AU2007202329A1 - Method of screening for enzyme activity - Google Patents

Description

P/001011 Regulation 32

AUSTRMLIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Method of screening for enzyme activity The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: METHOD OF SCREENING FOR ENZYME ACTIVITY This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.

application serial no. 08/692,002 filed on August 2, 1996 (copending) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.

provisional application no. 60/008,317 which was filed on December 7, 1995 (copending); a continuation-in-part of U.S. application serial no. 08/651,568 filed on May 22, 1996 (copending) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.

provisional application no. 60/008,316 which was filed on December 7, 1995 (copending); and a continuation-in-part /O of U.S. provisional application no. 60/008,311 which was filed on December 7, 1995 (copending).

The present invention relates to the production and screening of expression libraries for enzyme activity and, more particularly, to obtaining selected DNA from DNA of a microorganism and to screening of an expression library for enzyme activity which is produced from selected DNA, to the directed mutagenesis of DNA and screening of clones containing the mutagenized DNA for resultant specified protein, particularly enzyme, <0 activity(ies) of interest, and to thermostable enzymes, more particularly, the present invention relates to thermostable enzymes which are stable at high temperature and which have improved activity at lower temperatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Industry has recognized the need for new enzymes for a wide variety of industrial applications. As a result, a variety of microorganisms have been screened to ascertain whether such microorganisms have a desired enzyme activity. If such microorganisms do have the desired enzyme activity, the enzyme is then recovered from them. The present invention provides a novel approach for obtaining enzymes for further use, for example, for a wide variety of industrial applications, /O for medical applications, for packaging into kits for use as research reagents, etc.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, recombinant enzymes are generated from microorganisms and are classified by various enzyme characteristics.

More particularly, one aspect of the present invention provides a process for identifying clones having a specified enzyme activity, which process comprises: screening for said specified enzyme activity in a 0Q library of clones prepared by selectively isolating target DNA, from DNA derived from at least one microorganism, by use of at least one probe DNA comprising at least a portion of a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified Senzyme activity; and (ii) transforming a host with isolated target DNA to produce a library of clones which are screened, preferably for the specified enzyme activity, using an activity library screening or nucleic acid library -QO screening protocol.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, DNA obtained from at least one microorganism is selected by recovering from the DNA, DNA which spcifically binds, such as by hybridization, to a probe DNA sequence. The -2- DNA obtained from the microorganism or microorganisms can be genomic DNA or genomic gene library DNA. One could even use DNA prepared for vector ligation, for instance.

The probe may be directly or indirectly bound to a solid phase by which it is separated from the DNA which is not hybridized or otherwise specifically bound to the probe.

The process can also include releasing DNA from said probe after recovering said hybridized or otherwise bound DNA and amplifying the DNA so released.

/0 The invention also provides for screening of the expression libraries for gene cluster protein product(s) and, more particularly, to obtaining selected gene clusters from DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote and to screening of an expression library for a desired activity of a protein of related activity(ies) of a family of proteins which results from expression of the selected gene cluster DNA of interest.

More particularly, one embodiment of this aspect provides a process for identifying clones having a specified protein(s) activity, which process comprises screening for said specified enzyme activity in the library of clones prepared by selectively isolating target gene cluster DNA, from DNA derived from at least one organism, by use of at least one probe polynucleotide 2f comprising at least a portion of a polynucleotide sequence complementary to a DNA sequence encoding the protein(s) having the specified activity of interest; and (ii) transforming a host with isolated target gene cluster DNA to produce a library of such clones which are screened for the specified activity of interest. For example, if one is using DNA in a lambda vector one could package the DNA and infect cells via this route.

In a particular embodiment of this aspect, gene cluster DNA obtained from the genomic DNA of the organism(s) is selected by recovering from the DNA, DNA which specifically binds, such as by hybridization, to a probe DNA sequence. The polynucleotide probe may be directly or indirectly bound to a solid phase by which it is separated from the DNA which is not hybridized or otherwise specifically bound to the probe. This embodiment of this aspect of the process of the invention can also include releasing bound DNA from said urobe after recovering said hybridized or otherwise bound DNA and amplifying the DNA so released.

/0 Another aspect of the invention provides a process for obtaining an enzyme having a specified enzyme activity derived from a heterogeneous DNA population, which process comprises screening, for the specified enzyme activity, a library of clones containing DNA from the heterogeneous DNA population which have been exposed to directed mutagenesis towards production of the specified enzyme activity.

