定向进化和半理性设计改造顺式环氧琥珀酸水解酶

【背景】D(-)-酒石酸是非天然有机酸,在保健品、食品和肿瘤药物合成等行业具有重大应用潜力,目前主要通过生物转化法生产,即顺式环氧琥珀酸水解酶[cis-epoxysuccinic acid hydrolase,CESH(D)]水解顺式环氧琥珀酸(cis-epoxysuccinic acid, ESH)生成D(-)-酒石酸。该法简单温和,但存在CESH(D)酶活转化效率低下的瓶颈问题。【目的】通过基因工程改造,提高CESH(D)的酶活力、温度和pH稳定性。【方法】利用定向进化和半理性设计体外改造CESH(D),高通量筛选出正向突变体;然后对其进行酶学性质研究,包括比酶活、温度和pH对酶催化效率的影响、酶的温度稳定性、pH稳定性及酶促动力学分析;最后通过分子对接等手段分析突变位点影响催化活性的初步机制。【结果】筛选获得4个正向突变体L231P/N226S、V77I、D183E和T223S。与野生型相比,4个突变体的比酶活分别提高2.2、1.6、1.5和1.4倍。其中,L231P/N226S的温度稳定性和pH稳定性较野生型均有显著提高,55℃时催化活性为野生型的1.6倍,pH 6.0时催化活...     

定点突变提高N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶酶活和温度稳定性

【目的】提高N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶(N-acylhomoserine lactonase,AiiA)酶活及温度稳定性。【方法】本研究基于AiiA同源蛋白的三维结构对AiiA进行定点突变,分析野生型AiiA及其突变蛋白酶活和温度稳定性。【结果】野生型AiiA较不稳定,在45℃下温浴30 min,或4℃储存5 d后均失去降解N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acylhomoserine lactone,AHL)的活性。但是突变AiiA蛋白(N65K,T195R和A206E)的酶活力较野生型AiiA均提高了20%以上,且4℃储存时间延长到7 d。此外,突变株N65K比野生型AiiA对高温具有更强的耐受性,在45℃温浴后剩余酶活力达到45%以上,55℃温浴30 min后仍保留5.0%的酶活力。【结论】通过定点突变改造AiiA蛋白结构,提升了AiiA蛋白的酶活和温度稳定性。     

长双歧杆菌N-乙酰氨基己糖1-位激酶的活性位点

【目的】研究长双歧杆菌(Bifidobacterium longum)JCM1217的N-乙酰氨基己糖1-位激酶(Nacetylhexosamine 1-kinase,Nah K)中对催化活性有影响的位点。【方法】利用点突变试剂盒,获得Nah K的4个位点的共10种单点突变体表达菌株。诱导表达并纯化野生型和突变体酶,用DNS法和NADH偶联的微孔板分光光度法检测野生型及突变体酶的最适p H和最适Mg~(2+)浓度,并测定酶促反应动力学参数。【结果】D208A、D208N、D208E和I24A四种突变体的催化活性几乎丧失。突变体H31A、H31V、F247A和I24V的最适p H由野生型的7.5变为7.0,突变体H31A和F247A的最适Mg~(2+)浓度由野生型的5 mmol/L变为10 mmol/L。反应动力学参数测定结果表明,突变体F247Y对底物Glc NAc/Gal NAc及ATP的催化活性均高于野生型。【结论】通过定点突变,确定了对Nah K催化活性有影响的4个位点,并且获得了一个催化效率提高的突变体(F247Y),为进一步对Nah K进行分子改造奠定了一定基础。     

