High-level expression and characterization of Selenomonas ruminantium β-xylosidase in Pichia pastoris

Abstract:

β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) is an important part of the xylanolytic enzymes system. In the present research, β-xylosidase gene Sxa derived from Selenomonas ruminantium was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. According to the codon bias and rare codons of P. pastoris, mRNA secondary structure and GC content, Sxa gene was optimized. The optimized full-length gene mSxa was obtained by gene synthesis technique and the recombinant yeast expression vector pPIC9K-mSxa was constructed. After being digested by restriction enzyme BglⅡ, the mSxa gene was transformed into P. pastoris GS115. Then, phenotype and geneticin G418 resistance screening, and PCR were adopted to identify the positive transformants. Finally, the recombinant P. pastoris GS115-pPIC9K-mSxa was obtained. Based on enzymatic activity assay, a high-level expression clone was picked up and then the enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant β-xylosidase were studied. The results showed that the molecular weight of the mSxa expressed in P. pastoris G115 was about 66 kDa. The maximum activity was achieved 287.61 IU/mL at fermenter level. Enzymatic characterization showed the β-xylosidase was stable between 40 and 60 ℃, and pH between 5.0 and 7.0. The optimal reaction temperature and pH were 55 ℃ and 6.0, and preferentially degrading the β-xylose glycosidic bond. The enzymatic activity was activated by Mn2+ and Ca2+, and inhibited by Fe3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Mg2+, EDTA and SDS. The study indicates that the modified β-xylosidase gene mSxa from Selenomonas ruminantium can express successfully with high activity in P. pastoris. The study lays a foundation for further industrial application of the β-xylosidase.