Characterization of a salt-tolerant family 42 beta-galactosidase from a psychrophilic antarctic Planococcus isolate.

ABSTRACT: We isolated a gram-positive, halotolerant psychrophile from a hypersaline pond located on the McMurdo Ice Shelf in Antarctica. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of this organism showed that it is a member of the genus Planococcus. This assignment is consistent with the morphology and physiological characteristics of the organism. A gene encoding a beta-galactosidase in this isolate was cloned in an Escherichia coli host. Sequence analysis of this gene placed it in glycosidase family 42 most closely related to an enzyme from Bacillus circulans. Even though an increasing number of family 42 glycosidase sequences are appearing in databases, little information about the biochemical features of these enzymes is available. Therefore, we purified and characterized this enzyme.

SUBMITTER: Sheridan PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC110553 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature