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Transgenic chickens expressing beta-galactosidase hydrolyze lactose in the intestine.

Chickens do not possess the necessary enzymes to efficiently hydrolyze lactose into glucose and galactose. The bacterial enzyme beta-galactosidase can convert lactose into glucose and galactose. Transgenic chickens that carry the E. coli lacZ gene and express beta-galactosidase could potentially utilize lactose as an energy source. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of the transgenic chicken small intestinal mucosa to hydrolyze lactose into glucose and galactose. Lactase activity was examined in the intestinal muscosa from wild-type chickens and two lines of chickens that carry the lacZ gene and express beta-galactosidase. Lactase activity was significantly higher in both transgenic lines compared with wild-type birds (P < 0.05). The presence of the beta-galactosidase enzyme was revealed by X-gal staining in the intestine of transgenic chickens, whereas it was not present in the wild-type chickens. Overall, it appears that inserting the lacZ gene, which encodes beta-galactosidase, has resulted in a chicken that can utilize lactose as an energy source. This study demonstrates that transgenic technology can be used to modify nutrient utilization in domestic poultry.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

A micro-scale method for the conjugation of affinity-purified Fab' to beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli.

A micro-scale method for the conjugation of affinity-purified Fab' to beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli is described. Rabbit anti-human chorionic gonadotropin serum (0.2 ml) was digested with pepsin to convert IgG to F(ab')2 and applied to a column of human chorionic gonadotropin-Sepharose 4B, followed by elution at pH 2.5. The affinity-purified anti-human chorionic gonadotropin F(ab')2 was mixed with non-specific goat F(ab')2 (0.5 mg) as a carrier, reduced with 2-mercaptoethylamine to split F(ab')2 to Fab' and conjugated to beta-D-galactosidase using N,N'-o-phenylenedimaleimide. The affinity-purified rabbit anti-human chorionic gonadotropin Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate was separated from non-specific goat Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate and unconjugated beta-D-galactosidase by affinity chromatography on a column of goat (anti-rabbit IgG) IgG-Sepharose 4B using 4 M urea. The amount of the affinity-purified conjugate obtained was 56-69 micrograms. The detection limit of human chorionic gonadotropin by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique was improved 30-fold by using the affinity-purified conjugate as compared with that before affinity-purification. This method is applicable to the conjugation with alkaline phosphatase from calf intestine and probably also other enzymes which are stable in 4 M urea.

Animals↗

New secretory strategies for Kluyveromyces lactis beta-galactosidase.

We examined several strategies for the secretion of Kluyveromyces lactis beta-galactosidase into the culture medium, in order to facilitate the downstream processing and purification of this intracellular enzyme of great industrial interest. We constructed plasmids by fusing the LAC4 gene or engineered variants to the secretion signal of the K.lactis killer toxin or to the secretion signal of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor. With these plasmids we transformed strains of the yeasts K.lactis and S.cerevisiae, respectively and tested beta-galactosidase extracellular activity in different culture media. We achieved partial secretion of beta-galactosidase in the culture medium since the high molecular weight and oligomeric nature of the enzyme, among other factors, preclude full secretion. The percentage of secretion was improved by directed mutagenesis of the N-terminus of the protein. We developed several deletion mutants which helped us to propose structure-function relationships by comparison with the available data on the homologous Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The influence of the culture conditions on heterologous beta-galactosidase secretion was also studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oligosymptomatic cornea verticillata in a heterozygote for Fabry disease: a novel mutation in the alpha-galactosidase gene.

BACKGROUND: Fabry disease is an X-linked genetic disorder involving sphingolipid catabolism, which is caused by lysosomal alpha-galactosidase A deficiency. Ophthalmological findings such as corneal and lens opacities and conjunctival and retinal vessel abnormalities can be the only and/or the first recognizable symptoms, especially in heterozygous females. METHODS: We report on a 34-year-old German woman with cornea verticillata. The alpha-galactosidase A activity was determined in leukocytes using a fluorescence substrate, and the sequence analysis of the alpha galactosidase A gene was performed with genomic DNA. RESULTS: The alpha-galactosidase A activity in leukocytes was significantly low (0.24 nmol/min/mg protein; normal range, 0.4-1.2), which is compatible with a heterozygote for Fabry disease. The following sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous transition in position IVS5 + 2 T > C. Transition of thymine (T) to cytosine (C) affects the donor splice motive of exon 5 and most probably leads to an aberrant splicing procedure of the alpha-galactosidase A gene. CONCLUSION: Our case emphasizes the importance of ophthalmological findings in Fabry disease. The subsequent biochemical and molecular analysis provides a secure diagnosis of female carriers of Fabry disease.

