Whole-cell biocatalytic production of variously substituted ß-aryl- and ß-heteroaryl-ß-amino acids.

Biologically-active ß-peptides and pharmaceuticals that contain key ß-amino acids are emerging as target therapeutics; thus, synthetic strategies to make substituted, enantiopure ß-amino acids are increasing. Here, we use whole-cell Escherichia coli (OD600 ∼ 35) engineered to express a Pantoea agglomerans phenylalanine aminomutase (PaPAM) biocatalyst. In either 5 mL, 100mL, or 1L of M9 minimal medium containing α-phenylalanine (20mM), the cells produced ∼ 1.4 mg mL(-1) of ß-phenylalanine in each volume. Representative pilot-scale 5-mL cultures, fermentation reactions converted 18 variously substituted α-arylalanines to their (S)-ß-aryl-ß-amino acids in vivo and were not toxic to cells at mid- to late-stage growth. The ß-aryl-ß-amino acids made ranged from 0.043 mg (p-nitro-ß-phenylalanine, 4% converted yield) to 1.2mg (m-bromo-ß-phenylalanine, 96% converted yield) over 6h in 5 mL. The substituted ß-amino acids made herein can be used in redox and Stille-coupling reactions to make synthetic building blocks, or as bioisosteres in drug design.

Production of mesaconate in Escherichia coli by engineered glutamate mutase pathway.

Mesaconate is an intermediate in the glutamate degradation pathway of microorganisms such as Clostridium tetanomorphum. However, metabolic engineering to produce mesaconate has not been reported previously. In this work, two enzymes involved in mesaconate production, glutamate mutase and 3-methylaspartate ammonia lyase from C. tetanomorphum, were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. To improve mesaconate production, reactivatase of glutamate mutase was discovered and adenosylcobalamin availability was increased. In addition, glutamate mutase was engineered to improve the in vivo activity. These efforts led to efficient mesaconate production at a titer of 7.81 g/L in shake flask with glutamate feeding. Then a full biosynthetic pathway was constructed to produce mesaconate at a titer of 6.96 g/L directly from glucose. In summary, we have engineered an efficient system in E. coli for the biosynthesis of mesaconate.

Transcription of the lysine-2,3-aminomutase gene in the kam locus of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD73 is controlled by both σ54 and σK factors.

Lysine 2,3-aminomutase (KAM; EC 5.4.3.2) catalyzes the interconversion of l-lysine and l-ß-lysine. The transcription and regulation of the kam locus, including lysine-2,3-aminomutase-encoding genes, in Bacillus thuringiensis were analyzed in this study. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that this locus forms two operons: yodT (yodT-yodS-yodR-yodQ-yodP-kamR) and kamA (kamA-yokU-yozE). The transcriptional start sites (TSSs) of the kamA gene were determined using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). A typical -12/-24 σ(54) binding site was identified in the promoter PkamA, which is located upstream of the kamA gene TSS. A ß-galactosidase assay showed that PkamA, which directs the transcription of the kamA operon, is controlled by the σ(54) factor and is activated through the σ(54)-dependent transcriptional regulator KamR. The kamA operon is also controlled by σ(K) and regulated by the GerE protein in the late stage of sporulation. kamR and kamA mutants were prepared by homologous recombination to examine the role of the kam locus. The results showed that the sporulation rate in B. thuringiensis HD(ΔkamR) was slightly decreased compared to that in HD73, whereas that in HD(ΔkamA) was similar to that in HD73. This means that other genes regulated by KamR are important for sporulation.

