Analysis of functional domains of endoglucanases from Clostridium cellulovorans by gene cloning, nucleotide sequencing and chimeric protein construction

Enzymatic degradation of xyloglucans by Aspergillus species: a comparative view of this genus

Aspergillus species are closely associated with humanity through fermentation, infectious disease, and mycotoxin contamination of food. Members of this genus produce various enzymes to degrade plant polysaccharides, including starch, cellulose, xylan, and xyloglucan. This review focus on the machinery of the xyloglucan degradation using glycoside hydrolases, such as xyloglucanases, isoprimeverose-producing oligoxyloglucan hydrolases, and α-xylosidases, in Aspergillus species. Some xyloglucan degradation-related glycoside hydrolases are well conserved in this genus; however, other enzymes are not. Cooperative actions of these glycoside hydrolases are crucial for xyloglucan degradation in Aspergillus species. KEY POINTS: •Xyloglucan degradation-related enzymes of Aspergillus species are reviewed. •Each Aspergillus species possesses a different set of glycoside hydrolases. •The machinery of xyloglucan degradation of A. oryzae is overviewed.

Identification and characterization of two xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-glucanases in Aspergillus oryzae

Aspergillus oryzae produces glycoside hydrolases to degrade xyloglucan. We identified and characterized two xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-glucanases (xyloglucanases) named Xeg12A and Xeg5A. Based on their amino acid sequences, Xeg12A and Xeg5A were classified into glycoside hydrolase families GH12 and GH5, respectively. Xeg12A degrades tamarind seed xyloglucan polysaccharide into xyloglucan oligosaccharides containing four glucopyranosyl residues as main chains, including heptasaccharides (XXXG: Glc₄Xyl₃), octasaccharides (XXLG and XLXG: Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₁), and nonasaccharides (XLLG: Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₂). By contrast, Xeg5A produces various xyloglucan oligosaccharides from xyloglucan. Xeg5A hydrolyzes xyloglucan into not only XXXG, XXLG/XLXG, and XLLG but also disaccharides (isoprimeverose: Glc₁Xyl₁), tetrasaccharides (XX: Glc₂Xyl₂ and LG: Glc₂Xyl₁Gal₁), and so on. Xeg12A is a typical endo-dissociative-type xyloglucanase that repeats hydrolysis and desorption from xyloglucan. Conversely, Xeg5A acts as an endo-processive-type xyloglucanase that hydrolyzes xyloglucan progressively without desorption. These results indicate that although both Xeg12A and Xeg5A contribute to the degradation of xyloglucan, they have different modes of activity toward xyloglucan, and the hydrolysis machinery of Xeg5A is unique compared with that of other known GH5 enzymes. KEY POINTS: • We identified two xyloglucanases, Xeg12A and Xeg5A, in A. oryzae. • Modes of activity and regiospecificities of Xeg12A and Xeg5A were clearly different. • Xeg5A is a unique xyloglucanase that produces low-molecular-weight oligosaccharides.

Structure-Function Analysis of a Mixed-linkage β-Glucanase/Xyloglucanase from the Key Ruminal Bacteroidetes Prevotella bryantii B(1)4

The recent classification of glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5) members into subfamilies enhances the prediction of substrate specificity by phylogenetic analysis. However, the small number of well characterized members is a current limitation to understanding the molecular basis of the diverse specificity observed across individual GH5 subfamilies. GH5 subfamily 4 (GH5_4) is one of the largest, with known activities comprising (carboxymethyl)cellulases, mixed-linkage endo-glucanases, and endo-xyloglucanases. Through detailed structure-function analysis, we have revisited the characterization of a classic GH5_4 carboxymethylcellulase, PbGH5A (also known as Orf4, carboxymethylcellulase, and Cel5A), from the symbiotic rumen Bacteroidetes Prevotella bryantii B14. We demonstrate that carboxymethylcellulose and phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose are in fact relatively poor substrates for PbGH5A, which instead exhibits clear primary specificity for the plant storage and cell wall polysaccharide, mixed-linkage β-glucan. Significant activity toward the plant cell wall polysaccharide xyloglucan was also observed. Determination of PbGH5A crystal structures in the apo-form and in complex with (xylo)glucan oligosaccharides and an active-site affinity label, together with detailed kinetic analysis using a variety of well defined oligosaccharide substrates, revealed the structural determinants of polysaccharide substrate specificity. In particular, this analysis highlighted the PbGH5A active-site motifs that engender predominant mixed-linkage endo-glucanase activity vis à vis predominant endo-xyloglucanases in GH5_4. However the detailed phylogenetic analysis of GH5_4 members did not delineate particular clades of enzymes sharing these sequence motifs; the phylogeny was instead dominated by bacterial taxonomy. Nonetheless, our results provide key enzyme functional and structural reference data for future bioinformatics analyses of (meta)genomes to elucidate the biology of complex gut ecosystems.

