Optimization of process parameters for naringinase production by Aspergillus tubingensis UA13 and pilot scale-up study.

To improve the naringinase production of Aspergillus tubingensis UA13, shorten the fermentation period, and verify its industrial application value, naringinase production conditions were optimized, and 5 L scale-up study in stirred tank bioreactor was carried out. Parameters, including carbon, nitrogen sources and inducer, optimal seed age, inoculum amount, temperature and pH, were adjusted and optimized in shaking flask. Keeping pH at the optimal value 6 in bioreactor, dissolved oxygen was monitored during the fermentation and the optimal stirring rate was investigated. In 5 L scale-up study, the highest naringinase activity was 72.62 U/mL, which was 1.75 times higher than that (41.52 U/mL) in shaking flask and the fermentation period was shortened by 24 h.

Testicular steroidogenesis is suppressed during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs during the reproductive years in both sexes. Many male patients with MS show lower blood testosterone levels, which was also observed in male rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. To better understand the causes of decreased testosterone production during EAE, we investigated the expression status of genes and proteins associated with steroidogenesis in the testes. No changes in the number of interstitial cells were observed in EAE animals, but the expression of the insulin-like 3 gene was reduced at the peak of the disease, implying that the Leydig cell functional capacity was affected. Consistent with this finding, the expression of most steroidogenic enzyme genes and proteins was reduced during EAE, including StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and HSD3B. No signs of testicular inflammation were observed. Recovery of steroidogenesis was observed after injection of hCG, the placental gonadotropin, or buserelin acetate, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, at the peak of EAE. Together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that impaired testicular steroidogenesis originates upstream of the testes and that low serum LH is the main cause of decreased testosterone levels during EAE.

ComEB protein is dispensable for the transformation but must be translated for the optimal synthesis of comEC.

We show that the ComEB protein is not required for transformation in Bacillus subtilis, despite its expression from within the comE operon under competence control, nor is it required for the correct polar localization of ComGA. We show further that the synthesis of the putative channel protein ComEC is translationally coupled to the upstream comEB open reading frame, so that the translation of comEB and a suboptimal ribosomal-binding site embedded in its sequence are needed for proper comEC expression. Translational coupling appears to be a common mechanism in three major competence operons for the adjustment of protein amounts independent of transcriptional control, probably ensuring the correct stoichiometries for assembly of the transformation machinery. comEB and comFC, respectively, encode cytidine deaminase and a protein resembling type 1 phosphoribosyl transferases and we speculate that nucleotide scavenging proteins are produced under competence control for efficient reutilization of the products of degradation of the non-transforming strand during DNA uptake.

Identification and iterative combinatorial mutagenesis of a new naringinase-producing strain, Aspergillus tubingensis MN589840.

Naringinase was mainly obtained by microbial fermentation, and mutagenesis was a major way for obtaining excellent mutants. The aim of this study was to screen out a high naringinase yielding mutant to enhance the potential application value of its industrialization and compare the effects of different mutagenic methods on the enzyme activity of the strain. A novel producing naringinase strain, Aspergillus tubingensis MN589840, was isolated from mildewed pomelo peel, later subjected to mutagenesis including UV, ARTP and UV-ARTP. After five rounds iterative mutagenesis, the mutants U1, A6 and UA13 were screened out with 1448·49, 1848·71, 2475·16 U mg-1 enzyme activity, the naringinase productivity raised by 79·08, 123·56 and 206%, respectively. In addition, the naringinase activity of three mutants rose after each round of iterative mutagenesis. These results indicated that the mutagenesis efficiency of UV-ARTP was higher than that of single ARTP, and both are better than UV. In summary, the iterative UV-ARTP mutagenesis is an effective strategy for screening high naringinase-producing strains.

The transcription factors aryl hydrocarbon receptor and MYC cooperate in the regulation of cellular metabolism.

