A novel cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from an alkaliphile Microbacterium terrae KNR 9: purification and properties

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC. 2.1.1.19) produced using new alkaliphile Microbacterium terrae KNR 9 has been purified to homogeneity in a single step by the starch adsorption method. The specific activity of the purified CGTase was 45 U/mg compared to crude 0.9 U/mg. This resulted in a 50-fold purification of the enzyme with 33 % yield. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was found to be 27.72 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis and activity staining confirmed the presence of CGTase in crude and the ammonium sulfate precipitate fraction. The purified CGTase has a pI value of 4.2. The optimum pH of 6.0 and 60 °C temperature were found to be the best for CGTase activity. Purified CGTase showed 5.18 kcal/mol activation energy (Ea). The CGTase activity was increased in the presence of metal ions (5 mM): Ca(+2) (130 %), Mg(+2) (123 %), Mn(+2) (119 %) and Co(+2) (116 %). The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited in the presence of Hg(+2) (0.0 %), Cu(+2) (0.0 %) and Fe(+2) (3.8 %). Inhibitor N-bromosuccinimide (5 mM) showed the highest 96 % inhibition of CGTase activity. SDS and triton X-100 among different detergents and surfactants (1.0 %, w/v) tested showed 92 % inhibition. Among the organic solvents checked for their effect on enzyme activity, 5 % (v/v) toluene resulted in 48 % increased activity. Polyethylene glycol-6000 showed a 26 % increase in the CGTase activity. The kinetic parameters K (m) and V (max) were 10 mg/ml and 146 µmol/mg min, respectively, for purified CGTase.