Cellulosome-based, Clostridium-derived multi-functional enzyme complexes for advanced biotechnology tool development: advances and applications

The cellulosome is one of nature's most elegant and elaborate nanomachines and a key biological and biotechnological macromolecule that can be used as a multi-functional protein complex tool. Each protein module in the cellulosome system is potentially useful in an advanced biotechnology application. The high-affinity interactions between the cohesin and dockerin domains can be used in protein-based biosensors to improve both sensitivity and selectivity. The scaffolding protein includes a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) that attaches strongly to cellulose substrates and facilitates the purification of proteins fused with the dockerin module through a one-step CBM purification method. Although the surface layer homology (SLH) domain of CbpA is not present in other strains, replacement of the cell surface anchoring domain allows a foreign protein to be displayed on the surface of other strains. The development of a hydrolysis enzyme complex is a useful strategy for consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), enabling microorganisms with biomass hydrolysis activity. Thus, the development of various configurations of multi-functional protein complexes for use as tools in whole-cell biocatalyst systems has drawn considerable attention as an attractive strategy for bioprocess applications. This review provides a detailed summary of the current achievements in Clostridium-derived multi-functional complex development and the impact of these complexes in various areas of biotechnology.

Isolation of Cellulolytic Bacillus subtilis Strains from Agricultural Environments

The bioconversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to soluble sugars is important for global stabilization and a sustainable human society. Here, hundreds of cellulolytic bacteria were screened and isolated from soil, compost, and animal waste slurry in Jeju Island, South Korea. Among the isolates, three strains, SL9-9, C5-16, and S52-2, showing higher potential for practical uses were purified on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plates and identified as Bacillus subtilis strains by morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The production patterns of cellulose or hemicellulose-degrading enzymes were investigated during cell culture. All three isolated strains produced CMCase, Avicelase, β-glucosidase, and xylanase enzymes, which suggested synergic cellulolytic systems in Bacillus subtilis. The enzymes showing CMCase, Avicelase, and xylanase activities existed in cell-free culture supernatant, meanwhile β-glucosidase activity was detected in cell debris suggesting that three of the enzymes, including CMCase, Avicelase, and xylanase, were extracellular, and β-glucosidase was cell membrane bound. The three isolates, SL9-9, C5-16, and S52-2, were not the same strains, presenting slight differences in biochemical characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequences, and cellulolytic enzyme activities.

Molecular cloning and transcriptional and expression analysis of engO, encoding a new noncellulosomal family 9 enzyme, from Clostridium cellulovorans

Clostridium cellulovorans produces a major noncellulosomal family 9 endoglucanase EngO. A genomic DNA fragment (40 kb) containing engO and neighboring genes was cloned. The nucleotide sequence contained reading frames for endoglucanase EngO, a putative response regulator, and a putative sensor histidine kinase protein. The engO gene consists of 2,172 bp and encodes a protein of 724 amino acids with a molecular weight of 79,474. Northern hybridizations revealed that the engO gene is transcribed as a monocistronic 2.6-kb mRNA. 5' RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RLM-RACE) PCR analysis indicated that the single transcriptional start site of engO was located 264 bp upstream from the first nucleotide of the translation initiation codon. Alignment of the engO promoter region provided evidence for highly conserved sequences that exhibited strong similarity to the sigma(A) consensus promoter sequences of gram-positive bacteria. EngO contains a typical N-terminal signal peptide of 28 amino acid residues, followed by a 149-amino-acid sequence which is homologous to the family 4-9 carbohydrate-binding domain. Downstream of this domain was an immunoglobulin-like domain of 89 amino acids. The C terminus contains a family 9 catalytic domain of glycosyl hydrolase. Mass spectrometry analysis of EngO was in agreement with that deduced from the nucleotide sequence. Expression of engO mRNA increased from early to middle exponential phase and decreased during the early stationary phase. EngO was highly active toward carboxymethyl cellulose but showed no activity towards xylan. It was optimally active at 40 to 50 degrees C and pH 5 to 6. The analysis of the products from the cellulose hydrolysis through thin-layer chromatography indicated its endoglucanase activity.

