Characterization of recombinant amylopullulanase (gt-apu) and truncated amylopullulanase (gt-apuT) of the extreme thermophile Geobacillus thermoleovorans NP33 and their action in starch saccharification

Revealing the role of the X25 domains through the characterization of truncated variants of amylopullulanase enzyme from Thermoanaerobacter brockii brockii

To understand the role of the X25 domains of the amylopullulanase enzyme from Thermoanaerobacter brockii brockii (T. brockii brockii), four truncated variants that are TbbApuΔX25-1-SH3 (S130-A1484), TbbApuΔX25-2-SH3 (T235-A1484), TbbApuΔX25-1-CBM20 (S130-P1254), and TbbApuΔX25-2-CBM20 (T235-P1254) were constructed, expressed and characterized together with the SH3 and CBM20 domain truncated variants (TbbApuΔSH3 (V1-A1484) and TbbApuΔCBM20 (V1-P1254). TbbApuΔSH3 showed improved affinity and specificity for both pullulan and soluble starch than full-length TbbApu with lower Km and higher kcat/Km values. It indicates that SH3 is a disposable domain without any effect on the activity and stability of the enzyme. However, TbbApuΔX25-1-SH3, TbbApuΔX25-2-SH3, TbbApuΔX25-1-CBM20, TbbApuΔX25-2-CBM20 (T235-P1254) and TbbApuΔCBM20 showed higher Km and lower kcat/Km values than TbbApuΔSH3 to both soluble starch and pullulan. It specifies that the X25 domains and CBM20 play an important role in both α-amylase and pullulanase activity. Also, it is revealed that while truncation of the CBM20 domain as starch binding domain (SBD) did not affect on raw starch binding ability of the enzyme, truncation of both X25 domains caused almost complete loss of the raw starch binding ability of the enzyme. All these results enlightened the function of the X25 domains that play a more crucial role than CBM20 in the enzyme's binding to raw starch and also play a crucial role in its activity.

Progress in cyclodextrins as important molecules regulating catalytic processes of glycoside hydrolases

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are important starch derivatives and commonly comprise α-, β-, and γ-CDs. Their hydrophilic surface and hydrophobic inner cavity enable regulation of enzyme catalysis through direct or indirect interactions. Clarifying interactions between CDs and enzyme is of great value for enzyme screening, mechanism exploration, regulation of catalysis, and applications. We summarize the interactions between CDs and glycoside hydrolases (GHs) according to two aspects: 1) CD as products, substrates, inhibitors and activators of enzymes, directly affecting the reaction process; 2) CDs indirectly affecting the enzymatic reaction by solubilizing substrates, relieving substrate/product inhibition, increasing recombinant enzyme production and storage stability, isolating and purifying enzymes, and serving as ligands in crystal structure to identify functional amino acid residues. Additionally, CD enzyme mimetics are developed and used as catalysts in traditional artificial enzymes as well as nanozymes, making the application of CDs no longer limited to GHs. This review concerns the regulation of GHs catalysis by CDs, and gives insights into research on interactions between enzymes and ligands.

Bacterial amylases enable glycogen degradation by the vaginal microbiome

The human vaginal microbiota is frequently dominated by lactobacilli and transition to a more diverse community of anaerobic microbes is associated with health risks. Glycogen released by lysed epithelial cells is believed to be an important nutrient source in the vagina. However, the mechanism by which vaginal bacteria metabolize glycogen is unclear, with evidence implicating both bacterial and human enzymes. Here we biochemically characterize six glycogen-degrading enzymes (GDEs), all of which are pullanases (PulA homologues), from vaginal bacteria that support the growth of amylase-deficient Lactobacillus crispatus on glycogen. We reveal variations in their pH tolerance, substrate preferences, breakdown products and susceptibility to inhibition. Analysis of vaginal microbiome datasets shows that these enzymes are expressed in all community state types. Finally, we confirm the presence and activity of bacterial and human GDEs in cervicovaginal fluid. This work establishes that bacterial GDEs can participate in the breakdown of glycogen, providing insight into metabolism that may shape the vaginal microbiota.

