Purification, characterization, and anticancer and antioxidant activities of L-glutaminase from Aspergillus versicolor Faesay4.

L-Glutaminase is an amidohydrolase which can act as a vital chemotherapeutic agent against various malignancies. In the present work, L-glutaminase productivity from Aspergillus versicolor Faesay4 was significantly increased by 7.72-fold (from 12.33 ± 0.47 to 95.15 ± 0.89 U/mL) by optimizing submerged fermentation parameters in Czapek's Dox (CZD) medium including an incubation period from 3 (12.33 ± 0.47 U/mL) to 6 days (23.36 ± 0.58 U/mL), an incubation temperature from 30 °C (23.36 ± 0.49 U/mL) to 25 °C (31.08 ± 0.60 U/mL), initial pH from pH 5.0 (8.49 ± 0.21 U/mL)  to pH 7.0 (32.18 ± 0.57 U/mL), replacement of glucose (30.19 ± 0.52 U/mL) by sucrose (48.97 ± 0.67 U/mL) as the carbon source at a concentration of 2.0% (w/v), increasing glutamine concentration as the nitrogen source from 1.0% (w/v, 48.54 ± 0.48 U/mL) to 1.5% (w/v, 63.01 ± 0.60 U/mL), and addition of a mixture of KH2PO4 and NaCl (0.5% w/v for both) to SZD as the metal supplementation (95.15 ± 0.89 U/mL). Faesay4 L-glutaminase was purified to yield total activity 13,160 ± 22.76 (U), specific activity 398.79 ± 9.81 (U/mg of protein), and purification fold 2.1 ± 3.18 with final enzyme recovery 57.22 ± 2.17%. The pure enzyme showed a molecular weight of 61.80 kDa, and it was stable and retained 100.0% of its activity at a temperature ranged from 10 to 40 °C and pH 7.0. In our trials, to increase the enzyme activity by optimizing the assay conditions (which were temperature 60 °C, pH 7.0, substrate glutamine, substrate concentration 1.0%, and reaction time 60 min), the enzyme activity increased by 358.8% after changing the assay temperature from 60 to 30 °C and then increased by 138% after decreasing the reaction time from 60 to 40 min. However, both pH 7.0 and glutamine as the substrate remain the best assay parameters for the L-glutaminase activity. When the glutamine in the assay as the reaction substrate was replaced by asparagine, lysine, proline, methionine, cysteine, glycine, valine, phenylalanine, L-alanine, aspartic acid, tyrosine, and serine, the enzyme lost 23.86%, 29.0%, 31.0%, 48.3%, 50.0%, 73.6%, 74.51%, 80.42%, 82.5%, 83.43%, 88.36%, and 89.78% of its activity with glutamine, respectively. Furthermore, Mn2+, K+, Na+, and Fe3+ were enzymatic activators that increased the L-glutaminase activity by 25.0%, 18.05%, 10.97%, and 8.0%, respectively. Faesay4 L-glutaminase was characterized as a serine protease enzyme as a result of complete inhibition by all serine protease inhibitors (PMSF, benzamidine, and TLCK). Purified L-glutaminase isolated from Aspergillus versicolor Faesay4 showed potent DPPH scavenging activities with IC50 = 50 µg/mL and anticancer activities against human liver (HepG-2), colon (HCT-116), breast (MCF-7), lung (A-549), and cervical (Hela) cancer cell lines with IC50 39.61, 12.8, 6.18, 11.48, and 7.25 µg/mL, respectively.

Mass production of active recombinant Chryseobacterium proteolyticum protein glutaminase in Escherichia coli using a sequential dual expression system and one-step purification.

Protein glutaminase (PG) is an enzyme that specifically catalyzes the deamidation of glutamine residues on proteins or peptides, remarkably improving the solubility, emulsification and foaming properties of food proteins and, thereby, conferring great potential in food industry applications. PG is primarily produced from wild strains of Chryseobacterium proteolyticum and the low enzyme production yield restricts large-scale industrial applications. In this context, by evaluating different cleavage site insertions between the pro-region and mature domain of PG as well as different linkers flanking the cleavage site, an E. coli expression and purification protocol has been developed to produce active recombinant PG. To simplify the production workflow, we developed a sequential dual expression system. More than 15 mg of pure and active PG was obtained from 1 L of shaking-flask bacteria culture by one-step nickel affinity chromatography purification. The enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant PG protein were similar to those of native PG. For the deamidation effect of recombinant PG, the deamidation degree (DD) of gliadin reached up to 67% and the solubility increased 84-fold. Thus, this study provides a practical approach to mass producing active PG proteins and investigates its potential applications on food proteins.

