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Characterization, cloning and sequencing of a thermostable endo-(1,3–1,4) β-glucanase-encoding gene from an alkalophilic Bacillus brevis

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Abstract

A Bacillus brevis gene coding for an endo-(1,3–1,4)-β-glucanase was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. The open reading frame contains a sequence of 759 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 252 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the β-glucanase gene showed only a 50% similarity to previously published data for Bacillus endo-(1,3–1,4)-β-glucanases. The optimum temperature and pH for enzyme activity were 65–70°C and 8–10, respectively. When held at 75°C for 1 h, 75% residual activity was measured. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 29 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the enzyme was found to be resistant to SDS.

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Correspondence to: T. G. Watson

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Louw, M.E., Reid, S.J. & Watson, T.G. Characterization, cloning and sequencing of a thermostable endo-(1,3–1,4) β-glucanase-encoding gene from an alkalophilic Bacillus brevis . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 507–513 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00242946

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00242946

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