In this study, the aim was to achieve high concentration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) production by recombinant Pichia pastoris by investigating the effects of various operation parameters and to determine the suitable peptide ligand sequence that shows affinity and specificity to hGH. In this context, firstly the effect of temperature and Tween-20/80 addition on production and cell growth were investigated. While at T=30 and 32&deg / C, there was no difference, at 27 and 25&deg / C cell growth slowed down and production decreased significantly. The addition of Tween-20/80 in existence of co-substrate sorbitol did not affect the bioprocess while in absence of sorbitol Tween alone did not show the same positive effect on product formation and cell growth. Thereafter at T=30&deg / C, without addition of Tween, three sets of pilot scale bioreactor experiments were performed. In the first set, the effect of methanol feeding rate on bioprocess characteristics were investigated at the specific growth rates of &mu / =0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 h-1. While the highest cell concentration was achieved at &mu / =0.04 h-1, the highest rhGH concentration was achieved at &mu / =0.03 h-1. Secondly, conducting methanol feeding at &mu / =0.03 h-1, pH=5.5 experiment was conducted. The highest cell concentration, 45 g L-1 and maximum rhGH concentration 0.25 g L-1 were achieved at t=18 h of the process. Finally, the effect of batch sorbitol feeding on bioprocess was observed by the addition of 50 g L-1 sorbitol at t=0, 14 and 31 h of the production phase. It was shown that sorbitol addition to the medium increased process duration / hence cells enter stationary phase after a longer production phase. However, the protease concentration continued increasing with respect to time and at the end of the process reached twice the concentration it was obtained with single sorbitol addition case decreasing the rhGH concentration. In selection of the peptide sequence that shows affinity towards hGH, phage display method was conducted. Additionally the sequences from literature and computational design were used as alternatives. The interaction between these peptides and hGH was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance.

Pyrococcus furiosus extracellular &alpha / -amylase is a hyperthermostable glucosyl hydrolyzing enzyme which shows unique biochemical properties that may have impact on improving starch hydrolysis process / however, it is insignificantly expressed in its native archaeal host. In this study, it was aimed to express the P. furiosus extracellular alpha-amylase (PFA) in Pichia pastoris, which is a well-recognized overexpression host used in production of heterologous proteins. In this context, first, P. furiosus was grown under anaerobic conditions in capped bottles for t= 12 h at T=90&deg / C and then its genomic DNA was isolated. PFA coding cDNA frame was amplified using two specifically designed oligonucleotides and cloned into pPICZ&alpha / A expression vector. Then wild type P. pastoris X-33 cells were transfected with pPICZ&alpha / A::PFA construct. In shake flask production medium, existence of recombinant PFA activity was tested and biochemical characterization of the recombinant product was done. This was the first time PFA is expressed in an eukaryotic host. Optimum working temperature and pH of the rPFA were found to be 95 &deg / C and within the range of 4.5-6.5, respectively. rPFA is independent to metal ions and inhibition by production medium of P. pastoris was observed, in presence of divalent metal ions. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae &alpha / -factor secretion signal was fused to the N terminal of rPFA, minute amount of extracellular secretion was detected but the majority of the enzymatic activity remained in the intracellular medium. The best producer strain was selected by measuring &alpha / -amylase activity in cell extracts by DNS method. Effects of pH on cell growth and recombinant protein production were determined by shake flask experiments and maximum of 4800 U/l rPFA was detected with 7.30 g/l wet cell density in pH=6 buffered medium. In order to achieve higher rPFA production, two bioreactor experiments were designed at two different pH operation conditions, namely pH=4 and pH=5, in a working volume of 1 L. The dissolved oxygen tension was kept over 20% and predetermined exponential methanol feeding strategy was employed in order to fix specific cell growth rate, &micro / , at 0.03 h-1. At pH=4 operation, maximum of 73,400 U/l &alpha / -amylase activity was detected at the t=27 h of production phase when the wet cell density was 209 g/l.

