Application of protein N-terminal amidase in enzymatic synthesis of dipeptides containing acidic amino acids specifically at the N-terminus. 2013

Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Dipeptides exhibit unique physiological functions and physical properties, e.g., l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine-methyl ester (Asp-Phe-OMe, aspartame) as an artificial sweetener, and functional studies of peptides have been carried out in various fields. Therefore, to establish a manufacturing process for the useful dipeptides, we investigated its enzymatic synthesis by utilizing an l-amino acid ligase (Lal), which catalyzes dipeptide synthesis in an ATP-dependent manner. Many Lals were obtained, but the Lals recognizing acidic amino acids as N-terminal substrates have not been identified. To increase the variety of dipeptides that are enzymatically synthesized, we proposed a two-step synthesis: Asn-Xaa and Gln-Xaa (Asn, l-asparagine; Gln, l-glutamine; and Xaa, arbitrary amino acids) synthesized by Lals were continuously deamidated by a novel amidase, yielding Asp-Xaa and Glu-Xaa (Asp, l-aspartic acid; and Glu, l-glutamic acid). We searched for amidases that specifically deamidate the N-terminus of Asn or Gln in dipeptides since none have been previously reported. We focused on the protein N-terminal amidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NTA1), and assayed its activity toward dipeptides. Our findings showed that NTA1 deamidated l-asparaginyl-l-valine (Asn-Val) and l-glutaminyl-glycine (Gln-Gly), but did not deamidate l-valyl-l-asparagine and l-alanyl-l-glutamine, suggesting that this deamidation activity is N-terminus specific. The specific activity toward Asn-Val and Gln-Gly were 190 ± 30 nmol min(-1) mg(-1)·protein and 136 ± 6 nmol min(-1) mg(-1)·protein. Additionally, we examined some characteristics of NTA1. Acidic dipeptide synthesis was examined by a combination of Lals and NTA1, resulting in the synthesis of 12 kinds of Asp-Xaa, including Asp-Phe, a precursor of aspartame, and 11 kinds of Glu-Xaa.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010453 Peptide Synthases Ligases that catalyze the joining of adjacent AMINO ACIDS by the formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds between their carboxylic acid groups and amine groups. Peptide Synthetases,Acid-Amino-Acid Ligases,Acid Amino Acid Ligases,Ligases, Acid-Amino-Acid,Synthases, Peptide,Synthetases, Peptide
D004151 Dipeptides Peptides composed of two amino acid units. Dipeptide
D000581 Amidohydrolases Any member of the class of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of amide bonds and result in the addition of water to the resulting molecules. Amidases,Amidohydrolase
D012441 Saccharomyces cerevisiae A species of the genus SACCHAROMYCES, family Saccharomycetaceae, order Saccharomycetales, known as "baker's" or "brewer's" yeast. The dried form is used as a dietary supplement. Baker's Yeast,Brewer's Yeast,Candida robusta,S. cerevisiae,Saccharomyces capensis,Saccharomyces italicus,Saccharomyces oviformis,Saccharomyces uvarum var. melibiosus,Yeast, Baker's,Yeast, Brewer's,Baker Yeast,S cerevisiae,Baker's Yeasts,Yeast, Baker
D024342 Amino Acids, Acidic Amino acids with side chains that are negatively charged at physiological pH. Acidic Amino Acids,Amino Acid, Acidic,Acidic Amino Acid
D029701 Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins Proteins obtained from the species SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE. The function of specific proteins from this organism are the subject of intense scientific interest and have been used to derive basic understanding of the functioning similar proteins in higher eukaryotes. Baker's Yeast Proteins,S cerevisiae Proteins

Related Publications

Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
November 1995, Enzyme and microbial technology,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
January 1997, Anticancer research,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
December 1972, Clinical science,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
January 1972, Clinical science,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
August 1978, Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
August 2009, The Journal of organic chemistry,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
February 1990, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
June 2010, Isotopes in environmental and health studies,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
August 1991, Infection and immunity,
Toshinobu Arai, and Atsushi Noguchi, and Eriko Takano, and Kuniki Kino
February 2008, Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!