Another aspect of the invention provides a process for obtaining an enzyme having a specified enzyme activity, which process comprises: screening, for the specified enzyme activity, a library of clones containing DNA from a pool of DNA populations which have been exposed to directed mutagenesis in an attempt to produce in the library of clones DNA encoding an enzyme having 9f one or more desired characteristics, which can be the same or different from the specified enzyme activity. In a preferred embodiment, the DNA pool which is subjected to directed mutagenesis is a pool of DNA which has been selected to encode enzymes having at least one enzyme characteristic, in particular at least one common enzyme activity.

Also provided is a process for obtaining a protein having a specified activity derived from a heterogeneous population of gene clusters by screening, for the 3S specified protein activity, a library of clones containing gene clusters from the heterogeneous gene cluster population which have been exposed to directed mutagenesis towards production of specified protein activities of interest.

Also provided is a process of obtaining a cene cluster protein product having a specified activity, by screening, for the specified protein activity, a library of clones containing gene clusters from a pool of gene cluster populations which have been exposed to directed /O mutagenesis to produce in the library of clones aene clusters encoding proteins having one or more desired characteristics, which can be the same or different from the specified protein activity. Preferably, the pool of gene clusters which is subjected to directed mutagenesis /i is one which has been selected to encode proteins having enzymatic activity in the synthesis of at least one therapeutic, prophylactic or physiological regulatory activity.

The process of either of these aspects can further comprise, prior to the directed mutagenesis, selectively recovering from the heterogeneous population of gene clusters, gene clusters which comprise pclycistronic seauences .coding for proteins having at least one common physical, chemical or functional characteristic which can 2( be the same or different from the activity observed prior to directed mutagenesis. Preferably, recovering the gene cluster preparation comprises contacting the gene cluster population with a specific binding partner, such as a solid phase-bound hybridization probe, for at least a portion of the gene cluster of interest. The common characteristic of the resultant protein(s) can be classes of the types of activity specified above, such as a series of enzymes related as parts of a common synthesis pathway or proteins capable of hormonal, signal 3 transduction or inhibition of metabolic pathways or their functions in pathogens and the like. The gene cluster DNA is recovered from clones containing such gene cluster DNA from the heterogeneous gene cluster population which exhibit the activity of interest. Preferablv, the direc:ed mutagenesis is site-specific directed 6 mutagenesis. This process can further include a step of pre-screening the library of clones for an activity, which can be the same or different from the sDecified activity of interest, prior to exposing them to directed mutagenesis. This activity can result, for example, from QO the expression of a protein or related family of proteins of interest.

The process of any of these aspects can further comprise, prior to said directed mutagenesis, selectively recovering from the heterogeneous DNA population DNA 1S which comprises DNA sequences coding for enzymes having at least one common characteristic, which can be the same or different from the specified enzyme activity.

Preferably, recovering the DNA preparation comprises contacting the DNA population with a specific binding partner, such as a solid phase bound hybridization probe, for at least a portion of the coding sequences. The common characteristic can be, for example, a class of enzyme activity, such as hydrolase activity. DNA is recovered from clones containing DNA from the 2 heterogeneous DNA population which exhibit the class of enzyme activity. Preferably, the directed mutagenesis is site-specific directed mutagenesis. The process of this aspect can further include a step of prescreening the library of clones for an activity, which can be the same or different from the specified enzyme activity, prior to exposing them to directed mutagenesis. This activity can result, for example, from the expression of a protein of interest.

The heterogeneous DNA population from which the DNA library is derived is a complex mixture of DNA, such as is obtained, for example, from an environmental sample.

Such samnles can contain unculturable, uncult-urer:or cultured multinrle or single organisms. T'rzS environmental sainoles can be obtalned frocm, for ;Examo 1 le Arctic and Antarctic ice, water or perma::-ost sources, materials of volcanic orlQin, materials f-rcm soril or olant sources in tropical areas, etc. va '-etv of k-nowr technirnies can be applied to enrich the envrironmental sample for oraanisms of interest, includino dffe -ent-1 culturing, sedimentation gradient a;:ffini:y maht--ces, 110 capQillary electronhoresi s, optical tweezers and -fluorescence activated cell sorting. The sam-oles can also be cultures of a single organism.

Thermostable enzymes are enzymes tha:- function at orreater than 60 0 C. Thermostable enzymes are utilized in 1~both industr-v and biomedical research in assays whnere certain steps of the assay are performed at signi-ficantly -ncreased temoeratur-es. Thermostable enzym-es may be obtained from thermophil ic organisms found in hot s-orings, volcanic origin, tropical areas etc. Examples of such organisms, fo-- instance, include or)-okarvotic microorgan isms, such as eubacteria and arc-haebacteria (3ronneomerier, K. and Staudenbauer, W. D.R. Woods (ed) the Clostridia and Biotech-nologyr, Butt-_eworth Publishers, Stoneham, M.A. (1993), amona other orcran-isms.

