Purification of recombinant catalase-peroxidase HPI from E. coli and its application in enzymatic polymerization reactions

Extremophilic Oxidoreductases for the Industry: Five Successful Examples With Promising Projections

In a global context where the development of more environmentally conscious technologies is an urgent need, the demand for enzymes for industrial processes is on the rise. Compared to conventional chemical catalysts, the implementation of biocatalysis presents important benefits including higher selectivity, increased sustainability, reduction in operating costs and low toxicity, which translate into cleaner production processes, lower environmental impact as well as increasing the safety of the operating staff. Most of the currently available commercial enzymes are of mesophilic origin, displaying optimal activity in narrow ranges of conditions, which limits their actual application under industrial settings. For this reason, enzymes from extremophilic microorganisms stand out for their specific characteristics, showing higher stability, activity and robustness than their mesophilic counterparts. Their unique structural adaptations allow them to resist denaturation at high temperatures and salinity, remain active at low temperatures, function at extremely acidic or alkaline pHs and high pressure, and participate in reactions in organic solvents and unconventional media. Because of the increased interest to replace chemical catalysts, the global enzymes market is continuously growing, with hydrolases being the most prominent type of enzymes, holding approximately two-third share, followed by oxidoreductases. The latter enzymes catalyze electron transfer reactions and are one of the most abundant classes of enzymes within cells. They hold a significant industrial potential, especially those from extremophiles, as their applications are multifold. In this article we aim to review the properties and potential applications of five different types of extremophilic oxidoreductases: laccases, hydrogenases, glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs), catalases and superoxide dismutases (SODs). This selection is based on the extensive experience of our research group working with these particular enzymes, from the discovery up to the development of commercial products available for the research market.

Prospects of Using Biocatalysis for the Synthesis and Modification of Polymers

Trends in the dynamically developing application of biocatalysis for the synthesis and modification of polymers over the past 5 years are considered, with an emphasis on the production of biodegradable, biocompatible and functional polymeric materials oriented to medical applications. The possibilities of using enzymes not only as catalysts for polymerization but also for the preparation of monomers for polymerization or oligomers for block copolymerization are considered. Special attention is paid to the prospects and existing limitations of biocatalytic production of new synthetic biopolymers based on natural compounds and monomers from biomass, which can lead to a huge variety of functional biomaterials. The existing experience and perspectives for the integration of bio- and chemocatalysis in this area are discussed.

Parallel Molecular Evolution of Catalases and Superoxide Dismutases-Focus on Thermophilic Fungal Genomes

Catalases (CAT) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) represent two main groups of enzymatic antioxidants that are present in almost all aerobic organisms and even in certain anaerobes. They are closely interconnected in the catabolism of reactive oxygen species because one product of SOD reaction (hydrogen peroxide) is the main substrate of CAT reaction finally leading to harmless products (i.e., molecular oxygen and water). It is therefore interesting to compare the molecular evolution of corresponding gene families. We have used a phylogenomic approach to elucidate the evolutionary relationships among these two main enzymatic antioxidants with a focus on the genomes of thermophilic fungi. Distinct gene families coding for CuZnSODs, FeMnSODs, and heme catalases are very abundant in thermophilic Ascomycota. Here, the presented results demonstrate that whereas superoxide dismutase genes remained rather constant during long-term evolution, the total count of heme catalase genes was reduced in thermophilic fungi in comparison with their mesophilic counterparts. We demonstrate here, for the newly discovered ascomycetous genes coding for thermophilic superoxide dismutases and catalases (originating from our sequencing project), the expression patterns of corresponding mRNA transcripts and further analyze translated protein sequences. Our results provide important implications for the physiology of reactive oxygen species metabolism in eukaryotic cells at elevated temperatures.

Polyphenol Polymerization by an Alternative Oxidative Microbial Enzyme and Characterization of the Biological Activity of Oligomers

The recombinant catalase-peroxidase HPI from E. coli was used as an alternative enzyme in polymerization reactions for the production of (−) epicatechin oligomers and their biological activity was characterized. The enzyme was prepared in two forms: a purified and an immobilized form. Both were tested for their activity in oxidative polymerization reactions, and their stability and reusability were assessed. The polymerization reactions were followed by SEC-HPLC analyses, and the substrate was completely converted into one or more polymerization products depending on the reactions conditions. Results showed that the utilized conditions allowed for the isolation of some oligomers of different molecular weight: the oligomers containing 6 and 7 units of epicatechin substrate are the heaviest ones. Epicatechin was also used in reactions catalyzed by HRP in the same reaction conditions for comparison. In addition, one selected oligomer obtained by HPI enzyme catalysis was shown to act as in vitro inhibitor of tumor cell growth, like one oligomer deriving from epicatechin by HRP catalysis. These data confirm that epicatechin oligomeric form is more effective than its monomer in biological activity and suggest the use of HPI as an alternative enzyme in reactions for the production of epicatechin oligomers.

