Synthesis of levan by pseudomonads.
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Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
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The role of macrophages and polymorphs in the levan-induced inhibition of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL mice.
High-mol.-wt levan injected locally inhibits the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL mice. The inhibition is dependent on the number of tumour cells injected and on the dose of levan. The inhibition decreases tumour incidence and size as well as prolonging survival. The polysaccharide is most effective when injected daily beginning on the day of tumour-cell inoculation. Treatment begun on later dates is less effective. Treatment begun one day before tumour-cell inoculation enhances tumour growth. Histological studies showed that levan induces an intense polymorphonuclear (PMN) reaction followed by accumulation of vacuolated, levan-laden macrophages. Both PMN and activated macrophages seemed to have an inhibitory effect upon the growth of the tumour. The effector role of PMN was not explained by the histological study. Tumour cells in close contact with levan-laden macrophages appeared mostly necrotic. Administration of levan begun one day before tumour-cell inoculation produced a similar reaction, but the infiltrating cells did not appear to approach and damage the tumour cells.
Animals↗
Surface display of Zymomonas mobilis levansucrase by using the ice-nucleation protein of Pseudomonas syringae.
The ice-nucleation protein (Inp) is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored outer membrane protein found in some Gram-negative bacteria. Using Pseudomonas syringae inp as an anchoring motif, we investigated the functional display of a foreign protein, Zymomonas mobilis levansucrase (LevU), on the surface of Escherichia coli. The cells expressing Inp-LevU were found to retain both the ice-nucleation and whole-cell levansucrase enzyme activities, indicating the functional expression of Inp-LevU hybrid protein on the cell surface. The surface localization was further verified by immunofluorescence microscopy, fluorescence-activated cell sorting flow cytometry and immunogold electron microscopical examination. No growth inhibition or changes in the outer membrane integrity were observed upon the induction of fusion protein synthesis. Viability of the cells was also maintained over 48 hours in the stationary phase. Surface-displayed levansucrases were found to be resistant to the externally added proteases unless the cells were treated with EDTA. When the levansucrase-displayed cells were used as the enzyme source, levan (44 g/L) was efficiently synthesized from sucrose (130 g/L) with 34% (wt/wt) conversion yield, generating glucose (65 g/L) as a by-product.
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
Limited hydrolysis of levan by a levanpolyase system.
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Fructans↗
Crystal structure of levansucrase from the Gram-negative bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus.
The endophytic Gram-negative bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus SRT4 secretes a constitutively expressed levansucrase (LsdA, EC 2.4.1.10), which converts sucrose into fructooligosaccharides and levan. The enzyme is included in GH (glycoside hydrolase) family 68 of the sequence-based classification of glycosidases. The three-dimensional structure of LsdA has been determined by X-ray crystallography at a resolution of 2.5 A (1 A=0.1 nm). The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the homologous Bacillus subtilis (Bs) levansucrase (Protein Data Bank accession code 1OYG) as a search model. LsdA displays a five-bladed beta-propeller architecture, where the catalytic residues that are responsible for sucrose hydrolysis are perfectly superimposable with the equivalent residues of the Bs homologue. The comparison of both structures, the mutagenesis data and the analysis of GH68 family multiple sequences alignment show a strong conservation of the sucrose hydrolytic machinery among levansucrases and also a structural equivalence of the Bs levansucrase Ca2+-binding site to the LsdA Cys339-Cys395 disulphide bridge, suggesting similar fold-stabilizing roles. Despite the strong conservation of the sucrose-recognition site observed in LsdA, Bs levansucrase and GH32 family Thermotoga maritima invertase, structural differences appear around residues involved in the transfructosylation reaction.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Starch biosynthesis and its regulation.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Disruption of the Paenibacillus polymyxa levansucrase gene impairs its ability to aggregate soil in the wheat rhizosphere.
