Purification and characterization of an extracellular laccase from the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes, and decolorization of chemically different dyes.

A laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) was isolated from the culture filtrate of Lentinula edodes. The enzyme was purified to a homogeneous preparation using hydrophobic, anion-exchange, and size-exclusion chromatographies. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the purified laccase, Lcc 1, to be a monomeric protein of 72.2 kDa. The enzyme had an isoelectric point of around pH 3.0. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was around 4.0, and it was most active at 40 degrees C and stable up to 35 degrees C. The enzyme contained 23.8% carbohydrate and some copper atoms. The enzyme oxidized 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, p-phenylendiamine, pyrogallol, guaiacol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, catechol, and ferulic acid, but not veratryl alcohol, tyrosine, and beta-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) alanine. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of Lcc 1 showed close homology to the N-terminal sequences determined for laccases from Phlebia radiata, Trametes villosa, and Trametes versicolor, but only low similarity was observed to a previously reported laccase from L. edodes. Lcc 1 was effective in the decolorization of chemically different dyes - Remazole Brilliant Blue R, Bromophenol Blue, methyl red, and Naphtol Blue Black - without any mediators, but the decolorization of two dyes - red poly(vinylamine)sulfonate-anthrapyridone dye and Reactive Orange 16 - did require some redox mediators.

Stable transformation of Pleurotus ostreatus to hygromycin B resistance using Lentinus edodes GPD expression signals.

It was reported that Pleurotus ostreatus was transformed unstably using recombinant plasmids containing a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) under the control of Aspergillus nidulans expression signals, and that the plasmids were maintained extrachromosomally in the transformants. Here we report a stable and integrative transformation of the fungus to hygromycin B resistance, using a recombinant hph fused with Lentinus edodes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression signals. Restriction-enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) was also tried and increased the transformation efficiency about ten-fold.

Efficient transformation of the edible basidiomycete Lentinus edodes with a vector using a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter to hygromycin B resistance.

To construct a vector for high-level expression of heterologous genes in Lentinus edodes, the L. edodes GPD promoter, which is expressed constitutively and strongly, was fused to a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) derived from Escherichia coli as a selective marker. Using the resulting pLG-hph construct, L. edodes was efficiently transformed to hygromycin resistance by restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI). The restriction enzyme concentrations yielding the maximal numbers of transformants by the REMI method were 10 U per transformation in the case of BglII and 25-50 U in the case of HindIII. Southern analysis of the transformants indicated that some 50% of plasmid integrations were REMI-mediated events. These results indicate that pLG is a useful vector for transformation of L. edodes. Deletion analysis of the GPD promoter region suggested that the segment between positions -442 bp and -270 bp relative to the transcription start point may be essential for function.

Isolation and characterization of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of Lentinus edodes.

The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene of Lentinus edodes was isolated from a genomic DNA library and cDNA corresponding to this gene was isolated from a mycelium cDNA library. The L. edodes GPD gene was found to encode a 337-aa protein. By comparison of the cDNA and genomic DNA sequences, the presence of eight introns in the GPD gene was confirmed. The putative amino acid sequence of the L. edodes GPD gene product showed high similarity to those of other basidiomycetes. The results of Southern blot analyses suggested that only one copy of the GPD gene is present in the genome of L. edodes. The promoter region was found to contain a CT-rich stretch, two CAAT boxes and a consensus TATA box. In addition, the transcript of the GPD gene was found to be expressed constitutively and strongly. These results suggest that the promoter of the L. edodes GPD gene may be very useful as a component of transformation vectors.

Mass mating method in combination with G418- and aureobasidin A-resistance markers for efficient selection of hybrids from homothallic strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have developed a mass mating method using the spore suspensions of homothallic yeasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination with dominant selective drug resistance markers, Tn601(903) against geneticin and AUR1-C against aureobasidin A for the selection of the hybrids. To examine the effectiveness of these markers in the mass mating method, each marker was introduced into a homothallic wine yeast. Using a mixed culture of spore suspensions from the resultant transformants, many hybrids were screened by the drug resistance markers. This method is more practical than the spore-to-spore mating method because it does not require the use of a micromanipulator and many hybrids are obtained at one time. The resultant hybrids could be utilized for industrial brewing because plasmids, which are used to confer resistance markers, are easily eliminated from the hybrids by cultivation in a medium without drugs. We propose that the mass mating method using spore suspensions in combination with dominant selective geneticin- and aureobasidin A-resistance markers is useful for the selection of hybrids from industrial homothallic yeasts.

