Organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH, EC 3.1.8.1) is a homodimeric enzyme that has been observed to unfold via a three-state unfolding pathway (N2* ↔ I2 ↔ 2U) under chemical denaturing conditions. The dimeric intermediate (I2) is catalytically inactive and, although this enzyme has a very large overall conformational stability (~40 kcal/mol), it takes only a small amount of energy (~4 kcal/mol) to unfold this enzyme into its inactive form. So that this enzyme might be engineered as a more effective tool for nerve agent countermeasures and bioremediation purposes, its operational stability (the energy required to unfold the enzyme from its active, dimeric state to its inactive, dimeric state) must be increased. For this purpose, it is necessary to understand how the enzyme unfolds into its inactive, intermediate state. As tryptophan residues are sensitive probes of the microenvironment surrounding the residue, enzyme variants consisting of one tryptophan per subunit were constructed. Unfortunately, these variant enzymes did not fold into active conformations, and so could not be used to develop an accurate unfolding profile for the wild type enzyme. Limited proteolysis of OPH by thermolysin revealed detailed information on the unfolding process of OPH in chemical and thermal denaturing conditions. Mild denaturing conditions induced an initial enhancement of activity with a subsequent loss of catalytic activity upon more aggressive treatment. Under thermal conditions from 35 – 55 °C, the enzyme developed a well populated and active intermediate that displayed maximal activity. Similarly, the enzyme displayed maximal activity when incubated at 1.0 M urea. The regions of the enzyme, which became accessible to proteolysis at 45 °C and 1 M urea, were identical. This suggested that increased flexibility of these regions was coupled with the increase in the enzyme’s catalytic activity. Two regions that were determined by limited proteolysis to be the first to unfold were bridged with a novel disulfide bond. The result was an enzyme with an increased operational stability and resistance to proteolysis. This enzyme retained approximately 70% of its original activity in 8 M urea while no activity remained for the wild type enzyme when incubated in 6.5 M urea.

With the environmental problems caused by man-induced pollution by persistent toxic compounds, the importance of finding remediation solutions is immense. As an emerging field, microbial environmental biotechnology may provide the tools to achieve novel solutions. Microbial communities in the environment have biodegradation capacities which could be, and historically have been, exploited for bioremediation. The novelty lies in being able to access the capacity of the uncultured majority of the microbial community. Every day, more and more knowledge is gained in the field and thanks to new approaches such as metagenomics, along with the access to databases and archives where scientists share information and data, the quest becomes considerably facilitated. Microorganisms are highly diverse in metabolic pathways and some have become highly developed during evolution; detoxification and biotransformation of naturally occurring toxic compounds are therefore not novel concepts. The environmental problem occurs when synthetically manufactured compounds are less efficiently biodegraded. However, improved knowledge about the degradation potential in nature and the involved enzymes may help in developing bioremediation procedures. For this reason, an enzyme involved in catabolic pathways of chlorinated aromatic compounds, dienelactone hydrolase, which has been less well studied, was selected as a target. This study investigated the biogeographical distribution of the dienelactone hydrolase gene identified in metagenomes sampled from different environments globally in order to detect potential environmental patterns. Results may cast light on its significance for degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds in nature. The results indicate a broad biogeographical distribution of dienelactone hydrolase in varying microbial habitats in the environment. The enzyme was found in environments ranging from water and soil habitats to hypersaline-, dechlorinating-, hot-spring- and other extremophillic habitats, in which the gene sequences shared high similarity within each group. A broad environmental distribution suggests that dienlactone hydrolase could be useful in bioremediation.

