An Artificial Heme Enzyme for Cyclopropanation Reactions

Switching engineered Vitreoscilla hemoglobin into carbene transferase for enantioselective SH insertion

An attractive strategy for efficiently forming CS bonds is through the use of diazo compounds SH insertion. However, achieving good enantioselective control in this reaction within a biocatalytic system has proven to be challenging. This study aimed to enhance the activity and enantioselectivity of to enable asymmetric SH insertion. The researchers conducted site-saturation mutagenesis (SSM) on 5 amino acid residues located around the iron carbenoid intermediate within a distance of 5 Å, followed by iterative saturation mutagenesis (ISM) of beneficial mutants. Through this process, the beneficial variant VHbSH(P54R/V98W) was identified through screening with 4-(methylmercapto) phenol as the substrate. This variant exhibited up to 4-fold higher catalytic efficiency and 6-fold higher enantioselectivity compared to the wild-type VHb. Computational studies were also conducted to elucidate the detailed mechanism of this asymmetric SH insertion, explaining how active-site residues accelerate this transformation and provide stereocontrol.

Molecular enhancement of Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR) represents an effective means of achieving renewable energy storage and a supply of carbon-based raw materials. However, there are still great challenges in selectively producing specific hydrocarbon compounds. The unique ability of the copper (Cu) catalyst to promote proton-coupled electron transfer processes offers clear advantages in generating value-added products. This review presents molecular enhancement strategies for Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction. We also elucidate the principles of each strategy for enhancing eCO2RR performance, discuss the structure-activity relationships, and propose some promising molecular enhancement strategies. This review will provide guidance for the development of organic-inorganic hybrid Cu-based catalysts as high-performance CO2 electroreduction catalysts.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Pyridyl Cyclopropanes via Enzymatic Activation of Pyridotriazoles

Hemoproteins have recently emerged as powerful biocatalysts for new-to-nature carbene transfer reactions. Despite this progress, these strategies have remained largely limited to diazo-based carbene precursor reagents. Here, we report the development of a biocatalytic strategy for the stereoselective construction of pyridine-functionalized cyclopropanes via the hemoprotein-mediated activation of pyridotriazoles (PyTz) as stable and readily accessible carbene sources. This method enables the asymmetric cyclopropanation of a variety of olefins, including electron-rich and electrodeficient ones, with high activity, high stereoselectivity, and enantiodivergent selectivity, providing access to mono- and diarylcyclopropanes that incorporate a pyridine moiety and thus two structural motifs of high value in medicinal chemistry. Mechanistic studies reveal a multifaceted role of 7-halogen substitution in the pyridotriazole reagent toward favoring multiple catalytic steps in the transformation. This work provides the first example of asymmetric olefin cyclopropanation with pyridotriazoles, paving the way to the exploitation of these attractive and versatile reagents for enzyme-catalyzed carbene-mediated reactions.

Designing Michaelases: exploration of novel protein scaffolds for iminium biocatalysis

Biocatalysis is becoming a powerful and sustainable alternative for asymmetric catalysis. However, enzymes are often restricted to metabolic and less complex reactivities. This can be addressed by protein engineering, such as incorporating new-to-nature functional groups into proteins through the so-called expansion of the genetic code to produce artificial enzymes. Selecting a suitable protein scaffold is a challenging task that plays a key role in designing artificial enzymes. In this work, we explored different protein scaffolds for an abiological model of iminium-ion catalysis, Michael addition of nitromethane into E-cinnamaldehyde. We studied scaffolds looking for open hydrophobic pockets and enzymes with described binding sites for the targeted substrate. The proteins were expressed and variants harboring functional amine groups - lysine, p-aminophenylalanine, or N6-(D-prolyl)-L-lysine - were analyzed for the model reaction. Among the newly identified scaffolds, a thermophilic ene-reductase from Thermoanaerobacter pseudethanolicus was shown to be the most promising biomolecular scaffold for this reaction.

Redox Engineering of Myoglobin by Cofactor Substitution to Enhance Cyclopropanation Reactivity

Design of metal cofactor ligands is essential for controlling the reactivity of metalloenzymes. We investigated a carbene transfer reaction catalyzed by myoglobins containing iron porphyrin cofactors with one and two trifluoromethyl groups at peripheral sites (FePorCF3 and FePor(CF3)2, respectively), native heme and iron porphycene (FePc). These four myoglobins show a wide range of Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox potentials in the protein of +147 mV, +87 mV, +42 mV and -198 mV vs. NHE, respectively. Myoglobin reconstituted with FePor(CF3)2 has a more positive potential, which enhances the reactivity of a carbene intermediate with alkenes, and demonstrates superior cyclopropanation of inert alkenes, such as aliphatic and internal alkenes. In contrast, engineered myoglobin reconstituted with FePc has a more negative redox potential, which accelerates the formation of the intermediate, but has low reactivity for inert alkenes. Mechanistic studies indicate that myoglobin with FePor(CF3)2 generates an undetectable active intermediate with a radical character. In contrast, this reaction catalyzed by myoglobin with FePc includes a detectable iron-carbene species with electrophilic character. This finding highlights the importance of redox-focused design of the iron porphyrinoid cofactor in hemoproteins to tune the reactivity of the carbene transfer reaction.

