New thermostable endoglucanase from Spirochaeta thermophila and its mutants with altered substrate preferences.

Endoglucanases are key elements in several industrial applications, such as cellulosic biomass hydrolysis, cellulose fiber modification for the production paper and composite materials, and in nanocellulose production. In all of these applications, the desired function of the endoglucanase is to create nicks in the amorphous regions of the cellulose. However, endoglucanase can be diverted from its activity on the fibers by other substrates-soluble oligosaccharides. This issue was addressed in the current study using enzyme engineering and an enzyme evolution approach. To this end, a hypothetical endoglucanase from a thermostable bacterium Spirochaeta thermophila was for the first time cloned and characterized. The wild-type enzyme was used as a starting point for mutagenesis and molecular evolution toward a preference for the higher molecular weight substrates. The best of the evolved enzymes was more active than the wild-type enzyme toward high molecular weight substrate at temperatures below 45 °C (3-fold more active at 30 °C) and showed little or no activity with low molecular weight substrates. These findings can be instrumental in bioeconomy sectors, such as second-generation biofuels and biomaterials from lignocellulosic biomass. KEY POINTS: • A new thermostable endoglucanase was characterized. • The substrate specificity of this endoglucanase was changed by means of genetic engineering. • A mutant with a preference for long molecular weight substrate was obtained and proposed to be beneficial for cellulose fiber modification.

Chemo-enzymatic three-step conversion of glucose to kojic acid.

Kojic acid is an important biomolecule, currently produced by fermentation and having a wide range of potential applications. A faster and more direct chemical route could open the door for its large-scale production and wider utilization in biorefineries. Here we describe an efficient method for the preparation of kojic acid from d-glucose via glucosone by a three-step chemo-enzymatic route.

Hydroxyproline-based DNA mimics provide an efficient gene silencing in vitro and in vivo.

To be effective, antisense molecules should be stable in biological fluids, non-toxic, form stable and specific duplexes with target RNAs and readily penetrate through cell membranes without non-specific effects on cell function. We report herein that negatively charged DNA mimics representing chiral analogues of peptide nucleic acids with a constrained trans-4-hydroxy-N-acetylpyrrolidine-2-phosphonate backbone (pHypNAs) meet these criteria. To demonstrate this, we compared silencing potency of these compounds with that of previously evaluated as efficient gene knockdown molecules hetero-oligomers consisting of alternating phosphono-PNA monomers and PNA-like monomers based on trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (HypNA-pPNAs). Antisense potential of pHypNA mimics was confirmed in a cell-free translation assay with firefly luciferase as well as in a living cell assay with green fluorescent protein. In both cases, the pHypNA antisense oligomers provided a specific knockdown of a target protein production. Confocal microscopy showed that pHypNAs, when transfected into living cells, demonstrated efficient cellular uptake with distribution in the cytosol and nucleus. Also, the high potency of pHypNAs for down-regulation of Ras-like GTPase Ras-dva in Xenopus embryos was demonstrated in comparison with phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers. Therefore, our data suggest that pHypNAs are novel antisense agents with potential widespread in vitro and in vivo applications in basic research involving live cells and intact organisms.

Enzymatic Processes to Unlock the Lignin Value.

Main hurdles of lignin valorization are its diverse chemical composition, recalcitrance, and poor solubility due to high-molecular weight and branched structure. Controlled fragmentation of lignin could lead to its use in higher value products such as binders, coatings, fillers, etc. Oxidative enzymes (i.e., laccases and peroxidases) have long been proposed as a potentially promising tool in lignin depolymerization. However, their application was limited to ambient pH, where lignin is poorly soluble in water. A Finnish biotechnology company, MetGen Oy, that designs and supplies industrial enzymes, has developed and brought to market several lignin oxidizing enzymes, including an extremely alkaline lignin oxidase MetZyme® LIGNO™, a genetically engineered laccase of bacterial origin. This enzyme can function at pH values as high as 10-11 and at elevated temperatures, addressing lignin at its soluble state. In this article, main characteristics of this enzyme as well as its action on bulk lignin coming from an industrial process are demonstrated. Lignin modification by MetZyme® LIGNO™ was characterized by size exclusion chromatography, UV spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering for monitoring particle size of solubilized lignin. Under highly alkaline conditions, laccase treatment not only decreased molecular weight of lignin but also increased its solubility in water and altered its dispersion properties. Importantly, organic solvent-free soluble lignin fragmentation allowed for robust industrially relevant membrane separation technologies to be applicable for product fractionation. These enzyme-based solutions open new opportunities for biorefinery lignin valorization thus paving the way for economically viable biorefinery business.

Acetylcholinesterase modulates stress-induced motor responses through catalytic and noncatalytic properties.

