8S7Z image
Deposition Date 2024-03-05
Release Date 2024-07-24
Last Version Date 2024-10-09
Entry Detail
PDB ID:
8S7Z
Keywords:
Title:
Urethanase umg-sp1 without inhibitor or substrate displays flexible active site loops
Biological Source:
Source Organism:
metagenome (Taxon ID: 256318)
Method Details:
Experimental Method:
Resolution:
2.67 Å
R-Value Free:
0.32
R-Value Work:
0.26
Space Group:
P 1
Macromolecular Entities
Polymer Type:polypeptide(L)
Molecule:Urethanase umg-sp1
Chain IDs:A, B, C, D
Chain Length:446
Number of Molecules:4
Biological Source:metagenome
Primary Citation
Structural Elucidation of a Metagenomic Urethanase and Its Engineering Towards Enhanced Hydrolysis Profiles.
Angew.Chem.Int.Ed.Engl. 63 e202404492 e202404492 (2024)
PMID: 38948941 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404492

Abstact

While plastics like polyethylene terephthalate can already be degraded efficiently by the activity of hydrolases, other synthetic polymers like polyurethanes (PUs) and polyamides (PAs) largely resist biodegradation. In this study, we solved the first crystal structure of the metagenomic urethanase UMG-SP-1, identified highly flexible loop regions to comprise active site residues, and targeted a total of 20 potential hot spots by site-saturation mutagenesis. Engineering campaigns yielded variants with single mutations, exhibiting almost 3- and 8-fold improved activity against highly stable N-aryl urethane and amide bonds, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated the release of the corresponding monomers from a thermoplastic polyester-PU and a PA (nylon 6) by the activity of a single, metagenome-derived urethanase after short incubation times. Thereby, we expanded the hydrolysis profile of UMG-SP-1 beyond the reported low-molecular weight carbamates. Together, these findings promise advanced strategies for the bio-based degradation and recycling of plastic materials and waste, aiding efforts to establish a circular economy for synthetic polymers.

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