Construction of chimeric glucansucrases for analyzing substrate-binding regions that affect the structure of glucan products

A gene that encodes dextransucrase S (dsrS) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F encodes a glucansucrase dextransucrase S (DSRS) which mainly produces water-soluble glucan (dextran), while the dsrT5 gene derived from dsrT of the B-512F strain encodes an enzyme dextransucrase T5 (DSRT5), which mainly produces water-insoluble glucan. Tyr340-Asn510 of DSRS and Tyr307-Asn477 of DSRT5 (Site 1), Lys696-Gly768 of DSRS and Lys668-Gly740 of DSRT5 (Site 2), and Asn917-Lys1131 of DSRS and Asn904-Lys1118 of DSRT5 (Site 3) were exchanged and six different chimeric enzymes were constructed. Water-soluble glucan produced by recombinant DSRS was composed of 64% 6-linked glucopyranoside (Glcp), 9% 3,6-linked Glcp, and 13% 4-linked Glcp. Water-insoluble glucan produced by recombinant DSRT5 was composed of 47% 6-linked Glcp and 43% 3-linked Glcp. All of the chimeric enzymes produced glucans different from the ones produced by their parental enzymes. Some of the glucans produced by chimeric enzymes were extremely changed. The Site 1 chimeric enzyme of DSRS (STS1) produced water-soluble glucan composed mostly of 6-linked Glcp. That of DSRT5 (TST1) produced water-insoluble glucan composed mostly of 4-linked Glcp. The Site 3 chimeric enzyme of DSRS (STS3) produced mainly water-insoluble glucan, DSRT5 (TST3) produced mainly water-soluble glucans, and all of the glucan fractions consisted of 3-Glcp, 4-Glcp, and 6-Glcp. The amounts of the three linkages in the water-soluble glucan produced by TST3 were about 1:1:1. Site 1 was assumed to be important for making or avoiding making alpha-1,4 linkages, while Site 3 was assumed to be important for determining the kinds of glucosyl linkages made.     

Construction of Chimeric Glucansucrases for Analyzing Substrate-binding Regions That Affect the Structure of Glucan Products

A gene that encodes dextransucrase S (dsrS) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F encodes a glucansucrase dextransucrase S (DSRS) which mainly produces water-soluble glucan (dextran), while the dsrT5 gene derived from dsrT of the B-512F strain encodes an enzyme dextransucrase T5 (DSRT5), which mainly produces water-insoluble glucan. Tyr340-Asn510 of DSRS and Tyr307-Asn477 of DSRT5 (Site 1), Lys696-Gly768 of DSRS and Lys668-Gly740 of DSRT5 (Site 2), and Asn917-Lys1131 of DSRS and Asn904-Lys1118 of DSRT5 (Site 3) were exchanged and six different chimeric enzymes were constructed. Water-soluble glucan produced by recombinant DSRS was composed of 64% 6-linked glucopyranoside (Glcp), 9% 3,6-linked Glcp, and 13% 4-linked Glcp. Water-insoluble glucan produced by recombinant DSRT5 was composed of 47% 6-linked Glcp and 43% 3-linked Glcp. All of the chimeric enzymes produced glucans different from the ones produced by their parental enzymes. Some of the glucans produced by chimeric enzymes were extremely changed. The Site 1 chimeric enzyme of DSRS (STS1) produced water-soluble glucan composed mostly of 6-linked Glcp. That of DSRT5 (TST1) produced water-insoluble glucan composed mostly of 4-linked Glcp. The Site 3 chimeric enzyme of DSRS (STS3) produced mainly water-insoluble glucan, DSRT5 (TST3) produced mainly water-soluble glucans, and all of the glucan fractions consisted of 3-Glcp, 4-Glcp, and 6-Glcp. The amounts of the three linkages in the water-soluble glucan produced by TST3 were about 1:1:1. Site 1 was assumed to be important for making or avoiding making α-1,4 linkages, while Site 3 was assumed to be important for determining the kinds of glucosyl linkages made.     

