.gamma.-CGTase

Abstract

The invention rleates to .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyl transferases obtainable by screening bacteria for the secretion of a .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase, the bacteria are characterized and the .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase of the bacteria is purified and characterized biochemically. These enzymes can be used for the production of .gamma.cyclodextrin from starch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases which primarily produce .gamma.-cyclodextrin and which, with starch as substrate, form primarily .gamma.-cyclodextrin and as secondary products almost exclusively cyclic oligosaccharide.

2. The Prior Art

The enzyme cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (abbreviation: CGTase) E.C.2.4.1.19 catalyzes the formation of cyclodextrins from starch. Depending on the number of glucose units of which the cyclodextrin (CD) is composed, a distinction is made between .alpha.-CD (6 glucose units), .beta.-CD (7 glucose units) and .gamma.-CD (8 glucose units).

To date, two types of CGTase have been disclosed:

a) CGTases which primarily form .alpha.-cyclodextrin, also called .alpha.-CGTase, such as, for example, the CGTase from Bacillus macerans (U.K. Patent No. 2,169,902), from Klebsiella pneumoniae (EPA 220,714) and from Bacillus stearothermophilus (U.K. Pat. No. 2,169,902).

b) CGTases which primarily form .beta.-cyclodextrin, or .beta.-CGTase, such as, for example, the CGTase from Bacillus circulans (U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,568), from Bacillus megaterium (U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,011), from Bacillus ohbensis (Japan Patent No. 74,124,285), from Micrococcus sp. (EPA No. 017,242) and from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. (J. Gen. Microbiol. 1988, 134, 97-105; Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 1987, 26, 149-153).

Concerning a .gamma.-CGTase, to date there have been two indications in the literature:

a) The cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Bacillus sp. produces on addition of EtOH predominantly a mixture of .beta.- and .gamma.-cyclodextrin (10.4 to 18.7%) (Japan Patent No. 63,133,998). The enzyme has not been characterized in terms of its kinetic properties, so that it cannot be assigned to a specific type.

b) Two articles (Agric. Biol. Chem., 1986, 50, (8), 2161=2162 and Denpun Kagaku 1986, 33, 137) describe a .gamma.-CGTase from Bacillus subtilis No. 313. This CGTase is distinguished by the formation of .gamma.-cyclodextrin and linear oligosaccharide. Since CGTases generate only cyclic products from starch, this "CGTase" is a transitional form between an .alpha.-amylase (generates linear oligosaccharide from starch) and a CGTase. This ".gamma.-CGTase" is unsuitable for preparing .gamma.-cyclodextrin because only low yields can be achieved (see EPA 327,099, page 2, lines 40-43).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to prepare enzymes which predominantly produce .gamma.-CD. The object was achieved by screening bacteria for the secretion of a .gamma.-CGTase, characterizing these bacteria, and purifying and biochemically characterizing the .gamma.-CGTase from the bacteria.

.gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases within the meaning of the invention are .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases which primarily produce .gamma.-cyclodextrin and which with starch as substrate form primarily .gamma.-cyclodextrin and as secondary products almost exclusively cyclic oligosaccharide.

Used for screening the bacteria for the production of .gamma.-CGTase are preferably starch-degrading, particularly preferably alkalophilic starch-degrading bacteria.

To characterize the .gamma.-CGTase-producing bacteria, the shape, width, length and motility of the bacteria are determined. Also determined are their stainability by the Gram reaction, their ability to form catalase and their GC content. In addition, their growth behavior at various temperatures, various pH values and various NaCl concentrations are determined.

The enzyme is biochemically characterized after purification of the .gamma.-CGTase. Thus, for example, the molecular weight, pH optimum, pH stability, temperature optimum and temperature stability of the enzyme concentrations are determined.

In order to increase the yield of .gamma.-CGTase, the encoding gene is modified by gene manipulation and expressed in secretor mutants. For this, the gene is initially cloned and sequenced. The gene is preferably cloned in E. coli. The identified gene is then placed under the control of a promoter, preferably of a controllable promoter (for example .lambda.P.sub.L, trp, lac or trc promoter), particularly preferably of the lactose-inducible tac promoter. This makes controllable over-expression of the .gamma.-CGTase possible. The use of a signal peptide is worthwhile for optimal secretion. The use of its own signal peptide is very suitable for .gamma.-CGTase secretion.

