Bioamination of alkane with ammonium by an artificially designed multienzyme cascade

Abstract

Biocatalytic C–H amination is one of the most challenging tasks. C-H amination reaction can hardly be driven efficiently by solely one enzyme so far. Thus, enzymatic synergy represents an alternative strategy. Herein, we report an “Artificially Bioamination Pathway” for C–H amination of cyclohexane as a model substrate. Three enzymes, a monooxygenase P450BM3 mutant, an alcohol dehydrogenase ScCR from Streptomyces coelicolor and an amine dehydrogenase EsLeuDH from Exiguobacterium sibiricum, constituted a clean cascade reaction system with easy product isolation. Two independent cofactor regeneration systems were optimized to avoid interference from the endogenous NADH oxidases in the host E. coli cells. Based on a stepwise pH adjustment and ammonium supplement strategy, and using an in vitro mixture of cell-free extracts of the three enzymes, cyclohexylamine was produced in a titer of 14.9 mM, with a product content of up to 92.5%. Furthermore, designer cells coexpressing the three required enzymes were constructed and their capability of alkane bio-amination was examined. This artificially designed bioamination paves an attractive approach for enzymatic synthesis of amines from accessible and cheap alkanes.