Elucidating the degradation pattern of a new cold-tolerant pectate lyase used for efficient preparation of pectin oligosaccharides

Aberrant growth and expansion in Penium margaritaceum triggered by disruption of microtubules and the cell wall

Penium margaritaceum, a unicellular zygnematophyte (Streptophyta), was employed to elucidate changes in cell expansion when cells were challenged with the fungal pectinolytic enzyme, pectate lyase, and/or the microtubule-disrupting agent, amiprophos-methyl (APM). Microtubule disruption by APM resulted in significant swelling at expansion zones. These swollen zones provided an easy marker for the location of expansion zones, particularly in cells with altered cell wall pectin. Short-term treatment with pectate lyase showed pectin degradation primarily at the isthmus expansion zone and two satellite bands, corresponding to the location of future expansion in daughter cells. When the homogalacturonan lattice of the cell wall was removed by treatment with pectate lyase during long treatments, cell division was maintained, but daughter cell products were considerably smaller. Treatment of cells with a mixture of both pectate lyase and APM resulted in a distinct phenotype, consisting of 'dumbbell'-shaped cells, as APM-induced swelling occurs at the novel expansion centers exposed by pectate lyase treatment. These cells also presented other curious alterations, including an extensive, chloroplast-free cytoplasmic zone at the center of the cell, a septum containing β-glycan, arabinogalactan and homogalacturonan epitopes, unique stacks of endoplasmic reticulum, displaced Golgi bodies, and an extensive network of vacuoles. These results provide insight into the importance of cell wall integrity in defining the location of cell growth and division in P. margaritaceum. Understanding these processes in a unicellular zygnematophyte may provide insights into steps involved in the evolution of land plants.

Enhancing enzymatic production efficiency of crude pectic oligosaccharides by pulsed electric field and study of prebiotic potential

Orange juice by-products, including peel, segments, and seeds, account for more than 50% of the total mass. This study aims to valorize the peel and segments of Sai Nam Phueng (Citrus reticulata Blanco 'Sai Nam Phueng') orange juice by-products by producing crude pectic oligosaccharides (POS) with prebiotic potential using pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted enzymatic treatment. PEF was performed for 5 min at field strengths of 10 and 7.5 kV/cm for orange peel powder (OPP) and orange segment powder (OSP), respectively, combined with Cellulase XL-531 at a concentration of 1.75%, pH 5.5, 40 °C for 2 h. The crude OPP-POS and OSP-POS yields were 19.16% and 17.51%, respectively, significantly higher than values obtained with PEF or enzymic hydrolysis singly. Thin layer chromatography results showed that the crude POS consisted of oligogalacturonic acids with various degrees of polymerization. Both POS products could enhance the growth of target probiotic bacteria and simultaneously produce short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic acid. Furthermore, the crude POS products also showed more than 90% resistance to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. These findings support the utilization of by-products from Sai Nam Phueng orange juice as a potential source for prebiotic production using PEF.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05843-8.

The Preparation and Potential Bioactivities of Modified Pectins: A Review

Pectins are complex polysaccharides that are widely found in plant cells and have a variety of bioactivities. However, the high molecular weights (Mw) and complex structures of natural pectins mean that they are difficult for organisms to absorb and utilize, limiting their beneficial effects. The modification of pectins is considered to be an effective method for improving the structural characteristics and promoting the bioactivities of pectins, and even adding new bioactivities to natural pectins. This article reviews the modification methods, including chemical, physical, and enzymatic methods, for natural pectins from the perspective of their basic information, influencing factors, and product identification. Furthermore, the changes caused by modifications to the bioactivities of pectins are elucidated, including their anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anti-bacterial activities and the ability to regulate the intestinal environment. Finally, suggestions and perspectives regarding the development of pectin modification are provided.

Heterologous expression of a papain-like protease inhibitor (SnuCalCpI17) in the E. coli and its mode of inhibition

The effect of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) Rosetta (DE3) system on the expression of recombinant papain-like cysteine protease inhibitors (SnuCalCpIs) was evaluated, and the inhibition mode of the expressed inhibitor was determined. SnuCalCpI08 and SnuCalCpI17, which previously had not been expressed in the E. coli BL21 (DE3) system due to rare codons of more than 10%, were successfully expressed in E. coli Rosetta (DE3) since the strain provides tRNAs for six rare codons. Initially, both inhibitors were expressed as inclusion bodies; however, the water solubility of SnuCalCpI17 could be improved by lowering the incubation temperature, reducing the IPTG concentration, and increasing the induction time. In contrast, the other inhibitor could not be solubilized in water. To validate whether the inhibitor was expressed with correct protein folding, a papain inhibition assay was performed with SnuCalCpI17. SnuCalCpI17 showed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 105.671 ± 9.857 µg/mL and a slow-binding inhibition mode against papain at pH 7.0 with a K_i^app of 75.80 μg/mL. The slow-binding inhibitor has a slow dissociation from the inhibitor-target complex, resulting in a long residence time in vivo, and thus can effectively inhibit the target at doses far below the IC₅₀ of the inhibitor. KEY POINTS: • Propeptide inhibitor (SnuCalCpI17) containing rare codons was expressed in E. coli Rosetta (DE3). • The slow-binding inhibition was shown by plotting the apparent first-order rate constant (k_obs). • Protein-protein interaction between SnuCalCpIs and papain was verified by docking simulation.