Kinetic Study of Glucosamine Production Using Aspergillus sydowii BCRC 31742 under Solid-State Fermentation

In the present study, we aimed to obtain a high yield and productivity for glucosamine using a low-cost solid-state culture with Aspergillus sydowii BCRC 31742. The fermentation conditions, such as inoculum biomass, moisture content, and supplemental volume and mineral salt, were chosen to achieve high productivity of glucosamine (GlcN). When the initial supplemental volume used was 3 mL/g substrate, the yield and productivity of GlcN were 48.7 mg/gds and 0.69 mg/gds·h, respectively. This result will be helpful for the industrialization of the process.

Genome analysis of 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ)-producing Bacillus velezensis K26 and distribution of Bacillus sp. harboring a 1-DNJ biosynthetic gene cluster

1-Deoxynojirumycin (1-DNJ) is a representative iminosugar with α-glucosidase inhibition (AGI) activity. In this study, the full genome sequencing of 1-DNJ-producing Bacillus velezensis K26 was performed. The genome consists of a circular chromosome (4,047,350 bps) with two types of putative virulence factors, five antibiotic resistance genes, and seven secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. Genomic analysis of a wide range of Bacillus species revealed that a 1-DNJ biosynthetic gene cluster was commonly present in four Bacillus species (B. velezensis, B. pseudomycoides, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. atrophaeus). In vitro experiments revealed that the increased mRNA expression levels of the three 1-DNJ biosynthetic genes were closely related to increased AGI activity. Genomic comparison and alignment of multiple gene sequences indicated the conservation of the 1-DNJ biosynthetic gene cluster in each Bacillus species. This genomic analysis of Bacillus species having a 1-DNJ biosynthetic gene cluster could provide a basis for further research on 1-DNJ-producing bacteria.

Regulated Assembly of LPS, Its Structural Alterations and Cellular Response to LPS Defects

Distinguishing feature of the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is its asymmetry due to the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet of the OM and phospholipids in the inner leaflet. Recent studies have revealed the existence of regulatory controls that ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids, both of which are essential for bacterial viability. LPS provides the essential permeability barrier function and act as a major virulence determinant. In Escherichia coli, more than 100 genes are required for LPS synthesis, its assembly at inner leaflet of the inner membrane (IM), extraction from the IM, translocation to the OM, and in its structural alterations in response to various environmental and stress signals. Although LPS are highly heterogeneous, they share common structural elements defining their most conserved hydrophobic lipid A part to which a core polysaccharide is attached, which is further extended in smooth bacteria by O-antigen. Defects or any imbalance in LPS biosynthesis cause major cellular defects, which elicit envelope responsive signal transduction controlled by RpoE sigma factor and two-component systems (TCS). RpoE regulon members and specific TCSs, including their non-coding arm, regulate incorporation of non-stoichiometric modifications of LPS, contributing to LPS heterogeneity and impacting antibiotic resistance.

Redox regulation by reversible protein S-thiolation in Gram-positive bacteria

Low molecular weight (LMW) thiols play an important role as thiol-cofactors for many enzymes and are crucial to maintain the reduced state of the cytoplasm. Most Gram-negative bacteria utilize glutathione (GSH) as major LMW thiol. However, in Gram-positive Actinomycetes and Firmicutes alternative LMW thiols, such as mycothiol (MSH) and bacillithiol (BSH) play related roles as GSH surrogates, respectively. Under conditions of hypochlorite stress, MSH and BSH are known to form mixed disulfides with protein thiols, termed as S-mycothiolation or S-bacillithiolation that function in thiol-protection and redox regulation. Protein S-thiolations are widespread redox-modifications discovered in different Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus and Staphylococcus species, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. S-thiolated proteins are mainly involved in cellular metabolism, protein translation, redox regulation and antioxidant functions with some conserved targets across bacteria. The reduction of protein S-mycothiolations and S-bacillithiolations requires glutaredoxin-related mycoredoxin and bacilliredoxin pathways to regenerate protein functions.

In this review, we present an overview of the functions of mycothiol and bacillithiol and their physiological roles in protein S-bacillithiolations and S-mycothiolations in Gram-positive bacteria. Significant progress has been made to characterize the role of protein S-thiolation in redox-regulation and thiol protection of main metabolic and antioxidant enzymes. However, the physiological roles of the pathways for regeneration are only beginning to emerge as well as their interactions with other cellular redox systems. Future studies should be also directed to explore the roles of protein S-thiolations and their redox pathways in pathogenic bacteria under infection conditions to discover new drug targets and treatment options against multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria.

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Bacillithiol and mycothiol are major LMW thiols in many Gram-positive bacteria.

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HOCl leads to widespread protein S-mycothiolation and S-bacillithiolation which function in thiol-protection and redox regulation.

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Redox-sensitive metabolic and antioxidant enzymes are main targets for S-mycothiolation or S-bacillithiolation.

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Mycoredoxin and bacilliredoxin pathways mediate reduction of S-thiolations.

The aldehyde dehydrogenase AldA contributes to the hypochlorite defense and is redox-controlled by protein S-bacillithiolation in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus produces bacillithiol (BSH) as major low molecular weight (LMW) thiol which functions in thiol-protection and redox-regulation by protein S-bacillithiolation under hypochlorite stress. The aldehyde dehydrogenase AldA was identified as S-bacillithiolated at its active site Cys279 under NaOCl stress in S. aureus. Here, we have studied the expression, function, redox regulation and structural changes of AldA of S. aureus. Transcription of aldA was previously shown to be regulated by the alternative sigma factor SigmaB. Northern blot analysis revealed SigmaB-independent induction of aldA transcription under formaldehyde, methylglyoxal, diamide and NaOCl stress. Deletion of aldA resulted in a NaOCl-sensitive phenotype in survival assays, suggesting an important role of AldA in the NaOCl stress defense. Purified AldA showed broad substrate specificity for oxidation of several aldehydes, including formaldehyde, methylglyoxal, acetaldehyde and glycol aldehyde. Thus, AldA could be involved in detoxification of aldehyde substrates that are elevated under NaOCl stress. Kinetic activity assays revealed that AldA is irreversibly inhibited under H2O2 treatment in vitro due to overoxidation of Cys279 in the absence of BSH. Pre-treatment of AldA with BSH prior to H2O2 exposure resulted in reversible AldA inactivation due to S-bacillithiolation as revealed by activity assays and BSH-specific Western blot analysis. Using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, we further show that BSH occupies two different positions in the AldA active site depending on the AldA activation state. In conclusion, we show here that AldA is an important target for S-bacillithiolation in S. aureus that is up-regulated under NaOCl stress and functions in protection under hypochlorite stress.