In this study, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) production by Pichia pastoris-Mut+ strain was improved by designing feeding strategies which were applied in the production phase of the bioreactor operations. During the bio-reactor experiments the cell growth, sorbitol and methanol consumptions, recom-binant hGH production, alcohol oxidase (AOX) activity, the by-products protease and organic acid concentrations were followed and analyzed. In this context, in the first part of the study, three bioreactor operations were designed and per-formed. In general, the designed strategies are fundamentally based on simulta-neous feeding of the two substrates starting at t=0 h of the production phase, i.e., batch-wise 50 gL-1sorbitol feeding, together with fed-batch methanol feeding with a specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.03 h-1 or &mu / 0=0.04 h-1, and fed-batch sorbitol feeding with a specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.025h-1 which was calculated based on the specific consumption rate qS=0.152 g g-1h-1 of sorbitol. Consequently, sorbitol concentration was kept constant at 50 gL-1 within t=0-15h of the production phase / where, sorbitol feeding was terminated at t=15h. Amongst, in the first strategy (SSM1), methanol was fed to the system with the specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.03 h-1, and the H+ concentration (pH) in the bioreactor was kept constant at pH=5.0. In the second strategy (SSM2), pH was kept constant at 5.5 until t=24h of the induction phase (production phase), thereafter, was reduced to pH= 5.0 / where methanol was fed to the bioreactor with the specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.03 h-1. In the third strategy (SSM3), methanol was fed with the specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.04 h-1, and the pH in the bioreactor was kept constant at pH 5.0. The highest rhGH production and cell concentration were achieved in the first strategy SSM1 as CrhGH=640 mg L-1 and CX=105.3 g L-1, and the overall cell and product yields on total substrate were calculated as YX/S =0.21 g g-1 and YCrhGH/S =1.83 mg g-1. In the second part of this study the two-substrates sorbitol and methanol were fed simultaneously in a solution compose of 1.37 mol sorbitol and 6.21 mol methanol in 13.88 mol water, which is named as SM. In this strategy (SM), the two-substrate solution was fed to the medium with the specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.03 h-1 on sorbitol until t=30h / thereafter, only methanol was fed to the bio-reactor with the specific growth rate of &mu / 0=0.03 h-1. The highest cell and rhGH concentrations obtained in SM were, respectively, Cx=104.7 g L-1 and CrhGH=124 mg L-1 / and the overall cell and product yields on the total substrate were calcu-lated as YX/S=0.21 g g-1 and YCrhGH/S=0.39 mg g-1. Although the highest cell con-centration obtained at SM is close to that of the SSM1, the rhGH concentration obtained at SM is 5.2-fold lower than that of the strategy SSM1.

<p>Recombinant Candida antarctica lipase B was successfullyproduced in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris. Thespecific activities of Candida antarctica lipase B produced inPichia pastoris and commercial Candida antarctica lipase B fromNovozymes were the same. In shake-flask cultivations theexpression levels were about 25 mg L-1. Production levels couldbe increased to 1.5 g L-1, using a fermentor. A model tosimulate growth and oxygen consumption was described. The highcell density growth could be explained by the low maintenancecoefficient of Pichia pastoris. Enrichment of the aeration withoxygen increased the recombinant protein production. The lipasewas also produced as a fusion to a cellulose binding module.The cellulose binding module did not interfere with thespecific activity of the lipase. With this fusion proteincatalytic reactions can be performed in close proximity to acellulose surface. The binding module can also function as anaffinity tag for purification. Establishment of the Candidaantarctica lipase B production system allowed the engineeringof Candida antarctica lipase B variants. Four differentvariants were produced in order to investigate if electrostaticinteractions contributed to enantioselectivity. Theenantioselectivity of two halogenated secondary alcohols wasdoubled for the Ser47Ala variant. Thisimplied thatelectrostatic interactions are important forenantioselectivity. The Trp104His variant showed a decrease inenantioselectivity for all tested substrates. This was causedby an increase in the size of the stereoselectivity pocket.Symmetrical secondary alcohols of different size were used tomap the stereoselectivity pocket. A substituent as large as apropyl or isopropyl could be accommodated in the pocket of theTrp104His variant. In the wild-type lipase thestereoselectivity pocket was estimated to fit an ethyl group.The enzyme variants were subjected to a thermodynamic study, toelucidate changes in the enthalpic and entropic contributionsto enantioselectivity. The enthalpic and entropic contributionschanged for the different lipase variants and werecompensatory. The compensation was not perfect, allowing forchanges in enantioselectivity.</p><p>In general one can conclude that rational design of newenzyme properties, in order to change the substrateselectivity, is feasible if based on a thorough model ofsubstrate enzyme interactions.</p><p><b>Key words:</b>Protein expression, Candida antarctica lipaseB, Pichia pastoris, sitedirected mutagenesis, fermentation,selectivity</p>

