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Linoleic acid isomerase was identified as a multi-component enzyme system that consists of three enzymes that exist in both the membrane and soluble fractions of Lactobacillus plantarum. One enzyme (CLA-HY) is present in the membrane fraction, while two enzymes (CLA-DH and CLA-DC) exist in the soluble fraction. Three Escherichia coli transformants expressing CLA-HY, CLA-DH, and CLA-DC were constructed. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and 10-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid were generated from linoleic acid only when all these three E. coli transformants were used as catalysts simultaneously. CLA-HY catalyzed the hydration reaction, a part of linoleic acid isomerization, to produce 10-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid. This multi-component enzyme system required oxidoreduction cofactors such as NADH and FAD. This is the first report to reveal enzymes genes and the elaborate machinery that synthesizes CLA, especially an important isomer of cis-9, trans-11-CLA, in lactic acid bacteria., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The application of microbial enzymes to large-scale organic synthesis is currently attracting much attention, and has been uniquely developed especially in Japan. The discovery of new microbial enzymes through extensive and persistent screening has brought about many new and simple routes for synthetic processes. The application of these enzymes in so-called 'hybrid processes' of enzymatic and chemical reactions, provide one possible way to solve environmental problems.

Cruciferous vegetables are rich sources of glucosinolates (GSLs). GSLs are degraded into isothiocyanates, which are potent anticarcinogens, by human gut bacteria. However, the mechanisms and enzymes involved in gut bacteria-mediated GSL metabolism are currently unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the enzymes involved in GSL metabolism in lactic acid bacteria, a type of gut bacteria. Companilactobacillus farciminis KB1089 was selected as a lactic acid bacteria strain model that metabolizes sinigrin, which is a GSL, into allylisothiocyanate. The sinigrin-metabolizing activity of this strain is induced under glucose-absent and sinigrin-present conditions. A quantitative comparative proteomic analysis was conducted and a total of 20 proteins that were specifically expressed in the induced cells were identified. Three candidate proteins, β-glucoside-specific IIB, IIC, IIA phosphotransferase system (PTS) components (CfPttS), 6-phospho-β-glucosidase (CfPbgS) and a hypothetical protein (CfNukS), were suspected to be involved in sinigrin-metabolism and were thus investigated further. We hypothesize a pathway for sinigrin degradation, wherein sinigrin is taken up and phosphorylated by CfPttS, and subsequently, the phosphorylated entity is degraded by CfPbgS. As expression of both pttS and pbgS genes clearly gave Escherichia coli host strain sinigrin converting activity, these genes were suggested to be responsible for sinigrin degradation. Furthermore, heterologous expression analysis using Lactococcus lactis suggested that CfPttS was important for sinigrin degradation and CfPbgS degraded phosphorylated sinigrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel enzymatic production system of optically pure β-hydroxy α-amino acids was developed. Two enzymes were used for the system: an N-succinyl L-amino acid β-hydroxylase (SadA) belonging to the iron(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase superfamily and an N-succinyl L-amino acid desuccinylase (LasA). The genes encoding the two enzymes are part of a gene set responsible for the biosynthesis of peptidyl compounds found in the Burkholderia ambifaria AMMD genome. SadA stereoselectively hydroxylated several N-succinyl aliphatic L-amino acids and produced N-succinyl β-hydroxy L-amino acids, such as N-succinyl- L-β-hydroxyvaline, N-succinyl- L-threonine, (2 S,3 R)- N-succinyl- L-β-hydroxyisoleucine, and N-succinyl- L- threo-β-hydroxyleucine. LasA catalyzed the desuccinylation of various N-succinyl- L-amino acids. Surprisingly, LasA is the first amide bond-forming enzyme belonging to the amidohydrolase superfamily, and has succinylation activity towards the