Recombinant expression of BTA hydrolase in Streptomyces rimosus and catalytic analysis on polyesters by surface plasmon resonance

A recombinant polyester-degrading hydrolase from Thermobifida sp. BCC23166 targeting on aliphatic-aromatic copolyester (rTfH) was produced in Streptomyces rimosus R7. rTfH was expressed by induction with thiostrepton as a C-terminal His₆ fusion from the native gene sequence under the control of tipA promoter and purified from the culture supernatant to high homogeneity by a single step affinity purification on Ni-Sepharose matrix. The enzyme worked optimally at 50–55°C and showed esterase activity on C3-C16 p-nitrophenyl alkanoates with a specific activity of 76.5 U/mg on p-nitrophenyl palmitate. Study of rTfH catalysis on surface degradation of polyester films using surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed that the degradation rates were in the order of poly-ε-caprolactone >?Ecoflex^®?>?polyhydroxybutyrate. Efficient hydrolysis of Ecoflex^® by rTfH was observed in mild alkaline conditions, with the highest activity at pH 8.0 and ionic strength at 250 mM sodium chloride, with the maximal specific activity of 0.79 mg^?1min^?1mg^?1 protein. Under the optimal conditions, rTfH showed a remarkable 110-time higher specific activity on Ecoflex^® in comparison to a lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus, while less difference in degradation efficiency of the two enzymes was observed on the aliphatic polyesters, suggesting greater specificities of rTfH to the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. This study demonstrated the use of streptomycetes as an alternative expression system for production of the multi-polyester-degrading enzyme of actinomycete origin and provided insights on its catalytic properties on surface degradation contributing to further biotechnological application of this enzyme.