Terminal amino acids disturb xylanase thermostability and activity

Effect of codon message on xylanase thermal activity

Because the genetic codon is known for degeneracy, its effect on enzyme thermal property is seldom investigated. A dataset was constructed for GH10 xylanase coding sequences and optimal temperatures for activity (T(opt)). Codon contents and relative synonymous codon usages were calculated and respectively correlated with the enzyme T(opt) values, which were used to describe the xylanase thermophilic tendencies without dividing them into two thermophilic and mesophilic groups. After analyses of codon content and relative synonymous codon usages were checked by the Bonferroni correction, we found five codons, with three (AUA, AGA, and AGG) correlating positively and two (CGU and AGC) correlating negatively with the T(opt) value. The three positive codons are purine-rich codons, and the two negative codons have A-ends. The two negative codons are pyridine-rich codons, and one has a C-end. Comparable with the codon C- and A-ending features, C- and A-content within mRNA correlated negatively and positively with the T(opt) value, respectively. Thereby, codons have effects on enzyme thermal property. When the issue is analyzed at the residual level, the effect of codon message is lost. The codons relating to enzyme thermal property are selected by thermophilic force at nucleotide level.

Domain-swapping of mesophilic xylanase with hyper-thermophilic glucanase

Background

Domain fusion is limited at enzyme one terminus. The issue was explored by swapping a mesophilic Aspergillus niger GH11 xylanase (Xyn) with a hyper-thermophilic Thermotoga maritima glucanase (Glu) to construct two chimeras, Xyn-Glu and Glu-Xyn, with an intention to create thermostable xylanase containing glucanase activity.

Results

When expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3), the two chimeras exhibited bi-functional activities of xylanase and glucanase. The Xyn-Glu Xyn moiety had optimal reaction temperature (T_opt) at 50 °C and thermal in-activation half-life (t_1/2) at 50 °C for 47.6 min, compared to 47 °C and 17.6 min for the Xyn. The Glu-Xyn Xyn moiety had equivalent T_opt to and shorter t_1/2 (5.2 min) than the Xyn. Both chimera Glu moieties were more thermostable than the Glu, and the three enzyme T_opt values were higher than 96 °C. The Glu-Xyn Glu moiety optimal pH was 5.8, compared to 3.8 for the Xyn-Glu Glu moiety and the Glu. Both chimera two moieties cooperated with each other in degrading substrates.

Conclusions

Domain-swapping created different effects on each moiety properties. Fusing the Glu domain at C-terminus increased the xylanase thermostability, but fusing the Glu domain at N-terminus decreased the xylanase thermostability. Fusing the Xyn domain at either terminus increased the glucanase thermostability, and fusing the Xyn domain at C-terminus shifted the glucanase pH property 2 units higher towards alkaline environments. Fusing a domain at C-terminus contributes more to enzyme catalytic activity; whereas, fusing a bigger domain at N-terminus disturbs enzyme substrate binding affinity.