scholarly journals On the Enigma of Glutathione-Dependent Styrene Degradation inGordonia rubripertinctaCWB2

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Heine ◽  
Juliane Zimmerling ◽  
Anne Ballmann ◽  
Sebastian Bruno Kleeberg ◽  
Christian Rückert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenylacetic Acid ◽  
Styrene Oxide ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Benzene Derivatives ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Styrene Derivatives ◽  
Specific Degradation

ABSTRACTAmong bacteria, only a single styrene-specific degradation pathway has been reported so far. It comprises the activity of styrene monooxygenase, styrene oxide isomerase, and phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase, yielding phenylacetic acid as the central metabolite. The alternative route comprises ring-hydroxylating enzymes and yields vinyl catechol as central metabolite, which undergoesmeta-cleavage. This was reported to be unspecific and also allows the degradation of benzene derivatives. However, some bacteria had been described to degrade styrene but do not employ one of those routes or only parts of them. Here, we describe a novel “hybrid” degradation pathway for styrene located on a plasmid of foreign origin. As putatively also unspecific, it allows metabolizing chemically analogous compounds (e.g., halogenated and/or alkylated styrene derivatives).Gordonia rubripertinctaCWB2 was isolated with styrene as the sole source of carbon and energy. It employs an assembled route of the styrene side-chain degradation and isoprene degradation pathways that also funnels into phenylacetic acid as the central metabolite. Metabolites, enzyme activity, genome, transcriptome, and proteome data reinforce this observation and allow us to understand this biotechnologically relevant pathway, which can be used for the production of ibuprofen.IMPORTANCEThe degradation of xenobiotics by bacteria is not only important for bioremediation but also because the involved enzymes are potential catalysts in biotechnological applications. This study reveals a novel degradation pathway for the hazardous organic compound styrene inGordonia rubripertinctaCWB2. This study provides an impressive illustration of horizontal gene transfer, which enables novel metabolic capabilities. This study presents glutathione-dependent styrene metabolization in an (actino-)bacterium. Further, the genomic background of the ability of strain CWB2 to produce ibuprofen is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Novel Pathway for the Degradation of 2-Chloro-4-Nitrobenzoic Acid by Acinetobacter sp. Strain RKJ12

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (18) ◽  
pp. 6606-6613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhan Prakash ◽  
Ravi Kumar ◽  
R. K. Jain ◽  
B. N. Tiwary
Keyword(s):  
Salicylic Acid ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Ring Cleavage ◽  
Muconic Acid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nitrobenzoic Acid ◽  
Catabolic Genes ◽  
Catechol 1,2 Dioxygenase

ABSTRACTThe organismAcinetobactersp. RKJ12 is capable of utilizing 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2C4NBA) as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. In the degradation of 2C4NBA by strain RKJ12, various metabolites were isolated and identified by a combination of chromatographic, spectroscopic, and enzymatic activities, revealing a novel assimilation pathway involving both oxidative and reductive catabolic mechanisms. The metabolism of 2C4NBA was initiated by oxidativeorthodehalogenation, leading to the formation of 2-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2H4NBA), which subsequently was metabolized into 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA) by a mono-oxygenase with the concomitant release of chloride and nitrite ions. Stoichiometric analysis indicated the consumption of 1 mol O2per conversion of 2C4NBA to 2,4-DHBA, ruling out the possibility of two oxidative reactions. Experiments with labeled H218O and18O2indicated the involvement of mono-oxygenase-catalyzed initial hydrolytic dechlorination and oxidative denitration mechanisms. The further degradation of 2,4-DHBA then proceeds via reductive dehydroxylation involving the formation of salicylic acid. In the lower pathway, the organism transformed salicylic acid into catechol, which was mineralized by theorthoring cleavage catechol-1,2-dioxygenase tocis, cis-muconic acid, ultimately forming tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Furthermore, the studies carried out on a 2C4NBA−derivative and a 2C4NBA+transconjugant demonstrated that the catabolic genes for the 2C4NBA degradation pathway possibly reside on the ∼55-kb transmissible plasmid present in RKJ12.

scholarly journals Selection for Growth on 3-Nitrotoluene by 2-Nitrotoluene-Utilizing Acidovorax sp. Strain JS42 Identifies Nitroarene Dioxygenases with Altered Specificities

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina M. Mahan ◽  
Joseph T. Penrod ◽  
Kou-San Ju ◽  
Natascia Al Kass ◽  
Watumesa A. Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Term Selection ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Related Enzyme