Enhancing the thermostability of carboxypeptidase A by a multiple computer-aided rational design based on amino acids preferences at β-turns

Carboxypeptidase A (CPA) with efficient hydrolysis ability has shown vital potential in food and biological fields. In addition, it is also the earliest discovered enzyme with Ochratoxin A (OTA) degradation activity. Thermostability plays an imperative role to catalyze the reactions at high temperatures in industry, but the poor thermostability of CPA restricts its industrial application. In order to improve the thermostability of CPA, flexible loops were predicted through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Based on the amino acid preferences at β-turns, three ΔΔG-based computational programs (Rosetta, FoldX and PoPMuSiC) were employed to screen three variants from plentiful candidates and MD simulations were then used to verify two potential variants with enhanced thermostability (R124K and S134P). Results showed that compared to the wild-type CPA, the variants S134P and R124K exhibited rise of 4.2 min and 7.4 min in half-life (t1/2) at 45 °C, 3 °C and 4.1 °C in the half inactivation temperature (T5010), in addition to increase by 1.9 °C and 1.2 °C in the melting temperature (Tm), respectively. The mechanism responsible for the enhanced thermostability was elucidated through the comprehensive analysis of molecular structure. This study shows that the thermostability of CPA can be improved by the multiple computer-aided rational design based on amino acid preferences at β-turns, broadening its industrial applicability of OTA degradation and providing a valuable strategy for the protein engineering of mycotoxin degrading enzymes.

Cloning and characterization of thermostable amylopullulanase TbbApu and its C-terminal truncated variants with enhanced activity in organic solvents

Bifunctional debranching-enzyme amylopullulanases belong to the glycoside hydrolases (GHs) family and catalyze both the hydrolysis of α-1,4 and α-1,6 glycosidic bonds in starch, pullulan, amylopectin and glycogen polysaccharides. Among these, especially thermostable ones are essential in starch processing applications. In this study, we focused to elucidate the complete sequence of the apu gene and the role of C-term domains on biochemical properties and enzyme activity of Thermoanaerobacter brockii brockii amylopullulanase (TbbApu). After the gene sequence was defined, C- term truncated variants were constructed. The most suitable host organism and expression vector were determined as E. coli BL21(DE3) and pET-28a(+) depending on the highest yield/biomass ratio for recombinant production of all constructs. It was seen that the expression yield increased approximately threefold in the case of the SH3 region truncation. In the biochemical characterization, TbbApu and its truncated variants exhibited maximum activity at 70 °C and 75 °C for pullulan and starch hydrolysis respectively, and the optimum pH of TbbApu were 6.5 and 6 for truncated variants. Moreover, hydrolysis activities of all recombinant enzymes were enhanced by Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺, detergents, and almost all organic solvents; except butanol, DMF and DMSO. All recombinant amylopullulanases remained 80% stable up to 80 °C in the wide range of pH and also retained > 85% stability in the presence of defined volatile organic solvents. No significant difference was observed between the raw starch adsorption capacity and the specific activity of the three variants. These results indicated that the C-terminal regions of TbbApu are non-essential for the enzyme activity, stability and substrate binding capacity; furthermore, hexane and acetone organic solvents enhanced both pullulanase and α-amylase activity of these enzymes, interestingly. With these features, TbbApu and its truncated variants are distinguished from other thermophilic amylopullulanases and also make them promising candidates for industrial use.

Modulating the pH profile of the pullulanase from Pyrococcus yayanosii CH1 by synergistically engineering the active center and surface

A preferable pullulanase with high thermostability and catalytic activity at pH 4.5-5 is desired to match with glucoamylase in the starch-saccharification process. However, most of them exhibit low activity under such low pH conditions. Here, the optimal pH of the hyperthermostable pullulanase from Pyrococcus yayanosii (Pul_PY2) was successfully shifted from 6.4 to 5 with a 2-fold increase in the specific activity based on synergistic engineering of the active center and surface. Synergistic engineering was performed by introducing histidine within 6 Å of the active sites, and by enhancing negative charges on the enzymatic surface. Two single-site mutants of Pul_PY2-Q13H and Pul_PY2-I25E with higher hydrolytic activity were obtained, the optimal pH of which was shifted to pH 5 and 5.4, respectively; the combined mutant Pul_PY2-Q13H/I25E exhibited the optimal pH of 5, 3.2-fold increasing catalytic efficiency at pH 5, and high thermostability compared to Pul_PY2. These results not only obtained an applicable pullulanase for industrial application, but also provided a strategy for shifting the optimal pH of the enzyme based on synergistic engineering of the active center and surface.

A Bibliometric Analysis and Review of Pullulan-Degrading Enzymes—Past and Current Trends

Starch and pullulan degrading enzymes are essential industrial biocatalysts. Pullulan-degrading enzymes are grouped into pullulanases (types I and type II) and pullulan hydrolase (types I, II and III). Generally, these enzymes hydrolyse the α-1,6 glucosidic bonds (and α-1,4 for certain enzyme groups) of substrates and form reducing sugars such as glucose, maltose, maltotriose, panose or isopanose. This review covers two main aspects: (i) bibliometric analysis of publications and patents related to pullulan-degrading enzymes and (ii) biological aspects of free and immobilised pullulan-degrading enzymes and protein engineering. The collective data suggest that most publications involved researchers within the same institution or country in the past and current practice. Multi-national interaction shall be improved, especially in tapping the enzymes from unculturable prokaryotes. While the understanding of pullulanases may reach a certain extend of saturation, the discovery of pullulan hydrolases is still limited. In this report, we suggest readers consider using the next-generation sequencing technique to fill the gaps of finding more new sequences encoding pullulan-degrading enzymes to expand the knowledge body of this topic.

Microbial starch debranching enzymes: Developments and applications

Starch debranching enzymes (SDBEs) hydrolyze the α-1,6 glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides such as starch, amylopectin, pullulan and glycogen. SDBEs are also important enzymes for the preparation of sugar syrup, resistant starch and cyclodextrin. As the synergistic catalysis of SDBEs and other starch-acting hydrolases can effectively improve the raw material utilization and production efficiency during starch processing steps such as saccharification and modification, they have attracted substantial research interest in the past decades. The substrate specificities of the two major members of SDBEs, pullulanases and isoamylases, are quite different. Pullulanases generally require at least two α-1,4 linked glucose units existing on both sugar chains linked by the α-1,6 bond, while isoamylases require at least three units of α-1,4 linked glucose. SDBEs mainly belong to glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 and 57. Except for GH57 type II pullulanse, GH13 pullulanases and isoamylases share plenty of similarities in sequence and structure of the core catalytic domains. However, the N-terminal domains, which might be one of the determinants contributing to the substrate binding of SDBEs, are distinct in different enzymes. In order to overcome the current defects of SDBEs in catalytic efficiency, thermostability and expression level, great efforts have been made to develop effective enzyme engineering and fermentation strategies. Herein, the diverse biochemical properties and distinct features in the sequence and structure of pullulanase and isoamylase from different sources are summarized. Up-to-date developments in the enzyme engineering, heterologous production and industrial applications of SDBEs is also reviewed. Finally, research perspective which could help understanding and broadening the applications of SDBEs are provided.

Biotechnology and bioengineering of pullulanase: state of the art and perspectives

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) is a starch-debranching enzyme in the α-amylase family and specifically cleaves α-1,6-glycosidic linkages in starch-type polysaccharides, such as pullulan, β-limited dextrin, glycogen, and amylopectin. It plays a key role in debranching and hydrolyzing starch completely, thus bring improved product quality, increased productivity, and reduced production cost in producing resistant starch, sugar syrup, and beer. Plenty of researches have been made with respects to the discovery of either thermophilic or mesophilic pullulanases, however, few examples meet the demand of industrial application. This review presents the progress made in the recent years from the first aspect of characteristics of pullulanases. The heterologous expression of pullulanases in different microbial hosts and the methods used to improve the expression effectiveness and the regulation of enzyme production are also described. Then, the function evolution of pullulanases from a protein engineering view is discussed. In addition, the immobilization strategy using novel materials is introduced to improve the recyclability of pullulanases. At the same time, we indicate the trends in the future research to facilitate the industrial application of pullulanases.

Starch-binding domains as CBM families-history, occurrence, structure, function and evolution

