Transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1, TK) is a thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a two-carbon hydroxyacetyl unit with reversible C-C bond cleavage and formation. It is widely used in the production of chemicals, drug precursors, and asymmetric synthesis by cascade enzyme catalysis. In this paper, the activity of transketolase TKTA from Escherichia coli K12 on non-phosphorylated substrates was enhanced through site-directed saturation mutation and combined mutation. On this basis, the synthesis of tartaric semialdehyde was explored. The results showed that the optimal reaction temperature and pH of TKTA_M (R358I/H461S/R520Q) were 32 ℃ and 7.0, respectively. The specific activity on d-glyceraldehyde was (6.57±0.14) U/mg, which was 9.25 times higher than that of the wild type ((0.71±0.02) U/mg). Based on the characterization of TKTA_M, tartaric acid semialdehyde was synthesized with 50 mmol/L 5-keto-d-gluconate and 50 mmol/L non-phosphorylated ethanolaldehyde. The final yield of tartaric acid semialdehyde was 3.71 g with a molar conversion rate of 55.34%. Hence, the results may facilitate the preparation of l-(+)-tartaric acid from biomass, and provide an example for transketolase-catalyzed non-phosphorylated substrates.
Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Transketolase/chemistry* ; Tartrates ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics*

The L(+)-form of tartaric acid (L(+)-TA) exists extensively in nature, and is widely used in the food, chemical, textile, building, and pharmaceutical industries (Su et al., 2001). The main method for L(+)-TA production is microbial transformation by cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase (CESH), which can catalyze the asymmetric hydrolysis of cis-epoxysuccinic acid or its salts to TA or tartrate (Bao et al., 2019). Seventeen species containing CESH have been isolated so far. However, most species for L(+)-TA production have been reported from bacteria (Xuan and Feng, 2019). The only fungus isolated from soil by our lab recently, that could be used as catalyst for the process under acidic condition, is Aspergillus niger WH-2 (Bao et al., 2020). In order to find strains with new characteristics, this study attempted to isolate a new CESH source from fungi and investigate its application value.
Aspergillus niger/metabolism* ; Biomass ; Catalysis ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolases/chemistry* ; Hydrolysis ; Industrial Microbiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Penicillium/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Stereoisomerism ; Tartrates/chemistry* ; Temperature ; Textiles

A new composite organic oscillating reaction system based on BrO₃-Ce(SO₄)₂-H₂SO₄-malonic acid/tartaric acid was proposed in this paper. On the basis of the influence of the concentration of each component on the stability and characteristic parameters of the blank system, the electrochemical fingerprints of 30 kinds of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) were obtained. The results showed that the electrochemical fingerprint can be used for the identification of TCMs, the distinguishment of different parts and the appraisal of genuineness, which is fast, sensitive and accurate. At the same time, we explored and verified the mechanism of oscillation and the formation mechanism of TCM fingerprint.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Electrochemical Techniques ; Malonates ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Tartrates ; chemistry

Gluconobacter oxydans converts glucose to gluconic acid and subsequently to 5-keto-D-gluconic acid (5-KGA), a precursor of industrially important L(+)-tartaric acid. To increase the yield of 5-KGA, fermentation conditions of 5-KGA production was optimized. Under the optimum medium and culture conditions in the shake flask, the highest 5-KGA production reached 19.7 g/L, increased by 43.8% after optimization. In a 5-L bioreactor, the pH was controlled at 5.5 and dissolved oxygen (DO) at 15%, 5-KGA production reached 46.0 g/L, raised at least 1.3 times than in the shake flask. Glucose feeding fermentation process was further developed, and the highest 5-KGA production of 75.5 g/L with 70% of yield was obtained, 32.0% higher than the highest reported value. Therefore, this newly developed fermentation process provided a practical and effective alternative for the commercial production of 5-KGA, and further of L(+)-tartaric acid.
Bioreactors ; Fermentation ; Gluconates ; metabolism ; Gluconobacter oxydans ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; Tartrates ; metabolism

The cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase (CESH) from Rhizobium strain BK-20 is the key enzyme for L(+)-tartaric acid production. To establish a highly efficient and stable production process, we first optimized the enzyme production from Rhizobium strain BK-20, and then developed an immobilized cell-culture process for sustained production of L(+)-tartaric acid. The enzyme activity of free cells reached (3 498.0 +/- 142.6) U/g, and increased by 643% after optimization. The enzyme activity of immobilized cells reached (2 817.2 +/- 226.7) U/g, under the optimal condition with sodium alginate as carrier, cell concentration at 10% (W/V) and gel concentration at 1.5% (W/V). The immobilized cells preserved high enzyme activity and normal structure after 10 repeated batches. The conversion rate of the substrate was more than 98%, indicating its excellent production stability.
Alginates ; chemistry ; Cells, Immobilized ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Rhizobium ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Tartrates ; metabolism

Gout ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Radiography ; Tartrates ; analysis ; Young Adult

