La bioraffinerie, avec l’utilisation de la biomasse végétale comme matière première renouvelable, est un moyen alternatif aux ressources fossiles qui s’amenuisent pour l’obtention de molécules d’intérêt, de biomatériaux ou de biocarburant nécessaires à notre vie quotidienne. Les hémicelluloses constituent 20 à 45% de la biomasse végétale et sont riches en pentoses (D-xylose en particulier) dans le cas des xylanes. Dans le cadre du projet multi-partenaires XYLOCOS, financé par la Région Champagne-Ardenne et le FEDER, l’objectif de cette thèse consiste en l’utilisation d’une xylanase pour mettre au point la préparation par voie enzymatique ou chimio-enzymatique de nouveaux β-xylosides et β-xylobiosides présentant des aglycones de différentes natures et d’évaluer leurs propriétés biologiques. L’étude d’une xylanase GH11 a d’abord été réalisée pour améliorer son activité de transglycosylation en présence de divers accepteurs. Une étude de modélisation in silico a été effectuée et a conduit à cibler la mutation du résidu W126. Les paramètres cinétiques et les propriétés de transglycosylation de la xylanase sauvage et du mutant ont été comparés et ont montré que le mutant a une capacité de transglycosylation améliorée. La synthèse de séries de xylosides et xylobiosides comportant une partie aglycone aromatique par voie enzymatique ou présentant des hétérocycles triazoles diversement fonctionnalisés par voie chimio-enzymatique a été effectuée. L’influence de la nature de la partie aglycone mais également du degré de polymérisation des différents xylosides sur leur capacité à amorcer la biosynthèse de glycosaminoglycanes a été étudiée en présence d’un modèle cellulaire. L’ensemble des xylosides et xylobiosides synthétisés amorce la biosynthèse des GAGs. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les xylosides sont plus efficaces que leurs analogues xylobiosides. Certains xylosides à aglycones hydrophobes représentent de bons candidats pour des applications cosmétiques. / Biorefinery, with the use of plant biomass as a renewable raw material, is an alternative means to fossil resources for obtaining molecules of interest, biomaterials or biofuel. Hemicelluloses represent about 20 to 45% of the plant biomass and are rich in pentoses (D-xylose in particular) in the case of xylans. XYLOCOS is a multi-partner project funded by the Champagne-Ardenne Region and the FEDER. In this context the objective of this work consists in the use of a xylanase to develop the enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic synthesis of new β-xylosides and β-xylobiosides featuring different kinds of aglycone moieties and to assess their biological properties.First, the study of a GH11 xylanase was carried out to improve its transglycosylation activity in the presence of various acceptors. A in silico study was performed and led to target the mutation of W126 residue. Kinetic parameters and transglycosylation properties of the wild and mutant xylanases were compared and showed that the mutant has an improved capacity for transglycosylation.The synthesis of xylosides and xylobiosides bearing an aromatic aglycone part by an enzymatic transformation or functionalized triazole heterocycles by a chemo-enzymatic pathway was performed. The influence of the nature of the aglycone part but also the degree of polymerization of different xylosides was studied through their ability to initiate the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans in the presence of a cell model. All the xylosides and xylobiosides prepared act as GAGs primers. The obtained results show that xylosides are more efficient primers than the corresponding xylobiosides. Xylosides carrying hydrophobic aglycones represent good candidates for cosmetic applications.

Starch is a major carbon and energy source throughout all kingdoms of life. It consists of two carbohydrate polymers, branched amylopectin and linear amylose, which are sparingly soluble in water. Hence, the enzymatic breakdown by glycoside hydrolases (GHs) is of great biological and societal importance. Amylomaltases (AMs) are GHs specialized in the hydrolysis of a-1,4–linked sugar chains such as amylose. They are able to catalyze an intramolecular transglycosylation of a bound sugar chain yielding polymeric sugar rings, the cycloamyloses (CAs), consisting of 20 to 100 glucose units. Despite a wealth of data on short oligosaccharide binding to GHs, no structural evidence is available for their interaction with polymeric substrates that better represent the natural polysaccharide. We have determined the crystal structure of Thermus aquaticus AM in complex with a 34-meric CA—one of the largest carbohydrates resolved by x-ray crystallography and a mimic of the natural polymeric amylose substrate. In total, 15 glucose residues interact with the protein in an extended crevice with a length of more than 40 Å. A modified succinimide, derived from aspartate, mediates protein-sugar interactions, suggesting a biological role for this nonstandard amino acid. The structure, together with functional assays, provides unique insights into the interaction of GHs with their polymeric substrate and reveals a molecular ruler mechanism for minimal ring-size determination of CA products.

