Amino acid sequence homology between N- and C-terminal halves of a carbonic anhydrase in Porphyridium purpureum, as deduced from the cloned cDNA

New horizons in culture and valorization of red microalgae

Research on marine microalgae has been abundantly published and patented these last years leading to the production and/or the characterization of some biomolecules such as pigments, proteins, enzymes, biofuels, polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes and hydrocolloids. This literature focusing on metabolic pathways, structural characterization of biomolecules, taxonomy, optimization of culture conditions, biorefinery and downstream process is often optimistic considering the valorization of these biocompounds. However, the accumulation of knowledge associated with the development of processes and technologies for biomass production and its treatment has sometimes led to success in the commercial arena. In the history of the microalgae market, red marine microalgae are well positioned particularly for applications in the field of high value pigment and hydrocolloid productions. This review aims to establish the state of the art of the diversity of red marine microalgae, the advances in characterization of their metabolites and the developments of bioprocesses to produce this biomass.

Molecular Characterization of a Dual Domain Carbonic Anhydrase From the Ctenidium of the Giant Clam, Tridacna squamosa, and Its Expression Levels After Light Exposure, Cellular Localization, and Possible Role in the Uptake of Exogenous Inorganic Carbon

A Dual-Domain Carbonic Anhydrase (DDCA) had been sequenced and characterized from the ctenidia (gills) of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, which lives in symbiosis with zooxanthellae. DDCA was expressed predominantly in the ctenidium. The complete cDNA coding sequence of DDCA from T. squamosa comprised 1,803 bp, encoding a protein of 601 amino acids and 66.7 kDa. The deduced DDCA sequence contained two distinct α-CA domains, each with a specific catalytic site. It had a high sequence similarity with tgCA from Tridacna gigas. In T. squamosa, the DDCA was localized apically in certain epithelial cells near the base of the ctenidial filament and the epithelial cells surrounding the tertiary water channels. Due to the presence of two transmembrane regions in the DDCA, one of the Zn2+-containing active sites could be located externally and the other one inside the cell. These results denote that the ctenidial DDCA was positioned to dehydrate [Formula: see text] to CO2 in seawater, and to hydrate the CO2 that had permeated the apical membrane back to [Formula: see text] in the cytoplasm. During insolation, the host clam needs to increase the uptake of inorganic carbon from the ambient seawater to benefit the symbiotic zooxanthellae; only then, can the symbionts conduct photosynthesis and share the photosynthates with the host. Indeed, the transcript and protein levels of DDCA/DDCA in the ctenidium of T. squamosa increased significantly after 6 and 12 h of exposure to light, respectively, denoting that DDCA could participate in the light-enhanced uptake and assimilation of exogenous inorganic carbon.

Cloning, expression and purification of the α-carbonic anhydrase from the mantle of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis

We cloned, expressed, purified, and determined the kinetic constants of the recombinant α-carbonic anhydrase (rec-MgaCA) identified in the mantle tissue of the bivalve Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. In metazoans, the α-CA family is largely represented and plays a pivotal role in the deposition of calcium carbonate biominerals. Our results demonstrated that rec-MgaCA was a monomer with an apparent molecular weight of about 32 kDa. Moreover, the determined kinetic parameters for the CO₂ hydration reaction were k_cat =  4.2 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ and k_cat/K_m of 3.5 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ ×s⁻¹. Curiously, the rec-MgaCA showed a very similar kinetic and acetazolamide inhibition features when compared to those of the native enzyme (MgaCA), which has a molecular weight of 50 kDa. Analysing the SDS-PAGE, the protonography, and the kinetic analysis performed on the native and recombinant enzyme, we hypothesised that probably the native MgaCA is a multidomain protein with a single CA domain at the N-terminus of the protein. This hypothesis is corroborated by the existence in mollusks of multidomain proteins with a hydratase activity. Among these proteins, nacrein is an example of α-CA multidomain proteins characterised by a single CA domain at the N-terminus part of the entire protein.

