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Astragalin (kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Ast) glucosides were synthesized by the acceptor reaction of a dextransucrase produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM with astragalin and sucrose. Each glucoside was purified and their structures were assigned as kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (or kaempferol-3-O-β-D-nigeroside, Ast-G1') and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (or kaempferol-3-O-β-D-isomaltoside, Ast-G1) for one glucose transferred, and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-isomaltooligosacharide (Ast-IMO or Ast-Gn; n=2-8). The astragalin glucosides exhibited 8.3-60.6% higher inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression, 18.8-20.3% increased antioxidant effects, and 3.8-18.8% increased inhibition activity of melanin synthesis compared to control (without the addition of compound), depending on the number of glucosyl residues linked to astragalin. These novel compounds could be used to further expand the industrial applications of astragalin glucosides, in particular in the cosmetics industry.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of invasive infection in young infants and older adults. There are currently 90 capsular serotypes identified and 23 serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19F, 19A, 20, 22F, 23F, and 33F) are responsible for about 90% of invasive disease. Among the more than 90 different S. pneumoniae serotypes, serotype 19A is globally very prevalent. A simplified purification procedure including adjustment of cell lysate pH to 4.5, fractionation with 50- 80% ethanol, and dialysis rendered capsular polysaccharide (CPS) in a yield of 31.32 +/- 3.11 mg from 1 l culture (75% recovery after lyses). The product contained only 69.6 microng of protein (99.78% purity) and 0.8 mg (sum of the precipitants from 50~60%, 60~70%, and 70~80%) of nucleic acid (97.45% purity). The purified CPS was conjugated with bovine serum albumin; the product size ranged from 100 to 180 kDa.

We describe a new Polarization Conversion System (PCS) concept, particularly well suited for pico-projectors, employing a polymer polarization grating thin-film, fly-eye lens, and louvered halfwave plate. We demonstrate improved polarization-conversion in the PG-based PCS, leading to enhanced brightness (12%) and color-uniformity (20%) as compared to a conventional PBS-based PCS.

Rice straw is a lignocellulosic biomass, and has been recognized as a renewable organic substance and alternative energy source. In this study, rice straw was pretreated with hypochlorite-hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B) solution. The optimal pretreatment conditions were determined via response surface methodology, and the pretreated rice straw was hydrolyzed with exo-glucanase, endoglucanase, hemicellulase, and β-glucosidase Accellerase 1000™ (endo-glucanase equivalent activity of 1,250 carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) U/g of rice straw pretreated for 24 h). The optimal conditions were as follows: 60 min pretreatment using Ox-B solution containing 0.6% hypochlorite and 25% hydrogen peroxide for 1 g of rice straw in a total reaction volume of 240 mL. Under these conditions, 406.8 mg of d-glucose and 224.0 mg of d-xylose were obtained from 1 g of rice straw. The fermentation of enzymatic hydrolysates containing 8.14 g/L d-glucose and 4.49 g/L d-xylose with Pichia stipitis generated 3.65 g/L of ethanol with a corresponding yield of 0.37 g/g. The maximum possible ethanol conversion rate is 72.54%.

A gene encoding human intestinal maltase (HMA) was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris under the control of the methanol-induced alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter. The secreted recombinant HMA fused with a His6-tag was produced (150 U/L) and was easily purified from culture supernatants in a 3-step diafiltration, ultrafiltration, and affinity column chromatography protocol. The specific activity of the purified HMA was 16.8 U/mg. Endoglycosidase H digestion of the protein showed that the recombinant HMA was N-glycosylated. The purified HMA was maximally active at pH 6.5 and stable (≥90%) up to 65°C. The kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were 3.3±0.25 mM maltose and 61.9±2 U/mg, respectively.

Hydroquinone galactoside (HQ-Gal) as a potential skin whitening agent was synthesized by the reaction of lactase (beta-galactosidase) from Kluyveromyces lactis, Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus circulans, and Thermus sp. with lactose as a donor and HQ as an acceptor. Among these lactases, the acceptor reaction involving HQ and lactose with K. lactis lactase showed a higher conversion ratio to HQ-Gal (60.27%). HQ-Gal was purified using butanol partitioning and silica gel column chromatography. The structure of the purified HQ-Gal was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, and the ionic product was observed at m/z 295 (C12H16O7Na)+ using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. HQ-Gal was identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside. The optimum conditions for HQ-Gal synthesis by K. lactis determined using response surface methodology were 50 mM HQ, 60 mM lactose, and 20 U mL(-1) lactase. These conditions produced a yield of 2.01 g L(-1) HQ-Gal. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl scavenging activity was 3.31 mM, indicating a similar antioxidant activity compared to beta-arbutin (IC50=3.95 mM). The Ki value of HQ-Gal (0.75 mM) against tyrosinase was smaller than that of beta-arbutin (Ki=1.97 mM), indicating its superiority as an inhibitor. HQ-Gal inhibited (23%) melanin synthesis without being significantly toxic to the cells, while beta-arbutin exhibited only 8% reduction of melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells compared with the control. These results indicate that HQ-Gal may be a suitable functional component in the cosmetics industry.