amino group of L-leucine. By combining SadA and LasA in a preparative scale production using N-succinyl- L-leucine as substrate, 2.3 mmol of L- threo-β-hydroxyleucine were successfully produced with 93% conversion and over 99% of diastereomeric excess. Consequently, the new production system described in this study has advantages in optical purity and reaction efficiency for application in the mass production of several β-hydroxy α-amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dioxygenase from Burkholderia ambifaria AMMD (SadA) stereoselectively catalyzes the C3-hydroxylation of N-substituted branched-chain or aromatic L-amino acids, especially N-succinyl-L-leucine, coupled with the conversion of α-ketoglutarate to succinate and CO2. To elucidate the structural basis of the substrate specificity and stereoselective hydroxylation, we determined the crystal structures of the SadA.Zn(II) and SadA.Zn(II).α-KG complexes at 1.77 Å and 1.98 Å resolutions, respectively. SadA adopted a double-stranded β-helix fold at the core of the structure. In addition, an HXD/EXnH motif in the active site coordinated a Zn(II) as a substitute for Fe(II). The α-KG molecule also coordinated Zn(II) in a bidentate manner via its 1-carboxylate and 2-oxo groups. Based on the SadA.Zn(II).α-KG structure and mutation analyses, we constructed substrate-binding models with N-succinyl-L-leucine and N-succinyl-L-phenylalanine, which provided new insight into the substrate specificity. The results will be useful for the rational design of SadA variants aimed at the recognition of various N-succinyl L-amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygenases-based Escherichia coli whole-cell biocatalyst can be applied for catalysis of various commercially interesting reactions that are difficult to achieve with traditional chemical catalysts. However, substrates and products of interest are often toxic to E. coli, causing a disruption of cell membrane. Therefore, organic solvent-tolerant bacteria became an important tool for heterologous expression of such oxygenases. In this study, the organic solvent-tolerant Bacillus subtilis 3C5N was developed as a whole-cell biocatalyst for epoxidation of a toxic terminal alkene, 1-hexene. Comparing to other hosts tested, high level of tolerance towards 1-hexene and a moderately hydrophobic cell surface of B. subtilis 3C5N were suggested to contribute to its higher 1,2-epoxyhexane production. A systematic optimization of reaction conditions such as biocatalyst and substrate concentration resulted in a 3.3-fold increase in the specific rate. Co-expression of glucose dehydrogenase could partly restored NADPH-regenerating ability of the biocatalyst (up to 38 % of the wild type), resulting in approximately 53 % increase in specific rate representing approximately 22-fold increase in product concentration comparing to that obtained prior to an optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-step enzymatic synthesis process of 4-hydroxyisoleucine is suggested. In the first step, the aldol condensation of acetaldehyde and α-ketobutyrate catalyzed by specific aldolase results in the formation of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-keto-pentanoate (HMKP). In the second step, amination of HMKP by the branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase leads to synthesis of 4-hydroxyisoleucine. An enzyme possessing HMKP aldolase activity (asHPAL) was purified 2500-fold from a crude extract of Arthrobacter simplex strain AKU 626. Sequencing of the asHPAL structural gene showed that the purified enzyme belongs to the HpcH/HpaI aldolase family. The 4-hydroxyisoleucine was synthesized in vitro from acetaldehyde, α-ketobutyrate andl-glutamate using a coupled aldolase/branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase bienzymatic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which synthesizes 4-hydroxyisoleucine (4-HIL) by aldolase-transaminase coupling reaction and basic characterization of the aldolase purified Arthrobacter simplex AKU 626. It describes the screening of an aldolase-producing bacterium. It is revealed that A. simplex AKU 626 synthesized 4-HIL from acetaldehyde, alpha-ketobutyrate and L-glutamate with Escherichia coli harboring the branched chain amino acid transaminase gene.

