Improved catalytic efficiency of a monomeric gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase from Bacillus licheniformis in presence of subtilisin

Monomeric 30 kDa gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT(30)) was purified from culture broth of Bacillus licheniformis ER-15 along with a heterodimeric 67 kDa GGT (GGT(67)). In presence of subtilisin, GGT(30) had improved catalytic efficiency (V(max)/K(m)) of 59 min(-1), altered pH and temperature optima of pH 11 and 70 degrees C and had salt-tolerant glutaminase activity. Glutaminase activity was retained even in protease-inhibited condition in presence of 2 mM PMSF. GGT(30) and subtilisin complexation was also confirmed by relative electrophoretic mobility and fluorescence quenching experiment.

Expression Optimization and Biochemical Characterization of a Recombinant γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase from Escherichia coli Novablue

A truncated Escherichia coli Novablue gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (EcGGT) gene lacking the first 48-bp coding sequence for part of the signal sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into expression vector pQE-30 to generate pQE-EcGGT. The maximum production of His(6)-tagged enzyme by E. coli M15 (pQE-EcGGT) was achieved with 0.1 mM IPTG induction for 12 h at 20 degrees C. The overexpressed enzyme was purified to homogeneity by nickel-chelate chromatography to a specific transpeptidase activity of 4.25 U/mg protein and a final yield of 83%. The molecular masses of the subunits of the purified enzyme were estimated to be 41 and 21 kDa respectively by SDS-PAGE, indicating EcGGT still undergoes the post-translational cleavage even in the truncation of signal sequence. The optimum temperature and pH for the recombinant enzyme were 40 degrees C and 9, respectively. The apparent K (m) and V (max) values for gamma-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide as gamma-glutamyl donor in the transpeptidation reaction were 37.9 microM and 53.7 x 10(-3) mM min(-1), respectively. The synthesis of L -theanine was performed in a reaction mixture containing 10 mM L -Gln, 40 mM ethylamine, and 1.04 U His(6)-tagged EcGGT/ml, pH 10, and a conversion rate of 45% was obtained.

Overexpression, one-step purification, and biochemical characterization of a recombinant gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase from Bacillus licheniformis

A truncated gene from Bacillus lichenifromis ATCC 27811 encoding a recombinant gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (BLrGGT) was cloned into pQE-30 to generate pQE-BLGGT, and the overexpressed enzyme was purified from the crude extract of IPTG-induced E. coli M15 (pQE-BLGGT) to homogeneity by nickel-chelate chromatography. This protocol yielded over 25 mg of purified BLrGGT per liter of growth culture under optimum conditions. The molecular masses of the subunits of the purified enzyme were determined to be 41 and 22 kDa, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature for the recombinant enzyme were 6-8 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The chloride salt of metal ions Mg(2+), K(+), and Na(+) can activate BLrGGT, whereas that of Pb(2+) dramatically inhibited it. The substrate specificity study showed that L-gamma-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (L-gamma-Glu-p-NA) is a preference for the enzyme. Steady-state kinetic study revealed that BLrGGT has a k (cat) of 105 s(-1) and a K (m) of 21 microM when using L-gamma-Glu-p-NA as the substrate. With this overexpression and purification system, BLrGGT can now be obtained in quantities necessary for structural characterization and synthesis of commercially important gamma-glutamyl compounds.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism

The enzyme gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) is critical to cellular detoxification and leukotriene biosynthesis processes, as well as amino acid transport in kidneys. GGT has also been implicated in many important physiological disorders, including Parkinson's disease and inhibition of apoptosis. It binds glutathione as donor substrate and initially forms a gamma-glutamyl enzyme that can then react with a water molecule or an acceptor substrate (usually an amino acid or a dipeptide) to form glutamate or a product containing a new gamma-glutamyl isopeptide bond, respectively, thus regenerating the free enzyme. Given the importance of GGT in human physiology, we have undertaken studies of its substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism. In the course of these studies, we have developed methods for the indirect evaluation of donor substrate affinity and stereospecificity and applied others for the measurement of steady state and pre-steady state kinetics and linear free-energy relationships. These methods and the pertinent results obtained with them are presented herein.