Adult↗

Biochemical and genetic analysis of Streptococcus mutans alpha-galactosidase.

The aga gene coding for alpha-galactosidase in Streptococcus mutans was detected in a recombinant gene library constructed in phage lambda. The gene was subcloned into plasmid vectors and shown to specify a novel protein of Mr 80,000. Characterization of alpha-galactosidase from S. mutans and from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing aga indicated that the enzyme functions as a tetramer. The amino acid composition of the alpha-galactosidase, deduced from nucleotide sequencing of aga, gave a predicted Mr of 82,022 and revealed regions of homology to alpha-galactosidases encoded by the E. coli Raf plasmids and by Bacillus stearothermophilus. Inactivation of the aga gene in S. mutans resulted in loss of all alpha-galactosidase activity and abolished the ability to ferment melibiose; alpha-glucosidase activity was also lost, due to an indirect effect on the dexB gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of seawater on Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase activity.

An investigation of beta-galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli strain H10407, under different physiological and environmental conditions, e.g. induced and uninduced osmotic stress, light, etc., was undertaken. In this study E. coli was employed as a model for faecal coliforms in waste water. beta-Galactosidase activity was induced by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Enzyme activity (U cell-1)/cell for sewage bacteria and for induced E. coli was similar, i.e. log U cell-1 = -8.5 whereas uninduced E. coli yielded log U cell-1 = -12.1. Initial enzyme activity was not dependent on phase of growth of the cell (exponential vs stationary phase) or whether marine or fresh water at the time of initial dilution. However, osmotic change resulted in a decrease in culturable cells, even though enzyme activity remained constant. A significant decrease in the number of culturable bacteria, followed by a decrease in beta-galactosidase activity, was observed after exposure of cells to visible light radiation. It is concluded that beta-galactosidase enzyme is retained in viable but non-culturable E. coli. Furthermore, beta-galactosidase appears to offer a useful and rapid (25 min) measure of the viability of faecal coliforms, and therefore, of the water quality of bathing and shellfishing areas.

Chloramphenicol↗

Characterization of a thermostable recombinant beta-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima.

AIMS: Characterization of a thermostable recombinant beta-galactosidase from Thermotoga maritima for the hydrolysis of lactose and the production of galacto-oligosaccharides. METHODS AND RESULTS: A putative beta-galactosidase gene of Thermotoga maritima was expressed in Escherichia coli as a carboxyl terminal His-tagged recombinant enzyme. The gene encoded a 1100-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 129,501. The expressed enzyme was purified by heat treatment, His-tag affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The optimum temperatures for beta-galactosidase activity were 85 and 80 degrees C with oNPG and lactose, respectively. The optimum pH value was 6.5 for both oNPG and lactose. In thermostability experiments, the enzyme followed first-order kinetics of thermal inactivation and its half-life times at 80 and 90 degrees C were 16 h and 16 min, respectively. Mn2+ was the most effective divalent cation for beta-galactosidase activity on both oNPG and lactose. The Km and Vmax values of the thermostable enzyme for oNPG at 80 degrees C were 0.33 mm and 79.6 micromol oNP min(-1) mg(-1). For lactose, the Km and Vmax values were dependent on substrate concentrations; 1.6 and 63.3 at lower concentrations up to 10 mm of lactose and 27.8 mm and 139 micromol glucose min(-1) mg(-1) at higher concentrations, respectively. The enzyme displayed non-Michaelis-Menten reaction kinetics with substrate activation, which was explained by simultaneous reactions of hydrolysis and transgalactosylation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the thermostable enzyme may be suitable for both the hydrolysis of lactose and the production of galacto-oligosaccharides. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The findings of this work contribute to the knowledge of hydrolysis and transgalactosylation performed by beta-galactosidase of hyperthermophilic bacteria.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, corneal clouding, normal intelligence and acid beta-galactosidase deficiency.

