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Topographical and enzymatic characterization of amylases from the extremely thermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima.

The hyperthermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima uses starch as a substrate, without releasing amylase activity into the culture medium. The enzyme is associated with the 'toga'. Its expression level is too low to allow the isolation of the pure enzyme. Using cycloheptaamylose and acarbose affinity chromatography and common chromatographic procedures, two enzyme fractions are obtained. They differ in specificity, pH-optimum, temperature dependence and stability. Substrate specificity and Ca2+ dependence indicate alpha-, beta- and gluco-amylase activity. Compared with alpha-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (Tmax = 75 degrees C), the amylases from Thermotoga maritima show exceedingly high thermal stability with an upper temperature limit at 95 degrees C. Significant turnover occurs only between 70 and 100 degrees C, i.e. in the range of viability of the microorganism.

Amylases↗

Alternative polyadenylation generates three low-pI alpha-amylase mRNAs with differential expression in barley.

Specific low-pI alpha-amylase genes from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) produced alternative mRNAs with a 17-base 3' extension (extension 1) or a 17-base extension beyond this (extension 2). The extended mRNAs do not arise from splicing of downstream sequences, and not all low-pI genes contain the extended sequences. All three mRNAs occur in aleurones and shoots, while extension 2 is missing from scutella. Also, the unextended mRNAs predominate in total mRNA, but the extended mRNAs predominate in membrane-bound polysomes. The extended sequences do not occur in previously characterized alpha-amylases, but 16 of 18 bases, mainly in extension 1, are identical with a sequence in the 3'-UTR of PAPI, a putative inhibitor of alpha-amylase. These observations suggest that the extended sequences could play a functional role in alpha-amylase expression.

Alternative Splicing↗

A circularly permuted alpha-amylase-type alpha/beta-barrel structure in glucan-synthesizing glucosyltransferases.

A motif of amino acid residues, located at the active site and specific beta-strands in alpha-amylases, is recognized in alpha-1,3- and alpha-1,6-glucan-synthesizing glucosyltransferases, leading to the conclusion that these enzymes contain an alpha/beta-barrel closely related to the (beta/alpha)8-fold of the alpha-amylase superfamily. The secondary structure elements of the transferase barrel, however, are circularly permuted to start with an alpha-helix equivalent to helix 3 in the alpha-amylases. Thus, the transferase counterpart of the long third beta-->alpha connection--constituting a domain in the alpha-amylases--is divided to precede and succeed the barrel. This architectural arrangement may be coupled to sucrose scission and glucosyl transfer. The involvement in the mechanism in glucosyltransferases of active site residues recurring in amylolytic enzymes is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Does cyclic GMP mediate amylase release from mouse parotid acini?

In mouse parotid acini both cholinergic and beta-adrenergic agonists increased intracellular levels of cyclic-GMP (c-GMP) as well as amylase release. The derivative of c-GMP, 8-bromo-c-GMP, mimicked the effects of cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation on amylase release. Nitroprusside (NP), hydroxylamine (HA) and sodium azide (NaA) increased c-GMP levels and also enhanced amylase release in a dose-dependent manner; cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) levels were not affected. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (MIX) enhanced the effects of carbachol on both c-GMP accumulation and amylase release. These results suggest that c-GMP may mediate the actions of cholinergic agonists and at least partially mediate the actions of beta-adrenergic agonists on mouse parotid enzyme release.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Effect of an intracellular calcium antagonist (TMB-8) on carbamylcholine-induced amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini.

During 10-min incubation with increasing concentrations of carbamylcholine (carbachol), amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini increased, became maximal at 2 X 10(-6)M and then decreased. In the concentration range of 10(-7)M to 10(-4)M, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of amylase release induced by a submaximal concentration of carbachol. No inhibitory effect was observed on basal and secretin-stimulated amylase release. TMB-8 showed a significantly greater ability of blocking the action of carbachol than verapamil and diltiazem. TMB-8 could reverse the submaximal stimulation of amylase release caused by supramaximal concentrations of carbachol to a maximal stimulation, while verapamil and diltiazem could not. These results confirm the hypothesis that mobilization of intracellular calcium is the primary step in the action of carbachol on pancreatin acinar cells and contributes to the submaximal secretory response of acinar cells induced by high concentrations of carbachol.

Amylases↗

Cholecystokinin-induced secretion and synthesis of amylase and cationic trypsinogen by pancreatic acini isolated from rats given an ethanol diet.

