Conformational flexibility correlates with glucose tolerance for point mutations in β-glucosidases - a computational study

β-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) have been described as essential to second-generation biofuel production. They act in the last step of the lignocellulosic saccharification, cleaving the β - 1,4 glycosidic bonds in cellobiose to produce two molecules of glucose. However, β-glucosidases have been described as strongly inhibited by glucose, causing an increment of cellobiose concentration. Also, cellobiose is an inhibitor of other enzymes used in this process, such as exoglucanases and endoglucanases. Hence, the engineering of thermostable and glucose-tolerant β-glucosidases has been targeted by many studies. In this study, we performed high sampling accelerated molecular dynamics for a wild glucose-tolerant GH1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1A), a wild non-tolerant (Bgl1B), and a set of glucose-tolerant Bgl1B's mutants: V302F, N301Q/V302F, F172I, V227M, G246S, T299S, and H228T. Our results suggest that point mutations promissory to induce glucose tolerance trend to enhance the mobility of the flexible loops around the active site. Mutations affected B and C loops regions, and an αβ-hairpin motif between them. Conformational clusters and free energy landscape profiles suggest that the mobility acquired by mutants allows a higher closure of the substrate channel. This closure is compatible with a higher impedance for glucose entrance and stimulus of its withdrawal. Based on mutants' structural analyses, we inferred that both the direct stereochemical effect on the glucose path and the changes in the mobility affect glucose tolerance. We hope these results be useful for the rational design of glucose-tolerant and industrially promising enzymes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.