Engineered Tyrosine Ammonia-Lyase Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for tyrosinemia and related diseases, such as tyrosinemia I, II, and III, and alkaptonuria, rely on restrictive diets and medications like NTBC, which are costly and challenging to administer, lacking easy and effective therapeutic options to manage symptoms and allow for normal dietary intake.

Innovation Solution

Engineered tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) polypeptides with enhanced catalytic activity and reduced sensitivity to proteolysis and acidic pH, optimized for therapeutic and industrial applications, are developed to improve tyrosine metabolism and potentially alleviate disease symptoms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If engineered TAL polypeptides are designed to enhance catalytic activity, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but protein stability against proteolysis and acidic pH may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidprotein stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically modifying amino acid sequences at specific positions (e.g., positions 79, 107, 410, 534) to optimize the balance between catalytic activity and stability. Multiple variant sequences are generated with different amino acid substitutions to achieve desired performance characteristics in terms of both activity and resistance to proteolysis and acidic pH.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite enzyme variants by combining multiple amino acid substitutions in specific combinations (e.g., 79T/107S/410K, 95A/107S/184S/534S). These composite mutations work synergistically to achieve enhanced catalytic activity while maintaining or improving stability properties, similar to how composite materials combine different components to achieve superior overall performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If TAL enzyme is optimized for catalytic efficiency, then treatment effectiveness increases, but sensitivity to acidic pH and proteolysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic efficiencyVSAvoidsensitivity to acidic pH and proteolysis
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies physical-chemical parameters of the enzyme by introducing specific amino acid substitutions that alter the protein's resistance to harsh conditions. The engineered variants demonstrate improved tolerance to acidic pH and reduced sensitivity to proteolytic degradation while maintaining catalytic efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-engineering the enzyme to resist degradation before it encounters harsh physiological conditions. The amino acid modifications are designed in advance to prevent proteolytic cleavage and stabilize the enzyme structure against acidic pH, allowing the enzyme to survive and function in the challenging environment of tyrosinemia treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If wild-type TAL enzyme is used, then simplicity is maintained, but therapeutic effectiveness is insufficient due to low catalytic activity and high sensitivity to degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme structure simplicityVSAvoidtherapeutic effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies controlled parameter changes by introducing a limited number of specific amino acid substitutions at strategically chosen positions in the TAL sequence. This approach achieves significant improvements in catalytic activity and stability while maintaining relatively simple enzyme structure, avoiding the need for complete redesign or complex engineering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The engineered TAL polypeptides offer improved catalytic activity and stability, providing a potential for more effective management of tyrosinemia and related disorders by enhancing tyrosine metabolism, thus reducing the need for restrictive diets and improving patient quality of life.

Implementation Method 1

TAL catalyzes the formation of p-coumaric acid from L-tyrosine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

engineered tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) polypeptides have been optimized to provide enhanced catalytic activity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS11473077B2Engineered tyrosine ammonia lyase
Publication Date: 2022.10.18 CODEXIS INC

AI summary

The present invention provides engineered tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) polypeptides and compositions thereof. In some embodiments, the engineered TAL polypeptides have been optimized to provide enhanced catalytic activity while reducing sensitivity to proteolysis and increasing tolerance to acidic pH levels. The invention also provides methods for utilization of the compositions comprising the engineered TAL polypeptides for therapeutic and industrial purposes.