Kohno_2001_J.Biotechnol_87_203

Random mutagenesis was used to improve the optimum temperature for Rhizopus niveus lipase (RNL) activity. The lipase gene was mutated using the error-prone PCR technique. One desirable mutant was isolated, and three amino acids were substituted in this mutant (P18H, A36T and E218V). The wild-type and this randomly mutated lipase were both purified and characterized. The specific activity of the mutant lipase was 80% that of the wild-type. The optimum temperature of the mutant lipase was higher by 15 degrees C than that of the wild-type. To confirm which substitution contributed to enhancing the optimum temperature for enzymic activity, two chimeric lipases from the wild-type and randomly mutated gene were constructed: chimeric lipase 1 (CL-1; P18H and A36T) and chimeric lipase 2 (CL-2; E218V). Each of the chimeric enzymes was purified, and the optimum temperature for lipase activity was measured. CL-1 had a similar optimum temperature to that of the wild-type, and CL-2 had a higher temperature like the randomly mutated lipase. The mutational effect is interpreted in terms of a three-dimensional structure for the wild-type lipase.