Thermophilic and thermoacidophilic sugar transporter genes and enzymes from
Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius are provided. Further provided are methods for transporting sugars across cell membranes using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.
1. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID No: 137, wherein the polypeptide has Na + /melibiose symporter activity.
2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has activity at about pH 8.
3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has activity at a temperature at about 35 degrees Celsius.
4. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is present in a vector.
5. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the encoded polypeptide has activity below pH 8.
6. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the encoded polypeptide has activity at a temperature above 35 degrees Celsius.
7. The isolated nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid is as set forth in SEQ ID NO:138.
8. A method of transporting a sugar across a cell membrane, the method comprising:
providing to a cell the isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 ;
incorporating into or associating with the cell membrane of the cell the protein encoded by the nucleic acid; and
transporting a sugar across said cell membrane utilizing the protein encoded by the nucleic acid.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein transporting a sugar across said cell membrane utilizing the protein encoded by the nucleic acid occurs at about pH 8.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein transporting a sugar across said cell membrane utilizing the protein encoded by the nucleic acid occurs at a temperature at about 35 degrees Celsius.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein moving a sugar across said cell membrane utilizing the protein encoded by the nucleic acid occurs below pH 8.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein moving a sugar across said cell membrane utilizing the protein encoded by the nucleic acid occurs at a temperature above 35 degrees Celsius.