Cold-Adapted β-Galactosidase from the Antarctic Psychrophile Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis |
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Authors: | A Hoyoux I Jennes P Dubois S Genicot F Dubail J M Franois E Baise G Feller and C Gerday |
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Institution: | A. Hoyoux, I. Jennes, P. Dubois, S. Genicot, F. Dubail, J. M. François, E. Baise, G. Feller, and C. Gerday |
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Abstract: | The β-galactosidase from the Antarctic gram-negative bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAE 79 was purified to homogeneity. The nucleotide sequence and the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme indicate that the β-galactosidase subunit is composed of 1,038 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 118,068. This β-galactosidase shares structural properties with Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (comparable subunit mass, 51% amino sequence identity, conservation of amino acid residues involved in catalysis, similar optimal pH value, and requirement for divalent metal ions) but is characterized by a higher catalytic efficiency on synthetic and natural substrates and by a shift of apparent optimum activity toward low temperatures and lower thermal stability. The enzyme also differs by a higher pI (7.8) and by specific thermodynamic activation parameters. P. haloplanktis β-galactosidase was expressed in E. coli, and the recombinant enzyme displays properties identical to those of the wild-type enzyme. Heat-induced unfolding monitored by intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy showed lower melting point values for both P. haloplanktis wild-type and recombinant β-galactosidase compared to the mesophilic enzyme. Assays of lactose hydrolysis in milk demonstrate that P. haloplanktis β-galactosidase can outperform the current commercial β-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis, suggesting that the cold-adapted β-galactosidase could be used to hydrolyze lactose in dairy products processed in refrigerated plants. |
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