Genomic analysis of the marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica CZ1127T revealed the presence of four fucoidanase genes fwf1, fwf2, fwf3, fwf4 that belonged to the glycoside hydrolase family 107 (GH107, CAZy), which is located in one gene cluster putatively involved in fucoidan catabolism. Genes encoding two fucoidanases fwf1 and fwf2 were cloned, and the proteins FWf1 and FWf2 were produced in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant fucoidanases were purified and the biochemical properties of these enzymes were studied. The amino acid sequences of FWf1 and FWf2 showed 41 and 51% identity respectively with a fucoidanase FcnA from the marine bacterium Mariniflexile fucanivorans, with the established 3D structure. Structures of the oligosaccharides produced during enzymatic hydrolysis of fucoidan by FWf1 and FWf2 have been determined by NMR spectroscopy. Detailed substrate specificities of FWf1 and FWf2 were studied using fucoidans and sulfated fucooligosaccharides with different structures. Both fucoidanases catalyzed hydrolysis of 1→4-glycosidic bonds between sulfated α-l-fucose residues but had different specificities regarding sulfation patterns of the fucose residues in fucoidan molecules. Specific cleavage sites recognizable by the fucoidanases in fucoidan molecules were determined. The obtained results provide new knowledge about differences between specificities of the fucoidanases belonging to the GH107 family.
Keywords: Fucoidan; Fucoidanases; GH107 family.
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