Characterization of a novel esterase isolated from intertidal flat metagenome and its tertiary alcohols synthesis

A gene coding for an esterase (EstEH112) was isolated from metagenome originated from Korean intertidal flat sediment. The putative esterase gene encoded a 340 amino acids protein with characteristic residues of lipolytic enzymes such as a conserved pentapeptide (GXSXG), the typical catalytic S-D-H triad, and a GGG(A)X-motif in the oxyanion hole near the active site similar to the hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) family. p-Nitrophenyl butyrate was the best substrate for the enzyme among the other p-nitrophenyl esters investigated. The apparent optimal temperature and pH for EstEH112 was 35 °C and at pH 8.0, respectively. EstEH112 efficiently catalyzed the hydrolysis of various large tertiary alcohol esters. These characteristics of EstEH112 make it a potential candidate for application in biocatalysis.

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► We isolated the novel esterase, EstEH112, from intertidal metagenomic library.
► EstEH112 belonged to HSL family containing GGG(A) motif.
► Biochemical characteristics of EstEH112 were studied.
► EstEH112 efficiently catalyzed the conversion of tertiary alcohol esters to tertiary alcohols.