Characterization and expression of the maize β-carbonic anhydrase gene repeat regions

In maize, carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) catalyzes the first reaction of the C(4) photosynthetic pathway; it catalyzes the hydration of CO(2) to bicarbonate and provides an inorganic carbon source for the primary carboxylation reaction catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase. The β-CA isozymes from maize, as well as other agronomically important NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) type C(4) crops, have remained relatively uncharacterized but differ significantly from the β-CAs of other C(4) monocot species primarily due to transcript length and the presence of repeat sequences. This research confirmed earlier findings of repeat sequences in maize CA transcripts, and demonstrated that the gene encoding these transcripts is also composed of repeat sequences. One of the maize CA genes was sequenced and found to encode two domains, with distinct groups of exons corresponding to the repeat regions of the transcript. We have also shown that expression of a single repeat region of the CA transcript produced active enzyme that associated as a dimer and was composed primarily of α-helices, consistent with that observed for other plant CAs. As the presence of repeat regions in the CA gene is unique to NADP-ME type C(4) monocot species, the implications of these findings in the context of the evolution of the location and function of this C(4) pathway enzyme are strongly suggestive of CA gene duplication resulting in an evolutionary advantage and a higher photosynthetic efficiency.

Purification and characterization of carbonic anhydrase from bovine stomach and effects of some known inhibitors on enzyme activity

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) was purified from four different cell localisation (outer peripheral, cytosolic, inner peripheral and integral) in bovine stomach using affinity chromatography with Sepharose-4B-L-tyrosine sulphanilamide. During the purification steps, the activity of the enzyme was measured using p-nitrophenyl acetate at pH 7.4. Optimum pH and optimum temperature values for all CA samples were determined, and their K(m) and V(max) values for the same substrate by Lineweaver-Burk graphics. The extent of purification for all CA localizations was controlled by SDS-PAGE. The K(m) values at optimum pH and 20 degrees C were 0.625 mM, 0.541 mM, 0.785 mM and 0.862 mM with p-nitro phenyl acetate, for all CA localizations. The respective V(max) values at optimum pH and 20 degrees C were 0.875 micromol/L min, 0.186 micromol/L min, 0.214 micromol/L min and 0.253 micromol/L min with the same substrate. The K(i) and I50 values for the inhibitors sulphanilamide, KSCN, NaN3 and acetazolamide were determined for all the CA localizations.

A novel carbonic anhydrase from the giant clam Tridacna gigas contains two carbonic anhydrase domains

This report describes the presence of a unique dual domain carbonic anhydrase (CA) in the giant clam, Tridacna gigas. CA plays an important role in the movement of inorganic carbon (Ci) from the surrounding seawater to the symbiotic algae that are found within the clam's tissue. One of these isoforms is a glycoprotein which is significantly larger (70 kDa) than any previously reported from animals (generally between 28 and 52 kDa). This alpha-family CA contains two complete carbonic anhydrase domains within the one protein, accounting for its large size; dual domain CAs have previously only been reported from two algal species. The protein contains a leader sequence, an N-terminal CA domain and a C-terminal CA domain. The two CA domains have relatively little identity at the amino acid level (29%). The genomic sequence spans in excess of 17 kb and contains at least 12 introns and 13 exons. A number of these introns are in positions that are only found in the membrane attached/secreted CAs. This fact, along with phylogenetic analysis, suggests that this protein represents the second example of a membrane attached invertebrate CA and it contains a dual domain structure unique amongst all animal CAs characterized to date.

Effects of omeprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine on the enzyme activities of carbonic anhydrase from bovine stomach in vitro and rat erythrocytes in vivo

In this study, the effects of omeprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine on bovine stomach carbonic anhydrase (EC 4.2.1.1.) isoenzymes have been investigated in vitro. Bovine stomach carbonic anhydrase (CA) was purified from four different cell localisations of bovine stomach using affinity chromatography by Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine sulphanilamide. The inhibition or activation effects of three different medical drugs on CA isoenzymes were determined using esterase activity and the CO(2)-hydratase method by plotting activity % vs. [medical drug]. The K(i) values for omeprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine were determined in all localization CA, respectively. The I(50) values of the drugs exhibiting an inhibition effect were found by means of these graphs. It was observed that omeprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine showed inhibition of bovine stomach CA activity. In addition, in vivo studies were performed for these medical drugs in Sprague-Dawley rats. It was demonstrated that CA in erythrocytes was significantly inhibited by these drugs to 3 h.

