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Institute
The extracellular aromatic peroxygenase of the agaric fungus Agrocybe aegerita catalyzed the H2O2-dependent cleavage of non-phenolic arylglycerol-b-aryl ethers (b-O-4 ethers). For instance 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)pro- pane-1,3-diol, a recalcitrant dimeric lignin model compound that represents the major non-phenolic substructure in lignin, was selectively O-demethylated at the para-methoxy group to give formaldehyde and 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propane-1,3-diol. The phenol moiety of the latter compound was then enzymatically oxidized into phenoxy radicals and a quinoid cation, which initiated the autocatalytic cleavage of the dimer and the formation of monomers such as 2-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone and phenoxyl-substituted propionic acid. The introduction of 18O from H218O2 and H218O at different positions into the products provided information about the routes of ether cleavage. Studies with a 14C-labeled lignin model dimer showed that more than 70% of the intermediates formed were further coupled to form polymers with molecular masses above 10 kDa. The results indicate that fungal aromatic peroxyge- nases may be involved in the bioconversion of methoxylated plant ingredients originating from lignin or other sources.
Aromatic peroxygenase (APO) from the basidiomycetous mushroom Agrocybe aegerita (AaeAPO) and microperoxidases (MPs) obtained from cytochrome c exhibit a broad substrate spectrum including hydroxylation of selected aromatic substrates, demethylation and epoxidation by means of hydrogen peroxide. It overlaps with that of cytochrome P450 (P450), making MPs and APOs to alternate recognition elements in biosensors for the detection of typical P450 substrates. Here, we discuss recently developed approaches using microperoxidases and peroxygenases in view of their potential to supplement P450 enzymes as recognition elements in biosensors for aromatic compounds. Starting as early as the 1970s, the direct electron transfer between electrodes and the heme group of heme peptides called microperoxidases has been used as a model of oxidoreductases. These MP-modified electrodes are used as hydrogen peroxide detectors based on the catalytic current generated by electrically contacted microperoxidase molecules. A similar catalytic reaction has been obtained for the electrode-immobilised heme protein AaeAPO. However, up to now, no MP-based sensors for substrates have been described. In this review, we present biosensors which indicate 4-nitrophenol, aniline, naphthalene and p-aminophenol based on the peroxide-dependent substrate conversion by electrode-immobilised MP and AaeAPO. In these enzyme electrodes, the signal is generated by the conversion of all substrates, thus representing in complex media an overall parameter. The performance of these sensors and their further development are discussed in comparison with P450-based electrodes.
The synthesis of hydroxylated and O- or N-dealkylated human drug metabolites (HDMs) via selective monooxygenation remains a challenging task for synthetic organic chemists. Here we report that aromatic peroxygenases (APOs; EC 1.11.2.1) secreted by the agaric fungi Agrocybe aegerita and Coprinellus radians catalyzed the H₂O₂-dependent selective monooxygenation of diverse drugs, including acetanilide, dextrorphan, ibuprofen, naproxen, phenacetin, sildenafil and tolbutamide. Reactions included the hydroxylation of aromatic rings and aliphatic side chains, as well as O- and N-dealkylations and exhibited different regioselectivities depending on the particular APO used. At best, desired HDMs were obtained in yields greater than 80% and with isomeric purities up to 99%. Oxidations of tolbutamide, acetanilide and carbamazepine in the presence of H₂¹⁸O₂ resulted in almost complete incorporation of ¹⁸O into the corresponding products, thus establishing that these reactions are peroxygenations. The deethylation of phenacetin-d₁ showed an observed intramolecular deuterium isotope effect [(k(H)/k(D))(obs)] of 3.1±0.2, which is consistent with the existence of a cytochrome P450-like intermediate in the reaction cycle of APOs. Our results indicate that fungal peroxygenases may be useful biocatalytic tools to prepare pharmacologically relevant drug metabolites.
We report on the redox behaviour of the peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeAPO) which has been electrostatically immobilized in a matrix of chitosan-embedded gold nanoparticles on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. AaeAPO contains a covalently bound heme-thiolate as the redox active group that exchanges directly electrons with the electrode via the gold nanoparticles. The formal potential E ° ′ of AaeAPO in the gold nanoparticles-chitosan film was estimated to be −(286 ± 9) mV at pH 7.0. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (ks) increases from 3.7 in the scan rate range from 0.2 to 3.0 V s−1 and level off at 63.7 s−1.
Furthermore, the peroxide-dependent hydroxylation of aromatic compounds was applied to develop a sensor for naphthalene and nitrophenol. The amperometric measurements of naphthalene are based on the indication of H2O2 consumption. For the chitosan-embedded gold nanoparticle system, the linear range extends from 4 to 40 μM naphthalene with a detection limit of 4.0 μM (S/N = 3) and repeatability of 5.7% for 40 μM naphthalene.
A biosensor for detecting the aromatic substance 4-nitrophenol based on Agrocybe aegerita peroxygenase (AaP) immobilized with chitosan-stabilized gold nanoparticles is presented here. This biosensor measures the enzymatic product of 4-nitrophenol peroxygenation, 4-nitrocatechol, which is electrochemically detected in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were used to characterize the proposed biosensor. The linear range of the AaP biosensor for the detection of 4-nitrophenol was between 10 and 30 μM with a detection limit of 0.2 μM (based on the S/N = 3). The catalytic property of AaP to oxidize 4-nitrophenol was compared with two other heme proteins, a camphor-hydroxylating cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450cam, CYP101) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The results revealed that only AaP is capable of catalyzing the hydroxylation of 4-nitrophenol into 4-nitrocatechol. Consequently, AaP could be a particularly potent biocatalyst that may fill the gap between cytochrome P450s and common heme peroxidases.
