Chemical and Enzymatic Synthesis of Sialylated Glycoforms of Human Erythropoietin.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) is the main therapeutic glycoprotein for the treatment of anemia in cancer and kidney patients. The in-vivo activity of EPO is carbohydrate-dependent with the number of sialic acid residues regulating its circulatory half-life. EPO carries three N-glycans and thus obtaining pure glycoforms provides a major challenge. We have developed a robust and reproducible chemoenzymatic approach to glycoforms of EPO with and without sialic acids. EPO was assembled by sequential native chemical ligation of two peptide and three glycopeptide segments. The glycopeptides were obtained by pseudoproline-assisted Lansbury aspartylation. Enzymatic introduction of the sialic acids was readily accomplished at the level of the glycopeptide segments but even more efficiently on the refolded glycoprotein. Biological recognition of the synthetic EPOs was shown by formation of 1:1 complexes with recombinant EPO receptor.

Chemobacterial Synthesis of a Sialyl-Tn Cyclopeptide Vaccine Candidate.

A conjugatable form of the tumour-associated carbohydrate antigen sialyl-Tn (Neu5Ac-α-2,6-GalNAc) was efficiently produced in Escherichia coli. Metabolically engineered E. coli strains overexpressing the 6-sialyltransferase gene of Photobacterium sp. and CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase genes of Neisseria meningitidis were cultivated at high density in the presence of GalNAc-α-propargyl as the exogenous acceptor. The target disaccharides, which were produced on the scale of several hundreds of milligrams, were then conjugated by using copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry to a fully synthetic and immunogenic scaffold with the aim to create a candidate anticancer vaccine. Four sialyl-Tn epitopes were introduced on the upper face of an azido-functionalised multivalent cyclopeptide scaffold, the lower face of which was previously modified by an immunogenic polypeptide, PADRE. The ability of the resulting glycoconjugate to interact with oncofoetal sialyl-Tn monoclonal antibodies was confirmed in ELISA assays.

[Photoreactivation of UV-irradiated Escherichia coli K12 AB1886 uvrA6 with assistance of luminescence of Photobacterium leiognathi Luciferase].

The bioluminescence induced by luciferases of marine bacteria promotes repair of UV damaged DNA of Escherichia coli AB1886 uvrA6. It is shown that bacterial photolyase that implements photoreactivation activity is the major contributor to DNA repair. However, the intensity of bioluminescence increasing induced by UV-irradiation (SOS-induction) in bacterial cells is not enough for efficient photoreactivation.

A Photobacterium sp. α2-6-sialyltransferase (Psp2,6ST) mutant with an increased expression level and improved activities in sialylating Tn antigens.

In order to improve the catalytic efficiency of recombinant Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224 α2-6-sialyltransferase Psp2,6ST(15-501)-His6 in sialylating α-GalNAc-containing acceptors for the synthesis of tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens sialyl Tn (STn), protein crystal structure-based mutagenesis studies were carried out. Among several mutants obtained by altering the residues close to the acceptor substrate binding pocket, mutant A366G was shown to improve the sialyltransferase activity of Psp2,6ST(15-501)-His6 toward α-GalNAc-containing acceptors by 21-115% without significantly affecting its sialylation activity to ß-galactosides. Furthermore, the expression level was improved from 18-40 mg L(-1) for the wild-type enzyme to 72-110 mg L(-1) for the A366G mutant. In situ generation of CMP-sialic acid in a one-pot two-enzyme system was shown effective in overcoming the high donor hydrolysis of the enzyme. Mutant A366G performed better than the wild-type Psp2,6ST(15-501)-His6 for synthesizing Neu5Acα2-6GalNAcαOSer/Thr STn antigens.

Characterisation and molecular dynamic simulations of J15 asparaginase from Photobacterium sp. strain J15.

