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cis-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dehydrogenase and cis-1, 2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphathalene dehydrogenase catalyze dehydrogenation of the same range of substrates.

Pseudomonas putida strain G7 cis-1,2-dihydro-1, 2-dihydroxynaphthalene dehydrogenase (NahB) and Comamonas testosteroni strain B-356 cis-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dehydrogenase (BphB) were found to be catalytically active towards cis-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (specificity factors of 501 and 5850 s-1 mM-1 respectively), cis-1,2-dihydro-1, 2-dihydroxynaphthalene (specificity factors of 204 and 193 s-1 mM-1 respectively) and 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2',5, 5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (specificity factors of 1.6 and 4.9 s-1 mM-1 respectively). A key finding in this work is the capacity of strain B-356 BphB as well as Burkholderia cepacia strain LB400 BphB to catalyze dehydrogenation of 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2',5, 5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl which is the metabolite resulting from the catalytic meta-para hydroxylation of 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl by LB400 biphenyl dioxygenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetic property and phylogenic relationship of 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase encoded in tomC gene of Burkholderia cepacia G4.

2-Hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (2-HMS) dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of 2-HMS to 4-oxalocrotonate, which is a step in the meta cleavage pathway of aromatic hydrocarbons in bacteria. A tomC gene that encodes 2-HMS dehydrogenase of Burkholderia cepacia G4, a soil bacterium that can grow on toluene, cresol, phenol, or benzene, was overexpressed into E. coli HB101, and its gene product was characterized in this study. 2-HMS dehydrogenase from B. cepacia G4 has a high catalytic efficiency in terms of Vmax/Km towards 2-hydroxy-5-methylmuconic semialdehyde followed by 2-HMS but has a very low efficiency for 5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. However, the enzyme did not utilize 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-hepta-2,4-dienoic acid and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid as substrates. The molecular weight of 2-HMS dehydrogenase from B. cepacia G4 was predicted to be 52 kDa containing 485 amino acid residues from the nucleotide sequence of the tomC gene, and it exhibited the highest identity of 78% with the amino acid sequence of 2-HMS dehydrogenase that is encoded in the aphC gene of Comamonas testosteroni TA441. 2-HMS dehydrogenase from B. cepacia G4 showed a significant phylogenetic relationship not only with other 2-HMS dehydrogenases, but also with different dehydrogenases from evolutionarily distant organisms.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Analysis of changes in congener selectivity during PCB degradation by Burkholderia sp. strain TSN101 with increasing concentrations of PCB and characterization of the bphBCD genes and gene products.

We isolated and characterized a gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia sp. strain TSN101, that can degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at concentrations as high as 150 microg Kaneclor 300/ml, a PCB mixture equivalent to Aroclor 1242. Growing cells of strain TSN101 degraded most of the tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls in medium containing 25 microg Kaneclor 300/ml. Using PCB concentrations of 50-150 microg of Kaneclor 300/ml, the congener selectivity pattern was different and the pattern of chlorine substitution strongly affected degradation of some congeners. At 25 microg Kaneclor 300/ml, strain TSN101 degraded di- and trichlorinated congeners with chlorine substitutions at both the ortho and the para positions. At higher concentrations of Kaneclor 300, di- and trichlorobiphenyls with ortho substituents in both phenyl rings were not degraded well. Trichlorobiphenyls with para and meta substitutents were degraded equally well at all concentrations studied. The ability of strain TSN101 to degrade ortho and para-substituted congeners was confirmed using a defined PCB mixture with chlorine substituents at 2'- and 4'-positions. A 5-kb DNA fragment containing the bphBCD genes was cloned and sequenced. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of these genes with related proteins indicated 99 and 98% sequence similarity to the BphB and BphD of Comamonas testosteroni strain B-356, respectively. The bphC gene product showed 74% sequence similarity to the BphC of Burkholderia cepacia strain LB400 and exhibited a narrow substrate specificity with strong affinity for 2, 3-dihydroxybiphenyl. A bphC-disrupted mutant of Burkholderia sp. strain TSN101, constructed by gene replacement, lost the ability to utilize biphenyl, thus supporting the role of the cloned bph gene in biphenyl metabolism.