Microbial degradation of chitin waste for production of chitosanase and food related bioactive compounds

Ecological samples rich in microbial diversity like cow dung, legume rhizosphere, fish waste and garden soil were used for isolation of chitosan-degrading microorganisms. Selected isolates were used for production of chitosanase and food related bioactive compounds by conversion of biowaste. Production of glucosamine (Gln), N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), chitooligosaccharides (COS), antioxidants, antibacterial compounds and prebiotics was carried out by microbial fermentation of biowaste. The highest chitosanase activity (8 U/mL) was observed in Aspergillus sp. isolated from fish market waste and it could produce Gln and NAG while Streptomyces sp. isolated from garden soil was able to produce COS along with Gln and NAG. Radical scavenging activity was observed in culture supernatants of 35% of studied isolates, and 20% isolates secreted compounds which showed positive effect on growth of Bifidobacterium. Antibacterial compounds were produced by 40% of selected isolates and culture supernatants of two microbial isolates, Streptomyces zaomyceticus C6 and one of garden soil isolates, were effective against both gram positive and negative bacteria.

Enhanced glucosamine production by Aspergillus sp. BCRC 31742 based on the time-variant kinetics analysis of dissolved oxygen level

This work aims to enhance the glucosamine production by Aspergillus sp. BCRC 31742 via the optimization of dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy. Influence of DO levels (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60%) on the glucosamine production was investigated, and it was found that the highest specific glucosamine production rate during 0-12h and 12-60 h was obtained at DO level of 30% and 50%, respectively. Accordingly, a two-stage DO control strategy was proposed, namely, DO was controlled at 30% during 0-12h and 50% during 12-60 h. With this DO shifting strategy, the highest glucosamine production reached 14.37 g/L, which was 1.30 times that without DO control. Here, the developed two-stage DO control strategy may be useful for the industrial production of glucosamine, and also may be meaningful for the production of other fine chemicals by the filamentous fungi fermentation.

Improved glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine production by an engineered Escherichia coli via step-wise regulation of dissolved oxygen level

Influence of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) on the glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) production by recombinant Escherichia coli was investigated. It was found that the highest specific GlcN and GlcNAc production rates were obtained at different DO levels at different culture stages. Namely, the highest specific GlcN and GlcNAc production rates were obtained at 20% during 0-2h, 30% during 2-8h, 40% during 8-12h, and 30% during 12-18h. Accordingly, a step-wise DO control strategy was proposed, namely DO was controlled at 20% during 0-2h, 30% during 2-8h, 40% during 8-12h and 30% during 12-18h. With this DO control approach, the total production of GlcN and GlcNAc reached 72.89gL(-1), which was 1.37 times that without DO control (53.31gL(-1)). The developed step-wise DO control strategy may be useful for the industrial GlcN and GlcNAc production by recombinant E. coli.

[Influence of nagE and manX knockout with red homologous recombination on the microbial production of glucosamine by Escherichia coli]

Glucosamine (GlcN), also called amino sugar, is a compound derived from the substitution of a hydroxyl group of glucose molecule with an amino group. GlcN finds a wide-range of applications in health food and pharmaceutical industries. In our previous research, a recombinant Escherichia coli-glms-gnal was constructed for the efficient production of GlcN and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), the latter can be readily deacetylated to GlcN under mild acidic conditions. However, the results indicated that the titer of GlcN and GlcNAc decreased significantly due to the transportation of GlcN and GlcNAc from the culture broth to the inside of cells. To alleviate or block the transportation process, nagE gene (encoding for the GlcNAc-specific transporter) and manX gene (encoding for the mannose transporter) were knocked out with the Red homologous recombination method, and two engineered strains, E. coli-glms-gna1-delta nagE (with nagE gene deletion) and E. coli-glms-gna1-delta nagE-delta manX (with nagE and manX genes deletion), were successfully constructed. The two strains were cultured in a 7-L fermentor for the production of GlcN and GlcNAc. The maximal GlcN concentration of control strain E. coli-glms-gnal reached 4.06 g/L, and the maximal GlcNAc concentration reached 41.46 g/L. The maximal GlcN and GlcNAc concentration of E. coli-glms-gna1-delta nagE reached 4.38 g/L and 71.80 g/L, respectively, which were 1.08-fold and 1.70-fold of those of E. coli-glms-gnal, respectively. The maximal GlcN and GlcNAc concentration of E. coli-glms-gnal-delta nagE-delta manX reached 4.82 g/L and 118.78 g/L, respectively, which were 1.20-fold and 2.86-fold of those of E. coli-glms-gnal, respectively. These results suggested that the deletion of nagE and manX could significantly increase the extracellular accumulation of GlcN and GlcNAc. The results obtained here maybe useful for the microbial GlcN production in an industrial scale.

Effect of pellet size and stimulating factor on the glucosamine production using Aspergillus sp. BCRC 31742

The higher GlcN production using a wild-type fungi, Aspergillus sp. BCRC 31742 cultivated under submerged fermentation was investigated. Several fermentation aspects were studied, such as pellet size, working volume, agitation rate and stimulating factor. Culture cultivation with conditions, such as pellet diameter of 2.15mm, 50mL working volume (250mL T-flask), incubation at 30 degrees C, 200rpm and pH 7.0 for 5days yielded highest biomass concentration which was 33.82g/L, with a GlcN concentration of 7.05g/L. Methanol was found to give the best stimulatory effect in terms of GlcN concentration as compared to glutamic acid, cycloheximide and ethanol. Addition of methanol (1.5%v/v) into fermentation medium could increase GlcN content from 0.21 (control) to 0.26g/gdw cells and led to maximum GlcN concentration of 7.48g/L obtained.

