Genome mining reveals new bacterial type I Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases with (bio)synthetic potential

Simultaneously Enhanced Catalytic Activity and Thermostability of a Baeyer-Villiger Monooxygenase from Oceanicola granulosus by Reshaping the Binding Pocket

Enzymatic oxygenation of various cyclic ketones into lactones via Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) could provide a promising route for synthesizing fragrances and pharmaceutical ingredients. However, unsatisfactory catalytic activity and thermostability restricted their applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. In this study, we successfully improved the catalytic activity and thermostability of a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (OgBVMO) from Oceanicola granulosus by reshaping the binding pocket. As a result, mutant OgBVMO-Re displayed a 1.0- to 6.4-fold increase in the activity toward branched cyclic ketones tested, accompanied by a 3 °C higher melting point, and a 2-fold longer half-life time (t1/2 (45 °C)). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that reshaping the binding pocket achieved strengthened motion correlation between amino acid residues, appropriate size of the substrate-binding pocket, beneficial surface characteristics, lower energy barriers, and shorter nucleophilic distance. This study well demonstrated the trade-off between the enzyme activity and thermostability by reshaping the substrate-binding pocket, paving the way for further engineering other enzymes.

Bicyclo[3.2.0]carbocyclic Molecules and Redox Biotransformations: The Evolution of Closed-Loop Artificial Linear Biocatalytic Cascades and Related Redox-Neutral Systems

The role of cofactor recycling in determining the efficiency of artificial biocatalytic cascades has become paramount in recent years. Closed-loop cofactor recycling, which initially emerged in the 1990s, has made a valuable contribution to the development of this aspect of biotechnology. However, the evolution of redox-neutral closed-loop cofactor recycling has a longer history that has been integrally linked to the enzymology of oxy-functionalised bicyclo[3.2.0]carbocyclic molecule metabolism throughout. This review traces that relevant history from the mid-1960s to current times.

Enzymatic Kinetic Resolution by Addition of Oxygen

Kinetic resolution using biocatalysis has proven to be an excellent complementary technique to traditional asymmetric catalysis for the production of enantioenriched compounds. Resolution using oxidative enzymes produces valuable oxygenated structures for use in synthetic route development. This Minireview focuses on enzymes which catalyse the insertion of an oxygen atom into the substrate and, in so doing, can achieve oxidative kinetic resolution. The Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement, epoxidation, and hydroxylation are included, and biological advancements in enzyme development, and applications of these key enantioenriched intermediates in natural product synthesis are discussed.