Effects of the PT region of EngD and HLD of CbpA on solubility, catalytic activity and purification characteristics of EngD-CBDCbpA fusions from Clostridium cellulovorans

Chimeric proteins combining the catalytic N-terminal region of native EngD with its proline-threonine-threonine (PT) linker region, hydrophilic domain (HLD) and cellulose binding domain (CBD) of cellulose binding protein A (CbpA) from Clostridium cellulovorans were constructed, expressed, and analyzed. The chimeric proteins with CBD(CbpA) all demonstrated strong affinity to Avicel. The chimeric protein with the PT region of EngD and the HLD had the best catalytic activity and the highest estimated percentage of soluble protein amongst the chimeric proteins. Native EngD and two of the chimeric proteins (EngD-PT-HLD-CBD and EngD-CBD) were purified and their characteristics analyzed. Their binding affinities to Avicel as well as their enzymatic activities against various substrates were found to be consistent with the results we saw from protein lysate samples, which was good binding to Avicel but a decrease in solubility and catalytic activities in chimeric proteins without PT and/or HLD. The reasons for these are discussed. These fusion proteins may be important in applications, such as immobilization to solid cellulose substrate for purification of proteins and enrichment/aggregation of protein complexes.

Regulation of expression of cellulosomes and noncellulosomal (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes in Clostridium cellulovorans during growth on different carbon sources

Cellulosomes and noncellulosomal (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes are produced by Clostridium cellulovorans to degrade plant cell walls. To understand their synergistic relationship, changes in mRNA and protein expression in cellulosomes and noncellulosomal (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes (hereafter called noncellulosomal enzymes) of cultures grown on cellobiose, cellulose, pectin, xylan, and corn fiber or mixtures thereof were examined. Cellulase expression, favored particularly by the presence of Avicel, was found with all substrates. Comparison of cellulosome and noncellulosomal enzymes showed that expression profiles were strongly affected by the carbon source. High xylanase or pectate lyase expression was observed when C. cellulovorans was grown on xylan or pectin, respectively. Mixed carbon substrates (cellulose-pectin-xylan mixture or corn fiber) induced a wider variety of enzymes than a single carbon source, such as cellobiose, pectin, or xylan. Cellulosomal proteome profiles were more affected by the carbon source than the noncellulosomal enzymes. Transcription and protein analyses revealed that cellulosomes and noncellulosomal enzymes were expressed simultaneously on mixed carbon sources, but their degree of inducibility varied when the substrate was either cellulose or cellobiose. Cellulosomes and noncellulosomal enzymes had synergistic activity on various carbon substrates. These results indicated that expression of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes is highly influenced by the available carbon source and that synergy between cellulosomes and noncellulosomal enzymes contribute to plant cell wall degradation.

The Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome: an enzyme complex with plant cell wall degrading activity

Cellulose comprises a major portion of biomass on the earth, and the turnover of this material contributes to the CO2 cycle. Cellulases, which play a major role in the turnover of cellulosic materials, have been found either as free enzymes that work synergistically, or as an enzyme complex called the cellulosome. This review summarizes some of the general properties of cellulosomes, and more specifically, the properties of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome. The C cellulovorans cellulosome is an extracellular enzyme complex with a molecular weight of about 1 x 10(6), and is comprised of at least ten subunits. The major subunit is the scaffolding protein CbpA, with a molecular weight of 189,000. This nonenzymatic subunit contains a cellulose binding domain (CBD) that binds the cellulosome to the substrate, nine conserved cohesins or enzyme binding domains, and four conserved surface layer homologous (SLH) domains. It is postulated that the SLH domains help to bind the cellulosome to the cell surface. The cellulosomal enzymes include cellulases (family 5 and 9 endoglucanases and a family 48 exoglucanase), a mannanase, a xylanase, and a pectate lyase. The cellulosome is capable of converting Arabidopsis and tobacco plant cells to protoplasts. One of the endoglucanases, EngE, contains three tandemly repeated SLHs at its N-terminus, and therefore appears capable of binding to the scaffolding protein CbpA as well as to the cell surface. Cellulosomes can attack crystalline cellulose, but the free cellulosomal enzymes can attack only soluble and amorphous celluloses. Nine genes for the cellulosome are found in a gene cluster cbpA-exgS-engH-engK-hbpA-engL-manA-engM-engN. Other cellulosomal genes such as engB, engE, and engY are not linked to the major gene cluster or to each other. By determining the structure and function of the cellulosome, we hope to increase the efficiency of the cellulosome by genetic engineering techniques.

Solubilization of cellulosomal cellulases by fusion with cellulose-binding domain of noncellulosomal cellulase engd from Clostridium cellulovorans

Clostridium cellulovorans produces a cellulase complex (cellulosome) as well as noncellulosomal cellulases. In this study, we determined a factor that affected the solubility of the cellulosomal cellulase EngB and the noncellulosomal EngD when they were expressed in Escherichia coli. The catalytic domains of EngB and EngD formed inclusion bodies when expressed in E. coli. On the other hand, both catalytic domains containing the C-terminal cellulose-binding domain (CBD) of EngD were expressed in soluble form. Fusion with the CBD of EngD also helped increased the solubility of cellulosomal cellulase EngL upon expression in E. coli. These results indicate that the CBD of EngD plays an important role in the soluble expression of the catalytic domains of EngB, EngL, and EngD. The possible mechanisms of solubilization by fusion of the catalytic domain with the CBD from EngD are discussed.

