A Site-Saturated Mutagenesis Study of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate Reductase Reveals that Residues 181 and 184 Influence Ligand Binding, Stereochemistry and Reactivity

We have conducted a site-specific saturation mutagenesis study of H181 and H184 of flavoprotein pentaerythritol tetranitrate reductase (PETN reductase) to probe the role of these residues in substrate binding and catalysis with a variety of α,β-unsaturated alkenes. Single mutations at these residues were sufficient to dramatically increase the enantiopurity of products formed by reduction of 2-phenyl-1-nitropropene. In addition, many mutants exhibited a switch in reactivity to predominantly catalyse nitro reduction, as opposed to C=C reduction. These mutants showed an enhancement in a minor side reaction and formed 2-phenylpropanal oxime from 2-phenyl-1-nitropropene. The multiple binding conformations of hydroxy substituted nitro-olefins in PETN reductase were examined by using both structural and catalytic techniques. These compounds were found to bind in both active and inhibitory complexes; this highlights the plasticity of the active site and the ability of the H181/H184 couple to coordinate with multiple functional groups. These properties demonstrate the potential to use PETN reductase as a scaffold in the development of industrially useful biocatalysts. Divergent evolution: A site-saturation study of PETN reductase was performed at conserved substrate binding residues H181 and H184. These residues were shown to dramatically alter the ratio of alkene versus nitro-group reduction in favour of oxime by-product formation, as summarised in the picture. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.