A novel evolutionary lineage of carbonic anhydrase (epsilon class) is a component of the carboxysome shell

A significant portion of the total carbon fixed in the biosphere is attributed to the autotrophic metabolism of prokaryotes. In cyanobacteria and many chemolithoautotrophic bacteria, CO(2) fixation is catalyzed by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), most if not all of which is packaged in protein microcompartments called carboxysomes. These structures play an integral role in a cellular CO(2)-concentrating mechanism and are essential components for autotrophic growth. Here we report that the carboxysomal shell protein, CsoS3, from Halothiobacillus neapolitanus is a novel carbonic anhydrase (epsilon-class CA) that has an evolutionary lineage distinct from those previously recognized in animals, plants, and other prokaryotes. Functional CAs encoded by csoS3 homologues were also identified in the cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus sp. and Synechococcus sp., which dominate the oligotrophic oceans and are major contributors to primary productivity. The location of the carboxysomal CA in the shell suggests that it could supply the active sites of RuBisCO in the carboxysome with the high concentrations of CO(2) necessary for optimal RuBisCO activity and efficient carbon fixation in these prokaryotes, which are important contributors to the global carbon cycle.

Carbonic anhydrase is essential for growth of Ralstonia eutropha at ambient CO(2) concentrations

Mutant strain 25-1 of the facultative chemoautotroph Ralstonia eutropha H16 had previously been shown to exhibit an obligately high-CO(2)-requiring (HCR) phenotype. Although the requirement varied with the carbon and energy sources utilized, none of these conditions allowed growth at the air concentration of CO(2). In the present study, a gene designated can and encoding a beta-carbonic anhydrase (CA) was identified as the site altered in strain 25-1. The mutation caused a replacement of the highly conserved glycine residue 98 by aspartate in Can. A can deletion introduced into wild-type strain H16 generated mutant HB1, which showed the same HCR phenotype as mutant 25-1. Overexpression of can in Escherichia coli and mass spectrometric determination of CA activity demonstrated that can encodes a functional CA. The enzyme is inhibited by ethoxyzolamide and requires 40 mM MgSO(4) for maximal activity. Low but significant CA activities were detected in wild-type H16 but not in mutant HB1, strongly suggesting that the CA activity of Can is essential for growth of the wild type in the presence of low CO(2) concentrations. The HCR phenotype of HB1 was overcome by complementation with heterologous CA genes, indicating that growth of the organism at low CO(2) concentrations requires sufficient CA activity rather than the specific function of Can. The metabolic function(s) depending on CA activity remains to be identified.

Physiological and molecular biological characterization of intracellular carbonic anhydrase from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

A single intracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) was detected in air-grown and, at reduced levels, in high CO(2)-grown cells of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (UTEX 642). No external CA activity was detected irrespective of growth CO(2) conditions. Ethoxyzolamide (0.4 mM), a CA-specific inhibitor, severely inhibited high-affinity photosynthesis at low concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon, whereas 2 mM acetazolamide had little effect on the affinity for dissolved inorganic carbon, suggesting that internal CA is crucial for the operation of a carbon concentrating mechanism in P. tricornutum. Internal CA was purified 36.7-fold of that of cell homogenates by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and two-step column chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-sephacel and p-aminomethylbenzene sulfone amide agarose. The purified CA was shown, by SDS-PAGE, to comprise an electrophoretically single polypeptide of 28 kD under both reduced and nonreduced conditions. The entire sequence of the cDNA of this CA was obtained by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends method and indicated that the cDNA encodes 282 amino acids. Comparison of this putative precursor sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified CA indicated that it included a possible signal sequence of up to 46 amino acids at the N terminus. The mature CA was found to consist of 236 amino acids and the sequence was homologous to beta-type CAs. Even though the zinc-ligand amino acid residues were shown to be completely conserved, the amino acid residues that may constitute a CO(2)-binding site appeared to be unique among the beta-CAs so far reported.

