Hydantoinase Process Research Articles

Structural Analysis and Substrate Specificity of D-Carbamoylase from Pseudomonas.

The synthesis of enantiomeric forms of D-amino acids can be achieved by a two-step "hydantoinase process" based on the sequential catalysis of substrates by specific enzymes, D-carbamoylase and D-hydantoinase. Here, we describe the structural features of D-carbamoylase from Pseudomonas, the encoded gene of which was chemically synthesized and cloned into Escherichia coli. A significant fraction of the overexpressed recombinant protein forms insoluble inclusion bodies, which are partially converted to a soluble state upon treatment with N-lauroylsarcosine or upon incubation of cells at 28 °C. Purified His-tagged protein exhibits the highest activity towards N-carbamoyl-D-alanine and N-carbamoyl-D-tryptophan. Comprehensive virtual analysis of the interactions of bulky carbamylated amino acids with D-carbamoylase provided valuable information. Molecular docking analysis revealed the location of the substrate binding site in the three-dimensional structure of D-carbamoylase. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the binding pocket of the enzyme in complex with N-carbamoyl-D-tryptophan was stabilized within 100 nanoseconds. The free energy data showed that Arg176 and Asn173 formed hydrogen bonds between the enzyme and substrates. The studies of D-carbamoylases and the properties of our previously obtained D-hydantoinase suggest the possibility of developing a harmonized biotechnological process for the production of new drugs and peptide hormones.

Advances in enzymatic production of L-homophenylalanine

L-homophenylalanine (L-HPA) is an important non-natural amino acid that has been used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of Puli drugs for the treatment of hypertension. At present, L-HPA is synthesized using chemical methods, which has the disadvantages of expensive raw materials, tedious steps and serious pollution. Therefore, researchers have conducted in-depth research on the enzymatic production of L-HPA. This review summarizes the research progress on the enzymatic synthesis of L-HPA, including the dehydrogenase process, the transaminase process, the hydantoinase process, and the decarboxylase process, with the hope to facilitate the industrial production of L-HPA.

Engineering the Thermostability of a d-Carbamoylase Based on Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction for the Efficient Synthesis of d-Tryptophan.

Employing ancestral sequence reconstruction and consensus sequence analysis, the thermostability of a novel d-carbamoylase derived from Nitratireductor indicus (NiHyuC) was engineered through greedy-oriented iterative combinatorial mutagenesis. A mutant S202P/E208D/R277L (M4Th3) was obtained with significantly elevated thermostability. M4Th3 has a half-life of 36.5 h at 40 °C, about 28.5 times of 1.3 h of its parent M4. For the reaction at 40 °C, M4Th3 can catalyze 10 mM N-carbamoyl-d-tryptophan to produce d-tryptophan with a conversion ratio of 96.4% after 12 h, which is significantly higher than 64.1% of M4. MD simulation reveals that new hydrogen bonds emerging from E208D on the surface can increase the hydrophobicity of the protein, leading to improved stability. More importantly, R277L could contribute to enhanced interface stability of homodimeric M4. This study provides a thermostable d-carbamoylase for the "hydantoinase process", which has potential in the industrial synthesis of optically pure natural and non-natural amino acids.

Identification of d-carbamoylase for biocatalytic cascade synthesis of d-tryptophan featuring high enantioselectivity

In this study, an enantioselective d-carbamoylase (AcHyuC) was identified from Arthrobacter crystallopoietes with optimum pH of 8.5, much more compatible with hydantoinase process than other reported d-N-carbamoylases. AcHyuC has a substrate preference for aromatic carbamoyl-compounds. The dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) cascade was developed by combining this AcHyuC with hydantoin racemase from Arthrobacter aurescens (AaHyuA) and d-hydantoinase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (AtHyuH) for enantioselective resolution of l-indolylmethylhydantoin into d-Trp. The optimum pH of DKR cascade reaction was determined to be 8.0, and PEG 400 could facilitate the reaction. As much as 80mM l-indolylmethylhydantoin could be fully converted to d-Trp within 12h at 0.5L scale, with 99.4% yield, >99.9% e.e. and productivity of 36.6gL−1d−1. This study provides a new d-carbamoylase compatible with the DKR cascade for efficient production of optically pure d-Trp from l-indolylmethylhydantoin.

