Expression and characterisation of a thermophilic endo-1,4-β-glucanase from Sulfolobus shibatae of potential industrial application

An endo-1,4-β-d-glucanase gene was cloned from the thermophilic archaea Sulfolobus shibatae and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified by heat denaturation and affinity chromatography prior to characterisation. The purified recombinant enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 95–100 °C and displayed a broad pH profile with over 91% of its maximum activity observed at pH 3–5. Upon assessment of enzyme thermal stability, full...