Heterologous expression and characterization of a beta-1,6-glucanase from Aspergillus fumigatus

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2009 Mar;82(4):663-9. doi: 10.1007/s00253-008-1780-z. Epub 2008 Nov 28.

Abstract

The cell wall of Candida albicans is composed of mannoproteins associated to glycan polymers. Most of these proteins are retained in this compartment through a phosphodiester linkage between a remnant of their glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and the beta-1,6-glucan polymer. A pure beta-1,6-glucanase is thus required in order to release them. In this paper, we report the expression/secretion by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica of an Aspergillus fumigatus enzyme homologous to previously described beta-1,6-glucanases. The coding sequence was expressed under the control of a strong promoter and the recombinant enzyme was targeted to the secretory pathway using the signal sequence of a well-known major secretory protein in this host. Addition of a FLAG epitope at the C-terminus allowed its efficient purification from culture supernatant following batch adsorption. The purified enzyme was characterized as a beta-1,6-glucanase and was shown to be active on C. albicans cell walls allowing the release of a previously described cell wall protein.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus fumigatus / enzymology*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression*
  • Glucans / metabolism
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / chemistry
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / genetics
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Yarrowia / genetics*
  • Yarrowia / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Glucans
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Glycoside Hydrolases
  • endo-1,6-beta-glucanase