Abstract
Thermoacidophiles are microorganisms capable of optimum growth under a combination of high temperature and low pH. These microorganisms are a rich source of thermo- and acid- active/stable glycosyl hydrolases. Such enzymes could find use as novel biocatalysts in industrial processes, as operation at elevated temperature can increase substrate solubility, decrease viscosity, and reduce the risk of microbial contamination. We report the purification and characterization of an intracellular β-galactosidase from the thermoacidophile Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis DSM 16176. The enzyme was purified 110-fold, with a 5.89% yield. Denatured (83.7 kDa) and native (179 kDa) molecular masses were determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively, and suggest the enzyme functions as a homodimer. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed identity, and bioinformatic analysis indicates the enzyme to be a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family 42 (GH42). Highest activity was measured at 70 °C and pH 6.0. The Km on the substrates ONPG and lactose were 5 and 258 mM, respectively. This enzyme is thermostable, retaining 76, 50, and 42% relative activity after 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively, at 70 °C. This property could lend its use to high-temperature industrial processes requiring a thermo-active β-galactosidase.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Krüger, A., Schäfers, C., Schröder, C., & Antranikian, G. (2018). Towards a sustainable biobased industry – Highlighting the impact of extremophiles. New Biotechnology, 40(Pt A), 144–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2017.05.002.
Husain, Q. (2010). β Galactosidases and their potential applications: A review. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 30(1), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388550903330497.
Xavier, J. R., Ramana, K. V., & Sharma, R. K. (2018). β-Galactosidase: Biotechnological applications in food processing. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 42(5), e12564. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.12564.
Ryan, M. P., & Walsh, G. (2016). The biotechnological potential of whey. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 15(3), 479–498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-016-9402-1.
Silanikove, N., Leitner, G., & Merin, U. (2015). The interrelationships between lactose intolerance and the modern dairy industry: Global perspectives in evolutional and historical backgrounds. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7095340.
Zhang, J., Yue, T., & Yuan, Y. (2013). Alicyclobacillus contamination in the production line of kiwi products in China. PLoS One, 8(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067704.
Ciuffreda, E., Bevilacqua, A., Sinigaglia, M., & Corbo, M. (2015). Alicyclobacillus spp.: New insights on ecology and preserving food quality through new approaches. Microorganisms, 3(4), 625–640. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms3040625.
Simbahan, J., Drijber, R., & Blum, P. (2004). Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis sp. nov., a thermophilic acidophilic bacterium isolated from Coso Hot Springs, California, USA. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 54(5), 1703–1707. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.03012-0.
Di Lauro, B., Strazzulli, A., Perugino, G., La Cara, F., Bedini, E., Corsaro, M. M., & Moracci, M. (2008). Isolation and characterization of a new family 42 β-galactosidase from the thermoacidophilic bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius: Identification of the active site residues. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics, 1784(2), 292–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2007.10.013.
Morana, A., Esposito, A., Maurelli, L., Ruggiero, G., Ionata, E., Rossi, M., & Cara, F. (2008). A novel thermoacidophilic cellulase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Protein & Peptide Letters, 15(9), 1017–1021. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986608785849209.
Boyce, A., & Walsh, G. (2015). Characterisation of a novel thermostable endoglucanase from Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis of potential application in bioethanol production. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 99(18), 7515–7525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6474-8.
Xia, W., Lu, H., Xia, M., Cui, Y., Bai, Y., Qian, L., & Yao, B. (2016). A novel glycoside hydrolase family 113 endo-β-1,4-mannanase from Alicyclobacillus sp. strain A4 and insight into the substrate recognition and catalytic mechanism of this family. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82(9), 2718–2727. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.04071-15.
Lee, S. J., Lee, D. W., Choe, E. A., Hong, Y. H., Kim, S. B., Kim, B. C., & Pyun, Y. R. (2005). Characterization of a thermoacidophilic L-arabinose isomerase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius: Role of Lys-269 in pH optimum. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71(12), 7888–7896. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.71.12.7888-7896.2005.
Yang, W., Bai, Y., Yang, P., Luo, H., Huang, H., Meng, K., & Yao, B. (2015). A novel bifunctional GH51 exo-α-l-arabinofuranosidase/endo-xylanase from Alicyclobacillus sp. A4 with significant biomass-degrading capacity. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 8(1), 197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-015-0366-0.
