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Lactic acid (LA) production from microbial fermentation using low-cost renewable sources has emerged as an at­tractive alternative to the use of petroleum-based products. This approach not only offers sustainable solutions for waste management but also enables the production of value-added products in an eco-friendly manner. How­ever, to make this approach economically viable, optimizing the production process for high yield, productivity, and purity while minimizing costs is crucial. To address these challenges, various approaches have been pro­posed, including the use of neutralizing agents, high cell density cultures, co-cultures, fed-batch fermentation, and product removal strategies. Overall, this review underscores the potential of microbial fermentation for LA production as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly products. Further optimization of fermentation processes and the development of new microbial strains and fermentation techniques are key to advancing this approach. The production of LA through microbial fermentation presents a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to the increasing demand for eco-friendly products. With continued in­novation, we can expect to see a significant reduction in the environmental impact of industrial processes, coupled with a more cost-effective and high-purity source of lactic acid for various industries.

Anthocyanins (ACNs) are natural pigments commonly found in plants which contribute to the vibrant colors of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The present review aims to cover the ACNs field in terms of sources, extraction/purification techniques, as well as characterization methods that are crucial for assessing their medicinal potential and sustainable applications. Characterization methods e.g. HPLC, UPLC-QTOF-MS, MS, and NMR are discussed as analytical tools for the identification and quantification of ACNs in various vegetable matrices. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-cancer and cardiovascular properties are, also, highlighted. Besides, the use of ACNs as natural colorants, preservatives, and functional ingredients is discussed considering their impact on the food industry. Likewise, due to their anti-aging and skin-protective properties, their employment in the cosmetic field is reported making them appealing for skincare formulations. This review provides a comprehensive overview, emphasizing the ACNs versatility in medicine, food industry, and cosmetic field, fostering future research and innovation.

Lactic acid (LA) production from microbial fermentation using low-cost renewable sources has emerged as an attractive alternative to the use of petroleum-based products. This approach not only offers sustainable solutions for waste management but also enables the production of value-added products in an eco-friendly manner. However, to make this approach economically viable, optimizing the production process for high yield, productivity, and purity while minimizing costs is crucial. To address these challenges, various approaches have been proposed, including the use of neutralizing agents, high cell density cultures, co-cultures, fed-batch fermentation, and product removal strategies. Overall, this review underscores the potential of microbial fermentation for LA production as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly products. Further optimization of fermentation processes and the development of new microbial strains and fermentation techniques are key to advancing this approach. The production of LA through microbial fermentation presents a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to the increasing demand for eco-friendly products. With continued innovation, we can expect to see a significant reduction in the environmental impact of industrial processes, coupled with a more cost-effective and high-purity source of lactic acid for various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous control of the molecular weight, separation, and purification of polyvinyl acetate was achieved using a cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) in a packed column with silica gel particles (PC-CMRP). The controlled radical polymerization of VAc in the packed columns was evaluated from the linear time dependence of Ln[M]0/[M], linear increase of molecular weight with the increase in conversion, and narrow molecular weight distribution. PC-CMRP method was used to produce high-purity polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution without requiring additional purification steps. The high ability of silica gel particles to adsorb free Co(acac)2 from the polymer matrix leads to the formation of pure polymers with decolorization efficiency = 91%. This method introduced a new capability for separation of polymers with known molecular weights and narrower molecular weight distributions, during the polymerization. Packed column in CMRP reactions can physically lead to the generation of long-lived propagating radicals and thus enhance the probability of producing polymers with a higher molecular weight and lower polydispersity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are photosynthetic and unicellular organisms that contain considerable amounts of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, among others, with applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. These microorganisms can accumulate protein up to 70 % of total biomass depending on the microalgal strain, hence they have been regarded as an alternative protein source for the future. Microalgal proteins have important applications such as emulsifying, foaming, and gelation properties, which are important for the determination of quality and texture of foods. Some microalgal peptides possess important bioactivity with many health-benefit effects. Therefore, to maximize the production of proteins from microalgae and cyanobacteria, many protein extraction procedures have been studied to increase the economic return. They have been tested towards higher protein yields at low energy cost, the preservation of protein native properties, and lower cell debris. This later is fundamental to facilitate the subsequent purification processes so that the overall cost can be reduced. The aim of this work is to review some cell disruption processes for the extraction of protein from microalgae and cyanobacteria, considering that this step is crucial for the overall process due to the high rigidness of microalgal cell covering, which can hamper the release of proteins. It also aims at reviewing the purification techniques after cellular disruption, from conventional to more recent approaches, and finally addresses the antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antibacterial and other bioactive properties of microalgal protein hydrolysates and peptides. [Display omitted] • Evaluation of mechanical and non-mechanical cell disruption methods for microalgal protein release. • Assessment of protein isolation procedures. • Techno-functional properties of microalgae-derived proteins are discussed. • Bioactivity properties of protein hydrolysates and peptides from microalgal proteins are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is rapidly advancing. This progress is fueled by the applications of these agents as biomarkers and also as an attractive source to encapsulate therapeutics. Different types of EVs, including exosomes, and other nanoparticles have been identified with key regulatory functions in cell–cell communication. However, the techniques used for their purification possess inherent limitations, resulting in heterogeneous preparations contaminated by other EVs subtypes and nano-size structures. It is therefore urgent to deconvolute the molecular constituents present in each type of EVs in order to accurately ascribe their specific functions. In this context, proteomics can profile, not only the lumen proteins and surface markers, but also their post-translational modifications, which will inform on the mechanisms of cargo selection and sorting. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is now a mature technique and has started to deliver new insights in the EV field. Here, we review recent developments in sample preparation, mass spectrometry (MS) and computational analysis and discuss how these advances, in conjunction with improved purification protocols, could impact thecharacterization of the complex landscape of EVs and other secreted nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Jaynes-Cummings model with initial mixed states, for the atom or the field, are considered. The evolved mixed field density matrix is purified to a wavefunction that describes the interaction between a quantised field and an artificial four-level atom. This allows us to use the Araki-Lieb inequality to calculate the field entropy from the atomic entropy. We then suggest Hamiltonians that reproduce the field entropy dynamics. We finally show that more realistic Hamiltonians may be considered by using two entangled two-level atoms.