Extending shikimate pathway for the production of muconic acid and its precursor salicylic acid in Escherichia coli.

cis,cis-Muconic acid (MA) and salicylic acid (SA) are naturally-occurring organic acids having great commercial value. MA is a potential platform chemical for the manufacture of several widely-used consumer plastics; while SA is mainly used for producing pharmaceuticals (for example, aspirin and lamivudine) and skincare and haircare products. At present, MA and SA are commercially produced by organic chemical synthesis using petro-derived aromatic chemicals, such as benzene, as starting materials, which is not environmentally friendly. Here, we report a novel approach for efficient microbial production of MA via extending shikimate pathway by introducing the hybrid of an SA biosynthetic pathway with its partial degradation pathway. First, we engineered a well-developed phenylalanine producing Escherichia coli strain into an SA overproducer by introducing isochorismate synthase and isochorismate pyruvate lyase. The engineered strain is able to produce 1.2g/L of SA from simple carbon sources, which is the highest titer reported so far. Further, the partial SA degradation pathway involving salicylate 1-monoxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase is established to achieve the conversion of SA to MA. Finally, a de novo MA biosynthetic pathway is assembled by integrating the established SA biosynthesis and degradation modules. Modular optimization enables the production of up to 1.5g/L MA within 48h in shake flasks. This study not only establishes an efficient microbial platform for the production of SA and MA, but also demonstrates a generalizable pathway design strategy for the de novo biosynthesis of valuable degradation metabolites.

Aspergillus nidulans cell wall composition and function change in response to hosting several Aspergillus fumigatus UDP-galactopyranose mutase activity mutants.

Deletion or repression of Aspergillus nidulans ugmA (AnugmA), involved in galactofuranose biosynthesis, impairs growth and increases sensitivity to Caspofungin, a ß-1,3-glucan synthesis antagonist. The A. fumigatus UgmA (AfUgmA) crystal structure has been determined. From that study, AfUgmA mutants with altered enzyme activity were transformed into AnugmA▵ to assess their effect on growth and wall composition in A. nidulans. The complemented (AnugmA::wild type AfugmA) strain had wild type phenotype, indicating these genes had functional homology. Consistent with in vitro studies, AfUgmA residues R182 and R327 were important for its function in vivo, with even conservative amino (RK) substitutions producing AnugmA? phenotype strains. Similarly, the conserved AfUgmA loop III histidine (H63) was important for Galf generation: the H63N strain had a partially rescued phenotype compared to AnugmA▵. Collectively, A. nidulans strains that hosted mutated AfUgmA constructs with low enzyme activity showed increased hyphal surface adhesion as assessed by binding fluorescent latex beads. Consistent with previous qPCR results, immunofluorescence and ELISA indicated that AnugmA▵ and AfugmA-mutated A. nidulans strains had increased α-glucan and decreased ß-glucan in their cell walls compared to wild type and AfugmA-complemented strains. Like the AnugmA▵ strain, A. nidulans strains containing mutated AfugmA showed increased sensitivity to antifungal drugs, particularly Caspofungin. Reduced ß-glucan content was correlated with increased Caspofungin sensitivity. Aspergillus nidulans wall Galf, α-glucan, and ß-glucan content was correlated in A. nidulans hyphal walls, suggesting dynamic coordination between cell wall synthesis and cell wall integrity.

Protein engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase into parkeol synthase.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase mutant, ERG7(T384Y/Q450H/V454I), produced parkeol but not lanosterol as the sole end product. Parkeol undergoes downstream metabolism to generate compounds 9 and 10. In vitro incubation of parkeol produced a product profile similar to that of the in vivo experiment. In summary, parkeol undergoes a metabolic pathway similar to that of cycloartenol in yeast but distinct from that of lanosterol in yeast, suggesting that two different metabolic pathways of postoxidosqualene cyclization may exist in S. cerevisiae.

Zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein gene expression in adipose tissue is related with insulin resistance and lipolytic genes in morbidly obese patients.

