Login | Register

Overexpression, purification and characterization of diverse oxygenases from fungi

Title:

Overexpression, purification and characterization of diverse oxygenases from fungi

Yang, Zhuoxuan (2010) Overexpression, purification and characterization of diverse oxygenases from fungi. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of MR71103.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
MR71103.pdf - Accepted Version
4MB

Abstract

Bacteria and fungi are able to grow using diverse aromatic compounds as sole sources of energy and carbon (1) (2) . These abilities are of interest since many of these compounds are toxic to higher organisms, which cannot degrade them. While bacterial enzymes responsible for degradation of aromatics have been quite well studied, relatively little is known about their fungal counterparts. The aim of this thesis is to expand knowledge of aromatic compound degradation in fungi. cDNA libraries from 15 diverse fungal species are available from the Concordia fungal genomics group and within this database there are many BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) hits to genes encoding enzymes involved in aromatic degradation pathways. Using bioinformatics techniques, DNA sequences encoding putative mono- and dioxygenases that initiate aromatic compound degradation were identified. Genes encoding these enzymes were amplified and used to construct recombinant plasmids for overexpression of the corresponding proteins, which were then purified, characterized and compared to their bacterial counterparts. A putative salicylate hydroxylase from L. edodes , the shiitake mushroom, and a putative phenol hydroxylase and a catechol-1 ,2-dioxygenase from Gloeophyllum trabeum were expressed in E. coli . The putative salicylate hydroxylase was purified in good yield using two chromatographic steps. The purified protein contained a 1:1 ratio of non-covalently bound FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). Interestingly, salicylate was a non-substrate effector, stimulating production of hydrogen peroxide from NADPH and oxygen, rather than hydroxylated product formation. In contrast, 2-aminobenzoate was rapidly converted to 2,3-dihydroxbenzoate. Furthermore, spectroscopic probes of binding indicated that the modes of binding of salicylate and 2-aminobenzoate are quite different. Together, these results suggest that the enzyme is not a salicylate hydroxylase, and that the true substrate is an amino aromatic compound. The putative phenol hydroxylase from G. trabeum was also purified in good yield using two chromatographic steps and was found to contain 1 mol of FAD per mol of protein. Uncoupling assays and product analysis results suggest that the enzyme is a resorcinol-specific hydroxylase, while phenol is a non-substrate effector. The putative catechol-l,2-dioxygenase was purified using four chromatographic steps, however, no activity was observed under any condition. In summary, potential functions were elucidated for two new fungal flavoprotein hydroxylases, whose activities were not accurately predicted using sequence comparisons. Additional work will be required to further examine the activities of the putative catechol 1,2-dioxygenase.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Chemistry and Biochemistry
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Yang, Zhuoxuan
Pagination:xi, 117 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M. Sc.
Program:Chemistry
Date:2010
Thesis Supervisor(s):Powlowski, J
Identification Number:LE 3 C66C54M 2010 Y36
ID Code:979521
Deposited By: Concordia University Library
Deposited On:09 Dec 2014 18:01
Last Modified:13 Jul 2020 20:12
Related URLs:
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top