Poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) depolymerase of Pseudomonas lemoignei

Pseudomonas lemoignei is equipped with at least five polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerase structural genes (phaZ1 to phaZ5) which enable the bacterium to utilize extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), and related polyesters consisting of short-chain-length hxdroxyalkanoates (PHA(SCL)) as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Four genes (phaZ1, phaZ2, phaZ3, and phaZ5) encode PHB depolymerases C, B, D, and A, respectively. It was speculated that the remaining gene, phaZ4, encodes the PHV depolymerase (D. Jendrossek, A. Frisse, A. Behrends, M. Andermann, H. D. Kratzin, T. Stanislawski, and H. G. Schlegel, J. Bacteriol. 177:596-607, 1995). However, in this study, we show that phaZ4 codes for another PHB depolymeraes (i) by disagreement of 5 out of 41 amino acids that had been determined by Edman degradation of the PHV depolymerase and of four endoproteinase GluC-generated internal peptides with the DNA-deduced sequence of phaZ4, (ii) by the lack of immunological reaction of purified recombinant PhaZ4 with PHV depolymerase-specific antibodies, and (iii) by the low activity of the PhaZ4 depolymerase with PHV as a substrate. The true PHV depolymerase-encoding structural gene, phaZ6, was identified by screening a genomic library of P. lemoignei in Escherichia coli for clearing zone formation on PHV agar. The DNA sequence of phaZ6 contained all 41 amino acids of the GluC-generated peptide fragments of the PHV depolymerase. PhaZ6 was expressed and purified from recombinant E. coli and showed immunological identity to the wild-type PHV depolymerase and had high specific activities with PHB and PHV as substrates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a PHA(SCL) depolymerase gene that is expressed during growth on PHV or odd-numbered carbon sources and that encodes a protein with high PHV depolymerase activity. Amino acid analysis revealed that PhaZ6 (relative molecular mass [M(r)], 43,610 Da) resembles precursors of other extracellular PHA(SCL) depolymerases (28 to 50% identical amino acids). The mature protein (M(r), 41,048) is composed of (i) a large catalytic domain including a catalytic triad of S(136), D(211), and H(269) similar to serine hydrolases; (ii) a linker region highly enriched in threonine residues and other amino acids with hydroxylated or small side chains (Thr-rich region); and (iii) a C-terminal domain similar in sequence to the substrate-binding domain of PHA(SCL) depolymerases. Differences in the codon usage of phaZ6 for some codons from the average codon usage of P. lemoignei indicated that phaZ6 might be derived from other organisms by gene transfer. Multialignment of separate domains of bacterial PHA(SCL) depolymerases suggested that not only complete depolymerase genes but also individual domains might have been exchanged between bacteria during evolution of PHA(SCL) depolymerases.     