A 14-year-old girl with a unique type of progressive spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, corneal clouding, and no evidence of neurological abnormality, was found to have a remarkable deficiency of acid beta-galactosidase activity in cultured skin fibroblasts and in leucocyte preparations. In fibroblasts, ganglioside GM1 beta-galactosidase activity averaged 7% of the normal mean while asialofetuin beta-galactosidase and 4-methylumbe lifery-beta-galactosidase averaged 1.4% and 3.5%, respectively. Activities for all three substrates in leucocytes from both her parents were close to 50% of the normal mean indicating that the patient is homozygous for a mutation (or mutations) affecting GM1 beta-galactosidase.

Adolescent↗

Expression and purification of a trefoil peptide motif in a beta-galactosidase fusion protein and its use to search for trefoil-binding sites.

The cysteine-rich trefoil motif of rat intestinal trefoil factor (rITF) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A 270-bp cDNA fragment including the signal sequence and the trefoil motif was cloned into the expression vector pAX5+ to direct the expression of a beta-galactosidase collagen-hinged fusion protein in E. coli. Cultures harbouring the recombinant plasmid produced a soluble novel protein with a molecular mass of 134.5 kDa, as predicted for the trefoil-motif-containing fusion protein. Purification of the rITF moiety was achieved by p-aminophenyl-thio-beta-D-galactoside(APTG)-affinity chromatography, collagenase digestion of the hybrid molecule, and removal of the beta-galactosidase-hinge molecule by a further APTG-affinity step. It was demonstrated that intrachain disulphide-bond formation in rITF occurred during the procedure, so no refolding steps were required. Analysis by immunoblotting revealed that the fusion protein and the cleaved trefoil-motif-containing protein were recognised by an antibody raised against the chemically synthesised peptide. The trefoil motif present in the fusion protein was used to localise putative trefoil-binding sites in sections of frozen rat tissue. Binding was demonstrated using the beta-galactosidase portion of the fusion protein as a reporter moiety, either directly with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside, or indirectly using a monoclonal antibody to beta-galactosidase and indirect immunohistochemistry. Binding sites were localised to the foveolar and surface epithelium of rat stomach, the collecting ducts of the kidney and within colonic crypts. The presence of a trefoil motif was necessary for binding. The use of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins for histochemical localisation of peptide-binding sites should prove more generally useful.

Animals↗

Expression and characterization of recombinant alpha-galactosidase in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

A cDNA encoding coffee bean alpha-galactosidase was subcloned into baculovirus expression vectors, pVL-1393 and pAc-GP67B, for intracellular and extracellular expression in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells, respectively. The expressed protein (recombinant alpha-galactosidase) was immunologically reactive with antisera raised against its native counterpart isolated from coffee beans and was biologically active towards the substrate p-nitrophenyl alpha-galactopyranoside. The subcellular distribution of recombinant alpha-galactosidase expressed from different vectors was analyzed by Western blotting, immunofluorescent labeling, and electron microscopy. In addition, recombinant alpha-galactosidase was compared to the native enzyme with respect to glycosylation, thermostability, and pH profile. Furthermore, a recombinant alpha-galactosidase molecule with a His6 tag at its C-terminus was constructed by an overlap PCR method so that the enzyme expressed in Sf9 cells can be purified by a simple affinity chromatography procedure.

Animals↗

Influence of cultivating conditions on the alpha-galactosidase biosynthesis from a novel strain of Penicillium sp. in solid-state fermentation.

AIMS: The work is intended to achieve optimum culture conditions of alpha-galactosidase production by a mutant strain Penicillium sp. in solid-state fermentation (SSF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Certain fermentation parameters involving incubation temperature, moisture content, initial pH value, inoculum and load size of medium, and incubation time were investigated separately. The optimal temperature and moisture level for alpha-galactosidase biosynthesis was found to be 30 degrees C and 50%, respectively. The range of pH 5.5-6.5 was favourable. About 40-50 g of medium in 250-ml flask and inoculum over 1.0 x 10(6) spores were suitable for enzyme production. Seventy-five hours of incubation was enough for maximum alpha-galactosidase production. Substrate as wheat bran supplemented with soyabean meal and beet pulp markedly improved the enzyme yield in trays. CONCLUSIONS: Under optimum culture conditions, the alpha-galactosidase activity from Penicillium sp. MAFIC-6 indicated 185.2 U g(-1) in tray of SSF. SIGNIFICANT AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The process on alpha-galactosidase production in laboratory scale may have a potentiality of scaling-up.

