Engineering Thermostability in Artificial Metalloenzymes to Increase Catalytic Activity

Protein engineering has shown widespread use in improving the industrial application of enzymes and broadening conditions they are able to operate under by increasing their thermostability solvent tolerance. Here, we show that protein can be used increase an artificial metalloenzyme. Thermostable variants human steroid carrier 2L, modified bind a metal catalyst, were created rational design using structural data 3DM database. These tested identify mutations enhanced stability scaffold, significant melting temperature was observed with number metalloenzymes. The ability withstand higher reaction temperatures resulted increased activity hydroformylation 1-octene, more than fivefold improvement turnover number, whereas selectivity for linear aldehyde remained high up 80%.