Different forms of pig liver esterase

A novel method of producing the key intermediate ASI-2 of ranirestat using a porcine liver esterase (PLE) substitute enzyme

(R)-2-amino-2-ethoxycarbonylsuccinimide (ASI-2) is a key intermediate used in the pharmaceutical industry and is valuable for the industrial synthesis of ranirestat, which is a potent aldose reductase inhibitor. ASI-2 was synthesized in a process combining chemical synthesis and bioconversion. Bioconversion in this study is a key reaction, since optically active carboxylic acid derivative ((R)-1-ethyl hydrogen 3-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-ethoxycarbonylsuccinate, Z-MME-AE) is synthesized from a prochiral ester, diethyl 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-ethoxycarbonylsuccinate, Z-MDE-AE, at a theoretical yield of 100%. Upon screening for microorganisms that asymmetrically hydrolyze Z-MDE-AE, Bacillus thuringiensis NBRC13866 was found. A novel esterase EstBT that produces Z-MME-AE was purified from Bacillus thuringiensis NBRC13866 and was stably produced in Escherichia coli JM109 cells. Using EstBT rather than porcine liver esterase (PLE), ASI-2 was synthesized with a 17% higher total yield by a novel method, suggesting that the esterase EstBT is a PLE substitute enzyme and therefore, may be of interest for future industrial applications.

Breed Differences in Pig Liver Esterase (PLE) between Tongcheng (Chinese Local Breed) and Large White Pigs

Human carboxylesterases has been proven to be age and race-related and a sound basis of clinical medication. PLE involve in signal transduction and highly catalyze hydrolysis. Therefore, the expression level of PLE most probably exist age and breed difference and lead to significant differences of pharmacology and physiology. Four age groups of Tongcheng (TC) and Large White (LW) pigs were selected to explore PLE breed and age differences, and it was found that PLE mRNA was most abundant in liver in both breeds. In liver, PLE levels and hydrolytic activities increased with age, and PLE levels (except for 3 month) and the hydrolytic activities were higher in LW than in TC across all age groups. Abundance of PLE isoenzymes was obvious different between breeds and among age groups. The most abundant PLE isoenzyme in LW and TC pigs was PLE-A1 (all age groups) and PLE-B9 (three early age groups) or PLE-G3 (adult groups), respectively. 103 new PLE isoenzymes were found, and 55 high-frequency PLE isoenzymes were accordingly classified into seven categories (A-G). The results of this research provide a necessary basis not only for clinical medication of pigs but also for pig breeding purposes.

Third-Generation Sequencing and Analysis of Four Complete Pig Liver Esterase Gene Sequences in Clones Identified by Screening BAC Library

AIM

Pig liver carboxylesterase (PLE) gene sequences in GenBank are incomplete, which has led to difficulties in studying the genetic structure and regulation mechanisms of gene expression of PLE family genes. The aim of this study was to obtain and analysis of complete gene sequences of PLE family by screening from a Rongchang pig BAC library and third-generation PacBio gene sequencing.

METHODS

After a number of existing incomplete PLE isoform gene sequences were analysed, primers were designed based on conserved regions in PLE exons, and the whole pig genome used as a template for Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Specific primers were then selected based on the PCR amplification results. A three-step PCR screening method was used to identify PLE-positive clones by screening a Rongchang pig BAC library and PacBio third-generation sequencing was performed. BLAST comparisons and other bioinformatics methods were applied for sequence analysis.

RESULTS

Five PLE-positive BAC clones, designated BAC-10, BAC-70, BAC-75, BAC-119 and BAC-206, were identified. Sequence analysis yielded the complete sequences of four PLE genes, PLE1, PLE-B9, PLE-C4, and PLE-G2. Complete PLE gene sequences were defined as those containing regulatory sequences, exons, and introns. It was found that, not only did the PLE exon sequences of the four genes show a high degree of homology, but also that the intron sequences were highly similar. Additionally, the regulatory region of the genes contained two 720bps reverse complement sequences that may have an important function in the regulation of PLE gene expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first report to confirm the complete sequences of four PLE genes. In addition, the study demonstrates that each PLE isoform is encoded by a single gene and that the various genes exhibit a high degree of sequence homology, suggesting that the PLE family evolved from a single ancestral gene. Obtaining the complete sequences of these PLE genes provides the necessary foundation for investigation of the genetic structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms of the PLE gene family.

