Crystal structure and characterization of esterase Est25 mutants reveal improved enantioselectivity toward (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester

Esterases comprise a group of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage and synthesis of ester bonds. They are important in biotechnological applications owing to their enantioselectivity, regioselectivity, broad substrate specificity, and the fact that they do not require cofactors. In a previous study, we isolated the esterase Est25 from a metagenomic library. Est25 showed catalytic activity toward the (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester but had low enantioselectivity toward the (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester. Because (S)-ketoprofen has stronger anti-inflammatory effects and fewer side effects than (R)-ketoprofen, enantioselectivity of this esterase is important. In this study, we generated Est25 mutants with improved enantioselectivity toward the (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester; improved enantioselectivity of mutants was established by analysis of their crystal structures. The enantioselectivity of mutants was influenced by substitution of Phe72 and Leu255. Substituting these residues changed the size of the binding pocket and the entrance hole that leads to the active site. The enantioselectivity of Est25 (E = 1.1 ± 0.0) was improved in the mutants F72G (E = 1.9 ± 0.2), L255W (E = 16.1 ± 1.1), and F72G/L255W (E = 60.1 ± 0.5). Finally, characterization of Est25 mutants was performed by determining the optimum reaction conditions, thermostability, effect of additives, and substrate specificity after substituting Phe72 and Leu255.

     

Novel thermophilic and thermostable lipolytic enzymes from a Thailand hot spring metagenomic library

Functional screening for lipolytic enzymes from a metagenomic library (origin: Jae Sawn hot spring, Thailand) resulted in isolation of a novel patatin-like phospholipase (PLP) and an esterase (Est1). PLP contained four conserved domains similar to other patatin-like proteins with lipid acyl hydrolase activity. Likewise, sequence alignment analysis revealed that Est1 can be classified as a family V bacterial lipolytic enzyme. Both PLP and Est1 were expressed heterologously as soluble proteins in E. coli and exhibited more than 50% of their maximal activities at alkaline pH, of 7-9 and 8-10, respectively. In addition, both enzymes retained more than 50% of maximal activity in the temperature range of 50-75 degrees C, with optimal activity at 70 degrees C and were stable at 70 degrees C for at least 120 min. Both PLP and Est1 exhibited high V(max) toward p-nitrophenyl butyrate. The enzymes had activity toward both short-chain (C(4) and C(5)) and long chain (C(14) and C(16)) fatty acid esters. The isolated enzymes, are therefore, different from other known patatin-like phospholipases and esterases, which usually show no activity for substrates longer than C(10). We suggest that PLP and EstA enzymes are novel and have a; b potential use in industrial applications.     

Cloning and characterization of thermostable esterase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Archaeoglobus fulgidus</Emphasis>

Thermostable esterase gene was cloned (Est-AF) from extremophilic microorganisms, Archaeoglobus fulgidus DSM 4304. The protein analysis result showed that Est-AF is monomer with total 247 amino acids and molecular weight of estimated 27.5 kDa. It also showed repeating units G-X-S-X-G (GHSLG) (residues 86 approximately 90) which is reported as active site of known esterases, and the putative catalytic triad composed of Ser88, Asp198 and His226. The esterase activity test with various acyl chain length of rho-nitrophenol resulted that Est-AF showed highest specific activity with rho-nitrophenylbutyrate (pNPC4) and rapidly decrease with rho-nitrophenyl ester contain more than 8 carbon chain. These results represent that cloned enzyme is verified as a carboxylesterase but not a lipase because esterase activity is decreased with rho-nitrophenyl ester contains more than 8 carbon chains but lipase activity does not affected with carbon chain length. Optimum temperature of esterase reaction with rho-nitrophenylbutyrate (pNPC4) was 80 degrees C. When ketoprofen ethyl ester was used as a substrate, activity of Est-AF showed the highest value at 70 degrees C, and 10% of activity still remains after 3 h of incubation at 90 degrees C. This result represents Est-AF has high thermostability with comparison of other esterases that have been reported. However, Est-AF showed low enantioselectivity with ketoprofen ethyl ester. Optimum pH of Est-AF is between pH 7.0 and pH 8.0. Km value of ketoprofen ethyl ester is 1.6 mM and, Vmax is 1.7 micromole/mg protein/min. Est-AF showed similar substrate affinity but slower reaction with ketoprofen ethyl ester compare with esterase from mesophilic strain P. fluorescens.     

