Characterization of cholesterol oxidase from a marine Streptomyces sp. and its cytotoxicity

A marine actinobacterial strain (designated as AKHSS) capable of producing cholesterol oxidase on the enzyme indicator plates was identified as Streptomyces sp. The cell-free lysate of the strain was used for monitoring the production of cholesterol oxidase and the maximal enzyme yields were recorded at 72 h post inoculation. The cholesterol oxidase was purified using polyethylene glycol 4000 precipitation, diethylaminoethyl Sephacel anionic column chromatography and Superdex-200 gel filtration to near homogeneity. Through electron-spray ionization mass spectrometry, molecular mass of the purified enzyme was recorded as 42.84 kDa. The optimum pH of the enzyme was found to be 9 and it was stable up to 60 °C. Metal salts like MgSO4 and ZnSO4 stimulated the enzyme activity. The Vmax and Km of the purified enzyme with cholesterol as substrate were found to be 1.22 μmoles/min/mL and 0.54 mM respectively. The enzyme showed significant cytotoxicity on breast (MCF-7), nasopharyngeal (KB) and ovarian (OVCAR) cancer cell lines at very low concentrations ranging from 0.093 to 0.14 μM, as evident from MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] cell viability assay. Besides, the enzyme exhibited relatively less cytotoxicity on primary mouse embryonic fibroblast (3T3) cells. Thus, cholesterol oxidase of Streptomyces sp. AKHSS could be a potential anticancer agent.