Versatile Chemo-Biocatalytic Cascade Driven by a Thermophilic and Irreversible C–C Bond-Forming α-Oxoamine Synthase

Abstract

We report a chemo-biocatalytic cascade for the synthesis of substituted pyrroles, driven by the action of an irreversible, thermostable, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent, C–C bond-forming biocatalyst (ThAOS). The ThAOS catalyzes the Claisen-like condensation between various amino acids and acyl-CoA substrates to generate a range of α-aminoketones. These products are reacted with β-keto esters in an irreversible Knorr pyrrole reaction. The determination of the 1.6 Å resolution crystal structure of the PLP-bound form of ThAOS lays the foundation for future engineering and directed evolution. This report establishes the AOS family as useful and versatile C–C bond-forming biocatalysts.