Identification and Characterization of a Novel Cold-Adapted GH15 Family Trehalase from the Psychrotolerant Microbacterium phyllosphaerae LW106

Psychrophiles inhabiting various cold environments are regarded as having evolved diverse physiological and molecular strategies, such as the accumulation of trehalose to alleviate cold stress. To investigate the possible contributions of trehalose metabolism-related enzymes to cold-adaption in psychrotrophic bacteria and enrich the resource bank of trehalose hydrolysis enzymes, a novel cold-adapted GH15 GA-like trehalase (MpTre15A) from psychrotolerant Microbacteriumphyllosphaerae LW106 isolated from glacier sediments was cloned and characterized. The recombinant MpTre15A from M. phyllosphaerae LW106 was expressed and purified in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The purified MpTre15A functioned as a hexamer and displayed maximal activity at pH 5.0 and 50 °C. Substrate specificity assay proved MpTre15A only showed hydrolytic activity toward α,α-trehalose. Site-directed mutation verified the key catalytic sites of Glu392 and Glu557 in MpTre15A. The kcat and kcat/Km values of MpTre15A at 4 °C (104.50 s−1 and 1.6 s−1 mM−1, respectively) were comparable to those observed for thermophilic GH15 trehalases at 50 °C, revealing its typical cold-adaptability. MpTre15A showed a trehalose conversion rate of 100% and 99.4% after 10 min and 15 min of incubation at 50 °C and 37 °C, respectively. In conclusion, this novel cold-adapted α,α-trehalase MpTre15A showed potential application for developing therapeutic enzymes, enzyme-based biosensors, and enzyme additives in the fermentation industry.

The interaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate with trypsin: Multi-spectroscopic analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation

The bioactivity of enzymes is sensitive to certain factors in their application environment, such as the pH, temperature, ionic strength, and additives, which can alter the native conformation of enzymes. To determine the mechanism by which the interaction of SDS influences the structure and activity of trypsin, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, DSC, and multi-spectroscopic measures including UV absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism were used. The results show that the hydrolytic activity towards casein could be dramatically restrained by SDS. UV absorption, CD, and fluorescence spectra demonstrated the formation of a trypsin-SDS complex. Thermodynamic parameters and molecular docking data revealed that the binding process was spontaneous, and that the main binding forces between SDS and trypsin were hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. In addition, molecular docking predicted that the binding site of SDS on trypsin was located at the active center. Molecular dynamic simulations showed that treatment with SDS resulted in the structure of trypsin becoming unstable and unfolded near its active center. This work provides insights into the interaction of SDS with trypsin on the molecular level and is beneficial to understanding of how SDS affects the conformation and activity of trypsin in application processes.

Experimental and theoretical investigations on the interaction of glucose molecules with myoglobin in the aqueous solution using theoretical and experimental methods

Osmolytes are generally well-known for the stabilization of proteins. The stabilizing impact of glucose on the dynamics and structure of myoglobin was probed through molecular simulation' docking and spectroscopic procedures. Using thermal stability examinations, the thermodynamic folding properties, point of melting temp. (T_m), thermodynamic enthalpy change (ΔH°) and thermodynamic entropy change (ΔS°) were determined to find out the depiction of myoglobin folding. Glucose operated as an enhancer relative to myoglobin stabilization. The quenching static model was demonstrated by fluorescence spectroscopy. There was one binding site. According to the spectroscopy analysis, glucose was capable of protecting the native structural conformation of protein as well as preventing from protein unfolding. The fluorescence spectroscopy together with simulation through molecular docking method revealed that definitely hydrogen bonding plus van der Waals forces had major contributions to the stabilization of the myoglobin-glucose complex. Hence, the direct interactions contributed slightly to the stabilization impact whereas indirect interactions resulted from the hydration arise from a molecular mechanism primarily inducing the glucose stabilizing impacts. An elevation occurred in the T_m of the myoglobin-glucose complex because of the greater H-bond creation and limited surface hydrophobic activity. Our findings indicate that glucose was capable of protecting the native conformation of myoglobin, clearly describing that glucose stabilization is preferred to be omitted from myoglobin surface. This is because water is more inclined to provide desirable interacting with myoglobin functional groups as compared to glucose. Also, MD results confirmed that the structural changes of myoglobin is the effect of complex formation with glucose.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Quantifying the binding stoichiometry and affinity of histo-blood group antigen oligosaccharides for human noroviruses

