Purification and Some Properties of an Extracellular Amylase from a Moderate Halophile, Micrococcus halobius

Elucidation of cellular signaling mechanism involved in Vibrio cholerae chitin-binding protein GbpA mediated IL-8 secretion in the intestinal cells

Background

Vibrio cholerae N-acetylglucosamine-binding protein (GbpA) is a four-domain, secretory colonization factor which is essential for chitin utilization in the environment, as well as in adherence to intestinal cells. GbpA is also involved in inducing intestinal inflammation by enhancing mucin and interleukin-8 secretion. The underlying cell signaling mechanism involved in the induction of the pro-inflammatory response and IL-8 secretion has yet to be deciphered in detail.

Methods

Herein, the process through which GbpA triggers the induction of IL-8 in intestinal cells was investigated by examining the role of GbpA in intestinal cell line HT 29.

Results

GbpA, specifically through the fourth domain, forms a binding connection with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and additionally, recruits TLR1 along with CD14 within a lipid raft micro-domain to initiate the signaling pathway. Notably, disruption of this micro-domain complex resulted in a reduction in IL-8 secretion. The lipid raft association served as the catalyst that invoked a downstream cellular inflammatory signaling pathway. This cascade involved the activation of various MAP kinases and NFκB and assembly of the AP-1 complex. This coordinated activation of signaling molecules eventually leads to enhanced IL-8 transcription via increased promoter activity. These findings suggested that GbpA is a crucial protein in V. cholerae, capable of inciting a pro-inflammatory response during infection by orchestrating the formation of the GbpA-TLR1/2-CD14 lipid raft complex. Activation of AP-1 and NFκB in the nucleus eventually enhanced IL-8 transcription through increased promoter activity.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings indicated that GbpA plays a pivotal role within V. cholerae by triggering a pro-inflammatory response during infection. This response is instrumented by the formation of the GbpA-TLR1/2-CD14 lipid raft complex.

A Novel Halo-Acid-Alkali-Tolerant and Surfactant Stable Amylase Secreted from Halophile Bacillus siamensis F2 and Its Application in Waste Valorization by Bioethanol Production and Food Industry

The extracellular amylase production level by the moderate halophile Bacillus siamensis F2 was optimized, and the enzyme was biochemically characterized. The culture parameters for NaCl, carbon, nitrogen, pH, and temperature were optimized for high titers of amylase production. Growing B. siamensis F2 cultures in Great Salt Lake-2 medium with additions of (in g/L) NaCl (100), starch (30), yeast extract (2), KNO3 (2), and MgSO4 (1) at pH 8, 30 °C resulted in the maximum amylase production (4.2 U/ml). The amylase was active across a wide range of salinities (0 to 30% NaCl), pH (5.0-10.0), and temperatures (20-70 °C) and showed good stability with surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100); hence, it was identified as halo-acid-alkali-tolerant and surfactant stable. Temperature, pH, and salinity were optimal for amylase activity at 50 °C, pH 7, and 5% NaCl, respectively. It also generates amylase by utilizing agricultural wastes like sugarcane bagasse, sweet potato peel, and rice husk. Based on the performance of B. siamensis F2 using agricultural wastes and synthesizing amylase, the current study attempted to produce bioethanol by coculturing with baker's yeast using sugarcane bagasse and sweet potato peel as a substrate, which yielded 47 and 57 g/L of bioethanol, respectively. Besides bioethanol production, amylase secreted by F2 was also employed for juice clarification for better yield and clarity and for softening dough to produce better-quality buns. This novel amylase may have many potential applications in waste valorization, biorefinery sectors, and food industries.

Halophiles and Their Vast Potential in Biofuel Production

Global warming and the limitations of using fossil fuels are a main concern of all societies, and thus, the development of alternative fuel sources is crucial to improving the current global energy situation. Biofuels are known as the best alternatives of unrenewable fuels and justify increasing extensive research to develop new and less expensive methods for their production. The most frequent biofuels are bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, and biogas. The production of these biofuels is the result of microbial activity on organic substrates like sugars, starch, oil crops, non-food biomasses, and agricultural and animal wastes. Several industrial production processes are carried out in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl and therefore, researchers have focused on halophiles for biofuel production. In this review, we focus on the role of halophilic microorganisms and their current utilization in the production of all types of biofuels. Also, the outstanding potential of them and their hydrolytic enzymes in the hydrolysis of different kind of biomasses and the production of biofuels are discussed.