BACKGROUND: Cholinergic neurotransmission notably participates in stress-induced motor responses. Here we report the contribution of alternative splicing of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pre-mRNA to modulate these responses. More specifically, we induced stress-associated hypofunction of dopaminergic, mainly D2 dopamine receptor-mediated neurotransmission by haloperidol and explored stress induced hyperlocomotion and catalepsy, an extreme form of immobility, induced in mice with AChE deficiencies. METHODS: Conditional transgenic (Tet/AS) mice were created with tetracycline-induced antisense suppression of AChE gene expression. Locomotion and catalepsy times were measured in Tet/AS and strain-matched control mice, under open-field exposure threat and under home-cage safety. RESULTS: In vitro, NGF-treated PC12 cells failed to extend neurites upon Tet/AS suppression. In vivo, Tet/AS but not control mice showed stress-associated hippocampal deposits of heat-shock protein 70 and GRP78 (BiP), predicting posttranscriptional changes in neuronal reactions. Supporting this notion, their striatal cholinergic neurons demonstrated facilitated capacity for neurite extension, attributing these in vivo changes in neurite extension to network interactions. Tet/AS mice presented stress-induced hyperlocomotion. Moreover, the dopamine antagonist haloperidol induced longer catalepsy in threatened Tet/AS than in control mice. When returned to home-cage safety, Tet/AS mice showed retarded release from catalepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Acetylcholinesterase modulates stress-induced motor responses and facilitates resumption of normal motor behavior following stress through both catalytic and noncatalytic features.

Artificial genetic selection for an efficient translation initiation site for expression of human RACK1 gene in Escherichia coli.

In bacterial expression systems, translation initiation is usually the rate limiting and the least predictable stage of protein synthesis. Efficiency of a translation initiation site can vary dramatically depending on the sequence context. This is why many standard expression vectors provide very poor expression levels of some genes. This notion persuaded us to develop an artificial genetic selection protocol, which allows one to find for a given target gene an individual efficient ribosome binding site from a random pool. In order to create Darwinian pressure necessary for the genetic selection, we designed a system based on translational coupling, in which microorganism survival in the presence of antibiotic depends on expression of the target gene, while putting no special requirements on this gene. Using this system we obtained superproducing constructs for the human protein RACK1 (receptor for activated C kinase).

Complex regulation of acetylcholinesterase gene expression in human brain tumors.

To study the regulation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression in human brain tumors, 3' splice variants of AChE mRNA and potentially relevant transcription factor mRNAs were labeled in primary astrocytomas and melanomas. AChE-S and AChE-R mRNA, as well as Runx1/AML1 mRNA accumulated in astrocytomas in correlation with tumor aggressiveness, but neither HNF3beta nor c-fos mRNA was observed in melanoma and astrocytomas. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated nuclear Runx1/AML1 and cellular AChE-S and AChE-R in melanomas, however, only AChE-S, and not the secreted AChE-R variant, was retained in astrocyte tumor cells. Runx1/AML1 revealed weak linkage with ACHE promoter sequences, yet enhanced ACHE gene expression in co-transfected COS1 cells. The p300 co-activator and the ACHE promoter's distal enhancer facilitated this effect, which was independent of much of the Runx1/AML1 trans-activation domain. Surprisingly, GASP, a fusion product of green fluorescence protein (GFP) and ASP(67), a peptide composed of the 67 C-terminal amino acid residues of AChE-S, localized to COS1 cell nuclei. However, GARP, the corresponding fusion product of GFP with a peptide having the 51 C-terminal residues of AChE-E or GFP alone, remained cytoplasmic. Runx1/AML1 exhibited improved nuclear retention in GASP-expressing COS1 cells, suggesting modulated nuclear localization processes. Together, these findings reveal brain tumor-specific regulation of both expression and cellular retention of variant ACHE gene products.

SNP detection using trityl mass tags.

A new method suitable for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection using differential oligonucleotide probe extension has been developed. Sulfur-linked laser-cleavable trityl labels are implemented in this protocol. The method is based on mass spectrometry and utilizes a single surface for affinity purification of extended probes and matrix-independent desorption-ionization of the cleavable labels. The usefulness of this method for SNP genotyping is demonstrated.

Novel mass tags for single nucleotide polymorphism detection.

A new method suitable for single nucleotide polymorphism detection and other applications based on oligonucleotide probe extension has been developed. The method is based on mass spectrometry and utilizes a single surface for affinity purification of extended probes and matrix-independent desorption/ionization of the cleavable labels. A new family of sulfur-linked laser-cleavable trityl labels with vastly improved flying abilities is implemented in this study. Corresponding reagents compatible with automated oligonucleotide synthesis are presented. Utility of this method for SNP genotyping is demonstrated.

Interaction of "readthrough" acetylcholinesterase with RACK1 and PKCbeta II correlates with intensified fear-induced conflict behavior.

Behavioral reactions to stress are altered in numerous psychiatric and neurodegenerative syndromes, but the corresponding molecular processes and signal transduction pathways are yet unknown. Here, we report that, in mice, the stress-induced splice variant of acetylcholinesterase, AChE-R, interacts intraneuronally with the scaffold protein RACK1 and through it, with its target, protein kinase CbetaII (PKCbetaII), which is known to be involved in fear conditioning. In stress-responsive brain regions of normal FVBN mice, the mild stress of i.p. injection increased AChE and PKCbetaII levels in a manner suppressible by antisense prevention of AChE-R accumulation. Injection stress also prolonged conflict between escape and hiding in the emergence into an open field test. Moreover, transgenic FVBN mice overexpressing AChE-R displayed prolonged delay to emerge into another field (fear-induced behavioral inhibition), associated with chronically intensified neuronal colabeling of RACK1 and PKCbetaII in stress-responsive brain regions. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that stress-associated changes in cholinergic gene expression regulate neuronal PKCbetaII functioning, promoting fear-induced conflict behavior after stress.