Recently, a novel group of fungal peroxidases, known as the aromatic peroxygenases (APO), has been discovered. Members of these extracellular biocatalysts produced by agaric basidiomycetes such as Agrocybe aegerita or Coprinellus radians catalyze reactions—for example, the peroxygenation of naphthalene, toluene, dibenzothiophene, or pyridine—which are actually attributed to cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Here, for the first time, genetic information is presented on this new group of peroxide-consuming enzymes. The gene of A. aegerita peroxygenase (apo1) was identified on the level of messenger RNA and genomic DNA. The gene sequence was affirmed by peptide sequences obtained through an Edman degradation and de novo peptide sequencing of the purified enzyme. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the course of enzyme activity correlated well with that of mRNA signals for apo1 in A. aegerita. The full-length sequences of A. aegerita peroxygenase as well as a partial sequence of C. radians peroxygenase confirmed the enzymes’ affiliation to the heme-thiolate proteins. The sequences revealed no homology to classic peroxidases, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and only little homology (<30%) to fungal chloroperoxidase produced by the ascomycete Caldariomyces fumago (and this only in the N-terminal part of the protein comprising the heme-binding region and part of the distal heme pocket). This fact reinforces the novelty of APO proteins. On the other hand, homology retrievals in genetic databases resulted in the identification of various APO homologous genes and transcripts, particularly among the agaric fungi, indicating APO’s widespread occurrence in the fungal kingdom.
An extracellular peroxygenase of Agrocybe aegerita catalyzed the H2O2-dependent hydroxylation of the multi-function beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol (1-naphthalen-1-yloxy-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propan-2-ol) and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (2-[2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]phenyl]acetic acid) to give the human drug metabolites 5-hydroxypropranolol (5-OHP) and 4′-hydroxydiclofenac (4′-OHD). The reactions proceeded regioselectively with high isomeric purity and gave the desired 5-OHP and 4′-OHD in yields up to 20% and 65%, respectively. 18O-labeling experiments showed that the phenolic hydroxyl groups in 5-OHP and 4′-OHD originated from H2O2, which establishes that the reaction is mechanistically a peroxygenation. Our results raise the possibility that fungal peroxygenases may be useful for versatile, cost-effective, and scalable syntheses of drug metabolites.
Agrocybe aegerita peroxidase/peroxygenase (AaP) is an extracellular fungal biocatalyst that selectively hydroxylates the aromatic ring of naphthalene. Under alkaline conditions, the reaction proceeds via the formation of an intermediary product with a molecular mass of 144 and a characteristic UV absorption spectrum (A max 210, 267, and 303 nm). The compound was semistable at pH 9 but spontaneously hydrolyzed under acidic conditions (pH <7) into 1-naphthol as major product and traces of 2-naphthol. Based on these findings and literature data, we propose naphthalene 1,2-oxide as the primary product of AaP-catalyzed oxygenation of naphthalene. Using 18O-labeled hydrogen peroxide, the origin of the oxygen atom transferred to naphthalene was proved to be the peroxide that acts both as oxidant (primary electron acceptor) and oxygen source.
Regioselective preparation of (R)-2-(4-Hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid with a fungal peroxygenase
(2008)
The extracellular heme-thiolate peroxygenase of Agrocybe aegerita catalyzed the H2O2-dependent hydroxylation of 2-phenoxypropionic acid (POPA) to give the herbicide precursor 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid (HPOPA). The reaction proceeded regioselectively with an isomeric purity near 98%, and yielded the desired R-isomer of HPOPA with an enantiomeric excess of 60%. 18O-labeling experiments showed that the phenolic hydroxyl in HPOPA originated from H2O2, which establishes that the reaction is mechanistically a peroxygenation. Our results raise the possibility that fungal peroxygenases may be useful for a variety of organic oxidations.
An extracellular peroxygenase from Marasmius rotula was produced in liquid culture, chromatographically purified and partially characterized. This is the third aromatic peroxygenase (APO) that has been characterized in detail and the first one that can be produced in high yields. The highest enzyme levels of about 41,000 U l-1 (corresponding to appr. 445 mg l-1 APO protein) exceeded the hitherto reported levels more than 40-fold and were detected in carbon- and nitrogen-rich complex media. The enzyme was purified by FPLC to apparent homogeneity (SDS-PAGE) with a molecular mass of 32 kDa (27 kDa after deglycosylation) and isoelectric points between 4.97 and 5.27. The UV-visible spectrum of the native enzyme showed a characteristic maximum (Soret band) at 418 nm that shifted after reduction with sodium dithionite and flushing with carbon monoxide to 443 nm. The pH optimum of the M. rotula enzyme was found to vary between pH 5 and 6 for most reactions studied. The apparent Km-values for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, benzyl alcohol, veratryl alcohol, naphthalene and H2O2 were 0.133, 0.118, 0.279, 0.791 and 3.14 mM, respectively. M. rotula APO was found to be highly stable in a pH range from 5 to 10 as well as in the presence of organic solvents (50% vol/vol) such as methanol, acetonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide. Unlike other APOs, the peroxygenase of M. rotula showed neither brominating nor chlorinating activities.
Ecological assessment using the software tool Sabento was conducted to compare different processes to gain the fine chemical (R)-1-phenylethanol from ethylbenzene. The software was applied during the biocatalytic process development using the unspecific peroxygenase (EC .11.2.1) of the fungus Agrocybe aegerita. The process could be systematically improved with respect to the ecological performance during process development. Compared to a modern chemical process and a further biotechnological process, it now reaches the best environmental key indicator. The software tool Sabento proved to be well suited to work out the most important factors determining the ecological burdens in the early stages of process
development.
