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Li F, Xu Y, Liu Y, Kan W, Piao Y, Han W, Li Z, Wang Z, Wang L. Switching engineered Vitreoscilla hemoglobin into carbene transferase for enantioselective SH insertion. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134756. [PMID: 39147340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxi Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Yaning Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Yuyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Wenbo Kan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Yuming Piao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Weiwei Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Zhengqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China.
| | - Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, PR China.
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2
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Albayati SH, Nezhad NG, Taki AG, Rahman RNZRA. Efficient and easible biocatalysts: Strategies for enzyme improvement. A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133978. [PMID: 39038570 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Owing to the environmental friendliness and vast advantages that enzymes offer in the biotechnology and industry fields, biocatalysts are a prolific investigation field. However, the low catalytic activity, stability, and specific selectivity of the enzyme limit the range of the reaction enzymes involved in. A comprehensive understanding of the protein structure and dynamics in terms of molecular details enables us to tackle these limitations effectively and enhance the catalytic activity by enzyme engineering or modifying the supports and solvents. Along with different strategies including computational, enzyme engineering based on DNA recombination, enzyme immobilization, additives, chemical modification, and physicochemical modification approaches can be promising for the wide spread of industrial enzyme usage. This is attributed to the successful application of biocatalysts in industrial and synthetic processes requires a system that exhibits stability, activity, and reusability in a continuous flow process, thereby reducing the production cost. The main goal of this review is to display relevant approaches for improving enzyme characteristics to overcome their industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah Hashim Albayati
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nima Ghahremani Nezhad
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Anmar Ghanim Taki
- Department of Radiology Techniques, Health and Medical Techniques College, Alnoor University, Mosul, Iraq
| | - Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abd Rahman
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
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3
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Agosto-Maldonado A, Guo J, Niu W. Engineering carboxylic acid reductases and unspecific peroxygenases for flavor and fragrance biosynthesis. J Biotechnol 2024; 385:1-12. [PMID: 38428504 PMCID: PMC11062483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Emerging consumer demand for safer, more sustainable flavors and fragrances has created new challenges for the industry. Enzymatic syntheses represent a promising green production route, but the broad application requires engineering advancements for expanded diversity, improved selectivity, and enhanced stability to be cost-competitive with current methods. This review discusses recent advances and future outlooks for enzyme engineering in this field. We focus on carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) and unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) that enable selective productions of complex flavor and fragrance molecules. Both enzyme types consist of natural variants with attractive characteristics for biocatalytic applications. Applying protein engineering methods, including rational design and directed evolution in concert with computational modeling, present excellent examples for property improvements to unleash the full potential of enzymes in the biosynthesis of value-added chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiantao Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States; The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Wei Niu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States; The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States.
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4
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Li L, Liu X, Bai Y, Yao B, Luo H, Tu T. High-Throughput Screening Techniques for the Selection of Thermostable Enzymes. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:3833-3845. [PMID: 38285533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The acquisition of a thermostable enzyme is an indispensable prerequisite for its successful implementation in industrial applications and the development of novel functionalities. Various protein engineering approaches, including rational design, semirational design, and directed evolution, have been employed to enhance thermostability. However, all of these approaches require sensitive and reliable high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies to efficiently and rapidly identify variants with improved properties. While numerous reviews focus on modification strategies for enhancing enzyme thermostability, there is a dearth of literature reviewing HTS methods specifically aimed at this objective. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of various HTS methods utilized for modifying enzyme thermostability across different screening platforms. Additionally, we highlight significant recent examples that demonstrate the successful application of these methods. Furthermore, we address the technical challenges associated with HTS technologies used for screening thermostable enzyme variants and discuss valuable perspectives to promote further advancements in this field. This review serves as an authoritative reference source offering theoretical support for selecting appropriate screening strategies tailored to specific enzymes with the aim of improving their thermostability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanxue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yingguo Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huiying Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Tao Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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5
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Rogge T, Zhou Q, Porter NJ, Arnold FH, Houk KN. Iron Heme Enzyme-Catalyzed Cyclopropanations with Diazirines as Carbene Precursors: Computational Explorations of Diazirine Activation and Cyclopropanation Mechanism. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2959-2966. [PMID: 38270588 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The mechanism of cyclopropanations with diazirines as air-stable and user-friendly alternatives to commonly employed diazo compounds within iron heme enzyme-catalyzed carbene transfer reactions has been studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations of model systems, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the iron carbene and the cyclopropanation transition state in the enzyme active site. The reaction is initiated by a direct diazirine-diazo isomerization occurring in the active site of the enzyme. In contrast, an isomerization mechanism proceeding via the formation of a free carbene intermediate in lieu of a direct, one-step isomerization process was observed for model systems. Subsequent reaction with benzyl acrylate takes place through stepwise C-C bond formation via a diradical intermediate, delivering the cyclopropane product. The origin of the observed diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the enzyme was investigated through MD simulations, which indicate a preferred formation of the cis-cyclopropane by steric control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Rogge
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Qingyang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Nicholas J Porter
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Division of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Frances H Arnold
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Division of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - K N Houk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
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6