OBJECTIVE: Zinc-α(2) glycoprotein (ZAG) stimulates lipid loss by adipocytes and may be involved in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism. However, to date no studies have been made in the most extreme of obesity. The aims of this study are to analyze ZAG expression levels in adipose tissue from morbidly obese patients, and their relationship with lipogenic and lipolytic genes and with insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: mRNA expression levels of PPARγ, IRS-1, IRS-2, lipogenic and lipolytic genes and ZAG were quantified in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of 25 nondiabetic morbidly obese patients, 11 with low IR and 14 with high IR. Plasma ZAG was also analyzed. RESULTS: The morbidly obese patients with low IR had a higher VAT ZAG expression as compared with the patients with high IR (p = 0.023). In the patients with low IR, the VAT ZAG expression was greater than that in SAT (p = 0.009). ZAG expression correlated between SAT and VAT (r = 0.709, p<0.001). VAT ZAG expression was mainly predicted by insulin, HOMA-IR, plasma adiponectin and expression of adiponectin and ACSS2. SAT ZAG expression was only predicted by expression of ATGL. CONCLUSIONS: ZAG could be involved in modulating lipid metabolism in adipose tissue and is associated with insulin resistance. These findings suggest that ZAG may be a useful target in obesity and related disorders, such as diabetes.

Field performance of transgenic sugarcane expressing isomaltulose synthase.

Transgenic sugarcane plants expressing a vacuole-targeted isomaltulose (IM) synthase in seven recipient genotypes (elite cultivars) were evaluated over 3 years at a field site typical of commercial cane growing conditions in the Burdekin district of Australia. IM concentration typically increased with internode maturity and comprised up to 217 mm (33% of total sugars) in whole-cane juice. There was generally a comparable decrease in sucrose concentration, with no overall decrease in total sugars. Sugarcane is vegetatively propagated from stem cuttings known as setts. Culture-derived plants were slower to establish and generally gave shorter and thinner stalks at harvest than those grown from field-sourced setts in the initial field generations. However, after several cycles of field propagation, selections were obtained with cane yields similar to the recipient genotypes. There was no apparent adverse effect of IM accumulation on vigour assessed by stalk height and diameter or other visual indicators including germination of setts and establishment of stools. There was some inconsistency in IM levels in juice, between samplings of the vegetatively propagated transgenic lines. Until the causes are resolved, it is prudent to selectively propagate from stalks with higher IM levels in the initial vegetative field generations. Pol/Brix ratio allowed rapid identification of lines with high IM levels, using common sugar industry instruments. Sucrose isomerase activity was low in these transgenic lines, and the results indicate strong potential to develop sugarcane for commercial-scale production of IM if higher activity can be engineered in appropriate developmental patterns.

Spatially controlled expression of the Drosophila pseudouridine synthase RluA-1.

Pseudouridine (Ψ) synthases function in the formation of Ψ, the most abundant of the modified RNA residues. All Ψ synthases in E. coli are classified into one of five families according to their sequences. Among them, members of the RluA Ψ synthase family catalyze certain Ψ formations in ribosomal RNA. RluA family members are required for ribosomal assembly and bacterial growth. None of the RluA in multicellular organisms has been studied. In the Drosophila peripheral nervous system, multiple dendritic (MD) neurons are recognized by their dendritic arbors. MD neurons can also be identified by using the enhancer trap line E7-2-36, which expresses the lacZ gene in MD neurons. Here, we show that the P-element of E7-2-36 inserts into the Drosophila RluA-1 gene. RluA-1 is homologous to E. coli RluA family members and is evolutionarily conserved in multicellular organisms. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed that RluA-1 is expressed in MD neurons. We investigated the RluA-1 enhancer responsible for MD expression and found that the membrane-tethered green fluorescent protein driven by RluA-1-GAL4 was expressed in the dendritic arbors of MD neurons, confirming that RluA-1 is indeed expressed in MD neurons. Thus, the expression of RluA-1 is spatially controlled during development.

Purification and biochemical characterization of recombinant rice UDP-arabinopyranose mutase generated in insect cells.

Plants utilize UDP-arabinofuranose (UDP-Araf) in the biosynthesis of Araf-containing complex carbohydrates. UDP-Araf is synthesized from UDP-arabinopyranose by UDP-arabinopyranose mutases (UAMs). Here we describe the heterologous expression of rice (Oryza sativa) UAM genes in insect cells and report some of their enzymatic properties. Recombinant UAMs might serve as useful tools for the biosynthesis of UDP-Araf and might be better than chemical synthesis.