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis. Many HuNoVs recognize histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) as cellular receptors or attachment factors for infection. It was recently proposed that HuNoV recognition of HBGAs involves a cooperative, multistep binding mechanism that exploits both known and previously unknown glycan binding sites. In this study, binding measurements, implemented using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) were performed on homodimers of the protruding domain (P dimers) of the capsid protein of three HuNoV strains [Saga (GII.4), Vietnam 026 (GII.10) and VA387 (GII.4)] with the ethyl glycoside of the B trisaccharide (α-d-Gal-(1→3)-[α-l-Fuc-(1→2)]-β-d-Gal-OC2H5) and free B type 1 tetrasaccharide (α-d-Gal-(1→3)-[α-l-Fuc-(1→2)]-β-d-Gal-(1→3)-d-GlcNAc) in an effort to confirm the existence of new HBGA binding sites. After correcting the mass spectra for nonspecific interactions that form in ESI droplets as they evaporate to dryness, all three P dimers were found to bind a maximum of two B trisaccharides at the highest concentrations investigated. The apparent affinities measured for stepwise binding of B trisaccharide suggest positive cooperativity. Similar results were obtained for B type 1 tetrasaccharide binding to Saga P dimer. Based on these results, it is proposed that HuNoV P dimers possess only two HBGA binding sites. It is also shown that nonspecific binding corrections applied to mass spectra acquired using energetic ion source conditions that promote in-source dissociation can lead to apparent HuNoV-HBGA oligosaccharide binding stoichiometries and affinities that are artificially high. Finally, evidence that high concentrations of oligosaccharide can induce conformational changes in HuNoV P dimers is presented.

Effect of Four Commonly Used Dissolution Media Surfactants on Pancreatin Proteolytic Activity

Proteolytic enzymes are often used in dissolution testing of cross-linked gelatin capsules that do not conform to the dissolution specification. Their catalytic activity, however, can be affected when they are added to a dissolution media containing solubility enhancers, such as surfactants. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of pancreatic proteases in presence of four commonly used surfactants. We found that pancreatin exhibits remarkable proteolytic activity in the presence of Tween 80, even at the concentrations as high as 250 times its critical micelle concentration (cmc) in water, whereas, Triton X-100 enhanced the proteolytic activity of pancreatin when added at concentrations above its cmc in water. Both surfactants are non-ionic surfactants. On the other hand, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which are ionic surfactants, have a detrimental effect on the proteolytic activity of pancreatin. For example, a 50% reduction of the pancreatin activity was found in samples which contain a minor amount of SDS (0.05% w/v) in comparison to a surfactant-free reaction. Additionally, no activity was observed for the pancreatin-SDS samples which were incubated for 30 min at 40°C prior to testing. CTAB had an impact on pancreatin activity at concentrations higher than its cmc. Data from this manuscript can be used as a benchmark for optimization of the dissolution procedures that require use of both surfactants and enzymes.

Challenges with osmolytes as inhibitors of protein aggregation: Can nucleic acid aptamers provide an answer?

Protein aggregation follows some common motifs. Whether in the formation of inclusion bodies in heterologous overexpression systems or inclusions in protein conformational diseases, or aggregation during storage or transport of protein formulations, aggregates form cross beta-sheet structures and stain with amyloidophilic dyes like Thioflavin T and Congo Red, irrespective of the concerned protein. Traditionally, osmolytes are used to stabilize proteins against stress conditions. They are employed right from protein expression, through production and purification, to formulation and administration. As osmolytes interact with the solvent, the differential effect of the stress condition on the solvent mostly determines the effect of the osmolyte on protein stability. Nucleic acid aptamers, on the other hand, are highly specific for their targets. When selected against monomeric, natively folded proteins, they bind to them with very high affinity. This binding inhibits the unfolding of the protein and/or monomer-monomer interaction which are the initial common steps of protein aggregation. Thus, by changing the approach to a protein-centric model, aptamers are able to function as universal stabilizers of proteins. The review discusses cases where osmolytes were unable to provide stabilization to proteins against different stress conditions, a gap which the aptamers seem to be able to fill.

