Microbial beta-glucosidases: cloning, properties, and applications

Purification and biochemical properties of a glucose-stimulated beta-D-glucosidase produced by Humicola grisea var. thermoidea grown on sugarcane bagasse

The effect of several carbon sources on the production of mycelial-bound beta-glucosidase by Humicola grisea var. thermoidea in submerged fermentation was investigated. Maximum production occurred when cellulose was present in the culture medium, but higher specific activities were achieved with cellobiose or sugarcane bagasse. Xylose or glucose (1%) in the reaction medium stimulated beta-glucosidase activity by about 2-fold in crude extracts from mycelia grown in sugarcane bagasse. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, showing a single band in PAGE and SDS-PAGE. The beta-glucosidase had a carbohydrate content of 43% and showed apparent molecular masses of 57 and 60 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature were 6.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The purified enzyme was thermostable up to 60 min in water at 55 degrees C and showed half-lives of 7 and 14 min when incubated in the absence or presence of 50 mM glucose, respectively, at 60 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, lactose, and cellobiose. The best synthetic and natural substrates were p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucopyranoside and cellobiose, respectively. Purified enzyme activity was stimulated up to 2-fold by glucose or xylose at concentrations from 25 to 200 mM. The addition of purified or crude beta-glucosidase to a reaction medium containing Trichoderma reesei cellulases increased the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse by about 50%. These findings suggest that H. grisea var. thermoidea beta-glucosidase has a potential for biotechnological applications in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials.

Thermostable enzymes as biocatalysts in the biofuel industry

Lignocellulose is the most abundant carbohydrate source in nature and represents an ideal renewable energy source. Thermostable enzymes that hydrolyze lignocellulose to its component sugars have significant advantages for improving the conversion rate of biomass over their mesophilic counterparts. We review here the recent literature on the development and use of thermostable enzymes for the depolymerization of lignocellulosic feedstocks for biofuel production. Furthermore, we discuss the protein structure, mechanisms of thermostability, and specific strategies that can be used to improve the thermal stability of lignocellulosic biocatalysts.

Identification of acid- and thermotolerant extracellular beta-glucosidase activities in Zygomycetes fungi

Extracellular beta-glucosidase activity of 94 strains, representing 24 species of the genera Gilbertella, Mucor, Rhizomucor , and Rhizopus was evaluated in submerged culture and under solid state fermentation on wheat bran. Gilbertella persicaria G1 isolate showed the highest activity (70.9 U ml -1 ) followed by other Gilbertella (58.6-59.0 U ml -1 ) and Rhizomucor miehei isolates (29.2-42.0 U ml -1 ). Optimum temperature for enzyme production was 25 degrees C for Gilbertella and Mucor , and 30 degrees C for Rhizomucor and Rhizopus strains. Enzymes of R. miehei strains proved to be thermotolerant preserving up to 92.8% residual activity after heating to 75 degrees C in the presence of cellobiose substrate. Enzymes of Mucor racemosus f. chibinensis, R. miehei and Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus strains were activated at acidic condition (pH 4). Glucose was a strong inhibitor for each fungal beta-glucosidase tested but some of them showed ethanol tolerance up to 20% (v/v). Ethanol also activated the enzyme in these strains suggesting glycosyl transferase activity.

Production and distribution of beta-glucosidase in a mutant strain Trichoderma viride T 100-14

The characterization of beta-glucosidase's production and distribution in a mutant strain Trichoderma viride T 100-14 at extracellular and intracellular levels were studied in this paper. Three experiment groups were done automatically with pH controlled at 4.8 during fermentation process, with 1mg/ml 2-deoxy-d-glucose addition or without pH control and 2-deoxy-d-glucose addition (control). Activity assay and electron microscopic immunogold labeling experiments were performed at different culture periods (24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours). Under constant pH 4.8, high density of immunogold labeling particles, highest intracellular enzyme activity, total enzyme activity and specific activity were observed at 24 hours of fermentation. After 72 hours, the extracellular and total activities fluctuated little and the maximal activity in extracellular fraction was 2.7 times higher than control. By contrast, with 2-deoxy-d-glucose addition, the secreted and total beta-glucosidase activities achieved their maximum at 96 hours of fermentation, and the maximal secreted activity increased 2.05-fold than the control. Additionally, the secretion ratio (maximal secreted beta-glucosidase activity/maximal total activity) with pH control or 2-deoxy-d-glucose addition was elevated profoundly near to a level as the cellulase in fungi.