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Liu Y, Ma T, Guo Z, Zhou L, Liu G, He Y, Ma L, Gao J, Bai J, Hollmann F, Jiang Y. Asymmetric α-benzylation of cyclic ketones enabled by concurrent chemical aldol condensation and biocatalytic reduction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38167391 PMCID: PMC10761851 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44452-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemoenzymatic cascade catalysis has emerged as a revolutionary tool for streamlining traditional retrosynthetic disconnections, creating new possibilities for the asymmetric synthesis of valuable chiral compounds. Here we construct a one-pot concurrent chemoenzymatic cascade by integrating organobismuth-catalyzed aldol condensation with ene-reductase (ER)-catalyzed enantioselective reduction, enabling the formal asymmetric α-benzylation of cyclic ketones. To achieve this, we develop a pair of enantiocomplementary ERs capable of reducing α-arylidene cyclic ketones, lactams, and lactones. Our engineered mutants exhibit significantly higher activity, up to 37-fold, and broader substrate specificity compared to the parent enzyme. The key to success is due to the well-tuned hydride attack distance/angle and, more importantly, to the synergistic proton-delivery triade of Tyr28-Tyr69-Tyr169. Molecular docking and density functional theory (DFT) studies provide important insights into the bioreduction mechanisms. Furthermore, we demonstrate the synthetic utility of the best mutants in the asymmetric synthesis of several key chiral synthons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunting Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Teng Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Zhongxu Guo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Liya Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Guanhua Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Ying He
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Li Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Jing Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Jing Bai
- College of Food Science and Biology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Frank Hollmann
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Yanjun Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China.
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7
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Li J, Li Y, Li Y, Ma Y, Xu W, Wang J. An enhanced activity and thermostability of chimeric Bst DNA polymerase for isothermal amplification applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:6527-6540. [PMID: 37672070 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12751-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a widely used method for clinical diagnosis, customs quarantine, and disease prevention. However, the low catalytic activity of Bst DNA polymerase has made it challenging to develop rapid and reliable point-of-care testing. Herein, we developed a series of Bst DNA polymerase mutants with enhanced activity by predicting and analyzing the activity sites. Among these mutants, single mutants K431D and K431E showed a 1.93- and 2.03-fold increase in catalytic efficiency, respectively. We also created a chimeric protein by fusing the DNA-binding domain of DNA ligase from Pyrococcus abyssi (DBD), namely DBD-K431E, which enabled real-time LAMP at high temperatures up to 73 ℃ and remained active after heating at 70 ℃ for 8 h. The chimeric DBD-K431E remained active in the presence of 50 U/mL heparin, 10% ethanol, and up to 100 mM NaCl, and showed higher activity in 110 mM (NH4)2SO4, 110 mM KCl, and 12 mM MgSO4. Notably, it generated a fluorescence signal during the detection of Salmonella typhimurium at 2 × 102 ag/μL of genomic DNA and 1.24 CFU/mL of bacterial colony, outperforming the wild type and the commercial counterpart Bst 2.0. Our results suggest that the DBD-K431E variant could be a promising tool for general molecular biology research and clinical diagnostics. KEY POINTS: • Residue K431 is probably a key site of Bst DNA polymerase activity • The chimeric DBD-K431E is more inhibitor tolerant and thermostable than Bst-LF • The DBD-K431E variant can detect Salmonella typhimurium at 102 ag/μL or 100 CFU/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yanmei Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yi Ma
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Jufang Wang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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8
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Patsch D, Eichenberger M, Voss M, Bornscheuer UT, Buller RM. LibGENiE - A bioinformatic pipeline for the design of information-enriched enzyme libraries. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4488-4496. [PMID: 37736300 PMCID: PMC10510078 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are potent catalysts with high specificity and selectivity. To leverage nature's synthetic potential for industrial applications, various protein engineering techniques have emerged which allow to tailor the catalytic, biophysical, and molecular recognition properties of enzymes. However, the many possible ways a protein can be altered forces researchers to carefully balance between the exhaustiveness of an enzyme screening campaign and the required resources. Consequently, the optimal engineering strategy is often defined on a case-by-case basis. Strikingly, while predicting mutations that lead to an improved target function is challenging, here we show that the prediction and exclusion of deleterious mutations is a much more straightforward task as analyzed for an engineered carbonic acid anhydrase, a transaminase, a squalene-hopene cyclase and a Kemp eliminase. Combining such a pre-selection of allowed residues with advanced gene synthesis methods opens a path toward an efficient and generalizable library construction approach for protein engineering. To give researchers easy access to this methodology, we provide the website LibGENiE containing the bioinformatic tools for the library design workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Patsch
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Greifswald University, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Eichenberger
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Voss
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Uwe T. Bornscheuer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Greifswald University, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rebecca M. Buller
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
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9
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Engelberger F, Zakary JD, Künze G. Guiding protein design choices by per-residue energy breakdown analysis with an interactive web application. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1178035. [PMID: 37228581 PMCID: PMC10204868 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1178035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in machine learning have greatly facilitated the design of proteins with improved properties. However, accurately assessing the contributions of an individual or multiple amino acid mutations to overall protein stability to select the most promising mutants remains a challenge. Knowing the specific types of amino acid interactions that improve energetic stability is crucial for finding favorable combinations of mutations and deciding which mutants to test experimentally. In this work, we present an interactive workflow for assessing the energetic contributions of single and multi-mutant designs of proteins. The energy breakdown guided protein design (ENDURE) workflow includes several key algorithms, including per-residue energy analysis and the sum of interaction energies calculations, which are performed using the Rosetta energy function, as well as a residue depth analysis, which enables tracking the energetic contributions of mutations occurring in different spatial layers of the protein structure. ENDURE is available as a web application that integrates easy-to-read summary reports and interactive visualizations of the automated energy calculations and helps users selecting protein mutants for further experimental characterization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the tool in identifying the mutations in a designed polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-degrading enzyme that add up to an improved thermodynamic stability. We expect that ENDURE can be a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working in the field of protein design and optimization. ENDURE is freely available for academic use at: http://endure.kuenzelab.org.