Orientador: Luciana Gonzaga de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T15:18:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonzalez_GabrielaDesireeTormet_M.pdf: 4315214 bytes, checksum: c9035c7fc38805f3a9804bc69a845c1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Epóxido-hidrolases pertencem a um amplo grupo de enzimas hidrolíticas encontradas em todos os tipos de organismos vivos, incluindo insetos, plantas e micro-organismos. Agem sobre uma variedade de epóxidos convertendo-os aos respectivos dióis. As epóxido-hidrolases são de grande interesse para aplicação em biotecnologia uma vez que podem levar à obtenção de epóxidos e dióis enantiomericamente puros como uma alternativa à aplicação dos catalisadores químicos. Neste estudo foram produzidas e caracterizadas funcional e estruturalmente epóxido-hidrolases de dois tipos: uma ?,?-hidrolase (B1EPH2) anotada do genoma de Streptomyces sp B1 e várias hidrolases-ciclases análogas à limoneno epóxido hidrolase (LEH) denominadas enzimas B. As enzimas B são encontradas nos agrupamentos de genes que participam da biossíntese de poliéteres como lasalocida, nigericina, nanchangmicina, tetronasina, tetronomicina e salinomicina. As enzimas B atuam no mecanismo de ciclização oxidativa que origina os anéis do tipo pirano e furano presentes nesses compostos. Todos os genes foram clonados e expressos com sucesso em E. coli BL21(DE3). As enzimas foram purificadas via cromatografia por afinidade. A atividade das enzimas como epóxido-hidrolases foi avaliada utilizando-se o teste de adrenalina. Observou-se que todas as enzimas apresentaram ampla atividade catalítica na hidrólise de epóxidos com diferentes características estruturais; ao contrário da LEH, as enzimas B apresentaram alta capacidade de aceitação por substratos. As estruturas secundárias e terciárias destas enzimas foram previstas por análise in silico e por medições do espectro de dicroísmo circular. As estruturas tridimensionais de algumas enzimas B, assim como a previsão dos resíduos que compõem o sítio ativo, foram obtidas através de estudos de difração de raios-X, evidenciando a similaridade estrutural das enzimas B à LEH / Abstract: Epoxide hydrolases are hydrolytic enzymes found in all living organisms, including insects, plants and microorganisms. Such enzymes act promoting the conversion of a variety of epoxides to the corresponding diols. Epoxide hydrolases are of great interest in biotechnological applications as an alternative to chemical catalysts since it can lead to enantiomerically pure epoxides and diols. This study details the production and structural and functional characterization of one ?,?-hydrolase (B1EPH2) annotated from genome of Streptomyces sp B1 and several hydrolases-cyclases similar to limonene epoxide hydrolase (LEH) named B enzymes. B enzymes are found in biosynthetic gene clusters of polyether antibiotic as lasalocid, nigericin, nanchangmycin, tetronasin, tetronomycin and salinomycin. They are known to participate in the oxidative cyclization process leading to the formation of the pyran and furan rings present in these compounds. All genes were successfully cloned and expressed into E. coli BL21(DE3). The enzymes were purified by affinity chromatography and the activity as epoxide hydrolase was evaluated using the adrenaline fingerprint test. All enzymes showed wide catalytic activity towards the hydrolysis of epoxides with diverse structural features; unlike LEH, B enzymes have high range substrate acceptance. Secondary and tertiary structures of these enzymes were predicted by in silico analyses and circular dichroism spectrum measurements. Three-dimensional structures of some of the B enzymes as well as the prediction of the active site residues were obtained throughout X-ray diffractometry endorsing structural similarities of B enzymes and LEH / Mestrado / Quimica Organica / Mestra em Química

Les analogues nucléosidiques constituent une famille importante d'agents thérapeutiques dans le traitement de maladies d'origine virale. Parmi ces composés, les nucléosides carbocycliques possèdent des propriétés biologiques intéressantes. Le premier chapitre de cette thèse est consacrée à la famille des neplanocines qui sont des carbonucleosides naturels. Nous avons détaillé l'interaction de ces composés avec leur principale cible, la S-adénosylhomocystéine hydrolase, ainsi que les différentes approches de synthèses de ces carbonucléosides et de leurs énantioméres avant de passer en revue leurs activités biologiques. Nous avons présenté dans le deuxième chapitre la première synthèse énantiosélective de la (éD)-néplanocine B. Le troisième chapitre est quant à lui axé sur la mise au point d'une synthèse de 3 '-halo-5'-norcarbonucléosides phosphonates ainsi qu’à l'évaluation de leurs activités antivirales. / Nucleosides analogues constitute an important family of therapeutic agents in the treatment of viral diseases. Among these compounds, carbocyclic nucleosides have interesting biological properties. The first chapter of this thesis is dedicated to a family of natural carbonucleosides, the neplanocins. We have presented their mode of action against S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, as well as various syntheses of natural neplanocins and their enantiomers before reviewing their biological activities. In the second chapter, we described the first enantioselective synthesis of (¨D)-neplanocine B. The third chapter is devoted to the development of the synthesis of 3 '-halo-5¡¯-norcarbonucleosides phosphonates as well as the evaluation of their antiviral activities.