[Effect of the expression of Escherchia coli glutamate-1-semiadhyde aminotransferase on the red fluorescent protein uroporphyrinogen III methyltransferase].

Glutamate-1-semiadhyde aminotransferase (GSAT) is an enzyme in the upstream biosynthetic pathway of uroporphyrinogen III that is the substrate of uroporphyrinogen III methyltransferase (UPMT), a novel red fluorescent protein. In order to detect the effect of overexpression of GSAT with UPMT on the fluorescent intensity in Escherichia coli, we amplified maize upmt gene by PCR and inserted into the first cistron of pET Duet-1 plasmid to create the vector pETU. The expressed UPMT was fused histidine tag at N terminus. We also amplified E. coli hemL gene encoding GSAT by PCR reaction, eliminated Nco I site within the hemL gene by site-directed mutagenesis and subcloned into pET-51b plasmid. The resultant hemL gene was inserted the second cistron of pETU plasmid to produce the vector pETeGU. The expressed GSAT has the extra Strep-TagII at N terminus. Compared to overexpression upmt gene alone, coexpression both genes did not resulted in the remarkable change in either the amount of the UPMT, as estimated by western blot analysis, or the constitution of red fluorescent materials, as shown by UV/visible light scanning analysis, but increased cellular level of the fluorescent material trimethylpyrrocorphin with the specific absorption at 354 nm. The red fluorescence emitted by the colonies cooverexpressing both enzymes completely disappeared after treated by 2 mmol/L gabaculine, the GSAT inhibitor, suggested that the recombinant GSAT may increase the cellular level of uroporphyrinogen III, and thus enhanced the red fluorescence of the E. coli cells conferred by the recombinant UPMT.

Cloning and Functional Analysis of a beta-amyrin synthase gene associated with oleanolic acid biosynthesis in Gentiana straminea MAXIM.

Phytosterols and triterpenes are synthesized by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) via the isoprenoid pathway. Here, GsAS1--a full-length beta-amyrin synthase cDNA isolated from Gentiana straminea MAXIM.--was characterized. Its open reading frame consists of 2268 bp, predicted to encode a 756 residue protein containing four QW and one Asp-Cys-Thr-Ala-Glu (DCTAE) motifs, which are both well conserved among known triterpene synthases. The deduced GsAS1 peptide sequence shares 76.2% homology with that of Panax ginseng beta-amyrin synthase. A phylogenetic analysis showed that GsAS1 is closely related to other plant OSCs, and particularly to the beta-amyrin synthases. When the GsAS1 sequence was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, an 88 kDa gene product was produced, and this reacted with the appropriate antibody. The sequence was also heterologously expressed in the Pichia pastoris yeast. GsAS1 is expressed in a tissue-specific manner, with its expression in the leaf being ca. 4.5-fold than that in the root, and nearly three-fold than that in the stem. GsAS1 expression was up-regulated by treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) over a period from 6 h to 10 d post treatment. The accumulation oleanolic acid increased after induction by MeJA.

Suppression of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase by high fat diet contributes to liver X receptor-alpha-mediated improvement of hepatic lipid profile.

The liver X receptors (LXRs) sense oxysterols and regulate genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Synthetic agonists of LXRs are potent stimulators of fatty acid synthesis, which is mediated largely by sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Paradoxically, an improved hepatic lipid profile by LXR was observed in mice fed a Western high fat (HF) diet. To explore the underlying mechanism, we administered mice normal chow or an HF diet and overexpressed LXRalpha in the liver. The HF diet with tail-vein injection of adenovirus of LXRalpha increased the expression of LXR-targeted genes involved in cholesterol reverse transport but not those involved in fatty acid synthesis. A similar effect was also observed with the use of 22R-hydroxycholesterol, an LXR ligand, in cultured hepatocytes. Consequently, SREBP-1c maturation was inhibited by the HF diet, which resulted from the induction of Insig-2a. Importantly, increased cholesterol level suppressed the expression of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), which led to an increase in endogenous LXR ligand(s). Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of OSC expression enhanced LXR activity and selectively up-regulated LXR-targeted genes involved in cholesterol reverse transport. Thus, down-regulation of OSC may account for a novel mechanism underlying the LXR-mediated lipid metabolism in the liver of mice fed an HF diet.

