Features and structure of a cold active N-acetylneuraminate lyase.

N-acetylneuraminate lyases (NALs) are enzymes that catalyze the reversible cleavage and synthesis of sialic acids. They are therefore commonly used for the production of these high-value sugars. This study presents the recombinant production, together with biochemical and structural data, of the NAL from the psychrophilic bacterium Aliivibrio salmonicida LFI1238 (AsNAL). Our characterization shows that AsNAL possesses high activity and stability at alkaline pH. We confirm that these properties allow for the use in a one-pot reaction at alkaline pH for the synthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, the most common sialic acid) from the inexpensive precursor N-acetylglucosamine. We also show that the enzyme has a cold active nature with an optimum temperature for Neu5Ac synthesis at 20°C. The equilibrium constant for the reaction was calculated at different temperatures, and the formation of Neu5Ac acid is favored at low temperatures, making the cold active enzyme a well-suited candidate for use in such exothermic reactions. The specific activity is high compared to the homologue from Escherichia coli at three tested temperatures, and the enzyme shows a higher catalytic efficiency and turnover number for cleavage at 37°C. Mutational studies reveal that amino acid residue Asn 168 is important for the high kcat. The crystal structure of AsNAL was solved to 1.65 Å resolution and reveals a compact, tetrameric protein similar to other NAL structures. The data presented provides a framework to guide further optimization of its application in sialic acid production and opens the possibility for further design of the enzyme.

Characterization of the N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase (NeuB) from the psychrophilic fish pathogen Moritella viscosa.

Moritella viscosa is a Gram-negative psychrophilic bacterium that causes winter ulcer disease in Atlantic salmon and cod. Its genome reveals that it possesses the ability to synthesize sialic acids. Indeed, sialic acid can be isolated from the bacterium and when analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS, the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid was confirmed. Thus, the N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase NeuB from M. viscosa (MvNeuB) was recombinantly produced and characterized. The optimum pH and temperature for MvNeuB activity are 7.5 and 30 °C, respectively. The KM for N-acetylmannosamine and phosphoenolpyruvate is 18±5 and 0.8±0.2 mM, respectively. The kcat value (∼225 min(-1)) for both N-acetylmannosamine and phosphoenolpyruvate is the highest turnover number found for an enzyme in this class until the date. A calorimetric study of MvNeuB shows that the enzyme has a two-step transition peak probably reflecting the two domains these proteins consist of. MvNeuB is less stable at higher temperature and has a high catalytic activity at lower temperature compared to mesophilic counterparts. Enzymes from psychrophilic organisms are generally cold adapted meaning they can maintain adequate function near the freezing point of water. Cold adapted enzymes are catalytically more efficient at lower temperature and are more thermo-labile compared to their mesophilic counterparts. MvNeuB is a typical cold adapted enzyme and could be further explored for production of sialic acids and derivates at low temperatures.