Recombinant acetylxylan esterase of Halalkalibacterium halodurans NAH-Egypt: molecular and biochemical study

Acetylxylan esterase plays a crucial role in xylan hydrolysis as the acetyl side-groups restrict endoxylanase action by stearic hindrance. In this study, an acetylxylan esterase (AXE-HAS10: 960 bp & 319 a.a) putative ORF from Halalkalibacterium halodurans NAH-Egypt was extensively studied through heterologous overexpression in Escherichia coli, biochemical characterization, and structural modeling. The AXE-HAS10 tertiary structure was predicted by the Local Meta Threading Server. AXE-HAS10 belongs to the carbohydrate esterase Family 7. Purified to homogeneity AXE-HAS10 showed specific activity (36.99 U/mg), fold purification (11.42), and molecular mass (41.39 kDa). AXE-HAS10 showed optimal pH (8.5) and temperature (40 C-o). After 15 h of incubation at pH 7.0-9.0, AXE-HAS10 maintained 100% activity. After 120 min at 35 and 40 C-o, the retained activity was 80 and 50%, respectively. At 10 mM Mn2+, Fe3+, K+, and Ca2+ after 30 min, retained activity was 329 +/- 15, 212 +/- 5.2, 123 +/- 1.4, and 120 +/- 3.0%, respectively. After 30 min of preincubation with triton x-100, SDS, and CTAB at 0.1% (v/v), the retained activity was 150 +/- 19, 88 +/- 4, and 82 +/- 7%, respectively. At 6.0 M NaCl after 30 min, retained activity was 58%. A 1.44-fold enhancement of beechwood xylan hydrolysis was achieved by AXE-HAS10 and Penicillium chrysogenum DSM105774 beta-xylanase concurrently. Present data underpins AXE-HAS10 as a promising AXE for industrial exploitation.