Enzymatic synthesis of enantiopure alpha- and beta-amino acids by phenylalanine aminomutase-catalysed amination of cinnamic acid derivatives.

The phenylalanine aminomutase (PAM) from Taxus chinensis catalyses the conversion of alpha-phenylalanine to beta-phenylalanine, an important step in the biosynthesis of the N-benzoyl phenylisoserinoyl side-chain of the anticancer drug taxol. Mechanistic studies on PAM have suggested that (E)-cinnamic acid is an intermediate in the mutase reaction and that it can be released from the enzyme's active site. Here we describe a novel synthetic strategy that is based on the finding that ring-substituted (E)-cinnamic acids can serve as a substrate in PAM-catalysed ammonia addition reactions for the biocatalytic production of several important beta-amino acids. The enzyme has a broad substrate range and a high enantioselectivity with cinnamic acid derivatives; this allows the synthesis of several non-natural aromatic alpha- and beta-amino acids in excellent enantiomeric excess (ee >99 %). The internal 5-methylene-3,5-dihydroimidazol-4-one (MIO) cofactor is essential for the PAM-catalysed amination reactions. The regioselectivity of amination reactions was influenced by the nature of the ring substituent.

Enhanced tolerance to drought stress in transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing VTE1 for increased tocopherol production from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Tocopherol cyclase (VTE1, encoded by VTE1 gene) catalyzes the penultimate step of tocopherol synthesis. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing VTE1 from Arabidopsis were exposed to drought conditions during which transgenic lines had decreased lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and H(2)O(2) content, but had increased chlorophyll compared with the wild type. Thus VTE1 can be used to increase vitamin E content of plants and also to enhance tolerance to environmental stresses.

Histone deacetylase 3 down-regulates cholesterol synthesis through repression of lanosterol synthase gene expression.

In vertebrates, a key step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and steroid hormones is the conversion of (S)-2,3-oxidosqualene to lanosterol. The enzyme that catalyzes this complex cyclization/rearrangement step via the protosteryl cation intermediate is lanosterol synthase ((S)-2,3-epoxysqualene mutase (cyclizing, lanosterol forming), EC 5.4.99.7). Because of the crucial role that lanosterol synthase plays in cholesterol biosynthesis, there is great interest in the identification of drugs that target this enzyme for anticholesteremic purposes. Although most studies on lanosterol synthase in the past have focused on the structural and biochemical functions of this enzyme, almost nothing is known concerning how the synthesis of lanosterol synthase is regulated. Here, we report that histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) represses transcription from the lanosterol synthase promoter. Overexpression of HDAC3 decreases, whereas knockdown of HDAC3 by small interfering RNA increases, endogenous lanosterol synthase mRNA in cells. Similarly, in transient transfection assays, overexpression of HDAC3 decreases, whereas depletion of HDAC3 increases, expression of a reporter gene under the control of the lanosterol synthase promoter. Stable cell lines that overexpress HDAC3 show a decrease in lanosterol synthase mRNA and have lower cholesterol concentrations compared with parental cells. Extensive promoter analyses coupled with chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that the transcription factor YY1 binds to and recruits HDAC3 to the lanosterol synthase promoter. Together, our results demonstrate that HDAC3 represses the synthesis of a key regulatory enzyme and reveal a novel mechanism by which the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway can be regulated.

Sterol biosynthesis by a prokaryote: first in vitro identification of the genes encoding squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase from Methylococcus capsulatus.

