Properties of a thermoactive beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (lichenase) from Clostridium thermocellum expressed in Escherichia coli

A Clostridium thermocellum gene (licB) encoding a thermoactive 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase (lichenase) with a molecular weight of about 35,000 was localized on a 1.5-kb DNA fragment by cloning and expression in E. coli. The enzyme acts on beta-glucans with alternating beta-1,3- and beta-1,4-linkages such as barley beta-glucan and lichenan, but not on beta-glucans containing only 1,3- or 1,4-glucosidic bonds. It is active over a broad pH range (pH 5-12) and has a temperature optimum around 80 degrees C. The C. thermocellum lichenase is unusually resistant against inactivation by heat, ethanol or ionic detergents. These properties make the enzyme highly suitable for industrial application in the mashing process of beer brewing.     

Purification and characterization of thermostable β-1,3-1,4 glucanase from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> sp. A8-8

In this study, the extracellular enzyme activity ofBacillus sp. A8-8 was detected on LB agar plates containing 0.5% of the following substrates: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), xylan, cellulose, and casein, respectively. The β-1,3-1,4 glucanase produced fromBacillus sp. A8-8 was purified by ammonium sulfate and hydrophobic chromatography. The molecular size of the protein was estimated by SDS-PAGE as approximately 33 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were 6.0 and 60°C, respectiveley. However, enzyme activity was shown over a broad range of pH values and temperatures. The purified β-1,3-1,4 glucanase retained over 70% of its original activity after incubation at 80°C for 2 h, and showed over 40% of its original activity within the pH range of 9 to 12. This suggests that β-1,3-1,4 glucanase fromBacillus sp. A8-8 is thermostable and alkalistable. In addition, β-1,3-1,4 glucanase had higher substrate specificity to lichenan than to CMC. Finally the activity of the endoglucanase was inhibited by Fe³⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺ ions. However Co²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions were increased its activity. These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Purification and characterization of beta-1,6-glucanase of Streptomyces rochei application in the study of yeast cell wall proteins

A beta-1,6-glucanase was purified to apparent homogeneity from a commercial yeast digestive enzyme prepared from Streptomyces rochei by a series of column chromatographies. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 60 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme had an optimum pH range from 4.0 to 6.0 and was stable in the same pH range. The enzyme was stable under 50 degrees C but lost almost all activity at 60 degrees C. The enzyme was specific to beta-1,6-glucan and had little activity towards beta-1,3-glucan and beta-1,4-glucan. When the beta-1,6-glucan was hydrolyzed with the purified enzyme for 5 h, the reaction products contained 20% glucose, 36% gentiobiose, and 44% other oligosaccharides, suggesting that the enzyme is an endo-type glucanase. When the purified enzyme was used for the digestion of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cell-wall proteins covalently bound to the cell-wall glucan were recovered as soluble forms, suggesting that this enzyme is useful for analysis of yeast-cell wall proteins.     

A novel beta-glucanase gene from Bacillus halodurans C-125

A novel endo-beta-1,3(4)-D-glucanase gene was found in the complete genome sequence of Bacillus halodurans C-125. The gene was previously annotated as an "unknown" protein and assigned an incorrect open reading frame (ORF). However, determining the biochemical characteristics has elucidated the function and correct ORF of the gene. The gene encodes 231 amino acids, and its calculated molecular mass was estimated to be 26743.16 Da. The amino acid sequence alignment showed that the highest sequence identity was only 28% with that of the beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase from Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence did not match any other known Bacillus beta-glucanase gene. The member of the gene cluster that includes this novel gene was apparently different from that of the gene cluster including the putative beta-glucanase genes (bh3231 and bh3232) from B. halodurans C-125. Therefore, the novel gene is not a copy of either of these genes, and in B. halodurans cells, the putative role of the encoded protein may differ from that of bh3231 and bh3232. To examine the activity of the gene product, the gene was cloned as a His-tagged protein and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified enzyme showed activity against lichenan, barley beta-glucan, laminarin, and carboxymethyl curdlan. Thin-layer chromatography showed that the enzyme hydrolyzes substrates in an endo-type manner. When beta-glucan was used as a substrate, the pH optimum was between 6 and 8, and the temperature optimum was 60 degrees C. After 2 h incubation at 50 and 60 degrees C, the residual activity remained 100% and 50%, respectively. The enzymatic activity was abolished after 30 min incubation at 70 degrees C. Based on the results, the gene encodes an endo-type beta-1,3(4)-D-glucanase (E.C. 3.2.1.6).     