ABSTRACTAcidovoraxsp. strain JS42 uses 2-nitrotoluene as a sole source of carbon and energy. The first enzyme of the degradation pathway, 2-nitrotoluene 2,3-dioxygenase, adds both atoms of molecular oxygen to 2-nitrotoluene, forming nitrite and 3-methylcatechol. All three mononitrotoluene isomers serve as substrates for 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase, but strain JS42 is unable to grow on 3- or 4-nitrotoluene. Using both long- and short-term selections, we obtained spontaneous mutants of strain JS42 that grew on 3-nitrotoluene. All of the strains obtained by short-term selection had mutations in the gene encoding the α subunit of 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase that changed isoleucine 204 at the active site to valine. Those strains obtained by long-term selections had mutations that changed the same residue to valine, alanine, or threonine or changed the alanine at position 405, which is just outside the active site, to glycine. All of these changes altered the regiospecificity of the enzymes with 3-nitrotoluene such that 4-methylcatechol was the primary product rather than 3-methylcatechol. Kinetic analyses indicated that the evolved enzymes had enhanced affinities for 3-nitrotoluene and were more catalytically efficient with 3-nitrotoluene than the wild-type enzyme. In contrast, the corresponding amino acid substitutions in the closely related enzyme nitrobenzene 1,2-dioxygenase were detrimental to enzyme activity. When cloned genes encoding the evolved dioxygenases were introduced into a JS42 mutant lacking a functional dioxygenase, the strains acquired the ability to grow on 3-nitrotoluene but with significantly longer doubling times than the evolved strains, suggesting that additional beneficial mutations occurred elsewhere in the genome.

scholarly journals Taxis of Pseudomonas putida F1 toward Phenylacetic Acid Is Mediated by the Energy Taxis Receptor Aer2

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 2416-2423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita A. Luu ◽  
Benjamin J. Schneider ◽  
Christie C. Ho ◽  
Vasyl Nesteryuk ◽  
Stacy E. Ngwesse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Phenylacetic Acid ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Bacterial Chemotaxis ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Energy Taxis ◽  
System A

ABSTRACTThe phenylacetic acid (PAA) degradation pathway is a widely distributed funneling pathway for the catabolism of aromatic compounds, including the environmental pollutants styrene and ethylbenzene. However, bacterial chemotaxis to PAA has not been studied. The chemotactic strainPseudomonas putidaF1 has the ability to utilize PAA as a sole carbon and energy source. We identified a putative PAA degradation gene cluster (paa) inP. putidaF1 and demonstrated that PAA serves as a chemoattractant. The chemotactic response was induced during growth with PAA and was dependent on PAA metabolism. A functionalcheAgene was required for the response, indicating that PAA is sensed through the conserved chemotaxis signal transduction system. AP. putidaF1 mutant lacking the energy taxis receptor Aer2 was deficient in PAA taxis, indicating that Aer2 is responsible for mediating the response to PAA. The requirement for metabolism and the role of Aer2 in the response indicate thatP. putidaF1 uses energy taxis to detect PAA. We also revealed that PAA is an attractant forEscherichia coli; however, a mutant lacking a functional Aer energy receptor had a wild-type response to PAA in swim plate assays, suggesting that PAA is detected through a different mechanism inE. coli. The role of Aer2 as an energy taxis receptor provides the potential to sense a broad range of aromatic growth substrates as chemoattractants. Since chemotaxis has been shown to enhance the biodegradation of toxic pollutants, the ability to sense PAA gradients may have implications for the bioremediation of aromatic hydrocarbons that are degraded via the PAA pathway.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis of Tropolones inStreptomycesspp.: Interweaving Biosynthesis and Degradation of Phenylacetic Acid and Hydroxylations on the Tropone Ring

