Enhanced thermostability and substrate susceptibility of esteraseusing directed evolution

A stereoselective-hydrolysing enzyme was cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens KCTC1767 which had high enantiomeric activity toward (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester. Analyses of typical properties resulted in low thermostability and substrate specificity. A round error-prone PCR and StEP(STaggered Extension Process) was adopted to evolute this character. As a result, the best clone 6-52 was selected which was represented to increased thermostability(40 fold) compared to wild type enzyme in $50^{\circ}C$. Additionally, specific activity toward (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester and p-nitrophenyl derivatives improved 3 fold and 1.5 fold, respectively. DNA sequence analyses was showed some exchanged amino acid residue that was L120p, 1208v, T249A, D287H and T357A. Which the 120th's leucine substituted for proline was presumed structurally important residue concerning with catalytic activity.