Characterization of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F dextransucrase (DSRS) and identification of amino-acid residues playing a key role in enzyme activity

Dextransucrase (DSRS) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F is a glucosyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of soluble dextran from sucrose or oligosaccharides when acceptor molecules, like maltose, are present. The L. mesenteroides NRRL B-512F dextransucrase-encoding gene (dsrS) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and cloned in an overexpression plasmid. The characteristics of DSRS were found to be similar to the characteristics of the extracellular dextransucrase produced by L. mesenteroides NRRL B-512F. The enzyme also exhibited a high homology with other glucosyltransferases. In order to identify critical amino acid residues, the DSRS sequence was aligned with glucosyltransferase sequences and four amino acid residues were selected for site- directed mutagenesis experiments: aspartic acid 511, aspartic acid 513, aspartic acid 551 and histidine 661. Asp-511, Asp-513 and Asp-551 were independently replaced with asparagine and His-661 with arginine. Mutation at Asp-511 and Asp-551 completely suppressed dextran and oligosaccharide synthesis activities, showing that at least two carboxyl groups (Asp-511 and Asp-551) are essential for the catalysis process. However, glucan-binding properties were retained, showing that DSRS has a two-domain structure like other glucosyltransferases. Mutations at Asp-513 and His-661 resulted in greatly reduced dextransucrase activity. According to amino acid sequence alignments of glucosyltransferases, α-amylases or cyclodextrin glucanotransferases, His-661 may have a hydrogen-bonding function. Received: 16 April 1997 / Received revision: 17 June 1997 / Accepted: 23 June 1997     

Galactans from Cryptonemia species. Part II: Studies on the system of galactans of Cryptonemia seminervis (Halymeniales) and on the structure of major fractions

Cryptonemia seminervis biosynthesizes a family of d,l-hybrid galactans based on the classical 3-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl→4-linked α-d- and α-l-galactopyranosyl alternating sequence (A-units→B-units) with major amounts of α-d- and α-l-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-d- and l-galactose and lesser percentages of 3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl-l-galactose, 2-O-methyl-, 4-O-methyl- and 6-O-methylgalactoses. The dispersion of structures in this family is based on five structural factors, namely: (a) the amount and position of substituent groups as sulfate (major), pyruvic acid ketals, methoxyl and glycosyl side-chain (4-O-methyl galactopyranosyl and/or xylosyl); (b) the ratio galactose/3,6-anhydrogalactose in the B-units; (c) the ratio d,l-galactoses and d,l-3,6-anhydrogalactoses also in the B-units, (d) the formation of diads and (e) the sequence of the diads in the linear backbone. Considering these variables it is not unexpected to find in the fractions studied at least 18 structural units producing highly complex structures. Structural studies carried out in two major fractions (S2S-3 and S2S-4) showed that these galactans were formed mainly by β-d-galactopyranosyl 2-sulfate (20 and 11.9 mol %), β-d-galactopyranosyl 2-sulfate 4,6-O-(1′-carboxyethylidene) (8.9 and 6.0 mol %) and β-d-galactopyranosyl 2,6-sulfate (5.4 and 18.6 mol %), together with 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galactopyranosyl (11.4 and 7.3 mol %) and 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galactopyranosyl 2-sulfate (4.9 and 15.4 mol %) and minor quantities of 12-15 other structural units.Preparative alkaline treatment carried out on fraction (S2S-3) produced a quantitative formation of 3,6-anhydro α-l-galactopyranosyl units from precursor units (α-l-galactose 6-sulfate and α-l-galactose 2,6-sulfate). Kinetic studies on this 3,6-anhydro cyclization show a rate constant of 5.2 × 10⁴ s⁻¹ indicating diads of the type G→L6S/2,6S. Data from chemical, spectroscopic and kinetic studies suggest that, in S2S-3, the agaran block in the d,l-hybrid galactan is composed of the following diads: G(6R)→L6S/2,6S and G2S(P)(2,6S)→LA(2S)(2R)(2M) and the carrageenan block of G2S(P)→D(2S)(2,3S)(3S)(3,6S) in a molar ratio of agaran to carrageenan structures of ∼2:1.     

