Purification and properties of extracellular phytase from Bacillus sp. KHU-10

Directed evolution of a highly active Yersinia mollaretii phytase

Phytase improves as a feed supplement the nutritional quality of phytate-rich diets (e.g., cereal grains, legumes, and oilseeds) by hydrolyzing indigestible phytate (myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis dihydrogen phosphate) and increasing abdominal absorption of inorganic phosphates, minerals, and trace elements. Directed phytase evolution was reported for improving industrial relevant properties such as thermostability (pelleting process) or activity. In this study, we report the cloning, characterization, and directed evolution of the Yersinia mollaretii phytase (Ymphytase). Ymphytase has a tetrameric structure with positive cooperativity (Hill coefficient was 2.3) and a specific activity of 1,073 U/mg which is ∼10 times higher than widely used fungal phytases. High-throughput prescreening methods using filter papers or 384-well microtiter plates were developed. Precise subsequent screening for thermostable and active phytase variants was performed by combining absorbance and fluorescence-based detection system in 96-well microtiter plates. Directed evolution yielded after mutant library generation (SeSaM method) and two-step screening (in total ∼8,400 clones) a phytase variant with ∼20% improved thermostability (58°C for 20 min; residual activity wild type ∼34%; variant ∼53%) and increased melting temperature (1.5°C) with a slight loss of specific activity (993 U/mg).

Site-directed mutagenesis of an alkaline phytase: influencing specificity, activity and stability in acidic milieu

Site-directed mutagenesis of a thermostable alkaline phytase from Bacillus sp. MD2 was performed with an aim to increase its specific activity and activity and stability in an acidic environment. The mutation sites are distributed on the catalytic surface of the enzyme (P257R, E180N, E229V and S283R) and in the active site (K77R, K179R and E227S). Selection of the residues was based on the idea that acid active phytases are more positively charged around their catalytic surfaces. Thus, a decrease in the content of negatively charged residues or an increase in the positive charges in the catalytic region of an alkaline phytase was assumed to influence the enzyme activity and stability at low pH. Moreover, widening of the substrate-binding pocket is expected to improve the hydrolysis of substrates that are not efficiently hydrolysed by wild type alkaline phytase. Analysis of the phytase variants revealed that E229V and S283R mutants increased the specific activity by about 19% and 13%, respectively. Mutation of the active site residues K77R and K179R led to severe reduction in the specific activity of the enzyme. Analysis of the phytase mutant-phytate complexes revealed increase in hydrogen bonding between the enzyme and the substrate, which might retard the release of the product, resulting in decreased activity. On the other hand, the double mutant (K77R-K179R) phytase showed higher stability at low pH (pH 2.6-3.0). The E227S variant was optimally active at pH 5.5 (in contrast to the wild type enzyme that had an optimum pH of 6) and it exhibited higher stability in acidic condition. This mutant phytase, displayed over 80% of its initial activity after 3h incubation at pH 2.6 while the wild type phytase retained only about 40% of its original activity. Moreover, the relative activity of this mutant phytase on calcium phytate, sodium pyrophosphate and p-nitro phenyl phosphate was higher than that of the wild type phytase.

A simple and fast kinetic assay for phytases using phytic acid-protein complex as substrate

Phytase (EC 3.1.3.-) hydrolyzes phytate (IP(6)) present in cereals and grains to release inorganic phosphate (P(i)), thereby making it bioavailable. The most commonly used method to assay phytase, developed nearly a century ago, measures the P(i) liberated from IP(6). This traditional endpoint assay is time-consuming and well known for its cumbersomeness in addition to requiring extra caution for handling the toxic regents used. This article reports a simple, fast, and nontoxic kinetic method adaptable for high throughput for assaying phytase using IP(6)-lysozyme as a substrate. The assay is based on the principle that IP(6) forms stable turbid complexes with positively charged lysozyme in a wide pH range, and hydrolysis of the IP(6) in the complex is accompanied by a decrease in turbidity monitored at 600 nm. The turbidity decrease correlates well to the released P(i) from IP(6). This kinetic method was found to be useful in assaying histidine acid phytases, including 3- and 6-phytases, a class representing all commercial phytases, and alkaline β-propeller phytase from Bacillus sp. The influences of temperature, pH, phosphate, and other salts on the kinetic assay were examined. All salts, including NaCl, CaCl(2), and phosphate, showed a concentration-dependent interference.