The current study highlights, for the first time, cloning, overexpression and purification of the novel interferon epsilon (IFNƐ), from the Arabian camel Camelus dromedaries. The study then assesses the cytotoxicity of IFNε against two human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. Full-length cDNA encoding interferon epsilon (IFNε) was isolated and cloned from the liver of the Arabian camel, C. dromedarius using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The sequence analysis of the camel IFNε cDNA showed a 582-bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 193 amino acids with an estimated molecular weight of 21.230 kDa. A BLAST search analysis revealed that the C. dromedarius IFNε shared high sequence identity with the IFN genes of other species, such as Camelus ferus, Vicugna pacos, and Homo sapiens. Expression of the camel IFNε cDNA in Escherichia coli gave a fusion protein band of 24.97 kDa after induction with either isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside or lactose for 5 h. Recombinant IFNε protein was overexpressed in the form of inclusion bodies that were easily solubilized and refolded using SDS and KCl. The solubilized inclusion bodies were purified to apparent homogeneity using nickel affinity chromatography. We examined the effect of IFNε on two breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. In both cell lines, IFNε inhibited cell survival in a dose dependent manner as observed by MTT assay, morphological changes and apoptosis assay. Caspase-3 expression level was found to be increased in MDA-MB-231 treated cells as compared to untreated cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we have investigated the possible effect of UV-B light on the folding/unfolding properties and stability of Arabidopsis thaliana MYB4 (AtMYB4) transcription factor in vitro by using biophysical approaches. Urea-induced equilibrium unfolding analyses have shown relatively higher stability of the wild-type recombinant AtMYB4 protein than the N-terminal deletion forms after UV-B exposure. However, as compared to wild-type form, AtMYB4Δ2 protein, lacking both the two N-terminal MYB domains, showed appreciable alteration in the secondary structure following UV-B exposure. UV-B irradiated AtMYB4Δ2 also displayed higher propensity of aggregation in light scattering experiments, indicating importance of the N-terminal modules in regulating the stability of AtMYB4 under UV-B stress. DNA binding assays have indicated specific binding activity of AtMYB4 to a putative MYB4 binding motif located about 212 bp upstream relative to transcription start site of AtMYB4 gene promoter, while relatively weak DNA binding activity was detected for another putative MYB4 motif located at -908 bp in AtMYB4 promoter. Gel shift and fluorescence anisotropy studies have shown increased binding affinity of UV-B exposed AtMYB4 to the promoter proximal MYB4 motif. ChIP assay has revealed binding of AtMYB4 to the promoter proximal (-212 position) MYB4 motif (ACCAAAC) in vivo. Docking experiments further revealed mechanistic detail of AtMYB4 interaction with the putative binding motifs. Overall, our results have indicated that the N-terminal 62–116 amino acid residues constituting the second MYB domain plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the C-terminal region and the overall stability of the protein, while a promoter proximal MYB-motif in AtMYB4 promoter may involve in the regulation of its own expression under UV-B light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onchocerca volvulus is the nematode pathogen responsible for human onchocerciasis also known as “River blindness”, a neglected tropical disease that affects up to 18 million people worldwide. Helminths Excretory Secretory Products (ESPs) constitute a rich repertoire of molecules that can be exploited for host-parasite relationship, diagnosis and vaccine studies. Here, we report, using a range of molecular techniques including PCR, western blot, recombinant DNA technology, ELISA, high performance thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry that the 28 KDa cysteine-rich protein (Ov28CRP) is a reliable component of the O. volvulus ESPs to address the biology of this parasite. We showed that (1) Ov28CRP is a putative ganglioside GM2 Activator Protein (GM2AP) conserved in nematode; (2) OvGM2AP gene is transcriptionally activated in all investigated stages of the parasitic life cycle, including larval and adult stages; (3) The full-length OvGM2AP was detected in in-vitro O. volvulus ESPs of adult and larval stages; (4) the mass expressed and purified recombinant OvGM2AP purified from insect cell culture medium was found to be glycosylated at asparagine 173 and lacked N-terminal signal peptide sequence; (5) the recombinant OvGM2AP discriminated serum samples of infected and uninfected individuals; (6) OvGM2AP competitively inhibits MUG degradation by recombinant β-hexosaminidase A but not MUGS, and could not hydrolyze the GM2 to GM3; (7) humoral immune responses to the recombinant OvGM2AP revealed a negative correlation with ivermectin treatment. Altogether, our findings suggest for the first time that OvGM2AP is an antigenic molecule whose biochemical and immunological features are important to gain more insight into our understanding of host-parasite relationship, as well as its function in parasite development at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destructive maceration, a wide host range, and longevity in non-plant substrates has established Dickeya dianthicola (blackleg of potato) as a significant threat to potato industries worldwide. To protect these businesses, a specific and sensitive point-of-care D. dianthicola detection tool is necessary. We have developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of D. dianthicola, which can be streamlined for point-of-care use. The developed LAMP assay targets a unique gene, alcohol dehydrogenase, of D. dianthicola. Assay specificity was assessed using strains present in inclusivity (16 D. dianthicola strains) and exclusivity panels (56 closely related, potato pathogenic, and other bacterial strains). Amplification with strains of inclusivity panel occurred, and cross-reactivity with non-target DNA was not observed. The limit of detection (LOD) was 10 CFU/ml when dilutions were made before isolating the genomic DNA; however, LOD was determined as 1 pg using 10-fold serially diluted D. dianthicola genomic DNA. Similar LOD of 1 pg was observed when serially diluted target genomic DNA was mixed with host genomic DNA. LOD (1 pg) was also calculated with 10-fold serially diluted synthetic DNA fragments containing primer target sites. Naturally and artificially inoculated plant samples were used for field adaptability tests with the field-deployable Optigene Plant Material Lysis Kit and a heat block (65°C); the results were obtained within 20 minutes. Despite the lack of method precision, no false positives or false negatives were observed. Therefore, with prepared reactions and a steady heat source, this assay can be used for rapid point-of-care detection, which is imperative for quarantine, eradication, disease management, and border protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Although predominately asymptomatic, the disease spectrum of trichomoniasis in women is characterized primarily by signs and symptoms of vaginitis, including purulent discharge and localized vulvar pruritus and erythema. Several FDA-cleared nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are available for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis infections, but laboratory developed tests (LDTs) are widely utilized and cost-effective solutions in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings. LDT diagnosis of T. vaginalis is particularly appealing since it can be performed using remnant specimens collected for other STI testing. Using a LDT implemented as part of this study, T. vaginalis was detected in 7% of participating Louisiana women (14/199). The mean T. vaginalis organism burden was 1.0x106 ± 4.5x105 organisms per mL of ThinPrep PreservCyt. Using DNA eluates obtained after HPV testing on the cobas 4800 system, the T. vaginalis LDT was characterized by excellent intra- and interassay reproducibility (coefficient of variation values all <3.5%). Compared with two commercially available NAATs from TIB MOLBIOL, the sensitivity and specificity of the LDT was 92.9 and 99.5%, respectively. Collectively, this study details the diagnostic and quantitative utility of a LDT for T. vaginalis. When applied in the clinical research setting, we confirmed the high prevalence of T. vaginalis, but also observed extraordinarily high organism burdens in the cervix. These findings highlight the unique host-pathogen relationship of T. vaginalis with lower reproductive tract tissues, and substantiate the need for continued investigation of this highly prevalent STI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since biotechnological research becomes more and more important for industrial applications, there is an increasing need for scalable and controllable laboratory procedures. A widely used approach in biotechnological research to improve the performance of a process is to vary the growth rates in order to find the right balance between growth and the production. This can be achieved by the application of a suitable feeding strategy. During this initial bioprocess development, it