Tolerance development in Listeria monocytogenes-Escherichia coli dual-species biofilms after sublethal exposures to pronase-benzalkonium chloride combined treatments.

This study was designed to assess the effects that sublethal exposures to pronase (PRN) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) combined treatments have on Listeria monocytogenes-Escherichia coli dual-species biofilms grown on stainless steel in terms of tolerance development (TD) to these compounds. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the changes of the biofilm structure. PRN-BAC exposure was carried out using three different approaches and TD was evaluated treating biofilms with a final 100 µg/ml PRN followed by 50 µg/ml BAC combined treatment. Results showed that exposure to PRN-BAC significantly decreased the number of adhered L. monocytogenes (P < 0.05), while E. coli counts remained generally unaltered. It was also demonstrated that the incorporation of recovery periods during sublethal exposures increased the tolerance of both species of the mixed biofilm to the final PRN-BAC treatment. Moreover, control biofilms became more resistant to PRN-BAC if longer incubation periods were used. Regardless of the treatment used, log reduction values were generally lower in L. monocytogenes compared to E. coli. Additionally, microscopy images showed an altered morphology produced by sublethal PRN-BAC in exposed L. monocytogenes-E. coli dual-species biofilms compared to control samples. Results also demonstrated that L. monocytogenes-E. coli dual-species biofilms are able to develop tolerance to PRN-BAC combined treatments depending on way they have been previously exposed. Moreover, they suggest that the generation of bacterial tolerance should be included as a parameter for sanitation procedures design.

Application of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Solid-state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Cross-polarization/Magic Angle Spinning to Study Enzymatic Degradation of Silk Fabrics.

The enzymatic degradation of silk by protease XIV has been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance of cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (13C CP/MAS solid state NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Micro-morphology of protease XIV aged samples showed that microfilaments were stripped out from the surface of silk fibers. The results of FTIR and 13C CP/MAS solid-state NMR indicated that the enzymatic degradation process could be divided into two stages. The EPR spectra indicated that the enzymatic degradation process was related to the free radical with the g-factor value of 2.0043. We also proposed that at the first degradation stage, the free radicals were apt to lose activities due to the loose structure of the non-crystalline region; at the second degradation stage, the free radicals produced in the crystalline region tended to be stored.

Microwave-assisted extraction and ion chromatography dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the speciation analysis of arsenic and selenium in cereals.

An ion chromatography dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (IC-DRC-ICP-MS) method for the speciation of arsenic and selenium compounds is described. Chromatographic separation was performed in a gradient elution mode using 0.5 mmol L(-1) ammonium citrate in 1% methanol (pH 4.5) and 15 mmol L(-1) ammonium citrate in 1% methanol (pH 8.0). The potentially interfering (38)Ar(40)Ar(+) and (40)Ar(40)Ar(+) at selenium masses of m/z 78 and 80 were reduced in intensity by approximately 3 orders of magnitude by using 1.0 mL min(-1) CH(4) as a reactive cell gas in the DRC. Arsenic was determined as the adduct ion (75)As(12)CH(2)(+) at m/z 89. The detection limits of the procedure were in the ranges of 0.006-0.009 ng As mL(-1) and 0.009-0.03 ng Se mL(-1), respectively. This method has been applied to determine various arsenic and selenium compounds in cereal samples. The accuracy of the method has been verified by comparing the sum of the concentrations of individual species obtained by the present procedure with the total concentration of elements. The arsenic and selenium compounds were quantitatively extracted with a Protease XIV and α-amylase solution in a microwave field at 70°C during a period of 30 min. The spike recoveries were in the range of 94-105% for all determinations.

A serine alkaline protease from the fungus Conidiobolus coronatus with a distinctly different structure than the serine protease subtilisin Carlsberg.

In view of the functional similarities between subtilisin Carlsberg and the alkaline protease from Conidiobolus coronatus, the biochemical and structural properties of the two enzymes were compared. In spite of their similar biochemical properties, e.g., pH optima, heat stability, molecular mass, pI, esterase activity, and inhibition by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethlysulfonylfluoride, the proteases were structurally dissimilar as revealed by (1) their amino acid compositions, (2) their inhibition by subtilisin inhibitor, (3) their immunological response to specific anti-Conidiobolus protease antibody, and (4) their tryptic peptide maps. Our results demonstrate that although they are functionally analogous, the Conidiobolus protease is structurally distinct from subtilisin Carlsberg. The Conidiobolus protease was also different from other bacterial and animal proteases (e.g. pronase, protease K, trypsin, and chymotrypsin) as evidenced by their lack of response to anti-Conidiobolus protease antibody in double diffusion and in neutralization assays. The Conidiobolus serine protease fails to obey the general rule that proteins with similar functions have similar primary sequences and, thus, are evolutionarily related. Our results strengthen the concept of convergent evolution for serine proteases and provide basis for research in evolutionary relationships among fungal, bacterial, and animal proteases.

