Directed Evolution of Unspecific Peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita

Unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) represents a new type of heme-thiolate enzyme with self-sufficient mono(per)oxygenase activity and many potential applications in organic synthesis. With a view to taking advantage of these properties, we subjected the Agrocybe aegerita UPO1-encoding gene to directed evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To promote functional expression, several different signal peptides were fused to the mature protein, and the resulting products were tested. Over 9,000 clones were screened using an ad hoc dual-colorimetric assay that assessed both peroxidative and oxygen transfer activities. After 5 generations of directed evolution combined with hybrid approaches, 9 mutations were introduced that resulted in a 3,250-fold total activity improvement with no alteration in protein stability. A breakdown between secretion and catalytic activity was performed by replacing the native signal peptide of the original parental type with that of the evolved mutant; the evolved leader increased functional expression 27-fold, whereas an 18-fold improvement in the k_cat/K_m value for oxygen transfer activity was obtained. The evolved UPO1 was active and highly stable in the presence of organic cosolvents. Mutations in the hydrophobic core of the signal peptide contributed to enhance functional expression up to 8 mg/liter, while catalytic efficiencies for peroxidative and oxygen transfer reactions were increased by several mutations in the vicinity of the heme access channel. Overall, the directed-evolution platform described is a valuable point of departure for the development of customized UPOs with improved features and for the study of structure-function relationships.     

Self-Powered Wireless Carbohydrate/Oxygen Sensitive Biodevice Based on Radio Signal Transmission

Here for the first time, we detail self-contained (wireless and self-powered) biodevices with wireless signal transmission. Specifically, we demonstrate the operation of self-sustained carbohydrate and oxygen sensitive biodevices, consisting of a wireless electronic unit, radio transmitter and separate sensing bioelectrodes, supplied with electrical energy from a combined multi-enzyme fuel cell generating sufficient current at required voltage to power the electronics. A carbohydrate/oxygen enzymatic fuel cell was assembled by comparing the performance of a range of different bioelectrodes followed by selection of the most suitable, stable combination. Carbohydrates (viz. lactose for the demonstration) and oxygen were also chosen as bioanalytes, being important biomarkers, to demonstrate the operation of the self-contained biosensing device, employing enzyme-modified bioelectrodes to enable the actual sensing. A wireless electronic unit, consisting of a micropotentiostat, an energy harvesting module (voltage amplifier together with a capacitor), and a radio microchip, were designed to enable the biofuel cell to be used as a power supply for managing the sensing devices and for wireless data transmission. The electronic system used required current and voltages greater than 44 µA and 0.57 V, respectively to operate; which the biofuel cell was capable of providing, when placed in a carbohydrate and oxygen containing buffer. In addition, a USB based receiver and computer software were employed for proof-of concept tests of the developed biodevices. Operation of bench-top prototypes was demonstrated in buffers containing different concentrations of the analytes, showcasing that the variation in response of both carbohydrate and oxygen biosensors could be monitored wirelessly in real-time as analyte concentrations in buffers were changed, using only an enzymatic fuel cell as a power supply.     

Underwater sound emission as part of an antipredator mechanism in Ceratophrys cranwelli tadpoles

We report the emission of underwater sounds in the tadpoles of a second member of the family Ceratophryidae, Ceratophrys cranwelli. These tadpoles produce a short metallic‐like sound, which consists of short trains of pulses at Gosner stages 25, 28, and 37. Experiment I was designed to record underwater sounds and their characteristics. Experiment II was designed to test: (i) if at higher densities (total number of tadpoles/L) but fixed predator–prey proportions C. cranwelli larvae are cannibalistic, (ii) if cannibalism increases at higher proportions of predators at a fixed density, and (iii) if tadpoles display a mechanism of intraspecific recognition that may diminish the frequency of cannibalism. Each treatment combines larvae of C. cranwelli (predator) with those of Rhinella arenarum (prey). The number of live and dead individuals was recorded during 72 h, and the following variables were calculated: time to eat the first and second prey, time without eating, time to eat a congener, and number of events of cannibalism. The results indicate that relative predator–prey availability affects the frequency of predation between conspecifics. We consider that an antipredator mechanism exists in C. cranwelli tadpoles and that the underwater sound is part of it.     