The ability to produce ( R)- or ( S)-β-phenylalanine ethyl ester (3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid ethyl ester, BPAE) from racemic BPAE through stereoselective hydrolysis was screened for in BPAE-assimilating microorganisms. Sphingobacterium sp. 238C5 and Arthrobacter sp. 219D2 were found to be potential catalysts for ( R)- and ( S)-BPAE production, respectively. On a 24-h reaction, with 2.5% (w/v) racemic BPAE (130 mM) as the substrate and wet cells of Sphingobacterium sp. 238C5 as the catalyst, 1.15% (w/v) ( R)-BPAE (60 mM) with enantiomeric purity of 99% e.e. was obtained, the molar yield as to racemic BPAE being 46%. On a 48-h reaction, with 2.5% (w/v) racemic BPAE (130 mM) as the substrate and wet cells of Arthrobacter sp. 219D2 as the catalyst, 0.87% (w/v) ( S)-BPAE (45 mM) with enantiomeric purity of 99% e.e. was obtained, the molar yield as to racemic BPAE being 35%. The enzyme stereoselectively hydrolyzing ( S)-BPAE was purified to homogeneity from the cell-free extract of Sphingobacterium sp. 238C5. The enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of about 42,000. The enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis of β-phenylalanine esters, while the common aliphatic and aromatic carboxylate esters were not catalyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the bioprocessing of compounds to be used as catalyst for green chemistry in Japan. The procedure were taken in different steps, first, is the screening for biological reactions among versatile and diversity of micro-organisms. This bioprocess development were done to further discover unique metabolic processes, reactions and metabolism of microbe's enzymes.

An enzyme showing alkaliphilic laccase activity was purified from the culture supernatant of Myrothecium verrucaria 24G-4. The enzyme was highly stable under alkaline conditions, showed an optimum reaction pH of 9.0 for 4-aminoantipyrine/phenol coupling, and decolorized synthetic dyes under alkaline conditions. It showed structural and catalytic similarities with bilirubin oxidase, but preferably oxidized phenolic compounds. The enzyme catalyzed veratryl alcohol oxidation at pH 9.0 with 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as a mediator, suggesting that the laccase mediator system functioned well under alkaline conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the purification of a novel enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of nucleosides to nucleoside-5'-carboxylic acids, forming hydrogen peroxide to homogeneity from Flavobacterium meningosepticum T-2799. Weight of the enzyme; Conclusion of the enzyme; Oxidization of various nucleosides by the enzyme; Identification of several of the nucleosides.

N-Carbamoyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase was purified 119-fold, with 36% overall recovery from a cell-free extract of Comamonas sp. E222c. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by SDS/PAGE. The relative molecular mass of the native enzyme was 120000 and that of the subunit was 40000. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed various N-carbamoyl-D-amino acids to Damino acids, ammonia and carbon dioxide. N-Carbamoyl-D-amino acids having hydrophobic groups served as good substrates for the enzyme. The Km and Vmax values for N-carbamoyl-D-phenylalanine were 19.7 mM and 13.1 units/mg, respectively, and those for N-carbamoyl-D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine were 13.1 mM and 0.56 units/mg, respectively. The enzyme strictly recognized the configuration of the substrate and only the D-enantiomer of the N-carbamoyl amino acid was hydrolyzed. The enzyme activity was not significantly affected by N-carbamoyl-L-amino acids and ammonia. The enzyme was sensitive to thiol reagents and did not require metal ions for its activity. The enzyme did not hydrolyze N-carbamoyl-β-alanine or N-carbamoyl-DL-aspartate suggesting that the enzyme is different from the N-carbamoylamide-hydrolyzing enzymes involved in the pyrimidine degradation pathway. The enzyme did not hydrolyze allantoin and allantoic acid, which are intermediates in purine degradation, N-carbamoylsarcosine and citrulline, suggesting that it is a novel N-carbamoylamide amidohydrolase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel enzyme, arylalkyl acylamidase, which shows a strict specificity for N-acetyl arylalkylamines, but not acetanilide derivatives, was purified from the