A beta-glucosidase (BglA, EC 3.2.1.21) gene from the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 was cloned and sequenced. The enzyme containing 657 amino acid residues was homologous to certain animal, plant, and bacterial beta-glucosidases but lacked significant similarity to those from aerobic fungi. Neither cellulose- nor protein-binding domains were found in BglA. When expressed in Sacch...

The phenotypic and genetic characteristics of spirochetes isolated from the blood of one U.S. and six French patients with severe clinical disease or impaired immunity were examined. All spirochetes were anaerobic, weakly beta-hemolytic, positive for hippurate hydrolysis, and negative for beta-glucosidase activity. Cell lengths ranged from 4 to 8 microm, and each isolate had between 8 and 12 pe...

Volvariella volvacea, commonly known as the straw or paddy mushroom, had the following growth characteristics: minimum temperature, 25 degrees C; optimal temperature, 37 degrees C; maximal temperature, 40 degrees C; pH optimum 6.0. Optimal pH for cellulase production was 5.5. The optimal initial pH for cellulase production and mycelial growth was found to be 6.0. The pH and temperature optima f...

The fecal microflora enzymes, beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase, as well as fecal bacterial counts, were examined during colon carcinogenesis in rats administered parenteral 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and fed nutritionally equivalent diets free of fiber or containing one of three single sources of dietary fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin). Whereas pectin-fed animals had increased fe...

Human jejunal biopsy slices were maintained in culture for up to 48 hours. At 24 hours there was good morphological preservation but by 48 hours there was ultrastructural evidence of damage to the enterocytes. During culture the tissue had lost a certain amount of protein. At the same time the levels of three brush border enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, alpha-glucosidase, and leucyl-beta-naphthy...

Effects of corn fiber residue (5 g/day for 10 days) on fecal weight, moisture, pH, fecal flora, ammonia content, and on the activities of beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase were investigated in six healthy subjects. Corn fiber residue was remnant of hemicellulose extraction from corn fiber by calcium hydroxide. Fecal weight showed a tendency to increase, and fecal pH did not change during ...

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPi) possessing a glucose protecting group on the zinc-binding group (ZBG) show a dramatic increase in inhibitory activity upon cleavage by beta-glucosidase.