Publications (2)6.55 Total impact
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Article: Engineering transglycosidase activity into a GH51 α-l-arabinofuranosidase.
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ABSTRACT: Directed evolution was applied to the α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Thermobacillus xylanilyticus in order to confer better transglycosylation ability, particularly for the synthesis of benzyl α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1,2)-α-d-xylopyranoside, starting from p-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside (donor) and benzyl α-d-xylopyranoside (acceptor). The aim was to obtain mutants displaying both lower hydrolytic and greater transglycosylation activities in order to favour the stable production of the target disaccharide. The implementation of a simple chromogenic screen ultimately provided three mutant enzymes whose properties correspond to those sought after. These all displayed lowered hydrolytic activity and conserved or slightly improved transfer activity, while one of them also displayed lowered secondary hydrolysis of the transglycosylation product. DNA sequence analysis of the mutants revealed between three and seven point mutations and biochemical analysis combined with STD-NMR experiments indicated that distinct molecular mechanism were active among the three mutants.New Biotechnology 04/2013; · 2.76 Impact Factor -
Article: Functional roles of H98 and W99 and β2α2 loop dynamics in the α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Thermobacillus xylanilyticus.
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ABSTRACT: This study is focused on the elucidation of the functional role of the mobile β2α2 loop in the α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Thermobacillus xylanilyticus, and particularly on the roles of loop residues H98 and W99. Using site-directed mutagenesis, coupled to characterization methods including isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, it has been possible to provide a molecular level view of interactions and the consequences of mutations. Binding of para-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside (pNP-α-l-Araf) to the wild-type arabinofuranosidase was characterized by K(d) values (0.32 and 0.16 mm, from ITC and STD-NMR respectively) that highly resembled that of the arabinoxylo-oligosaccharide XA(3) XX (0.21 mm), and determination of the thermodynamic parameters of enzyme : pNP-α-l-Araf binding revealed that this process is driven by favourable entropy, which is linked to the movement of the β2α2 loop. Loop closure relocates the solvent-exposed W99 into a buried location, allowing its involvement in substrate binding and in the formation of a functional active site. Similarly, the data underline the role of H98 in the 'dynamic' formation and definition of a catalytically operational active site, which may be a specific feature of a subset of GH51 arabinofuranosidases. Substitution of H98 and W99 by alanine or phenylalanine revealed that mutations affected K(M) and/or k(cat) . Molecular dynamics performed on W99A implied that this mutation causes the loss of a hydrogen bond and leads to an alternative binding mode that is detrimental for catalysis. STD-NMR experiments revealed altered binding of the aglycon motif in the active site, combined with reduced STD intensities of the α-l-arabinofuranosyl moiety for W99 substitutions.FEBS Journal 07/2012; 279(19):3598-3611. · 3.79 Impact Factor