Development of an Amperometric Biosensor Platform for the Combined Determination of L-Malic, Fumaric, and L-Aspartic Acid.

Three amperometric biosensors have been developed for the detection of L-malic acid, fumaric acid, and L -aspartic acid, all based on the combination of a malate-specific dehydrogenase (MDH, EC 1.1.1.37) and diaphorase (DIA, EC 1.8.1.4). The stepwise expansion of the malate platform with the enzymes fumarate hydratase (FH, EC 4.2.1.2) and aspartate ammonia-lyase (ASPA, EC 4.3.1.1) resulted in multi-enzyme reaction cascades and, thus, augmentation of the substrate spectrum of the sensors. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in presence of the cofactor ß-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and the redox mediator hexacyanoferrate (III) (HCFIII). The amperometric detection is mediated by oxidation of hexacyanoferrate (II) (HCFII) at an applied potential of + 0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. For each biosensor, optimum working conditions were defined by adjustment of cofactor concentrations, buffer pH, and immobilization procedure. Under these improved conditions, amperometric responses were linear up to 3.0 mM for L-malate and fumarate, respectively, with a corresponding sensitivity of 0.7 µA mM-1 (L-malate biosensor) and 0.4 µA mM-1 (fumarate biosensor). The L-aspartate detection system displayed a linear range of 1.0-10.0 mM with a sensitivity of 0.09 µA mM-1. The sensor characteristics suggest that the developed platform provides a promising method for the detection and differentiation of the three substrates.

Diaphorase Coupling Protocols for Red-Shifting Dehydrogenase Assays.

Dehydrogenases are an important target for the development of cancer therapeutics. Dehydrogenases either produce or consume NAD(P)H, which is fluorescent but at a wavelength where many compounds found in chemical libraries are also fluorescent. By coupling dehydrogenases to diaphorase, which utilizes NAD(P)H to produce the fluorescent molecule resorufin from resazurin, the assay can be red-shifted into a spectral region that reduces interference from compound libraries. Dehydrogenases that produce NAD(P)H, such as isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), can be read in kinetic mode. Dehydrogenases that consume NAD(P)H, such as mutant IDH1 R132H, can be read in endpoint mode. Here, we report protocols for robust and miniaturized 1,536-well assays for WT IDH1 and IDH1 R132H coupled to diaphorase, and the counterassays used to further detect compound interference with the coupling reagents. This coupling technique is applicable to dehydrogenases that either produce or consume NAD(P)H, and the examples provided here can act as guidelines for the development of high-throughput screens against this enzyme class.

Reversible logic gates based on enzyme-biocatalyzed reactions and realized in flow cells: a modular approach.

Reversible logic gates, such as the double Feynman gate, Toffoli gate and Peres gate, with 3-input/3-output channels are realized using reactions biocatalyzed with enzymes and performed in flow systems. The flow devices are constructed using a modular approach, where each flow cell is modified with one enzyme that biocatalyzes one chemical reaction. The multi-step processes mimicking the reversible logic gates are organized by combining the biocatalytic cells in different networks. This work emphasizes logical but not physical reversibility of the constructed systems. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed and potential use in biosensing systems, rather than in computing devices, is suggested.

Development of an enzymatic chromatography strip with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium coupling reactions for quantitative l-lactate analysis.

In this study, a dry assay of l-lactate via the enzymatic chromatographic test (ECT) was developed. An l-lactate dehydrogenase plus a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) regeneration reaction were applied simultaneously. Various tetrazolium salts were screened to reveal visible color intensities capable of determining the lactate concentrations in the sample. The optimal analysis conditions were as follows. The diaphorase (0.5 µl, 2(-6)U/µl) was immobilized in the test line of the ECT strip. Nitrotetrazolium blue chloride (5 µl, 12 mM), l-lactate dehydrogenase (1 µl, 0.25U/µl), and NAD(+) (2µl, 1.5×10(-5)M) were added into the mobile phase (100 µl) composed of 0.1% (w/w) Tween 20 in 10mM phosphate buffer (pH 9.0), and the process was left to run for 10 min. This detection had a linear range of 0.039 to 5mM with a detection limit of 0.047 mM. This quantitative analysis process for l-lactate was easy to operate with good stability and was proper for the point-of-care testing applications.

NADP+ reduction with reduced ferredoxin and NADP+ reduction with NADH are coupled via an electron-bifurcating enzyme complex in Clostridium kluyveri.

