Biotransformation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids to Trioxilins by Lipoxygenase from Pleurotus sajor-caju.

A lipoxygenase from Pleurotus sajor-caju (PsLOX) was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified as a soluble protein with a specific activity of 629 µmol/min/mg for arachidonic acid (AA). The native PsLOX exhibited a molecular mass of 146 kDa, including a 73-kDa homodimer, as estimated by gel-filtration chromatography. The major products converted from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including AA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were identified as trioxilins (TrXs), namely 13,14,15-TrXB3 , 13,14,15-TrXB4 , and 15,16,17-TrXB5 , respectively, through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses. The enzyme displayed its maximum activity at pH 8.0 and 20 °C. Under these conditions, the specific activity and catalytic efficiency of PsLOX for PUFAs exhibited the following order: AA>EPA>DHA. Based on HPLC analysis and substrate specificity, PsLOX was identified as an arachidonate 15-LOX. PsLOX efficiently converted 10 mM of AA, EPA, and DHA to 8.7 mM of 13,14,15-TrXB3 (conversion rate: 87 %), 7.9 mM of 13,14,15-TrXB4 (79 %), and 7.2 mM of 15,16,17-TrXB5 (72 %) in 15, 20, and 20 min, respectively, marking the highest conversion rates reported to date. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PsLOX is an efficient TrXs-producing enzyme.

Devosia litorisediminis sp. nov., isolated from a sand dune.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BSSL-BM10T, was isolated from sand of a dune that was collected from the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea. It was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain BSSL-BM10T fell phylogenetically within the radiation comprising type strains of Devosia species. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain BSSL-BM10T shared sequence similarities of 98.2% with the type strain of D. naphthalenivorans and 93.5-97.7% with type strains of other Devosia species. ANI and dDDH values between strain BSSL-BM10T and type strains of 18 Devosia species were 71.0-78.4% and 18.8-21.5%, respectively. The DNA G + C content of strain BSSL-BM10T was 60.9% based on its genomic sequence data. Strain BSSL-BM10T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and 11-methyl C18:1 ω7c, C18:1 ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), and C16:0 as its major fatty acids. Major polar lipids of strain BSSL-BM10T were phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified glycolipids. Strain BSSL-BM10T showed distinguishable phenotypic properties with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness separated from recognized Devosia species. Based on data presented in this study, strain BSSL-BM10T should be placed in the genus Devosia. The name Devosia litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed for strain BSSL-BM10T (= KACC 21633T = NBRC 115152T).

In Vitro One-Pot 3-Hydroxypropanal Production from Cheap C1 and C2 Compounds.

One- or two-carbon (C1 or C2) compounds have been considered attractive substrates because they are inexpensive and abundant. Methanol and ethanol are representative C1 and C2 compounds, which can be used as bio-renewable platform feedstocks for the biotechnological production of value-added natural chemicals. Methanol-derived formaldehyde and ethanol-derived acetaldehyde can be converted to 3-hydroxypropanal (3-HPA) via aldol condensation. 3-HPA is used in food preservation and as a precursor for 3-hydroxypropionic acid and 1,3-propanediol that are starting materials for manufacturing biocompatible plastic and polytrimethylene terephthalate. In this study, 3-HPA was biosynthesized from formaldehyde and acetaldehyde using deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase from Thermotoga maritima (DERATma) and cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli for 3-HPA production. Under optimum conditions, DERATma produced 7 mM 3-HPA from 25 mM substrate (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) for 60 min with 520 mg/L/h productivity. To demonstrate the one-pot 3-HPA production from methanol and ethanol, we used methanol dehydrogenase from Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (MDHLx) and DERATma. One-pot 3-HPA production via aldol condensation of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde from methanol and ethanol, respectively, was investigated under optimized reaction conditions. This is the first report on 3-HPA production from inexpensive alcohol substrates (methanol and ethanol) by cascade reaction using DERATma and MDHLx.

Identification of Phf16 and Pnpla3 as new adipogenic factors regulated by phytochemicals.