Directed evolution of a temperature-, peroxide- and alkaline pH-tolerant versatile peroxidase

The VPs (versatile peroxidases) secreted by white-rot fungi are involved in the natural decay of lignin. In the present study, a fusion gene containing the VP from Pleurotus eryngii was subjected to six rounds of directed evolution, achieving a level of secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (21?mg/l) as yet unseen for any ligninolytic peroxidase. The evolved variant for expression harboured four mutations and increased its total VP activity 129-fold. The signal leader processing by the STE13 protease at the Golgi compartment changed as a consequence of overexpression, retaining the additional N-terminal sequence Glu-Ala-Glu-Ala that enhanced secretion. The engineered N-terminally truncated variant displayed similar biochemical properties to those of the non-truncated counterpart in terms of kinetics, stability and spectroscopic features. Additional cycles of evolution raised the T50 8°C and significantly increased the enzyme's stability at alkaline pHs. In addition, the Km for H2O2 was enhanced up to 15-fold while the catalytic efficiency was maintained, and there was an improvement in peroxide stability (with half-lives for H2O2 of 43?min at a H2O2/enzyme molar ratio of 4000:1). Overall, the directed evolution approach described provides a set of strategies for selecting VPs with improvements in secretion, activity and stability.     

Use and improvement of microbial redox enzymes for environmental purposes

Industrial development may result in the increase of environmental risks. The enzymatic transformation of polluting compounds to less toxic or even innocuous products is an alternative to their complete removal. In this regard, a number of different redox enzymes are able to transform a wide variety of toxic pollutants, such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, azo dyes, heavy metals, etc. Here, novel information on chromate reductases, enzymes that carry out the reduction of highly toxic Cr(VI) to the less toxic insoluble Cr(III), is discussed. In addition, the properties and application of bacterial and eukaryotic proteins (lignin-modifying enzymes, peroxidases and cytochromes) useful in environmental enzymology is also discussed.     

Colorimetric assays for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by fungal laccases

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic organic pollutants widely distributed in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In the present work, 2 colorimetric assays for laccase-catalyzed degradation of PAHs were developed based on studies of the oxidation of 12 aromatic hydrocarbons by fungal laccases from Trametes versicolor and Myceliophthora thermophila. Using a sodium borohydride water-soluble solution, the authors could reduce the single product of laccase-catalyzed anthracene biooxidation into the orange-colored 9,10-anthrahydroquinone, which is quantifiable spectrophotometrically. An assay using polymeric dye (Poly R-478) as a surrogate substrate for lignin degradation by laccase in the presence of mediator is also presented. The decolorization of Poly R-478 was correlated to the oxidation of PAHs mediated by laccases. This demonstrates that a ligninolytic indicator such as Poly R-478 can be used to screen for PAH-degrading laccases; it will also be useful in screening mutant libraries in directed evolution experiments. Poly R-478 is stable and readily soluble. It has a high extinction coefficient and low toxicity toward white rot fungi, yeast, and bacteria, which allow its application in a solid-phase assay format.     

Analysis of Tween 80 as an esterase/ lipase substrate for lipolytic activity assay

The Tween 80 assay to detect lipolytic activities in agar media was evaluated. A spectrophotometric assay for Tween 80 hydrolysis was established. The specific activities with Tween 80, as well as with some conventional lipase-type and esterase-type substrates, were measured using several lipases and esterases. The activity with Tween 80 was similar to that obtained with p-nitrophenyl butyrate; the enzyme activities with both substrates were between the esterase and lipase categories. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Chemical modification of lysine side chains of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Thermoanaerobacter causes a shift from cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase to alpha-amylase specificity

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases and alpha-amylases are two groups of enzymes with related secondary structures. However, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases display transferase activities not present in alpha-amylases, probably derived from the existence of two more domains and different amino acid sequences. The hydrolytic activity of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases is generally quite low, except for two cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases from termophiles. In this work, we have carried out the chemical modification (with acetic anhydride) of the amino groups of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Thermoanaerobacter to assess their contributions to protein function. The acetylated cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase showed a significant reduction of its cyclization, coupling and disproportionation activities. Surprisingly, the hydrolytic (saccharifying) activity was slightly enhanced. These results suggest the participation of one or more lysine side chains in the interactions contributing to the transferase activity, either in any of the S11 subsites or in the acceptor binding site.