The family 1 glycoside hydrolase from Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 is a cellodextrin glucohydrolase

The only family 1 glycoside hydrolase in Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 (CcGH1) is annotated as a beta-galactosidase but has high sequence homology with many beta-glucosidases. Given the possible importance of beta-glucosidase in cellulose utilization by C. cellulolyticum, the encoding open reading frame Ccel_0374 was cloned and expressed in E. coli as a soluble fusion protein with thioredoxin. After tag cleavage, the purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 52 kDa and was active in dimeric form on a broad range of substrates, including cellobiose, cellotriose, cellotetraose, p-nitrophenyl-beta-glucopyranoside, lactose, and o-nitrophenyl-beta-galactopyranoside. The enzyme showed lower K(m) and higher catalytic efficiency (k (cat)/K(m)) on cellodextrins with degree of polymerization from 2 to 4 than on lactose, and the k (cat)/K (m) values on cellodextrins increased in the order of cellobiose < cellotriose < cellotetraose, suggesting that CcGH1 was a cellodextrin glucohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.74). The high K(m) (69 mM) on cellobiose implies that CcGH1 likely has a minimal role in the intracellular hydrolysis of cellobiose in C. cellulolyticum. The three-dimensional structure model of CcGH1 generated by homology modeling showed a typical (alpha/beta)(8) barrel topology characteristic of family 1 glycoside hydrolases.

Characterization and kinetic analysis of a thermostable GH3 beta-glucosidase from Penicillium brasilianum

A GH3 beta-glucosidase (BGL) from Penicillium brasilianum was purified to homogeneity after cultivation on a cellulose and xylan rich medium. The BGL was identified in a genomic library, and it was successfully expressed in Aspergillus oryzae. The BGL had excellent stability at elevated temperatures with no loss in activity after 24 h of incubation at 60 degrees C at pH 4-6, and the BGL was shown to have significantly higher stability at these conditions in comparison to Novozym 188 and to other fungal GH3 BGLs reported in the literature. The BGL had significant lower affinity for cellobiose compared with the artificial substrate para-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNP-Glc) and further, pronounced substrate inhibition using pNP-Glc. Kinetic studies demonstrated the high importance of using cellobiose as substrate and glucose as inhibitor to describe the inhibition kinetics of BGL taking place during cellulose hydrolysis. A novel assay was developed to characterize this glucose inhibition on cellobiose hydrolysis. The assay uses labelled glucose-13C6 as inhibitor and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis to quantify the hydrolysis rates.

Properties of a metagenome-derived beta-glucosidase from the contents of rabbit cecum

In this study, a previously cloned beta-glucosidase gene, umbgl3B, was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical properties of the purified enzyme were characterized. The recombinant enzyme was stable over a wide range of pH values (5.0-9.0) and below 30 degrees C. It displayed optimum enzymatic activity at pH 6.5 at 40 degrees C, under condition similar to that in the rabbit cecum, suggesting an active role of the native enzyme in vivo. The recombinant beta-glucosidase Umbgl3B showed high activity to aryl beta-D-glucosides and low activity to cellooligosaccharides, with a polymerization degree of less than 5. The enzyme had no activity toward long cellooligosaccharides or polysaccharides. The aspartic acid residue, D772, of the wild-type Umbgl3B was predicted as a nucleophile. Mutant D772A was constructed. It showed less than 1/10,000 activity of the wild-type enzyme, but had the same properties, suggesting that residue D772 plays a key role in the enzyme's activity.

Kinetics of high-Level of ß-glucosidase production by a 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutant of Humicola lanuginosa in submerged fermentation