is beneficial to have at hand cheap and easy setups that work in parallel (e.g. in shaking flasks). Unfortunately, there is a gap between these easy setups and defined and controllable processes, which are necessary for up-scaling to an industrial relevant volume. One prerequisite to test and evaluate different process strategies apart from batch-mode is the availability of pump systems that allow for defined feeding profiles in shaking flasks. To our knowledge, there is no suitable dosing device on the market which fulfils the requirements of being cheap, precise, programmable, and parallelizable. Commercially available dosing units are either already integrated in bioreactors and therefore inflexible, or not programmable, or expensive, or a combination of those. Here, we present a LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based syringe pump, which has the potential of being widely used in daily laboratory routine due to its low price, programmability, and parallelisability. The acquisition costs do not exceed 350 € for up to four dosing units, that are independently controllable with one EV3 block. The system covers flow rates ranging from 0.7 μL min-1 up to 210 mL min-1 with a reliable flux. One dosing unit can convey at maximum a volume of 20 mL (using all 4 units even up to 80 mL in total) over the whole process time. The design of the dosing unit enables the user to perform experiments with up to four different growth rates in parallel (each measured in triplicates) per EV3-block used. We estimate, that the LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based dosing unit with 12 syringes in parallel is reducing the costs up to 50-fold compared to a trivial version of a commercial pump system (~1500 €) which fits the same requirements. Using the pump, we set the growth rates of a E. coli HMS174/DE3 culture to values between 0.1 and 0.4 h-1 with a standard deviation of at best 0.35% and an average discrepancy of 13.2%. Additionally, we determined the energy demand of a culture for the maintenance of the pTRA-51hd plasmid by quantifying the changes in biomass yield with different growth rates set. Around 25% of total substrate taken up is used for plasmid maintenance. To present possible applications and show the flexibility of the system, we applied a constant feed to perform microencapsulation of Pseudomonas putida and an individual dosing profile for the purification of a his-tagged eGFP via IMAC. This smart and versatile dosing unit, which is ready-to-use without any prior knowledge in electronics and control, is affordable for everyone and due to its flexibility and broad application range a valuable addition to the laboratory routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to conventional cytology, liquid-based cytology (LBC) is also used for immunocytochemistry and gene analysis. However, an appropriate method to obtain high quality DNA for next-generation sequencing (NGS) using LBC specimens remains controversial. We determined the optimal conditions for fixation with an alcohol-based fixative for LBC and DNA extraction using cultured cancer cell lines and clinical specimens. The extracted DNA was processed for NGS after the DNA quality was confirmed based on the DNA concentration and degree of degradation. The optimal conditions for cultured cells to obtain high quality DNA were to fix the cells at a density of 6 × 103 or 2 × 104 cells/mL and to use the magnetic bead-based DNA extraction method. Even after storing the fixed cells for 90 days, DNA extracted using the above and other extraction kits, including membrane-based methods, did not undergo degradation. Furthermore, 5-year-old residual LBC samples demonstrated high DNA quality that was suitable for NGS. Furthermore, a cancer genome panel analysis was successfully performed with DNA extracted from cultured cells fixed at 6 × 103 cells/mL for 90 days, and with DNA from residual LBC samples even after 1 year of storage. Residual LBC samples may be a useful source of DNA for clinical NGS to promote genome-based cancer medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colder regions of Earth are inhabited by cold-adapted microorganisms designated as psychrophiles that are known to produce cold-active enzymes, such as peptidases, chaperones, lipases, cellulases, and phosphatases. These types of enzymes are a major part of the market of industrial enzymes. Bacteria isolated from water samples collected from the Chamba region in the Himalayas were screened for peptidase production using skim milk agar plates. Among the peptidase-producing bacteria isolated, 20% of the isolates exhibited fast growth and maximum zones of clearance, and thus, were used for further studies. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis of isolate S1DI 10 identified it as a Bacillus sp. The peptidase was cloned in pET28a vector and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and the His-tagged recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA column. The purified peptidase of SIDI 10 was found to be an alkaline, cold-active peptidase with optimal enzyme activity at 10°C and pH 8. An approach of one variable at a time was used to further study the effect of various metal ions, organic solvents and detergents on the peptidase enzyme. The peptidase activity was enhanced in the presence of Fe2+ and Mn2+ (metal ions), hexane (organic solvent), SDS- sodium dodecyl sulfate (anionic detergent) and Tween 80 (nonionic detergent). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the cumulative effect of these five variables. A 25 full factorial central composite design was applied for the five independent variables to determine the optimal combinations of these constituents at the maximum peptidase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe methods to improve the efficiency with which HIV-1 Envelope glycoprotein SOSIP trimer immunogens can be produced by transient transfection of ExpiCHO-S cells and then affinity purified using the trimer-specific human monoclonal antibody PGT145. The specificity of PGT145 for properly folded trimers allows for the facile, one-step, isolation of these immunogens in research laboratories. PGT145 columns are also valuable as a component of more complex purification processes in current Good Manufacturing Practice programs. However, we found that PGT145 purification was highly variable and markedly inefficient when used to process supernatants from transiently transfected ExpiCHO-S cells expressing the BG505 SOSIP.664 and other trimeric Env proteins. In contrast, no such problems arose when the same Env proteins derived from a stable CHO cell line were processed on the same PGT145 columns, or with transient transfection supernatants from 293F cells. An investigation of the ExpiCHO-S transfection system identified the presence of polyanions, including but perhaps not limited to dextran sulfate, in the Enhancer component of the transfection system. We hypothesized that these polyanions bound to the cationic PGT145 epitope on the trimers and impeded their ability to bind to the PGT145 affinity column. We found that replacing the Enhancer component with alternative culture medium supplements substantially increased the yield of PGT145-purifiable trimers, and we also confirmed that both dextran sulfate and the Enhancer component were indeed inhibitors of PGT145 binding to BG505 SOSIP.664 trimers in immunoassays. The presence of polyanions, including but not limited to nucleic acids, should be considered in other circumstances where PGT145 columns are less efficient than expected at purifying native-like trimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation-respiration switch protein (FrsA) was thought to play an important role in controlling the metabolic flux between respiration and fermentation pathways, whereas the biochemical function of FrsA was unclear yet. A gene coding for FrsA protein from Vibrio vulnificus was chemically synthesized. The recombinant VvFrsA was expressed as a soluble protein and purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The protein had a subunit molecular weight of ca. 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE and preferred short-chain esters when p-nitrophenyl alkanoate esters were used as substrates. Optimum condition for VvFrsA was found to be at pH 9.0 and 50 °C. The protein retained high esterase activity at alkaline condition and would denature slowly at over 50 °C. With p-nitrophenyl acetate as the substrate, the Km and kcat were determined to be 18.6 mM and 0.67 s-1, respectively, by steady-state kinetic assay. Molecular dynamics simulation and docking model structure revealed that p-nitrophenyl acetate could be the substrate of VvFrsA. In conclusion our results demonstrated that the protein was able to catalyze the hydrolysis of esters, especially p-nitrophenyl acetate, for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium-binding proteins regulate ion metabolism and the necessary signaling pathways for the maturational events of sperm. Our aim is to identify the novel calcium-binding proteins in testis. The gene EFCAB2 (GenBank NM_026626.3, NP_080902.1) was not previously examined, and its properties and exact mechanisms of action are unknown. In this study, we performed phylogenetic and structure prediction analyses of EFCAB2, which displays definitive structural features. Additionally, the distribution, localization, and calcium binding ability of mouse EFCAB2 were investigated. Results revealed extensive conservation of EFCAB2 among different eukaryotic orthologs. The constructed 3D model predicted that mouse EFCAB2 contains seven α-helices and two EF-hand motifs. The first EF-hand motif is located in N-terminal, while the second is located in C-terminal. By aligning the 3D structure of Ca2+-binding loops from EFCAB2 with calmodulin, we predicted six residues that might be involved in Ca2+ binding. The distribution of the Efcab2 mRNA, as determined by northern blotting, was detected only in the testis among mouse tissues. Native and recombinant EFCAB2 protein were detected by western blotting as one band at 20 kDa. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses showed its localization specifically in spermatogenic cells from primary spermatocytes to elongate spermatids within the seminiferous epithelium, but neither spermatogonia nor somatic cells were expressed. Moreover, EFCAB2 was specifically localized to the principal piece of cauda epididymal sperm flagellum. Furthermore, the analyses of purified recombinant EFCAB2 by Stains-all, ruthenium red staining, and by applying in vitro autoradiography assay showed that the physiological function of this protein is Ca2+ binding. These results suggested that EFCAB2 might be involved in the control of sperm flagellar movement. Altogether, here we describe about EFCAB2 as a novel calcium-binding protein in mouse testis and sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plant expression platform with eukaryotic post-translational modification (PTM) machinery has many advantages compared to other protein expression systems. This promising technology is useful for the production of a variety of recombinant proteins including, therapeutic proteins, vaccine antigens, native additives, and industrial enzymes. However, plants lack some of the important PTMs, including furin processing, which limits this system for the production of certain mammalian complex proteins of therapeutic value. Furin is a ubiquitous proprotein convertase that is involved in the processing (activation) of a wide variety of precursor proteins, including blood coagulation factors, cell surface receptors, hormones and growth factors, viral envelope glycoproteins, etc. and plays a critical regulatory role in a wide variety of cellular events. In this study, we engineered the human furin gene for expression in plants and demonstrated the production of a functional active recombinant truncated human furin in N. benthamiana plant. We demonstrate that plant produced human furin is highly active both in vivo and in vitro and specifically cleaved the tested target proteins, Factor IX (FIX) and Protective Antigen (PA83). We also demonstrate that both, enzymatic deglycosylation and proteolytic processing of target proteins can be achieved in vivo by co-expression of deglycosylating and furin cleavage enzymes in a single cell to produce deglycosylated and furin processed target proteins. It is highly expected that this strategy will have many potential applications in pharmaceutical industry and can be used to produce safe and affordable therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and vaccines using a plant expression system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) synthesizes ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in all eukaryotes, accounting for the major part of transcriptional activity in proliferating cells. Although basal Pol I transcription factors have been characterized in diverse organisms, the molecular basis of the robust rRNA production in vivo remains largely unknown. In S. cerevisiae, the multifunctional Net1 protein was reported to stimulate Pol I transcription. We found that the Pol I-stimulating function can be attributed to the very C-terminal region (CTR) of Net1. The CTR was required for normal cell growth and Pol I recruitment to rRNA genes in vivo and sufficient to promote Pol I transcription in vitro. Similarity with the acidic tail region of mammalian Pol I transcription factor UBF, which could partly functionally substitute for the CTR, suggests conserved roles for CTR-like domains in Pol I transcription from yeast to human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesterol oxidase is a bifunctional bacterial flavoenzyme which catalyzes oxidation and isomerization of cholesterol. This valuable enzyme has attracted a great deal of attention because of its wide application in the clinical laboratory, synthesis of steroid derived drugs, food industries, and its potentially insecticidal activity. Therefore, development of an efficient protocol for overproduction of cholesterol oxidase could be valuable and beneficial in this regard. The present study examined the role of various parameters (host strain, culture media, induction time, isopropyl ß-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside concentration, as well as post-induction incubation time and temperature) on over-expression of cholesterol oxidase from Chromobacterium sp. DS1. Applying the optimized protocol, the yield of recombinant cholesterol oxidase significantly increased from 92 U/L to 2115 U/L. Under the optimized conditions, the enzyme was produced on a large-scale, and overexpressed cholesterol oxidase was purified from cell lysate by column nickel affinity chromatography. Km and Vmax values of the purified enzyme for cholesterol were estimated using Lineweaver-Burk plot. Further, the optimum pH and optimum temperature for the enzyme activity were determined. This study reports a straightforward protocol for cholesterol oxidase production which can be performed in any laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of Natural Killer (NK) cell activity is achieved by the integration of both activating and inhibitory signals acquired at the immunological synapse with potential target cells. NK cells express paired receptors from the immunoglobulin family which share common ligands from the nectin family of adhesion molecules. The activating receptor CD226 (DNAM-1) binds to nectin-2 and CD155, which are also recognized by the inhibitory receptor TIGIT. The third receptor in this family is CD96, which is less well characterized and may have different functions in human and mouse models. Human CD96 interacts with CD155 and ligation of this receptor activates NK cells, while in mice the presence of CD96 correlates with decreased NK cell activation. Mouse CD96 also binds nectin-1, but the effect of this interaction has not yet been determined. Here we show that human nectin-1 directly interacts with CD96 in vitro. The binding site for CD96 is located on the nectin-1 V-domain, which comprises a canonical interface that is shared by nectins to promote cell adhesion. The affinity of nectin-1 for CD96 is lower than for other nectins such as nectin-3 and nectin-1 itself. However, the affinity of nectin-1 for CD96 is similar to its affinity for herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (HSV gD), which binds the nectin-1 V-domain during virus entry. The affinity of human CD96 for nectin-1 is lower than for its known activating ligand CD155. We also found that human erythroleukemia K562 cells, which are commonly used as susceptible targets to assess NK cell cytotoxicity did not express nectin-1 on their surface and were resistant to HSV infection. When expressed in K562 cells, nectin-1-GFP accumulated at cell contacts and allowed HSV entry. Furthermore, overexpression of nectin-1-GFP led to an increased susceptibility of K562 cells to NK-92 cell cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomerase-independent ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres) cells are characterized by high frequency of telomeric homologous recombination (HR), C-rich extrachromosomal circles (C-circles) and C-rich terminal 5' overhangs (C-overhangs). However, underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we show that both C-circle and C-overhang form when replication fork collapse is induced by strand break at telomeres. We find that endogenous DNA break predominantly occur on C-rich strand of telomeres in ALT cells, resulting in high frequency of replication fork collapse. While collapsed forks could be rescued by replication fork regression leading to telomeric homologous recombination, those unresolved are converted to C-circles and C-overhang at lagging and leading synthesized strand, respectively. Meanwhile, multiple hallmarks of ALT are provoked, suggesting that strand break-induced replication stress underlies ALT. These findings provide a molecular basis underlying telomeric HR and biogenesis of C-circle and C-overhang, thus implicating the specific mechanism to resolve strand break-induced replication defect at telomeres in ALT cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urine holds great promise as a non-invasive sampling method for molecular diagnostics. The cell-free nucleic acids of urine however are small, labile, and difficult to purify. Here an efficient method for the purification of these nucleic acids is presented. An empirically derived protocol was devised by first identifying conditions that allowed recovery of a 100 base pair (bp) DNA, followed by optimization using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The resulting method efficiently purifies both small sized DNAs and RNAs from urine, which when combined with quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRTPCR), demonstrably improves detection