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Enantioselective enzymes for organic synthesis created by directed evolution.

A new concept for the creation of enzymes displaying improved enantioselectivity in a given reaction is described; it is based on "evolution in the test tube". Accordingly, proper molecular biological methods for random mutagenesis, gene expression, and high-throughput screening systems for the rapid assay of enantioselectivity are combined. Several rounds of mutagenesis and screening are generally necessary in order to create mutant enzymes that show high degrees of enantioselectivity, as in the case of the lipase-catalyzed hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a chiral ester in which the original enantioselectivity of 2 % ee (E = 1) increases to > 90% ee (E = 25).

Catalysis↗

Directed evolution of industrial enzymes: an update.

The use of enzymes in industrial processes can often eliminate the use of high temperatures, organic solvents and extremes of pH, while at the same time offering increased reaction specificity, product purity and reduced environmental impact. The growing use of industrial enzymes is dependent on constant innovation to improve performance and reduce cost. This innovation is driven by a rapidly increasing database of natural enzyme diversity, recombinant DNA and fermentation technologies that allow this diversity to be produced at low cost, and protein modification tools that enable enzymes to be tuned to fit into the industrial marketplace.

6-Phytase↗

Directed evolution experiments reveal mutations at cycloartenol synthase residue His477 that dramatically alter catalysis.

[reaction: see text] Cycloartenol synthase cyclizes and rearranges oxidosqualene to the protosteryl cation and then specifically deprotonates from C-19. To identify mutants that deprotonate differently, randomly generated mutant cycloartenol synthases were selected in a yeast lanosterol synthase mutant. A novel His477Asn mutant was uncovered that produces 88% lanosterol and 12% parkeol. The His477Gln mutant produces 73% parkeol, 22% lanosterol, and 5% Delta(7)-lanosterol. These are the most accurate lanosterol synthase and parkeol synthase that have been generated by mutagenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Directed evolution of an anti-carcinoembryonic antigen scFv with a 4-day monovalent dissociation half-time at 37 degrees C.

An scFv has been engineered to bind carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with a dissociation half-time >4 days at 37 degrees C. Two mutations responsible for this affinity increase were isolated by screening yeast surface-displayed mutant libraries by flow cytometry. Soluble expression of the mutant scFv in a yeast secretion system was increased 100-fold by screening mutant libraries for improved yeast surface display level. This scFv will be useful as a limiting case for evaluating the significance of affinity in tumor targeting to non-internalizing antigens.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗

Transforming a (beta/alpha)8--barrel enzyme into a split-protein sensor through directed evolution.

Split-protein sensors have become an important tool for the analysis of protein-protein interactions in living cells. We present here a combinatorial method for the generation of new split-protein sensors and demonstrate its application toward the (beta/alpha)(8)-barrel enzyme N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)-anthranilate isomerase Trp1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The generated split-Trp protein sensors allow for the detection of protein-protein interactions in the cytosol as well as the membrane by enabling trp1 cells to grow on medium lacking tryptophan. This powerful selection complements the repertoire of the currently used split-protein sensors and provides a new tool for high-throughput interaction screening.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

Directed evolution of an esterase from Pseudomonas fluorescens. Random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR or a mutator strain and identification of mutants showing enhanced enantioselectivity by a resorufin-based fluorescence assay.

The gene encoding an esterase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFE) was subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR or by using the mutator strain Epicurian coli XL1-Red. Enzyme libraries were then created in microtiter plates by expression of PFE-variants in E. coli. These were assayed for improved enantioselectivity in a Beckman robot system using optically pure (R)- or (S)-3-phenylbutyric acid resorufin esters, resulting in the identification of several mutants showing up to almost two-fold enantioselectivity (E(true) = 5.2 to 6.6) compared to wild-type PFE (E(true) = 3.5).

Directed Molecular Evolution↗

Discovery and directed evolution of a glyphosate tolerance gene.

The herbicide glyphosate is effectively detoxified by N-acetylation. We screened a collection of microbial isolates and discovered enzymes exhibiting glyphosate N-acetyltransferase (GAT) activity. Kinetic properties of the discovered enzymes were insufficient to confer glyphosate tolerance to transgenic organisms. Eleven iterations of DNA shuffling improved enzyme efficiency by nearly four orders of magnitude from 0.87 mM-1 min-1 to 8320 mM-1 min-1. From the fifth iteration and beyond, GAT enzymes conferred increasing glyphosate tolerance to Escherichia coli, Arabidopsis, tobacco, and maize. Glyphosate acetylation provides an alternative strategy for supporting glyphosate use on crops.

Acetylation↗

A bacterial selection for the directed evolution of pyruvate aldolases.

A novel bacterial in vivo selection for pyruvate aldolase activity is described. Pyruvate kinase deficient cells, which lack the ability to biosynthetically generate pyruvate, require supplementation of exogenous pyruvate when grown on ribose. Supplementation with pyruvate concentrations as low as 50 microM rescues cell growth. A known substrate of the KDPG aldolases, 2-keto-4-hydroxy-4-(2'-pyridyl)butyrate (KHPB), also rescues cell growth, consistent with retroaldol cleavage by KDPG aldolase and rescue through pyruvate release. An initial round of selection against 2-keto-4-hydroxyoctonate (KHO), a nonsubstrate for wild-type aldolase, produced three mutants with intriguing alterations in protein sequence. This selection system allows rapid screening of mutant enzyme libraries and facilitates the discovery of enzymes with novel substrate specificities.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

Directed evolution of an artificial bifunctional enzyme, gamma-glutamyl kinase/gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, for improved osmotic tolerance of Escherichia coli transformants.

To produce the artificial bifunctional enzyme gamma-glutamyl kinase/gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, a mutant library of the proBA fusion gene from Bacillus subtilis was created by error-prone PCR. Selecting by functional complementation of the proline auxotroph Escherichia coli JM83 and NaCl tolerance, we isolated a mutant of the proBA fusion gene that improved the osmotolerance of host cells of E. coli JM83. A single amino acid replacement (Asn177Asp) located in a conserved domain in gamma-glutamyl kinase leads to overproduction of proline by host cells. The mutated gamma-glutamyl kinase/gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase enzyme was rendered about 100-fold less sensitive to proline-mediated feedback inhibition than the control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence saturation mutagenesis (SeSaM): a novel method for directed evolution.

Sequence saturation mutagenesis (SeSaM) is a conceptually novel and practically simple method that truly randomizes a target sequence at every single nucleotide position. A SeSaM experiment can be accomplished within 2-3 days and comprises four steps: generating a pool of DNA fragments with random length, 'tailing' the DNA fragments with universal base using terminal transferase at 3'-termini, elongating DNA fragments in a PCR to the full-length genes using a single-stranded template and replacing the universal bases by standard nucleotides. Random mutations are created at universal sites due to the promiscuous base-pairing property of universal bases. Using enhanced green fluorescence protein as the model system and deoxyinosine as the universal base, we proved by sequencing 100 genes the concept of the SeSaM method and achieved a random distribution of mutations with the mutational bias expected for deoxyinosine.

DNA↗

Towards the design of rare cutting restriction endonucleases: using directed evolution to generate variants of EcoRV differing in their substrate specificity by two orders of magnitude.

The restriction endonuclease EcoRV cleaves DNA highly specifically within GATATC sequences. In order to create EcoRV variants that have an extended recognition site we have employed a semi-rational random mutagenesis/selection procedure. Twenty-two amino acid residues were subjected to random mutagenesis and about 500 EcoRV variants representing three generations of mutants were screened. Among these some highly active variants that strongly prefer AT-flanked cleavage sites (e.g. S183A/Q224R, T93S/I103F/S183A/T222S or N97T/S183A/T222S) and others that prefer GC flanks (e.g. K104N/A181T) were identified. As wild-type EcoRV does not discriminate between these cleavage sites, the generation of these variants represents a significant first step towards redesigning EcoRV to become an 8 or 10 bp cutter. Such enzymes, only very rarely found in nature, could be extremely helpful for the manipulation of large DNA fragments.

Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific↗

Directed evolution of formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii for improved stability during entrapment in polyacrylamide.

In two cycles of an error-prone PCR process, variants of formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii were created which revealed an up to 4.4-fold (440%) higher residual activity after entrapment in polyacrylamide gels than the wild-type enzyme. These were identified in an assay using single precursor molecules of polyacrylamide instead of the complete gel for selection. The stabilization resulted from an exchange of distinct lysine, glutamic acid, and cysteine residues remote from the active site, which did not affect the kinetics of the catalyzed reaction. Thermal stability increased at the exchange of lysine and glutamic acid, but decreased due the exchange of cysteine. Overall, the variants reveal very suitable properties for application in a technical synthetic process, enabling use of entrapment in polyacrylamide as an economic and versatile immobilization method.

Acrylic Resins↗

[Directed evolution of Thermophilic esterase from the archaeon Aeropyrum pemix K1].

Thermophilic esterase (APE1547) from Aeropyrum pernix K1 was subjected to error-prone PCR (epPCR) to enhance activity. For the screening of mutants, an efficient and reliable assay suitable for high throughput screening was developed based on the enzyme thermostability. Two successive rounds of random mutagenesis by epPCR resulted in a four amino acid substitution variant M020 with significantly increased activity (six-fold under the screening condition. Further assay for the purified enzymes showed that the mutant possess 1.5-fold higher specific activity and nearly 4-fold higher expressed level than the wild-type. The mutant has an optimal activity at pH 8.5, corresponding to an alkaline shift of 0.5 pH unit compared to the wild type. The structure analysis suggests that R526S may contribute to the enhanced activity and the shift of pKi.