The aromatic peroxygenase (APO; EC 1.11.2.1) from the agraric basidomycete Marasmius rotula (MroAPO) immobilized at the chitosan-capped gold-nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode displayed a pair of redox peaks with a midpoint potential of −278.5 mV vs. AgCl/AgCl (1 M KCl) for the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox couple of the heme-thiolate-containing protein. MroAPO oxidizes aromatic substrates such as aniline, p-aminophenol, hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol, and paracetamol by means of hydrogen peroxide. The substrate spectrum overlaps with those of cytochrome P450s and plant peroxidases which are relevant in environmental analysis and drug monitoring. In M. rotula peroxygenase-based enzyme electrodes, the signal is generated by the reduction of electrode-active reaction products (e.g., p-benzoquinone and p-quinoneimine) with electro-enzymatic recycling of the analyte. In these enzyme electrodes, the signal reflects the conversion of all substrates thus representing an overall parameter in complex media. The performance of these sensors and their further development are discussed.
Enzymatic conversion of a drug can be an efficient alternative for the preparation of a complex metabolite compared with a multi-step chemical synthesis approach. Limitations exist for chemical methods for direct oxygen incorporation into organic molecules often suffering from low yields and unspecific oxidation and also for alternative whole-cell biotransformation processes, which require specific fermentation know-how. Stable oxygen-transferring biocatalysts such as unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) could be an alternative for the synthesis of human drug metabolites and related stable isotope-labeled analogues. This work shows that UPOs can be used in combination with hydrogen/deuterium exchange for an efficient one-step process for the preparation of 4'-OH-diclofenac-d6. The scope of the reaction was investigated by screening of different peroxygenase subtypes for the transformation of selected deuterium-labeled substrates such as phenacetin-d3 or lidocaine-d3. Experiments with diclofenac-d7 revealed that the deuterium-labeling does not affect the kinetic parameters. By using the latter substrate and H2 (18) O2 as cosubstrate, it was possible to prepare a doubly isotope-labeled metabolite (4'-(18) OH-diclofenac-d6). UPOs offer certain practical advantages compared with P450 enzyme systems in terms of stability and ease of handling. Given these advantages, future work will expand the existing 'monooxygenation toolbox' of different fungal peroxygenases that mimic P450 in vitro reactions.
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPO; EC 1.11.2.1) represent a group of secreted heme-thiolate proteins that are capable of catalyzing the mono-oxygenation of diverse organic compounds, using only H2O2 as a co-substrate. Here we show that the four peroxygenases AaeUPO, MroUPO, rCciUPO and rNOVO catalyze the stepwise hydroxylation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. The catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) for the initial hydroxylation were in the same order of magnitude for all four peroxygenases (∼104 M−1 s−1), whereas they differed in the second step. The conversion of cyclohexanol by AaeUPO and rCciUPO was 1–2 orders of magnitude less efficient (∼102 M−1 s−1) than by MroUPO and rNOVO (∼104 M−1 s−1). The highest conversion rate in terms of H2O2 utilization was accomplished by MroUPO under repeated addition of the peroxide (87% in relation to the total products formed). Using the latter UPO, we successfully established a micro-mixing reaction device (SIMM-V2) for the oxidation of cyclohexane. As cyclohexanone is a chemical of high relevance, for example, as starting material for polymer syntheses or as organic solvent, new enzymatic production pathways for this compound are of interest to complement existing chemical and biotechnological approaches. Stable and versatile peroxygenases, as those presented here, may form a promising biocatalytic platform for the development of such enzyme-based processes.
The formation of naphthalene hydrates (i.e. 1- and 2-hydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene) displays a new activity (besides epoxidation) in the enzymatic transformation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene by two fungal unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) accounting for 16–19% of the overall turnover. These arene hydrates decayed into naphthalene that in turn was converted by UPOs into naphthols. The oxygen transferred during hydroxylation was shown to derive from hydrogen peroxide proving a true peroxygenation reaction.
Here we report on the stereoselective benzylic hydroxylation and C1-C2 epoxidation of alkylbenzenes and styrene derivatives, respectively, by a heme-thiolate peroxygenase (EC 1.11.2.1) from the fungus Agrocybe aegerita. Benzylic hydroxylation led exclusively to the (R)-1-phenylalkanols. For (R)-1-phenylethanol, (R)-1-phenylpropanol and (R)-1-tetralol, the ee reached >99%. For longer chain lengths, the enantiomeric excesses (ee) and total turnover numbers (TTN) decreased while the number of by-products, e.g. 1-phenylketones, increased. Epoxidation of straight chain and cyclic styrene derivatives gave a heterogeneous picture and resulted in moderate to excellent ee values and TTN: e.g., in the case of (1R,2S)-cis-[small beta]-methylstyrene oxide formation, an ee >99% and a TTN of 110 000 was achieved. Hydroxylation and epoxidation were true peroxygenations, which was demonstrated by the incorporation of 18O from H218O2 into the products. The use of fed-batch devices and varying feeding strategies for the substrate and co-substrate turned out to be a suitable approach to optimize peroxygenase catalysis.
Rapid and simple spectrophotometric methods are required for the unambiguous detection of recently discovered fungal peroxygenases in vivo and in vitro. This paper describes a peroxygenase-specific assay using 5-nitro-1,3-benzodioxole as substrate. The product, 4-nitrocatechol, produces a yellow color at pH 7, which can be followed over time at 425 nm (ε425 = 9,700 M−1 cm−1), and a red color when adjusted to pH >12, which can be measured in form of an end-point determination at 514 nm (ε514 = 11,400 M−1 cm−1). The assay is suitable for detecting peroxygenase activities in complex growth media and environmental samples as well as for high-throughput screenings.
