Enzymatic synthesis of dimaltosyl-β-cyclodextrin via a transglycosylation reaction using TreX, a Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 debranching enzyme

Di-O-α-maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin ((G2)2-β-CD) was synthesized from 6-O-α-maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin (G2-β-CD) via a transglycosylation reaction catalyzed by TreX, a debranching enzyme from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2. TreX showed no activity toward glucosyl-β-CD, but a transfer product (1) was detected when the enzyme was incubated with maltosyl-β-CD, indicating specificity for a branched glucosyl chain bigger than DP2. Analysis of the structure of the transfer product (1) using MALDI-TOF/MS and isoamylase or glucoamylase treatment revealed it to be dimaltosyl-β-CD, suggesting that TreX transferred the maltosyl residue of a G2-β-CD to another molecule of G2-β-CD by forming an α-1,6-glucosidic linkage. When [14C]-maltose and maltosyl-β-CD were reacted with the enzyme, the radiogram showed no labeled dimaltosyl-β-CD; no condensation product between the two substrates was detected, indicating that the synthesis of dimaltosyl-β-CD occurred exclusively via transglycosylation of an α-1,6-glucosidic linkage. Based on the HPLC elution profile, the transfer product (1) was identified to be isomers of 61,63- and 61,64-dimaltosyl-β-CD. Inhibition studies with β-CD on the transglycosylation activity revealed that β-CD was a mixed-type inhibitor, with a Ki value of 55.6 μmol/mL. Thus, dimaltosyl-β-CD can be more efficiently synthesized by a transglycosylation reaction with TreX in the absence of β-CD. Our findings suggest that the high yield of (G2)2-β-CD from G2-β-CD was based on both the transglycosylation action mode and elimination of the inhibitory effect of β-CD.