Appreciably elevated levels of dextranase from Arthrobacter oxydans (AODex) isolated from sugar-cane farm soil was resulted from the culture on the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing 1%(w/v) soluble starch, glycerol, or dextran. The responsible gene (aodex) was cloned, its nucleotide sequence was determined, and expression of the encoded protein was achieved in Escherichia coli. An open reading frame was composed of 1,863 bp putatively encoding a 68.3 kDa protein. Recombinant A. oxydans dextranase (rAODex) was purified about 16 fold by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity column chromatography; Km value for dextran T2000 was 0.85 mg/mL (w/v). AODex treatment of stale sugar cane juice resulted in a yield of square and light-colored sugar crystals.

We synthesized a hydroquinone glucoside (HG) as a potential skin-whitening agent using Leuconostoc mesenteroides (B-1299CB BF563) dextransucrase with hydroquinone (HQ) as an acceptor and sucrose as a donor. The product was purified using butanol partitioning and silica gel column chromatography. The structure of the purified HG was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and the ionic product was observed at m / z 295 (C12, H16, O7 Na) + . HG was identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-α- d -glucopyranoside. The optimum condition of HG synthesis, determined using a response surface methodology, was 450 mM HQ, 215 mM sucrose, and 0.55 U/mL dextransucrase; the final HG produced was 544 mg/L. The IC 50 of diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl scavenging activity was 3.85 mM indicating a higher antioxidant activity compared to β-arbutin (IC 50 = 6.04 mM). HG-mediated inhibition of lipid peroxidation was 3.51% that of HQ (100%) and much higher than that of β-arbutin (0.81% of HQ). In addition the IC 50 value of nitrite-scavenging activity was 14.76 mM showing a superior scavenging activity to that of β-arbutin (IC 50 = 27.09 mM).

α-Glucans in general, including starch, glycogen and their derived oligosaccharides are processed by a host of more or less closely related enzymes that represent wide diversity in structure, mechanism, specificity and biological role. Sophisticated three-dimensional structures continue to emerge hand-in-hand with the gaining of novel insight in modes of action. We are witnessing the “test of time” blending with remaining questions and new relationships for these enzymes. Information from both within and outside of ALAMY_3 Symposium will provide examples on what the family contains and outline some future directions. In 2007 a quantum leap crowned the structural biology by the glucansucrase crystal structure. This initiates the disclosure of the mystery on the organisation of the multidomain structure and the “robotics mechanism” of this group of enzymes. The central issue on architecture and domain interplay in multidomain enzymes is also relevant in connection with the recent focus on carbohydrate-binding domains as well as on surface binding sites and their long underrated potential. Other questions include, how different or similar are glycoside hydrolase families 13 and 31 and is the lid finally lifted off the disguise of the starch lyase, also belonging to family 31? Is family 57 holding back secret specificities? Will the different families be sporting new “eccentric” functions, are there new families out there, and why are crystal structures of “simple” enzymes still missing? Indeed new understanding and discovery of biological roles continuously emphasize value of the collections of enzyme models, sequences, and evolutionary trees which will also be enabling advancement in design for useful and novel applications.

A method is presented for synthesizing thermo-, acid-stable oligosaccharides (TASO) from sucrose (2.5–4 M) using a dextransucrase prepared from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM. The degree of polymerization (DP) of oligosaccharides synthesized was from 2 to 11. TASO resisted hydrolysis of its glycosidic linkages at 140 °C and pH 6.0 for 1 h. It was stable at pH's ranging from 2 to 4 at 120 °C. These oligosaccharides effectively inhibited the formation of insoluble glucan, the growth and acid production of Streptococcus sobrinus. However, it stimulated the growth of probiotic organisms such as Bifidobaterium sp. TASO potentially can be used as sweeteners for the food and beverages where thermo- and acid-stable properties are required and as potential inhibitors of dental caries.

