Characterizing NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes of Methylobacterium extorquens and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta).

The methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens (strain with CABI registration number IMI 369321), which has been isolated from strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Elsanta) callus cultures, was grown on a mixture of methanol (0.25% v/v) and 1,2-propanediol (0.75% v/v). The microbial biotransformation of 1,2-propanediol to 2-hydroxypropanal (lactaldehyde) was studied. The bacterial alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymatic activities were assessed, and the optimum pH for ADH activity was found to be pH 6.0. Enzyme assays were carried out for both the bacterial and the strawberry extracts to define the best substrate specificity. For Methylobacterium extorquens, the best substrates were found to be methanol (Km = 0.78 mM) and 1,2-propanediol (Km = 15.84 mM), whereas for strawberries, 1-propanol (Km = 3.54 mM) and ethanol (Km = 6.66 mM) were the best substrates. A wide variety of metals as well as EDTA were shown to decrease the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE experiments showed molecular weights of 45.0 and 24.6 kDa for the alcohol dehydrogenases of Methylobacterium extorquens and Fragaria x ananassa, respectively.