The transcription factor AHR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) drives the expression of genes involved in detoxification pathways in cells exposed to pollutants and other small molecules. Moreover, AHR supports transcriptional programs that promote ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis in cells stimulated to proliferate by the oncoprotein MYC. Thus, AHR is necessary for the proliferation of MYC-overexpressing cells. To define metabolic pathways in which AHR cooperates with MYC in supporting cell growth, here we used LC-MS-based metabolomics to examine the metabolome of MYC-expressing cells upon AHR knockdown. We found that AHR knockdown reduced lactate, S-lactoylglutathione, N-acetyl-l-alanine, 2-hydroxyglutarate, and UMP levels. Using our previously obtained RNA sequencing data, we found that AHR mediates the expression of the UMP-generating enzymes dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (quinone) (DHODH) and uridine monophosphate synthetase (UMPS), as well as lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), establishing a mechanism by which AHR regulates lactate and UMP production in MYC-overexpressing cells. AHR knockdown in glioblastoma cells also reduced the expression of LDHA (and lactate), DHODH, and UMPS but did not affect UMP levels, likely because of compensatory mechanisms in these cells. Our results indicate that AHR contributes to the regulation of metabolic pathways necessary for the proliferation of transformed cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal microRNA-124-3p attenuates neurological damage in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury by downregulating Ern1 and promoting M2 macrophage polarization.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (SCIRI) often leads to neurological damage and mortality. In this regard, understanding the pathology of SCIRI and preventing its development are of great clinic value. METHODS: Herein, we analyzed the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC)-derived exosomal microRNA (miR)-124-3p in SCIRI. A SCIRI rat model was established, and the expression of Ern1 and M2 macrophage polarization markers (Arg1, Ym1, and Fizz) was determined using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assay, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis. Targeting relationship between miR-124-3p and Ern1 was predicted using bioinformatic analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Macrophages were co-cultured with miR-124-3p-containing BMMSC-derived exosomes. M2 macrophages were identified using flow cytometry, and the expression of Arg1, Ym1, and Fizz was determined. In addition, SCIRI rats were injected with miR-124-3p-containing exosomes, spinal cord cell apoptosis was observed using TUNEL assay, and the pathological condition was evaluated with H&E staining. RESULTS: In SCIRI, Ern1 was highly expressed and M2 polarization markers were poorly expressed. Silencing Ern1 led to elevated expression of M2 polarization markers. MiR-124-3p targeted and negatively regulated Ern1. Exosomal miR-124-3p enhanced M2 polarization. Highly expressed exosomal miR-124-3p impeded cell apoptosis and attenuated SCIRI-induced tissue impairment and nerve injury. miR-124-3p from BMMSC-derived exosomes ameliorated SCIRI and its associated nerve injury through inhibiting Ern1 and promoting M2 polarization. CONCLUSION: In summary, exosomal miR-124-3p derived from BMMSCs attenuated nerve injury induced by SCIRI by regulating Ern1 and M2 macrophage polarization.

Self-Assembly of Proteinaceous Shells around Positively Charged Gold Nanomaterials Enhances Colloidal Stability in High-Ionic-Strength Buffers.

The enzyme lumazine synthase (LS) has been engineered to self-assemble into hollow-shell structures that encapsulate unnatural cargo proteins through complementary electrostatic interactions. Herein, we show that a negatively supercharged LS variant can also form organic-inorganic hybrids with gold nanomaterials. Simple mixing of LS pentamers with positively charged gold nanocrystals in aqueous buffer spontaneously affords protein-shelled gold cores. The procedure works well with differently sized and shaped gold nanocrystals, and the resulting shelled complexes exhibit dramatically enhanced colloidal stability over a wide range of pH (4.0-10.0) and at high ionic strength (up to 1 m NaCl). They are even stable over days upon dilution in buffer. Self-assembly of engineered LS shells in this way offers an easy and attractive alternative to commonly used ligand-exchange methods for stabilizing inorganic nanomaterials.

A novel screening method for potential naringinase-producing microorganisms.

Naringinase has high industrial importance, and the progress in naringinase research is still quite slow. The unavailability of an effective, simple screening method, which will be applicable to different microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, is one of the main reasons for this gap. Therefore, a simple plate assay was developed for effective screening of microorganisms for naringinase by exposing to iodine vapors. This plate assay will fill the technological void for simple screening method and will lead to screen more potent industrially important naringinase-producing microorganisms.

Saccharification efficiencies of multi-enzyme complexes produced by aerobic fungi.

In the present study, we have characterized high molecular weight multi-enzyme complexes in two commercial enzymes produced by Trichoderma reesei (Spezyme CP) and Penicillium funiculosum (Accellerase XC). We successfully identified 146-1000 kDa complexes using Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to fractionate the protein profile in both preparations. Identified complexes dissociated into lower molecular weight constituents when loaded on SDS PAGE. Unfolding of the secondary structure of multi-enzyme complexes with trimethylamine (pH >10) suggested that they were not a result of unspecific protein aggregation. Cellulase (CMCase) profiles of extracts of BN-PAGE fractionated protein bands confirmed cellulase activity within the multi-enzyme complexes. A microassay was used to identify protein bands that promoted high levels of glucose release from barley straw. Those with high saccharification yield were subjected to LC-MS analysis to identify the principal enzymatic activities responsible. The results suggest that secretion of proteins by aerobic fungi leads to the formation of high molecular weight multi-enzyme complexes that display activity against carboxymethyl cellulose and barley straw.

