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Mitogenic activity of natural and synthetic lignins against cultured splenocytes.

Various natural lignified materials and synthetic dehydrogenation polymers (the so-called synthetic lignins) prepared from several phenylpropenoids were investigated for their mitogenic activity. All of these materials time- and dose-dependently stimulated the DNA synthesis of isolated mouse splenocytes. However, their stimulating activity was significantly decreased when the splenocytes were pretreated with anti-Thy-1.2 monoclonal antibody and rabbit complement. Natural and synthetic lignins demand attention as potential immunopotentiators.

Animals↗

Spectral characterization of diarylpropane oxygenase, a novel peroxide-dependent, lignin-degrading heme enzyme.

Diarylpropane oxygenase, an H2O2-dependent lignin-degrading enzyme from the basidiomycete fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, catalyzes the oxygenation of various lignin model compounds with incorporation of a single atom of dioxygen (O2). Diarylpropane oxygenase is also capable of oxidizing some alcohols to aldehydes and/or ketones. This enzyme (Mr = 41,000) contains a single iron protoporphyrin IX prosthetic group. Previous studies revealed that the Soret maximum of the ferrous-CO complex of diarylpropane oxygenase is at approximately 420 nm, as in ferrous-CO myoglobin (Mb), and not like the approximately 450 nm absorption of the CO complex of the ubiquitous heme monooxygenase, cytochrome P-450. This spectral difference between two functionally similar heme enzymes is of interest. To elucidate the structural requirements for heme iron-based oxygenase reactions, we have compared the electronic absorption, EPR, and resonance Raman (RR) spectral properties of diarylpropane oxygenase with those of other heme proteins and enzymes of known axial ligation. The absorption spectra of native (ferric), cyano, and ferrous diarylpropane oxygenase closely resemble those of the analogous myoglobin complexes. The EPR g values of native diarylpropane oxygenase, 5.83 and 1.99, also agree well with those of aquometMb. The RR spectra of ferric diarylpropane oxygenase have their spin- and oxidation-state marker bands at frequencies analogous to those of aquometMb and indicate a high-spin, hexacoordinate ferric iron. The RR spectra of ferrous diarylpropane oxygenase have frequencies analogous to those of deoxy-Mb that suggest a high-spin, pentacoordinate Fe(II) in the reduced form. The RR spectra of both ferric and ferrous diarylpropane oxygenase are less similar to those of horseradish peroxidase, catalase, or cytochrome c peroxidase and are clearly distinct from those of P-450. These observations suggest that the fifth ligand to the heme iron of diarylpropane oxygenase is a neutral histidine and that the iron environment must resemble that of the oxygen transport protein, myoglobin, rather than that of the peroxidases, catalase, or P-450. Given the functional similarity between diarylpropane oxygenase and P-450, this work implies that the mechanism of oxygen insertion for the two systems is different.

Basidiomycota↗

Mechanism of oxidative C alpha-C beta cleavage of a lignin model dimer by Phanerochaete chrysosporium ligninase. Stoichiometry and involvement of free radicals.

The hemoprotein ligninase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of lignin model dimers between C alpha and C beta of their propyl side chains. The model dimers hitherto used give multiple products and complex stoichiometries upon enzymatic oxidation. Here we present experiments with a new model dimer, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanediol (dimethoxyhydrobenzoin, DMHB) which is quantitatively cleaved by ligninase in air to give benzaldehyde and veratraldehyde according to the stoichiometry: 2DMHB + O2----2PhCHO + 2Ph(OMe)2CHO. Catalytic amounts of H2O2 are required for this aerobic reaction. Under anaerobic conditions, ligninase uses H2O2 as the oxidant for cleavage: DMHB + H2O2----PhCHO + Ph(OMe)2CHO. Electron spin resonance experiments done in the presence of spin traps, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane or 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, show that C alpha-C beta cleavage yields alpha-hydroxybenzyl radicals as intermediate products. Under anaerobic conditions, these radicals react further to give the final aldehyde products. In air, O2 adds to the carbon-centered radicals, probably giving alpha-hydroxybenzylperoxyl radicals which fragment to yield superoxide, benzaldehyde, and veratraldehyde. These results lead us to propose a mechanism for C alpha-C beta cleavage in which attack by ligninase and H2O2 on the methoxylated ring of DMHB yields a cation radical, which then cleaves to give either benzaldehyde and an alpha-hydroxy(dimethoxybenzyl) radical or veratraldehyde and an alpha-hydroxybenzyl radical (cf. Kersten, P. J., Tien, M., Kalyanaraman, B., and Kirk, T.K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2609-2612; Snook, M. E., and Hamilton, G. A. (1974) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 860-869). Similar mechanisms probably apply to the enzymatic C alpha-C beta cleavage of natural lignin.