A multisubstrate assay for lipases/esterases: Assessing acyl chain length selectivity by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Lipases and esterases are hydrolytic enzymes and are known to hydrolyze esters with unique substrate specificity and acyl chain length selectivity. We have developed a simple competitive multiple substrate assay for determination of acyl chain length selectivity of lipases/esterases using RP-HPLC with UV detection. A method for separation and quantification of 4-nitrophenyl fatty acid esters (C₄–C₁₈) was developed and validated. The chain length selectivity of five lipases and two esterases was determined in a multisubstrate reaction system containing equimolar concentrations of 4-nitrophenyl esters (C₄–C₁₈). This assay is simple, reproducible, and a useful tool for determining chain length selectivity of lipases/esterases.     

Purification to homogeneity and characterization of major fatty acid ethyl ester synthase from human myocardium

Non-oxidative metabolism of ethanol via fatty acid ethyl ester synthase is present in those extrahepatic organs most commonly damaged by alcohol abuse. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of human myocardial cytosol at pH 8.0 separated synthase I, minor and major activities, eluting at conductivities of 5, 7 and 11 mS, respectively. The major synthase was purified 8900-fold to homogeneity by sequential gel permeation, hydrophobic interaction, and anti-human albumin affinity-chromatographies with an overall yield of 25%. SDS-PAGE showed a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of 26 kDa and gel permeation chromatography under nondenaturing conditions indicated a molecular mass of 54 kDa for the active enzyme. The purified enzyme catalyzed ethyl ester synthesis at the highest rates with unsaturated octadecanoic fatty acid substrates (Vmax = 100 and 65 nmol/mg/h for oleate and linoleate, respectively). Km values for oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, palmitate and stearate were 0.22 mM, 0.20 mM, 0.13 mM, 0.18 mM and 0.12 mM, respectively. Thus, human heart fatty acid ethyl ester synthase (major form) is a soluble dimeric enzyme comprised or two identical, or nearly identical, subunits (Mr = 26000).     

The acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate pathway enzymes for glycerolipid biosynthesis are present in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The presence of the acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate (acyl DHAP) pathway in yeasts was investigated by examining three key enzyme activities of this pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the total membrane fraction of S. cerevisiae, we confirmed the presence of both DHAP acyltransferase (DHAPAT; Km = 1.27 mM; Vmax = 5.9 nmol/min/mg of protein) and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT; Km = 0.28 mM; Vmax = 12.6 nmol/min/mg of protein). The properties of these two acyltransferases are similar with respect to thermal stability and optimum temperature of activity but differ with respect to pH optimum (6.5 for GPAT and 7.4 for DHAPAT) and sensitivity toward the sulfhydryl blocking agent N-ethylmaleimide. Total membrane fraction of S. cerevisiae also exhibited acyl/alkyl DHAP reductase (EC 1.1.1.101) activity, which has not been reported previously. The reductase has a Vmax of 3.8 nmol/min/mg of protein for the reduction of hexadecyl DHAP (Km = 15 microM) by NADPH (Km = 20 microM). Both acyl DHAP and alkyl DHAP acted as substrates. NADPH was the specific cofactor. Divalent cations and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the enzymatic reaction. Reductase activity in the total membrane fraction from aerobically grown yeast cells was twice that from anaerobically grown cells. Similarly, DHAPAT and GPAT activities were also greater in aerobically grown yeast cells. The presence of these enzymes, together with the absence of both ether glycerolipids and the ether lipid-synthesizing enzyme (alkyl DHAP synthase) in S. cerevisiae, indicates that non-ether glycerolipids are synthesized in this organism via the acyl DHAP pathway.     

Purification and characterization of fatty acid ethyl ester synthase-II from human myocardium.

