Mannose-6-phosphate isomerases (MPIs) have been known to catalyze versatile isomerization reactions between aldose and ketose sugars with or without phosphate groups. In the present study, a putative MPI gene from Thermotoga neapolitana DSM4359 was cl...
Mannose-6-phosphate isomerases (MPIs) have been known to catalyze versatile isomerization reactions between aldose and ketose sugars with or without phosphate groups. In the present study, a putative MPI gene from Thermotoga neapolitana DSM4359 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. T. neapolitana MPI (TnMPI) gene, encoding 278 amino acids, shares 36-76% amino acid sequence identities with known microbial MPI genes. Recombinant TnMPI with C-terminal six-histidines was easily purified by using an Ni-NTA chromatography, and its enzymatic properties were characterized, especially for the isomerization between D-mannose and D-fructose. TnMPI can be activated by some divalent metal ions, such as Cu2+, Mn2+, or Co2+. As a result, TnMPI shows its highest activity under the reaction conditions at 75℃ in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 1 mM Cu2+. Compared to the activity at optimal temperature of 75℃, its activity remains about 80% at 95℃. However, its activity rapidly decreases below pH 6.0 and above pH 8.5. In the presence of 1 mM Cu2+, especially, TnMPI activity on conversion from fructose to mannose is significantly enhanced up to 270% of that without Cu2+. TnMPI was characterized to be a highly thermostable enzyme, as it is originated from a hyperthermophile, T. neapolitana. In addition, its isomerization equilibrium between aldose and ketose is strongly affected by reaction temperature or pH. As reaction temperature increases from 55℃ to 95℃, its equilibrium ratio of fructose to mannose is shifted from 55 : 45 to 73 : 27. As reaction pH increases from pH 5.5 to pH 8.5, its equilibrium ratio of fructose to mannose is shifted from 49 : 51 to 68 : 32.