Selection and use of phytate-degrading LAB to improve cereal-based products by mineral solubilization during dough fermentation

New producers of phytate-degrading enzymes, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB), were used to improve mineral solubilization during dough fermentation. In all, among strains from different sources by microorganisms (150 lactic acid bacteria, 36 yeasts), 38 (24%) exhibited a clear zone around the colonies by hydrolyzing hexacalcium phytate contained in solid medium. When phytase-positive strains from plate assay were tested for phytase activity in liquid medium, 6 of the strains (37%) exhibited phytate-degrading activity in at least one of the 3 different media used. Of the LAB, the highest phytase values were found for Enterococcus faecium A86 (0.74 U/mL) and Lactobacillus plantarum H5 (0.71 U/mL). Two different starter cultures obtained by combinations of phytase-positive (phy+: L. plantarum H5 and L3, Leuconostoc gelidum A16, and E. faecium A86) or phytase-negative (phy-: L. gelidum LM249, L. plantarum H19, and L. plantarum L8) selected LAB strains, were used to measure mineral concentrations of iron, zinc, and manganese during dough fermentation. Although the 2 kinds of starter showed similar acidic values, the presence of phytate-degrading LAB strains increased mineral solubilization in comparison to the starter phy-.

Expression of a Bacillus phytase C gene in Pichia pastoris and properties of the recombinant enzyme

The cloning and expression of a native gene encoding a Bacillus subtilis phytase using Pichia pastoris as the host is described. In addition, the influence of N-glycosylation on the biochemical properties of the B. subtilis phytase, the influence of pH on the thermostability of the recombinant and native B. subtilis phytases, and the resistance of both phytases to shrimp digestive enzymes and porcine trypsin are also described. After 48 h of methanol induction in shake flasks, a selected recombinant strain produced and secreted 0.82 U/ml (71 mg/liter) recombinant phytase. This phytase was N-glycosylated, had a molecular mass of 39 kDa after N-deglycosylation, exhibited activity within a pH range of 2.5 to 9 and at temperatures of 25 to 70 degrees C, had high residual activity (85% +/- 2%) after 10 min of heat treatment at 80 degrees C and pH 5.5 in the presence of 5 mM CaCl(2), and was resistant to shrimp digestive enzymes and porcine trypsin. Although the recombinant Bacillus phytase had pH and temperature activity profiles that were similar to those of the corresponding nonglycosylated native phytase, the thermal stabilities of the recombinant and native phytases were different, although both were calcium concentration and pH dependent.

Gene cloning and characterization of a thermostable phytase from Bacillus subtilis US417 and assessment of its potential as a feed additive in comparison with a commercial enzyme

An extracellular phytase from Bacillus subtilis US417 (PHY US417) was purified and characterized. The purified enzyme of 41 kDa was calcium-dependent and optimally active at pH 7.5 and 55 degrees C. The thermal stability of PHY US417 was drastically improved by calcium. Indeed, it recovered 77% of its original activity after denaturation for 10 min at 75 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM CaCl2, while it retained only 22% of activity when incubated for 10 min at 60 degrees C without calcium. In addition, PHY US417 was found to be highly specific for phytate and exhibited pH stability similar to Phyzyme, a commercial phytase with optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 60 degrees C. The phytase gene was cloned by PCR from Bacillus subtilis US417. Sequence analysis of the encoded polypeptide revealed one residue difference from PhyC of Bacillus subtilis VTTE-68013 (substitution of arginine in position 257 by proline in PHY US417) which was reported to exhibit lower thermostability especially in the absence of calcium. With its neutral pH optimum as well as its great pH and thermal stability, the PHY US417 enzyme presumed to be predominantly active in the intestine has a high potential for use as feed additive.

Phytate-degrading enzyme production by bacteria isolated from Malaysian soil

Over two hundred bacteria were isolated from the halosphere, rhizosphere and endophyte of Malaysian maize plantation and screened for phytases activity. Thirty isolates with high detectable phytase activity were chosen for media optimization study and species identification. Ten types of bacterial phytase producers have been discovered in this study, which provides opportunity for characterization of new phytase(s) and various commercial and environmental applications. The majority of the bacterial isolates with high detectable phytase activity were of endophyte origin and 1.6% of the total isolates showed phytase activity of more than 1 U/ml. Most of the strains produced extra-cellular phytase and Staphylococcus lentus ASUIA 279 showed the highest phytase activity of 1.913 U/ml. All 30 species used in media optimization study exhibit favorable enzyme production when 1% rice bran was included in the growth media.