Culture Media↗

Purification and molecular properties of an alpha-galactosidase synthesized and secreted by Aspergillus nidulans.

alpha-Galactosidases from mycelial extract and culture filtrate of Aspergillus nidulans have been purified to homogeneity and utilised to obtain polyclonal antibodies anti-alpha-galactosidase. The enzymatic characteristics and the cross reactivity of the antibodies suggest that alpha-galactosidases isolated from the two sources were the same enzyme. Thus, A. nidulans synthesized and secreted only one enzymatic form of alpha-galactosidase which is a multimeric enzyme of 370 kDa composed of four monomers of 87 kDa and a pI of 6.3. The optimum temperature of activity was 50 degrees C and the optimum pH 4-5. The enzyme was stable over a wide range of pH but quite unstable to temperature. alpha-Galactosidase of A. nidulans is a very specific enzyme, it is active only on p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactoside (PNPG), melibiose and raffinose. When PNPG was utilised as substrate melibiose, raffinose, galactose and glucose were competitive inhibitors of the activity.

Aspergillus nidulans↗

Plant and algal interference in bacterial beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase assays.

Several commonly occurring freshwater and marine plants and algae were screened for beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase activities by using a 60-min enzyme assay based on the hydrolysis by these enzymes of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl- beta-glucuronide, respectively. All freshwater plant extracts tested showed beta-D-galactosidase activity several at relatively high levels, and a number also showed beta-D-glucuronidase activity. A number of the macroalgae showed no activity of either enzyme, but those showing beta-D-galactosidase activity also showed beta-D-glucuronidase activity. The majority of microalgae showed some beta-D-galactosidase activity, but few showed beta-D-glucuronidase activity. Further studies, using the commercial Colilert test and the marine water formulation of Colilert, revealed that 2 of 11 of the microalgal species and several of the plant extracts tested caused positive reactions. It was concluded that several plant extracts and algae could significantly interfere with the detection of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli with the use of rapid assays, on the basis of their production of beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase, respectively. The significance of the plant and algal interferences in tests such as Colilert is dependent on the levels of enzymes released under natural conditions, the dilution which they may undergo, and the numbers of algal cells present. This also applies to interferences in rapid enzyme assays.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Escherichia coli↗

Purification and characterization of a thermotolerant beta-galactosidase from Thermomyces lanuginosus.

A new inducible intracellular beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) of the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was purified by fractional salt precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, and anion exchange chromatography. The first 22 amino acid residues were determined by N-terminal sequencing. Electrophoretic investigations revealed a dimeric enzyme with a molecular mass of 75 to 80 kDa per identical subunit and an isoelectric point of 4.4 to 4.5. The native beta-galactosidase was identified as a glycoprotein by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The beta-galactosidase activity was optimal at pH 6.7 to 7.2, and the enzyme displayed stability between pH 6 and 9. It was completely stable at pH 6.8 and 47 degrees C for 2 h. After 191 h at 50 degrees C, the remaining beta-galactosidase activity of an enzyme fraction after salt precipitation was 58%. The beta-galactosidase hydrolyzed p- and o-NO2-phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, lactose, lactulose, MeOH-beta-D-galactopyranoside, phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, and p-NO2-phenyl-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside. The kinetic constants (Km) measured for p- and o-NO2-phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside and beta-lactose were 4.8, 11.3, and 18.2 mM, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enzyme characteristics of beta-D-galactosidase- and beta-D-glucuronidase-positive bacteria and their interference in rapid methods for detection of waterborne coliforms and Escherichia coli.

Bacteria which were beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase positive or expressed only one of these enzymes were isolated from environmental water samples. The enzymatic activity of these bacteria was measured in 25-min assays by using the fluorogenic substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide. The enzyme activity, enzyme induction, and enzyme temperature characteristics of target and nontarget bacteria in assays aimed at detecting coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were investigated. The potential interference of false-positive bacteria was evaluated. Several of the beta-D-galactosidase-positive nontarget bacteria but none of the beta-D-glucuronidase-positive nontarget bacteria contained unstable enzyme at 44.5 degrees C. The activity of target bacteria was highly inducible. Nontarget bacteria were induced much less or were not induced by the inducers used. The results revealed large variations in the enzyme levels of different beta-D-galactosidase- and beta-D-glucuronidase-positive bacteria. The induced and noninduced beta-D-glucuronidase activities of Bacillus spp. and Aerococcus viridans were approximately the same as the activities of induced E. coli. Except for some isolates identified as Aeromonas spp., all of the induced and noninduced beta-D-galactosidase-positive, noncoliform isolates exhibited at least 2 log units less mean beta-D-galactosidase activity than induced E. coli. The noncoliform bacteria must be present in correspondingly higher concentrations than those of target bacteria to interfere in the rapid assay for detection of coliform bacteria.