Adipocyte differentiation is controlled by multiple signaling pathways. To identify new adipogenic factors, C3H10T1/2 adipocytes were treated with previously known antiadipogenic phytochemicals (resveratrol, butein, sulfuretin, and fisetin) for 24 hours. Commonly regulated genes were then identified by transcriptional profiling analysis. Three genes (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 [ Cxcl1], heme oxygenase 1 [ Hmox1], and PHD (plant homeo domain) finger protein 16 [ Phf16]) were upregulated while two genes (G0/G1 switch gene 2 [ G0s2] and patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 [ Pnpla3]) were downregulated by these four antiadipogenic compounds. Tissue expression profiles showed that the G0s2 and Pnpla3 expressions were highly specific to adipose depots while the other three induced genes were ubiquitously expressed with significantly higher expression in adipose tissues. While Cxcl1 expression was decreased, expressions of the other four genes were significantly increased during adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown including Phf16 and Pnpla3 indicated that these genes might play regulatory roles in lipid accumulation and adipocyte differentiation. Specifically, the silencing of two newly identified adipogenic genes, Phf16 or Pnpla3, suppressed lipid accumulation and expression of adipocyte markers in both 3T3-L1 and C3H10T1/2 cells. Taken together, these data showed previously uncovered roles of Phf16 and Pnpla3 in adipogenesis, highlighting the potential of using phytochemicals for further investigation of adipocyte biology.

Production of 8S- and 10S-hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids by recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing mouse arachidonate 8S-lipoxygenase.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively hydroxylate 8S- and 10S-positions on polyunsaturated fatty acids by recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing mouse arachidonate 8S-lipoxygenase (8S-LOX). RESULTS: Hydroxylated products gained from the conversion of arachidonic acid (20:4Δ5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z, AA), eicosapentanoic acid (20:5Δ5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z, EPA), and (22:6Δ4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z, DHA) by recombinant E. coli cells containing 8S-LOX from mouse were identified as 8S-hydroxy-5,9,11,14(Z,E,Z,Z)-eicosatetranoic acid (8S-HETE), 8S-hydroxy-5,9,11,14,17(Z,E,Z,Z,Z)-eicosapentanoic acid (8S-HEPE), and 10S-hydroxy-4,8,12,14,16,19(Z,E,Z,Z,Z,Z)-docosahexaenoic acid (10S-HDoHE), respectively. Under the optimal hydroxylation conditions of pH 7.5, 30 °C, 5% (v/v) ethanol, 15 g cells l-1, and 5 mM substrate, AA, EPA, and DHA were hydroxylated into 4.37 mM 8S-HETE, 3.77 mM 8S-HEPE, and 3.13 mM 10S-HDoHE for 60, 90, and 60 min, with 87, 75, and 63% molar conversions, respectively. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitatively biotechnological production of 8S-HETE, 8S-HEPE, and 10S-HDoHE.

Cloning and characterization of α-L-rhamnosidase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus and its application in the production of isoquercitrin from rutin.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to characterize recombinant α-L-rhamnosidase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus and apply the enzyme in the production of isoquercitrin from rutin. RESULTS: The α-L-rhamnosidase from C. aurantiacus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and purified as a soluble enzyme. α-L-rhamnosidase purified from C. aurantiacus has a molecular mass of approximately 105 kDa and is predicted to exist as a homodimer with a native enzyme of 200 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited the highest specific activity for rutin among the reported isoquercitrin producing α-L-rhamnosidases and was applied in the production of isoquercitrin from rutin. Under the optimised conditions of pH 6.0, 50 °C, 0.6 U mL-1 α-L-rhamnosidase, and 30 mM rutin, α-L-rhamnosidase from C. aurantiacus produced 30 mM isoquercitrin after 2 h with a 100% conversion yield and productivity of 15 mM h-1. CONCLUSIONS: We achieved a high productivity of isoquercitrin from rutin. Moreover, these results suggest that α-L-rhamnosidase from C. aurantiacus is an effective isoquercitrin producer.

