Truncated Expression of a Carboxypeptidase A from Bovine Improves Its Enzymatic Properties and Detoxification Efficiency of Ochratoxin A

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced mainly by Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. and commonly found in foodstuffs and feedstuffs. Carboxypeptidase A (CPA) can hydrolyze OTA into the non-toxic product ochratoxin α, with great potential to realize industrialized production and detoxify OTA in contaminated foods and feeds. This study constructed a P. pastoris expression vector of mature CPA (M-CPA) without propeptide and signal peptide. The results showed that the degradation rate of OTA by M-CPA was up to 93.36%. Its optimum pH was 8, the optimum temperature was 40 °C, the value of K(m) was 0.126 mmol/L, and the maximum reaction rate was 0.0219 mol/min. Compared with commercial CPA (S-CPA), the recombinant M-CPA had an improve stability, for which its optimum temperature increased by 10 °C and stability at a wide range pH, especially at pH 3–4 and pH 11. M-CPA could effectively degrade OTA in red wine. M-CPA has the potential for industrial applications, such as can be used as a detoxification additive for foods and feeds.