Swapping of pro-sequences between keratinases of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus: altered substrate specificity and thermostability.

Pro-sequences were swapped in cis between keratinases from Bacillus licheniformis (Ker BL) and Bacillus pumilus (Ker BP) to construct Ker ProBP-BL and Ker ProBL-BP, respectively. Expression of these keratinases was carried out constitutively by E. coli HB101-pEZZ18 system. They were characterized with respect to their parent enzymes, Ker BL and Ker BP, respectively. Ker ProBP-BL became more thermostable with a t(1/2) of 45 min at 80°C contrary to Ker BL which was not stable beyond 60°C. Similarly, the activity of Ker ProBP-BL on keratin and casein substrate, i.e. K:C ratio increased to 1.2 in comparison to 0.1 for Ker BL. Hydrolysis of insulin B-chain revealed that the cleavage sites increased to six from four in case of Ker ProBP-BL in comparison to Ker BL. However, cleavage sites decreased from seven to four in case of Ker ProBL-BP in comparison to the parent keratinase, Ker BP. Likewise, Ker ProBL-BP revealed altered pH and temperature kinetics with optima at pH 10 and 60°C in comparison to Ker BP which had optima at pH 9 and 70°C. It also cleaved soluble substrates with better efficiency in comparison to Ker BP with K:C ratio of 1.6. Pro-sequence mediated conformational changes were also observed in trans and were almost similar to the features acquired by the chimeras constructed in cis by swapping the pro-sequence region.