Dextransucrase from the mutant of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PPm) is more stable than the wild type

A comparative study on both wild type and mutant of Pediococcus pentosaceus for dextransucrase activity, its stability, dextran synthesizing activity, antibiotic sensitivity and carbohydrate utilization was performed. The wild type P. pentosaceus had specific activity of 0.58 U/mg whereas the mutant showed that of 1.0 U/mg with 72% enhancement. The antibiogram of 27 antibiotics tested against mutant showed significant differences with 9 antibiotics when compared to wild type. In carbohydrate fermentation profile, trehalose, galactose, maltose, lactose and fructose are metabolized by both the strains, but weakly in case of mutant. Stabilization of purified dextransucrase from wild type and mutant with various stabilizers was studied at 30 and 4 °C. Both enzymes were more stable at 4 °C. Among various stabilizers such as dextran (100 kDa, 10 μg/ml), glycerol (0.5%, v/v), PEG 8000 (10 μg/ml) and Tween 80 (0.5%, v/v), Tween 80 provided maximum stabilization at 4 and 30 °C. The mutant showed better stabilization than that of the wild type at both 30 and 4 °C. The loss of activity at 30 °C after 24 h in wild type and mutant in the presence of Tween 80 was only 34 and 32%, respectively, whereas the loss of activity in control of wild type and mutant was 76 and 59%, respectively. After 15 days at 4 °C, the loss of activity in control of wild type and mutant in the presence of Tween 80 was only 15 and 8%, respectively, whereas at 30 °C, the loss of activity in control of wild type and mutant was 49 and 42% respectively. Half-life of the enzyme with Tween 80 was 28.5 and 33.5 h for wild type and mutant, respectively, at 30 °C and 52.1 and 106.6 days for wild type and mutant respectively, at 4 °C.