Enzymatic synthesis of phenolic acid glucosyl esters to test activities on cholangiocarcinoma cells

While glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) enzymes mostly catalyze hydrolysis reactions, rice Os9BGlu31 preferentially catalyzes transglycosylation to transfer a glucosyl moiety to another aglycone moiety to form a new glycosylated compound through a retaining mechanism. In this study, Os9BGlu31 was used to synthesize eight phenolic acid glucosyl esters, which were evaluated for activities in cholangiocarcinoma cells. The transglycosylation products of Os9BGlu31 wild type and its mutant variants were detected, produced on a milligram scale, and purified, and their structures were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The transglycosylation products were evaluated by antioxidant and anti-proliferative assays, followed by an anti-migration assay for the selected phenolic acid glucosyl ester. Os9BGlu31 mutants produced higher yield and activity than wild-type enzymes on phenolic acids to produce phenolic acid glucosyl esters. Among these, gallic acid glucosyl ester (β-glucogallin) had the highest antioxidant activity and anti-proliferative activity in cholangiocarcinoma cells. It also inhibited the migration of cholangiocarcinoma cells. Our study demonstrated that rice Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase is a promising enzyme for glycosylation of bioactive compounds in one-step reactions and provides evidence that β-glucogallin inhibits cell proliferation and migration of cholangiocarcinoma cells. KEY POINTS: • Os9BGlu31 transglucosidases produced phenolic acid glucosyl esters for bioactivity testing. • Phenolic acid glucosyl esters were tested for cytotoxicity in cholangiocarcinoma cells. • β-Glucogallin displayed the highest inhibition of cholangiocarcinoma cell growth.

Semi-synthesis of phenolic-amides and their cytotoxicity against THP-1, HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines

In the present study, we derivatized several hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids to phenolic amides (PAMs) via one step BOP mediated amide coupling reactions. Fifteen PAMs were synthesized in >40% yields and were screened for their cytotoxic activities against four cancer cell lines: THP-1 (leukaemia), HeLa (cervical), HepG2 (liver), and MCF-7 (breast), in comparison to 5-flurouracil (5-FU). Four amides showed IC50 ranging from 5 to 55 µM against all four cell lines. In contrast, tetradecyl-gallic-amide (13) affected only THP-1 leukaemia cells with IC50 of 3.08 µM. The activities of these compounds support the promise of phenolic amides as anticancer agents.

Genetic Variants in KCTD1 Are Associated with Isolated Dental Anomalies

KCTD1 plays crucial roles in regulating both the SHH and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are essential for tooth development. The objective of this study was to investigate if genetic variants in KCTD1 might also be associated with isolated dental anomalies. We clinically and radiographically investigated 362 patients affected with isolated dental anomalies. Whole exome sequencing identified two unrelated families with rare (p.Arg241Gln) or novel (p.Pro243Ser) variants in KCTD1. The variants segregated with the dental anomalies in all nine patients from the two families. Clinical findings of the patients included taurodontism, unseparated roots, long roots, tooth agenesis, a supernumerary tooth, torus palatinus, and torus mandibularis. The role of Kctd1 in root development is supported by our immunohistochemical study showing high expression of Kctd1 in Hertwig epithelial root sheath. The KCTD1 variants in our patients are the first variants found to be located in the C-terminal domain, which might disrupt protein-protein interactions and/or SUMOylation and subsequently result in aberrant WNT-SHH-BMP signaling and isolated dental anomalies. Functional studies on the p.Arg241Gln variant are consistent with an impact on β-catenin levels and canonical WNT signaling. This is the first report of the association of KCTD1 variants and isolated dental anomalies.

LRP4 mutations, dental anomalies, and oral exostoses

BACKGROUND

In order to generate a normal set of teeth, fine-tuning of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required, in which WNT ligands bind to their inhibitors or WNT inhibitors bind to their co-receptors. Lrp4 regulates the number of teeth and their morphology by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling as a Wnt/β-catenin activator or inhibitor, depending on its interactions with the partner proteins, such as Sostdc1 and Dkk1.

AIM

To investigate genetic etiologies of dental anomalies involving LRP4 in a Thai cohort of 250 children and adults with dental anomalies.

DESIGN

Oral and radiographic examinations and whole exome sequencing were performed for every patient.

RESULTS

Two novel (p.Leu1356Arg and p.Ala1702Gly) and three recurrent (p.Arg263His, p.Gly1314Ser, and p.Asn1385Ser) rare variants in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4: MIM 604270) were identified in 11 patients. Oral exostoses were observed in five patients.

CONCLUSION

Antagonism of Bmp signaling by Sostdc1 requires the presence of Lrp4. Mice lacking Lrp4 have been demonstrated to have alteration of Wnt-Bmp-Shh signaling and an abnormal number of incisors. Therefore, the LRP4 mutations found in our patients may disrupt Wnt-Bmp-Shh signaling, thereby resulting in dental anomalies and oral exostoses. Root maldevelopment in the patients suggests an important role of LRP4 in root morphogenesis.

Structural basis for inhibition of a GH116 β-glucosidase and its missense mutants by GBA2 inhibitors: Crystallographic and quantum chemical study

The crystal structure of the Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum in glycoside hydrolase family 116 (TxGH116) β-glucosidase provides a structural model for human GBA2 glucosylceramidase, an enzyme defective in hereditary spastic paraplegia and a potential therapeutic target for treating Gaucher disease. To assess the therapeutic potential of known inhibitors, the X-ray structure of TxGH116 in complex with isofagomine (IFG) was determined at 2.0 Å resolution and showed the IFG bound in a relaxed chair conformation. The binding of IFG and 7 other iminosugar inhibitors to wild-type and mutant enzymes (Asp508His and Arg786His) mimicking GBA2 pathogenic variants was then evaluated computationally by two-layered ONIOM calculations (at the B3LYP:PM7 level). Calculations showed that six charged residues, Glu441, Asp452, His507, Asp593, Glu777, and Arg786 influence inhibitor binding most. His507, Glu777 and Arg786, form strong hydrogen bonds with the inhibitors (∼1.4-1.6 Å). Thus, the missense mutation of one of these residues in Arg786His has a greater effect on the interaction energies for all inhibitors compared to Asp508His. In line with the experimental data for the inhibitors that have been tested, the favorable interaction energy between the inhibitors and the TxGH116 protein followed the trend: isofagomine > 1-deoxynojirimycin > glucoimidazole > N-butyl-deoxynojirimycin ≈ N-nonyl-deoxynojirimycin > conduritol B epoxide ≈ azepane 1 > azepane 2. The obtained structural and energetic properties and comparison to the GBA2 model can lead to understanding of structural requirement for inhibitor binding in GH116 to aid the design of high potency GBA2 inhibitors.

