Clonagem e caracterização enzimática de uma lipase isolada de uma biblioteca metagenômica de terra preta de índio

Abstract

The advancement of molecular technologies in the scientific field has enabled the development of various forms of access to the genetic material of organisms in order to locate, map, isolate, characterize and decode the target genes of a particular individual or a set of individuals coexisting in a specific environment. Metagenomic studies are very promising in several areas of biotechnology, such as the discovery of new molecules of industrial biotechnological interest, the investigation of new antibiotics and drugs, the bioremediation of environments impacted with toxic metals and the prospection of various enzymes. The objective of this work was characterize enzymatically a previously screened lipase enzyme from Metagenomic Library of Terra Preta de Índio. Lipase gene sequence was isolated from the metagenomic library and expressed in Pichia pastoris under control of PGK promoter. Recombinant lipase was characterized by hydrolysis activity of lipid substrates and synthesis ability in organic solvent. In silico analyzes infer the identification of extracellular lipase belonging to the lipase family, superfamily -hydrolase and lipase activity molecular function. Enzyme was efficiently produced in P. pastoris and recombinant lipase showed activity of 374.59 U/mL hydrolyzing p-nitrophenyl palmitate, Vmax (ap.) 143,4 U/mL.min-1, Km (ap.) 1,4 mM and Kcat (ap.) 103,7 S-1. Enzyme had maximum activity at pH 8.0, temperature 90 ºC and remained stable at high temperatures. Synthesis ability was evaluated by the formation of ethyl laurate by esterification reaction of lauric acid with ethanol, yielding 70% conversion in 45 minutes. Recombinant protein is characterized as an alkaline, thermotolerant, activated by calcium, EDTA e detergents.