Des études récentes ont montré que l'anandamide, le principal ligand endogène des récepteurs aux cannabinoïdes CB1 et CB2, possède des effets analgésiques, antidépresseurs et anti-inflammatoires. Dans la perspective de traitement des maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l'intestin (MICI), notre approche a été de développer de nouveaux ligands sélectifs du récepteur CB2 permettant de moduler l’inflammation sans provoquer d’effets secondaires centraux, et de nouveaux inhibiteurs de la principale enzyme du métabolisme de l’anandamide, la fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Ainsi, sur la base des travaux antérieurs de notre groupe, une nouvelle série d’agonistes sélectifs du récepteur CB2 et deux nouvelles séries d'inhibiteurs de FAAH s’articulant autour de plusieurs hétérocycles différents ont été conçues, synthétisées et évaluées pour leur activité biologique. Les résultats pharmacologiques ont révélé des affinités sélectives pour le récepteur CB2 et des activités inhibitrices de la FAAH pour certains composés. Ces travaux ont permis d'établir des relations structure-activité essentielles pour la conception d’agoniste CB2 mais aussi pour la conception de composés prometteurs à double activités: agonistes CB2 / inhibiteurs FAAH. Enfin, deux composés agonistes sélectifs CB2 ont été évalués pour leurs propriétés anti-inflammatoires au niveau intestinal sur modèle murin de colite induite au DSS. / Recent investigations showed that anandamide, the main endogenous ligand of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, possesses analgesic, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects. In the perspective to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), our approach was to develop new CB2-selective ligands which are able to modulate inflammation without triggering psychotropic effects, and new inhibitors of the main anandamide-degradation enzyme, the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Therefore, based on previous works in our group, a new series of CB2-selective agonists and two new series of FAAH inhibitors based on different scaffolds was designed, synthesized and evaluated for their biological activity. The pharmacological results showed CB2-selective agonist activities and FAAH-inhibitory activities for some compounds. This work helped to establish essential structure-activity relationships for the design of CB2-selective agonist but also for the design of promising multitarget compounds: CB2 agonists / FAAH inhibitors. Finally, two CB2-selective agonist compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties on DSS-induced colitis mouse model.