A 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutant (M7) of Humicola lanuginosa was obtained by exposing conidia to γ-rays and permitting expression in broth containing 0.6% 2-deoxyglucose (DG) and cellobiose (1%) before plating on DG esculin-ferric ammonium citrate agar medium from which colonies showing faster and bigger blackening zones were selected. Kinetic parameters for enhanced ß-glucosidase (BGL) synthesis by M7 were achieved when corncobs acted as the carbon source. The combination between corncobs and corn steep liquor was the best to support higher values of all product formation kinetic parameters. Effect of temperature on the kinetic and thermodynamic attributes of BGL production equilibrium in the wild organism and M7 was studied using batch process at eight different temperatures in shake-flask studies. The best performance was found at 45°C and 20 g L⁻¹ corncobs in 64 h. Both growth and product formation (17.93 U mL⁻¹) were remarkably high at 45°C and both were coupled under optimum working conditions. Product yield of BGL from the mutant M7 (1556.5 U g⁻¹ dry corncobs) was significantly higher than the values reported on all fungal and bacterial systems. Mutation had thermo-stabilization influence on the organism and mutant required lower activation energy for growth and lower magnitudes of enthalpy and entropy for product formation than those demanded by the wild organism, other mesophilic and thermo-tolerant organisms. In the inactivation phase, the organisms needed lower values of activation energy, enthalpy and entropy for product formation equilibrium, confirming thermophilic nature of metabolic network possessed by the mutant organism.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Shewanella sp. G5, a producer of cold-active beta-D-glucosidases

beta -Glucosidase is a highly desired glycosidase, especially for hydrolysis of glycoconjugated precursors in musts and wines for the release of active aromatic compounds. A Shewanella sp. G5 strain was isolated from the intestinal content of benthonic organism (Munida subrrugosa) from different coastal areas of the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). This marine bacterium was able to grow at a temperature range between 4 to 20 degrees C using different beta-glycoside substrates, such as cellobiose, as carbon source. In this work, the Shewanella sp. G5 strain exhibited high beta-glucosidase activity on plate at low temperature (4 and 20 degrees C). Two genes encoding different cold-active beta-glucosidases were amplified and sequenced and the nucleotide sequences were submitted to the GenBank. 16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequences were used for the molecular characterization of Shewanella sp. G5.

Properties, intracellular localization, and stage-specific expression of membrane-bound beta-glucosidase, BglM1, from Physarum polycephalum

Physarum polycephalum expresses a membrane-bound beta-glucosidase (BglM1) with a molecular mass of 130 kDa. The primary structure of BglM1 consists of a glycosyl hydrolase family 3 domain at an amino-terminal domain and a carboxyl-terminal region without homology to the sequence of known glycosidases. The latter region contains two calx-beta motifs known as Ca(2+)-binding sites; an RGD sequence, which is known to be a cell attachment sequence; and a transmembrane region. The molecular mass calculated from the amino acid sequence is 130 kDa, but that in the crude extract was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 230 kDa, and decreased to 130 kDa during purification. However, when BglM1 was purified in the presence of calcium ion, the molecular mass remained 230 kDa. The biochemical characteristics of the 130- and 230-kDa BglM1 forms were analyzed: differences were found in the kinetic data for some substrates specific for both these enzymes; however, no difference was found in their intrinsic characteristics such as optimum pH and temperature. In addition, the molecular mass of native BglM1 with a calcium ion was estimated to be 1,000 kDa or larger by gel filtration. These results suggest that the calcium ion influences the conformation of BglM1. The evidence that BglM1 localizes on the plasma membrane of plasmodia was confirmed using immunofluorescence microscopy. Although Physarum BglM1 was expressed in microplasmodia and plasmodia, little expression was detected in other stages. BglM1 may have some function only in multinuclear cells.

Characterization of a thermostable extracellular beta-glucosidase with activities of exoglucanase and transglycosylation from Paecilomyces thermophila

The purification and characterization of a novel extracellular beta-glucosidase from Paecilomyces thermophila J18 was studied. The beta-glucosidase was purified to 105-fold apparent homogeneity with a recovery yield of 21.7% by DEAE 52 and Sephacryl S-200 chromatographies. Its molecular masses were 116 and 197 kDa when detected by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. It was a homodimeric glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 82.3%. The purified enzyme exhibited an optimal activity at 75 degrees C and pH 6.2. It was stable up to 65 degrees C and in the pH range of 5.0-8.5. The enzyme exhibited a broad substrate specificity and significantly hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-beta- d-glucopyranoside ( pNPG), cellobiose, gentiobiose, sophorose, amygdalin, salicin, daidzin, and genistin. Moreover, it displayed substantial activity on beta-glucans such as laminarin and lichenan, indicating that the enzyme has some exoglucanase activity. The rate of glucose released by the purified enzyme from cellooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization (DP) ranging between 2 and 5 decreased with increasing chain length. Glucose and glucono-delta-lactone inhibited the beta-glucosidase competitively with Ki values of 73 and 0.49 mM, respectively. The beta-glucosidase hydrolyzed pNPG, cellobiose, gentiobiose, sophorose, salicin, and amygdalin, exhibiting apparent Km values of 0.26, 0.65, 0.77, 1.06, 1.39, and 1.45 mM, respectively. Besides, the enzyme showed transglycosylation activity, producing oligosaccharides with higher DP than the substrates when cellooligosaccharides were hydrolyzed. These properties make this beta-glucosidase useful for various biotechnological applications.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of two beta-glucosidases from isoflavone glycoside-hydrolyzing Bacillus subtilis natto

