Easy two-step method for randomizing and cloning gene fragments

Targeted mutagenesis: A sniper-like diversity generator in microbial engineering

Mutations, serving as the raw materials of evolution, have been extensively utilized to increase the chances of engineering molecules or microbes with tailor-made functions. Global and targeted mutagenesis are two main methods of obtaining various mutations, distinguished by the range of action they can cover. While the former one stresses the mining of novel genetic loci within the whole genomic background, targeted mutagenesis performs in a more straightforward manner, bringing evolutionary escape and error catastrophe under control. In this review, we classify the existing techniques of targeted mutagenesis into two categories in terms of whether the diversity is generated in vitro or in vivo, and briefly introduce the mechanisms and applications of them separately. The inherent connections and development trends of the two classes are also discussed to provide an insight into the next generation evolution research.

Directed evolution of a pyruvate aldolase to recognize a long chain acyl substrate

The use of biological catalysts for industrial scale synthetic chemistry is highly attractive, given their cost effectiveness, high specificity that obviates the need for protecting group chemistry, and the environmentally benign nature of enzymatic procedures. Here we evolve the naturally occurring 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolases from Thermatoga maritima and Escherichia coli, into enzymes that recognize a nonfunctionalized electrophilic substrate, 2-keto-4-hydroxyoctonoate (KHO). Using an in vivo selection based on pyruvate auxotrophy, mutations were identified that lower the K(M) value up to 100-fold in E. coli KDPG aldolase, and that enhance the efficiency of retro-aldol cleavage of KHO by increasing the value of k(cat)/K(M) up to 25-fold in T. maritima KDPG aldolase. These data indicate that numerous mutations distal from the active site contribute to enhanced 'uniform binding' of the substrates, which is the first step in the evolution of novel catalytic activity.