain in releasing orthophosphate from organic phosphorus was studied in red soil (used in planting trees) and rice soil (originating as red soil). The available phosphorus content was increased by 230% after inoculating 20 days in rice soil and decreased by 50% after inoculating 10 days in red soil. This work indicates that the yeast strain C. mycoderma has potential application for enhancing phosphorus utilization in plants that grow in rice soil.

Differentiation of industrial sake yeast strains by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method that targets the PHO3 gene

We developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method that targets the PHO3 gene for discriminating sake yeast strains. Our data indicate that this assay is simple, rapid, and useful to use for differentiation of specific yeasts in sake mash.

Influence of swine manure on growth, P uptake and activities of acid phosphatase and phytase of Polygonum hydropiper

Excessive application of animal manure to the farmland results in enrichment of P in the soil. Phytoremediation is a promising strategy for extracting excess P from manure impacted soil. P uptake characteristics of a mining ecotype (ME) and a non-mining ecotype (NME) of Polygonum hydropiper were investigated in this study by adopting soil culture containing various concentrations of swine manure (0-200 g swine manure kg(-1) soil). A peak value in the biomass of P. hydropiper was determined in 100 g kg(-1) soil. Significant increase of P content in tissues of two ecotypes was noticed with an increase in swine manure concentration. Maximum P accumulation in shoots and roots was observed at the concentration of 100 g kg(-1) soil, however, the ME accumulated more P as compared to the NME. The ME showed a lower plant effective number and a higher P extraction ratio compared to the NME. Both acid phosphatase and phytase activities of P. hydropiper were obviously enhanced under swine manure impacted soil compared with control, while those of ME higher than the NMEs. Therefore, the two ecotypes of P. hydropiper can accumulate P from soil amended with swine manure and establishes the foundation for phytoremediation.

Deletion of the CAP10 gene of Cryptococcus neoformans results in a pleiotropic phenotype with changes in expression of virulence factors

The human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes meningo-encephalitis. The polysaccharide capsule is an important virulence factor for this yeast-like fungus. Previously, we had shown that disruption of the CAP10 gene, encoding a putative xylosyltransferase, results in mutant cells that lack most of the capsular polysaccharides on the cell surface, but do not show a typical acapsular phenotype. In contrast to the acapsular cap59 mutant, cap10 did not induce maturation of dendritic cells when exposed to components of the immune system. In order to gain further insight into the causes of this phenotype displayed by the cap10 mutant, we performed a more in-depth phenotypic analysis of the cell wall and surface structures of this mutant compared to the wild type strain and acapsular mutant cap59. Moreover, we analyzed the cap10 mutant and the wild type strain for differential gene expression of, amongst others, enzymes that are involved in biogenesis of cell wall and capsule components. We conclude that a mutation in the CAP10 gene results in a pleiotropic phenotype with effects on different cellular processes affecting, amongst others, cell size, expression of virulence factors and size of extracellular vesicles.

The process of granule exocytosis in non-stimulated atrial granular cells of the snail, Achatina achatina: an ultrastructural, histochemical and immunocytochemical study

Abundant secretory granular cells (GCs) in the Giant African land snail atrium harbor a range of bioactive substances and undergo rapid total degranulation in response to stimulation of the cardiac nerve or stressful influences. Here we have analyzed exocytotic events in the non-stimulated GCs. It was shown that the GCs contain three major distinct types of granules that differ histochemically, immunocytochemically and ultrastructurally, each performing specific functions. The type I granules characteristically filled with electron-lucent homogeneous materials exhibit intense immunoreactivity for bioactive proteins and therefore are considered to be storage granules. Histochemistry using vital staining with Acridine Orange and Gomori acid phosphatase technique has revealed lysosomal-related nature of the electron-dense type II granules. Digestion remnants appearing as fine filamentous materials fill the type III granules. Only the type III granules fuse together and with the plasma membrane form degranulation channels and surface pores, through which the debris is removed from the cell. The finding of granules exhibiting intermediate ultrastructural, histochemical and immunocytochemical features suggests that the major granule types represent most stable states along a granule empting continuum. Thus, under physiological conditions, the GCs continuously produce secretory proteins and so maintain readiness for stress-response, but use protein degradation machinery to prevent massive release of these bioactive substances into hemolymph.

