Benjamaporn Wonganu. Cloning and characterization of an endoglucanase gene encoding thermotolerant cellulolytic enzyme from Syncephalastrum racemosum isolated from Thailand . Master's Degree(Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Cloning and characterization of an endoglucanase gene encoding thermotolerant cellulolytic enzyme from Syncephalastrum racemosum isolated from Thailand
Abstract:
A locally-collected filamentous fungus, Syncephalastrum racemosum
(BCC18080), produced high level thermotolerant cellulases. Specifically, over
50% cellulases activities remained after incubation at 80°C for an hour. Since one
of the cellulolytic enzymes, endoglucanase, is a major enzyme produced by the
fungus; therefore, in this study, it is of interest to clone and characterize the
endoglucanase gene from BCC18080. First, optimal condition to induce cellulase
was determined. Then, BCC18080 total RNA was isolated; degenerate RT-PCR
and 3’- and 5’-RACEs were employed to obtain the full-length endoglucanase
gene (1,020 nucleotides encoding 340 amino acids). NCBI-BLAST search showed
BCC18080 endoglucanase belonged to glycosyl hydrolase family 45. The signal
peptide of this gene was as predicted by SignalP and later confirmed by Nterminal
sequencing, suggesting that amino acid residues 1 to 32 was the signal
peptide. Recombinant clones with and without the leader sequence were expressed
in P. pastoris. Expression of all integrants demonstrated that the active BCC18080
endoglucanase gene was successfully produced and secreted as a 55 kDa and a 30
kDa proteins. N-terminal sequencing suggested that the 55 kDa band was the
mature protein while the 30 kDa band was the truncated protein of the larger band.
Since the size of the BCC18080 endoglucanase (55 kDa) was larger than the
calculated molecular mass, it may contain sugar moieties. Glycoprotein analysis
showed that the 55 kDa protein was glycosylated; but not in the N-linked position,
while the smaller protein was not glycosylated. All recombinant proteins showed
optimal temperature at 70°C and optimal pH at 5-6. They also showed activity
against carboxylmethylcellulose and retained more than 50% activity for 4 hours
at 70°C. This suggested that thermostable endoglucanase was successfully
produced from P. pastoris transformants. In addition, high Kcat and low apparent
Km of these recombinant proteins indicated good properties of this enzyme against
its substrate.