Poly(3-Hydroxyvalerate) Depolymerase of Pseudomonas lemoignei

Pseudomonas lemoignei is equipped with at least five polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerase structural genes (phaZ1 to phaZ5) which enable the bacterium to utilize extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), and related polyesters consisting of short-chain-length hxdroxyalkanoates (PHA_SCL) as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Four genes (phaZ1, phaZ2, phaZ3, and phaZ5) encode PHB depolymerases C, B, D, and A, respectively. It was speculated that the remaining gene, phaZ4, encodes the PHV depolymerase (D. Jendrossek, A. Frisse, A. Behrends, M. Andermann, H. D. Kratzin, T. Stanislawski, and H. G. Schlegel, J. Bacteriol. 177:596–607, 1995). However, in this study, we show that phaZ4 codes for another PHB depolymeraes (i) by disagreement of 5 out of 41 amino acids that had been determined by Edman degradation of the PHV depolymerase and of four endoproteinase GluC-generated internal peptides with the DNA-deduced sequence of phaZ4, (ii) by the lack of immunological reaction of purified recombinant PhaZ4 with PHV depolymerase-specific antibodies, and (iii) by the low activity of the PhaZ4 depolymerase with PHV as a substrate. The true PHV depolymerase-encoding structural gene, phaZ6, was identified by screening a genomic library of P. lemoignei in Escherichia coli for clearing zone formation on PHV agar. The DNA sequence of phaZ6 contained all 41 amino acids of the GluC-generated peptide fragments of the PHV depolymerase. PhaZ6 was expressed and purified from recombinant E. coli and showed immunological identity to the wild-type PHV depolymerase and had high specific activities with PHB and PHV as substrates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a PHA_SCL depolymerase gene that is expressed during growth on PHV or odd-numbered carbon sources and that encodes a protein with high PHV depolymerase activity. Amino acid analysis revealed that PhaZ6 (relative molecular mass [M_r], 43,610 Da) resembles precursors of other extracellular PHA_SCL depolymerases (28 to 50% identical amino acids). The mature protein (M_r, 41,048) is composed of (i) a large catalytic domain including a catalytic triad of S₁₃₆, D₂₁₁, and H₂₆₉ similar to serine hydrolases; (ii) a linker region highly enriched in threonine residues and other amino acids with hydroxylated or small side chains (Thr-rich region); and (iii) a C-terminal domain similar in sequence to the substrate-binding domain of PHA_SCL depolymerases. Differences in the codon usage of phaZ6 for some codons from the average codon usage of P. lemoignei indicated that phaZ6 might be derived from other organisms by gene transfer. Multialignment of separate domains of bacterial PHA_SCL depolymerases suggested that not only complete depolymerase genes but also individual domains might have been exchanged between bacteria during evolution of PHA_SCL depolymerases.     

The "intracellular" poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase of Rhodospirillum rubrum is a periplasm-located protein with specificity for native PHB and with structural similarity to extracellular PHB depolymerases

Rhodospirillum rubrum possesses a putative intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase system consisting of a soluble PHB depolymerase, a heat-stable activator, and a 3-hydroxybutyrate dimer hydrolase (J. M. Merrick and M. Doudoroff, J. Bacteriol. 88:60-71, 1964). In this study we reinvestigated the soluble R. rubrum PHB depolymerase (PhaZ1). It turned out that PhaZ1 is a novel type of PHB depolymerase with unique properties. Purified PhaZ1 was specific for amorphous short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) such as native PHB, artificial PHB, and oligomer esters of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate with 3 or more 3-hydroxybutyrate units. Atactic PHB, (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate oligomers, medium-chain-length PHA, and lipase substrates (triolein, tributyrin) were not hydrolyzed. The PHB depolymerase structural gene (phaZ1) was cloned. Its deduced amino acid sequence (37,704 Da) had no significant similarity to those of intracellular PHB depolymerases of Wautersia eutropha or of other PHB-accumulating bacteria. PhaZ1 was found to have strong amino acid homology with type-II catalytic domains of extracellular PHB depolymerases, and Ser(42), Asp(138), and His(178) were identified as catalytic-triad amino acids, with Ser(42) as the putative active site. Surprisingly, the first 23 amino acids of the PHB depolymerase previously assumed to be intracellular revealed features of classical signal peptides, and Edman sequencing of purified PhaZ1 confirmed the functionality of the predicted cleavage site. Extracellular PHB depolymerase activity was absent, and analysis of cell fractions unequivocally showed that PhaZ1 is a periplasm-located enzyme. The previously assumed intracellular activator/depolymerase system is unlikely to have a physiological function in PHB mobilization in vivo. A second gene, encoding the putative true intracellular PHB depolymerase (PhaZ2), was identified in the genome sequence of R. rubrum.     

Ralstonia eutropha H16 encodes two and possibly three intracellular Poly[D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate] depolymerase genes

