Engineering of factors determining α-amylase and cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase specificity in the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes EM1

The starch-degrading enzymes α-amylase and cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) are functionally and structurally closely related, with CGTases containing two additional domains (called D and E) compared to the three domains of α-amylases (A, B and C). Amino acid residue 196 (Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes EM1 CGTase numbering) occupies a dominant position in the active-site cleft. All α-amylases studied have a small residue at this position (Gly, Leu, Ser, Thr or Val), in contrast to CGTases which have a more bulky aromatic residue (Tyr or Phe) at this position, which is highly conserved. Characterization of the F196G mutant CGTase of T. thermosulfurigenes EM1 revealed that, for unknown reasons, apart from the F196G mutation, domain E as well as a part of domain D had become deleted [mutant F196G(Δ'DE)]. This, nevertheless, did not prevent the purification of a stable and active mutant CGTase protein (62 kDa). The mutant protein was more similar to an α-amylase protein in terms of the identity of residue 196, and in the domain structure containing, however, some additional C-terminal structure. The mutant showed a strongly reduced temperature optimum. Due to a frameshift mutation in mutant F196G, a separate protein of 19 kDa with the DE domains was also produced. Mutant F196G(Δ'DE) displayed a strongly reduced raw-starch-binding capacity, similar to the situation in most α-amylases that lack a raw-starch-binding E domain. Compared to wild-type CGTase, cyclization, coupling and disproportionation activities had become drastically reduced in the mutant F196G(Δ'DE), but its saccharifying activity had doubled, reaching the highest level ever reported for a CGTase. Under industrial production process conditions, wild-type CGTase converted starch into 35% cyclodextrins and 11% linear oligosaccharides (glucose, maltose and maltotriose), whereas mutant F196G(Δ'DE) converted starch into 21% cyclodextrins and 18% into linear oligosaccharides. These biochemical characteristics indicate a clear shift from CGTase to α-amylase specificity.