Glucansucrases from Leuconostoc mesenteroides catalyze the transfer of glucosyl units from sucrose to other carbohydrates by acceptor reaction. We modified salicyl alcohol, phenol and salicin by using various glucansucrases and with sucrose as a donor of glucosyl residues. Salicin, phenyl glucose, isosalicin, isomaltosyl salicyl alcohol, and a homologous series of oligosaccharides, connected to the acceptors and differing from one another by one or more glucose residues, were produced as major reaction products. By using salicin and salicyl alcohol as acceptors, B-1355C2 and B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrases synthesized most widely diverse products, producing more than 12 and 9 different kinds of saccharides, respectively. With phenol, two acceptor products and oligosaccharides were synthesized by using the B-1299CB-BF563 dextransucrase. Salicyl derivatives, as acceptor products, showed higher anti-coagulation activity compared with that of salicin or salicyl alcohol that were used as acceptors.

An Escherichia coli transformant (pDSRB742CK) was obtained from the DSRB742 clone by using ultrasoft X-rays for the expression of a dextransucrase. The enzyme differed in several aspects from DSRB742 dextransucrase: it (1) was constitutive; (2) was extracellular; (3) had 2.6 times greater activity (0.035 IU/ml and 0.23 IU/mg); and (4) synthesized a highly (15.6%) α-(1→3) branched dextran. Seven nucleotides of the parent gene (dsrB742) were changed in the nucleotide sequence; four nucleotides were changed in the open reading frame (ORF) that resulted in a 30 amino acid deletion in the N-terminus.

To develop a new transfer product of sucrose, sucrose was modified to maltosyl-sucrose using the transglycosylation activity of maltogenic amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus (BSMA). The transglycosylation reaction was conducted with maltotriose and sucrose as the donor and acceptor, respectively. The presence of various sucrose transfer products was confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC). The sucrose transfer products were isolated by alkali-degradation followed by charcoal column chromatography using 20% (v/v) ethanol, then purified by ion exchange and Biogel P-2 gel permeation chromatographies. The structures of the major transfer products were determined to be 6G-α-maltosyl-sucrose (maltosyl-sucrose 1) and 6F-α-maltosyl-sucrose (maltosyl-sucrose 2) by LC-MS and 13 C NMR. The mixture of maltosyl-sucrose 1 and 2 showed low sweetness, high hygroscopicity, low Maillard reactivity, and high acid and heat stability. Furthermore, it had an inhibitory effect on mutansucrase and water-insoluble glucan formation. These results indicated that the mixture of maltosyl-sucrose 1 and 2 is a suitable sugar substitute useful for various food products.

A novel carbohydrolase, which is a DXAMase, containing both dextranase and amylase equivalent activities, was purified fromLipomyces starkeyi KSM22. The purified DXAMase was also found to hydrolyze cellobiose, gentiobiose, trehalose and melezitose, while disproportionation reactions were exhibited with various di-and tri-saccharides, such as maltose, isomaltose, gentiobiose, kojibiose, sophorose, panose, maltotriose, and isomaltotriose with various kinds of oligosaccharides produced as acceptor reaction products. Furthermore, the purified DXAMase hydrolyzed raw waxy rice starch and produced maltodextrin to the extent of 50% as a glucose equivalent.

A process for the production of mannitol from fructose (5% to 25%) usingLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1149 was investigated. Fermentations were carried out in batch or fed-batch fermentations without aeration at 28°C, pH 5.0. When 5% fructose was used in batch culture fermentation, the yield of mannitol was 78% of that expected theoretically. When the fructose concentration was increased to 10%, the yield dropped to 59.6% of the theoretical value. However, in the fed-batch culture, using 10% fructose, the yield was 81.9% of the theoretical value. In a 15% fructose fed-batch culture, with 5% fructose being added initially and the other 10% fructose being added as a continuous supply, the final yield was 83.7% of the theoretical yield. When 20% fructose was used in the same manner, the yield was 89.5% of theoretical yield.