Purification, characterization and anticancer efficiency of L-glutaminase from Aspergillus flavus.

The aim of this work was to purify L-glutaminase from Aspergillus flavus. The enzyme was purified 12.47-fold from a cell-free extract with a final specific activity of 613.3 U/mg and the yield was 51.11%. The molecular weight of the enzyme, as estimated by SDS-PAGE, was found to be 69 kDa. The maximal activity of L-glutaminase was recorded at pH 8 and 40°C. The highest activity was reported towards L-glutamine as substrate, with an apparent Km value of 4.5 mmol and Vmax was 20 Uml-1. The enzyme was activated by Na+ and Co2+, while it was greatly suppressed by iodoacetate, NEM, Zn2+ and Hg2+ at 10 mM. L-glutaminase activity increased with a gradual increase of sodium chloride concentration up to 15%. In vivo, the median lethal dose (LD50) was approximately 39.4 mg/kg body weight after intraperitoneal injection in Sprague Dawley rats. Also, L-glutaminase showed no observed changes in liver and kidney functions and hematological parameters on rates. Purified A. flavus L-glutaminase had neither a cognizable effect on human platelet aggregation nor hemolytic activity. In addition, MTT assay showed that the purified L-glutaminase has a high toxic impact on Hela and Hep G2 cell lines with an IC50 value 18 and 12 µg/ml, respectively, and a moderate cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 and MCF7 cells, with an IC50 value 44 and 58 µg/ml, respectively.

Purification and characterization of l-glutaminase enzyme from camel liver: Enzymatic anticancer property.

l-Glutaminase has gained an important attention as glutamine-depleting enzyme in treatment of various cancers. Therefore, this study aimed to purify, characterize and investigate antitumor activity of l-glutaminase from camel liver mitochondria (CL-Glu), since no available information about CL-Glu from camel. CL-Glu was purified using cell fractionation, ultrafiltration, DEAE-and CM-cellulose chromatography columns. The purified CL-Glu was a monomer with a molecular weight of 70 ± 3 kDa, isoelectric point of 7.2, optimum temperature of 70 °C and it was active over a broad pH range with a pH optimum at pH 8.0. Its activity had a clear dependence on phosphate ions. The studied enzyme showed sigmoidal kinetics, indicated its allosteric behavior with Km of 36 ± 4 mM and Hill coefficient of 1.5 which suggested a positive cooperatively of active sites. The purified l-glutaminase exerted antitumor activity against different cell lines with the highest cytotoxic activity against Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG-2) with an IC50 value of 152 µg/ml. In conclusion, l-glutaminase was purified from camel liver using simple methods and its unique properties such as stability at both wide pH range and at high temperature along with its relatively low molecular weight, facilitated its usage in medical applications as antitumor drug.

A novel protein glutaminase from Bacteroides helcogenes-characterization and comparison.

Deamidation is a promising tool to improve solubility and other functional properties of food proteins. One possibility of protein deamidation is the use of a protein glutaminase (PG; EC 3.5.1.44), an enzyme that catalyzes the deamidation of internal glutamine residues in proteins to glutamic acid residues. The PG from Chryseobacterium proteolyticum is the only one described in literature to date and is commercially available (Amano Enzyme Inc., Japan; PGA). Based on a similarity search, we discovered a predicted, uncharacterized protein from Bacteroides helcogenes and this protein was verified as a PG. After recombinant production and purification, the novel PG (BH-PG) was biochemically characterized and compared with PGA. Some advantageous characteristics for potential application of BH-PG compared with PGA were the higher temperature stability (residual activity after 24 h of incubation at 50 °C was 87% for BH-PG and 2% for PGA), an optimum pH value at acidic conditions (pH 5.5) and less product inhibition by ammonia that is released during the deamidation of proteins (residual activity after adding 40 mM ammonia was 77% for BH-PG and 27% for PGA). Finally, the applicability of BH-PG and PGA was compared by gluten deamidation experiments. Consequently, the final solubility of the nearly insoluble food protein gluten was 94% after BH-PG treatment, whereas the solubility was around 66% when using PGA.