SPOTTED-LEAF7 targets the gene encoding β-galactosidase9, which functions in rice growth and stress responses

β-Galactosidases (Bgals) remove terminal β-D-galactosyl residues from the nonreducing ends of β-D-galactosidases and oligosaccharides. Bgals are present in bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants and have various functions. Despite the many studies on the evolution of BGALs in plants, their functions remain obscure. Here, we identified rice (Oryza sativa) β-galactosidase9 (OsBGAL9) as a direct target of the heat stress-induced transcription factor SPOTTED-LEAF7 (OsSPL7), as demonstrated by protoplast transactivation analysis and yeast 1-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Knockout plants for OsBGAL9 (Osbgal9) showed short stature and growth retardation. Histochemical β-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis of transgenic lines harboring an OsBGAL9pro:GUS reporter construct revealed that OsBGAL9 is mainly expressed in internodes at the mature stage. OsBGAL9 expression was barely detectable in seedlings under normal conditions but increased in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ectopic expression of OsBGAL9 enhanced resistance to the rice pathogens Magnaporthe oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, as well as tolerance to cold and heat stress, while Osbgal9 mutant plants showed the opposite phenotypes. OsBGAL9 localized to the cell wall, suggesting that OsBGAL9 and its plant putative orthologs likely evolved functions distinct from those of its closely related animal enzymes. Enzyme activity assays and analysis of the cell wall composition of OsBGAL9 overexpression and mutant plants indicated that OsBGAL9 has activity toward galactose residues of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). Our study clearly demonstrates a role for a member of the BGAL family in AGP processing during plant development and stress responses.

DKK1 is a strong candidate for mesiodens and taurodontism

A mutation in DKK1 gene leads to inhibitory DKK1 function, over-activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling, disruptive development of dental epithelium, and subsequent mesiodens formation.

Reaction Mechanism of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 116 Utilizes Perpendicular Protonation

Retaining glycoside hydrolases use acid/base catalysis with an enzymatic acid/base protonating the glycosidic bond oxygen to facilitate leaving-group departure alongside attack by a catalytic nucleophile to form a covalent intermediate. Generally, this acid/base protonates the oxygen laterally with respect to the sugar ring, which places the catalytic acid/base and nucleophile carboxylates within about 4.5-6.5 Å of each other. However, in glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 116, including disease-related human acid β-glucosidase 2 (GBA2), the distance between the catalytic acid/base and the nucleophile is around 8 Å (PDB: 5BVU) and the catalytic acid/base appears to be above the plane of the pyranose ring, rather than being lateral to that plane, which could have catalytic consequences. However, no structure of an enzyme-substrate complex is available for this GH family. Here, we report the structures of Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum β-glucosidase (TxGH116) D593N acid/base mutant in complexes with cellobiose and laminaribiose and its catalytic mechanism. We confirm that the amide hydrogen bonding to the glycosidic oxygen is in a perpendicular rather than lateral orientation. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations of the glycosylation half-reaction in wild-type TxGH116 indicate that the substrate binds with the nonreducing glucose residue in an unusual relaxed 4C1 chair at the -1 subsite. Nevertheless, the reaction can still proceed through a 4H3 half-chair transition state, as in classical retaining β-glucosidases, as the catalytic acid D593 protonates the perpendicular electron pair. The glucose C6OH is locked in a gauche, trans orientation with respect to the C5-O5 and C4-C5 bonds to facilitate perpendicular protonation. These data imply a unique protonation trajectory in Clan-O glycoside hydrolases, which has strong implications for the design of inhibitors specific to either lateral protonators, such as human GBA1, or perpendicular protonators, such as human GBA2.

A computational study of the reaction mechanism and stereospecificity of dihydropyrimidinase

Dihydropyrimidinase (DHPase) is a key enzyme in the pyrimidine pathway, the catabolic route for synthesis of β-amino acids. It catalyses the reversible conversion of 5,6-dihydrouracil (DHU) or 5,6-dihydrothymine (DHT) to the corresponding N-carbamoyl-β-amino acids. This enzyme has the potential to be used as a tool in the production of β-amino acids. Here, the reaction mechanism and origin of stereospecificity of DHPases from Saccharomyces kluyveri and Sinorhizobium meliloti CECT4114 were investigated and compared using a quantum mechanical cluster approach based on density functional theory. Two models of the enzyme active site were designed from the X-ray crystal structure of the native enzyme: a small cluster to characterize the mechanism and the stationary points and a large model to probe the stereospecificity and the role of stereo-gate-loop (SGL) residues. It is shown that a hydroxide ion first performs a nucleophilic attack on the substrate, followed by the abstraction of a proton by Asp358, which occurs concertedly with protonation of the ring nitrogen by the same residue. For the DHT substrate, the enzyme displays a preference for the L-configuration, in good agreement with experimental observation. Comparison of the reaction energetics of the two models reveals the importance of SGL residues in the stereospecificity of catalysis. The role of the conserved Tyr172 residue in transition-state stabilization is confirmed as the Tyr172Phe mutation increases the activation barrier of the reaction by ∼8 kcal mol^-1. A detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme could offer insight for engineering in order to enhance its activity and substrate scope.

Quercetin Nanoparticle-Based Hypoxia-Responsive Probe for Cancer Detection

In this study, we developed functional nanomaterials via a phenolic-enabled nanotechnology strategy for hypoxia detection employing quercetin (QCT), an abundant flavonoid, as a polyphenolic system. The nano form of QCT was stabilized by coating it with polyethylene glycol (PEG) before loading it with a flavylium dye (Flav) as a pH indicator. The nanosystem, Flav@QCT-PEG, collapsed when it was in an acidic environment, i.e., pH 5, leading to the release of Flav, which activated the fluorescent signal. Therefore, Flav@QCT-PEG was applied to detect hypoxic tumors, known to be acidic, and responded to hypoxic environments in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

A Founder Intronic Variant in P3H1 Likely Results in Aberrant Splicing and Protein Truncation in Patients of Karen Descent with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type VIII

One of the most important steps in post-translational modifications of collagen type I chains is the hydroxylation of carbon-3 of proline residues by prolyl-3-hydroxylase-1 (P3H1). Genetic variants in P3H1 have been reported to cause autosomal recessive osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type VIII. Clinical and radiographic examinations, whole-exome sequencing (WES), and bioinformatic analysis were performed in 11 Thai children of Karen descent affected by multiple bone fractures. Clinical and radiographic findings in these patients fit OI type VIII. Phenotypic variability is evident. WES identified an intronic homozygous variant (chr1:43212857A > G; NM_022356.4:c.2055 + 86A > G) in P3H1 in all patients, with parents in each patient being heterozygous for the variant. This variant is predicted to generate a new "CAG" splice acceptor sequence, resulting in the incorporation of an extra exon that leads to a frameshift in the final exon and subsequent non-functional P3H1 isoform a. Alternative splicing of P3H1 resulting in the absence of functional P3H1 caused OI type VIII in 11 Thai children of Karen descent. This variant appears to be specific to the Karen population. Our study emphasizes the significance of considering intronic variants.

