Identification and Characterization of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactonate Cycloisomerase Belonging to the Enolase Superfamily

Abstract

Recently, we have shown that Postechiella marina M091 degrades 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose (L-AnG) to pyruvate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate via six enzyme-catalyzed reactions and that the L-AnG dehydrogenase, an enzyme catalyzing the first step of L-AnG degradation, converts L-AnG to 3,6-anhydro-L-galactonate (L-AnGA). In this study, we report the identification and characterization of L-AnGA cycloisomerase (L-AnGACI), a novel enzyme that catalyzes the second step of L-AnG metabolism in agar-degrading microorganisms. To characterize this enzyme, the L-AnGACI gene (M091_0722) from P. marina (Pm_L-AnGACI) was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant Pm_L-AnGACI catalyzed conversion of LAnGA to 2-keto-3-deoxy-L-galactonate (L-KDGal), which was confirmed by the L-KDGal aldolase reaction and the LC-MS analysis of the aldolase reaction products. The enzyme showed activity only towards L-AnGA (100%) and galactarate (1.8%) among the 12 sugar acids and carboxylates tested, and the enzyme activity was maximal at 30A degrees C and pH 8.0. Enzyme activity was enhanced by addition of divalent ions such as Co2+ and Mg2+, as is observed from enzymes of the enolase superfamily. L-AnGACI conserves several residues commonly found in the enolase superfamily, including three metal-ion binding ligands (Asp(198), Glu(224), Glu(250)) and five active-site residues (Lys(167), Lys(169), Asp(273), His(300), Glu(320)). Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences indicates that Pm_L-AnGACI belongs to a novel family within the mandelate racemase subgroup of the enolase superfamily. A reaction mechanism for cycloisomerization of L-AnGA to L-KDGal is proposed, which implies that the absolute configuration does not change during the reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the characterization of L-AnGACI.