<p>Pyrosequencing is a DNA sequencing method based on thedetection of released pyrophosphate (PPi) during DNA synthesis.In a cascade of enzymatic reactions, visible light isgenerated, which is proportional to the number of nucleotidesincorporated into the DNA template. When dNTP(s) areincorporated into the DNA template, inorganic PPi is released.The released PPi is converted to ATP by ATP sulfurylase, whichprovides the energy to luciferase to oxidize luciferin andgenerate light. The excess of dNTP(s) and the ATP produced areremoved by the nucleotide degrading enzyme apyrase.</p><p>The commercially available enzymes, isolated from nativesources, show batch-tobatch variations in activity and quality,which decrease the efficiency of the Pyrosequencing reaction.Therefore, the aim of the research presented in this thesis wasto develop methods to recombinantly produce the enzymes used inthe Pyrosequencing method. Production of the nucleotidedegrading enzyme apyrase by Pichia pastoris expression system,both in small-scale and in an optimized large-scale bioreactor,is described. ATP sulfurylase, the second enzyme in thePyrosequencing reaction, was produced in<i>Escherichia coli</i>. The protein was purified and utilizedin the Pyrosequencing method. Problems associated with enzymecontamination (NDP kinase) and batch-to-batch variations wereeliminated by the use of the recombinant ATP sulfurylase.</p><p>As a first step towards sequencing on chip-format,SSB-(single-strand DNA binding protein)-luciferase and KlenowDNA polymerase-luciferase fusion proteins were generated inorder to immobilize the luciferase onto the DNA template.</p><p>The application field for the Pyrosequencing technology wasexpanded by introduction of a new method for clone checking anda new method for template preparation prior the Pyrosequencingreaction.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>apyrase, Pyrosequencing technology, Z_basictag fusion, luciferase, ATP sulfurylase, dsDNAsequencing, clone checking, Klenow-luciferase, SSB-luciferase,<i>Pichia pastoris, Echerichia coli</i>.</p>

Pseudozyma (Candida) antarctica lipase B (PalB) was expressed in Escherichia coli facilitating protein engineering. The lack of glycosylation was evaluated for a deeper understanding of the difficulties in expressing PalB in E. coli. Different systems were tested: periplasmic expression in Rosetta (DE3), cytosolic expression in Rosetta-gami 2(DE3), Origami 2(DE3), and coexpression of groES and groEL. Periplasmic expression resulted 5.2 mg/L active PalB at 16 °C in shake flasks. This expression level was improved by using the EnBase technology, enabling fed-batch cultivation in 24-deep well scale. The feed rate was titrated with the addition of α-amylase, which slowly releases glucose as energy source. Different media were evaluated where the EnBase mineral salt medium resulted in 7.0 mg/L of active PalB. Protein secreted directly into the media was obtained using the constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter for screening and production of PalB in P. pastoris. A protease sensitive fusion protein CBM-PalB (cellulose-binding module) was used as a model system. When optimised, the expression system resulted in 46 mg/L lipase in 72 hours in shake flask, 37 mg/L lipase in 28 hours in 96-deep-well plate format, and 2.9 g PalB per 10 L bioreactor cultivation. The E. coli expression system was used to express a small focused library of PalB variants, designed to prevent water from entering the active site through a hypothesised tunnel. Screening of the library was performed with a developed assay, allowing for simultaneous detection of both transacylation and hydrolytic activity. From the library a mutant S47L, in which the inner part of the tunnel was blocked, was found to catalyse transacylation of vinyl butyrate in 20 mM butanol 14 times faster than hydrolysis. Water tunnels, assisting water in reaching the active sites, were furthermore found by molecular modelling in many hydrolases. Molecular modelling showed a specific water tunnel in PalB. This was supported by experimental data, where the double mutant Q46A S47L catalysed transacylation faster than hydrolysis compared to the wild type PalB. / <p>QC 20100818</p>