基于磷脂酶水解圈定向筛选高效聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯降解酶

【目的】目前自然环境中聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(polyethylene terephthalate, PET)废弃物的积累严重威胁生态健康,因此PET的降解问题已成为全球性的热点问题。生物酶法降解PET技术以其绿色环保而备受关注,但天然PET降解酶的催化活性普遍偏低,亟待进一步定向改造。现阶段定向进化为快速提高PET降解酶催化性能提供了可能,其中筛选方法是成功获得高性能突变体的关键所在。本研究旨在提出一种新型高效灵敏的筛选方法并应用于褐色喜热裂孢菌(Thermobifida fusca)来源角质酶Tfu-0883的定向改造,以期快速获得PET降解活性提高的突变体。【方法】基于易错PCR构建突变体文库,涂布于卵黄磷脂平板,以水解圈的大小作为筛选指标获得PET降解活性提高的突变体;对突变体进行酶学定性并筛选出潜在的分子改造位点,最终获得高性能突变体。【结果】从卵黄磷脂平板中挑取水解圈直径最大的单菌落,即突变体H10(N2D/D94H/A149E),其PET降解能力是野生型的1.5倍,最适温度与pH分别为60℃和8.0。突变体H10中第2位和第149位氨基酸残基远离底物结合凹槽,其突变会导致酶蛋白稳定性下降;第94位氨基酸残基则位于底物结合凹槽附近,由负电荷氨基酸Asp突变为正电荷氨基酸His,有利于吸附在带负电荷的PET表面,是突变体H10降解能力提升的关键因素;随后将野生型的第94位氨基酸残基Asp分别突变为His及同为正电荷且空间位阻更小的Lys和Arg,突变体D94H、D94K和D94R对PET降解能力均有提升,其中,突变体D94K降解PET能力是野生型的3.6倍。【结论】本研究基于磷脂酶水解圈构建了一种新的PET降解酶定向筛选方法,以此获得了降解活性提高的突变体,并证实角质酶Tfu-0883第94位氨基酸残基位点具有提升其PET降解活性的潜在能力。     

定向引入N-糖基化位点改进黑曲霉β-1,4-内切木聚糖酶热稳定性

【背景】木聚糖是生物圈中仅次于纤维素的第二大多糖,其结构复杂,完全降解需要多种木聚糖酶协同作用。β-1,4-内切木聚糖酶是木聚糖主链水解过程中最关键的酶,已广泛应用于饲料、造纸、能源、食品和医药等行业。但在实际应用中,由于真菌木聚糖酶的热稳定性较差,限制了其在工业中的应用。【目的】提高来源于黑曲霉(Aspergillusniger)的β-1,4-内切木聚糖酶(xynB)热稳定性。【方法】采用氨基酸虚拟突变技术对xynB定向引入一个N-糖基化位点,将虚拟突变后筛选获得的候选突变体和野生型在毕赤酵母SMD1168中表达,并对纯化后的野生型和突变体酶进行酶学性质和稳定性分析。【结果】经虚拟突变和筛选获得5个候选突变体,在毕赤酵母SMD1168中成功表达了4个突变体,其中3个突变体发生了糖基化。突变体和野生型酶均表现出宽范围的酸碱耐受性,且突变体xynB~(A92N/D94T)在pH4.0–11.0条件下的稳定性明显优于野生型;糖基化突变体xynB~(A92N/D94T)、xynB~(G66N/A68T)和xynB~(G66F/D67N/G69T)在温度为60–80°C时热稳定性明显高于野生型,xynB~(G66N/A68T)在80°C保温30 min后的残留酶活比野生型提高了约30%。【结论】本研究方法可为其他来源木聚糖酶和其他工业酶的热稳定分子改造提供参考。     

毕赤酵母表达的嗜热蓝状菌β-葡萄糖苷酶N-糖基化修饰的作用与功能

【目的】研究N-糖基化对来源于嗜热蓝状菌β-葡萄糖苷酶(β-glucosidase,Bgl3A)的酶学性质影响。【方法】采用定点突变技术构建了3个去N-糖基化的突变体T44A、S228A、S299A,并分别在毕赤酵母GS115中表达纯化。【结果】与野生型Bgl3A相比,突变体S228A分泌蛋白产量极低,仅能微量检测到p NPG活性;突变体T44A和S299A的最适pH和最适温度没有改变,分别为4.0和75°C,但二者的T_m值和70°C下的热稳定性都明显优于野生型。以p NPG为底物时,突变体S299A和T44A的催化效率分别降低了14.5%和70.0%;以纤维二糖为底物时,T44A的催化效率基本不变,而S299A的催化效率提高了1.1倍。【结论】Bgl3A不同位点的N-糖基化修饰对酶的分泌和酶学性质的影响具有明显差异。其中,N226位的N-糖基化在维持酶的表达和功能方面至关重要,而去除N297位点的N-糖基化可以提高酶的热稳定性及对纤维二糖的催化效率。     