Genome mining revealed a 1011 nucleotide-long fragment encoding a type I L-asparaginase (J15 asparaginase) from the halo-tolerant Photobacterium sp. strain J15. The gene was overexpressed in pET-32b (+) vector in E. coli strain Rosetta-gami B (DE3) pLysS and purified using two-step chromatographic methods: Ni(2+)-Sepharose affinity chromatography and Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography. The final specific activity and yield of the enzyme achieved from these steps were 20 U/mg and 49.2%, respectively. The functional dimeric form of J15-asparaginase was characterised with a molecular weight of ~70 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH were 25°C and pH 7.0, respectively. This protein was stable in the presence of 1 mM Ni(2+) and Mg(2+), but it was inhibited by Mn(2+), Fe(3+) and Zn(2+) at the same concentration. J15 asparaginase actively hydrolysed its native substrate, l-asparagine, but had low activity towards l-glutamine. The melting temperature of J15 asparaginase was ~51°C, which was determined using denatured protein analysis of CD spectra. The Km, Kcat, Kcat/Km of J15 asparaginase were 0.76 mM, 3.2 s(-1), and 4.21 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively. Conformational changes of the J15 asparaginase 3D structure at different temperatures (25°C, 45°C, and 65°C) were analysed using Molecular Dynamic simulations. From the analysis, residues Tyr24 , His22, Gly23, Val25 and Pro26 may be directly involved in the 'open' and 'closed' lid-loop conformation, facilitating the conversion of substrates during enzymatic reactions. The properties of J15 asparaginase, which can work at physiological pH and has low glutaminase activity, suggest that this could be a good candidate for reducing toxic effects during cancer treatment.

Fluorescent mimetics of CMP-Neu5Ac are highly potent, cell-permeable polarization probes of eukaryotic and bacterial sialyltransferases and inhibit cellular sialylation.

Oligosaccharides of the glycolipids and glycoproteins at the outer membranes of human cells carry terminal neuraminic acids, which are responsible for recognition events and adhesion of cells, bacteria, and virus particles. The synthesis of neuraminic acid containing glycosides is accomplished by intracellular sialyl transferases. Therefore, the chemical manipulation of cellular sialylation could be very important to interfere with cancer development, inflammations, and infections. The development and applications of the first nanomolar fluorescent inhibitors of sialyl transferases are described herein. The obtained carbohydrate-nucleotide mimetics were found to bind all four commercially available and tested eukaryotic and bacterial sialyl transferases in a fluorescence polarization assay. Moreover, it was observed that the anionic mimetics intruded rapidly and efficiently into cells in vesicles and translocated to cellular organelles surrounding the nucleus of CHO cells. The new compounds inhibit cellular sialylation in two cell lines and open new perspectives for investigations of cellular sialylation.

Purification of a toxic metalloprotease produced by the pathogenic Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida isolated from cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

The aim of the present study was to purify and characterize a toxic protease secreted by the pathogenic Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida strain CP1 originally isolated from diseased cobia (Rachycentron canadum). The toxin isolated by anion exchange chromatography, was a metalloprotease, inhibited by L-cysteine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 1,10-phenanthroline, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine-chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), and N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), and showed maximal activity at pH 6.0-8.0 and an apparent molecular mass of about 34.3 kDa. The toxin was also completely inhibited by HgCl2, and partially by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and CuCl2. The extracellular products and the partially purified protease were lethal to cobia with LD50 values of 1.26 and 6.8 microg protein/g body weight, respectively. The addition of EDTA completely inhibited the lethal toxicity of the purified protease, indicating that this metalloprotease was a lethal toxin produced by the bacterium.

Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialyl Tn-antigens and derivatives.

An N-terminal and C-terminal truncated recombinant α2-6-sialyltransferase cloned from Photobacterium sp. JH-ISH-224, Psp2,6ST(15-501)-His(6), was shown to be an efficient catalyst for one-pot three-enzyme synthesis of sialyl Tn (STn) antigens and derivatives containing natural and non-natural sialic acid forms.

Marine bacterial sialyltransferases.

Sialyltransferases transfer N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) from the common donor substrate of these enzymes, cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac), to acceptor substrates. The enzymatic reaction products including sialyl-glycoproteins, sialyl-glycolipids and sialyl-oligosaccharides are important molecules in various biological and physiological processes, such as cell-cell recognition, cancer metastasis, and virus infection. Thus, sialyltransferases are thought to be important enzymes in the field of glycobiology. To date, many sialyltransferases and the genes encoding them have been obtained from various sources including mammalian, bacterial and viral sources. During the course of our research, we have detected over 20 bacteria that produce sialyltransferases. Many of the bacteria we isolated from marine environments are classified in the genus Photobacterium or the closely related genus Vibrio. The paper reviews the sialyltransferases obtained mainly from marine bacteria.

Photobacterium ganghwense sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from sea water.