Subtotal Parathyroidectomy Successfully Controls Calcium Levels of Patients with Neonatal Severe Hyperparathyroidism Carrying a Novel CASR Mutation

INTRODUCTION

Inactivating mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene result in neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT). Total parathyroidectomy is an effective way to control life-threatening hypercalcemia in NSHPT but leads to permanent hypoparathyroidism. An alternative surgical option is subtotal parathyroidectomy. However, few cases were reported in the literature. Here, we report two unrelated NSHPT patients, one with a novel homozygous mutation (c.1817T>C; p.Leu606Pro) in CASRand the other with heterozygous for the same mutation who also carried two rare intronic variants in CASR. The outcomes of subtotal parathyroidectomy in these patients are also described.

CASE PRESENTATION

Two infants presented with an alteration of consciousness, respiratory distress, and bradycardia. Severe hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and markedly elevated parathyroid hormone levels were identified, suggesting NSHPT. Cinacalcet was unable to control calcium (Ca) levels of both patients. A novel heterozygous and homozygous missense mutation c.1817T>C; p.Leu606Pro was identified in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Based on the model prediction, proline substitution at Leu606 is likely to disrupt conversion between the active and inactive conformations at the extracellular to transmembrane domain interface of CASR. In addition, two extremely rare intronic variants in CASR (chr3:g.122180314A>G and chr3:g.122251601G>A, based on GRCh38) were identified in patient 1 and his mother. These variants might have contributed to the clinical manifestations of patient 1 who was heterozygous for the c.1817T>C; p.Leu606Pro variant. Subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed by removing three and a half parathyroid glands. So far, patient 1 has been in normocalcemia for 5 years. Patient 2 was in normocalcemia for 16 months after surgery and subsequently developed mild hypoparathyroidism which required only low-dose calcitriol treatment.

CONCLUSION

We report a novel heterozygous and homozygous missense variant (c.1817T>C; p.Leu606Pro) in CASR in two NSHPT patients. The mutation likely disrupts conformational changes of CASR and results in cinacalcet unresponsiveness. Intronic variants in CASR identified in the patient with heterozygous variant might have contributed to the clinical manifestations of the patient. Although total parathyroidectomy is widely accepted as a standard treatment for NSHPT, we demonstrate that subtotal parathyroidectomy is also an effective procedure to normalize Ca levels and allow these patients to be in normocalcemia or mild hypoparathyroidism, which is simply controlled by low-dose calcitriol treatment. Subtotal parathyroidectomy appeared to be an effective treatment for NSHPT regardless of the molecular etiologies.

Mutations in the WLS are associated with dental anomalies, torus palatinus, and torus mandibularis

Background

Canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling are important for odontogenesis. WNT ligand secretion mediator (WLS; MIM611514) is required to transport lipid-modified WNT proteins from the Golgi to the cell membrane, where canonical and non-canonical WNT proteins are released into the extracellular milieu. Biallelic pathogenic variants in WLS are implicated in autosomal recessive Zaki syndrome (ZKS; MIM 619648), the only genetic condition known to be caused by pathogenic variants in WLS.

Objective

To investigate molecular etiology of dental anomalies in 250 patients with or without oral exostoses.

Patients and methods

Clinical and radiographic examination, and whole exome sequencing, were performed in the case of 250 patients with dental anomalies with or without oral exostoses.

Results

Four extremely rare heterozygous missense variants (p.Ile20Thr, p.Met46Leu, p.Ser453Ile and p.Leu516Phe) in WLS were identified in 11 patients with dental anomalies. In five of these patients, a torus palatinus or a torus mandibularis was observed.

Conclusion

We report for the first time the heterozygous WLS variants in patients with dental anomalies. Root maldevelopments in patients with WLS variants supports the role of canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling in root development. We also show that variants in WLS were implicated in torus palatinus and torus mandibularis. In addition, this is the first time that heterozygous carriers of WLS variants were found to manifest phenotypes. WLS variants were likely to have adverse effects on the concentration of WNT ligands delivered to the cell membrane, resulting in aberrant canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling, and subsequent phenotypes.

Limitations of the study

Patient’s positioning during the acquisition of panoramic radiography might have affected the appearance of the tooth structures. If we had all family members of each patient to study co-segregation between genotype and phenotype, it would have strengthened the association of WLS variants and the phenotypes.

Mutations in LRP5 and BMP4 are associated with mesiodens, tooth agenesis, root malformation, and oral exostoses

WNT/β-catenin and BMP signaling pathways play important roles in the process of tooth development. Dysregulation of WNT/β-catenin and BMP signaling is implicated in a number of human malformations, including dental anomalies. Whole exome and Sanger sequencing identified seven patients with LRP5 mutations (p.Asn1121Asp, p.Asp856Asn, p.Val1433Met, and p.Val1245Met) and six patients with BMP4 mutations (p.Asn150Lys, p.Gly168Arg, p.Arg269Gln, and p.Ala42Glu). All patients were affected with isolated dental anomalies (dental anomalies with no other structural defects), including mesiodens, tooth agenesis, unseparated roots, narrow roots, shortened and tapered roots, and taurodontism. Five and a patients with LRP5 and BMP4 mutations had oral exostoses, respectively. Protein models of LRP5 mutations indicate the possible functional effects of the mutations. Here we report for the first time that mutations in LRP5 are associated with dental anomalies. LRP5 appears to be the first gene related to pathogenesis of mesiodens. We also show for the first time that in addition to tooth agenesis, mutations in BMP4 are also implicated in root maldevelopment and torus mandibularis. Sharing the phenotypes of the patients with LRP5 and BMP4 mutations, which include root maldevelopment, tooth agenesis, and torus mandibularis, implicates cross-talks between WNT/β-catenin and BMP signaling pathways, especially during root development.

Novel Dental Anomaly-associated Mutations in WNT10A Protein Binding Sites

OBJECTIVE

WNT/β-catenin signaling is initiated by binding of a WNT protein to a Frizzled (FZD) receptor and a co-receptor, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LRP5/6). The objective of this study was to find the genetic variants responsible for dental anomalies found in 4 families.

METHODS

Clinical and radiographic examination and whole exome sequencing were performed on 5 patients affected with dental anomalies and the mutant proteins modeled.

