Purification and properties of a novel enzyme, maltooligosyl trehalose synthase, from Arthrobacter sp. Q36

Arthrobacter sp. Q36 produces a novel enzyme, maltooligosyl trehalose synthase, which catalyzes the conversion of maltooligosaccharide into the non-reducing saccharide, maltooligosyl trehalose (alpha-maltooligosyl alpha-D-glucoside) by intramolecular transglycosylation. The enzyme was purified from a cell-free extract to an electrophoretically homogeneous state by successive column chromatography on Sepabeads FP-DA13, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Ultrogel AcA44, and Butyl-Toyopearl 650M. The enzyme was specific for maltooligosaccharides except maltose, and catalyzed the conversion to form maltooligosyl trehalose. The Km of the enzyme for maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, and maltoheptaose were 22.9 mM, 8.7 mM, 1.4 mM, and 0.9 mM, respectively. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 81,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a pI of 4.1 by gel isoelectrofocusing. The N-terminal and C-terminal amino acids of the enzyme were methionine and serine, respectively. The enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C, and was stable from pH 6.0 to 9.5 and up to 40 degrees C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Hg2+ and Cu2+.