Immobilization of acid phosphatase from Vigna aconitifolia seeds on chitosan beads and its characterization

Acid phosphatase isolated from Vigna aconitifolia seeds was immobilized onto glutaraldehyde activated chitosan beads by crosslinking method. Chitosan beads activated with 2% of glutaraldehyde have demonstrated maximum immobilization yield (∼ 83%). The immobilized enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 7.0, while soluble form was maximally active in acidic range (pH 5.0). With respect to free form, immobilized acid phosphatase showed better activity in alkaline range. On the other side, immobilization does not affect the optimum temperature range i.e., both, soluble and immobilized acid phosphatase exhibited maximum activity at 60 °C. The Km and Vmax values for the immobilized enzyme were calculated to be 0.37 mM and 13.5 U/mg. The immobilization on chitosan beads enhanced the shelf life of acid phosphatase. The immobilized enzyme retained its more than 50% hydrolytic activity for approximately two months. The immobilized acid phosphatase was reusable for more than 40 cycles of reaction.

Yolk hydrolases in the eggs of Anticarsia gemmatalis hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): a role for inorganic polyphosphate towards yolk mobilization

Despite being the main insect pest on soybean crops in the Americas, very few studies have approached the general biology of the lepidopteran Anticarsia gemmatalis and there is a paucity of studies with embryo formation and yolk mobilization in this species. In the present work, we identified an acid phosphatase activity in the eggs of A. gemmatalis (agAP) that we further characterized by means of biochemistry and cell biology experiments. By testing several candidate substrates, this enzyme proved chiefly active with phosphotyrosine; in vitro assays suggested a link between agAP activity and dephosphorylation of egg yolk phosphotyrosine. We also detected strong activity with endogenous and exogenous short chain polyphosphates (PolyP), which are polymers of phosphate residues involved in a number of physiological processes. Both agAP activity and PolyP were shown to initially concentrate in small vesicles clearly distinct from typically larger yolk granules, suggesting subcellular compartmentalization. As PolyP has been implicated in inhibition of yolk proteases, we performed in vitro enzymatic assays with a cysteine protease to test whether it would be inhibited by PolyP. This cysteine protease is prominent in Anticarsia egg homogenates. Accordingly, short chain PolyP was a potent inhibitor of cysteine protease. We thereby suggest that PolyP hydrolysis by agAP is a triggering mechanism of yolk mobilization in A. gemmatalis.

Phosphine in paddy fields and the effects of environmental factors

Ambient levels of phosphine (PH3) in the air, phosphine emission fluxes from paddy fields and rice plants, and the distribution of matrix-bound phosphine (MBP) in paddy soils were investigated throughout the growing stages of rice. The relationships between MBP and environmental factors were analyzed to identify the principal factors determining the distribution of MBP. The phosphine ambient levels ranged from 2.368±0.6060 ng m(-3) to 24.83±6.529 ng m(-3) and averaged 14.25±4.547 ng m(-3). The highest phosphine emission flux was 22.54±3.897 ng (m(2)h)(-1), the lowest flux was 7.64±4.83 ng (m(2)h)(-1), and the average flux was 14.17±4.977 ng (m(2)h)(-1). Rice plants transport a significant portion of the phosphine emitted from the paddy fields. The highest contribution rate of rice plants to the phosphine emission fluxes reached 73.73% and the average contribution was 43.00%. The average MBP content of 111.6 ng kg(-1)fluctuated significantly in different stages of rice growth and initially increased then decreased with increasing depth. The peak MBP content in each growth stage occurred approximately 10 cm under the surface of paddy soils. Pearson correlation analyses and stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that soil temperature (Ts), acid phosphatase (ACP) and total phosphorus (TP) were the principal environmental factors, with correlative rankings of Ts>ACP>TP.

