Overexpression and characterization of a novel endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase from thermophilic fungus Humicola insolens Y1.

Abstract A novel endo- β -1,3(4)-glucanase gene, cel16A , was cloned from the fungus Humicola insolens Y1. The 988-bp full-length gene encoded a 286-residue polypeptide consisting of a putative signal peptide of 20 residues and a catalytic domain belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 16. It was successfully overexpressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The purified recombinant Cel16A exhibited highest specific activity toward barley β -glucan, followed by lichenan and laminarin, but not toward CMC-Na, birchwood xylan, Avicel and filter paper, indicating that Cel16A is an endo- β -1,3(4)-glucanases. Recombinant Cel16A had a pH optimum at 5.5 and a temperature optimum at 55 °C with a specific activity of 693 U/mg toward barley β -glucan. It exhibited good stability over pH 5.0–9.0 and at temperatures up to 50 °C, retaining over 80% maximum activity. The K m and V max values of Cel16A for barley β -glucan were 0.91 mg ml −1 and 1530 μmol min −1 ·mg −1 , respectively. All these favorable enzymatic properties of Cel16A make it a good candidate for applications in various industries.