Functional Studies on Oligotropha carboxidovorans Molybdenum-Copper CO Dehydrogenase Produced in Escherichia coli.

The Mo/Cu-dependent CO dehydrogenase (CODH) from Oligotropha carboxidovorans is an enzyme that is able to catalyze both the oxidation of CO to CO2 and the oxidation of H2 to protons and electrons. Despite the close to atomic resolution structure (1.1 Å), significant uncertainties have remained with regard to the reaction mechanism of substrate oxidation at the unique Mo/Cu center, as well as the nature of intermediates formed during the catalytic cycle. So far, the investigation of the role of amino acids at the active site was hampered by the lack of a suitable expression system that allowed for detailed site-directed mutagenesis studies at the active site. Here, we report on the establishment of a functional heterologous expression system of O. carboxidovorans CODH in Escherichia coli. We characterize the purified enzyme in detail by a combination of kinetic and spectroscopic studies and show that it was purified in a form with characteristics comparable to those of the native enzyme purified from O. carboxidovorans. With this expression system in hand, we were for the first time able to generate active-site variants of this enzyme. Our work presents the basis for more detailed studies of the reaction mechanism for CO and H2 oxidation of Mo/Cu-dependent CODHs in the future.

IRE1α inhibition decreased TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation through miR-17-5p after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for the control of correct protein folding and protein function which is crucial for cell survival. However, under pathological conditions, such as hypoxia-ischemia (HI), there is an accumulation of unfolded proteins thereby triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) and causing ER stress which is associated with activation of several stress sensor signaling pathways, one of them being the inositol requiring enzyme-1 alpha (IRE1α) signaling pathway. The UPR is regarded as a potential contributor to neuronal cell death and inflammation after HI. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether microRNA-17 (miR-17), a potential IRE1α ribonuclease (RNase) substrate, arbitrates downregulation of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and consequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the immature brain after HI injury and whether inhibition of IRE1α may attenuate inflammation via miR-17/TXNIP regulation. METHODS: Postnatal day 10 rat pups (n = 287) were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by 2.5 h of hypoxia (8% O2). STF-083010, an IRE1α RNase inhibitor, was intranasally delivered at 1 h post-HI or followed by an additional one administration per day for 2 days. MiR-17-5p mimic or anti-miR-17-5p inhibitor was injected intracerebroventricularly at 48 h before HI. Infarct volume and body weight were used to evaluate the short-term effects while brain weight, gross and microscopic brain tissue morphologies, and neurobehavioral tests were conducted for the long-term evaluation. Western blots, immunofluorescence staining, reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were used for mechanism studies. RESULTS: Endogenous phosphorylated IRE1α expression was significantly increased after HI. Intranasal administration of STF-083010 alleviated brain injury and improved neurological behavior. MiR-17-5p expression was reduced after HI, and this decrease was attenuated by STF-083010 treatment. MiR-17-5p mimic administration ameliorated TXNIP expression, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, caspase-1 cleavage, and IL-1ß production, as well as brain infarct volume. Conversely, anti-miR-17-5p inhibitor reversed IRE1α inhibition-induced decrease in TXNIP expression and inflammasome activation, as well as exacerbated brain injury after HI. CONCLUSIONS: IRE1a-induced UPR pathway may contribute to inflammatory activation and brain injury following neonatal HI. IRE1a activation, through decay of miR-17-5p, elevated TXNIP expression to activate NLRP3 inflammasome and aggravated brain damage.

Ziram inhibits aromatase activity in human placenta and JEG-3 cell line.

Placenta produces progesterone and estradiol for maintaining pregnancy. Two critical enzymes are responsible for their production: 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD3B1) that catalyzes the formation of progesterone from pregnenolone and aromatase that catalyzes the production of estradiol from testosterone. Fungicide ziram may disrupt the placental steroid production. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ziram on steroid formation in human placental cell line JEG-3 cells and on HSD3B1 and aromatase in the human placenta. Ziram did not inhibit progesterone production in JEG-3 cells and HSD3B1 activity at 100µM. Ziram was a potent aromatase inhibitor with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 333.8nM. When testosterone was used to determine the mode of action, ziram was found to be a competitive inhibitor. Docking study showed that ziram binds to the testosterone binding pocket of the aromatase. In conclusion, ziram is a potent inhibitor of human aromatase.