Enzymatic evaluation of gingival crevicular fluid in cleft palate patients during orthodontic treatment: A clinico-biochemical study

Background:

Therapeutic goal in patients with cleft lip and palate is esthetics and long-term health of the stomatognathic system. Patients with cleft lip and palate routinely require extensive and prolonged orthodontic treatment. The osseous structures are absent or poorly developed in the osseous clefts and may be traumatized in the course of orthodontic therapy; hence require constant monitoring during orthodontic treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the tissue response of cleft palate patients by quantitative analysis of enzyme activity during orthodontic treatment and assess any difference in the tissue response with that of noncleft patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Materials and Methods:

20 patients requiring orthodontic treatment agedbetween 15 to 25 years were included to participate in the studyof which ten were cleft palate patients (group I) and ten noncleft patients (group II). The GCF samples were collected at incisor and molar sites during orthodontic treatment on days as per the study design in both the groups. The GCF enzymatic levels were estimated and compared.

Results:

Both groups showed significant increased enzyme activity at the incisor site compared to molar site corresponding to the phases of tooth movement.

Conclusion:

There was significant difference in enzyme activity between the incisor adjacent to the cleft site and molar site. There was no difference in the tissue response between cleft palate patients and noncleft patients during orthodontic treatment.

Enzymatic activity of Lactobacillus reuteri grown in a sweet potato based medium with the addition of metal ions

The effect of metal ions on the enzymatic activity of Lactobacillus reuteri was studied. The enzymatic activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the corresponding substrate. In the control group, L. reuteri MF14-C, MM2-3, SD2112, and DSM20016 produced the highest α-glucosidase (40.06 ± 2.80 Glu U/mL), β-glucosidase (17.82 ± 1.45 Glu U/mL), acid phosphatase (20.55 ± 0.74 Ph U/mL), and phytase (0.90 ± 0.05 Ph U/mL) respectively. The addition of Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) led to enhance α-glucosidase produced by L. reuteri MM2-3 by 113.6% and 100.6% respectively. α-Glucosidase produced by MF14-C and CF2-7F was decrease in the presence of K(+) by 65.8 and 69.4% respectively. β-Glucosidase activity of MM7 and SD2112 increased in the presence of Ca(2+) (by 121.8 and 129.8%) and Fe(2+) (by 143.9 and 126.7%) respectively. Acid phosphatase produced by L. reuteri CF2-7F and MM2-3 was enhanced in the presence of Mg(2+), Ca(2+) or Mn(2+) by (94.7, 43.2, and 70.1%) and (63.1, 67.8, and 45.6%) respectively. On the other hand, Fe(2+), K(+), and Na(+) caused only slight increase or decrease in acid phosphatase activity. Phytase produced by L. reuteri MM2-3 was increase in the presence of Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) by 51.0 and 74.5% respectively. Ca(2+) enhanced phytase activity of MM2-3 and DSM20016 by 27.5 and 28.9% respectively. The addition of Na(+) or Fe(2+) decreased phytase activity of L. reuteri. On average, Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) followed by Ca(2+) led to the highest enhancement of the tested enzymes. However, the effect of each metal ion on the enzymatic activity of L. reuteri was found to be a strain dependent. Therefore, a maximized level of a target enzyme could be achieved by selecting a combination of specific strain and specific metal ion.