Agrocybe aegerita peroxidase (AaP) is a versatile heme-thiolate protein that can act as a peroxygenase and catalyzes, among other reactions, the hydroxylation of aromatic rings. This paper reports a rapid and selective spectrophotometric method for directly detecting aromatic hydroxylation by AaP. The weakly activated aromatic compound naphthalene served as the substrate that was regioselectively converted into 1-naphthol in the presence of the co-substrate hydrogen peroxide. Formation of 1-naphthol was followed at 303 nm (ɛ 303 = 2,010 M−1 cm−1), and the apparent Michaelis–Menten (K m) and catalytic (k cat) constants for the reaction were estimated to be 320 μM and 166 s−1, respectively. This method will be useful in screening of fungi and other microorganisms for extracellular peroxygenase activities and in comparing and assessing different catalytic activities of haloperoxidase–peroxygenases.
Agrocybe aegerita, a bark mulch- and wood-colonizing basidiomycete, was found to produce a peroxidase (AaP) that oxidizes aryl alcohols, such as veratryl and benzyl alcohols, into the corresponding aldehydes and then into benzoic acids. The enzyme also catalyzed the oxidation of typical peroxidase substrates, such as 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) or 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS). A. aegerita peroxidase production depended on the concentration of organic nitrogen in the medium, and highest enzyme levels were detected in the presence of soybean meal. Two fractions of the enzyme, AaP I and AaP II, which had identical molecular masses (46 kDa) and isoelectric points of 4.6 to 5.4 and 4.9 to 5.6, respectively (corresponding to six different isoforms), were identified after several steps of purification, including anion- and cation-exchange chromatography. The optimum pH for the oxidation of aryl alcohols was found to be around 7, and the enzyme required relatively high concentrations of H2O2 (2 mM) for optimum activity. The apparent Km values for ABTS, DMP, benzyl alcohol, veratryl alcohol, and H2O2 were 37, 298, 1,001, 2,367 and 1,313 μM, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the main AaP II spots blotted after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were almost identical and exhibited almost no homology to the sequences of other peroxidases from basidiomycetes, but they shared the first three amino acids, as well as two additional amino acids, with the heme chloroperoxidase (CPO) from the ascomycete Caldariomyces fumago. This finding is consistent with the fact that AaP halogenates monochlorodimedone, the specific substrate of CPO. The existence of haloperoxidases in basidiomycetous fungi may be of general significance for the natural formation of chlorinated organic compounds in forest soils.
Most industrial enzymes are hydrolases, such as glycosidases and esterases. However, oxidoreductases have an unexploited potential for substituting harsh (and scarcely selective) chemical processes. A group of basidiomycetes are the only organisms degrading the aromatic lignin polymer, enabling the subsequent use of plant polysaccharides. Therefore, these fungi and their ligninolytic peroxidases are the biocatalysts of choice for industrial delignification and oxidative biotransformations of aromatic and other organic compounds. The latter also include oxygenation reactions, which are catalyzed with high regio/stereo selectivity by fungal peroxygenases. In search for novel and more robust peroxidases/peroxygenases, basidiomycetes from unexplored habitats were screened, and hundreds of genes identified in basidiomycete genomes (in collaboration with the DOE JGI). The most interesting genes were heterologously expressed, and the corresponding enzymes structurally-functionally characterized. The information obtained enabled us to improve the enzyme operational and catalytic properties by directed mutagenesis. However, the structural-functional relationships explaining some desirable properties are not established yet and, therefore, their introduction was addressed by ‘non-rational’ directed evolution. Then, over 100 oxidative biotransformations were analyzed. Among them, it is noteworthy to mention the regio/stereo selective hydroxylation of long/short-chain alkanes (a chemically challenging reaction), epoxidation of alkenes, and production of hydroxy-fatty acids. Concerning aromatic oxygenations, the regioselective hydroxylation of flavonoids, and stereoselective hydroxylation/epoxidation of alkyl/alkenyl-benzenes were among the most remarkable reactions, together with enzymatic hydroxylation of benzene (as an alternative for harsh chemical process). Finally, peroxidases and peroxygenases also showed a potential as delignification biocatalysts and in the decolorization of contaminant dyes from textile industries.
Primary human hepatocytes are in great demand during drug development and in hepatology. However, both scarcity of tissue supply and donor variability of primary cells create a need for the development of alternative hepatocyte systems. By using a lentivirus vector system to transfer coding sequences of Upcyte® proliferation genes, we generated non-transformed stable hepatocyte cultures from human liver tissue samples. Here, we show data on newly generated proliferation-competent HepaFH3 cells investigated as conventional two-dimensional monolayer and as organotypical three-dimensional (3D) spheroid culture. In monolayer culture, HepaFH3 cells show typical cobblestone-like hepatocyte morphology and anchorage-dependent growth for at least 20 passages. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that characteristic hepatocyte marker proteins cytokeratin 8, human serum albumin, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 were expressed. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses showed that expression levels of analyzed phase I CYP enzymes were at similar levels compared to those of cultured primary human hepatocytes and considerably higher than in the liver carcinoma cell line HepG2. Additionally, transcripts for phase II liver enzymes and transporter proteins OATP-C, MRP2, Oct1, and BSEP were present in HepaFH3. The cells produced urea and converted model compounds such as testosterone, diclofenac, and 7-OH-coumarin into phases I and II metabolites. Interestingly, phases I and II enzymes were expressed at about the same levels in convenient monolayer cultures and complex 3D spheroids. In conclusion, HepaFH3 cells and related primary-like hepatocyte lines seem to be promising tools for in vitro research of liver functions and as test system in drug development and toxicology analysis.
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs, EC 1.11.2.1) have proved to be stable oxygen-transferring biocatalysts for H2O2-dependent transformation of pharmaceuticals. We have applied UPOs in a drug development program and consider the enzymatic approach in parallel to a conventional chemical synthesis of the human metabolites of the bile acid reabsorption inhibitor SAR548304. Chemical preparation of N,N-di-desmethyl metabolite was realized by a seven-step synthesis starting from a late precursor of SAR548304 and included among others palladium catalysis and laborious chromatographic purification with an overall yield of 27%. The enzymatic approach revealed that the UPO of Marasmius rotula is particularly suitable for selective N-dealkylation of the drug and enabled us to prepare both human metabolites via one-pot conversion with an overall yield of 66% N,N-di-desmethyl metabolite and 49% of N-mono-desmethylated compound in two separated kinetic-controlled reactions.