L-Amino Acid Production by a Immobilized Double-Racemase Hydantoinase Process: Improvement and Comparison with a Free Protein System

Protein immobilization is proving to be an environmentally friendly strategy for manufacturing biochemicals at high yields and low production costs. This work describes the optimization of the so-called “double-racemase hydantoinase process,” a system of four enzymes used to produce optically pure l-amino acids from a racemic mixture of hydantoins. The four proteins were immobilized separately, and, based on their specific activity, the optimal whole relation was determined. The first enzyme, d,l-hydantoinase, preferably hydrolyzes d-hydantoins from d,l-hydantoins to N-carbamoyl-d-amino acids. The remaining l-hydantoins are racemized by the second enzyme, hydantoin racemase, and continue supplying substrate d-hydantoins to the first enzyme. N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid is racemized in turn to N-carbamoyl-l-amino acid by the third enzyme, carbamoyl racemase. Finally, the N-carbamoyl-l-amino acid is transformed to l-amino acid by the fourth enzyme, l-carbamoylase. Therefore, the product of one enzyme is the substrate of another. Perfect coordination of the four activities is necessary to avoid the accumulation of reaction intermediates and to achieve an adequate rate for commercial purposes. The system has shown a broad pH optimum of 7–9, with a maximum activity at 8 and an optimal temperature of 60 °C. Comparison of the immobilized system with the free protein system showed that the reaction velocity increased for the production of norvaline, norleucine, ABA, and homophenylalanine, while it decreased for l-valine and remained unchanged for l-methionine.

Toward a cell-free hydantoinase process: screening for expression optimization and one-step purification as well as immobilization of hydantoinase and carbamoylase

The hydantoinase process is applied for the industrial synthesis of optically pure amino acids via whole cell biocatalysis, providing a simple and well-established method to obtain the catalyst. Nevertheless, whole cell approaches also bear disadvantages like intracellular degradation reactions, transport limitations as well as low substrate solubility. In this work the hydantoinase and carbamoylase from Arthrobacter crystallopoietes DSM 20117 were investigated with respect to their applicability in a cell-free hydantoinase process. Both enzymes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21DE3. Cultivation and induction of the hydantoinase under oxygen deficiency resulted in markedly higher specific activities and a further increase in expression was achieved by codon-optimization. Further expression conditions of the hydantoinase were tested using the microbioreactor system BioLector®, which showed a positive effect upon the addition of 3% ethanol to the cultivation medium. Additionally, the hydantoinase and carbamoylase were successfully purified by immobilized metal ion affinity using Ni Sepharose beads as well as by functionalized magnetic beads, while the latter method was clearly more effective with respect to recovery and purification factor. Immobilization of both enzymes via functionalized magnetic beads directly from the crude cell extract was successful and resulted in specific activities that turned out to be much higher than those of the purified free enzymes.

Hydantoinasen – von der präbiotischen Evolution zur Aminosäureproduktion

The hydantoinase process is used for the large-scale production of optically pure amino acids, with side chains of semisynthetic penicillins as the most prominent products. The origin as well as the natural function of the eponymous enzymes, however, remains unclear to this day. Here we discuss the way of hydantoinases from prebiotic evolution to directed evolution, spanning some billion years from the origin of life to industrial processes.

Immobilization of a multi‐enzyme system for L‐amino acids production

AbstractBACKGROUNDFour enzymes were immobilized for the production of optically pure natural and non‐natural L‐amino acids via the ‘Double‐Racemase Hydantoinase Process’. Immobilization constitutes an empirical process, and for each enzyme we tested 11 carriers with different functional groups; epoxide, EC‐EP, EC‐HFA, IB‐150 and IB‐350, carboxylic acid IB‐C435, quaternary ammonium IB‐A161, IB‐A171 and IB‐A369, aromatic group IB‐S861, and hydroxyl group IB‐S60S and IB‐S60P.RESULTSEach protein showed preference for binding on one or several supports: D,L‐hydantoinase/IB‐350, hydantoin racemase/EC‐EP, L‐carbamoylase/EC‐EP and carbamoyl racemase/IB‐A161. The process was optimized for each enzyme by modifying temperature, pH and ionic strength. For the enzymatic cascade, it was demonstrated that it was essential to use supports having homogeneous characteristics. The product of the first reaction is the substrate of the next one, and so on. Free mass diffusion from one enzyme to the other is crucial to avoid retention on the support and to maintain the protein–substrate interaction constant.CONCLUSIONIt was proved that support size, weight and hydrophobicity must be homogeneous to avoid the formation of separate layers of the matrix selected. For this reason, the support IB‐350 was used for the four enzymes, even though it may not be the most efficient one for some of them. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

