RESUMO
The aim of this study was to isolate a novel amylomaltase gene from community DNA of soil samples collected from Ban Nong Khrok hot spring in Thailand without bacterial cultivation. Using PCR, a 1.5 kb full-length gene was amplified and ligated with pGEM-T easy vector to transform into Escherichia coli DH5 alpha for sequencing. The obtained gene encoding an amylomaltase consisted of 1.503 bp that translated into 500 amino acids. Amino acid sequence deduced from this gene was highly homologous with that of amylomaltase from Thermus thermophillus ATCC 33923. In order to express the enzyme, the cloned gene was subcloned into plasmid pET-17b and introduced into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The maximum expression was observed when the cloned cells were cultured at 37 degrees C for 6 h with 0.5 mM IPTG induction. By 10% SDS-PAGE, the relative molecular mass of the purified amylomaltase was approximately 58 kDa. This enzyme was optimally active at 70 degrees C and pH 9.0. In addition, the enzyme could hydrolyze pea starch to yield the large-ring cyclodextrins with degrees of polymerization of 23 and higher. It is noted that CD29 was the product in the largest quantity under all tested conditions.
