Discovering a uniform functional trade-off of the CBC-type 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases and deciphering its chemical logic

Sci Adv. 2023 Jun 9;9(23):eadh1418. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1418. Epub 2023 Jun 7.

Abstract

Many functionally promiscuous plant 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) have been found, but complete functional reshaping is rarely reported. In this study, we have identified two new plant OSCs: a unique protostadienol synthase (AoPDS) and a common cycloartenol synthase (AoCAS) from Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. Multiscale simulations and mutagenesis experiments revealed that threonine-727 is an essential residue responsible for protosta-13 (17),24-dienol biosynthesis in AoPDS and that the F726T mutant completely reshapes the native function of AoCAS into a PDS function to yield almost exclusively protosta-13 (17),24-dienol. Unexpectedly, various native functions were uniformly reshaped into a PDS function by introducing the phenylalanine → threonine substitution at this conserved position in other plant and non-plant chair-boat-chair-type OSCs. Further computational modeling elaborated the trade-off mechanisms of the phenylalanine → threonine substitution that leads to the PDS activity. This study demonstrates a general strategy for functional reshaping by using a plastic residue based on the decipherment of the catalytic mechanism.

MeSH terms

  • Phenylalanine*
  • Squalene* / chemistry
  • Threonine

Substances

  • 2,3-oxidosqualene
  • Squalene
  • Phenylalanine
  • Threonine