Inoculation of wheat roots with Paenibacillus (formerly Bacillus) polymyxa CF43 increases the mass of root-adhering soil. We tested the role of levan, a fructosyl polymer produced by strain CF43, in the aggregation of soil adhering to wheat roots. The P. polymyxa gene homologous to the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene encoding levansucrase was cloned and sequenced. The corresponding gene product synthesises high molecular weight levan. A P. polymyxa mutant strain, SB03, whose sacB gene is disrupted, was constructed using heterogramic conjugation. Effects of wheat inoculation with the wild type and the mutant strain were compared using two different cultivated silt loam soils in four independent pot experiments. Roots of wheat plantlets inoculated with CF43 or SB03 were colonized after 7-14 days at the same level, and root and shoot masses were not significantly different from those of the non-inoculated control plants. The ratio of root-adhering soil dry mass to root tissue dry mass was significantly higher for plants inoculated with strain CF43 than for those inoculated with mutant strain SB03: +30% in Orgeval soil and +100% in Dieulouard soil. Thus the levan produced by P. polymyxa is implicated in the aggregation of root-adhering soil on wheat.
Bacillus↗
Investigating the prebiotic and gas-generating effects of selected carbohydrates on the human colonic microflora.
AIMS: To compare the fermentation of dietary carbohydrates with reference to their prebiotic and gas-generating capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Static anaerobic batch culture fermentations were carried out measuring gas generation and the prebiotic effect of five selected substrates (including various fructo-oligosaccharides, levan and maltodextrin). The largest gas producer was levan, whilst those showing no significant difference to Actilight included oligofructose and maltodextrin. Gas composition data showed that hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the two most quantitatively important gases. The substrate that appeared to have the best prebiotic effect in vitro was branched chain fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), followed by oligofructose, Actilight and maltodextrin which each exerted a similar effect. The substrate with the least bifidogenic effect was levan. CONCLUSIONS: The composition and total gas generation data showed that there was much variation between and within donor inocula. Generally, the lower gas producers had a more selective fermentation whilst larger gas producers were less specific. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study of these three parameters enabled a more complete picture of carbohydrate breakdown to be drawn and hence highlighted the need for potential prebiotics to be more extensively evaluated in order to reduce negative side-effects such as gas distension.
Bacteria↗
Hierarchical metabolomics demonstrates substantial compositional similarity between genetically modified and conventional potato crops.
There is current debate whether genetically modified (GM) plants might contain unexpected, potentially undesirable changes in overall metabolite composition. However, appropriate analytical technology and acceptable metrics of compositional similarity require development. We describe a comprehensive comparison of total metabolites in field-grown GM and conventional potato tubers using a hierarchical approach initiating with rapid metabolome "fingerprinting" to guide more detailed profiling of metabolites where significant differences are suspected. Central to this strategy are data analysis procedures able to generate validated, reproducible metrics of comparison from complex metabolome data. We show that, apart from targeted changes, these GM potatoes in this study appear substantially equivalent to traditional cultivars.
Alkaloids↗
In vitro study of prebiotic properties of levan-type exopolysaccharides from Lactobacilli and non-digestible carbohydrates using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.
Batch cultures inoculated with human faeces were used to study the prebiotic properties of levan-type exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis as well as levan, inulin, and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA fragments generated by PCR with universal primers was used to analyse the cultures. Characteristic changes were revealed in the composition of the gut bacteria during fermentation of the carbohydrates. An enrichment of Bifidobacterium spp. was found for the EPS and inulin but not for levan and FOS. The bifidogenic effect of the EPS was confirmed by culturing on selective medium. In addition, the use of EPS and FOS resulted in enhanced growth of Eubacterium biforme and Clostridium perfringens, respectively.
Colony Count, Microbial↗
Pet food and feed applications of inulin, oligofructose and other oligosaccharides.
Prebiotics may be considered as functional food ingredients. They are attracting considerable interest from pet owners, pet food manufacturers, livestock producers and feed manufacturers. The most common forms of prebiotics are nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDO), including inulin, oligofructose mannanoligosaccharides, gluco-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides. These NDO are nondigestible by enzymes present in the mammalian small intestine, but are fermented by bacteria present in the hindgut of nonruminants. Inulin and oligofructose are present in measurable quantities in feed ingredients like wheat, wheat by-products, barley, and peanut hulls. Consumption of prebiotic oligosaccharides elicits several purported health benefits. In companion animals, prebiotics have been shown to improve gut microbial ecology and enhance stool quality. In production livestock and poultry, prebiotics are employed to control pathogenic bacteria, reduce faecal odour, and enhance growth performance. Research to date indicates positive effects of prebiotics on health status and performance of companion animals, livestock, and poultry.
Animal Feed↗
Communicating about gut health to the consumer: presenting the BENEO Programme.