Aroclors↗

Isolation and characterization of two aerobic bacterial strains that completely degrade ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

Two bacterial strains, E1 and E2, isolated from gasoline-polluted soil completely degraded ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), as the sole source of carbon and energy, at specific rates of about 80 mg g(-1) and 58 mg g(-1) of cell protein day(-1), respectively. On the basis of morphological and phenotypic characteristics, strain E1 was tentatively identified as Comamonas testosteroni and strain E2 as belonging to Centre for Disease Control group A-5. The inhibitory effect of metyrapone on the degradative ability of both strains was the first evidence indicating the involvement of a soluble cytochrome P-450 in the cleavage of the ETBE ether bond. This observation was confirmed by spectrophotometric analysis of reduced cell extracts that gave, in the presence of carbon monoxide, a major absorbance peak at about 450 nm. Both strains were also able to degrade, as the sole source of carbon and energy, ETBE's major metabolic intermediates (tert-butyl alcohol and tert-butyl formate) and other gasoline oxygenates (methyl tert-butyl ether and tert-amyl methyl ether). The degradation rates varied considerably, with both strains exhibiting a preferential activity for ETBE's metabolic intermediates.

Air Pollutants↗

D-lysine production from L-lysine by successive chemical racemization and microbial asymmetric degradation.

In order to develop a practical process for D-lysine production from L-lysine, successive chemical racemization and microbial asymmetric degradation were investigated. The racemization of L-lysine proceeded quantitatively at elevated temperatures. A sample of 1000 strains of bacteria, fungi, yeast and actinomyces were screened for the ability to degrade L-lysine asymmetrically. Microorganisms belonging to the Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Candida, Comamonas, Flavobacterium, Proteus, Providencia, Pseudomonas and Yarrowia genera exhibited a high L-lysine-degrading activity. Comamonas testosteroni IAM 1048 was determined to be the best strain and used as a biocatalyst for eliminating the L isomer. The degradation rate of L-lysine with C. testosteroni IAM 1048 was influenced by pH, temperature and agitation speed. Under the optimal conditions, the L isomer in a 100-g/l mixture of racemic lysine was completely degraded within 72 h, with 47 g D-lysine/l left in the reaction mixture. Crystalline D-lysine, with a chemical purity greater than 99% and optical purity of 99.9% enantiomeric excess, was obtained at a yield of 38% from the reaction mixture by simple purification. An engineering analysis of L-lysine racemization and microbial degradation was carried out to establish the basis of process design for D-lysine production.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Endotoxins and IgG antibodies as indicators of occupational exposure to the microbial contaminants of metal-working fluids.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate workers' exposure to microbes and bacterial endotoxins during the use of metal-working fluids (MWF). METHODS: Air and bulk sampling with biomonitoring of workers' serum IgG antibodies were used to estimate the exposure to biological agents at 18 workplaces. The types of emulsified MWF used were synthetic fluid, mineral oil or rape seed oil, in grinding, turning and drilling work. RESULTS: The endotoxin concentrations in the air ranged from 0.04 to 600 ng/m(3) when the endotoxin levels in MWF were 0.03-25,000 ng/ml. A high correlation was found between the endotoxin levels and the bacterial counts from MWF, as well as between the total culturable bacteria and the gram-negative bacteria concentrations in the air. Comamonas testosteroni and C. acidovorans were the most common strains in the samples but also colonies of Ochrobactrum anthropi, Pantoea agglomerans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were isolated from the workplaces. Fungi like Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium species were identified in the air but only rarely in the MWF. Positive IgG antibodies were found in the sera of 22 of the 25 MWF workers examined. Antibodies against S. maltophilia, P. agglomerans and C. acidovorans were the most common, appearing in 72%, 64% and 64%, respectively, of the cases. The MWF workers showed significantly higher IgG antibody responses to bacterial antigens than did the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results clearly proved that in occupational hygiene measurements, endotoxins serve as excellent indicators of exposure to the microbial contaminants of MWF. IgG antibodies against antigens identified from workplace samples could be a practical tool for occupational health physicians.