Fatty acid ethyl ester synthases metabolize ethanol nonoxidatively in those extrahepatic organs most commonly damaged by alcohol abuse. This study was designed to isolate and purify human myocardial synthase-II, one of the enzymes responsible for catalyzing the formation of fatty acid ethyl esters. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of human myocardial cytosol at pH 8.0 separated synthase-I, synthase-II, and synthase-III activities, eluting at conductivities of 5, 7, and 11 mS, respectively. From this elution profile, fatty acid ethyl ester synthase-II accounts for up to 50% of total synthesis in the human heart. This enzyme species was purified over 2200-fold to homogeneity after chromatography over hydroxylapatite, CM-cellulose, and hydroxylapatite. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this homogeneous species showed a single band at 65 kDa which corresponded to its molecular weight determined by gel filtration. This molecular weight and its lack of glutathione transferase activity indicate that this species is not related to synthase-I and -III. Homogeneous synthase-II has a Vmax for palmitate, stearate, oleate, and linoleate of 70, 80, 140, and 120 nmol/mg/h, respectively. The Km for palmitate, stearate, oleate, and linoleate is 0.19, 0.12, 0.10, and 0.18 mM, respectively. The substrate specificity with respect to alcohol chain length was also investigated in the presence of 0.65 mM [14C]oleic acid. The Vmax for methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol was 180, 100, 280, and 410 nmol/mg/h, respectively. The Km for methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol was 1.16, 1.04, 0.58, and 0.33 M, respectively. The N-terminal 17-amino acid sequence of human synthase-II does not correspond to any known N-terminal amino acid sequence, indicating that this may be a novel protein. However, it has over 70% homology to a sequence close to the C terminus of rabbit cytochrome P-450IIC1 and over 50% homology to a sequence of human hemopexin starting at residue 16. Synthase-II does not cross-react with human hemopexin antibody and rat cytochrome P-450C antibody. Thus, this study provides evidence that synthase-II is a novel protein, distinct from synthase-I and -III, and it also provides a foundation for subsequent cloning and genetic studies of fatty acid ethyl ester synthase-II in man.     

Isolation and characterization of Acinetobacter sp. ES-1 excreting a lipase with high enantioselectivity for (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester

A new Acinetobacter sp. ES-1, grown on triolein, tryptone and Triton X-100, excreted a lipase that hydrolyzed 10 mM (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester into (S)-ketoprofen. The crude lipase had an activity of 10 U ml(-1) and, at 30 degrees C and pH 7 over 48 h, gave a conversion yield of 35% with an enantiomeric excess for the product 96%.     

Purification and some properties of a thermostable acid esterase from Acidiphilium sp. AIU 409

Extracellular and cell-bound esterases produced by Acidiphilium sp. AIU 409 were homogeneously purified from culture broth and cells, respectively, and some properties were investigated. Both esterases more rapidly hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl acyl esters containing long-chain fatty acids from C 8:0 to C 18:0 than those containing short-chain fatty acids from C 2:0 to C 6:0. The Km values for p-nitrophenyl long-chain fatty acid esters from C 8:0 to C 18:0 were approximately 1.3-1.5 mM. The enzymes were stable at 50 degrees C for 2 days between pH 3.0 and 6.5, and optimum pH and temperature were 5.0 and 70 degrees C, respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and SDS. The molecular mass of both enzymes was estimated to be approximately 64 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The 23 amino acid sequence from the NH(2)-terminus was also the same in both enzymes. These results suggest that extracellular esterase might be composed of the same components as cell-bound esterase.     

Est10: A Novel Alkaline Esterase Isolated from Bovine Rumen Belonging to the New Family XV of Lipolytic Enzymes

A metagenomic fosmid library from bovine rumen was used to identify clones with lipolytic activity. One positive clone was isolated. The gene responsible for the observed phenotype was identified by in vitro transposon mutagenesis and sequencing and was named est10. The 367 amino acids sequence harbors a signal peptide, the conserved secondary structure arrangement of alpha/beta hydrolases, and a GHSQG pentapeptide which is characteristic of esterases and lipases. Homology based 3D-modelling confirmed the conserved spatial orientation of the serine in a nucleophilic elbow. By sequence comparison, Est10 is related to hydrolases that are grouped into the non-specific Pfam family DUF3089 and to other characterized esterases that were recently classified into the new family XV of lipolytic enzymes. Est10 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as a His-tagged fusion protein, purified and biochemically characterized. Est10 showed maximum activity towards C4 aliphatic chains and undetectable activity towards C10 and longer chains which prompted its classification as an esterase. However, it was able to efficiently catalyze the hydrolysis of aryl esters such as methyl phenylacetate and phenyl acetate. The optimum pH of this enzyme is 9.0, which is uncommon for esterases, and it exhibits an optimal temperature at 40°C. The activity of Est10 was inhibited by metal ions, detergents, chelating agents and additives. We have characterized an alkaline esterase produced by a still unidentified bacterium belonging to a recently proposed new family of esterases.     

