The GH10 endo-xylanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus CBMAI 756 (XynA) is industrially attractive due to its considerable thermostability and high specific activity. Considering the possibility of a further improvement in thermostability, eleven mutants were created in the present study via site-directed mutagenesis using XynA as a template. XynA and its mutants were successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami DE3 and purified, exhibiting maximum xylanolytic activity at pH 5 and 65°C. Three of the eleven mutants, Q158R, H209N, and N257D, demonstrated increased thermostability relative to the wild type at 70°C and 75°C.Q158R and N257D were stable in the pH range 5.0-10.0, while WT and H209N were stable from pH 8-10. CD analysis demonstrated that the WT and the three mutant enzymes were expressed in a folded form. H209N was the most thermostable mutant, showing a Tm of 71.3°C. Molecular dynamics modeling analyses suggest that the increase in H209N thermostability may beattributed to a higher number of short helices and salt bridges, which displayed a positive charge in the catalytic core, stabilizing its tertiary structure.
Keywords: Endo-xylanase; Protein engineering; Rational design; Site-directed mutagenesis; Thermostability.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.