Article
Revisiting Jatropha curcas Monomeric Esterase: A Dienelactone Hydrolase Compatible with the Electrostatic Catapult Model
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SCHWARZ, Marcos Gustavo et al. Revisiting Jatropha curcas Monomeric Esterase: A Dienelactone Hydrolase Compatible with the Electrostatic Catapult Model. Biomolecules, v. 11, 1486, p. 1-20, 2021.
2218-273X
10.3390/biom11101486
Autor
Schwarz, Marcos Gustavo Araujo
Antunes, Deborah
Brêda, Gabriela Coelho
Valente, Richard Hemmi
Freire, Denise Maria Guimarães
Resumen
Jatropha curcas contains seeds with a high oil content, suitable for biodiesel production.
After oil extraction, the remaining mass can be a rich source of enzymes. However, data from the
literature describing physicochemical characteristics for a monomeric esterase from the J. curcas seed
did not fit the electrostatic catapult model for esterases/lipases. We decided to reevaluate this J. curcas
esterase and extend its characterization to check this apparent discrepancy and gain insights into the
enzyme’s potential as a biocatalyst. After anion exchange chromatography and two-dimensional
gel electrophoresis, we identified the enzyme as belonging to the dienelactone hydrolase family,
characterized by a cysteine as the nucleophile in the catalytic triad. The enzyme displayed a basic
optimum hydrolysis pH of 9.0 and an acidic pI range, in contrast to literature data, making it well in
line with the electrostatic catapult model. Furthermore, the enzyme showed low hydrolysis activity
in an organic solvent-containing medium (isopropanol, acetonitrile, and ethanol), which reverted
when recovering in an aqueous reaction mixture. This enzyme can be a valuable tool for hydrolysis
reactions of short-chain esters, useful for pharmaceutical intermediates synthesis, due to both its
high hydrolytic rate in basic pH and its stability in an organic solvent.