Rational re-design of the “double-racemase hydantoinase process” for optically pure production of natural and non-natural l-amino acids

The “hydantoinase process” is a well-established method for the industrial production of optically pure d-amino acids. However, due to the strict d-enantioselectivity of most hydantoinase enzymes, the process is less efficient for l-amino acid production. We present a new chemo-enzymatic cascade reaction for natural and non-natural l-amino acid production from racemic mixtures of 5-monosubstituted hydantoins. This system comprised the following enzymes: d-hydantoinase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens BQL9, hydantoin racemase 1 from A. tumefaciens C58 and l-N-carbamoylase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus CECT43, together with N-succinyl-amino acid racemase from G. kaustophilus CECT4264. This latter presents catalytic promiscuity and racemizes N-carbamoyl-amino acids. This activity avoids the accumulation of N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid in the reaction due to the strict d-enantioselectivity of the hydantoinase. The optimum pH for the system proved to be 8.0, whereas optimum temperature range was 50–65°C, with the maximum reaction rate at 60°C. The metal ion cobalt was added directly to the reaction mixture (end concentration 1mM), but in the case of d-hydantoinase, overexpression in presence of 0.5mM Co2+ was also necessary. The enzymatic cascade reaction produced different optically pure l-amino acids by dynamic kinetic resolution, achieving 100% conversion even at high substrate concentrations (100mM) with no noticeable inhibition. This total conversion demonstrates that the “double-racemase hydantoinase process” upgrades the classical “hydantoinase process” for natural and non-natural l-amino acid production.

Synthesis of β‐Amino Acids Using a Modified Hydantoinase Process as Enzymatic Reaction Cascade

Synthesis of <i>β</i>‐Amino Acids Using a Modified Hydantoinase Process as Enzymatic Reaction Cascade

Biotransformation of new racemic (R,S)-5-benzylhydantoin derivatives by D-hydantoinases from adzuki bean

In the present work the scope of D-hydantoinase enzyme application was increased towards new racemic (R,S)-5-benzylhydantoin derivatives. Five new substrates for the D-hydantoinase (R,S)-5-(3’-carboxybenzyl)hydantoin, (R,S)-5-(4’-carboxybenzyl)hydantoin, (R,S)-5-(2’-carbomethoxybenzyl)hydantoin, (R,S)-5-(3’-carbomethoxybenzyl)hydantoin and (R,S)-5-(4’(4-ethoxycarboxy)propoxybenzyl)hydantoin were synthesised and converted using a two-step hydantoinase process into their corresponding D-phenylalanine derivatives. In this study two D-hydantoinases from Vigna angularis (adzuki bean) obtained from commercial sources were used: pure, isolated directly from Vigna angularis (V.a.D-HYD) 494 U/g and immobilised, recombinant, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli (rD-HYD) 53.1 U/g. The results obtained showed that the examined enzymes catalysed hydrolysis of all new substrates into their corresponding N-carbamoyl-D-phenylalanine derivatives. High enantiomeric purities of the resulting D-phenylalanine derivatives were also determined. However, very low conversion yields of (R,S)-5-(3’-carboxybenzyl)hydantoin and (R,S)-5-(2’-carbomethoxybenzyl)hydantoin to corresponding N-carbamoyl-D amino acid were observed. Three D-phenylalanine derivatives: 4-carboxy-D-phenylalanine, 3-carbomethoxy-D-phenylalanine and 4-carbopropoxy-D-phenylalanine were obtained and isolated from the reaction mixtures using ion-exchange chromatography.

Stereoselective hydrolysis of aryl-substituted dihydropyrimidines by hydantoinases

In this study, we investigated the possibility of using a modified hydantoinase process for the production of optically pure β-amino acids. Two aryl-substituted dihydropyrimidines D,L-6-phenyl-5,6-dihydrouracil (PheDU) and para-chloro-D,L-6-phenyl-5,6-dihydrouracil (pClPheDU) were synthesized. Hydrolysis of these novel substrates to the corresponding N-carbamoyl-β-amino acids by three recombinant D-hydantoinases and several bacterial strains was tested. All applied recombinant D-hydantoinases and eight bacterial isolates catalyzed the conversion of PheDU to N-carbamoyl-β-phenylalanine (NCβPhe). Some of these biocatalysts showed an enantioselectivity for either the D- or the L-PheDU enantiomer. The second dihydropyrimidinase substrate pClPheDU was hydrolyzed by all three recombinant D-hydantoinases and six of the wild-type strains. To our knowledge, this is the first dihydropyrimidinase activity reported with this aryl-substituted dihydropyrimidine. For selected biocatalysts, hydantoinase activity towards aryl-substituted hydantoins was demonstrated as well. However, none of the bacterial strains tested so far exhibited any carbamoylase activity towards NCβPhe.