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an important bioactive phospholipid involved in cell signaling through Gprotein-coupled receptors pathways. It is also involved in balancing the lipid composition inside the cell, and modulates the function of lipid rafts as an intermediate in phospholipid metabolism. Because of its involvement in these important processes, LPA degradation needs to be regulated as precisely as its production. Lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase type 6 (ACP6) is an LPA-specific acid phosphatase that hydrolyzes LPA to monoacylglycerol (MAG) and phosphate. Here, we report three crystal structures of human ACP6 in complex with malonate, L-(+)-tartrate and tris, respectively. Our analyses revealed that ACP6 possesses a highly conserved Rossmann-foldlike body domain as well as a less conserved cap domain. The vast hydrophobic substrate-binding pocket, which is located between those two domains, is suitable for accommodating LPA, and its shape is different from that of other histidine acid phosphatases, a fact that is consistent with the observed difference in substrate preferences. Our analysis of the binding of three molecules in the active site reveals the involvement of six conserved and crucial residues in binding of the LPA phosphate group and its catalysis. The structure also indicates a water-supplying channel for substrate hydrolysis. Our structural data are consistent with the fact that the enzyme is active as a monomer. In combination with additional mutagenesis and enzyme activity studies, our structural data provide important insights into substrate recognition and the mechanism for catalytic activity of ACP6.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Malonates ; metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrophenols ; metabolism ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; metabolism ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; chemistry ; classification ; metabolism ; Tartrates ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism

We hypothesized that the formation and differentialtion of osteoclasts are accelerated and the potential of bone resorption is increased in the hemiplegic bone marrow in the early stage of stroke. We randomly divided white female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30) into two groups, stroke (n = 15) and sham group (n = 15). On the 7th day after stroke, after cutting away the epiphyses of the femurs and tibias, diaphyseal channels were flushed using alpha-minimum essential medium (alpha-MEM) and bone marrow cells were collected. Bone marrow stem cells, which were extracted from the femur and tibia, were cultured on the 7th day after middle cerebral artery occlusion. We then estimated the ratio of non-adherent cells to total bone marrow cells that included osteoclast precursor cells. After culturing these cells separately, cells that tested positive on the tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were counted and bone resorption was evaluated by using the OAAS(TM) plate. In comparison to the control group, the stroke group showed a higher increase of non-adherent cells in the hemiplegic side bone marrow. In addition, after the primary culture, the stroke group showed an increased number of TRAP positive cells and a higher degree of bone resorption estimated by OAAS(TM) plate. As a result, osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast differentiation are accelerated and the potential of bone resorption is increased in the hemiplegic bone marrow and these changes are detected as early as within the first week after middle cerebral artery occlusion in SD rats.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology/drug effects ; Bone Resorption/*physiopathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Femur/cytology ; Osteoclasts/cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Stroke/*metabolism/pathology ; Tartrates/pharmacology ; Tibia/cytology

In this study, we prepared various matrices of hydrogel patches and studied their cross-linking mechanism by observing their rheological properties, which could provide theoretical basis and deep technical support for further industrial development of hydrogel patch. Rheology method was used to do the amplitude scanning and single-frequency scanning for various hydrogel matrix, under the condition of oscillation mode of the rheometer. Then the linear viscoelastic region, composite modulus value, as well as changes in slope with time of the composite modulus and phase angle of various hydrogel matrix were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the stability of matrix was mainly determined by hydrogel frame; only in acidic environment, the cross-linking reaction between cross-linker and hydrogel frame can occur; elasticity of matrix can be decreased by organic acid and the effect level was related to the ratio of the number of carboxyl and hydroxyl (-COO(-)/-OH) in adjusters: if the ratio was not equal, the higher -COO(-)/-OH in adjusters would be the less elasticity of matrix decreased; the cross-linking speed of matrix was determined by adjuster, the cross-linking speed of matrix contain different adjusters was ranged in following order: matrix containing tartaric acid > matrix containing lactic acid > matrix containing malic acid > matrix containing citric acid; the cross-linking speed of matrix was not uniform in the whole cross-linking process.
Citric Acid ; chemistry ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; Hydrogels ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Malates ; chemistry ; Rheology ; Tartrates ; chemistry ; Viscosity

The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyclopamine (Cyc), an alkaloid from the Veratrum plant, is a specific natural product inhibitor of the Hh pathway that acts by targeting smoothened (SMO) protein. However, its poor solubility, acid sensitivity, and weak potency relative to other Hh antagonists prevent the clinical development of Cyc as a therapeutic agent. Here, we report properties of cyclopamine tartrate salt (CycT) and its activities in Hh signaling-mediated cancer in vitro and in vivo. Unlike Cyc, CycT is water soluble (5-10 mg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of CycT was 62.5 mg/kg body weight compared to 43.5 mg/kg for Cyc, and the plasma half-life (T1/2) of CycT was not significantly different from that of Cyc. We showed that CycT had a higher inhibitory activity for Hh signaling-dependent motor neuron differentiation than did Cyc (IC50 = 50 nmol/L for CycT vs. 300 nmol/L for Cyc). We also tested the antitumor effectiveness of these Hh inhibitors using two mouse models of basal cell carcinomas (K14cre:Ptch1(neo/neo) and K14cre:SmoM2(YFP)). After topical application of CycT or Cyc daily for 21 days, we found that all CycT-treated mice had tumor shrinkage and decreased expression of Hh target genes. Taken together, we found that CycT is an effective inhibitor of Hh signaling-mediated carcinogenesis.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Hedgehog Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Mice ; Motor Neurons ; cytology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; Smoothened Receptor ; Solubility ; Tartrates ; blood ; pharmacology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Veratrum ; chemistry ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology