Oligomerization engineering of the fluorinase enzyme leads to an active trimer that supports synthesis of fluorometabolites in vitro

The fluorinase enzyme represents the only biological mechanism capable of forming stable C–F bonds characterized in nature thus far, offering a biotechnological route to the biosynthesis of value-added organofluorines. The fluorinase is known to operate in a hexameric form, but the consequence(s) of the oligomerization status on the enzyme activity and its catalytic properties remain largely unknown. In this work, this aspect was explored by rationally engineering trimeric fluorinase variants that retained the same catalytic rate as the wild-type enzyme. These results ruled out hexamerization as a requisite for the fluorination activity. The Michaelis constant (K_M) for S-adenosyl-l -methionine, one of the substrates of the fluorinase, increased by two orders of magnitude upon hexamer disruption. Such a shift in S-adenosyl-l -methionine affinity points to a long-range effect of hexamerization on substrate binding – likely decreasing substrate dissociation and release from the active site. A practical application of trimeric fluorinase is illustrated by establishing in vitro fluorometabolite synthesis in a bacterial cell-free system.     

Cosynthesis of monofluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine by resting cells of blocked mutants of Streptomyces cattleya NRRL8057

Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 8057 produces monofluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine from inorganic fluoride. Mutants blocked in fluorometabolite production were prepared by chemical mutagenesis, and cosynthesis experiments with these blocked mutants were carried out by suspending cells of one blocked mutant in the supernatant broth of another blocked mutant. The harvest age of the cells, pH of the buffer, potassium fluoride concentration and glycerol supplementation were optimized for the monofluoroacetate production by a resting-cell suspension of S. cattleya. Successful cosynthesis with pairs of the mutants characterized four distinctive blocked sites in the order N-82, N-44, N-43 and N-47. Additional preparation of blocked mutants by UV irradiation and their cosynthesis assay confirmed that U-303, U-304, U-400 and U-500 were blocked in later steps than N-47. O’Hagan et al. recently proposed that fluoroacetaldehyde, the hypothetical precursor of monofluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine, derives from 5′-fluoro-5′-deoxyadenosine, the first fluorinated metabolite synthesized from S-adenosyl- -methionine and inorganic fluoride by the novel enzyme ‘fluorinase’. We were able to detect fluorinase activity in crude extracts of wild type and N-47 mutant strains, but not in the other mutant strains whose blocked steps flanked that of N-47.     

Enzymatic radiofluorination: Fluorinase accepts methylaza-analog of SAM as substrate for FDA synthesis

Methylaza-analog of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (MeAzaAdoMet) was found to be a substrate for fluorinase. This is the first discovery of a new substrate for fluorinase that can be accessed synthetically in high purity. The activity of fluorinase for the new MeAzaAdoMet and [¹⁸F]fluoride ion was 32% in 180 min.     

生物催化不对称还原制备氟代手性醇

由于氟原子的特殊性质，化合物中引入氟原子可显著改变其物理化学性质。因此，氟原子在药物中的应用越来越广。此外，80%药物分子结构属于手性分子。其中，氟代手性醇常见于手性药物结构中，该类结构的合成方法研究具有重要的意义。不对称还原含氟酮是合成此结构的常见方法。与化学还原方法相比，生物催化还原具有对映选择性强、产率高和易于分离纯化等优点。生物催化，特别是酶催化还原含氟酮类化合物成为手性药物合成领域的研究热点。本文从纯化酶催化和全细胞催化两个方面，综述了近年来含氟酮生物催化还原合成氟代手性醇的研究进展，并分析总结了氟代对酮生物催化还原的影响，最后对生物催化还原法未来的发展进行了展望。     

Fluorine biocatalysis

The introduction of fluorine atoms into organic molecules has received considerable attention as these organofluorines have often found widespread applications in bioorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and biomaterial science. Despite innovation of synthetic C–F forming methodologies, selective fluorination is still extremely challenging. Therefore, a biotransformation approach using fluorine biocatalysts is needed to selectively introduce fluorine into structurally diverse molecules. Yet, there are few ways that enable incorporation of fluorine into structurally complex bioactive molecules. One is to extend the substrate scope of the existing enzyme inventory. Another is to expand the biosynthetic pathways to accept fluorinated precursors for producing fluorinated bioactive molecules. Finally, an understanding of the physiological roles of fluorometabolites in the producing microorganisms will advance our ability to engineer a microorganism to produce novel fluorinated commodities. Here, we review the fluorinase biotechnology and fluorine biocatalysts that incorporate fluorine motifs to generate fluorinated molecules, and highlight areas for future developments.     

Biodegradation of fluoroanilines by the wild strain Labrys portucalensis

Aniline and halogenated anilines are known as widespread environmental toxic pollutants released into soil and water. In contrast to aniline, which is rapidly metabolized via catechol, halosubstituted anilines are more resistant to microbial attack. A fluorobenzene-degrading bacterium, Labrys portucalensis strain F11, was tested under different culture conditions for the degradation potential towards 2-, 3- and 4-fluoroaniline (2-, 3- and 4-FA). Strain F11 was able to use FAs as a source of carbon and nitrogen however, supplementation with a nitrogen source improved substrate consumption and its dehalogenation extent. When F11 cells were previously grown on fluorobenzene (FB), higher biodegradation rates were achieved for all isomers. Complete 2-FA biodegradation with stoichiometric fluoride release was achieved when FB-induced cells were used. On the other hand, the degradation of 3- and 4-FA was characterized by incomplete defluorination of the target compounds suggesting accumulation of fluorinated intermediates. F11 cultures simultaneously supplied with FB and the fluorinated anilines showed a concomitant degradation of both substrates, suggesting co-metabolic biodegradation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that biodegradation of 2- and 3-FA as a sole carbon and nitrogen source and co-metabolic degradation of FA isomers in the presence of a structural analogous compound is reported.     

Exploring the bioprospecting and biotechnological potential of white-rot and anaerobic Neocallimastigomycota fungi: peptidases,esterases, and lignocellulolytic enzymes

Fungi constitute an invaluable natural resource for scientific research, owing to their diversity; they offer a promising alternative for bioprospecting, thus contributing to biotechnological advances. For a long time, extensive information has been exploited and fungal products have been tested as a source of natural compounds. In this context, enzyme production remains a field of interest, since it offers an efficient alternative to the hazardous processes of chemical transformations. Owing to their vast biodiversity and peculiar biochemical characteristics, two fungal categories, white-rot and anaerobic Neocallimastigomycota, have gathered considerable attention for biotechnological applications. These fungi are known for their ability to depolymerize complex molecular structures and are used in degradation of lignocellulosic biomass, improvement of animal feed digestibility, biogas and bioethanol production, and various other applications. However, there are only limited reports that describe proteolytic enzymes and esterases in these fungi and their synergistic action with lignocellulolytic enzymes on degradation of complex polymers. Thus, in this minireview, we focus on the importance of these organisms in enzyme technology, their bioprospecting, possibility of integration of their enzyme repertoire, and their prospects for future biotechnological innovation.

     

The application of 19F nuclear magnetic resonance to investigate microbial biotransformations of organofluorine compounds

Fluorinated organic compounds, although rare in nature, are significant environmental contaminants owing to the numerous applications for which this class of compounds is employed. It is important that biodegradation of these compounds can be readily assessed in order to provide information on their fate in the environment. Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (19F NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a very useful technique to readily determine the catabolism of fluorinated aromatic compounds by microorganisms, either in whole cell or cell-free systems. The principal advantage of this technique is that fluorinated compounds can be observed directly in the culture supernatant or enzyme assay, without purification or derivatization. In this review an account of the application of 19F NMR in the study of microbial metabolism of organofluorine compounds is presented.     