Evaluation of substrate promiscuity of anL‐carbamoyl amino acid amidohydrolase fromGeobacillus stearothermophilusCECT43

N-carbamoyl-amino-acid amidohydrolase (also known as N-carbamoylase) is the stereospecific enzyme responsible for the chirality of the D- or L-amino acid obtained in the "Hydantoinase Process." This process is based on the dynamic kinetic resolution of D,L-5-monosubstituted hydantoins. In this work, we have demonstrated the capability of a recombinant L-N-carbamoylase from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus CECT43 (BsLcar) to hydrolyze N-acetyl and N-formyl-L-amino acids as well as the known N-carbamoyl-L-amino acids, thus proving its substrate promiscuity. BsLcar showed faster hydrolysis for N-formyl-L-amino acids than for N-carbamoyl and N-acetyl-L-derivatives, with a catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of 8.58 x 10(5), 1.83 x 10(4), and 1.78 x 10(3) (s(-1) M(-1)), respectively, for the three precursors of L-methionine. Optimum reaction conditions for BsLcar, using the three N-substituted-L-methionine substrates, were 65 degrees C and pH 7.5. In all three cases, the metal ions Co(2+), Mn(2+), and Ni(2+) greatly enhanced BsLcar activity, whereas metal-chelating agents inhibited it, showing that BsLcar is a metalloenzyme. The Co(2+)-dependent activity profile of the enzyme showed no detectable inhibition at high metal ion concentrations.

Carbamoylases: characteristics and applications in biotechnological processes

Enzymatic kinetic resolution is a widely used biotechnological tool for the production of enantiomerically pure/enriched compounds. This technique takes advantage of the enantioselectivity or enantiospecificity of an enzyme for one of the enantiomers of a racemic substrate to isolate the desired isomer. N-Carbamoyl-D- and L-amino acid amidohydrolases (D- and L-carbamoylases) are model enzymes for this procedure due to their strict enantiospecificity. Carbamoylase-based kinetic resolution of amino acids has been applied for the last three decades, allowing the production of optically pure D- or L-amino acids. Furthermore, this enzyme has become crucial in the industrially used multienzymatic system known as "Hydantoinase Process," where the kinetic resolution produced by coupling an enantioselective hydantoinase and the enantiospecific carbamoylase is enhanced by the enzymatic/chemical dynamic kinetic resolution of the low-rate hydrolyzed substrate. This review outlines the properties of D- and L-carbamoylases, emphasizing their biochemical/structural characteristics and their biotechnological applications. It also pinpoints new applications for the exploitation of carbamoylases over the forthcoming years.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of the recombinant L-N-carbamoylase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus CECT43.

N-Carbamoyl-L-amino-acid amidohydrolases (L-N-carbamoylases; EC 3.5.1.87) hydrolyze the carbon-nitrogen bond of the ureido group in N-carbamoyl-L-alpha-amino acids. These enzymes are commonly used in the production of optically pure natural and non-natural L-amino acids using the ;hydantoinase process'. Recombinant L-N-carbamoylase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus CECT43 has been expressed, purified and crystallized by hanging-drop vapour diffusion. X-ray data were collected to a resolution of 2.75 A. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 103.2, b = 211.7, c = 43.1 A and two subunits in the asymmetric unit.

Engineering of the critical residues at the stereochemistry-gate loops of Brevibacillus agri dihydropyrimidinase for the production of l-homophenylalanine

Brevibacillus agri dihydropyrimidinase (BaDHP) exhibits a substrate preference for d-homophenylalanylhydantoin ( d-HPAH). Site-directed mutagenesis of BaDHP was performed specifically to the residues proposed to be important in the enzyme activity. M63A, F65A, L94A, L159A and L159V variants exhibited the increased activity (54–469%) toward l-HPAH. L159V variant was used to convert HPAH to l-homophenylalanine ( l-HPA) in the hydantoinase process. As compared with the wild-type enzyme, the conversion yield of l-HPA was increased from 39 to 61% by L159V variant. The conversion yield for l-HPA production was further increased up to 90% by coupling L159V variant with Bacillus kaustophilus l- N-carbamoylase and Deinococcus radiodurans N-acylamino acid racemase in the biocatalysis process.