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10
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Gantz M, Neun S, Medcalf EJ, van Vliet LD, Hollfelder F. Ultrahigh-Throughput Enzyme Engineering and Discovery in In Vitro Compartments. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5571-5611. [PMID: 37126602 PMCID: PMC10176489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel and improved biocatalysts are increasingly sourced from libraries via experimental screening. The success of such campaigns is crucially dependent on the number of candidates tested. Water-in-oil emulsion droplets can replace the classical test tube, to provide in vitro compartments as an alternative screening format, containing genotype and phenotype and enabling a readout of function. The scale-down to micrometer droplet diameters and picoliter volumes brings about a >107-fold volume reduction compared to 96-well-plate screening. Droplets made in automated microfluidic devices can be integrated into modular workflows to set up multistep screening protocols involving various detection modes to sort >107 variants a day with kHz frequencies. The repertoire of assays available for droplet screening covers all seven enzyme commission (EC) number classes, setting the stage for widespread use of droplet microfluidics in everyday biochemical experiments. We review the practicalities of adapting droplet screening for enzyme discovery and for detailed kinetic characterization. These new ways of working will not just accelerate discovery experiments currently limited by screening capacity but profoundly change the paradigms we can probe. By interfacing the results of ultrahigh-throughput droplet screening with next-generation sequencing and deep learning, strategies for directed evolution can be implemented, examined, and evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Gantz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Stefanie Neun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Elliot J Medcalf
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Liisa D van Vliet
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
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11
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Tan Z, Li J, Hou J, Gonzalez R. Designing artificial pathways for improving chemical production. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108119. [PMID: 36764336 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering exploits manipulation of catalytic and regulatory elements to improve a specific function of the host cell, often the synthesis of interesting chemicals. Although naturally occurring pathways are significant resources for metabolic engineering, these pathways are frequently inefficient and suffer from a series of inherent drawbacks. Designing artificial pathways in a rational manner provides a promising alternative for chemicals production. However, the entry barrier of designing artificial pathway is relatively high, which requires researchers a comprehensive and deep understanding of physical, chemical and biological principles. On the other hand, the designed artificial pathways frequently suffer from low efficiencies, which impair their further applications in host cells. Here, we illustrate the concept and basic workflow of retrobiosynthesis in designing artificial pathways, as well as the most currently used methods including the knowledge- and computer-based approaches. Then, we discuss how to obtain desired enzymes for novel biochemistries, and how to trim the initially designed artificial pathways for further improving their functionalities. Finally, we summarize the current applications of artificial pathways from feedstocks utilization to various products synthesis, as well as our future perspectives on designing artificial pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaigao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Department of Bioengineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Department of Bioengineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ramon Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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12
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Guo H, Sun N, Guo J, Zhou TP, Tang L, Zhang W, Deng Y, Liao RZ, Wu Y, Wu G, Zhong F. Expanding the Promiscuity of a Copper-Dependent Oxidase for Enantioselective Cross-Coupling of Indoles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202219034. [PMID: 36789864 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202219034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we disclose the highly enantioselective oxidative cross-coupling of 3-hydroxyindole esters with various nucleophilic partners as catalyzed by copper efflux oxidase. The biocatalytic transformation delivers functionalized 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones with excellent optical purity (90-99 % ee), which exhibited anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell lines, as shown by preliminary biological evaluation. Mechanistic studies and molecular docking results suggest the formation of a phenoxyl radical and enantiocontrol facilitated by a suited enzyme chiral pocket. This study is significant with regard to expanding the catalytic repertoire of natural multicopper oxidases as well as enlarging the synthetic toolbox for sustainable asymmetric oxidative coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Guo
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ningning Sun
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Juan Guo
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Tai-Ping Zhou
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Langyu Tang
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wentao Zhang
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yaming Deng
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Rong-Zhen Liao
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yuzhou Wu
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Guojiao Wu
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Fangrui Zhong
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Sequence-guided stereo-enhancing and -inverting of (R)-styrene monooxygenases for highly enantioselective epoxidation. MOLECULAR CATALYSIS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2022.112680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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