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. e00349-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuefei Chen ◽  
Min Xu ◽  
Jin Lü ◽  
Jianguo Xu ◽  
Yemin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carboxylic Acid ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Phenylacetic Acid ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Antibiotic Production ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Chorismate Mutase ◽  
Primary Metabolism ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTTropolonoids are important natural products that contain a unique seven-membered aromatic tropolone core and exhibit remarkable biological activities. 3,7-Dihydroxytropolone (DHT) isolated fromStreptomycesspecies is a multiply hydroxylated tropolone exhibiting antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral activities. In this study, we determined the DHT biosynthetic pathway by heterologous expression, gene deletion, and biotransformation. Ninetrlgenes and some of the aerobic phenylacetic acid degradation pathway genes (paa) located outside thetrlbiosynthetic gene cluster are required for the heterologous production of DHT. ThetrlAgene encodes a single-domain protein homologous to the C-terminal enoyl coenzyme A (enoyl-CoA) hydratase domain of PaaZ. TrlA truncates the phenylacetic acid catabolic pathway and redirects it toward the formation of heptacyclic intermediates. TrlB is a 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonic acid-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase homolog. TrlH is an unusual bifunctional protein bearing an N-terminal prephenate dehydratase domain and a C-terminal chorismate mutase domain. TrlB and TrlH enhancedde novobiosynthesis of phenylpyruvate, thereby providing abundant precursor for the prolific production of DHT inStreptomycesspp. Six seven-membered carbocyclic compounds were identified from thetrlC,trlD,trlE, andtrlFdeletion mutants. Four of these chemicals, including 1,4,6-cycloheptatriene-1-carboxylic acid, tropone, tropolone, and 7-hydroxytropolone, were verified as key biosynthetic intermediates. TrlF is required for the conversion of 1,4,6-cycloheptatriene-1-carboxylic acid into tropone. The monooxygenases TrlE and TrlCD catalyze the regioselective hydroxylations of tropone to produce DHT. This study reveals a natural association of anabolism of chorismate and phenylpyruvate, catabolism of phenylacetic acid, and biosynthesis of tropolones inStreptomycesspp.IMPORTANCETropolonoids are promising drug lead compounds because of the versatile bioactivities attributed to their highly oxidized seven-membered aromatic ring scaffolds. Our present study provides clear insight into the biosynthesis of 3,7-dihydroxytropolone (DHT) through the identification of key genes responsible for the formation and modification of the seven-membered aromatic core. We also reveal the intrinsic mechanism of elevated production of DHT and related tropolonoids inStreptomycesspp. The study on DHT biosynthesis inStreptomycesexhibits a good example of antibiotic production in which both anabolic and catabolic pathways of primary metabolism are interwoven into the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, our study sets the stage for metabolic engineering of the biosynthetic pathway for natural tropolonoid products and provides alternative synthetic biology tools for engineering novel tropolonoids.

scholarly journals Characterization of an Aldolase Involved in Cholesterol Side Chain Degradation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 200 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Gilbert ◽  
LaChae Hood ◽  
Stephen Y. K. Seah
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Bond Cleavage ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Intracellular Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Domain Of Unknown Function ◽  
Hydrated Product ◽  
Acyl Coenzyme A

ABSTRACT The heteromeric acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) dehydrogenase FadE28-FadE29 and the enoyl-CoA hydratase ChsH1-ChsH2, encoded by genes within the intracellular growth (igr) operon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, catalyze the dehydrogenation of the cholesterol metabolite 3-oxo-4-pregnene-20-carboxyl-CoA (3-OPC-CoA), with a 3-carbon side chain, and subsequent hydration of the product 3-oxo-4,17-pregnadiene-20-carboxyl-CoA (3-OPDC-CoA) to form 17-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-pregnene-20-carboxyl-CoA (17-HOPC-CoA). The gene downstream of chsH2, i.e., ltp2, was expressed in recombinant Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 in combination with other genes within the igr operon. His-tagged Ltp2 copurified with untagged ChsH1-ChsH2, ChsH2, or the C-terminal domain of ChsH2, which contains a domain of unknown function (DUF35). Ltp2 in association with ChsH1-ChsH2 or just the DUF35 domain of ChsH2 was shown to catalyze the retroaldol cleavage of 17-HOPC-CoA to form androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and propionyl-CoA. Steady-state kinetic analysis using the Ltp2-DUF35 complex showed that the aldolase had optimal activity at pH 7.5, with a Km of 6.54 ± 0.90 μM and a k cat of 159 ± 8.50 s−1. ChsH1-ChsH2 could hydrate only about 30% of 3-OPDC-CoA, but this unfavorable equilibrium could be overcome when the aldolase was present to remove the hydrated product, providing a rationale for the close association of the aldolase with the hydratase. Homologs of ChsH1, ChsH2, and Ltp2 are found in steroid-degrading Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, suggesting that side chains of diverse steroids may be cleaved by aldolases in the bacteria. IMPORTANCE The C-C bond cleavage of the D-ring side chain of cholesterol was shown to be catalyzed by an aldolase. The aldolase associates with the hydratase that catalyzes the preceding reaction in the cholesterol side chain degradation pathway. These enzymes are encoded by genes within the intracellular growth (igr) operon of M. tuberculosis, and the operon was demonstrated previously to be linked to the pathogenicity and persistence of the bacteria in macrophages and in mice.

scholarly journals Identification of a Formate-Dependent Uric Acid Degradation Pathway inEscherichia coli

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumi Iwadate ◽  
Jun-ichi Kato
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Uric Acid ◽  
Formate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Purine Catabolism ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Acid Degradation

