A novel alginate lyase and its domain functions for the preparation of unsaturated monosaccharides

Brown algae are considered promising crops for the production of sustainable biofuels. However, the commercial application has been limited by lack of efficient methods for converting alginate into fermentable sugars. Herein, we cloned and characterized a novel alginate lyase AlyPL17 from Pedobacter hainanensis NJ-02. It possessed outstanding catalytic efficiency toward polymannuronic acid (polyM), polyguluronic acid (polyG), and alginate sodium, with k cat of 39.42 ± 1.9 s −1 , 32.53 ± 0.88 s −1 , and 38.30 ± 2.12 s −1 , respectively. AlyPL17 showed maximum activity at 45 °C and pH 9.0. The domain truncation did not change the optimal temperature and optimal pH, but greatly reduced the activity. In addition, AlyPL17 degrades alginate through the cooperative action of two structural domains in an exolytic mode. The minimal degradation substrate of AlyPL17 is a disaccharide. Furthermore, AlyPL17 and AlyPL6 can synergistically degrade alginate to prepare unsaturated monosaccharides that can be converted to 4-deoxy- l -erythron-5-hexoseuloseuronate acid (DEH). DEH is reduced to KDG by DEH reductase (Sdr), which enters the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway as a common metabolite and is converted to bioethanol. Key points • Biochemical characterization of alginate lyase from Pedobacter hainanensis NJ-02 and its truncated form. • Degradation patterns of AlyPL17 and the role of its domains in product distribution and mode of action. • Potential of synergistic degradation system for efficient preparation of unsaturated monosaccharides.