Characterization of a thermostable endo-beta-1,4-D-galactanase from the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima

A putative endo-beta-1,4-D-galactanase gene of Thermotoga maritima was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme hydrolyzed pectic galactans and produced D-galactose, beta-1,4-D-galactobiose, beta-1,4-D-galactotriose, and beta-1,4-D-galactotetraose. The enzyme displayed optimum activity at 90 degrees C and pH 7.0. It was slowly inactivated above pH 8.0 and below pH 5.0 and stable at temperatures up to 80 degrees C.     

Purification and characterization of an exo-1,4-beta-galactanase from a strain of Bacillus subtilis

An arabinogalactan 4-beta-D-galactanohydrolase was purified to a homogeneous state from the culture filtrate of a strain of Bacillus subtilis. The enzyme have a molecular mass of 36 kDa and an isoelectric point of pH 7.9. The enzyme is most active at around pH 6.5-7 and at 60 degrees C, and is stable between pH 6-10 and below 55 degrees C. Hg2+ and Cu2+ inhibit the activity. The enzyme hydrolyze soybean arabinogalactan which contains beta-1,4-galactosidic linkages in its main chain structure, but not other polysaccharides with beta-1,3-galactosidic linkages. The hydrolysis products from soybean arabinogalactan are predominantly galactobiose with a small amount of galactotetraose. The enzyme is an exo-enzyme and the ability to transfer galactobiose to other galactobiose molecules is indicated by the formation of galactotetraose.     

Purification and characterization of beta-1,3-xylanase from a marine bacterium, Vibrio sp. XY-214

beta-1,3-Xylanase was purified to gel electrophoretic homogeneity and 83-fold from a cell-free culture fluid of Vibrio sp. XY-214 by ammonium sulfate precipitation and successive chromatographies. The enzyme had a pl of 3.6 and a molecular mass of 52 kDa. The enzyme had the highest level of activity at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by Cu2+, Hg2+, and N-bromosuccinimide. The enzyme hydrolyzed beta-1,3-xylan to produce mainly xylotriose and xylobiose but did not act on xylobiose, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, beta-1,4-xylan, beta-1,3-glucan, or carboxymethyl cellulose.     

Purification, characterization, and gene analysis of cellulase (Cel8A) from Lysobacter sp. IB-9374

An enzyme that has both beta-1,4-glucanase and chitosanase activities was found in the culture medium of the soil bacterium Lysobacter sp. IB-9374, a high lysyl endopeptidase-producing strain. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the culture filtrate using five purification steps and designated Cel8A. The purified Cel8A had a molecular mass of 41 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A pH optimum of 5.0 was found for the beta-1,4-glucanase activity, and pH optima of 5.0 and 7.0 were found for the chitosanase activity. Nucleotide sequencing of the Cel8A gene yielded a deduced amino acid sequence that comprises a 33-amino acid, N-terminal signal peptide and a mature enzyme consisting of a 381-residue polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 41,241 Da. The amino acid sequence of the Cel8A, which contains the catalytic module of glycosyl hydrolase family 8, is homologous to beta-1,3-1,4-D-glucanase from Bacillus circulans WL-12 and endoglucanase N-257 from B. circulans KSM-N257.     

Characterization of an exo-beta-1,3-galactanase from Clostridium thermocellum

A gene encoding an exo-beta-1,3-galactanase from Clostridium thermocellum, Ct1,3Gal43A, was isolated. The sequence has similarity with an exo-beta-1,3-galactanase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (Pc1,3Gal43A). The gene encodes a modular protein consisting of an N-terminal glycoside hydrolase family 43 (GH43) module, a family 13 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM13), and a C-terminal dockerin domain. The gene corresponding to the GH43 module was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene product was characterized. The recombinant enzyme shows optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 50 degrees C and catalyzes hydrolysis only of beta-1,3-linked galactosyl oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the hydrolysis products demonstrated that the enzyme produces galactose from beta-1,3-galactan in an exo-acting manner. When the enzyme acted on arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), the enzyme produced oligosaccharides together with galactose, suggesting that the enzyme is able to accommodate a beta-1,6-linked galactosyl side chain. The substrate specificity of the enzyme is very similar to that of Pc1,3Gal43A, suggesting that the enzyme is an exo-beta-1,3-galactanase. Affinity gel electrophoresis of the C-terminal CBM13 did not show any affinity for polysaccharides, including beta-1,3-galactan. However, frontal affinity chromatography for the CBM13 indicated that the CBM13 specifically interacts with oligosaccharides containing a beta-1,3-galactobiose, beta-1,4-galactosyl glucose, or beta-1,4-galactosyl N-acetylglucosaminide moiety at the nonreducing end. Interestingly, CBM13 in the C terminus of Ct1,3Gal43A appeared to interfere with the enzyme activity toward beta-1,3-galactan and alpha-l-arabinofuranosidase-treated AGP.     

