Escherichia coli as a production host for novel enzymes from basidiomycota

Improved Foods Using Enzymes from Basidiomycetes

Within the kingdom of fungi, the division Basidiomycota represents more than 30,000 species, some with huge genomes indicating great metabolic potential. The fruiting bodies of many basidiomycetes are appreciated as food (“mushrooms”). Solid-state and submerged cultivation processes have been established for many species. Specifically, xylophilic fungi secrete numerous enzymes but also form smaller metabolites along unique pathways; both groups of compounds may be of interest to the food processing industry. To stimulate further research and not aim at comprehensiveness in the broad field, this review describes some recent progress in fermentation processes and the knowledge of fungal genetics. Processes with potential for food applications based on lipases, esterases, glycosidases, peptidases and oxidoreductases are presented. The formation and degradation of colourants, the degradation of harmful food components, the formation of food ingredients and particularly of volatile and non-volatile flavours serve as examples. In summary, edible basidiomycetes are foods—and catalysts—for food applications and rich donors of genes to construct heterologous cell factories for fermentation processes. Options arise to support the worldwide trend toward greener, more eco-friendly and sustainable processes.

Dye Decoloring Peroxidase Structure, Catalytic Properties and Applications: Current Advancement and Futurity

Dye decoloring peroxidases (DyPs) were named after their high efficiency to decolorize and degrade a wide range of dyes. DyPs are a type of heme peroxidase and are quite different from known heme peroxidases in terms of amino acid sequences, protein structure, catalytic residues, and physical and chemical properties. DyPs oxidize polycyclic dyes and phenolic compounds. Thus they find high application potentials in dealing with environmental problems. The structure and catalytic characteristics of DyPs of different families from the amino acid sequence, protein structure, and enzymatic properties, and analyzes the high-efficiency degradation ability of some DyPs in dye and lignin degradation, which vary greatly among DyPs classes. In addition, application prospects of DyPs in biomedicine and other fields are also discussed briefly. At the same time, the research strategy based on genetic engineering and synthetic biology in improving the stability and catalytic activity of DyPs are summarized along with the important industrial applications of DyPs and associated challenges. Moreover, according to the current research findings, bringing DyPs to the industrial level may require improving the catalytic efficiency of DyP, increasing production, and enhancing alkali resistance and toxicity.

Construction and characterization of a functional chimeric laccase from metagenomes suitable as a biocatalyst

Screening of gene-specific amplicons from metagenomes (S-GAM) is an efficient technique for the isolation of homologous genes from metagenomes. Using the S-GAM approach, we targeted multi-copper oxidase (MCO) genes including laccase and bilirubin oxidase (BOX) in soil and compost metagenomes, and successfully isolated novel MCO core regions. These core enzyme genes shared approximately 70% identity with that of the putative MCO from Micromonospora sp. MP36. According to the principle of S-GAM, the N- and C-terminal regions of the deduced products of the mature gene come from the known parent gene, which should be homologous and compatible with the target gene. We constructed two different MCO hybrid genes using Bacillus subtilis BOX and Micromonospora sp. MP36 MCO, to give Bs-mg-mco and Mic-mg-mco, respectively. The constructed chimeric MCO genes were fused with the maltose-binding protein (MBP) gene at the N-terminus for expression in Escherichia coli cells. We found that MBP-Mic-mg-MCO/Mic-mg-MCO possessed the characteristic properties of laccase, although MBP-Bs-mg-MCO had no activity. This novel laccase (Mic-mg-MCO) demonstrated unique substrate specificity, sufficient activity at neutral pH, and high thermal stability, which are suitable properties for its use as a laccase biocatalyst.

Mind the mushroom: natural product biosynthetic genes and enzymes of Basidiomycota

Covering: up to September 2020 Mushroom-forming fungi of the division Basidiomycota have traditionally been recognised as prolific producers of structurally diverse and often bioactive secondary metabolites, using the methods of chemistry for research. Over the past decade, -omics technologies were applied on these fungi, and sophisticated heterologous gene expression platforms emerged, which have boosted research into the genetic and biochemical basis of the biosyntheses. This review provides an overview on experimentally confirmed natural product biosyntheses of basidiomycete polyketides, amino acid-derived products, terpenoids, and volatiles. We also present challenges and solutions particular to natural product research with these fungi. 222 references are cited.

The tale of a versatile enzyme: Molecular insights into keratinase for its industrial dissemination

Keratinases are unique among proteolytic enzymes for their ability to degrade recalcitrant insoluble proteins, and they are of critical importance in keratin waste management. Over the past few decades, researchers have focused on discovering keratinase producers, as well as producing and characterizing keratinases. The application potential of keratinases has been investigated in the feed, fertilizer, leathering, detergent, cosmetic, and medical industries. However, the commercial availability of keratinases is still limited due to poor productivity and properties, such as thermostability, storage stability and resistance to organic reagents. Advances in molecular biotechnology have provided powerful tools for enhancing the production and functional properties of keratinase. This critical review systematically summarizes the application potential of keratinase, and in particular certain newly discovered catalytic capabilities. Furthermore, we provide comprehensive insight into mechanistic and molecular aspects of keratinases including analysis of gene sequences and protein structures. In addition, development and current advances in protein engineering of keratinases are summarized and discussed, revealing that the engineering of protein domains such as signal peptides and pro-peptides has become an important strategy to increase production of keratinases. Finally, prospects for further development are also proposed, indicating that advanced protein engineering technologies will lead to improved and additional commercial keratinases for various industrial applications.

