Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of a GH16 ß-agarase from a deep-sea bacterium, Microbulbifer thermotolerans JAMB-A94.

A deep-sea bacterium, Microbulbifer thermotolerans JAMB-A94, has a ß-agarase (MtAgaA) belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family (GH) 16. The optimal temperature of this bacterium for growth is 43-49 °C, and MtAgaA is stable at 60 °C, which is one of the most thermostable enzymes among GH16 ß-agarases. Here, we determined the catalytic domain structure of MtAgaA. MtAgaA consists of a ß-jelly roll fold, as observed in other GH16 enzymes. The structure of MtAgaA was most similar to two ß-agarases from Zobellia galactanivorans, ZgAgaA, and ZgAgaB. Although the catalytic cleft structure of MtAgaA was similar to ZgAgaA and ZgAgaB, residues at subsite -4 of MtAgaA were not conserved between them. Also, an α-helix, designated as α4', was uniquely located near the catalytic cleft of MtAgaA. A comparison of the structures of the three enzymes suggested that multiple factors, including increased numbers of arginine and proline residues, could contribute to the thermostability of MtAgaA.

alpha-Glucosidase from a strain of deep-sea Geobacillus: a potential enzyme for the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates.

An alpha-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp. strain HTA-462, one of the deepest sea bacteria isolated from the sediment of the Mariana Trench, was purified to homogeneity and estimated to be a 65-kDa protein by SDS-PAGE. At low ion strength, the enzyme exists in the homodimeric form (130 kDa). It is a thermo- and alkaline-stable enzyme with a half-life of 13.4 h and a maximum hydrolytic activity at 60 degrees C and pH 9.0 in 15 mM glycine-NaOH buffer. The enzyme exclusively hydrolyzed alpha-1,4-glycosidic linkages of oligosaccharides in an exo-type manner. The enzyme had an overwhelming transglycosylation activity and glycosylated various non-sugar molecules when maltose was used as a sugar donor. It converted maltose to isomaltose. The gene encoding the enzyme was cloned and sequenced. The recombinant enzyme could be extracellularly overproduced by Bacillus subtilis harboring its gene and preserved the primary properties of the native enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that Asp98 is essential for the enzyme activity in addition to Asp199, Asp326, and Glu256.

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).

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of alkaline mannanase from an alkaliphilic Bacillus isolate.

An alkaline mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) from the alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain JAMB-602 was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the enzyme suggested that the enzyme consists of a catalytic and unknown additional domains. The recombinant enzyme expressed by B. subtilis was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 277 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.65 A. The crystal belongs to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 70.7, b = 79.5, c = 80.4 A. The asymmetric unit contains one protein molecule, with a corresponding VM of 2.26 A3 Da(-1) and a solvent content of 45.6%. Molecular replacement for initial phasing was carried out using the three-dimensional structure of a mannanase from Thermomonospora fusca as a search model, which corresponds to the catalytic domain of the alkaline mannanase. It gave sufficient phases to build the unknown domain.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of isomaltodextranase from Arthrobacter globiformis.

A recombinant isomaltodextranase (1,6-alpha-D-glucan isomaltohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.94) from an Arthrobacter sp. that hydrolyzes dextrans to generate isomaltose was purified and crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method at 293 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.8 A. The crystals belong to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 199.1, b = 62.7, c = 57.4, beta = 101.4 degrees. Analysis of the Patterson self-rotation function suggests that the crystal contains one protein molecule in the asymmetric unit.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of gamma-type cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Bacillus clarkii.

A gamma-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.19) from Bacillus clarkii was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 293 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.2 A. The crystal belongs to space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 211.6, c = 52.7 A. The asymmetric unit contains one protein molecule, with a corresponding V(M) of 3.03 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 59.4%. Molecular replacement was successfully carried out using a homology model based on the three-dimensional structure of the CGTase from Thermonanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes EM1 as a search model.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of alpha-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp strain HTA-462, one of the deepest sea bacteria.

An alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) was purified from Geobacillus sp. strain HTA-462 cells and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique. The Geobacillus strain is a thermophilic and high-pressure-resistant bacterium found at the bottom of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. The crystal was characterized by X-ray diffraction and belongs to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 104.0, b = 91.5, c = 72.9 A, beta = 109.4 degrees. Diffraction data to 2.5 A resolution were collected and processed.