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Nong D, Haviland ZK, Zexer N, Pfaff SA, Cosgrove DJ, Tien M, Anderson CT, Hancock WO. Single-molecule tracking reveals dual front door/back door inhibition of Cel7A cellulase by its product cellobiose. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322567121. [PMID: 38648472 PMCID: PMC11067010 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322567121] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Degrading cellulose is a key step in the processing of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol. Cellobiose, the disaccharide product of cellulose degradation, has been shown to inhibit cellulase activity, but the mechanisms underlying product inhibition are not clear. We combined single-molecule imaging and biochemical investigations with the goal of revealing the mechanism by which cellobiose inhibits the activity of Trichoderma reesei Cel7A, a well-characterized exo-cellulase. We find that cellobiose slows the processive velocity of Cel7A and shortens the distance moved per encounter; effects that can be explained by cellobiose binding to the product release site of the enzyme. Cellobiose also strongly inhibits the binding of Cel7A to immobilized cellulose, with a Ki of 2.1 mM. The isolated catalytic domain (CD) of Cel7A was also inhibited to a similar degree by cellobiose, and binding of an isolated carbohydrate-binding module to cellulose was not inhibited by cellobiose, suggesting that cellobiose acts on the CD alone. Finally, cellopentaose inhibited Cel7A binding at micromolar concentrations without affecting the enzyme's velocity of movement along cellulose. Together, these results suggest that cellobiose inhibits Cel7A activity both by binding to the "back door" product release site to slow activity and to the "front door" substrate-binding tunnel to inhibit interaction with cellulose. These findings point to strategies for engineering cellulases to reduce product inhibition and enhance cellulose degradation, supporting the growth of a sustainable bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daguan Nong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Zachary K. Haviland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Nerya Zexer
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Sarah A. Pfaff
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Daniel J. Cosgrove
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Ming Tien
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Charles T. Anderson
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - William O. Hancock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
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Rennison AP, Nousi A, Westh P, Marie R, Møller MS. Unveiling PET Hydrolase Surface Dynamics through Fluorescence Microscopy. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300661. [PMID: 38224131 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300661] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
PET hydrolases are an emerging class of enzymes that are being heavily researched for their use in bioprocessing polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While work has been done in studying the binding of PET oligomers to the active site of these enzymes, the dynamics of PET hydrolases binding to a bulk PET surface is an unexplored area. Here, methods were developed for total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) microscopy to study the adsorption and desorption dynamics of these proteins onto a PET surface. TIRF microscopy was employed to measure both on and off rates of two of the most commonly studied PET hydrolases, PHL7 and LCC, on a PET surface. It was found that these proteins have a much slower off rates on the order of 10-3 s-1 , comparable to non-productive binding in enzymes such as cellulose. In combination with FRAP microscopy, a dynamic model is proposed in which adsorption and desorption dominates over lateral diffusion over the surface. The results of this study could have implications for the future engineering of PET hydrolases, either to target them to a PET surface or to modulate interaction with their substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Rennison
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - A Nousi
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - P Westh
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - R Marie
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - M S Møller
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Nousi A, Molina GA, Schiano-di-Cola C, Sørensen TH, Borch K, Pedersen JN, Westh P, Marie R. Impact of Synergy Partner Cel7B on Cel7A Binding Rates: Insights from Single-Molecule Data. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:635-647. [PMID: 38227769 PMCID: PMC10824242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Enzymatic degradation of cellulosic biomass is a well-established route for the sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals, and materials. A strategy employed by nature and industry to achieve an efficient degradation of cellulose is that cellobiohydrolases (or exocellulases), such as Cel7A, work synergistically with endoglucanases, such as Cel7B, to achieve the complete degradation of cellulose. However, a complete mechanistic understanding of this exo-endo synergy is still lacking. Here, we used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to quantify the binding kinetics of Cel7A on cellulose when it is acting alone on the cellulose fibrils and in the presence of its synergy partner, the endoglucanase Cel7B. To this end, we used a fluorescently tagged Cel7A and studied its binding in the presence of the unlabeled Cel7B. This provided the single-molecule data necessary for the estimation of the rate constants of association kON and dissociation kOFF of Cel7A for the substrate. We show that the presence of Cel7B does not impact the dissociation rate constant, kOFF. But, the association rate of Cel7A decreases by a factor of 2 when Cel7B is present at a molar proportion of 10:1. This ratio has previously been shown to lead to synergy. This decrease in association rate is observed in a wide range of total enzyme concentrations, from sub nM to μM concentrations. This decrease in kON is consistent with the formation of cellulase clusters recently observed by others using atomic force microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimilia Nousi
- Department
of Health Technology, Technical University
of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gustavo Avelar Molina
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- The
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Kim Borch
- Novozymes
A/S, Krogshøjvej
36, 2880 Bagsværd, Denmark
