Expression, purification and characterization of pectate lyase A from Aspergillus nidulans in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Pectate lyase A (PelA) of Aspergillus nidulans was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and effectively purified using a Ni2+-nitrilotriacetate-agarose column. Enzyme activity of the recombinant PelA could reach 360 U ml−1 medium. The expressed PelA exhibited its optimum level of activity over the range of pH 7.5–10 at 50°C. Mn2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+ and Fe3+ ions stimulated the pectate lyase activity, but Cu2+ and Zn2+ inhibited it. The recombinant PelA had a V max of 77 μmol min−1 mg−1 and an apparent K m of 0.50 mg ml−1 for polygalacturonic acid. Low-esterified pectin was the optimum substrate for the PelA, whereas higher-esterified pectin was hardly cleaved by it. PelA efficiently macerated mung bean hypocotyls and potato tuber tissues into single cells.