title: Directed evolution of an esterase: screening of enzyme libraries based on pH-indicators and a growth assay.
abstract: In order to resolve a sterically hindered 3-hydroxy ethyl ester, which was not accepted as substrate by 20 wild-type hydrolases, a directed evolution of an esterase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFE) was performed. Mutations were introduced using the mutator strain Epicurian coli XL1-Red. Enzyme libraries derived from seven mutation cycles were assayed on minimal media agar plates supplemented with pH indicators (neutral red and crystal violet), thus allowing the identification of active esterase variants by the formation of a red color caused by a pH decrease due to the released acid. A further selection criteria was introduced by using the corresponding glycerol estar, because release of the carbon source glycerol facilitates growth on minimal media. By this strategy, one double mutant (A209D and L181V) of PFE was identified, which hydrolyzed the 3-hydroxy ethyl ester in a stereoselective manner (25% ee for the remaining ester, E approximate to 5).
authors.affiliation: Institute for Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Gemany. bornscheuer@po.uni-stuttgart.de
authors.forename: U T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Bornscheuer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altenbuchner
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D019151:Peptide Library; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012210:Rhamnose / Q000235:genetics; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019151:Peptide Library; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004950:Esterases; D012210:Rhamnose