A recombinant cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase cloned from Paenibacillus sp. strain RB01 showed improved catalytic activity in coupling reaction between cyclodextrins and disaccharides

Recombinant cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) was obtained by cloning the PCR gene fragment from thermotolerant Paenibacillus sp. strain RB01 screened from hot spring area in Thailand and cloned into the Escherichia coli expression vector. The nucleotide sequence was analyzed and aligned. Nucleotide sequence of the recombinant CGTase contained an open reading frame of 2139 bp encoding 713 amino acid residues. The recombinant required one-third of culture time and neutral pH to produce CGTase compared to wild type. CGTases from both wild type and transformant were purified in parallel by starch adsorption and DEAE cellulose column. Their biochemical properties such as molecular weight, optimum pH and temperature were quite similar. However, the recombinant enzyme showed improved catalytic activity in the coupling reaction between cyclodextrins (CDs) and some disaccharides. Among several sugars tested with excess βCD, cellobiose was the best substrate followed by leucrose. Very low activity was observed with trehalose, lactose and mellibiose. Sucrose and raffinose showed no activity. The K _m and other kinetic parameters of recombinant enzyme were determined for cellobiose and several cyclodextrin derivatives. Recombinant CGTase showed lower K _m for βCD and its derivatives, with improved activity compared to wild type enzyme.