@article {10.3844/ajbbsp.2010.148.154, article_type = {journal}, title = {Expression, Purification and Activity Assay of the Recombinant Protein of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase from Chinese White Shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis)}, author = {Li, Dian-Xiang and Du, Xin-Jun and Zhao, Xiao-Fan and Wang, Jin-Xing}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, year = {2010}, month = {Sep}, pages = {148-154}, doi = {10.3844/ajbbsp.2010.148.154}, url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajbbsp.2010.148.154}, abstract = {Problem statement: We have previously cloned a gene of Chinese white shrimp Catechol O-Methyltransferase (designated Fc-COMT) and characterized the gene expression pattern. In this study, expression and purification as well as activity assay of the recombinant Fc-COMT was further conducted. Approach: Using pET-30a (+) as a prokaryotic expression vector, the recombinant Fc- COMT was expressed in the supernatant of Escherichia coli lysate and easily purified by His-Bind resin chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the molecular mass of recombinant Fc-COMT was approximately 30,000 Da, in good agreement with the software-predicted molecular weight. The enzymatic activity of recombinant Fc-COMT was tested using Dihydroxybenzoic Acid (DHBAc) as a substrate. Results: The methyl products of DHBAc, Vanillic Acid (VA) and Isovanillic Acid (IVA), were detected in the enzymatic reaction mixture with recombinant Fc-COMT by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Conclusion: The recombinant Fc-COMT has catalytic activity of transferring methyl group from S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAM) to the 3' hydroxyl or 4' hydroxyl group of benzyl ring of DHBAc.}, journal = {American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology}, publisher = {Science Publications} }