The Role of a Loop in the Non-catalytic Domain B on the Hydrolysis/Transglycosylation Specificity of the 4-α-Glucanotransferase from Thermotoga maritima

The mechanism by which glycoside hydrolases control the reaction specificity through hydrolysis or transglycosylation is a key element embedded in their chemical structures. The determinants of reaction specificity seem to be complex. We looked for structural differences in domain B between the 4-α-glucanotransferase from Thermotoga maritima ( Tm GTase) and the α-amylase from Thermotoga petrophila (Tp Amylase ) and found a longer loop in the former that extends towards the active site carrying a W residue at its tip. Based on these differences we constructed the variants W131G and the partial deletion of the loop at residues 120-124/128-131, which showed a 11.6 and 11.4-fold increased hydrolysis/transglycosylation (H/T) ratio relative to WT protein, respectively. These variants had a reduction in the maximum velocity of the transglycosylation reaction, while their affinity for maltose as the acceptor was not substantially affected. Molecular dynamics simulations allow us to rationalize the increase in H/T ratio in terms of the flexibility near the active site and the conformations of the catalytic acid residues and their associated p Ka s.