Wenjun Han

Novel Alginate Lyase (Aly5) from a Polysaccharide-Degrading Marine Bacterium, Flammeovirga sp. Strain MY04: Effects of Module Truncation on Biochemical Characteristics, Alginate Degradation Patterns, and Oligosaccharide-Yielding Properties.

ABSTRACT Alginate lyases are important tools for oligosaccharide preparation, medical treatment, and energy bioconversion. Numerous alginate lyases have been elucidated. However, relatively little is known about their substrate degradation patterns and product-yielding properties, which is a limit to wider enzymatic applications and further enzyme improvements. Herein, we report the characterization and module truncation of Aly5, the first alginate lyase obtained from the polysaccharide-degrading bacterium Flammeovirga. Aly5 is a 566-amino-acid protein and belongs to a novel branch of the polysaccharide lyase 7 (PL7) superfamily. The protein rAly5 is an endolytic enzyme of alginate and associated oligosaccharides. It prefers guluronate (G) to mannuronate (M). Its smallest substrate is an unsaturated pentasaccharide, and its minimum product is an unsaturated disaccharide. The final alginate digests contain unsaturated oligosaccharides that generally range from disaccharides to heptasaccharides, with the tetrasaccharide fraction constituting the highest mass concentration. The disaccharide products are identified as ΔG units. While interestingly, the tri- and tetrasaccharide fractions each contain higher proportions of ΔG to ΔM ends, the larger final products contain only ΔM ends, which constitute a novel oligosaccharide-yielding property of guluronate lyases. The deletion of the noncatalytic region of Aly5 does not alter its M/G preference but significantly decreases the enzymatic activity and enzyme stability. Notably, the truncated protein accumulates large final oligosaccharide products but yields fewer small final products than Aly5, which are codetermined by its M/G preference to and size enlargement of degradable oligosaccharides. This study provides novel enzymatic properties and catalytic mechanisms of a guluronate lyase for potential uses and improvements.

An Extra Peptide within the Catalytic Module of a β-Agarase Affects the Agarose Degradation Pattern

Background: Variations of agarase GH modules and their effects have been minimally elucidated. Results: Deleting the extra fragment in the GH module or swapping the inside Tyr276 changes the degradation characteristics of the agarase rAgaG4. Conclusion: The 276-residue sequence within the extra fragment is crucial for AgaG4 to bind and degrade neoagarooctaose. Significance: Modification of active site residues in agarase changes the degradation pattern. Agarase hydrolyzes agarose into a series of oligosaccharides with repeating disaccharide units. The glycoside hydrolase (GH) module of agarase is known to be responsible for its catalytic activity. However, variations in the composition of the GH module and its effects on enzymatic functions have been minimally elucidated. The agaG4 gene, cloned from the genome of the agarolytic Flammeovirga strain MY04, encodes a 503-amino acid protein, AgaG4. Compared with elucidated agarases, AgaG4 contains an extra peptide (Asn246–Gly302) within its GH module. Heterologously expressed AgaG4 (recombinant AgaG4; rAgaG4) was determined to be an endo-type β-agarase. The protein degraded agarose into neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose at a final molar ratio of 1.5:1. Neoagarooctaose was the smallest substrate for rAgaG4, whereas neoagarotetraose was the minimal degradation product. Removing the extra fragment from the GH module led to the inability of the mutant (rAgaG4-T57) to degrade neoagarooctaose, and the final degradation products of agarose by the truncated protein were neoagarotetraose, neoagarohexaose, and neoagarooctaose at a final molar ratio of 2.7:2.8:1. The optimal temperature for agarose degradation also decreased to 40 °C for this mutant. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that tyrosine 276 within the extra fragment was a candidate active site residue for the enzymatic activity. Site-swapping experiments of Tyr276 to 19 various other amino acids demonstrated that the characteristics of this residue were crucial for the AgaG4 degradation of agarose and the cleavage pattern of substrate.

Biochemical Characteristics and Substrate Degradation Pattern of a Novel Exo-Type β-Agarase from the Polysaccharide-Degrading Marine Bacterium Flammeovirga sp. Strain MY04

