Purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization of a zinc dependent α-mannosidase isoform III from Custard Apple (Annona squamosa) seeds.

In the present study, out of three isoforms of α-mannosidase identified in the crude extract of defatted Custard apple seed powder, isoform III has been purified to homogeneity by two-step chromatography: hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration. The purified Custard apple α-mannosidase isoform III (CAM) hydrolyzed both chromogenic (p-nitrophenyl-α-D-mannopyranoside) and fluorescent (4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside) substrates. Custard apple α-mannosidase migrated as a single band in native PAGE, showed about 220 kDa molecular mass in gel filtration and in SDS PAGE, dissociated into four bands (Mr ~ 75, 68, 56 and 50 kDa respectively). Temperature and pH optima were found to be 50 °C and 4.0-5.0 respectively and CAM was stable up to 60-70 °C. The enzymatic activity of CAM was inhibited by EDTA, Ag, Hg, Ni and swainsonine (IC value of 1.5 μM). CAM was observed to be a metallo enzyme requiring zinc for its activity. Kinetic parameters K and Vmax were found to be 1.75 mM and 0.068 U/mL respectively. The CD spectral analysis at far UV region (190-300 nm) shows that purified CAM exists as helix (30.4%), β turns (18%) and random coils (29.7%) in its secondary structure. Chemical modification studies with N-Bromosuccinimide revealed the presence of tryptophan in its active site.