Creation of novel chiral synthons with enzymes: application to enantioselective synthesis of antibiotics

Retrosynthesis was carried out to generate, from a target molecule, a symmetric diester in the prochiral or meso form. The symmetric diester was subjected to asymmetric hydrolysis with pig liver esterase to create the corresponding chiral half-ester. The chiral half-ester was converted into the target molecule by organic synthesis. Thus, various types of carbapenem antibiotics, negamycin, showdomycin, 6-azapseudouridine, cordycepin, aristeromycin, neplanocin A, and precursors of fortimicin were efficiently synthesized with the desired absolute configuration. The methods for asymmetric synthesis starting from substrates with sigma-symmetry have been extensively developed.

Extending the applicability of esterases of low enantioselectivity in asymmetric synthesis

A strategy for expanding the applicability of esterases of low enantioselectivity for asymmetric synthesis is described. This concept is generally applicable to biochemical processes involving enantiotopic group differentiation. Quantitative expressions have been derived to permit the prediction of enantiomeric excess and the optimization of optical and chemical yields.

Identification of pig liver esterase variants by tandem mass spectroscopy analysis and their characterization

Pig liver esterase (PLE) is probably the most important carboxyl esterase in organic synthesis and is commercially obtained by extraction of the animal tissue. However, problems occur in its application due to the presence of several isoenzymes (alpha-, beta- and gamma-PLE). The functional expression of the gamma-isoenzyme was already shown and differences in the enantioselectivity compared to the commercial preparations were confirmed. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences of the alpha- and beta-PLE are still unknown. In this work, putative sequences of the alpha-isoenzyme were identified from a commercial PLE preparation by 2D gel electrophoresis, digestion with proteases and analysis using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (TOF) and electrospray ionisation quadrupole-TOF mass spectrometry. Based on these results, three amino acid exchanges were introduced into the gene encoding gamma-rPLE by site-directed mutagenesis, and the proteins were expressed in E. coli Origami (DE3). The produced PLE mutants were characterised with respect to their substrate specificity and enantioselectivity. No significant differences in the activity towards methyl butyrate were found, but several variants showed substantially enhanced enantioselectivity in the resolution of (R,S)-1-phenyl-2-butyl acetate with E = 100 for the best mutant V236P/A237G.

Synthesis of 1-β-O-acyl glucuronides of diclofenac, mefenamic acid and (S)-naproxen by the chemo-selective enzymatic removal of protecting groups from the corresponding methyl acetyl derivatives

Using a straightforward chemo-enzymatic procedure, 1-beta-O-acyl glucuronides of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac (DF) 5, mefenamic acid (MF) 6 and (S)-naproxen (NP) 7, were prepared. Caesium salts of these carboxylic acid drugs reacted with commercially available methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-bromo-1-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranuronate 4 to give exclusively the corresponding 1-beta-O-acyl glucuronides 8-10 in moderate yields. The protecting acetyl (for -OH group) and methyl ester (for -CO2H group) groups of each sugar moiety were easily removed to provide the corresponding free 1-beta-O-acyl glucuronides 1-3 in high yields. Deprotection was achieved through effective enzyme-catalysed chemo-selective hydrolyses of the acetyl groups using lipase AS Amano (LAS), and of the methyl ester group using esterase from porcine liver (PLE).