Production, optimization, purification, characterization, and anti-cancer application of extracellular L-glutaminase produced from the marine bacterial isolate.

L-glutaminase from bacterial sources has been proven to be effective and economical agents in cancer therapy, food industry and high-value chemicals like threonine. In the present study, a newly isolated bacterial strain was potentially producing extracellular L-glutaminase, it identified as Bacillus subtilis OHEM11 (MK389501) using the 16S rRNA gene. L-glutaminase production optimized and the optimum factors for production under submerged fermentation were at pH 6.5-7.0 and 35 °C after 28 hr using rhamnose and glutamine as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, while bagasse was the best inducer for the production under solid-state fermentation. Ethanol precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography using QFF are the purification steps. L-glutaminase was purified to 2-fold with specific activity 89.78 U/mg and its molecular weight about 54.8 kDa with the alkaline property of the enzyme makes it clear having carcinostatic property; maximum enzyme activity at pH 8.2 and 40 °C and retained about 90% activity for 1 hr. The cytotoxicity effect of L-glutaminase indicated a significant safety on Vero cells with high anticancer activity against NFS-60, HepG-2, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The outcomes demonstrated that L-glutaminase could be applied in many biotechnological applications such as pharmaceutical and food processing.

Caudatan A, an undescribed human kidney-type glutaminase inhibitor with tetracyclic flavan from Ohwia caudata.

Human kidney-type glutaminase (KGA) is an important target that is often over expressed in many cancer cells but very few effective inhibitors of this enzyme have yet reached clinical trials. Caudatan A and caudatan B, two undescribed tetracyclic flavans with an unusual ether bond between the C-4 and C-2' were isolated from the roots of Ohwia caudata (Thunb.) H.Ohashi. Caudatan A exhibited stronger inhibitory activity and caudatan B showed moderate effect from the results of inhibitory activities evaluations on KGA. The molecular docking and primary structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the less steric hindrance at ring A was necessary to the effect. Therefore, combined its better solubility than that of bis-2-(5-phenylacetimido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES), caudatan A might be the potential candidate as the inhibitor of KGA for further studies.

A new l-glutaminase from Streptomyces pratensis NRC 10: Gene identification, enzyme purification, and characterization.

In the current study, the purified l-glutaminase from Streptomyces pratensis NRC10 (GenBank number KC857622) was characterized. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 46kDa and isoelectric point 7.4. Its Vmax was calculated to be 2.19U/mg/min, while Km was 0.175mM. The optimum pH and temperature were 9 and 45°C, respectively. It was thermostable at 45°C but thermally inactivated at 60°C after 50min. Moreover, its enzymatic activity was enhanced by K+ ions and inhibited by Mg2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Cr2, Na+, Ca2+, and EDTA. A PCR fragment of 1550bp of S. pratensis NRC10 l-glutaminase gene (glsA) was purified and its sequence was determined (GenBank number KJ567136). l-glutaminase from NRC10 was induced mainly by l-glutamic acid. Model 3-D structure was composed of two domains, the serine - dependent beta-lactamase dominant the small STAS domain (Sulphate Transporter and anti-sigma factor antagonist) which had probably functioned as a general NTP binding domain. The two domains are linked by a linker peptide (GLHLMRNPALPGST), but sequence alignment between salt-tolerant glutaminase and the obtained glutaminase showed 44.75% of identity and 57% of similarity. This enzyme appears to have a distinctive structure compared to the rest of glutaminase family, and seems to construct a new subgroup of glutaminase.

Purification and characterization of a novel and robust L-asparaginase having low-glutaminase activity from Bacillus licheniformis: in vitro evaluation of anti-cancerous properties.

