Elena Kovaleva

Phenol-oxidizing laccases from the termite gut.

cDNAs encoding two gut laccase isoforms (RfLacA and RfLacB) were sequenced from the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Phylogenetic analyses comparing translated R. flavipes laccases to 67 others from prokaryotes and eukaryotes indicate that the R. flavipes laccases are evolutionarily unique. Alignments with crystallography-verified laccases confirmed that peptide motifs involved in metal binding are 100% conserved in both isoforms. Laccase transcripts and phenoloxidase activity were most abundant in symbiont-free salivary gland and foregut tissue, verifying that the genes and activities are host-derived. Using a baculovirus-insect expression system, the two isoforms were functionally expressed with histidine tags and purified to near homogeneity. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry) analysis of RfLacA identified bound metals consisting mainly of copper (∼4 copper molecules per laccase protein molecule and ∼3 per histidine tag) with lesser amounts of calcium, manganese and zinc. Both recombinant enzyme preparations showed strong activity towards the lignin monomer sinapinic acid and four other phenolic substrates. By contrast, both isoforms displayed much lower or no activity against four melanin precursors, suggesting that neither isoform is involved in integument formation. Modification of lignin alkali by the recombinant RfLacA preparation was also observed. These findings provide evidence that R. flavipes gut laccases are evolutionarily distinct, host-derived, produced in the salivary gland, secreted into the foregut, bind copper, and play a role in lignocellulose digestion. These findings contribute to a better understanding of termite digestion and gut physiology, and will assist future translational studies that examine the contributions of individual termite enzymes in lignocellulose digestion.

Functional and translational analyses of a beta-glucosidase gene (glycosyl hydrolase family 1) isolated from the gut of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes.

This research focused on digestive beta-glucosidases from glycosyl hydrolase family (GHF) 1 from the gut of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes. In preceding studies on R. flavipes, we characterized beta-glucosidase activity across the gut and its inhibition by carbohydrate-based inhibitors, and subsequently we identified two partial beta-glucosidase cDNA sequences from a host gut cDNA library. Here, we report on the full-length cDNA sequence for one of the R. flavipes beta-glucosidases (RfBGluc-1), the expression of its mRNA in the salivary gland and foregut, the production of recombinant protein using a baculovirus-insect expression system, optimal recombinant substrate specificity profiles and parameters, and significant inhibition by the established beta-glucosidase inhibitor cellobioimidazole. We also report the partial cDNA sequence for a second gut beta-glucosidase (RfBGluc-2), and show that like RfBGluc-1 its mRNA is localized mainly in the salivary gland. Other results for RfBGluc-1 showing activity against laminaribose, a component of microbial cell walls, suggest that RfBGluc-1 may serve dual functions in cellulose digestion and immunity. These findings provide important information that will enable the testing of hypotheses related to collaborative host-symbiont lignocellulose digestion, and that contributes to the development of next-generation termiticides and novel biocatalyst cocktails for use in biomass-to-bioethanol applications.

Lignin-associated metagene expression in a lignocellulose-digesting termite.

Lignin is a component of plant biomass that presents a significant obstacle to biofuel production. It is composed of a highly stable phenylpropanoid matrix that upon degradation, releases toxic metabolites. Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood lignocellulose to efficiently release fermentable simple sugars; however, how termites specifically degrade lignin and tolerate its toxic byproducts remains unknown. Here, using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its symbiotic (protozoan) gut fauna as a model system, we used high throughput Roche 454-titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches to (i) experimentally compare the effects of diets containing varying degrees of lignin complexity on host-symbiont digestome composition, (ii) deeply sample host and symbiont lignocellulase diversity, and (iii) identify promising lignocellulase candidates for functional characterization. In addition to revealing over 9500 differentially expressed transcripts related to a wide range of physiological processes, our findings reveal two detoxification enzyme families not generally considered in connection with lignocellulose digestion: aldo-keto reductases and catalases. Recombinant versions of two host enzymes from these enzyme families, which apparently play no roles in cellulose or hemicellulose digestion, significantly enhance lignocellulose saccharification by cocktails of host and symbiont cellulases. These hypothesis-driven results provide important new insights into (i) dietary lignin as a xenobiotic challenge, (ii) the complex mechanisms used by termites to cope with their lignin-rich diets, and (iii) novel lignin-targeted enzymatic approaches to enhance biofuel and biomaterial production.