The term "starch-binding domain" (SBD) has been applied to a domain within an amylolytic enzyme that gave the enzyme the ability to bind onto raw, i.e. thermally untreated, granular starch. An SBD is a special case of a carbohydrate-binding domain, which in general, is a structurally and functionally independent protein module exhibiting no enzymatic activity but possessing potential to target the catalytic domain to the carbohydrate substrate to accommodate it and process it at the active site. As so-called families, SBDs together with other carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) have become an integral part of the CAZy database (http://www.cazy.org/). The first two well-described SBDs, i.e. the C-terminal Aspergillus-type and the N-terminal Rhizopus-type have been assigned the families CBM20 and CBM21, respectively. Currently, among the 85 established CBM families in CAZy, fifteen can be considered as families having SBD functional characteristics: CBM20, 21, 25, 26, 34, 41, 45, 48, 53, 58, 68, 69, 74, 82 and 83. All known SBDs, with the exception of the extra long CBM74, were recognized as a module consisting of approximately 100 residues, adopting a β-sandwich fold and possessing at least one carbohydrate-binding site. The present review aims to deliver and describe: (i) the SBD identification in different amylolytic and related enzymes (e.g., CAZy GH families) as well as in other relevant enzymes and proteins (e.g., laforin, the β-subunit of AMPK, and others); (ii) information on the position in the polypeptide chain and the number of SBD copies and their CBM family affiliation (if appropriate); (iii) structure/function studies of SBDs with a special focus on solved tertiary structures, in particular, as complexes with α-glucan ligands; and (iv) the evolutionary relationships of SBDs in a tree common to all SBD CBM families (except for the extra long CBM74). Finally, some special cases and novel potential SBDs are also introduced.

A Hyperthermostable Type II Pullulanase from a Deep-Sea Microorganism Pyrococcus yayanosii CH1

Pullulanase is a commonly used debranching enzyme in the starch processing industry. Because the starch liquefaction process requires high temperature, a thermostable pullulanase is desired. Here, a novel hyperthermostable type II pullulanase gene (pul_PY) was cloned from Pyrococcus yayanosii CH1, isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal site. Pul_PY was optimally active at pH 6.6 and 95 °C, retaining more than 50% activity after incubation at 95 °C for 10 h. The thermostability was significantly higher than those of most pullulanases reported previously. To further improve its activity and thermostability, the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of Pul_PY were truncated. The optimum temperature of the combined truncation mutant Δ28N + Δ791C increased to 100 °C with a specific activity of 32.18 U/mg, which was six times higher than that of wild-type Pul_PY. Pul_PY and the truncation mutant enzyme could realize the combined use of pullulanase with α-amylase during the starch liquefaction process to improve hydrolysis efficiency.

Industrially produced pullulanases with thermostability: Discovery, engineering, and heterologous expression

Pullulanases (EC 3.2.1.41) are well-known starch-debranching enzymes widely used to hydrolyze α-1,6-glucosidic linkages in starch, pullulan, amylopectin, and other oligosaccharides, with application potentials in food, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries. Although extensive studies are done to discover and express pullulanases, only few are available with desirable characteristics for industrial applications. This raises the challenge to mine new enzyme sources, engineer proteins based on sequence/structure, and regulate expressions. We review here the identification of extremophilic and mesophilic microbes as sources of industrial pullulanases with desirable characteristics, including acid-resistance, thermostability, and psychrotrophism. We present current advances in site-directed mutagenesis and sequence/structure-guided protein engineering of pullulanases. In addition, we discuss heterologous expression of pullulanases in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial systems, and address the effectiveness of the expression elements and their regulation of enzyme production. Finally, we indicate future research needs to develop desired industrial pullulanases.

Advances and challenges in the production of extracellular thermoduric pullulanases by wild-type and recombinant microorganisms: a review

Thermoduric pullulanases, acting as starch-debranching enzymes, are required in many industrial applications, mainly in the production of concentrated glucose, maltose, and fructose syrups. To date, however, a single pullulanase, from Bacillus acidopullulyticus, is available on the market for industrial purposes. This review is an investigation of the major advances as well as the major challenges being faced with regard to optimization of the production of extracellular thermoduric pullulanases either by their original hosts or by recombinant organisms. The critical aspects linked to industrial pullulanase production, which should always be considered, are emphasized, including those parameters influencing solubility, thermostability, and catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. This review provides new insights for improving the production of extracellular thermoduric pullulanases in the hope that such information may facilitate their commercial utilization and potentially be applied to the development of other industrially relevant enzymes.

An amylopullulanase (ApuNP1) from Geobacillus thermoleovorans NP1: biochemical characterization and its potential industrial applications

An amylopullulanase was produced by Geobacillus thermoleovorans NP1. The optimum enzyme production occurred at 45°C and pH 7.0 (12 hr). NP1 amylopullulanase (ApuNP1) exhibited the maximal activity at 50°C and pH 6.0 and was stable between 30-50°C, and pH 3.0-12.0 for 24 hr. The enzyme showed two bands with molecular weights of 112 and 107 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The amylopullulanase retained 100% of its activity in the presence of 10 mM of Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, EDTA, and PMSF. While the enzyme showed resistance to 5% of TritonX-100, Tween 20, and Tween 80, the activity was inhibited by 5% β-mercaptoethanol and H₂O₂. While the hydrolysis products of pullulan were maltose, maltotriose, and maltodextrin, the starch was hydrolyzed to maltose, maltotriose, and maltodextrin units. This shows that NP1 pullulanase is a type II pullulanase (amylopullulanase). After the liquefaction assay, 12% glucose content was measured with a refractometer in the presence of 20% starch. According to the wash performance tests, the mixture of ApuNP1 and 1% detergent removed almost all of the stains. This novel thermo-acidic amylopullulanase has a potency to be used in detergent, starch, food, baking, textile, and cosmetic industries.

