Shewanella sp. Ke75 esterase with specificity for p-nitorphenyl butyrate: Gene cloning and characterization

A bacterial strain that produces a cold-adapted esterase was isolated from tidal flats and identified as Shewanella sp. Ke75. In the present study, the corresponding gene was cloned using the shotgun method. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence (957 bp) corresponded to a protein of 318 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 34875 Da. The esterase showed 68 and 57% identities with the putative esterases of Shewanella amazonensis SB2B and Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H, respectively. The esterase contained a putative leader sequence, as well as the conserved catalytic triad (Ser, His, Asp), consensus pentapeptide GXSXG, and oxyanion hole sequence (HG). The protein Ke75 was produced in both soluble and insoluble forms when Escherichia coli cells harboring the gene were cultured at 30°C. The enzyme showed specificity for C4 (butyrate) as a substrate, with little activity toward the other p-nitrophenyl esters tested. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity were pH 9.0 and 30°C, respectively. Relative activity remained up to 60% even at 5°C with an activation energy of 6.29 kcal/mol, which indicated that it was a cold-adapted enzyme. Enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of Mn2+ ions, but inhibited by Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and Zn2+ ions.