L-asparaginase having low glutaminase has been a key therapeutic agent in the treatment of acute lymphpoblastic leukemia (A.L.L). In the present study, an extracellular L-asparaginase with low glutaminase activity, produced by Bacillus licheniformis was purified to homogeneity. Protein was found to be a homotetramer of 134.8 KDa with monomeric size of 33.7 KDa and very specific for its natural substrate i.e. L-asparagine. The activity of purified L-asparaginase enhanced in presence of cations including Na+ and K+, whereas it was moderately inhibited in the presence of divalent cations and thiol group blocking reagents. The purified enzyme was maximally active over the range of pH 6.0 to 10.0 and temperature of 40°C and enzyme was stable maximum at pH 9.0 and -20°C. CD spectra of L-asparaginase predicted the enzyme to consist of 63.05% α-helix and 3.29% ß-sheets in its native form with T222 of 58°C. Fluorescent spectroscopy showed the protein to be stable even in the presence of more than 3 M GdHCl. Kinetic parameters Km, Vmax and kcat of purified enzyme were found as 1.4×10(-5) M, 4.03 IU and 2.68×10(3) s(-1), respectively. The purified L-asparaginase had cytotoxic activity against various cancerous cell lines viz. Jurkat clone E6-1, MCF-7 and K-562 with IC50 of 0.22 IU, 0.78 IU and 0.153 IU respectively. However the enzyme had no toxic effect on human erythrocytes and CHO cell lines hence should be considered potential candidate for further pharmaceutical use as an anticancer drug.

Biochemical characterization of a novel L-Asparaginase with low glutaminase activity from Rhizomucor miehei and its application in food safety and leukemia treatment.

A novel fungal gene encoding the Rhizomucor miehei l-asparaginase (RmAsnase) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Its deduced amino acid sequence shared only 57% identity with the amino acid sequences of other reported l-asparaginases. The purified l-asparaginase homodimer had a molecular mass of 133.7 kDa, a high specific activity of 1,985 U/mg, and very low glutaminase activity. RmAsnase was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 45°C and was stable at this temperature for 30 min. The final level of acrylamide in biscuits and bread was decreased by about 81.6% and 94.2%, respectively, upon treatment with 10 U RmAsnase per mg flour. Moreover, this l-asparaginase was found to potentiate a lectin's induction of leukemic K562 cell apoptosis, allowing lowering of the drug dosage and shortening of the incubation time. Overall, our findings suggest that RmAsnase possesses a remarkable potential for the food industry and in chemotherapeutics for leukemia.

Inhibiting glutamine uptake represents an attractive new strategy for treating acute myeloid leukemia.

Cancer cells require nutrients and energy to adapt to increased biosynthetic activity, and protein synthesis inhibition downstream of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has shown promise as a possible therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Glutamine contributes to leucine import into cells, which controls the amino acid/Rag/mTORC1 signaling pathway. We show in our current study that glutamine removal inhibits mTORC1 and induces apoptosis in AML cells. The knockdown of the SLC1A5 high-affinity transporter for glutamine induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor formation in a mouse AML xenotransplantation model. l-asparaginase (l-ase) is an anticancer agent also harboring glutaminase activity. We show that l-ases from both Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi profoundly inhibit mTORC1 and protein synthesis and that this inhibition correlates with their glutaminase activity levels and produces a strong apoptotic response in primary AML cells. We further show that l-ases upregulate glutamine synthase (GS) expression in leukemic cells and that a GS knockdown enhances l-ase-induced apoptosis in some AML cells. Finally, we observe a strong autophagic process upon l-ase treatment. These results suggest that l-ase anticancer activity and glutamine uptake inhibition are promising new therapeutic strategies for AML.

Biochemical characterization and antitumor study of L-glutaminase from Bacillus cereus MTCC 1305.

L-Glutaminase (E.C.3.5.2.1) extracellularly produced by Bacillus cereus MTCC 1305 was purified to apparent homogeneity with a fine band. The molecular weight of native enzyme and its subunit were found to be approximately 140 and 35 kDa, respectively, which indicates its homotetrameric nature. The substrate specificity test of this enzyme showed its specificity for L-glutamine. The purified enzyme showed maximum activity at optimum pH 7.5 and temperature 35 °C. The enzyme retained stability up to 50 and 20 % even after treatment at 50 and 55 °C, respectively, for 30 min. Monovalent cations (Na(+), K(+)) and phosphate ion activated the enzyme activity, while divalent cations (Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), Ca(2+), Co(2+), Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Cu(2+)) inhibited its activity. Reducing agents (cysteine, glutathione, dithiothreitol, L-ascorbic acid, and ß-mercaptoethanol) stimulated its activity, whereas thiol-binding agents (iodoacetamide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid) resulted in the inhibition of this enzyme. Kinetic parameters, K m, V max, K cat, of purified enzyme were found to be 6.25 mM, 100 µmol/min/mg protein and 2.22 × 10(2) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. The gradual inhibition in growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) cell lines was found with IC50 value of 82.27 µg/ml in the presence of different doses of L-glutaminase (10-100 µg/ml).