A molecular mechanism of enantiorecognition of tertiary alcohols by carboxylesterases

Carboxylesterases containing the sequence motif GGGX catalyze the hydrolysis of esters of chiral tertiary alcohols, albeit with only low to moderate enantioselectivity, for three model substrates (linalyl acetate, methyl-1-pentin-1-yl acetate, 2-phenyl-3-butin-2-yl acetate). In order to understand the molecular mechanism of enantiorecognition and to improve enantioselectivity for this interesting substrate class, the interaction of both enantiomers with the substrate binding sites of acetylcholinesterases and p-nitrobenzyl esterase from Bacillus subtilis was modeled and correlated to experimental enantioselectivity. For all substrate-enzyme pairs, enantiopreference and ranking by enantioselectivity could be predicted by the model. In p-nitrobenzyl esterase, one of the key residues in determining enantioselectivity was G105: exchange of this amino acid for an alanine residue led to a sixfold increase of enantioselectivity (E = 19) towards 2-phenyl-3-butin-2-yl acetate. However, the effect of this mutation is specific: the same mutant had the opposite enantiopreference towards the substrate linalyl acetate. Thus, depending on the substrate structure, the same mutant has either increased enantioselectivity or opposite enantiopreference compared to the wild-type enzyme.

In vitro metabolism studies of the prodrug, 2',3',5'-triacetyl-6-azauridine, utilizing an automated analytical system

The purpose was to study in vitro metabolism of 2',3',5'-triacetyl-6-azauridine (1) by porcine liver esterase (PLE) and in human plasma using an automated analytical system developed previously. A gradient-LC method was developed to study the concentration-time course of 1 and its metabolites. A fast-LC assay was used to study the temperature effect on the metabolism of 1 by the PLE. 1 and all of its proposed possible metabolites were separated by the gradient-LC method in less than 10 min. Two simplified kinetic schemes were developed to describe the time course of 1, the intermediates and final metabolites with only five rate constants for the metabolisms of 1 by PLE and four rate constants in human plasma. Both enthalpy and entropy of activation in the in vitro metabolism of 1 by PLE were obtained.

Separation of pig liver esterase isoenzymes and subunits by capillary zone electrophoresis in the presence of fluorinated surfactants

An attempt was made to separate the isoenzymes and subunits of pig liver esterase by capillary zone electrophoresis. This enzyme is a complex mixture and is strongly adsorbed on a fused-silica capillary. However, by simply adding a cationic fluorosurfactant to the running buffer, adsorption was significantly reduced. The effects of adding a zwitterionic and a neutral fluorosurfactant were also investigated. Large changes in the elution pattern were observed when using different combinations of these additives. Mixtures of different fluorosurfactants added to the running buffer can therefore be utilized in strategies for optimization of the separation selectivity.

Irreversible binding of tolmetin to macromolecules via its glucuronide: binding to blood constituents, tissue homogenates and subcellular fractions in vitro

1. The degradation of tolmetin glucuronide (TG) in biological fluids and tissue homogenates appears to follow first-order kinetics and is quite rapid in plasma. TG degradation was minimized upon the addition of phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) and 1,4-saccharolactone, suggesting that the majority of the degradation may be enzymatic, rather than chemical hydrolysis. 2. Irreversible binding via TG was detected in all tissue preparations examined. Upon addition of an inhibitor of esterases (PMSF) to human serum albumin (HSA) and plasma, binding was extensive (2.5%) and the extent of binding was both time- and pH-dependent. Similar extents of binding were obtained with most tissue homogenates, except for spleen and intestine which exhibited much lower binding. 3. Incubation of TG with microsomal protein from sheep and rat yielded no significant differences. Incubations of tolmetin (T) and TG with microsomes, as well as tissue homogenates, indicates that irreversible binding occurs only in the presence of TG. 4. Irreversible binding occurred in all of the blood constituents, the highest extent with haemolyzed erythrocytes. The extent of binding was 15 times higher in disrupted versus intact red blood cells, suggesting a correlation between the extent of binding and the overall exposure of TG to the macromolecules to which it may bind irreversibly.