RESULTS

Five patients were heterozygous for the WNT10A variants, including c.877C>T; p.Arg293Cys, c.874A>G; p.Ser292Gly, c.1042C>T; p.Arg348Cys, and c.1039G>T; p.347GluX. The p.Arg293Cys and p.Ser292Gly mutations are located in the WNT10A N-terminal domain region with binding sites for FZD receptor, porcupine, WNTLESS, and extracellular binding proteins, so they are likely to have adverse effects on binding these proteins. The p.Arg348Cys mutation, which is located in the binding site of LRP5/6 co-receptors, is postulated to result in impaired binding to these co-receptors. The nonsense mutation p.347GluX is predicted to result in the truncation of most of the C-terminal domain, which is likely to disrupt the binding of WNT10A to WNTLESS, the membrane protein that binds lipid-acylated WNT proteins to carry them from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface and FZD.

CONCLUSIONS

Four novel mutations in WNT10A were identified in patients with isolated tooth agenesis. The mutations in the N-terminal domain and the interface between the N- and C-terminal domains of WNT10A in our patients are likely to disrupt its binding with FZD, LRP5/6, and various other proteins involved in WNT10A processing and transport, impair WNT and SHH signaling, and subsequently result in tooth agenesis, microdontia, and root maldevelopment.

Expanding genotypic and phenotypic spectrums of LTBP3 variants in dental anomalies and short stature syndrome

Mutations in LTBP3 are associated with Dental Anomalies and Short Stature syndrome (DASS; MIM 601216), which is characterized by hypoplastic type amelogenesis imperfecta, hypodontia, underdeveloped maxilla, short stature, brachyolmia, aneurysm and dissection of the thoracic aorta. Here we report a novel (p.Arg545ProfsTer22) and a recurrent (c.3107-2A > G) LTBP3 variants, in a Turkish family affected with DASS. The proband, who carried compound heterozygous variant c.3107-2A > G, p.Arg545ProfsTer22, was most severely affected with DASS. The proband's father, who carried the heterozygous variant c.3107-2A > G had short stature and prognathic mandible. The mother and brother of the proband carried the heterozygous variant p.Arg545ProfsTer22, but only the mother showed any DASS characteristics. The c.3107-2A > G and the p.Arg545ProfsTer22 variants are expected to result in abnormal LTPB3 protein, failure of TGFβ-LAP-LTBP3 complex formation, and subsequent disruption of TGFβ secretion and activation. This is the first report of heterozygous carriers of LTBP3 variants showing phenotypes. The new findings of DASS found in this family include taurodontism, single-rooted molars, abnormal dentin, calcified dental pulp blood vessels, prognathic mandible, failure of mandibular tooth eruption, interatrial septal aneurysm, secundum atrial septal defect, tricuspid valve prolapse, and a recurrent glenohumeral joint dislocation.

Inhibition of Ceramide Glycosylation Enhances Cisplatin Sensitivity in Cholangiocarcinoma by Limiting the Activation of the ERK Signaling Pathway

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive tumor of the biliary epithelium with poor survival that shows limited response to conventional chemotherapy. Increased expression of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) contributes to drug resistance and the progression of various cancers; the expression profiles of GCS (UGCG) and the genes for glucocerebrosidases 1, 2, and 3 (GBA1, GBA2, and GBA3) were therefore studied in CCA. The biological functions of GCS for cell proliferation and cisplatin sensitivity in CCA were explored. GCS expression was higher in CCA tumor tissues than that of GBA1, GBA2, and GBA3. Verification of GCS expression in 29 paired frozen CCA tissues showed that 8 of 29 cases (27.6%) had high GCS expression. The expression of GCS and GBA2 was induced in CCA cell lines following low-dose cisplatin treatment. Suppression of GCS by either palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PPMP), GCS knockdown or a combination of the two resulted in reduced cell proliferation. These treatments enhanced the effect of cisplatin-induced CCA cell death, increased the expression of apoptotic proteins and reduced phosphorylation of ERK upon cisplatin treatment. Taken together, inhibition of the GCS increased cisplatin-induced CCA apoptosis via the inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway. Thus, targeting GCS might be a strategy for CCA treatment.

Rice β-glucosidase Os12BGlu38 is required for synthesis of intine cell wall and pollen fertility

Glycoside hydrolase family1 β-glucosidases play a variety of roles in plants, but their in planta functions are largely unknown in rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, the biological function of Os12BGlu38, a rice β-glucosidase, expressed in bicellular to mature pollen, was examined. Genotype analysis of progeny of the self-fertilized heterozygous Os12BGlu38 T-DNA mutant, os12bglu38-1, found no homozygotes and a 1:1 ratio of wild type to heterozygotes. Reciprocal cross analysis demonstrated that Os12BGlu38 deficiency cannot be inherited through the male gamete. In cytological analysis, the mature mutant pollen appeared shrunken and empty. Histochemical staining and TEM showed that mutant pollen lacked intine cell wall, which was rescued by introduction of wild-type Os12BGlu38 genomic DNA. Metabolite profiling analysis revealed that cutin monomers and waxes, the components of the pollen exine layer, were increased in anthers carrying pollen of os12bglu38-1 compared with wild type and complemented lines. Os12BGlu38 fused with green fluorescent protein was localized to the plasma membrane in rice and tobacco. Recombinant Os12BGlu38 exhibited β-glucosidase activity on the universal substrate p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucoside and some oligosaccharides and glycosides. These findings provide evidence that function of a plasma membrane-associated β-glucosidase is necessary for proper intine development.

Total synthesis of ceramides and β-O-glucosylceramides via intramolecular fatty acyl group migration

Fatty acyl group utilized as both protection and migratory group for the synthesis of ceramides and glucosylceramides.

Substrate specificity of glycoside hydrolase family 1 β-glucosidase AtBGlu42 from Arabidopsis thaliana and its molecular mechanism

Plants possess many glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) β-glucosidases, which physiologically function in cell wall metabolism and activation of bioactive substances, but most remain uncharacterized. One GH1 isoenzyme AtBGlu42 in Arabidopsis thaliana has been identified to hydrolyze scopolin using the gene deficient plants, but no enzymatic properties were obtained. Its sequence similarity to another functionally characterized enzyme Os1BGlu4 in rice suggests that AtBGlu42 also acts on oligosaccharides. Here, we show that the recombinant AtBGlu42 possesses high kcat/Km not only on scopolin, but also on various β-glucosides, cellooligosaccharides, and laminarioligosaccharides. Of the cellooligosaccharides, cellotriose was the most preferred. The crystal structure, determined at 1.7 Å resolution, suggests that Arg342 gives unfavorable binding to cellooligosaccharides at subsite +3. The mutants R342Y and R342A showed the highest preference on cellotetraose or cellopentaose with increased affinities at subsite +3, indicating that the residues at this position have an important role for chain length specificity.