[Recombinant intracellular Rhodospirillum rubrum L-asparaginase with low L-glutaminase activity and antiproliferative effect].

The recombinant producer of Rhodospirillum rubrum L-asparaginase (RrA) was received and purification procedure of RrA was developed. It was shown that RrA has following biochemical and catalytic characteristics: K(m) for L-asn 0.22 MM, pH optimum 9.2; temperature optimum 54 degrees C; pI = 5.1 +/- 0.3; L-gln activity seems to be low-to-negligible. K562, DU145 and MDA-MB-231 cellular lines displayed significant sensitivity towards the enzyme (IC50 = 1.80; 9.19 and 34.62 ME/ml, respectively. In comparison with L-asparaginases from E. coli II type (EcA) and Erwinia carotovora (EwA) cytotoxicity of RrA seems to be higher than EwA, but lower than EcA. 10-fold i.p. RrA administration (4000 ME/kg per day) in L5178y bearing mice showed T/C = 172%. The received results show that RrA belongs to I type cellular L-asparaginases with low L-gln activity and the high antiproliferative effect.

Purification and characterization of a glutaminase enzyme accounting for the majority of glutaminase activity in Aspergillus sojae under solid-state culture.

Glutaminase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes L-glutamine to L-glutamate, plays an important role in the production of fermented foods by enhancing the umami taste. In this study, we found ten glutaminase genes in the Aspergillus sojae genome by conducting a BLAST search of the characterized glutaminase sequence. We subsequently constructed glutaminase gene disruptants. The glutaminase activity of the gahB disruptant was decreased by approximately 90 % in A. sojae and Aspergillus oryzae, indicating that this enzyme (GahB) accounted for the majority of the glutaminase activity in Aspergillus species. Subsequently, GahB protein was purified from the AsgahB-overexpressing transformant and characterized. The molecular mass was estimated to be approximately 110 and 259 kDa by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography, respectively, indicating that the native form of AsGahB was a dimer. The optimal pH was 9.0, and the optimal temperature was 50 °C. Analysis of substrate specificity revealed that AsGahB had peptidoglutaminase-asparaginase activity, similar to AsGahA, but preferred free L-glutamine to free L-asparagine, C-terminal glutaminyl, and asparaginyl residues in peptides.

A blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic technology to probe the functional proteomics mediating nitrogen homeostasis in Pseudomonas fluorescens.

As glutamate and ammonia play a pivotal role in nitrogen homeostasis, their production is mediated by various enzymes that are widespread in living organisms. Here, we report on an effective electrophoretic method to monitor these enzymes. The in gel activity visualization is based on the interaction of the products, glutamate and ammonia, with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, EC: 1.4.1.2) in the presence of either phenazine methosulfate (PMS) or 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP) and iodonitrotetrazolium (INT). The intensity of the activity bands was dependent on the amount of proteins loaded, the incubation time and the concentration of the respective substrates. The following enzymes were readily identified: glutaminase (EC: 3.5.1.2), alanine transaminase (EC: 2.6.1.2), aspartate transaminase (EC: 2.6.1.1), glycine transaminase (EC: 2.6.1.4), ornithine oxoacid aminotransferase (EC: 2.6.1.13), and carbamoyl phosphate synthase I (EC: 6.3.4.16). The specificity of the activity band was confirmed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) following incubation of the excised band with the corresponding substrates. These bands are amenable to further molecular characterization by a variety of analytical methods. This electrophoretic technology provides a powerful tool to screen these enzymes that contribute to nitrogen homeostasis in Pseudomonas fluorescens and possibly in other microbial systems.

A temperature and salt-tolerant L-glutaminase from gangotri region of uttarakhand himalaya: enzyme purification and characterization.