ABSTRACTPurine is a nitrogen-containing compound that is abundant in nature. In organisms that utilize purine as a nitrogen source, purine is converted to uric acid, which is then converted to allantoin. Allantoin is then converted to ammonia. InEscherichia coli, neither urate-degrading activity nor a gene encoding an enzyme homologous to the known urate-degrading enzymes had previously been found. Here, we demonstrate urate-degrading activity inE. coli. We first identifiedaegAas anE. coligene involved in oxidative stress tolerance. An examination of gene expression revealed that bothaegAand its paralogygfTare expressed under both microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. TheygfTgene is localized within a chromosomal gene cluster presumably involved in purine catabolism. Accordingly, the expression ofygfTincreased in the presence of exogenous uric acid, suggesting thatygfTis involved in urate degradation. Examination of the change of uric acid levels in the growth medium with time revealed urate-degrading activity under microaerobic and anaerobic conditions in the wild-type strain but not in theaegA ygfTdouble-deletion mutant. Furthermore, AegA- and YgfT-dependent urate-degrading activity was detected only in the presence of formate and formate dehydrogenase H. Collectively, these observations indicate the presence of urate-degrading activity inE. colithat is operational under microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. The activity requires formate, formate dehydrogenase H, and eitheraegAorygfT. We also identified other putative genes which are involved not only in formate-dependent but also in formate-independent urate degradation and may function in the regulation or cofactor synthesis in purine catabolism.IMPORTANCEThe metabolic pathway of uric acid degradation to date has been elucidated only in aerobic environments and is not understood in anaerobic and microaerobic environments. In the current study, we showed thatEscherichia coli, a facultative anaerobic organism, uses uric acid as a sole source of nitrogen under anaerobic and microaerobic conditions. We also showed that formate, formate dehydrogenase H, and either AegA or YgfT are involved in uric acid degradation. We propose that formate may act as an electron donor for a uric acid-degrading enzyme in this bacterium.

scholarly journals A Novel Steroid-Coenzyme A Ligase from Novosphingobium sp. Strain Chol11 Is Essential for an Alternative Degradation Pathway for Bile Salts

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Onur Yücel ◽  
Johannes Holert ◽  
Kevin Christopher Ludwig ◽  
Sven Thierbach ◽  
Bodo Philipp
Keyword(s):  
Bile Salts ◽  
Coenzyme A ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
Coenzyme A Ligase

ABSTRACT Bile salts such as cholate are steroid compounds with a C5 carboxylic side chain and occur ubiquitously in vertebrates. Upon their excretion into soils and waters, bile salts can serve as growth substrates for diverse bacteria. Novosphingobium sp. strain Chol11 degrades 7-hydroxy bile salts via 3-keto-7-deoxy-Δ4,6 metabolites by the dehydration of the 7-hydroxyl group catalyzed by the 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydratase Hsh2. This reaction has not been observed in the well-studied 9-10-seco degradation pathway used by other steroid-degrading bacteria indicating that strain Chol11 uses an alternative pathway. A reciprocal BLASTp analysis showed that known side chain degradation genes from other cholate-degrading bacteria (Pseudomonas stutzeri Chol1, Comamonas testosteroni CNB-2, and Rhodococcus jostii RHA1) were not found in the genome of strain Chol11. The characterization of a transposon mutant of strain Chol11 showing altered growth with cholate identified a novel steroid-24-oyl–coenzyme A ligase named SclA. The unmarked deletion of sclA resulted in a strong growth rate decrease with cholate, while growth with steroids with C3 side chains or without side chains was not affected. Intermediates with a 7-deoxy-3-keto-Δ4,6 structure, such as 3,12-dioxo-4,6-choldienoic acid (DOCDA), were shown to be likely physiological substrates of SclA. Furthermore, a novel coenzyme A (CoA)-dependent DOCDA degradation metabolite with an additional double bond in the side chain was identified. These results support the hypothesis that Novosphingobium sp. strain Chol11 harbors an alternative pathway for cholate degradation, in which side chain degradation is initiated by the CoA ligase SclA and proceeds via reaction steps catalyzed by so-far-unknown enzymes different from those of other steroid-degrading bacteria. IMPORTANCE This study provides further evidence of the diversity of metabolic pathways for the degradation of steroid compounds in environmental bacteria. The knowledge about these pathways contributes to the understanding of the CO2-releasing part of the global C cycle. Furthermore, it is useful for investigating the fate of pharmaceutical steroids in the environment, some of which may act as endocrine disruptors.

scholarly journals Patchwork Assembly ofnag-Like Nitroarene Dioxygenase Genes and the 3-Chlorocatechol Degradation Cluster for Evolution of the 2-Chloronitrobenzene Catabolism Pathway in Pseudomonas stutzeri ZWLR2-1