IS' Thermostable enzymes exhibit greater storage life capacity and organic solvent resistance, as compared to their mesoo~hilic counteroarts.

There are aoinlications in indust-rv and in research frthermostable enzymes which exhibit enzyme activity at a desired minimum r-emoerature. A~n examnle of this occurs in molecular diacrnostics wherein reportr- molecules must survive long term storage at room temperature or hnigher or they need to function in unusual environments, and the assays which employ them are performed a: room temperature where the activity of the thermostable enzymes is generally very low.

In one aspect the present invention provides a process tbr identifying clones having a specified enzyme activity, which process comprises screening for said specified enzyme activity in a library of clones prepared by: selecting and recovering target nucleic acid from a nucleic acid population derived from at least two microorganisms, by use of at least one nucleic acid or nucleic acid like hybridizing probe comprising at least a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having a specified activity: and (ii) transforming a host with recovered target nucleic acid to produce a library of clones comprised of a subset of the original nucleic acid population which are screened for a specified activity.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a process in which a nucleic acid library derived from at least one microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom double-stranded nucleic acid which hybridizes to one or more probe nucleic acid sequences which is all or a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having the specified protein activity, which process comprises: contacting the double-stranded nucleic acid population with the nucleic acid probe bound to a ligand under conditions permissive of hybridization so as to produce a complex of probe and members of the nucleic acid population which hybridize thereto; contacting the complex of with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; separating the solid phase complex from the unbound nucleic acid population of(b); releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the solid phase bound probe; introducing the double-stranded nucleic acid of into a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected nucleic acid; and screening the library for the specified protein activity.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for obtaining a protein having a specified protein activity derived from a heterogeneous nucleic acid population, which process comprises: screening, for the specified enzyme activity, a library of clones containing nucleic acid tiomn the heterogeneous nucleic acid population which have been modified or mutagenized towards production of the specified activity.

In another aspect, the invention provides a process for obtaining a protein having a specified protein activity, which process comprises: screening, for the specified activity, a library of clones containing nucleic acid from a pool of nucleic acid populations which have been exposed to mutagenesis in an attempt to produce in the library of clones nucleic acid encoding a protein having one or more desired characteristics which can be the same or different from the specified protein activity.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a process for providing a thermostable enzyme having improved enzyme activities at lower temperatures, said enzyme being a member selected from the group consisting of an enzyme or a polynucleotide encoding said enzyme comprising: subjecting to mutagenesis at least one enzyme which is stable at a temperature of at least 600C; and screening mutants produced in for a mutated enzyme or polynucleotide encoding a mutated enzyme, which mutated enzyme is stable at a temperature of at least 600C and which has an enzyme activity at a temperature at least 10 C below its optimal temperature range and which has activity greater than the enzyme of step In yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a process in which a nucleic acid library derived from at least one microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom double-stranded nucleic acid which hybridizes to one or more probe nucleic acid sequences which is all or a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having the specified protein activity, which process comprises: contacting the double-stranded nucleic acid population with the nucleic acid probe bound to a ligand under conditions permissive of hybridization so as to produce a complex of probe and members of the nucleic acid population which hybridize thereto: separating the complexes from the unbound nucleic acid population; 8a releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the probe; introducing the double-stranded nucleic acid of into a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected nucleic acid; and screening the library for the specified protein activity.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Any description of prior art documents herein is not an admission that the documents form part of the common general knowledge of the relevant art in Australia.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figures 1A and 1 B. Figure 1A is a photograph of an agarose gel containing standards and samples a-f described in Example 2. Samples c-f represent DNA recovered from a genomic DNA library using two specific DNA probes and amplified using gene specific primers, as described in Example 2. Figure 1B is also a photograph of an agarose gel containing standards and samples a-f described in Example 2. Samples c-f represent DNA recovered from a genomic DNA library using two specific DNA probes and amplified using vector specific primers, as described in Example 2.

Figure 2 is a photograph of four colony hybridization plates. Plates A and B showed positive clones colonies which contained DNA prepared in -8b accordance with the present invention, also contained CA probe sequence. Plates C and D were controls and showed no positive clones.

c- Figure 3 illustrates the full length DNA sequence and corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of Thermococcus 9N2 Beta-glycosidase.

Cc SDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1 The terms "derived" or "isolated" means that Smaterial is removed from its original environment the natural environment if it is naturally occurring) For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleocide or polypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural 1/ system, is isolated.