Some polysaccharide processing enzymes possess secondary carbohydrate binding sites situated on the surface far from the active site. In barley alpha-amylase 1 (AMY1), two such sites, SBS1 and SBS2, are found on the catalytic (beta/alpha)(8)-barrel and the noncatalytic C-terminal domain, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis of Trp(278) and Trp(279), stacking onto adjacent ligand glucosyl residues at SBS1, and of Tyr(380) and His(395), making numerous ligand contacts at SBS2, suggested that SBS1 and SBS2 act synergistically in degradation of starch granules. While SBS1 makes the major contribution to binding and hydrolysis of starch granules, SBS2 exhibits a higher affinity for the starch mimic beta-cyclodextrin. Compared to that of wild-type AMY1, the K(d) of starch granule binding by the SBS1 W278A, W279A, and W278A/W279A mutants thus increased 15-35 times; furthermore, the k(cat)/K(m) of W278A/W279A was 2%, whereas both affinity and activity for Y380A at SBS2 were 10% of the wild-type values. Dual site double and triple SBS1/SBS2 substitutions eliminated binding to starch granules, and the k(cat)/K(m) of W278A/W279A/Y380A AMY1 was only 0.4% of the wild-type value. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of mutants showed that beta-cyclodextrin binds to SBS2 and SBS1 with K(d,1) and K(d,2) values of 0.07 and 1.40 mM, respectively. A model that accounts for the observed synergy in starch hydrolysis, where SBS1 and SBS2 bind ordered and free alpha-glucan chains, respectively, thus targeting the enzyme to single alpha-glucan chains accessible for hydrolysis, is proposed. SBS1 and SBS2 also influence the kinetics of hydrolysis for amylose and maltooligosaccharides, the degree of multiple attack on amylose, and subsite binding energies.

International audience

International audience; Germinating barley seeds contain multiple forms of alpha-amylase, which are subject to both differential gene expression and differential degradation as part of the repertoire of starch-degrading enzymes. The alpha-amylases are endo-acting and possess a long substrate binding cleft with a characteristic subsite binding energy profile around the catalytic site. Furthermore, several amylolytic enzymes that facilitate attack on the natural substrate, i.e. the endosperm starch granules, have secondary sugar binding sites either situated on the surface of the protein domain or structural unit that contains the catalytic site or belonging to a separate starch binding domain. The role of surface sites in the function of barley alpha-amylase 1 has been investigated by using mutational analysis in conjunction with carbohydrate binding analyses and crystallography. The ability to bind starch depends on the surface sites and varies for starch granules of different genotypes and botanical origin. The surface sites, moreover, are candidates for being involved in degradation of polysaccharides by a multiple attack mechanism. Future studies of the molecular nature of the multivalent enzyme-substrate interactions will address surface sites in both barley alpha-amylase 1 and in the related isozyme 2.Germinating barley seeds contain multiple forms of alpha-amylase, which are subject to both differential gene expression and differential degradation as part of the repertoire of starch-degrading enzymes. The alpha-amylases are endo-acting and possess a long substrate binding cleft with a characteristic subsite binding energy profile around the catalytic site. Furthermore, several amylolytic enzymes that facilitate attack on the natural substrate, i.e. the endosperm starch granules, have secondary sugar binding sites either situated on the surface of the protein domain or structural unit that contains the catalytic site or belonging to a separate starch binding domain. The role of surface sites in the function of barley alpha-amylase 1 has been investigated by using mutational analysis in conjunction with carbohydrate binding analyses and crystallography. The ability to bind starch depends on the surface sites and varies for starch granules of different genotypes and botanical origin. The surface sites, moreover, are candidates for being involved in degradation of polysaccharides by a multiple attack mechanism. Future studies of the molecular nature of the multivalent enzyme-substrate interactions will address surface sites in both barley alpha-amylase 1 and in the related isozyme 2.

International audience; Certain starch hydrolases possess secondary carbohydrate binding sites outside of the active site, suggesting that multi-site substrate interactions are functionally significant. In barley alpha-amylase both Tyr(380), situated on a remote non-catalytic domain, and Tyr(105) in subsite -6 of the active site cleft are principal carbohydrate binding residues. The dual active site/secondary site mutants Y105A/Y380A and Y105A/Y380M show that each of Tyr(380) and Tyr(105) is important, albeit not essential for binding, degradation, and multiple attack on polysaccharides, while Tyr(105) predominates in oligosaccharide hydrolysis. Additional delicate structure/function relationships of the secondary site are uncovered using Y380A/H395A, Y380A, and H395A AMY1 mutants.Certain starch hydrolases possess secondary carbohydrate binding sites outside of the active site, suggesting that multi-site substrate interactions are functionally significant. In barley alpha-amylase both Tyr(380), situated on a remote non-catalytic domain, and Tyr(105) in subsite -6 of the active site cleft are principal carbohydrate binding residues. The dual active site/secondary site mutants Y105A/Y380A and Y105A/Y380M show that each of Tyr(380) and Tyr(105) is important, albeit not essential for binding, degradation, and multiple attack on polysaccharides, while Tyr(105) predominates in oligosaccharide hydrolysis. Additional delicate structure/function relationships of the secondary site are uncovered using Y380A/H395A, Y380A, and H395A AMY1 mutants.

