Interaction of soybean beta-amylase with glucose. (57/76)

The interaction of soybean beta-amylase with glucose was investigated by inhibition kinetics studies and spectroscopic measurements. The inhibition type, inhibitor constant (Ki) and dissociation constant (Kd) of beta-amylase-glucose complex were dependent on pH. At pH 8.0, glucose behaved as a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 34 mM). Binding of glucose produced a characteristic difference spectrum and a change of circular dichroism (CD) at pH 8.1. By using difference absorbance at 292 nm and difference ellipticity at 290 nm, Kd values for beta-amylase-glucose complex were determined to be 45 and 46 mM, respectively. In contrast to pH 8.0, glucose behaved as a mixed-type inhibitor (Ki = 320 mM) at pH 5.4. The Kd values obtained from the difference spectrum were increased by lowering the pH from 8. The pH dependence of the Ki and Kd values suggested that one ionizable group of pK = 8.0, which is shifted to 6.9 by the binding of glucose, controls the binding affinity of glucose. The binding of glucose competed with the binding of cyclohexaamylose and maltose at pH 8.0. The modification of SH groups of the enzyme affected the binding of glucose but did not affect the binding of maltose or cyclohexaamylose at pH 8.0. It was concluded from these results that the binding site of glucose is different from that of maltose and cyclohexaamylose. Presumably, glucose may bind to the subsite 1 of soybean beta-amylase.  (+info)

Purification and characterization of a novel thermostable beta-amylase from Clostridium thermosulphurogenes. (58/76)

An extracellular beta-amylase from Clostridium thermosulphurogenes was purified 811-fold to homogeneity, and its general molecular, physico-chemical and catalytic properties were determined. The native enzyme was a tetramer of 210 kDa composed of a single type subunit; its 20 amino acid N-terminus displayed 45% homology with Bacillus polymyxa beta-amylase. The beta-amylase was enriched in both acidic and hydrophobic amino acids. The pure enzyme displayed an isoelectric point of 5.1 and a pH activity optimum of 5.5. The optimum temperature for beta-amylase activity was 75 degrees C, and enzyme thermostability at 80 degrees C was enhanced by substrate and Ca2+ addition. The beta-amylase hydrolysed amylose to maltose and amylopectin and glycogen to maltose and limit dextrins, and it was inhibited by alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins. The enzyme displayed kcat. and Km values for boiled soluble starch of 400,000 min-1 per mol and 1.68 mg/ml, respectively. The enzyme was antigenically distinct from plant beta-amylases.  (+info)

Development of synbiotics with inulin, palatinose, alpha-cyclodextrin and probiotic bacteria. (59/76)

Success in creating a synbiotic depends on compatibility between the chosen components--prebiotic and probiotic. In this work the interactions between Lactobacillus sp. strains isolated from yogurts and type strains of Lactobacillus sp. and Lactococcus sp., and the dependence of their growth and antibacterial activity on three oligosaccharides (OS)--palatinose, inulin and alpha-cyclodextrin were investigated. All isolated lactobacilli produce antibacterial compounds, which possibly are the bacteriocins of Lactobacillus casei ATCC334 strain. Results of growth analysis with different OS revealed that part of lactobacilli isolated from yogurts can effectively ferment inulin and may be used for the development of synbiotics. Palatinose and Lactobacillus acidophilus could be used as symbiotics with effective antibacterial activity. One of the types of Lactococcus sp. strains can assimilate palatinose and alpha-cyclodextrin, so they both can be used as components of synbiotics with the investigated lactococci. Results of this analysis suggest that the investigated isolated and type strains of Lactobacillus sp. and Lactoccocus sp. can be useful as probiotics in the development of synbiotics. Together with prebiotics--palatinose, inulin and alpha-cyclodextrin, the synbiotics, which could regulate not only the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, but also their antibacterial activity, can be created.  (+info)

Differential effects of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins on human erythrocytes. (60/76)

Alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins are cyclic hexamers, heptamers, and octamers of glucose, respectively, and thus are hydrophilic; nevertheless, they have the ability to solubilize lipids through the formation of molecular inclusion complexes. The volume of lipophilic space involved in the solubilization process increases with the number of glucose units in the cyclodextrin molecule and, consequently, cyclodextrins were found to have different effects on human erythrocytes: (a) in the induction of shape change from discocyte to spherocyte the potency was observed to be alpha greater than gamma, but with beta-cyclodextrin hemolysis occurred before the change was complete; (b) in the increase of fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate in cyclodextrin-pretreated membranes, the observed potency was beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha; (c) in the release of potassium and hemoglobin, the potency was beta greater than alpha greater than gamma. The potencies of cyclodextrin for solubilizing various components of erythrocytes were alpha greater than beta much greater than gamma for phospholipids, beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha for cholesterol and beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha for proteins. The solubilization potencies were derived from concentration/final-effect curves. The above processes occurred without entry of solubilizer into the membrane, since (a) beta-[14C]cyclodextrin did not bind to erythrocytes and (b) cyclodextrins did not enter the cholesterol monolayer. A study of the [3H]cholesterol in erythrocytes indicated that beta-cyclodextrin extracted this lipid from membrane into a new compartment located in the aqueous phase which could equilibrate rapidly with additional erythrocytes. Therefore, the effects of cyclodextrins differ from those of detergents which first incorporate themselves into membranes then extract membrane components into supramolecular micelles.  (+info)