Genetic analysis of genes involved in synthesis of modified 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose in flagellin of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci

Glycosylation of flagellin contributes to swimming and swarming motilities, adhesion ability, and consequently virulence in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605. Glycans attached to six serine residues are located in the central region of the flagellin polypeptide. The glycan structure at position Ser 201 was recently revealed to consist of two L-rhamnoses and one modified 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose (viosamine). To clarify the mechanisms for glycosylation of modified viosamine, genes encoding dTDP-viosamine aminotransferase (vioA), dTDP-viosamine acetyltransferase (vioB), and viosamine-derivative transferase (vioT) were isolated and defective mutants were generated. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of a lysyl endopeptidase-digested peptide including all six glycosylation sites from each flagellin indicated that the molecular masses of the three flagellin mutants were reduced with highly heterogeneous patterns at regular intervals of 146 Da in the mass range from m/z 13,819 to 15,732. The data indicated that the glycopeptides obtained from mutants had glycans consisting only of deoxyhexose instead of the flagellin glycans including the viosamine derivatives determined previously. The motility and virulence on host tobacco leaves were strongly impaired in the Delta vioA mutant and were weakly reduced in the Delta vioB and Delta vioT mutant strains. These results suggest that the genes vioA, vioB, and vioT are essential for glycosylation of flagellin, and accordingly are required for bacterial virulence.

A new fermentation process allows large-scale production of tetra-N-acetyl-chitotetraosyl allosamizoline

A new compound 2, possessing a tetra-N-acetyl-chitotetraosyl moiety as a constituent, was synthesized by bacterial fermentation, which used allosamizoline 1 as the initial acceptor. A 2-binding chitinase assay, indicated that the chitinase was inactivated by 2 with IC50 = 0.03 microg/mL.

Mevinolin, citrinin and pigments of adlay angkak fermented by Monascus sp

Adlay angkak a new developed product from an adlay substrate fermented by Monascus fungi can be used both as a natural coloring and a dietary supplement. However, not only useful secondary metabolites such as mevinolin and pigments are produced; the fungi also produce toxin substance called citrinin. This study conducted the cultivation of M. purpureus (ATCC 16365, BCC 6131, DMKU and FTCMU) and M. ruber TISTR 3006 on the adlay substrate for mevinolin, citrinin, pigments and glucosamine synthesis at room temperature (32-35 degrees C) for 28 days. The results elucidated that glucosamine levels expressed as the mold growth in solid-state fermentation corresponded as a relatively reliable indicator to the mevinolin, citrinin and pigments production. M. purpureus DMKU produced the lowest citrinin content of 0.26 ppm and the highest mevinolin content of 25.03 ppm with pigment concentrations expressed by absorbance at wavelengths of 400, 470 and 500 nm for yellow, orange and red pigments of 9.76, 3.03 and 3.43 units respectively and moisture content and pH of 83.51% and 6.54 respectively. This study suggested that M. purpureus DMKU has a potential for the production of adlay angkak within an authorized citrinin level.

Genetically engineered biosynthesis of macrolide derivatives including 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-L-glucose from Streptomyces venezuelae YJ003-OTBP3

Two sugar biosynthetic cassette plasmids were used to direct the biosynthesis of a deoxyaminosugar. The pOTBP1 plasmid containing TDP-glucose synthase (desIII), TDP-glucose-4,6-dehydratase (desIV), and glycosyltransferase (desVII/desVIII) was constructed and transformed into S. venezuelae YJ003, a strain in which the entire gene cluster of desosamine biosynthesis is deleted. The expression plasmid pOTBP3 containing 4-aminotransferase (gerB) and 3,5-epimerase (orf9) was transformed again into S. venezuelae YJ003- OTBP1 to obtain S. venezuelae YJ003-OTBP3 for the production of 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-L-glucose derivatives. The crude extracts obtained from S. venezuelae ATCC 15439, S. venezuelae YJ003, and S. venezuelae YJ003-OTBP3 were further analyzed by TLC, bioassay, HPLC, ESI/MS, LC/MS, and MS/MS. The results of our study clearly shows that S. venezuelae YJ003-OTBP3 constructs other new hybrid macrolide derivatives including 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-L-glycosylated YC-17 (3, [M+ Na+] m/z=464.5), methymycin (4, m/z=480.5), novamethymycin (6, m/z=496.5), and pikromycin (5, m/z=536.5) from a 12- membered ring aglycon (10-deoxymethynolide, 1) and 14-membered ring aglycon (narbonolide, 2). These results suggest a successful engineering of a deoxysugar pathway to generate novel hybrid macrolide derivatives, including deoxyaminosugar.

Morphological variation of Enterobacter sp. BL-2 in acetate-mediated pH environment for excretive production of cationic microbial polyglucosamine biopolymer

Enterobacter sp. BL-2 excretively produced unique cationic polyglucosamine biopolymer PGB-1 comprised of more than 95% D-glucosamine in an acetate-mediated culture condition. The excretion of the biopolymer PGB- was closely associated with the cellular morphology Enterobacter sp. BL-2, a feature highly dependable on the pH of the medium. The initially formed uneven and irregular surface cells were aggregated into the cell-biopolymer network structure connected by the adhesion modules of the cell-bound biopolymer. The excretive production of the biopolymer PGB-1 coincided with the disruption of the cell-biopolymer network, most actively at the medium pH of 8.0.

Acetate-mediated pH-stat fed-batch cultivation of transconjugant Enterobacter sp. BL-2S over-expressing glmS gene for excretive production of microbial polyglucosamine PGB-1

A unique cationic polyglucosamine biopolymer PGB-1 comprising more than 95% D-glucosamine was excretively produced from a new bacterial strain Enterobacter sp. BL-2 under acetate-mediated culture conditions. Since the biopolymer PGB-1 could be synthesized from the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine monomer derived from the hexosamine pathway, three glmS, glmM, and glmU genes in the hexosamine pathway were cloned from Enterobacter sp. BL-2, and their molecular structures were elucidated. The cloned glmS, glmM, and glmU genes were reintroduced into the parent strain Enterobacter sp. BL-2 through a conjugative transformation for the overproduction of the biopolymer PGB-1. The biopolymer production increased 1.5-fold in the transconjugant Enterobacter sp. BL-2S over-expressing the first-step glmS gene encoding glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase. The transconjugant Enterobacter sp. BL-2S was cultivated pH-stat fed-batch widely, while intermittently feeding an acetate solution to maintain a constant pH level of 8.0 for 72 h, resulting in 1.15 g/L of the extracellular polyglucosamine biopolymer PGB-1.

