Graduation date: 1991

A novel N-acetyltranferase (NAT) with high specificity for L-dopa was partially purified and characterized during this study. Streptomyces akiyoshiensis NAT was isolated from liquid cultures and the cell free extract was partially purified via two chromatographic approaches. The purest enzyme preparation (354.4-fold) was obtained through a combination of affinity (Affi-gel blue) and gel filtration chromatography. This preparation could not be stored due to poor stability. An alternate approach using affinity and anion-exchange column chromatogrpahy (macro-prep DEAE) provided a 125-fold purification. A second macro-prep DEAE showed the enrichment of a band at around 14.4 kDa. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by the presence of Cu2+ and Hg2+ salts suggesting the presence of critical histidine or cysteine redidues. In addition, NaC1 plays an important role as a stabilizing agent and/or slight activator of this enzyme. The Km and Vmax values for L-dopa determined at 30degreesC were 5.39 x 10-2 mM and 2.19 x 10-5 mM's, respectively. At 37 degreesC these kinetic constants were 0.11 mM and 2.57 x 10-4 mM's, respectively. The Km and Vmax values for AcCoA determined at 30 degreesC were 0.42 mM and 4.32 x 10-4 mM's, respectively. At 37 degreesC these values were 0.58 mM and 1.15 x 10-4 mM's, respectively. The optimal temperature and pH were 43 degreesC and 8.0 respectively. S. akiyoshiensis NAT acetylated arylalkylamine substrates but not arylamine substrates to any significant extent. These findings suggest that this enzyme but not arylamine subsrates to any significant extent. These findings suggest that this enzyme may be closely related to arylalkylamine-N-acetyltranferases (AANATs), however the certification of this postulate requires the knowledge of the amino acid sequence and ultimately 3D structure of S. akiyoshiensis NAT. / xvii, 128 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

The ssrA gene encoded tmRNA acts as both a tRNA carrying an Ala to enter the A site of stalled ribosomes and as an mRNA allowing trans-translation to continue until ribosomes reach the stop codon of the tmRNA tag to help release the stalled ribosome, label the truncated peptide for degradation, and also facilitate degradation of the ribosome-stalling mRNAs. Functions of tmRNA rely on its binding to an essential protein factor SmpB that is encoded by the smpB gene. The mycelial bacteria streptomycetes have a well-defined growth and developmental cycle culminating at sporulation and provide a good model to study tmRNA function in bacteria growth and development. During different developmental stages, expression of some critical molecules are increased or decreased to control the developing procedures including a bldA-encoded tRNA that decodes the rare codon UUA. Translation elongation of genes containing UUA rare codons may be stalled and elicits tmRNA tagging, suggesting that tmRNA the tagging system may be important for Streptomyces growth and development. We use the most well studied strain, S. coelicolor whose genome sequence was the first sequenced, as our model organism. Here I report my ssrA knockout study with two different strategies. Using a temperature sensitive replicon, I found that the ssrA gene could be disrupted only in cells with an extra ssrA gene but not in wild type cells or cells with an extra-copy of tmRNA variant--tmRNADD that encodes a degradation-resistant tag. These results imply that ssrA is an essential gene and that degradation of truncated proteins is also an essential function for S. coelicolor. On the contrary, with the second method that does not need high temperature screening steps I was able to disrupt both the ssrA and smpB genes separately and at the same time, suggesting that the tmRNA tagging system may be required for cell survival under high temperature. Further characterization of mutant cells revealed that the tmRNA tagging system is important for cell growth and development at both high temperature and optimal growth conditions as well as under stress conditions that affect the translation elongation process. The second part of my thesis documents analyses of the expression, regulation and stability of S. coelicolor tmRNA. My results suggested that the well known metabolic stability of bacterial tmRNA might be due to its tight binding to the ribosome. Finally, I report my investigation of the tagging activity and the importance of some structural elements of S. coelicolor tmRNA. Particularly, I demonstrated that pseudoknot 4 is important for tmRNA tagging activity and mutations to some structural elements lead to a decrease of not only the mutant tmRNA but also the wild type tmRNA when expressed together in vivo.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2002. / Advisor: G.D. Wright. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2002. / Advisor: G.D. Wright. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1971. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, May 2009.

Zugl.: Bonn, Univ., Diss., 2009

O gênero Streptomyces é conhecido por produzir uma ampla variedade de moléculas bioativas como antimicrobianos, enzimas, agentes antitumorais, antivirais, promotores de crescimento, entre outros. Pesquisas com este grupo de microrganismos têm sido realizadas há mais de 60 anos, no entanto, estudos recentes demonstram que este grupo representa uma fonte inesgotável de novas moléculas bioativas. Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a atividade antimicrobiana de 25 isolados de Streptomyces. Para tanto foram empregados 53 microgansimos teste, incluindo bactérias Gram positivas, Gram negativas, leveduras e fungos filamentosos. A atividade antimicrobiana foi determinada pela técnica da dupla camada. Os isolados que apresentaram melhor atividade antimicrobiana foram cultivados em cultura submersa, sob diferentes condições de cultivo (meio de cultivo, tempo e temperatura). Dos 25 isolados 80 % apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana, destes 80% apresentaram atividade antibacteriana e 45% atividade antifúngica. Dos isolados que apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana 40% apresentaram um amplo espectro, inibiram mais de dez microrganismos teste. Duas linhagens identificadas como Streptomyces sp 1S e Streptomyces sp. 50 foram selecioandos para estudos de produção e caracterização. Streptomyces 1S inibiu 46 microrganismos teste e o isolado 50 foi ativo especialmente contra Enterococcus multiresistentes. A caracterização morfológica, bioquímica e a análise da seqüência parcial da região 16S do rDNA, demonstram a grande diversidade deste grupo de microrganismos e auxiliaram na identificação em nível de gênero. As melhores condições para a produção de metabólitos bioactivos, bem como a caracterização destes isolados são reportados no presente estudo. Foi observado que as condições ambientais e do substrato são fundamentais na produção de metabólitos secundários especialmente antimicrobianos. / Streptomyces genus are well- know due to its high capacity to produce innumerous bioactive metabolites such as, enzymes, antitumour agents, immunomodifying agents, vitamins, growth promoters, and antibiotic compounds among others. Research with this group of microorganisms has been realized since de sixties. However, more recent research has shown that this group still is a very important resource of new secondary metabolites, especially antibiotics. In this work the antimicrobial activity of 25 Streptomyces strain, was evaluated against 53 test microorganisms including Gram positive and negative bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts with clinical and agricultural interest. The antimicrobial activity in the first screening was realized using the double layer method. The strains that showed potential results in the first screening were grown on submerge culture in different growth conditions of temperature, culture media and time of growth. From the 25 Streptomyces isolates tested 80% showed antimicrobial activity, out of that 80% presented antibacterial activity and 45% antifungal activity. Out, from the isolates that showed antibacterial activity 40% presented a wide spectrum of activity, inhibiting more than 10 microorganisms. Two strains were selected for further studies, Streptomyces sp. 1S and Strepomyces sp. 50. Isolate 1S was chosen because it was able, in the antimicrobial screening, to inhibit 46 test microorganisms. Isolate 50 showed especial activities against multiresistent Enterococcus sp. This two isolates were submitted to morphological and biochemical characterization and the analysis of partial 16S rDNA sequence was done. The results confirmed the high diversity of this genus, and with the results obtained only the genus was possible to be confirmed. The best growth conditions for metabolites production and the characterization of the isolates are described in this work. It has been observed that the environmental conditions are extremely important for the production of secondary metabolites, especially antibiotics.