Effects of chronic alcohol intake on secretion and synthesis of amylase and cationic trypsinogen (CT) were studied with pancreatic acini isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol or control diet for 30 days. Pancreatic acini were incubated in a media containing increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8: 0-1000pM) followed by addition of [3H]leucine. Amylase and CT secreted in the media and those labeled in acini were quantitated. Basal and CCK-stimulated secretion of CT was not different in alcoholic and control groups. On the other hand, a dose-response curve of CCK-stimulated amylase secretion from alcoholic acini was markedly reduced with both basal and maximal secretion decreased to only 40% of controls. Basal incorporation of [3H]leucine into amylase was reduced by 70% in alcoholic acini compared to controls while that into CT was not different in the two groups. CCK-8 exhibited a biphasic effect on [3H]leucine incorporation into both enzymes in alcoholic acini: low concentrations of CCK-8 (less than 100pM) increased the incorporation whereas high concentrations (greater than 100pM) decreased it. However, in control acini, CCK-8 induced progressive suppression of the incorporation into these enzymes, the pattern of which was similar to that previously observed in fasted rats (Am. J. Physiol. 241:G116-G112, 1981). This difference in the response pattern resulted in significantly higher rates of CCK-8 induced incorporation into CT in alcoholic acini. These results suggest that the differences observed may possibly be attributable not only to alcohol intake but also to the differences in carbohydrate intake and in temporal patterns of diet consumption.

Amylases↗

Augmentation of cholinergic-mediated amylase release by forskolin in mouse parotid gland.

Cholinergic-mediated amylase release in mouse parotid acini was augmented by forskolin; the potency but not the maximal response to carbachol was altered. Amylase released by carbachol plus forskolin was dependent on extracellular calcium and was mimicked by the calcium ionophore, A23187 plus forskolin. Forskolin was also shown to enhance carbachol-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake into isolated acini. Hydroxylamine, nitroprusside, and 8-bromo-c-GMP each in combination with forskolin mimicked the effects of carbachol plus forskolin on amylase release. In the presence of carbachol (10(-8)M) forskolin did not augment c-AMP levels. However, in the presence of carbachol (5 X 10(-7) M) or hydroxylamine (50 microM) forskolin did significantly augment c-AMP accumulation. These results suggest that calcium and c-GMP may mediate the augmentation of cholinergic-mediated amylase release by effects on c-AMP metabolism.

Amylases↗

Inhibition of CCK or carbachol-stimulated amylase release by nicotine.

This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms of action of nicotine on receptor mediated enzyme secretion in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Acinar cells were isolated from untreated and nicotine treated rats by collagenase digestion and differential centrifugation. Cells from the untreated animals were incubated with either varying concentrations of nicotine (range 10 microM to 30 mM) or with a fixed dose of 10 mM nicotine with varying concentrations of carbachol(10nM to 100 microM). Cells from the nicotine treated animals(16 weeks in drinking water) were incubated with either a fixed dose of CCK-8(10(-10) M) or carbachol(10(-5) M). All incubations were conducted at 37 C for 30 min. Amylase released in the media was measured by spectrophotometry. In pancreatic acinar cells isolated from control rats, amylase release stimulated by carbachol was inhibited by nicotine. Acinar cells isolated from rats treated with nicotine at nicotine concentrations of 1.23 mM also showed significant inhibition of amylase release in response to CCK-8 and carbachol compared to their identical controls. Nicotine induced inhibition curves of amylase release stimulated by carbachol were non-parallel suggesting that the effect of nicotine on acinar cells is regulated by mechanisms other than carbachol receptors. Nicotine may have a direct inhibitory effect on the intracellular mechanisms of pancreatic enzyme secretion. We conclude that the mechanism by which nicotine inhibits pancreatic enzyme secretion is complex.

Amylases↗

The role of calcium and cyclic nucleotides in alpha-amylase release from slices of rat parotid: studies with the divalent cation ionophore A-23187.

The divalent cation ionophore A-23187 caused a Ca-2+-dependent increase in alpha-amylase release from slices of rat parotid gland. The effect of A-23187 on alpha-amylase release was not caused by release of endogenous agonists since l-propranolol, phentolamine, and atropine had no effect. The magnitude of alpha-amylase release caused by A-23187 was small compared to the effect of isoproterenol. In this respect it more closely resembles the action of cholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonists on alpha-amylase release. A-23187 inhibited the increase in the level of parotid adenosine 3,5'-monophosphate caused by isoprotrenol. The inhibitory effect required incubation of the slices with the ionophore before the addition of isoproterenol. The ionophore also caused a Ca-2+-dependent increase in the level of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP). Theophylline enhanced the effect of A-23187 on the level of cyclic GMP. These results emphasize the role of Ca-2+ in the regulation of parotid cyclic nucleotide levels. Since the effects of the ionophore depended on the presence of Ca-2+, it is possible that some of the effects of agonists on parotid gland physiology are secondary to an action on intracellular Ca-2+ distribution.

Amylases↗

The effect of oral stimulation on human parotid salivary flow rate and alpha-amylase secretion.

