Computer-driven Evolution of Myrosinase from the Cabbage Aphid for Efficient Production of (R)-Sulforaphane.

Myrosinase (Myr) catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, yielding biologically active metabolites. In this study, glucoraphanin (GRA) extracted from broccoli seeds was effectively hydrolyzed using a Myr-obtained cabbage aphid ( Brevicoryne brassicae ) ( Bb Myr) to produce (R)-sulforaphane (SFN). The gene encoding Bb Myr was successfully heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli , resulting in the production of 1.6 g/L (R)-SFN, with a remarkable yield of 20.8 mg/g broccoli seeds , achieved using recombination E. coli whole-cell catalysis under optimal conditions (pH 4.5, 45 °C). Subsequently, Bb Myr underwent combinatorial simulation-driven mutagenesis, yielding a mutant, DE9 (N321D/Y426S), showing a remarkable 2.91-fold increase in the catalytic efficiency ( k cat / K M ) compared with the original enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the N321D mutation in loopA of mutant DE9 enhanced loopA stability by inducing favorable alterations in hydrogen bonds, while the Y426S mutation in loopB decreased spatial resistance. This research lays a foundation for the environmentally sustainable enzymatic (R)-SFN synthesis.