Enantiopure epoxides are versatile compounds in the production of single enantiomer drugs, and are of high value as building blocks and intermediates in the preparation of more complex single enantiomer pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Epoxide hydrolases, ubiquitous enzymes in nature, can be versatile tools in the biocatalytic production of these single enantiomer epoxides due to their capability of selectively hydrolysing one enantiomer of a wide range of these compounds, and thus rendering an enantiopure epoxide and diol. The value of epoxide hydrolases for the kinetic resolution of epoxide compounds are dependant on factors such as availability, ease of production, long term stability, activity and the displayed enantioselectivity. The first objective of this study was to investigate and optimise the growth media and time for the production of two red yeasts, Rhodotorula glutinis and Rhodospondium toruloides, and their epoxide hydrolysing enzymes. Maximum and minimum epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity for R. glutinis was respectively observed with the YMvit (0,26 mM.min"1) and malt (0,17 mM.min"1) media, while peak biomass production was observed from the YM medium (64,9 mg.mL"1). For R. toruloides, the highest biomass was produced in the YM (130,8 mg.mL"1) medium, with similar epoxide hydrolase activities (average c = 0,75 ± 0,01) displayed for the YM, YMvit and malt grown biocatalysts. With varying the YM medium glucose concentration (0,5 - 2,0 %) the most biomass was produced for R. glutinis with the addition of 1,5 % glucose (60,0 + 0,9 mg.mL"1), with a slight drop in the biomass observed with the addition of 2,0% glucose (56,0 + 1,7 mg.mL"1). No significant differences in epoxide hydrolase activity was observed for the lower glucose additive concentrations (0,5 - 1,5 %), while 2,0 % (m/v) rendered a biocatalyst with almost 20 % higher activity (0,29 mM.min"1). For R. toruloides an increase in the glucose concentration lead to a significantly higher biomass production while the time needed to attain the stationary phase increased progressively from 40 to 96 hours. Almost equal activity was observed for the top three glucose concentrations (average c = 0,82 ± 0,01) at 36 hours growth time, but in all cases a decrease in the EH activity was observed during the stationary phase, with the most pronounced decrease for the 2,0 % (m/v) glucose concentration, that showed a drop in conversion of almost 62 % at 144 hours growth time. The second objective was to synthesise meta and para nitro-, methyl- and methoxystyrene oxides and the successive production of their single enantiopure epoxides through R. glutinis EH mediated kinetic resolution, and the determination of the absolute configuration of the pure residual enantiomers through VCD analysis. R. glutinis selectively hydrolysed the whole range of styrene oxide derivatives, with the highest activity displayed towards the meta substituted derivatives in the order of methyl > methoxy > nitro. m-Methylstyrene oxide reached a % e.e. of >98 within 60 minutes, with an exceptionally high yield of 42,5 %. The absolute configuration of the residual epoxide enantiomers of /n-nitro, m-methyl and m-methoxystyrene oxides were determined to be of the (S)-configuration, indicating that R. glutinis EH preferentially hydrolyses the (R)-epoxides. Thirdly, we attempted to increase the R. glutinis EH activity through the addition of hydroxypropyl-p-cyclodextrin (HPB) and to correlate the rate of chemical and R. glutinis EH mediated enzymatic hydrolysis, and the enzyme's enantioselectivity to the electronic properties of their substituents and the spatial arrangement of the substrates in relation to the EH catalytic triad of the EH active site. An increase in the HPB concentration (0 - 20 % w/v) lead to a substantial increase in both the solubility as well as enzyme activity for p-N02 (para-nitrostyrene oxide) with a significant increase in the solubility of between 2,89 and 6,28 times for the substrate range with the addition of 5 % HPB in comparison to the buffer solution. The acid induced chemical and R. glutinis EH mediated enzymatic reaction rate was correlated to both the Hammett constant as well as the Mulliken charge distributions. The Mulliken charge distribution over the protonated epoxides was correlated to the acid induced chemical hydrolysis rates, while the Mulliken charge distribution over the neutral epoxides could be correlated to the enzymatic reaction rates. An increase in the electron-donating properties of the styrene oxide substituent groups was correlated to an increase in both the chemical as well as the R. glutinis EH mediated hydrolysis reaction rates of the styrene oxide derivatives. Docking of the possible