Transformation of the edible basidiomycete Lentinus edodes by restriction enzyme-mediated integration of plasmid DNA.

We have used the restriction enzyme-mediated DNA integration (REMI) method to establish a transformation system in Lentinus edodes using the recombinant plasmid pLC1-hph, which contains the L. edodes transcriptional signals and an Escherichia coli hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene. Protoplasts of L. edodes were treated by the PEG transformation mixture containing 50 units of SalI, which cleaves pLC1-hph at a single site, yielding about 15 transformants per 2.5 micrograms of DNA. The conventional PEG transformation without SalI, however, yielded only 1.5 transformants per 25 micrograms of DNA. The optimal amount of SalI for increased transformation was 50 units. In the case of transformation with SphI, which cleaves the plasmid at one site, the optimal amount of the enzyme was 2.5 units. Southern blot analysis of the SphI-derived transformants suggested that 50% of the plasmid integrations were REMI events.

Purification and properties of tyrosinase isozymes from the gill of Lentinus edodes fruiting body.

Six tyrosinase isozymes were purified from the browned gill of the fruiting body of Lentinus edodes by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel and Q-Sepharose column chromatography, and partially denaturing SDS-PAGE. At the step of Q-Sepharose column chromatography, two active fractions (A and B) were obtained. Each fraction was separated to three further fractions, A1, A2, and A3, and B1, B2, and B3, respectively, by partially denaturing SDS-PAGE. All these isozymes consisted of two types of polypeptides: alpha polypeptide (A alpha or B alpha) and either beta (A beta or B beta) or gamma polypeptide (A gamma or B gamma). The alpha polypeptide contained the consensus amino acid sequence of the active site of known tyrosinases, which is considered to act as a catalytic subunit. From the results of peptide mapping and the amino acid composition, A alpha and B alpha polypeptides were considered to be different proteins. The kinetic properties of the purified tyrosinase isozymes differed greatly according to whether they contained beta or gamma polypeptide, indicating these polypeptides to be a possible regulatory subunit.

Relationships between Tyrosinase Activity and Gill Browning during Preservation of Lentinus edodes Fruit-bodies.

A correlation between tyrosinase activity and gill browning during preservation of Lentinus edodes fruit-bodies was observed. Latent-type tyrosinase was recognized in the precipitate of the gill homogenate, and activation of the tyrosinase was brought about by incubating the precipitate with acidic buffer. Changes in latent- and active-type tyrosinase content during gill browning indicated the possibility of a de novo synthesis of latent-type tyrosinase.

Culture conditions for improvement of L-threonine production using a genetically self-cloned L-threonine hyperproducing strain of Escherichia coli K-12.

We had constructed an L-threonine-hyperproducing strain of E. coli K-12 by recombinant DNA techniques. In this paper, culture conditions for the practical production of L-threonine were investigated using this strain. Cultivation temperature, concentration of required amino acids, and dissolved oxygen greatly influenced the yield of L-threonine. High production of L-threonine was obtained at a high level of dissolved oxygen for the recombinant strain, but not for the parent. This improved production was accompanied by a high copy number of recombinant plasmids and high activity of aspartokinase. Initial addition of L-threonine together with required amino acids greatly reduced the net production of L-threonine. To remove the reductive effect, methods for the addition of the required amino acids were tested. Lowering the required amino acids at a later stage of cultivation seemed to be effective to avoid the reductive effect of the accumulated L-threonine. By using the optimal conditions, the highest level of L-threonine production, 65 g/l, 48% yield, was achieved.

Factors improving L-threonine production by a three L-threonine biosynthetic genes-amplified recombinant strain of Brevibacterium lactofermentum.

When a Brevibacterium lactofermentum L-threonine producer that accumulated L-lysine as well, was transformed with a recombinant plasmid carrying the indigenous hom, thrB, and thrC genes, delayed growth and plasmid instability were observed. Addition of organic nutrients, vitamins (thiamine.HCl and d-biotin), and NaCl under the optimal culture conditions solved these problems and further increased threonine production in a small jar fermentor.

