Spectroscopic characterization of a manganese–lignin peroxidase hybrid isozyme produced by Bjerkandera adusta in the absence of manganese: evidence of a protein centred radical by hydrogen peroxide

Addition of new catalytic sites on the surface of versatile peroxidase for enhancement of LRET catalysis

Versatile peroxidase (VP) from Bjerkandera adusta is an enzyme able to oxidize bulky and high-redox substrates trough a Long-Range Electron Transfer (LRET) pathway. In this study, the introduction of radical-forming aromatic amino acids by chemical modification of the protein surface was performed, and the catalytic implications of these additional surface active-sites on the oxidation of 2,6-dimethylphenol, Mn²⁺ and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) were determined. These three different substrates are oxidized in different active-sites of enzyme molecule, of which the high redox RBBR the only one that is transformed by an external radical formed on the protein surface. Both catalytic constants k_cat and K_M were significantly affected by the chemical modifications. Tryptophan- and tyrosine-modified VP showed higher catalytic transformation than the unmodified enzyme for RBBR, while the Mn²⁺ oxidation was significantly reduced by all chemical modifications. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance studies demonstrated the formation of additional protein-based radicals after the chemical modification with radical-forming amino acids. In addition, the catalytic rate of the LRET-mediated transformation showed a good correlation with the ionization energy of the additional amino acid on the protein surface.

Expression of a fungal manganese peroxidase in Escherichia coli: a comparison between the soluble and refolded enzymes

BACKGROUND

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Irpex lacteus F17 has been shown to have a strong ability to degrade recalcitrant aromatic pollutants. In this study, a recombinant MnP from I. lacteus F17 was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) in the form of inclusion bodies, which were refolded to achieve an active enzyme. Further, we optimized the in vitro refolding conditions to increase the recovery yield of the recombinant protein production. Additionally, we attempted to express recombinant MnP in soluble form in E. coli, and compared its activity with that of refolded MnP.

RESULTS

Refolded MnP was obtained by optimizing the in vitro refolding conditions, and soluble MnP was produced in the presence of four additives, TritonX-100, Tween-80, ethanol, and glycerol, through incubation at 16 °C. Hemin and Ca²⁺ supplementation was crucial for the activity of the recombinant protein. Compared with refolded MnP, soluble MnP showed low catalytic efficiencies for Mn²⁺ and H₂O₂ substrates, but the two enzymes had an identical, broad range substrate specificity, and the ability to decolorize azo dyes. Furthermore, their enzymatic spectral characteristics were analysed by circular dichroism (CD), electronic absorption spectrum (UV-VIS), fluorescence and Raman spectra, indicating the differences in protein conformation between soluble and refolded MnP. Subsequently, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses demonstrated that refolded MnP was a good monomer in solution, while soluble MnP predominantly existed in the oligomeric status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that two forms of recombinant MnP could be expressed in E. coli by varying the culture conditions during protein expression.

EPR and LC-MS studies on the mechanism of industrial dye decolorization by versatile peroxidase from Bjerkandera adusta

The mechanisms of industrial dye transformation by versatile peroxidase were elucidated. Purified versatile peroxidase from Bjerkandera adusta was able to decolorize different classes of dyes including azo and phthalocyanines, but unable to transform any of the anthraquinones tested. Kinetic constants for selected dyes were determined and the transformation products were analyzed by EPR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The EPR and MS analyses of the enzymatic decolorization products showed the cleavage of the azo bond in azo dyes and the total disruption of the phthalocyaninic ring in phthalocyanine dyes. The EPR analysis on two copper-containing dyes, reactive violet 5 (azo) and reactive blue 72 (phthalocyanine), showed that the transformation can or not break the metal-ion coordination bond according the dye nature. The role of the catalytic Trp172 in the dye transformation by a long-range electron transfer pathway was confirmed and the oxidation mechanisms are proposed and discussed.

Substrate oxidation sites in versatile peroxidase and other basidiomycete peroxidases

Versatile peroxidase (VP) is defined by its capabilities to oxidize the typical substrates of other basidiomycete peroxidases: (i) Mn(2+), the manganese peroxidase (MnP) substrate (Mn(3+) being able to oxidize phenols and initiate lipid peroxidation reactions); (ii) veratryl alcohol (VA), the typical lignin peroxidase (LiP) substrate; and (iii) simple phenols, which are the substrates of Coprinopsis cinerea peroxidase (CIP). Crystallographic, spectroscopic, directed mutagenesis, and kinetic studies showed that these 'hybrid' properties are due to the coexistence in a single protein of different catalytic sites reminiscent of those present in the other basidiomycete peroxidase families. Crystal structures of wild and recombinant VP, and kinetics of mutated variants, revealed certain differences in its Mn-oxidation site compared with MnP. These result in efficient Mn(2+) oxidation in the presence of only two of the three acidic residues forming its binding site. On the other hand, a solvent-exposed tryptophan is the catalytically-active residue in VA oxidation, initiating an electron transfer pathway to haem (two other putative pathways were discarded by mutagenesis). Formation of a tryptophanyl radical after VP activation by peroxide was detected using electron paramagnetic resonance. This was the first time that a protein radical was directly demonstrated in a ligninolytic peroxidase. In contrast with LiP, the VP catalytic tryptophan is not beta-hydroxylated under hydrogen peroxide excess. It was also shown that the tryptophan environment affected catalysis, its modification introducing some LiP properties in VP. Moreover, some phenols and dyes are oxidized by VP at the edge of the main haem access channel, as found in CIP. Finally, the biotechnological interest of VP is discussed.