sensitivity. Fractionation experiments reveal that nucleic acids in urine exist both in the cell-free and cellular fraction, roughly in equal proportion. Consistent with previous studies, amplicons > 180bp show a marked loss in PCR sensitivity for cell-free nucleic acids. Finally, the lysis buffer developed here also doubles as an effective preservative, protecting against nucleic acid degradation for at least two weeks under simulated field conditions. With this method, volumes of up to 25ml of whole urine can be purified in a high-throughput and cost-effective manner. Coupled with its ability to purify both DNA and RNA, the described method may have broad applicability for improving the diagnostic utility of urine, particularly for the detection of low abundant targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanases isolated from microorganisms such as the Trichoderma reesei have attracted considerable research interest because of their potential in various industrial applications. However, naturally isolated xylanases cannot withstand harsh conditions such as high temperature and basic pH. In this study, we performed structural analysis of the major T. reesei xylanase (Xyn2), and novel flexible regions of the enzyme were identified based on B-factor, a molecular dynamics (MD) parameter. To improve thermostability of the Xyn2, disulfide bonds were introduced into the unstable flexible region by using site-directed mutagenesis and two recombinant xylanases, XM1 (Xyn2Cys12-52) and XM2 (Xyn2Cys59-149) were successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris. Secreted recombinant Xyn2 was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 24 kDa. Interestingly, the half-lives of XM1 and XM2 at 60°C were 2.5- and 1.8- fold higher, respectively than those of native Xyn2. The XM1 also exhibited improved pH stability and maintained more than 60% activity over pH values ranging from 2.0 to 10.0. However, the specific activity and catalytic efficiency of XM1 was decreased as compared to those of XM2 and native Xyn2. Our results will assist not only in elucidating of the interactions between protein structure and function, but also in rational target selection for improving the thermostability of enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe herein a method of recharging used commercial spin columns or assembling homemade spin columns using filter paper as binding material for cost-effective, low throughput nucleic acid purification. The efficiency of filter paper-based spin columns was evaluated for purification of nucleic acids from various sources. Following protocols of commercial kits, we found filter paper to be a useful binding material for purification of nucleic acids, including plant genomic DNA, plant total RNA, PCR products, and DNA from agarose gels. However, filter paper has a weak binding affinity to plasmid DNA in tested miniprep protocols. Protocols for the use of filter paper recharged spin columns or homemade spin columns for low throughput purification of plant genomic DNA and total RNA with unused commercial kit buffers or less expensive homemade buffers are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously we developed and tested the Salmonella GenoSerotyping Array (SGSA), which utilized oligonucleotide probes for O- and H- antigen biomarkers to perform accurate molecular serotyping of 57 Salmonella serotypes. Here we describe the development and validation of the ISO 17025 accredited second version of the SGSA (SGSA v. 2) with reliable and unambiguous molecular serotyping results for 112 serotypes of Salmonella which were verified both in silico and in vitro. Improvements included an expansion of the probe sets along with a new classifier tool for prediction of individual antigens and overall serotype from the array probe intensity results. The array classifier and probe sequences were validated in silico to high concordance using 36,153 draft genomes of diverse Salmonella serotypes assembled from public repositories. We obtained correct and unambiguous serotype assignments for 31,924 (88.30%) of the tested samples and a further 3,916 (10.83%) had fully concordant antigen predictions but could not be assigned to a single serotype. The SGSA v. 2 can directly use bacterial colonies with a limit of detection of 860 CFU/mL or purified DNA template at a concentration of 1.0 x 10−1 ng/μl. The SGSA v. 2 was also validated in the wet laboratory and certified using panel of 406 samples representing 185 different serotypes with correct antigen and serotype determinations for 60.89% of the panel and 18.31% correctly identified but an ambiguous overall serotype determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short and generally positively charged peptides found in a wide variety of organisms. CSαβ defensins are a group of AMPs. These defensins are composed of an α-helix and a β-sheet linked by three or four disulphide bridges. In this study, we describe the antimicrobial activity of an anionic CSαβ fungal defensin from Aspergillus fumigatus, AfusinC. AfusinC was recombinantly produced as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The tag was removed by proteolytic cleavage, and AfusinC was purified by size exclusion chromatography. About 0.8 mg of recombinant AfusinC was obtained from 1 L of culture. Recombinant AfusinC was active against mainly gram-positive bacteria including human pathogens and a multiresistant-strain of A. aureus. Additionally, AfusinC showed bactericidal effect against Micrococcus luteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of fascioliasis with high sensitivity and specificity antigens play a vital role in the management of the disease. Majority of commercial serological tests use F. hepatica native antigens and indicate wide diversities in test accuracy. Nowadays, recombinant antigens have been introduced as diagnostic reagents offer better test standardization. A combination of highly pure recombinant antigens associated with correct folding will leads to improve specificity and sensitivity of ELISA for diagnosis of Fascioliasis. In this article, Fasciola hepatica saposin-like protein 2 (SAP-2), ferritin protein (Ftn-1) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) recombinant antigens were considered as tools for the detection of F. hepatica immunoglobulin G antibodies in persons with chronic human fasciolasis. The recombinant antigens were obtained as fusion proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The refolding processes of denatured recombinant proteins were performed using dialysis method in the presence of chemical additives, and reduced/oxidized glutathione (in vitro). The immunoreactivity of the recombinant antigens was assessed individually and in a combination compared with excretory/secretory antigen (E/S) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The experiments were optimized using 213 serum samples from humans, including patients with chronic fascioliasis, patients with other parasitic diseases, and healthy subjects. The results indicated 95% sensitivity and 98% specificity for rtFhSAP-2, 96% sensitivity and 91% specificity for E/S, 80% and 83.3% for rtFhFtn-1, 84% and 88% for FhLAP, and also, 96% and 95% for combination of recombinant antigens, respectively. In conclusion, the results of this investigation showed that rtFhSAP-2 with the highest specificity and acceptable sensitivity has a considerable superiority compared to mentioned antigens and even in combination with these antigens in serodiagnosis of human fascioliasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early steps of the production of the large ribosomal subunit are probably the least understood stages of eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis. The first specific precursor to the yeast large ribosomal subunit, the first pre-60S particle, contains 30 assembly factors (AFs), including 8 RNA helicases. These helicases, presumed to drive conformational rearrangements, usually lack substrate specificity in vitro. The mechanisms by which they are targeted to their correct substrate within pre-ribosomal particles and their precise molecular roles remain largely unknown. We demonstrate that the Dbp6p helicase, essential for the normal accumulation of the first pre-60S pre-ribosomal particle in S. cerevisiae, associates with a complex of four AFs, namely Npa1p, Npa2p, Nop8p and Rsa3p, prior to their incorporation into the 90S pre-ribosomal particles. By tandem affinity purifications using yeast extracts depleted of one component of the complex, we show that Npa1p forms the backbone of the complex. We provide evidence that Npa1p and Npa2p directly bind Dbp6p and we demonstrate that Npa1p is essential for the insertion of the Dbp6p helicase within 90S pre-ribosomal particles. In addition, by an in vivo cross-linking analysis (CRAC), we map Npa1p rRNA binding sites on 25S rRNA adjacent to the root helices of the first and last secondary structure domains of 25S rRNA. This finding supports the notion that Npa1p and Dbp6p function in the formation and/or clustering of root helices of large subunit rRNAs which creates the core of the large ribosomal subunit RNA structure. Npa1p also crosslinks to snoRNAs involved in decoding center and peptidyl transferase center modifications and in the immediate vicinity of the binding sites of these snoRNAs on 25S rRNA. Our data suggest that the Dbp6p helicase and the Npa1p complex play key roles in the compaction of the