Identification of a Novel Bacillus velezensis IS-6 Nudix Hydrolase Nh-9 Involved in Ochratoxin A Detoxification by Transcriptomic Profiling and Functional Verification

Contamination of foods and feeds with Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a global problem, and its detoxification is challenging. In this study, Bacillus velezensis IS-6 culture isolate supernatant degraded 1.5 g/mL OTA by 89% after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C, whereas viable cells and intra-cell extracts were less effective. The OTA degradation by B. velezensis IS-6 was an enzymatic process mediated by the culture supernatant. The degradation activity was optimal at 37 °C and pH 7.0, and Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions enhanced the OTA degradation. The LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed that structure of OTA was modified, resulting in the production of OTα that was less toxic than OTA. The transcriptomic analysis of B. velezensis IS-6 showed that 38 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly up-regulated, and 24 DEGs were down-regulated after treatment with OTA. A novel OTA degradation enzyme Nudix hydrolase Nh-9 was successfully cloned and characterized from the up-regulated genes. The recombinant Nh-9 enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and purified by affinity chromatography, exhibiting 68% degradation activity against 1.0 μg/mL OTA at 37 °C in 24 h. The degraded product by the Nh-9 enzyme was identified as the less toxic OTα by LC-MS/MS. According to the findings, it can be inferred that Nh-9 is the main OTA-degrading enzyme in B. velezensis IS-6. Furthermore, OTA may be co-degraded by Nh-9, carboxylesterase, signal peptidase, and other degrading agents that are yet to be discovered in this strain.