Matzke, J., Herrmann, A., Schneider, E., & Bakker, E. P. (2000). Gene cloning, nucleotide sequence and biochemical properties of a cytoplasmic cyclomaltodextrinase (neopullulanase) from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, reclassification of a group of enzymes. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 183(1), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1097(99)00630-8.
Eckert, K., & Schneider, E. (2003). A thermoacidophilic endoglucanase (CelB) from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius displays high sequence similarity to arabinofuranosidases belonging to family 51 of glycoside hydrolases. European Journal of Biochemistry, 270(17), 3593–3602. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1033.2003.03744.x.
Catara, G., Fiume, I., Iuliano, F., Maria, G., Ruggiero, G., Palmieri, G., & Rossi, M. (2006). A new kumamolisin-like protease from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius: An enzyme active under extreme acidic conditions. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, 24(5), 358–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/10242420600792094.
Gul-Guven, R., Guven, K., Poli, A., & Nicolaus, B. (2007). Purification and some properties of a β-galactosidase from the thermoacidophilic Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius subsp. rittmannii isolated from Antarctica. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 40(6), 1570–1577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.11.006.
Rasouli, I. R., & Ulkarni, P. R. K. (1994). Enhancement of β-galactosidase productivity of Aspergillus niger NCIM-616. Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 77(4), 359–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.1994.tb03435.x.
Bradford, M. M. (1976). A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical Biochemistry, 72(1–2), 248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3.
Laemmli, U. K. (1970). Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature, 227(5259), 680–685. https://doi.org/10.1038/227680a0.
Perkins, D. N., Pappin, D. J. C., Creasy, D. M., & Cottrell, J. S. (1999). Probability-based protein identification by searching sequence databases using mass spectrometry data. Electrophoresis, 20(18), 3551–3567.
Nagy, Z., Kiss, T., Szentirmai, A., & Biró, S. (2001). β-Galactosidase of Penicillium chrysogenum: Production, purification, and characterization of the enzyme. Protein Expression and Purification, 21(1), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1006/prep.2000.1344.
Shaikh, S. A., Khire, J. M., & Khan, M. I. (1999). Characterization of a thermostable extracellular β-galactosidase from a thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor sp. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects, 1472(1–2), 314–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4165(99)00138-5.
Kim, Y. S., Park, C. S., & Oh, D. K. (2006). Lactulose production from lactose and fructose by a thermostable β-galactosidase from Sulfolobus solfataricus. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 39(4), 903–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.01.023.
Chakraborti, S., Sani, R. K., Banerjee, U. C., & Sobti, R. C. (2000). Purification and characterization of a novel β-galactosidase from Bacillus sp MTCC 3088. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 24(1), 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.2900770.
Rosenberg, I. M. (2006). Protein analysis and purification: Benchtop techniques. Springer Science & Business Media ISBN 978-0-8176-4412-3.
Wanarska, M., Kur, J., Pladzyk, R., & Turkiewicz, M. (2005). Thermostable Pyrococcus woesei β-D-galactosidase - high level expression, purification and biochemical properties. Acta Biochimica Polonica, 52(4), 781–787.
Kim, C. S., Ji, E. S., & Oh, D. K. (2003). Expression and characterisation of Kluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidase in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Letters, 25(20), 1769–1774.
O’Connell, S., & Walsh, G. (2007). Purification and properties of a β-galactosidase with potential application as a digestive supplement. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 141(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-9206-4.
Holmes, M. L., Scopes, R. K., Moritz, R. L., Simpson, R. J., Englert, C., Pfeifer, F., & Dyall-Smith, M. L. (1997). Purification and analysis of an extremely halophilic β-galactosidase from Haloferax alicantei. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Protein Structure and Molecular Enzymology, 1337(2), 276–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4838(96)00174-4.
O’Connell, S., & Walsh, G. (2010). A novel acid-stable, acid-active β-galactosidase potentially suited to the alleviation of lactose intolerance. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 86(2), 517–524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2270-7.
Krulwich, T. A., Davidson, L. F., Filip, S. J., J., Zuckerman, R. S., & Guffanti, A. A. (1978). The proton motive force and β-galactoside transport in Bacillus acidocaldarius. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 253(13), 4599–4603.