ABSTRACT Exo-type agarases release disaccharide units (3,6-anhydro-l-galactopyranose-α-1,3-d-galactose) from the agarose chain and, in combination with endo-type agarases, play important roles in the processive degradation of agarose. Several exo-agarases have been identified. However, their substrate-degrading patterns and corresponding mechanisms are still unclear because of a lack of proper technologies for sugar chain analysis. Herein, we report the novel properties of AgaO, a disaccharide-producing agarase identified from the genus Flammeovirga. AgaO is a 705-amino-acid protein that is unique to strain MY04. It shares sequence identities of less than 40% with reported GH50 β-agarases. Recombinant AgaO (rAgaO) yields disaccharides as the sole final product when degrading agarose and associated oligosaccharides. Its smallest substrate is a neoagarotetraose, and its disaccharide/agarose conversion ratio is 0.5. Using fluorescence labeling and two-stage mass spectrometry analysis, we demonstrate that the disaccharide products are neoagarobiose products instead of agarobiose products, as verified by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum analysis. Therefore, we provide a useful oligosaccharide sequencing method to determine the patterns of enzyme cleavage of glycosidic bonds. Moreover, AgaO produces neoagarobiose products by gradually cleaving the units from the nonreducing end of fluorescently labeled sugar chains, and so our method represents a novel biochemical visualization of the exolytic pattern of an agarase. Various truncated AgaO proteins lost their disaccharide-producing capabilities, indicating a strict structure-function relationship for the whole enzyme. This study provides insights into the novel catalytic mechanism and enzymatic properties of an exo-type β-agarase for the benefit of potential future applications. IMPORTANCE Exo-type agarases can degrade agarose to yield disaccharides almost exclusively, and therefore, they are important tools for disaccharide preparation. However, their enzymatic mechanisms and agarose degradation patterns are still unclear due to the lack of proper technologies for sugar chain analysis. In this study, AgaO was identified as an exo-type agarase of agarose-degrading Flammeovirga bacteria, representing a novel branch of glycoside hydrolase family 50. Using fluorescence labeling, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrum analysis technologies, we provide a useful oligosaccharide sequencing method to determine the patterns of enzyme cleavage of glycosidic bonds. We also demonstrate that AgaO produces neoagarobiose by gradually cleaving disaccharides from the nonreducing end of fluorescently labeled sugars. This study will benefit future enzyme applications and oligosaccharide studies.

A Novel Bifunctional Endolytic Alginate Lyase with Variable Alginate-Degrading Modes and Versatile Monosaccharide-Producing Properties

Endo-type alginate lyases usually degrade alginate completely into various size-defined unsaturated oligosaccharide products (≥disaccharides), while exoenzymes primarily produce monosaccharide products including saturated mannuronate (M) and guluronate (G) units and particularly unsaturated Δ units. Recently, two bifunctional alginate lyases have been identified as endolytic but M- and G-producing with variable action modes. However, endolytic Δ-producing alginate lyases remain undiscovered. Herein, a new Flammeovirga protein, Aly2, was classified into the polysaccharide lyase 7 superfamily. The recombinant enzyme and its truncated protein showed similar stable biochemical characteristics. Using different sugar chains as testing substrates, we demonstrated that the two enzymes are bifunctional while G-preferring, endolytic whereas monosaccharide-producing. Furthermore, the catalytic module of Aly2 can vary the action modes depending on the terminus type, molecular size, and M/G content of the substrate, thereby yielding different levels of M, G, and Δ units. Notably, the enzymes preferentially produce Δ units when digesting small size-defined oligosaccharide substrates, particularly the smallest substrate (unsaturated tetrasaccharide fractions). Deletion of the non-catalytic region of Aly2 caused weak changes in the action modes and biochemical characteristics. This study provided extended insights into alginate lyase groups with variable action modes for accurate enzyme use.

Deletion of a non-catalytic region increases the enzymatic activity of a β-agarase from Flammeovirga sp. MY04

A Glycoside hydrolase (GH) typically contains one catalytic module and varied non-catalytic regions (NCRs). However, effects of the NCRs to the catalytic modules remain mostly unclear except the carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). AgaG4 is a GH16 endo-β-agarase of the agarolytic marine bacterium Flammeovirga sp. MY04. The enzyme consists of an extra sugar-binding peptide within the catalytic module, with no predictable CBMs but function-unknown sequences in the NCR, which is a new characteristic of agarase sequences. In this study, we deleted the NCR sequence, a 140-amino acid peptide at the C-terminus and expressed the truncated gene, agaG4-T140, in Escherichia coli. After purification and refolding, the truncated agarase rAgaG4-T140 retained the same catalytic temperature and pH value as rAgaG4. Using combined fluorescent labeling, HPLC and MS/MS techniques, we identified the end-products of agarose degradation by rAgaG4-T140 as neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose, with a final molar ratio of 1.53:1 and a conversion ratio of approximately 70%, which were similar to those of rAgaG4. However, the truncated agarase rAgaG4-T140 markedly decreased in protein solubility by 15 times and increased in enzymatic activities by 35 times. The oligosaccharide production of rAgaG4-T140 was approximately 25 times the weight of that produced by equimolar rAgaG4. This study provides some insights into the influences of NCR on the biochemical characteristics of agarase AgaG4 and implies some new strategies to improve the properties of a GH enzyme.