Biocatalytic strategy for the construction of sp3-rich polycyclic compounds from directed evolution and computational modelling

Catalysis with engineered enzymes has provided more efficient routes for the production of active pharmaceutical agents. However, the potential of biocatalysis to assist in early-stage drug discovery campaigns remains largely untapped. In this study, we have developed a biocatalytic strategy for the construction of sp3-rich polycyclic compounds via the intramolecular cyclopropanation of benzothiophenes and related heterocycles. Two carbene transferases with complementary regioisomer selectivity were evolved to catalyse the stereoselective cyclization of benzothiophene substrates bearing diazo ester groups at the C2 or C3 position of the heterocycle. The detailed mechanisms of these reactions were elucidated by a combination of crystallographic and computational analyses. Leveraging these insights, the substrate scope of one of the biocatalysts could be expanded to include previously unreactive substrates, highlighting the value of integrating evolutionary and rational strategies to develop enzymes for new-to-nature transformations. The molecular scaffolds accessed here feature a combination of three-dimensional and stereochemical complexity with 'rule-of-three' properties, which should make them highly valuable for fragment-based drug discovery campaigns.

Origin of Enantioselectivity in Engineered Cytochrome c-Catalyzed Carbon-Radical FePP Hydrolysis Revealed Using QM/MM (ABEEM Polarizable Force Field) and MD Simulations

The origin of highly efficient asymmetric aminohydroxylation of styrene catalyzed by engineered cytochrome c is investigated by the developed Atom-Bond Electronegativity Equalization Method polarizable force field (ABEEM PFF), which is a combined outcome of electronic and steric effects. Model molecules were used to establish the charge parameters of the ABEEM PFF, for which the bond-stretching and angle-bending parameters were obtained by using a combination of modified Seminario and scan methods. The interactions between carbon-radical Fe-porphyrin (FePP) and waters are simulated by molecular dynamics, which shows a clear preference for the pre-R over the pre-S. This preference is attributed to the hydrogen-bond between the mutated 100S and 101P residues as well as van der Waals interactions, enforcing a specific conformation of the carbon-radical FePP complex within the binding pocket. Meanwhile, the hydrogen-bond between water and the nitrogen atom in the active intermediate dictates the stereochemical outcome. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM (ABEEM PFF)) and free-energy perturbation calculations elucidate that the 3RTS is characterized by sandwich-like structure among adjacent amino acid residues, which exhibits greater stability than crowed arrangement in 3STS and enables the R enantiomer to form more favorably. Thus, this study provides mechanistic insight into the catalytic reaction of hemoproteins.

Integrating Enzymes with Supramolecular Polymers for Recyclable Photobiocatalytic Catalysis

Chemical modifications of enzymes excel in the realm of enzyme engineering due to its directness, robustness, and efficiency; however, challenges persist in devising versatile and effective strategies. In this study, we introduce a supramolecular modification methodology that amalgamates a supramolecular polymer with Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) to create supramolecular enzymes (SupEnzyme). This approach features the straightforward preparation of a supramolecular amphiphilic polymer (β-CD@SMA), which was subsequently conjugated to the enzyme, resulting in a SupEnzyme capable of self-assembly into supramolecular nanoparticles. The resulting SupEnzyme nanoparticles can form micron-scale supramolecular aggregates through supramolecular and electrostatic interactions with guest entities, thus enhancing catalyst recycling. Remarkably, these aggregates maintain 80 % activity after seven cycles, outperforming Novozym 435. Additionally, they can effectively initiate photobiocatalytic cascade reactions using guest photocatalysts. As a consequence, our SupEnzyme methodology exhibits noteworthy adaptability in enzyme modification, presenting a versatile platform for various polymer, enzyme, and biocompatible catalyst pairings, with potential applications in the fields of chemistry and biology.

Rationally introducing non-canonical amino acids to enhance catalytic activity of LmrR for Henry reaction

The use of enzymes to catalyze Henry reaction has advantages of mild reaction conditions and low contamination, but low enzyme activity of promiscuous catalysis limits its application. Here, rational design was first performed to identify the key amino acid residues in Henry reaction catalyzed by Lactococcal multidrug resistance Regulator (LmrR). Further, non-canonical amino acids were introduced into LmrR, successfully obtaining variants that enhanced the catalytic activity of LmrR. The best variant, V15CNF, showed a 184% increase in enzyme activity compared to the wild type, and was 1.92 times more effective than the optimal natural amino acid variant, V15F. Additionally, this variant had a broad substrate spectrum, capable of catalyzing reactions between various aromatic aldehydes and nitromethane, with product yielded ranging from 55 to 99%. This study improved enzymatic catalytic activity by enhancing affinity between the enzyme and substrates, while breaking limited types of natural amino acid residues by introducing non-canonical amino acids into the enzyme, providing strategies for molecular modifications.

Design of Artificial Enzymes: Insights into Protein Scaffolds

The design of artificial enzymes has emerged as a promising tool for the generation of potent biocatalysts able to promote new-to-nature reactions with improved catalytic performances, providing a powerful platform for wide-ranging applications and a better understanding of protein functions and structures. The selection of an appropriate protein scaffold plays a key role in the design process. This review aims to give a general overview of the most common protein scaffolds that can be exploited for the generation of artificial enzymes. Several examples are discussed and categorized according to the strategy used for the design of the artificial biocatalyst, namely the functionalization of natural enzymes, the creation of a new catalytic site in a protein scaffold bearing a wide hydrophobic pocket and de novo protein design. The review is concluded by a comparison of these different methods and by our perspective on the topic.

Dehaloperoxidase Catalyzed Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopropanol Esters

Chiral cyclopropanols are highly desirable building blocks for medicinal chemistry, but the stereoselective synthesis of these molecules remains challenging. Here, a novel strategy is reported for the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropanol derivatives via the biocatalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinyl esters with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA). A dehaloperoxidase enzyme from Amphitrite ornata was repurposed to catalyze this challenging cyclopropanation reaction, and its activity and stereoselectivity were optimized via protein engineering. Using this system, a broad range of electron-deficient vinyl esters were efficiently converted to the desired cyclopropanation products with up to 99.5:0.5 diastereomeric and enantiomeric ratios. In addition, the engineered dehaloperoxidase-based biocatalyst is able to catalyze a variety of other abiological carbene transfer reactions, including N-H/S-H carbene insertion with EDA as well as cyclopropanation with diazoacetonitrile, thus adding to the multifunctionality of this enzyme and defining it as a valuable new scaffold for the development of novel carbene transferases.

YfeX - A New Platform for Carbene Transferase Development with High Intrinsic Reactivity

Carbene transfer biocatalysis has evolved from basic science to an area with vast potential for the development of new industrial processes. In this study, we show that YfeX, naturally a peroxidase, has great potential for the development of new carbene transferases, due to its high intrinsic reactivity, especially for the N-H insertion reaction of aromatic and aliphatic primary and secondary amines. YfeX shows high stability against organic solvents (methanol and DMSO), greatly improving turnover of hydrophobic substrates. Interestingly, in styrene cyclopropanation, WT YfeX naturally shows high enantioselectivity, generating the trans product with 87 % selectivity for the (R,R) enantiomer. WT YfeX also catalyzes the Si-H insertion efficiently. Steric effects in the active site were further explored using the R232A variant. Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) calculations reveal details on the mechanism of Si-H insertion. YfeX, and potentially other peroxidases, are exciting new targets for the development of improved carbene transferases.

Copper-Containing Artificial Polyenzymes as a Clickase for Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Artificial polyenzymes (ArPoly) are tailored combinations of universal protein scaffolds and polymers newly proposed as promising alternatives to natural enzymes to expand the biocatalyst toolbox. The concept of ArPoly has been continuously extended to metal-containing ArPoly to overcome the drawbacks faced by conventional artificial metalloenzymes. Herein, we present a sustainable route to synthesize a novel water-soluble metalloenzyme for copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloadditions in water with remarkable selectivity. In this case, synthetic l-proline monomers were polymerized onto bovine serum albumen in an aqueous medium via copper-mediated "grafting-from" atom-transfer radical polymerization, resulting in protein-polymer-copper conjugates named ArPoly_clickase. The copper in ArPoly_clickase plays pivotal bifunctional roles, not only as the catalyst for polymerization but also as the coordinated active site for alkyne-azide click catalysis. ArPoly_clickase showcases high efficiency, substrate generality, regioselectivity, and ease of product separation for "click chemistry" in water. Notably, ArPoly_clickase displays good biocompatibility without imposing copper toxicity on living cells, which offers the prospect for the upcoming bioorthogonal chemistry.

Synthetic Biology: Bottom-Up Assembly of Molecular Systems

The bottom-up assembly of biological and chemical components opens exciting opportunities to engineer artificial vesicular systems for applications with previously unmet requirements. The modular combination of scaffolds and functional building blocks enables the engineering of complex systems with biomimetic or new-to-nature functionalities. Inspired by the compartmentalized organization of cells and organelles, lipid or polymer vesicles are widely used as model membrane systems to investigate the translocation of solutes and the transduction of signals by membrane proteins. The bottom-up assembly and functionalization of such artificial compartments enables full control over their composition and can thus provide specifically optimized environments for synthetic biological processes. This review aims to inspire future endeavors by providing a diverse toolbox of molecular modules, engineering methodologies, and different approaches to assemble artificial vesicular systems. Important technical and practical aspects are addressed and selected applications are presented, highlighting particular achievements and limitations of the bottom-up approach. Complementing the cutting-edge technological achievements, fundamental aspects are also discussed to cater to the inherently diverse background of the target audience, which results from the interdisciplinary nature of synthetic biology. The engineering of proteins as functional modules and the use of lipids and block copolymers as scaffold modules for the assembly of functionalized vesicular systems are explored in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring the controlled assembly of these components into increasingly complex vesicular systems. Finally, all descriptions are presented in the greater context of engineering valuable synthetic biological systems for applications in biocatalysis, biosensing, bioremediation, or targeted drug delivery.

Unlocking New Reactivities in Enzymes by Iminium Catalysis

The application of biocatalysis in conquering challenging synthesis requires the constant input of new enzymes. Developing novel biocatalysts by absorbing catalysis modes from synthetic chemistry has yielded fruitful new-to-nature enzymes. Organocatalysis was originally bio-inspired and has become the third pillar of asymmetric catalysis. Transferring organocatalytic reactions back to enzyme platforms is a promising approach for biocatalyst creation. Herein, we summarize recent developments in the design of novel biocatalysts that adopt iminium catalysis, a fundamental branch in organocatalysis. By repurposing existing enzymes or constructing artificial enzymes, various biocatalysts for iminium catalysis have been created and optimized via protein engineering to promote valuable abiological transformations. Recent advances in iminium biocatalysis illustrate the power of combining chemomimetic biocatalyst design and directed evolution to generate useful new-to-nature enzymes.

Organometallic catalysis in aqueous and biological environments: harnessing the power of metal carbenes

Translating the power of transition metal catalysis to the native habitats of enzymes can significantly expand the possibilities of interrogating or manipulating natural biological systems, including living cells and organisms. This is especially relevant for organometallic reactions that have shown great potential in the field of organic synthesis, like the metal-catalyzed transfer of carbenes. While, at first sight, performing metal carbene chemistry in aqueous solvents, and especially in biologically relevant mixtures, does not seem obvious, in recent years there has been a growing number of reports demonstrating the feasibility of the task. Either using small molecule metal catalysts or artificial metalloenzymes, a number of carbene transfer reactions that tolerate aqueous and biorelevant media are being developed. This review intends to summarize the most relevant contributions, and establish the state of the art in this emerging research field.

Highly stable and tunable peptoid/hemin enzymatic mimetics with natural peroxidase-like activities

Developing tunable and stable peroxidase mimetics with high catalytic efficiency provides a promising opportunity to improve and expand enzymatic catalysis in lignin depolymerization. A class of peptoid-based peroxidase mimetics with tunable catalytic activity and high stability is developed by constructing peptoids and hemins into self-assembled crystalline nanomaterials. By varying peptoid side chain chemistry to tailor the microenvironment of active sites, these self-assembled peptoid/hemin nanomaterials (Pep/hemin) exhibit highly modulable catalytic activities toward two lignin model substrates 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine. Among them, a Pep/hemin complex containing the pyridyl side chain showed the best catalytic efficiency (V_max/K_m = 5.81 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹). These Pep/hemin catalysts are highly stable; kinetics studies suggest that they follow a peroxidase-like mechanism. Moreover, they exhibit a high efficacy on depolymerization of a biorefinery lignin. Because Pep/hemin catalysts are highly robust and tunable, we expect that they offer tremendous opportunities for lignin valorization to high value products.

Peroxidase mimics are currently being investigated as catalysts for lignin depolymerisation. In this article, the authors investigate a class of self-assembled and highly stable peptoid/hemin nanomaterials as peroxidase mimics that are highly stable and tuneable for the depolymerisation of a biorefinery lignin.

Strategies for the application of metal-organic frameworks in catalytic reactions

Efficient catalysts play crucial roles in various organic reactions and polymerization. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have the merits of ultrahigh porosity, large surface area, dispersed polymetallic sites and modifiable linkers, which make them promising candidates for catalyzation. This review primarily summarizes the recent research progress on diverse strategies for tailoring MOFs that are endowed with excellent catalytic behavior. These strategies include utilizing MOFs as nanosized reaction channels, metal nodes decorated as catalytic active sites and the modification of ligands or linkers. All these make them highly attractive to various applications, especially in catalyzing organic reactions or polymerizations and they have proven to be effective catalysts for a wide variety of reactions. MOFs are still an evolving field with tremendous prospects; therefore, through the research and development of more modification and regulation strategies, MOFs will realize their wider practical application in the future.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for catalyzation. This review primarily summarized the recent research progress in diverse strategies for tailoring MOFs which are endowed with more excellent catalytic behavior.