Aeropyrum↗

Directed evolution to bypass cyclin requirements for the Cdc28p cyclin-dependent kinase.

To identify cyclin-dependent kinase mutants with relaxed cyclin requirements, CDC28 alleles were selected that could rescue a yeast strain expressing as its only CLN G1 cyclin a mutant Cln2p (K129A,E183A) that is defective for Cdc28p binding. Rescue of this strain by mutant CDC28 was dependent upon the mutant cln2-KAEA, but additional mutagenesis and DNA shuffling yielded multiply mutant CDC28-BYC alleles (bypass of CLNs) that could support highly efficient cell cycle initiation in the complete absence of CLN genes. By gel filtration chromatography, one of the mutant Cdc28 proteins exhibited kinase activity associated with cyclin-free monomer. Thus, the mutants' CLN bypass activity might result from constitutive, cyclin-independent activity, suggesting that Cdk targeting by cyclins is not required for cell cycle initiation.

Alleles↗

Use of enrichment culture for directed evolution of the Vibrio fluvialis JS17 omega-transaminase, which is resistant to product inhibition by aliphatic ketones.

A novel high-throughput screening method that overcame product inhibition was used to isolate a mutant omega-transaminase from Vibrio fluvialis JS17. An enzyme library was generated using error-prone PCR mutagenesis and then enriched on minimal medium containing 2-aminoheptane as the sole nitrogen source and 2-butanone as an inhibitory ketone. An identified mutant enzyme, omega-TAmla, showed significantly reduced product inhibition by aliphatic ketone. The product inhibition constants of the mutant with 2-butanone and 2-heptanone were 6- and 4.5-fold higher than those of the wild type, respectively. Using omega-TAmla (50 U/ml) overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21, 150 mM 2-aminoheptane was successfully resolved to (R)-2-aminoheptane (enantiomeric excess, >99%) with 53% conversion with an enantioselectivity of >100.

Amines↗

Design of generic biosensors based on green fluorescent proteins with allosteric sites by directed evolution.

Protein-engineering techniques have been adapted for the molecular design of biosensors that combine a molecular-recognition site with a signal-transduction function. The optical signal-transduction mechanism of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is most attractive, but hard to combine with a ligand-binding site. Here we describe a general method of creating entirely new molecular-recognition sites on GFPs. At the first step, a protein domain containing a desired molecular-binding site is inserted into a surface loop of GFP. Next, the insertional fusion protein is randomly mutated, and new allosteric proteins that undergo changes in fluorescence upon binding of target molecules are selected from the random library. We have tested this methodology by using TEM1 beta-lactamase and its inhibitory protein as our model protein-ligand system. 'Allosteric GFP biosensors' constructed by this method may be used in a wide range of applications including biochemistry and cell biology.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Directed evolution of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase for efficient labeling of fusion proteins with small molecules in vivo.

We report here the generation of mutants of the human O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) for the efficient in vivo labeling of fusion proteins with synthetic reporter molecules. Libraries of hAGT were displayed on phage, and mutants capable of efficiently reacting with the inhibitor O(6)-benzylguanine were selected based on their ability to irreversibly transfer the benzyl group to a reactive cysteine residue. Using synthetic O(6)-benzylguanine derivatives, the selected mutant proteins allow for a highly efficient covalent labeling of hAGT fusion proteins in vivo and in vitro with small molecules and therefore should become important tools for studying protein function in living cells. In addition to various applications in proteomics, the selected mutants also yield insight into the interaction of the DNA repair protein hAGT with its inhibitor O(6)-benzylguanine.

Animals↗

Directed evolution of high-affinity antibody mimics using mRNA display.

We constructed a library of >10(12) unique, covalently coupled mRNA-protein molecules by randomizing three exposed loops of an immunoglobulin-like protein, the tenth fibronectin type III domain (10Fn3). The antibody mimics that bound TNF-alpha were isolated from the library using mRNA display. Ten rounds of selection produced 10Fn3 variants that bound TNF-alpha with dissociation constants (K(d)) between 1 and 24 nM. After affinity maturation, the lowest K(d) measured was 20 pM. Selected antibody mimics were shown to capture TNF-alpha when immobilized in a protein microarray. 10Fn3-based scaffold libraries and mRNA-display allow the isolation of high-affinity, specific antigen binding proteins; potential applications of such binding proteins include diagnostic protein microarrays and protein therapeutics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