Polyester hydrolysis is enhanced by a truncated esterase: Less is more.
An esterase from Clostridium botulinum (Cbotu_EstA) previously reported to hydrolyze the biodegradable polyester poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) was redesigned to improve the hydrolysis of synthetic polyesters. Increased activity was indeed observed for del71Cbotu_EstA variant, which performed activity on the widespread polyester polyethylene terephthalate, which was not able to be attacked by the wild-type enzyme Cbotu_EstA. Analysis of the 3D structure of the enzyme showed that removing 71 residues at the N-terminus of the enzyme exposed a hydrophobic patch on the surface and improved sorption of hydrophobic polyesters concomitantly facilitating the access of the polymer to the active site. These results show a new route for enhancing enzyme activity for hydrolysis and modification of polyesters.
Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Antonino
A
Biundo
Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.|Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Doris
D
Ribitsch
Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Georg
G
Steinkellner
Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.|Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Karl
K
Gruber
Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.|Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Georg M
GM
Guebitz
D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000187:drug effects; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry
D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C488797:poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate); D004950:Esterases
Biocatalysis; Enzyme engineering; Modeling; Polymers; Recombinant proteins