Characterizing novel thermophilic amylase producing bacteria from taptapani hot spring, odisha, India

BACKGROUND

Amylases play a vital role in biotechnological studies and rank an important position in the world enzyme market (25% to 33%). Bioprocess method of amylase production is more effective than the other sources, since the technique is easy, cost effective, fast, and the enzymes of required properties can be procured.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to report the characteristics of novel amylase producing bacterial strains isolated from Taptapani hot spring, Odisha, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bacterial strains were isolated by dilution plating method from the water samples collected from Taptapani Hot Spring, Odisha and screened for amylase production through starch hydrolysis. The bacterial isolates were identified morphologically, biochemically, and finally by 16S rDNA profiling.

RESULTS

Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical characteristics and the molecular characterization, the isolates SS1, SS2, and SS3 were identified as Bacillus barbaricus, Aeromonas veroni, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, respectively. The approximate molecular weight of enzymes from SS1, SS2, and SS3 strains were 19 kDa, 56 kDa and 49 kDa, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The current report isolates, characterizes, and demonstrates the novel heat-adapted amylase-producing bacteria SS1, SS2 and SS3 from Taptapani hot spring, indicating its potentiality and stability under acidic conditions.

Halophiles, coming stars for industrial biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology aims to produce chemicals, materials and biofuels to ease the challenges of shortage on petroleum. However, due to the disadvantages of bioprocesses including energy consuming sterilization, high fresh water consumption, discontinuous fermentation to avoid microbial contamination, highly expensive stainless steel fermentation facilities and competing substrates for human consumption, industrial biotechnology is less competitive compared with chemical processes. Recently, halophiles have shown promises to overcome these shortcomings. Due to their unique halophilic properties, some halophiles are able to grow in high pH and high NaCl containing medium under higher temperature, allowing fermentation processes to run contamination free under unsterile conditions and continuous way. At the same time, genetic manipulation methods have been developed for halophiles. So far, halophiles have been used to produce bioplastics polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), ectoines, enzymes, and bio-surfactants. Increasing effects have been made to develop halophiles into a low cost platform for bioprocessing with advantages of low energy, less fresh water consumption, low fixed capital investment, and continuous production.

Halophilic alkali- and thermostable amylase from a novel polyextremophilic Amphibacillus sp. NM-Ra2

Extracellular gluco-amylo-pullulanase from Amphibacillus sp. NM-Ra2 was purified to homogeneity by ethanol precipitation, anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Molecular mass of the enzyme was 50kDa (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme showed maximal activity at 1.9 M NaCl, pH50°C 8.0 and 54°C and was active from 0 to 4.3 M NaCl and 37 to 65°C. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA and was stable and active in the presence of PMSF, DTT, H2O2, Triton-X-100, Tween 20 and Tween 80. Ca2+ is inessential for activity. The amylase was stimulated with K+ and inhibited with Cu2+ and Mg2+. Hg2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ had no effect on activity. Amylase was stable and active in the presence of ethanol, methanol and benzene (25%, v/v). The enzyme hydrolyzed linear and branched polysaccharides including pullulan, glycogen and amylopectin, and hydrolyzed raw wheat starch and raw corn starch (14.6% and 13.5% over 2 h). Amylase activity was inhibited by soluble starch concentrations greater than 0.3%. The major products of soluble starch hydrolysis were maltose and maltotriose. The amylase, being halophilic and alkali-thermostable, in addition to being resistant to surfactants, oxidizing agents and organic solvents, can find applications in the starch processing, pharmaceutical, food and paper/pulp industries.

Purification and characterization of maltooligosaccharide-forming α-amylase from moderately halophilic Marinobacter sp. EMB8

Maltooligosaccharides especially maltotriose and maltotetraose producing amylases are highly desirable for application in bread making and other food industries. A maltotriose and maltotetraose producing amylase from moderately halophilic Marinobacter sp. EMB8 is described. Under optimized culture conditions, 48.0 IU/mL amylase was obtained. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-75 column chromatography with 52% yield and 76-fold purification. It was a monomeric protein of 72 kDa. The amylase had many novel features viz. stability up to 20% NaCl, 80 °C temperature, pH 6.0-11.0 and in wide range of organic solvents at high concentrations. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed starch into maltooligosaccharides rich in maltotriose and maltotetraose. These novel properties make the Marinobacter sp. amylase a potentially useful enzyme.