A marine bacterial strain, designated FR1311T, was isolated from a sea-water sample from Ganghwa Island, South Korea. Cells were Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, motile, oval or rod-shaped and halophilic (optimum sea-salt concentration for growth of 5-6 %). Phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that it represented a distinct line of descent within the genus Photobacterium. The major fatty acids were straight-chain saturated (C(16 : 0)) and monounsaturated fatty acids (C(16 : 1)omega7c and C(18 : 1)omega7c). The predominant respiratory lipoquinone was Q-8. The DNA G+C content was 44 mol%. The phenotypic features of strain FR1199T were similar to those of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae and Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida, but several physiological and chemotaxonomic properties readily distinguish the new isolate from them. On the basis of the polyphasic results revealed in this study, FR1311T is considered to be the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Photobacterium ganghwense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FR1311T (=IMSNU 60287T = KCTC 12328T = JCM 12487T).

[Effect of glucose on luciferase expression in Photobacterium leiognathi].

Photobacterium leiognathi cultured in marine broth emits a luminescence that is temporarily enhanced and then extinguished by glucose. Glucose reduces the luciferase level and the expression of lux ABG mRNA in P. leiognathi. The amount of ATP in P. leiognathi is temporarily increased and then declines to the normal level. These results indicate that the extinguishing by glucose in P. leiognathi is induced by the interruption of the translation of luciferase.

Structure and regulation of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid synthase genes from the deep-sea bacterium Photobacterium profundum strain SS9.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) have been shown to be of major importance in the promotion of cardiovascular health, proper human development and the prevention of some cancers. A high proportion of bacterial isolates from low-temperature and high-pressure marine environments produce EPA or DHA. This paper presents the sequence of a 33 kbp locus from the deep-sea bacterium Photobacterium profundum strain SS9 which includes four of the five genes required for EPA biosynthesis. As with other bacterial pfa (polyunsaturated fatty acid) genes, the deduced amino acid sequences encoded by the SS9 genes reveal large multidomain proteins that are likely to catalyse EPA biosynthesis by a novel polyketide synthesis mechanism. RNase protection experiments separated the SS9 pfa genes into two transcriptional units, pfaA-C and pfaD. The pfaA transcriptional start site was identified. Cultivation at elevated hydrostatic pressure or reduced temperature did not increase pfa gene expression despite the resulting increase in percentage composition of EPA under these conditions. However, a regulatory mutant was characterized which showed both increased expression of pfaA-D and elevated EPA percentage composition. This result suggests that a regulatory factor exists which coordinates pfaA-D transcription. Additional consideration regarding the activities required for PUFA synthesis is provided together with comparative analyses of bacterial pfa genes and gene products.

Methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase is rate limiting for the enzymatic conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate in bifunctional dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase enzymes.

The kinetic properties of three methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase (D/C) enzymes (the NADP-dependent bifunctional domain of the human cytoplasmic trifunctional enzyme, the human mitochondrial NAD-dependent bifunctional enzyme, and the NAD(P)-dependent bifunctional enzyme from Photobacterium phosphoreum) were determined in both forward and reverse directions. In the forward direction, the enzymes possess widely different ratios of kcat C/Kcat D, but all channel methenylH4folate produced by the D activity to the C activity with approximately the same efficiency. A deuterium isotope effect is observed with the human NADP-dependent enzyme in both forward and reverse dehydrogenase assays, consistent with hydride transfer being rate limiting for the interconversion of methenyl- and methyleneH4folate. However, no kinetic isotope effect is observed for the overall reverse reaction (formylH4folate to methyleneH4folate). We devised an assay to measure the reverse cyclohydrolase activity independent of the dehydrogenase, and determined that the Kcat (overall reverse) for each enzyme is approximately equal to the Kcat for its reverse cyclohydrolase activity. Therefore, the rate-limiting step in the overall reverse reaction is not hydride transfer by the dehydrogenase, but the production of methenylH4folate catalyzed by the cyclohydrolase. The reverse cyclohydrolase activities of the NADP-dependent D/C and the P. phosphoreum enzymes, but not the mitochondrial NAD-dependent enzyme, can be stimulated 2-fold by the addition of 2',5'-ADP. The results suggest that the cyclohydrolases of the human NADP dependent and P. phosphoreum enzymes are optimized to catalyze the reverse reaction in the presence of bound coenzyme. These results imply that essentially all of the methenylH4folate produced by the cyclohydrolase in the reverse reaction is channeled to the dehydrogenase.

Cysteine-286 as the site of acylation of the Lux-specific fatty acyl-CoA reductase.

