Serrano-Hervas_2018_Chemistry_24_12254

The conformational landscape of Bacillus megaterium epoxide hydrolase (BmEH) and how it is altered by mutations that confer the enzyme the ability to accept bulky epoxide substrates has been investigated. Extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations coupled to active site volume calculations have unveiled relevant features of the enzyme conformational dynamics and function. Our long-timescale MD simulations identify key conformational states not previously observed by means of X-ray crystallography and short MD simulations that present the loop containing one of the catalytic residues, Asp239, in a wide-open conformation, which is likely involved in the binding of the epoxide substrate. Introduction of mutations M145S and F128A dramatically alters the conformational landscape of the enzyme. These singly mutated variants can accept bulky epoxide substrates due to the disorder induced by mutation in the alpha-helix containing the catalytic Tyr144 and some parts of the lid domain. These changes impact the enzyme active site, which is substantially wider and more complementary to the bulky pharmacologically relevant epoxide substrates.