Unilateral parotid saliva was collected from ten subjects following oral stimulation with water as baseline, and aqueous solutions of starch (2.5, 5.0, and 10%), sucrose (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 M) sodium chloride (0.075, 0.15, and 0.30 M), and citric acid (0.005, 0.01, and 0.02 M). Salivary flow rate increased with increasing levels of each taste stimulus. At concentrations of equal taste intensity, citric acid evoked the highest flow rate, followed by sodium chloride and sucrose, while starch, in solution, had a minimal effect. Secretion rate patterns for total protein and alpha-amylase mirrored those of flow rate. The total protein and alpha-amylase concentrations of the saliva, and specific activity of alpha-amylase, were influenced by the type but not the concentration of stimulus, with citric acid stimulation resulting in the lowest concentrations and highest specific activity. Sodium ion (Na+) concentration generally increased with increasing stimulated flow rate, while K+, Ca++, and Mg++ concentrations remained relatively constant. Subjects with lower flow rates had a more concentrated saliva than those with high flow, except for Na+ concentration. Oral stimulation resulted in similar changes in protein and alpha-amylase secretion rates for the two groups.

Adult↗

Identification of an ethanol-soluble protein as beta-amylase and its purification from soybean seeds.

In the 60% ethanol extract of soybean seeds, a prominent protein band was visible after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which had a molecular weight of about 55 x 10(3) M(r). This protein was purified to homogeneity by buffered ethanol extraction and preparatory gel electrophoresis. Since the N-terminus was apparently blocked, the protein was cleaved with cyanogen bromide and the largest fragment was isolated and a partial sequence determined. The sequence of the 27 N-terminal amino acid residues matched a published soybean beta-amylase peptide sequence. In addition, the purified protein had a high specific activity for beta-amylase and was not a glycoprotein. Furthermore, the partial sequence (106 nucleotides) of a cDNA clone, isolated from a soybean seed cDNA library by antibody screening, matched the cDNA sequence of soybean beta-amylase except for one base. Therefore, the ethanol-soluble protein was identified as beta-amylase. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity using a two-step purification procedure with a yield of over 50%.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of pancreatectomy on plasma activities of amylase, isoamylase, lipase and trypsin-like immunoreactivity in dogs.

The contribution of the pancreas to the plasma activities of amylase, isoamylase, lipase and the concentration of trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) in the dog was examined by measuring the activities of these enzymes before and after total pancreatectomy. Pancreatectomy was followed by a decrease in the concentration of TLI (from 6.2 +/- 0.3 micrograms litre-1 to 1.2 +/- 0.3 micrograms litre-1; P less than 0.001) and activity of isoamylase peak 4 (from 1257 +/- 105 iu litre-1 to 894 +/- 171 iu litre-1; P less than 0.05). Though significantly reduced, the activities of peak 4 isoamylase were still within the normal range for control dogs. Pancreatectomy did not significantly alter the activities of amylase, lipase or isoamylase peaks 1, 2 and 3. These findings provide strong evidence that the pancreas is not the sole source of circulating amylase, isoamylase and lipase activities. In contrast the marked reductions in TLI to values close to the limits of assay sensitivity suggest that TLI is derived from the pancreas alone. The results indicate that assay of circulating TLI provides a more sensitive and specific indicator of pancreatic exocrine mass than plasma amylase, lipase or isoamylase activities.

Amylases↗

Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic study of an amylase-producing, CA19-9 positive ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

A 75-year-old woman with a right ovarian tumor revealed high levels of serum amylase and CA19-9 which decreased to within normal limits after the operation. A histopathological study of surgically excised tumor tissue revealed a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The tumor was composed of three elements: adenoma, adenoma with low potential malignancy, and adenocarcinoma. Using the light microscopic indirect immunoperoxidase technique for amylase and CEA, and the Avidin-Biotin affinity technique for CA19-9 and CA12-5, the amylase and CA19-9 were stained in the cytoplasm of the adenoma and adenocarcinoma although CEA was stained only in the cytoplasm of the adenocarcinoma. An ultrastructural study using the immunoperoxidase method revealed that CA19-9 was positive in the apical portion of the tumor cells and amylase was positive in the entire secretory vesicles of the tumor cells. Furthermore, ciliated tumor cells derived from fallopian tube epithelium were not observed in the light and electron microscopic specimens.

Aged↗

The two promoters of the mouse alpha-amylase gene Amy-1a are differentially activated during parotid gland differentiation.

