Engineering a Non-Natural Photoenzyme for Improved Photon Efficiency

Photoenzymes are biological catalysts that use light to convert starting materials into products. These catalysts require photon absorption for each turnover, making quantum efficiency an important optimization parameter. Flavin-dependent "ene"-reductases (EREDs) display latent photoenzyma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAngewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 61; no. 2
Main Authors Nicholls, Bryce T., Oblinsky, Daniel G., Kurtoic, Sarah, Grosheva, Daria, Ye, Yuxuan, Scholes, Gregory D., Hyster, Todd K.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published WEINHEIM Wiley 10.01.2022
Subjects
Chemistry
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
ENZYMES
photophysics
photocatalysis
biocatalysis
directed evolution
transient absorption
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Summary:Photoenzymes are biological catalysts that use light to convert starting materials into products. These catalysts require photon absorption for each turnover, making quantum efficiency an important optimization parameter. Flavin-dependent "ene"-reductases (EREDs) display latent photoenzymatic activity for synthetically valuable hydroalkylations; however, protein engineering has not been used to optimize this non-natural function. We describe a protein engineering platform for the high throughput optimization of photoenzymes. A single round of engineering results in improved catalytic function toward the synthesis of gamma, delta, epsilon-lactams, and acyclic amides. Mechanistic studies show that key mutations can alter the enzyme's excited state dynamics, enhance its photon efficiency, and ultimately increase catalyst performance. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that engineered variants display dramatically decreased radical lifetimes, indicating an evolution toward a concerted mechanism.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.202113842