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A thermostable phosphotriesterase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus: cloning, overexpression and properties

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Abstract

A new gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus MT4, coding for a putative protein reported to show sequence identity with the phosphotriesterase-related protein family (PHP), was cloned by means of the polymerase chain reaction from the S. solfataricus genomic DNA. In order to analyse the biochemical properties of the protein an overexpression system in Escherichia coli was established. The recombinant protein, expressed in soluble form at 5 mg/l of E. coli culture, was purified to homogeneity and characterized. In contrast with its mesophilic E. coli counterpart that was devoid of any tested activity, the S. solfataricus enzyme was demonstrated to have a low paraoxonase activity. This activity was dependent from metal cations with Co2+, Mg2+ and Ni2+ being the most effective and was thermophilic and thermostable. The enzyme was inactivated with EDTA and o-phenantroline. A reported inhibitor for Pseudomonas putida phosphotriesterase (PTE) had no effect on the S. solfataricus paraoxonase. The importance of a stable paraoxonase for detoxification of chemical warfare agents and agricultural pesticides will be discussed.

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Abbreviations

PTE:

Phosphotriesterase

OPH:

Organophosphate hydrolase

OPD:

Organo-phosphate-degrading enzyme

OPs:

Organophosphates

SsoPox:

Sulfolobus solfataricus paraoxonase

ePHP:

E. coli phosphotriesterase-related protein

pNP:

P-nitrophenyl

LB:

Luria-Bertani

IPTG:

Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside

PVDF:

Polyvinylidene fluoride

EST2:

Esterase 2

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Acknowledgements

We thank Gabriella Fiorentino for Ssopox gene cloning, V. Carratore for amino terminal sequencing and the TIGEM-IGB DNA Sequencing Core for DNA sequencing. This work was supported with funding from Regione Campania Legge 41/94 and PNR Tecnologie Avanzate Tema 6 Biocatalisi. L.M. is a recipient of a fellowship from Regional Center of Competence on Industrial Biotechnology (BioTekNet).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Biochimica delle Proteine, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy

    Luigia Merone, Luigi Mandrich, Mosè Rossi & Giuseppe Manco

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  1. Luigia Merone
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  2. Luigi Mandrich
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  3. Mosè Rossi
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  4. Giuseppe Manco
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Manco.

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Communicated by G. Antranikian

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Merone, L., Mandrich, L., Rossi, M. et al. A thermostable phosphotriesterase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus: cloning, overexpression and properties. Extremophiles 9, 297–305 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-005-0445-4

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