The debranching enzyme complex missing in glycogen accumulating mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii displays an isoamylase-type specificity.

To investigate the functions of debranching enzymes in starch biosynthesis, we have partially purified and characterized these activities from wild type and mutant sta7 Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mutants of the STA7 locus substitute synthesis of insoluble granular starch by that of small amounts of glycogen-like material. The mutants were previously shown to lack an 88 kDa debranching enzyme. Two distinct debranching activities were detected in wild-type strains. The 88 kDa debranching enzyme subunit missing in glycogen-producing mutants (CIS1) is shown to be part of a multimeric enzyme complex. A monomeric 95 kDa debranching enzyme (CLD1) cleaved alpha-1,6 linkages separated by as few as three glucose residues while the multimeric complex was unable to do so. Both enzymes were able to debranch amylopectin while the alpha-1,6 linkages of glycogen were completely debranched by the multimeric complex only. Therefore CLD1 and the multimeric debranching enzyme display respectively the limit-dextrinase (pullulanase) and isoamylase-type specificities. Various mutations in the STA7 locus caused the loss of both CIS1 and of the multimeric isoamylase complex. In contrast to rice and maize mutants that accumulate phytoglycogen owing to mutation of an isoamylase-type DBE, isoamylase depletion in Chlamydomonas did not result in any qualitative or quantitative difference in pullulanase activity.

Genetic and biochemical evidence for the involvement of alpha-1,4 glucanotransferases in amylopectin synthesis

We describe a novel mutation in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii STA11 gene, which results in significantly reduced granular starch deposition and major modifications in amylopectin structure and granule shape. This defect simultaneously leads to the accumulation of linear malto-oligosaccharides. The sta11-1 mutation causes the absence of an alpha-1,4 glucanotransferase known as disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme). D-enzyme activity was found to be correlated with the amount of wild-type allele doses in gene dosage experiments. All other enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis, including ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, debranching enzymes, soluble and granule-bound starch synthases, branching enzymes, phosphorylases, alpha-glucosidases (maltases), and amylases, were unaffected by the mutation. These data indicate that the D-enzyme is required for normal starch granule biogenesis in the monocellular alga C. reinhardtii.

Potential antiviral agents. Part II. Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of pyrazinones substituted with acyclic chains.

The synthesis of a series of 4'-substituted hydroxybutyl pyrazine analogues of the anti-herpes compound, acyclovir, is described. The compounds were characterized with 1H and 13C nmr, mass and IR spectroscopy. Antiviral (HSV-1, CMV, Cox B4, HIV-1) properties of these compounds were examined. None of these compounds were active against these viruses.

Proton NMR spectroscopy assignment of D-glucose residues in highly acetylated starch.

1H NMR spectroscopy assignments have been obtained for starch acetates using COSY and HOHAHA experiments by comparison with the spectra of amylose triacetate and of peracetylated malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltoheptaose). These assignments are valuable for the location and evaluation of the substitution pattern in modified starches. The bulk of the 1H NMR spectra of highly acetylated starch strongly resembles the spectrum of amylose triacetate in which all protons are identified and display distinct chemical shifts. The resolving power of the HOHAHA experiment allowed the distinction of minor spin systems. Beside these strong signals pertaining to an average 2.3.6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-(1-->4) linked D-glucopyranose unit in an infinite chain, the combination of COSY and HOHAHA experiments allowed the identification of these systems to the terminal, n-1, n-2, and to partially acetylated glucopyranosyl units. As an example, two different preparations of starch acetates with degrees of substitution 2.74 and 2.63 were examined. In one case, NMR demonstrates that the defects of acetylation are random on the polymeric chain (with corresponding signals for unacylated secondary hydroxyl positions at delta 3.61 and 3.40) while in another case, these signals are not detectable, probably due to the presence of clusters of non-acetylated residue forming solid-like zones.