Intracellular poly[D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) depolymerases degrade PHB granules to oligomers and monomers of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. Recently an intracellular PHB depolymerase gene (phaZ1) from Ralstonia eutropha was identified. We now report identification of candidate PHB depolymerase genes from R. eutropha, namely, phaZ2 and phaZ3, and their characterization in vivo. phaZ1 was used to identify two candidate depolymerase genes in the genome of Ralstonia metallidurans. phaZ1 and these genes were then used to design degenerate primers. These primers and PCR methods on the R. eutropha genome were used to identify two new candidate depolymerase genes in R. eutropha: phaZ2 and phaZ3. Inverse PCR methods were used to obtain the complete sequence of phaZ3, and library screening was used to obtain the complete sequence of phaZ2. PhaZ1, PhaZ2, and PhaZ3 share approximately 30% sequence identity. The function of PhaZ2 and PhaZ3 was examined by generating R. eutropha H16 deletion strains (Delta phaZ1, Delta phaZ2, Delta phaZ3, Delta phaZ1 Delta phaZ2, Delta phaZ1 Delta phaZ3, Delta phaZ2 Delta phaZ3, and Delta phaZ1 Delta phaZ2 Delta phaZ3). These strains were analyzed for PHB production and utilization under two sets of conditions. When cells were grown in rich medium, PhaZ1 was sufficient to account for intracellular PHB degradation. When cells that had accumulated approximately 80% (cell dry weight) PHB were subjected to PHB utilization conditions, PhaZ1 and PhaZ2 were sufficient to account for PHB degradation. PhaZ2 is thus suggested to be an intracellular depolymerase. The role of PhaZ3 remains to be established.     

Identification and characterisation of the catalytic triad of the alkaliphilic thermotolerant PHA depolymerase PhaZ7 of Paucimonas lemoignei

The recently discovered extracellular poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) depolymerase PhaZ7 of Paucimonas lemoignei represents the first member of a new subgroup (EC 3.1.1.75) of serine hydrolases with no significant amino acid similarities to conventional PHB depolymerases, lipases or other hydrolases except for a potential lipase box-like motif (Ala-His-Ser136-Met-Gly) and potential candidates for catalytic triad and oxyanion pocket amino acids. In order to identify amino acids essential for activity 11 mutants of phaZ7 were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in recombinant protease-deficient Bacillus subtilis WB800. The wild-type depolymerase and 10 of the 11 mutant proteins (except for Ser136Cys) were expressed and efficiently secreted by B. subtilis as shown by Western blots of cell-free culture fluid proteins. No PHB depolymerase activity was detected in strains harbouring one of the following substitutions: His47Ala, Ser136Ala, Asp242Ala, Asp242Asn, His306Ala, indicating the importance of these amino acids for activity. Replacement of Ser136 by Thr resulted in a decrease of activity to about 20% of the wild-type level and suggested that the hydroxy group of the serine side chain is important for activity but can be partially replaced by the hydroxy function of threonine. Alterations of Asp256 to Ala or Asn or of the putative serine hydrolase pentapeptide motif (Ala-His-Ser136-Met-Gly) to a lipase box consensus sequence (Gly134-His-Ser136-Met-Gly) or to the PHB depolymerase box consensus sequence (Gly134-Leu135-Ser136-Met-Gly) had no significant effect on PHB depolymerase activity, indicating that these amino acids or sequence motifs were not essential for activity. In conclusion, the PHB depolymerase PhaZ7 is a serine hydrolase with a catalytic triad and oxyanion pocket consisting of His47, Ser136, Asp242 and His306.     

The "PHB depolymerase inhibitor" of Paucimonas lemoignei is a PHB depolymerase

A approximately 35 kDa protein that has been described to be secreted by Paucimonas lemoignei during growth on succinate and to inhibit hydrolysis of denatured (crystalline) poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (dPHB) by extracellular PHB depolymerases of P. lemoignei (PHB depolymerase inhibitor (PDI)) was purified and characterized. Purified PDI (M(r), 36 199 +/- 45 Da) inhibited hydrolysis of dPHB by two selected purified PHB depolymerases (PhaZ2 and PhaZ5) but did not inhibit the hydrolysis of water-soluble substrates such as p-nitrophenylbutyrate by PhaZ5 and PhaZ2. PDI revealed a high binding affinity to dPHB although it was not able to hydrolyze the crystalline polymer. However, purified PDI had a high hydrolytic activity if native (amorphous) PHB (nPHB) was used as a substrate. N-terminal sequencing of PDI revealed that it was identical to recently described extracellular PHB depolymerase PhaZ7 which is specific for nPHB and which cannot hydrolyze dPHB. To confirm that the inhibition of hydrolysis of dPHB by PhaZ7 is an indirect surface competition effect at high depolymerase concentration, the activity of PHB depolymerases PhaZ2 and PhaZ5 in the presence of different amounts of protein mixtures was determined. The components of NB or LB medium inhibited hydrolysis of the polymer in a concentration-dependent manner but had no effect on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylbutyrate by PHB depolymerases. In combination with PHB depolymerases PhaZ2 and PhaZ5 the protein PhaZ7 ("PDI") enables the bacteria to hydrolyze dPHB and nPHB simultaneously.     

