Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Gene Encoding Thermostable Pectinase from Thermotoga maritima

A gene encoding thermostable pectinase (TmPec) was isolated from hyperthermophilic microorganism, Thermotoga maritima. The open reading frame (ORF) of TmPec gene is 1,104 bp long and encodes 367 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 40,605 Da. To analyze the enzymatic activity and biochemical properties, the ORF of TmPec gene excluding putative signal sequence of 27 amino acids was introduced into the E. coli expression vector, pRSET-B, and overexpressed in E. coli BL21. Protein concentration of purified recombinant TmPec was 1.1 mg/mL with specific activity of 56 U/mg protein on pectin. The recombinant TmPec showed the highest activity at around $85-95^{\circ}C$, and at around pH 6.5. It was stable at temperature below $85^{\circ}C$. In the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, the activity of recombinant TmPec was increased to 146.3% of normal level. In contrast, $Ba^{2+}$ and Mn2+ showed strong inhibition to the recombinant TmPec.