Isolation and characterization of an enzyme with esterase activity from Micropolyspora faeni

Abstract

The isolation and the characterization of one ofthe enzymes ofMicropolyspora faeni that hydrolyzes the substrate N-benzoyl-DL-phenylalanine-beta-naphthyl ester and that seems to be of medical importance are described. This enzyme (enzyme 1) was isolated with an 86-fold purification by using the following seven steps: ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration through Sephadex G-150, heat treatment, chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, rechromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex, gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, and affinity chromatography. Enzyme 1 has a molecular weight of approximately 500,000 and maximum activity at pH 7.8 to 8.0 and at 20°C. The enzyme is stable between pH 7.5 and 10.5 and at temperatures up to 60°C. Its activity is not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It is, however, sensitive to diisopropyl phosphofluoride and phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride. These properties and the ability to hydrolyze the esters of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan without endopeptidasic activity and no marked proteolytic activity suggest that the enzyme is an esterase.