Structural basis for the enhanced thermal stability of alcohol dehydrogenase mutants from the mesophilic bacterium Clostridium beijerinckii: contribution of salt bridging

Previous research in our laboratory comparing the three-dimensional structural elements of two highly homologous alcohol dehydrogenases, one from the mesophile Clostridium beijerinckii (CbADH) and the other from the extreme thermophile Thermoanaerobacter brockii (TbADH), suggested that in the thermophilic enzyme, an extra intrasubunit ion pair (Glu224-Lys254) and a short ion-pair network (Lys257-Asp237-Arg304-Glu165) at the intersubunit interface might contribute to the extreme thermal stability of TbADH. In the present study, we used site-directed mutagenesis to replace these structurally strategic residues in CbADH with the corresponding amino acids from TbADH, and we determined the effect of such replacements on the thermal stability of CbADH. Mutations in the intrasubunit ion pair region increased thermostability in the single mutant S254K- and in the double mutant V224E/S254K-CbADH, but not in the single mutant V224E-CbADH. Both single amino acid replacements, M304R- and Q165E-CbADH, in the region of the intersubunit ion pair network augmented thermal stability, with an additive effect in the double mutant M304R/Q165E-CbADH. To investigate the precise mechanism by which such mutations alter the molecular structure of CbADH to achieve enhanced thermostability, we constructed a quadruple mutant V224E/S254K/Q165E/M304R-CbADH and solved its three-dimensional structure. The overall results indicate that the amino acid substitutions in CbADH mutants with enhanced thermal stability reinforce the quaternary structure of the enzyme by formation of an extended network of intersubunit ion pairs and salt bridges, mediated by water molecules, and by forming a new intrasubunit salt bridge.     

NMR spectroscopic analysis of exopolysaccharides produced by Leuconostoc citreum and Weissella confusa

Dextrans are the main exopolysaccharides produced by Leuconostoc species. Other dextran-producing lactic acid bacteria include Streptococci, Lactobacilli, and Weissella species. Commercial production and structural analysis has focused mainly on dextrans from Leuconostoc species, particularly on Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains. In this study, we used NMR spectroscopy techniques to analyze the structures of dextrans produced by Leuconostoc citreum E497 and Weissella confusa E392. The dextrans were compared to that of L. mesenteroides B512F produced under the same conditions. Generally, W. confusa E392 showed better growth and produced more EPS than did L. citreum E497 and L. mesenteroides B512F. Both L. citreum E497 and W. confusa E392 produced a class 1 dextran. Dextran from L. citreum E497 contained about 11% alpha-(1-->2) and about 3.5% alpha-(1-->3)-linked branches whereas dextran from W. confusa E392 was linear with only a few (2.7%) alpha-(1-->3)-linked branches. Dextran from W. confusa E392 was found to be more linear than that of L. mesenteroides B512F, which, according to the present study, contained about 4.1% alpha-(1-->3)-linked branches. Functionality, whether physiological or technological, depends on the structure of the polysaccharide. Dextran from L. citreum E497 may be useful as a source of prebiotic gluco-oligosaccharides with alpha-(1-->2)-linked branches, whereas W. confusa E392 could be a suitable alternative to widely used L. mesenteroides B512F in the production of linear dextran.     

Stability Study of Crude Dextransucrase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leuconostoc citreum</Emphasis> NRRL B-742

In the present work, the stability of crude dextransucrase from Leuconostoc citreum B-742 was evaluated in synthetic and in cashew apple juice culture broth. Optimum stability conditions for dextransucrase from L. citreum B-742 were different from the reported for its parental industrial strain enzyme (L. mesenteroides B-512F). Crude dextransucrase, from L. citreum B-742, produced using cashew apple juice as substrate, presented higher stability than the crude enzyme produced using synthetic culture medium, showing the same behavior previously reported for dextransucrase from L. mesenteroides B-512F. The crude enzyme presented good stability in cashew apple juice for 48 h at 25°C and pH 6.5.     

Roles of basic residues and salt-bridge interaction in a vacuolar H-pumping pyrophosphatase (AVP1) from Arabidopsis thaliana

To investigate the possible role of basic residues in H⁺ translocation through vacuolar-type H⁺-pumping pyrophosphatases (V-PPases), conserved arginine and lysine residues predicted to reside within or close to transmembrane domains of an Arabidopsis thaliana V-PPase (AVP1) were subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. One of these mutants (K461A) exhibited a “decoupled” phenotype in which proton-pumping but not hydrolysis was inhibited. Similar results were reported previously for an E427Q mutant, resulting in the proposal that E427 might be involved in proton translocation. However, the double mutant E427K/K461E has a wild type phenotype, suggesting that E427 and K461 form a stabilising salt bridge, but that neither residue plays a critical role in proton translocation.     