The channelling of fatty acids into the fatty aldehyde substrate for the bacterial bioluminescence reaction is catalyzed by a fatty acid reductase multienzyme complex, which channels fatty acids through the thioesterase (LuxD), synthetase (LuxE) and reductase (LuxC) components. Although all three components can be readily acylated in extracts of different luminescent bacteria, this complex has been successfully purified only from Photobacterium phosphoreum and the sites of acylation identified on LuxD and LuxE. To identify the acylation site on LuxC, the nucleotide sequence of P. phosphoreum luxC has been determined and the gene expressed in a mutant Escherichia coli strain. Even in crude extracts, the acylated reductase intermediate as well as acyl-CoA reductase activity could be readily detected, providing the basis for analysis of mutant reductases. Comparison of the amino-acid sequences of LuxC from P. phosphoreum, P. leiognathi and other luminescent bacteria, showed that only three cysteine residues (C171, C279, and C286) were conserved. As a cysteine residue on LuxC has been implicated in fatty acyl transfer, each of the conserved cysteine residues of the P. phosphoreum and P. leiognathi reductases was converted to a serine residue, and the properties of the mutant proteins examined. Only mutation of C286-blocked reductase activity and prevented formation of the acylated reductase intermediate, showing that C286 is the site of acylation on LuxC.

Evaluation of the genotoxicity potential (by Mutatox test) of ten pesticides found as water pollutants in Cyprus.

Ten pesticides: aldicarb, aldicard sulfone, aldicarb oxide, carbofuran, propoxur, methomyl, diuron, linuron, alachlor and parathion-methyl, found as water pollutants in Cyprus, were evaluated for their genotoxicity potential with the Mutatox test, both directly and after exogenous activation with S9 hepatic enzymes. A dark variant (M 169) of the Photobacterium phosphoreum was used as the test organism. Trials were undertaken in triplicate using ground-water spiked with pesticides solutions at testing concentration theoretically corresponding to acute effects of 0.004%, up to a maximum of 2%. All tested pesticides were found to be 'suspect genotoxic' directly and after S-9 activation, except for Alachlor which after S-9 activation was found to be 'genotoxic' at 30 micrograms/l. Among the ten pesticides Linuron was found to be 'suspect genotoxic' after S-9 activation at the lowest concentration, i.e. 2 micrograms/l. Genotoxicity after activation with S-9 was demonstrated at a concentration 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than the respective concentration for direct genotoxic effects. Moreover, genotoxicity after S-9 was developed at levels where the acute toxic effects (Microtox) were 'non measurable' to 'negligible'. The investigation of possible genotoxic effects provides essential information on the impacts of pesticides on the Ecosystem and can contribute to the selection of pesticides with the least possible effects.

Interspecific luciferase beta subunit hybrids between Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio fischeri and Photobacterium leiognathi.

Bacterial luciferase (EC 1.14.14.3) is a heterodimer composed of alpha- and beta-chains encoded by luxA and luxB, respectively. Although some interspecific combinations of these subunits lead to active enzyme, others do not. The beta subunits of Vibrio fischeri and Photobacterium leiognathi form active enzyme with the alpha subunits of V.fischeri, P.leiognathi and Vibrio harveyi, while the beta subunit from V.harveyi only complements the alpha subunit of V.harveyi. Inactivity is caused by a lack of dimerization of the beta subunit of V.harveyi with the alpha subunits of V.fischeri and P.leiognathi. These observations served as the basis for a search to discover which segment of the beta polypeptide confers the ability to dimerize with the alpha subunits of V.fischeri and P.leiognathi. Intragenic beta subunit hybrids were made between V.harveyi, V.fischeri and P.leiognathi. Unique restriction sites were introduced into the respective luxB genes to divide them into four roughly equal segments. In all, 78 hybrids were constructed by in vitro techniques. The N-terminal segment of the peptide contains the signals that differentiate between the beta subunits of V.fischeri and P. leiognathi and the beta subunit of V. harveyi, and allow the former to dimerize with their alpha subunits. The second segment has no major effect on enzyme activity but does exhibit some context effects. Important interactions were found between the third and fourth segments of the polypeptide with respect to enzymatic activity.

Crystal structure of a flavoprotein related to the subunits of bacterial luciferase.

