The Impact of Non-cultivated Biodiversity on Enzyme Discovery and Evolution

Abstract

The search for novel enzymes with biotechnological potential in the fine chemical, food and feed, detergent and cosmetics industries is driven by the need to improve existing processes and applications, to design novel processes for innovative products or intermediates or to avoid intellectual property related operative restrictions. Strategies for obtaining novel biocatalysts will be based on screening natural biodiversity or a combination of nature derived scaffolds and optimization by directed evolution technology. Considering the enormous potential of in vitro mutational and recombinatorial strategies to alter genes and improve enzyme properties, we propose that it might be advantageous to select improved molecular starting points before embarking on the arduous walk through sequence space towards optimized performance     

Indole–porphyrin hybrids produced by metagenomics

New indole–porphyrin hybrid molecules were isolated from Escherichia coli harboring metagenomic DNA from the Japanese marine sponge Discodermia calyx. The indole was appended to the reactive vinyl substituent of the harderoporphyrin chromophore, encoded by the insert DNA. Thus, the chimeric pathway between the heterologously expressed porphyrins and the endogenous indole generated new indole-conjugated chiral porphyrins in E. coli.     

Gene-centric metegenome analysis reveals diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm gene orthologs in fresh water ecosystem

Metagenomic analysis of biofilm forming bacteria in environmental samples remains challenging due to the non-availability of gene sequences of most of the uncultivable bacteria. Sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1-UW genes involved either directly or indirectly in biofilm formation were analyzed using BLASTn to obtain matching sequences from different strain, species and genus. Conserved regions in the functional domain of the amino acid sequences were used to design common primers for direct PCR analysis of freshwater metagenomes. Seven key genes such as aceA, clpP, typA, cbrA, phoR, rpoS and gacA involved in biofilm formation were validated. The ortholog genes belonged to wide range of Pseudomonas sp. indicating the diversity of biofilm genes and the conservation of protein functional domains. The approach would also help in analyzing the expression of biofilm genes in different bacteria of freshwater systems for monitoring toxic contaminations such as organic or inorganic pollutants.     

X-ray structure of a two-domain type laccase: A missing link in the evolution of multi-copper proteins

A multi-copper protein with two cupredoxin-like domains was identified from our in-house metagenomic database. The recombinant protein, mgLAC, contained four copper ions/subunits, oxidized various phenolic and non-phenolic substrates, and had spectroscopic properties similar to common laccases. X-ray structure analysis revealed a homotrimeric architecture for this enzyme, which resembles nitrite reductase (NIR). However, a difference in copper coordination was found at the domain interface. mgLAC contains a T2/T3 tri-nuclear copper cluster at this site, whereas a mononuclear T2 copper occupies this position in NIR. The trimer is thus an essential part of the architecture of two-domain multi-copper proteins, and mgLAC may be an evolutionary precursor of NIR.     

温泉宏基因组来源的D-来苏糖异构酶性质研究*

目的: 从高温温泉宏基因组中挖掘能够高效催化合成稀有糖的新耐高温D-来苏糖异构酶。方法: 从云南昌宁鸡飞温泉底泥中提取宏基因组DNA并进行高通量测序,经基因注释及序列比对鉴定D-来苏糖异构酶基因,构建大肠杆菌异源表达载体并诱导表达,通过亲和层析纯化重组蛋白并对其性质研究。结果: 从温泉底泥宏基因组测序结果中鉴定得到8个D-来苏糖异构酶基因,选择4个基因进行异源表达,其中JF-LI1和JF-LI4在大肠杆菌中成功表达并检测到酶活性。研究表明,JF-LI1和JF-LI4的最适温度分别为70℃和75℃。JF-LI4具有较宽的作用温度和良好的热稳定性,在30~100℃的温度范围内剩余40%以上的酶活力。JF-LI1和JF-LI4的最适pH分别为7.0和7.5,在中性偏酸性条件下具有较高的活力和较强的稳定性。重组JF-LI1和JF-LI4具有较宽的底物谱,除了对D-来苏糖活性最高外,对L-核糖、L-核酮糖、D-果糖和D-甘露糖均具有活性。重组JF-LI1和JF-LI4对L-核糖的催化效率分别为0.56 L/(mmol·s^-1)和0.61 L/(mmol·s^-1),是目前已知的D-来苏糖异构酶中最高的。结论: 从高温温泉宏基因组中获得8个新的D-来苏糖异构酶基因,对JF-LI1和JF-LI4进行异源表达和性质研究,具有pH稳定性好、热稳定性强以及底物特异性宽泛的特点,在制药、食品、化妆品等工业领域有重要的应用潜力。