Site-directed mutagenesis of proline-285 to leucine in Cephalosporium acremonium isopenicillin-N-synthase affects catalysis and increases soluble expression at higher temperatures.

The conversion of delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) to isopenicillin N is dependant on the catalytic action of isopenicillin N-synthase (IPNS), an important enzyme in the penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthetic pathway. One of the amino acid residues suggested by the Aspergillus nidulans IPNS crystal structure for interaction with the valine isopropyl group of ACV is proline-283. Site-directed mutagenesis of the corresponding proline-285 to leucine in Cephalosporium acremonium IPNS resulted in non-measurable activity but an increased soluble expression at higher temperatures in a heterologous E. coli host.