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Bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical evidence that some glycoside hydrolase family 42 beta-galactosidases are arabinogalactan type I oligomer hydrolases.

ABSTRACT: Glycoside hydrolases are organized into glycoside hydrolase families (GHFs) and within this larger group, the beta-galactosidases are members of four families: 1, 2, 35, and 42. Most genes encoding GHF 42 enzymes are from prokaryotes unlikely to encounter lactose, suggesting a different substrate for these enzymes. In search of this substrate, we analyzed genes neighboring GHF 42 genes in databases and detected an arrangement implying that these enzymes might hydrolyze oligosaccharides released by GHF 53 enzymes from arabinogalactan type I, a pectic plant polysaccharide. Because Bacillus subtilis has adjacent GHF 42 and GHF 53 genes, we used it to test the hypothesis that a GHF 42 enzyme (LacA) could act on the oligosaccharides released by a GHF 53 enzyme (GalA) from galactan. We cloned these genes, plus a second GHF 42 gene from B. subtilis, yesZ, into Escherichia coli and demonstrated that cells expressing LacA with GalA gained the ability to use galactan as a carbon source. We constructed B. subtilis mutants and showed that the increased beta-galactosidase activity generated in response to the addition of galactan was eliminated by inactivating lacA or galA but unaffected by the inactivation of yesZ. As further demonstration, we overexpressed the LacA and GalA proteins in E. coli and demonstrated that these enzymes degrade galactan in vitro as assayed by thin-layer chromatography. Our work provides the first in vivo evidence for a function of some GHF 42 beta-galactosidases. Similar functions for other beta-galactosidases in both GHFs 2 and 42 are suggested by genomic data.

SUBMITTER: Shipkowski S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1694227 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical evidence that some glycoside hydrolase family 42 beta-galactosidases are arabinogalactan type I oligomer hydrolases.

Shipkowski Stephanie S Brenchley Jean E JE

Applied and environmental microbiology 20061020 12

Glycoside hydrolases are organized into glycoside hydrolase families (GHFs) and within this larger group, the beta-galactosidases are members of four families: 1, 2, 35, and 42. Most genes encoding GHF 42 enzymes are from prokaryotes unlikely to encounter lactose, suggesting a different substrate for these enzymes. In search of this substrate, we analyzed genes neighboring GHF 42 genes in databases and detected an arrangement implying that these enzymes might hydrolyze oligosaccharides released ...[more]

PMID: 17056685

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Project description:BackgroundEnzymatic degradation of chitin has attracted substantial attention because chitin is an abundant renewable natural resource, second only to lignocellulose, and because of the promising applications of N-acetylglucosamine in the bioethanol, food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the low activity and poor tolerance to salts and N-acetylglucosamine of most reported β-N-acetylglucosaminidases limit their applications. Mining for novel enzymes from new microorganisms is one way to address this problem.ResultsA glycoside hydrolase family 20 (GH 20) β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (GlcNAcase) was identified from Microbacterium sp. HJ5 harboured in the saline soil of an abandoned salt mine and was expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme showed specific activities of 1773.1 ± 1.1 and 481.4 ± 2.3 μmol min-1 mg-1 towards p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetylglucosaminide and N,N'-diacetyl chitobiose, respectively, a V max of 3097 ± 124 μmol min-1 mg-1 towards p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetylglucosaminide and a K i of 14.59 mM for N-acetylglucosamine inhibition. Most metal ions and chemical reagents at final concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mM or 0.5 and 1.0% (v/v) had little or no effect (retaining 84.5 - 131.5% activity) on the enzyme activity. The enzyme can retain more than 53.6% activity and good stability in 3.0-20.0% (w/v) NaCl. Compared with most GlcNAcases, the activity of the enzyme is considerably higher and the tolerance to salts and N-acetylglucosamine is much better. Furthermore, the enzyme had higher proportions of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, glycine, random coils and negatively charged surfaces but lower proportions of cysteine, lysine, α-helices and positively charged surfaces than its homologs. These molecular characteristics were hypothesised as potential factors in the adaptation for salt tolerance and high activity of the GH 20 GlcNAcase.ConclusionsBiochemical characterization revealed that the GlcNAcase had novel salt-GlcNAc tolerance and high activity. These characteristics suggest that the enzyme has versatile potential in biotechnological applications, such as bioconversion of chitin waste and the processing of marine materials and saline foods. Molecular characterization provided an understanding of the molecular-function relationships for the salt tolerance and high activity of the GH 20 GlcNAcase.

Dataset Information

Bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical evidence that some glycoside hydrolase family 42 beta-galactosidases are arabinogalactan type I oligomer hydrolases.

Publications

Bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical evidence that some glycoside hydrolase family 42 beta-galactosidases are arabinogalactan type I oligomer hydrolases.

Similar Datasets

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