Researchers release new data on enzyme research

Tag : d-glucosamine sulfate

2008 JUL 2 - ( NewsRx.com ) -- "The gene for cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) from Ruminococcusalbus NE1 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells (see also Enzyme Research ). The recombinant CE was purified to homogeneity by a simplepurification procedure with a high yield of 88%, and the molecularmass was 43.1 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis and 44.0 kDa on gel chromatography," scientistswriting in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology report.
"It exhibited optimal activity around at 30 degrees C and pH 7.5,and the enzyme activity was inhibited by Al3+, Fe3+, Co2+, Cu2+,Zn2+, Pb2+, Ag+, N- bromosuccinimide, iodoacetate, and4-chloromercuribenzoate. In addition to cello-oligosaccharides, theenzyme was found to effectively 2-epimerize lactose to yield4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-mannose (epilactose), which occurs incow milk as a rare oligosaccharide. The K-m and k(cat)/K-m valuestoward lactose were 33 mM and 1.6 s(-1) mM(-1), and those towardcellobiose were 13.8 mM and 4.6 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively.N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine, uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucose, D-glucose6-phosphate, maltose, sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiosewere inert as substrates for the recombinant CE. We demonstratedthat epilactose was resistant to rat intestinal enzymes, utilizedby human adult bifidobacteria, and stimulated the tight junctionpermeability in Caco-2 cells," wrote S. Ito and colleagues,Hokkaido University.
The researchers concluded: "These results strongly suggest thatthis rare disaccharide is promising for use as a prebiotic."
Ito and colleagues published their study in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (Enzymatic properties of cellobiose 2-epimerase from Ruminococcusalbus and the synthesis of rare oligosaccharides by the enzyme. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology , 2008;79(3):433-441).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting S. Ito,Hokkaido University, CRIS, Kita Ku, N-21, W-10, Sapporo, Hokkaido0010021, Japan.
The publisher of the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY10013, USA.
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