title: Multidimensional epistasis and fitness landscapes in enzyme evolution.
abstract: The conventional analysis of enzyme evolution is to regard one single salient feature as a measure of fitness, expressed in a milieu exposing the possible selective advantage at a given time and location. Given that a single protein may serve more than one function, fitness should be assessed in several dimensions. In the present study we have explored individual mutational steps leading to a triple-point-mutated human GST (glutathione transferase) A2-2 displaying enhanced activity with azathioprine. A total of eight alternative substrates were used to monitor the diverse evolutionary trajectories. The epistatic effects of the mutations on catalytic activity were variable in sign and magnitude and depended on the substrate used, showing that epistasis is a multidimensional quality. Evidently, the multidimensional fitness landscape can lead to alternative trajectories resulting in enzymes optimized for features other than the selectable markers relevant at the origin of the evolutionary process. In this manner the evolutionary response is robust and can adapt to changing environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Daniel F A R
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Dourado
authors.forename: Pedro Alexandrino
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mannervik
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D007527:Isoenzymes; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C119995:glutathione S-transferase alpha; D001379:Azathioprine