Effects of three reputed carboxylesterase inhibitors upon rat serum esterase activity

Rats have very high endogenous levels of serum carboxylesterase (CAE) compared to primates. This difference accounts for the lower sensitivity of rats to toxic organophosphates, which interact with CAE instead of the more critical acetylcholinesterase. Pretreatment of rats with CAE inhibitors potentiates the effects of organophosphates. In this study, the effects of three putative CAE inhibitors, 2-(o-Cresyl)-4H-1:3:2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide (CBDP), bis-p-nitrophenyl-phosphate (BNPP), and tetraisopropyl pyrophosphoramide (Iso-OMPA), on the hydrolysis of several commercially available substrates were determined. Respective kinetic constants Km and Vmax were derived and effects of inhibitors compared using saturating amounts of substrate. Data presented here indicate significant differences in substrate affinity (Km), reactivity (Vmax), as well as effects of inhibitors. CBDP inhibits hydrolysis of specific naphthyl and paranitrophenyl esters at relatively low concentrations (1-10 microM). In contrast, significantly higher concentrations (mM) of BNPP and Iso-OMPA were required for inhibition of serum esterase activity. Of the inhibitors tested, Iso-OMPA in general exhibited the smallest inhibitory effect on ester hydrolysis. Although inhibition of hydrolysis of specific paranitrophenyl and naphthyl esters occurred in the presence of similar amounts of CBDP, the degree of inhibition differed significantly (50-75% vs. greater than 90%, respectively). These data suggest that there exists in rat serum, a pool of naphthyl ester esterase activity that is very sensitive ex vivo (greater than 90% inhibition) to CBDP and may be very useful in validating a rodent model for soman toxicity.

Substituted trifluoroketones as potent, selective inhibitors of mammalian carboxylesterases

A series of substituted trifluoroketones were tested as inhibitors of mammalian liver microsomal carboxylesterase(s) hydrolyzing a variety of substrates including malathion, diethylsuccinate (DES) and p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NpAc). The trifluoroketones used were very potent "transition state" inhibitors of crude mouse and human liver microsomal carboxylesterases as well as commercial porcine liver carboxylesterase (Sigma EC 3.1.1.1 Type I). These enzymes were found to differ in their sensitivity to the inhibitors employed, and some compounds caused dramatic activation of the hydrolysis of DES. In some but not all cases, a thioether beta to the carbonyl increased the inhibitory potency of the compound. Structure-activity relationships also were evaluated among aliphatic versus substituted and unsubstituted aromatic trifluoroketones. Kinetic parameters [i.e. Km, Vmax and (T1/2)e] for the mouse liver microsomes and the porcine carboxylesterase hydrolyzing DES were determined. Apparent high- and low-affinity forms were observed with each preparation. 3-Nonylthio-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one was synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding thiol with 3-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, and apparent synergism was observed when it was coadministered i.p. with malathion to mice.

The relationship between the carboxylesterase and monoacylglycerol lipase activities of chicken liver microsomes

The carboxylesterase (carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) and monoacylglycerol lipase (glycerol-monoester acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.23) activities, measured against ethyl butyrate and emulsified monooleoylglycerol respectively, were determined for chicken liver microsomes and highly purified chicken liver carboxylesterase. The activity ratio (ethyl butyrate activity/monooleoylglycerol activity) was approx. 5 for microsomes and approx. 400 for carboxylesterase. Homogenization of microsomes in 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.92) released all of the ethyl butyrate activity and about half of the monooleoylglycerol activity into a soluble form. Both activities eluted from a Sephadex G-200 column with the same elution volume as that of pure carboxylesterase. This fraction (fraction B) had an activity ratio of approx. 15, an average pI of 5.01 (cf. 4.75 for carboxylesterase), and ran on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6 as a number of closely spaced esterase bands with mobilities considerably less than those of the esterase bands present in the carboxylesterase. Fraction B activities against both substrates were completely inhibited by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate and completely precipitated by antibody to carboxylesterase. The remaining half of the monoacylglycerol lipase activity of microsomes was solubilized by treatment with 1.5% (w/v) Triton X-100. This solubilized monoacylglycerol lipase was completely inhibited by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, showing it to be a serine-dependent enzyme like the carboxylesterases. However, it had no detectable activity against ethyl butyrate, indicating that it is not closely related to the carboxylesterases.