Production and characterization of a recombinant beta-1,4-endoglucanase (glycohydrolase family 9) from the termite Reticulitermes flavipes.

Cell-1 is a host-derived beta-1,4-endoglucanase (Glycohydrolase Family 9 [GHF9]) from the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Here, we report on the heterologous production of Cell-1 using eukaryotic (Baculovirus Expression Vector System; BEVS) and prokaryotic (E. coli) expression systems. The BEVS-expressed enzyme was more readily obtained in solubilized form and more active than the E. coli-expressed enzyme. K(m) and V(max) values for BEVS-expressed Cell-1 against the model substrate CMC were 0.993% w/v and 1.056 micromol/min/mg. Additional characterization studies on the BEVS-expressed enzyme revealed that it possesses activity comparable to the native enzyme, is optimally active around pH 6.5-7.5 and 50-60 degrees C, is inhibited by EDTA, and displays enhanced activity up to 70 degrees C in the presence of CaCl(2). These findings provide a foundation on which to begin subsequent investigations of collaborative digestion by coevolved host and symbiont digestive enzymes from R. flavipes that include GHF7 exoglucanases, GHF1 beta glucosidases, phenol-oxidizing laccases, and others.

Purification and characterization of functional human paraoxonase-1 expressed in Trichoplusia ni larvae.

Human serum paraoxonase-1 (HuPON1) is difficult to either purify from plasma or functionally express in high yield from recombinant sources. Here, we describe the characterization of functional HuPON1 expressed and purified from Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) larvae infected with an orally active form of baculovirus. SDS-PAGE and anti-HuPON1 Western blot analyses yielded only three bands of approximately 41, 42, and 44 kDa. MALDI-TOF confirmed the identity of each of these bands as HuPON1 with greater than 95% confidence. These isoforms result from differential glycosylation of the enzyme as indicated by peptide mapping, mass analysis, and PNGase F deglycosylation experiments. Recombinant insect-produced HuPON1 hydrolyzed phenyl acetate, paraoxon, and the nerve agents GF, VX, and VR. The enzyme had dramatic stereoselectivity for the P+ isomers of VX and VR. T. ni larvae expressing HuPON1 were remarkably resistant to the pesticide chlorpyrifos. Together, these results demonstrate that the caterpillar of the T. ni moth can be used as an expression system to produce large quantities of functional recombinant HuPON1. Insect production of HuPON1 may provide a source for both in vitro enzymatic and crystallographic studies and in vivo stability and anti-nerve agent efficacy testing.

Recombinant protein production in insect larvae: host choice, tissue distribution, and heterologous gene instability.

The expression of the fluorescent protein, DsRed, facilitates the optimization of protein production in orally-infected whole larvae. Trichoplusia ni was shown to be a much better host for recombinant AcMNPV compared to four other noctuid Lepidopteran species achieving 100% infectivity at the minimal tested dose. The highest density of marker protein was found in endothelial and tracheal cells, fat body, and hemocytes. Trichoplusia ni larvae possessed visually detected color over sequential passages of oral infection until the sixth round. Western blot analysis confirmed the progressive decrease of both tetramer and monomer forms of DsRed. The intact DsRed gene and promoter region was present in late passages, but viral population carrying the heterologous gene had dropped more than 2-logs after the fifth round while the amount of total viral DNA remained unchanged over sequential passages.

