Extremophiles

in Comprehensive Biotechnology (2010)

Extremophiles are organisms which inhabit environments characterized by properties harsh enough to hinder the survival of common cells. They are highly diversified and are classified on the basis of the ... [more ▼]

Extremophiles are organisms which inhabit environments characterized by properties harsh enough to hinder the survival of common cells. They are highly diversified and are classified on the basis of the main extreme property that prevails in the habitat. Six main categories can be distinguished: the thermophiles found in high temperature sites and which can tolerate temperatures sometimes close to that of the boiling point of water; the psychrophiles living in permanently cold habitats with temperatures sometimes well below the freezing point of water; the piezophiles, which tolerate pressure as high as 1000 atm; the halophiles supporting salt concentrations, in some cases, higher than 300gl–1; the acidophiles thriving well at pH sometimes close to zero; and the alkaliphiles, which, on the contrary, tolerate pH largely exceeding neutrality. These organisms are mainly microorganisms and they notably produce enzymes that are adapted to work in unusual conditions often required in biotechnological processes. This confers upon these organisms a very high potential. They are the target of a steadily increasing interest and are nowadays largely used in various industrial applications. [less ▲]

The linker region plays a key role in the adaptation to cold of the cellulase from an Antarctic bacterium

in Biochemical Journal (2007), 407(Part 2), 293-302

The psychrophilic cellulase, Cel5G, from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis is composed of a catalytic module (CM) joined to a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) by an unusually long ... [more ▼]

The psychrophilic cellulase, Cel5G, from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis is composed of a catalytic module (CM) joined to a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) by an unusually long, extended and flexible linker region (LR) containing three loops closed by three disulfide bridges. To evaluate the possible role of this region in cold adaptation, the LR was sequentially shortened by protein engineering, successively deleting one and two loops of this module, whereas the last disulfide bridge was also suppressed by replacing the last two cysteine residue by two alanine residues. The kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the mutants were compared with those of the full-length enzyme, and also with those of the cold-adapted CM alone and with those of the homologous mesophilic enzyme, Cel5A, from Erwinia chrysanthemi. The thermostability of the mutated enzymes as well as their relative flexibility were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence quenching respectively. The topology of the structure of the shortest mutant was determined by SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering). The data indicate that the sequential shortening of the LR induces a regular decrease of the specific activity towards macromolecular substrates, reduces the relative flexibility and concomitantly increases the thermostability of the shortened enzymes. This demonstrates that the long LR of the full-length enzyme favours the catalytic efficiency at low and moderate temperatures by rendering the structure not only less compact, but also less stable, and plays a crucial role in the adaptation to cold of this cellulolytic enzyme. [less ▲]

Adaptation strategies and uses of cold adapted enzymes in biotechnological processes

in JAMSTEC ERC (Ed.) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Extremophiles and their Applications 2005 (2007)

Cold-adapted enzymes from marine antarctic microorganisms

in Marine Biotechnology (2007), 9(3, May-Jun), 293-304

The Antarctic marine environment is characterized by challenging conditions for the survival of native microorganisms. Indeed, next to the temperature effect represented by the Arrhenius law, the ... [more ▼]

The Antarctic marine environment is characterized by challenging conditions for the survival of native microorganisms. Indeed, next to the temperature effect represented by the Arrhenius law, the viscosity of the medium, which is also significantly enhanced by low temperatures, contributes to slow down reaction rates. This review analyses the different challenges and focuses on a key element of life at low temperatures: cold-adapted enzymes. The molecular characteristics of these enzymes are discussed as well as the adaptation strategies which can be inferred from the comparison of their properties and three-dimensional structures with those of their mesophilic counterparts. As these enzymes display a high specific activity at low and moderate temperatures associated with a relatively high thermosensitivity, the interest in these properties is discussed with regard to their current and possible applications in biotechnology. [less ▲]

Oligosaccharide binding in family 8 glycosidases: Crystal structures of active-site mutants of the beta-1,4-xylanase pXyl from Pseudoaltermonas haloplanktis TAH3a in complex with substrate and product

in Biochemistry (2006), 45(15), 4797-4807

The structures of inactive mutants D144A and E78Q of the glycoside hydrolase family 8 (GH-8) endo-beta-1,4-D-Xylanase (pXyl) from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAH3a in complex ... [more ▼]

