[Cloning, expression and purification of D-carbamoylase from Sinorhizobium morelens S-5]

A N-carbamoyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase gene (hyuC) from Sinorhizobium morelens S-5 was cloned by LA PCR, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by the hyuC gene exhibited high homology to the amino acid sequences of D-carbamoylase from other sources. The gene could be highly expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme was purified 16.1-fold to homogeneity with a yield of 21.2% by heat treatment and three steps of column chromatography. The results of gel filtration on Superdex 200 HR and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested that the enzyme was a tetramer protein of identical 38-kDa subunits. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of N-carbamoyl alpha-amino acid to the corresponding free amino acid, and it was strictly D-specific. The enzyme showed broad substrate specificity, and exhibited high activity in the hydrolysis of N-carbamoyl-D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine as substrate. The enzyme did not hydrolyze N-carbamoyl-beta-alanine. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were pH 7.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively. Enzyme activity was slightly improved by Ca2+ and Fe2+, and nearly not affected by metal chelators and sulfhydryl reagents. The enzyme showed high thermal and oxidative stability. These results show that the enzyme has great potential for industrial application.