Cloning of the thermostable alpha-amylase gene from Pyrococcus woesei in Escherichia coli: isolation and some properties of the enzyme

Mol Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;26(2):101-10. doi: 10.1385/MB:26:2:101.

Abstract

Pyrococcus woesei (DSM 3773) alpha-amylase gene was cloned into pET21d(+) and pYTB2 plasmids, and the pET21d(+)alpha-amyl and pYTB2alpha-amyl vectors obtained were used for expression of thermostable alpha-amylase or fusion of alpha-amylase and intein in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) or BL21(DE3)pLysS cells, respectively. As compared with other expression systems, the synthesis of alpha-amylase in fusion with intein in E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS strain led to a lower level of inclusion bodies formation-they exhibit only 35% of total cell activity-and high productivity of the soluble enzyme form (195,000 U/L of the growth medium). The thermostable alpha-amylase can be purified free of most of the bacterial protein and released from fusion with intein by heat treatment at about 75 degrees C in the presence of thiol compounds. The recombinant enzyme has maximal activity at pH 5.6 and 95 degrees C. The half-life of this preparation in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6) at 90 degrees C and 110 degrees C was 11 h and 3.5 h, respectively, and retained 24% of residual activity following incubation for 2 h at 120 degrees C. Maltose was the main end product of starch hydrolysis catalyzed by this alpha-amylase. However, small amounts of glucose and some residual unconverted oligosaccharides were also detected. Furthermore, this enzyme shows remarkable activity toward glycogen (49.9% of the value determined for starch hydrolysis) but not toward pullulan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cloning, Molecular / methods*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrolysis
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Pyrococcus / enzymology*
  • Pyrococcus / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Temperature
  • alpha-Amylases / biosynthesis*
  • alpha-Amylases / chemistry
  • alpha-Amylases / genetics*
  • alpha-Amylases / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • alpha-Amylases