Purification and characterization of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera A11

Mutant A11, a mutant of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera Sdu with low acid and neutral trehalase was found to accumulate over 18% (w/w) trehalose from starch in its cells. In this study, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) was purified to homogeneity from this mutant, with a 30-fold increase in the specific enzyme activity, as compared to the concentrated cell-free extract, from initial cells. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme as determined by SDS-PAGE was 66 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of the purified enzyme were 6.6 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was activated by Ca2+, K+ and Mg2+, with K+ showing the highest activation at 35 mM. On the other hand, Mn2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Hg2+ and Co2+ inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme was also strongly inhibited by protease inhibitors such as iodoacetic acid, EDTA and PMSF.