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2000--Aachen.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-06-23T11:41:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 388479 bytes, checksum: 3f6213e3987bc7cbece94deab1128175 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-23T11:41:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 388479 bytes, checksum: 3f6213e3987bc7cbece94deab1128175 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2001-03-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A região codificadora do gene LAC4, que codifica a β-galactosidase de Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis, foi isolada do plasmídeo pLAC4-12, por meio da técnica de reação de polimerização em cadeia (PCR) com oligonucleotídeos iniciadores, que amplificam um fragmento de aproximadamente 3.000 pb. Com os objetivos de expressar e secretar a β- galactosidase, este fragmento foi clonado em um vetor de expressão e secreção pPIC9 do sistema de expressão de Pichia pastoris. A região codificadora LAC4 intacta e uma versão truncada foram fundidas em fase com a seqüência sinal de secreção do fator-α, sob controle do promotor AOX1. A hidrólise dos DNAs recombinantes obtidos com as enzimas de restrição apropriadas confirmou a clonagem da região codificadora LAC4 intacta nas orientações anti-senso e senso e da versão truncada no vetor pPIC9. Os clones foram linearizados e usados para transformar células eletrocompetentes de Pichia pastoris GS115 (His - e Mut + ). Colônias recombinantes foram isoladas e as inserções da região codificadora LAC4 intacta e truncada no genoma da levedura foram confirmadas por “PCR” com iniciadores específicos. Colônias recombinantes positivas foram cultivadas em glicerol e a expressão dos genes recombinantes foi induzida com metanol. Amostras foram coletadas periodicamente e o meio extracelular e a massa de células analisados quanto à atividade de β -galactosidase. Nenhum aumento na atividade de β - galactosidase foi observado perante o controle. Espera-se que a transformação de linhagens da levedura Mut - com os clones obtidos possa resultar na produção de uma proteína funcional. / The codins Kluyveromyces region marxianus of var. the lactis β-galactosidase was isolated LAC4 from gene, pLAC4-12, from by polimerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with primers that amplify a fragment of approximately 3.000 bp. Expression and secretion vector to expresse and secrete β-galactosidase, the intact and truncated LAC4 coding regions were fused in phase with the factor-α secretion signal sequence in the Pichia pastoris pPIC9. Appropriate restriction enzyme hydrolates confirmed the insertion of the intact LAC4 coding region in sense and antisense orientations, as well as its truncated version in to the pPIC9 vector. The clones were linearized and used to transform electrocompetent Pichia pastoris GS115 (His - e Mut + ) cells. Recombinant cells were isolated and the insertions of intact and truncated LAC4 coding regions in the yeast genome were confirmed by PCR with specific primers. Positive recombinant colonies were grown in glycerol and the expression of the heterologous genes was induced with methanol. Samples were periodically collected and the extracellular medium and cell mass were analyzed for β-galactosidase activity. No increase in β-galactosidase activity was observed over the control. The transformation of Mut - yeast cell lines with the clones is expectial to result in the production of a functional protein. / Dissertação importada do Alexandria

MEDEIROS, Suelen Carneiro de. Expressão heteróloga de uma glicosil hidrolase da Família 18 (cv2736) de Chromobacterium violaceum em Pichia pastoris com potencial antibacteriano. 2012. 122 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Bioquímica)-Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, 2012. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-07-11T13:31:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_scmedeiros.pdf: 2847279 bytes, checksum: c0e6c68e1b479acad3f4108642933a87 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by José Jairo Viana de Sousa (jairo@ufc.br) on 2016-08-02T20:21:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_scmedeiros.pdf: 2847279 bytes, checksum: c0e6c68e1b479acad3f4108642933a87 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T20:21:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_scmedeiros.pdf: 2847279 bytes, checksum: c0e6c68e1b479acad3f4108642933a87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Chitinases are enzymes capable of hydrolyzing chitin, a polysaccharide composed of units of N-acetyl-D- glucosamine, which is abundant in nature. The genome sequence of C. violaceum ATCC 12472 has revealed some genes encoding proteins with potential applications in agriculture and medicine, such as those encoding chitinases. This study aimed to express the protein CV2736 in Pichia pastoris KM71H and to evaluate its antimicrobial potential against microorganism of medical importance. To this purpose, the full ORF (encoding rCV2736 PS+) and a partial sequence of it, encoding a truncated protein without its putative signal peptide (rCV2736PS‒), were cloned into the vector pPICZ α A for expression in P. pastoris. The protein rCV2736 PS+ was detected in the cell-free culture medium of P. pastoris cells harboring the corre sponding expression cassete. The recombinant CV2736PS+ was produced in a heterogeneous manner, and when analyzed by SDS-PAGE, three protein bands with apparent molecular masses of 41. 