Chemoenzymatic and Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of 1,4-Substituted 1,2,3-Triazole-α-d-glucosides with Potent Inhibitory Activity toward Lysosomal α-Glucosidase

α-Glucosyl triazoles have rarely been tested as α-glucosidase inhibitors, partly due to inefficient synthesis of their precursor α-d-glucosylazide (αGA1). Glycosynthase enzymes, made by nucleophile mutations of retaining β-glucosidases, produce αGA1 in chemical rescue experiments. Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticus glucosyl hydrolase 116 β-glucosidase (TxGH116) E441G nucleophile mutant catalyzed synthesis of αGA1 from sodium azide and pNP-β-d-glucoside (pNPGlc) or cellobiose in aqueous medium at 45 °C. The pNPGlc and azide reaction product was purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to yield 280 mg of pure αGA1 (68% yield). αGA1 was successfully conjugated with alkynes attached to different functional groups, including aryl, ether, amine, amide, ester, alcohol, and flavone via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry reactions. These reactions afforded the 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole-α-d-glucoside derivatives AGT2-14 without protection and deprotection. Several of these glucosyl triazoles exhibited strong inhibition of human lysosomal α-glucosidase, with IC50 values for AGT4 and AGT14 more than 60-fold lower than that of the commercial α-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose.

SERPINA1, generalized pustular psoriasis, and adult-onset immunodeficiency

Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome (AOID) with anti-interferon (IFN)-γ autoantibodies is characterized by an AIDS-like illness with disruptive IFN-γ signaling. Patients generally present with recurrent and disseminated opportunistic infections along with neutrophilic dermatoses. Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP; Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man #614204) is characterized by acute generalized erythema and scaling with numerous aseptic pustules. Mutations in SERPINA3 have been reported as predisposing risk factors for both AOID and GPP. Here, we report two unrelated patients, one with AOID and a pustular skin reaction and the other with GPP, who both carried the same heterozygous variant c.718G>A (p.Val240Met) in SERPINA1. Our observation of a shared mutation in SERPINA1 in AOID and GPP indicate possible pathobiological and disease mechanism similarities in these two disorders. Thus, variants in both SERPINA1, SERPINA3, and potentially other SERPIN family members may be associated with the etiology of GPP and AOID.

Action of Multiple Rice β-Glucosidases on Abscisic Acid Glucose Ester

Conjugation of phytohormones with glucose is a means of modulating their activities, which can be rapidly reversed by the action of β-glucosidases. Evaluation of previously characterized recombinant rice β-glucosidases found that nearly all could hydrolyze abscisic acid glucose ester (ABA-GE). Os4BGlu12 and Os4BGlu13, which are known to act on other phytohormones, had the highest activity. We expressed Os4BGlu12, Os4BGlu13 and other members of a highly similar rice chromosome 4 gene cluster (Os4BGlu9, Os4BGlu10 and Os4BGlu11) in transgenic Arabidopsis. Extracts of transgenic lines expressing each of the five genes had higher β-glucosidase activities on ABA-GE and gibberellin A4 glucose ester (GA4-GE). The β-glucosidase expression lines exhibited longer root and shoot lengths than control plants in response to salt and drought stress. Fusions of each of these proteins with green fluorescent protein localized near the plasma membrane and in the apoplast in tobacco leaf epithelial cells. The action of these extracellular β-glucosidases on multiple phytohormones suggests they may modulate the interactions between these phytohormones.

Structural basis for transglycosylation in glycoside hydrolase family GH116 glycosynthases

Glycosynthases are glycoside hydrolase mutants that can synthesize oligosaccharides or glycosides from an inverted donor without hydrolysis of the products. Although glycosynthases have been characterized from a variety of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families, family GH116 glycosynthases have yet to be reported. We produced the Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum TxGH116 nucleophile mutants E441D, E441G, E441Q and E441S and compared their glycosynthase activities to the previously generated E441A mutant. The TxGH116 E441G and E441S mutants exhibited highest glycosynthase activity to transfer glucose from α-fluoroglucoside (α-GlcF) to cellobiose acceptor, while E441D had low but significant activity as well. The E441G, E441S and E441A variants showed broad specificity for α-glycosyl fluoride donors and p-nitrophenyl glycoside acceptors. The structure of the TxGH116 E441A mutant with α-GlcF provided the donor substrate complex, while soaking of the TxGH116 E441G mutant with α-GlcF resulted in cellooligosaccharides extending from the +1 subsite out of the active site, with glycerol in the -1 subsite. Soaking of E441A or E441G with cellobiose or cellotriose gave similar acceptor substrate complexes with the nonreducing glucosyl residue in the +1 subsite. Combining structures with the ligands from the TxGH116 E441A with α-GlcF crystals with that of E441A or E441G with cellobiose provides a plausible structure of the catalytic ternary complex, which places the nonreducing glucosyl residue O4 2.5 Å from the anomeric carbon of α-GlcF, thereby explaining its apparent preference for production of β-1,4-linked oligosaccharides. This functional and structural characterization provides the background for development of GH116 glycosynthases for synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycosides of interest.

Aberrant proteins expressed in skin fibroblasts of Parkinson's disease patients carrying heterozygous variants of glucocerebrosidase and parkin genes

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, and its development is associated with environmental and genetic factors. Genetic variants in GBA and PARK2 are important risk factors implicated in the development of PD; however, their precise roles have yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to identify and analyse proteins from the skin fibroblasts of patients with PD carrying heterozygous GBA and PARK2 variants, and from healthy controls. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and label-free quantitative proteomics were performed to identify and compare differential protein expression levels. Moreover, protein-protein interaction networks were assessed using Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes analysis. Using these proteomic approaches, 122 and 119 differentially expressed proteins from skin fibroblasts of patients with PD carrying heterozygous GBA and PARK2 variants, respectively, were identified and compared. According to the results of protein-protein interaction and Gene Ontology analyses, 14 proteins involved in the negative regulation of macromolecules and mRNA metabolic processes, and protein targeting to the membrane exhibited the largest degree of differential expression in the fibroblasts of patients with PD with a GBA variant, whereas 20 proteins involved in the regulation of biological quality, NAD metabolic process and cytoskeletal organization exhibited the largest degree of differential expression in the fibroblasts of patients with PD with a PARK2 variant. Among these, the expression levels of annexin A2 and tubulin β chain, were most strongly upregulated in the fibroblasts of patients with GBA-PD and PARK2-PD, respectively. Other predominantly expressed proteins were confirmed by western blotting, and the results were consistent with those of the quantitative proteomic analysis. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that the proteomic patterns of fibroblasts of patients with PD carrying heterozygous GBA and PARK2 variants are different and unique. Aberrant expression of the proteins affected by these variants may reflect physiological changes that also occur in neurons, resulting in PD development and progression.

A novel P3H1 mutation is associated with osteogenesis imperfecta type VIII and dental anomalies

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate the molecular etiology of osteogenesis imperfecta type VIII and dental anomalies in 4 siblings of a Karen tribe family.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four patients and their unaffected parents were studied by clinical and radiographic examination. In situ hybridization of P3h1 during early murine tooth development, whole-exome sequencing, and Sanger direct sequencing were performed.

