The demand for lactic acid has been increasing considerably because of its use as a monomer for the synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA), which is a promising and environment-friendly alternative to the petroleum-derived plastics. Leuconostoc mesenteroi...
The demand for lactic acid has been increasing considerably because of its use as a monomer for the synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA), which is a promising and environment-friendly alternative to the petroleum-derived plastics. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides ATCC 8293 is a lactic acid bacterium that converts pyruvate mainly to D-(-)-lactic acid by D-(-)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhD). This study aims to determine the gene responsible for D-lactic acid formation, as well as to provide information of enzymes for the optically pure D-lactic acid production. A genomic analysis of L. mesenteroides ATCC 8293 revealed that 7 genes encode lactate-related dehydrogenases. According to the transcriptomic, proteomic, phylogenetic analysis, LEUM_1756 is a major gene responsible for the production of D-lactic acid. The LEUM_1756 gene, which has 996 bp encoding 332 amino acids (36.5 kDa), was cloned and over-expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) star with an inducible expression vector pET-21a(+). The purified enzymes via Ni-NTA column chromatography showed specific activity of 4448.20 U/mg, which is sighificantly high compare to previously reported ldhs. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme were 8.0 and 30°C, respectively, in the pyruvate reduction reaction, and 11.0 and 20°C, respectively, in the lactate oxidation reaction. The kinetic parameters, Km and Vmax for pyruvate were 0.58 mM and 476.19 µM/min, respectively, and for lactate were 259.96 mM and 375.14 µM/min, respectively. In addition, the Kcat values of pyruvate and lactate were 2896.85 s-1 and 2282.12 s-1, respectively. The enzyme was not inhibited by Ca2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, urea, while it was inhibited by 1 mM of Zn2+ and SDS.