On the basis of the genomic sequence of Bacillus subtilis 168, two beta-glucosidase genes (bglH and yckE) from B. subtilis natto, which has been reported to have high isoflavone glucoside-hydrolyzing activity, were cloned and overexpressed in E. coli M15. The temperature for the optimal p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside hydrolyzing activity of both enzymes was between 37 and 45 degrees C, but BglH had a higher thermal stability than YckE. Both showed high activity at pH 6.0, but YckE was stable over a wider pH range than BglH. Recombinant BglH was inhibited 73%, 63%, and 43% by 1.0 mM Cd(2+), Fe(2+), or Cu(2+), respectively, while other divalent metal ions resulted in 0-23% inhibition, whereas YckE was inhibited by less than 20% by any of the divalent metal ions we tested. Among the substrate we used, BglH showed the highest affinity for genistin and YckE showed the highest affinity for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fructopyranoside. Both BglH and YckE hydrolyzed genistin and daidzin into their isoflavone aglycones, genistein and daidzein, but BglH was more efficient than YckE in isoflavone glucoside hydrolysis (20-fold higher kcat). Our results suggest that recombinant BglH may be applicable in the process of isoflavones deglycosylation.

Identification of differentially expressed genes from Rhodothermus sp. XMH10 in response to low temperature using random arbitrarily primed PCR

Most research on the adaptation of thermophiles is focused on their adaptation to heat stress; only a few studies are focused on their cold adaptation. In this report, the thermophilic bacterium Rhodothermus sp. XMH10 was examined to gain a better understanding of gene expression in response to low temperature. Random arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) was used to isolate and identify differentially expressed genes of bacteria grown at 45 degrees C (lowest) compared to those at 75 degrees C (optimal). Fifty-three differential cDNA fragments in total were isolated. Among them, 35 different cDNAs were analyzed by Northern blot, and 17 were confirmed to be differentially expressed at the transcriptional levels. These genes reflected a profile of differential expression and were involved in many physiological processes such as metabolism, cell membrane alterations, and regulatory adaptive response; most of them have never been previously reported. This study provides some new information on the adaptation of thermophilic bacteria to environmental temperature stress.

Crystal structures of Paenibacillus polymyxa beta-glucosidase B complexes reveal the molecular basis of substrate specificity and give new insights into the catalytic machinery of family I glycosidases

Bacteria species involved in degradation of cellulosic substrates produce a variety of enzymes for processing related compounds along the hydrolytic pathway. Paenibacillus polymyxa encodes two homologous beta-glucosidases, BglA and BglB, presenting different quaternary structures and substrate specificities. We previously reported the 3D-structure of BglA, which is highly specific against cellobiose. Here, we present structural analysis of BglB, a monomeric enzyme that acts as an exo-beta-glucosidase hydrolyzing cellobiose and cellodextrins of higher degree of polymerization. The crystal structure of BglB shows that several polar residues narrow the active site pocket and contour additional subsites. The structure of the BglB-cellotetraose complex confirms these subsites, revealing the substrate-binding mode, and shows the oligosaccharide-enzyme recognition pattern in detail. Comparison between BglA and BglB crystal structures suggests that oligomerization in BglA can assist in fine-tuning the specificity of the active centre by modulating the loops surrounding the cavity. We have solved the crystal structure of BglB with bound thiocellobiose, a competitive inhibitor, which together with the BglB-cellotetraose complex delineate the general features of the aglycon site. The detailed characterization of the atomic interactions at the aglycon site show a recognition pattern common to all bacterial beta-glucosidases, and presents some differences with the aglycon site in plant beta-glycosidases essentially by means of a different orientation of the basal Trp. The crystal structures of of BglB with a covalently bound inhibitor (derived from 2-fluoroglucoside) and glucose (produced by hydrolysis of the substrate in the crystal), provide additional pictures of the binding events and the intermediates formed during the reaction. Altogether, this information can assist in the understanding of subtle differences of the enzyme mechanism and substrate recognition within this family of enzymes, and consequently it can help in the development of new enzymes with improved activity or specificity.

