Role of C-terminal domain in a manganese-catalase from Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis.

Catalases catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We have characterized two manganese-catalases from Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis, CatGt and Cat-IIGt, which exhibited significant variation in their sequence, structure and properties. There was only 23% sequence identity between the two. The striking structural difference was the presence of an extended C-terminal domain in CatGt. Molecular modelling and docking studies revealed that deletion of the C-terminal domain removes non-specific binding, which results in increased substrate affinity. To verify experimentally, a C-terminal truncated version of CatGt, named as CatGt-ΔC, was produced in Escherichia coli and effects of deletion were analyzed. There was no significant difference in optimal pH, optimal temperature and substrate specificity of CatGt and CatGt-ΔC. However, Km value was reduced from 259 to 157 mM and CatGt-ΔC exhibited ∼1.5-fold higher catalytic efficiency as compared to CatGt. Furthermore, removal of the C-terminal domain converted the tetrameric nature to monomeric, and reduced the thermostability of the truncated protein. These results demonstrate that C-terminal domain of CatGt might have little role in maintaining enzyme function but provides additional structural stability to the protein, which is a desired property for industrial applications.

Looking into a highly thermostable and efficient recombinant manganese-catalase from Geobacillusthermopakistaniensis.

Catalases, heme or non-heme, are catalysts that decompose hydrogen peroxide. Among them, non-heme or manganese-catalases have been studied from limited organisms. We report here heterologous production of a manganese-catalase, Cat-IIGt, previously annotated as a hypothetical protein, from a thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis. Recombinant Cat-IIGt, produced as inactive inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli, was solubilized and refolded into a soluble and highly active form. Sequence homology, absorption spectra, resistance to sodium azide inhibition and activation by Mn2+ indicated that it was a manganese-catalase. Metal analysis revealed the presence of ∼2 Mn2+ and ∼2 Ca2+ per subunit of Cat-IIGt. Recombinant Cat-IIGt exhibited highest activity at pH 10.0 and 70°C. The enzyme was highly active with a specific activity of 40,529 µmol min-1 mg-1. The apparent Km and kcat values were 75 mM and 1.5 × 104 s-1 subunit-1, respectively. Recombinant Cat-IIGt was highly thermostable with a half-life of 30 min at 100°C. The structural attributes of Cat-IIGt, including the metal and substrate binding residues, were predicted by homology modeling and molecular docking studies. High activity and thermostability and alkaline nature make Cat-IIGt a potential candidate for textile and paper processing industries.

Structural and functional analyses of a novel manganese-catalase from Bacillus subtilis R5.

Catalases catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Limited reports are available on characterization of manganese-catalases. We describe here molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a putative manganese-catalase gene from mesophilic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis R5. The gene product, CatBsu, produced as a soluble protein, was purified to apparent homogeneity and biochemically characterized. The absorption spectra and nonsignificant inhibition by sodium azide indicated that it is a manganese-catalase. The protein was in homohexameric form in solution, with a subunit molecular weight of 30 kDa, containing ~2 Mn2+ and ~1 Ca2+ per subunit. CatBsu showed highest activity at pH 8.0 and 55 °C. It was found to be highly active with a specific activity of 25,290 µmol min-1 mg-1 and apparent Km and kcat values of 98 mM and 1.27 × 104 s-1 subunit-1, respectively. Although from a mesophilic source, it exhibited a half-life of 2 h at 80 °C. Furthermore, the active site and metal binding residues in CatBsu were predicted by homology modelling and molecular docking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a manganese-catalase from genus Bacillus.

A highly stable manganese catalase from Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis: molecular cloning and characterization.

Catalases, heme or manganese, are efficient biocatalysts that split hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We have cloned a manganese catalase from thermophilic bacterium, Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis, and expressed the corresponding gene in Escherichia coli. The gene product, CatGt, was synthesized in E. coli as inactive inclusion bodies. Solubilization and refolding of the inclusion bodies resulted in highly active CatGt with a specific activity of 18,521 µmol min-1 mg-1. The refolded protein exhibited apparent Km and kcat values of 260 mM and 10,360 s-1 subunit-1, respectively. It exhibited a half-life of 1 h at 100 °C. The unique features of CatGt are its high activity and thermostability. These features make it a valuable catalyst for industrial applications. To the best of our knowledge, CatGt is the most thermostable catalases characterized to date.

A highly active α-cyclodextrin preferring cyclomaltodextrinase from Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis.

Cyclomaltodextrinases show diverse hydrolyzing and/or transglycosylation activities against cyclodextrins, starch and pullulan. A gene annotated as cyclomaltodextrinase from Geobacillus thermopakistaniensis was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The gene product, CDaseGt, was purified and biochemically characterized. The recombinant enzyme exhibited highest activity with α-cyclodextrin at 55 °C and pH 6.0. Specific hydrolytic activities towards α-, ß- and γ-cyclodextrin were 1200, 735 and 360 µmol min-1 mg-1, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the activity against α-cyclodextrin is the highest among the reported enzymes. Next to cyclodextrins, pullulan was the most preferred substrate with a specific activity of 105 µmol min-1 mg-1. CDaseGt was capable of hydrolysis of maltotriose and acarbose as well as transglycosylation of their hydrolytic products. At 65 °C, there was no significant loss in enzyme activity even after overnight incubation. Activity of CDaseGt was not metal ions dependent, however, the presence of Mn2+ significantly enhanced the α-CDase activity. EDTA had no significant effect on the CDaseGt activity, however, it enhanced the thermostability of the enzyme. CDaseGt existed in monomeric as well as dimeric form in solution. Dimeric form is more active compared to the monomeric one. Equilibrium between the two forms seems to be concentration dependent.