culture broth of Pseudomonas putida Sc2. The purified enzyme appeared to be homogeneous, as judged by native and SDS/PAGE. The enzyme has a molecular mass of approximately 150 kDa-and consists of four identical subunits. The purified enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-2-phenylethylamine to 2-phenylethylamine and acetic acid at the rate of 6.25 μmol · min-1 · mg-1 at 30°C. It also catalyzed the hydrolysis of various N-acetyl arylalkylamines containing a benzene or indole ring, and acetic acid arylalkyl esters. The enzyme did not hydrolyze acetanilide, N-acetyl aliphatic amines, N-acetyl amino acids, N-acetyl amino sugars or acylthiochotine. The apparent Km for N-acetylbenzylamine, N-acetyl-2-phenyl-ethylamine and N-acetyl-3-phenylpropylamine are 41 mM, 0.31 mM and 1.6 mM, respectively. The purified enzyme was sensitive to thiol reagents such as Ag2SO4, HgCl2 and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, and its activity was enhanced by divalent metal ions such as Zn2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut bacterium Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens DSM 27213 metabolizes ellagic acid into three polyphenol compounds, namely, urolithin M5, urolithin M6, and urolithin C, which are collectively called urolithin. The key reactions of this metabolic pathway are the dehydroxylation of the phenolic hydroxy group, i.e., conversion of urolithin M5 to urolithin M6, and successive conversion of urolithin M6 to urolithin C. By testing the effects of various electron-transferring compounds on the dehydroxylation reactions, methylviologen was found to effectively support the dehydroxylation catalyzed by the cell free extracts. The urolithin dehydroxylating enzymes were found in the soluble fraction of the cell free extracts. The urolithin dehydroxylation was found to be coupled with reduction of dicationic methylviologen to a cation radical form catalyzed by enzymes with hydrogen as an electron donor, which was also found with the soluble fraction. Further investigation of the reaction in the presence of natural cofactors with or without methylviologen and hydrogen revealed the involvement of NADPH and FAD in the electron transportation systems of the urolithin dehydroxylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the enzymatic characteristics of an industrially important biocatalyst, a-ketoglutarate-dependent L-isoleucine dioxygenase (IDO), which was found to be the enzyme responsible for the generation of (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxyisoleucine in Bacillus thuringiensis 2e2. Depending on the amino acid used as the substrate, IDO catalyzed three different types of oxidation reactions: hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and sulfoxidation. IDO stereoselectively hydroxylated several hydrophobic aliphatic L-amino acids, as well as L-isoleucine, and produced (S)-3-hydroxy-L-allo-isoleucine, 4-hydroxy-L-leucine, (S)-4-hydroxy-L-norvaline, 4-hydroxy-L-norleucine, and 5-hydroxy-L-norleucine. The IDO reaction product of L-isoleucine, (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxyisoleucine, was again reacted with IDO and dehydrogenated into (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-methyl-4-ketopentanoate, which is also a metabolite found in B. thuringiensis 2e2. Interestingly, IDO catalyzed the sulfoxidation of some sulfur-containing L-amino acids and generated L-methionine sulfoxide and L-ethionine sulfoxide. Consequently, the effective production of various modified amino acids would be possible using IDO as the biocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oxidase catalyzing the conversion of glycolaldehyde to glyoxal was purified to the homogeneous state from Paenibacillus sp. AIU 311, and its properties were revealed. This enzyme was specific to glycolaldehyde and glyceraldehyde, and the reaction rates to other alcohols and aldehydes were less than 6% of that of glycolaldehyde. The K m values for glycolaldehyde and glyceraldehyde were estimated to be 13.2 and 7.5 mM, respectively. The glycolaldehyde oxidation was optimum at pH 6.5 and 50°C. The molecular mass of this enzyme was 49 kDa, and it consisted of two identical subunits of 24 kDa. The NH2-terminal sequence was not homologous to those of alcohol oxidases. This is the first report of an oxidase exhibiting high specificity to a hydroxy group of aldehyde alcohols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]