High-level expression of a novel α-amylase from Thermomyces dupontii in Pichia pastoris and its application in maltose syrup production

Abstract

A novel α-amylase gene (TdAmyA) with an open reading frame of 1431 bp, deducing 476 amino acids, was cloned from the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces dupontii L18. The recombinant α-amylase was successfully over-expressed in Pichia pastoris. The highest α-amylase activity of 38,314 U/mL was obtained with protein content of 28.7 mg/mL after 168 h high-cell density fermentation. Molecular mass of purified TdAmyA was 61.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 59.2 kDa by gel filtration. TdAmyA was a glycoprotein with 5.3% (w/w) of carbohydrate. TdAmyA exhibited maximal activity at 60 °C and pH 6.5, and was thermostable up to 55 °C within pH 4.5–10.0. It was more active towards linear starchy substrates than branched ones. The hydrolysis products were mainly comprised of maltose and maltotriose. TdAmyA produced the highest maltose content of 51.8% after 8 h hydrolysis. Thus, TdAmyA might be a candidate α-amylase for maltose syrup production.