The goal of this study is the selective oxyfunctionalization of steroids under mild and environmentally-friendly conditions using fungal enzymes. With this purpose, peroxygenases from three basidiomycete species were tested for hydroxylation of a variety of steroidal compounds, using H2O2 as the only cosubstrate. Two of them are wild-type enzymes from Agrocybe aegerita and Marasmius rotula, and the third one is a recombinant enzyme from Coprinopsis cinerea. The enzymatic reactions on free and esterified sterols, and steroid hydrocarbons and ketones were followed by gas chromatography, and the products were identified by mass spectrometry. Hydroxylation at the side chain over the steroidal rings was preferred, with the 25-hydroxyderivatives predominating (interestingly antiviral and other biological activities of 25-hydroxycholesterol have been recently reported). However, hydroxylation in the ring moiety and terminal hydroxylation at the side-chain was also observed in some steroids, the former favored by the absence of oxygenated groups at C3 and by the presence of conjugated double bonds in the rings. To understand the yield and selectivity differences between the different steroids, a computational study was performed using Protein Energy Landscape Exploration (PELE) software for dynamic ligand diffusion. These simulations showed that the active site geometry and hydrophobicity favors the entrance of the steroid side-chain, while the entrance of the ring is energetically penalized. Also, a direct correlation between the conversion rate and the side-chain entrance ratio could be established, that explains the varying reaction yields observed.
Immobilization of unspecific peroxygenases (EC 1.11.2.1) in PVA/PEG gel and hollow fiber modules
(2015)
The immobilization of enzymes has many advantages, such as higher stability, easier handling, and reuse of the catalyst. Here we report, for the first time, two effective methods for the immobilization of unspecific peroxygenase (UPO; EC 1.11.2.1). This biocatalyst type comprises heavily glycosylated heme-thiolate proteins that catalyze various biotechnologically relevant oxyfunctionalizations. Both the encapsulation in cryogel and the retention of the enzyme in hollow fiber modules were found to be efficient methods for their immobilization. After encapsulation, the enzyme still exhibited 60% of its initial activity. Interestingly, we did not find differences in the kinetic parameters of free and immobilized UPOs. In long-term experiments, the conversion of the pharmaceutical diclofenac with immobilized UPOs in different reactor types yielded between 62 mg and 154 mg of the major human drug metabolite 4′-hydroxydiclofenac. The maximal total turnover number was about 60-fold higher compared to the free enzyme. A test over 5 months showed that storage of encapsulated UPOs in non-polar solvents (e.g., cyclohexane) helps to preserve the enzyme stability and increases their relative activity (by about ∼150%, in the case of diclofenac hydroxylation). In addition to the hydrophilic substrate diclofenac, encapsulated UPOs also oxidized the hydrophobic model compound cyclohexane.
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPO, EC 1.11.2.1) secreted by fungi open an efficient way to selectively oxyfunctionalize diverse organic substrates including less activated hydrocarbons by transferring peroxide-borne oxygen. Herein, we investigated a cell-free approach to incorporate epoxy and hydroxyl functionalities directly into the bulky molecule of testosterone by a novel unspecific peroxygenase that was produced by the ascomycetous fungus Chaetomium globosum in a complex medium rich in carbon and nitrogen. Purification by fast protein liquid chromatography revealed two enzyme fractions with the same molecular mass of 36 kDa and specific activities of 4.4 to 12 U mg-1. Whereas well-known UPOs of Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) and Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) failed to convert testosterone in a comparative study, the UPO of C. globosum (CglUPO) accepted testosterone as substrate and converted it with up to 7,000 total turnovers (TTN) into two oxygenated products: the 4,5-epoxide of testosterone in β-configuration and 16α-hydroxytestosterone. The reaction was performed at 100-mg scale resulting in the formation of about 90 % of the epoxide and 10 % of the hydroxylation product, which both could be isolated with purities above 96 %. Thus, CglUPO may be a promising biocatalyst for the oxyfunctionalization of bulky steroids and provide a useful tool for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant steroidal molecules.
The catalase activity of three unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) from the agaric basidiomycetes Agrocybe aegerita, Coprinopsis cinerea and Marasmius rotula was investigated. The study included analysis of pH dependency of the catalase reaction and H₂O₂ mediated enzyme inactivation as well as experiments on the influence of a second substrate on the course of catalase reaction. Apparent kinetic parameters (Km, kcat) for the catalase activity of UPOs were determined. Inactivation of UPOs by H₂O₂ is discussed with regard to O₂ production and remaining UPO activity. Furthermore formation of biliverdin as heme destruction product was demonstrated along with the formation of UPO compound III as a possible intermediate that forces the destruction process. Radical trapping experiments with methyl benzoate gave indication for the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of excess H₂O₂. Eventually, a plausible pathway of heme destruction has been proposed, proceeding via UPO compound III and subsequent hydroxyl radical formation, which in turn may cause heme bleaching and verdoheme and biliverdin formation.
A new heme–thiolate peroxidase catalyzes the hydroxylation of n-alkanes at the terminal position—a challenging reaction in organic chemistry—with H2O2 as the only cosubstrate. Besides the primary product, 1-dodecanol, the conversion of dodecane yielded dodecanoic, 12-hydroxydodecanoic, and 1,12-dodecanedioic acids, as identified by GC–MS. Dodecanal could be detected only in trace amounts, and 1,12-dodecanediol was not observed, thus suggesting that dodecanoic acid is the branch point between mono- and diterminal hydroxylation. Simultaneously, oxygenation was observed at other hydrocarbon chain positions (preferentially C2 and C11). Similar results were observed in reactions of tetradecane. The pattern of products formed, together with data on the incorporation of 18O from the cosubstrate H218O2, demonstrate that the enzyme acts as a peroxygenase that is able to catalyze a cascade of mono- and diterminal oxidation reactions of long-chain n-alkanes to give carboxylic acids.