Impact of Ralstonia eutropha's Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) Depolymerases and Phasins on PHB Storage in Recombinant Escherichia coli

The model organism for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis, Ralstonia eutropha H16, possesses multiple isoenzymes of granules coating phasins as well as of PHB depolymerases, which degrade accumulated PHB under conditions of carbon limitation. In this study, recombinant Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strains were used to study the impact of selected PHB depolymerases of R. eutropha H16 on the growth behavior and on the amount of accumulated PHB in the absence or presence of phasins. For this purpose, 20 recombinant E. coli BL21(DE3) strains were constructed, which harbored a plasmid carrying the phaCAB operon from R. eutropha H16 to ensure PHB synthesis and a second plasmid carrying different combinations of the genes encoding a phasin and a PHB depolymerase from R. eutropha H16. It is shown in this study that the growth behavior of the respective recombinant E. coli strains was barely affected by the overexpression of the phasin and PHB depolymerase genes. However, the impact on the PHB contents was significantly greater. The strains expressing the genes of the PHB depolymerases PhaZ1, PhaZ2, PhaZ3, and PhaZ7 showed 35% to 94% lower PHB contents after 30 h of cultivation than the control strain. The strain harboring phaZ7 reached by far the lowest content of accumulated PHB (only 2.0% [wt/wt] PHB of cell dry weight). Furthermore, coexpression of phasins in addition to the PHB depolymerases influenced the amount of PHB stored in cells of the respective strains. It was shown that the phasins PhaP1, PhaP2, and PhaP4 are not substitutable without an impact on the amount of stored PHB. In particular, the phasins PhaP2 and PhaP4 seemed to limit the degradation of PHB by the PHB depolymerases PhaZ2, PhaZ3, and PhaZ7, whereas almost no influence of the different phasins was observed if phaZ1 was coexpressed. This study represents an extensive analysis of the impact of PHB depolymerases and phasins on PHB accumulation and provides a deeper insight into the complex interplay of these enzymes.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of chemosynthesized atactic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase from Acidovorax Sp. TP4 and Ralstonia pickettii T1

The enzymatic degradability of chemosynthesized atactic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) [a-P(3HB)] by two types of extracellular poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) depolymerases purified from Ralstonia pickettii T1 (PhaZ(ral)) and Acidovorax Sp. TP4 (PhaZ(aci)), defined respectively as PHA depolymerase types I and II according to the position of the lipase box in the catalytic domain, were studied. The enzymatic degradation of a-P(3HB) by PhaZ(aci) depolymerase was confirmed from the results of weight loss and the scanning electron micrographs. The degradation products were characterized by one- and two-dimension (1)H NMR spectroscopy. It was found that a-P(3HB) could be degraded into monomer, dimer, and trimer by PhaZ(aci) depolymerase at temperatures ranging from 4 to 20 degrees C, while a-P(3HB) could hardly be hydrolyzed by PhaZ(ral) depolymerase in the same temperature range. These results suggested that the chemosynthesized a-P(3HB) could be degraded in the pure state by natural PHA depolymerase.     