Air Microbiology↗

Kinetics and mechanism of heterogeneous hydrolysis of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] film by PHA depolymerases.

The kinetics and mechanism of enzymatic degradation on the surface of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (P[(R)-3HB]) film have been studied using three types of extracellular poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) depolymerases from Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas picketti and Comamonas testosteroni. The monomer and dimer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid were produced during the course of the enzymatic degradation of P[(R)-3HB] film, and the rate of production was determined by monitoring the increase in absorbance at 210 nm on a spectrophotometer. The rate of enzymatic degradation increased to a maximum value with the concentration of PHA depolymerase, followed by a gradual decrease. The kinetic data were accounted for in terms of a heterogeneous enzymatic reaction, involving enzymatic degradation on the surface of P[(R)-3HB] film via two steps of adsorption and hydrolysis by a PHA depolymerase with binding and catalytic domains. The kinetic results suggest that the properties of the catalytic domains are very similar among the three PHA depolymerases, but that those of the binding domains are strongly dependent on the type of depolymerase.

Alcaligenes↗

Degradation characteristics and metabolic pathway of 17alpha-ethynylestradiol by Sphingobacterium sp. JCR5.

A 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2)-degrading bacterium was isolated from the activated sludge of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of an oral contraceptives producing factory in Beijing, China. On the basis of its morphology, biochemical properties and the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this strain was identified as Sphingobacterium sp. JCR5. This strain grew on EE2 as sole source of carbon and energy, and metabolized up to 87% of the substrate added (30 mgl-1) within 10 d at 30 degrees C. In addition to EE2 the strain could be cultivated on steroidal estrogens like estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and mestranol (MeEE2), the intermediates of contraceptive medicine processing and on some aromatic compounds. Mass spectrum analysis of the EE2 degradation showed that in the first step it is oxygenized to E1, 2-hydroxy-2,4-dienevaleric acid and 2-hydroxy-2,4-diene-1,6-dioic acid, which are the main catabolic intermediates. The former was analogous to the pathway of a previously reported testosterone-degrading bacterium Comamonas testosteroni TA441 and the latter is a metabolite with a different cleavage position of 3-hydroxy-4,5-9,10-disecoestrane-1(10),2-diene-5,9,17-trione-4-oic acid from the former.

Ethinyl Estradiol↗

Interactions in biofilms between Listeria monocytogenes and resident microorganisms from food industry premises.

Twenty nine bacterial strains were grown as binary culture biofilms with Listeria monocytogenes to assess their influence on the settlement of the latter on stainless steel coupons. Most of the strains had been isolated from food processing plants after cleaning and disinfection and were tentatively identified by the APILAB Plus 3.3.3 database (bioMerieux). Sixteen of them decreased L. monocytogenes biofilm colony forming units (CFU) counts. Three strains, Bacillus sp. CCL 9 an unidentified Gram-positive strain CCL 59 and Pseudomonas fluorescens E9. 1, led to a 3-log difference in CFU counts between the pure L. monocytogenes biofilms and the mixed biofilms. Eleven strains had no effect and only four, Kocuria varians CCL 73, Staphylococcus capitis CCL 54, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CCL 47 and Comamonas testosteroni CCL 24, had a positive effect, with a 0.5- to 1.0-log increase in the L. monocytogenes biofilm CFU counts. On its own, L. monocytogenes settled as single cells, but in binary biofilms, different spatial arrangements were observed: (i) with K. varians CCL 73, K. varians CCL 56 and S. capitis CCL 54, L. monocytogenes cells gathered around the microcolonies of the partner strain; (ii) with the two Gram-negative strains, C. testosteroni CCL 24 and CCL 25, L. monocytogenes cells formed its own microcolonies. No link could be found between the exopolysaccharide production capacity of the bacterial strains in pure-culture biofilms and their effect on the L. monocytogenes population in mixed biofilms. With one strain, C. testosteroni CCL 24, adding filter-sterilized supernatant from a pure-culture biofilm to a pure culture of L. monocytogenes increased the number of L. monocytogenes cells adhering to the stainless steel coupons and forming microcolonies. This study suggests that the "house flora" can have a strong effect on the likelihood of finding L. monocytogenes on inert surfaces.