Draft Genome Sequence of Paenibacillus sp. Strain MY03, a Terrestrial Bacterium Capable of Degrading Multiple Marine-Derived Polysaccharides

ABSTRACT The bacterium Paenibacillus sp. strain MY03, isolated from the root soil of cypress, can effectively degrade marine-derived polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, and chitin. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of MY03. Putative enzymes, including 3 agarases, 1 alginate lyase, and 1 chitinase, were found.

Biochemical Characteristics and Variable Alginate-Degrading Modes of a Novel Bifunctional Endolytic Alginate Lyase

ABSTRACT Bifunctional alginate lyases can efficiently degrade alginate comprised of mannuronate (M) and guluronate (G), but their substrate-degrading modes have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In this study, we present Aly1 as a novel bifunctional endolytic alginate lyase of the genus Flammeovirga. The recombinant enzyme showed optimal activity at 50°C and pH 6.0. The enzyme produced unsaturated disaccharide (UDP2) and trisaccharide fractions as the final main alginate digests. Primary substrate preference tests and further structure identification of various size-defined final oligosaccharide products demonstrated that Aly1 is a bifunctional alginate lyase and prefers G to M. Tetrasaccharide-size fractions are the smallest substrates, and M, G, and UDP2 fractions are the minimal product types. Remarkably, Aly1 can vary its substrate-degrading modes in accordance with the terminus types, molecular sizes, and M/G contents of alginate substrates, producing a series of small size-defined saturated oligosaccharide products from the nonreducing ends of single or different saturated sugar chains and yielding unsaturated products in distinct but restricted patterns. The action mode changes can be partially inhibited by fluorescent labeling at the reducing ends of oligosaccharide substrates. Deletion of the noncatalytic region (NCR) of Aly1 caused weak changes of biochemical characteristics but increased the degradation proportions of small size-defined saturated M-enriched oligosaccharide substrates and unsaturated tetrasaccharide fractions without any size changes of degradable oligosaccharides, thereby enhancing the M preference and enzyme activity. Therefore, our results provided insight into the variable action mode of a novel bifunctional endolytic alginate lyase to inform accurate enzyme use. IMPORTANCE The elucidated endolytic alginate lyases usually degrade substrates into various size-defined unsaturated oligosaccharide products (≥UDP2), and exolytic enzymes yield primarily unsaturated monosaccharide products. However, it is poorly understood whether endolytic enzymes can produce monosaccharide product types when degrading alginate. In this study, we demonstrated that Aly1, a bifunctional alginate lyase of Flammeovirga sp. strain MY04, is endolytic and monosaccharide producing. Using various sugar chains as testing substrates, we also proved that key factors causing Aly1s action mode changes are the terminus types, molecular sizes, and M/G contents of substrates. Furthermore, the NCR fragments effects on Aly1s biochemical characteristics and alginate-degrading modes and corresponding mechanisms were discovered by gene truncation and enzyme comparison. In summary, this study provides a novel bifunctional endolytic tool and a variable action mode for accurate use in alginate degradation.

A Chondroitin Sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid Lyase with Poor Activity to Glucuronyl 4,6-O-disulfated N-acetylgalactosamine (E-type)–containing Structures

GlcUAβ1–3GalNAc(4S,6S) (E unit)–rich domains have been shown to play key roles in various biological functions of chondroitin sulfate (CS). However, an enzyme that can specifically isolate such domains through the selective digestion of other domains in polysaccharides has not yet been reported. Here, we identified a glycosaminoglycan lyase from a marine bacterium Vibrio sp. FC509. This enzyme efficiently degraded hyaluronic acid (HA) and CS variants, but not E unit–rich CS-E, into unsaturated disaccharides; therefore, we designated this enzyme a CS-E–resisted HA/CS lyase (HCLase Er). We isolated a series of resistant oligosaccharides from the final product of a low-sulfated CS-E exhaustively digested by HCLase Er and found that the E units were dramatically accumulate in these resistant oligosaccharides. By determining the structures of several resistant tetrasaccharides, we observed that all of them possessed a Δ4,5HexUAα1–3GalNAc(4S,6S) at their non-reducing ends, indicating that the disulfation of GalNAc abrogates HCLase Er activity on the β1–4 linkage between the E unit and the following disaccharide. Δ4,5HexUAα1–3GalNAc(4S,6S)β1–4GlcUAβ1–3GalNAc(4S,6S) was most strongly resistant to HCLase Er. To our knowledge, this study is the first reporting a glycosaminoglycan lyase specifically inhibited by both 4-O- and 6-O-sulfation of GalNAc. Site-directed and truncation mutagenesis experiments indicated that HCLase Er may use a general acid–base catalysis mechanism and that an extra domain (Gly739–Gln796) is critical for its activity. This enzyme will be a useful tool for structural analyses and for preparing bioactive oligosaccharides of HA and CS variants, particularly from E unit–rich CS chains.