A vector which, besides the .gamma.-CGTase-encoding gene and a leader sequence, also contains regulatory elements such as, for example, the tac promoter is introduced into microorganisms, preferably E. coli, particularly preferably a secretor mutant of E. coli, for the production of the .gamma.-CGTase. Suitable secretor mutants can be prepared by the process disclosed in EPA 338,410. The overproduction and secretion of the .gamma.-CGTase into the culture medium can be achieved by inducing the promoter with lactose or IPTG in the case of the tac promoter. The protein according to the invention can be purified from the supernatant from the secretor mutant in a known manner.

For the first time, CGTases which primarily produce .gamma.-cyclodextrin, and which with starch as substrate form primarily .gamma.-cyclodextrin and as secondary products almost exclusively cyclic oligosaccharide, are prepared in the form of the enzymes described herein.

Using the genetic engineering methods described, the enzymes can be obtained in larger amounts than is possible from their natural microorganisms of origin. Using the enzyme, it is possible by the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,874 to reduce greatly the preparation times for .gamma.-cyclodextrins.

.gamma.-cyclodextrins increase, inter alia, the solubility of hydrophobic substances in aqueous solution, and they stabilize labile substances (for example, UV protection, oxidation protection) and bind volatile substances. .gamma.-cyclodextrin can also be used as formulating agent. .gamma.-cyclodextrins are used, inter alia, in the following industries: pharmaceutical, foodstuffs, cosmetics, crop protection and chemical.

The examples describe the isolation of a .gamma.-CGTase according to the invention, the modification thereof by gene manipulation, and the overexpression of this .gamma.-CGTase from the alkalophilic bacterium Bacillus 290-3 (DSM 5850, deposited at the DSM Deutsche Sammlung fur Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen on Mar. 19, 1990).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows kinetics of the production of .beta.- and .gamma.-cyclodextrin by the .gamma.-CGTase from the alkalophilic bacterial strain Bacillus 290-3;

FIG. 2 shows open reading frame of the .gamma.-CGTase from Bacillus 290-3;

FIG. 3 shows the tac promoter plasmid pJF118u used for the overexpression of the .gamma.-CGTase;

FIG. 4 shows the synthetic oligonucleotides M8 and M9;

FIG. 5 shows the expression plasmid pCM750;

FIG. 6 shows the synthetic oligonucleotides M10, M11, M12 and M13; and

FIG. 7 shows the plasmid pCM720.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

EXAMPLE 1

Screening for .gamma.-CGTase-producing alkalophilic bacteria

Soil samples from a very wide variety of regions of the earth were collected. 0.1-0.2 g of soil were weighed out and suspended in 1 ml of sterile physiological saline in sterile vessels. After the coarse fractions had settled out, in each case 0.1 ml was plated out on a starch agar plate (medium 1:10 g/l soluble starch, 5 g/l peptone, 5 g/l yeast extract, 1 g/l KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 ; 0.2 g/l MgSO.sub.4 .times.7 H.sub.2 O, 10 g/l Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, 15 g/l agar, pH 10.4). The agar plates were incubated at 30.degree. C. for two to three days. Colonies of starch-degrading bacteria showed a cloudy halo which was produced by retrogradation of low molecular weight starch molecules. The colonies were isolated and purified twice on starch agar plates. Subsequently, a culture was carried out in 2 ml of liquid medium of the above composition. After incubation at 30.degree. C. for 48 hours, the cells were spun down and the supernatant was assayed for CGTase activity. 200 .mu.l of supernatant were incubated with 200 .mu.l of 10% strength starch solution in 20 mM tris/HCl pH 9.0; 5 mM CaCl.sub.2 at 40.degree. C. for one to five hours. The enzymatic reaction was stopped by adding 600 .mu.l of methanol, and the supernatant was centrifuged and then analyzed by HPLC. The strain Bacillus 290-3 which secretes into the culture medium a CGTase which shows kinetic preference for .gamma.-cyclodextrin formation (FIG. 1) was isolated from a large number of isolates.

EXAMPLE 2

Taxonomic characterization of the strain Bacillus 290-3

The taxonomic classification revealed that it is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium which may be assigned to the Bacillus firmus/lentus complex which has not yet been accurately characterized (see Table 1).

