Research & Teaching Faculty

Characterizing the pH-dependent stability and catalytic mechanism of the family 11 xylanase from the alkalophilic Bacillus agaradhaerens

TitleCharacterizing the pH-dependent stability and catalytic mechanism of the family 11 xylanase from the alkalophilic Bacillus agaradhaerens
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsPoon, DKY, Webster, P, Withers, SG, McIntosh, LP
JournalCarbohydrate Research
Volume338
Pagination415-421
Date PublishedFeb
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number0008-6215
Keywordsbacillus xylanase, CIRCULANS XYLANASE, CLASSIFICATION, electrostatic, extremophile, glycosidase, GLYCOSYL-ENZYME INTERMEDIATE, HYDROLASES, interactions, NMR ASSIGNMENTS, pH-dependent mechanism, PK(A), PROTEIN, STABILITY, THERMOSTABILITY
Abstract

The xylanase, BadX, from the alkalophilic Bacillus agaradhaerens was cloned, expressed and studied in comparison to a related family 11 xylanase, BcX, from B. circulans. Despite the alkaline versus neutral conditions under which these bacteria grow, BadX and BcX both exhibit optimal activity near pH 5.6 using the substrate omicron-nitrophenyl beta-xylobioside. Analysis of the bell-shaped activity profile of BadX yielded apparent pK(a) values of 4.2 and 7.1, assignable to its nucleophile Glu94 and general acid Glu184, respectively. In addition to having an similar to 10-fold higher k(cat)/K-m value with this substrate at pH 6 and 40 degreesC, BadX has significantly higher thermal stability than BcX under neutral and alkaline conditions. This enhanced stability, rather than a shift in its pH-optimum, may allow BadX to hydrolyze xylan under conditions of elevated temperature and pH. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

URL<Go to ISI>://000181004800004