Isolation and characterization of Rhizobium sp. strain YS-1r that degrades lignin in plant biomass

AIMS

The aim of this work was to isolate novel lignin-degrading organisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Several pure cultures of bacteria that degrade lignin were isolated from bacterial consortia developed from decaying biomass. Among the isolates, Rhizobium sp. strain YS-1r (closest relative of Rhizobium petrolearium strain SL-1) was explored for its lignin-degrading ability. Microcosm studies showed that strain YS-1r was able to degrade a variety of lignin monomers, dimers and also native lignin in switchgrass and alfalfa. The isolate demonstrated lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity when grown on alkali lignin, p-anisoin, switchgrass or alfalfa, and only negligible activity was measured in glucose-grown cells suggesting inducible nature of the LiP activity. Analysis of the strain YS-1r genome revealed the presence of a variety of genes that code for various lignin-oxidizing, H₂ O₂ -producing as well as polysaccharide-hydrolysing enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows both the genomic and physiological capability of bacteria in the genus Rhizobium to metabolize lignin and lignin-like compounds. This is the first detailed report on the lignocellulose-degrading ability of a Rhizobium species and thus this study expands the role of alpha-proteobacteria in the degradation of lignin.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The organism's ability to degrade lignin is significant since Rhizobia are widespread in soil, water and plant rhizospheres and some fix atmospheric nitrogen and also have the ability to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons.

Enzymatic oligomerization and polymerization of arylamines: state of the art and perspectives

The literature concerning the oxidative oligomerization and polymerization of various arylamines, e.g., aniline, substituted anilines, aminonaphthalene and its derivatives, catalyzed by oxidoreductases, such as laccases and peroxidases, in aqueous, organic, and mixed aqueous organic monophasic or biphasic media, is reviewed. An overview of template-free as well as template-assisted enzymatic syntheses of oligomers and polymers of arylamines is given. Special attention is paid to mechanistic aspects of these biocatalytic processes. Because of the nontoxicity of oxidoreductases and their high catalytic efficiency, as well as high selectivity of enzymatic oligomerizations/polymerizations under mild conditions-using mainly water as a solvent and often resulting in minimal byproduct formation-enzymatic oligomerizations and polymerizations of arylamines are environmentally friendly and significantly contribute to a "green" chemistry of conducting and redox-active oligomers and polymers. Current and potential future applications of enzymatic polymerization processes and enzymatically synthesized oligo/polyarylamines are discussed.

Enzymes as Green Catalysts for Precision Macromolecular Synthesis

The present article comprehensively reviews the macromolecular synthesis using enzymes as catalysts. Among the six main classes of enzymes, the three classes, oxidoreductases, transferases, and hydrolases, have been employed as catalysts for the in vitro macromolecular synthesis and modification reactions. Appropriate design of reaction including monomer and enzyme catalyst produces macromolecules with precisely controlled structure, similarly as in vivo enzymatic reactions. The reaction controls the product structure with respect to substrate selectivity, chemo-selectivity, regio-selectivity, stereoselectivity, and choro-selectivity. Oxidoreductases catalyze various oxidation polymerizations of aromatic compounds as well as vinyl polymerizations. Transferases are effective catalysts for producing polysaccharide having a variety of structure and polyesters. Hydrolases catalyzing the bond-cleaving of macromolecules in vivo, catalyze the reverse reaction for bond forming in vitro to give various polysaccharides and functionalized polyesters. The enzymatic polymerizations allowed the first in vitro synthesis of natural polysaccharides having complicated structures like cellulose, amylose, xylan, chitin, hyaluronan, and chondroitin. These polymerizations are "green" with several respects; nontoxicity of enzyme, high catalyst efficiency, selective reactions under mild conditions using green solvents and renewable starting materials, and producing minimal byproducts. Thus, the enzymatic polymerization is desirable for the environment and contributes to "green polymer chemistry" for maintaining sustainable society.

Peroxidase(s) in environment protection

Industrial discharges of untreated effluents into water bodies and emissions into air have deteriorated the quality of water and air, respectively. The huge amount of pollutants derived from industrial activities represents a threat for the environment and ecologic equilibrium. Phenols and halogenated phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDC), pesticides, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), industrial dyes, and other xenobiotics are among the most important pollutants. Peroxidases are enzymes that are able to transform a variety of compounds following a free radical mechanism, thereby yielding oxidized or polymerized products. The peroxidase transformation of these pollutants is accompanied by a reduction in their toxicity, due to loss of biological activity, reduction in the bioavailability, or the removal from aqueous phase, especially when the pollutant is found in water. The review describes the sources of peroxidases, the reactions catalyzed by them, and their applications in the management of pollutants in the environment.