Production and characterization of thermostable alkaline phytase from Bacillus laevolacticus isolated from rhizosphere soil

A novel phytase producing thermophilic strain of Bacillus laevolacticus insensitive to inorganic phosphate was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of leguminous plant methi (Medicago falacata). The culture conditions for production of phytase by B. laevolacticus under shake flask culture were optimized to obtain high levels of phytase (2.957 +/- 0.002 U/ml). The partially purified phytase from B. laevolacticus strain was optimally active at 70 degrees C and between pH 7.0 and pH 8.0. The enzyme exhibited thermostability with approximately 80% activity at 70 degrees C and pH 8.0 for up to 3 h in the presence/absence of 5 mM CaCl(2). The phytase from B. laevolacticus showed high specificity for phytate salts of Ca(+) > Na(+). The enzyme showed an apparent K (m) 0.526 mM and V (max) 12.3 mumole/min/mg of activity against sodium phytate.

Properties of beta-propeller phytase expressed in transgenic tobacco

Phytases are enzymes that liberate inorganic phosphates from phytate. In a previous study, a beta-propeller phytase (168phyA) from Bacillus subtilis was introduced into transgenic tobacco, which resulted in certain phenotypic changes. In the study described herein, the recombinant phytase (t168phyA) was purified from transgenic tobacco to near homogeneity by a three-step purification scheme. The biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of t168phyA were compared with those of its counterpart from B. subtilis. t168phyA was glycosylated, and it showed a 4 kDa increase in molecular size in SDS-PAGE (44 kDa vs. 40 kDa). Although its thermostability remained unchanged, its temperature optimum shifted from 60 degrees C to 45-50 degrees C and its pH optimum shifted from pH 5.5 to 6.0. Kinetic data showed that the t168phyA had a lower Kcat, but a higher Km than the native enzyme. Despite these changes, t168phyA remained catalytically active and has a specific activity of 2.3 U/mg protein. These results verify the activity of recombinant Bacillus phytase that is expressed in plants.

Alkaline phytase from lily pollen: Investigation of biochemical properties

Phytases catalyze the hydrolysis of phytic acid (InsP6, myo-inositol hexakisphosphate), the most abundant inositol phosphate in cells. In cereal grains and legumes, it constitutes 3-5% of the dry weight of seeds. The inability of humans and monogastric animals such as swine and poultry to absorb complexed InsP6 has led to nutritional and environmental problems. The efficacy of supplemental phytases to address these issues is well established; thus, there is a need for phytases with a range of biochemical and biophysical properties for numerous applications. An alkaline phytase that shows unique catalytic properties was isolated from plant tissues. In this paper, we report on the biochemical properties of an alkaline phytase from pollen grains of Lilium longiflorum. The enzyme exhibits narrow substrate specificity, it hydrolyzed InsP6 and para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). Alkaline phytase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(m) of 81 microM and V(max) of 217 nmol Pi/min/mg with InsP6 and a K(m) of 372 microM and V(max) of 1272 nmol Pi/min/mg with pNPP. The pH optimum was 8.0 with InsP6 as the substrate and 7.0 with pNPP. Alkaline phytase was activated by calcium and inactivated by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; however, the enzyme retained a low level of activity even in Ca2+-free medium. Fluoride as well as myo-inositol hexasulfate did not have any inhibitory affect, whereas vanadate inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme was activated by sodium chloride and potassium chloride and inactivated by magnesium chloride; the activation by salts followed the Hofmeister series. The temperature optimum for hydrolysis is 55 degrees C; the enzyme was stable at 55 degrees C for about 30 min. The enzyme has unique properties that suggest the potential to be useful as a feed supplement.

Influence of dietary calcium and phytase on phytate phosphorus hydrolysis in broiler chickens

The effect of Ca and phytase on phytate phosphorus (PP) hydrolysis was studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, PP hydrolysis by a 3-phytase and a 6-phytase was studied at pH 2.5 and 6.5 with Ca added at levels equivalent to 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.7, or 0.9% of the diet. Irrespective of enzyme, Ca at a level as low as 0.1% reduced (P < 0.05) PP hydrolysis at pH 6.5. To test these effects in vivo, 22-d-old male broilers were fed 1 of 6 diets (10 replicate pens of 4 birds per diet) for 30 h. The experimental design was a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of 3 phytase treatments (0, 500 U of phytase A/kg of diet, and 500 U of phytase B/kg of diet) and 2 added Ca levels (0 and 0.5% from CaCO3) to a corn-soy basal diet. Adding Ca to the diet resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in ileal PP disappearance from 69.2 to 25.4% when the 0 and 0.5% added Ca diets were fed, respectively, and in apparent ileal Ca and P absorption (46.3 to 33.6% and 67.9 to 29.4% when 0 and 0.5% Ca were added, respectively). Inclusion of a 3-phytase improved (P < 0.05) ileal PP disappearance from 25.4 to 58.9% in diets containing 0 and 0.5% added Ca, but the improvement was less pronounced with a 6-phytase. Apparent ileal Ca absorption was improved (P < 0.05) when Ca, phytase, or both were added to the diet.