通过体外分子进化技术提高淀粉液化芽胞杆菌BS5582 β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖酶热稳定性

应用基于易错PCR随机突变的体外分子进化技术,来提高淀粉液化芽胞杆菌β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖酶的热稳定性。利用建立的基于96微孔板高通量筛选模型,经过两轮定向进化与高通量筛选,共筛选得到3株热稳定性明显提高的突变体2-JF-01、2-JF-02和2-JF-03。将野生型β-葡聚糖酶基因和热稳定性提高的突变基因的高效表达产物经镍亲和层析柱纯化后,酶学性质测定表明突变酶2-JF-01、2-JF-02和2-JF-03的T50值分别比野生酶(53℃)提高2.2℃、5.5℃和3.5℃。突变酶2-JF-01、2-JF-02和2-JF-03在60℃下的半衰期t1/2,60℃(min)分别比野生酶(18min)提高4min、13min和17min。突变酶2-JF-01、2-JF-02和2-JF-03的Vmax值为286μmol/(mg·min)、304μmol/(mg·min)和279μmol/(mg·min),分别比野生型下降8.3%、2.6%和10.6%。突变酶2-JF-01、2-JF-02和2-JF-03的Km值分别为6.76mg/mL、6.19μmg/mL和6.84mg/mL,与野生型(6.29mg/mL)基本相同。序列分析表明,3个突变体共发生7个氨基酸替代:2-JF-01(N36S,G213R)、2-JF-02(C86R,S115I,N150G)和2-JF-03(E156V,K105R)。同源建模表明,7个氨基酸替代中5个位于蛋白质表面或表面洞穴中,42.8%的替代氨基酸是精氨酸,也表明精氨酸在提高β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖酶热稳定性中起重要的作用。     

Isolation of extracellular 28- and 42-kilodalton beta-1,3-glucanases and comparison of three beta-1,3-glucanases produced by Bacillus circulans IAM1165.

Bacillus circulans IAM1165 produces three major extracellular beta-1,3-glucanases (molecular masses, 28, 42, and 91 kDa) during the stationary phase of growth. The 28- and 42-kDa enzymes were purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant in this study. The properties of these two enzymes were examined, together with those of the 91-kDa enzyme previously isolated. The enzymatic properties of the 28- and 42-kDa beta-1,3-glucanases closely resemble each other. The enzymes belong to a category of endo type 1,3-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolases. The enzymes were active at pH 4.0 to 7.0. The optimum temperature of the reactions was 60 degrees C when laminarin (a soluble beta-1,3-glucan) was used as the substrate at pH 7.0. The enzymes hydrolyzed barley glucan and lichenan (beta-1,3-1,4-glucans) more effectively than laminarin. Of the three enzymes, the 42-kDa enzyme lysed fungal cell walls the most effectively.     

Isolation and overexpression of a gene encoding an extracellular beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucanase from Streptococcus bovis JB1.

Streptococcus bovis JB1 was found to produce a 25-kDa extracellular enzyme active against beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucans. A gene was isolated encoding a specific beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucanase that corresponds to this size and belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 16. A 4- to 10-fold increase in supernatant beta-glucanase activity was obtained when the cloned beta-glucanase gene was reintroduced into S. bovis JB1 by use of constructs based on the plasmid vector pTRW10 or pIL253. The beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucanase gene was also expressed upon introduction of the pTRW10 construct pTRWL1R into Lactococcus lactis IL2661 and Enterococcus faecalis JH2-SS, although extracellular activity was 8- to 50-fold lower than that in S. bovis JB1. The beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucanase purified from the culture supernatant of S. bovis JB1 carrying pTRWL1R showed a K(m) of 2.8 mg per ml and a Vmax of 338 mumol of glucose equivalents per min per mg of protein with barley beta-glucan as the substrate. The S. bovis beta-(1,3-1,4)-glucanase may contribute to the ability of this bacterium to utilize starch by degrading structural polysaccharides present in endosperm cell walls.     