Characterization of L-rhamnose isomerase from Clostridium stercorarium and its application to the production of D-allose from D-allulose (D-psicose).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize L-rhamnose isomerase (L-RI) from the thermophilic bacterium Clostridium stercorarium and apply it to produce D-allose from D-allulose. RESULTS: A recombinant L-RI from C. stercorarium exhibited the highest specific activity and catalytic efficiency (k cat/K m) for L-rhamnose among the reported L-RIs. The L-RI was applied to the high-level production of D-allose from D-allulose. The isomerization activity for D-allulose was maximal at pH 7, 75 °C, and 1 mM Mn2+ over 10 min reaction time. The half-lives of the L-RI at 65, 70, 75, and 80 °C were 22.8, 9.5, 1.9, and 0.2 h, respectively. To ensure full stability during 2.5 h incubation, the optimal temperature was set at 70 °C. Under the optimized conditions of pH 7, 70 °C, 1 mM Mn2+, 27 U L-RI l-1, and 600 g D-allulose l-1, L-RI from C. stercorarium produced 199 g D-allose l-1 without by-products over 2.5 h, with a conversion yield of 33% and a productivity of 79.6 g l-1 h-1. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest concentration and productivity of D-allose reported thus far.

Oxyresveratrol Increases Energy Expenditure through Foxo3a-Mediated Ucp1 Induction in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

The phytochemical oxyresveratrol has been shown to exert diverse biological activities including prevention of obesity. However, the exact reason underlying the anti-obese effects of oxyresveratrol is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanism of oxyresveratrol in adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Oxyresveratrol suppressed lipid accumulation and expression of adipocyte markers during the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 and C3H10T1/2 cells. Administration of oxyresveratrol in HFD-fed obese mice prevented body-weight gains, lowered adipose tissue weights, improved lipid profiles, and increased glucose tolerance. The anti-obese effects were linked to increases in energy expenditure and higher rectal temperatures without affecting food intake, fecal lipid content, and physical activity. The increased energy expenditure by oxyresveratrol was concordant with the induction of thermogenic genes including Ucp1, and the reduction of white adipocyte selective genes in adipose tissue. Furthermore, Foxo3a was identified as an oxyresveratrol-induced gene and it mimicked the effects of oxyresveratrol for induction of thermogenic genes and suppression of white adipocyte selective genes, suggesting the role of Foxo3a in oxyresveratrol-mediated anti-obese effects. Taken together, these data show that oxyresveratrol increases energy expenditure through the induction of thermogenic genes in adipose tissue and further implicates oxyresveratrol as an ingredient and Foxo3a as a molecular target for the development of functional foods in obesity and metabolic diseases.

Comparison of Biochemical Properties of the Original and Newly Identified Oleate Hydratases from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Oleate hydratases (OhyAs) catalyze the conversion of unsaturated fatty acids to 10-hydroxy fatty acids, which are used as precursors of important industrial compounds, including lactones and ω-hydroxycarboxylic and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids. The genes encoding OhyA and a putative fatty acid hydratase in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were identified by genomic analysis. The putative fatty acid hydratase was purified and identified as an oleate hydratase (OhyA2) based on its substrate specificity. The activity of OhyA2 as a holoenzyme was not affected by adding cofactors, whereas the activity of the original oleate hydratase (OhyA1) showed an increase. Thus, all characterized OhyAs were categorized as either OhyA1 or OhyA2 based on the activities of holoenzymes upon adding cofactors, which were determined by the type of the fourth conserved amino acid of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding motif. The hydration activities of S. maltophilia OhyA2 toward unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and γ-linolenic acid, were greater than those of OhyA1. Moreover, the specific activity of S. maltophilia OhyA2 toward unsaturated fatty acids, with the exception of γ-linolenic acid, was the highest among all reported OhyAs.IMPORTANCE All characterized OhyAs were categorized as OhyA1s or OhyA2s based on the different properties of the reported and newly identified holo-OhyAs in S. maltophilia upon the addition of cofactors. OhyA2s showed higher activities toward polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and γ-linolenic acid, than those of OhyA1s. This suggests that OhyA2s can be used more effectively to convert plant oils to 10-hydroxy fatty acids because plant oils contain not only oleic acid but also PUFAs. The hydration activity of the newly identified OhyA2 from S. maltophilia toward oleic acid was the highest among the activity levels reported so far. Therefore, this enzyme is an efficient biocatalyst for the conversion of plant oils to 10-hydroxy fatty acids, which can be further converted to important industrial materials.

Gene cloning of an efficiency oleate hydratase from Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens for polyunsaturated fatty acids and its application in the conversion of plant oils to 10-hydroxy fatty acids.