Spatial distribution and expression of intracellular and extracellular acid phosphatases of cluster roots at different developmental stages in white lupin

Acid phosphatases (APases) play a key role in phosphorus (P) acquisition and recycling in plants. White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) forms cluster roots (CRs) and produces large amounts of APases under P deficiency. However, the relationships between the activity of intracellular and extracellular APases (EC 3.1.3.2) and CR development are not fully understood. Here, comparative studies were conducted to examine the spatial variation pattern of APase activity during CR development using the enzyme-labelled fluorescence-97 (ELF-97) and the p-nitrophenyl phosphate methods. The activity of intracellular and extracellular APases was significantly enhanced under P deficiency in the non-CRs and CRs at different developmental stages. These two APases exhibited different spatial distribution patterns during CR development, and these distribution patterns were highly modified by P deficiency. The activity of extracellular APase increased steadily with CR development from meristematic, juvenile, mature to senescent stages under P deficiency. In comparison, P deficiency-induced increase in the activity of intracellular APase remained relatively constant during CR development. Increased activity of intracellular and extracellular APases was associated with enhanced expression of LaSAP1 encoding intracellular APase and LaSAP2 encoding extracellular APase. The expression levels of these two genes were significantly higher at transcriptional level in both mature and senescent CRs. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that both activity and gene expression of intracellular or extracellular APases exhibit a differential response pattern during CR development, depending on root types, CR developmental stages and P supply. Simultaneous in situ determination of intracellular and extracellular APase activity has proved to be an effective approach for studying spatial variation of APases during CR development.

Reduction of the degradation activity of umami-enhancing purinic ribonucleotide supplement in miso by the targeted suppression of acid phosphatases in the Aspergillus oryzae starter culture

Miso (fermented soybean paste) is a traditional Japanese fermented food, and is now used worldwide. The solid-state culture of filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae, grown on rice is known as rice-koji, and is important as a starter for miso fermentation because of its prominent hydrolytic enzyme activities. Recently, commercial miso products have been supplemented with purinic ribonucleotides, such as inosine monophosphate (IMP) and guanine monophosphate, to enhance the characteristic umami taste of glutamate in miso. Because the purinic ribonucleotides are degraded by enzymes such as acid phosphatases in miso, heat inactivation is required prior to the addition of these flavorings. However, heat treatment is a costly process and reduces the quality of miso. Therefore, an approach to lower acid phosphatase activities in koji culture is necessary. Transcriptional analysis using an A. oryzae KBN8048 rice-koji culture showed that eight of the 13 acid phosphatase (aph) genes were significantly down-regulated by the addition of phosphoric acid in the preparation of the culture in a concentration-dependent manner, while aphC expression was markedly up-regulated under the same conditions. The eight down-regulated genes might be under the control of the functional counterpart of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional activator Pho4, which specifically regulates phosphatase genes in response to the ambient phosphate availability. However, the regulatory mechanism of aphC was not clear. The IMP dephosphorylation activities in rice-koji cultures of KBN8048 and the aphC deletion mutant (ΔaphC) were reduced by up to 30% and 70%, respectively, in cultures with phosphoric acid, while protease and amylase activity, which is important for miso fermentation, was minimally affected. The miso products fermented using the rice-koji cultures of KBN8048 and ΔaphC prepared with phosphoric acid had reductions in IMP dephosphorylation activity of 80% and 90%, respectively, without any adverse effects on amylase and protease activities. Thus, preparing the A. oryzae rice-koji culture under phosphate-sufficient conditions preferentially produces a fermentation starter of miso exhibiting low purinic ribonucleotide dephosphorylation activity. Moreover, aphC is a potential breeding target to reduce purinic ribonucleotide degradation activity further in commercial miso products.

Comparison between prostate specific antigen and acid phosphatase for detection of semen in vaginal swabs from raped women

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and the acid phosphatase (AP) test for semen detection in human vaginal samples.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The source materials were vaginal swabs that were tested at Ramathibodi Hospital between 2008 and 2010 from 2450 cases of raped women. Each swab was tested for semen by three methods: sperm detection by light microscopy, the AP enzymatic reaction, and the presence of PSA by using an immuno-chromatographic rapid kit test. The efficiencies of the AP and PSA tests were compared using the light microscopy result for the presence of sperm as the gold standard.