红纹黄单胞菌a-氨基酸酯水解酶的克隆、序列分析及热稳定性提高

【目的】克隆红纹黄单胞菌α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因全序列,对序列进行生物信息学分析,并提高酶的热稳定性。【方法】利用多聚酶链式反应(PCR)克隆α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因全序列;应用生物信息学软件对获得的基因序列及编码的蛋白序列进行分析;通过同源建模,预测红纹黄单胞菌α-氨基酸酯水解酶的三维结构;通过定点突变替换氨基酸序列中高度柔性的位点,提高该酶的热稳定性。【结果】从红纹黄单胞菌(Xanthomonas rubrillineans)中扩增得到α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因aeh(GenBank登录号JF744990),核苷酸序列长度1 917 bp,编码638个氨基酸。序列比对和同源性分析显示,该酶与白纹黄单胞菌Xanthomonas albilineans str.GPE PC73的肽酶及地毯草黄单胞菌Xanthomonas axono-podis pv. citri str. 306的戊二酰-7-氨基头孢烷酸酰化酶氨基酸序列相似性最高,分别为91%和83%,系统进化分析表明,该酶与白纹黄单胞菌Xanthomonas albilineans str. GPEPC73的肽酶亲缘性最高。基于预测的三维模型,对高度柔性的位点进行饱和突变,从282株突变体中筛选得到3株T50较野生型高5°C以上的突变体。【结论】对红纹黄单胞菌AEH的氨基酸序列分析有助于探索同源蛋白的进化过程。对高度柔性位点进行饱和突变的策略可以用于提高热稳定性。     

头孢菌素C乙酰化酶的半理性改造及7-ACA的生物合成

CPC乙酰化酶是一步酶法制备7-ACA的关键酶,针对它的研究具有重大的经济价值。为了获得对CPC具有更高催化活性的CPC乙酰化酶,以Pseudomonas sp SE 83来源的Ⅲ型CPC乙酰化酶CA Ⅲ为亲本,借助分子对接的手段确定了它与CPC结合的关键氨基酸残基,并确定将这些关键氨基酸残基突变为侧链基团更小的氨基酸残基,对CA Ⅲ的编码基因利用多点定点突变试剂盒完成定点突变后借助p ET32a质粒在E.coli BL21(DE3)中实现了可溶性表达,获得了对CPC催化活性更高的重组突变体reCA Ⅲ~M,其比酶活为26.7 IU/mg,较原酶提高了3.44倍。此外,初步研究了利用reCA Ⅲ~M进行一步酶法生产7-ACA的工艺,40 IU/g CPC的加酶量、25℃的条件下反应12 h,CPC的转化率和7-ACA的得率分别可达96.3%和63.4%,表明该酶具有良好的应用前景。CPC乙酰化酶的分子改造上取得的较为理想的结果,为该酶进一步的分子改造及应用奠定了坚实的基础,也为其它酶的分子改造提供了可资借鉴的经验。     

北京棒杆菌天冬氨酸激酶突变体R169H的构建及酶学性质表征

【目的】提高北京棒杆菌(Corynebacterium pekinense)中天冬氨酸激酶(aspartokinase,AK)活力。【方法】利用定点突变技术对AK基因进行突变,并将突变体转入大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21中异源表达。重组菌经超声破碎后、利用镍柱对AK进行纯化,并经SDS-PAGE和Western blot验证。通过检测酶活力比较突变体和野生型动力学变化并研究突变体和野生型的部分酶学性质。【结果】成功构建突变体R169H。经验证知,AK分子量为48kDa。突变体R169H的Vmax为226.3 U/mg·s-1,较野生型提高2.3倍。最适反应温度为26℃,与野生型经验值相同;最适反应pH为9.0,较野生型经验值8.0有所提高;在最适温度和pH值下的半衰期为5.5 h,比野生型的4h稳定性要好;代谢产物赖氨酸、苏氨酸和蛋氨酸在低浓度时对AK均具有激活作用。【结论】突变体中R169与E92间氢键消失,能够影响亚基间聚合度,降低酶对底物的亲和力,减弱代谢产物对AK的反馈抑制作用,从而使R169H中AK的Vmax提高2.3倍。     