Hydroxy fatty acids are used as precursors of lactones and dicarboxylic acids, as starting materials of polymers, and as additives in coatings and paintings. Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens efficiently converts cis-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to 10-hydroxy fatty acids. However, gene encoding enzyme involved in this conversion has not been identified to date. We purified a putative fatty acid double-bond hydratase from S. nitritireducens by ultrafiltration and HiPrep DEAE FF and Resource Q ion exchange chromatographies. Peptide sequences of the purified enzyme were obtained by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Sequence of the partial gene encoding this putative fatty acid double-bond hydratase was determined by degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the peptide sequences. The remaining gene sequence was identified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends using cDNA of S. nitritireducens as a template, and the full-length gene was cloned subsequently. The expressed enzyme was identified as an oleate hydratase by determining its kinetic parameters toward unsaturated fatty acids. S. nitritireducens oleate hydratase showed higher activity toward PUFAs compared with other available oleate hydratases. This suggested that the enzyme could be used effectively to convert plant oils to 10-hydroxy fatty acids because these oils contained unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA) and PUFAs such as α-linolenic acid and/or γ-linolenic acid. The enzyme converted soybean oil and perilla seed oil hydrolyzates containing 10 mM total unsaturated fatty acids, including OA, LA, and ALA, to 8.87 and 8.70 mM total 10-hydroxy fatty acids, respectively, in 240 min. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the biotechnological conversion of PUFA-containing oils to hydroxy fatty acids. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 74-82. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Production of 10S-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid by whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing 10S-dioxygenase from Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102 with the aid of a chaperone.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the production of 10S-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid by whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing Nostoc punctiforme 10S-dioxygenase with the aid of a chaperone. RESULTS: The optimal conditions for 10S-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid production by recombinant cells co-expressing chaperone plasmid were pH 9, 35 °C, 15 % (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide, 40 g cells l-1, and 10 g oleic acid l-1. Under these conditions, recombinant cells co-expressing chaperone plasmid produced 7.2 g 10S-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid l-1 within 30 min, with a conversion yield of 72 % (w/w) and a volumetric productivity of 14.4 g l-1 h-1. CONCLUSION: The activity of recombinant cells expressing 10S-dioxygenase was increased by 200 % with the aid of a chaperone, demonstrating the first biotechnological production of 10S-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid using recombinant cells expressing 10S-dioxygenase.

Characterization of a novel 8R,11S-linoleate diol synthase from Penicillium chrysogenum by identification of its enzymatic products.

To identify novel fatty acid diol synthases, putative candidate sequences from Penicillium species were analyzed, and hydroxy fatty acid production by crude Penicillium enzyme extracts was assessed. Penicillium chrysogenum was found to produce an unknown dihydroxy fatty acid, a candidate gene implicated in this production was cloned and expressed, and the expressed enzyme was purified. The product obtained by the reaction of the purified enzyme with linoleic acid was identified as 8R,11S-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid (8R,11S-DiHODE). The catalytic efficiency of this enzyme toward linoleic acid was the highest among the unsaturated fatty acids tested, indicating that this enzyme was a novel 8R,11S-linoleate diol synthase (8R,11S-LDS). A sexual stage in the life cycle of P. chrysogenum has recently been discovered, and 8R,11S-DiHODE produced by 8R,11S-LDS may constitute a precocious sexual inducer factor, responsible for regulating the sexual and asexual cycles of this fungus.

Production of 10R-hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids from hempseed oil hydrolyzate by recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing PpoC from Aspergillus nidulans.

The first and second preferred substrates of recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing 10R-dioxygenase (PpoC) from Aspergillus nidulans and the purified enzyme were linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, respectively. PpoC in cells showed higher thermal and reaction stabilities compared to purified PpoC. Thus, 10R-hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids were produced from linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and hempseed oil hydrolyzate containing linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid as substrates by whole recombinant cells expressing PpoC. The optimal reaction conditions for the production of 10R-hydroxy-8E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (10R-HODE) were pH 8.0, 30 °C, 250 rpm, 5 % (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 g l(-1) linoleic acid, and 60 g l(-1) cells in 100-ml baffled flask. Under these conditions, whole recombinant cells expressing PpoC produced 2.7 g l(-1) 10R-HODE from 5 g l(-1) linoleic acid for 40 min, with a conversion yield of 54 % (w/w) and a productivity of 4.0 g l(-1) h(-1); produced 2.2 g l(-1) 10R-hydroxy-8E,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid (10R-HOTrE) from 3 g l(-1) α-linolenic acid for 30 min, with a conversion yield of 72 % (w/w) and a productivity of 4.3 g l(-1) h(-1); and produced 1.8 g l(-1) 10R-HODE and 0.5 g l(-1) 10R-HOTrE from 5 g l(-1) hempseed oil hydrolyzate containing 2.5 g l(-1) linoleic acid and 1.0 g l(-1) α-linolenic acid for 30 min, with a conversion yield of 74 and 51 % (w/w), respectively, and a productivity of 3.6 and 1.0 g l(-1) h(-1), respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the biotechnological production of 10R-hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids.