Cloning and characterization of genes encoded in dTDP-D-mycaminose biosynthetic pathway from a midecamycin-producing strain, Streptomyces mycarofaciens

Two subclusters from Streptomyces mycarofaciens, a midecamycin producer, were cloned and partially sequenced. One region was located at the 5' end of the mid polyketide synthase (PKS) genes and contained the genes midA, midB and midC. The other region was at the 3' end of the PKS genes and contained midK, midI and midH. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed that these genes encode dTDP-glucose synthase (midA), dTDP-glucose dehydratase (midB), aminotransferase (midC), methyltransferase (midK), glycosyltransferase (midI) and an assistant gene (midH). All of these genes are involved in the biosynthesis of dTDP-D-mycaminose, the first deoxysugar of midecamycin, and in transferring the mycaminose to the midecamycin aglycone in S. mycarofaciens. Similar to gene pairs desVIII/desVII in S. venezuelae and tylMIII/tylMII in S. fradiae, the product of midH probably functions as an auxiliary protein required by the MidI protein for efficient glycosyltransfer in midecamycin biosynthesis.

Characterization of TDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose-3,4-ketoisomerase from the D-mycaminose biosynthetic pathway of Streptomyces fradiae: in vitro activity and substrate specificity studies

Deoxysugars are critical structural elements for the bioactivity of many natural products. Ongoing work on elucidating a variety of deoxysugar biosynthetic pathways has paved the way for manipulation of these pathways for the generation of structurally diverse glycosylated natural products. In the course of this work, the biosynthesis of d-mycaminose in the tylosin pathway of Streptomyces fradiae was investigated. Attempts to reconstitute the entire mycaminose biosynthetic machinery in a heterologous host led to the discovery of a previously overlooked gene, tyl1a, encoding an enzyme thought to convert TDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose to TDP-3-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose, a 3,4-ketoisomerization reaction in the pathway. Tyl1a has now been overexpressed, purified, and assayed, and its activity has been verified by product analysis. Incubation of Tyl1a and the C-3 aminotransferase TylB, the next enzyme in the pathway, produced TDP-3-amino-3,6-dideoxy-d-glucose, confirming that these two enzymes act sequentially. Steady state kinetic parameters of the Tyl1a-catalyzed reaction were determined, and the ability of Tyl1a and TylB to process a C-2 deoxygenated substrate and a CDP-linked substrate was also demonstrated. Enzymes catalyzing 3,4-ketoisomerization of hexoses represent a new class of enzymes involved in unusual sugar biosynthesis. The fact that Tyl1a exhibits a relaxed substrate specificity holds potential for future deoxysugar biosynthetic engineering endeavors.

Directed evolution and characterization of Escherichia coli glucosamine synthase

Glucosamine synthase (GlmS) converts fructose-6-phosphate to glucosamine-6-phosphate. Overexpression of GlmS in Escherichia coli increased synthesis of glucosamine-6-P, which was dephosphorylated and secreted as glucosamine into the growth medium. The E. coli glmS gene was improved through error-prone polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to develop microbial strains for fermentation production of glucosamine. Mutants producing higher levels of glucosamine were identified by a plate cross-feeding assay and confirmed in shake flask cultures. Over 10 mutants were characterized and all showed significantly reduced sensitivity to inhibition by glucosamine-6-phosphate. Ki of mutants ranged from 1.4 to 4.0 mM as compared to 0.56 mM for the wild type enzyme. Product resistance resulted from single mutations (L468P, G471S) and/or combinations of mutations in the sugar isomerase domain. Most overexpressed GlmS protein was found in the form of inclusion bodies. Cell lysate from mutant 2123-72 contained twice as much soluble GlmS protein and enzyme activity as the strain overexpressing the wild type gene. Using the product-resistant mutant, glucosamine production was increased 60-fold.

Monitoring enzyme-catalyzed production of glucosamine-6P by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a new enzymatic assay for glucosamine-6P synthase

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) method for quantification of D-glucosamine-6P (GlcN-6P) that allows the kinetic study of glucosamine-6P synthase (Glms) is presented. The present report describes the optimization of the different steps of a new enzymatic assay for Glms based on in situ N-acetylation of GlcN-6P and MALDI-TOFMS analysis using N-(13C2)acetylglucosamine-6P as internal standard. Since no isotopically substituted GlcN-6P was available, the N-(13C2)acetyl derivative, easily obtained from (13C4)-acetic anhydride, was used as internal standard. Validation of the assay was achieved by measuring the fructose-6P Michaelis constant, in full agreement with reported values, and by studying the inhibition properties of arabinose-5P oxime.

TDP-mycaminose biosynthetic pathway revised and conversion of desosamine pathway to mycaminose pathway with one gene

Analysis of the tylosin gene cluster in Streptomyces fradiae uncovered an ORF, tyl1a, homologous to a hexose 3,4-isomerase found in Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus. Inclusion of the tyl1a gene along with other mycaminose biosynthetic genes (tylB, tylM1, tylM2, tylM3) identified in previous studies in an in vivo expression system successfully reconstituted the mycaminose pathway. Expression of tyl1a alone in the S venezuelae KdesI mutant converted a desosamine pathway to a mycaminose pathway. These results strongly support the role of Tyl1a as a TDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose 3,4-isomerase.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for industrial production of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine

Glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine are currently produced by extraction and acid hydrolysis of chitin from shellfish waste. Production could be limited by the amount of raw material available and the product potentially carries the risk of shellfish protein contamination. Escherichia coli was modified by metabolic engineering to develop a fermentation process. Over-expression of glucosamine synthase (GlmS) and inactivation of catabolic genes increased glucosamine production by 15 fold, reaching 60 mg l(-1). Since GlmS is strongly inhibited by glucosamine-6-P, GlmS variants were generated via error-prone PCR and screened. Over-expression of an improved enzyme led to a glucosamine titer of 17 g l(-1). Rapid degradation of glucosamine and inhibitory effects of glucosamine and its degradation products on host cells limited further improvement. An alternative fermentation product, N-acetylglucosamine, is stable, non-inhibitory to the host and readily hydrolyzed to glucosamine under acidic conditions. Therefore, the glucosamine pathway was extended to N-acetylglucosamine by over-expressing a heterologous glucosamine-6-P N-acetyltransferase. Using a simple and low-cost fermentation process developed for this strain, over 110 g l(-1) of N-acetylglucosamine was produced.

Enzymatic synthesis of d-glucosaminic acid from d-glucosamine

D-glucosaminic acid (2-amino-2-deoxy-D-gluconic acid), a component of bacterial lipopolysaccharides and a chiral synthon, is easily prepared on a multigram scale by air oxidation of D-glucosamine (2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose) catalysed by glucose oxidase.