来源于瘤胃菌Ruminococcus sp.的D-阿洛酮糖3-差向异构酶的底物结合位点分析

【目的】研究来源于瘤胃菌Ruminococcus sp.的D-阿洛酮糖3-差向异构酶的底物结合机制。【方法】通过同源模拟和同源序列比对,筛选与其底物结合相关的关键位点,进而通过定点突变构建突变体并对其动力学性质进行研究。【结果】筛选得到关键位点Y6和A109,构建了突变体Y6F、Y6I、A109P及A109L。【结论】Y6既与底物结合又与催化能力相关,其-OH只与底物结合相关,芳香环则与催化能力和结合能力均相关;而A109则只是底物结合的位点。该研究结果为D-阿洛酮糖3-差向异构酶的催化机理研究及分子改造提供了借鉴。     

Engineering of a CPC acylase using a facile pH indicator assay

Cephalosporin C (CPC) acylase is important for the one-step production of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA), a key intermediate for cephalosporin antibiotics. However, its application is hampered by the low activity, substrate inhibition, and product inhibition. In this study, two rounds of combinatorial active-site saturation testing (CASTing) were carried out on the CPC acylase acyII from Pseudomonas SE83, and one mutant H57βA/H70βY with no substrate inhibition was obtained. For further engineering to reduce the product inhibition, a quick pH indicator assay was developed, allowing for real-time monitoring of the product inhibition in the presence of added 7-ACA. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by screening six libraries of site-directed saturation mutagenesis libraries of H57βA/H70βY. A new mutant H57βA/H70βY/I176βN was obtained, which showed a k _cat 3.26-fold and a K _IP 3.08-fold that of the wild type, respectively. Given the commercial value of the enzyme, both this pH indicator assay and the triple mutant should be useful for further engineering of the enzyme to increase the specific activity and to decrease the product inhibition.     

Nucleotide sequences of the genes for two distinct cephalosporin acylases from a Pseudomonas strain.

Two genes, acyI and acyII, for distinct cephalosporin acylases from Pseudomonas sp. strain SE83 (A. Matsuda, K. Matsuyama, K. Yamamoto, S. Ichikawa, and K.I. Komatsu, J. Bacteriol. 169:5815-5820, 1987) were sequenced. Each sequence contained a single open reading frame for two nonidentical subunits, predicting a common precursor. Some homologies at the amino acid level were found between the acyII-encoded enzyme, but not the acyI-encoded one, and other related acylases.     

Improving the activity and stability of GL-7-ACA acylase CA130 by site-directed mutagenesis

In the present study, glutaryl-7-amino cephalosporanic acid acylase from Pseudomonas sp. strain 130 (CA130) was mutated to improve its enzymatic activity and stability. Based on the crystal structure of CA130, two series of amino acid residues, one from those directly involved in catalytic function and another from those putatively involved in surface charge, were selected as targets for site-directed mutagenesis. In the first series of experiments, several key residues in the substrate-binding pocket were substituted, and the genes were expressed in Escherichia coli for activity screening. Two of the mutants constructed, Y151alphaF and Q50betaN, showed two- to threefold-increased catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) compared to wild-type CA130. Their K(m) values were decreased by ca. 50%, and the k(cat) values increased to 14.4 and 16.9 s(-1), respectively. The ability of these mutants to hydrolyze adipoyl 6-amino penicillinic acid was also improved. In the second series of mutagenesis, several mutants with enhanced stabilities were identified. Among them, R121betaA and K198betaA had a 30 to 58% longer half-life than wild-type CA130, and K198betaA and D286betaA showed an alkaline shift of optimal pH by about 1.0 to 2.0 pH units. To construct an engineered enzyme with the properties of both increased activity and stability, the double mutant Q50betaN/K198betaA was expressed. This enzyme was purified and immobilized for catalytic analysis. The immobilized mutant enzyme showed a 34.2% increase in specific activity compared to the immobilized wild-type CA130.     