Differential regulation of Pleurotus ostreatus dye peroxidases gene expression in response to dyes and potential application of recombinant Pleos-DyP1 in decolorization

Dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP) from the white rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus is a heme peroxidase able to oxidize diverse substrates, including recalcitrant phenols and dyes. This study analyzed the effect of chemical dyes on P. ostreatus growth, DyP activity and the expression of four Pleos-dyp genes during the time-course of Pleurotus ostreatus cultures containing either Acetyl Yellow G (AYG), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) or Acid Blue 129 (AB129) dyes. Additionally, Pleos DyP1 was heterologously expressed in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride in order to explore the potential of a secreted recombinant enzyme for decolorizing different dyes in cultures and plate assays. The addition of dyes had an induction effect on the enzymatic activity, with the fermentations undertaken using RBBR and AYG dyes presenting the highest total DyP activity. DyP gene expression profiles displayed up/down regulation during the culture of three Pleos-dyp genes (Pleos-dyp1, Pleos-dyp2 and Pleos-dyp4), while Pleos-dyp3 transcript was not detected under any of the culture conditions studied. A 14-fold relative induction level (log2) increase for Pleos-dyp2 and Pleos-dyp4 in AB129 and AYG, respectively, was also found. The presence of AB129 resulted in the highest Pleos-dyp1 gene induction and repression level, corresponding to 11.83 and -14.6-fold relative expression and repression levels, respectively. The lowest expression level of all genes was observed in RBBR, a response which is associated with the growth phase. The filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride was successfully transformed for the heterologous expression of Pleos-dyp1. The modified strains (TaDyP) were able to decolorize mono-azo, di-azo, anthraquinone and anthracenedione dyes with extracellular DyP1 activity found in the culture supernatant. After 96 h of culture, the recombinant TaDyP strains were able to degrade (decolorize) 77 and 34% of 0.05mM AB129 and 0.25mM AYG, respectively.

The Goldilocks Approach: A Review of Employing Design of Experiments in Prokaryotic Recombinant Protein Production

The production of high yields of soluble recombinant protein is one of the main objectives of protein biotechnology. Several factors, such as expression system, vector, host, media composition and induction conditions can influence recombinant protein yield. Identifying the most important factors for optimum protein expression may involve significant investment of time and considerable cost. To address this problem, statistical models such as Design of Experiments (DoE) have been used to optimise recombinant protein production. This review examines the application of DoE in the production of recombinant proteins in prokaryotic expression systems with specific emphasis on media composition and culture conditions. The review examines the most commonly used DoE screening and optimisation designs. It provides examples of DoE applied to optimisation of media and culture conditions.

Expression, purification, and characterization of a novel laccase from Setosphaeria turcica in Eschericha coli

Laccases are multicopper oxidases (E.C. 1.10.3.2) that catalyze the oxidation of many phenolic compounds. In this study, a novel laccase, Stlac4, from Setosphaeria turcica was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli by insertion into the pET-30a expression plasmid. The recombinant laccase was purified and visualized on SDS-PAGE as a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 71.5 KDa, and confirmed by Western blot. The maximum activity of the purified laccase was 127.78 U · mg^-1 , the optimum temperature and pH value were 60 °C and 4.0 respectively, measured by oxidation of 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS). Purified laccase activity under different metal ions and an inhibitor were tested, revealing that laccase activity increased by approximately 434.8% with Fe³⁺ , and 217.4% with Cu²⁺ at 10 mmol · L^-1 concentrations, Mn²⁺ increased the laccase activity only at 5 mmol · L^-1 , while Na⁺ increased activity at 1 mmol · L^-1 but inhibited activity at 5 and 10 mmol · L^-1 . SDS increased laccase activity at 1 mmol · L^-1 , and inhibited activity at 5 and 10 mmol · L^-1 .

Multiple Pesticides Detoxification Function of Maize (Zea mays) GST34

ZmGST34 is a maize Tau class GST gene and was found to be differently expressed between two maize cultivars differing in tolerance to herbicide metolachlor. To explore the possible role of ZmGST34 in maize development, the expression pattern and substrate specificity of ZmGST34 were characterized by quantitative RT-PCR and heterologous expression system, respectively. The results indicated that the expression level of ZmGST34 was increased ∼2-5-fold per day during the second-leaf stage of maize seedling. Chloroacetanilide herbicides or phytohormone treatments had no influence on the expression level of ZmGST34, suggesting that ZmGST34 is a constitutively expressed gene in maize seedling. Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and in Arabidopsis thaliana proved that ZmGST34 can metabolize most chloroacetanilide herbicides and increase tolerance to these herbicides in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. The constitutive expression pattern and broad substrate activity of ZmGST34 suggested that this gene may play an important role in maize development in addition to the detoxification of pesticides.