A dansyl-derivatized phytic acid analogue as a fluorescent substrate for phytases: experimental and computational approach.

A new myo-inositol pentakisphosphate was synthesized, which featured a dansyl group at position C-5. The fluorescent tag was removed from the inositol by a 6-atom spacer to prevent detrimental steric interactions in the catalytic site of phytases. The PEG linker was used in order to enhance hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of the new artificial substrate. Computational studies showed a favorable positioning in the catalytic site of phytases. Enzymatic assays demonstrated that the tethered myo-inositol was processed by two recombinant phytases Phy-A and Phy-C, classified respectively as acid and alkaline phytases, with similar rates of phosphate release compared to their natural substrate.

Wine Thermosensitive Proteins Adsorb First and Better on Bentonite during Fining: Practical Implications and Proposition of Alternative Heat Tests.

Bentonite fining is the most popular treatment used to remove proteins in white and rosé wines. The usual heat test used to adjust the bentonite dose consists of heating the wine during 30 min at 80 °C. At this temperature, all of the proteins are unfolded, and this can lead to an overestimation of the dose. We have shown that proteins adsorb on bentonite in a specific order and, more importantly, that the proteins responsible for haze formation adsorb first. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that this is due to the structural properties of proteins, which can be classified as hard and soft proteins. Alternative heat tests were performed at a lower temperature (40 °C) and showed a better correlation with accelerated aging. These tests were also less dependent upon the wine pH.

NMR structure of rALF-Pm3, an anti-lipopolysaccharide factor from shrimp: model of the possible lipid A-binding site.

The anti-lipopolysaccharide factor ALF-Pm3 is a 98-residue protein identified in hemocytes from the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. It was expressed in Pichia pastoris from the constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter as a folded and (15)N uniformly labeled rALF-Pm3 protein. Its 3D structure was established by NMR and consists of three alpha-helices packed against a four-stranded beta-sheet. The C(34)-C(55) disulfide bond was shown to be essential for the structure stability. By using surface plasmon resonance, we demonstrated that rALF-Pm3 binds to LPS, lipid A and to OM-174, a soluble analogue of lipid A. Biophysical studies of rALF-Pm3/LPS and rALF-Pm3/OM-174 complexes indicated rather high molecular sized aggregates, which prevented us to experimentally determine by NMR the binding mode of these lipids to rALF-Pm3. However, on the basis of striking structural similarities to the FhuA/LPS complex, we designed an original model of the possible lipid A-binding site of ALF-Pm3. Such a binding site, located on the ALF-Pm3 beta-sheet and involving seven charged residues, is well conserved in ALF-L from Limulus polyphemus and in ALF-T from Tachypleus tridentatus. In addition, our model is in agreement with experiments showing that beta-hairpin synthetic peptides corresponding to ALF-L beta-sheet bind to LPS. Delineating lipid A-binding site of ALFs will help go further in the de novo design of new antibacterial or LPS-neutralizing drugs.

Molecular gene cloning and overexpression of the phytase from Debaryomyces castellii CBS 2923.

The ORF encoding the Debaryomyces castellii CBS 2923 phytase was isolated. The deduced 461-amino-acid sequence corresponded to a 51.2 kDa protein and contained the consensus motif (RHGXRXP) which is conserved among phytases. No signal sequence cleavage site was detected. Nine potential N-glycosylation sites have been predicted. The protein shared 21-69% sequence identities with various phytases of yeast or fungal origin. Heterologous expression of the D. castellii CBS 2923 phytase in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was tested under both the P. pastoris inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter and the constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter. Maximum production levels obtained were 476 U ml(-1), with the AOX1 expression system and 16.5 U ml(-1) with the GAP one. These productions corresponded to a 320-fold and a 10-fold overexpression of the protein, respectively as compared to the homologous production. The biochemical characteristics of the recombinant phytase were identical to those of the native enzyme.

Complete hydrolysis of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate by a novel phytase from Debaryomyces castellii CBS 2923.

Debaryomyces castellii phytase was purified to homogeneity in a single step by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Its molecular mass is 74 kDa with 28.8% glycosylation. Its activity was optimal at 60 degrees C and pH 4.0. The K (m) value for sodium phytate was 0.532 mM. The enzyme exhibited a low specificity and hydrolyzed many phosphate esters. The phytase fully hydrolyzed myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (or phytic acid, Ins P(6)) to inositol and inorganic phosphate. The sequence of Ins P(6) hydrolysis was determined by combining results from high-performance ionic chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. D. castellii phytase is a 3-phytase that sequentially releases phosphate groups through Ins (1,2,4,5,6) P(5), Ins (1,2,5,6) P(4), Ins (1,2,6) P(3), Ins (1,2) P(2), Ins (1 or 2) P(1), and inositol (notation 3/4/5/6/1 or 2).