Exploration of a potential difluoromethyl-nucleoside substrate with the fluorinase enzyme

The investigation of a difluoromethyl-bearing nucleoside with the fluorinase enzyme is described. 5′,5′-Difluoro-5′-deoxyadenosine 7 (F₂DA) was synthesised from adenosine, and found to bind to the fluorinase enzyme by isothermal titration calorimetry with similar affinity compared to 5′-fluoro-5′-deoxyadenosine 2 (FDA), the natural product of the enzymatic reaction. F₂DA 7 was found, however, not to undergo the enzyme catalysed reaction with l-selenomethionine, unlike FDA 2, which undergoes reaction with l-selenomethionine to generate Se-adenosylselenomethionine. A co-crystal structure of the fluorinase and F₂DA 7 and tartrate was solved to 1.8 Å, and revealed that the difluoromethyl group bridges interactions known to be essential for activation of the single fluorine in FDA 2. An unusual hydrogen bonding interaction between the hydrogen of the difluoromethyl group and one of the hydroxyl oxygens of the tartrate ligand was also observed. The bridging interactions, coupled with the inherently stronger C–F bond in the difluoromethyl group, offers an explanation for why no reaction is observed.     

Next‐Generation Microbial Workhorses: Comparative Genomic Analysis of Fast‐Growing Vibrio Strains Reveals Their Biotechnological Potential

Vibrio is a recognized fast‐growing bacterial genus, which is considered to be attractive for the development of next‐generation biotechnological workhorses. Here, three Vibrio strains FA1, FA2, and FA3, capable of growing rapidly in cost‐effective media, are isolated and systematically evaluated. Genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses are performed to reveal the underlying genetic differences between the strains and estimate their biotechnological potential. Studies of their phylogenetic tree, colinear visualization, and orthology uncover some difference in the gene content related to cell growth of the four Vibrio strains FA1, FA2, FA3, and ATCC 14048, which may explain growth superiority of the isolated strains. It is noted that there are more copies of several genes related to the DNA replication in the FA2 genome than in the other compared Vibrio strains. Furthermore, the genes responsible for amino synthesis are found, such as asD, within strains FA1 and FA2. Gene cluster cadABC, which relates to cell adaptation at acidic pH, only exists in strains FA1, FA2, and FA3. Finally, the wide spectra of substrates and genetic operability of these three isolated Vibrio strains are initially verified. This study provides excellent candidates for the development of next‐generation fast‐growing microbial workhorses, which may be very useful in synthetic biology.     

Cytochrome P450 (CYP105F2) from Streptomyces peucetius and its activity with oleandomycin

The cytochrome P450 enzyme is one of the most versatile redox proteins and it is responsible for the oxidative metabolism of a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The cytochrome P450 gene, CYP105F2, from Streptomyces peucetius was subcloned into the pET-32a(+) vector to overexpress the protein in E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS. The expressed enzyme was purified by fast protein liquid chromatography with a DEAE and UNO Q column. A 3D model was constructed based on the known crystallographic structures of cytochrome P450, and comparison with PikC and MoxA signified broad substrate specificity toward structurally diverse compounds. In addition, the in vitro hydroxylation of oleandomycin by purified CYP105F2 observed in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and mass/mass spectrometry indicated its flexibility towards alternative polyketides for the structural diversification of the macrolide by post-polyketide synthase hydroxylation.     