Mouse parotid acinar cells differentiate and proliferate mainly after birth. During the first 3 weeks of age, alpha-amylase mRNA, one of the major gene products of the adult tissue, increases from barely detectable to adult levels (10(4) copies/cell). Run-on transcription experiments show that this increase is transcriptionally regulated. Northern blot hybridization and in situ hybridization results indicate that the two promoters of the alpha-amylase gene Amy-1a are differentially switched on. First, the weaker downstream promoter is activated, and by 2 weeks of age, virtually all acinar cells have accumulated the transcript initiated at this promoter. At this age the strong Amy-1a promoter is utilized in only a minor proportion of acinar cells, while in the adult this promoter appears to be active in all acinar cells. Thus, the progressive accumulation of alpha-amylase mRNA during postnatal parotid differentiation is mainly the consequence of progressive acinar cell commitment to expression of the strong parotid-specific Amy-1a promoter. The pattern of committing cells during differentiation suggests that once an acinar cell has initiated expression of parotid-type alpha-amylase mRNA, this commitment is passed on to its daughter cells.

Animals↗

Presence of the bacterial hemoglobin gene improves alpha-amylase production of a recombinant Escherichia coli strain.

A recombinant plasmid (pMK57) was constructed by cloning the Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase gene into pUC8; plasmid pMK79 was then derived from pMK57 by inserting the bacterial (Vitreoscilla) hemoglobin gene into the latter plasmid. Both pMK57 and pMK79 were transformed into Escherichia coli strain JM 103 to make strains MK57 and MK79, respectively. Both MK57 and MK79 produced alpha-amylase and MK79 produced hemoglobin. MK79 outgrew MK57 in shake flasks in LB medium, the advantage of the former appearing in late log phase. MK79 produced more alpha-amylase than MK57, on both per cell and per volume bases, in both mid and late log phases; the maximum advantage of MK79 (on a per volume basis) occurred in late log phase, at which time it produced 3.3 times as much alpha-amylase as MK57. The numbers of copies per cell of both pMK57 and pMK79 were significantly lower than that of pUC8.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Exendin-4, a new peptide from Heloderma suspectum venom, potentiates cholecystokinin-induced amylase release from rat pancreatic acini.

We examined the actions of exendin-4, a new peptide isolated from Heloderma suspectum venom, on dispersed acini from rat pancreas. Exendin-4 caused a 3-fold increase in cAMP but did not alter cellular calcium concentration. Exendin-4-induced increases in cAMP were inhibited by an exendin-receptor antagonist, exendin (9-39)NH2, but not by VIP-receptor antagonists. Whereas up to 1 microM exendin-4 alone did not alter amylase release, potentiation of enzyme release was observed when the peptide (greater than 30 pM) was combined with cholecystokinin. Potentiation of amylase release was also observed when exendin-4 was combined with carbamylcholine, bombesin or a calcium ionophore, A23187. These results indicate that stimulation of exendin receptors on rat pancreatic acini causes an increase in cellular cAMP. Although this increase in cAMP alone does not result in amylase release, combination of exendin-4 with agents that increase cell calcium results in potentiation of amylase release.

Amylases↗

Actions of porcine pancreatic and Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylases and Aspergillus niger glucoamylase on phosphorylated (1--4)-alpha-D-glucan.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) produced O-6-phosphoryl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl -(1--4)-D-glucopyranose (6(3)-phosphoryl maltotriose) and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl- O-3-phosphoryl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--4)-D-glucopyranose (3(2)-phosphoryl maltotetraose) from potato starch upon exhaustive hydrolysis, while Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase (liquefying type) yielded O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--4)-O-6-phosphoryl-alpha-D- -glucopyranosyl-(1--4)-D-glucopyranose (6(2)-phosphoryl maltotriose) and 3(2)-phosphoryl maltotetraose. Thus, the two alpha-amylases cleave different sites in the vicinity of the phosphate group at C-6 of the glucosyl residue but the same site in the vicinity of that at C-3. Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3) hydrolyzed the (1--4)-alpha-linkage of the 6-phosphoryl residue at the non-reducing site (Abe, J., Takeda, Y. and Hizukuri, S. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 703, 26-33) but not that of the 3-phosphoryl residue, leaving a glucosyl residue attached to the 3-phosphoryl residue. These results indicate that the phosphate group at C-3 is more obstructive than that at C-6 for the actions of these three amylases.

Animals↗

Purification and determination of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of mouse alpha-amylase secreted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: correct processing of the secretion signal from pGKL killer 28 kDa precursor protein.

We have previously reported the construction of recombinant mouse salivary alpha-amylase secretion vector in Saccharomyces cerevisiae utilizing novel yeast secretion signal derived from killer 28 kDa precursor protein. Here, we have first purified recombinant mouse alpha-amylase to homogeneity from the culture medium of S. cerevisiae, and determined its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. The sequencing data indicated that the 28 kDa killer secretion signal-alpha-amylase fusion protein was cleaved accurately at its native processing site, and that both the core-glycosylated and non-glycosylated alpha-amylases possessed the same NH2-terminal amino acid sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