Roles of conserved methionine residues in tobacco acetolactate synthase

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) catalyzes the first common step in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine. ALS is the target of several classes of herbicides, including the sulfonylureas, the imidazolinones, and the triazolopyrimidines. The conserved methionine residues of ALS from plants were identified by multiple sequence alignment using ClustalW. The alignment of 17 ALS sequences from plants revealed 149 identical residues, seven of which were methionine residues. The roles of three well-conserved methionine residues (M350, M512, and M569) in tobacco ALS were determined using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutation of M350V, M512V, and M569V inactivated the enzyme and abolished the binding affinity for cofactor FAD. Nevertheless, the secondary structure of each of the mutants determined by CD spectrum was not affected significantly by the mutation. Both M350C and M569C mutants were strongly resistant to three classes of herbicides, Londax (a sulfonylurea), Cadre (an imidazolinone), and TP (a triazolopyrimidine), while M512C mutant did not show a significant resistance to the herbicides. The mutant M350C was more sensitive to pH change, while the mutant M569C showed a profile for pH dependence activity similar to that of wild type. These results suggest that M512 residue is likely located at or near the active site, and that M350 and M569 residues are probably located at the overlapping region between the active site and a common herbicide binding site.     

Surface interactions in the complex between cytochrome f and the E43Q/D44N and E59K/E60Q plastocyanin double mutants as determined by 1H-NMR chemical shift analysis

A combination of site-directed mutagenesis and NMR chemical shift perturbation analysis of backbone and side-chain protons has been used to characterize the transient complex of the photosynthetic redox proteins plastocyanin and cytochrome f. To elucidate the importance of charged residues on complex formation, the complex of cytochrome f and E43Q/D44N or E59K/E60Q spinach plastocyanin double mutants was studied by full analysis of the (1)H chemical shifts by use of two-dimensional homonuclear NMR spectra. Both mutants show a significant overall decrease in chemical shift perturbations compared with wild-type plastocyanin, in agreement with a large decrease in binding affinity. Qualitatively, the E43Q/D44N mutant showed a similar interaction surface as wild-type plastocyanin. The interaction surface in the E59K/E60Q mutant was distinctly different from wild type. It is concluded that all four charged residues contribute to the affinity and that residues E59 and E60 have an additional role in fine tuning the orientation of the proteins in the complex.     

NisinZ的定点突变及突变体性质的研究

以本实验室构建的含nisZ基因的质粒pHJ2 0 1为模板 ,采用定点突变技术将乳链菌肽Z分子中B环第 8位Thr突变为Ser(T8S)、将第 2位Dhb突变为Dha和第 31位His突变为Lys(T2S H31K)以及将第 2 7位Asn突变为Lys和第 31位His突变为Lys(N2 7K H31K) ,以pMG36e为载体 ,电击转化乳酸乳球菌 (L .lactis)NZ980 0进行表达。对表达产物性质的研究结果表明 ,3个突变体的抑菌谱和溶解度未发生变化 ,其抑菌活性略有下降 ,但它们的稳定性表现各不相同 :N2 7K H31K的稳定性与NisinZ几乎一致 ,而T8S和T2S H31K的稳定性有明显提高 ,在pH9条件下10 0℃加热 5min仍不丧失抑菌活性。     

Identifying functional residues in Arabidopsis thaliana zeta class glutathione S-transferase through screening inactive point mutants

The functional residues of z-class glutathione S-transferase were identified by screening inactive point mutants from a random mutagenesis library. First, a random mutant library was constructed using error-prone polymerase chain reaction, and then candidate inactive mutants were screened by a high-throughput colorimetric assay. Twenty-five mutants were obtained, and 12 that formed inclusion bodies were discarded. The remaining 13 mutants that expressed soluble protein were used for accurate quantification of enzymatic activity and sequencing. The mutants W15R, C19Y, R22H/K83E, P61S, S73P, S109P, and Q112R were found to have activity lower than 1% of the wild-type and were considered as “inactive mutants”, whereas the mutants K83E, Q102R, and L147F still have a large fraction of the activity and were thus considered as “partially inactivated mutants”. Molecular modeling experiments disclosed that mutations resulting in inactivation of the enzyme were found in or near the binding pocket, whereas mutations resulting in partial inactivation were distant from both substrates. The role of the residue Ser73 in the enzyme was verified by site-directed mutagenesis. The result suggested that screening inactive point mutants from a random mutagenesis library is an efficient way of identifying functional residues in enzymes.     