The structures of inactive mutants D144A and E78Q of the glycoside hydrolase family 8 (GH-8) endo-beta-1,4-D-Xylanase (pXyl) from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAH3a in complex with its substrate xylopentaose (at 1.95 angstrom resolution) and product xylotriose (at 1.9 angstrom resolution) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. A detailed comparative analysis of these with the apoenzyme and with other GH-8 structures indicates an induced fit mechanism upon ligand binding whereby a number of conformational changes and, in particular, a repositioning of the proton donor into a more catalytically competent position Occurs. This has also allowed for the description of protein-ligand interactions in this enzyme and for the demarcation of subsites -3 to +3. An in-depth analysis of each of these subsites gives an insight into the structure-function relationship of this enzyme and the basis of xylose/glucose discrimination in family 8 glycoside hydrolases. Furthermore, the structure of the -1/+1 subsite spanning complex reveals that the substrate is distorted from its ground state conformation. Indeed, structural analysis and in silico docking Studies indicate that substrate hydrolysis in GH-8 members is preceded by a conformational change, away from the substrate ground-state chair conformation, to a pretransition state local minimum S-2(O) conformation. [less ▲]

Use of glycoside hydrolase family 8 xylanases in baking

in Journal of Cereal Science (2006), 43(1), 79-84

Xylanases have long been used in the baking industry for improving dough stability and flexibility and for increasing bread volume and crumb structure. Only xylanases from glycoside hydrolase families 10 ... [more ▼]

Xylanases have long been used in the baking industry for improving dough stability and flexibility and for increasing bread volume and crumb structure. Only xylanases from glycoside hydrolase families 10 and I I appear to have been tested in this application and only those from the latter family have as yet found application. Interestingly, enzymes with a putative xylanase activity are also found in glycoside hydrolase families 5, 7, 8 and 43, but apparently these have not, as yet, been tested in baking. Baking trials were used to determine the effectiveness of a psychrophilic and a mesophilic family 8 xylanolytic enzyme as well as a psychrophilic family 10 xylanase and a currently used family 11 commercial mesophilic xylanase. The potential of family 8 xylanases as technological aids in baking was clearly demonstrated as both the psychrophilic enzyme from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAH3a and the mesophilic enzyme from Bacillus halodurans C-125 had a positive effect on loaf volume. In contrast, the psychrophilic family 10 enzyme from Cryptococcus adeliae TAE85 was found to be ineffective. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

The active site is the least stable structure in the unfolding pathway of a multidomain cold-adapted alpha-amylase

in Journal of Bacteriology (2005), 187(17), 6197-6205

The cold-active alpha-amylase from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (AHA) is the largest known multidomain enzyme that displays reversible thermal unfolding (around 30 degrees C ... [more ▼]

The cold-active alpha-amylase from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (AHA) is the largest known multidomain enzyme that displays reversible thermal unfolding (around 30 degrees C) according to a two-state mechanism. Transverse urea gradient gel electrophoresis (TUG-GE) from 0 to 6.64 M was performed under various conditions of temperature (3 degrees C to 70 degrees C) and pH (7.5 to 10.4) in the absence or presence of Ca2+ and/or Tris (competitive inhibitor) to identify possible low-stability domains. Contrary to previous observations by strict thermal unfolding, two transitions were found at low temperature (12 degrees C). Within the duration of the TUG-GE, the structures undergoing the first transition showed slow interconversions between different conformations. By comparing the properties of the native enzyme and the N12R mutant, the active site was shown to be part of the least stable structure in the enzyme. The stability data supported a model of cooperative unfolding of structures forming the active site and independent unfolding of the other more stable protein domains. In light of these findings for AHA, it will be valuable to determine if active-site instability is a general feature of heat-labile enzymes from psychrophiles. Interestingly, the enzyme was also found to refold and rapidly regain activity after being heated at 70 degrees C for 1 h in 6.5 M urea. The study has identified. fundamental new properties of AHA and extended our understanding of structure/stability relationships of cold-adapted enzymes. [less ▲]

Structure of a full length psychrophilic cellulase from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis revealed by X-ray diffraction and small angle X-ray scattering

in Journal of Molecular Biology (2005), 348(5), 1211-1224

Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis is a psychrophilic Gram-negative bacterium isolated in Antarctica, that lives on organic remains of algae. This bacterium converts the cellulose, highly constitutive of ... [more ▼]

Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis is a psychrophilic Gram-negative bacterium isolated in Antarctica, that lives on organic remains of algae. This bacterium converts the cellulose, highly constitutive of algae, into an immediate nutritive form by biodegrading this biopolymer. To understand the mechanisms of cold adaptation of its enzymatic components, we studied the structural properties of an endoglucanase, Cel5G, by complementary methods, X-ray crystallography and small angle X-ray scattering. Using X-ray crystallography, we determined the structure of the catalytic core module of this family 5 endoglucanase, at 1.4 angstrom resolution in its native form and at 1.6 angstrom in the cellobiose-bound form. The catalytic module of Cel5G presents the (beta/alpha)(8)-barrel structure typical of clan GH-A of glycoside hydrolase families. The structural comparison of the catalytic core of Cel5G with the mesophilic catalytic core of Cel5A from Erwinia chrysanthemi revealed modifications at the atomic level leading to higher flexibility and thermolability, which might account for the higher activity of Cel5G at low temperatures. Using small angle X-ray scattering we further explored the structure at the entire enzyme level. We analyzed the dimensions, shape, and conformation of Cel5G full length in solution and especially of the linker between the catalytic module and the cellulose-binding module. The results showed that the linker is unstructured, and unusually long and flexible, a peculiarity that distinguishes it from its mesophilic counterpart. Loops formed at the base by disulfide bridges presumably add constraints to stabilize the most extended conformations. These results suggest that the linker plays a major role in cold adaptation of this psychrophilic enzyme, allowing steric optimization of substrate accessibility. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Kinetic and structural optimization to catalysis at low temperatures in a psychrophilic cellulase from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis

in Biochemical Journal (2004), 384(Pt 2), 247-253

The cold-adapted cellulase CelG has been purified from the culture supernatant of the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis and the gene coding for this enzyme has been cloned, sequenced and ... [more ▼]

The cold-adapted cellulase CelG has been purified from the culture supernatant of the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis and the gene coding for this enzyme has been cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. This cellulase is composed of three structurally and functionally distinct regions: an N-terminal catalytic domain belonging to glycosidase family 5 and a C-terminal cellulose-binding domain belonging to carbohydrate-binding module family 5. The linker of 107 residues connecting both domains is one of the longest found in cellulases, and optimizes substrate accessibility to the catalytic domain by drastically increasing the Surface of cellulose available to a bound enzyme molecule. The psychrophilic enzyme is closely related to the cellulase Cel5 from Erwinia chrysanthemi. Both k(cat) and k(cat)/K-m values at 4 degreesC for the psychrophilic cellulase are similar to the values for Cel5 at 30-35 degreesC, suggesting temperature adaptation of the kinetic parameters. The thermodynamic parameters of activation of CelG suggest a heat-labile, relatively disordered active site with low substrate affinity, in agreement with the experimental data. The structure of CelG has been constructed by homology modelling with a molecule of cellotetraose docked into the active site. No structural alteration related to cold-activity can be found in the catalytic cleft, whereas several structural factors in the overall structure can explain the weak thermal stability, suggesting that the loss of stability provides the required active-site mobility at low temperatures. [less ▲]

A perspective on cold enzymes: Current knowledge and frequently asked questions

in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2004), 50(5), 643-655

Studies on psychrophilic enzymes to determine the structural features important for cold-activity have attracted increased attention in the last few years. This enhanced interest is due to the attractive ... [more ▼]

Studies on psychrophilic enzymes to determine the structural features important for cold-activity have attracted increased attention in the last few years. This enhanced interest is due to the attractive properties of such proteins, i.e. a high specific activity and a low thermal stability, and thus, these enzymes constitute a tremendous potential for fundamental research and biotechnological applications. This review examines the impact of low temperatures on life, the diversity of adaptation to counteract these effects and gives an overview of the features proposed to account for low thermal stability and cold-activity, following the chronological order of the catalytic cycle phases. Moreover, we present an overview of recent techniques used in the analysis of the flexibility of a protein structure which is an important concept in cold-adaptation; an overview of biotechnological potential of psychrophilic enzymes and finally, a few frequently asked questions about cold-adaptation and their possible answers. [less ▲]