From genome mining to phenotypic microarrays: Planctomycetes as source for novel bioactive molecules

Most members of the phylum Planctomycetes share many unusual traits that are unique for bacteria, since they divide independent of FtsZ through asymmetric budding, possess a complex life cycle and comprise a compartmentalized cell plan. Besides their complex cell biological features Planctomycetes are environmentally important and play major roles in global matter fluxes. Such features have been successfully employed in biotechnological applications such as the anaerobic oxidation of ammonium in wastewater treatment plants or the utilization of enzymes for biotechnological processes. However, little is known about planctomycetal secondary metabolites. This is surprising as Planctomycetes have several key features in common with known producers of small bioactive molecules such as Streptomycetes or Myxobacteria: a complex life style and large genome sizes. Planctomycetal genomes with an average size of 6.9 MB appear as tempting targets for drug discovery approaches. To enable the hunt for bioactive molecules from Planctomycetes, we performed a comprehensive genome mining approach employing the antiSMASH secondary metabolite identification pipeline and found 102 candidate genes or clusters within the analyzed 13 genomes. However, as most genes and operons related to secondary metabolite production are exclusively expressed under certain environmental conditions, we optimized Phenotype MicroArray protocols for Rhodopirellula baltica and Planctomyces limnophilus to allow high throughput screening of putative stimulating carbon sources. Our results point towards a previously postulated relationship of Planctomycetes with algae or plants, which secrete compounds that might serve as trigger to stimulate the secondary metabolite production in Planctomycetes. Thus, this study provides the necessary starting point to explore planctomycetal small molecules for drug development.     

十种一碳代谢关键产物的HPLC-MS/MS 定量检测方法

目的:利用HPLC-MS/MS方法对十种一碳代谢相关产物进行定量分析。方法:采用Aglient ZORBAX SB-AQ C18柱(2.1mm×100 mm,3.5 m)、电喷雾离子源(ESI),以多离子反应监测方式(MRM)进行正离子检测。对游离叶酸(FA)、5-甲酰四氢叶酸(5-FT)、5-甲基四氢叶酸(5-MT)、S-腺苷蛋氨酸(SAM)、S-腺苷同型半胱氨酸(SAH)、胱硫醚(CYSTA)、组氨酸(HIS)、丝氨酸(SER)、蛋氨酸(MET)、同型半胱氨酸(HCY)进行定量分析。结果:FA、5-FT、5-MT、SAM、SAH、CYSTA、HIS、SER、MET、HCY的检测限分别为0.1 ng.L-1、0.25 ng.L-1、0.1 ng.L-1、0.1 ng.L-1、0.25 ng.L-1、0.25 ng.L-1、0.1 ng.L-1、0.025 ng.L-1、0.1 ng.L-1、0.1 ng.L-1。FA、5-FT、5-MT、SAH、CYSTA浓度测定方法线性范围为2~50 ng.L-1,SER、SAM浓度测定方法线性范围20~500 ng.L-1,MET、HCY浓度测定方法线性范围200~5000 ng.L-1,HIS浓度测定方法线性范围为400~10000 ng.L-1,r均在0.993以上,全部涵盖了已报道的血清中指标的含量范围。结论:建立了HPLC-MS/MS方法,可同时分析十种一碳代谢通路的关键产物,所需样品量少,检测速度快,同时实现分项检测,可为多种代谢性疾病系统性地检测一碳代谢中间产物体液分析方法建立实验条件基础。     

Biotechnological Production of Caffeic Acid by Bacterial Cytochrome P450 CYP199A2

Caffeic acid is a biologically active molecule that has various beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we explored the catalytic potential of a bacterial cytochrome P450, CYP199A2, for the biotechnological production of caffeic acid. When the CYP199A2 enzyme was reacted with p-coumaric acid, it stoichiometrically produced caffeic acid. The crystal structure of CYP199A2 shows that Phe at position 185 is situated directly above, and only 6.35 Å from, the heme iron. This F185 residue was replaced with hydrophobic or hydroxylated amino acids using site-directed mutagenesis to create mutants with novel and improved catalytic properties. In whole-cell assays with the known substrate of CYP199A2, 2-naphthoic acid, only the wild-type enzyme hydroxylated 2-naphthoic acid at the C-7 and C-8 positions, whereas all of the active F185 mutants exhibited a preference for C-5 hydroxylation. Interestingly, several F185 mutants (F185V, F185L, F185I, F185G, and F185A mutants) also acquired the ability to hydroxylate cinnamic acid, which was not hydroxylated by the wild-type enzyme. These results demonstrate that F185 is an important residue that controls the regioselectivity and the substrate specificity of CYP199A2. Furthermore, Escherichia coli cells expressing the F185L mutant exhibited 5.5 times higher hydroxylation activity for p-coumaric acid than those expressing the wild-type enzyme. By using the F185L whole-cell catalyst, the production of caffeic acid reached 15 mM (2.8 g/liter), which is the highest level so far attained in biotechnological production of this compound.     