Improvement in the catalytic activity of β-agarase AgaA from Zobellia galactanivorans by site-directed mutagenesis

In this study, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on the β-agarase AgaA gene from Zobellia galactanivorans to improve its catalytic activity and thermostability. The activities of three mutant enzymes, S63K, C253I, and S63K-C253I, were 126% (1,757.78 U/mg), 2.4% (33.47 U/mg), and 0.57% (8.01 U/mg), respectively, relative to the wildtype beta-agarase AgaA (1,392.61 U/mg) at 40°C. The stability of the mutant S63K enzyme was 125% of the wild-type up to 45°C, where agar is in a sol state. The mutant S63K enzyme produced 166%, 257%, and 220% more neoagarohexaose, and 230%, 427%, and 350% more neoagarotetraose than the wild-type in sol, gel, and nonmelted powder agar, respectively, at 45°C over 24 h. The mutant S63K enzyme produced 50% more neoagarooligosaccharides from agar than the wild-type beta-agarase AgaA from agarose under the same conditions. Thus, mutant S63K β-agarase AgaA may be useful for the production of functional neoagarooligosaccharides.     

TTF-1相关蛋白26磷酸化位点突变体的构建

目的制备TTF-1相关蛋白26（TAP26）的3个磷酸化位点（S48,S66和T219）的突变体（TAP26（S48→A48）、TAP26（S66→A66）和TAP26（T219→V219））。方法采用定点诱变PCR技术,分别突变掉TAP26的3个磷酸化位点（S48,S66和T219）,并获得TAP26的3个相应突变体。结果DNA序列分析结果显示TAP26的3个突变体序列正确。结论通过定点诱变PCR技术,成功构建了TAP26的3个突变体。     

Tryptophan scanning of the acetylcholine receptor's βM4 transmembrane domain: Decoding allosteric linkage at the lipid-protein interface with ion-channel gating

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated ion channel protein that mediates fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Changes in the structure and function of the AChR can lead to serious impairment of physiological processes. In this study, we combined site-directed mutagenesis, radioligand binding assays, electrophysiological recordings, and Fourier analyses to characterize the functional role and structural aspects of the βM4 transmembrane domain of the Torpedo AChR. We performed tryptophan replacements, from residues L438 through F455, along the βM4 transmembrane domain. Expression levels of mutants F439W-G450W and F452W-I454W produced peak currents similar to or lower than those in wild-type (WT). Tryptophan substitutions at positions L438 and T451 led to a deficiency in either subunit expression or receptor assembly. Mutations L440W, V442W, C447W, and S453W produced a gain-of-function response. Mutation F455W produced a loss of ion channel function. The periodicity profile of the normalized expression level (closed state) and EC50 (open state) revealed a minor conformational change of 0.4 residues/turn of the βM4 domain. These findings suggest that a minor movement of the βM4 domain occurs during channel activation.     

Further characterization of the putative human isopeptidase T catalytic site

The human isopeptidase T (isoT) is a zinc-binding deubiquitinating enzyme involved in the disassembly of free K48-linked polyubiquitin chains into ubiquitin monomers. The catalytic site of this enzyme is thought to be composed of Cys335, Asp435, His786 and His795. These four residues were site-directed mutagenized. None of the mutants were able to cleave a peptide-linked ubiquitin dimer. Similarly, C335S, D435N and H795N mutants had virtually no activity against a K48-linked isopeptide ubiquitin dimer, which is an isoT-specific substrate that mimics the K48-linked polyubiquitin chains. On the other hand, the H786N mutant retained a partial activity toward the K48-linked substrate, suggesting that the His786 residue might not be part of the catalytic site. None of the mutations significantly affected the capacity of isoT to bind ubiquitin and zinc. Thus, the catalytic site of UBPs could resemble that of other cysteine proteases, which contain one Cys, one Asp and one His.     

Active site mutations in CheA, the signal-transducing protein kinase of the chemotaxis system in Escherichia coli.