Computationally driven design of an artificial metalloenzyme using supramolecular anchoring strategies of iridium complexes to alcohol dehydrogenase

Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) confer non-biological reactivities to biomolecules, whilst taking advantage of the biomolecular architecture in terms of their selectivity and renewable origin. In particular, the design of ArMs by the supramolecular anchoring of metal catalysts to protein hosts provides flexible and easy to optimise systems. The use of cofactor dependent enzymes as hosts gives the advantage of both a (hydrophobic) binding site for the substrate and a cofactor pocket to accommodate the catalyst. Here, we present a computationally driven design approach of ArMs for the transfer hydrogenation reaction of cyclic imines, starting from the NADP⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter brockii (TbADH). We tested and developed a molecular docking workflow to define and optimize iridium catalysts with high affinity for the cofactor binding site of TbADH. The workflow uses high throughput docking of compound libraries to identify key structural motifs for high affinity, followed by higher accuracy docking methods on smaller, focused ligand and catalyst libraries. Iridium sulfonamide catalysts were selected and synthesised, containing either a triol, a furane, or a carboxylic acid to provide the interaction with the cofactor binding pocket. IC₅₀ values of the resulting complexes during TbADH-catalysed alcohol oxidation were determined by competition experiments and were between 4.410 mM and 0.052 mM, demonstrating the affinity of the iridium complexes for either the substrate or the cofactor binding pocket of TbADH. The catalytic activity of the free iridium complexes in solution showed a maximal turnover number (TON) of 90 for the reduction of salsolidine by the triol-functionalised iridium catalyst, whilst in the presence of TbADH, only the iridium catalyst with the triol anchoring functionality showed activity for the same reaction (TON of 36 after 24 h). The observation that the artificial metalloenzymes developed here lacked stereoselectivity demonstrates the need for the further investigation and optimisation of the ArM. Our results serve as a starting point for the design of robust artificial metalloenzymes, exploiting supramolecular anchoring to natural NAD(P)H binding pockets.

Successes and challenges in multiscale modelling of artificial metalloenzymes: the case study of POP-Rh2 cyclopropanase

Molecular modelling applications in metalloenzyme design are still scarce due to a series of challenges. On top of that, the simulations of metal-mediated binding and the identification of catalytic competent geometries require both large conformational exploration and simulation of fine electronic properties. Here, we demonstrate how the incorporation of new tools in multiscale strategies, namely substrate diffusion exploration, allows taking a step further. As a showcase, the enantioselective profiles of the most outstanding variants of an artificial Rh₂-based cyclopropanase (GSH, HFF and RFY) developed by Lewis and co-workers (Nat. Commun., 2015, 6, 7789 and Nat. Chem., 2018, 10, 318-324) have been rationalized. DFT calculations on the free-cofactor-mediated process identify the carbene insertion and the cyclopropanoid formation as crucial events, the latter being the enantiodetermining step, which displays up to 8 competitive orientations easily altered by the protein environment. The key intermediates of the reaction were docked into the protein scaffold showing that some mutated residues have direct interaction with the cofactor and/or the co-substrate. These interactions take the form of a direct coordination of Rh in GSH and HFF and a strong hydrophobic patch with the carbene moiety in RFY. Posterior molecular dynamics sustain that the cofactor induces global re-arrangements of the protein. Finally, massive exploration of substrate diffusion, based on the GPathFinder approach, defines this event as the origin of the enantioselectivity in GSH and RFY. For HFF, fine molecular dockings suggest that it is likely related to local interactions upon diffusion. This work shows how modelling of long-range mutations on the catalytic profiles of metalloenzymes may be unavoidable and software simulating substrate diffusion should be applied.

Tandem Friedel‐Crafts Alkylation/Enantioselective Protonation by Artificial Enzyme Iminium Catalysis

The incorporation of organocatalysts into protein scaffolds holds the promise of overcoming some of the limitations of this powerful catalytic approach. Previously, we showed that incorporation of the non‐canonical amino acid para‐aminophenylalanine into the non‐enzymatic protein scaffold LmrR forms a proficient and enantioselective artificial enzyme (LmrR_pAF) for the Friedel‐Crafts alkylation of indoles with enals. The unnatural aniline side‐chain is directly involved in catalysis, operating via a well‐known organocatalytic iminium‐based mechanism. In this study, we show that LmrR_pAF can enantioselectively form tertiary carbon centres not only during C−C bond formation, but also by enantioselective protonation, delivering a proton to one face of a prochiral enamine intermediate. The importance of various side‐chains in the pocket of LmrR is distinct from the Friedel‐Crafts reaction without enantioselective protonation, and two particularly important residues were probed by exhaustive mutagenesis.

Highly stereoselective and enantiodivergent synthesis of cyclopropylphosphonates with engineered carbene transferases

Organophosphonate compounds have represented a rich source of biologically active compounds, including enzyme inhibitors, antibiotics, and antimalarial agents. Here, we report the development of a highly stereoselective strategy for olefin cyclopropanation in the presence of a phosphonyl diazo reagent as carbene precursor. In combination with a ‘substrate walking’ protein engineering strategy, two sets of efficient and enantiodivergent myoglobin-based biocatalysts were developed for the synthesis of both (1R,2S) and (1S,2R) enantiomeric forms of the desired cyclopropylphosphonate ester products. This methodology enables the efficient transformation of a broad range of vinylarene substrates at a preparative scale (i.e. gram scale) with up to 99% de and ee. Mechanistic studies provide insights into factors that contribute to make this reaction inherently more challenging than hemoprotein-catalyzed olefin cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate investigated previously. This work expands the range of synthetically useful, enzyme-catalyzed transformations and paves the way to the development of metalloprotein catalysts for abiological carbene transfer reactions involving non-canonical carbene donor reagents.

Two enantiocomplementary myoglobin-based carbene transfer biocatalysts were developed for the synthesis of cyclopropylphosphonate esters with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity and in high yields.

Catalytic Synthesis of 1H-2-Benzoxocins: Cobalt(III)-Carbene Radical Approach to 8-Membered Heterocyclic Enol Ethers

The metallo-radical activation of ortho-allylcarbonyl-aryl N-arylsulfonylhydrazones with the paramagnetic cobalt(II) porphyrin catalyst [CoII(TPP)] (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin) provides an efficient and powerful method for the synthesis of novel 8-membered heterocyclic enol ethers. The synthetic protocol is versatile and practical and enables the synthesis of a wide range of unique 1H-2-benzoxocins in high yields. The catalytic cyclization reactions proceed with excellent chemoselectivities, have a high functional group tolerance, and provide several opportunities for the synthesis of new bioactive compounds. The reactions are shown to proceed via cobalt(III)-carbene radical intermediates, which are involved in intramolecular hydrogen transfer (HAT) from the allylic position to the carbene radical, followed by a near-barrierless radical rebound step in the coordination sphere of cobalt. The proposed mechanism is supported by experimental observations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and spin trapping experiments.

Self-assembled recombinant camel serum albumin nanoparticles-encapsulated hemin with peroxidase-like activity for colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose

The construction of enzyme mimics using protein protection layers possesses advantages of high biocompatibility and superior catalytic activity, which is desirable for biomedical applications including diseases diagnosis. Here, from E. coli expression system, recombinant protein of camel serum albumin (rCSA) from Camelus bactrianus was successfully obtained to encapsulate hemin via the self-assemble method without additional toxic organic reagents. As compared with that of horseradish peroxidase, the produced rCSA-hemin nanoparticles exhibited enhanced enzyme-mimicking activity and stability under harsh experimental conditions. Additionally, the steady-state kinetic analysis of rCSA-hemin in the solution revealed its higher affinity to the substrates. Therefore, a colorimetric detection method of H₂O₂ and glucose was constructed with a linear range of 2.5-500 μM with an LOD of 2.39 and 2.42 μM, respectively, which was also applied for the determination of glucose in the serum samples with satisfying recovery ratio ranging from 101.1% to 112.1%. The constructed camel protein-derived nanozyme system of remarkable stability holds promising potentials for the versatile biomedical uses.

Biocatalytic Asymmetric Cyclopropanations via Enzyme-Bound Iminium Ion Intermediates

Cyclopropane rings are an important structural motif frequently found in many natural products and pharmaceuticals. Commonly, biocatalytic methodologies for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclopropanes rely on repurposed or artificial heme enzymes. Here, we engineered an unusual cofactor‐independent cyclopropanation enzyme based on a promiscuous tautomerase for the enantioselective synthesis of various cyclopropanes via the nucleophilic addition of diethyl 2‐chloromalonate to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. The engineered enzyme promotes formation of the two new carbon‐carbon bonds with excellent stereocontrol over both stereocenters, affording the desired cyclopropanes with high diastereo‐ and enantiopurity (d.r. up to 25:1; e.r. up to 99:1). Our results highlight the usefulness of promiscuous enzymes for expanding the biocatalytic repertoire for non‐natural reactions.

Engineering Dirhodium Artificial Metalloenzymes for Diazo Coupling Cascade Reactions*

Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) are commonly used to control the stereoselectivity of catalytic reactions, but controlling chemoselectivity remains challenging. In this study, we engineer a dirhodium ArM to catalyze diazo cross-coupling to form an alkene that, in a one-pot cascade reaction, is reduced to an alkane with high enantioselectivity (typically >99 % ee) by an alkene reductase. The numerous protein and small molecule components required for the cascade reaction had minimal effect on ArM catalysis. Directed evolution of the ArM led to improved yields and E/Z selectivities for a variety of substrates, which translated to cascade reaction yields. MD simulations of ArM variants were used to understand the structural role of the cofactor on ArM conformational dynamics. These results highlight the ability of ArMs to control both catalyst stereoselectivity and chemoselectivity to enable reactions in complex media that would otherwise lead to undesired side reactions.