Cloning and characterization of the genes for two distinct cephalosporin acylases from a Pseudomonas strain.

Pseudomonas sp. strain SE83 converts cephalosporin C and 7 beta-(4-carboxybutanamido)cephalosporanic acid (GL-7ACA) to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7ACA). A DNA library of this strain was constructed in Escherichia coli and screened for the ability to deacylate GL-7ACA to 7ACA. Apparently, two distinct genes, designated acyI and acyII, were cloned on 4.8- and 6.0-kilobase-pair BglII fragments, respectively. The enzymes encoded by the two genes showed different substrate specificities, and the acyII-encoded enzyme was found to yield 7ACA from cephalosporin C by direct deacylation. Expression of the two genes in E. coli was strongly dependent on a promoter of the vector. The coding regions for acyI and acyII were localized on the 2.5- and 2.8-kilobase-pair fragments, respectively, by subcloning experiments, and high expression of both genes was obtained by placing them under the control of the lacUV5 promoter. The acyII-encoded enzyme was purified and shown to be composed of two nonidentical subunits with molecular weights of 26,000 and 57,000. Maxicell analysis revealed three acyII-specific polypeptides, two of which corresponded to the above subunits. The third polypeptide with a molecular weight of 83,000 was suggested to be the precursor of both subunits.     

Rat kidney acylase I: further characterisation and mutation studies on the involvement of Glu 147 in the catalytic process

Rat kidney acylase I was characterised by performing site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatic analysis in the presence of various chemical inhibitors. Site-directed mutagenesis on E147 and overexpression of the protein in a bacterial system, revealed the importance of this residue in enzymatic activity, it corresponds to the putative catalytic E175 in carboxypeptidase G2 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The reactivity of histidine and cysteine residues of acylase I with diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) and mercuric chloride, respectively, showed that these two amino acids are required for the enzyme to be fully active. Interestingly, the effects of mercuric chloride on rat kidney acylase I were not as great as those on the porcine enzyme, in agreement with previously observed differences between the two enzymes. Moreover, N-[3-(2-furyl)-acryloyl-L-methionine] (FA-Met) a synthetic substrate of the porcine acylase I was found to be an inhibitor of the rat kidney enzyme. These results strongly suggest the existence of differences between the active site of rat and porcine kidney acylases I. Lastly, the rat kidney enzyme was as sensitive as its porcine counterpart to two metal chelating agents, 1,10-phenanthroline and ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA).     

Effect of amino acid substitutions at the subunit interface on the stability and aggregation properties of a dimeric protein: role of Arg 178 and Arg 218 at the Dimer interface of thymidylate synthase

The significance of two interface arginine residues on the structural integrity of an obligatory dimeric enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) from Lactobacillus casei was investigated by thermal and chemical denaturation. While the R178F mutant showed apparent stability to thermal denaturation by its decreased tendency to aggregate, the Tm of the R218K mutant was lowered by 5 degrees C. Equilibrium denaturation studies in guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) and urea indicate that in both the mutants, replacement of Arg residues results in more labile quaternary and tertiary interactions. Circular dichroism studies in aqueous buffer suggest that the protein interior in R218K may be less well-packed as compared to the wild type protein. The results emphasize that quaternary interactions may influence the stability of the tertiary fold of TS. The amino acid replacements also lead to notable alteration in the ability of the unfolding intermediate of TS to aggregate. The aggregated state of partially unfolded intermediate in the R178F mutant is stable over a narrower range of denaturant concentrations. In contrast, there is an exaggerated tendency on the part of R218K to aggregate in intermediate concentrations of the denaturant. The 3 A crystal structure of the R178F mutant reveals no major structural change as a consequence of amino acid substitution. The results may be rationalized in terms of mutational effects on both the folded and unfolded state of the protein. Site specific amino acid substitutions are useful in identifying specific regions of TS involved in association of non-native protein structures.     