Basidiomycota↗

Cellulase activity, degradation of cellulose and lignin and humus formation by cellulolytic fungi.

Cellulase activity and degradation of cellulose and lignin in wheat straw and formation of humus during degradation by Botryotrichum sp., Masoniella sp., Paecilomyces fusisporus, Sclerotium sp. and Trichurus spiralis was studied. All the cultures exhibited carboxy-methyl-cellulase activity, but cellulase activity on cellulose powder, filter paper and cotton was shown only by Masoniella sp., P. fusisporus and Sclerotium sp. when grown on cellulose powder in submerged culture conditions. However, when grown on wheat straw in solid culture all fungi exhibited FPD activity. All except Masoniella sp. degraded both cellulose and lignin efficiently as compared to cellulose. There was formation of humus like substances during growth of fungi on wheat straw.

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium↗

Effects of sodium sulfite on recovery and composition of detergent fiber and lignin.

Use of sodium sulfite to reduce nitrogenous contamination in fiber analysis was evaluated. The effects of sodium sulfite on analytical accuracy and precision were examined for amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), sequentially determined acid detergent fiber (sADF), and acid detergent lignin (sADL) in animal feeds. In one experiment, 0.5 g sodium sulfite was added per sample during neutral detergent (ND) extraction. The treatment consistently reduced aNDF, sADF, and sADL values of 180 alfalfa samples and improved precision (decreased within-sample variance of replicated analyses). The greatest effect was on precision of sADL analysis, with within-sample variance reduced by more than 50%. In a second experiment, 24 animal feeds were analyzed for a aNDF, sADF, and sADL with and without addition of 0.5 g sodium sulfite per sample during ND extraction. Nitrogen contents of the recovered fiber fractions were determined. Sodium sulfite reduced fiber and lignin values and decreased nitrogen concentration in residues. Within-sample variance was lower in all analyses. In a third experiment, 23 animal feeds were analyzed for aNDF with sodium sulfite at 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g per sample. Average aNDF of feeds was reduced by each additional increment of sodium sulfite; however, 1.0 g sodium sulfite resulted in only a slight reduction in aNDF compared with 0.5 g. Therefore, 0.5 g sodium sulfite per sample should be added to samples prior to aNDF analysis.

Amylases↗

Enhancement of radical intensity and cytotoxic activity of ascorbate by PSK and lignins.

ESR spectroscopy revealed that high molecular weight natural substances, such as protein-bound polysaccharide PSK, alkali-lignin and lignin sulfonate, significantly enhanced the ascorbyl radical intensity derived from sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid in culture medium. Enhancement of the ascorbyl radical intensity was coupled with rapid degradation of ascorbate. These substances synergistically enhanced the ascorbate-induced cytotoxicity against human leukemic and glioblastoma cell lines. These data suggest the possible role of the ascorbyl radical in cytotoxicity induction.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Radical modulation activity of lignins from a mangrove plant, Ceriops decandra (Griff.) Ding Hou.

The radical modulation activity of hot water and alkaline extracts from leaf of Ceriops decandra, a mangrove plant, was investigated using ESR spectroscopy. IR and NMR analyses demonstrate that the leaf extracts have a lignin-like polyphenolic structure. All these extracts produced radical(s) under alkaline conditions. The radical intensity of sodium ascorbate was slightly reduced at lower concentrations of the extracts, but it was synergistically enhanced at higher concentrations. All the extracts effectively scavenged superoxide anion, produced by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction. Pretreatment of mice with the extracts significantly protected them from the lethal infection by E. coli. Similar activity was found in lignins from pine seed shell of Pinus parviflora Sieb. et Zucc. These data further support the medicinal efficacy of plant extracts.

Animals↗

Lignin degradation by a novel peptide, Gt factor, from brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum.

Gt factor, a pure component isolated from Gloeophyllum trabeum, was used to decompose lignin materials. The radical intermediates, degradation products and structural changes of treated materials were analyzed by infrared spectrum, NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance, etc. The results indicate that Gt factor makes an oxidative attack on lignin via HO., which might be the initial step in lignocellulose degradation by brown rot fungus.

Basidiomycota↗

Oxidation of 1,2,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene by lignin peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

We have reinvestigated the lignin peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 1,2,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene (TMB) by using presteady-state and steady-state kinetic methods. Our presteady-state kinetic results show that the reaction of compound I with TMB obeyed second order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.1 x 10(7) M-1s-1. The reaction of compound II with TMB exhibits a hyperbolic concentration dependence with a Kd of 16 microM and K = 24 s-1. The stoichiometry of TMB oxidation during steady state is two TMB cation radicals formed per H2O2 consumed. These results clearly show that TMB is a good substrate for both compounds I and II of lignin peroxidase.