Purification and characterization of beta-1,3-xylanase from a marine bacterium,Alcaligenes sp. XY-234

A beta-1,3-xylanase-producing bacterium, Alcaligenes sp. XY-234, was isolated from the marine environment. The organism produced endo-1,3-beta-xylanase at a high level in the culture fluid. The enzyme was purified 292-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation and several column chromatographies. The final enzyme preparation appeared to be homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass of 59 kDa, and the pI was 4.0. The enzyme hydrolyzed beta-1,3-xylan and larger xylooligosaccharides than xylobiose to give several xylooligosaccharides, but it could not hydrolyze xylobiose, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, and beta-1,4-xylan. The Km of the enzyme was 4.0 mg/ml. Optimal pH and temperature were 7.5 and 40 degrees C, respectively. It was stable from pH 6.0 to 10 and at a temperature of less than 40 degrees C. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by 1 mM HgCl(2)., AlCl(3), CuCl(2), FeCl(3), HgCl(2), Pb(CH(3)COO) (2), and N-bromosuccinimide.     

Crystal structure of truncated Fibrobacter succinogenes 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucanase in complex with beta-1,3-1,4-cellotriose

Fibrobacter succinogenes 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucanase (Fsbeta-glucanase) catalyzes the specific hydrolysis of beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds adjacent to beta-1,3 linkages in beta-D-glucans or lichenan. This is the first report to elucidate the crystal structure of a truncated Fsbeta-glucanase (TFsbeta-glucanase) in complex with beta-1,3-1,4-cellotriose, a major product of the enzyme reaction. The crystal structures, at a resolution of 2.3 angstroms, reveal that the overall fold of TFsbeta-glucanase remains virtually unchanged upon sugar binding. The enzyme accommodates five glucose residues, forming a concave active cleft. The beta-1,3-1,4-cellotriose with subsites -3 to -1 bound to the active cleft of TFsbeta-glucanase with its reducing end subsite -1 close to the key catalytic residues Glu56 and Glu60. All three subsites of the beta-1,3-1,4-cellotriose adopted a relaxed C(1)4 conformation, with a beta-1,3 glycosidic linkage between subsites -2 and -1, and a beta-1,4 glycosidic linkage between subsites -3 and -2. On the basis of the enzyme-product complex structure observed in this study, a catalytic mechanism and substrate binding conformation of the active site of TFsbeta-glucanase is proposed.     

Beta-1,4-glucanase-like protein from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 is a beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase and functions in salt stress tolerance

In the present study, we characterized the gene (Cyanobase accession number slr0897) designated Ssglc encoding a beta-1,4-glucanase-like protein (SsGlc) from Synechocystis PCC6803. The deduced amino acid sequence for Ssglc showed a high degree of similarity to sequences of GH (glycoside hydrolase) family 9 beta-1,4-glucanases (cellulases) from various sources. Surprisingly, the recombinant protein obtained from the Escherichia coli expression system was able to hydrolyse barley beta-glucan and lichenan (beta-1,3-1,4-glucan), but not cellulose (beta-1,4-glucan), curdlan (beta-1,3-glucan), or laminarin (beta-1,3-1,6-glucan). A 1H-NMR analysis of the enzymatic products revealed that the enzyme hydrolyses the beta-1,4-glycosidic linkage of barley beta-glucan through an inverting mechanism. The data indicated that SsGlc was a novel type of GH9 glucanase which could specifically hydrolyse the beta-1,3-1,4-linkage of glucan. The growth of mutant Synechocystis cells in which the Ssglc gene was disrupted by a kanamycin-resistance cartridge gene was almost the same as that of the wild-type cells under continuous light (40 micromol of photons/m2 per s), a 12 h light (40 micromol of photons/m2 per s)/12 h dark cycle, cold stress (4 degrees C), and high light stress (200 micromol of photons/m2 per s). However, under salt stress (300-450 mM NaCl), growth of the Ssglc-disrupted mutant cells was significantly inhibited as compared with that of the wild-type cells. The Ssglc-disrupted mutant cells showed a decreased rate of O2 consumption and NaHCO3-dependent O2 evolution as compared with the wild-type cells under salt stress. Under osmotic stress (100-400 mM sorbitol), there was no difference in growth between the wild-type and the Ssglc-disrupted mutant cells. These results suggest that SsGlc functions in salt stress tolerance in Synechocystis PCC6803.     