α-Amylases occur widely in plants, animals, and microorganisms. They often act in synergy with other related and degradative enzymes and may also be regulated by proteinaceous inhibitors. Open questions exist on how α-amylases interact with polysaccharides. Several enzymes possess secondary carbohydrate binding sites situated on the surface at a certain distance of the active site cleft. The functions of such sites were studied in barley α-amylase isozymes by structure-guided mutational analysis and measurement of activity and binding parameters. Two surface sites were assigned distinct roles. One of the sites seems to participate in hydrolysis of polysaccharides by a multiple attack mechanism. Polysaccharide processing enzymes can also contain carbohydrate binding modules, e.g. starch binding domains that assist in the attack on macromolecular substrates and are useful in engineering of enzyme efficiency. The multidomain nature of these enzymes raises questions on the dynamics and structural properties in solution and in substrate complexes.

Metabolic acids produced by oral pathogens demineralize tooth surfaces, leading to dental caries. Glucosyltransferases are the key factor in this process. We synthesized various modified oligosaccharides and tested them for their inhibitory effects on glucosyltransferase activity. Oligosaccharides were produced using a mixed-culture fermentation of Lipomyces starkeyi and Leuconostoc mesenteroides and then further modified as iron- and sulfate-oligosaccharides. Iron- and sulfate-oligosaccharides reduced glucosyltransferase activity of Streptococci from 17% to 43% and prevented the formation of insoluble biomass on the surface of glass vials or stainless steel wires in the presence of sucrose. They also reduced the growth and acid productions of oral pathogens including S. mutans, S. sobrinus, Eikenella corrodens, Prevotella intermedia, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcmitans.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 FMC produces dextran and levan using sucrose. Because of the industrial importance of dextrans and oligosaccharides synthesized by dextransucrase (one of glycansucrases from L. mesenteroides), much is known about the dextransucrase, including expression and regulation of gene. However, no detailed report about levansucrase, another industrially important glycansucrase from L. mesenteroides, and its gene was available. In this paper, we report the first-time isolation and molecular characterization of a L. mesenteroides levansucrase gene (m1ft). The gene m1ft is composed of 1272-bp nucleotides and codes for a protein of 424 amino acid residues with calculated molecular mass of 47.1 kDa. The purified protein was estimated to be about 51.7 kDa including a His-tag based on SDS-PAGE. It showed an activity band at 103 kDa on a non-denaturing SDS-PAGE, indicating a dimeric form of the active M1FT. M1FT levan structure was confirmed by NMR and dot blot analysis with an anti-levan-antibody. M1FT converted 150 mM sucrose to levan (18%), 1-kestose (17%), nystose (11%) and 1,1,1-kestopentaose (7%) with the liberation of glucose. The M1FT enzyme produced erlose [O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside] as an acceptor product with maltose. The optimum temperature and pH of this enzyme for levan formation were 30 degrees C and pH 6.2, respectively. M1FT levansucrase activity was completely abolished by 1 mM Hg2+ or Ag2+. The Km and Vmax values for levansucrase were calculated to be 26.6 mM and 126.6 micromol min-1 mg-1.

Two carbohydrate binding surface sites (SBSs) on barley α-amylase 1 (AMY1) of glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13) displayed synergy in interactions with starch granules, thus being pivotal for hydrolysis of supramolecular substrates. Mutational analysis showed that SBS1 is more critical for the conversion of starch granules, while SBS2 has higher affinity than SBS1 for β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Noticeably, the binding preference of β-CD to SBS2 differed distinctly from that of maltooligosaccharides to the catalytic nucleophile mutant D180A AMY1. Binding energy maps at subsites -8 through +4 of the active site indicated remarkably elevated affinity due to the Y380A mutation at SBS2. The high-yield AMY2 expression variant A42P, made it possible to show that Tyr378—corresponding to Tyr380 in AMY1—has a role in interactions with starch granules, but not in β-CD binding. Besides SBSs, dedicated starch binding domains (SBDs) mediate binding to starch granules. SBDs are currently categorised into 9 carbohydrate binding module (CBM) families. A novel CBM20 subfamily encountered in regulatory enzymes possesses characteristically low affinity for β-CD. Although α-amylase is essential for starch mobilisation in germinating barley seeds, efficient degradation requires the concerted action of α-amylase, β-amylase, limit dextrinase (LD) and possibly α-glucosidase. Limit dextrinase (LD) is encoded by a single gene and represents the sole debranching activity during germination. Recent expression of functional LD in Pichia pastoris makes biochemical and biophysical characterisation of this GH13 enzyme possible. An endogenous limit dextrinase inhibitor was cloned and produced recombinantly and demonstrated to have sub-nanomolar affinity for LD.