Providing sufficient scientific data to be able to make 'health related claims' on foods is quite a challenge. But bringing these claims successfully to the consumer is perhaps an even bigger challenge. Especially when the claims are based on the function of the intestinal tract, as this is a subject that not everybody communicates easily about. In our consumer research, we have focused on how the new consumer thinks and talks about gut health. We found out that he is aware of the existence and the importance of gut microflora. He believes that foods can influence his own flora. At the same time, our research has tested the efficiency of several ways to communicate about these aspects. The consumer reacts quite differently on different marketing concepts. He accepts that natural ingredients can help his gut flora and expects to find such active ingredients in common everyday foods and also in diet supplements. Based on this research, we have condensed the 'prebiotic' message about inulin and oligofructose into a number of simple communications. The best of these were selected for further consumer product testing. The results of this effort form the basis of the BENEO Programme: a communication platform created by ORAFTI that allows the food industry, in partnership with ORAFTI, to bring a uniform and clear message to the consumer about the health benefits of inulin and oligofructose.
Bifidobacterium↗
Studies on the capacity of some polysaccharides to elicit antibody formation in man.
Purified levan is antigenic in man and subcutaneous injection of 1 mg. leads to the production of precipitins and skin sensitivity. Apple amylopectin, maize glycogen, and synthetic polyglucose did not stimulate antibody production in small numbers of individuals injected. Quantitative precipitin studies carried out with several levan preparations employing human antilevan show variations in immunochemical behavior indicating structural differences among levans. Evidence that precipitins formed in response to levan injection are antilevan antibodies was obtained by analysis of specific precipitates formed in the region of antibody excess for ketosugar. Injection of levan giving rise to production of antilevan failed in one individual to give a non-specific anamnestic rise in either antidextran or antiblood group A precipitins. Laminarin, a neutral polysaccharide, was found to give precipitation with normal human sera.
Antibodies↗
Regulation of the anti-inulin antibody response by a nonallotype-linked gene.
The antibody response to the inulin [(In), beta-(2 leads to 1) fructosan] determinant of bacterial levan [(BL), a beta-(2 leads to 6) polyfructosan that contains beta-(2 leads to 1) branch points] requires the presence of the a haplotype of the Igh gene complex. BALB/c (Igh a) mice immunized with BL produce IgG anti-In antibodies of a single spectrotype by isoelectric focusing analysis. C57BL/6 mice, which possess the b haplotype of the Igh gene complex and which fail to produce anti-In antibodies, nevertheless possess a gene, spectrotype regulation gene 1 (Sr-1), that regulates the isoelectric focusing (IEF) pattern of anti-In antibodies in mice of the a haplotype. Thus, the IEF patterns of anti-In antibodies of (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 mice and of B.C8 mice (C57BL/Ka . Igh-Ca) are considerably more complex than those of BALB/c. Backcross analysis indicates that Sr-1 is not linked to the Igh complex, the major histocompatibility complex, or to the genes that code for coat color. Studies of the heterogeneity of anti-In antibodies in recombinant inbred lines and their progeny from matings to BALB/c and C.B20 (BALB/c . Igh-Cb) suggest the existence of other regulatory genes.
Animals↗
T cell regulation of IgG subclass antibody production in response to T-independent antigens.
The effect of T lymphocytes on the IgM, IgG3, IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG2a responses of B lymphocytes to the type-2 T-independent antigens, trinitrophenylated (TNP)-Ficoll, and TNP-Levan, was investigated. T cell-bearing nu/+ mice were found to produce substantially higher IgG2 serum anti-TNP antibody than their athymic counterparts, and nu/nu and nu/+ IgG2a titers exhibiting more disparity than nu/nu and nu/+ IgG2b titers. The Igm, IgG3, and IgG1 anti-TNP levels in nu/nu and nu/+ mice were indistinguishable. By cell transfer experiments, it was determined that this variance in nude and heterozygote IgG2 responses could not be explained by B cell differences between the two strains or by suppressive effects on IgG2 production within nu/nu mice. Rather, the difference was shown to be the result of the absence of T cells at the time B cells were responding to antigen. In the absence of T cells, the strength of the nu/nu anti-TNP antibody response was found to be in the following order: IgM > IgG3 > IgG1 > IgG2b > IgG2a, a heirarchy identical with the recently proposed heavy chain gene order. The possibilities that T cells influence IgG2 production via their specific recognition of IgG2-bearing B cells or via signals to increase heavy chain switching of responding B cell clones are discussed.