Characterization of a recombinant 7,8-linoleate diol synthase from Glomerella cingulate.

A putative diol synthase from the fungus Glomerella cingulate was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The putative diol synthase from G. cingulate was purified by His-Trap affinity chromatography with a specific activity of 0.87 U mg(-1), an eightfold purification, and a yield of 28%. One unit of activity was defined as the amount of enzyme required to produce 1 µmol of 7,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid (7,8-DiHODE) per min. The purified enzyme was estimated as a 127-kDa tetramer with a molecular mass of 510 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme converted linoleic acid to a product, identified as 7S,8S-DiHODE by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The specific activity and catalytic efficiency (k cat/K m) of 7,8-diol synthase from G. cingulate for the conversion of fatty acid to dihydroxy fatty acid followed the order linoleic acid > α-linolenic acid > oleic acid > palmitoleic acid, indicating that the enzyme is a 7,8-linoleate diol synthase (7,8-LDS). The activity of the enzyme for the conversion of 7,8-DiHODE from linoleic acid was maximal at pH 6.5, 40 °C, and 2.5% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Under these conditions, 7,8-LDS from G. cingulate converted 1.0 mM linoleic acid to 0.62 mM 7,8-DiHODE for 30 min, with a conversion yield of 62% (mol/mol), via 8-hydroperoxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid (8-HPODE) as an intermediate. The accumulation of 8-HPODE was due to a higher 8-dioxygenase activity in the N-terminal domain than hydroperoxide isomerase activity in the C-terminal domain.

Production of δ-decalactone from linoleic acid via 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid intermediate by one-pot reaction using linoleate 13-hydratase and whole Yarrowia lipolytica cells.

OBJECTIVE: To produce δ-decalactone from linoleic acid by one-pot reaction using linoleate 13-hydratase with supplementation with whole Yarrowia lipolytica cells. RESULTS: Whole Y. lipolytica cells at 25 g l(-1) produced1.9 g l(-1) δ-decalactone from 7.5 g 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid l(-1) at pH 7.5 and 30 °C for 21 h. Linoleate 13-hydratase from Lactobacillus acidophilus at 3.5 g l(-1) with supplementation with 25 g Y. lipolytica cells l(-1) in one pot at 3 h produced 1.9 g l(-1) δ-decalactone from 10 g linoleic acid l(-1) via 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid intermediate at pH 7.5 and 30°C after 18 h, with a molar conversion yield of 31 % and productivity of 106 mg l(-1) h(-1). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first production of δ-decalactone using unsaturated fatty acid.

An amino acid at position 512 in ß-glucosidase from Clavibacter michiganensis determines the regioselectivity for hydrolyzing gypenoside XVII.

A recombinant ß-glucosidase from Clavibacter michiganensis specifically hydrolyzed the outer and inner glucose linked to the C-3 position in protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides and the C-6 position in protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type ginsenosides except for the hydrolysis of gypenoside LXXV (GypLXXV). The enzyme converted gypenoside XVII (GypXVII) to GypLXXV by hydrolyzing the inner glucose linked to the C-3 position. The substrate-binding residues obtained from the GypXVII-docked homology models of ß-glucosidase from C. michiganensis were replaced with alanine, and the amino acid residue at position 512 was selected because of the changed regioselectivity of W512A. Site-directed mutagenesis for the amino acid residue at position 512 was performed. W512A and W512K hydrolyzed the inner glucose linked to the C-3 position and the outer glucose linked to the C-20 position of GypXVII to produce GypLXXV and F2. W512R hydrolyzed only the outer glucose linked to the C-20 position of GypXVII to produce F2. However, W512E and W512D exhibited no activity for GypXVII. Thus, the amino acid at position 512 is a critical residue to determine the regioselectivity for the hydrolysis of GypXVII. These wild-type and variant enzymes produced diverse ginsenosides, including GypXVII, GypLXXV, F2, and compound K, from ginsenoside Rb1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the alteration of regioselectivity on ginsenoside hydrolysis by protein engineering.

