Purification and Characterization of a Thermostable Xylose (Glucose) Isomerase from Streptomyces chibaensis J-59

Xylose (glucose) isomerase was purified to homogeneity from cell-extracts of Streptomyces chibaensis J-59 via ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The purified enzyme is a homotetramer with a native molecular mass of 180 kDa and a subunit molecular mass of 44 kDa. The amino acid N-terminal sequence of glucose isomerase from S. chibaensis J-59 was determined to be Ser-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Thr-Pro-Glu-Asp-Arg-Phe-Thr-Phe-Gly-Leu. The first 14 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme showed strong analogies with N-terminal sequences of glucose isomerase produced by other Streptomyces spp. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 7.5 and 85, respectively. The purified enzyme required $Mg^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$ for the activity, $Mg^{2+}$ being the most effective. The enzyme was not inhibited by $Ca^{2+}$, but was inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$, $Ag^+$, and $Cu^{2+}$. The $K_m$, $V_{max}$, and $k_{cat}$ values of S. chibaensis J-59 isomerase for glucose were 83 mM, 40.9 U/mg, and $1,843min^{-1}$, respectively. In the presence of $Co^{2+}$, cell-free enzymes retained 100% without loss of activities by the heat-treatment at $70^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The enzyme retained 50% residual activity after heating at $85^{\circ}C$ for 13.5 h, at $90^{\circ}C$ for 126 min. The enzyme is more thermostable than any other glucose isomerases of Streptomyces spp.