bioRxiv ScienceSearch

bioRxiv · 10.1101/422626

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Alkaline Lipase/Esterase Lip-1420 from a Metagenomic Library

Abstract

A novel lipase gene, Lip-1420, was isolated from a metagenomics library constructed from soil samples from reed marshes and from Mt. Jumbong in Korea consisting of 112,500 recombinant plasmids. A selected recombinant plasmid, Lip-1420, was further analyzed which exhibited the maximum lipolytic activity among 18 recombinant fosmids that showed lipolytic activity. Among them, DNA sequence analysis of a 5,513 bp subclone in pUC119 Lip-1420-sub revealed that 11 ORFs were included in the gene according to the blast search from GenBank. The transformant of Lip-1420-ORF3 exhibited lipolytic activity, and plasmid pET21a(+)-Lipase-6H was constructed and transferred to the expression host E. coli BL21(DE3). Finally, the lipase Lip1420 was purified from a FPLC system, and the recombinant enzyme was kept in a -70 {o}C freezer at a concentration of 1 mg/mL in a buffer solution (50 mM Tris-HCl and 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4). The Lip-1420 gene was registered in GenBank (MH628529), and the purified enzyme had an optimal activity at 40 {degrees}C and pH 8.0. Kinetic analysis of the Lip-1420 lipase with the substrate p-nitrophenyl palmitate was performed at 40 {degrees}C and pH 8.0, and the Km and Vmax values of the protein were determined to be 0.268 mM and 1.821 units, respectively. The purified Lip-1420 exhibited the maximum enzymatic activity towards p-nitrophenyl palmitate, indicating that it is an esterase.\n\nIMPORTANCEThis study provides the knowledge to develop a new lipase from the metagenomics library of rhizosphere in Korea using an activity-based method. In addition, the knowledge gained from this study has allowed us to understand that the natural ecosystems are still an unknown genetic material storage report in relation to industrially useful biocatalysts, which are still rich in biodiversity. Moreover, alkaline lipase has great potential for applications in the detergent industry. Especially in the major part of the global industrial enzyme market with high growth potential. It is used, for example, in detergent additives, biopolymer synthesis, and biodiesel production, synthesis of optically pure compounds and food additives as well as in the paper industry, perfume and fragrance blends, biological purification and waste treatment.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Hwang, I. T., Lim, H. K., Kim, D. R., Woo, M. W., Hahm, M.-S.. 2018-09-21. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Alkaline Lipase/Esterase Lip-1420 from a Metagenomic Library. https://doi.org/10.1101/422626

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

Comparative study of chlorophyll measurement in Physcomitrium patens moss using a conventional microscope adapted for combined 2D+1D imaging and spectral analysis

Imaging spectroscopy often requires expensive and complex equipment. Here we show a simple procedure for attaching a standard miniature fiber spectrometer to a conventional microscope, allowing easy integration of 2D imaging with 1D high-resolution spectral measurements. This combination provides much of the benefit of a full imaging spectrometer without the large equipment investment, and we provide instructions for modifying microscopes to this setup and the present measurements of living cells that demonstrate their performance. Using this setup, we compare the quantitative measurement of chlorophyll concentration in Physcomitrium patens moss using color imaging and spectral sampling.

bioengineering

De novo designed single-domain antibodies protect against lethal cobra venom neurotoxicity in vivo

Generative protein design can now rapidly produce de novo binders with high affinity and functional activity against a wide range of targets, including lethal snake venom toxins. However, so far most reported successes rely on new-to-nature scaffolds with limited therapeutic precedent. Single-domain antibodies (VHHs) offer a clinically validated alternative scaffold that can bind and neutralize long-chain -neurotoxins, which are some of the most lethal components in snake venoms. Here we compare three recently established de novo design models with VHH-design capabilities (Germinal, RFantibody, and BoltzGen) for their ability to generate VHHs against the neurotoxin -cobratoxin from the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia). Using standardized model inputs and evaluation criteria based on AlphaFold3 interface confidence (ipTM) and RMSD self-consistency, we find that Germinal was the only method to generate designs passing stringent in silico criteria for experimental testing. We therefore performed a larger Germinal design campaign employing three different VHH frameworks and experimentally validated 46 designs in vitro. Of these, 42 expressed as soluble proteins and we identified four binding hits derived from two of the three tested frameworks. Of the four binders, two lead candidates were further characterized and demonstrated high affinity (KDs of 4.1 nM and 10.8 nM), monomeric behavior and low polyreactivity, indicating favorable biophysical and developability properties, as well as functional toxin neutralization in vitro. To assess their therapeutic potential we investigated their ability to protect against -cobratoxin toxicity in vivo. Both candidates fully protected mice after -cobratoxin challenge, with 100% survival compared to a lethal control. One candidate also retained notable neutralization capacity against whole venom of Naja kaouthia with a survival of 56%, while the other protected 22% when tested in a rescue setting. Together, we demonstrate that de novo VHH design can generate high affinity single-domain antibodies with in vivo protection against lethal cobra venom neurotoxicity, and provide practical insights into method- and framework-dependent performance.

bioengineering

Simple Feedback for Complex Movement: Capturing Whole-Limb Reorganization during Single-IMU Gait Retraining

Clinical gait retraining typically relies on multi-sensor arrays and high-dimensional feedback displays, imposing setup and interpretation burdens that limit routine clinical deployment. We developed a single-IMU visual biofeedback system that delivers real-time feedback of Lower Limb Trajectory Error (LLTE), a composite kinematic error metric integrating knee position and shank angle across the stance phase. Twenty able-bodied adults walked on a treadmill under two visual biofeedback targets (flexed-knee, extended-knee) while receiving either corrected (n=10) or uncorrected (n=8) feedback, where the correction accounted for limb orientation at initial contact. LLTE and stance-phase knee kinematics adapted consistently under the flexed-knee target for both feedback groups, with feedback formulation moderating the temporal trajectory of change. Adaptation toward the extended-knee target was limited, likely because participants were already operating near terminal knee extension and because the scalar error metric provided limited directional information for correction. Ankle range of motion (ROM) changed significantly across the stance phase under both target conditions, while hip ROM did not. Multiscale multivariate sample entropy (MSMVSE) increased monotonically with time scale across all conditions, with no statistically distinguishable difference between corrected and uncorrected feedback. These results suggest that single-IMU LLTE biofeedback can modify gait mechanics and that adaptation was expressed across multiple lower-limb segments rather than through changes at a single joint.

bioengineering