In silico characterization of the global Geobacillus and Parageobacillus secretome

Background

Geobacillus and Parageobacillus are two ecologically diverse thermophilic genera within the phylum Firmicutes. These taxa have long been of biotechnological interest due to their ability to secrete thermostable enzymes and other biomolecules that have direct applications in various industrial and clinical fields. Despite the commercial and industrial interest in these microorganisms, the full scope of the secreted protein, i.e. the secretome, of Geobacillus and Parageobacillus species remains largely unexplored, with most studies focusing on single enzymes. A genome-wide exploration of the global secretome can provide a platform for understanding the extracellular functional “protein cloud” and the roles that secreted proteins play in the survival and adaptation of these biotechnologically relevant organisms.

Results

In the present study, the global secretion profile of 64 Geobacillus and Parageobacillus strains, comprising 772 distinct proteins, was predicted using comparative genomic approaches. Thirty-one of these proteins are shared across all strains used in this study and function in cell-wall/membrane biogenesis as well as transport and metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and inorganic ions. An analysis of the clustering patterns of the secretomes of the 64 strains according to shared functional orthology revealed a correlation between the secreted profiles of different strains and their phylogeny, with Geobacillus and Parageobacillus species forming two distinct functional clades.

Conclusions

The in silico characterization of the global secretome revealed a metabolically diverse set of secreted proteins, which include proteases, glycoside hydrolases, nutrient binding proteins and toxins.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-018-1005-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Production, purification and characterization of raw starch hydrolyzing thermostable acidic α-amylase from hot springs, India

Alpha-amylase is an important hydrolytic enzyme used for various industrial processes. In the present study, Geobacillus bacterium (K1C), producing a thermostable α-amylase was isolated from Manikaran hot springs, India. We have purified and characterized the biochemical properties of α-amylase. The optimum temperature and pH for α-amylase activity was 80 °C and pH 6.0 respectively. The far-UV CD spectra of the enzyme indicated the presence of random coil conformation and showed an intermediate phase during temperature-induced unfolding. In the presence of substrate, thermostability of the α-amylase was increased as 50% initial activity was retained at 70 °C for 6 h and at 80 °C for 2 h. Moreover, the enzyme also showed remarkable pH stability as 90% of the initial activity was retained even after 48 h of incubation at pH 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0. Interestingly, amylase activity of the purified enzyme was Ca²⁺independent, whereas the complete inhibition of activity was observed in the presence of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Hg²⁺. The purified α-amylase was stable in the presence of detergents, organic solvents and Proteinase K. Furthermore, it exhibited the ability to hydrolyze raw starches (e.g. rice, wheat, corn, potato) efficiently; thus this enzyme has the potential to be used for industrial applications.

Cohnella amylopullulanases: Biochemical characterization of two recombinant thermophilic enzymes

Some industries require newer, more efficient recombinant enzymes to accelerate their ongoing biochemical reactions in harsh environments with less replenishment. Thus, the search for native enzymes from extremophiles that are suitable for use under industrial conditions is a permanent challenge for R & D departments. Here and toward such discoveries, two sequences homologous to amylopullulanases (EC 3.2.1.41, GH57) from an endogenous Cohnella sp., [Coh00831 (KP335161; 1998 bp) and Coh01133 (KP335160: 3678 bp)] were identified. The genes were heterologously expressed in E. coli to both determine their type and further characterize their properties. The isolated DNA was PCR amplified with gene specific primers and cloned in pET28a, and the recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The temperatures and pH optima of purified recombinants Coh 01133 and Coh 00831 enzymes were 70°C and 8, and 60°C and 6, respectively. These enzymes are stable more than 90% in 60°C and 50°C for 90 min respectively. The major reactions released sugars which could be fractionated by HPLC analysis, from soluble starch were mainly maltose (G2), maltotriose (G3) and maltotetraose (G4). The enzymes hydrolyzed pullulan to maltotriose (G3) only. Enzyme activities for both proteins were improved in the availability of Mn²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ and reduced in the presence of Fe²⁺, Li²⁺, Na²⁺, Triton X100 and urea. Moreover, Co²⁺, K⁺, and Cu²⁺ had a negative effect only on Coh 01133 enzyme.