| | - Jonas N. Pedersen
- Department
of Health Technology, Technical University
of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Westh
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rodolphe Marie
- Department
of Health Technology, Technical University
of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Haviland ZK, Nong D, Zexer N, Tien M, Anderson CT, Hancock WO. Lignin impairs Cel7A degradation of in vitro lignified cellulose by impeding enzyme movement and not by acting as a sink. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2024; 17:7. [PMID: 38243336 PMCID: PMC10799419 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02456-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellulose degradation by cellulases has been studied for decades due to the potential of using lignocellulosic biomass as a sustainable source of bioethanol. In plant cell walls, cellulose is bonded together and strengthened by the polyphenolic polymer, lignin. Because lignin is tightly linked to cellulose and is not digestible by cellulases, is thought to play a dominant role in limiting the efficient enzymatic degradation of plant biomass. Removal of lignin via pretreatments currently limits the cost-efficient production of ethanol from cellulose, motivating the need for a better understanding of how lignin inhibits cellulase-catalyzed degradation of lignocellulose. Work to date using bulk assays has suggested three possible inhibition mechanisms: lignin blocks access of the enzyme to cellulose, lignin impedes progress of the enzyme along cellulose, or lignin binds cellulases directly and acts as a sink. RESULTS We used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to investigate the nanoscale dynamics of Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei, as it binds to and moves along purified bacterial cellulose in vitro. Lignified cellulose was generated by polymerizing coniferyl alcohol onto purified bacterial cellulose, and the degree of lignin incorporation into the cellulose meshwork was analyzed by optical and electron microscopy. We found that Cel7A preferentially bound to regions of cellulose where lignin was absent, and that in regions of high lignin density, Cel7A binding was inhibited. With increasing degrees of lignification, there was a decrease in the fraction of Cel7A that moved along cellulose rather than statically binding. Furthermore, with increasing lignification, the velocity of processive Cel7A movement decreased, as did the distance that individual Cel7A molecules moved during processive runs. CONCLUSIONS In an in vitro system that mimics lignified cellulose in plant cell walls, lignin did not act as a sink to sequester Cel7A and prevent it from interacting with cellulose. Instead, lignin both blocked access of Cel7A to cellulose and impeded the processive movement of Cel7A along cellulose. This work implies that strategies for improving biofuel production efficiency should target weakening interactions between lignin and cellulose surface, and further suggest that nonspecific adsorption of Cel7A to lignin is likely not a dominant mechanism of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Haviland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Daguan Nong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Nerya Zexer
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Ming Tien
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Charles T Anderson
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - William O Hancock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Sun C, Meng X, Sun F, Zhang J, Tu M, Chang JS, Reungsang A, Xia A, Ragauskas AJ. Advances and perspectives on mass transfer and enzymatic hydrolysis in the enzyme-mediated lignocellulosic biorefinery: A review. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 62:108059. [PMID: 36402253 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108059] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatic hydrolysis is a critical process for the cellulase-mediated lignocellulosic biorefinery to produce sugar syrups that can be converted into a whole range of biofuels and biochemicals. Such a process operating at high-solid loadings (i.e., scarcely any free water or roughly ≥ 15% solids, w/w) is considered more economically feasible, as it can generate a high sugar concentration at low operation and capital costs. However, this approach remains restricted and incurs "high-solid effects", ultimately causing the lower hydrolysis yields with increasing solid loadings. The lack of available water leads to a highly viscous system with impaired mixing that exhibits strong transfer resistance and reaction limitation imposed on enzyme action. Evidently, high-solid enzymatic hydrolysis involves multi-scale mass transfer and multi-phase enzyme reaction, and thus requires a synergistic perspective of transfer and biotransformation to assess the interactions among water, biomass components, and cellulase enzymes. Porous particle characteristics of biomass and its interface properties determine the water form and distribution state surrounding the particles, which are summarized in this review aiming to identify the water-driven multi-scale/multi-phase bioprocesses. Further aided by the cognition of rheological behavior of biomass slurry, solute transfer theories, and enzyme kinetics, the coupling effects of flow-transfer-reaction are revealed under high-solid conditions. Based on the above basic features, this review lucidly explains the causes of high-solid hydrolysis hindrances, highlights the mismatched issues between transfer and reaction, and more importantly, presents the advanced strategies for transfer and reaction enhancements from the viewpoint of process optimization, reactor design, as well as enzyme/auxiliary additive customization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihe Sun
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of MOE, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xianzhi Meng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Fubao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of MOE, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Junhua Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Maobing Tu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Jo-Shu Chang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan
| | - Alissara Reungsang
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Ao Xia
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Arthur J Ragauskas
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Center for Renewable Carbon, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Joint Institute of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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