Purification and properties of an intracellular 3-hydroxybutyrate-oligomer hydrolase (PhaZ2) in Ralstonia eutropha H16 and its identification as a novel intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase

An intracellular 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB)-oligomer hydrolase (PhaZ2(Reu)) of Ralstonia eutropha was purified from Escherichia coli harboring a plasmid containing phaZ2(Reu). The purified enzyme hydrolyzed linear and cyclic 3HB-oligomers. Although it did not degrade crystalline poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), the purified enzyme degraded artificial amorphous PHB at a rate similar to that of the previously identified intracellular PHB (iPHB) depolymerase (PhaZ1(Reu)). The enzyme appeared to be an endo-type hydrolase, since it actively hydrolyzed cyclic 3HB-oligomers. However, it degraded various linear 3HB-oligomers and amorphous PHB in the fashion of an exo-type hydrolase, releasing one monomer unit at a time. PhaZ2 was found to bind to PHB inclusion bodies and as a soluble enzyme to cell-free supernatant fractions in R. eutropha; in contrast, PhaZ1 bound exclusively to the inclusion bodies. When R. eutropha H16 was cultivated in a nutrient-rich medium, the transient deposition of PHB was observed: the content of PHB was maximized in the log growth phase (12 h, ca. 14% PHB of dry cell weight) and decreased to a very low level in the stationary phase (ca. 1% of dry cell weight). In each phaZ1-null mutant and phaZ2-null mutant, the PHB content in the cell increased to ca. 5% in the stationary phase. A double mutant lacking both phaZ1 and phaZ2 showed increased PHB content in the log phase (ca. 20%) and also an elevated PHB level (ca. 8%) in the stationary phase. These results indicate that PhaZ2 is a novel iPHB depolymerase, which participates in the mobilization of PHB in R. eutropha along with PhaZ1.     

A new type of thermoalkalophilic hydrolase of Paucimonas lemoignei with high specificity for amorphous polyesters of short chain-length hydroxyalkanoic acids.

A novel type of hydrolase was purified from culture fluid of Paucimonas (formerly Pseudomonas) lemoignei. Biochemical characterization revealed an unusual substrate specificity of the purified enzyme for amorphous poly((R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) such as native granules of natural poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) or poly((R)-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), artificial cholate-coated granules of natural PHB or PHV, atactic poly((R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate), and oligomers of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) with six or more 3HB units. The enzyme has the unique property to recognize the physical state of the polymeric substrate by discrimination between amorphous PHA (good substrate) and denatured, partially crystalline PHA (no substrate). The pentamers of 3HB or 3HV were identified as the main products of enzymatic hydrolysis of native PHB or PHV, respectively. No activity was found with any denatured PHA, oligomers of (R)-3HB with five or less 3HB units, poly(6-hydroxyhexanoate), substrates of lipases such as tributyrin or triolein, substrates for amidases/nitrilases, DNA, RNA, casein, N-alpha-benzoyl-l-arginine-4-nitranilide, or starch. The purified enzyme (M(r) 36,209) was remarkably stable and active at high temperature (60 degrees C), high pH (up to 12.0), low ionic strength (distilled water), and in solvents (e.g. n-propyl alcohol). The depolymerase contained no essential SH groups or essential disulfide bridges and was insensitive to high concentrations of ionic (SDS) and nonionic (Triton and Tween) detergents. Characterization of the cloned structural gene (phaZ7) and the DNA-deduced amino acid sequence revealed no homologies to any PHB depolymerase or any other sequence of data banks except for a short sequence related to the active site serine of serine hydrolases. A classification of the enzyme into a new family (family 9) of carboxyesterases (Arpigny, J. L., and Jaeger, K.-E. (1999) Biochem. J. 343, 177-183) is suggested.     

Determination of the active sites serine of the poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases of Pseudomonas lemoignei (PhaZ5) and of Alcaligenes faecalis

Abstract Mutational analysis of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase A of Pseudomonas lemoignei and of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase of Alcaligenes faecalis revealed that S¹³⁸ ( P. lemoignei ) and S¹³⁹ ( A. faecalis ) are essential for activity. Both serines are part of a strictly conserved pentapeptide sequence which is present in all poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases analyzed so far (G-L-S-S(A)-G) and which resembles the lipase box of lipases and other serine hydrolases (G-X-S-X-G). Mutation of another conserved serine, namely S¹⁹⁵ ( P. lemoignei ) and S¹⁹⁶ ( A. faecalis ), resulted in mutant proteinswith almost full activity and proved that S195 and S196 are not essential for activity. The results indicate the structural and functional relationship of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases to the family of serine hydrolases.     