Identification of novel lipolytic genes and gene families by screening of metagenomic libraries derived from soil samples of the German Biodiversity Exploratories

Microbial metagenomes derived from soils are rich sources for the discovery of novel genes and biocatalysts. Fourteen environmental plasmid and seven fosmid libraries obtained from 10 German forest soils (A horizons) and six grassland soils (A and B horizons) were screened for genes conferring lipolytic activity. The libraries comprised approximately 29.3 Gb of cloned soil DNA. Partial activity-based screening of the constructed libraries resulted in the identification of 37 unique lipolytic clones. The amino acid sequences of the 37 corresponding lipolytic gene products shared 29-90% identity to other lipolytic enzymes, which were mainly uncharacterized or derived from uncultured microorganisms. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that 35 of the predicted proteins were new members of known families of lipolytic enzymes. The remaining two gene products represent two putatively new families. In addition, sequence analysis indicated that two genes encode true lipases, whereas the other genes encode esterases. The determination of substrate specificity and chain-length selectivity using different triacylglycerides and p-nitrophenyl esters of fatty acids as substrates supported the classification of the esterases.     

Cloning and identification of a new group esterase (Est5S) from noncultured rumen bacterium

The gene encoding an esterase enzyme was cloned from a metagenomic library of cow rumen bacteria. The esterase gene (est5S) was 1,026 bp in length, encoding a protein of 366 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 40,168 Da. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 40,000 Da. The Est5S protein contains the Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly motif found in most bacterial and eukaryotic serine hydrolases. However, the Asp or Glu necessary for the catalytic triad [Ser-Asp-(Glu)-His] was not present, indicating Est5S represents a novel member of the GHSQG family of esterolytic enzymes. BlastP in the NCBI database analysis of Est5S revealed homology to hypothetical proteins and it had no homology to previous known lipases and esterases. Est5S was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C. Among the p-nitrophenyl acylesters tested, high enzymatic activities were observed on the short-chain p-nitrophenyl acylesters, such as p-nitrophenyl acetate, etc. The conserved serine residue (Ser190) was shown to be important for Est5S activity. The primers that amplified the est5S gene did not show any relative band with 49 species of culturable rumen bacteria. This implies that a new group esterase gene, est5S, may have come from a noncultured cow rumen bacterium.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of insoluble (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester in dispersed aqueous reaction system induced by chiral cyclodextrin

The enantioselective hydrolysis of insoluble (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester to the optically active (S)-ketoprofen was carried out in a dispersed aqueous lipase reaction system induced by the inclusion of chiral cyclodextrins for complexation of the substrate. Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was the most effective chiral selector and disperser giving an enantiomeric excess and conversion yield of 0.99 and 0.49, respectively.     

The effect of calcium ions on the hydrolysis of benzoylarginine ethyl ester by porcine enteropeptidase.

Calcium ions are shown to have a marked pH-dependent effect on the kinetics of benzoyllarginine ethyl ester hydrolysis by porcine enteropeptidase (EC 3.4.21.9). Below pH 6.0, calcium ions stimulate benzoylarginine ethyl ester hydrolysis but inhibit this activity above pH 6.0. This effect is mainly on the Km for benzoylarginine ethyl ester. At pH 5.3, 2mM calcium ions reduce the Km for benzoylarginine ethyl ester from 0.31 mM to 0.26 mM while at pH 6.5 the Km increases four-fold from 0.035 mM to 0.12 mM in the presence of calcium ions. Enteropeptidase activity is not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetra-acetate indicating that calcium ions are a non-essential cofactor for benzoylarginine ethyl ester hydrolysis.     

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Esterase from Rhodococcus sp. for Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of a Chiral Cilastatin Precursor

A novel nonheme chloroperoxidase (RhEst1), with promiscuous esterase activity for enantioselective hydrolysis of ethyl (S)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate, was identified from a shotgun library of Rhodococcus sp. strain ECU1013. RhEst1 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), purified to homogeneity, and functionally characterized. Fingerprinting analysis revealed that RhEst1 prefers para-nitrophenyl (pNP) esters of short-chain acyl groups. pNP esters with a cyclic acyl moiety, especially that with a cyclobutanyl group, were also substrates for RhEst1. The K_m values for methyl 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (DmCpCm) and ethyl 2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate (DmCpCe) were 0.25 and 0.43 mM, respectively. RhEst1 could serve as an efficient hydrolase for the bioproduction of optically pure (S)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropane carboxylic acid (DmCpCa), which is an important chiral building block for cilastatin. As much as 0.5 M DmCpCe was enantioselectively hydrolyzed into (S)-DmCpCa, with a molar yield of 47.8% and an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 97.5%, indicating an extremely high enantioselectivity (E = 240) of this novel and unique biocatalyst for green manufacturing of highly valuable chiral chemicals.     