Sterol biosynthesis by prokaryotic organisms is very rare. Squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase are prerequisite to cyclic sterol biosynthesis. These two enzymes, from the methanotrophic bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus, were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Structural analyses of the enzymatic products indicated that the reactions proceeded in a complete regio- and stereospecific fashion to afford (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene from squalene and lanosterol from (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene, in full accordance with those of eukaryotes. However, our result obtained with the putative lanosterol synthase was inconsistent with a previous report that the prokaryote accepts both (3R)- and (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualenes to afford 3-epi-lanosterol and lanosterol, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the existence of the genes encoding squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase in prokaryotes by establishing the enzyme activities. The evolutionary aspect of prokaryotic squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase is discussed.

Cloning and functional expression of cycloartenol synthases from mangrove species Rhizophora stylosa Griff. and Kandelia candel (L.) Druce.

To obtain cDNAs encoding oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), we cloned two cDNAs, KcCAS and RsCAS, from roots of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce and leaves of Rhizophora stylosa Griff. by homology based PCR method respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of both OSCs showed 82% homology to cycloartenol synthases from Lotus japonicus (OSC5) and Ricinus cummunis (RcCAS), suggesting that these are cycloartenol synthases of K. candel and R. stylosa. The genes obtained were expressed in a lanosterol synthase deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ERG7) strain, GIL77. GC-MS analysis identified the accumulated reaction product in the yeast transformant to be cycloartenol, indicating that both KcCAS and RsCAS encode cycloartenol synthase.

Arabidopsis isochorismate synthase functional in pathogen-induced salicylate biosynthesis exhibits properties consistent with a role in diverse stress responses.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a phytohormone best known for its role in plant defense. It is synthesized in response to diverse pathogens and responsible for the large scale transcriptional induction of defense-related genes and the establishment of systemic acquired resistance. Surprisingly, given its importance in plant defense, an understanding of the underlying enzymology is lacking. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the pathogen-induced accumulation of SA requires isochorismate synthase (AtICS1). Here, we show that AtICS1 is a plastid-localized, stromal protein using chloroplast import assays and immunolocalization. AtICS1 acts as a monofunctional isochorismate synthase (ICS), catalyzing the conversion of chorismate to isochorismate (IC) in a reaction that operates near equilibrium (K(eq) = 0.89). It does not convert chorismate directly to SA (via an IC intermediate) as does Yersinia enterocolitica Irp9. Using an irreversible coupled spectrophotometric assay, we found that AtICS1 exhibits an apparent K(m) of 41.5 mum and k(cat) = 38.7 min(-1) for chorismate. This affinity for chorismate would allow it to successfully compete with other pathogen-induced, chorismate-utilizing enzymes. Furthermore, the biochemical properties of AtICS1 indicate its activity is not regulated by light-dependent changes in stromal pH, Mg(2+), or redox and that it is remarkably active at 4 degrees C consistent with a role for SA in cold-tolerant growth. Finally, our analyses support plastidic synthesis of stress-induced SA with the requirement for one or more additional enzymes responsible for the conversion of IC to SA, because non-enzymatic conversion of IC to SA under physiological conditions was negligible.

Tocopherol cyclase (VTE1) localization and vitamin E accumulation in chloroplast plastoglobule lipoprotein particles.

Chloroplasts contain lipoprotein particles termed plastoglobules. Plastoglobules are generally believed to have little function beyond lipid storage. Here we report on the identification of plastoglobule proteins using mass spectrometry methods in Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate specific plastoglobule association of members of the plastid lipid-associated proteins/fibrillin family as well as known metabolic enzymes, including the tocopherol cyclase (VTE1), a key enzyme of tocopherol (vitamin E) synthesis. Moreover, comparative analysis of chloroplast membrane fractions shows that plastoglobules are a site of vitamin E accumulation in chloroplasts. Thus, in addition to their lipid storage function, we propose that plastoglobules are metabolically active, taking part in tocopherol synthesis and likely other pathways.