Thermostabilization of cellulosomal endoglucanase EngB from Clostridium cellulovorans by in vitro DNA recombination with non-cellulosomal endoglucanase EngD

Enhancement of enzyme thermostability by protein engineering gives us information about the thermostabilization mechanism as well as advantages for industrial use of enzymes. In this study, we enhanced the thermostability of endoglucanase EngB, one component of the cellulase complex (cellulosome) from Clostridium cellulovorans, by the directed evolution technique. The library was constructed by in vitro recombination of the genes for EngB and non-cellulosomal cellulase EngD, based on the fact that the catalytic domains of both cellulases were highly homologous. To obtain thermostable clones without loss of activity, the library was screened by a combination of activity and thermostability screening. We obtained three mutants out of 8000 selected clones that showed significantly higher thermostability than those of EngB and EngD without compromising their endoglucanase activities. One of the mutants possessed a sevenfold higher thermostability than EngB. The possible mechanisms of thermostabilization are discussed.

Increasing the thermal stability of cellulase C using rules learned from thermophilic proteins: a pilot study

Some structural features underlying the increased thermostability of enzymes from thermophilic organisms relative to their homologues from mesophiles are known from earlier studies. We used cellulase C from Clostridium thermocellum to test whether thermostability can be increased by mutations designed using rules learned from thermophilic proteins. Cellulase C has a TIM barrel fold with an additional helical subdomain. We designed and produced a number of mutants with the aim to increase its thermostability. Five mutants were designed to create new electrostatic interactions. They all retained catalytic activity but exhibited decreased thermostability relative to the wild-type enzyme. Here, the stabilizing contributions are obviously smaller than the destabilization caused by the introduction of the new side chains. In another mutant, the small helical subdomain was deleted. This mutant lost activity but its melting point was only 3 degrees C lower than that of the wild-type enzyme, which suggests that the subdomain is an independent folding unit and is important for catalytic function. A double mutant was designed to introduce a new disulfide bridge into the enzyme. This mutant is active and has an increased stability (deltaT(m)=3 degrees C, delta(deltaG(u))=1.73 kcal/mol) relative to the wild-type enzyme. Reduction of the disulfide bridge results in destabilization and an altered thermal denaturation behavior. We conclude that rules learned from thermophilic proteins cannot be used in a straightforward way to increase the thermostability of a protein. Creating a crosslink such as a disulfide bond is a relatively sure-fire method but the stabilization may be smaller than calculated due to coupled destabilizing effects.

Formation of protoplasts from cultured tobacco cells and Arabidopsis thaliana by the action of cellulosomes and pectate lyase from Clostridium cellulovorans

The crude culture supernatants from Clostridium cellulovorans were tested for their ability to convert plant cells to protoplasts. The supernatants readily released protoplasts from cultured tobacco cells and Arabidopsis thaliana. The crude culture supernatant from pectin-grown cells was more active than supernatants from glucose-, cellobiose-, xylan-, and locust bean gum-grown cells. After removal of cellulosomes, the crude culture supernatant lost its protoplast formation activity. The protoplast formation activity of the crude culture supernatant from C. cellulovorans was more effective than those of commercial enzymes based on protein content.

Enzymes and other agents that enhance cell wall extensibility

Polysaccharides and proteins are secreted to the inner surface of the growing cell wall, where they assemble into a network that is mechanically strong, yet remains extensible until the cells cease growth. This review focuses on the agents that directly or indirectly enhance the extensibility properties of growing walls. The properties of expansins, endoglucanases, and xyloglucan transglycosylases are reviewed and their postulated roles in modulating wall extensibility are evaluated. A summary model for wall extension is presented, in which expansin is a primary agent of wall extension, whereas endoglucanases, xyloglucan endotransglycosylase, and other enzymes that alter wall structure act secondarily to modulate expansin action.

