Rami Al Khudary

A Novel Cold Active Esterase from the Marine Psychrotolerant Isolate Pseudoalteromonas Arctica Sp. Nov. Rami Al Khudary

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to cold adapted microorganisms and their enzymes. A gene library was constructed using the genome of a new aerobic psychrotolerant marine isolate Pseudoalteromonas arctica sp. nov. The gene encoding an esterase was identified by screening the library on tributyrin plates. The recombinant protein was purified (3,3 - fold) in one step using a Ni- column and was subsequently characterised. The enzyme has unique properties since it requires a very low activation energy and retains 50% of its maximal activity at the freezing point of water.