Purification and characterization of xylanase A from Clostridium stercorarium F-9 and a recombinant Escherichia coli.

Xylanase A encoded by the Clostridium stercorarium F-9 xynA gene was purified to homogeneity from a recombinant clone of Escherichia coli. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and molecular weight (54,000) estimated by SDS-PAGE of the purified enzyme were consistent with those deduced from the nucleotide sequence [Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 57, 273-277 (1993)]. A xylanase was also purified to homogeneity from a culture supernatant of C. stercorarium F-9. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence, molecular weight, and enzymatic properties were quite in agreement with those of the recombinant enzyme, indicating that the xynA gene was predominantly expressed as a xylanase gene in C. stercorarium F-9. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed xylotriose to yield xylobiose and xylose while it was less active toward xylobiose. It was optimally active at 75 degrees C and pH 7.0 Km and Vmax were estimated to be 1.9 mg/ml and 2.8 mumol of xylose equivalent/min/micrograms for oat spelt xylan, respectively.