RESULT

The specificities of the AP, the PSA and the combined AP-PSA tests were 96.4%, 92.3% and 91.9%, respectively, and the sensitivities were 65.5%, 80.4% and 84.5%, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area of the AP, PSA and combined AP-PSA tests were 0.8091, 0.8639 and 0.8823, respectively. The ROC area of the PSA test was significantly greater than that of the AP test (p < 0.0001), and the ROC area of the combined AP-PSA test was significantly greater than both the tests individually (p < 0.0001).

DISCUSSION

Based on the ROC area, the PSA test was better than the AP test for semen detection in the vaginal swabs, and the combined results (AP + PSA) were better than the individual tests. The specificity of the AP test was higher than the PSA test in this study because a positive detection was made within only 15 s. While the PSA test was more convenient as it was available in a rapid test kit format, our recommendation is PSA detection should be done together with AP test and spermatozoa examination to identify evidence of rape.

CONCLUSION

Using these three tests together (AP, PSA, and spermatozoa detection) was recommended as a forensic tool for investigations of vaginal swabs of the rape victims.

Purification and characterization of a novel acid phosphatase from the split gill mushroom Schizophyllum commune

A monomeric acid phosphatase (ACP) with a molecular mass of 72.5 kDa was purified from fresh fruiting bodies of cultured Schizophyllum commune mushroom. The isolation procedure entailed ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, and Q-sepharose, and gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. It demonstrated a unique N-terminal amino acid sequence of NAPWAQIDEV, which exhibited 60% amino acid identity to that of S. commune hypothetical histidine ACP based on its genome sequence, but less than 30% amino acid identity to that of other fungal ACPs previously reported. The ACP exhibited an optimum temperature at 50 °C, an optimum pH at pH 4.6, and was considerably stable at a pH range of 4.0 to 9.0, and a temperature range of 20-40 °C. The Km of the purified enzyme for ρ-nitrophenyl phosphate (ρNPP) was 0.248 mM and the Vmax was 9.093 × 10(-3)  μM/min. ACP activity was strongly inhibited by Al(3+) and Fe(3+) , but enhanced by Co(2+) , Mg(2+) , and Ca(2+) at a concentration of 0.5 mM.

Activity of hydrolytic enzymes in various regions of normal human brain tissue

The activity of six hydrolytic enzymes-carboxyl esterase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and β-hexosaminidase, were studied in different regions of the normal human brain tissue obtained at autopsy. Protein estimation and activities of the hydrolytic enzymes with respective substrates were assayed by spectrophotometric and spectroflourometric methods. Amongst the eight regions of the brain-frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus, the pineal gland showed highest activity for all hydrolytic enzymes studied except for carboxyl esterase. Among six hydrolases studied, hexosaminidase exhibited highest activity in all regions of the human brain while alkaline phosphatase activity was the least amongst all regions studied. A majority of the enzymes studied showed higher activity in gray matter as compared to the white matter except acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase which exhibited higher activity in the white matter. The most significant finding in the present study was the high activity of all hydrolytic enzymes noted in the pineal gland as compared to all other regions of the human brain. Such a finding has not been hitherto reported earlier in human brain tissue samples. If the specific activities of these enzymes are to be considered as any functional index, then pineal gland may be more metabolically active tissue with respect to the hydrolytic function as compared to the other regions of the brain.

Acid phosphatase as a marker in malaria

The serum acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured in malaria patients and nonmalarial fever patients. The results were compared with normal healthy control subjects. ACP was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in all the malaria patients. ACP was significantly higher in Plasmodium falcifarum malaria and mixed malaria when compared to Plasmodium vivax malaria. Hb levels were significantly decreased in all the malaria patients which indicates that malaria parasite uses host erythrocyte Hb as a major nutrient source. There is negative correlation(r = -0.478) between ACP and Hb in malaria patients, which is highly significant. These results suggest that the measurement of ACP could be used as a marker for malaria.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

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