Production of Chimeric Acidic α-Amylase by the Recombinant Pichia pastoris and Its Applications

Recombinant chimeric α-amylase (Ba-Gt-amy) has been produced extracellularly in Pichia pastoris under AOX promoter. Clones of P. pastoris with multiple gene copies have been generated by multiple transformations and post-transformational vector amplification, which led to 10.7-fold enhancement in α-amylase titre as compared to a clone with a copy of the gene. The recombinant P. pastoris integrated eight copies of Ba-Gt-amy in the genome of P. pastoris, as revealed by real time PCR data analysis. Heterologous protein expression as well as mRNA level of Ba-Gt-amy was higher in multi-copy clone than that with single copy. The pure Ba-Gt-amy expressed in P. pastoris is a glycoprotein of 75 kDa, which is optimally active at pH 4.0 and 60°C with T_1/2 of 40 min at 70°C. The Kinetic parameters and end product analysis suggested that glycosylation has no effect on catalytic properties of Ba-Gt-amy. The enzyme saccharifies soluble as well as raw starches efficiently and generates maltose and maltooligosaccharides, thus, useful in baking and sugar syrup industries. The strategy for generating multi-copy clones is being reported for the first time, which could be useful in enhancing the production of other recombinant proteins.

Improving the Thermostability of Acidic Pullulanase from Bacillus naganoensis by Rational Design

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) plays an important role in the specific hydrolysis of branch points in amylopectin. Enhancing its thermostability is required for its industrial application. In this study, rational protein design was used to improve the thermostability of PulB from Bacillus naganoensis (AB231790.1), which has strong enzymatic properties. Three positive single-site mutants (PulB-D328H, PulB-N387D, and PulB-A414P) were selected from six mutants. After incubation at 65°C for 5 min, the residual activities of PulB-D328H, PulB-N387D, and PulB-A414P were 4.5-, 1.7-, and 1.47-fold higher than PulB-WT, and their Tm values (the temperature at which half protein molecule denature) were 1.8°C, 0.4°C, and 0.9°C higher than PulB-WT, respectively. Then the final combined mutant PulB-328/387/414 was constructed. The t1/2 of it was 12.9-fold longer than that of PulB-WT at 65°C and the total increase in Tm of it (5.0°C) was almost 60% greater than the sum of individual increases (3.1°C). In addition, kinetic studies revealed that the kcat and the kcat/Km of PulB-328/387/414 increased by 38.8% and 12.9%. The remarkable improvement in thermostability and the high catalytic efficiency of PulB-328/387/414 make it suitable for industrial applications.

Novel alkalistable α-carbonic anhydrase from the polyextremophilic bacterium Bacillus halodurans: characteristics and applicability in flue gas CO2 sequestration

The emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere have been constantly rising due to anthropogenic activities, which have led to global warming and climate change. Among various methods proposed for mitigating CO2 levels in the atmosphere, carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mediated carbon sequestration represents a greener and safer approach to capture and convert it into stable mineral carbonates. Despite the fact that CA is an extremely efficient metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of CO2 (CO2 + H2O ↔ HCO3 (-) + H(+)) with a kcat of ∼10(6) s(-1), a thermostable, and alkalistable CA is desirable for the process to take place efficiently. The purified CA from alkaliphilic, moderately thermophilic, and halotolerant Bacillus halodurans TSLV1 (BhCA) is a homodimeric enzyme with a subunit molecular mass of ~37 kDa with stability in a broad pH range between 6.0 and 11.0. It has a moderate thermostability with a T1/2 of 24.0 ± 1.0 min at 60 °C. Based on the sensitivity of CA to specific inhibitors, BhCA is an α-CA; this has been confirmed by nucleotide/amino acid sequence analysis. This has a unique property of stimulation by SO4 (2-), and it remains unaffected by SO3 (2-), NOx, and most other components present in the flue gas. BhCA is highly efficient in accelerating the mineralization of CO2 as compared to commercial bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) and is also efficient in the sequestration of CO2 from the exhaust of petrol driven car, thus, a useful biocatalyst for sequestering CO2 from flue gas.