Characterisation of carbonic anhydrase in Plasmodium falciparum

Here we report the existence, purification and characterisation of carbonic anhydrase in Plasmodium falciparum. The infected red cells contained carbonic anhydrase approximately 2 times higher than those of normal red cells. The three developmental forms of the asexual stages, ring, trophozoite and schizont were isolated from their host red cells and found to have stage-dependent activity of the carbonic anhydrase. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the crude extract of P. falciparum using multiple steps of fast liquid chromatographic techniques. It had a Mr of 32 kDa and was active in a monomeric form. The human red cell enzyme was also purified for comparison with the parasite enzyme. The parasite enzyme activity was sensitive to well-known sulfonamide-based inhibitors of both bacterial and mammalian enzymes, sulfanilamide and acetazolamide. The kinetic properties and the amino terminal sequences of the purified enzymes from the parasite and host red cell were found to be different, indicating that the purified protein most likely exhibited the P. falciparum carbonic anhydrase activity. In addition, the enzyme inhibitors had antimalarial effect against in vitro growth of P. falciparum. Moreover, the vital contribution of the carbonic anhydrase to the parasite survival makes the enzyme an attractive target for therapeutic evaluation.

X-ray structure of beta-carbonic anhydrase from the red alga, Porphyridium purpureum, reveals a novel catalytic site for CO(2) hydration

The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) fall into three evolutionarily distinct families designated alpha-, beta-, and gamma-CAs based on their primary structure. beta-CAs are present in higher plants, algae, and prokaryotes, and are involved in inorganic carbon utilization. Here, we describe the novel x-ray structure of beta-CA from the red alga, Porphyridium purpureum, at 2.2-A resolution using intrinsic zinc multiwavelength anomalous diffraction phasing. The CA monomer is composed of two internally repeating structures, being folded as a pair of fundamentally equivalent motifs of an alpha/beta domain and three projecting alpha-helices. The motif is obviously distinct from that of either alpha- or gamma-CAs. This homodimeric CA appears like a tetramer with a pseudo 222 symmetry. The active site zinc is coordinated by a Cys-Asp-His-Cys tetrad that is strictly conserved among the beta-CAs. No water molecule is found in a zinc-liganding radius, indicating that the zinc-hydroxide mechanism in alpha-CAs, and possibly in gamma-CAs, is not directly applicable to the case in beta-CAs. Zinc coordination environments of the CAs provide an interesting example of the convergent evolution of distinct catalytic sites required for the same CO(2) hydration reaction.

Possible roles for His 208 in the active-site region of chloroplast carbonic anhydrase from Pisum sativum

His 208 of chloroplast pea carbonic anhydrase is conserved among the dicotyledonous carbonic anhydrases. This His was replaced by an Ala to test whether a histidine residue at this position, in analogy to His 64 of human carbonic anhydrase II, acts as an internal proton shuttle. Values of the kinetic parameters kcat and kcat/Km for the H208A mutant enzyme are high over the pH range 6-9 and of the same magnitude as those for the wild-type enzyme, indicating that this residue is not crucial for the catalytic event. The pH dependence of kcat/Km, reflecting the Zn-H2O ionization, is, however, simplified to that of a simple titration with pKa = 7.1 +/- 0.1 in the absence of His 208. Interaction with the proton-accepting buffer molecule is impaired in the mutant, and apparent Km values for the buffer have increased up to 20 times. Furthermore, the H208A mutant is more easily inactivated by oxidation than the wild-type enzyme. The results indicate that the pKa for a redox-sensitive Cys residue is decreased by at least one pH unit in the mutant, and the histidyl side chain seems to have a function in stabilizing the reduced and active form of the enzyme. An interaction with the redox-sensitive cysteines at positions 269 and 272 is proposed.

Carbonic anhydrase in eukaryotic algae: characterization, regulation, and possible function during photosynthesis

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) speeds up the equilibrium between CO2 and HCO3- at physiological pH values and has been detected in almost every species of the animal and plant kingdoms. Among eucaryotic micro- and macro-algae the enzyme is widely distributed and plays an important role in photosynthetic CO2 fixation. In some cases, different forms of carbonic anhydrases located extracellularly and intracellularly have been found to occur in the same cell. The expression of the genes encoding these CA isoforms are under the control of the inorganic carbon concentration in the medium, as the activities increase with decreasing the inorganic carbon content. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in isolating and characterizing the various forms of carbonic anhydrases on a biochemical and molecular level. Most of the data have been collected for microalgae like Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Dangeard), while the situation in macroalgae is still descriptive. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent development with an emphasis on microalgae carbonic anhydrases.Key words: carbonic anhydrase, CO2 concentrating mechanism, macroalgae, microalgae, photosynthesis.