3, 38.1 and 36. 2 kDa were detected. The protein band with the highest molecular mass (41.3 kDa) was stained with the Periodic acid - Schiff’s reagent, thus showing that this band corresponds to N-glycosylated rCV2736PS+. Furthermore, tryptic peptides identified by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) confirmed the identity of the expressed protein. The recombinant protein produced without the first 22 amino acids(rCV2736PS‒) showed higher chitinase activity than that found for th e fraction containing rCV2736PS+, despite not being detected by SDS-PAGE. The recombinant protein CV2736PS+, present in the fraction F0/95 from the culture medium of induced cells, was active after heat treatment at 50 °C and its maximum chitinolytic activity was recorded at pH 3.0. This fraction was also able to degrade the synthetic substrates 4-nitrophenyl N,N'-diacetyl -β-D-chitobioside and 4-nitrophenyl N,N',N''-triacet yl chitotrioside, which characterizes an endochitinase activity. Abinitio molecular modeling demonstrated that the polypeptide of CV2736 likely folds as a(β/α)8 barrel (also known as TIM barrel), which is typical of the GH18 family proteins. The fraction F0/95 showed antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and growth inhibition against Salmonella cholera-suis. The same fraction were evaluated against the yeast Candida albicans, but was not detectable inhibition of this microorganism in the assay. These results suggest that rCV2736 should be further studied as a new anti-bacterial agent. / Quitinases são enzimas capazes de hidrolisar quitina, um polissacarídeo formado por unidades de N-acetil-β-D-glucosamina, que é extremamente abundante na natureza. Após o sequenciamento do genoma de C. violaceum ATCC 12472, alguns genes referentes a proteínas com potencial biotecnológico foram encontrados, dentre eles os que codificam para quitinases. Este trabalho teve como objetivos expressar a proteína CV2736 de C. violaceum ATCC 12472 de forma recombinante em células de Pichia pastoris KM71H e avaliar seu potencial antimicrobiano frente a microrganismos de importância médica. Para isto, a sequencia completa da ORF (CV2736PS+), bem como uma sequencia parcial, codificando uma proteína truncada, sem um possível peptídeo sinal N-terminal (CV2736PS‒), foram clonadas no vetor de expressão pPICZαA, para expressão em P. pastoris KM71H. A proteína completa (rCV2736PS+) foi detectada em uma fração proteica, contendo as proteínas secretadas para o meio de cultura, por células de P. pastoris transformadas com o respectivo cassete de expressão recombinante. A rCV2736PS+ apresentou-se de forma heterogênea, quando analisada por SDS-PAGE, exibindo três bandas com massas moleculares aparentes de 41,3, 38,1 e 36,2 kDa, respectivamente, sendo uma delas (41,3 kDa) maior do que se poderia deduzir a partir da sequencia de aminoácidos. Após coloração com reagente de Schiff para revelação de glicoproteínas, constatou-se que essa banda (41,3 kDa) correspondia a rCV2736PS+ na sua forma N-glicosilada. Além disso, rCV2736PS+ teve seus peptídeos identificados por espectrometria de massas, na fração F0/95 do meio de cultura livre de células. A proteína recombinante produzida sem os 22 aminoácidos iniciais (rCV2736PS‒) apresentou atividade quitinásica maior que a encontrada para a fração contendo rCV2736PS+, apesar de não ter sido detectada por SDS-PAGE. A fração F0/95 do meio de cultura contendo rCV2736PS+ mostrou-se termoestável até 50°C e com pico de atividade quitinolítica em pH 3,0. A mesma fração apresentou maior atividade endoquitinásica e ativa contra os substratos sintéticos 4-nitrofenil N,N’–diacetil-β-D-quitobiosídeo e 4-nitrofenil N,N’,N’’–triacetilquitotriose. A modelagem molecular evidenciou o dobramento na forma de barril (β/α)8 (barril TIM), típico das proteínas da família GH18. Do mesmo modo, a fração F0/95 foi testada contra seis espécies de bactérias, apresentando atividade microbicida contra Pseudomona aeruginosa, Escherichia coli e Staphylococcus aureus, e foi capaz de inibir o crescimento de Salmonella choleraesuis. A mesma fração foi testada contra a levedura Candida albicans, mas não foi detectada inibição do crescimento contra este microrganismo no ensaio. Portanto, a proteína recombinante rCV2736 pode, assim, ser considerada uma molécula com potencial antibacteriano. Palavras-chave: Quitinase; Pichia pastoris; antimicrobiano; Expressão heteróloga.