The 2.0 A crystal structure of cephalosporin acylase

BACKGROUND: Semisynthetic cephalosporins are primarily synthesized from 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA), which is usually obtained by chemical deacylation of cephalosporin C (CPC). The chemical production of 7-ACA includes, however, several expensive steps and requires thorough treatment of chemical wastes. Therefore, an enzymatic conversion of CPC to 7-ACA by cephalosporin acylase is of great interest. The biggest obstacle preventing this in industrial production is that cephalosporin acylase uses glutaryl-7ACA as a primary substrate and has low substrate specificity for CPC. RESULTS: We have solved the first crystal structure of a cephalosporin acylase from Pseudomonas diminuta at 2.0 A resolution. The overall structure looks like a bowl with two "knobs" consisting of helix- and strand-rich regions, respectively. The active site is mostly formed by the distinctive structural motif of the N-terminal (Ntn) hydrolase superfamily. Superposition of the 61 residue active-site pocket onto that of penicillin G acylase shows an rmsd in Calpha positions of 1.38 A. This indicates structural similarity in the active site between these two enzymes, but their overall structures are elsewhere quite different. CONCLUSION: The substrate binding pocket of the P. diminuta cephalosporin acylase provides detailed insight into the ten key residues responsible for the specificity of the cephalosporin C side chain in four classes of cephalosporin acylases, and it thereby forms a basis for the design of an enzyme with an improved conversion rate of CPC to 7-ACA. The structure also provides structural evidence that four of the five different classes of cephalosporin acylases can be grouped into one family of the Ntn hydrolase superfamily.     

Phe161 and Arg166 variants of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase. Implications for NADPH recognition and structural stability

Phe161 and Arg166 of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens belong to a newly discovered sequence motif in flavoprotein hydroxylases with a putative dual function in FAD and NADPH binding [1]. To study their role in more detail, Phe161 and Arg166 were selectively changed by site-directed mutagenesis. F161A and F161G are catalytically competent enzymes having a rather poor affinity for NADPH. The catalytic properties of R166K are similar to those of the native enzyme. R166S and R166E show impaired NADPH binding and R166E has lost the ability to bind FAD. The crystal structure of substrate complexed F161A at 2.2 A is indistinguishable from the native enzyme, except for small changes at the site of mutation. The crystal structure of substrate complexed R166S at 2.0 A revealed that Arg166 is important for providing an intimate contact between the FAD binding domain and a long excursion of the substrate binding domain. It is proposed that this interaction is essential for structural stability and for the recognition of the pyrophosphate moiety of NADPH.     

Roles of three well-conserved arginine residues in mediating the catalytic activity of tobacco acetohydroxy acid synthase

Acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS, EC 2.2.1.6; also known as acetolactate synthase, ALS) catalyzes the first common step in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine in plants and microorganisms. AHAS is the target of several classes of herbicides. In the present study, the role of three well-conserved arginine residues (R141, R372, and R376) in tobacco AHAS was determined by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutated enzymes, referred to as R141A, R141F, and R376F, were inactive and unable to bind to the cofactor, FAD. The inactive mutants had the same secondary structure as that of the wild type. The mutants R141K, R372F, and R376K exhibited much lower specific activities than the wild type, and moderate resistance to herbicides such as Londax, Cadre, and/or TP. The mutation R141K showed a strong reduction in activation efficiency by ThDP, while the mutations R372K and R376K showed a strong reductions in activation efficiency by FAD in comparison to the wild type enzyme. Taking into account the data presented here and the homology model constructed previously [Le et al. (2004) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 317, 930-938], it is suggested that the three amino acid residues studied (R141, R372, and R376) are located essentially at the enzyme active site, and, furthermore, that residues R372 and R376 are possibly responsible for the binding of the enzyme to FAD.