central core of 25S rRNA and the control of snoRNA-pre-rRNA interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-diapause cysts of Artemia franciscana undergo a well-defined developmental process whereby internal differentiation leads to rupture of the cyst shell, release of membrane-enclosed nauplii and hatching to yield swimming larvae. The post-diapause development of A. franciscana has been examined at biochemical and molecular levels, yet little is known about molecular chaperone function during this process. In addressing this we recently described ArHsp40, a type 1 J-domain protein in post-diapause A. franciscana cysts and larvae. The current report describes ArHsp40-2, a second J-domain protein from A. franciscana. ArHsp40-2 is a type 2 J-domain protein, lacking a zinc binding domain but containing other domains characteristic of these proteins. Notably, ArHsp40-2 possesses a double barrel β-domain structure in its substrate binding region, as does ArHsp40. qPCR revealed a relatively low amount of ArHsp40-2 mRNA in 0 h cysts which increased significantly until the E1 stage, most likely as a result of enhanced transcription, after which it declined. An antibody specific to ArHsp40-2 was produced and used to show that like its mRNA, ArHsp40-2 accumulated until the E1 stage and then decreased to amounts lower than those in 0 h cysts. The synthesis of ArHsp40-2 was induced by heat shock indicating that ArHsp40-2 is involved in stress resistance in cysts and nauplii. Accumulation in cysts during early post-diapause development followed by its sharp decline suggests a role in protein disaggregation/refolding, a function of Hsp40s from other organisms, where ArHsp40-2 assists in the rescue of proteins sequestered during diapause by p26, an abundant small heat shock protein (sHsp) in A. franciscana cysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stringent response is characterized by (p)ppGpp synthesis resulting in repression of translation and reprogramming of the transcriptome. In Staphylococcus aureus, (p)ppGpp is synthesized by the long RSH (RelA/SpoT homolog) enzyme, RelSau or by one of the two short synthetases (RelP, RelQ). RSH enzymes are characterized by an N-terminal enzymatic domain bearing distinct motifs for (p)ppGpp synthetase or hydrolase activity and a C-terminal regulatory domain (CTD) containing conserved motifs (TGS, DC and ACT). The intramolecular switch between synthetase and hydrolase activity of RelSau is crucial for the adaption of S. aureus to stress (stringent) or non-stress (relaxed) conditions. We elucidated the role of the CTD in the enzymatic activities of RelSau. Growth pattern, transcriptional analyses and in vitro assays yielded the following results: i) in vivo, under relaxed conditions, as well as in vitro, the CTD inhibits synthetase activity but is not required for hydrolase activity; ii) under stringent conditions, the CTD is essential for (p)ppGpp synthesis; iii) RelSau lacking the CTD exhibits net hydrolase activity when expressed in S. aureus but net (p)ppGpp synthetase activity when expressed in E. coli; iv) the TGS and DC motifs within the CTD are required for correct stringent response, whereas the ACT motif is dispensable, v) Co-immunoprecipitation indicated that the CTD interacts with the ribosome, which is largely dependent on the TGS motif. In conclusion, RelSau primarily exists in a synthetase-OFF/hydrolase-ON state, the TGS motif within the CTD is required to activate (p)ppGpp synthesis under stringent conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice white tip nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi, is widely distributed in rice planting areas worldwide and causes serious economic losses. Cathepsin genes have been demonstrated to have importance in studying the reproduction, development, pathogenicity, and control methods of plant nematodes. In this paper, a novel cathepsin B gene, Ab-cb-1, was found and cloned. The Ab-cb-1 gene was 1347 bp in length and encodes 369 amino acids. The Ab-CB-1 protein contains characteristic occluding loops but no signal peptide. A homology analysis showed that Ab-CB-1 had the highest identity value (64%) to the known amino acid sequence of cathepsin B-like cysteine protease 6 from Toxocara canis. When Ab-cb-1 was expressed in a prokaryotic system, the protein massed approximately 45 kDa and could decompose carrot callus. Ab-cb-1 mRNA was localized in the nematode intestine. The relative expression level of Ab-cb-1 in the A. besseyi Ab-S24 population, which had high reproductivity, was approximately 6.9 times that in the Ab-N10 population, which had low reproductivity, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). The Ab-cb-1 expression level was highest in females; the expression levels in males, juveniles and eggs were 30%, 12.2% and 5% of that in females, respectively, and the differences were significant among all four stages (p<0.05). Nematodes of the Ab-S24 population were treated with Ab-cb-1 dsRNA for 12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h, and their reproduction decreased with increasing time. These results demonstrated that Ab-CB-1 was a digestive enzyme with hydrolytic protease properties and that Ab-cb-1 played an important role in the reproduction of A. besseyi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide. However, tomato allergies in patients suffering from birch pollen allergy occur frequently. Due to highly similar protein structures of the tomato allergen Sola l 4 and the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, patients cross-react with allergenic proteins from tomato as well as other fruits or vegetables. The aim of this study was to quantify Sola l 4 in various tomatoes differing in color, size and shape for identification of varieties with a reduced allergen level. Therefore, an indirect competitive ELISA using a specific polyclonal Sola l 4 antibody was developed. In addition, two varieties, both cultivated either conventionally or organically and furthermore dried with different methods, were analyzed to investigate the influence of the cultivation method and processing techniques on Sola l 4 level. Within 23 varieties, Sola l 4 content varied significantly between 0.24 and 1.71 μg Sola l 4/g FW. The tomato cultivars Rugantino and Rhianna showed the significantly lowest level, whereas in cultivars Farbini and Bambello the significantly highest concentration was determined. Drying of tomatoes in the oven and by sun resulted in a significant decrease. The thermal instability was verified for the recombinant Sola l 4 emphasizing the results for the native protein in dried tomato samples. Overall, the Sola l 4 content is cultivar-dependent and no correlation between color and Sola l 4 amount was found. During the drying process of tomatoes Sola l 4 level was significantly reduced due to thermal instability. Growing conditions have a minor effect whereas seasonal effects show a more pronounced impact. These findings could extend the knowledge about the allergen level of different tomato varieties and may help to improve food safety to potentially increase the life quality of patients suffering from birch pollen allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human tyrosinase (hTyr) is a Type 1 membrane bound glycoenzyme that catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting steps of melanin production in the melanosome. Mutations in the Tyr gene are linked to oculocutaneous albinism type 1 (OCA1), an autosomal recessive disorder. Currently, the application of enzyme replacement therapy for a treatment of OCA1 is hampered by the absence of pure hTyr. Here, full-length hTyr (residues 1–529) was overexpressed in Trichoplusia ni larvae infected with a baculovirus, solubilized with detergent and purified using chromatography. Michaelis-Menten kinetics, enzymatic specific activity, and analytical ultracentrifugation were used to compare the hTyr in detergent with the soluble recombinant intra-melanosomal domain, hTyrCtr (residues 19–469). Active hTyr is monomeric in detergent micelles suggesting no stable interactions between protein molecules. Both, hTyr and hTyrCtr, exhibited similar enzymatic activity and ligand affinity in L-DOPA and L-Tyrosine reactions. In addition, expression in larvae is a scalable process that will allow high yield protein production. Thus, larval production of enzymatically active human tyrosinase potentially could be a useful tool in developing a cure for OCA1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the proteomics field continues to expand, scientists are looking to integrate cross-disciplinary tools for studying protein structure, function, and interactions. Protein purification remains a key tool for many characterization studies. Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding messenger protein with over a hundred downstream binding partners, and is involved in a host of physiological processes, from learning and memory to immune and cardiac function. To facilitate biophysical studies of calmodulin, researchers have designed a site-specific labeling process for use in bioconjugation applications while maintaining high levels of protein activity. Here, we present a platform for selective conjugation of calmodulin directly from clarified cell lysates under bioorthogonal reaction conditions. Using a chemoenzymatically modified calmodulin, we employ popular click chemistry reactions for the conjugation of calmodulin to Sepharose resin, thereby streamlining a previously multi-step purification and conjugation process. We show that this “next-generation” calmodulin-Sepharose resin is not only easy to produce, but is also able to purify more calmodulin-binding proteins per volume of resin than traditional calmodulin-Sepharose resins. We expect these methods to be translatable to other proteins of interest and to other conjugation applications such as surface-based assays for the characterization of protein-protein interaction dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secreted Nano-luciferase (secNluc) is a newly engineered secreted luciferase that possesses advantages of high structural stability, long half-life, and glow-type kinetics together with high light emission intensity, and thus would become one of the most valuable tools for bioluminescence assays. However, like other secreted luciferases, secNluc has to mix with the components in the conditioned medium surrounding test cells, or in the biological samples such as blood or urine after being secreted. These components may interfere with secNluc-catalyzed bioluminescence reactions and thus limit the application of the secNluc reporter system. In this study, we first examined the effects of three factors, pH, serum and residual reagents, on secNluc-catalyzed bioluminescence reactions, finding that these factors could interfere with bioluminescence reactions and result in background signal. To resolve these problems, we applied a simple affinity purification strategy in which secNluc was fused with a FLAG-tag, and anti-FLAG magnetic beads were used to catch and transfer the fusion protein to PBST, an optimal buffer for secNluc-catalyzed bioluminescence reactions that was identified in this study. The results indicated that this strategy could not only negate the interferences from serum or residual reagents and enhance the stability of light emission but also greatly increase signal intensity through enzyme enrichment. This strategy may contribute to biomedical studies that utilize secNluc and other secreted luciferases, especially those requiring superior sensitivity, low background noise and high reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

-Tagatose has gained substantial interest due to its potential functionalities as a sucrose substitute. In this study, the gene araA, encoding -arabinose isomerase (-AI) from Clostridium hylemonae (DSM 15053), was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). This gene consists of 1,506 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 501 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56,554 Da. Since -AI was expressed as an intracellular inclusion body, this enzyme was solubilized with guanidine hydrochloride, refolded, and activated with a descending concentration gradient of urea. The purified enzyme exhibited the greatest activity at 50°C, pH 7–7.5, and required 1 mM of Mg2+ as a cofactor. Notably, the catalytic efficiency (3.69 mM-1sec-1) of -AI from C. hylemonae on galactose was significantly greater than that of other previously reported enzymes. The bioconversion yield of -tagatose using the C. hylemonae -arabinose isomerase at 60°C reached approximately 46% from 10 mM of -galactose after 2 h. From these results, it is suggested that the -arabinose isomerase from C. hylemonae could be utilized as a potential enzyme for -tagatose production due to its high conversion yield at an industrially competitive temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood represents the most abundant biomass produced by plants and one of its major components is acetyl xylan. Acetylation in xylan can occur at O-2 or O-3 of a xylosyl residue, at both O-2 and O-3 of a xylosyl residue, and at O-3 of a xylosyl residue substituted at O-2 with glucuronic acid. Acetyltransferases responsible for the regiospecific acetylation of xylan in tree species have not yet been characterized. Here we report the biochemical characterization of twelve Populus trichocarpa DUF231-containing proteins, named PtrXOATs, for their roles in the regiospecific acetylation of xylan. The PtrXOAT genes were found to be differentially expressed in Populus organs and among them, PtrXOAT1, PtrXOAT2, PtrXOAT9 and PtrXOAT10 exhibited the highest level of expression in stems undergoing wood formation. Activity assays of recombinant proteins demonstrated that all twelve PtrXOAT proteins were able to transfer acetyl groups from acetyl CoA onto a xylohexaose acceptor with PtrXOAT1, PtrXOAT2, PtrXOAT3, PtrXOAT11 and PtrXOAT12 having the highest activity. Structural analysis of the PtrXOAT-catalyzed reaction products using 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that PtrXOAT1, PtrXAOT2 and PtrXOAT3 mediated 2-O- and 3-O-monoacetylation and 2,3-di-O-acetylation of xylosyl residues and PtrXOAT11 and PtrXOAT12 only catalyzed 2-O- and 3-O-monoacetylation of xylosyl residues. Of the twelve PtrXOATs, only PtrXOAT9 and PtrXOAT10 were capable of transferring acetyl groups onto the O-3 position of 2-O-glucuronic acid-substituted xylosyl residues. Furthermore, when expressed in the Arabidopsis eskimo1 mutant, PtrXOAT1, PtrXAOT2 and PtrXOAT3 were able to rescue the defects in xylan acetylation. Together, these results demonstrate that the twelve PtrXOATs are acetyltransferases with different roles in xylan acetylation in P. trichocarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most widespread tick-borne arbovirus causing infections in numerous countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV, family Nairoviridae) was included in the WHO priority list of emerging pathogens needing urgent Research & Development attention. To ensure preparedness for potential future outbreak scenarios, reliable diagnostic tools for identification of acute cases as well as for performance of seroprevalence studies are necessary. Here, the CCHFV ortholog of the major bunyavirus antigen, the nucleoprotein (NP), was recombinantly expressed in E.coli, purified and directly labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Employing this antigen, two serological tests, a μ-capture ELISA for the detection of CCHFV-specific IgM antibodies (BLACKBOX CCHFV IgM) and an IgG immune complex (IC) ELISA for the detection of CCHFV-specific IgG antibodies (BLACKBOX CCHFV IgG), were developed. Test performance was evaluated and compared with both in-house gold standard testing by IgM/IgG indirect immunofluorescence (IIFT) and commercially available ELISA tests (VectoCrimean-CHF-IgM/IgG, Vector-Best, Russia) using a serum panel comprising paired samples collected in Kosovo during the years 2013–2016 from 15 patients with an acute, RT-PCR-confirmed CCHFV infection, and 12 follow-up sera of the same patients collected approximately one year after having overcome the infection. Reliably detecting IgM antibodies in all acute phase sera collected later than day 4 after onset of symptoms, both IgM ELISAs displayed excellent diagnostic and analytical sensitivity (100%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 85.2%–100.0%). While both IgG ELISAs readily detected the high IgG titers present in convalescent patients approximately one year after having overcome the infection (sensitivity 100%, 95% CI: 73.5%–100.0%), the newly developed BLACKBOX CCHFV IgG ELISA was superior to the commercial IgG ELISA in detecting the rising IgG titers during the acute phase of the disease. While all samples collected between day 11 and 19 after onset of symptoms tested positive in both the in-house gold standard IIFT and the BLACKBOX CCHFV IgG ELISA (sensitivity 100%, 95% CI: 71.5%–100.0%), only 27% (95% CI: 6.0%–61.0%) of those samples were tested positive in the commercial IgG ELISA. No false positive signals were observed in either IgM/IgG ELISA when analyzing a priori CCHFV IgM/IgG negative serum samples from healthy blood donors, malaria patients and flavivirus infected patients as well as CCHFV IgM/IgG IIFT negative serum samples from healthy Kosovar blood donors (for BLACKBOX CCHFV IgM/IgG: n = 218, 100% specificity, 95% CI: 98.3%–100.0%, for VectoCrimean-CHF-IgM/IgG: n = 113, 100% specificity, 95% CI: 96.8%–100.0%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-derived oxidants have emerged as a key contributor to tissue damage in inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Pro-myeloperoxidase (pro-MPO), an enzymatically active precursor of myeloperoxidase (MPO), is known to be secreted from cultured bone marrow and promyelocytic leukemia cells, but evidence for the presence of pro-MPO in circulation is lacking. In the present study, we used a LC-MS/MS in addition to immunoblot analyses to show that pro-MPO is present in human blood plasma. Furthermore, we found that pro-MPO was more frequently detected in plasma from patients with myocardial infarction compared to plasma from control donors. Our study suggests that in addition to mature MPO, circulating pro-MPO may cause oxidative modifications of proteins thereby contributing to cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasmodium knowlesi is recognised as the main cause of human malaria in Southeast Asia. The disease is often misdiagnosed as P. falciparum or P. malariae infections by microscopy, and the disease is difficult to eliminate due to its presence in both humans and monkeys. P. knowlesi infections can rapidly cause severe disease and require prompt diagnosis and treatment. No protein biomarker exists for the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) detection