Dans ce projet de thèse, une variété de techniques a été employée pour étudier l’alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase de Thermobacillus xylanilyticus (TxAbf), notamment en ce qui concerne les relations structure/fonctions et son activité de transglycosylation. Nos travaux ont eu pour objectif d’apporter un éclairage quant au rôle de la dynamique dans l’activité catalytique de la TxAbf, en se focalisant sur le mouvement de la boucle bêta2alpha2, et d’explorer la spécificité du sous-site [+1], un élément du site actif qui est particulièrement pertinent pour l’activité de transglycosylation. Enfin, nous avons entrepris des travaux d’ingénierie visant la création de transarabinofuranosylases performantes. Nos résultats confirment le rôle important de la boucle bêta2alpha2 et suggèrent que le mouvement de celle-ci permet de relocaliser les résidus His98 et Trp99 de manière à créer un site actif opérationnel. Le résidu Trp99 apparaît comme un élément clé du sous-site [-1] de la TxAbf, alors que le résidu His98, qui n’est pas conservé dans l’ensemble des enzymes de la famille GH51, participerait à la formation d’un sous-site [+2’]. Concernant le sous-site [+1], nos résultats confirment la large spécificité celui-ci et montrent clairement que l’encombrement stérique à la position C-5 des glycosides accepteurs est défavorable à la réaction de transglycosylation. Par ailleurs, nous avons pu réaliser pour la première fois la synthèse de trisaccharides, utilisant comme accepteur l’alpha-D-xylobioside de benzyle et comme donneur le β-D-galactofuranoside de para-nitrophényle. Enfin, nos travaux de mutagenèse aléatoire et le criblage de banques a permis d’identifier deux mutations Phe26Leu et Trp178Arg, qui se situent au niveau des sous-sites [-1] et [+1], respectivement. Selon nos premières analyses, les mutants correspondants rendraient moins favorable la déglycosylation de l’intermédiaire glycosyl-enzyme par une molécule d’eau, réduisant ainsi l'hydrolyse secondaire et stabilisant par la même occasion le produit de synthèse. En employant une deuxième méthode de criblage plus sophistiquée, impliquant l’utilisation d’accepteurs xylo-oligosaccharidiques, nous avons pu obtenir des enzymes mutées qui (i) catalysent des réactions de transglycosylation en présence de xylobiose (l’enzyme sauvage ne catalysant que très faiblement cette réaction) (ii) se caractérisent par une absence quasi-totale d’hydrolyse secondaire et (iii) comportent des mutations situées à différentes positions (e.g. au niveau des sous-sites [-1], [+1] et [+2’]) et qui semblent moduler le ratio Transglycosylation/Hydrolyse en faveur de la synthèse / In this investigation, a variety of techniques to study the Thermobacillus xylanilyticus alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase (TxAbf) have been employed, especially with regard to structure-functions relations and the enzyme’s ability to catalyze transglycosylation reactions. The aim of our work was to better understand the dynamic role of the bêta2alpha2 loop and to explore the substrate specificity of the subsite [+1], an important active site element with respect to transglycosylation. Finally, this work has focused on the creation of new transarabinofuranosylases using random engineering and screening approaches.Our results confirm the important role of the bêta2alpha2 loop and suggest that its movement during catalysis relocalizes residues His98 and Trp99 and thus permits the formation of a catalytically-viable active site configuration. Trp99 is relocalized from a solvent exposed position into a buried position and forms a critical element of subsite [-1], whereas His98, a residue that is not conserved in all GH51 members, appears to form a part of subsite [+2’]. Regarding subsite [+1], our results confirm its wide specificity and indicate that steric bulkiness at the C-5 position of glycoside acceptors leads to reduced transglycosylation. In this work, we have also demonstrated for the first time the synthesis by TxAbf of trisaccharides, using benzyl alpha-D-xylobioside as the acceptor and para-nitrophenyl β-D-galactofuranoside as the donor. Finally, random mutagenesis and screening has led to the identification of two mutations Phe26Leu and Trp178Arg, which are located in sub-sites [-1] and [+1] respectively, that appear to reduce the water-mediated deglycosylation of the glycosyl-enzyme intermediate. Consequently, the corresponding mutants reduce secondary hydrolysis and favourably affect the operational stability of synthetic products. Using a second more sophisticated screening method that involves the use of xylo-oligosaccharide acceptors, it has been possible to isolate mutant enzymes that (i) catalyze transglycosylation reactions in the presence of xylobioside (a reaction that is poorly catalyzed by wild type TxAbf), (ii) show almost no secondary hydrolysis, (iii) display point mutations at several key locations (e.g. in sub-sites [-1], [+1] and [+2’]) that seem to modulate the Transglycosylation/Hydrolysis ratio in favour of synthesis

Um dos pré-requisitos para a produção economicamente viável de etanol a partir da biomassa lignocelulósica é o desenvolvimento de processos eficientes e baratos de hidrólise enzimática de celulose e hemicelulose. As enzimas respondem por altas percentagens dos custos de hidrólise, pois é necessário utilizar altas cargas enzimáticas para obter rendimentos aceitáveis devido à inibição das enzimas lignocelulolíticas pelos produtos, que se intensifica com o uso de altas concentrações iniciais de biomassa. Uma das estratégias para melhorar a eficiência e diminuir os custos da hidrólise é a identificação de enzimas mais eficientes, com grande atenção para aquelas tolerantes e/ou estimuladas pelos produtos de reação. Nesse contexto, a engenharia de proteínas é uma poderosa ferramenta para o melhoramento e o entendimento da relação estrutura-função destas enzimas. O presente trabalho visou avaliar o efeito da glicosilação sobre as características bioquímicas de uma - glucosidase estimulada por glicose e xilose de Humicola insolens, comparando a enzima nativa e as enzimas recombinantes, expressas em Escherichia coli (Bglhi) e Pichia pastoris (BglhiPp), além de estudar a relação estrutura-função por meio de técnicas de evolução dirigida objetivando o entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na estimulação da enzima pelos monossacarídeos. Com relação à glicosilação, a expressão e caracterização da BglhiPp permitiu avaliar que as principais características influenciadas por diferentes conteúdos de carboidratos na enzima foram a temperatura ótima e a termoestabilidade. Já o estudo de evolução dirigida culminou na geração de 4 mutantes com padrão de estimulação por glicose e xilose diferentes da Bglhi (utilizada como controle). Todos os mutantes contêm uma das duas substituições (D237V e N235S) agrupadas ao redor dos subsítios de ligação da aglicona (+1 e +2). Os dados cinéticos e de transglicosilação permitiram sugerir que o mecanismo de estimulação destas enzimas envolve interações alostéricas, modulação das rotas de hidrólise e transglicosilação e competição entre substrato e monossacarídeos pela ligação aos subsítios do sítio ativo. A mutação D237V (presente nos mutantes 4-12D e 5-7H) favoreceu a rota de hidrólise em detrimento à de transglicosilação e a atividade pNP-glucosidásica, mas não a celobiásica, foi estimulada por xilose. A substituição N235S (presente nos mutantes 1-6D e 5-7C) aboliu a preferência por hidrólise ou transglicosilação e a atividade celobiásica, mas não a pNP-glucosidásica, foi fortemente inibida por xilose. Além disso, ambas as mutações diminuíram a tolerância das enzimas pelos monossacarídeos. Estes resultados mostraram que a modulação fina da atividade da Bglhi e das enzimas dos mutantes por glicose e/ou xilose é regulada pelas afinidades relativas dos subsítios da glicona e da aglicona pelos substratos e pelos monossacarídeos livres. As mudanças na topologia e nas propriedades físico-químicas dos subsítios +1 e +2 da aglicona foi proposta por racionalizar os dados cinéticos e de transglicosilação. / One of the prerequisites for the economically viable production of ethanol from the lignocellulosic biomass is the development of efficient and inexpensive processes of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. The enzymes are responsible for high percentages of hydrolysis costs, since it is necessary to use high enzymatic loads for acceptable yields due to inhibition of lignocellulolitic enzymes by products, which is intensified by the use of high initial concentrations of biomass. One of the strategies to improve efficiency and decrease the costs of hydrolysis is the identification of more efficient enzymes with great attention to those that are tolerant and/or stimulated by the reaction products. In this context, protein engineering is a powerful tool for the improvement and understanding of the structure-function relationship of these enzymes. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of glycosylation on the biochemical characteristics of glucose and xylose-stimulated -glucosidase from Humicola insolens, comparing the native enzyme and the recombinant enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli (Bglhi) and Pichia pastoris (BglhiPp) and study the structure-function relationship through directed evolution techniques aiming the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the stimulation of the enzyme by the monosaccharides. With regard to glycosylation, the expression and characterization of BglhiPp allowed to evaluate that the main characteristics influenced by different carbohydrate contents in the enzyme were optimum temperature and thermostability. The study of directed evolution culminated in the generation of 4 mutants with pattern of stimulation by glucose and xylose different from Bglhi (used as control). All mutants contain one of the two substitutions (D237V and N235S) grouped around the aglycone binding sites (+1 and +2). The kinetic and transglycosylation data allowed us to suggest that the mechanism of stimulation of these enzymes involves allosteric interactions, modulation of the hydrolysis and transglycosylation routes, and competition between substrate and monosaccharides by binding to the subsites in active site. The mutation D237V (present in mutants 4-12D and 5-7H) favored the hydrolysis route over that of transglycosylation and pNP-glucosidase activity, but not cellobiase activity, was stimulated by xylose. The substitution N235S (present in mutants 1-6D and 5-7C) abolished the preference for hydrolysis or transglycosylation and cellobiase activity, but not pNP-glucosidase activity, was strongly inhibited by xylose. In addition, both mutations decreased the tolerance of the enzymes by the monosaccharides. These results showed that fine modulation of Bglhi and mutant enzymes activities by glucose and/or xylose is regulated by the relative affinities of the glycone and aglycone subsites for the substrates and the free monosaccharides. The changes in the topology and physicochemical properties of the +1/+2 aglycone sites of the mutants have been proposed to rationalize the kinetic and transglycosylation data.

Submitted by Luciana Sebin (lusebin@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T12:20:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseRNF.pdf: 5131887 bytes, checksum: 5f32fa62636719671f0675a379d2cd24 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T19:55:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseRNF.pdf: 5131887 bytes, checksum: 5f32fa62636719671f0675a379d2cd24 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T19:55:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseRNF.pdf: 5131887 bytes, checksum: 5f32fa62636719671f0675a379d2cd24 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-27T19:55:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseRNF.pdf: 5131887 bytes, checksum: 5f32fa62636719671f0675a379d2cd24 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The search for new sustainable alternative energy sources has followed the increasing concerns with common welfare and fossil fuel shortage. In this context, Bioethanol is a good option and lignocellulosic biomass is an interesting way of obtaining it. The enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass in fermentable sugars still is a costly process, which makes characterization mechanisms indispensable to make it economically viable. Being of great importance in the lignocellulosic biomass convertion, β-glucosidases catalyzed reaction is the last step in the saccharification processes. Beta glucosidase hydrolyze non-reduced β-D-glycoside terminals, releasing β-D-glucose. GH 1 and GH 3 are the families of those most studied enzymes. However, structural and functional data from this GH 3 family of enzymes are still scarce. This work aimed at the biochemical and structural characterization of β-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis (BaBgl). This enzyme has a catalytic domain (CCD) and a fibronectin III-like domain (FnIII) whose function is still unknown. Biochemical data showed optimal conditions for enzyme activity at pH from 6.0 to 6.5, temperature at 45 ° C and synthetic substrate specificity of 4-nitrophenyl- -Dglucopyranoside (pNPG). The values of kinetic parameters, KM and Vmax, were 0.32±0.03 mM e 0.37±0.01 nmol/min, respectively. The enzyme doesn’t have transglycosylation mechanisms, indicating only hydrolytic activity. Some monosaccharides such as xylose and galactose increased the enzyme activity significantly, while glucose and arabinose inhibited it. The crystal structural model of the BaBgl revealed an N-terminal domain with fold like a TIM barrel, an intermediate sandwich α / β domain and a third C-terminal like FnIII domain. In this work we also studied the transglycosylation mechanisms of two β-glucosidases from Trichoderma harzianum (ThBgl1 and ThBgl2). Both enzymes exhibit transglycosylation reaction but the ThBgl1 showed a hydrolysis/transglycosylation ratio lower than the one for ThBgl2. Crystallographic structures shows a typical folding for GH family 1 β-glucosidases, folding in the form of a TIM barrel (α / β)8. However, ThBgl2 has a more polar active site and therefore, favorites the interaction with water molecules, promoting better the hydrolysis reaction when compared to ThBgl1. / A preocupação ambiental e com a qualidade de vida da população aliados com o esgotamento dos combustíveis fósseis, tem aumentado a busca por energias alternativas e sustentáveis. Neste contexto, a hidrólise da biomassa lignocelulósica é uma opção interessante para obtenção de bioetanol. A utilização de enzimas para conversão da biomassa lignocelulósica a açúcares fermentescíveis ainda é um processo de custo elevado, o que torna imprescindível os estudos de caracterização dos mecanismos dessas enzimas afim de torná-las economicamente mais viáveis. A reação catalisada por β-glicosidases é a última etapa da sacarificação da celulose, sendo de grande relevância na conversão da biomassa ignocelulósica. β- glicosidases hidrolisam terminais não reduzidos β-D-glicosil liberando β-D-glicose e GH 1 e GH 3 são as famílias dessas enzimas mais estudadas. Entretanto dados estruturais e funcionais das enzimas da família GH 3, ainda são escassos. O presente trabalho apresenta a caracterização bioquímica e estrutural de uma β-glicosidase de Bifidobacterium adolescentis (BaBgl). Essa enzima possui um domínio catalítico (CCD) e um domínio do tipo fibronectina III (FnIII) cuja função ainda é desconhecida. Os dados bioquímicos revelaram condições ótimas para atividade da enzima em pH entre 6,0 e 6,5, temperatura de 45 °C e especificidade pelo substrato sintético 4- nitrofenil-β-D-glicopiranosídeo (pNPG). Os parâmetros cinéticos KM e Vmáx apresentaram valores de 0,32±0,03 mM e 0,37±0,01 nmol/min respectivamente. A enzima não apresentou mecanismos de transglicosilação, indicando apenas atividade hidrolítica. Ensaios com monossacarídeos como xilose e galactose aumentaram significativamente a atividade enzimática enquanto que glicose e arabinose inibiram sua atividade. O modelo da estrutura cristalográfica da BaBgl revelou um domínio Nterminal enovelado como um barril TIM, um domínio intermediário na forma de sanduíche α/β e um terceiro domínio C-terminal do tipo FnIII. Neste trabalho também foram estudados os mecanismos de tranglicosilação de duas β-glicosidases de Trichoderma harzianum (ThBgl1 e ThBgl2), sendo que ambas realizam reação de transglicosilação, porém a ThBgl1 possui relação hidrólise/tranglicosilação menor que a ThBgl2. As estruturas cristalográficas demonstram um enovelamento típico para as β-glicosidases da família GH 1, com o enovelamento na forma de um barril TIM (α/β)8. Contudo, a ThBgl2 apresenta sítio ativo mais polar e portanto propício à interação com moléculas de água, favorecendo a reação de hidrólise quando comparada à ThBgl1.

Um dos pré-requisitos para a produção economicamente viável de etanol a partir da biomassa lignocelulósica é o desenvolvimento de processos eficientes e baratos de hidrólise enzimática de celulose e hemicelulose. As enzimas respondem por altas percentagens dos custos de hidrólise, pois é necessário utilizar altas cargas enzimáticas para obter rendimentos aceitáveis devido à inibição das enzimas lignocelulolíticas pelos produtos, que se intensifica com o uso de altas concentrações iniciais de biomassa. Uma das estratégias para melhorar a eficiência e diminuir os custos da hidrólise é a identificação de enzimas mais eficientes, com grande atenção para aquelas tolerantes e/ou estimuladas pelos produtos de reação. Nesse contexto, a engenharia de proteínas é uma poderosa ferramenta para o melhoramento e o entendimento da relação estrutura-função destas enzimas. O presente trabalho visou avaliar o efeito da glicosilação sobre as características bioquímicas de uma - glucosidase estimulada por glicose e xilose de Humicola insolens, comparando a enzima nativa e as enzimas recombinantes, expressas em Escherichia coli (Bglhi) e Pichia pastoris (BglhiPp), além de estudar a relação estrutura-função por meio de técnicas de evolução dirigida objetivando o entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na estimulação da enzima pelos monossacarídeos. Com relação à glicosilação, a expressão e caracterização da BglhiPp permitiu avaliar que as principais características influenciadas por diferentes conteúdos de carboidratos na enzima foram a temperatura ótima e a termoestabilidade. Já o estudo de evolução dirigida culminou na geração de 4 mutantes com padrão de estimulação por glicose e xilose diferentes da Bglhi (utilizada como controle). Todos os mutantes contêm uma das duas substituições (D237V e N235S) agrupadas ao redor dos subsítios de ligação da aglicona (+1 e +2). Os dados cinéticos e de transglicosilação permitiram sugerir que o mecanismo de estimulação destas enzimas envolve interações alostéricas, modulação das rotas de hidrólise e transglicosilação e competição entre substrato e monossacarídeos pela ligação aos subsítios do sítio ativo. A mutação D237V (presente nos mutantes 4-12D e 5-7H) favoreceu a rota de hidrólise em detrimento à de transglicosilação e a atividade pNP-glucosidásica, mas não a celobiásica, foi estimulada por xilose. A substituição N235S (presente nos mutantes 1-6D e 5-7C) aboliu a preferência por hidrólise ou transglicosilação e a atividade celobiásica, mas não a pNP-glucosidásica, foi fortemente inibida por xilose. Além disso, ambas as mutações diminuíram a tolerância das enzimas pelos monossacarídeos. Estes resultados mostraram que a modulação fina da atividade da Bglhi e das enzimas dos mutantes por glicose e/ou xilose é regulada pelas afinidades relativas dos subsítios da glicona e da aglicona pelos substratos e pelos monossacarídeos livres. As mudanças na topologia e nas propriedades físico-químicas dos subsítios +1 e +2 da aglicona foi proposta por racionalizar os dados cinéticos e de transglicosilação. / One of the prerequisites for the economically viable production of ethanol from the lignocellulosic biomass is the development of efficient and inexpensive processes of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. The enzymes are responsible for high percentages of hydrolysis costs, since it is necessary to use high enzymatic loads for acceptable yields due to inhibition of lignocellulolitic enzymes by products, which is intensified by the use of high initial concentrations of biomass. One of the strategies to improve efficiency and decrease the costs of hydrolysis is the identification of more efficient enzymes with great attention to those that are tolerant and/or stimulated by the reaction products. In this context, protein engineering is a powerful tool for the improvement and understanding of the structure-function relationship of these enzymes. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of glycosylation on the biochemical characteristics of glucose and xylose-stimulated -glucosidase from Humicola insolens, comparing the native enzyme and the recombinant enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli (Bglhi) and Pichia pastoris (BglhiPp) and study the structure-function relationship through directed evolution techniques aiming the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the stimulation of the enzyme by the monosaccharides. With regard to glycosylation, the expression and characterization of BglhiPp allowed to evaluate that the main characteristics influenced by different carbohydrate contents in the enzyme were optimum temperature and thermostability. The study of directed evolution culminated in the generation of 4 mutants with pattern of stimulation by glucose and xylose different from Bglhi (used as control). All mutants contain one of the two substitutions (D237V and N235S) grouped around the aglycone binding sites (+1 and +2). The kinetic and transglycosylation data allowed us to suggest that the mechanism of stimulation of these enzymes involves allosteric interactions, modulation of the hydrolysis and transglycosylation routes, and competition between substrate and monosaccharides by binding to the subsites in active site. The mutation D237V (present in mutants 4-12D and 5-7H) favored the hydrolysis route over that of transglycosylation and pNP-glucosidase activity, but not cellobiase activity, was stimulated by xylose. The substitution N235S (present in mutants 1-6D and 5-7C) abolished the preference for hydrolysis or transglycosylation and cellobiase activity, but not pNP-glucosidase activity, was strongly inhibited by xylose. In addition, both mutations decreased the tolerance of the enzymes by the monosaccharides. These results showed that fine modulation of Bglhi and mutant enzymes activities by glucose and/or xylose is regulated by the relative affinities of the glycone and aglycone subsites for the substrates and the free monosaccharides. The changes in the topology and physicochemical properties of the +1/+2 aglycone sites of the mutants have been proposed to rationalize the kinetic and transglycosylation data.

Cellulose in particular and wood in general are valuable biomaterials for humanity, and cellulose is now also in the spotlight as a starting material for the production of biofuel. Understanding the processes of wood formation and cellulose biosynthesis could therefore be rewarding, and genomics and proteomics approaches have been initiated to learn more about wood biology. For example, the genome of the tree Populus trichocarpa has been completed during 2006. A single-gene approach then has to follow, to elucidate specific patterns and enzymatic details. This thesis depicts how a gene encoding a membrane-anchored cellulase was isolated from Populus tremula x tremuloides Mich, how the corresponding protein was expressed in heterologous hosts, purified and characterized by substrate analysis using different techniques. The in vivo function and modularity of the membrane-anchored cellulase was also addressed using overexpression and complementation analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Among 9 genes found in the Populus EST database, encoding enzymes from glycosyl hydrolase family 9, two were expressed in the cambial tissue, and the membrane-anchored cellulase, PttCel9A1, was the most abundant transcript. PttCel9A1 was expressed in Pichia pastoris, and purified by affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography. The low yield of recombinant protein from shake flask experiments was improved by scaling up in the fermentor. PttCel9A1 was however highly heterogenous, both mannosylated and phosphorylated, which made the protein unsuitable for crystallization experiments and 3D X-ray structure determination. Instead, a homology model using a well-characterized, homologous bacterial enzyme was built. From the homology model, interesting point mutations in the active site cleft that would highlight the functional differences of the two proteins could be identified. The real-time cleavage patterns of cello-oligosaccharides by mutant bacterial enzymes, the wildtype bacterial enzyme and PttCel9A1 were studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and compared with results from HPAEC-PAD analysis. The inverting stereochemistry for the hydrolysis reaction of the membrane-anchored poplar cellulase was also determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and it was concluded that transglycosylation in vivo is not a possible scenario. The preferred in vitro polymeric substrates for PttCel9A1 were shown to be long, low-substituted cellulose derivatives, and the endo-1,4--glucanase activity was not extended to branched or mixed linkage substrates to detectable levels. This result indicates an in vivo function in the hydrolysis of “amorphous” regions of cellulose, either during polymerization or crystallization of cellulose. In addition, overexpressing PttCel9A1 in A. thaliana, demonstrated a correlation with decreased crystallinity of cellulose. The significance of the different putative modules of PttCel9A1 was investigated by the construction of hybrid proteins, that were introduced into a knock-out mutant of A. thaliana, and the potential complementation of the phenotype was examined. A type B plant cellulase catalytic domain could not substitute for a type A plant cellulase catalytic domain, although localization and interaction motifs were added to the N- and C-terminus. / QC 20100802

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-05-25T18:55:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissAFB.pdf: 2608429 bytes, checksum: 95d0acfb93ac8153ab8599ee86111dff (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-30T12:35:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissAFB.pdf: 2608429 bytes, checksum: 95d0acfb93ac8153ab8599ee86111dff (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-30T12:35:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissAFB.pdf: 2608429 bytes, checksum: 95d0acfb93ac8153ab8599ee86111dff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-30T12:40:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissAFB.pdf: 2608429 bytes, checksum: 95d0acfb93ac8153ab8599ee86111dff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-15 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Metagenomics studies allow the direct analysis of a genetic material in an environmental sample and when linked to bioinformatics it gives a powerful tool to explore the role of new genes and proteins not studied before. Constant decreases in the quantity of fossil fuels and their effects in the global economy and natural environment has accelerated researches in alternative fuels such as the second generation ethanol, which can be produced by vegetation biomass. However, this process demands previous hydrolysis of the lignocellulolytic material by hydrolytic enzymes to provide fermentable sugar. β-glucosidases are enzymes which plays an important role at the final step of cellulose breakdown to glucose, thus being considered the rate limiting enzyme in this process of biomass degradation. Many β-glucosidases are already known, however there is an interest to find new enzymes which are tolerant to glucose inhibition and which exhibits high activity at lower temperatures. In this study we searched for β-glucosidases (GH1) using sequences from a metagenomics database from rivers and lakes in the Amazon region developed in our laboratory. We found 3 complete open reading frames (ORFs) related to β-glucosidases and one of them was selected to be produced in E.coli in a heterologous way and to be biochemically characterized. The coding sequence of the protein named AmBgl1-LP was cloned in the plasmid pET-28a and produced an enzyme which has a molecular mass of 53,7 kDa. The enzymatic assays showed that the enzyme was active with an optimum pH of 5.5, optimum temperature of 35 °C and had a Ki for glucose of 23 mM. The enzyme does not apparently perform transgycosylation, according to the assays for pNPβGlu substrate. Supposedly, AmBgl1-LP suffers inhibition by pNPβGlu on concentrations higher than 10 mM. The enzyme showed to be capable of hydrolyzing cellobiose, pNPβGal and pNPβFuc. Thus, the enzyme is promising for use in cocktails for degradation of biomass. / A metagenômica permite estudar diretamente o material genético presente em uma amostra ambiental e quando aliada à bioinformática possibilita explorar o papel de novos genes e proteínas. A constante diminuição na quantidade de combustíveis fósseis e seus efeitos na economia global e no meio ambiente têm acelerado as pesquisas sobre combustíveis alternativos como, por exemplo, o etanol de segunda geração, o qual pode ser obtido a partir de biomassa vegetal. No entanto, o processo necessita que o material lignocelulolítico seja hidrolisado previamente por enzimas, para o fornecimento de açúcares fermentescíveis. As β-glicosidases são enzimas que participam da etapa final de degradação de celulose em glicose e são, portanto, consideradas passo limitante no processo. Muitas β-glicosidases já foram descritas, entretanto ainda há o interesse em encontrar enzimas que sejam resistentes à inibição por glicose e que exerçam sua atividade em temperaturas mais baixas. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho tratou da busca por β-glicosidases da família GH1 utilizando sequências obtidas a partir de um estudo metagenômico de rios e lagos da Amazônia, realizado em nosso laboratório. Foram encontradas 3 fases abertas de leitura (ORFs) correspondentes à esta classe de enzimas e uma delas foi selecionada para ser produzida em E.coli de forma recombinante e ser caracterizada bioquimicamente. A sequência que codifica a proteína denominada AmBgl1-LP foi clonada em vetor pET-28a e expressa em E.coli, rendendo uma enzima com massa molecular de 53,7 kDa. Os ensaios de atividade enzimática revelaram que a enzima é ativa em pH ótimo de 5,5 e temperatura ótima de 35 °C. Além disso, a enzima possui um Ki para glicose de 23 mM. A enzima aparentemente não realiza transglicosilação, frente aos ensaios com o substrato pNPβGli. Aparentemente a enzima sofre inibição por este substrato em concentrações maiores que 10 mM. A AmBgl1-LP mostrou-se capaz de hidrolisar celobiose, além de pNPβGal e pNPβFuc. Desta forma, a enzima mostra-se promissora para utilização em coquetéis para degradação de biomassa.