Biochemical evidence that phaZ gene encodes a specific intracellular medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase in Pseudomonas putida KT2442: characterization of a paradigmatic enzyme

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can be catabolized by many microorganisms using intra- or extracellular PHA depolymerases. Most of our current knowledge of these intracellular enzyme-coding genes comes from the analysis of short chain length PHA depolymerases, whereas medium chain length PHA (mcl-PHA) intracellular depolymerization systems still remained to be characterized. The phaZ gene of some Pseudomonas putida strains has been identified only by mutagenesis and complementation techniques as putative intracellular mcl-PHA depolymerase. However, none of their corresponding encoded PhaZ enzymes have been characterized in depth. In this study the PhaZ depolymerase from P. putida KT2442 has been purified and biochemically characterized after its overexpression in Escherichia coli. To facilitate these studies we have developed a new and very sensitive radioactive method for detecting PHA hydrolysis in vitro. We have demonstrated that PhaZ is an intracellular depolymerase that is located in PHA granules and that hydrolyzes specifically mcl-PHAs containing aliphatic and aromatic monomers. The enzyme behaves as a serine hydrolase that is inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. We have modeled the three-dimensional structure of PhaZ complexed with a 3-hydroxyoctanoate dimer. Using this model, we found that the enzyme appears to be built up from a corealpha/beta hydrolase-type domain capped with a lid structure with an active site containing a catalytic triad buried near the connection between domains. All these data constitute the first biochemical characterization of PhaZ and allow us to propose this enzyme as the paradigmatic representative of intracellular endo/exo-mcl-PHA depolymerases.     

Biochemical characterization of a new type of intracellular PHB depolymerase from Rhodospirillum rubrum with high hydrolytic activity on native PHB granules

A Rhodospirillum rubrum gene that is predicted to code for an extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase by the recently published polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) depolymerase engineering database was cloned. The gene product (PhaZ3 _Rru ) was expressed in recombinant E. coli, purified and biochemically characterized. PhaZ3 _Rru turned out, however, to share characteristics of intracellular PHB depolymerases and revealed a combination of properties that have not yet been described for other PHB depolymerases. A fusion of PhaZ3 _Rru with the enhanced cyan fluorescent protein was able to bind to PHB granules in vivo and supported the function as an intracellular PHB depolymerase. Purified PhaZ3 _Rru was specific for short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA_SCL) and hydrolysed both untreated native PHB granules as well as trypsin-activated native PHB granules to a mixture of mono- and dimeric 3-hydroxybutyrate. Crystalline (denatured) PHB granules were not hydrolysed by PhayZ3 _Rru . Low concentrations of calcium or magnesium ions (1–5 mM) reversibly (EDTA) inhibited the enzyme. Our data suggest that PhaZ3 _Rru is the representative of a new type of the growing number of intracellular PHB depolymerases.     

Identification and Biochemical Evidence of a Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Depolymerase in the Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Predatory Hydrolytic Arsenal

The obligate predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 shows a large set of proteases and other hydrolases as part of its hydrolytic arsenal needed for its predatory life cycle. We present genetic and biochemical evidence that open reading frame (ORF) Bd3709 of B. bacteriovorus HD100 encodes a novel medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) depolymerase (PhaZ(Bd)). The primary structure of PhaZ(Bd) suggests that this enzyme belongs to the α/β-hydrolase fold family and has a typical serine hydrolase catalytic triad (serine-histidine-aspartic acid) in agreement with other PHA depolymerases and lipases. PhaZ(Bd) has been extracellularly produced using different hypersecretor Tol-pal mutants of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida as recombinant hosts. The recombinant PhaZ(Bd) has been characterized, and its biochemical properties have been compared to those of other PHA depolymerases. The enzyme behaves as a serine hydrolase that is inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. It is also affected by the reducing agent dithiothreitol and nonionic detergents like Tween 80. PhaZ(Bd) is an endoexohydrolase that cleaves both large and small PHA molecules, producing mainly dimers but also monomers and trimers. The enzyme specifically degrades mcl-PHA and is inactive toward short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (scl-PHA) like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). These studies shed light on the potentiality of these predators as sources of new biocatalysts, such as an mcl-PHA depolymerase, for the production of enantiopure hydroxyalkanoic acids and oligomers as building blocks for the synthesis of biobased polymers.     

