Cloning and characterization of a new ribitol dehydrogenase from Providencia alcalifaciens RIMD 1656011

BACKGROUND

A new ribitol dehydrogenase gene was cloned from Providencia alcalifaciens RIMD 1656011 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. This study aimed to purify and characterize the ribitol dehydrogenase from P. alcalifaciens RIMD 1656011 and investigate its substrate specificity for potential use as an industrial enzyme.

RESULTS

The protein was purified by nickel affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was determined as ∼25 000 and 26 650 Da through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry respectively. The result for native molecular mass (104 kDa) suggested that the enzyme functions as a tetramer. Optimum activity of the enzyme was determined at pH 10.0 and a temperature of 35 °C. Regarding its thermal stability, the enzyme retained 72, 72, 48 and 0% of its initial activity after 4 h at 25, 30, 40 and 50 °C respectively. The Km , kcat and kcat /Km values of the enzyme for the substrate ribitol were determined as 13.9 mmol L(-1) , 10.0 s(-1) and 0.71 L mmol(-1) s(-1) respectively. The Km of NAD(+) was 0.042 mmol L(-1) .

CONCLUSION

The substrate specificity indicated that the ribitol dehydrogenase from P. alcalifaciens RIMD 1656011 can be used for direct production of allitol from d-fructose without any by-product formation. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-phenylephrine using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing a novel short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase gene from Serratia marcescens BCRC 10948

(R)-Phenylephrine [(R)-PE] is an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist and is widely used as a nasal decongestant to treat the common cold without the side effects of other ephedrine adrenergic drugs. We identified a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SM_SDR) from Serratia marcescens BCRC 10948 that was able to convert 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino) ethanone (HPMAE) into (R)-PE. The SM_SDR used NADPH and NADH as cofactors with specific activities of 17.35±0.71 and 5.57±0.07mU/mg protein, respectively, at 30°C and pH 7.0, thereby indicating that this enzyme could be categorized as an NADPH-preferring short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase. Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) expressing SM_SDR could convert HPMAE into (R)-PE with more than 99% enantiomeric excess. The productivity and conversion yield were 0.57mmolPE/lh and 51.06%, respectively, using 10mM HPMAE. Fructose was the most effective carbon source for the conversion of HPMAE to (R)-PE.