Expression of glucosamine trisaccharides on the rat uterine surface is altered by clomiphene citrate. III. Relationship with implantation regimes and pregnancy

The present study further elucidates the complex effects of a commonly-prescribed fertility drug upon a target organ in an animal model. In the human condition, its effects are rarely observed without the influence of endogenous ovarian hormones. The aim of the study was to investigate how the administration of a single dose of clomiphene citrate (CC) given prior to an implantation-priming sequence of ovarian hormones would affect the expression of surface oligosaccharides and membrane architecture of uterine epithelium. Ovariectomized rats were given a single dose of either 0.25 mg or 1.25 mg of CC prior to a hormone-priming regime of progesterone (P4) for 3 days with a single additional administration of oestradiol 17beta (E2) on day 3. Animals were killed 24 h after final treatment. Uterine tissue was labelled with the lectin Phytolacca americana conjugated with avidin, subsequently labelled with biotinylated ferritin and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Results indicate that CC, when administered prior to the implantation hormone-priming regime, is able to act as a super oestrogen and upregulates expression of oligosaccharides on the plasma membrane surface and increases the density and length of microvilli on the surface of the cells when compared with other treatment regimes. Understanding of the effects of CC at the uterine level at the time of implantation enables manipulation of uterine receptivity to control fertility and to improve the outcome of assisted reproductive procedures.

Kanosamine biosynthesis: a likely source of the aminoshikimate pathway's nitrogen atom

The biosynthetic source of the nitrogen atom incorporated into the aminoshikimate pathway has remained a question for some time. 3-Amino-3-deoxy-D-fructose 6-phosphate has previously been demonstrated to be a precursor to 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid via the inferred intermediacy of 1-deoxy-1-imino-D-erythrose 4-phosphate in Amycolatopsis mediterranei cell-free extract. This investigation examines the possibility that the natural product kanosamine might be a precursor to 3-amino-3-deoxy-D-fructose 6-phosphate. Kanosamine 6-phosphate was synthesized by a chemoenzymatic route and incubated in A. mediterranei cell-free lysate along with D-ribose 5-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate. Formation of 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid was observed. Subsequent incubation in A. mediterranei cell-free lysate of glutamine and NAD with UDP-glucose resulted in the formation of kanosamine. The bioconversion of UDP-glucose into kanosamine along with the bioconversion of kanosamine 6-phosphate into 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate and 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid suggests that kanosamine biosynthesis is the source of the aminoshikimate pathway's nitrogen atom.

Expression, purification, and characterization of two N,N-dimethyltransferases, tylM1 and desVI, involved in the biosynthesis of mycaminose and desosamine

Methylation catalyzed by an S-adenosylmethionine- (AdoMet-) dependent methyltransferase is an effective means to alter the hydrophilicity and/or nucleophilicity of a molecule. While a large number of enzymes capable of catalyzing methylation at carbon, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen atoms are known, only a few are able to catalyze N,N-dimethylation. Mycaminose and desosamine are aminohexoses found in several macrolide antibiotics, such as tylosin and methymycin, respectively. Both sugars contain a C-3 N,N-dimethylamino group which has been shown to confer the biological activity of these unusual sugars. Recently, sequence analysis as well as genetic studies has led to the assignment of tylM1 in the tylosin biosynthetic gene cluster and desVI in the methymycin biosynthetic gene cluster as genes encoding the corresponding N,N-dimethyltransferases. To verify the proposed roles of the tylM1 and desVI genes, we have overexpressed and purified their encoded products, synthesized the predicted substrates, and characterized the catalytic function of these proteins. Our studies showed that TylM1 and DesVI are homodimeric proteins and have nearly identical biochemical properties. These enzymes do not have strong preference for binding either the unmethylated substrate or the monomethylated intermediate. It is the chemical reactivity of the nitrogen functional group that determines the relative rate of a particular methylation step. Thus, our results not only establish TylM1 and DesVI as new members of a small family of enzymes that are capable of catalyzing N,N-dimethylation of an amino group but also provide evidence indicating that the methylation catalyzed by AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases proceeds in a stepwise manner and is nucleophilic in nature.

Genetic engineering of aminodeoxyhexose biosynthesis in Streptomyces fradiae

The antibacterial properties of macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, tylosin, and narbomycin) depend ultimately on the glycosylation of otherwise inactive polyketide lactones. Among the sugars commonly found in such macrolides are various 6-deoxyhexoses including the 3-dimethylamino sugars mycaminose and desosamine (4-deoxymycaminose). Some macrolides (such as tylosin) possess multiple sugar moieties, whereas others (such as narbomycin) have only single sugar substituents. As patterns of glycosylation markedly influence a macrolide's drug activity, there is considerable interest in the possibility of using combinatorial biosynthesis to generate new pairings of polyketide lactones with sugars, especially 6-deoxyhexoses. Here, we report a successful attempt to alter the aminodeoxyhexose-biosynthetic capacity of Streptomyces fradiae (a producer of tylosin) by importing genes from the narbomycin producer Streptomyces narbonensis. This engineered S. fradiae produced substantial amounts of two potentially useful macrolides that had not previously been obtained by fermentation.

A radiometric assay for glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase

Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of amino sugars by transferring the amino group from l-glutamine to the acceptor substrate, fructose 6-phosphate, generating the products glucosamine 6-phosphate and glutamic acid. We describe a method for the synthesis and purification of the substrate, fructose 6-phosphate, and methods for a radiometric assay of human GFAT1 that can be performed in either of two formats: a small disposable-column format and a high-throughput 96-well-plate format. The method performed in the column format can detect 1 pmol of glucosamine 6-phosphate, much less than that required by previously published assays that measure GlcN 6-phosphate. The column assay demonstrates a broad linear range with low variability. In both formats, the assay is linear with time and enzyme concentration and is highly reproducible. This method greatly improves the sensitivity and speed with which GFAT1 activity can be measured and facilitates direct kinetic measurement of the transferase activity.

From Lobry de Bruyn to enzyme-catalyzed ammonia channelling: molecular studies of D-glucosamine-6P synthase

This review summarizes the state of knowledge on D-glucosamine-6P synthesis catalyzed by glucosamine-6P synthase. The mechanisms of L-glutamine hydrolysis, ammonia transfer and fructose-6P conversion into D-glucosamine-6P are analyzed with the E. coli enzyme in light of recent X-ray structures. With 92 references this paper covers the literature up to June 2001 and emphasizes the potential implication of the mammalian glucosamine-6P synthase in type 2 diabetes.

