Amylase and 16S rRNA genes from a hyperthermophilic archaebacterium

R. A. Jones, L. S. Jermiin, S. Easteal, B. K.C. Patel, Iford R. Beacham*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    21 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A hyperthermophilic and amylolytic prokaryote, designated Rt3, was isolated from a thermal spring near Rotorua, New Zealand. The 16S rRNA gene of Rt3 was cloned and sequenced with the aim of determining its phylogenetic affiliations. The phylogenetic analysis of this sequence, which included a selection of archaebacterial and eubacterial 16S rRNA sequences, indicates that Rt3 most likely belongs to the archaebacterial order Thermococcales. An amylase gene (amyA) from Rt3, encoding a highly thermostable amylase activity, was cloned and its DNA sequence determined. Transcriptional signals typical of archaebacteria were evident in this sequence. The sequence is homologous to a broad range of enzymes from the AMY superfamily and contains a typical N-terminal signal peptide. Phylogenetic analysis and comparison of structural features with other AMY superfamily enzymes reveals that, firstly, the closest homologues of the Rt3 amylase are members of the Bacillus and Plant α-amylase groups; and secondly, that the Rt3 amylase is closely related to only one other currently known archaebacterial enzyme, i.e. an (AMY superfamily) α-amylase from Natronococcus.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)93-107
    Number of pages15
    JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology
    Volume86
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1999

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