Structure and function of α-glucan debranching enzymes

α-Glucan debranching enzymes hydrolyse α-1,6-linkages in starch/glycogen, thereby, playing a central role in energy metabolism in all living organisms. They belong to glycoside hydrolase families GH13 and GH57 and several of these enzymes are industrially important. Nine GH13 subfamilies include α-glucan debranching enzymes; isoamylase and glycogen debranching enzymes (GH13_11); pullulanase type I/limit dextrinase (GH13_12-14); pullulan hydrolase (GH13_20); bifunctional glycogen debranching enzyme (GH13_25); oligo-1 and glucan-1,6-α-glucosidases (GH13_31); pullulanase type II (GH13_39); and α-amylase domains (GH13_41) in two-domain amylase-pullulanases. GH57 harbours type II pullulanases. Specificity differences, domain organisation, carbohydrate binding modules, sequence motifs, three-dimensional structures and specificity determinants are discussed. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that GH13_39 enzymes could represent a "missing link" between the strictly α-1,6-specific debranching enzymes and the enzymes with dual specificity and α-1,4-linkage preference.

Disorder prediction-based construct optimization improves activity and catalytic efficiency of Bacillus naganoensis pullulanase

Pullulanase is a well-known starch-debranching enzyme. However, the production level of pullulanase is yet low in both wide-type strains and heterologous expression systems. We predicted the disorder propensities of Bacillus naganoensis pullulanase (PUL) using the bioinformatics tool, Disorder Prediction Meta-Server. On the basis of disorder prediction, eight constructs, including PULΔN5, PULΔN22, PULΔN45, PULΔN64, PULΔN78 and PULΔN106 by deleting the first 5, 22, 45, 64, 78 and 106 residues from the N-terminus, and PULΔC9 and PULΔC36 by deleting the last 9 and 36 residues from the C-terminus, were cloned into the recombinant expression vector pET-28a-PelB and auto-induced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. All constructs were evaluated in production level, specific activities and kinetic parameters. Both PULΔN5 and PULΔN106 gave higher production levels of protein than the wide type and displayed increased specific activities. Kinetic studies showed that substrate affinities of the mutants were improved in various degrees and the catalytic efficiency of PULΔN5, PULΔN45, PULΔN78, PULΔN106 and PULΔC9 were enhanced. However, the truncated mutations did not change the advantageous properties of the enzyme involving optimum temperature and pH for further application. Therefore, Disorder prediction-based truncation would be helpful to efficiently improve the enzyme activity and catalytic efficiency.

A chimeric α-amylase engineered from Bacillus acidicola and Geobacillus thermoleovorans with improved thermostability and catalytic efficiency

The α-amylase (Ba-amy) of Bacillus acidicola was fused with DNA fragments encoding partial N- and C-terminal region of thermostable α-amylase gene of Geobacillus thermoleovorans (Gt-amy). The chimeric enzyme (Ba-Gt-amy) expressed in Escherichia coli displays marked increase in catalytic efficiency [K  cat: 4 × 104 s−1 and K  cat/K  m: 5 × 104 mL−1 mg−1 s−1] and higher thermostability than Ba-amy. The melting temperature (T  m) of Ba-Gt-amy (73.8 °C) is also higher than Ba-amy (62 °C), and the CD spectrum analysis revealed the stability of the former, despite minor alteration in secondary structure. Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic analysis suggests that the adsorption of Ba-Gt-amy onto raw starch is more favourable than Ba-amy. Ba-Gt-amy is thus a suitable biocatalyst for raw starch saccharification at sub-gelatinization temperatures because of its acid stability, thermostability and Ca2+ independence, and better than the other known bacterial acidic α-amylases.

Exploration of extremophiles for high temperature biotechnological processes

Industrial processes often take place under harsh conditions that are hostile to microorganisms and their biocatalysts. Microorganisms surviving at temperatures above 60°C represent a chest of biotechnological treasures for high-temperature bioprocesses by producing a large portfolio of biocatalysts (thermozymes). Due to the unique requirements to cultivate thermophilic (60-80°C) and hyperthermophilic (80-110°C) Bacteria and Archaea, less than 5% are cultivable in the laboratory. Therefore, other approaches including sequence-based screenings and metagenomics have been successful in providing novel thermozymes. In particular, polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (amylolytic enzymes, hemicellulases, cellulases, pectinases and chitinases), lipolytic enzymes and proteases from thermophiles have attracted interest due to their potential for versatile applications in pharmaceutical, chemical, food, textile, paper, leather and feed industries as well as in biorefineries.

