Molecular Cloning and Enzymatic Characterization of Cyclomaltodextrinase from Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Thermococcus sp. CL1

Genome organization near cyclomaltodextrinases (CDases) was analyzed and compared for four different hyperthermophilic archaea: Thermococcus, Pyrococcus, Staphylothermus, and Thermofilum. A gene (CL1_0884) encoding a putative CDase from Thermococcus sp. CL1 (tccd) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. TcCD was confirmed to be highly thermostable, with optimal activity at $85^{\circ}C$. The melting temperature of TcCD was determined to be $93^{\circ}C$ by both differential scanning calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry. A size-exclusion chromatography experiment showed that TcCD exists as a monomer. TcCD preferentially hydrolyzed ${\alpha}$-cyclodextrin (${\alpha}$-CD), and at the initial stage catalyzed a ring-opening reaction by cleaving one ${\alpha}$-1,4-glycosidic linkage of the CD ring to produce the corresponding single maltooligosaccharide. Furthermore, TcCD could hydrolyze branched CDs (G1-${\alpha}$-CD, G1-${\beta}$-CD, and G2-${\beta}$-CD) to yield significant amounts (45%, 40%, and 46%) of isomaltooligosaccharides (panose and $6^2$-${\alpha}$-maltosylmaltose) in addition to glucose and maltose. This enzyme is one of the most thermostable maltogenic amylases reported, and might be of potential value in the production of isomaltooligosaccharides in the food industry.