Deciphering the synergism of endogenous glycoside hydrolase families 1 and 9 from Coptotermes gestroi

Termites can degrade up to 90% of the lignocellulose they ingest using a repertoire of endogenous and symbiotic degrading enzymes. Termites have been shown to secrete two main glycoside hydrolases, which are GH1 (EC 3.2.1.21) and GH9 (EC 3.2.1.4) members. However, the molecular mechanism for lignocellulose degradation by these enzymes remains poorly understood. The present study was conducted to understand the synergistic relationship between GH9 (CgEG1) and GH1 (CgBG1) from Coptotermes gestroi, which is considered the major urban pest of São Paulo State in Brazil. The goal of this work was to decipher the mode of operation of CgEG1 and CgBG1 through a comprehensive biochemical analysis and molecular docking studies. There was outstanding degree of synergy in degrading glucose polymers for the production of glucose as a result of the endo-β-1,4-glucosidase and exo-β-1,4-glucosidase degradation capability of CgEG1 in concert with the high catalytic performance of CgBG1, which rapidly converts the oligomers into glucose. Our data not only provide an increased comprehension regarding the synergistic mechanism of these two enzymes for cellulose saccharification but also give insight about the role of these two enzymes in termite biology, which can provide the foundation for the development of a number of important applied research topics, such as the control of termites as pests as well as the development of technologies for lignocellulose-to-bioproduct applications. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Assembling a xylanase-lichenase chimera through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations

Multifunctional enzyme engineering can improve enzyme cocktails for emerging biofuel technology. Molecular dynamics through structure-based models (SB) is an effective tool for assessing the tridimensional arrangement of chimeric enzymes as well as for inferring the functional practicability before experimental validation. This study describes the computational design of a bifunctional xylanase-lichenase chimera (XylLich) using the xynA and bglS genes from Bacillus subtilis. In silico analysis of the average solvent accessible surface area (SAS) and the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) predicted a fully functional chimera, with minor fluctuations and variations along the polypeptide chains. Afterwards, the chimeric enzyme was built by fusing the xynA and bglS genes. XylLich was evaluated through small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, resulting in scattering curves with a very accurate fit to the theoretical protein model. The chimera preserved the biochemical characteristics of the parental enzymes, with the exception of a slight variation in the temperature of operation and the catalytic efficiency (k cat/Km). The absence of substantial shifts in the catalytic mode of operation was also verified. Furthermore, the production of chimeric enzymes could be more profitable than producing a single enzyme separately, based on comparing the recombinant protein production yield and the hydrolytic activity achieved for XylLich with that of the parental enzymes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Caracterização biofísica e estrutural da metaloproteinase não-hemorrágica do veneno de Bothrops moojeni e da endo-β-glicanase do Bacillus subtilis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Purificação e caracterização bioquímica da invertase extracelular produzida pelo fungo filamentoso Aspergillus terreus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade de enzimas digestivas de Lithobates catesbeianus durante o desenvolvimento larval

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

'Beta'-D-frutofuranosidases de Fusarium graminearum: produção, purificação, imobilização e determinação das propriedades bioquímicas de enzimas solúveis e secas em Spray dryer

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Perfil metagenômico de solo sob cultivo de cana-de-açúcar com perspectiva na produção de bioenergia

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Seleção de fungos termofílicos para produção de lipase e aplicação na produção de biodiesel

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Imobilização de lipase po diferentes técnicas para obtenção de catalizadores estáveis

Pós-graduação em Biologia Geral e Aplicada - IBB

Endophytic fungi producing of esterases: evaluation in vitro of the enzymatic activity using pH indicator

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lipases produzidas por fungos derivados de ambiente marinho: otimização, purificação e caracterização bioquímica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The Occurrence of Autophagic Cell Death in the Tegument of Rabbits Pre-Infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Exposed to Selamectin (Active Principle of Acaricide Pfizer Revolution (R))

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise in silico de uma pirofosfatase e de uma tiosterase de uma biblioteca metagenômica de solo de Eucalipto spp

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Estudo do potencial enzimático hidrolítico e oxidativo do microorganismo Myceliophthora thermophila M.7.7

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lipases microbianas: produção, propriedades e aplicações biotecnológicas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq)