The sectionalized DNA shuffling: an effective tool for molecular directed evolution of Meiothermus ruber TreS

Abstract:

[Objective] The gene M-treS from Meiothermus ruber CBS-01 encodes a trehalose synthase of 962 amino acids, named M-TreS. To improve its catalytic activity, we constructed a method of molecular directed evolution, the sectionalized DNA shuffling. [Methods] Through two PCR steps with two pairs of partially complementary primers, the M-treS gene was parted into two sections. After the two sections shuffled respectively, a whole gene was obtained through the complementarity of the primers. This method was more feasible, with higher mutability than normal DNA shuffling. [Results] Mutants were obtained after one round of the sectionalized DNA shuffling, in combination with error-prone PCR. The best mutant enzyme contained 6 amino acid substitutions, whose catalytic activity and efficiency were 1.6-fold and 2-fold of that of the wild type, respectively. In the 6 amino acid substitutions, 5 were caused by homologous recombination, and one by error-prone PCR. [Conclusion] This study indicates that the sectionalized DNA shuffling is an effective tool for molecular directed evolution of macromolecular proteins.