The enzyme ZHD101 from Clonostachys rosea hydrolyzes and deactivates the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) and its zearalenol (ZOL) derivatives. ZHD101 prefers ZEN to ZOL as its substrate, but ZOL, especially the α-form, shows higher estrogenic toxicity than ZEN. To enhance α-ZOL selectivity, we solved the complex structures of ZHD101 with both ZOLs and modified several lactone-surrounding residues. Among the mutants, V153H maintained activity for ZEN but showed a 3.7-fold increase in specific activity against α-ZOL, with an ∼2.7-fold reduction in substrate affinity but a 5.2-fold higher turnover rate. We then determined two V153H/ZOL complex structures. Here, the α-ZOL lactone ring is hydrogenbonded to the H153 side chain, yielding a larger space for H242 to reconstitute the catalytic triad. In conclusion, structure-based engineering was successfully employed to improve the ZHD101 activity toward the more toxic α-ZOL, with great potential in further industrial applications.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.