The engL gene cluster of Clostridium cellulovorans contains a gene for cellulosomal manA

A five-gene cluster around the gene in Clostridium cellulovorans that encodes endoglucanase EngL, which is involved in plant cell wall degradation, has been cloned and sequenced. As a result, a mannanase gene, manA, has been found downstream of engL. The manA gene consists of an open reading frame with 1,275 nucleotides encoding a protein with 425 amino acids and a molecular weight of 47, 156. ManA has a signal peptide followed by a duplicated sequence (DS, or dockerin) at its N terminus and a catalytic domain which belongs to family 5 of the glycosyl hydrolases and shows high sequence similarity with fungal mannanases, such as Agaricus bisporus Cel4 (17.3% identity), Aspergillus aculeatus Man1 (23.7% identity), and Trichoderma reesei Man1 (22.7% identity). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and N-terminal amino acid sequence analyses of the purified recombinant ManA (rManA) indicated that the N-terminal region of the rManA contained a DS and was truncated in Escherichia coli cells. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated that ManA is one of the cellulosomal subunits. ManA production is repressed by cellobiose.

Three surface layer homology domains at the N terminus of the Clostridium cellulovorans major cellulosomal subunit EngE

The gene engE, coding for endoglucanase E, one of the three major subunits of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome, has been isolated and sequenced. engE is comprised of an open reading frame (ORF) of 3,090 bp and encodes a protein of 1,030 amino acids with a molecular weight of 111,796. The amino acid sequence derived from engE revealed a structure consisting of catalytic and noncatalytic domains. The N-terminal-half region of EngE consisted of a signal peptide of 31 amino acid residues and three repeated surface layer homology (SLH) domains, which were highly conserved and homologous to an S-layer protein from the gram-negative bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. The C-terminal-half region, which is necessary for the enzymatic function of EngE and for binding of EngE to the scaffolding protein CbpA, consisted of a catalytic domain homologous to that of family 5 of the glycosyl hydrolases, a domain of unknown function, and a duplicated sequence (DS or dockerin) at its C terminus. engE is located downstream of an ORF, ORF1, that is homologous to the Bacillus subtilis phosphomethylpyrimidine kinase (pmk) gene. The unique presence of three SLH domains and a DS suggests that EngE is capable of binding both to CbpA to form a CbpA-EngE cellulosome complex and to the surface layer of C. cellulovorans.

Properties of exgS, a gene for a major subunit of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome

The nucleotide sequence of P70, one of the three major subunits of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome, has been determined. The gene designated as exgS (Genbank Accession No. U34793) consists of 2112 bp and encodes a protein containing 703 amino acids with a molecular mass of 77.7 kDa. ExgS has a putative signal peptide sequence of 32 amino acids. The N-terminal region is separated from the C-terminal region by a short-Pro-Thr-Pro linker. The C-terminal region of ExgS contains a duplicated sequence (DS), each sequence consisting of 22 amino acids. exgS, located 67 bp downstream of cbpA in the chromosome, is immediately upstream of a gene encoding a family 9 type endoglucanase that we have designated as EngH. This gene cluster to date consists of regA-cbpA-exgS-engH. Recombinant ExgS (rExgS) containing no signal peptide was expressed in E. coli. The rExgS actively digested several forms of cellulose, including Avicel, Sigmacell101, crystalline cellulose, and xylan, but not carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Cellotetraose was the smallest oligosaccharide substrate for rExgS. The enzymatic studies indicated that ExgS was an exoglucanase and had some properties similar to that of CelS from C. thermocellum and CelF from C.cellulolyticum. An exoglucanase has now been found to be a component of the C. cellulovorans cellulosome as well as the previously reported endoglucanases.

Characterization of EngF from Clostridium cellulovorans and identification of a novel cellulose binding domain

The physical and enzymatic properties of noncellulosomal endoglucanase F (EngF) from Clostridium cellulovorans were studied. Binding studies revealed that the Kd and the maximum amount of protein bound for acid-swollen cellulose were 1.8 microM and 7.1 mumol/g of cellulose, respectively. The presence of cellobiose but not glucose or maltose could dissociate EngF from cellulose. N- and C-terminally truncated enzymes showed that binding activity was located at some site between amino acid residues 356 and 557 and that enzyme activity was still present when 20 amino acids but not 45 amino acids were removed from the N terminus and when 32 amino acids were removed from the C terminus; when 57 amino acids were removed from the C terminus, all activity was lost. EngF showed low endoglucanase activity and could hydrolyze cellotetraose and cellopentaose but not cellotriose. Activity studies suggested that EngF plays a role as an endoglucanase during cellulose degradation. Comparative sequence analyses indicated strongly that the cellulose binding domain (CBD) is different from previously reported CBDs.

