Starch‐binding domain shuffling in Aspergillus niger glucoamylase

Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (GA) consists mainly of two forms, GAI [from the N‐terminus, catalytic domain + linker + starch‐binding domain (SBD)] and GAII (catalytic domain + linker). These domains were shuffled to make RGAI (SBD + linker + catalytic domain), RGAIΔL (SBD + catalytic domain) and RGAII (linker + catalytic domain), with domains defined by function rather than by tertiary structure. In addition, Paenibacillus macerans cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase SBD replaced the closely related A.niger GA SBD to give GAE. Soluble starch hydrolysis rates decreased as RGAII ≈ GAII ≈ GAI \u3e RGAIΔL ≈ RGAI ≈ GAE. Insoluble starch hydrolysis rates were GAI \u3e RGAIΔL \u3e RGAI \u3e\u3e GAE ≈ RGAII \u3e GAII, while insoluble starch‐binding capacities were GAI \u3e RGAI \u3e RGAIΔL \u3e RGAII \u3e GAII \u3e GAE. These results indicate that: (i) moving the SBD to the N‐terminus or replacing the native SBD somewhat affects soluble starch hydrolysis; (ii) SBD location significantly affects insoluble starch binding and hydrolysis; (iii) insoluble starch hydrolysis is imperfectly correlated with its binding by the SBD; and (iv) placing the P.maceranscyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase SBD at the end of a linker, instead of closely associated with the rest of the enzyme, severely reduces its ability to bind and hydrolyze insoluble starch