Display of lipase on the cell surface of Escherichia coli using OprF as an anchor and its application to enantioselective resolution in organic solvent

We have developed a new cell surface display system using a major outer membrane protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OprF as an anchoring motif. Pseudomonas fluorescens SIK W1 lipase gene was fused to the truncated oprF gene by C-terminal deletion fusion strategy. The truncated OprF-lipase fusion protein was successfully displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli. Localization of the truncated OprF-lipase fusion protein was confirmed by western blot analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, and whole-cell lipase activity. To examine the enzymatic characteristics of the cell surface displayed lipase, the whole-cell enzyme activity and stability were determined under various conditions. Cell surface displayed lipase showed the highest activity at 37 degrees C and pH 8.0. It retained over 80% of initial activity after incubation for a week in both aqueous solution and organic solvent. When the E. coli cells displaying lipases were used for enantioselective resolution of racemic 1-phenylethanol in hexane, (R)-phenyl ethyl acetate was successfully obtained with the enantiomeric excess of greater than 96% in 36 h of reaction. These results suggest that E. coli cells displaying lipases using OprF as an anchoring motif can be employed for various biotechnological applications both in aqueous and nonaqueous phases.