Identification and characterization of the Bacillus thuringiensis phaZ gene, encoding new intracellular poly-3-hydroxybutyrate depolymerase

A gene that codes for a novel intracellular poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) depolymerase has now been identified in the genome of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis ATCC 35646. This gene, previously annotated as a hypothetical 3-oxoadipate enol-lactonase (PcaD) gene and now designated phaZ, encodes a protein that shows no significant similarity with any known PHB depolymerase. Purified His-tagged PhaZ could efficiently degrade trypsin-activated native PHB granules as well as artificial amorphous PHB granules and release 3-hydroxybutyrate monomer as a hydrolytic product, but it could not hydrolyze denatured semicrystalline PHB. In contrast, purified His-tagged PcaD of Pseudomonas putida was unable to degrade trypsin-activated native PHB granules and artificial amorphous PHB granules. The B. thuringiensis PhaZ was inactive against p-nitrophenylpalmitate, tributyrin, and triolein. Sonication supernatants of the wild-type B. thuringiensis cells exhibited a PHB-hydrolyzing activity in vitro, whereas those prepared from a phaZ mutant lost this activity. The phaZ mutant showed a higher PHB content than the wild type at late stationary phase of growth in a nutrient-rich medium, indicating that this PhaZ can function as a PHB depolymerase in vivo. PhaZ contains a lipase box-like sequence (G-W-S(102)-M-G) but lacks a signal peptide. A purified His-tagged S102A variant had lost the PHB-hydrolyzing activity. Taken together, these results indicate that B. thuringiensis harbors a new type of intracellular PHB depolymerase.     

Isolation of a Gram-positive poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading bacterium from compost, and cloning and characterization of a gene encoding PHB depolymerase of Bacillus megaterium N-18-25-9

A Gram-positive poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading bacterial strain was isolated from compost. This organism, identified as Bacillus megaterium N-18-25-9, produced a clearing zone on opaque NB-PHB agar, indicating the presence of extracellular PHB depolymerase. A PHB depolymerase gene, PhaZ(Bm), of B. megaterium N-18-25-9 was cloned and sequenced, and the recombinant gene product was purified from Escherichia coli. The N-terminal half region of PhaZ(Bm) shared significant homologies with a catalytic domain of other PHB depolymerases. Although the C-terminal half region of PhaZ(Bm) showed no significant similarity with those of other PHB depolymerases, that region was necessary for the PHB depolymerase activity. Therefore, this enzyme's domain structure is unique among extracellular PHB depolymerase domain structures. The addition of PHB to the medium led to a sixfold increase in PhaZ(Bm) mRNA, while the presence of glucose repressed PhaZ(Bm) expression. The maximum activity was observed at pH 9.0 at 65 degrees C.     

Molecular characterization of extracellular medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase genes from Pseudomonas alcaligenes strains

A bacterial strain M4-7 capable of degrading various polyesters, such as poly(epsilon-caprolactone), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), and poly(3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate), was isolated from a marine environment and identified as Pseudomonas alcaligenes. The relative molecular mass of a purified extracellular medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (MCL-PHA) depolymerase (PhaZ(PalM4-7)) from P. alcaligenes M4-7 was 28.0 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. The PhaZ(PalM4-7) was most active in 50 mM glycine-NaOH buffer (pH 9.0) at 35 degrees C. It was insensitive to dithiothreitol, sodium azide, and iodoacetamide, but susceptible to p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, N-bromosuccinimide, acetic anhydride, EDTA, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, Tween 80, and Triton X-100. In this study, the genes encoding MCL-PHA depolymerase were cloned, sequenced, and characterized from a soil bacterium, P. alcaligenes LB19 (Kim et al., 2002, Biomacromolecules 3, 291-296) as well as P. alcaligenes M4-7. The structural gene (phaZ(PalLB19)) of MCL-PHA depolymerase of P. alcaligenes LB19 consisted of an 837 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 278 amino acids with a deduced M((r)) of 30,188 Da. However, the MCL-PHA depolymerase gene (phaZ(PalM4-7)) of P. alcaligenes M4-7 was composed of an 834 bp ORF encoding a protein of 277 amino acids with a deduced Mr of 30,323 Da. Amino acid sequence analyses showed that, in the two different polypeptides, a substrate-binding domain and a catalytic domain are located in the N-terminus and in the C-terminus, respectively. The PhaZ(PalLB19) and the PhaZ(PalM4-7) commonly share the lipase box, GISSG, in their catalytic domains, and utilize 111Asn and 110Ser residues, respectively, as oxyanions that play an important role in transition-state stabilization of hydrolytic reactions.     