Bacteria↗

Dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes co-occurrence with pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria throughout wastewater treatment processes.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogenic bacteria. Despite advancements in treatment technologies, the persistence of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria remains a concern. In this study, we analyzed the dynamic changes in ARGs and bacterial communities throughout the treatment processes within an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) WWTP over one week by using HT-qPCR coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The connectedness index, based on network analysis, showed that the dynamics of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were more strongly associated with potentially pathogenic bacteria than with non-pathogenic bacteria, suggesting that ARG immigration and dissemination in the WWTP were likely driven by potentially pathogenic taxa. The AAO treatment significantly reduced ARGs in final effluent (EF) (∼64 %) and residual sludge (RS) (∼81 %); however, potential hosts of ARGs such as Comamonas testosteroni and Clostridioides difficile persisted with minimal changes in relative abundance and remained detectable in EF and RS. Notably, the abundance of ARGs was lower in RS than in EF, and source tracking analysis identified influent as the primary source of ARGs and potentially pathogenic taxa in EF, underscoring the greater health risks associated with effluent discharge.

Wastewater↗

Molecular cloning and structural analysis of quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase ADH-IIG from Pseudomonas putida HK5.

Depending on the alcohols used as growth substrates, Pseudomonas putida HK5 produces two distinct quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases, ADH-IIB and ADH-IIG, both of which contain pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and heme c as the prosthetic groups but show different substrate specificities, especially for diol substrates. Molecular cloning of the gene of ADH-IIB and its crystal structure are already reported. Here, molecular cloning of the gene, qgdA, and solution of the three-dimensional structure of ADH-IIG are reported. The enzyme consists of 718 amino acid residues including a signal sequence of 29 amino acid residues. The PQQ domain is highly homologous to other quinoproteins, especially to quinohemoproteins. The crystal structure of ADH-IIG, determined at 2.2A resolution, shows that the overall structure and the amino acid residues involved in PQQ binding are quite similar to ADH-IIB and to another quinohemoprotein ADH, qhEDH from Comamonas testosteroni. However, the lengths of the linker regions connecting the PQQ and the cytochrome domains are different from each other, leading to a significant difference in orientation of the cytochrome domain with respect to the PQQ domain. Apart from ADH-IIB and qhEDH, ADH-IIG has an extra 12-residue helix within loop 3 in the PQQ domain and an extra 3(10) helix in the C terminus of the cytochrome domain, and both helices appear parallel and linked by a hydrogen bond. The amino acid residues contacting substrate/product in the crystal structures are also different among them. In the crystal structure of ADH-IIG with 1,2-propanediol, one of the hydroxyl groups of the substrate forms a hydrogen bond with O5 of PQQ and OD1 of Asp300, and the other interacts with a water molecule and with NE2 of Trp386, the corresponding residue of which is not found in ADH-IIB and qhEDH, and might be the residue responsible for making ADH-IIG prefer diol substrates.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Bacterial diversity in aortic aneurysms determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis.

