9FZ0 | pdb_00009fz0

Precision Activity-Based alpha-Amylase Probes for Dissection and Annotation of Linear and Branched-Chain Starch-Degrading Enzymes.

(2025) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 64: e202415219-e202415219

• PubMed: 39601378 Search on PubMed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202415219
• Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
  9FYZ, 9FZ0, 9FZ2, 9FZ3


• PubMed Abstract: 
  

  α-Amylases are the workhorse enzymes of starch degradation. They are central to human health, including as targets for anti-diabetic compounds, but are also the key enzymes in the industrial processing of starch for biofuels, corn syrups, brewing and detergents. Dissection of the activity, specificity and stability of α-amylases is crucial to understanding their biology and allowing their exploitation. Yet, functional characterization lags behind DNA sequencing and genomics; and new tools are required for rapid analysis of α-amylase function. Here, we design, synthesize and apply new branched α-amylase activity-based probes. Using both α-1,6 branched and unbranched α-1,4 maltobiose activity-based probes we were able to explore the stability and substrate specificity of both a panel of human gut microbial α-amylases and a panel of industrially relevant α-amylases. We also demonstrate how we can detect and annotate the substrate specificity of α-amylases in the complex cell lysate of both a prominent gut microbe and a diverse compost sample by in-gel fluorescence and mass spectrometry. A toolbox of starch-active activity-based probes will enable rapid functional dissection of α-amylases. We envisage activity-based probes contributing to better selection and engineering of enzymes for industrial application as well as fundamental analysis of enzymes in human health.

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Organizational Affiliation: 

University of York, York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.