Purification and characterization of halotolerant, thermostable alkaline L-glutaminase from a Bacillus sp. LKG-01 (MTCC 10401), isolated from Gangotri region of Uttarakhand Himalaya, is being reported in this paper. Enzyme has been purified 49-fold from cell-free extract with 25% recovery (specific activity 584.2 U/mg protein) by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation followed by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Enzyme has a molecular weight of 66 kDa. L-Glutaminase is most active at pH 11.0 and stable in the pH range 8.0-11.0. Temperature optimum is 70 °C and is completely stable after 3 h pre-incubation at 50 °C. Enzyme reflects more enhanced activity with 1-20% (w/v) NaCl, which is further reduced to 80% when NaCl concentration was increased up to 25%. L-Glutaminase is almost active with K⁺, Zn²âº, and Ni²âº ions and K(m) and V(max) values of 240 µM and 277.77 ± 1.1 U/mg proteins, respectively. Higher specific activity, purification fold, better halo-tolerance, and thermostability would make this enzyme more attractive for food fermentation with respect to other soil microbe derived L-glutaminase reported so far.

Salt-tolerant and thermostable glutaminases of cryptococcus species form a new glutaminase family.

Genes encoding salt-tolerant and thermostable glutaminases were isolated from Cryptococcus species. The glutaminase gene, CngahA, from C. nodaensis NISL-3771 was 2,052 bp in length and encoded a 684-amino acid protein. The gene, CagahA, from C. albidus ATCC20293 was 2,100 bp in length and encoded a 700-amino acid protein. These glutaminases showed 44% identity. By searches on public databases, we found that these glutaminases are not similar to any other characterized glutaminases, but are similar to certain hypothetical proteins. On searching the conserved domain with the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST), it was found that they have the amidase domain and are members of the amidase signature superfamily. They were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and their activity was detected on the cell surface. This study revealed that they are a new type of glutaminase with the amidase signature sequence, and that they form a new glutaminase family.

Partial purification and characterization of glutaminase from Lactobacillus reuteri KCTC3594.

In this study, we attempted to purify and characterize glutaminase (EC. 3.5.1.2) from Lactobacillus reuteri KCTC3594. The glutaminase was purified approximately 21-fold from the cell-free extract of L. reuteri KCTC3594 by protamine sulfate treatment and chromatography methods including anion exchange and gel filtration. The sizes of two major bands of the enzyme were presumed to be 70 and 50 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The glutaminase activity of L. reuteri KCTC3594 was assayed in various ranges of pH, temperature, and salt concentrations. The enzyme activity was optimal at 40 degrees C and pH of 7.5. It was shown that the glutaminase was salt-tolerant because the enzyme activity was maintained 50% at 15% (w/v) salt concentrations. On the other hand, the enzyme was strongly inhibited up to 80% by 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (10 mM) and iodoacetate (50 mM) indicating that the purified enzyme represents typical characteristics of glutaminase.

Screening and selection of marine isolate for L-glutaminase production and media optimization using response surface methodology.

The current work details the screening of about 400 marine isolates from various marine niches, from which one isolate was finally selected based on the productivity of glutaminase (71.23 U/l). Further, biochemical identification tests and 16S rRNA sequencing identified this isolate to be Providencia sp. This isolate was taken up for further media optimization studies by using one-factor-at-a-time approach and subsequently by response surface methodology. A face centered central composite design was employed to investigate the interactive effects of four variables, viz., concentrations of glucose, methionine, urea, and succinic acid on glutaminase production. A significant influence of urea on glutaminase production was noted. Response surface methodology showed that a medium containing (g/l) glucose 10.0, urea 5.15, methionine 3.5, succinic acid 6.0, ammonium sulfate 2.5, and yeast extract 6.0 to be optimum for the production of glutaminase. The applied methodology was validated using this optimized media and enzyme activity 119 +/- 0.12 U/l and specific activity of 0.63 U/mg protein after 28 h of incubation at 25 degrees C was obtained.

Characterization of two glutaminases from the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.

The Anabaena genome contains two ORFs that appear to encode glutaminases. The genes were expressed as histidine-tagged fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The purified proteins possessed glutaminase activity using l-glutamine as the substrate, but differed in biochemical properties. All2934 showed an optimal activity at 20 degrees C and pH 6.0, with a higher affinity for l-glutamine than All4774, which had optimal activity at 37 degrees C and pH 7.5. Remarkably, the glutaminase activity of All2934 was phosphate dependent, while All4774 was phosphate independent. The expression of all2934 and all4774 was analyzed using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. The expression level of all2934 was much higher than that of all4774 under normal and nitrogen-depletion conditions, indicating that All2934 may play an important role in metabolizing glutamine in Anabaena.