Plasma cell leukemia producing monoclonal immunoglobulin E.

A 78-year-old male with lumbar pain and dim consciousness presented the clinical pictures of plasma cell leukemia (PCL) producing a large amount of monoclonal immunoglobulin E (IgE)/kappa protein. Laboratory investigation demonstrated an elevated serum calcium level and renal dysfunction. Systemic bone X-ray survey disclosed only a solitary osteolytic lesion.

A novel l-amino acid ligase from bacillus licheniformis.

l-Amino acid alpha-ligase (EC 6.3.2.

Dipeptide synthesis by L-amino acid ligase from Ralstonia solanacearum.

Despite its utility, dipeptides have not been widely used due to the absence of an efficient manufacturing method. Recently, a novel method for effective production of dipeptides using l-amino acid alpha-ligase (Lal) is presented. Lal, which is only identified in Bacillus subtilis, catalyzes dipeptide synthesis from unprotected amino acids in an ATP-dependent manner.

Novel substrate specificity of glutathione synthesis enzymes from Streptococcus agalactiae and Clostridium acetobutylicum.

Glutathione (GSH) is synthesized by gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) and glutathione synthetase (GS) in living organisms. Recently, bifunctional fusion protein, termed gamma-GCS-GS catalyzing both gamma-GCS and GS reactions from gram-positive firmicutes Streptococcus agalactiae, has been reported. We revealed that in the gamma-GCS activity, S.