Boric acid reversibly inhibits the second step of pre-mRNA splicing

Several approaches have been used to identify the factors involved in mRNA splicing. None of them, however, comprises a straightforward reversible method for inhibiting the second step of splicing using an external reagent other than a chelator. This investigation demonstrates that the addition of boric acid to an in vitro pre-mRNA splicing reaction causes a dose-dependent reversible inhibition effect on the second step of splicing. The mechanism of action does not involve chelation of several metal ions; hindrance of 3' splice-site; or binding to hSlu7. This study presents a novel method for specific reversible inhibition of the second step of pre-mRNA splicing.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase gene organization and expression: a comparative analysis in rat, mouse, pig and human species

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is an enzyme located at the external surface of epithelial cells. It initiates extracellular glutathione (GSH) breakdown, provides cells with a local cysteine supply and contributes to maintain intracellular GSH level. GGT expression, highly sensitive to oxidative stress, is a part of the cell antioxidant defense mechanisms. We describe recent advances in GGT gene structure and expression knowledge and put emphasis on the complex transcriptional organization of that gene and its conservation among different species. GGT gene structure has been elucidated in rat and mouse where a single gene is transcribed from multiple promoters into several transcripts which finally yield a unique polypeptidic chain. Analysis of rat, mouse, human and pig cDNA and gene sequences reveals a large conservation of the transcriptional organization of that gene. This complex structure provides flexibility in GGT expression controlled at the promoter level, through multiple regulatory sites, and at RNA level by alternate 5' untranslated sequences which may create a diversity in the stability and translational efficiency of the different transcripts. In conclusion, transcription of the GGT gene from several promoters offers multiple DNA and RNA targets for various oxidative stimuli and contributes to a broad antioxidant cell defense through GGT induction and subsequent cysteine supply from extracellular glutathione.

gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase: catalytic mechanism and gene expression

The gamma-glutamyl transpeptidases are key enzymes in the so-called gamma-glutamyl cycle involving glutathione synthesis, the recovery of its constituents, and in the transport of amino acids. This membrane-bound ectoenzyme thus serves to regulate glutathione synthesis. This chapter deals with the active site chemistry of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, including the role of side-chain groups on the light subunit as well as several serine residues in the catalytic process. Also considered are genomic studies indicating (a) the presence of a single gene in mouse and rat; (b) the occurrence of multiple genes in humans; (c) the involvement of multiple promoters for gene expression; and (d) how these multiple promoters may play a role in the tissue-specific expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidases.

Involvement of Ser-451 and Ser-452 in the catalysis of human gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

The serine residue required for catalysis of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was identified by site-specific mutagenesis of the conserved serine residues on the basis of sequence alignment of the light subunit of human, rat, pig and two bacterial enzymes. Recombinant human gamma-glutamyl transpeptidases with replacements of these serine residues by Ala were expressed using a baculovirus-insect cell system. Substitutions of Ala at Ser-385, -413 or -425 yielded almost fully active enzymes. However, substitutions of Ala at Ser-451 or -452 yielded enzymes that were only about 1% as active as the wild-type enzyme. Further, their double mutant is only 0.002% as active as the wild type. Kinetic analysis of transpeptidation using glycylglycine as acceptor indicates that the Vmax values of Ser-451 and -452 mutants are substantially decreased (to about 3% of the wild type); however, their Km values for L-gamma-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide as donor were only increased about 5 fold compared to that of the wild type. The double mutation of Ser-451 and -452 further decreased the Vmax value to only about 0.005% of the wild type, while this mutation produced only a minor effect (2-fold increase) on the Km value for the donor. The kinetic values for the hydrolysis reaction of L-gamma-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide in the mutants followed similar trends to those for transpeptidation. The rates of inactivation of Ser-451, -452 and their double mutant enzymes by acivicin, a potent inhibitor, were less than 1% that of the wild-type enzyme. The Ki value of the double mutant for L-serine as a competitive inhibitor of the gamma-glutamyl group is only 9 fold increased over that of the wild type, whereas the Ki for the serine-borate complex, which acts as an inhibitory transition-state analog, was more than 1,000 times higher than for the wild-type enzyme. These results suggest that both Ser-451 and -452 are located at the position able to interact with the gamma-glutamyl group and participate in catalysis, probably as nucleophiles or through stabilization of the transition state.