Karl R. Roneker

Shifting the pH Profile of Aspergillus niger PhyA Phytase To Match the Stomach pH Enhances Its Effectiveness as an Animal Feed Additive

ABSTRACT Environmental pollution by phosphorus from animal waste is a major problem in agriculture because simple-stomached animals, such as swine, poultry, and fish, cannot digest phosphorus (as phytate) present in plant feeds. To alleviate this problem, a phytase from Aspergillus niger PhyA is widely used as a feed additive to hydrolyze phytate-phosphorus. However, it has the lowest relative activity at the pH of the stomach (3.5), where the hydrolysis occurs. Our objective was to shift the pH optima of PhyA to match the stomach condition by substituting amino acids in the substrate-binding site with different charges and polarities. Based on the crystal structure of PhyA, we prepared 21 single or multiple mutants at Q50, K91, K94, E228, D262, K300, and K301 and expressed them in Pichia pastoris yeast. The wild-type (WT) PhyA showed the unique bihump, two-pH-optima profile, whereas 17 mutants lost one pH optimum or shifted the pH optimum from pH 5.5 to the more acidic side. The mutant E228K exhibited the best overall changes, with a shift of pH optimum to 3.8 and 266% greater (P < 0.05) hydrolysis of soy phytate at pH 3.5 than the WT enzyme. The improved efficacy of the enzyme was confirmed in an animal feed trial and was characterized by biochemical analysis of the purified mutant enzymes. In conclusion, it is feasible to improve the function of PhyA phytase under stomach pH conditions by rational protein engineering.

Comparison of Age-Related Differences in Expression of Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase mRNA and Activity in Various Tissues of Pigs

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) is the second identified Se-dependent intracellular glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) that reduces phospholipid hydroperoxides. The objective of this study was to determine the developmental regulation of PHGPX expression in tissues of neonatal, weanling and finishing pigs (Sus scrofa) compared with the expression of the classic Se-dependent cellular glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and the Se-independent enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST). Eight different tissues were collected from Se-adequate male pigs aged 1, 28 and 180 days, and supernatant of the tissue homogenate was assayed for PHGPX, GPX and GST activities by using phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate, respectively. Total RNA was isolated from four tissues and assayed for PHGPX mRNA expression. Both mRNA and activity expression of PHGPX in most assayed tissues was increased as pigs became older (P < 0.05), but increases in PHGPX mRNA levels between ages did not fully account for all changes in activity. Expression of GPX activity was increased more than that of PHGPX between day 1 and day 28 (P < 0.0001). Expression of GST activity in various tissues was also affected by age (P < 0.01) but lacked a consistent relationship with the changes in GPX and PHGPX activity. Tissue-specific patterns of developmental expression of these enzymes may be related to the susceptibility of organs to pro-oxidant injuries. In conclusion, expression of PHGPX mRNA and activity in various tissues of pigs is developmentally increased over ages, and the pattern is somewhat different from that of GPX.