Use of Whole Cells and Cell-Free Extracts of Catalase-Deficient E. coli for Peroxygenase-Catalyzed Reactions

Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) with peroxygenase activity are becoming the preferred biocatalysts for oxyfunctionalization reactions. While whole cells (WCs) or cell-free extracts (CFEs) of Escherichia coli are often preferred for cofactor-dependent monooxygenase reactions, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) driven peroxygenase reactions are generally performed with purified enzymes, because the catalases produced by E. coli are expected to quickly degrade H₂O₂. We used the CRISPR/Cas system to delete the catalase encoding chromosomal genes, katG, and katE, from E. coli BL21-Gold(DE3) to obtain a catalase-deficient strain. A short UPO, DcaUPO, and two CYP peroxygenases, SscaCYP_E284A and CYP102A1_21B3, were used to compare the strains for peroxygenase expression and subsequent sulfoxidation, epoxidation, and benzylic hydroxylation activity. While 10 mM H₂O₂ was depleted within 10 min after addition to WCs and CFEs of the wild-type strain, at least 60% remained after 24 h in WCs and CFEs of the catalase-deficient strain. CYP peroxygenase reactions, with generally lower turnover frequencies, benefited the most from the use of the catalase-deficient strain. Comparison of purified peroxygenases in buffer versus CFEs of the catalase-deficient strain revealed that the peroxygenases in CFEs generally performed as well as the purified proteins. We also used WCs from catalase-deficient E. coli to screen three CYP peroxygenases, wild-type SscaCYP, SscaCYP_E284A, and SscaCYP_E284I for activity against 10 substrates comparing H₂O₂ consumption with substrate consumption and product formation. Finally, the enzyme-substrate pair with highest activity, SscaCYP_E284I, and trans-β-methylstyrene, were used in a preparative scale reaction with catalase-deficient WCs. Use of WCs or CFEs from catalase-deficient E. coli instead of purified enzymes can greatly benefit the high-throughput screening of enzyme or substrate libraries for peroxygenase activity, while they can also be used for preparative scale reactions.