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) are secreted fungal enzymes with promiscuity for oxygen transfer and oxidation reactions. Functionally, they represent hybrids of P450 monooxygenases and heme peroxidases; phylogenetically they belong to the family of heme-thiolate peroxidases. Two UPOs from the basidiomycetous fungi Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) and Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) converted 35 out of 40 compounds listed as EPA priority pollutants, including chlorinated benzenes and their derivatives, halogenated biphenyl ethers, nitroaromatic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid derivatives. These oxygenations and oxidations resulted in diverse products and-if at all-were limited for three reasons: (i) steric hindrance caused by multiple substitutions or bulkiness of the compound as such (e.g., hexachlorobenzene or large PAHs), (ii) strong inactivation of aromatic rings (e.g., nitrobenzene), and (iii) low water solubility (e.g., complex arenes). The general outcome of our study is that UPOs can be considered as extracellular counterparts of intracellular monooxygenases, both with respect to catalyzed reactions and catalytic versatility. Therefore, they should be taken into consideration as a relevant biocatalytic detoxification and biodegradation tool used by fungi when confronted with toxins, xenobiotics and pollutants in their natural environments.
A recently discovered peroxygenase from the
fungus Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) is able to catalyze the
progressive one-carbon shortening of medium and longchain mono- and dicarboxylic acids by itself alone, in the presence of H₂O₂. The mechanism, analyzed using H₂O, starts with an a-oxidation catalyzed by MroUPO generat- ing an α-hydroxy acid, which is further oxidized by the enzyme to a reactive α-keto intermediate whose decarboxylation yields the one-carbon shorter fatty acid. Compared with the previously characterized peroxygenase of Agrocybe aegerita, a wider heme access channel, enabling fatty acid positioning with the carboxylic end near the heme cofactor (as seen in one of the crystal structures available) could be at the origin of the unique ability of MroUPO shortening carboxylic acid chains.
Fungi produce heme-containing peroxidases and peroxygenases, flavin-containing oxidases and dehydrogenases, and different copper-containing oxidoreductases involved in the biodegradation of lignin and other recalcitrant compounds. Heme peroxidases comprise the classical ligninolytic peroxidases and the new dye-decolorizing peroxidases, while heme peroxygenases belong to a still largely unexplored superfamily of heme-thiolate proteins. Nevertheless, basidiomycete unspecific peroxygenases have the highest biotechnological interest due to their ability to catalyze a variety of regio- and stereo-selective monooxygenation reactions with H2O2 as the source of oxygen and final electron acceptor. Flavo-oxidases are involved in both lignin and cellulose decay generating H2O2 that activates peroxidases and generates hydroxyl radical. The group of copper oxidoreductases also includes other H2O2 generating enzymes - copper-radical oxidases - together with classical laccases that are the oxidoreductases with the largest number of reported applications to date. However, the recently described lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases have attracted the highest attention among copper oxidoreductases, since they are capable of oxidatively breaking down crystalline cellulose, the disintegration of which is still a major bottleneck in lignocellulose biorefineries, along with lignin degradation. Interestingly, some flavin-containing dehydrogenases also play a key role in cellulose breakdown by directly/indirectly “fueling” electrons for polysaccharide monooxygenase activation. Many of the above oxidoreductases have been engineered, combining rational and computational design with directed evolution, to attain the selectivity, catalytic efficiency and stability properties required for their industrial utilization. Indeed, using ad hoc software and current computational capabilities, it is now possible to predict substrate access to the active site in biophysical simulations, and electron transfer efficiency in biochemical simulations, reducing in orders of magnitude the time of experimental work in oxidoreductase screening and engineering. What has been set out above is illustrated by a series of remarkable oxyfunctionalization and oxidation reactions developed in the frame of an intersectorial and multidisciplinary European RTD project. The optimized reactions include enzymatic synthesis of 1-naphthol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, drug metabolites, furandicarboxylic acid, indigo and other dyes, and conductive polyaniline, terminal oxygenation of alkanes, biomass delignification and lignin oxidation, among others. These successful case stories demonstrate the unexploited potential of oxidoreductases in medium and large-scale biotransformations.
Two unspecific peroxygenases (UPO, EC 1.11.2.1) from the basidiomycetous fungi Marasmius rotula and Marasmius wettsteinii oxidized steroids with hydroxyacetyl and hydroxyl functionalities at C17 - such as cortisone, Reichstein's substance S and prednisone - via stepwise oxygenation and final fission of the side chain. The sequential oxidation started with the hydroxylation of the terminal carbon (C21) leading to a stable geminal alcohol (e.g. cortisone 21-gem-diol) and proceeded via a second oxygenation resulting in the corresponding α-ketocarboxylic acid (e.g. cortisone 21-oic acid). The latter decomposed under formation of adrenosterone (4-androstene-3,11,17-trione) as well as formic acid and carbonic acid (that is in equilibrium with carbon dioxide); fission products comprising two carbon atoms such as glycolic acid or glyoxylic acid were not detected. Protein models based on the crystal structure data of MroUPO (Marasmius rotula unspecific peroxygenase) revealed that the bulky cortisone molecule suitably fits into the enzyme's access channel, which enables the heme iron to come in close contact to the carbons (C21, C20) of the steroidal side chain. ICP-MS analysis of purified MroUPO confirmed the presence of magnesium supposedly stabilizing the porphyrin ring system.