Two genes encoding an endoglucanase and a cellulose-binding protein are clustered and co-regulated by a TTA codon in Streptomyces halstedii JM8

Streptomyces halstedii JM8 Cel2 is an endoglucanase of 28 kDa that is first produced as a protein of 42 kDa (p42) and is later processed at its C-terminus. Cel2 displays optimal activity towards CM-cellulose at pH6 and 50 degrees C and shows no activity against crystalline cellulose or xylan. The N-terminus of p42 shares similarity with cellulases included in family 12 of the beta-glycanases and the C-terminus shares similarity with bacterial cellulose-binding domains included in family II. This latter domain enables the precursor to bind so tightly to Avicel that it can only be eluted by boiling in 10% (w/v) SDS. Another open reading frame (ORF) situated 216 bp downstream from the p42 ORF encodes a protein of 40 kDa (p40) that does not have any clear hydrolytic activity against cellulosic or xylanosic compounds, but shows high affinity for Avicel (crystalline cellulose). The p40 protein is processed in old cultures to give a protein of 35 kDa that does not bind to Avicel. Translation of both ORFs is impaired in Streptomyces coelicolor bldA mutants, suggesting that a TTA codon situated at the fourth position of the first ORF is responsible for this regulation. S1 nuclease protection experiments demonstrate that both ORFs are co-transcribed.

Characterization of engF, a gene for a non-cellulosomal Clostridium cellulovorans endoglucanase

A new Clostridium cellulovorans (strain ATCC 35296) endoglucanase gene engF has been isolated and sequenced. The gene contains 1671 bp and codes for a protein containing 557 amino acids and a mass of 60.1 kDa. A putative signal peptide of 29 amino acids is present and the mature protein has a mass of 57.1 kDa. EngF does not have amino acid sequence homology to previously isolated EngB and EngD, but does show sequence homology to family 5 glycosyl hydrolases from Bacillus, Erwinia carotovora, and C. acetobutylicum species. EngF is not a component of the cellulosome and does not contain a duplicated sequence (DS) at its C-terminal region. EngF is capable of binding to cellulose and hydrolyzing carboxymethylcellulose but not xylan. The cellulose binding domain (CBD) differs from types I, II and III CBDs and no obvious homology has been found to other CBD types. The maximum activity of EngF occurs at pH 5.5 and at 47 degrees C. Its properties suggest that EngF plays an ancillary role in the degradation of cellulosic materials.

The cellulosome: an exocellular, multiprotein complex specialized in cellulose degradation

Clostridium thermocellum produces a highly active cellulase system that consists of a high-M(r) multienzyme complex termed cellulosome. Hydrolytic components of the cellulosome are organized around a large, noncatalytic glycoprotein termed CipA that acts both as a scaffolding component and a cellulose-binding factor. Catalytic subunits of the cellulosome bear conserved, noncatalytic subdomains, termed dockerin domains, which bind to receptor domains of CipA, termed cohesin domains. CipA includes nine cohesin domains, a cellulose-binding domain, and a specialized dockerin domain. Proteins of the cell envelope carrying cohesin domains that specifically bind the dockerin domain of CipA have been identified. These proteins may mediate anchoring of the cellulosomes to the cell surface. Cellulase complexes similar to the cellulosome of C. thermocellum are produced by several cellulolytic clostridia. High-M(r) multienzyme complexes have also been identified in anaerobic rumen fungi. The architecture of the fungal complexes also seems to rely on the interaction of conserved, noncatalytic docking domains with a scaffolding component. However, the sequence of the fungal docking domains bears no resemblance to the clostridial dockerin domains, suggesting that the fungal and clostridial complexes arose independently.

Interaction between the endoglucanase CelA and the scaffolding protein CipC of the Clostridium cellulolyticum cellulosome

The 5' end of the cipC gene, coding for the N-terminal part of CipC, the scaffolding protein of Clostridium cellulolyticum ATCC 35319, was cloned and sequenced. It encodes a 586-amino-acid peptide, including several domains: a cellulose-binding domain, a hydrophilic domain, and two hydrophobic domains (cohesin domains). Sequence alignments showed that the N terminus of CipC and CbpA of C. cellulovorans ATCC 35296 have the same organization. The mini-CipC polypeptide, containing a cellulose-binding domain, hydrophilic domain 1, and cohesin domain 1, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The interaction between endoglucanase CelA, with (CelA2) and without (CelA3) the characteristic clostridial C-terminal domain called the duplicated-segment or dockerin domain, and the mini-CipC polypeptide was monitored by two different methods: the interaction Western blotting (immunoblotting) method and binding assays with biotin-labeled protein. Among the various forms of CelA (CelA2, CelA3, and an intermediary form containing only part of the duplicated segment), only CelA2 was found to interact with cohesin domain 1 of CipC. The apparent equilibrium dissociation constant of the CelA2-mini-CipC complex was 7 x 10(-9)M, which indicates that there exists a high affinity between these two proteins.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of expansins--a highly conserved, multigene family of proteins that mediate cell wall extension in plants