TABLE 1______________________________________Taxonomic features of the isolate 290-3Properties Bacillus 290-3______________________________________Rods +Width .mu.m 0.7-0.9Length .mu.m 2.5-4.0Motility +Endospores +Gram reaction +Catalase +Maximum temperatureGrowth positive at .degree.C. 40Growth negative at .degree.C. 45Growth inMedium of pH 5.7 -Medium of pH 7.0 -NaCl 5% + 7% +mol % G + C 36.6______________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

Purification of the .gamma.-CGTase

The strain Bacillus 290-3 was initially cultured in medium 1 (see Example 1). After growth for 48 hours, the cells were removed by centrifugation, and (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4 was added to the culture supernatant until a saturation of 66% was reached. The mixture was stored at 4.degree. C. for 1 hour and then the precipitate was removed by centrifugation (10,000.times.g; 20 min). The precipitate was resuspended in 1/100 of the initial volume in buffer A (20 mM Tris/Cl pH 8.5, 5 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.05% .gamma.-CD) and dialyzed against the same buffer. After centrifugation (10 min., 10,000.times.g), the enzyme solution was loaded onto an affinity column (.gamma.-cyclodextrin coupled to Sepharose 6B via butyl diglycidyl ether). Elution was carried out with buffer A containing 1% .gamma.-cyclodextrin.

The eluted protein material was concentrated by ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialyzed again. The purity of the protein was checked by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

EXAMPLE 4

Biochemical characterization of the .gamma.-CGTase

The biochemical characterization of the .gamma.-CGTase gave the following results:

______________________________________Molecular weight 75,000 DapH optimum 6.0-8.0pH stability 5.0-10.0Temp. optimum 60.degree. C.Temp. stability up to 50.degree. C.______________________________________

EXAMPLE 5

Cloning and sequencing of the gene for the .gamma.-CGTase

Cloning

Chromosomal DNA of the strain Bacillus 290-3 was partially cleaved with the restriction enzyme Sau 3A and, after size-fractionation of the fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis these DNA fragments were cloned into pUC18 (BamHI-cleaved).

2.times.10.sup.4 clones from this gene were analyzed using a radioactively labelled DNA fragment 1.6 Kb in size (BG1II-PstI) of the coding region of the .gamma.-CGTase from Bacillus 1-1 (Proc. 4th Int. Symposium on Cyclodextrins (Huber O., Szejtli J., eds) 1988, pp. 71-76 (Kluwer Academic) in a colony-hybridization test (Maniatis et al. 1982, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory). This resulted in identification of clones p19 and p43, whose plasmids contained the .gamma.-CGTase gene.

Sequencing

To determine the nucleotide sequence of the .gamma.-CGTase structural gene, DNA fragments were subcloned into the plasmid pU18 or pUC19. Exonuclease III was used to generate deletions in the inserts in these plasmids in such a way that DNA sequencing via the Sanger dideoxy chain-termination method resulted in overlapping sequences (DNA, 1985, 4, 167-170). The open reading frame which codes for the .gamma.-CGTase comprises 2097 nucleotides, as shown in (SEQ. ID NO: 1) and FIG. 2. The protein derived therefrom consists of 699 amino acids with a molecular weight of 78,000 Da. Elimination of the signal peptide results in a molecular weight of 75,000 Da.

EXAMPLE 6

Expression and secretion of the .gamma.-CGTase in E. coli

The tac promoter plasmid pJF118u (FIG. 3) was used for the overexpression of the .gamma.-CGTase. The plasmid was cleaved with the restriction enzymes EcoRI and HindIII, and agarose gel electrophoresis was used to separate the small DNA fragment from the poly-linker.

The plasmid p19 (see Example 5) was cleaved with AccI and HindIII, and agarose gel electrophoresis was used to isolate a DNA fragment which is 2.4 kb in size and which harbors almost the complete structural gene for the .gamma.-CGTase. Missing at the 5' end of the gene (see "AccI site" in FIG. 2) is a short region coding for the signal peptide. Two synthetic oligonucleotides M8 and M9, as shown in (SEQ ID NO: 2) and in FIG. 4, are used to substitute for this region.

Ligation of the EcoRI-HindIII fragment from pJF118u with the pair of oligonucleotides M8 and M9 and the AccI-HindIII fragment of p19 resulted in the expression plasmid pCM750 (FIG. 5).

Transformation of the secretor mutant E. coli WCM100 with the plasmid pCM750 and initial culturing of the transformed strain in complete medium (10 g/l peptone, 5 g/l yeast extract, 5 g/l NaCl, 10 g/l lactose, 0.1 g/l CaCl.sub.2, 100 mg/l ampicillin) at 30.degree. C. made it possible to increase the .gamma.-CGTase yield by a factor of 500 compared with the enzyme yields with the strain Bacillus 290-3.