We investigated the functional roles of putative active site residues in Escherichia coli CheA by generating nine site-directed mutants, purifying the mutant proteins, and quantifying the effects of those mutations on autokinase activity and binding affinity for ATP. We designed these mutations to alter key positions in sequence motifs conserved in the protein histidine kinase family, including the N box (H376 and N380), the G1 box (D420 and G422), the F box (F455 and F459), the G2 box (G470, G472, and G474), and the "GT block" (T499), a motif identified by comparison of CheA to members of the GHL family of ATPases. Four of the mutant CheA proteins exhibited no detectable autokinase activity (Kin(-)). Of these, three (N380D, D420N, and G422A) exhibited moderate decreases in their affinities for ATP in the presence or absence of Mg(2+). The other Kin(-) mutant (G470A/G472A/G474A) exhibited wild-type affinity for ATP in the absence of Mg(2+), but reduced affinity (relative to that of wild-type CheA) in the presence of Mg(2+). The other five mutants (Kin(+)) autophosphorylated at rates slower than that exhibited by wild-type CheA. Of these, three mutants (H376Q, D420E, and F455Y/F459Y) exhibited severely reduced k(cat) values, but preserved K(M)(ATP) and K(d)(ATP) values close to those of wild-type CheA. Two mutants (T499S and T499A) exhibited only small effects on k(cat) and K(M)(ATP). Overall, these results suggest that conserved residues in the N box, G1 box, G2 box, and F box contribute to the ATP binding site and autokinase active site in CheA, while the GT block makes little, if any, contribution. We discuss the effects of specific mutations in relation to the three-dimensional structure of CheA and to binding interactions that contribute to the stability of the complex between CheA and Mg(2+)-bound ATP in both the ground state and the transition state for the CheA autophosphorylation reaction.     

The structure of a sulfated galactan from Porphyra haitanensis and its in vivo antioxidant activity

The sulfated galactan fraction F1 isolated from the red seaweed, Porphyra haitanensis, showed typical porphyran structure. It has a linear backbone of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactosyl units and 4-linked alpha-L-galactosyl 6-sulfate and 3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactosyl units. The L-residues are mainly composed of alpha-L-galactosyl 6-sulfate units, and the 3,6-anhydrogalactosyl units are minor. Partial methylation occurred at the C-6 position of the D-galactosyl units and at the C-2 position of the 3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactosyl units. Intraperitoneal administration of F1 significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation in aging mice. F1 treatment increased the total antioxidant capacity and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in aging mice. The results indicated that F1 had significant in vivo antioxidant activity.     

Structural characterization of a 2-O-acetylglucomannan from Dendrobium officinale stem

A heteropolysaccharide obtained from an aqueous extract of dried stem of Dendrobium officinale Kimura and Migo by anion-exchange chromatography and gel-permeation chromatography, was investigated by chemical techniques and NMR spectroscopy, and is demonstrated to be a 2-O-acetylglucomannan, composed of mannose, glucose, and arabinose in 40.2:8.4:1 molar ratios. It has a backbone of (1-->4)-linked beta-d-mannopyranosyl residues and beta-d-glucopyranosyl residues, with branches at O-6 consisting of terminal and (1-->3)-linked Manp, (1-->3)-linked Glcp, and a small proportion of arabinofuranosyl residues at the terminal position. The acetyl groups are substituted at O-2 of (1-->4)-linked Manp and Glcp. The main repeating unit of the polysaccharides is reported.     

Cumulative effect of amino acid replacements results in enhanced thermostability of potato type L alpha-glucan phosphorylase

The thermostability of potato type L alpha-glucan phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) was enhanced by random and site-directed mutagenesis. We obtained three single-residue mutations-Phe39-->Leu (F39L), Asn135-->Ser (N135S), and Thr706-->Ile (T706I)-by random mutagenesis. Although the wild-type enzyme was completely inactivated, these mutant enzymes retained their activity even after heat treatment at 60 degrees C for 2 h. Combinations of these mutations were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. The simultaneous mutation of two (F39L/N135S, F39L/T706I, and N135S/T706I) or three (F39L/N135S/T706I) residues further increased the thermostability of the enzyme, indicating that the effect of the replacement of the residues was cumulative. The triple-mutant enzyme, F39L/N135S/T706I, retained 50% of its original activity after heat treatment at 65 degrees C for 20 min. Further analysis indicated that enzymes with a F39L or T706I mutation were resistant to possible proteolytic degradation.