Recently discovered fungal unspecific peroxygenases from Marasmius rotula and Chaetomium globosum catalyze the epoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and FA methyl esters (FAME), unlike the well‐known peroxygenases from Agrocybe aegerita and Coprinopsis cinerea. Reactions of a series of unsaturated FA and FAME with cis‐configuration revealed high (up to 100 %) substrate conversion and selectivity towards epoxidation, although some significant differences were observed between enzymes and substrates with the best results being obtained with the C. globosum enzyme. This and the M. rotula peroxygenase appear as promising biocatalysts for the environmentally‐friendly production of reactive FA epoxides given their self‐sufficient monooxygenase activity and the high conversion rate and epoxidation selectivity.
Cyclophosphamide (CPA) represents a widely used anti-cancer prodrug that is converted by liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes into the primary metabolite 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4-OH-CPA), followed by non-enzymatic generation of the bioactive metabolites phosphoramide mustard and acrolein. The use of human drug metabolites as authentic standards to evaluate their toxicity is essential for drug development. However, the chemical synthesis of 4-OH-CPA is complex and leads to only low yields and undesired side products. In past years, fungal unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) have raised to powerful biocatalysts. They can exert the identical selective oxyfunctionalization of organic compounds and drugs as known for CYP enzymes with hydrogen peroxide being used as sole cosubstrate. Herein, we report the efficient enzymatic hydroxylation of CPA using the unspecific peroxygenase from Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) in a simple reaction design. Depending on the conditions used the primary liver metabolite 4-OH-CPA, its tautomer aldophosphamide (APA) and the overoxidized product 4-ketocyclophosphamide (4-keto-CPA) could be obtained. Using a kinetically controlled approach 4-OH-CPA was isolated with a yield of 32% (purity > 97.6%). Two human cancer cell lines (HepG2 and MCF-7) were treated with purified 4-OH-CPA produced by MroUPO (4-OH-CPAUPO). 4-OH-CPAUPO–induced cytotoxicity as measured by a luminescent cell viability assay and its genotoxicity as measured by γH2AX foci formation was not significantly different to the commercially available standard. The high yield of 4-OH-CPAUPO and its biological activity demonstrate that UPOs can be efficiently used to produce CYP-specific drug metabolites for pharmacological assessment.
Antithrombotic thienopyridines, such as clopidogrel and prasugrel, are prodrugs that undergo a metabolic two-step bioactivation for their pharmacological efficacy. In the first step, a thiolactone is formed, which is then converted by cytochrome P450-dependent oxidation via sulfenic acids to the active thiol metabolites. These metabolites are the active compounds that inhibit the platelet P2Y12 receptor and thereby prevent atherothrombotic events. Thus far, described biocatalytic and chemical synthesis approaches to obtain active thienopyridine metabolites are rather complex and suffer from low yields. In the present study, several unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs, EC 1.11.2.1) known to efficiently mimic P450 reactions in vitro—but requiring only hydroperoxide as oxidant—were tested for biocatalytic one-pot syntheses. In the course of the reaction optimization, various parameters such as pH and reductant, as well as organic solvent and amount were varied. The best results for the conversion of 1 mM thienopyridine were achieved using 2 U mL−1 of a UPO from agaric fungus Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) in a phosphate-buffered system (pH 7) containing 5 mM ascorbate, 2 mM h−1 H2O2 and 20% acetone. The preparation of the active metabolite of clopidogrel was successful via a two-step oxidation with an overall yield of 25%. In the case of prasugrel, a cascade of porcine liver esterase (PLE) and MroUPO was applied, resulting in a yield of 44%. The two metabolites were isolated with high purity, and their structures were confirmed by MS and MS2 spectrometry as well as NMR spectroscopy. The findings broaden the scope of UPO applications again and demonstrate that they can be effectively used for the selective synthesis of metabolites and late-state diversification of organic molecules, circumventing complex multistage chemical syntheses and providing sufficient material for structural elucidation, reference material, or cellular assays.
Fungal unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) are emergent biocatalysts that perform highly selective C-H oxyfunctionalizations of organic compounds, yet their heterologous production at high levels is required for their practical use in synthetic chemistry. Here, we achieved functional expression of two new unusual acidic peroxygenases from Candolleomyces (Psathyrella) aberdarensis (PabUPO) in yeasts and their production at a large scale in a bioreactor. Our strategy was based on adopting secretion mutations from an Agrocybe aegerita UPO mutant, the PaDa-I variant, designed by directed evolution for functional expression in yeast, which belongs to the same phylogenetic family as PabUPOs, long-type UPOs, and shares 65% sequence identity. After replacing the native signal peptides with the evolved leader sequence from PaDa-I, we constructed and screened site-directed recombination mutant libraries, yielding two recombinant PabUPOs with expression levels of 5.4 and 14.1 mg/liter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These variants were subsequently transferred to Pichia pastoris for overproduction in a fed-batch bioreactor, boosting expression levels up to 290 mg/liter, with the highest volumetric activity achieved to date for a recombinant peroxygenase (60,000 U/liter, with veratryl alcohol as the substrate). With a broad pH activity profile, ranging from pH 2.0 to 9.0, these highly secreted, active, and stable peroxygenases are promising tools for future engineering endeavors as well as for their direct application in different industrial and environmental settings.
Cell-Free Protein Synthesis with Fungal Lysates for the Rapid Production of Unspecific Peroxygenases
(2022)
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs, EC 1.11.2.1) are fungal biocatalysts that have attracted considerable interest for application in chemical syntheses due to their ability to selectively incorporate peroxide-oxygen into non-activated hydrocarbons. However, the number of available and characterized UPOs is limited, as it is difficult to produce these enzymes in homologous or hetero-logous expression systems. In the present study, we introduce a third approach for the expression of UPOs: cell-free protein synthesis using lysates from filamentous fungi. Biomass of Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus niger, respectively, was lysed by French press and tested for translational activity with a luciferase reporter enzyme. The upo1 gene from Cyclocybe (Agrocybe) aegerita (encoding the main peroxygenase, AaeUPO) was cell-free expressed with both lysates, reaching activities of up to 105 U L−1 within 24 h (measured with veratryl alcohol as substrate). The cell-free expressed enzyme (cfAaeUPO) was successfully tested in a substrate screening that included prototypical UPO substrates, as well as several pharmaceuticals. The determined activities and catalytic performance were comparable to that of the wild-type enzyme (wtAaeUPO). The results presented here suggest that cell-free expression could become a valuable tool to gain easier access to the immense pool of putative UPO genes and to expand the spectrum of these sought-after biocatalysts.
Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs), whose sequences can be found in the genomes of thousands of filamentous fungi, many yeasts and certain fungus-like protists, are fascinating biocatalysts that transfer peroxide-borne oxygen (from H2O2 or R-OOH) with high efficiency to a wide range of organic substrates, including less or unactivated carbons and heteroatoms. A twice-proline-flanked cysteine (PCP motif) typically ligates the heme that forms the heart of the active site of UPOs and enables various types of relevant oxygenation reactions (hydroxylation, epoxidation, subsequent dealkylations, deacylation, or aromatization) together with less specific one-electron oxidations (e.g., phenoxy radical formation). In consequence, the substrate portfolio of a UPO enzyme always combines prototypical monooxygenase and peroxidase activities. Here, we briefly review nearly 20 years of peroxygenase research, considering basic mechanistic, molecular, phylogenetic, and biotechnological aspects.
Terminal alkenes are among the most attractive starting materials for the synthesis of epoxides, which are essential and versatile intermediate building blocks for the pharmaceutical, flavoring, and polymer industries. Previous research on alkene epoxidation has focused on the use of several oxidizing agents and/or different enzymes, including cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, as well as microbial whole-cell catalysts that have several drawbacks. Alternatively, we explored the ability of unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) to selectively epoxidize terminal alkenes. UPOs are attractive biocatalysts because they are robust extracellular enzymes and only require H2O2 as cosubstrate. Here, we show how several UPOs, such as those from Cyclocybe (Agrocybe) aegerita (AaeUPO), Marasmius rotula (MroUPO), Coprinopsis cinerea (rCciUPO), Humicola insolens (rHinUPO), and Daldinia caldariorum (rDcaUPO), are able to catalyze the epoxidation of long-chain terminal alkenes (from C12:1 to C20:1) after an initial optimization of several reaction parameters (cosolvent, cosubstrate, and pH). In addition to terminal epoxides, alkenols and other hydroxylated derivatives of the alkenes were formed. Although all UPOs were able to convert and epoxidize the alkenes, notable differences were observed between them, with rCciUPO being responsible for the highest substrate turnover and MroUPO being the most selective with respect to terminal epoxidation. The potential of peroxygenases for epoxidizing long-chain terminal alkenes represents an interesting and green alternative to the existing synthesis technologies.
Aromatic peroxygenases (APOs) represent a unique oxidoreductase sub-subclass of heme proteins with peroxygenase and peroxidase activity and were thus recently assigned a distinct EC classification (EC 1.11.2.1). They catalyze, inter alia, oxyfunctionalization reactions of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons with remarkable regio- and stereoselectivities. When compared with cytochrome P450, APOs appear to be the choice enzymes for oxyfunctionalizations in organic synthesis due to their independence from a cellular environment and their greater chemical versatility. Here, the first two crystal structures of a heavily glycosylated fungal aromatic peroxygenase (AaeAPO) are described. They reveal different pH-dependent ligand binding modes. We model the fitting of various substrates in AaeAPO, illustrating the way the enzyme oxygenates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Spatial restrictions by a phenylalanine pentad in the active-site environment govern substrate specificity in AaeAPO.
This work gives first evidence that the unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) from the basidiomycetes Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO), Coprinopsis cinerea (rCciUPO) and Marasmius rotula (MroUPO) are able to catalyze the regioselective hydroxylation of trans-stilbene to 4,4′-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene (DHS), a resveratrol (RSV) analogue whose preventive effects on cancer invasion and metastasis have very recently been shown. Nearly complete transformation of substrate (yielding DHS) was achieved with the three enzymes tested, using H2O2 as the only co-substrate, with AaeUPO showing exceptionally higher total turnover number (200 000) than MroUPO (26 000) and rCciUPO (1400). Kinetic studies demonstrated that AaeUPO was the most efficient enzyme catalyzing stilbene dihydroxylation with catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) one and two orders of magnitude higher than those of MroUPO and rCciUPO, so that 4-hydroxystilbene appears to be the best UPO substrate reported to date. In contrast, the peroxygenase from the ascomycete Chaetomium globosum (CglUPO) failed to hydroxylate trans-stilbene at the aromatic ring and instead produced the trans-epoxide in the alkenyl moiety. In addition, stilbenoids such as pinosylvin (Pin) and RSV were tested as substrates for the enzymatic synthesis of RSV from Pin and oxyresveratrol (oxyRSV) from both RSV and Pin. Overall, lower conversion rates and regioselectivities compared with trans-stilbene were accomplished by three of the UPOs, and no conversion was observed with CglUPO. The highest amount of RSV (63% of products) and oxyRSV (78%) were again attained with AaeUPO. True peroxygenase activity was demonstrated by incorporation of 18O from H218O2 into the stilbene hydroxylation products. Differences in the number of phenylalanine residues at the heme access channels seems related to differences in aromatic hydroxylation activity, since they would facilitate substrate positioning by aromatic-aromatic interactions. The only ascomycete UPO tested (that of C. globosum) turned out to have the most differing active site (distal side of heme cavity) and reactivity with stilbenes resulting in ethenyl epoxidation instead of aromatic hydroxylation. The above oxyfunctionalizations by fungal UPOs represent a novel and simple alternative to chemical synthesis for the production of DHS, RSV and oxyRSV.