conformers of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of these meta and para substituted styrene oxides into the EH binding site of the closely related Aspergillus niger displayed a closer and more preferential fit of the (R)-epoxides which is the faster reacting enantiomerfor both A. niger and R. glutinis EHs. The proven relationship between R. glutinis EH activity and selectivity and the electronic properties of substituent groups, as well as the relationship between spatial arrangement of the epoxide hydrolase binding site and the enantioselectivity of the enzyme, could open up the possibility to correctly predict both the enantioselectivity as well as the activity of R. glutinis EH, and possibly other red yeasts, towards more complex epoxide substrates without the need of time consuming screenings. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Enantiopure epoxides are versatile compounds in the production of single enantiomer drugs, and are of high value as building blocks and intermediates in the preparation of more complex single enantiomer pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Epoxide hydrolases, ubiquitous enzymes in nature, can be versatile tools in the biocatalytic production of these single enantiomer epoxides due to their capability of selectively hydrolysing one enantiomer of a wide range of these compounds, and thus rendering an enantiopure epoxide and diol. The value of epoxide hydrolases for the kinetic resolution of epoxide compounds are dependant on factors such as availability, ease of production, long term stability, activity and the displayed enantioselectivity. The first objective of this study was to investigate and optimise the growth media and time for the production of two red yeasts, Rhodotorula glutinis and Rhodospondium toruloides, and their epoxide hydrolysing enzymes. Maximum and minimum epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity for R. glutinis was respectively observed with the YMvit (0,26 mM.min"1) and malt (0,17 mM.min"1) media, while peak biomass production was observed from the YM medium (64,9 mg.mL"1). For R. toruloides, the highest biomass was produced in the YM (130,8 mg.mL"1) medium, with similar epoxide hydrolase activities (average c = 0,75 ± 0,01) displayed for the YM, YMvit and malt grown biocatalysts. With varying the YM medium glucose concentration (0,5 - 2,0 %) the most biomass was produced for R. glutinis with the addition of 1,5 % glucose (60,0 + 0,9 mg.mL"1), with a slight drop in the biomass observed with the addition of 2,0% glucose (56,0 + 1,7 mg.mL"1). No significant differences in epoxide hydrolase activity was observed for the lower glucose additive concentrations (0,5 - 1,5 %), while 2,0 % (m/v) rendered a biocatalyst with almost 20 % higher activity (0,29 mM.min"1). For R. toruloides an increase in the glucose concentration lead to a significantly higher biomass production while the time needed to attain the stationary phase increased progressively from 40 to 96 hours. Almost equal activity was observed for the top three glucose concentrations (average c = 0,82 ± 0,01) at 36 hours growth time, but in all cases a decrease in the EH activity was observed during the stationary phase, with the most pronounced decrease for the 2,0 % (m/v) glucose concentration, that showed a drop in conversion of almost 62 % at 144 hours growth time. The second objective was to synthesise meta and para nitro-, methyl- and methoxystyrene oxides and the successive production of their single enantiopure epoxides through R. glutinis EH mediated kinetic resolution, and the determination of the absolute configuration of the pure residual enantiomers through VCD analysis. R. glutinis selectively hydrolysed the whole range of styrene oxide derivatives, with the highest activity displayed towards the meta substituted derivatives in the order of methyl > methoxy > nitro. m-Methylstyrene oxide reached a % e.e. of >98 within 60 minutes, with an exceptionally high yield of 42,5 %. The absolute configuration of the residual epoxide enantiomers of /n-nitro, m-methyl and m-methoxystyrene oxides were determined to be of the (S)-configuration, indicating that R. glutinis EH preferentially hydrolyses the (R)-epoxides. Thirdly, we attempted to increase the R. glutinis EH activity through the addition of hydroxypropyl-p-cyclodextrin (HPB) and to correlate the rate of chemical and R. glutinis EH mediated enzymatic hydrolysis, and the enzyme's enantioselectivity to the electronic properties of their substituents and the spatial arrangement of the substrates in relation to the EH catalytic triad of the EH active site. An increase in the HPB concentration (0 - 20 % w/v) lead to a substantial increase in both the solubility as well as enzyme activity for