The molecular structure of the luxF protein from the bioluminescent bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi has been determined by X-ray diffraction techniques and refined to a conventional R-factor of 17.8% at 2.3 A resolution. The 228 amino acid polypeptide exists as a symmetrical homodimer and 33% of the monomer's solvent-accessible surface area is buried upon dimerization. The monomer displays a novel fold that contains a central seven-stranded beta-barrel. The solvent-exposed surface of the monomer is covered by seven alpha-helices, whereas the dimer interface is primarily a flat surface composed of beta-strands. The protein monomer binds two molecules of flavin mononucleotide, each of which has C6 of the flavin isoalloxazine moiety covalently attached to the C3' carbon atom of myristic acid. Both myristyl groups of these adducts are buried within the hydrophobic core of the protein. One of the cofactors contributes to interactions at the dimer interface. The luxF protein displays considerable amino acid sequence homology with both alpha- and beta-subunits of bacterial luciferase, especially the beta-subunit. Conserved amino acid residues shared between luxF and the luciferase subunits cluster predominantly in two distinct regions of the luxF protein molecule. These homologous regions in the luciferase subunits probably share a three-dimensional fold similar to that of the luxF protein.

Identification of the acyl transfer site of fatty acyl-protein synthetase from bioluminescent bacteria.

Fatty acid activation, transfer, and reduction by the fatty acid reductase multienzyme complex from Photobacterium phosphoreum to generate fatty aldehydes for the luminescence reaction is regulated by the interaction of the synthetase and reductase subunits of this complex. Identification of the specific site involved in covalent transfer of the fatty acyl group between the sites of activation and reduction on the synthetase and reductase subunits, respectively, is a critical step in understanding how subunit interactions modulate the flow of fatty acyl groups through the fatty acid reductase complex. To accomplish this goal, the nucleotide sequence of the luxE gene coding for the acyl-protein synthetase subunit (373 amino acid residues) was determined and the conserved cysteinyl residues implicated in fatty acyl transfer identified. Using site-specific mutagenesis, each of the five conserved cysteine residues was converted to a serine residue, the mutated synthetases expressed in Escherichia coli, and the properties of the mutant proteins examined. On complementation of four of the mutants with the reductase subunit, the synthetase subunit was acylated and the acyl group could be reversibly transferred between the reductase and synthetase subunits, and fatty acid reductase activity was fully regenerated. As well, sensitivity of the acylated synthetases to hydroxylamine cleavage (under denaturation conditions to remove any conformational effects on reactivity) was retained, showing that a cysteine and not a serine residue was still acylated. However, substitution of a cysteine residue only ten amino acid residues from the carboxyl terminal (C364S) prevented acylation of the synthetase and regeneration of fatty acid reductase activity. Moreover, this mutant protein preserved its ability to activate fatty acid to fatty acyl-AMP but could not accept the acyl group from the reductase subunit, demonstrating that the C364S synthetase had retained its conformation and specifically lost the fatty acylation site. These results provide evidence that the flow of fatty acyl groups in the fatty acid reductase complex is modulated by interaction of the reductase subunit with a cysteine residue very close to the carboxyl terminal of the synthetase, which in turn acts as a flexible arm to transfer acyl groups between the sites of activation and reduction.

[A bioluminescent method of determining the degree of intoxication in peritonitis]. / Bioliuminestsentnyi metod opredeleniia stepeni intoksikatsii pri peritonite.

A method for estimating the severity of the clinical condition and of the body intoxication in peritonitis patients is suggested. High sensitivity of the method permits classifying the patients into 4 groups in accordance with the severity of their condition: mild, moderate, severe, and extremely grave. This method is also applicable for the assessment of the efficacy of detoxification measures, such as abdominal cavity sanitization during surgery, lymph drainage. The method is simple and the time of analysis is 1 min.

Covalent reaction of cerulenin at the active site of acyl-CoA reductase of Photobacterium phosphoreum.

Inhibition of bioluminescence in Photobacterium phosphoreum by cerulenin has been demonstrated to be due to a specific inactivation of the acyl-CoA reductase subunit of the fatty acid reductase complex required for synthesis of the aldehyde substrate for the luminescent reaction. In contrast, the activities of the other luminescence-related enzymes, acyl-protein synthetase, acyl-transferase, and luciferase, were unaffected by cerulenin. Myristoyl-CoA, but not NADPH, protected the acyl-CoA reductase against cerulenin inhibition. Cerulenin blocked the acylation of the reductase with myristoyl-CoA and the reaction with N-ethylmaleimide. A shift in mobility of the reductase polypeptide on sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis occurred after reaction with cerulenin, a shift which could be blocked by reaction with N-ethylmaleimide. These results demonstrate that cerulenin blocks aldehyde synthesis by covalent reaction with the acyl-CoA reductase and indicate that the reaction may occur at a cysteine residue involved in the formation of the acyl-reductase intermediate.