TEIXEIRA, C. S. Expressão de uma quitinase de Chromobacterium Violaceum em Pichia Pastoris: purificação e caracterização parcial da proteína recombinante. 2011. 110 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Bioquímica) - Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2011. / Submitted by Francisco Lacerda (lacerda@ufc.br) on 2014-11-10T18:58:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_csteixeira.pdf: 2266830 bytes, checksum: cf710a23bf6fe474186662c855e584ee (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by José Jairo Viana de Sousa(jairo@ufc.br) on 2015-01-20T16:54:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_csteixeira.pdf: 2266830 bytes, checksum: cf710a23bf6fe474186662c855e584ee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-01-20T16:54:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_csteixeira.pdf: 2266830 bytes, checksum: cf710a23bf6fe474186662c855e584ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Microorganisms are a valuable tool for the expression of proteins from a variety of sources, including plants, animals and other microorganisms. Thus, chitinases, a group of glycosil hydrolases capable to hydrolize chitin, have already been expressed and purified from different systems including bacteria and yeast. Chitin, a linear polymer of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), is an important structural component found in the crustacean shells, in the peritrophic membrane of insect guts as well as in the fungi cell walls. The aim of this work was to express a chitinase (encoded by the ORF CV3316) from Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, using the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris strains GS115 and KM71H. Furthermore, purification and partial characterization of the recombinant protein were also achieved. The GS115 strain carrying the expression cassette pPICZαA-CV3316 was selected due to its higher expression level as compared to KM71H strain. Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography was employed to purify the recombinant chitinase which was eluted as a single peak at 0.04 M imidazol. The homogeneity of the purified protein was confirmed as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In these conditions, the recombinant chitinase migrated as a single protein band with an apparent molecular mass of about 87 kDa. Thus, a chitinase from C. violaceum ATCC 12472 was successfully expressed in P. pastoris and the soluble recombinant protein purified. The content of secondary structure was investigated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. At 24 oC the CD spectrum revealed secondary structure contents of 37% (alpha helix), 26% (beta sheet) and 38% (random coil). The CD spectra obtained in the temperature range 10-50 oC were characteristic of beta sheet. In contrast, the CD spectra generated in the range 60-90 oC were characteristic of alpha helix. The midpoint temperature of this conformational transition was 59.6 1.2 oC as calculated from the CD experimental data. Fluorescence spectroscopy was carried out with excitation at 280 and 290 nm, producing emission spectra in which the wavelengths of maximum emission were 339 and 342 nm, respectively. This behavior is characteristic of tryptophan residues in limited contact with water. Chitinolytic activity against several substrates and the pH dependency of the enzymatic activity of the pure protein were all accessed. The purified enzyme showed hydrolytic activity on the following substrates: colloidal chitin (1,189.4 U.mgP-1), 4-nitrophenyl N-N’-diacetyl--D-chitobioside (30,411.0 U.mgP-1) and 4-nitrophenyl β-D-N-N’-N”-triacetylchitotriose (13,150.0 U.mgP-1); and, respectively. In contrast, no activity was detected using 4-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide as substrate. The enzyme presented an optimal chitinolytic activity at pH 5.0 using colloidal chitin as a substrate. Additionally, the antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Penicillium herquei was investigated. The