of P. knowlesi infections. Plasmodium knowlesi infections can be diagnosed by PCR. Methods and principal findings: Phosphoethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PMT) is involved in malaria lipid biosynthesis and is not found in the human host. The P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. knowlesi PMT proteins were recombinantly expressed in BL21(DE3) Escherichia coli host cells, affinity purified and used to raise antibodies in chickens. Antibodies against each recombinant PMT protein all detected all three recombinant proteins and the native 29 kDa P. falciparum PMT protein on western blots and in ELISA. Antibodies against a PMT epitope (PLENNQYTDEGVKC) common to all three PMT orthologues detected all three proteins. Antibodies against unique peptides from each orthologue of PMT, PfCEVEHKYLHENKE, PvVYSIKEYNSLKDC, PkLYPTDEYNSLKDC detected only the parent protein in western blots and P. falciparum infected red blood cell lysates or blood lysates spiked with the respective proteins. Similar concentrations of PfPMT and the control, PfLDH, were detected in the same parasite lysate. The recombinant PfPMT protein was detected by a human anti-malaria antibody pool. Conclusion: PMT, like the pan-specific LDH biomarker used in RDT tests, is both soluble, present at comparable concentrations in the parasite and constitutes a promising antimalarial drug target. PMT is absent from the human proteome. PMT has the potential as a biomarker for human malaria and in particular as the first P. knowlesi specific protein with diagnostic potential for the identification of a P. knowlesi infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) are hydrolytic enzymes, which randomly cleave the β-1,4-linked xylose residues from xylan. The synthetic gene xynBS27 from Streptomyces sp. S27 was successfully cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The full-length gene consists of 729 bp and encodes 243 amino acids including 51 residues of a putative signal peptide. This enzyme was purified in two steps and was shown to have a molecular weight of 20 kDa. The purified r-XynBS27 was active against beechwood xylan and oat spelt xylan as expected for GH 11 family. The optimum pH and temperature values for the enzyme were 6.0 and 75 °C, respectively. The Km and Vmax were 12.38 mg/mL and 13.68 μmol min/mg, respectively. The r-XynBS27 showed high xylose tolerance and was inhibited by some metal ions and by SDS. r-XynBS27 was employed as an additive in the bread making process. A decrease in firmness, stiffness and consistency, and improvements in specific volume and reducing sugar content were recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LC16m8 (m8), a highly attenuated vaccinia virus (VAC) strain, was developed as a smallpox vaccine, and its safety and immunogenicity have been confirmed. Here, we aimed to develop a system that recovers infectious m8 from a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) that retains the full-length viral genomic DNA (m8-BAC system). The infectious virus was successfully recovered from a VAC-BAC plasmid, named pLC16m8-BAC. Furthermore, the bacterial replicon-free virus was generated by intramolecular homologous recombination and was successfully recovered from a modified VAC-BAC plasmid, named pLC16m8.8S-BAC. Also, the growth of the recovered virus was indistinguishable from that of authentic m8. The full genome sequence of the plasmid, which harbors identical inverted terminal repeats (ITR) to that of authentic m8, was determined by long-read next-generation sequencing (NGS). The ITR contains x 18 to 32 of the 70 and x 30 to 45 of 54 base pair tandem repeats, and the number of tandem repeats was different between the ITR left and right. Since the virus recovered from pLC16m8.8S-BAC was expected to retain the identical viral genome to that of m8, including the ITR, a reference-based alignment following a short-read NGS was performed to validate the sequence of the recovered virus. Based on the pattern of coverage depth in the ITR, no remarkable differences were observed between the virus and m8, and the other region was confirmed to be identical as well. In summary, this new system can recover the virus, which is geno- and phenotypically indistinguishable from authentic m8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kievitone hydratase catalyzes the addition of water to the double bond of the prenyl moiety of plant isoflavonoid kievitone and, thereby, forms the tertiary alcohol hydroxy-kievitone. In nature, this conversion is associated with a defense mechanism of fungal pathogens against phytoalexins generated by host plants after infection. As of today, a gene sequence coding for kievitone hydratase activity has only been identified and characterized in Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli. Here, we report on the identification of a putative kievitone hydratase sequence in Nectria haematococca (NhKHS), the teleomorph state of F. solani, based on in silico sequence analyses. After heterologous expression of the enzyme in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, we have confirmed its kievitone hydration activity and have assessed its biochemical properties and substrate specificity. Purified recombinant NhKHS is obviously a homodimeric glycoprotein. Due to its good activity for the readily available chalcone derivative xanthohumol (XN), this compound was selected as a model substrate for biochemical studies. The optimal pH and temperature for hydratase activity were 6.0 and 35°C, respectively, and apparent Vmax and Km values for hydration of XN were 7.16 μmol min-1 mg-1 and 0.98 ± 0.13 mM, respectively. Due to its catalytic properties and apparent substrate promiscuity, NhKHS is a promising enzyme for the biocatalytic production of tertiary alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian aldehyde oxidases (AOXs) are molybdo-flavoenzymes which are present in many tissues in various mammalian species, including humans and rodents. Different species contain a different number of AOX isoforms. In particular, the reasons why mammals other than humans express a multiplicity of tissue-specific AOX enzymes is unknown. In mouse, the isoforms mAOX1, mAOX3, mAOX4 and mAOX2 are present. We previously established a codon-optimized heterologous expression systems for the mAOX1-4 isoforms in Escherichia coli that gives yield to sufficient amounts of active protein for kinetic characterizations and sets the basis in this study for site-directed mutagenesis and structure-function studies. A direct and simultaneous comparison of the enzymatic properties and characteristics of the four enzymes on a larger number of substrates has never been performed. Here, thirty different structurally related aromatic, aliphatic and N-heterocyclic compounds were used as substrates, and the kinetic parameters of all four mAOX enzymes were directly compared. The results show that especially mAOX4 displays a higher substrate selectivity, while no major differences between mAOX1, mAOX2 and mAOX3 were identified. Generally, mAOX1 was the enzyme with the highest catalytic turnover for most substrates. To understand the factors that contribute to the substrate specificity of mAOX4, site-directed mutagenesis was applied to substitute amino acids in the substrate-binding funnel by the ones present in mAOX1, mAOX3, and mAOX2. An increase in activity was obtained by the amino acid exchange M1088V in the active site identified to be specific for mAOX4, to the amino acid identified in mAOX3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of leishmaniasis cases worldwide and the emergence of Leishmania strains resistant to current treatments make necessary to find new therapeutic targets. Proteases are appealing drug targets because they play pivotal roles in facilitating parasite survival and promoting pathogenesis. Enzymes belonging to the dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (DPP3) group have been described in different organisms such as mammals, insects and yeast, in which these enzymes have been involved in both protein turnover and protection against oxidative damage. The aim of this work was to characterize the structure and function of the Leishmania braziliensis DPP3 (LbDPP3) protein as the first step to elucidate its suitability as a potential drug target. Sequence alignment showed 43% of identity between LbDPP3 and its human orthologous (hDPP3) enzyme. Although the modeled protein adopted a globally conserved three-dimensional (3D) structure, structural differences were found in the vicinity of the active site and the substrate binding-cleft. In addition, the Leishmania protein was expressed as a soluble recombinant protein and its kinetics parameters were determined using the z-Arginine-Arginine-AMC substrate. The LbDPP3 activity was maximal at pH values between 8.0–8.5. Interestingly, classical enzyme inhibitors such as the tynorphin and its derivative peptide IVYPW were found to actively inhibit the LbDPP3 activity. Moreover, these DPP3 inhibitors showed a detrimental effect upon parasite survival, decreasing the viability of promastigotes by up to 29%. Finally, it was observed that LbDPP3 was equally expressed along the in vitro differentiation from promastigotes to axenic amastigotes. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the L. brazileinsis DPP3 could be a promising drug target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]