Investigations concerning recombinant a-amylases from Pyrococcus woesei and thermostable a-glucosidase from Thermus thermophilus indicate their suitability for starch processing. Furthermore, the study of recombinant ss-galactosidase from Pyrococcus woesei suitable for purpose of low lactose milk and whey production are also presented. The activity of this enzyme in a wide pH range of 4.3-6.6 and high thermostability suggests that it can be used for processing of dairy products at temperatures which restrict microbial growth during a long operating time of continuous-flow reactor with an immobilized enzyme system. Preparation of recombinant a-amylase and ss-galactosidase was facilitated by cloning and expression of genes from Pyrococcus woesei in Escherichia coli host. Satisfactory level of recombinant enzymes purification was achieved by thermal precipitation of native proteins originated from Escherichia coli. The obtained a-amylase has maximal activity at pH 5.6 and 93 degrees C. The half-life of this preparation (pH 5.6) at 90 degrees C and 110 degrees C was 11 h and 3.5 h, respectively, and retained 24% of residual activity following incubation for 2 h at 120 degrees C. An advantageous attribute of recombinant a -amylase is independence of its activity and stability on calcium salt. a-Glucosidase from Thermus thermophilus also not require metal ions for stability and retained about 80% of maximal activity at pH range 5.8-6.9. Thus, this enzyme can be used together with recombinant a-amylase.

Pyrococcus woesei (DSM 3773) alpha-amylase gene was cloned into pET21d(+) and pYTB2 plasmids, and the pET21d(+)alpha-amyl and pYTB2alpha-amyl vectors obtained were used for expression of thermostable alpha-amylase or fusion of alpha-amylase and intein in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) or BL21(DE3)pLysS cells, respectively. As compared with other expression systems, the synthesis of alpha-amylase in fusion with intein in E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS strain led to a lower level of inclusion bodies formation-they exhibit only 35% of total cell activity-and high productivity of the soluble enzyme form (195,000 U/L of the growth medium). The thermostable alpha-amylase can be purified free of most of the bacterial protein and released from fusion with intein by heat treatment at about 75 degrees C in the presence of thiol compounds. The recombinant enzyme has maximal activity at pH 5.6 and 95 degrees C. The half-life of this preparation in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6) at 90 degrees C and 110 degrees C was 11 h and 3.5 h, respectively, and retained 24% of residual activity following incubation for 2 h at 120 degrees C. Maltose was the main end product of starch hydrolysis catalyzed by this alpha-amylase. However, small amounts of glucose and some residual unconverted oligosaccharides were also detected. Furthermore, this enzyme shows remarkable activity toward glycogen (49.9% of the value determined for starch hydrolysis) but not toward pullulan.