Purification and characterization of a halophilic α-amylase with increased activity in the presence of organic solvents from the moderately halophilic Nesterenkonia sp. strain F

An extracellular halophilic α-amylase was purified from Nesterenkonia sp. strain F using 80 % ethanol precipitation and Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography. The enzyme showed a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 110 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The amylase exhibited maximal activity at pH 7-7.5, being relatively stable at pH 6.5-7.5. Optimal temperature for the amylase activity and stability was 45 °C. The purified enzyme was highly active in the broad range of NaCl concentrations (0-4 M) with optimal activity at 0.25 M NaCl. The amylase was highly stable in the presence of 3-4 M NaCl. Amylase activity was not influenced by Ca²⁺, Rb⁺, Li⁺, Cs⁺, Mg²⁺ and Hg²⁺, whereas Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Al³⁺) strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. The α-amylase was inhibited by EDTA, but was not inhibited by PMSF and β-mercaptoethanol. K(m) value of the amylase for soluble starch was 6.6 mg/ml. Amylolytic activity of the enzyme was enhanced not only by 20 % of water-immiscible organic solvents but also by acetone, ethanol and chloroform. Higher concentration (50 %) of the water-miscible organic solvents had no significant effect on the amylase activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on increased activity of a microbial α-amylase in the presence of organic solvents.

Extracellular production of beta-amylase by a halophilic isolate, Halobacillus sp. LY9

A moderately halophilic strain LY9 with high amylolytic activity was isolated from soil sample obtained from Yuncheng, China. Biochemical and physiological characterization along with 16S rRNA sequence analysis placed the isolate in the genus Halobacillus. Amylase production started from the post-exponential phase of bacterial growth and reached a maximum level during the early-stationary phase. The isolate LY9 was found to secrete the amylase, the production of which depended on the salinity of the growth medium. Maximum amylase production was observed in the presence of 10% KCl or 10% NaCl. Maltose was the main product of soluble starch hydrolysis, indicating a β-amylase activity. The enzyme showed optimal activity at 60°C, pH 8.0, and 10-12.5% of NaCl. It was highly active over broad temperature (50-70°C), NaCl concentration (5.0-20.0%), and pH (4.0-12.0) ranges, indicating its thermoactive and alkali-stable nature. However, activity dropped off dramatically at low NaCl concentrations, showing the amylase was halophilic. Ca(2+) was found to stimulate the β-amylase activity, whereas ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), phenylarsine oxide (PAO), and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) strongly inhibited the enzyme, indicating it probably was a metalloenzyme with cysteine and histidine residues located in its active site. Moreover, the enzyme exhibited remarkable stability towards sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100. This is the first report of β-amylase production from moderate halophiles. The present study indicates that the extracellular β-amylase of Halobacillus sp. LY9 may have considerable potential for industrial application owing to its properties.

Purification and characterization of an organic-solvent-tolerant halophilic α-amylase from the moderately halophilic Nesterenkonia sp. strain F

A halophilic α-amylase produced by Nesterenkonia sp. strain F was purified to homogeneity by 80% ethanol precipitation, Q-Sepharose anion exchange, and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. The purified amylase exhibited specific activity of 357 unit/mg protein that corresponds to twofold purification. The molecular mass of the amylase was determined to be 57 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 6.5 and 45°C, respectively. The amylase was active over a wide range of salt concentrations (0-4 M) with maximum activity at 0.75-1 M NaCl. The α-amylase activity was stimulated by Ca(2+) and inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), suggesting that this enzyme is a metalloenzyme. The purified enzyme showed remarkable stability towards surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80, and Triton X-100), and its activity was increased by β-mercaptoethanol. The halophilic α-amylase was stable in the presence of various organic solvents such as benzene, chloroform, toluene, and cyclohexane. These properties indicate wide potential applications of this α-amylase in starch-processing industries.

Halophilic Nuclease of a Moderately Halophilic Bacillus sp.: Production, Purification, and Characterization

A moderately halophilic bacterium, Bacillus sp., isolated from rotting wood on the seashore in Nauru, produced an extracellular nuclease when cultivated aerobically in media containing 1 to 2 M NaCl. The enzyme was purified from the culture filtrate to an electrophoretically homogeneous state by ethanol precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The enzyme consisted of two charge isomers and showed both RNase and DNase activities. Molecular weight was estimated to be 138,000 by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The enzyme had marked halophilic properties, showing maximal activities in the presence of 1.4 to 3.2 M NaCl or 2.3 to 3.2 M KCl. The enzyme hydrolyzed thymidine-5'-monophosphate-p-nitrophenyl ester at a rate that increased with NaCl concentration up to 4.8 M. In the presence of both Mg and Ca, activity was greatly enhanced. The activity was lost by dialysis against water and low-salt buffer, but it was protected when 10 mM Ca was added to the dialysis buffer. When the inactivated enzyme was dialyzed against 3.5 M NaCl buffer as much as 68% of the initial activity could be restored. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.5 and at 50 degrees C on DNA and at 60 degrees C on RNA and attacked RNA and DNA exonucleolytically and successively, producing 5'-mononucleotides.

