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Journal of Bacteriology, June 2003, p. 3606-3612, Vol. 185, No. 12
0021-9193/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.185.12.3606-3612.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Molecular Characterization of Inulosucrase from Leuconostoc citreum: a Fructosyltransferase within a Glucosyltransferase

Vanesa Olivares-Illana, Agustín López-Munguía,* and Clarita Olvera

Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelo, Mexico

Received 15 January 2003/ Accepted 26 March 2003

The gene coding for inulosucrase in Leuconostoc citreum CW28, islA, was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed inulin synthesis from sucrose like the wild-type enzyme. Inulosucrase presents an unusual structure: its N-terminal region is similar to the variable region of glucosyltransferases, its catalytic domain is similar to fructosyltransferases from various microorganisms, and its C-terminal domain presents similarity to the glucan binding domain from alternansucrase, a glucosyltransferase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355. From sequence comparison, it was found that this fructosyltransferase is a natural chimeric enzyme resulting from the substitution of the catalytic domain of alternansucrase by a fructosyltransferase. Two different forms of the islA gene truncated in the C-terminal glucan binding domain were successfully expressed in E. coli and retained their ability to synthesize inulin but lost thermal stability. This is the first report of an inulosucrase bearing structural features of both glucosyltransferases and fructosyltransferases.

* Corresponding author. Present address: Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Avenida Universidad 2001 Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca Morelos 62250, México. Phone: (52-777) 3291609. Fax: (52-777) 3172388. E-mail: agustin{at}ibt.unam.mx.

Journal of Bacteriology, June 2003, p. 3606-3612, Vol. 185, No. 12
0021-9193/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.185.12.3606-3612.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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