Enhancing the thermostability and activity of glycosyltransferase UGT76G1 via computational design

The diterpene glycosyltransferase UGT76G1, derived from Stevia rebaudiana, plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of rebaudioside A, a natural sugar substitute. Nevertheless, its potential for industrial application is limited by certain enzymatic characteristics, notably thermostability. To enhance the thermostability and enzymatic activity, we employed a computational design strategy, merging stabilizing mutation scanning with a Rosetta-based protein design protocol. Compared to UGT76G1, the designed variant 76_4 exhibited a 9 °C increase in apparent T_m, a 2.55-fold increase rebaudioside A production capacity, and a substantial 11% reduction in the undesirable byproduct rebaudioside I. Variant 76_7 also showed a 1.91-fold enhancement rebaudioside A production capacity, which was maintained up to 55 °C, while the wild-type lost most of its activity. These results underscore the efficacy of structure-based design in introducing multiple mutations simultaneously, which significantly improves the enzymatic properties of UGT76G1. This strategy provides a method for the development of efficient, thermostable enzymes for industrial applications.