Cloning and Characterization of Mannanase Gene from Bacillus subtilis WL-8

A bacterium producing the extracellular mannanase was isolated from Korean soybean paste. The isolate WL-8 has been identified as Bacillus subtilis on the basis on its 16S rRNA sequence, morphology and biochemical properties. The mannanase productivity of strain WL-8 was increased in LB broth by addition of wheat bran. The maximum mannanase productivity was reached to approximately 20 U/ml in LB medium supplemented with 6% wheat bran. A gene encoding the mannanase of WL-8 was cloned into Escherichia coli and its nucleotide sequence was subsequently determined. The mannanase gene consisted of 1,086 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 362 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence was highly homologous with those of several mannanases from B. subtilis belonging to GH family 26. Reaction temperature and pH profiles were investigated using the culture filtrate and cell-free extract of the recombinant E. coli carrying a WL-8 mannanase gene, respectively. Optimal conditions for the two fractions occurred at pH 5.5 and $60^{\circ}C$. The cell-free extract showed higher mannanase activity than the culture filtrate at above $60^{\circ}C$.

Bacillus subtilis WL-8의 Mannanase 유전자 클로닝과 특성분석

전통 발효식품인 된장으로부터 mannanase의 생산균으로 분리된 WL-8 균주는 형태적 특성, 생화학적 성질 및 16S rRNA의 염기서열에 근거하여 Bacillus subtilis로 동정되었다. B. subtilis WL-8은 locust bean gum 보다는 밀기울이 첨가된 LB 배지에서 mannanase 생산성이 높았으며, 24시간 배양하였을 때 약 20 U/ml에 이르렀다. 분리균 WL-8의 mannanase 유전자를 클로닝하여 그 염기서열을 결정한 결과 mannanase 유전자는 362 아미노산으로 구성된 단백질을 코드하며 1,086 뉴클레오티드로 이루어졌다. 아미노산 잔기배열을 분석한 결과 WL-8의 mannanase는 GH family 26에 속하며 B. subtilis의 mannanases와 매우 상동성이 높았다. B. subtilis WL-8의 mannanase 유전자를 함유한 재조합 대장균의 배양상등액과 균체파쇄상등액을 사용하여 반응특성을 조사한 결과 pH 5.5와 $60^{\circ}C$에서 최대 반응활성을 보였으며, $60^{\circ}C$보다 높은 온도에서 배양상등액보다는 균체파쇄상등액에 존재하는 mannanase가 더 높은 활성을 보였다.