RESULTS

A novel homozygous missense P3H1 mutation (NM_001243246.1; c.2141A>G; NP_001230175.1; p.Lys714Arg) was identified in all patients. Their unaffected parents were heterozygous for the mutation. The mutation is hypothesized to belong to isoform c of P3H1. Mutations in P3H1 are associated with autosomal recessive osteogenesis imperfecta type VIII. Hypodontia, a mesiodens, and single-rooted permanent second molars found in our patients have never been reported in patients with P3H1 mutations. Single-rooted second permanent molars or failure to form multiple roots implies effects of the P3H1 mutation on root development.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a novel P3H1 mutation as the underlying cause of osteogenesis imperfecta type VIII with dental anomalies. Our study suggests that isoform c of P3H1 is also a functional isoform of P3H1. We report, for the first time, to our knowledge, the association of P3H1 mutation and osteogenesis imperfecta type VIII with dental anomalies.

Structural analysis of rice Os4BGlu18 monolignol β-glucosidase

Monolignol glucosides are storage forms of monolignols, which are polymerized to lignin to strengthen plant cell walls. The conversion of monolignol glucosides to monolignols is catalyzed by monolignol β-glucosidases. Rice Os4BGlu18 β-glucosidase catalyzes hydrolysis of the monolignol glucosides, coniferin, syringin, and p-coumaryl alcohol glucoside more efficiently than other natural substrates. To understand more clearly the basis for substrate specificity of a monolignol β-glucosidase, the structure of Os4BGlu18 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystals of Os4BGlu18 and its complex with δ-gluconolactone diffracted to 1.7 and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively. Two protein molecules were found in the asymmetric unit of the P212121 space group of their isomorphous crystals. The Os4BGlu18 structure exhibited the typical (β/α)8 TIM barrel of glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1), but the four variable loops and two disulfide bonds appeared significantly different from other known structures of GH1 β-glucosidases. Molecular docking studies of the Os4BGlu18 structure with monolignol substrate ligands placed the glycone in a similar position to the δ-gluconolactone in the complex structure and revealed the interactions between protein and ligands. Molecular docking, multiple sequence alignment, and homology modeling identified amino acid residues at the aglycone-binding site involved in substrate specificity for monolignol β-glucosides. Thus, the structural basis of substrate recognition and hydrolysis by monolignol β-glucosidases was elucidated.

Characterization of NucPNP and NucV involved in the early steps of nucleocidin biosynthesis in Streptomyces calvus

Nucleocidin 1 produced by Streptomyces calvus is one of five characterized natural products containing fluorine. It was discovered in 1956, but its biosynthesis is not yet completely resolved. Recently, the biosynthetic gene cluster of 1 was identified. The nucPNP gene, which was initially annotated as orf206 and encodes a putative purine nucleoside phosphorylase, is essential for nucleocidin production. In this study, we performed in vitro assays and showed NucPNP produced adenine 3 from methylthioadenosine (MTA) 2 and adenosine 4. We also showed the downstream enzyme, NucV annotated as adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT), catalyzes AMP formation from adenine 3 and 5-phospho-α-d-ribose-1-diphosphate (PRPP) 5. However, the catalytic efficiency of NucV was much slower than its homolog ScAPRT involved in the biosynthesis of canonical purine nucleoside in the same strain. These results provide new insights in nucleocidin biosynthesis and could guide future research on organofluorine formation.

Juberg-Hayward syndrome and Roberts syndrome are allelic, caused by mutations in ESCO2

OBJECTIVE

Juberg-Hayward syndrome (JHS; MIM 216100) is a rare autosomal recessive malformation syndrome, characterized by cleft lip/palate, microcephaly, ptosis, hypoplasia or aplasia of thumbs, short stature, dislocation of radial head, and fusion of humerus and radius leading to elbow restriction. A homozygous mutation in ESCO2 has recently been reported to cause Juberg-Hayward syndrome. Our objective was to investigate the molecular etiology of Juberg-Hayward syndrome in two affected Lisu tribe brothers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two patients, the unaffected parents, and two unaffected siblings were studied. Clinical and radiographic examination, whole exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, Western blot analysis, and chromosome testing were performed.

RESULTS

Two affected brothers had characteristic features of Juberg-Hayward syndrome, except for the absence of microcephaly. The elder brother had bilateral cleft lip and palate, short stature, humeroradial synostosis, and simple partial seizure with secondary generalization. The younger brother had unilateral cleft lip and palate, short stature, and dislocation of radial heads. The homozygous (c.1654C > T; p.Arg552Ter) mutation in ESCO2 was identified in both patients. The other unaffected members of the family were heterozygous for the mutation. The presence of humeroradial synostosis and radial head dislocation in the same family is consistent with both being in the same spectrum of forearm malformations. Chromosome testing of the affected patients showed premature centromere separation. Western blot analysis showed reduced amount of truncated protein.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm that a homozygous mutation in ESCO2 is the underlying cause of Juberg-Hayward syndrome. Microcephaly does not appear to be a consistent feature of the syndrome.

Harboyan syndrome: novel SLC4A11 mutation, clinical manifestations, and outcome of corneal transplantation

Harboyan syndrome or corneal dystrophy and progressive deafness (MIM #217400) is characterized by congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and progressive, sensorineural hearing loss. Mutations in SLC4A11 are responsible for this rare genetic syndrome. Eight patients from seven unrelated families affected with Harboyan Syndrome with mean follow-up of 12.0 ± 0.9 years were thoroughly investigated for the ocular, hearing, and kidney function abnormalities and the outcome of penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Mutation analysis of SLC4A11 was performed. All patients presented with bilateral cloudy corneas since birth. Sensorineural hearing loss was detected in all patients. Seven patients (11 eyes) underwent PK with the median age at surgery of 10.1 years (7.1-22.9). The overall corneal graft survival rate after primary PK was 72.7% (8/11 eyes). The mean graft survival time was 94.6 months (95% CI 83.1-126.0). All patients had unremarkable kidney function. The c.2264G>A (p.Arg755Gln) mutation in SCL4A11 was detected in most patients (87.5%). All unrelated Karen tribe patients had p.Arg755Gln mutation, suggestive of founder effect. We found the allele frequency of this variant in the Karen population to be 0.01. The c.2263C>T (p.Arg755Trp) mutation was found in one patient with mild phenotype and the novel truncating protein mutation c.2127delG (p.Gly710fsx*25) in SCL4A11 was identified in two Thai sisters. Visual outcome and graft survival after PK were satisfactory. Our study shows that all studied patients with SLC4A11 mutations had CHED and sensorineural hearing loss, and SLC4A11 mutations were not related to the onset and severity of hearing loss or outcome of keratoplasty.