Marinimicrobium haloxylanilyticum sp. nov., a new moderately halophilic, polysaccharide-degrading bacterium isolated from Great Salt Lake, Utah

A new moderately halophilic, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative bacterium, strain SX15(T), was isolated from hypersaline surface sediment of the southern arm of Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA). The strain grew on a number of carbohydrates and carbohydrate polymers such as xylan, starch, carboxymethyl cellulose and galactomannan. The strain grew at salinities ranging from 2 to 22% NaCl (w/v). Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 7-11% NaCl (w/v) at a temperature of 35°C and a pH of 6.7-8.2. Major whole-cell fatty acids were C16:0 (30.5%), C18:0 (14.8%), C18:1ω7c (13.1%) and C12:0 (7.8%). The G+C content of the DNA was 60 ± 0.5 mol%. By 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SX15(T) was shown to be affiliated to members of the gammaproteobacterial genus Marinimicrobium with pair wise identity values of 92.9-94.6%. The pheno- and genotypic properties suggest that strain SX15(T) represents a novel species of the genus Marinimicrobium for which the name Marinimicrobium haloxylanilyticum is proposed. The type strain is SX15(T) (= DSM 23100(T) = CCUG 59572(T)).

Production of surfactant and detergent-stable, halophilic, and alkalitolerant alpha-amylase by a moderately halophilic Bacillus sp. Strain TSCVKK

A moderately halophilic alkalitolerant Bacillus sp. Strain TSCVKK, with an ability to produce extracellular halophilic, alkalitolerant, surfactant, and detergent-stable alpha-amylase was isolated from soil samples obtained from a salt-manufacturing industry in Chennai. The culture conditions for higher amylase production were optimized with respect to NaCl, substrate, pH, and temperature. Maximum amylase production of 592 mU/ml was achieved in the medium at 48 h with 10% NaCl, 1% dextrin, 0.4% yeast extract, 0.2% tryptone, and 0.2% CaCl(2) at pH 8.0 at 30 degrees C. The enzyme activity in the culture supernatant was highest with 10% NaCl at pH 7.5 and 55 degrees C. The amylase that was partially purified by acetone precipitation was highly stable in various surfactants and detergents. Glucose, maltose, and maltooligosaccharides were the main end products of starch hydrolysis indicating that it is an alpha-amylase.

Production of amylase by newly isolated moderate halophile, Halobacillus sp. strain MA-2

Production of extracellular amylase was demonstrated under stress conditions of high temperature and high salinity in aerobically cultivated culture of a newly isolated moderately halophilic bacterium of spore-forming Halobacillus sp. strain MA-2 in medium containing starch, peptone, beef extract, and NaCl. The maximum amylase production was secreted in the presence of 15% (w/v) Na(2)SO(4) (3.2 U ml(-1)). The isolate was capable of producing amylase in the presence of NaCl, NaCH(3)COOH, or KCl, with the results NaCl>NaCH(3)COOH>KCl. Maximum amylase activity was exhibited in the medium containing 5% (w/v) NaCl (2.4 U ml(-1)). Various carbon sources induced enzyme production. The potential of different carbohydrates in the amylase production was in the order: dextrin>starch>maltose>lactose>glucose>sucrose. In the presence of sodium arsenate (100 mM), maximum production of the enzyme was observed at 3.0 U ml(-1). Copper sulfate (0.1 mM) decreased the amylase production considerately, while lead nitrate had no significant enhancement on amylase production (p<0.05). The pH, temperature, and aeration optima for enzyme production were 7.8, 30 degrees C, and 200 rpm, respectively, while the optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity was 7.5-8.5 and 50 degrees C, respectively.

Characterization of a salt-tolerant extracellular a-amylase from Bacillus dipsosauri

AIMS

The aims of this study were to purify and characterize an extracellular alpha-amylase from the salt-tolerant bacterium Bacillus dipsosauri.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An extracellular alpha-amylase from B. dipsosauri strain DD1 was studied using the synthetic substrate 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltotrioside. Formation of the enzyme was induced by starch, repressed by D-glucose and highest after growth in medium containing 1.0 mol l-1 KCl. The alpha-amylase activity increased with KCl concentration, showed a pH optimum of 6.5, was stable up to 60 degrees C and was stimulated by 1.0 mol l-1 Na2SO4. The enzyme was purified from spent culture medium to apparent homogeneity by precipitation with ethanol, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, centrifugal membrane filtration and gel-filtration chromatography on BioGel P-100. The purified enzyme had a denatured molecular mass of about 80 kDa but behaved on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels as if it had a mass of about 30 kDa. The enzyme was partially inhibited by glucose-containing oligosaccharides of increasing length and strongly inhibited by the divalent cations Cd2+ and Zn2+.