Enhancing the secretion efficiency and thermostability of a Bacillus deramificans pullulanase mutant (D437H/D503Y) by N-terminal domain truncation

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41), an important enzyme in the production of starch syrup, catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-1,6 glycosidic bonds in complex carbohydrates. A double mutant (DM; D437H/D503Y) form of Bacillus deramificans pullulanase was recently constructed to enhance the thermostability and catalytic efficiency of the enzyme (X. Duan, J. Chen, and J. Wu, Appl Environ Microbiol 79:4072-4077, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00457-13). In the present study, three N-terminally truncated variants of this DM that lack the CBM41 domain (DM-T1), the CBM41 and X25 domains (DM-T2), or the CBM41, X25, and X45 domains (DM-T3) were constructed. Upon expression, DM-T3 existed as inclusion bodies, while 72.8 and 74.8% of the total pullulanase activities of DM-T1 and DM-T2, respectively, were secreted into the medium. These activities are 2.8- and 2.9-fold that of the DM enzyme, respectively. The specific activities of DM-T1 and DM-T2 were 380.0 × 10(8) and 449.3 × 10(8) U · mol(-1), respectively, which are 0.94- and 1.11-fold that of the DM enzyme. DM-T1 and DM-T2 retained 50% of their activity after incubation at 60°C for 203 and 160 h, respectively, which are 1.7- and 1.3-fold that of the DM enzyme. Kinetic studies showed that the Km values of DM-T1 and DM-T2 were 1.5- and 2.7-fold higher and the Kcat/Km values were 11 and 50% lower, respectively, than those of the DM enzyme. Furthermore, DM-T1 and DM-T2 produced d-glucose contents of 95.0 and 94.1%, respectively, in a starch saccharification reaction, which are essentially identical to that produced by the DM enzyme (95%). The enhanced secretion and improved thermostability of the truncation mutant enzymes make them more suitable than the DM enzyme for industrial processes.

A high molecular-mass Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 amylopullulanase: characterization and its relationship in carbohydrate utilization

An amylopullulanase of the thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 (ApuASK) was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Though amylopullulanases larger than 200 kDa are rare, the molecular mass of purified ApuASK appears to be approximately 225 kDa, on both SDS-PAGE analyses and native-PAGE analyses. ApuASK was stable between pH 6.0 and pH 8.0 and exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.5. The optimal temperature for ApuASK enzyme activity was 60 °C, and it retained 54% of its total activity for 240 min at 65 °C. ApuASK reacts with pullulan, starch, glycogen, and dextrin, yielding glucose, maltose, and maltotriose. Interestingly, most of the previously described amylopullulanases are unable to produce glucose and maltose from these substrates. Thus, ApuASK is a novel, high molecular-mass amylopullulanase able to produce glucose, maltose, and maltotriose from pullulan and starch. Based on whole genome sequencing data, ApuASK appeared to be the largest protein present in Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4. The α-amylase catalytic domain present in all of the amylase superfamily members is present in ApuASK, located between the cyclodextrin (CD)-pullulan-degrading N-terminus and the α-amylase catalytic C-terminus (amyC) domains. In addition, the existence of a S-layer homology (SLH) domain indicates that ApuASK might function as a cell-anchoring enzyme and be important for carbohydrate utilization in a streaming hot spring.

Recombinant bacterial amylopullulanases: developments and perspectives

Pullulanases are endo-acting enzymes capable of hydrolyzing α-1, 6-glycosidic linkages in starch, pullulan, amylopectin, and related oligosaccharides, while amylopullulanases are bifunctional enzymes with an active site capable of cleaving both α-1, 4 and α-1, 6 linkages in starch, amylose and other oligosaccharides, and α-1, 6 linkages in pullulan. The amylopullulanases are classified in GH13 and GH57 family enzymes based on the architecture of catalytic domain and number of conserved sequences. The enzymes with two active sites, one for the hydrolysis of α-1, 4- glycosidic bond and the other for α-1, 6-glycosidic bond, are called α-amylase-pullulanases, while amylopullulanases have only one active site for cleaving both α-1, 4- and α-1, 6-glycosidic bonds. The amylopullulanases produced by bacteria find applications in the starch and baking industries as a catalyst for one step starch liquefaction-saccharification for making various sugar syrups, as antistaling agent in bread and as a detergent additive.