Expansins are unusual proteins discovered by virtue of their ability to mediate cell wall extension in plants. We identified cDNA clones for two cucumber expansins on the basis of peptide sequences of proteins purified from cucumber hypocotyls. The expansin cDNAs encode related proteins with signal peptides predicted to direct protein secretion to the cell wall. Northern blot analysis showed moderate transcript abundance in the growing region of the hypocotyl and no detectable transcripts in the nongrowing region. Rice and Arabidopsis expansin cDNAs were identified from collections of anonymous cDNAs (expressed sequence tags). Sequence comparisons indicate at least four distinct expansin cDNAs in rice and at least six in Arabidopsis. Expansins are highly conserved in size and sequence (60-87% amino acid sequence identity and 75-95% similarity between any pairwise comparison), and phylogenetic trees indicate that this multigene family formed before the evolutionary divergence of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Sequence and motif analyses show no similarities to known functional domains that might account for expansin action on wall extension. A series of highly conserved tryptophans may function in expansin binding to cellulose or other glycans. The high conservation of this multigene family indicates that the mechanism by which expansins promote wall extensin tolerates little variation in protein structure.

Transcriptional analysis of the Clostridium cellulovorans endoglucanase gene, engB

An endoglucanase gene, which was shown to be identical to the previously sequenced engB gene [Attwood et al. (1993) Abstr. Ann. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol.], was isolated from a Clostridium cellulovorans genomic library. Because of the lack of transcriptional information concerning engB we examined its expression in C. cellulovorans and in the heterologous hosts Escherichia coli and C. acetobutylicum following transformation of engB. Northern analysis suggested that both E. coli and C. acetobutylicum produced several transcripts of various sizes. C. cellulovarans produced a single transcript of 1600 bp with the relative amount of engB mRNA from cellulose-grown cells being much greater than that from cellobiose-grown cells. Primer extensions showed that engB was transcribed from a single transcription initiation site in C. cellulovorans preceded by sequences similar to promoter sequences found in Gram-positive bacteria. Primer extensions from both E. coli and C. acetobutylicum strains containing the engB gene showed multiple transcription initiation sites, none of which corresponded to the site determined in C. cellulovorans. We conclude that transcriptional control of the engB gene is less stringent in heterologous backgrounds and postulate that expression of the engB gene in C. cellulovorans is increased in the presence of cellulose.

C1-Cx revisited: intramolecular synergism in a cellulase

Endoglucanase A (CenA) from the bacterium Cellulomonas fimi is composed of a catalytic domain and a nonhydrolytic cellulose-binding domain that can function independently. The individual domains interact synergistically in the disruption and hydrolysis of cellulose fibers. This intramolecular synergism is distinct from the well-known intermolecular synergism between individual cellulases. The catalytic domain corresponds to the hydrolytic Cx system and the cellulose-binding domain corresponds to the nonhydrolytic C1 system postulated by Reese et al. [Reese, E. T., Sui, R. G. H. & Levinson, H. S. (1950) J. Bacteriol. 59, 485-497] to be required for the hydrolysis of cellulose.

Cloning and sequencing of an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene mcenA from Micromonospora cellulolyticum 86W-16

Endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene mcenA of Micromonospora cellulolyticum 86W-16 was cloned, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. An open reading frame (ORF) of 1374 bases, coding for a peptide (McenA) of 457 amino acids and 46,742 Da, was found. It is preceded by a Gram-positive type of ribosome-binding site and followed by an imperfect inverted repeat. A putative signal peptide containing 23 amino acids is at the N-terminus and a linker region possessing 37 amino acids is in the midpart of McenA. The N-half of McenA functions as the catalytic domain and the C-half might serve as a cellulose-binding domain (CBD). Deletion of the latter did not decrease the CMCase activity of McenA. Significant similarity (70%) was found between the amino acid sequences of McenA and MbcelA, an endoglucanase from Microbispora bispora.

Cloning of the aapT gene and characterization of its product, alpha-amylase-pullulanase (AapT), from thermophilic and alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain XAL601

A thermophilic and alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain, XAL601, was isolated from soil. It produces a thermostable and alkaline-stable enzyme with both alpha-amylase and pullulanase activities. The alpha-amylase-pullulanase gene (aapT) from this Bacillus strain was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined (GenBank accession number D28467). A very large open reading frame composed of 6,096 bases, which encodes 2,032 amino acid residues with an M(r) of 224,992, was found. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the four highly conserved regions that are common among amylolytic enzymes were well conserved. These include an active center and common substrate-binding sites of various amylases. In the C-terminal region, a six-amino-acid sequence (Gly-Ser-Gly-Thr-Thr-Pro) is repeated 12 times. The aapT gene was then subcloned in Escherichia coli and overexpressed under the control of the lac promoter. Purification of AapT from this recombinant E. coli was performed, and it was shown that the aapT gene product exhibits both alpha-amylase and pullulanase activities with one active site. The optimum temperature and pH for enzyme activity were found to be 70 degrees C and pH 9, respectively. Furthermore, AapT was found to strongly adsorb to crystalline cellulose (Avicel) and raw corn starch. Final hydrolyzed products from soluble starch range from maltose (G2) to maltotetraose (G4). Only maltotriose (G3) was produced from pullulan. The enzyme also hydrolyzes raw starch under a broad range of conditions (60 to 70 degrees C and pH 8 to 9).