Glutamine in the fetus and critically ill low birth weight neonate: metabolism and mechanism of action

Of all the amino acids, glutamine is the most versatile. Studies in the maternal-fetal-placental unit demonstrate that both glutamine and glutamate play an important role in fetal and placental metabolism. If an infant is born very prematurely, the supply of glutamine from the mother is suddenly interrupted. The infant is dependent on endogenous synthesis or an exogenous supply of glutamine to meet the challenges of the external environment and a tripling of body weight in the first 3-4 mo of life. Studies of glutamine supplementation in low birth weight infants and critically ill adults suggest benefits, especially in terms of decreased nosocomial infections. Two large multicenter trials are currently underway that are designed to address these potential benefits in very low birth weight infants. These trials will not explain the mechanism of action. This review raises hypotheses about the role of the amide nitrogen of glutamine for nucleotide and glucosamine synthesis in the small intestine and how this might relate to greater integrity of the intestinal mucosa, hence preventing bacterial translocation and/or the subsequent proinflammatory response that might lead to multiorgan failure.

Biosynthetic Studies on the Cyclopentane Ring Formation of Allosamizoline, an Aminocyclitol Component of the Chitinase Inhibitor Allosamidin

Allosamizoline (1) is an aminocyclitol component of allosamidin, a Streptomyces metabolite, and has a cyclopentane ring originated from D-glucosamine. Biosynthesis of the cyclopentane ring was studied by feeding experiments with a variety of deuterium-labeled glucosamine and glucose. In the feeding experiments with [3-(2)H]- and [4-(2)H]-D-glucosamine and [1-(2)H]-D-glucose, deuterium was incorporated into C-3, C-4, and C-1 of 1, respectively. On the other hand, feeding experiments with [5-(2)H]- and [6,6-(2)H(2)]-D-glucosamine showed that deuterium on C-5 and one of the two deuterium atoms on C-6 of glucosamine were lost during the cyclopentane ring formation of 1. In the feeding experiments with (6R)- and (6S)-[6-(2)H(1)]-D-glucose, the (6R)-deuterium of glucose was incorporated into the proS position on C-6 of 1, but the (6S)-deuterium of glucose was not incorporated into 1. These results suggested that an intermediate with a 6-aldehyde group is involved in the biosynthesis of the cyclopentane ring moiety of 1 and overall inversion of stereochemistry of the C-6 methylene group occurred by stereospecific oxidation and reduction on C-6 during the formation of 1. The 6-aldehyde intermediate may play a key role in the biosynthetic step(s) of cyclization to form the cyclopentane ring and/or deoxygenation at C-5.

Feedback control of polyketide metabolism during tylosin production

Tylosin is produced by Streptomyces fradiae via a combination of polyketide metabolism and synthesis of three deoxyhexose sugars, of which mycaminose is the first to be added to the polyketide aglycone, tylactone (protylonolide). Previously, disruption of the gene (tylMII) encoding attachment of mycaminose to the aglycone unexpectedly abolished accumulation of the latter, raising the possibility of a link between polyketide metabolism and deoxyhexose biosynthesis in S. fradiae. However, at that time, it was not possible to eliminate an alternative explanation, namely, that downstream effects on the expression of other genes, not involved in mycaminose metabolism, might have contributed to this phenomenon. Here, it is shown that disruption of any of the four genes (tylMI--III and tylB) specifically involved in mycaminose biosynthesis elicits a similar response, confirming that production of mycaminosyl-tylactone directly influences polyketide metabolism in S. fradiae. Under similar conditions, when mycaminose biosynthesis was specifically blocked by gene disruption, accumulation of tylactone could be restored by exogenous addition of glycosylated tylosin precursors. Moreover, certain other macrolides, not of the tylosin pathway, were also found to elicit qualitatively similar effects. Comparison of the structures of stimulatory macrolides will facilitate studies of the stimulatory mechanism.

Presence of glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase for glucosamine-6-phosphate synthesis in endothelial cells: effects of hyperglycaemia and glutamine

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Recent studies show that glucosamine infusion impairs endothelium-dependent blood flow in normoglycaemic rats. The pathophysiological relevance of this finding, however, depends on whether de novo glucosamine synthesis occurs in endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of whether glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (the first and key regulatory enzyme in hexosamine synthesis) is present for endothelial glucosamine synthesis.

METHODS

Bovine venular, bovine aortic, human microvascular, human umbilical vein, and rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells were used to measure glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase activity. To determine glucosamine-6-phosphate synthesis in intact cells, they were incubated for 1 h in Krebs bicarbonate buffer containing 5, 15 or 30 mmol/l [U-14C]glucose and 0.5, 2 or 4 mmol/l glutamine. The [14C]Glucosamine-6-phosphate and its end products ([14C]UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and [14C]UDP-Nacetylgalactosamine) were separated by HPLC.

RESULTS

There were high glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase activities in all endothelial cells studied. Exposure of cells to 15 to 30 mmol/l glucose or 2 to 4 mmol/l glutamine increased enzyme activity. Glucosamine-6-phosphate, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine syntheses increased with increasing extracellular concentrations of glucose from 5 to 30 mmol/l or of glutamine from 0.5 to 4 mmol/l.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

Our results show the presence of glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase for de novo glucosamine synthesis in endothelial cells and the modulation of this pathway by hyperglycaemia and glutamine. As glucosamine inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, these findings could have important implications for impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation and vascular dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Regulation of glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase activity by high glucose and transforming growth factor beta in rat mesangial cells

BACKGROUND

The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway acts as a cellular glucose sensor and mediates many of the adverse effects of glucose. Increased flux through this pathway results in insulin resistance in rat fibroblasts and transgenic mice and upregulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) transcriptional activity in rat kidney cells. The first and rate-limiting step in this pathway, which is responsible for the metabolism of glucose to glucosamine, is catalyzed by glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFA).

