Biochemical Characterization, Thermal Stability, and Partial Sequence of a Novel Exo-Polygalacturonase from the Thermophilic Fungus Rhizomucor pusillus A13.36 Obtained by Submerged Cultivation

Biomed Res Int. 2016:2016:8653583. doi: 10.1155/2016/8653583. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Abstract

This work reports the production of an exo-polygalacturonase (exo-PG) by Rhizomucor pusillus A13.36 in submerged cultivation (SmC) in a shaker at 45°C for 96 h. A single pectinase was found and purified in order to analyze its thermal stability, by salt precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The pectinase has an estimated Mw of approximately 43.5-47 kDa and optimum pH of 4.0 but is stable in pH ranging from 3.5 to 9.5 and has an optimum temperature of 61°C. It presents thermal stability between 30 and 60°C, has 70% activation in the presence of Ca2+, and was tested using citrus pectin with a degree of methyl esterification (DE) of 26%. Ea(d) for irreversible denaturation was 125.5 kJ/mol with positive variations of entropy and enthalpy for that and ΔG(d) values were around 50 kJ/mol. The hydrolysis of polygalacturonate was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis which displayed a pattern of sequential hydrolysis (exo). The partial identification of the primary sequence was done by MS MALDI-TOF and a comparison with data banks showed the highest identity of the sequenced fragments of exo-PG from R. pusillus with an exo-pectinase from Aspergillus fumigatus. Pectin hydrolysis showed a sigmoidal curve for the Michaelis-Menten plot.

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme Stability
  • Fungal Proteins* / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins* / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Fungal Proteins* / metabolism
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Polygalacturonase* / chemistry
  • Polygalacturonase* / genetics
  • Polygalacturonase* / isolation & purification
  • Polygalacturonase* / metabolism
  • Rhizomucor* / enzymology
  • Rhizomucor* / genetics
  • Rhizomucor* / growth & development

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Polygalacturonase