Phytase

Of all the sources of phytase that have been studied (plant, animal, and microorganisms), the highest yields are produced by a wild-type strain A. niger NRRL 3135 (12.7 mg P/hr/ml = 6.8 microns P/ml/min = 113.9 nKat/ml) in a mineral salt medium in which total phosphate (4 mg %) is limiting for growth and cornstarch and glucose are the carbon sources. Synthesis of the enzyme is repressed by phosphate in the wild-type strain. Aspergillus niger NRRL 3135 produces two phytases one with pH optima at 2.5 and 5.5 (phyA) and one with an optimum at pH 2.0 (phyB). It also produces a pH 6.0 optimum phosphatase that has no phytase activity. These three glycoproteins have been purified to homogeneity, characterized, sequenced, and cloned. The sequences have been compared to each other, other phytases, and to known phosphatases. Their homology has been determined. The active sites of phytases show remarkable homology to the active site residues of the members of a particular class of acid phosphatase (histidine phosphatase). The most conserved sequence is RHGXRXP. Phytase has been covalently immobilized on Fractogel TSK HW-75 F and glutaraldehyde-activated silicate. It has been immobilized on agarose. Losses of activity have been noted on immobilization but these may be minimized by future research. It should be possible to commercially produce and recover penta-, tetra-, tri-, di-, and monoinositol phosphates using immobilized phytase if markets develop for those products. Phytase (phyA) from A. niger NRRL 3135 has been cloned into an A. niger glucoamylase producing strain CBS 513.88 using a construct that has a glucoamylae promoter and an A. niger NRRL 3135 leader sequence, and that is devoid of phosphate repression. The yield of the secreted enzyme was increased 52-fold above that of wild-type A. niger NRRL 3135. The bioengineered organism produces 270 microns P/ml/min (4500 nKat/ml) which is approximately 7.9 g/liter in the medium. The yield of the secreted enzyme was increased 1440-fold above that of wild type CBS 513.88. Commercial preparations of the cloned enzyme are available. Phytase (phyA) has been cloned into tobacco and canola. The enzyme is localized in the seed and expressed at high levels. Feeding of the seed to animals has made the phytin-P in the commercial diets available to the animals. The efficacy of feeding phytase to monogastric animals (poultry and swine) has been established. The amount of enzyme that is necessary to be added to commercial diets has been titred for broilers, layers, turkeys, ducks, and swine. The units of enzyme required are related to the phytin-P content in the diet. The use of the enzyme as a feed additive has been cleared in 22 countries. If phytase were used in the diets of all of the monogastric animals reared in the U.S., it would release phosphorus that has a value of $1.68 x 10(8) per year. The FDA has approved the enzyme preparation as GRAS. The effect of feeding phytase to animals enables assimilation of the P found in feed ingredients and diminishes the amount of phosphate in the manure and subsequently entering the environment. The effect of feeding phytase to animals on pollution has been quantitatively determined. If phytase were used in the diets of all of the monogastric animals reared in the United States, it would preclude 8.23 x 10(7) kg P from entering the environment.