Repurposed and artificial heme enzymes for cyclopropanation reactions

Heme enzymes are some of the most versatile catalysts in nature. In recent years it has been found that they can also catalyze reactions for which there are no equivalents in nature. This development has been driven by the abiological catalytic reactivity reported for bio-inspired and biomimetic iron porphyrin complexes. This review focuss es on heme enzymes for catalysis of cyclopropanation reactions. The two most important approaches used to create enzymes for cyclopropanation are repurposing of heme enzymes and the various strategies used to improve these enzymes such as mutagenesis and heme replacement, and artificial heme enzymes. These strategies are introduced and compared. Moreover, lessons learned with regard to mechanism and design principles are discussed.

Unlocking Iminium Catalysis in Artificial Enzymes to Create a Friedel-Crafts Alkylase

The construction and engineering of artificial enzymes consisting of abiological catalytic moieties incorporated into protein scaffolds is a promising strategy to realize non-natural mechanisms in biocatalysis. Here, we show that incorporation of the noncanonical amino acid para-aminophenylalanine (pAF) into the nonenzymatic protein scaffold LmrR creates a proficient and stereoselective artificial enzyme (LmrR_pAF) for the vinylogous Friedel-Crafts alkylation between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and indoles. pAF acts as a catalytic residue, activating enal substrates toward conjugate addition via the formation of intermediate iminium ion species, while the protein scaffold provides rate acceleration and stereoinduction. Improved LmrR_pAF variants were identified by low-throughput directed evolution advised by alanine-scanning to obtain a triple mutant that provided higher yields and enantioselectivities for a range of aliphatic enals and substituted indoles. Analysis of Michaelis-Menten kinetics of LmrR_pAF and evolved mutants reveals that different activities emerge via evolutionary pathways that diverge from one another and specialize catalytic reactivity. Translating this iminium-based catalytic mechanism into an enzymatic context will enable many more biocatalytic transformations inspired by organocatalysis.

Recent Advances in Biocatalysis with Chemical Modification and Expanded Amino Acid Alphabet

The two main strategies for enzyme engineering, directed evolution and rational design, have found widespread applications in improving the intrinsic activities of proteins. Although numerous advances have been achieved using these ground-breaking methods, the limited chemical diversity of the biopolymers, restricted to the 20 canonical amino acids, hampers creation of novel enzymes that Nature has never made thus far. To address this, much research has been devoted to expanding the protein sequence space via chemical modifications and/or incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs). This review provides a balanced discussion and critical evaluation of the applications, recent advances, and technical breakthroughs in biocatalysis for three approaches: (i) chemical modification of cAAs, (ii) incorporation of ncAAs, and (iii) chemical modification of incorporated ncAAs. Furthermore, the applications of these approaches and the result on the functional properties and mechanistic study of the enzymes are extensively reviewed. We also discuss the design of artificial enzymes and directed evolution strategies for enzymes with ncAAs incorporated. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives for biocatalysis using the expanded amino acid alphabet.

Biocatalytic Strategy for the Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of CHF2 -Containing Trisubstituted Cyclopropanes

The difluoromethyl (CHF2 ) group has attracted significant attention in drug discovery and development efforts, owing to its ability to serve as fluorinated bioisostere of methyl, hydroxyl, and thiol groups. Herein, we report an efficient biocatalytic method for the highly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of CHF2 -containing trisubstituted cyclopropanes. Using engineered myoglobin catalysts, a broad range of α-difluoromethyl alkenes are cyclopropanated in the presence of ethyl diazoacetate to give CHF2 -containing cyclopropanes in high yield (up to >99 %, up to 3000 TON) and with excellent stereoselectivity (up to >99 % de and ee). Enantiodivergent selectivity and extension of the method to the stereoselective cyclopropanation of mono- and trifluoromethylated olefins was also achieved. This methodology represents a powerful strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of high-value fluorinated building blocks for medicinal chemistry, as exemplified by the formal total synthesis of a CHF2 isostere of a TRPV1 inhibitor.

In Vivo Assembly of Artificial Metalloenzymes and Application in Whole-Cell Biocatalysis*

We report the supramolecular assembly of artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs), based on the Lactococcal multidrug resistance regulator (LmrR) and an exogeneous copper(II)-phenanthroline complex, in the cytoplasm of E. coli cells. A combination of catalysis, cell-fractionation, and inhibitor experiments, supplemented with in-cell solid-state NMR spectroscopy, confirmed the in-cell assembly. The ArM-containing whole cells were active in the catalysis of the enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles and the Diels-Alder reaction of azachalcone with cyclopentadiene. Directed evolution resulted in two different improved mutants for both reactions, LmrR_A92E_M8D and LmrR_A92E_V15A, respectively. The whole-cell ArM system required no engineering of the microbial host, the protein scaffold, or the cofactor to achieve ArM assembly and catalysis. We consider this a key step towards integrating abiological catalysis with biosynthesis to generate a hybrid metabolism.