A simple method for calibrating collagenase/pronase E ratio to optimize heart cell isolation.

A mixture of crude collagenase and non-specific proteases has been used to isolate guinea pig ventricular heart cells. Measurements of collagenase activity with Wünsch's substrate and protein content with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) suggest that collagenase enzymes do not play a major role in heart cell isolation. On the other hand, an important factor in heart digestion seems to consist of some fractions of the proteases present in crude collagenase. It is also noted that crude collagenases do not present any sensitivity to added calcium but because this ion is important to obtain isolated cells its role is discussed. According to our results, the SDS-PAGE method can be used to determine the appropriate enzyme concentrations to obtain calcium-tolerant myocytes. These myocytes have electrophysiological properties as reported in the literature.

Reflectance method for simple determination of proteinase activity in microliter samples of a complex serum-like fluid.

A technique using an optical instrument, a reflectometer, for quantitative determination of proteinase activity in microliter samples of complex serum-like fluids, e.g., crevicular exudate from single sites, was developed. The technique allowed the use of various proteins as enzyme substrate. The reflectometer measures the mass of a layer, such as protein, adsorbed to a reflecting surface. This is done by measuring the reflected light intensity of the p-polarized light beam on a surface. We used methylized silicon surfaces that were coated with fibrinogen, alpha 2-macroglobulin, or hemoglobin as enzyme substrates. The test solution was incubated overnight in a basin made in an agar gel applied on the top of the protein-coated surface. In 82 exudates from periodontitis sites, with pocket depths greater than or equal to 6 mm, fibrinogenolytic activity corresponding to 1 microgram ml-1 of trypsin and pronase P was found in 20% of the samples.

Purification and characterization of an acidic amino acid specific endopeptidase of Streptomyces griseus obtained from a commercial preparation (Pronase).

A protease was purified 163-fold from Pronase, a commercial product from culture filtrate of Streptomyces griseus, by a series of column chromatographies on CM-Toyopearl (Fractogel), Sephadex G-50, hydroxyapatite, and Z-Gly-D-Phe-AH-Sepharose 4B using Boc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Glu-pNA as a substrate. The final preparation was homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and gel isoelectric focusing. Studies on the substrate specificity with peptide p-nitroanilides revealed that this protease preferentially hydrolyzed peptide bonds on the carbonyl-terminal side of either glutamic acid or aspartic acid. It was most active at pH 8.8 for the hydrolysis of Boc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Glu-pNA. The molecular weight of the protease was estimated to be 20,000 by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B using 6 M guanidine hydrochloride as an eluent, and 22,000 by SDS-PAGE in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 8.4. The enzyme was inactivated by diisopropyl phosphofluoridate (DFP) but not by p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) or EDTA.

Enzymatic lysis of the pseudomurein-containing methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum.

A streptomycete isolated from cow manure produces an extracellular enzyme capable of lysing the pseudomurein-containing methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum. The lytic activity has been partially purified from culture fluid and appears to be a serine protease. Similar lytic activity has been fractionated from pronase. Optimal conditions have been developed for lysis of M. formicicum by commercial preparations of proteinase K. The three lytic enzymes have been partially characterized. The results with the three enzyme preparations tend to confirm that proteolytic enzymes are capable of lysing methanogen cells.

Effect of an N-succinyl-L-trialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing protease from pronase on glucose metabolism in mice.

Effect of an N-succinyl-L-trialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing protease (STA-protease) purified from Pronase on glucose metabolism was investigated by an intravenous injection into fasted mice. The maximum decrease in blood sugar level by STA-protease was observed 2 h after the injection of a dose of 5.0 mg/kg. The hypoglycemic activity was observed with other microbial proteases, such as Pronase E and subtilisin BPN', whereas no activity was found with the modified enzymes which almost wholly lost their proteolytic activities by the treatment with diisopropyl fluorophosphate or guanidine HCl. The increase in blood sugar level by epinephrine and the conversion of [1-14C] pyruvate into blood glucose were distinctly suppressed with STA-protease as well as 5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA), an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis. A slight increase in glycogen content in diaphragm of mice was observed during 2-4 h after the injection of STA-protease, though it was markedly increased by insulin. In test of glucose tolerance, the increase in blood sugar was distinctly suppressed by insulin but not by STA-protease. Blood lactate level was not subjected to change by STA-protease, in Therefore, STA-protease may affect the in vivo metabolism of glucose in a different way from the in vitro action which has been reported to react with cell surface and consequently to mimic the actions of insulin.

Purification and characterization of two biosynthetic intermediates of ovalbumin.