Purification and biochemical characterization of an extracellular β-glucosidase from the wood-decaying fungusDaldinia eschscholzii(Ehrenb.:Fr.) Rehm

An extracellular beta-glucosidase was purified from culture filtrates of the wood-decaying fungus Daldinia eschscholzii (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Rehm grown on 1.0% (w/v) carboxymethyl-cellulose using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular weight of 64.2 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and has a pI of 8.55. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) as the substrate, with a K(m) of 1.52 mM, and V(max) of 3.21 U min mg(-1) protein. Glucose competitively inhibited beta-glucosidase with a K(i) value of 0.79 mM. Optimal activity with PNPG as the substrate was at pH 5.0 and 50 degrees C. The enzyme was stable at pH 5.0 at temperatures up to 50 degrees C. The purified beta-glucosidase was active against PNPG, cellobiose, sophorose, laminaribiose and gentiobiose, but did not hydrolyze lactose, sucrose, Avicel or o-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside. The activity of beta-glucosidase was stimulated by Ca(2+), Co(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dithiothreitol and EDTA, and strongly inhibited by Hg(2+). The internal amino acid sequences of D. eschscholziibeta-glucosidase have similarity to the sequences of the family 3 beta-glucosyl hydrolase.

Crystal structure of intracellular family 1 β-glucosidase BGL1A from the basidiomycetePhanerochaete chrysosporium

The white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has two intracellular beta-glucosidases (BGL1A and BGL1B) belonging to glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 1. BGL1B effectively hydrolyzes cellobiose and cellobionolactone, but BGL1A does not. We have determined the crystal structure of BGL1A in substrate-free and gluconolactone complexed forms. The overall structure and the characteristic of subsite -1 (glycone site) were similar to those of other known GH1 enzymes. The loop regions covering on the (beta/alpha)(8) barrel was significantly deviated, and they form a unique subsite +1 (aglycone site) of BGL1A.

Characterization of a β-Glucosidase Produced by a High-Specific Growth-Rate Mutant of Cellulomonas flavigena

The mutant strain PN-120 of Cellulomonas flavigena produces a ss-glucosidase that is 10-fold more active than the corresponding enzyme isolated from the parental strain. These enzymes were partially purified through Q Sepharose and Bio-Gel filtration. A single protein band was detected on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis/zymogram using 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucoside. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE, the enzyme displayed three protein bands, suggesting that in C. flavigena the enzyme is oligomeric with a molecular mass of 210 kDa. On purification, the specific activity of ss-glucosidase isolated from PN-120 was increased 16-fold and showed three times more affinity for cellobiose than the enzyme of the parental strain; nevertheless, the optimum pH and temperature were similar for both enzymes. The kinetic parameters suggested that the increase in the activity of the enzyme, from the mutant strain, was caused by a mutation that affects the catalytic site of the enzyme. The partial amino-acid sequence of the isolated enzyme confirmed that it is a beta-glucosidase because of its homology with other beta-glucosidases produced by cellulolytic bacteria and fungi.

Cloning and functional expression of thermostable β-glucosidase gene from Thermoascus aurantiacus

A thermostable beta-glucosidase (BGLI) was purified from Thermoascus aurantiacus IFO9748, and the gene (bgl1) encoding this enzyme was cloned and expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by bgl1 showed high similarity with the sequence of glycoside hydrolase family 3. The recombinant enzyme was purified and subjected to enzymatic characterization. Recombinant BGLI retained more than 70% of its initial activity after 1 h of incubation at 60 degrees C and was stable in the pH range 3-8. The optimal temperature for enzyme activity was about 70 degrees C and the optimal pH was about 5. P. pastoris expressing recombinant BGLI became able to utilize cellobiose as a carbon source.