Anisoles↗

Characterization and site-directed mutagenesis of aspen lignin-specific O-methyltransferase expressed in Escherichia coli.

Aspen lignin-specific caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid 3/5-O-methyltransferase (EC 1.2.1.68) was expressed in an active form in Escherichia coli using pET-23 vector. Two steps were used to purify (Phenyl Sepharose and S-adenosylhomocysteine-agarose chromatographies) enzyme to homogeneity. O-Methyl-transferase has a subunit of 40 kDa and native gradient gel electrophoresis indicated the active form is a dimer. Substrate specificity was investigated using over 20 phenolic compounds, which defined the nature of the substrate binding site and required substrate characteristics such as a hydroxyl group para to the side chain. Enzyme accommodates large substrates well if the side chain contains the trans-double bond found in lignin precursors. Kinetically S-adenosyl-L-methionine must bind before phenolic substrate; however, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and phenolic substrate or product can form stable complexes complicating the kinetic mechanism. The role of thiol side chain(s) in the catalytic mechanism was investigated since the enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. Of nine cysteine residues in the enzyme's sequence, only cysteine residues at positions 276 and 283 are invariant among higher plant O-methyltransferases of this class. These residues were replaced by serine and alanine, singly and in combination, using site-directed mutagenesis. All combinations of cysteine replacements at positions 276 and 283 yielded enzyme virtually as active as wild-type and all were still sensitive to thiol inhibition. We concluded that thiol(s) were not important in the catalytic mechanism of this class of O-methyltransferases and sensitivity to the large thiol inhibitor was probably due to reaction of cysteine thiol(s) near the surface which sterically hindered the active site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence from spin-trapping for a transient radical on tryptophan residue 171 of lignin peroxidase.

The heme enzyme lignin peroxidase contains a unique Cbeta-hydroxylated tryptophan residue (Trp171) on the surface of the enzyme. Mutagenetic substitution of Trp171 abolishes completely the veratryl alcohol oxidation activity of the enzyme. This led us to surmise that Trp171 may be involved in electron transfer from natural substrates to the heme cofactor. Here we present evidence for the formation of a transient radical on Trp171 using spin-trapping in combination with peptide mapping. The spin-trap methyl nitroso propane forms a covalent adduct with Trp171 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide which can be detected by its characteristic visible absorbance spectrum. A very similar chromophore can be obtained in a small molecular model system from N-acetyl tryptophanamide, the spin-trap, and a single-electron abstracting system. The precise site the spin-trap is attached to could be identified in a crystal structure of spin-trap/hydrogen peroxide-treated enzyme as the C6 atom of the indole ring of Trp171. These results indicate that Trp171 is redox-active and that it forms an indole radical by transfer of an electron to the heme of compound I and/or II. Apart from cytochrome c peroxidase and DNA photolyase, lignin peroxidase appears to be the third enzyme only which utilizes a tryptophan residue as an integral part of its redox catalysis.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Reduction of CCl4 to the trichloromethyl radical by lignin peroxidase H2 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

We were able to spin trap the trichloromethyl radical with PBN in a reaction mixture containing lignin peroxidase H2, H2O2, CCl4, veratryl alcohol and EDTA. Upon removal of CCl4, EDTA radicals were detected. Based on a previously reported study (Shah et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267, 21564-21569), we propose that the oxidation of EDTA to EDTA derived radicals is mediated by the veratryl alcohol cation radical, and the reduction of CCl4 to the trichloromethyl radical is caused by the EDTA derived radicals. The novel finding here is that CCl4, which is neither a substrate for the enzyme nor a good reductant, is degraded via free radicals generated by lignin peroxidases under reducing conditions.

Carbon Tetrachloride↗

Expression of the lignin peroxidase H2 gene from Phanerochaete chrysosporium in Escherichia coli.

The DNA sequence for the extracellular lignin peroxidase isozyme H2 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium, obtained from cDNA clone lambda ML-6, was synthesized by PCR and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli under control of the T7 promoter. The portion of the cDNA encoding the signal peptide, not found in the mature native enzyme, was not included. Recombinated lignin peroxidase H2 (rLiPH2) was produced in inclusion bodies in an inactive form. Active enzyme was obtained by refolding with glutathione-mediated oxidation in a medium containing urea, Ca2+, and hemin. The recombinant enzyme had spectral characteristics and kinetic properties identical to that of native enzyme isolated from P. chrysosporium. Surprisingly, rLiPH2, like the native enzyme, also exhibited some manganese peroxidase activity.