recombinant chitinase did not inhibit the spore germination and the mycelium growth of the tested fungi, at the 0.63 mgP.ml-1 concentration. Further studies should be carried out in order to discover potential applications of this protein as a biotechnological tool in the control of other phytopathogenic fungi as well as economically important pests. / A utilização de microrganismos como sistemas heterólogos de expressão de proteínas tem se mostrado uma estratégia alternativa e/ou complementar aos passos tradicionais utilizados no processo de purificação de proteínas. Diante deste contexto, quitinases (EC 3.2.1.14), enzimas hidrolíticas capazes de degradar quitina, têm sido expressas em diferentes sistemas heterólogos, incluindo bactérias e leveduras. Quitina é um polímero linear composto de resíduos de N-acetil-β-D-glucosamina (GlcNAc), sendo um importante constituinte estrutural da carapaça de crustáceos e membrana peritrófica de insetos e, ainda, da parede celular de fungos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo expressar uma quitinase, codificada pela ORF cv3316, de Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 na levedura metilotrófica Pichia pastoris, estirpes GS115 e KM71H, além de purificar e caracterizar a proteína recombinante (rCHI3316). A estirpe GS115, portando a construção (pPICZαA-CV3316), foi selecionada para os experimentos posteriores, pois apresentou um maior nível de expressão quando comparada à cepa KM71H. Cromatografia de afinidade em coluna de níquel imobilizado foi utilizada para purificar a quitinase recombinante (rCHI3316), que foi eluída como um único pico com imidazol 0,04 M. A proteína purificada se mostrou homogênea quando submetida à eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida 15% em presença de SDS e -mercaptoetanol (SDS-PAGE). Nessas condições, uma única banda com massa molecular aparente de aproximadamente 87 kDa foi observada. A quitinase rCHI3316 de C. violaceum foi expressa de forma solúvel utilizando o sistema de expressão P. pastoris e, além disso, sua purificação foi realizada de forma satisfatória. O conteúdo de estrutura secundária foi estimado por espectroscopia de dicroísmo circular (CD), com a proteína submetida a diferentes temperaturas (10-90 °C). Na temperatura de 24 °C, o espectro de CD revelou a predominância do conteúdo de hélice alfa (38%), folha beta (26 %) e estrutura randômica (37%). Entre as temperaturas de 10-50 °C, rCHI3316 exibiu um espectro característico de folha beta. A partir de 60 °C até 90 °C, rCHI3316 adquiriu uma conformação característica de hélice alfa. A temperatura média para essa transição conformacional foi calculada como sendo 59,6  1,21 °C. Experimentos de espectroscopia de fluorescência, com excitação a 280 e 290 nm, produziram espectros de emissão com comprimentos de onda máximos iguais a 339 e 342 nm, respectivamente. Esses valores são característicos de resíduos de triptofano parcialmente expostos ao solvente. Atividade quitinolítica contra vários substratos e dependência de pH da atividade enzimática da proteína pura foram avaliados. A rCHI3316 exibiu atividade hidrolítica sobre os substratos quitina coloidal (1.189,40 U/mgP), 4-nitrofenil N-N’-diacetil-β-D-quitobiosídeo (30.411,0 U/mgP) e 4-nitrofenil N-N’-N’’-triacetilquitotriose (13.150,0 U/mgP); entretanto, nenhuma atividade enzimática da rCHI3316 foi detectada frente a 4-nitofenil N-acetil-β-D-glucosaminídeo. A enzima exibiu atividade quitinolítica ótima (100%) em pH 5,0; quando quitina coloidal foi utilizada como substrato. Em adição, a atividade antifúngica contra fungos fitopatogênicos, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani e Penicillium herquei foi investigada. rCHI3316 não inibiu a germinação e o crescimento micelial dos esporos dos fungos testados, na concentração de 0,63 mgP.ml-1. Estudos subseqüentes deverão ser realizados na intenção de descobrir potenciais aplicações desta proteína como uma ferramenta biológica no controle de outros fungos fitopatogênicos bem como insetos considerados pragas.