Expression of rice β-exoglucanase II (OsExoII) in Escherichia coli, purification, and characterization

Enzymes involved in β-glucan breakdown in plants include endoglucanases, exoglucanases and β-glucosidases. Glycoside hydrolase family 3 (GH3) exoglucanases from barley and maize and a few plant GH3 β-glucosidases have been characterized, but none from rice. A few of these enzymes have been expressed in recombinant yeast and plant systems, but bacterial expression of plant GH3 enzymes has not been successful. We expressed the rice GH3 exoglucanase OsExo2 in Escherichia coli as a thioredoxin fusion protein, while other active plant GH3 enzymes could not be produced in this system. The protein was purified over 2000-fold in three chromatographic steps. The enzyme hydrolyzed β-1,3- and β-1,4-linked oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, consistent with a role in cell wall remodeling. Of the oligosaccharides tested, it had highest catalytic efficiency toward laminaritriose, (apparent k_cat/K_m = 37.7 mM^-1s^-1). Among polysaccharides, OsExoII hydrolyzed barley mixed β-glucan and laminarin with similar efficiencies (apparent k_cat/K_m = 3.7 and 3.4 mL mg^-1 s^-1, respectively), but achieved its highest apparent k_cat with lichenan (2.9 s^-1). OsExoII was found to be stimulated by ethylene glycol, which increased the apparent k_cat and decreased the K_m and was transglycosylated. These results imply that E. coli expression may be successful for certain plant GH3 enzymes and OsExoII may be a useful enzyme for application to glycoside production.

Structural Basis of Specific Glucoimidazole and Mannoimidazole Binding by Os3BGlu7

β-Glucosidases and β-mannosidases hydrolyze substrates that differ only in the epimer of the nonreducing terminal sugar moiety, but most such enzymes show a strong preference for one activity or the other. Rice Os3BGlu7 and Os7BGlu26 β-glycosidases show a less strong preference, but Os3BGlu7 and Os7BGlu26 prefer glucosides and mannosides, respectively. Previous studies of crystal structures with glucoimidazole (GIm) and mannoimidazole (MIm) complexes and metadynamic simulations suggested that Os7BGlu26 hydrolyzes mannosides via the B_2,5 transition state (TS) conformation preferred for mannosides and glucosides via their preferred ⁴H₃/⁴E TS conformation. However, MIm is weakly bound by both enzymes. In the present study, we found that MIm was not bound in the active site of crystallized Os3BGlu7, but GIm was tightly bound in the -1 subsite in a ⁴H₃/⁴E conformation via hydrogen bonds with the surrounding residues. One-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations showed that GIm was stably bound in the Os3BGlu7 active site and the glycone-binding site with little distortion. In contrast, MIm initialized in the B_2,5 conformation rapidly relaxed to a E₃/⁴H₃ conformation and moved out into a position in the entrance of the active site, where it bound more stably despite making fewer interactions. The lack of MIm binding in the glycone site in protein crystals and simulations implies that the energy required to distort MIm to the B_2,5 conformation for optimal active site residue interactions is sufficient to offset the energy of those interactions in Os3BGlu7. This balance between distortion and binding energy may also provide a rationale for glucosidase versus mannosidase specificity in plant β-glycosidases.

Oral manifestations in patients and dogs with mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPS7, also called β-glucuronidase deficiency or Sly syndrome; MIM 253220) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease, caused by mutations in the GUSB gene. β-glucuronidase (GUSB) is a lysosomal hydrolase involved in the stepwise degradation of glucuronic acid-containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Patients affected with MPS VII are not able to completely degrade glucuronic acid-containing GAGs, including chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and heparan sulfate. The accumulation of these GAGs in lysosomes of various tissues leads to cellular and organ dysfunctions. Characteristic features of MPS VII include short stature, macrocephaly, hirsutism, coarse facies, hearing loss, cloudy cornea, short neck, valvular cardiac defects, hepatosplenomegaly, and dysostosis multiplex. Oral manifestations in patients affected with MPS VII have never been reported. Oral manifestations observed in three patients consist of wide root canal spaces, taurodontism, hyperplastic dental follicles, malposition of unerupted permanent molars, and failure of tooth eruption with malformed roots. The unusual skeletal features of the patients include maxillary hypoplasia, hypoplastic midface, long mandibular length, mandibular prognathism, hypoplastic and aplastic mandibular condyles, absence of the dens of the second cervical vertebra, and erosion of the cortex of the lower border of mandibles. Dogs affected with MPS VII had anterior and posterior open bite, maxillary hypoplasia, premolar crowding, and mandibular prognathism. Unlike patients with MPS VII, the dogs had unremarkable mandibular condyles. This is the first report of oral manifestations in patients affected with MPS VII.

Gram scale production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose via enzyme catalysis for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-glucosides

The production of analytical amounts of azido sugars is used as a means of verifying catalytic acid/base mutations of retaining glycosidase, but application of this process to preparative synthesis has not been reported. The catalytic acid/base mutant of Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticus GH116 β-glucosidase, TxGH116D593A, catalyzed the gram scale production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose (1) from p-nitropheyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc) and azide via a transglucosylation reaction. Overnight reaction of the enzyme with pNPGlc and NaN₃ in aqueous MES buffer (pH 5.5) at 55 °C produced 1 (3.27 g), which was isolated as a white foamy solid in 96% yield. This 1 was successfully utilized for the synthesis of fifteen 1,2,3-triazole-β-d-glucosyl derivatives (2–16) containing a variety of functional groups, via click chemistry.

The retaining β-glucosidase acid/base mutant TxGH116D593A catalyzed the production of 1-azido-β-d-glucose for synthesis of 15 1,2,3-triazole β-glucosyl derivatives.

Demonstration of monolignol β-glucosidase activity of rice Os4BGlu14, Os4BGlu16 and Os4BGlu18 in Arabidopsis thaliana bglu45 mutant

The glycoside hydrolase family 1 members Os4BGlu14, Os4BGlu16, and Os4BGlu18 were proposed to be rice monolignol β-glucosidases. In vitro studies demonstrated that the Os4BGlu16 and Os4BGlu18 hydrolyze the monolignol glucosides coniferin and syringin with high efficiency compared to other substrates. The replacement of the conserved catalytic acid/base glutamate residue by a nonionizable glutamine residue in Os4BGlu14 suggested that it may be inactive as a β-glucosidase. Here, we investigated the activities of Os4BGlu14, Os4BGlu16, and Os4BGlu18 in planta by recombinant expression of their genes in the Arabidopsis bglu45-2 (monolignol β-glucosidase) mutant and analysis of monolignol glucosides by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MSMS). The bglu45-2 line exhibits elevated monolignol glucoside levels, but lower amounts of coniferin, syringin, and p-coumaryl alcohol glucoside were seen in Arabidopsis bglu45-2 rescued lines complemented by the Os4BGlu14, Os4BGlu16, and Os4BGlu18 genes. These data suggest that the bglu45-2 mutant has a broader effect on monolignols than previously reported and that the Os4BGlu14, Os4BGlu16 and Os4BGlu18 proteins act as monolignol β-glucosidases to complement the defect. An OsBGlu16-GFP fusion protein localized to the cell wall. This apoplastic localization and the effect of these enzymes on monolignol glucoside levels suggest monolignol glucosides from the vacuole may meet the monolignol β-glucosidases, despite their different localization.