Use of RNA fingerprinting to identify fungal genes specifically expressed during ectomycorrhizal interaction

The ecosystem soil is characterized by interactions between microorganisms and plants including mycorrhiza--mutualistic interactions between fungi and plant roots. Species of the basidiomycete genus Tricholoma form ectomycorrhiza with tree roots which is characterized by morphological and metabolic changes of both partners, yet molecular mechanisms of the interaction are poorly understood. We performed differential display with arbitrarily primed RT-PCR using ectomycorrhiza between the basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum and its compatible host spruce (Picea abies) to isolate mycorrhiza-specific fungal gene fragments. 76 differentially expressed PCR fragments were verified and checked for plant or fungal origin and expression pattern. Of 20 fungal fragments with mycorrhiza-specific expression, sequence analyses were performed to identify homologs with known function of the encoded protein. Among the genes identified were orthologs to an aldehyde dehydrogenase, an alcohol dehydrogenase and a protein of the MATE transporter family, all with possible function in plant pathogen response. A phospholipase B, a beta-glucosidase and a binding protein of basic amino acids might play a role in nutrient exchange and growth in planta. A protein similar to inactive E2 compounds of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes like CROC-1 and MMS2, a Ras protein and an APS kinase were placed in signal transduction and two retrotransposons of the Ty3-gypsy and the Ty1-copia family are expressed most likely due to stress.

Cellobiase from Termitomyces clypeatus: activity and secretion in presence of glycosylation inhibitors

In presence of the glycosylation inhibitors, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (1 mg/ml), tunicamycin (30 microg/ml), 1-deoxynojirimycin (30 microg/ml) and D-glucono-delta-lactone (1 mg/ml), total cellobiase activity, in the extracellular, intracellular and cell bound fractions, of the fungus Termitomyces clypeatus grown in 20 ml cellobiose medium (1%, w/v) increased by 50-, 1.8-, 2.4-, 1.3-fold, respectively, with respect to control medium (16.3 U). The inhibitors also stimulated secretion of 95% of the total protein in culture medium, except D-glucono-delta-lactone which released 60% of the total protein. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (1 mg/ml) led to production of extracellular cellobiase up to 40 U/ml, whereas in absence of the inhibitors only 0.59 U/ml enzyme was detected.

Substrate specificity of Aspergillus oryzae family 3 beta-glucosidase

Among glycoside hydrolases, beta-glucosidase plays a unique role in many physiological and biocatalytical processes that involve the beta-linked O-glycosyl bond of various oligomeric saccharides or glycosides. Structurally, the enzyme can be grouped into glycoside hydrolase family 1 and 3. Although the basic ("retaining, double-displacement") mechanism for the catalysis of family 3 beta-glucosidase has been established, in-depth understanding of its structure-function relationship, particularly the substrate specificity that is of great interest for developing the enzyme as a versatile biocatalyst, remains limited. To further probe the active site, we carried out a comparative study on a family 3 beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus oryzae with substrates and competitive inhibitors of different structures, in attempt to evaluate the site-specific spatial and chemical interactions between a pyranosyl substrate and the enzyme. Our results showed the enzyme having a strict stereochemical requirement (to accommodate beta-d-glucopyranose) for its "-1" active subsite, in contrast to its family 1 counterpart.

Purification and characterisation of an intracellular enzyme with beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activity from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces thermophilus CBS 236.58

An intracellular beta-glycoside hydrolase with beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activity, designated beta-glucosidase BGL1, was isolated to apparent homogeneity from the thermophilic ascomycete Talaromyces thermophilus CBS 236.58. The monomeric enzyme has a molecular mass of 50 kDa (SDS-PAGE) and an isoelectric point of 4.5-4.6. The enzyme is active with both glucosides such as cellobiose and galactosides including lactose; based on the catalytic efficiencies determined glucosides are the preferred substrates. beta-Galactosidase activity of BGL1 is activated by various mono and divalent cations including Na+, K+ and Mg2+, and it is moderately inhibited by its reaction products glucose and galactose. Its pH optimum for the hydrolysis of galactosides is in the range of 5.5-6.0, and its optimum temperature was found to be 50 degrees C (15 min assay). In addition to its hydrolytic activity, BGL1 shows a significant transferase activity which results in the formation of galacto-oligosaccharides. These have recently attracted interest because of possible applications in food industry. The highest yields of oligosaccharides was approximately 20% when using 38 gl(-1) lactose as the starting material.

