Truncation of C-terminal amino acids of GH26 endo-mannanase (ManB-1601) affects biochemical properties and stability against anionic surfactants.

Hitherto, the contribution of C-terminal amino acids in structure, stability and function of GH26 endo-mannanases has not been demonstrated. Semi-logarithmic plot of endo-mannanase activity showed a progressive decline with increase in the number of truncated amino acids [ManB-CΔ5 (129 U/mL), ManB-CΔ10 (47 U/mL), ManB-CΔ15 (0.05 U/mL) and ManB-CΔ20 (0.02 U/mL)]. ManB-CΔ5 and ManB-CΔ10 exhibited similar temperature and pH optima and product profile but biochemical properties (kinetic constants, mannan hydrolysis, response to metal ions and enzyme inhibitors) and stability (in presence of commercial detergents, anionic surfactants and organic solvents and half-life) were markedly affected. Interaction of truncated proteins with anionic surfactants was probed using intrinsic, Nile red, acrylamide quenching, resonance light scattering and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy studies. Truncation of ten amino acids increased vulnerability to anionic surfactants as conformational changes, exposure of the hydrophobic core and susceptibility to unfolding process were observed. The microenvironment around Trp residues was affected more with surfactants as compared to Tyr residues in truncated proteins. Zn coordination might not play a role in providing stability against SDS. MD simulation studies corroborated that C-terminal amino acids (327-336) helps in structure stabilization, regulating flexibility of loops around the active site and preventing denaturation in the presence of SDS.