BACKGROUND: Aortic aneurysms are common vascular conditions that cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Understanding of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the condition remains limited. Recently, infection has been suggested as possible contributor in the development of the disease. The aim of the present study was to examine aortic aneurysms for the presence of bacterial DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, followed by cloning and sequencing. METHODS: Universal eubacterial primers were used to amplify 16S rRNA bacterial genes in 10 specimens from arterial walls of aortic aneurysms. Subsequently, PCR amplicons were cloned into Escherichia coli and sequencing of the cloned inserts was used to determine species identity or closest relatives by comparison with known sequences in GenBank. RESULTS: Sequences of Stenotrophomonas spp., including S. maltophilia (formerly Pseudomonas homology group V) were detected in six aneurysm samples. Propionibacterium acnes was identified in five samples, and Brevundimonas diminuta (formerly P. diminuta) in four samples. Other species previously assigned to the Pseudomonas genus such as Comamonas testosteroni, Delftia acidovorans, Burkholderia cepacia, Herbaspirillum sp., and Acidovorax sp. were also detected. Some clones fell into other environmental species, including Methylobacterium sp. and Bradyrhizobium elkanii, and others represented bacteria that have not yet been cultivated. DNA sequences from oral bacteria, including Streptococcus sanguinis, Tannerella forsythia, and Leptotrichia buccalis were detected. Sequences from Prevotella melaninogenica and Lactobacillus delbrueckii, which are commonly found in both mouth and gastrointestinal tract, were also detected. Additional species included Dermacoccus spp. and Corynebacterium vitaeruminis. CONCLUSIONS: A wide variety of bacteria, including oral bacteria, was found to colonize aortic aneurysms and may play a role in their development. Several of these microorganisms have not yet been cultivated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although Chlamydophila pneumoniae has been detected in aneurysmal walls, its exact role in the condition remains inconclusive. Overall, there is scarce information about the role of microorganisms in aneurysmal disease. In the present study, we used molecular genetics to detect a diversity of bacteria in arterial walls of aortic aneurysms. The presence of multiple microorganisms in aneurysmal disease may have implications for chemoprophylaxis and antibiotic treatment if directed only at C.pneumoniae.

Adult↗

Highly efficient control of iron-containing nitrile hydratases by stoichiometric amounts of nitric oxide and light.

The reaction of two iron-containing nitrile hydratases (NHase) with NO has been studied: NHase from Rhodococcus sp. R312, which is probably similar to the photosensitive N771 NHase, and the new NHase from Comamonas testosteroni NI1 whose aminoacid sequence is quite different from those of BR312 and N771 NHases. Both enzymes are equally inactivated after addition of stoichiometric amounts of NO added as an anaerobic solution or produced in situ under physiological conditions by a rat brain NO-synthase. Both enzymes are reactivated by photoirradiation, and two cycles of NO inactivation/photoactivation can be performed without significant loss of activity. Both iron-containing NHases have a high affinity for NO, similar to that of methemoglobin.

Animals↗

Characterization of an acetate-degrading sludge without intracellular accumulation of polyphosphate and glycogen.

A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in the conventional anaerobic-aerobic mode for enhanced biological phosphate removal (EBPR) using acetate as the sole substrate. Results showed that, however, the reactor was unable to remove phosphate from wastewater. The sludge containing 1.65% of phosphate did not exhibit the typical characteristics of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO) or glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rDNA sequences of individual microorganisms, showed that the microbial community of this acetate-degrading sludge was closely related to Comamonas testosteroni (43.8% of total population) of beta-1-proteobacteria, Zoogloea resiniphila (25.0%) of beta-2-proteobacteria, and Xanthomonas maltophilia (19.8%) of gamma-proteobacteria. Results of this study imply that GAO might not be the sole group of bacteria responsible to the deterioration of phosphate removal efficiency in an EBPR reactor.

Acetates↗

The adsorption of substrate-binding domain of PHB depolymerases to the surface of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid).

The binding characteristic of PHB depolymerase has been studied by using glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins with substrate-binding domain of three bacterial PHB depolymerases, Alcaligenes faecalis, Comamonas acidovorans and Comamonas testosteroni. Analysis using immuno-gold labeling technique and transmission electron microscopy indicated that a novel GST fusion protein derived from A. Faecalis enzyme adsorbed to the surface of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (P(3HB)) single crystals like other fusion proteins. Comparison of inhibiting degree of P(3HB) powder hydrolysis activity of PHB depolymerase by fusion proteins indicated that three fusion proteins bind to P(3HB) powder in the same degree. The measurement of the surface hydrophobicity of proteins suggests that the interaction of the substrate-binding domain with insoluble P(3HB) may include not only a hydrophobic effect but also molecule-specific contacts.

Acyltransferases↗

Substrate and binding specificities of bacterial polyhydroxybutyrate depolymerases.

