Steroids hydroxylation catalyzed by the monooxygenase mutant from BM3.

The search of new substrates with pharmaceutical and industrial potential for biocatalysts including cytochrome P450 enzymes is always challenging. Cytochrome P450 BM3 mutant , a versatile biocatalyst, exhibited hydroxylation activities towards fatty acids and alkanes. However, there were limited reports about its hydroxylation activity towards steroids. Herein, an -based whole-cell extract containing the recombinant 139-3 protein was used as the biocatalyst to screen 13 steroids. Results revealed that 139-3 was able to specifically hydroxylate androstenedione () at 1-position, generating a hydroxylated steroid 1-OH-androstenedione (). To investigate whether C-1 hydroxylation catalyzed by BM3 mutant could be industrially used, an optimization of catalyzing conditions was performed. Accordingly, the BM3 mutant 139-3 enzyme was observed to display maximum activity at 37 °C, under pH 7.0 for 4 h, with 37% transformation rate. Moreover, four variants were generated by random mutagenesis with the aim of improving its activity and expanding substrate scope. Surprisingly, these mutants, sharing a common mutated site R379S, lost their activities towards androstenedione (). These data clearly indicated that arginine residue located at site 379 played key role in the hydroxylation activities of 139-3. Overall, these new findings broadened the substrate scope of 139-3 enzyme, thereby expanding its potential applications as a biocatalyst on steroids hydroxylation in pharmaceutical industry.