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (13) ◽  
pp. 4547-4552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Shu-Jun Wang ◽  
Jun-Jie Zhang ◽  
Hui Dai ◽  
Huiru Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Pseudomonas Stutzeri ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Encoding Genes ◽  
Dioxygenase Genes

ABSTRACTPseudomonas stutzeriZWLR2-1 utilizes 2-chloronitrobenzene (2CNB) as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. To identify genes involved in this pathway, a 16.2-kb DNA fragment containing putative 2CNB dioxygenase genes was cloned and sequenced. Of the products from the 19 open reading frames that resulted from this fragment, CnbAc and CnbAd exhibited striking identities to the respective α and β subunits of the Nag-like ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases involved in the metabolism of nitrotoluene, nitrobenzene, and naphthalene. The encoding genes were also flanked by two copies of insertion sequence IS6100. CnbAa and CnbAb are similar to the ferredoxin reductase and ferredoxin for anthranilate 1,2-dioxygenase fromBurkholderia cepaciaDBO1.Escherichia colicells expressingcnbAaAbAcAdconverted 2CNB to 3-chlorocatechol with concomitant nitrite release. Cell extracts ofE. coli/pCNBC exhibited chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity. ThecnbCDEFgene cluster, homologous to a 3-chlorocatechol degradation cluster inSphingomonassp. strain TFD44, probably contains all of the genes necessary for the conversion of 3-chlorocatechol to 3-oxoadipate. The patchwork-like structure of this catabolic cluster suggests that thecnbcluster for 2CNB degradation evolved by recruiting two catabolic clusters encoding a nitroarene dioxygenase and a chlorocatechol degradation pathway. This provides another example to help elucidate the bacterial evolution of catabolic pathways in response to xenobiotic chemicals.

THE IONIZATION CONSTANTS OF p-NITROPHENYLACETIC AND PHENYLMALONIC ACIDS

1933 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 447-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steward Basterfield ◽  
James W. Tomecko
Keyword(s):  
Benzoic Acid ◽  
Nitro Group ◽  
Malonic Acid ◽  
Phenylacetic Acid ◽  
Ionization Constants ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Cooh Group ◽  
Conductivity Data ◽  
Nitrobenzoic Acid ◽  
Phenylmalonic Acid

The ionization constants of p-nitrophenylacetic and phenylmalonic acids have been determined from conductivity data. The value of K for p-nitrophenylacetic acid at 25 °C. is 1.04 × 10−4, about twice that of phenylacetic acid. The nitro group in the nucleus has not as powerful an effect on the ionization when the COOH group is in the side chain as it has when both nitro group and COOH are in the nucleus. K for p-nitrobenzoic acid is six times as great as K for benzoic acid. K for phenylmalonic acid is 2. 77 × 10−3 as compared with 1.6 × 10−3 for malonic acid.

scholarly journals Discovery of a Novel Styrene Monooxygenase Originating from the Metagenome

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (18) ◽  
pp. 5832-5839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik W. van Hellemond ◽  
Dick B. Janssen ◽  
Marco W. Fraaije
Keyword(s):  
Styrene Oxide ◽  
Enantiomeric Excess ◽  
Metagenomic Library ◽  
Blue Pigment ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Small Family ◽  
Genome Sequence Database ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Interesting Class ◽  
Styrene Derivatives

ABSTRACT Oxygenases form an interesting class of biocatalysts, as they typically perform oxygenations with exquisite chemo-, regio-, and/or enantioselectivity. It has been observed that, once heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, some oxygenases are able to form the blue pigment indigo. We have exploited this characteristic to screen a metagenomic library derived from loam soil and identified a novel oxygenase. This oxygenase shows 50% sequence identity with styrene monooxygenases from pseudomonads (StyA). Only a limited number of homologs can be found in the genome sequence database, indicating that this biocatalyst is a member of a relatively small family of bacterial monooxygenases. The newly identified monooxygenase catalyzes the epoxidation of styrene and styrene derivatives and forms the corresponding (S)-epoxides with excellent enantiomeric excess [e.g., (S)-styrene oxide is formed with >99% enantiomeric excess, ee] and therefore is named styrene monooxgenase subunit A (SmoA). SmoA shows high enantioselectivity towards aromatic sulfides [e.g., (R)-ethyl phenyl sulfoxide is formed with 92% ee]. This excellent enantioselectivity in combination with the moderate sequence identity forms a clear indication that SmoA from a metagenomic origin represents a new enzyme within the small family of styrene monooxygenases.

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