Recyclable Ruthenium Catalyst for Distal meta-C-H Activation

We disclose the unprecedented hybrid-ruthenium catalysis for distal meta-C-H activation. The hybrid-ruthenium catalyst was recyclable, as was proven by various heterogeneity tests, and fully characterized with various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, highlighting the physical and chemical stability. Thereby, the hybrid-ruthenium catalysis proved broadly applicable for meta-C-H alkylations of among others purine-based nucleosides and natural product conjugates. Additionally, its versatility was further reflected by meta-C-H activations through visible-light irradiation, as well as para-selective C-H activations.

Cell mimicry as a bottom-up strategy for hierarchical engineering of nature-inspired entities

Artificial biology is an emerging concept that aims to design and engineer the structure and function of natural cells, organelles, or biomolecules with a combination of biological and abiotic building blocks. Cell mimicry focuses on concepts that have the potential to be integrated with mammalian cells and tissue. In this feature article, we will emphasize the advancements in the past 3-4 years (2017-present) that are dedicated to artificial enzymes, artificial organelles, and artificial mammalian cells. Each aspect will be briefly introduced, followed by highlighting efforts that considered key properties of the different mimics. Finally, the current challenges and opportunities will be outlined. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

Impact of binding to the multidrug resistance regulator protein LmrR on the photo-physics and -chemistry of photosensitizers

Light activated photosensitizers generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that interfere with cellular components and can induce cell death, e.g., in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The effect of cellular components and especially proteins on the photochemistry and photophysics of the sensitizers is a key aspect in drug design and the correlating cellular response with the generation of specific ROS species. Here, we show the complex range of effects of binding of photosensitizer to a multidrug resistance protein, produced by bacteria, on the formers reactivity. We show that recruitment of drug like molecules by LmrR (Lactococcal multidrug resistance Regulator) modifies their photophysical properties and their capacity to induce oxidative stress especially in 1O2 generation, including rose bengal (RB), protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), bodipy, eosin Y (EY), riboflavin (RBF), and rhodamine 6G (Rh6G). The range of neutral and charged dyes with different exited redox potentials, are broadly representative of the dyes used in PDT.

Cofactor Binding Dynamics Influence the Catalytic Activity and Selectivity of an Artificial Metalloenzyme

We present an artificial metalloenzyme based on the transcriptional regulator LmrR that exhibits dynamics involving the positioning of its abiological metal cofactor. The position of the cofactor, in turn, was found to be related to the preferred catalytic reactivity, which is either the enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with β-substituted enones or the tandem Friedel-Crafts alkylation/enantioselective protonation of indoles with α-substituted enones. The artificial metalloenzyme could be specialized for one of these catalytic reactions introducing a single mutation in the protein. The relation between cofactor dynamics and activity and selectivity in catalysis has not been described for natural enzymes and, to date, appears to be particular for artificial metalloenzymes.

An Artificial Hemoprotein with Inducible Peroxidase- and Monooxygenase-Like Activities

A novel inducible artificial metalloenzyme obtained by covalent attachment of a manganese(III)-tetraphenylporphyrin (MnTPP) to the artificial bidomain repeat protein, (A3A3')Y26C, is reported. The protein is part of the αRep family. The biohybrid was fully characterized by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry, circular dichroism and UV/Vis spectroscopies. The peroxidase and monooxygenase activities were evaluated on the original and modified scaffolds including those that have a) an additional imidazole, b) a specific αRep bA3-2 that is known to induce the opening of the (A3A3') interdomain region and c) a derivative of the αRep bA3-2 inducer extended with a His₆ -Tag (His₆ -bA3-2). Catalytic profiles are highly dependent on the presence of co-catalysts with the best activity obtained with His₆ -bA3-2. The entire mechanism was rationalized by an integrative molecular modeling study that includes protein-ligand docking and large-scale molecular dynamics. This constitutes the first example of an entirely artificial metalloenzyme with inducible peroxidase and monooxygenase activities, reminiscent of allosteric regulation of natural enzymatic pathways.

Enhanced cis- and enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene catalysed by cytochrome P450BM3 using decoy molecules

We report the enhanced cis- and enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene catalysed by cytochrome P450BM3 in the presence of dummy substrates, i.e. decoy molecules. With the aid of the decoy molecule R-Ibu-Phe, diastereoselectivity for the cis diastereomers reached 91%, and the enantiomeric ratio for the (1S,2R) isomer reached 94%. Molecular dynamics simulations underpin the experimental data, revealing the mechanism of how enantioselectivity is controlled by the addition of decoy molecules.