Molecular characterization and expression in Escherichia coli of three beta-1,3-glucanase genes from Lysobacter enzymogenes strain N4-7

Lysobacter enzymogenes strain N4-7 produces multiple biochemically distinct extracellular beta-1,3-glucanase activities. The gluA, gluB, and gluC genes, encoding enzymes with beta-1,3-glucanase activity, were identified by a reverse-genetics approach following internal amino acid sequence determination of beta-1,3-glucanase-active proteins partially purified from culture filtrates of strain N4-7. Analysis of gluA and gluC gene products indicates that they are members of family 16 glycoside hydrolases that have significant sequence identity to each other throughout the catalytic domain but that differ structurally by the presence of a family 6 carbohydrate-binding domain within the gluC product. Analysis of the gluB gene product indicates that it is a member of family 64 glycoside hydrolases. Expression of each gene in Escherichia coli resulted in the production of proteins with beta-1,3-glucanase activity. Biochemical analyses of the recombinant enzymes indicate that GluA and GluC exhibit maximal activity at pH 4.5 and 45 degrees C and that GluB is most active between pH 4.5 and 5.0 at 41 degrees C. Activity of recombinant proteins against various beta-1,3 glucan substrates indicates that GluA and GluC are most active against linear beta-1,3 glucans, while GluB is most active against the insoluble beta-1,3 glucan substrate zymosan A. These data suggest that the contribution of beta-1,3-glucanases to the biocontrol activity of L. enzymogenes may be due to complementary activities of these enzymes in the hydrolysis of beta-1,3 glucans from fungal cell walls.     

Hydrolase and glycosynthase activity of endo-1,3-beta-glucanase from the thermophile Pyrococcus furiosus

Pyrococcus furiosus laminarinase (LamA, PF0076) is an endo-glycosidase that hydrolyzes beta-1,3-glucooligosaccharides, but not beta-1,4-gluco-oligosaccharides. We studied the specificity of LamA towards small saccharides by using 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-glucosides with different linkages. Besides endo-activity, wild-type LamA has some exo-activity, and catalyzes the hydrolysis of mixed-linked oligosaccharides (Glcbeta4Glcbeta3Glcbeta-MU (Glc = glucosyl, MU = 4-methylumbelliferyl)) with both beta-1,4 and beta-1,3 specificities. The LamA mutant E170A had severely reduced hydrolytic activity, which is consistent with Glu170 being the catalytic nucleophile. The E170A mutant was active as a glycosynthase, catalyzing the condensation of alpha-laminaribiosyl fluoride to different acceptors. The best condensation yields were found at pH 6.5 and 50 degrees C, but did not exceed 30%. Depending on the acceptor, the synthase generated either a beta-1,3 or a beta-1,4 linkage.     

Purification and characterization of an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase produced by Trichoderma asperellum

Trichoderma asperellum produces at least two extracellular beta-1,3-glucanases upon induction with cell walls from Rhizoctonia solani. A beta-1,3-glucanase was purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. A typical procedure provided 35.7-fold purification with 9.5% yield. The molecular mass of the purified exo-beta-1,3-glucanases was 83.1 kDa as estimated using a 12% (w/v) SDS-electrophoresis slab gel. The enzyme was only active toward glucans containing beta-1,3-linkages and hydrolyzed laminarin in an exo-like fashion to form glucose. The K(m) and V(max) values for exo-beta-1,3-glucanase, using laminarin as substrate, were 0.087 mg ml(-1) and 0.246 U min(-1), respectively. The pH optimum for the enzyme was pH 5.1 and maximum activity was obtained at 55 degrees C. Hg(2+) strongly inhibited the purified enzyme.     

Expression ofBacillus subtilis JA18 endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene inEscherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

Endo-β-1,4-glucanase encoded byBacillus subtilis JA18 was expressed inEscherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized. The purified enzyme showed a single band of 50 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for this endo-β-1,4-glucanase was pH 5.8 and 60 °C. The endo-β-1,4-glucanase was highly stable in a wide pH range, from 4.0 to 12.0. Furthermore, it remained stable up to 60 °C. The endo-β-1,4-glucanase was completely inhibited by 2 mM Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ag⁺, whereas it is activated in the presence of Co²⁺. In addition, the enzyme activity was inhibited by 1 mM Mn²⁺ but stimulated by 10 mM Mn²⁺. At 1% concentration, SDS completely inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose, lichenan but no activity was detected with regard to avicel, xylan, chitosan and laminarin. For carboxymethylcellulose, the enzyme had a Km of 14.7 mg/ml.