It was recently found that the cytoplasmic butyryl-coenzyme A (butyryl-CoA) dehydrogenase-EtfAB complex from Clostridium kluyveri couples the exergonic reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA with NADH and the endergonic reduction of ferredoxin with NADH via flavin-based electron bifurcation. We report here on a second cytoplasmic enzyme complex in C. kluyveri capable of energetic coupling via this novel mechanism. It was found that the purified iron-sulfur flavoprotein complex NfnAB couples the exergonic reduction of NADP+ with reduced ferredoxin (Fdred) and the endergonic reduction of NADP+ with NADH in a reversible reaction: Fdred2-+NADH+2 NADP++H+=Fdox+NAD++2 NADPH. The role of this energy-converting enzyme complex in the ethanol-acetate fermentation of C. kluyveri is discussed.

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) from unrelated carbon sources by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli.

A metabolically engineered Escherichia coli has been constructed for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] from unrelated carbon sources. Genes involved in succinate degradation in Clostridium kluyveri and P(3HB) accumulation pathway of Ralstonia eutropha were co-expressed for the synthesis of the above copolyester. E. coli native succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase genes sad and gabD were both deleted for eliminating succinate formation from succinate semialdehyde, which functioned to enhance the carbon flux to 4HB biosynthesis. The metabolically engineered E. coli produced 9.4 gl(-1) cell dry weight containing 65.5% P(3HB-co-11.1 mol% 4HB) using glucose as carbon source in a 48 h shake flask growth. The presence of 1.5-2 gl(-1) alpha-ketoglutarate or 1.0 gl(-1) citrate enhanced the 4HB monomer content from 11.1% to more than 20%. In a 6l fermentor study, a 23.5 gl(-1) cell dry weight containing 62.7% P(3HB-co-12.5 mol% 4HB) was obtained after 29 h of cultivation. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the highest 4HB monomer content in P(3HB-co-4HB) produced from unrelated carbon sources.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase and diaphorase catalyzed conversion of some NO donors to NO and reduction of NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO).

One of the key functions of nitric oxide (NO) in human is to dilate blood vessels. We tested glycerol trinitrate (GTN) and other well-known NO donors together with those bearing a >C=N-OH group for possible conversion to NO (or nitrites, respectively) by diaphorase (DP) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (LAD). Both, DP and LAD were unable to convert formamidoxime (FAM), acetone oxime (AC), acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) and Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine (L-NOHA). On the other hand, we observed good conversion of GTN without the requirement of superoxide anion. However, superoxide anion participated to a varying extent in the conversion of other donors (formaldoxime (FAL), acetaldoxime (AO), nitroprusside (NP), S-nitrosoglutathione (SNOG), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and hydroxylamine (HA)). All DP- and LAD-mediated reactions were inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), (an inhibitor of flavine enzymes), in a concentration-dependent manner. For these inhibition reactions we determined Ki and IC50 values. In addition, we found that conversion of SNOG was significantly accelerated by glutathione reductase (GTR). Like with DP, 2-phenyl- 4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) was reduced also by LAD and thioredoxin reductase (TRR). In summary, we found that LAD significantly accelerates the conversion of a defined subset of NO donors to NO, especially GTN, and eliminates the NO scavenging effect of PTIO.

Characterization of a dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase having diaphorase activity of Clostridium kluyveri.

The Clostridium kluyveri bfmBC gene encoding a putative dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD; EC 1.8.1.4) was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme rBfmBC was characterized. UV-visible absorption spectrum and thin layer chromatography analysis of rBfmBC indicated that the enzyme contained a noncovalently but tightly attached FAD molecule. rBfmBC catalyzed the oxidation of dihydrolipoamide (DLA) with NAD(+) as a specific electron acceptor, and the apparent K(m) values for DLA and NAD(+) were 0.3 and 0.5 mM respectively. In the reverse reaction, the apparent K(m) values for lipoamide and NADH were 0.42 and 0.038 mM respectively. Like other DLDs, this enzyme showed NADH dehydrogenase (diaphorase) activity with some synthetic dyes, such as 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and nitro blue tetrazolium. rBfmBC was optimally active at 40 degrees C at pH 7.0, and the enzyme maintained some activity after a 30-min incubation at 60 degrees C.

Cloning and expression of a Clostridium kluyveri gene responsible for diaphorase activity.

A small enzyme showing diaphorase activity was purified from culture supernatant of Clostridium kluyveri and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined. This sequence identified a gene (diaA) encoding a protein (DiaA) of 229 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 24,981 in the genomic DNA sequence database of C. kluyveri constructed by the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth. The predicted protein was composed of a flavin reductase-like domain and a rubredoxin-like domain from its N-terminus. The diaA gene was cloned into an expression vector and expressed in an Escherichia coli recombinant. Recombinant enzyme rDiaA showed NADH/NADPH diaphorase activity with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and nitro blue tetrazolium. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.0 at 40 degrees C. The UV-visible absorption spectrum and thin layer chromatography (TLC) analyses indicated that one rDiaA molecule contained a tightly bound FMN molecule as a prosthetic group. An iron molecule was also detected in an enzyme molecule.

The genome of Clostridium kluyveri, a strict anaerobe with unique metabolic features.

Clostridium kluyveri is unique among the clostridia; it grows anaerobically on ethanol and acetate as sole energy sources. Fermentation products are butyrate, caproate, and H2. We report here the genome sequence of C. kluyveri, which revealed new insights into the metabolic capabilities of this well studied organism. A membrane-bound energy-converting NADH:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (RnfCDGEAB) and a cytoplasmic butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase complex (Bcd/EtfAB) coupling the reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA with the reduction of ferredoxin represent a new energy-conserving module in anaerobes. The genes for NAD-dependent ethanol dehydrogenase and NAD(P)-dependent acetaldehyde dehydrogenase are located next to genes for microcompartment proteins, suggesting that the two enzymes, which are isolated together in a macromolecular complex, form a carboxysome-like structure. Unique for a strict anaerobe, C. kluyveri harbors three sets of genes predicted to encode for polyketide/nonribosomal peptide synthetase hybrides and one set for a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. The latter is predicted to catalyze the synthesis of a new siderophore, which is formed under iron-deficient growth conditions.

Coupled ferredoxin and crotonyl coenzyme A (CoA) reduction with NADH catalyzed by the butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase/Etf complex from Clostridium kluyveri.

Cell extracts of butyrate-forming clostridia have been shown to catalyze acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA)- and ferredoxin-dependent formation of H2 from NADH. It has been proposed that these bacteria contain an NADH:ferredoxin oxidoreductase which is allosterically regulated by acetyl-CoA. We report here that ferredoxin reduction with NADH in cell extracts from Clostridium kluyveri is catalyzed by the butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase/Etf complex and that the acetyl-CoA dependence previously observed is due to the fact that the cell extracts catalyze the reduction of acetyl-CoA with NADH via crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA. The cytoplasmic butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase complex was purified and is shown to couple the endergonic reduction of ferredoxin (E0' = -410 mV) with NADH (E0' = -320 mV) to the exergonic reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA (E0' = -10 mV) with NADH. The stoichiometry of the fully coupled reaction is extrapolated to be as follows: 2 NADH + 1 oxidized ferredoxin + 1 crotonyl-CoA = 2 NAD+ + 1 ferredoxin reduced by two electrons + 1 butyryl-CoA. The implications of this finding for the energy metabolism of butyrate-forming anaerobes are discussed in the accompanying paper.

Re-citrate synthase from Clostridium kluyveri is phylogenetically related to homocitrate synthase and isopropylmalate synthase rather than to Si-citrate synthase.

The synthesis of citrate from acetyl-coenzyme A and oxaloacetate is catalyzed in most organisms by a Si-citrate synthase, which is Si-face stereospecific with respect to C-2 of oxaloacetate. However, in Clostridium kluyveri and some other strictly anaerobic bacteria, the reaction is catalyzed by a Re-citrate synthase, whose primary structure has remained elusive. We report here that Re-citrate synthase from C. kluyveri is the product of a gene predicted to encode isopropylmalate synthase. C. kluyveri is also shown to contain a gene for Si-citrate synthase, which explains why cell extracts of the organism always exhibit some Si-citrate synthase activity.

Stereo-specificity for pro-(R) hydrogen of NAD(P)H during enzyme-catalyzed hydride transfer to CL-20.

A dehydrogenase from Clostridium sp. EDB2 and a diaphorase from Clostridium kluyveri were reacted with CL-20 to gain insights into the enzyme-catalyzed hydride transfer to CL-20, and the enzyme's stereo-specificity for either pro-R or pro-S hydrogens of NAD(P)H. Both enzymes biotransformed CL-20 at rates of 18.5 and 24nmol/h/mg protein, using NADH and NADPH as hydride-source, respectively, to produce a N-denitrohydrogenated product with a molecular weight of 393Da. In enzyme kinetics studies using reduced deuterated pyridine nucleotides, we found a kinetic deuterium isotopic effect of 2-fold on CL-20 biotransformation rate using dehydrogenase enzyme against (R)NADD as a hydride-source compared to either (S)NADD or NADH. Whereas, in case of diaphorase, the kinetic deuterium isotopic effect of about 1.5-fold was observed on CL-20 biotransformation rate using (R)NADPD as hydride-source. In a comparative study with LC-MS, using deuterated and non-deuterated NAD(P)H, we found a positive mass-shift of 1Da in the N-denitrohydrogenated product suggesting the involvement of a deuteride (D(-)) transfer from NAD(P)D. The present study thus revealed that both dehydrogenase and diaphorase enzymes from the two Clostridium species catalyzed a hydride transfer to CL-20 and showed stereo-specificity for pro-R hydrogen of NAD(P)H.