Penicillium chrysogenum glucose oxidase -- a study on its antifungal effects.
OBJECTIVE
Purification and characterization of the high molecular mass Candida albicans-killing protein secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum.


RESULTS
The protein was purified by a combination of ultrafiltration, chromatofocusing and gel filtration. Enzymological characteristics [relative molecular mass (M(r)) = 155 000, subunit structure alpha(2) with M(r,alpha) = 76 000, isoelectric point (pI) = 5.4] were determined using SDS-PAGE and 2D-electrophoresis. N-terminal amino acid sequencing and homology search demonstrated that the antifungal protein was the glucose oxidase (GOX) of the fungus. The enzyme was cytotoxic for a series of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. Vitamin C (1.0 mg ml(-1)) prevented oxidative cell injuries triggered by 0.004 U GOX in Emericella nidulans cultures but bovine liver catalase was ineffective even at a GOX : catalase activity ratio of 0.004 : 200 U. A secondary inhibition of growth in E. nidulans cultures by the oxygen-depleting GOX-catalase system was likely to replace the primary inhibition exerted by H(2)O(2).


CONCLUSIONS
Penicillium chrysogenum GOX possesses similar enzymological features to those described earlier for other Penicillium GOXs. Its cytotoxicity was dependent on the inherent antioxidant potential of the test micro-organisms.


CONCLUSIONS
Penicillium chrysogenum GOX may find future applications in glucose biosensor production, the disinfection of medical implants or in the food industry as an antimicrobial and/or preservative agent.
Leiter
E
E
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Marx
F
F
Pusztahelyi
T
T
Haas
H
H
Pócsi
I
I
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D032842:Emericella / Q000187:drug effects; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000201:enzymology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000379:methods
D000596:Amino Acids; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D002374:Catalase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid