Enzyme Mutations for High-Purity cis-5-Hydroxy-L-Pipecolic Acid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid from L-pipecolic acid are inefficient and result in significant production of cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, necessitating a method for high-purity production with reduced cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid byproducts.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase enzymes from Xenorhabdus doucetiae and Xenorhabdus romanii strains, where the enzymes are used to convert L-pipecolic acid into cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid with high optical purity and reduced cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid production, employing DNA encoding these proteins and transforming microorganisms to achieve high concentration and purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional biological methods using SmPH or SruPH are used to produce cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, then the production of the desired product is achieved, but significant amounts of cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid byproduct are also produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acidVSAvoidproduction of cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid byproduct
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of the hydroxylase enzyme through specific substitutions (e.g., position 294 in SmPH or position 266 in SruPH). These sequence changes alter the enzyme's catalytic properties to favor production of cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid while suppressing formation of the cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid byproduct, thereby improving product purity without requiring additional purification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If genetically modified microorganisms are used to produce cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, then production capability is improved, but the process complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiency of cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acidVSAvoidcomplexity of genetic modification process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable engineered enzyme system where the modified hydroxylase is expressed in transient or non-permanent genetic constructs. This allows high productivity through efficient enzyme expression while avoiding the long-term complexity of maintaining stable genetic modifications in production strains. The enzyme can be produced, used, and discarded without requiring complex regulatory or stability management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If gene modification is applied to reduce cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid production, then byproduct ratio is reduced, but the modification process increases manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveratio of cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid to cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acidVSAvoidease of gene modification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing site-directed mutagenesis at specific, localized positions within the hydroxylase enzyme sequence (e.g., single amino acid positions 294 or 266). This focused modification approach achieves high manufacturing precision in product selectivity while minimizing the overall complexity of genetic modification, as only specific local regions of the enzyme are altered rather than requiring genome-wide or multi-gene modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 method efficiently produces cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid with high optical purity and low cis-3-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid levels, suitable for industrial-scale pharmaceutical intermediates at a lower cost.

Implementation Method 1

a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, a microorganism or cell having the ability to produce the enzyme, a processed product of the microorganism or cell containing the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, and/or a culture liquid comprising the enzyme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP3219805B1Method for manufacturing cis-5-hydroxy-l-pipecolic acid
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 API CORP (JP)
  • EP3219805B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219805B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3219805B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for producing cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, the method comprising allowing a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase to act on L-pipecolic acid to generate cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, wherein the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase comprises the polypeptide (A), (B) or (C) below: (A) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11; (B) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11 except that one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity; or (C) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with an identity of not less than 60% to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity.