Cellobiose 2-epimerase from Rhodothermus marinus (RmCE) reversibly converts a glucose residue to a mannose residue at the reducing end of β-1,4-linked oligosaccharides. In this study, the monosaccharide specificity of RmCE has been mapped and the synthesis of d-talose from d-galactose was discovered, a reaction not yet known to occur in nature. Moreover, the conversion is industrially relevant, as talose and its derivatives have been reported to possess important antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. As the enzyme also catalyzes the keto-aldo isomerization of galactose to tagatose as a minor side reaction, the purity of talose was found to decrease over time. After process optimization, 23 g/L of talose could be obtained with a product purity of 86% and a yield of 8.5% (starting from 4 g (24 mmol) of galactose). However, higher purities and concentrations can be reached by decreasing and increasing the reaction time, respectively. In addition, two engineering attempts have also been performed. First, a mutant library of RmCE was created to try and increase the activity on monosaccharide substrates. Next, two residues from RmCE were introduced in the cellobiose 2-epimerase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus (CsCE) (S99M/Q371F), increasing the kcat twofold.
Keywords: biocatalysis; cellobiose 2-epimerase; enzyme engineering; rare sugars; talose.