Difference spectroscopic study of the interaction between soybean beta-amylase and substrate or substrate analogues. (61/76)

1. In order to investigate the interactions between soybean beta-amylase [EC 3.2.1.2] and ligands (maltotriose as substrate, and maltose and alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins as inhibitors for the hydrolysis of maltoheptaose), the difference spectra were measured at 25 degrees C and pH 5.4, in 0.05 M acetate buffer. Each difference spectrum produced by these ligands showed a clear peak at 292-293 nm due to a tryptophan residue. In addition to this peak, the spectra of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins showed a specific peak at 298-299 nm, and that of maltotriose showed a shoulder at 298 nm. 2. From the concentration dependency of the difference molar extinction delta epsilon, at 292-293 nm or at 298-299 nm, the dissociation constant of the enzyme-ligand complex, Kd, was evaluated for maltotriose, and alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins. For each ligand, the Kd values obtained at these two wavelengths were in good agreement with Michaelis constant, Km, or the inhibitor constant, Ki. The Kd value for maltose obtained from the titration of delta epsilon at 292 nm was also in good agreement with Ki. 3. Maltose produced a hydrophobic change in the environment of the tryptophan residue, while the interactions of maltotriose, and alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins with this enzyme caused an electrostatic change in the vicinity of the tryptophan residue in addition to the hydrophobic change. Since the signal at 298-299 nm was not found in the difference spectrum of maltose, this signal may be due to a tryptophan residue different from that which produces the signal at 292-293 nm. If both the signals are due to the same tryptophan residue, we must conclude that some conformational change is caused in the enzyme active site by the ligand binding.  (+info)

Studies on experimental immune complex nephritis (3). Therapeutic effect of prostaglandin E1 alpha-cyclodextrin host molecule (PGE1 . CD) on serum sickness nephritis in rats. (62/76)

The effect of prostaglandin E1 alpha-cyclodextrin host molecule (PGE1 . CD) was estimated by using a model of immune complex glomerulonephritis induced in rats by i.v. injection of 1 mg of rabbit serum albumin every other day. PGE1 . CD was given subcutaneously for 10 days after nephritis was definitely induced and resulted in a rapid restoration of various biochemical parameters, especially in plasma. The continuous s.c. administration of PGE1 . CD (300 micrograms/rat/day) with a mini osmotic pump provoked a therapeutic effect similar to that obtained with twice daily s.c. administration of PGE1 . CD (300 micrograms/rat X 2/day). Both PGE1 . CD groups revealed less glomerular damage and fewer locations of immune complexes in glomeruli as demonstrated by light and immunofluorescence microscopy. The beneficial effect of PGE1 . CD may be associated with reduced immune complex deposits in glomeruli. The present studies suggest that PGE1 . CD may enhance the clearance of immune complex deposits from the glomeruli rather than inhibiting the formation of immune complex in the circulation.  (+info)

Effect of cyclodextrins on the solubilization of lignoceric acid, ceramide, and cerebroside, and on the enzymatic reactions involving these compounds. (63/76)

alpha-Cyclodextrin at concentrations of 1-8 mM helps dissolve, in aqueous solution, fatty acids such as lignoceric, stearic, and palmitic, and complex lipids such as ceramide and cerebroside that contain these acids. Formation of an inclusion complex was indicated on examination of the solution by gel filtration. alpha-Cyclodextrin strikingly increased synthesis of ceramide from sphingosine and either free lignoceric or stearic acid by rat brain preparations. These results suggest the further use of alpha-cyclodextrin in lipid enzymology, especially in relation to sphingolipid metabolism.  (+info)

Crystallographic studies of the interaction of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Bacillus circulans strain 251 with natural substrates and products. (64/76)

Asp-229, Glu-257, and Asp-328 constitute the catalytic residues in cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase from Bacillus circulans strain 251. Via site-directed mutagenesis constructed D229N, E257Q, and D328N mutant proteins showed a 4,000-60,000-fold reduction of cyclization activity. A D229N/E257Q double mutant showed a 700,000-fold reduction and was crystallized for use in soaking experiments with alpha-cyclodextrin. Crystal structures were determined of wild type CGTase soaked at elevated pH with alpha-cyclodextrin (resolution, 2.1 A) and maltoheptaose (2.4 A). In addition, structures at cryogenic temperature were solved of the unliganded enzyme (2.2 A) and of the D229N/E257Q mutant after soaking with alpha-cyclodextrin (2.6 A). In the crystals soaked in alpha-cyclodextrin and maltoheptaose, a maltotetraose molecule is observed to bind in the active site. Residue 229 is at hydrogen bonding distance from the C-6 hydroxyl group of the sugar, which after cleavage will contain the new reducing end. In the D229N/E257Q double mutant structure, two alpha-cyclodextrins are observed to replace two maltoses at the E-domain, thus providing structural information on product inhibition via binding to the enzyme's raw starch binding domain.  (+info)