Special Rhodococcus sp. CR-53 esterase Est4 contains a GGG(A)X-oxyanion hole conferring activity for the kinetic resolution of tertiary alcohols

Rhodococci are highly adaptable bacteria, capable to degrade or transform a large number of organic compounds, including recalcitrant or toxic products. However, little information is available on the lipases of the genus Rhodococcus, except for LipR, the first lipase isolated and described from strain Rhodococcus CR-53. Taking into consideration the interest raised by the enzymes produced by actinomycetes, a search for new putative lipases was performed in strain Rhodococcus CR-53. We describe here the isolation, cloning, and characterization of intracellular esterase Est4, a mesophilic enzyme showing preference for short-chain-length acyl groups, without interfacial activation. Est4 displays moderate thermal and pH stability and low tolerance to most tested ions, being inhibited by detergents like sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100®. Nevertheless, the enzyme shows good long-term stability when stored at 4–20 °C and neutral pH. Amino acid sequence analysis of Est4 revealed a protein of 313 amino acids without a signal peptide, bearing most of the conserved blocks that define bacterial lipase family IV, thus being assigned to this family. Detection of a GGG(A)X oxyanion hole in the enzyme motivated the evaluation of Est4 ability to convert tertiary alcohol esters. The newly discovered esterase Est4 from Rhodococcus CR-53 successfully hydrolyzed the tertiary alcohol esters linalyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-phenylbut-3-yn-2-yl acetate.     

Isolation and characterization of Acinetobacter sp. ES-1 excreting a lipase with high enantioselectivity for (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester

A new Acinetobacter sp. ES-1, grown on triolein, tryptone and Triton X-100, excreted a lipase that hydrolyzed 10m M (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester into (S)-ketoprofen. The crude lipase had an activity of 10Uml^-1 and, at 30°C and pH7 over 48h, gave a conversion yield of 35% with an enantiomeric excess for the product 96%.     

Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Oleate ester of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol-15-one as a substrate for pancreatic cholesterol esterase

5 alpha-Cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-yl-15-one oleate (15-ketosteryl oleate), the oleate ester of a compound with the capacity to lower serum cholesterol, was effectively hydrolyzed by partially purified porcine pancreatic cholesterol esterase with an apparent Km of 0.28 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 0.62 +/- 0.01 mumol/min per mg protein compared to an apparent Km of 0.19 +/- 0.02 mM and a Vmax of 0.37 +/- 0.02 mumol/min per mg protein for cholesteryl oleate. The 15-ketosteryl oleate was also hydrolyzed by highly purified rat pancreatic cholesterol esterase with an apparent Km of 0.20 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 86.7 +/- 3.0 mumol/min per mg protein compared to an apparent Km of 0.43 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 119.8 +/- 2.6 mumol/min per mg protein for cholesteryl oleate. 15-Ketosteryl oleate is, therefore, a good substrate for pancreatic cholesterol esterase from either source. The 15-ketosterol is a weak competitive inhibitor of partially purified porcine pancreatic cholesterol esterase when cholesteryl oleate is the substrate.     

The cold-active Lip1 lipase from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 is a member of a new bacterial lipolytic enzyme family

The genome of the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 was searched for the presence of genes encoding ester-hydrolysing enzymes. Amongst the others, the gene PSHAa0051 coding for a putative secreted esterase/lipase was selected. The psychrophilic gene was cloned, functionally over-expressed in P. haloplanktis TAC125, and the recombinant product (after named PhTAC125 Lip1) was purified. PhTAC125 Lip1 was found to be associated to the outer membrane and exhibited higher enzymatic activity towards synthetic substrates with long acyl chains. A structural model was constructed using the structure of carboxylesterase Est30 from Geobacillus stearothermophilus as template. The model covered the central part of the protein with the exceptions of PhTAC125 Lip1 N- and C-terminal regions, where the psychrophilic protein displays extra-domains. The constructed model showed a typical α/β-hydrolase fold, and confirmed the presence of a canonical catalytic triad consisting of Ser, Asp and His. The sequence analysis showed that PhTAC125 Lip1 is distantly related to other lipolytic enzymes, but closely related to other putative psychrophilic esterases/lipases. The aligned proteins share common features, such as: (1) a conserved new active-site pentapeptide motif (LGG(F/L/Y)STG); (2) the likely extra-cytoplasmic localization, (3) the absence of a typical calcium-binding pocket, and (4) the absence of a canonical lid. These observations strongly suggest that aligned proteins constitute a novel lipase family, typical of psychrophilic marine γ-proteobacteria, and PhTAC125 Lip1 could be considered the first characterised member of this family. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. D. de Pascale and A. M. Cusano equally contributed to the work.