Yuan, T., Yang, P., Wang, Y., Meng, K., Luo, H., Zhang, W., & Yao, B. (2008). Heterologous expression of a gene encoding a thermostable β-galactosidase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Biotechnology Letters, 30(2), 343–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9551-y.
Sen, S., Ray, L., & Chattopadhyay, P. (2012). Production, purification, immobilization, and characterization of a thermostable β-galactosidase from Aspergillus alliaceus. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 167(7), 1938–1953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9732-6.
Juajun, O., Nguyen, T. H., Maischberger, T., Iqbal, S., Haltrich, D., & Yamabhai, M. (2011). Cloning, purification, and characterization of β-galactosidase from Bacillus licheniformis DSM 13. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 89(3), 645–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2862-2.
Fernandes, S., Geueke, B., Delgado, O., Coleman, J., & Hatti-Kaul, R. (2002). β-Galactosidase from a cold-adapted bacterium: Purification, characterization and application for lactose hydrolysis. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 58(3), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-001-0905-4.
Rahim, K. A. A., & Lee, B. H. (2010). Specificity, inhibitory studies, and oligosaccharide formation by β-Galactosidase from Psychrotrophic Bacillus subtilis KL88. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(6), 1773–1778. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78341-0.
Hung, M. N., & Lee, B. (2002). Purification and characterization of a recombinant β-galactosidase with transgalactosylation activity from Bifidobacterium infantis HL96. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 58(4), 439–445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-001-0911-6.
Tanaka, Y., Kagamiishi, A., Kiuchi, A., & Horiuchi, T. (1975). Purification and properties of β-Galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae. The Journal of Biochemistry, 77(1), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a130713.
Gul Guven, R., Kaplan, A., Guven, K., Matpan, F., & Dogru, M. (2011). Effects of various inhibitors on β-galactosidase purified from the thermoacidophilic Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius subsp. rittmannii isolated from Antarctica. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 16(1), 114–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-010-0070-7.
Mahoney, R. R., & Adamchuk, C. (1980). Effect of milk constituents on the hydrolysis of lactose by lactase from Kluyveromyces fragilis. Journal of Food Science, 45(4), 962–964. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1980.tb07487.x.
Supplee, G. C., & Bellis, B. (1922). The copper content of cows’ Milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 5(5), 455–467. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(22)94174-8.
Park, A. R., & Oh, D. K. (2010). Effects of galactose and glucose on the hydrolysis reaction of a thermostable β-galactosidase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85(5), 1427–1435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2165-7.
Cowan, D. A., Daniel, R. M., Martin, A. M., & Morgan, H. W. (1984). Some properties of a β-galactosidase from an extremely thermophilic bacterium. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 26(10), 1141–1145. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260261002.
Liu, N., Zhang, T., Wang, Y. J., Huang, Y. P., Ou, J. H., & Shen, P. (2004). A heat inducible tyrosinase with distinct properties from Bacillus thuringiensis. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 39(5), 407–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2004.01599.x.
Whisnant, A. R., & Gilman, S. D. (2002). Studies of reversible inhibition, irreversible inhibition, and activation of alkaline phosphatase by capillary electrophoresis. Analytical Biochemistry, 307(2), 226–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2697(02)00062-3.
Sheridan, P. P., & Brenchley, J. E. (2000). Characterization of a salt-tolerant family 42 β-galactosidase from a psychrophilic Antarctic Planococcus isolate. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 66(6), 2438–2444. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.66.6.2438-2444.2000.
Lee, E. G., Kim, S., Oh, D. B., Lee, S. Y., & Kwon, O. (2012). Distinct roles of β-galactosidase paralogues of the rumen bacterium Mannheimia succiniciproducens. Journal of Bacteriology, 194(2), 426–436. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.05911-11.
Fischer, L., Scheckermann, C., & Wagner, F. (1995). Purification and characterization of a thermotolerant β-galactosidase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61(4), 1497–1501.
Chin-An, H., Roch-Chui, Y., & Cheng-Chun, C. (2006). Purification and characterization of a sodium-stimulated β-galactosidase from Bifidobacterium longum CCRC 15708. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 22(4), 355–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-005-9041-0.
Funding
This work has been funded by the Irish Research Council under the Embark Initiative.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murphy, J., Ryan, M.P. & Walsh, G. Purification and Characterization of a Novel β-Galactosidase From the Thermoacidophile Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 191, 1190–1206 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03233-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03233-w