Cloning, sequence analysis, and characterization of a novel beta-glucosidase-like activity from Pichia etchellsii

Genomic DNA fragment encoding a novel beta-glucosidase-like activity of the yeast Pichia etchellsii was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. An open-reading frame of 1515bp, termed mugA, coding for a protein of predicted molecular mass of approximately 54kDa was confirmed for this activity. The sequence of the deduced protein did not show homology with the generic beta-glucosidases but a high degree of identity was seen with several Ser-Asp (SD)-rich cell-surface-associated proteins. The secondary structure prediction program 3D-PSSM indicated the protein to be composed of largely helical and coiled structures, which was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The encoded protein, MUGA, was purified by about 53-fold and characterized as a monomer of 52.1kDa by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF. The protein displayed high hydrolytic activity on methylumbelliferyl beta-d-glucoside but relatively very little hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl beta-d-glucoside and gentiobiose, characteristic substrates for beta-glucosidases. The binding experiments performed between P. etchellsii cells and the purified E. coli expressed MUGA indicated binding with the cell surface, which was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. In competition experiments with the SD dipeptide, less protein was shown to bind to the cell surface, in a concentration-dependent manner.

Construction of cellobiose-growing and fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Beta-glucosidase genes of fungal origins were isolated and heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enable growth on the disaccharide, cellobiose. To promote secretion of the beta-glucosidases, the genes were fused to the secretion signal of the Trichoderma reesei xyn2 gene and constitutively expressed from a multi-copy yeast expression vector under transcriptional control of the S. cerevisiae PGK1 promoter and terminator. The resulting recombinant enzymes were characterized with respect to pH and temperature optimum, as well as kinetic properties. The two most promising enzymes, BGL1 from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and BglA from Aspergillus kawachii, were anchored to the yeast cell surface by fusing the mature proteins to the alpha-agglutinin (AGalpha1) or cell wall protein 2 (Cwp2) peptides. The maximum specific growth rates (mu(max)) of the recombinant S. cerevisiae strains were determined in batch cultivation. S. cerevisiae secreting the recombinant S. fibuligera BGL1 enzyme sustained growth aerobically and anaerobically, in minimal medium containing 5g L(-1) cellobiose at 0.23 h(-1) (compared to 0.29 h(-1) on glucose) and 0.18 h(-1) (compared to 0.25 h(-1) on glucose), respectively. Substrate consumption and product formation were determined to evaluate product yields in glucose and cellobiose.

Characterization of an unusual cold-active beta-glucosidase belonging to family 3 of the glycoside hydrolases from the psychrophilic isolate Paenibacillus sp. strain C7

We selected for spore-forming psychrophilic bacteria able to use lactose as a carbon source and one isolate, designated Paenibacillus sp. strain C7, that was phylogenetically related to, but distinct from both Paenibacillus macquariensis and Paenibacillus antarcticus. Some Escherichia coli transformants obtained with genomic DNA from this isolate hydrolyzed X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside) only below 30 degrees C, an indication of cold-active beta-galactosidase activity. Sequencing of the cloned insert revealed an open reading frame encoding a 756-amino acid protein that, rather than belonging to a family typically known for beta-galactosidase activity, belonged to glycoside hydrolase family 3, a family of beta-glucosidases. Because of this unusual placement, the recombinant enzyme (BglY) was purified and characterized. Consistent with its classification, the enzyme had seven times greater activity with the glucoside substrate ONPGlu (o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) than with the galactoside substrate ONPGal (o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside). In addition, the enzyme had, with ONPGlu, a thermal optimum around 30 to 35 degrees C, activity over a broad pH range (5.5 to 10.9), and an especially low Km (<0.003 mM). Further examination of substrate preference showed that the BglY enzyme also hydrolyzed other aryl-beta-glucosides such as helicin, MUG (4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside), esculin, indoxyl-beta-D-glucoside (a natural indigo precursor), and salicin, but had no activity with glucosidic disaccharides or lactose. These characteristics and substrate preferences make the BglY enzyme unique among the family 3 beta-glucosidases. The hydrolysis of a variety of aryl-beta-glucosides suggests that the enzyme may allow the organism to use these substrates in the environment and that its low Km on indoxyl-beta-D-glucoside may make it useful for producing indigo.