Efficient removal of toxic phthalate by immobilized serine-type aldehyde-tagged esterase G

Abstract Esterase G (EstG) from dibutyl phthalate (DBP)-degrading Sphingobium sp. SM42 was immobilized on amine-functionalized supports through aldehyde tag technology. Two different sulfatase motif tags, either LCTPSR (cysteine-type) or MSAPAR (serine-type), each of which is recognized by a specific formylglycine generating enzyme (FGE), were fused to the C-terminus of EstG. The cysteine-specific FGE was derived from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 while Klebsiella sp. SLS5 provided serine-specific FGE. The EstG with serine-type aldehyde tag showed a greater immobilization yield and higher specific activity by 4.8-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively. The immobilized EstG retained over 90% of its original activity after seven cycles of usage, and exhibited significantly improved thermostability by retaining 66% activity after 1 h incubation at 60 °C. Additionally, nearly 100% and over 30% of the DBP in 10 mM and 100 mM solutions, respectively, was degraded by the immobilized EstG within 18 h.