Escherichia coli↗

Identification of the veratryl alcohol binding site in lignin peroxidase by site-directed mutagenesis.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify the veratryl alcohol binding site of lignin peroxidase. The cDNA encoding isozyme H8 was mutated at Glu146 to both an Ala and a Ser residue. The H8 polypeptide was produced by E. coli as inclusion bodies and refolded to yield active enzyme. The wild type recombinant enzyme and the mutants were purified to homogeneity and characterized by steady state kinetics. The kcat is decreased for both mutants of Glu146. The reactivity of mutants (kcat/Km) toward H2O2 were not affected. In contrast, the kcat/Km of the mutants for veratryl alcohol were decreased by at least half. The oxidation of guaiacol by these mutants were more significantly affected. These results collectively suggest that E146 plays a central role in the binding of veratryl alcohol by lignin peroxidase.

Alanine↗

Screening of basidiomycetes for lignin peroxidase genes using a DNA probe.

Basidiomycetes were screened for lignin peroxidase (LPO) genes using a DNA probe prepared from the LPO restriction fragment of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Southern blot analysis showed restriction fragments of chromosomal DNA of Bjerkandera adusta and Coriolus consors hybridized with the probe. Bjerkandera adusta produced LPO in a glucose-peptone medium. Ion-exchange chromatography showed that this fungus produced multiple molecular forms of LPO. One of the enzymes, LPO-2, was purified and characterized. The molecular weight of LPO-2 was 41,000 with a pI of 4.2. Spectral analysis demonstrated that LPO-2 is a haem protein. The enzyme cleaved lignin model dimers mainly at the C alpha-C beta position of the side chain. The LPO-2 exhibited close similarity to LPOs of P. chrysosporium with respect to their basic properties.

Basidiomycota↗

Inhibition of lignin peroxidase H2 by sodium azide.

The oxidation of veratryl alcohol (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol) by lignin peroxidase H2 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and H2O2 was strongly inhibited by sodium azide. Inhibition was competitive with respect to veratryl alcohol (Ki = 1-2 microM) and uncompetitive with respect to H2O2. In contrast, sodium azide bound to the native enzyme at pH 6.0 with an apparent dissociation constant (KD) of 126 mM. Formation of azidyl radicals was detected by ESR spin trapping techniques. The enzymes is nearly completely inactivated in four turnovers. The H2O2-activated enzyme intermediate (compound I) reacted with sodium azide to form a new species rather than be reduced to the enzyme intermediate compound II. The new species has absorption maxima at 418, 540, and 570 nm, suggesting the formation of a ferrous-lignin peroxidase-NO complex. Confirmation of this assignment was obtained by low-temperature ESR spectroscopy. An identical complex could be simulated by the addition of nitrite to the reduced enzyme. The enzyme intermediate compound II is readily reduced by sodium azide to native enzyme with essentially no loss of activity.

Agaricales↗

Production and characterization of recombinant lignin peroxidase isozyme H2 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium using recombinant baculovirus.

Recombinant Phanerochaete chrysosporium lignin peroxidase isozyme H2 (pI 4.4) was produced in insect cells infected with a genetically engineered baculovirus containing a copy of the cDNA clone lambda ML-6. The recombinant enzyme was purified to near homogeneity and is capable of oxidizing veratryl alcohol, iodide, and, to a lesser extent, guaiacol. The Km of the recombinant enzyme for veratryl alcohol and H2O2 is similar to that of the fungal enzyme. The guaiacol oxidation activity or any other activity is not dependent upon Mn2+. The purified recombinant peroxidase is glycosylated with N-linked carbohydrate(s). The recombinant lignin peroxidase eluted from an anion exchange resin similar to that of native isozyme H1 rather than H2. However, the pI of the recombinant enzymes is different from both H1 and H2 isozymes. Further characterization of native isozymes H1 and H2 from the fungal cultures revealed identical N-terminus residues. This indicates that isozymes H1 and H2 differ in post-translational modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

On the reactions of lignin peroxidase compound III (isozyme H8).

Compound III (oxyperoxidase) of lignin peroxidase isozyme H8 (pI = 3.5) is formed by either reduction of native ferric enzyme (to ferrous) followed by the reaction with dioxygen or by the addition of excess hydrogen peroxide to resting enzyme. When prepared from the ferrous enzyme, Compound III is stable for days. When formed from excess hydrogen peroxide, the enzyme is rapidly inactivated. However, if the hydrogen peroxide is removed by gel filtration, the resulting Compound III exhibits the same stability as when prepared from ferrous enzyme. Compound III of lignin peroxidase is also relatively unreactive to reducing substrates. Addition of veratryl alcohol to Compound III does not result in any reaction. However, when only 1 equivalent of hydrogen peroxide is added to Compound III in the presence of veratryl alcohol, Compound III is converted to resting enzyme and veratraldehyde formation is detected spectroscopically.

Benzyl Alcohols↗