Mechanistic studies on the effect of veratryl alcohol on the lignin peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of pyrogallol red in reversed micelles

The lignin peroxidase (LiP) catalyzed oxidation of pyrogallol red (PR) in the absence and presence of veratryl alcohol (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol, VA) was carried out in bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium (AOT)/ polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij30) reversed micelles to elucidate the role of VA. Results indicated that VA could accelerate the LiP catalyzed oxidation of PR, especially at low H2O2 concentrations. Unlike in bulk aqueous medium, the protection of LiP by VA in the present medium was relatively unsubstantial, even at high H2O2 concentrations. Analysis of data from a series of experiments showed that the enhancement of the PR oxidation caused by VA was mainly due to the indirect oxidation of PR by VA+∙ from the LiP catalyzed oxidation of VA. It was also found that at the same protector concentration (40 μM), VA (the physiological substrate of LiP) was less effective than PR (a phenolic compound) in protecting LiP from the H2O2 derived inactivation. This novel phenomenon deserves further study.

Versatile Peroxidase Oxidation of High Redox Potential Aromatic Compounds: Site-directed Mutagenesis, Spectroscopic and Crystallographic Investigation of Three Long-range Electron Transfer Pathways

Versatile peroxidases (VP), a recently described family of ligninolytic peroxidases, show a hybrid molecular architecture combining different oxidation sites connected to the heme cofactor. High-resolution crystal structures as well as homology models of VP isoenzymes from the fungus Pleurotus eryngii revealed three possibilities for long-range electron transfer for the oxidation of high redox potential aromatic compounds. The possible pathways would start either at Trp164 or His232 of isoenzyme VPL, and at His82 or Trp170 of isoenzyme VPS1. These residues are exposed, and less than 11 A apart from the heme. With the purpose of investigating their functionality, two single mutations (W164S and H232F) and one double mutation (W164S/P76H) were introduced in VPL that: (i) removed the two pathways in this isoenzyme; and (ii) incorporated the absent putative pathway. Analysis of the variants showed that Trp164 is required for oxidation of two high redox potential model substrates (veratryl alcohol and Reactive Black 5), whereas the two other pathways (starting at His232 and His82) are not involved in long-range electron transfer (LRET). None of the mutations affected Mn2+ oxidation, which would take place at the opposite side of the enzyme. Substitution of Trp164 by His also resulted in an inactive variant, indicating that an indole side-chain is required for activity. It is proposed that substrate oxidation occurs via a protein-based radical. For the first time in a ligninolytic peroxidase such an intermediate species could be detected by low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance of H2O2-activated VP, and was found to exist at Trp164 as a neutral radical. The H2O2-activated VP was self-reduced in the absence of reducing substrates. Trp164 is also involved in this reaction, which in the W164S variant was blocked at the level of compound II. When analyzing VP crystal structures close to atomic resolution, no hydroxylation of the Trp164 Cbeta atom was observed (even after addition of several equivalents of H2O2). This is in contrast to lignin peroxidase Trp171. Analysis of the crystal structures of both peroxidases showed differences in the environment of the protein radical-forming residue that could affect its reactivity. These variations would also explain differences found for the oxidation of some high redox potential aromatic substrates.

Manganese-lignin peroxidase hybrid from Bjerkandera adusta oxidizes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons more actively in the absence of manganese

We studied polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) oxidation using whole cells and purified manganese-lignin peroxidase (MnLiP) from Bjerkandera adusta UAMH 8258. Although the metabolism of PAHs by B. adusta has been previously demonstrated, less than 5% mineralization of 14C-labelled PAHs occurred in this study over a 40-day period. Oxidation of PAHs was examined by a purified MnLiP hybrid isoenzyme in the presence and absence of manganous ions. The rate of PAH oxidation was decreased by the presence of Mn. The substrates were anthracene and its methyl derivatives, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, PAHs with ionization potentials of 7.43 eV or lower. The PAH metabolites of the Mn-independent reaction were identified as the corresponding quinones. The pH optimum of the Mn-independent oxidation was generally about 4, while for the Mn-dependent reaction it was 3. The kinetic constants for the Mn-independent oxidation of 2-methylanthracene at pH 4 were determined, and the values we obtained were a kcat of 145/min, KM,app of 23.8 mmol/L for the aromatic substrate, and KM,app of 0.2 mmol/L for hydrogen peroxide. This is the first report of PAH oxidation by a MnLiP hybrid isoenzyme from white rot fungi.