METHODS

Because of the known effects of hyperglycemia on mesangial cell (MC) function and growth factor regulation, we examined the regulation of GFA by glucose and TGF-beta in cultured SV40 rat MCs. GFA activity was assayed in cytosolic extracts of MCs using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

Culturing in 10 and 25 mM of glucose for 24 hours resulted in 33.4% (P < 0.025) and 43.5% (P < 0.05) decreases in GFA activity when compared with cells cultured at 1 to 5 mM of glucose. The downregulation in GFA activity by high glucose (HG) required at least 6 hours in culture and persisted for several days. HG effects were not a result of osmolar changes or glucose-induced differences in glucose uptake. Like HG, treatment of MCs with TGF-beta (2 ng/mL) for 4 hours resulted in a 30% (P < 0.05) decrease in GFA activity in cells cultured at 1 mM glucose, but the effects of TGF-beta were not additive to those of HG. TGF-beta-mediated downregulation of GFA activity was inhibited by a TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody, but HG's effects were not. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) had similar effects as TGF-beta, but GFA activity was not regulated by angiotensin II.

CONCLUSIONS

GFA activity is downregulated by HG, TGF-beta, and IGF-1 in rat MCs. Downregulation of this cellular glucose sensor may be a protective mechanism against the harmful effects of excess glucose as seen in diabetes.

Antibacterial and hemolytic activities of linenscin OC2, a hydrophobic substance produced by Brevibacterium linens OC2

Linenscin OC2 is an antibacterial substance produced by the orange cheese coryneform bacterium Brevibacterium linens OC2. It inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria but it is inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. The intact outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria was shown to be an effective permeability barrier against linenscin OC2. At high dosage the effect of linenscin OC2 was bacteriolytic on Listeria innocua. Bacteriostasis was observed at low dosage and peptidoglycan biosynthesis was affected at an early step upstream of the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. Hemolytic activity of this substance on sheep erythrocytes suggested a common mode of action on prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It also suggested that the cytoplasmic membrane might be the primary target of linenscin OC2.

Reduced O glycosylation of Sp1 is associated with increased proteasome susceptibility

Sp1 is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that is particularly important for the regulation of TATA-less genes that encode housekeeping proteins. Most growth factors and receptors are also encoded by such genes. Sp1 is multiply O glycosylated by covalent linkage of the monosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine and threonine residues. Based on an earlier observation that growth factor gene transcription can be regulated by glucose and glucosamine in vascular smooth muscle cells, we determined whether Sp1 glycosylation could be regulated and if this modification altered Sp1 function. We found that Sp1 becomes hyperglycosylated when cells are exposed to 5 mM glucosamine, whereas under glucose starvation, stimulation with cyclic AMP (cAMP) results in nearly complete deglycosylation of this protein. Correlating with this hypoglycosylated state, Sp1 is rapidly proteolytically degraded by an enzyme(s) that can be inhibited by specific proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and LLnL. Treatment of cells with glucose or glucosamine protects Sp1 from cAMP-mediated degradation, whereas blockade of glucosamine synthesis abrogates glucose but not glucosamine protection. This effect on Sp1 is specific, in that the Stat-3 and E2F transcription factors did not undergo degradation under these conditions. The O-GlcNAc modification of Sp1 may play a role as a nutritional checkpoint. In the absence of adequate nutrition, Sp1 becomes hypoglycosylated and thereby subject to proteasome degradation. This process could potentially result in reduced general transcription, thereby conserving nutrients.

Cloning and partial characterization of the mouse glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) gene promoter

Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) is the enzyme that is rate limiting in the synthesis of glucosamine and hexosamines. Glucosamine has been proposed to contribute to the glucotoxicity of diabetes. Evidence that the gene encoding GFAT is transcriptionally regulated prompted us to clone and characterize its promoter. The position of the mouse GFAT promoter relative to the translational start site was located by primer extension and found to be 149 bp upstream of the translational start site. A 1.9 kb SacI fragment of the GFAT gene was found to contain the promoter and 88 bp of sequence downstream of the transcriptional start site. This promoter segment could drive expression of a luciferase reporter gene, could confer correct transcriptional initiation to the reporter and could confer the EGF-responsiveness previously observed in the native gene. The mouse GFAT promoter lacks a canonical TATA box and has several GC boxes within a highly GC-rich region. Deletional analysis of the promoter indicated that a proximal element extending to -120 relative to the transcriptional start site could confer reporter expression at a level of 57% of the 1.9 kb construct. Detailed analysis of this proximal region by DNase I footprinting, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that Sp1 binds to three elements in this proximal promoter segment and plays a vital role in regulation of transcription from this gene.

Analysis of four tylosin biosynthetic genes from the tylLM region of the Streptomyces fradiae genome

The tylLM region of the tylosin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces fradiae contains four open reading frames (orfs1*-4*). The function of the orf1* product is not known. The product of orf2* (tylM2) is the glycosyltransferase that adds mycaminose to the 5-hydroxyl group of tylactone, the polyketide aglycone of tylosin (Ty). A methyltransferase, responsible for 3-N-methylation during mycaminose production, is encoded by orf3* (tylM1). The product of orf4* (cer) is crotonyl-CoA reductase, which converts acetoacetyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA for use as a 4C extender unit during tylactone production.

Production of kanosamine by Bacillus cereus UW85

Bacillus cereus UW85 produces two antibiotics that contribute to its ability to suppress certain plant diseases (L. Silo-Suh, B. Lethbridge, S. J. Raffel, H. He, J. Clardy, and J. Handelsman, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:2023-2030, 1994). To enhance the understanding of disease suppression by UW85, we determined the chemical structure, regulation, and the target range of one of the antibiotics. The antibiotic was identified as 3-amino-3-deoxy-D-glucose, also known as kanosamine. Kanosamine was highly inhibitory to growth of plant-pathogenic oomycetes and moderately inhibitory to certain fungi and inhibited few bacterial species tested. Maximum accumulation of kanosamine in B. cereus UW85 culture supernatants coincided with sporulation. Kanosamine accumulation was enhanced by the addition of ferric iron and suppressed by addition of phosphate to rich medium. Kanosamine accumulation was also enhanced more than 300% by the addition of alfalfa seedling exudate to minimal medium.

Role of glucosamine synthesis in the stimulation of TGF-alpha gene transcription by glucose and EGF

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) gene transcription is regulated by both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and glucose. Previous studies have suggested that the metabolism of glucose to glucosamine through the enzyme L-glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) plays a critical role in the glucose signaling. In this paper, we compared the role of GFAT in the glucose and EGF signals. We found that, although EGF stimulates GFAT mRNA accumulation in MDA-MB-468 cells, this effect of EGF occurred several hours after TGF-alpha transcription increased. MDA-MB-468 cells also exhibited a TGF-alpha transcriptional response to low concentrations of glucose. The TGF-alpha response to glucose but not EGF could be inhibited by a blocker of GFAT activity. Blockade of GFAT was confirmed by using Western blotting with the RL2 antibody, which recognizes an epitope on proteins containing N-acetylglucosamine. Exposure of cells to glucose increased the RL2 signal on several polypeptides, but this change could be blocked by inhibition of GFAT. These results support the notion that glucose stimulation of TGF-alpha expression requires GFAT, but EGF stimulation does not.

