Fucanases Related to the GH107 Family from Members of the PVC Superphylum

The glycoside hydrolase 107 (GH107) family includes fucanase enzymes from only two bacterial phyla, Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota. The goal of this work was to explore the diversity of putative fucanase enzymes related to this family in organisms of the PVC superphylum (Planctomycetota, Verrucomicrobiota, Chlamydiota), in order to expand our knowledge of the fucoidan-degrading potential in this ecologically and biotechnologically relevant group. Using hidden Markov model- and peptide-based annotation tools, 26 GH107 homolog sequences were identified in metagenome and genome datasets. The sequences formed two distinct clusters in a phylogenetic analysis, only one including members of the GH107 family. The endo-acting fucoidan degrading activity was confirmed in an enzyme included in the most divergent cluster. The fucanase, which probably originated in an uncultured planctomycete from the sampled subantarctic sediments, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme catalyzed the rapid hydrolysis of internal glycosidic bonds of fucoidan from Macrocystis pyrifera, a macroalgae species abundant at the site. It was active in a wide range of temperatures (5–45 °C), salinities (9.5–861 mM NaCl), and pH values (4.5–9), mainly producing sulfated α-(1,3)-linked fuco-oligosaccharides of various lengths. The PVC superphylum represents a promising source of fucanase enzymes with various biotechnological applications.