Tryptophan Synthase: Biocatalyst Extraordinaire

Overview

Journal Chembiochem

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2020 Jul 18

PMID 32677310

Citations 26

Authors

Ella Watkins-Dulaney

Sabine Straathof

Frances Arnold

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tryptophan synthase (TrpS) has emerged as a paragon of noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) synthesis and is an ideal biocatalyst for synthetic and biological applications. TrpS catalyzes an irreversible, C-C bond-forming reaction between indole and serine to make l-tryptophan; native TrpS complexes possess fairly broad specificity for indole analogues, but are difficult to engineer to extend substrate scope or to confer other useful properties due to allosteric constraints and their heterodimeric structure. Directed evolution freed the catalytically relevant TrpS β-subunit (TrpB) from allosteric regulation by its TrpA partner and has enabled dramatic expansion of the enzyme's substrate scope. This review examines the long and storied career of TrpS from the perspective of its application in ncAA synthesis and biocatalytic cascades.

Citing Articles

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Ultrahigh Throughput Evolution of Tryptophan Synthase in Droplets via an Aptamer Sensor.

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