Animals↗
Neonatal treatment with low doses of anti-idiotypic antibody leads to the expression of a silent clone.
BALB/c mice immunized with bacterial levan (BL) produce an immune response that fails to generate antibody expressing the idiotype (Id) of the beta (2 leads to 6) fructosan-binding myeloma protein ABPC 48 (A48). Pretreatment of newborn BALB/c mice (at 1 d of age) with 0.01-10 microgram of affinity purified BALB/c anti-A48 Id antibody followed by immunization with BL 1-2 mo later produces an anti-BL response that expresses the A48 Id. This shows that A48 Id+ anti-BL clones belong to a normally silent fraction of the anti-BL repertoire. The activation of A48 Id+ anti-BL clones anti-A48 Id antibody is specific because the pretreatment of newborn mice with anti-MOPC 384 Id antibody, followed by immunization with BL, does not lead to its activation. Moreover, pretreatment of mice with anti-A48 Id antibody does not alter the MOPC 460 Id+ component of the anti-TNP response. It is also important to note that the activation of the A48 Id+ clone in pretreated mice requires subsequent immunization with BL.
Animals↗
Idiotype-anti-idiotype regulation. I. Immunization with a levan-binding myeloma protein leads to the appearance of auto-anti-(anti-idiotype) antibodies and to the activation of silent clones.
BALB/c mice immunized multiple times with ABPC48 (A48 or Ab1), a BALB/c bacterial levan (BL)-binding myeloma proteins, produce anti-Ab1 antibodies (Ab2). Immunization with only tow doses of AB1 often leads to the production of anti (antiA48) (Ab3) as does immunization with hemocyanin conjugates of Ab2. Finally, immunization with hemocyanin conjugates of Abf3 leads to the production of anti- (anti-[anti-A48]) (Ab4). Normal BALB/c mice immunized with BL produce an anti BL antibody response containing no detectable Ab1 idiotype (Id)-bearing molecules. Mice producing Ab3 express substantial amounts of Ab1 Id in their anti-BL response whereas mice producing Ab2 and Ab4 show a generalized inhibition in their anti BL response. These results indicate that states of immunity within an idiotypic chain may have marked effect on antibody responses to the antigen (i.e., BL) which is the putative initiator of the chain. Strikingly, the chain itself has an interesting feature. That is, Ab3 and Ab1 share a cross-reactive Id in that both are bound by Ab4 and Ab2. We propose a model of Id-anti-Id systems to explain this unexpected result. This is based on the concept of regulatory idiotopes on Ab1 molecules which initiate Ab2 (anti-idiotope) responses. In contrast, Ab2 molecules generally fail to initiate anti-Ab2 Id responses eigher because any individual idiotope is present at very low concentration or because Ab2 molecules tend to lack regulatory idiotopes. Thus, Ab2 molecules immunize syngeneic animals because they interact with cells bearing Ab1 like regulatory idiotopes. Thus, Ab3 will share regulatory idiotopes with Ab1. Ab4 and Ab2 will share the ability to bind the Ab1-like regulatory idiotope.
Animals↗
Allosuppressor and allohelper T cells in acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease. I. Alloreactive suppressor cells rather than killer T cells appear to be the decisive effector cells in lethal graft-vs.-host disease.
Splenic T cells from B10 donors were injected into irradiated (B10 x DBA/2)F1 mice. Either 5 or 6 d later, activated donor T cells were recovered from the spleens of these primary F1 (1 degree F1) recipients and transferred to groups of nonirradiated syngeneic F1 (2 degrees F1) recipients. Whereas day-5-activated parental T cells induced the characteristic symptoms of acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) and eventually lethal GVHD, day-6-activated B10 T cells failed to induce acute GVHD but induced symptoms of chronic GVHD. Interestingly, the inability of day-6-activated T cells to induce lethal GVHD could not be ascribed to a lack in anti-F1 T killer cells. The combined results of functional studies indicated that day-6 cells were enriched for alloreactive helper T cells, whereas day-5 cells were enriched for alloreactive suppressor cells. Hence, our findings indicate that acute GVHD and lethal GVHD are caused by alloreactive donor T suppressor but not T killer cells, and that symptoms of chronic GVHD are caused by alloreactive donor T helper cells.
Acute Disease↗