Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol.115, No.6, 1416-1426, 2018
Enhancing cytochrome P450-mediated non-natural cyclopropanation by mutation of a conserved second-shell residue
Engineered cytochrome P450s are emerging as powerful synthetic tools due to their ability catalyze non-native metallocarbenoid and -nitrenoid insertion reactions. P450-mediated cyclopropanation has garnered particular interest due to the high selectivity demonstrated by engineered scaffolds and their application towards the synthesis of therapeutic agents. We previously reported that mutation of a conserved, first-shell heme-ligating Cys to Ser led to significant improvements in cyclopropanation activity in a model enzyme, P450(BM3h). Here, we demonstrate that mutation of a ubiquitously conserved second-shell Phe (F393) to His or Ala, provides complementary increases in the P450 heme reduction potential and conversion to cyclopropanation products when compared to first-shell Cys to Ser mutations. Furthermore, we show that these mutations confer improved non-natural catalysis in 4 diverse P450 scaffolds.
Keywords:cyclopropanation;cytochrome P450;non-natural biocatalysis;protein engineering;second-shell mutation