EXAMPLE 7

Modification of the .gamma.-CGTase

The phosphoramidite method was used to synthesize the pairs of oligonucleotides M10 and M11, and M12 and M13, as shown in (SEQ ID NO: 3), in (SEQ ID NO: 4), respectively, and in FIG. 6. The DNA sequence of the oligonucleotides codes for the N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the .beta.-CGTase from Bacillus 1-1 (Proc. 4th Int. Symposium on Cyclodextrins (Huber, O., Szejtli J., eds) 1988, pp 71-76, Kluwer Academic) and is homologous to the N-terminal region of the .gamma.-CGTase which comprises the DNA region up to the SspI cleavage site (see FIG. 2).

The plasmid pCM750 was partially cleaved with the restriction enzyme AccI. Subsequent cleavage was carried out with SspI, and a DNA fragment 7.3 kb in size was isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Ligation of this DNA fragment with the double-stranded oligonucleotides M10 and M11, and M12 and M13, resulted in the plasmid pCM720 (FIG. 7) which codes for a chimeric .gamma.-CGTase.

Transformation of the secretor mutant E. coli WCM100 and initial culturing as in Example 6 resulted in doubling of the .gamma.-CGTase yield compared with the results of Example 6.

EXAMPLE 8

Preparation of .gamma.-cyclodextrin using the .gamma.-CGTase

10 g of soluble starch were taken up in 100 ml of buffer (10 mmol/l tris/HCl pH 8.0 and 5 mM CaCl.sub.2), and the starch was dissolved by heating at 95.degree. C. for 5 min. After cooling to 50.degree. C., 1 g of cyclohexadecenone was added as selective complexing agent for .gamma.-cyclodextrin. Then 100 U of .gamma.-CGTase were pipetted in. The mixture was stirred vigorously and the reaction temperature was maintained at 50.degree. C. The optimum yield of 48% .gamma.-cyclodextrin based on the starch used was reached after a reaction time of 8 hours.

Comparative Example

The experiment was carried out as described in Example 5 with the exception that 100 U of a .gamma.-CGTase from Bacillus macerans were used in place of .gamma.-CGTase. A maximum yield of 43% .gamma.-cyclodextrin was reached after 32 hours.