The term "error-prone PCR" refers to a process for performing PCR under conditions where the copying fidelity of the DNA polymerase is low, such that a high rate of point mutations is obtained along the entire length of the PCR product. Leung, et al., Technique, 1:11-15 (1989) and Caldwell, R.C. Joyce PCR Methods Applic., 2:28-33 (1992) The term "oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis" refers to a process which allows for the generation of 1K site-specific mutations in any cloned DNA segment of interest. Reidhaar-Olson, J.F. Sauer, et al., Science, 241:53-57 (1988).

The term "assembly PCR" refers to a process which involves the assembly of a PCR product from a mixture of 3. small DNA fragments. A large number of different PCR reactions occur in parallel in the same vial, with the products of one reaction priming the products of another reaction.

The term "sexual PCR mutagenesis" refers to forced homologous recombination between DNA molecules of different but highly related DNA sequence in vitro, caused by random fragmentation of the DNA molecule based on sequence homology, followed by fixation of the crossover by primer extension in a PCR reaction.

Stemmer, PNAS, USA, 91:10747-10751 (1994).

f0 The term "in vivo mutagenesis" refers to a process of generating random mutations in any cloned DNA of interest which involves the propogation of the DNA in a strain of E. coli that carries mutations in one or more of the DNA repair pathways. These "mutator" strains have a higher random mutation rate than that of a wild-type parent. Propogating the DNA in one of these strains will eventually generate random mutations within the DNA.

The term "cassette mutagenesis" refers to any process for replacing a small region of a double stranded DNA molecule with a synthetic oligonucieotide "cassette" that differs from the native sequence. The oligonucleotide often contains completely and/or partially randomized native sequence.

The term "recursive ensemble mutagenesis" refers to S an algorithm for protein engineering (protein mutagenesis) developed to produce diverse populations of phenotypically related mutants whose members differ in amino acid sequence. This method uses a feedback mechanism to control successive rounds of combinatorial 3o cassette mutagenesis. Arkin, A.P. and Youvan, D.C., PNAS, USA, 89:7811-7815 (1992).

The term "exponential ensemble mutagenesis" refers to a process for generating combinatorial libraries with a high percentage of unique and functional mruants, CA wherein small groups of residues are randomized in Darallel to identify, at each altered position, amino acids which lead to functional proteins, Delegrave, S.

C- 5 and Youvan, Biozechnology Research, 11:1548-1552 (1993); and random and site-directed mutagenesis, Arnold, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 4:450-455 (1993) lof the references mentioned above are hereby Sincorporated by reference in their entirety.

/0 As described with resoect to one of the above 0 aspects, the invention provides a process for enzyme activity screening of clones containing selected DNA derived from a microorganism which process comprises: screening a library for specified enzyme activity, said library including a plurality of clones, said clones having been prepared by recovering from DNA of a microorganism selected DNA, which DNA is selected by hybridization to at least one DNA secuence which is all or a portion of a DNA sequence encoding an enzynme having Q0 the specified activity; and transforming a host with the selected DNA to produce clones which are screened for the specified enzyme activity.

In one embodiment, a DNA library derived from a 29 microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom DNA which hybridizes to one or more probe DNA sequences which is all or a portion of a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified enzyme activity by: O rendering the double-stranded DNA population into a single-stranded DNA population; contacting the single-stranded DNA population of with the DNA probe bound to a ligand under conditions permissive of hybridization so as to produce a double-stranded complex of probe and members of the DNA population which hybridize thereto; -11contacting the double-stranded complex of (b) with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; separacing the solid phase complex from the single-stranded DNA population of releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the solid phase bound Probe; forming double-stranded DNA from the members of f0 the population of introducing the double-stranded DNA of into a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected DNA; and screening the library for the specified enzyme IS activity.

In another embodiment, a DNA library derived from a microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom double-stranded DNA which hybridizes to one or more probe DNA sequences which is all or a portion QO of a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified enzyme activity by: contacting the double-stranded DNA population with the DNA probe bound to a ligand under conditions permissive of hybridization so as to produce a complex of probe and members of the DNA population which hybridize thereto; contacting the complex of with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; 33 separating the solid phase complex from the unbound DNA population of releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the solid phase bound probe; introducing the double-stranded DNA of into 3 a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected DNA; and screening the library for the specified enzyme activity.

