Cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of an anti-tumor polysaccharide from the marine fungus Phoma herbarum YS4108

► UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase was cloned and characterizated. ► A full-length cDNA (1846 bp) encoding UDP-GlcDHase was obtained by PCR using degenerate primers and the RACE strategy. ► The cDNA encoded a protein of 520 amino acids and about 50% were high degree of conservation in the nucleotide binding and catalytic domains. ► The cDNA was cloned in the Pichia pastoris GS115 (pPIC3.5k) and recombinant UDP-GlcDHase enzymatic assay was characterized. ► The biochemical properties of the purified recombinant enzyme were comparable with those of its homologs.