Characterization of the essential gene glmM encoding phosphoglucosamine mutase in Escherichia coli

Two different approaches to identify the gene encoding the phosphoglucosamine mutase in Escherichia coli were used: (i) the purification to near homogeneity of this enzyme from a wild type strain and the determination of its N-terminal amino acid sequence; (ii) the search in data bases of an E. coli protein of unknown function showing sequence similarities with other hexosephosphate mutase activities. Both investigations revealed the same open reading frame named yhbF located within the leuU-dacB region at 69.5 min on the chromosome (Dallas, W. S., Dev, I. K., and Ray, P. H. (1993) J. Bacteriol. 175, 7743-7744). The predicted 445-residue protein with a calculated mass of 47.5 kDa contained in particular a short region GIVISASHNP with high similarity to the putative active site of hexosephosphate mutases. In vitro assays showed that the overexpression of this gene in E. coli cells led to a significant overproduction (from 15- to 50-fold) of phosphoglucosamine mutase activity. A hexose 1,6-diphosphate-dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme, which probably involves the serine residue at position 102, is apparently required for its catalytic action. As expected, the inactivation of this gene, which is essential for bacterial growth, led to the progressive depletion of the pools of precursors located downstream from glucosamine 1-phosphate in the pathway for peptidoglycan synthesis. This was followed by various alterations of cell shape and finally cells were lysed when their peptidoglycan content decreased to a critical value corresponding to about 60% of its normal level. The gene for this enzyme, which is essential for peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide biosyntheses, has been designated glmM.

Co-ordinated regulation of amino sugar biosynthesis and degradation: the NagC repressor acts as both an activator and a repressor for the transcription of the glmUS operon and requires two separated NagC binding sites

The NagC repressor controls the expression of the divergently transcribed nagE-nagBACD operons involved in the uptake and degradation of the amino sugars, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and glucosamine (GlcN). The glmUS operon, encoding proteins necessary for the synthesis of GlcN (glmS) and the formation of UDP-GlcNAc (glmU), is transcribed from two promoters located upstream of glmU. In the absence of amino sugars both promoters are active. However, in the presence of GlcNAc, the glmU proximal promoter, P1, is inactive while the upstream promoter, P2, is subject to weak induction. Two binding sites for the NagC repressor are located at -200 and -47 bp upstream of P1. Mutations which prevent NagC binding to either of these sites eliminate expression from the P1 promoter. This shows that binding of NagC is necessary for expression of the glmU P1 promoter and implies that NagC is playing the role of activator for this promoter. Moreover, the location of the distal NagC site suggests that this site is behaving like an upstream activating sequence (UAS).

Antimicrobial properties of N3-(iodoacetyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid-peptide conjugates

Six peptide conjugates consisting of either norvaline, methionine, or lysine and N3-(iodoacetyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid--a strong, irreversible inactivator of bacterial and fungal glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase--were synthesized and their antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated. Antimicrobial potencies of these peptides were correlated with their transport and cleavage rates inside the cells. Bacteriolysis of Bacillus pumilus cells and inhibition of [14C]glucose incorporation into cell-wall polysaccharides of Candida albicans as a result of glucosamine 6-phosphate inactivation were also observed. Reversal of growth inhibitory effect of these peptides by N-acetylglucosamine in bacteria and fungi suggests the effective delivery of N3-iodoacetyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid into the cell by a peptide-transport system.

Mechanism and stereochemistry of the biosynthesis of 2-deoxystreptamine and neosamine C

Feeding experiments with D-[6,6-2H2]-, D-(6R)-[6-2H1]- and D-(6S)-[6-2H1]glucose in the fermentation of Streptomyces ribosidificus, followed by field desorption MS and 2H NMR analyses of the resulting labeled ribostamycin samples, clearly demonstrated that 1) both hydrogens of the C-6 hydroxymethyl group of D-glucose are stereospecifically incorporated into the C-2 position of 2-deoxystreptamine and 2) the pro S hydrogen of the C-6 position of D-glucose is stereospecifically removed during the elaboration of neosamine C in the biosynthesis of ribostamycin. A plausible mechanism of formation of the deoxy-scyllo-inosose, an early precursor to 2-deoxystreptamine, is suggested to be analogous to the dehydroquinate synthesis in the shikimate pathway and the conversion of the C-6 hydroxymethyl group of D-glucose into the aminomethyl group of neosamine C is likely to involve a dehydrogenation step to a formyl group.

[Regulation of glucosamine synthetase activity by cholesterol and hydrocortisone]

The effects of cholesterol and hydrocortisone (cortisol) on the activity of purified glucosamine synthetase from rat liver was studied in vitro. It was found that the enzyme activity is increased by cholesterol and inhibited by hydrocortisone. These steroids block the allosteric effect of vitamin K1 on the enzyme. There is evidence testifying to the allosteric type of cholesterol and hydrocortisone effects on glucosamine synthetase.

CV-1, a new antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces sp. II. structure determination

The structure of a new antibiotic, CV-1 was determined to be 1,2-diamino-1,2-N,N'-carbonyl-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucose hydrate by spectral and chemical studies. CV-1 possessed a unique open ring hemiaminal structure. CV-1 synthesized from N-carbamoyl-D-glucosamine was identical to material isolated from fermentation.

CV-1, a new antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces sp. I. Fermentation, isolation and biological properties of the antibiotic

A new antibiotic, CV-1, was isolated from the culture broth of a Streptomyces sp. by various chromatographies. CV-1 showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli in cooperation with spiramycin, a macrolide antibiotic. The mode of action of CV-1 seemed to be the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide synthesis.

3-Amino-3-deoxy-D-glucose: an antibiotic produced by a deep-sea bacterium

Gram-positive bacteria isolated from deep-sea sediments of the Pacific basin showed considerable antibacterial activity. A Bacillus strain, isolated from a sediment sample collected at a depth of 4310 m, was shown to produce 3-amino-3-deoxy-D-glucose, a known antibiotic.