A GHF7 CELLULASE FROM THE PROTIST SYMBIONT COMMUNITY OF Reticulitermes flavipes ENABLES MORE EFFICIENT LIGNOCELLULOSE PROCESSING BY HOST ENZYMES

Termites and their gut microbial symbionts efficiently degrade lignocellulose into fermentable monosaccharides. This study examined three glycosyl hydrolase family 7 (GHF7) cellulases from protist symbionts of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. We tested the hypotheses that three GHF7 cellulases (GHF7-3, GHF7-5, and GHF7-6) can function synergistically with three host digestive enzymes and a fungal cellulase preparation. Full-length cDNA sequences of the three GHF7s were assembled and their protist origins confirmed through a combination of quantitative PCR and cellobiohydrolase (CBH) activity assays. Recombinant versions of the three GHF7s were generated using a baculovirus-insect expression system and their activity toward several model substrates compared with and without metallic cofactors. GHF7-3 was the most active of the three cellulases; it exhibited a combination of CBH, endoglucanase (EGase), and β-glucosidase activities that were optimal around pH 7 and 30°C, and enhanced by calcium chloride and zinc sulfate. Lignocellulose saccharification assays were then done using various combinations of the three GHF7s along with a host EGase (Cell-1), beta-glucosidase (β-glu), and laccase (LacA). GHF7-3 was the only GHF7 to enhance glucose release by Cell-1 and β-glu. Finally, GHF7-3, Cell-1, and β-glu were individually tested with a commercial fungal cellulase preparation in lignocellulose saccharification assays, but only β-glu appreciably enhanced glucose release. Our hypothesis that protist GHF7 cellulases are capable of synergistic interactions with host termite digestive enzymes is supported only in the case of GHF7-3. These findings suggest that not all protist cellulases will enhance saccharification by cocktails of other termite or fungal lignocellulases.

Albinism-Causing Mutations in Recombinant Human Tyrosinase Alter Intrinsic Enzymatic Activity

Background Tyrosinase (TYR) catalyzes the rate-limiting, first step in melanin production and its gene (TYR) is mutated in many cases of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1), an autosomal recessive cause of childhood blindness. Patients with reduced TYR activity are classified as OCA1B; some OCA1B mutations are temperature-sensitive. Therapeutic research for OCA1 has been hampered, in part, by the absence of purified, active, recombinant wild-type and mutant human enzymes. Methodology/Principal Findings The intra-melanosomal domain of human tyrosinase (residues 19–469) and two OCA1B related temperature-sensitive mutants, R422Q and R422W were expressed in insect cells and produced in T. ni larvae. The short trans-membrane fragment was deleted to avoid potential protein insolubility, while preserving all other functional features of the enzymes. Purified tyrosinase was obtained with a yield of >1 mg per 10 g of larval biomass. The protein was a monomeric glycoenzyme with maximum enzyme activity at 37°C and neutral pH. The two purified mutants when compared to the wild-type protein were less active and temperature sensitive. These differences are associated with conformational perturbations in secondary structure. Conclusions/Significance The intramelanosomal domains of recombinant wild-type and mutant human tyrosinases are soluble monomeric glycoproteins with activities which mirror their in vivo function. This advance allows for the structure – function analyses of different mutant TYR proteins and correlation with their corresponding human phenotypes; it also provides an important tool to discover drugs that may improve tyrosinase activity and treat OCA1.

Structure of recombinant human carboxylesterase 1 isolated from whole cabbage looper larvae

The use of whole insect larvae as a source of recombinant proteins offers a more cost-effective method of producing large quantities of human proteins than conventional cell-culture approaches. Human carboxylesterase 1 has been produced in and isolated from whole Trichoplusia ni larvae. The recombinant protein was crystallized and its structure was solved to 2.2 resolution. The results indicate that the larvae-produced enzyme is essentially identical to that isolated from cultured Sf21 cells, supporting the use of this expression system to produce recombinant enzymes for crystallization studies.