Recombinant Expression of Archaeal Superoxide Dismutases in Plant Cell Cultures: A Sustainable Solution with Potential Application in the Food Industry

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a fundamental antioxidant enzyme that neutralises superoxide ions, one of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extremophile organisms possess enzymes that offer high stability and catalytic performances under a wide range of conditions, thus representing an exceptional source of biocatalysts useful for industrial processes. In this study, SODs from the thermo-halophilic Aeropyrum pernix (SODAp) and the thermo-acidophilic Saccharolobus solfataricus (SODSs) were heterologously expressed in transgenic tomato cell cultures. Cell extracts enriched with SODAp and SODSs showed a remarkable resistance to salt and low pHs, respectively, together with optimal activity at high temperatures. Moreover, the treatment of tuna fillets with SODAp-extracts induced an extension of the shelf-life of this product without resorting to the use of illicit substances. The results suggested that the recombinant plant extracts enriched with the extremozymes could find potential applications as dietary supplements in the nutrition sector or as additives in the food preservation area, representing a more natural and appealing alternative to chemical preservatives for the market.

A new versatile peroxidase with extremophilic traits over-produced in MicroTom cell cultures

“…Protein identification. During our previous study concerning the recombinant expression of archaeal Superoxide Dismutases in tomato cells 9 , an unexpected finding caught our attention and prompted us to investigate further. Indeed, when the non-transgenic protein extracts obtained from calli of MicroTom cotyledons were examined by SDS-PAGE, a protein band migrating with an apparent MW of 32.6 kDa appeared more intense and persistent despite treatment at 80 °C for 30 min, thus suggesting a strong thermotolerance as an exclusive feature of this protein in the crude mixture.…”