Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
06:16
High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli
Published on: August 13, 2011
Ethylene biosynthesis-inducing protein from cellulysin is an endoxylanase
Y Fuchs1, A Saxena, H R Gamble
1U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hormone Laboratory, BARC, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
Plant Physiology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
The proteinaceous ethylene biosynthesis-inducing factor (EIF) possesses specific xylanase activity. This enzyme is crucial for inducing ethylene biosynthesis in plants.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ethylene biosynthesis is a critical plant process regulated by various factors.
- The proteinaceous ethylene biosynthesis-inducing factor (EIF) was previously identified but its enzymatic activity remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the enzymatic activity of EIF.
- To determine the role of EIF's enzymatic activity in inducing ethylene biosynthesis.
Main Methods:
- Protein purification using Sephacryl S-200 chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and agarose electrophoresis.
- Enzyme activity assays for xylanase, cellulase, polygalacturonase, and protease.
- Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis using antibodies against purified EIF.
Main Results:
- Xylanase activity consistently copurified with ethylene biosynthesis-inducing activity.
- Both activities were inhibited by heat and proteases.
- Antibodies against EIF immunoprecipitated both activities.
- Purified EIF showed no detectable cellulase, polygalacturonase, or protease activity.
Conclusions:
- EIF possesses specific xylanase activity.
- This xylanase activity is directly involved in the induction of ethylene biosynthesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides such as glycogen and starch are synthesized from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, primarily uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These activated glucose donors act as key intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG primarily involves glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria, while ADPG plays a fundamental role in starch synthesis in plants and certain bacteria.UDPG is formed when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with...
01:15Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides
Every plant cell has a cell wall that protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives the cell shape. Cellulose, the main structural component of the plant cell wall, makes up over 30% of plant matter. It is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose is an unbranched polysaccharide composed of linear chains of glucose molecules linked by β (1→4) glycosidic bonds.
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the parenchyma cells of...
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the parenchyma cells of...
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
01:23Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
01:30Production of Pharmaceuticals
Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
01:25Production of Organic Acids
Lactic acid, an important organic acid extensively applied in food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable polymer industries, is primarily produced via microbial fermentation. This method is favored over chemical synthesis due to its environmental sustainability and capacity for enantiomerically pure product formation. Among various microbial processes, the fermentation of starch-based substrates stands out due to the abundance and renewability of raw materials like corn and potatoes.Hydrolysis of...