The aflatoxin-detoxifizyme specific expression in the parotid gland of transgenic pigs.

Producing aflatoxin-detoxifizyme (ADTZ) in pigs to control the AFT contamination of pig feed is a new research strategy by transgenic technology. In this study, transgenic pigs specifically expressing ADTZ gene in the parotid gland were successfully produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer technology. The ADTZ activity in saliva of 6 transgenic pigs was found to be 7.11 ± 2.63 U/mL. The feeding trial with aflatoxin (AFT) results showed that there were significant difference about the serum biochemical index such as total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB) contents and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and AFT residues in serum and liver between the pigs in the test treatment (transgenic pigs) producing ADTZ and those in the positive control (P < 0.05). In order to investigate the inheritance of the transgene, 11 G1 transgenic pigs were successfully obtained. The ADTZ activity in saliva of 11 G1 transgenic pigs was found to be 5.82 ± 1.53 U/mL. The feeding trial with AFT results showed that the serum biochemical index containing TP, ALB and GLB contents and ALT and AST activity and AFB1 residues in serum and liver of the pigs in the test treatment (transgenic pigs) producing ADTZ were significantly different than those in the positive control (P < 0.05). The above results demonstrated that ADTZ produced in transgenic pigs could improve the effect of the AFT contamination of feed on pigs.

Lactic acid bacteria involved in cocoa beans fermentation from Ivory Coast: Species diversity and citrate lyase production.

Microbial fermentation is an indispensable process for high quality chocolate from cocoa bean raw material. lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are among the major microorganisms responsible for cocoa fermentation but their exact role remains to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the diversity of LAB in six cocoa producing regions of Ivory Coast. Ribosomal 16S gene sequence analysis showed that Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides are the dominant LAB species in these six regions. In addition, other species were identified as the minor microbial population, namely Lactobacillus curieae, Enterococcus faecium, Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus, Lactobacillus casei, Weissella paramesenteroides and Weissella cibaria. However, in each region, the LAB microbial population was composed of a restricted number of species (maximum 5 species), which varied between the different regions. LAB implication in the breakdown of citric acid was investigated as a fundamental property for a successful cocoa fermentation process. High citrate lyase producer strains were characterized by rapid citric acid consumption, as revealed by a 4-fold decrease in citric acid concentration in the growth medium within 12h, concomitant with an increase in acetic acid and lactic acid concentration. The production of citrate lyase was strongly dependent on environmental conditions, with optimum production at acidic pH (pH<5), and moderate temperature (30-40°C), which corresponds to conditions prevailing in the early stage of natural cocoa fermentation. This study reveals that one of the major roles of LAB in the cocoa fermentation process involves the breakdown of citric acid during the early stage of cocoa fermentation through the activity of citrate lyase.

The C-terminal peptide of Aquifex aeolicus riboflavin synthase directs encapsulation of native and foreign guests by a cage-forming lumazine synthase.

Encapsulation of specific enzymes in self-assembling protein cages is a hallmark of bacterial compartments that function as counterparts to eukaryotic organelles. The cage-forming enzyme lumazine synthase (LS) from Bacillus subtilis (BsLS), for example, encapsulates riboflavin synthase (BsRS), enabling channeling of lumazine from the site of its generation to the site of its conversion to vitamin B2 Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly of these supramolecular complexes could help inform new approaches for metabolic engineering, nanotechnology, and drug delivery. To that end, we investigated a thermostable LS from Aquifex aeolicus (AaLS) and found that it also forms cage complexes with the cognate riboflavin synthase (AaRS) when both proteins are co-produced in the cytosol of Escherichia coli A 12-amino acid-long peptide at the C terminus of AaRS serves as a specific localization sequence responsible for targeting the guest to the protein compartment. Sequence comparisons suggested that analogous peptide segments likely direct RS complexation by LS cages in other bacterial species. Covalent fusion of this peptide tag to heterologous guest molecules led to their internalization into AaLS assemblies both in vivo and in vitro, providing a firm foundation for creating tailored biomimetic nanocompartments for medical and biotechnological applications.

In Vitro Metabolic Engineering of Amorpha-4,11-diene Biosynthesis at Enhanced Rate and Specific Yield of Production.