The cellulose-binding domain of endoglucanase A (CenA) from Cellulomonas fimi: evidence for the involvement of tryptophan residues in binding

Cellulomonas fimi endo-beta-1,4-glucanase A (CenA) contains a discrete N-terminal cellulose-binding domain (CBDCenA). Related CBDs occur in at least 16 bacterial glycanases and are characterized by four highly conserved Trp residues, two of which correspond to W14 and W68 of CBDCenA. The adsorption of CBDCenA to crystalline cellulose was compared with that of two Trp mutants (W14A and W68A). The affinities of the mutant CBDs for cellulose were reduced by approximately 50- and 30-fold, respectively, relative to the wild type. Physical measurements indicated that the mutant CBDs fold normally. Fluorescence data indicated that W14 and W68 were exposed on the CBD, consistent with their participation in binding to cellobiosyl residues on the cellulose surface.

The Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome

The Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome is comprised of a large, nonenzymatic scaffolding protein called the cellulose binding protein A (CbpA) and a number of endoglucanases/xylanases. The CbpA contains several functional domains, including a signal peptide, a cellulose binding domain (CBD), a hydrophilic domain (HLD) present four times, and a hydrophobic domain (HBD) present nine times. The functions of the domains were studied by the construction of minigenes containing the putative functional domains and by expression of the minigenes in Escherichia coli. The purified product of the CBD was able to bind to various crystalline forms of cellulose and chitin with a Kd of 1 microM. The binding capacity for CBD was a function of the crystallinity of the cellulose sample. Furthermore, the binding of CBD to Avicel was not inhibited by cellobiose or carboxymethylcellulose, suggesting that the CBD binding target was a three-dimensional structure found only in crystalline forms of cellulose. The HBD was tested for its ability to bind endoglucanases by an interaction Western as well as a sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The HBD was able to bind both EngB and EngD, indicating that the HBD contained an endoglucanase binding domain (EBD). Because there are nine EBD domains, it is possible that CbpA can bind up to nine endoglucanases. The role of the HLDs remains elusive. The data indicate that the cellulosome is a complex enzyme containing a scaffolding protein (CbpA) to which is attached a number of endoglucanase molecules. This arrangement allows the complex to bind and degrade crystalline cellulose, which resists degradation by the free forms of cellulosomal endoglucanases.

The hydrophobic repeated domain of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulose-binding protein (CbpA) has specific interactions with endoglucanases

We overexpressed one of the hydrophobic repeated domains (HBDs) (110 amino acid residues) of the cellulose-binding protein (CbpA) from Clostridium cellulovorans by making a hybrid protein with the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein (MalE). The HBD was purified to homogeneity, and interactions between the HBD and endoglucanases were analyzed by a novel interaction Western blotting (immunoblotting) method. The HBD had specific interactions with endoglucanases (EngB and EngD) from C. cellulovorans. These results indicated that the HBD was an endoglucanase binding site of CbpA.

Characterization and comparison of Clostridium cellulovorans endoglucanases-xylanases EngB and EngD hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli

By the use of a T7 expression system, endoglucanases-xylanases EngB and EngD from Clostridium cellulovorans were hyperexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli. The two enzymes demonstrated both endoglucanase and xylanase activities. The substrate specificities of both endoglucanases were similar except that EngD had four-times-greater p-nitrophenyl beta-1,4-cellobiosidase activity. The two proteins were very homologous (80%) up to the Pro-Thr-Thr region which divided the protein into -NH2- and -COOH-terminals. The -COOH- region of EngB has high homology to the endoglucanases and a xylanase from Clostridium thermocellum and to an endoglucanase from Clostridium cellulolyticum and did not show strong binding to cellulose (Avicel). However, the -COOH- region of EngD, which had homology to the cellulose-binding domains of Cellulomonas fimi exo- and endoglucanases and to Pseudomonas fluorescens endoglucanase, demonstrated binding ability to cellulose even when the domain was fused to the N-terminal domain of EngB. By probing the Avicel-purified cellulase complex (F8) with anti-EngB and anti-EngD antibodies, both EngB and EngD were shown to be present on the cellulase complex of C. cellulovorans. Many proteins homologous to EngB and EngD were also present on the complex.