Enterobacteriaceae↗

Cloning of the gene encoding a novel thermostable alpha-galactosidase from Thermus brockianus ITI360.

An alpha-galactosidase gene from Thermus brockianus ITI360 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified. The gene, designated agaT, codes for a 476-residue polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 53, 810 Da. The native structure of the recombinant enzyme (AgaT) was estimated to be a tetramer. AgaT displays amino acid sequence similarity to the alpha-galactosidases of Thermotoga neapolitana and Thermotoga maritima and a low-level sequence similarity to alpha-galactosidases of family 36 in the classification of glycosyl hydrolases. The enzyme is thermostable, with a temperature optimum of activity at 93 degrees C with para-nitrophenyl-alpha-galactopyranoside as a substrate. Half-lives of inactivation at 92 and 80 degrees C are 100 min and 17 h, respectively. The pH optimum is between 5.5 and 6.5. The enzyme displayed high affinity for oligomeric substrates. The K(m)s for melibiose and raffinose at 80 degrees C were determined as 4.1 and 11.0 mM, respectively. The alpha-galactosidase gene in T. brockianus ITI360 was inactivated by integrational mutagenesis. Consequently, no alpha-galactosidase activity was detectable in crude extracts of the mutant strain, and it was unable to use melibiose or raffinose as a single carbohydrate source.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of recombinant alpha-galactosidases in Thermus thermophilus.

A Thermus thermophilus selector strain for production of thermostable and thermoactive alpha-galactosidase was constructed. For this purpose, the native alpha-galactosidase gene (agaT) of T. thermophilus TH125 was inactivated to prevent background activity. In our first attempt, insertional mutagenesis of agaT by using a cassette carrying a kanamycin resistance gene led to bacterial inability to utilize melibiose (alpha-galactoside) and galactose as sole carbohydrate sources due to a polar effect of the insertional inactivation. A Gal(+) phenotype was assumed to be essential for growth on melibiose. In a Gal(-) background, accumulation of galactose or its metabolite derivatives produced from melibiose hydrolysis could interfere with the growth of the host strain harboring recombinant alpha-galactosidase. Moreover, the AgaT(-) strain had to be Km(s) for establishment of the plasmids containing alpha-galactosidase genes and the kanamycin resistance marker. Therefore, a suitable selector strain (AgaT(-) Gal(+) Km(s)) was generated by applying integration mutagenesis in combination with phenotypic selection. To produce heterologous alpha-galactosidase in T. thermophilus, the isogenes agaA and agaB of Bacillus stearothermophilus KVE36 were cloned into an Escherichia coli-Thermus shuttle vector. The region containing the E. coli plasmid sequence (pUC-derived vector) was deleted before transformation of T. thermophilus with the recombinant plasmids. As a result, transformation efficiency and plasmid stability were improved. However, growth on minimal agar medium containing melibiose was achieved only following random selection of the clones carrying a plasmid-based mutation that had promoted a higher copy number and greater stability of the plasmid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production and properties of galactosidases from Corticium rolfsii.

When Corticum rolfsii was grown in a medium containing bran extract under aerobic conditions, it secreted alpha-D-galactosidase and beta-D-galactosidase into the culture fluid. Pectin also stimulated the production of these enzymes, whereas galactose, glucose, and sucrose stimulated their production to a lesser degree. C. rolfsii produced greater amounts of both enzymes than Aspergillus niger. Both galactosidases in the culture medium hydrolyzed alpha- and beta-p-nitrophenyl-D-galactosides as well as lactose, stachyose, melibiose, and raffinose. Both exhibited optimal activity at pH 2 to 4 and were quite stable under acidic conditions. alpha-Galactosidase was separated from beta-galactosidase by column chromatography.

Aspergillus↗