Ovalbumin was extracted with a buffered Triton X-100 solution from oviduct slices incubated with [35S]methionine or [2-3H]mannose and was purified by CM-cellulose and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. The labeled ovalbumin was fractionated on a concanavalin A (Con A)/Sepharose column at room temperature. Six fractions were separated: Two unadsorbed fractions, OA and OB; and four adsorbed fractions, OC, OD, OE, and OF. Fractions OA, OB, OC, and OD corresponded to the four fractions prepared from unlabeled ovalbumin as previously reported (Iwase, H. et al. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 5638-5642). Fractions OE and OF were novel constituents of the labeled ovalbumin, although a small amount of OE was also present in unlabeled ovalbumin. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that both OE and OF behaved as biosynthetic intermediates of the other ovalbumin fractions, namely OA, OB, OC, and OD. Partial structural analyses involving endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase treatment and subsequent Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography showed that both OE and OF were composed of components bearing high mannose-type sugar chains which consisted of Man9GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2, or Man7GlcNAc2. We failed to distinguish OF from OE on the basis of their carbohydrate chains. However, on SDS slab gel electrophoresis, the OF band migrated slower than the OE band.

Immunological characterization and structural studies of normal fecal antigen-1 related to carcinoembryonic antigen.

Normal fecal antigen-1 (NFA-1), which is a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 20,000-30,000, was purified from normal adult feces by immuno-adsorption, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Highly purified NFA-1 was partially cross-reactive with CEA but antigenically unrelated to nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) which was also cross-reactive with CEA. NFA-1 also had a unique determinant not present in CEA or other related antigens including NCA. In a solid-phase RIA system, the reactivity of NFA-1 with a specific anti-CEA antiserum was much stronger than that of NCA. Although digestion with Pronase E did not affect the antigenicity of NFA-1, reduction and alkylation destroyed its antigenic reactivity. The total amount of carbohydrate in NFA-1 was 13.3%, compared to 52.4% in CEA and 21.6% in NCA. The amino acid composition of NFA-1 was similar to that of CEA. The sequence of the first 10 NH2-terminal amino acids in NFA-1 was Ala-Glu-Pro-Pro-Lys-Pro-Phe-Ile-(Thr)-Ser. This was totally different from that of the first NH2-terminal amino acids of CEA isolated from tumor tissue.

Proteolytic enzymes of the K-1 strain of Streptomyces griseus obtained from a commercial preparation (Pronase). Purification and characterization of the carboxypeptidase.

We described earlier the facilitated purifications of the trypsin and aminopeptidase components present in Pronase (Vosbeck, K. D., Chow, K. -F., and Awad, W. M., Jr. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6029-6034). A partially resolved protein mixture left over after one of the steps in that procedure was passed through a Sephadex G-75 column. By this means, a component with carboxypeptidase activity was separated from associated serine endopeptidases. Further purification of this exopeptidase to apparent homogeneity was acheived by refiltration through the same Sephadex column and by CM-cellulose chromatography. A single protein band was observed after acrylamide gel electrophoresis; analysis by sedimentation equilibrium using the meniscus depletion method gave a molecular weight of 30,300. This enzyme demonstrates activity against Nalpha-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-L-leucine and hippuryl-D,L-phenyllactate; no activity was found against Nalpha-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester, Nalpha-benzoyl-D,L-arginine-p-nitroanilide, or L-leuckne-p-nitroanilide. The maximum activity lies between pH values of 7 and 8; the enzyme is stable between pH values of 6 and 10. At room temperature 1,10-phenanthroline inactivates the enzyme completely whereas EDTA has no effect. Of the many cations tested, only Co2+, Ni2+, or Zn2+ restores activity to the 1,10-phenanthroline-treated enzyme; Co2+ provided 3 times the native activity. The metal in the native protein was found to be zinc. These findings are similar to those recorded with bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A, and suggest the possibility that the present enzyme may ge genetically related to the mammalian protein, as in previously noted examples of homology of three Pronase endopeptidases to pancreatic serine enzymes.

Inhibition of leucocytic lysosomal enzymes by glycosaminoglycans in vitro.

1. A lysosomal fraction was separated by density-gradient centrifugation from a highly purified human polymorphonuclear leucocyte suspension. 2. Some 23 different lysosomal enzymes were assayed for activity in the presence of various concentrations of glycosaminoglycans. 3. The 21 acid hydrolases assayed were strongly inhibited to different degrees by low (0-12 mmol/l) concentrations of glycosaminoglycans in a pH-dependent manner. Thus inhibitions were stronger below pH4.5, with activity returning to control values at about pH5.0. 4. On a molar basis, the inhibitory activity for the several glycosaminoglycans studied was: heparin greater than chondroitin sulphate greater than hyaluronic acid. 5. Once the glycosaminoglycan-acid hydrolase complex was formed, it was partially dissociated by slight elevations in the pH of the incubation medium, by increasing the ionic strength of the incubation medium, or by adding several cationic proteins (e.g. histone, protamine). 6. As leucocytic lysosomes contain large amounts of chondroitin sulphate, and have a strongly acid intragranular pH, we suggest that glycosaminoglycans may modify lysosomal function through the formation of complexes with lysosomal enzymes, by inhibiting the digestive activity of the acid hydrolases when the intralysosomal pH is below their pI.