title: Characterization of a thermostable esterase activity from the moderate thermophile Bacillus licheniformis.
abstract: A new esterase activity from Bacillus licheniformis was characterized from an Escherichia coli recombinant strain. The protein was a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 81 kDa. The optimum pH for esterase activity was 8-8.5 and it was stable in the range 7-8.5. The optimum temperature for activity was 45 degrees C and the half-life was 1 h at 64 degrees C. Maximum activity was observed on p-nitrophenyl caproate with little activity toward long-chain fatty acid esters. The enzyme had a KM of 0.52 mM for p-nitrophenyl caproate hydrolysis at pH 8 and 37 degrees C. The enzyme activity was not affected by either metal ions or sulfydryl reagents. Surprisingly, the enzyme was only slightly inhibited by PMSF. These characteristics classified the new enzyme as a thermostable esterase that shared similarities with lipases. The esterase might be useful for biotechnological applications such as ester synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Mediterranee University, ESA CNRS 6111, Faculty of Sciences of Luminy, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Macarie
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Augier-Magro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baratti
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004950:Esterases