p-N02 (para-nitrostyrene oxide) with a significant increase in the solubility of between 2,89 and 6,28 times for the substrate range with the addition of 5 % HPB in comparison to the buffer solution. The acid induced chemical and R. glutinis EH mediated enzymatic reaction rate was correlated to both the Hammett constant as well as the Mulliken charge distributions. The Mulliken charge distribution over the protonated epoxides was correlated to the acid induced chemical hydrolysis rates, while the Mulliken charge distribution over the neutral epoxides could be correlated to the enzymatic reaction rates. An increase in the electron-donating properties of the styrene oxide substituent groups was correlated to an increase in both the chemical as well as the R. glutinis EH mediated hydrolysis reaction rates of the styrene oxide derivatives. Docking of the possible conformers of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of these meta and para substituted styrene oxides into the EH binding site of the closely related Aspergillus niger displayed a closer and more preferential fit of the (R)-epoxides which is the faster reacting enantiomerfor both A. niger and R. glutinis EHs. The proven relationship between R. glutinis EH activity and selectivity and the electronic properties of substituent groups, as well as the relationship between spatial arrangement of the epoxide hydrolase binding site and the enantioselectivity of the enzyme, could open up the possibility to correctly predict both the enantioselectivity as well as the activity of R. glutinis EH, and possibly other red yeasts, towards more complex epoxide substrates without the need of time consuming screenings. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thèse (M.Sc.) -- Université Laval, 1998. / Bibliogr.: f. 72-83. Publié aussi en version électronique.

No description available.

Stereochemistry and chirality are arguably two of the most important subjects pertaining to the development of new pharmaceutical drugs. Since enantiomers have the potential to encompass different pharmacological effects in biological systems, both enantiomers have to be tested for pharmacological activity. Not only has obtaining these single enantiomers become crucial, but formulation of the pure enantiomer of a drug also has the potential to contain advantages for both pharmaceutical formulation and therapeutic effect. Epoxide hydrolase is an enzyme commonly found in nature that catalyses the hydrolysis of epoxides, resulting in the formation of the corresponding vicinal diol. Over the last few years a large amount of research has been completed on these enzymes from sources such as mammals, insects, bacteria and fungi. Micro-organisms especially have enjoyed ample attention because of their abundant supply. Recently it was found that certain yeasts contain this enzyme and have the ability to enantioselectively catalyse certain hydrolysis reactions. Styrene oxides are terminal epoxides that are, due to the reactivity of the epoxide ring, useful synthons in the organic synthesis of pharmaceutical products. The first objective of this project was to synthesize three nitro derivatives of styrene oxide namely para-, meta-, and ortho-nitrostyrene oxide. Al three products were obtained from the corresponding nitrophenacyl bromide in yields of 52%, 90% and 57% respectively. The second objective was lo find a suitable yeast slrain containing the epoxide hydrolase enzyme to enantioselectively hydrolyse the synthesised products and unsubstituted styrene oxide. A screening was completed during which 410 yeast strains from more than 44 genera were tested. Epoxide hydrolase activity was found to be widespread throughout the screened yeast domain, while the genera Candida, Debaryomyces, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotorula and Trichosporon specifically were very successful in catalysing the hydrolysis of the substrates. Rhodosporidium toruloides UOFS Y-0471 and Rhodotorula glutinis UOFS Y-0653 were chosen for further studies because of their superior enantioselectivity. The final objective was to optimise these reactions in terms of pH, temperature and substrate concentration. It was found that a pH value of 7.2 and a temperature of 45’C yielded optimal enzyme activity. Increased temperatures (45’C), however, lead to a decrease in enantioselectivity and, in the case of R. toruloides together with the substrate puranitrostyrene oxide, reversed enantioselectivity. Lower temperatures (15’C) increased enantioselectivity, resulting in a remarkable improvement from a 10% yield of the single enantiomer (45’C) to a 35% yield. Surprisingly this temperature decrease had a very small affect upon the reaction time. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2002.