Phytases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, InsP6). Some monogastric animals like swine lack phytase and therefore cannot digest InsP6 and utilize phosphate. The unabsorbed phytate is excreted from animal and results in soil and water phosphate pollution. Therefore phytases are important to address environmental and nutritional problems. An alkaline phytase was extracted from lily pollen and purified in our lab . Heterologous expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was developed. Initial studies employing the cDNA coding for wild type alkaline phytase (wtLlAlp2) was expressed in Pichia pastoris. However, low levels of enzyme was produced. Heterologous expression level is influenced by transcriptional and translational efficiencies. The gene was optimized with respect to aspects such as codon bias, chi-sites and RNA secondary structure. In this poster, the expression of wtLlAlp2 and optimized gene in Pichia pastoris are compared.

Optimizing the expression of alkaline phytase in <i>Pichia pastoris</i>

240th National Meeting (2010)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Optimizing the expression of alkaline phytase in Pichia pastoris