Production of monoclonal antibodies specific to major allergens of Cryptomeria japonica pollen.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against Cryptomeria japonica pollen antigen (CPAg) were prepared. CPAg was precipitated with these MAbs and both MAbs CPA7 (IgG2a) and CPA9 (IgG1) recognized two major glycoproteins (m = 41 kDa and 46 kDa) of CPAg. MAb CPA7 or CPA9 was coupled to CNBr activated sepharose and affinity purification of the major allergen of CPAg from the crude extract was performed. The affinity purified CPAg bound IgE antibody present in patients with Cedar pollinosis.

Purifications and properties of orotidine-phosphorolyzing enzyme and purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992.

An orotidine-phosphorolyzing enzyme and a purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) of Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992, which is a potent producer of ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide), an antiviral agent, from orotidine and 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (TCA), were purified 23-fold and 103-fold, respectively. At each purification step, the orotidine-phosphorolyzing enzyme was always co-purified with an uridine phosphorylase (UPase) and its activity could not be separated from that of the UPase after it showed as a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results suggest that this enzyme may be identical with UPase. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 68,000 +/- 2,000, and seemed to be a dimer. The optimal temperatures and pH values were 60 degrees C and 6.0 for orotidine phosphorolysis, and 70 degrees C and 7.0 for uridine phosphorolysis. The Michaelis constants for uridine and orotidine were 0.75 mM and 10.87 mM, respectively, at 40 degrees C. The PNPase of E. carotovora AJ 2992 had a molecular weight of 58,000 +/- 2,000 and seemed to be a dimer. The Michaelis constants for inosine and guanosine were 1.92 mM and 1.85 mM, respectively, at 40 degrees C. The PNPase was completely inactivated by p-chloromercuribenzoate.

Purification and properties of purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Brevibacterium acetylicum ATCC 954.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase of Brevibacterium acetylicum ATCC 954, which catalyzes the production of ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide), a potent antiviral agent, from purine nucleoside and 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide in a high yield, was purified 49-fold. This enzyme had a molecular weight of 31,000 and was a monomer. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.7. The optimal temperature and pH of inosine phosphorolyzing reaction catalyzed by the enzyme was around 8.5 and 70 degrees C, respectively. The Michaelis constants for inosine, guanosine, and ribavirin were 1.43 mM, 2.44 mM and 2.08 mM, respectively, at 40 degrees C. This enzyme appeared to be a SH enzyme because it was inactivated by SH reagents, p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide, and HgCl2. In addition, this enzyme was completely inactivated by AgNO3 and was slightly inhibited by CuSO4. It showed nucleoside-phosphorolyzing activity toward inosine, 2'-deoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, guanosine, 2'-deoxyguanosine, and xanthosine. However, adenosine and its derivatives could not be phosphorolyzed. This enzyme could not also phosphorolyze various 5'-mononucleotides. According to the amino terminal sequence analysis, the twenty residues from the amino terminal end of this enzyme were identified as follows: MTVNWNETRS-FLECKMQAKPE.

Production of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine from 2',3'-dideoxyuridine and the corresponding purine bases by resting cells of Escherichia coli AJ 2595.

A novel microbial method for the production of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides by transdideoxyribosylation has been developed. By screening microorganisms producing 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA) from 2',3'-dideoxyuridine (DDU) and adenine, Escherichia coli AJ 2595 was selected as the best producer. Optimal pH and temperature for the DDA-producing reaction were ca. 6.5 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Pi seemed to be an essential factor for the reaction, and its optimal concentration was ca. 25 mM. Moreover, polyethylene glycol had a notable effect on DDA production. Under the best conditions established, 52 mM DDA was obtained from 100 mM DDU and 100 mM adenine after 48 h of incubation from resting cells of E. coli AJ 2595. This strain could also produce 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, such as 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (DDI), 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine, and 2',3'-dideoxythymidine, from DDU and the corresponding bases. In particular, this strain could produce DDI in high yield (ca. 32 mM from 100 mM DDU and 100 mM hypoxanthine) after 24 h of incubation. However, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine was not produced from DDU and cytosine by resting cells of E. coli AJ 2595.