Research Article Open Access

Characterization of Pullulanase Type II from Bacillus cereus H1.5

Hii Siew Ling1, Tau Chuan Ling1, Rosfarizan Mohamad1 and Arbakariya B. Ariff1
  • 1 University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Problem statement: Pullulanase is one of the important enzymes in starch industry. Search for the pullulanase with distinct features, possibly from easily grown bacterium, is of interest for industrial applications Approach: The extracellular pullulanase produced by Bacillus cereus HI.5 was purified by chromatographic method of DEAE-Sepharose, followed by Superdex gel filtration. The enzyme was characterized in terms of the optimal pH and temperature for activity as well as substrate specificity. Results: The enzyme showed optimal activity at 55°C and pH 6.0. The thermostability and the thermoactivity of the enzyme were increased considerably in the presence of Ca2+. In the present of 2 mM Ca2+, the enzyme had half-life duration of more than 2 h at 50°C. Almost all metal ions had a strong inhibitory effect, except Ca2+ and Mn2+. The Ca2+ had a very strong stimulating effect on the enzyme, increasing its activity by 170%. The enzyme was activated by 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, where as N-bromosuccinimide and Schardinger dextrins were inhibitors, suggesting that tryptophan and thiol residues may be important for the activity. The apparent Km and Vmax value for pullulan was 1.1 mg mL-1 and 0.275 μmol min-1, respectively. A relative substrate specificity for hydrolysis of pullulan, amylopectin and soluble starch by this pullulanase was 100%, 28.5% and 20.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The enzyme was able to attack specifically the α-1,6 linkages in pullulan to generate maltotriose as the major end product, as well as the α-1,4 linkages in amylopectin and soluble starch leading to the formation of a mixture of maltose and glucose and therefore be classified as a type II pullulanase or an amylopullulanase.

American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Volume 5 No. 4, 2009, 170-179

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2009.170.179

Submitted On: 23 September 2009 Published On: 31 December 2009

How to Cite: Ling, H. S., Ling, T. C., Mohamad, R. & Ariff, A. B. (2009). Characterization of Pullulanase Type II from Bacillus cereus H1.5. American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 5(4), 170-179. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2009.170.179

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Keywords

  • Pullulanase
  • amylopullulanase
  • Bacillus cereus
  • starch
  • substrate specificity