Antibacterial fatty acids: An update of possible mechanisms of action and implications in the development of the next-generation of antibacterial agents

The antibacterial activity of fatty acids (FA) is well known in the literature and represents a promising option for developing the next-generation of antibacterial agents to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. FA are highly involved in living organisms' defense system against numerous pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. When combined with other antibacterial agents, the remarkable ability of FA to enhance their bactericidal properties is a critical feature that is not commonly observed in other naturally-occurring compounds. More reviews focusing on FA antibacterial activity, traditional and non-traditional mechanisms and biomedical applications are needed. This review is intended to update the reader on the antibacterial properties of recent FA and how their chemical structures influence their antibacterial activity. This review also aims to better understand both traditional and non-traditional mechanisms involved in these recently explored FA antibacterial activities.     

Elucidation of enzyme mechanisms using fluorinated substrate analogues

A great variety of biological reactions that are physiologically important are catalyzed by enzymes. Understanding the reaction course of these enzyme-catalyzed transformations are of significant importance since the insights gained from these experiments may facilitate the design of methods to control or mimic their actions. A common strategy to study enzyme catalyses is to use fluorinated substrate analogues as mechanistic probes, since fluorine is an effective hydroxyl group mimic and can also be used to replace a hydrogen atom. Using fluorinated substrate probes have enabled researchers to obtain crucial information regarding the catalytic mechanism of enzymatic reactions. Many of these compounds are good enzyme inhibitors and have been developed into clinically useful chemotherapeutic agents. This review will discuss some examples of the use of fluorine containing compounds as mechanistic probes/enzyme inhibitors, many of which are selected from our own work.     

Artificial microbial consortia for bioproduction processes

The application of artificial microbial consortia for biotechnological production processes is an emerging field in research as it offers great potential for the improvement of established as well as the development of novel processes. In this review, we summarize recent highlights in the usage of various microbial consortia for the production of, for example, platform chemicals, biofuels, or pharmaceutical compounds. It aims to demonstrate the great potential of co-cultures by employing different organisms and interaction mechanisms and exploiting their respective advantages. Bacteria and yeasts often offer a broad spectrum of possible products, fungi enable the utilization of complex lignocellulosic substrates via enzyme secretion and hydrolysis, and microalgae can feature their abilities to fixate CO₂ through photosynthesis for other organisms as well as to form lipids as potential fuelstocks. However, the complexity of interactions between microbes require methods for observing population dynamics within the process and modern approaches such as modeling or automation for process development. After shortly discussing these interaction mechanisms, we aim to present a broad variety of successfully established co-culture processes to display the potential of artificial microbial consortia for the production of biotechnological products.     

Biotechnological potential of pectinolytic complexes of fungi

Plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases, have been extensively studied because of their well documented biotechnological potential, mainly in the food industry. In particular, lytic enzymes from filamentous fungi have been the subject of a vast number of studies due both to their advantages as models for enzyme production and their characteristics. The demand for such enzymes is rapidly increasing, as are the efforts to improve their production and to implement their use in several industrial processes, with the goal of making them more efficient and environment-friendly. The present review focuses mainly on pectinolytic enzymes of filamentous fungi, which are responsible for degradation of pectin, one of the major components of the plant cell wall. Also discussed are the past and current strategies for the production of cell wall-degrading enzymes and their present applications in a number of biotechnological areas.