CONCLUSIONS

The extracellular alpha-amylase from B. dipsosauri strain DD1 was purified to homogeneity and found to exhibit an unusually high degree of salt tolerance.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The alpha-amylase from B. dipsosauri differs from previously described enzymes and may be useful for the processing of starches under high-salt conditions.

Cloning, sequencing and expression of an alpha-amylase gene, amyA, from the thermophilic halophile Halothermothrix orenii and purification and biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme

A recombinant clone expressing an amylase was identified from an Escherichia coli generated genomic library of the thermophilic, moderately halophilic, anaerobic bacterium Halothermothrix orenii by activity screening, and the gene encoding the enzyme was designated AmyA. The amyA gene was 1545 bp long, and encoded a 515 residue protein composed of a 25 amino acid putative signal peptide and a 490 amino acid mature protein. It possessed the five consensus regions characteristic of the alpha-amylase family and showed the greatest homology to the Bacillus megaterium group of alpha-amylases. The amyA gene was expressed in E. coli as a hexahistidine-tagged enzyme and purified. The purified recombinant enzyme was optimally active at 65 degrees C in 5% (w/v) NaCl at pH 7.5, with significant activity retained in the presence of up to 25% (w/v) NaCl. It had a specific activity of 22.32 U mg(-1) and required NaCl and CaCl(2) for optimum activity and thermostability. The relatively high proportion of acidic amino acids typically observed for many enzymes from halophiles was absent in H. orenii AmyA.

The alpha-amylase gene amyH of the moderate halophile Halomonas meridiana: cloning and molecular characterization

Two types of Tn1732-induced mutants defective in extracellular amylase activity were isolated from the moderate halophile Halomonas meridiana DSM 5425. Type I mutants displayed amylase activity in the periplasm, and were unable to use any of the carbon sources tested, including starch and its hydrolysis product maltose. The type II mutant was affected in the gene responsible for the synthesis of the extracellular alpha-amylase. This gene (amyH) was isolated by functional complementation of mutant II and sequenced. The deduced protein (AmyH) showed a high degree of homology to a proposed family of alpha-amylases consisting of enzymes from Alteromonas (Pseudoalteromonas) haloplanktis, Thermomonospora curvata, streptomycetes, insects and mammals. AmyH contained the four highly conserved regions in amylases, as well as a high content of acidic amino acids. The amyH gene was functional in the moderate halophile Halomonas elongata and, when cloned in a multicopy vector, in Escherichia coli. AmyH is believed to be the first extracellular-amylase-encoding gene isolated from a moderate halophile, a group of extremophiles of great biotechnological potential. In addition, H. meridiana and H. elongata were able to secrete the thermostable alpha-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis, indicating that members of the genus Halomonas are good candidates for use as cell factories to produce heterologous extracellular enzymes.

Production and biochemical characterization of an alpha-amylase from the moderate halophile Halomonas meridiana

Extracellular amylase production by the moderate halophile Halomonas meridiana was optimized and the enzyme was characterized biochemically. The highest amylase production was achieved by growing H. meridiana cultures in media with 5% salts and starch, in the absence of glucose until the end of the exponential phase. The amylase exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.0, being relatively stable in alkaline conditions. Optimal temperature and salinity for activity were 37 degrees C and 10% NaCl, respectively. Moreover, activity at salinity as high as 30% salts was detected. Maltose and maltotriose were the main end products of starch hydrolysis, indicating an alpha-amylase activity.

Biology of moderately halophilic aerobic bacteria

The moderately halophilic heterotrophic aerobic bacteria form a diverse group of microorganisms. The property of halophilism is widespread within the bacterial domain. Bacterial halophiles are abundant in environments such as salt lakes, saline soils, and salted food products. Most species keep their intracellular ionic concentrations at low levels while synthesizing or accumulating organic solutes to provide osmotic equilibrium of the cytoplasm with the surrounding medium. Complex mechanisms of adjustment of the intracellular environments and the properties of the cytoplasmic membrane enable rapid adaptation to changes in the salt concentration of the environment. Approaches to the study of genetic processes have recently been developed for several moderate halophiles, opening the way toward an understanding of haloadaptation at the molecular level. The new information obtained is also expected to contribute to the development of novel biotechnological uses for these organisms.