Split hand-foot malformation and a novel WNT10B mutation

We report an Indian girl with split-hand/foot malformation (SHFM), sparse hair, and interrupted eyebrows, who carries a novel homozygous deletion c.695_697delACA in WNT10B. The variant is deduced to cause an in-frame deletion of Asn residue 232 (p.Asn232del). According to the protein model, this single amino acid deletion at the critical position in the protein structure is likely to severely affect the protein structure and function. This deletion is likely to lead decreased lifetime and make it unable to bind to its receptors and other ligands. The patient and all family members had normal bone density and they were not obese like some of the patients with WNT10B variants. Here we report a patient with SHFM6 who carried a novel WNT10B mutation. Sparse hair and interrupted eyebrows may be associated findings of SHFM6.

Virtual Screening and Prediction of Binding of Caprine CSN1S2 Protein Tryptic Peptides to Glucokinase

Introduction:

Glucokinase (hexokinase D) is an enzyme that phosphorylates glucose in hepatocytes totrap it in the cell and prime it for conversion to other compounds, yet this enzyme has low affinity to bind with glucose. In Diabetes Mellituspatients, the blood glucose level is poorly controled.

Material and Methods:

This study explored the possibility to induce glucokinase activity with bioactive peptides derived from the goat milk protein CSN1S2 by in- silico docking approach. Two bioactive tryptic peptides, CSN1S2 residues 41-47 and 214-221, were successfully docked to glucokinase and found to bind to the activation site.

Results:

Amino acid residues Asn41, Ala43, His45 and Arg221 from these peptides provided the major contribution to docking to glucokinase. Asn41 made more interactions with glucokinase than the other residues in the peptide, including hydrogen bonds and salt-bridge These bioactive peptides appear to help glucokinase to bind glucose, since the number of hydrogen bonds between the protein and the glucose was higher and their distances shorter in the complex with the peptides without disturbing the glucose position for phosphorylation.

Conclusion:

Thus, the activation effect of the CSN1S2 derived bioactive peptides for glucokinase binding affinity of glucose is indicated by this study.

Bacterial β-Glucosidase Reveals the Structural and Functional Basis of Genetic Defects in Human Glucocerebrosidase 2 (GBA2)

Human glucosylcerebrosidase 2 (GBA2) of the CAZy family GH116 is responsible for the breakdown of glycosphingolipids on the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Genetic defects in GBA2 result in spastic paraplegia and cerebellar ataxia, while cross-talk between GBA2 and GBA1 glucosylceramidases may affect Gaucher disease. Here, we report the first three-dimensional structure for any GH116 enzyme, Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum TxGH116 β-glucosidase, alone and in complex with diverse ligands. These structures allow identification of the glucoside binding and active site residues, which are shown to be conserved with GBA2. Mutagenic analysis of TxGH116 and structural modeling of GBA2 provide a detailed structural and functional rationale for pathogenic missense mutations of GBA2.

β-Glucosidases: Multitasking, moonlighting or simply misunderstood?

β-Glucosidases have a wide range of functions in plants, including roles in recycling of cell-wall oligosaccharides, defense, phytohormone signaling, secondary metabolism, and scent release, among others. It is not always clear which one is responsible for a specific function, as plants contain a large set of β-glucosidases. However, progress has been made in recent years in elucidating these functions. To help understand what is known and what remains ambiguous, we review the general approaches to investigating plant β-glucosidase functions. We consider information that has been gained regarding glycoside hydrolase family 1 enzyme functions utilizing these approaches in the past decade. In several cases, one enzyme has been assigned different biological functions by different research groups. We suggest that, at least in some cases, the ambiguity of an enzyme's function may come from having multiple functions that may help coordinate the response to injury or other stresses.

Identification of Fatty Acid Glucose Esters as Os9BGlu31 Transglucosidase Substrates in Rice Flag Leaves

Rice Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase transfers glucosyl moieties between various carboxylic acids and alcohols, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, in vitro. The role of Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase in rice plant metabolism has only been suggested to date. Methanolic extracts of rice bran and leaves were found to contain oleic acid and linoleic acid to which Os9BGlu31 could transfer glucose from the 4-nitrophenyl β-D-glucoside (4NPGlc) donor to form 1-O-acyl glucose esters. Os9BGlu31 showed higher activity with oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) than with stearic acid (18:0) and had both a higher kcat and a higher Km for linoleic than oleic acid in the presence of 8 mM 4NPGlc donor. Os9BGlu31 knockout mutant rice lines were found to have significantly larger amounts of fatty acid glucose esters than wild-type control lines. Because the transglucosylation reaction is reversible, these data suggest that fatty acid glucose esters act as glucosyl donor substrates for Os9BGlu31 transglucosidase in rice.

Identification of rice Os4BGlu13 as a β-glucosidase which hydrolyzes gibberellin A4 1-O-β-d-glucosyl ester, in addition to tuberonic acid glucoside and salicylic acid derivative glucosides

Gibberellin 1-O-β-d-glucose ester hydrolysis activity has been detected in rice seedling extracts, but no enzyme responsible for this activity has ever been purified and identified. Therefore, gibberellin A4 glucosyl ester (GA4-GE) β-d-glucosidase activity was purified from ten-day rice seedling stems and leaves. The family 1 glycoside hydrolase Os4BGlu13 was identified in the final purification fraction. The Os4BGlu13 cDNA was amplified from rice seedlings and expressed as an N-terminal thioredoxin-tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant Os4BGlu13 protein (rOs4BGlu13) had an optimum pH of 4.5, for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc), which was the best substrate identified, with a kcat/Km of 637 mM(-1) s(-1). rOs4BGlu13 hydrolyzed helicin best among natural glycosides tested (kcat/Km of 74.4 mM(-1) s(-1)). Os4BGlu13 was previously designated tuberonic acid glucoside (TAG) β-glucosidase (TAGG), and here the kcat/Km of rOsBGlu13 for TAG was 6.68 mM(-1) s(-1), while that for GA4-GE was 3.63 mM(-1) s(-1) and for salicylic acid glucoside (SAG) is 0.88 mM(-1) s(-1). rOs4BGlu13 also hydrolyzed oligosaccharides, with preference for short β-(1 → 3)-linked over β-(1 → 4)-linked glucooligosaccharides. The enzymatic data suggests that Os4BGlu13 may contribute to TAG, SAG, oligosaccharide and GA4-GE hydrolysis in the rice plant, although helicin or a similar compound may be its primary target.