This invention discloses an NADPH-dependent
alcohol dehydrogenase EcYjgB
mutant and its applications. The
mutant is based on the wild-type
alcohol dehydrogenase EcYjgB with mutations occurring at one or more of the following sites: S46, E51, W52, F54, T92, I108, A114, P116, I118, N240, G262, V264, L265, and A286. The
amino acid sequence of the wild-type
alcohol dehydrogenase EcYjgB is shown in SEQ ID. 1. This
mutant is used to catalyze the
selective reduction of high concentrations of 5-
hydroxymethylfurfural or
furfural to synthesize 2,5-furandiethanol or
furfuryl alcohol, respectively. Compared to the wild-type
enzyme, this mutant exhibits significantly improved
catalytic efficiency and significantly reduced substrate inhibition at high substrate concentrations. It is green and efficient, requires no organic reagents, shortens reaction time, and significantly reduces the difficulty and cost of subsequent separation and purification.