A novel hydantoinase process using recombinant Escherichia coli cells with dihydropyrimidinase and l- N-carbamoylase activities as biocatalyst for the production of l-homophenylalanine

A dihydropyrimidinase gene ( pydB) was cloned from the moderate thermophilic Brevibacillus agri NCHU1002 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified dihydropyrimidinase exhibited strict d-enantioselectivity for d, l- p-hydroxyphenylhydantoin and d, l-5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl]hydantoin, and non-enantiospecificity for d, l-homophenylalanylhydantoin ( d, l-HPAH). The hydrolytic activity of PydB was enhanced notably by Mn 2+, with a maximal activity at 60 °C and pH 8.0. This enzyme was completely thermostable at 50 °C for 20 days. A whole cell biocatalyst for the production of l-homophenylalanine ( l-HPA) from d, l-HPAH by coexpression of the pydB gene and a thermostable l- N-carbamoylase gene from Bacillus kaustophilus CCRC11223 in E. coli JM109 was developed. The expression levels of dihydropyrimidinase and l- N-carbamoylase in the recombinant E. coli cells were estimated to be about 20% of the respective total soluble proteins. When 1% (w/v) isopropyl-β- d-thiogalactopyranoside-induced cells were used as biocatalysts, a conversion yield of 49% for l-HPA with more than 99% ee could be reached in 16 h at pH 7.0 from 10 mM d, l-HPAH. The cells can be reused for at least eight cycles at a conversion yield of more than 43%. Our results revealed that coexpression of pydB and lnc in E. coli might be a potential biocatalyst for l-HPA production.

Optically Pure &amp;#945;-Amino Acids Production by the &amp;#x201C;Hydantoinase Process&amp;#x201D;

Optically pure D- or L-amino acids are used as intermediates in several industries. D-amino acids are involved in the synthesis of antibiotics, pesticides, sweeteners and other biologically active peptides. L-amino acids are used as feed and food additives, as intermediates for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides and as chiral synthons in organic synthesis. The specific activity of these optically pure amino acids depends on their structure, chirality and purity. There are two main approaches to obtain optically pure amino acids, namely chemical and enzymatic synthesis. Chemical synthesis gives racemic mixtures of amino acids of low yield and is not environment friendly. One of the most widely-used enzymatic method is the "Hydantoinase Process". In this cascade of reactions, the chemically synthesized D,L-5-monosubstituted hydantoin ring is first hydrolyzed by a stereoselective hydantoinase enzyme to give the corresponding N-carbamoyl alpha-amino acid that is hydrolyzed by highly enantiospecific N-carbamoyl alpha-amino acid amidohydrolase (N-carbamoylase) to yield the free amino acid. At the same time, the remaining non-hydrolyzed 5-monosubstituted hydantoin is racemized by the hydantion racemase enzyme. This process has evolved over the years from the isolation of microorganisms with one or several of these enzymes to the construction of recombinant systems for industrial application.

Green chemistry and catalysis

Green chemistry and catalysis

Site‐directed mutagenesis indicates an important role of cysteines 76 and 181 in the catalysis of hydantoin racemase from Sinorhizobium meliloti

Hydantoin racemase enzyme plays a crucial role in the reaction cascade known as "hydantoinase process." In conjunction with a stereoselective hydantoinase and a stereospecific carbamoylase, it allows the total conversion from D,L-5-monosubstituted hydantoins, with a low rate of racemization, to optically pure D- or L-amino acids. Residues Cys76 and Cys181 belonging to hydantoin racemase from Sinorhizobium meliloti (SmeHyuA) have been proved to be involved in catalysis. Here, we report biophysical data of SmeHyuA Cys76 and Cys181 to alanine mutants, which point toward a two-base mechanism for the racemization of 5-monosubstituted hydantoins. The secondary and the tertiary structure of the mutants were not significantly affected, as shown by circular dichroism. Calorimetric and fluorescence experiments have shown that Cys76 is responsible for recognition and proton retrieval of D-isomers, while Cys181 is responsible for L-isomer recognition and racemization. This recognition process is further supported by measurements of protein stability followed by chemical denaturation in the presence of the corresponding compound.