The intracellular galactoglycome in Trichoderma reesei during growth on lactose

Lactose (1,4-0-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucose) is used as a soluble carbon source for the production of cellulases and hemicellulases for-among other purposes-use in biofuel and biorefinery industries. The mechanism how lactose induces cellulase formation in T. reesei is enigmatic, however. Previous results from our laboratory raised the hypothesis that intermediates from the two galactose catabolic pathway may give rise to the accumulation of intracellular oligogalactosides that could act as inducer. Here we have therefore used high-performance anion-exchange chromatography-mass spectrometry to study the intracellular galactoglycome of T. reesei during growth on lactose, in T. reesei mutants impaired in galactose catabolism, and in strains with different cellulase productivities. Lactose, allo-lactose, and lactulose were detected in the highest amounts in all strains, and two trisaccharides (Gal-β-1,6-Gal-β-1,4-Glc/Fru and Gal-β-1,4-Gal-β-1,4-Glc/Fru) also accumulated to significant levels. Glucose and galactose, as well as four further oligosaccharides (Gal-β-1,3/1,4/1,6-Gal; Gal-β-1,2-Glc) were only detected in minor amounts. In addition, one unknown disaccharide (Hex-β-1,1-Hex) and four trisaccharides were also detected. The accumulation of the unknown hexose disaccharide was shown to correlate with cellulase formation in the improved mutant strains as well as the galactose pathway mutants, and Gal-β-1,4-Gal-β-1,4-Glc/Fru and two other unknown hexose trisaccharides correlated with cellulase production only in the pathway mutants, suggesting that these compounds could be involved in cellulase induction by lactose. The nature of these oligosaccharides, however, suggests their formation by transglycosylation rather than by glycosyltransferases. Based on our results, the obligate nature of both galactose catabolic pathways for this induction must have another biochemical basis than providing substrates for inducer formation.

Galacto-oligosaccharide synthesis from lactose solution or skim milk using the β-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans

The synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) catalyzed by a novel commercial preparation of β-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans (Biolactase) was studied, and the products were characterized by MS and NMR. Using 400 g/L lactose and 1.5 enzyme units per milliliter, the maximum GOS yield, measured by HPAEC-PAD analysis, was 165 g/L (41% w/w of total carbohydrates in the mixture). The major transgalactosylation products were the trisaccharide Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Glc and the tetrasaccharide Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-Glc. The GOS yield increased to 198 g/L (49.4% w/w of total carbohydrates) using a higher enzyme concentration (15 U/mL), which minimized the enzyme inactivation under reaction conditions. Using skim milk (with a lactose concentration of 46 g/L), the enzyme also displayed transgalactosylation activity: maximum GOS yield accounted for 15.4% (7.1 g/L), which was obtained at 50% lactose conversion.

Production of Galacto-oligosaccharides by the β-Galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis : comparative analysis of permeabilized cells versus soluble enzyme

The transgalactosylation activity of Kluyveromyces lactis cells was studied in detail. Cells were permeabilized with ethanol and further lyophilized to facilitate the transit of substrates and products. The resulting biocatalyst was assayed for the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and compared with two soluble β-galactosidases from K. lactis (Lactozym 3000 L HP G and Maxilact LGX 5000). Using 400 g/L lactose, the maximum GOS yield, measured by HPAEC-PAD analysis, was 177 g/L (44% w/w of total carbohydrates). The major products synthesized were the disaccharides 6-galactobiose [Gal-β(1→6)-Gal] and allolactose [Gal-β(1→6)-Glc], as well as the trisaccharide 6-galactosyl-lactose [Gal-β(1→6)-Gal-β(1→4)-Glc], which was characterized by MS and 2D NMR. Structural characterization of another synthesized disaccharide, Gal-β(1→3)-Glc, was carried out. GOS yield obtained with soluble β-galactosidases was slightly lower (160 g/L for Lactozym 3000 L HP G and 154 g/L for Maxilact LGX 5000); however, the typical profile with a maximum GOS concentration followed by partial hydrolysis of the newly formed oligosaccharides was not observed with the soluble enzymes. Results were correlated with the higher stability of β-galactosidase when permeabilized whole cells were used.

The electrostatic interactions between nano-TiO(2) and trypsin inhibit the enzyme activity and change the secondary structure of trypsin

In this work, the interaction between nano-TiO(2) and trypsin was investigated, and the mechanisms of the interaction were explored by the methods of UV-vis detection, circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence. The results clearly demonstrated that nano-TiO(2) had an inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity. The activity was decreased to 64% of the untreated trypsin in the presence of 300 μg/ml nano-TiO(2). UV spectrometry proved that nano-TiO(2) had a strong physical absorption effect on trypsin, and the CD spectra revealed that the secondary structure of trypsin was partly destroyed while bound together with nano-TiO(2). The ratio of α-helix increased from 7.9% to 12.8% in the presence of 100 μg/ml TiO(2) while the ratio of β-sheet decreased from 48.7% to 36.4%. Furthermore, the fluorescence spectrometry indicated that nano-TiO(2) could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of trypsin through static quenching. Meanwhile, the binding constant was calculated to be 1, and the process of binding of trypsin on nano-TiO(2) was a spontaneous molecular interaction procedure in which electrostatic interaction plays a major role. Our study was to provide a useful approach for evaluating the health risk of nanomaterials on level of proteins.