High fermentative production of L-threonine from acetate by a Brevibacterium flavum stabilized strain transformed with a recombinant plasmid carrying the Escherichia coli thr operon.

Decrease in L-threonine productivity caused not only by plasmid-free segregation but also by plasmid deletion was observed in a Brevibacterium flavum L-threonine producer when transformed with a recombinant plasmid carrying Escherichia coli thr operon. However, a recombinant strain, HT-16, was stabilized by the addition of trimethoprim (a selective marker on the vector) at concentration of 1000 micrograms/ml, which was rather higher than the minimum inhibitory one, into the stock culture medium. Strain HT-16 produced 64.4 g/liter of L-threonine, 30% higher than that of the host strain, after 92 h of cultivation in a small jar fermentor using acetic acid as a carbon source without trimethoprim.

Genetic breeding of L-tyrosine producer from Brevibacterium lactofermentum.

A wild-type parent of Brevibacterium lactofermentum was converted into an L-Tyr producer by three steps of genetic breeding. First, acquirement of m-fluoro-D, L-phenylalanine resistance (1,000 microgram/ml) brought about MF1317 which produced 3.5 g/l of L-Tyr and a byproduct of 2.8 g/l of L-Phe. Second, increase in the drug resistance (5,000 microgram/ml) gave MF358 that produced 6.4 g/l of L-Tyr and a byproduct of 6.0 g/l of L-Phe. Third, an L-Phe auxotrophic mutant (FT-1) derived from MF358 accumulated 16 g/l of L-Tyr. In FT-1, L-Phe was not accumulated at all, but a small amount of anthranilate (0.4 g/l) was. A key enzyme in the biosynthesis of L-Tyr, 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase, was free from synergistic feedback inhibition by L-Tyr and L-Phe in the producers, and so L-Tyr accumulation occurred independently of L-Phe concentration in the production medium.

Cloning and characterization of genes responsible for m-fluoro-D,L-phenylalanine resistance in Brevibacterium lactofermentum.

Two kinds of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-hepturosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase genes were cloned from an L-Phe-producing mutant of Brevibacterium lactofermentum, AJ11957, which was resistant to m-fluoro-D,L-phenylalanine (mFP) and p-fluoro-D,L-phenylalanine (pFP) and which had DAHP synthase free from feedback inhibition. Both genes were cloned using a vector plasmid, pAJ1844, and the resulting recombinant plasmids were named pAR1 and pAR2. They had different structures on the restriction maps. Both plasmids, pAR1 and pAR2, conferred mFP and pFP resistance and L-Phe and L-Tyr productivity on a wild-type strain of B. lactofermentum, AJ12036. The degrees of L-Phe-analogue resistance and aromatic amino acid productivity of the pAR1-transformant were larger than those of the pAR2-transformant. The introduction of pAR1 to AJ12036 resulted in the alteration of DAHP synthase activity from a feedback-sensitive mechanism to a feedback-insensitive one accompanied by an elevated level of specific activity. A DAHP synthase deficient mutant of Escherichia coli was complemented by pAR2, but not by pAR1. Characteristics of the two kinds of DAHP synthase genes are discussed.

Mutation of an inosine-producing strain of Bacillus subtilis to DL-methionine sulfoxide resistance for guanosine production.

An inosine-producing strain of Bacillus subtilis was mutated to resistance against the antagonist of glutamine, DL-methionine sulfoxide. Among the mutants derived, guanosine producers were observed frequently. The best strain, 14119, produced 9.6 g of guanosine per liter at a weight yield of 12% from consumed sugar. Inosine production decreased concomitantly. When resistance was increased further by exposure to higher doses of DL-methionine sulfoxide, another strain, AG169, was obtained that did not excrete inosine but produced increased amounts of xanthosine. In these strains, the specific activity of 5'-nucleotidase was lower and that of inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase was higher than the parent strain. It is speculated that the metabolic flow from IMP to xanthosine 5'-monophosphate proceeds more smoothly than that from IMP to inosine and yields more xanthosine and guanosine.