Genetic and Structural Characterization of a Thermo-Tolerant, Cold-Active, and Acidic Endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Antarctic Springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus.
The CaCel gene from Antarctic springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus codes for a cellulase belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 45 (GHF45). Phylogenetic, biochemical, and structural analyses revealed that the CaCel gene product (CaCel) is closely related to fungal GHF45 endo-β-1,4-glucanases. The organization of five introns within the open reading frame of the CaCel gene indicates its endogenous origin in the genome of the species, which suggests the horizontal transfer of the gene from fungi to the springtail. CaCel exhibited optimal activity at pH 3.5, retained 80% of its activity at 0-10 °C, and maintained a half-life of 4 h at 70 °C. Based on the structural comparison between CaCel and a fungal homologue, we deduced the structural basis for the unusual characteristics of CaCel. Under acidic conditions at 50 °C, CaCel was effective to digest the green algae (Ulva pertusa), suggesting that it could be exploited for biofuel production from seaweeds.
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , 787 Haean-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
Jung Min
JM
Song
Department of Chemistry & Nano Science, Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
Seung Kon
SK
Hong
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , 787 Haean-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
Young Jun
YJ
An
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , 787 Haean-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
Mee Hye
MH
Kang
Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota , 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States.
Kwon Ho
KH
Hong
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , 787 Haean-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.|University of Science and Technology , 217 Gajung-Ro Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-333, Republic of Korea.
Youn-Ho
YH
Lee
Department of Chemistry & Nano Science, Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
Sun-Shin
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0913-8706
SS
Cha
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001181:Arthropods / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D002480:Cellulase
Cryptopygus antarcticus; biochemical and structural features; biofuel production from seaweeds; cold-active cellulase; endo-β-1,4-glucanase; horizontal gene transfer