__________________________________________________________________________SEQUENCE LISTING(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 2100 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:ATGATTCG AAGGCTTTCTTTTTCACTTGTGGTTTTATTTTTGATTAGCTTTCTAGTTATC60GTTAACCCAGAGTATACAGAGGCAAATGAAAACTTAGACAATGTTAATTATGCCCAAGAG120ATTATTTATCAAATTGTTACGGATCGTTTTTATGATGGTGACCCAACTAATAA TCCTGAG180GGAACTTTGTTTAGTCCAGGTTGTCTGGATTTAACTAAATATTGTGGTGGGGACTGGCAA240GGGGTTATCGAAAAGATCGAGGACGGGTATTTACCGGATATGGGCATAACGGCTATTTGG300ATTTCGCCACCAATTGAAAACGTTATGGAG CTTCATCCAGGAGGTTTTGCTTCTTATCAT360GGTTATTGGGGCAGAGATTTTAAACGAACAAATCCTGCTTTTGGTAGTTTGGCAGATTTT420TCGAGATTAATTGAAACGGCTCATAATCACGATATAAAAGTAATCATCGATTTTGTTCCC480AATCATAC ATCTCCTGTCGATATTGAGAATGGAGCTTTATATGATAATGGTCGTTTAGTT540GGGCATTATTCCAATGATAGTGAGGATTATTTTTATACAAATGGTGGTTCGGATTTCTCA600AGTTATGAAGACAGTATTTATCGAAATCTTTATGATTTAGCTAGTCTAAACCA GCAAAAC660TCATTTATTGATCGTTATTTAAAAGAATCGATTCAAATGTGGTTAGATTTAGGAATTGAT720GGAATTCGAGTAGATGCGGTAGCACATATGCCAGTAGGGTGGCAAAAGAACTTTGTTAGC780TCCATCTATGATTATAATCCTGTCTTTACA TTTGGAGAATGGTTTACAGGTGCTGGTGGT840AGTGATGAGTATCATTATTTTATTAATAATAGCGGGATGAGTGCGTTAGATTTTCGTTAC900GCACAAGTCGTCCAAGATGTGTTAAGAAATAACGATGGAACGATGTATGATTTGGAAACA960GTGTTGCG AGAAACTGAAAGCGTTTACGAAAAGCCGCAAGATCAAGTTACCTTTATCGAT1020AACCATGATATTAATCGCTTTTCGAGAAATGGTCACTCAACGCGTACAACAGATTTAGGG1080TTAGCCTTTTTATTAACATCTCGAGGAGTCCCAACCATTTATTATGGTACTGA AATTTAT1140ATGACAGGTGATGGGGACCCAGATAATCGGAAAATGATGAATACATTTGATCAATCGACA1200GTTGCCTATCAAATCATACAACAGCTCTCTTCACTGCGACAAGAAAATAGAGCGATTGCT1260TATGGGGATACGACGGAACGATGGATAAAT GAAGATGTATTTATTTATGAACGTTCATTT1320AATGGAGAATATGCACTTATTGCTGTGAACCGGAGCTTAAACCACTCTTATCAGATTAGT1380AGCTTGGTAACGGATATGCCTTCTCAATTATATGAAGATGAGCTGTCAGGTCTTTTAGAC1440GGGCAATC GATAACAGTCGATCAAAATGGGTCTATTCAGCCCTTTTTGTTAGCACCGGGT1500GAAGTAAGTGTTTGGCAATACTCAAATGGTCAGAATGTAGCACCGGAAATTGGTCAAATT1560GGTCCTCCTATTGGGAAACCAGGAGATGAAGTGAGAATCGATGGTTCAGGCTT TGGAAGT1620AGTACGGGGGATGTTTCTTTTGCGGGTTCAACTATGAATGTATTGTCTTGGAATGACGAT1680ACAATTATAGCCGAACTGCCTGAGCATAATGGTGGAAAAAATAGTGTAACTGTAACGACT1740AACTCAGGCGAAAGCAGTAATGGTTATCCG TTTGAATTATTAACAGGTTTACAAACATCT1800GTCAGATTTGTCGTGAACCAAGCCGAAACGTCTGTTGGCGAAAATCTGTACGTAGTTGGG1860GATGTACCTGAATTAGGGAGCTGGGATCCTGATAAAGCAATTGGTCCTATGTTTAATCAA1920GTTTTATA CTCATATCCCACTTGGTATTATGATGTGAGTGTACCTGCTAATCAAGATATA1980GAGTACAAATATATTATGAAAGATCAAAATGGAAACGTAAGCTGGGAAAGTGGAAACAAC2040CATATCTATAGAACTCCAGAAAATTCAACTGGAATCGTAGAAGTTAATTTTAA TCAATAA2100(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 79 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:AATTCAATGATTCGAAGGCTTTCTTTTTCACTT 33MetIleArgArgLeuSerPheSerLeu15GTGGTTTTATTTTTGATTAGCTTTCTAGTTATC66ValValLeuPheLeuIleSerPheLeuV alIle101520GTTAACCCAGAGT79ValAsnProGln(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 78 base pairs( B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:ATACAGAGGCAGACGTAACAAACAAAGTCAATTACTCAAAAGATGTGATTTACCAGATTG60TTACCGATCGATTCTCTG 78(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 66 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:ACGGGAATCCTGGCAACAATCCTTCAGGCGCTATCTTTAGTCAAAACT GTATAGATCTCC60ATAAGT66

Claims

1. An isolated and purified .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Bacillus 290-3 (DSM 5850).

2. .gamma.-Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, characterized in that it is encoded by the gene of the .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase according to claim 1, which is substituted from bp 75 to bp 220 by a DNA fragment encoding the amino acids of the .beta.-CGTase from Bacillus 1-1 at the homologous positions, as shown in FIG. 2.

3. Expression plasmids which encode a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase according to claim 1.

4. In a process for obtaining .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, the improvement comprising the steps of:

(a) modifying a gene encoding a .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase in the region encoding the 5' region of the mature protein by substituting the DNA from bp 75 to bp 220 by a DNA fragment encoding the amino acids of the .beta.-CGTase from Bacillus 1-1 at the homologous positions, as shown in FIG. 2;

(b) placing the modified gene under the control of a controllable promoter and introducing into a bacterium so that t is expressed with the latter; and

(c) obtaining the enzyme from the culture supernatant after induction and expression.

5. An isolated and purified DNA encoding an amino-acid sequence as set forth in (SEQ ID NO:1).

6. An isolated and purified DNA encoding a .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, containing an amino-acid sequence starting from amino acid 75 as set forth in (SEQ ID NO: 1).

7. An isolated and purified DNA encoding a .gamma.-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, containing the amino-acid regions as set forth in (SEQ ID NO:1) from amino acid 198 up to and including amino acid 214 or from amino acid 238 up to and including amino acid 247 or from amino acid 267 up to and including amino acid 275 or from amino acid 336 up to and including amino acid 343.

8. Process for the preparation of .gamma.-cyclodextrin, characterized in that a .gamma.-CGTase according to claim 1 is employed.

9. An isolated and purified bacterial strain Bacillus 290-3 (DSM 5850).