Production of 5,8-dihydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid by whole recombinant cells of Aspergillus nidulans expressing diol synthase.

The optimal conditions for the production of 5,8-dihydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid (5,8-diHOME) from oleic acid by whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing diol synthase from Aspergillus nidulans were 40 °C, pH 7.5, 10 % (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide, 35 g cells l(-1), and 12 g oleic acid l(-1) at 250 rpm in a 250 ml baffled flask. Under these conditions, whole recombinant cells produced 5.2 g 5,8-diHOME l(-1) together with 1 g l(-1) of the intermediate 8-hydroperoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid (8-HPOME) after 60 min. This corresponded to a conversion yield of 43 % (w/w), a volumetric productivity of 5.2 g l(-1 )h(-1), and a specific productivity of 148 mg g cells(-1 )h(-1). This is the first report of the biotechnological production of 5,8-diHOME from oleic acid.

Production of 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid from α-linolenic acid by permeabilized Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens cells.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the production of 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid (HODA) from α-linolenic acid in Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens. RESULTS: Cells of the bacterium were permeabilized with 1.25% (v/v) methanol. The optimal conditions for HODA production by permeabilized cells were pH 7, 35 °C, 5% (v/v) DMSO, 50 g cells l(-1), and 22.5 g α-linolenic acid l(-1). Under these conditions, permeabilized cells produced 16.4 g HODA l(-1) after 2 h, with a conversion yield of 73 % (w/w) and a volumetric productivity of 8.2 g l(-1) h(-1). These values were 153 and 230 % of the values for non-permeabilized cells CONCLUSIONS: This is the highest concentration and volumetric and specific productivities of HODA reported thus far.

Production of 5,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid from linoleic acid by whole recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing diol synthase from Aspergillus nidulans.

Diol synthase from Aspergillus nidulans was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant E. coli cells expressing diol synthase from A. nidulans converted linoleic acid to a product that was identified as 5,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The recombinant cells and the purified enzyme showed the highest activity for linoleic acid among the fatty acids tested. The optimal reaction conditions for the production of 5,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid from linoleic acid using whole recombinant E. coli cells expressing diol synthase were pH 7.5, 35°C, 250 rpm, 5 g l(-1) linoleic acid, 23 g l(-1) cells, and 20% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide in a 250-ml baffled flask. Under these optimized conditions, whole recombinant cells expressing diol synthase produced 4.98 g l(-1) 5,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid for 150 min without detectable byproducts, with a conversion yield of 99% (w/w) and a productivity of 2.5 g l(-1) h(-1). This is the first report on the biotechnological production of dihydroxy fatty acid using whole recombinant cells expressing diol synthase.

Characterization of ß-xylosidase from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum and its application to the production of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rh 1 from notoginsenosides R 1 and R 2.

ß-Xylosidase from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum was purified by His-trap affinity chromatography giving a specific activity of 5.15 U mg(-1). From gel-filtration chromatography, the purified enzyme was a tetramer with a total molecular mass of 245 kDa. Maximal enzyme activity using o-nitrophenyl(NP)-ß-D-xylopyranoside was at pH 6.5 and 60 °C, with a half-life of 50 h. The enzyme had highest activity for oNP-ß-D-xylopyranoside among aryl-glycosides, and was only active for notoginsenosides R1 and R2 amongst various ginsenosides. ß-Xylosidase completely converted 2 g notoginsenosides R1 and R2 l(-1) to 1.69 g ginsenoside Rg1 l(-1) and 1.63 g ginsenoside Rh1 l(-1) in 4 and 18 h, respectively, with molar conversion yields of 100 % and specific productivities of 0.21 and 0.05 g g-enzyme(-1) h(-1), respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the enzymatic production of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rh1 from notoginsenosides R1 and R2.