Properties of a novel intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase with high specific activity (PhaZd) in Wautersia eutropha H16

A novel intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase (PhaZd) of Wautersia eutropha (formerly Ralstonia eutropha) H16 which shows similarity with the catalytic domain of the extracellular PHB depolymerase in Ralstonia pickettii T1 was identified. The positions of the catalytic triad (Ser190-Asp266-His330) and oxyanion hole (His108) in the amino acid sequence of PhaZd deduced from the nucleotide sequence roughly accorded with those of the extracellular PHB depolymerase of R. pickettii T1, but a signal peptide, a linker domain, and a substrate binding domain were missing. The PhaZd gene was cloned and the gene product was purified from Escherichia coli. The specific activity of PhaZd toward artificial amorphous PHB granules was significantly greater than that of other known intracellular PHB depolymerase or 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) oligomer hydrolases of W. eutropha H16. The enzyme degraded artificial amorphous PHB granules and mainly released various 3-hydroxybutyrate oligomers. PhaZd distributed nearly equally between PHB inclusion bodies and the cytosolic fraction. The amount of PHB was greater in phaZd deletion mutant cells than the wild-type cells under various culture conditions. These results indicate that PhaZd is a novel intracellular PHB depolymerase which participates in the mobilization of PHB in W. eutropha H16 along with other PHB depolymerases.     

Properties of an Intracellular Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Depolymerase (PhaZ1) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter spheroides</Emphasis>

The gene of an intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (iPHB) depolymerase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene was homologous to that of the iPHB depolymerase gene from Ralstonia eutropha H16 (phaZ1 _Reu) and the gene was designated phaZ1 _Rsh. PhaZ1_Rsh was purified from E. coli harboring an expression vector containing phaZ1 _Rsh and its properties were examined. PhaZ1_Rsh degraded amorphous PHB granules, and the 3-hydroxybutyrate tetramer and pentamer, but not crystalline PHB granules. The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and Triton X-100. Diisopropylfluorophosphate, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, and dithiothreitol had no effect on the activity. A mutant having alanine instead of cysteine at 178 lost the activity. These results show that PhaZ1_Rsh is a quite similar enzyme to PhaZ1_Reu.     

Production of PHA depolymerase A (PhaZ5) from Paucimonas lemoignei in Bacillus subtilis

Purification of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase (EC 3.1.1.75) from Paucimonas lemoignei is complicated because the bacterium produces several isoenzymes which are difficult to separate from each other. The phaZ5 gene of P. lemoignei encoding extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase A was functionally expressed from the constitutive P43 promoter of pWB980 in a multiple protease-negative mutant of Bacillus subtilis (strain WB800) and secreted to the culture medium. The depolymerase (apparent M(r), 42 kDa; 1.9 mg purified protein per liter culture) was purified from cell-free culture fluid to homogenity by applying only one chromatography step in comparison to at least two necessary steps if poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases are purified from P. lemoignei. The recombinant depolymerase lacked any carbohydrate content in contrast to the glycosylated depolymerase of the wild-type. Glycosylation was not essential for activity but enhanced the thermal stability of the enzyme at high temperature. Overexpression of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase in B. subtilis is more efficient than in Escherichia coli.