The substrate specificities of three extracellular polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) depolymerases from Alcaligenes faecalis (PhaZ Afa), Pseudomonas stutzeri (PhaZ Pst), and Comamonas acidovorans (PhaZ Cac), which are grouped into types A and B based on the position of a lipase box sequence in the catalytic domain, were examined for films of 12 different aliphatic polyesters. Each of these PHB depolymerases used was capable of hydrolyzing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)), poly(3-hydroxypropionate) (P(3HP)), poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)), poly(ethylene succinate) (PESU), and poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA) but could not hydrolyze another seven polyesters. In addition, the binding characteristics of substrate binding domains from PhaZ Afa, PhaZ Cac, and PHB depolymerase from Comamonas testosteroni (PhaZ Cte) were studied by using fusions with glutathione S-transferase (GST). All of fusion proteins adsorbed strongly on the surfaces of polyester granules of P(3HB), P(3HP), and poly(2-hydroxypropionate) (P(2HP)) which was not hydrolyzed by the PHB depolymerases used in this study, while they did not bind on Avicel and chitin granules. The adsorption kinetics of the fusion proteins to the surface of P(3HB) and P(2HP) granules were found to obey the Langmuir isotherm. The cross-area per molecule of fusion protein bound to P(3HB) granules was estimated to be 12+/-4 nm2/molecule. It has been suggested that the active sites in catalytic domains of PHB depolymerases have a similar conformational structure, and that several amino acids in substrate-binding domains of PHB depolymerases interact specifically with the surface of polyesters.

Adsorption↗

Characterization of fungal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.

To promote understanding of the evolution of the steroid hormone signalling and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs), comparative characterization of fungal 17beta-HSDs was performed. Constitutive 17beta-HSD activity was determined in cytosols of the fungi: Cochliobolus lunatus, Pleospora herbarum, Fusarium lini, Trichoderma viride, Mucor spinosus, Rhizopus nigricans and Pleurotus ostreatus. The reaction equilibrium in all species except P. ostreatus was shifted towards reduction. The preferential coenzyme for reduction of androstenedione was NADPH, while for oxidation of testosterone, NAD4 was preferred. The highest enzyme activities were found in the Ascomycete C. lunatus (152.4 nmol mg(-1) h(-1)) and in the Basidiomycete P. ostreatus (69.1 nmol mg(-1) h(-1)). No similarities on the protein and mRNA level between fungal 17beta-HSDs and the purified enzyme from C. lunatus were observed. To investigate the nature of these enzymes, 17beta-HSD was purified from P. ostreatus using ammonium sulphate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 35 kDa and is probably a dimer as determined by gel filtration. Chemical modifications exposed Lys, His and Tyr as important for enzyme activity. Additionally, no similarities of C. lunatus and P. ostreatus enzymes were found to bacterial 3alpha,20beta-HSD from Streptomyces hydrogenans, 3beta,17beta-HSD from Comamonas testosteroni and mammalian 17beta-HSD types 1 and 4. The results thus suggest that there are most probably different enzymes responsible for 17beta-HSD activity in filamentous fungi.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

The ethanol oxidation system and its regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 17933, when growing on ethanol, uses a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent ethanol oxidation system. The genes coding for the ethanol oxidizing enzyme, a quinoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase (QEDH), cytochrome c(550), which is an essential component of the electron transport chain and accepts the electrons from QEDH, and an NAD-dependent acetaldehyde dehydrogenase form the exaABC gene cluster. Downstream of the exaBC genes the pqqABCDE gene cluster is found, which codes for proteins essential for biosynthesis of the cofactor PQQ. Also essential for growth on ethanol are an acetyl-CoA synthetase encoded by the acsA gene and a malate:quinone oxidoreductase encoded by the mqo gene. The X-ray structure of the soluble QEDH from P. aeruginosa was solved. It is a homodimeric enzyme and, aside from differences in some loops, the folding of QEDH is very similar to the large subunit of the soluble methanol dehydrogenase of methylotrophs, and the PQQ domain of the quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase from Comamonas testosteroni and P. fluorescens. Transcription from the QEDH (exaA) promoter is regulated by a two component system: a histidine sensor kinase (ExaD), which is presumably located in the cytoplasm, and a response regulator (ExaE). The phenotypic characterization and transcription studies with six regulatory mutants indicate that seven different genes in an hierarchical organization may be involved in regulating the transcription of the ethanol oxidation system and components of acetate metabolism in P. aeruginosa.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