In vitro metabolic engineering is an alternative approach to cell-based biosynthesis. It offers unprecedented flexibility for the study of biochemical pathways, thus providing useful information for the rational design and assembly of reaction modules. Herein, we took the advantage of in vitro metabolic engineering to initially gain insight into the regulatory network of a reconstituted amorpha-4,11-diene (AD) synthetic pathway. Guided by lin-log approximation, we rapidly identified the hitherto unrecognized inhibition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on both farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) and amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS). Furthermore, the byproduct, pyrophosphate (PPi), potently inhibits ADS, but not FPPS. To lower the inhibition, an ATP recycling system and pyrophosphatase were used and resulted in a significant (∼3-fold) enhancement in the rate of AD production (∼5.7 µmol L-1 min-1). A coimmobilized multienzyme reaction system was then developed to recycle the enzymes. When inhibitory metabolites concentrations were reduced, the specific enzymatic yield of AD was further enhanced (>6-fold). This study demonstrated that mitigating the accumulation of inhibitory metabolites can result in higher yields of AD production by in vitro multienzymatic reactions.

Characterization of structural and immunological properties of a fusion protein between flagellin from Salmonella and lumazine synthase from Brucella.

Aiming to combine the flexibility of Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS) to adapt different protein domains in a decameric structure and the capacity of BLS and flagellin to enhance the immunogenicity of peptides that are linked to their structure, we generated a chimeric protein (BLS-FliC131) by fusing flagellin from Salmonella in the N-termini of BLS. The obtained protein was recognized by anti-flagellin and anti-BLS antibodies, keeping the oligomerization capacity of BLS, without affecting the folding of the monomeric protein components determined by circular dichroism. Furthermore, the thermal stability of each fusion partner is conserved, indicating that the interactions that participate in its folding are not affected by the genetic fusion. Besides, either in vitro or in vivo using TLR5-deficient animals we could determine that BLS-FliC131 retains the capacity of triggering TLR5. The humoral response against BLS elicited by BLS-FliC131 was stronger than the one elicited by equimolar amounts of BLS + FliC. Since BLS scaffold allows the generation of hetero-decameric structures, we expect that flagellin oligomerization on this protein scaffold will generate a new vaccine platform with enhanced capacity to activate immune responses.

Scale-up of naringinase production process based on the constant oxygen transfer rate for a novel strain of Bacillus methylotrophicus.

Naringinase bioprocess based on Bacillus methylotrophicus was successfully scaled up based on constant oxygen transfer rate (OTR) as the scale-up criterion from 5-L bioreactor to 20-L bioreactor. OTR was measured in 5 and 20-L bioreactor under various operating conditions using dynamic method. The operating conditions, where complete dispersion was observed were identified. The highest OTR of 0.035 and 0.04 mMol/L/s was observed in 5 and 20-L bioreactor, respectively. Critical dissolved oxygen concentration of novel isolated strain B. methylotrophicus was found to be 20% of oxygen saturation in optimized medium. The B. methylotrophicus cells grown on sucrose had maximum oxygen uptake rate of 0.14 mMol/L/s in optimized growth medium. The cells produced the maximum naringinase activity of 751 and 778 U/L at 34 hr in 5 and 20-L bioreactors, respectively. The maximum specific growth rate of about 0.178/hr was observed at both the scales of operations. The maximum naringinase yield of 160 and 164 U/g biomass was observed in 5 and 20-L bioreactors, respectively. The growth and production profiles at both scales were similar indicating successful scale-up strategy for B. methylotrophicus culture.

Synthesis of (3R)-acetoin and 2,3-butanediol isomers by metabolically engineered Lactococcus lactis.

The potential that lies in harnessing the chemical synthesis capabilities inherent in living organisms is immense. Here we demonstrate how the biosynthetic machinery of Lactococcus lactis, can be diverted to make (3R)-acetoin and the derived 2,3-butanediol isomers meso-(2,3)-butanediol (m-BDO) and (2R,3R)-butanediol (R-BDO). Efficient production of (3R)-acetoin was accomplished using a strain where the competing lactate, acetate and ethanol forming pathways had been blocked. By introducing different alcohol dehydrogenases into this strain, either EcBDH from Enterobacter cloacae or SadB from Achromobacter xylosooxidans, it was possible to achieve high-yield production of m-BDO or R-BDO respectively. To achieve biosustainable production of these chemicals from dairy waste, we transformed the above strains with the lactose plasmid pLP712. This enabled efficient production of (3R)-acetoin, m-BDO and R-BDO from processed whey waste, with titers of 27, 51, and 32 g/L respectively. The corresponding yields obtained were 0.42, 0.47 and 0.40 g/g lactose, which is 82%, 89%, and 76% of maximum theoretical yield respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that L. lactis is an excellent choice as a cell factory for transforming lactose containing dairy waste into value added chemicals.