Microbial aldolases as C-C bonding enzymes--unknown treasures and new developments

D-Fructose-6-phosphate aldolase-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of iminocyclitols

A one-pot chemoenzymatic method for the synthesis of a variety of new iminocyclitols from readily available, non-phosphorylated donor substrates has been developed. The method utilizes the recently discovered fructose-6-phosphate aldolase (FSA), which is functionally distinct from known aldolases in its tolerance of different donor substrates as well as acceptor substrates. Kinetic studies were performed with dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the presumed endogenous substrate for FSA, as well as hydroxy acetone (HA) and 1-hydroxy-2-butanone (HB) as donor substrates, in each case using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as acceptor substrate. Remarkably, FSA used the three donor substrates with equal efficiency, with kcat/KMvalues of 33, 75, and 20 M-1 s-1, respectively. This level of donor substrate tolerance is unprecedented for an aldolase. Furthermore, DHA, HA, and HB were accepted as donors in FSA-catalyzed aldol reactions with a variety of azido- and Cbz-amino aldehyde acceptors. The broad substrate tolerance of FSA and the ability to circumvent the need for phosphorylated substrates allowed for one-pot synthesis of a number of known and novel iminocyclitols in good yields, and in a very concise fashion. New iminocyclitols were assayed as inhibitors against a panel of glycosidases. Compounds 15 and 16 were specific alpha-mannosidase inhibitors, and 24 and 26 were potent and selective inhibitors of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases in the submicromolar range. Facile access to these compounds makes them attractive core structures for further inhibitor optimization.

Towards preparative asymmetric synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids: l-allo-Threonine formation from glycine and acetaldehyde using recombinant GlyA

The diastereospecific formation of L-allo-threonine, catalyzed by the serine hydroxymethyltransferase GlyA form Escherichia coli, was studied with regard to the application in continuous processes. Process design will rely on a suitable description of enzyme stability and kinetics under relevant process conditions. Therefore, the effects of addition of organic co-solvents--methanol and acetonitrile--to the reaction mixtures on activity, stability, and diastereoselectivity were investigated. A series of progress curves from batch reactions at 35 degrees C in 50mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.6 and 50mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.6 in 20% methanol was used to estimate the respective kinetic parameters for an appropriate kinetic model. The experimental data agreed well with a kinetic model for an ordered reaction mechanism of the type bi-uni including the formation of a ternary complex and a pseudo-equilibrium assumption. The model was then applied in order to simulate the performance of the enzyme in an enzyme membrane reactor (EMR) and gave an excellent agreement with the corresponding experimental data. A space time yield of 227g L(-1)d(-1) was achieved in a continuous running EMR without significant loss of enzyme activity over 120 h of operation.

Modelling the reaction course of N-acetylneuraminic acid synthesis from N-acetyl-d-glucosamine—new strategies for the optimisation of neuraminic acid synthesis

In this work, a model describing the complete enzyme catalysed synthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) is presented. It includes the combined reaction steps of epimerisation from GlcNAc to N-acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc) and the aldol condensation of ManNAc with sodium pyruvate yielding Neu5Ac. The model is expedient to predict the reaction course for various initial and feed concentrations and therefore to calculate reaction times and yields. The equilibrium constants calculated from the kinetic constants via the Haldane relationship correspond with experimental values very well (0.26 calculated and 0.24 experimental value for the epimerisation, 27.4 l mol(-1) calculated and 28.7 l mol(-1) experimental for the aldol condensation). The actual relevance of the model is shown by a scale-up. Using the model, an optimisation of reaction conditions in consideration of different targets is possible. Exemplarily, it is presented how the optimal ratio of the two enzymes in the reaction can be determined and how the composition of the reaction solution in a fed-batch reactor can be designed to meet downstream processing needs.

In vivo selection for the directed evolution of L-rhamnulose aldolase from L-rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase (RhaD)

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP)-dependent aldolases have been widely used for organic synthesis. The major drawback of DHAP-dependent aldolases is their strict donor substrate specificity toward DHAP, which is expensive and unstable. Here we report the development of an in vivo selection system for the directed evolution of the DHAP-dependent aldolase, L-rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase (RhaD), to alter its donor substrate specificity from DHAP to dihydroxyacetone (DHA). We also report preliminary results on mutants that were discovered with this screen. A strain deficient in the L-rhamnose metabolic pathway in Escherichia coli (DeltarhaDAB, DE3) was constructed and used as a selection host strain. Co-expression of L-rhamnose isomerase (rhaA) and rhaD in the selection host did not restore its growth on minimal plate supplemented with L-rhamnose as a sole carbon source, because of the lack of L-rhamnulose kinase (RhaB) activity and the inability of WT RhaD aldolase to use unphosphorylated L-rhamnulose as a substrate. Use of this selection host and co-expression vector system gives us an in vivo selection for the desired mutant RhaD which can cleave unphosphorylated L-rhamnulose and allow the mutant to grow in the minimal media. An error-prone PCR (ep-PCR) library of rhaD gene on the co-expression vector was constructed and introduced into the rha-mutant, and survivors were selected in minimal media with l-rhamnose (MMRha media). An initial round of screening gave mutants allowing the selection strain to grow on MMRha plates. This in vivo selection system allows rapid screening of mutated aldolases that can utilize dihydroxyacetone as a donor substrate.

Biochemical and structural exploration of the catalytic capacity of Sulfolobus KDG aldolases

Aldolases are enzymes with potential applications in biosynthesis, depending on their activity, specificity and stability. In the present study, the genomes of Sulfolobus species were screened for aldolases. Two new KDGA [2-keto-3-deoxygluconate (2-oxo-3-deoxygluconate) aldolases] from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Sulfolobus tokodaii were identified, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Both enzymes were found to have biochemical properties similar to the previously characterized S. solfataricus KDGA, including the condensation of pyruvate and either D,L-glyceraldehyde or D,L-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The crystal structure of S. acidocaldarius KDGA revealed the presence of a novel phosphate-binding motif that allows the formation of multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions with the acceptor substrate, and enables high activity with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. Activity analyses with unnatural substrates revealed that these three KDGAs readily accept aldehydes with two to four carbon atoms, and that even aldoses with five carbon atoms are accepted to some extent. Water-mediated interactions permit binding of substrates in multiple conformations in the spacious hydrophilic binding site, and correlate with the observed broad substrate specificity.