Combinatorial saturation mutagenesis by in vivo overlap extension for the engineering of fungal laccases

Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2006 Dec;9(10):719-27. doi: 10.2174/138620706779026079.

Abstract

Combinatorial saturation mutagenesis -CSM- is a valuable tool for improving enzymatic properties from hot-spot residues discovered by directed enzyme evolution or performing semi-rational studies. CSM coupled to a reliable high-throughput screening assay -coefficient of variance below 10%- has been used to enhance turnover rates in the fungal laccase variant T2 from Myceliophthora thermophila. The influence of the highly conserved pentapeptide 509-513 on the redox potential of blue-copper containing enzymes is well described. We focused combinatorial saturation mutagenesis in residues Ser510 and Leu513. Libraries were constructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by in vivo overlap extension -IVOE- of the PCR products. This methodology provides a simple manner to build CSM libraries avoiding extra PCR reactions, by-products formation and in vitro ligation steps. After exploring more than 1,700 clones, mutant (7E1) with approximately 3-fold higher kinetics than parent type was found. 7E1 showed one synonymous mutation (L513L, CGT/TTG) and one beneficial mutation S510G (TCG/GGG) that can not be achieved by conventional error-prone PCR techniques. Mutation S510G seems to affect the C-terminal plug, which modulates the transit of water and oxygen to the trinuclear copper cluster.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota / enzymology*
  • Ascomycota / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques*
  • Gene Library
  • Genetic Engineering*
  • Laccase / genetics*
  • Mutagenesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Laccase