Adjustable mutations in lactate (LA)-polymerizing enzyme for the microbial production of LA-based polyesters with tailor-made monomer composition

Biomacromolecules. 2010 Mar 8;11(3):815-9. doi: 10.1021/bm901437z.

Abstract

Lactate (LA)-polymerizing enzyme (LPE) is a newly established class of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase, which can incorporate LA units into a polymer chain. We previously synthesized P(LA-co-3-hydroxybutyrate)s [P(LA-co-3HB)s] in recombinant Escherichia coli using the first LPE, which is the Ser325Thr/Glu481Lys mutant of PHA synthase from Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 [PhaC1(Ps)ST/QK]. In this study, we finely regulated LA fraction in the copolymer by saturated mutations at position 392 (F392X), which corresponds to the activity-enhancing mutations at position 420 of PHA synthase from Ralstonia eutropha. Among the 19 saturated mutants of LPE at position 392, 17 mutants produced P(LA-co-3HB)s with various LA fractions (16-45 mol %), whereas PhaC1(Ps)ST/QK produced P(LA-co-3HB) with 26 mol % LA under the same culture condition. In particular, the F392S mutation exhibited the highest LA fraction of 45 mol %, and also increased polymer content (62 wt %) compared with PhaC1(Ps)ST/QK (44 wt %). Combination of the F392S mutant and anaerobic culture conditions, which promote LA production, led to a further increase in LA fraction up to 62 mol %. The P(LA-co-3HB)s with various LA fractions exhibited altered melting temperatures and melting enthalpy depending on their monomer composition. Accordingly, the mutations at position 392 in LPE greatly contributed to fine-tuning of the LA fraction in the copolymers that is useful for regulating LA fraction-dependent thermal properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Polyesters / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Enzymes
  • Polyesters
  • Lactic Acid