Purification and characterization of an extreme halothermophilic protease from a halophilic bacterium Chromohalobacter sp. TVSP101

An extreme halophilic bacterium was isolated from solar saltern samples and identified based on biochemical tests and 16S r RNA sequencing as Chromohalobacter sp. strain TVSP101. The halophilic protease was purified using ultrafiltration, ethanol precipitation, hydrophobic interaction column chromatography and gel permeation chromatography to 180 fold with 22% yield. The molecular mass of the protease determined by SDS PAGE was 66 kDa. The purified enzyme was salt dependent for its activity and stability with an optimum of 4.5 M NaCl. The optimum temperature for maximum protease activity was 75ºC. The protease was optimally active at pH 8 and retained more than 80% of its activity in the range of pH 7-10. Sucrose and glycine at 10% (w/v) were the most effective osmolytes, retained 100% activity in the absence of NaCl. The activity was completely inhibited by ZnCl2 (2 mM), 0.1% SDS and PMSF (1mM). The enzyme was not inhibited by 1mM of pepstatin, EDTA and PCMB. The protease was active and retained 100% it activity in 10% (v/v) DMSO, DMF, ethanol and acetone.

Hydrolysis of organophosphorus compounds by an esterase isozyme from insecticide resistant pest Helicoverpa armigera.

Esterase activity of resistant and susceptible H. armigera were compared in gels with different substrate such as naphthyl acetate, naphthyl phosphate, paraoxon and monocrotophos. Whole body extract of resistant H. armigera hydrolyzed paraoxon, monocrotophos and naphthyl phosphate in gels. Resistant H. armigera showed high esterase, phosphatase and paraoxon hydrolase activity compared to susceptible ones.

Inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and its electron transport pathway by a polycation in vitro.

Effect of the polycation on oxidative phosphorylation in the rat liver mitochondria has been studied. Both oxygen uptake and coupled phosphorylation were progressively inhibited by increasing concentration of the polycation, as observed with NAD-linked substrates, succinate and ascorbate+TMPD which activates the terminal part of the respiratory chain. NADH oxidase, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase were strongly inhibited by the polycation, 80-90% of the activity being lost at an inhibitor concentration of 100 microM. Succinate oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase were inhibited 60-66% at 100 microM concentration of the polycation. The polycation inhibited the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol stimulated ATPase activity both in presence and absence of Mg2+ ions. The polycation also inhibited salt-induced volume change.