The beta-mannanase from "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" is part of a multidomain enzyme. (33/115)

The complete sequence of a beta-mannanase gene from an anaerobic extreme thermophile was determined, and it shows that the expressed protein consists of two catalytic domains and two binding domains separated by spacer regions rich in proline and threonine residues. The amino-terminal catalytic domain has beta-mannanase activity, and the carboxy-terminal domain acts as an endoglucanase. Neither domain shows homology with any other cellulase or hemicellulase sequence at the nucleic acid or protein level.  (+info)

Insights into the molecular determinants of substrate specificity in glycoside hydrolase family 5 revealed by the crystal structure and kinetics of Cellvibrio mixtus mannosidase 5A. (34/115)

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond is central to numerous biological processes. Glycoside hydrolases, which catalyze these reactions, are grouped into families based on primary sequence similarities. One of the largest glycoside hydrolase families is glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5), which contains primarily endo-acting enzymes that hydrolyze beta-mannans and beta-glucans. Here we report the cloning, characterization, and three-dimensional structure of the Cellvibrio mixtus GH5 beta-mannosidase (CmMan5A). This enzyme releases mannose from the nonreducing end of mannooligosaccharides and polysaccharides, an activity not previously observed in this enzyme family. CmMan5A contains a single glycone (-1) and two aglycone (+1 and +2) sugar-binding subsites. The -1 subsite displays absolute specificity for mannose, whereas the +1 subsite does not accommodate galactosyl side chains but will bind weakly to glucose. The +2 subsite is able to bind to decorated mannose residues. CmMan5A displays similar activity against crystalline and amorphous mannans, a property rarely attributed to glycoside hydrolases. The 1.5 A crystal structure reveals that CmMan5A adopts a (beta/alpha)(8) barrel fold, and superimposition with GH5 endo-mannanases shows that dramatic differences in the length of three loops modify the active center accessibility and thus modulate the specificity from endo to exo. The most striking and significant difference is the extended loop between strand beta8 and helix alpha8 comprising residues 378-412. This insertion forms a "double" steric barrier, formed by two short beta-strands that function to "block" the substrate binding cleft at the edge of the -1 subsite forming the "exo" active center topology of CmMan5A.  (+info)

Molecular characterization of a Rhodotorula-lytic enzyme from Paecilomyces lilacinus having beta-1,3-mannanase activity. (35/115)

We cloned the gene and corresponding cDNA for an extracellular Rhodotorula-lytic enzyme which has beta-1,3-mannase activity, tentatively named MAN5C, from Paecilomyces lilacinus. MAN5C showed a high homology score with the members of glycoside hydrolase family 5 in a domain search with the Pfam database, indicating that MAN5C is a novel and unique member of glycoside hydrolase family 5.  (+info)

Purification and characterization of goat lysosomal beta-mannosidase using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. (36/115)

Goat beta-mannosidase was purified 120,000-fold in 26% yield from kidney using concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography followed by immunoaffinity and cation-exchange chromatography. When analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by Coomassie Blue staining, the purified enzyme preparation consists of 90- and 100-kDa peptides. Both these peptides react with anti-beta-mannosidase monoclonal antibodies and produce similar electrophoretic peptide patterns when subjected to limited proteolysis. Deglycosylation reduces the size of the 90- and 100-kDa peptides to 86 and 91 kDa, respectively. Goat kidney tissues lacking beta-mannosidase activity, acquired from animals affected with beta-mannosidosis, do not contain detectable quantities of the 90- and 100-kDa peptides as judged by monoclonal antibody reactivity. We postulate that the 90- and 100-kDa peptides represent two related forms of beta-mannosidase.  (+info)

Exogenous gibberellins inhibit coffee (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi) seed germination and cause cell death in the embryo. (37/115)

The mechanism of inhibition of coffee (Coffea arabica cv. Rubi) seed germination by exogenous gibberellins (GAs) and the requirement of germination for endogenous GA were studied. Exogenous GA(4+7) inhibited coffee seed germination. The response to GA(4+7) showed two sensitivity thresholds: a lower one between 0 and 1 microM and a higher one between 10 and 100 microM. However, radicle protrusion in coffee seed depended on the de novo synthesis of GAs. Endogenous GAs were required for embryo cell elongation and endosperm cap weakening. Incubation of coffee seed in exogenous GA(4+7) led to loss of embryo viability and dead cells were observed by low temperature scanning microscopy only when the endosperm was surrounding the embryo. The results described here indicate that the inhibition of germination by exogenous GAs is caused by factors that are released from the endosperm during or after its weakening, causing cell death in the embryo and leading to inhibition of radicle protrusion.  (+info)

The emergence of embryos from hard seeds is related to the structure of the cell walls of the micropylar endosperm, and not to endo-beta-mannanase activity. (38/115)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Seeds of carob, Chinese senna, date and fenugreek are hard due to thickened endosperm cell walls containing mannan polymers. How the radicle is able penetrate these thickened walls to complete seed germination is not clearly understood. The objective of this study was to determine if radicle emergence is related to the production of endo-beta-mannanase to weaken the mannan-rich cell walls of the surrounding endosperm region, and/or if the endosperm structure itself is such that it is weaker in the region through which the radicle must penetrate. METHODS: Activity of endo-beta-mannanase in the endosperm and embryo was measured using a gel assay during and following germination, and the structure of the endosperm in juxtaposition to the radicle, and surrounding the cotyledons was determined using fixation, sectioning and light microscopy. KEY RESULTS: The activity of endo-beta-mannanase, the major enzyme responsible for galactomannan cell wall weakening increased in activity only after emergence of the radicle from the seed. Thickened cell walls were present in the lateral endosperm in the hard-seeded species studied, but there was little to no thickening in the micropylar endosperm except in date seeds. In this species, a ring of thin cells was visible in the micropylar endosperm and surrounding an operculum which was pushed open by the expanding radicle to complete germination. CONCLUSIONS: The micropylar endosperm presents a lower physical constraint to the completion of germination than the lateral endosperm, and hence its structure is predisposed to permit radicle protrusion.  (+info)

Analysis of proteins associated with growth of Bacteroides ovatus on the branched galactomannan guar gum. (39/115)

Bacteroides ovatus, a gram-negative obligate anaerobe from the human colon, can ferment the branched galactomannan guar gum. Previously, three enzymes involved in guar gum breakdown were characterized. The expression of these enzymes appeared to be regulated; i.e., specific activities were higher in extracts from bacteria grown on guar gum than in extracts from bacteria grown on the monosaccharide constituents of guar gum, mannose and galactose. In the present study, we used two-dimensional gel analysis to determine the total number of B. ovatus proteins enhanced during growth on guar gum. Twelve soluble proteins and 20 membrane proteins were expressed at higher levels in guar gum-grown cells than in galactose-grown cells. An unexpected finding was that the expression of the two galactomannanases was induced by glucose as well as guar gum. Three other proteins, one membrane protein and two soluble proteins, had this same expression pattern. The remainder of the guar gum-associated proteins seen on two-dimensional gels and the guar gum-associated alpha-galactosidase were induced in cells grown on guar gum but not in cells grown on glucose. Two transposon-generated mutants (M-5 and M-7) that could not grow on guar gum were isolated. Both mutants still expressed the galactomannanases and the alpha-galactosidase. They also still expressed all of the guar gum-associated proteins that could be detected in two-dimensional gels of glucose-grown or galactose-grown cells. A second transposon insertion that suppressed the guar gum-negative phenotype of M-5 was isolated and characterized. The characteristics of this suppressor mutant indicated that the original transposon insertion was probably in a regulatory locus.  (+info)

Beta-mannosidosis mice: a model for the human lysosomal storage disease. (40/115)

Beta-mannosidase, a lysosomal enzyme which acts exclusively at the last step of oligosaccharide catabolism in glycoprotein degradation, functions to cleave the unique beta-linked mannose sugar found in all N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. Deficiency of this enzyme results in beta-mannosidosis, a lysosomal storage disease characterized by the cellular accumulation of small oligosaccharides. In human beta-mannosidosis, the clinical presentation is variable and can be mild, even when caused by functionally null mutations. In contrast, two existing ruminant animal models have disease that is consistent and severe. To further explore the molecular pathology of this disease and to investigate potential treatment strategies, we produced a beta-mannosidase knockout mouse. Homozygous mutant mice have undetectable beta-mannosidase activity. General appearance and growth of the knockout mice are similar to the wild-type littermates. At >1 year of age, these mice exhibit no dysmorphology or overt neurological problems. The mutant animals have consistent cytoplasmic vacuolation in the central nervous system and minimal vacuolation in most visceral organs. Thin-layer chromatography demonstrated an accumulation of disaccharide in epididymis and brain. This mouse model closely resembles human beta-mannosidosis and provides a useful tool for studying the phenotypic variation in different species and will facilitate the study of potential therapies for lysosomal storage diseases.  (+info)