In another aspect, the process includes a preselection to recover DNA including signal or secretion S seouences. In this manner it is possible to select from the DNA population by hybridization as hereinabove described only DNA which includes a signal or secretion sequence. The following paragraphs describe the protocol for this embodiment of the invention, the nature and IO function of secretion signal sequences in general and a specific exemplary application of such sequences to an assay or selection process.

Another particularly preferred embodiment of this aspect further comprises, after but before above, IS the steps of: contacting the double-stranded DNA population of with a ligand-bound oligonucleotide probe that is complementary to a secretion signal sequence unique to a given class of proteins under conditions permissive of hybridization to form a double-stranded complex; contacting the complex of (a i) with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a.solid phase complex; (iii) separating the solid phase complex from the 2 unbound DNA population; (iv) releasing the members of the population which had bound to said solid phase bound probe; and separating the solid phase bound probe from the members of the population which had bound thereto.

The DNA which has been selected and isolated to include a signal sequence is then subjected to the selection procedure hereinabove described to select and isolate therefrom DNA which binds to one or more probe DNA sequences derived from DNA encoding an enzyme(s) having the specified enzyme activity.

-13- The pathways by which proteins are sorted and transported to their proper cellular location are often referred to as protein targeting pathways. One of the most important elements in all of these targeting systems is a short amino acid sequence at the amino terminus of a newly synthesized polypeptide called the signal sequence.

This signal sequence directs a protein to its appropriate location in the cell and is removed during transport or when the protein reaches its final destination. Most lysosomal, membrane, or secreted proteins have an aminoterminal signal sequence that marks them for translocation into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. More than 100 signal sequences for proteins in this group have been determined. The sequences vary I/ in length from 13 to 36 amino acid residues.

A phoA expression vector, termed pMG, which, like TaphoA, is useful in identifying genes encoding membranespanning sequences or signal peptides. Giladi et al., J.

Bacteriol., 175(13):4129-4136, 1993. This cloning system has been modified to facilitate the distinction of outer membrane and periplasmic alkaline phosphatase (AP) fusion proteins from inner membrane AP fusion proteins by transforming pMG recombinants into E. coli KS330, the strain utilized in the "blue halo" assay first described 2s by Strauch and Beckwith, Proc. Na=. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:1576-1580, 1988. The pMG/KS330r cloning and screening approach can identify genes encoding proteins with clevable signal peptides and therefore can serve as a first step in the identification of genes encoding polypeptides of interest.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a process for obtaining an enzyme having a specified enzyme activity, derived from a heterogeneous DNA population by screening, for the specified enzyme activity, a library of clones containing DNA from the heterogeneous DNA population which have been exposed to directed -14owaros irroduct- 2. L_ nzm a ctiiy Th roce ss can further Comcpr~s -~t sa--d directed mutacenesis, se1ectiv_ recoverv -From the heterogeni9ous DNA populattion DNA whicln comcrlses

DNA

secuences codinfg for- a commron cnaracter.st2.c, wh-1chn can be the same or d-Lfferent f-'rom the s:Dec4l::;-;edenz-,rme actIiv. The commlon zflar-acterist2ic can be, -for exaraci'e, a class of enzvme activi-tv. ThInis i nvolves r-eo, erina DNA :rocm clones cont-alning DNA f-rom the heteroaeneous

DNA

wn :cn exhibit the class of" e~m actz-vit v.

In this embodiment-, r-ecover,_ngc toe DNA preparat-ion 0oreferablv is done by contacting the DNA, nor)ulation witn a snecific binding partner, such as a so'_-ld' ohase bound hvbridizatiofl orobe, for at least a :norti-on of tecod-ing sequiences.

The o,:rocess of: this embodiment can urerComor-ise prescreeni--ng said library of clones for an acti-vity, wbn ci- car, be the same or- differerit from the soecif'ied enzvme ac-_vitv, prior t:o expos ing them to directed mutagenesis. The orescreenirig of said c-Iones can be, -for examole, for the exoression of.: a nrotein- interest.

A4nother- embodiment of the invent-ion -orovides a crocess for obtaining an enzyme having a snoecl f d enzymne activitv, which process comrlses sc-reenloc, for the scecif'ied enzyme activity, a library of clne cotilng DNA f rom a cool of DNA populat-ions which hav,.e been exonosed to directed mutagenesis, whic.h can be sitesroecific, -in an attemnt to p)roduce in the ILibrarv or" clones DNA encoding an en"zyme having one or more desi red ~O characerst__cs whichn can be the sam,,e or- dif rom the specified enz%-,e activity. The process of this embodiment- can fu_,rther- include, orior to said directed mutagenesis, selectively recoverifla fromto heterogeneous DNA population DNA whiJch comriseS DNA sequaences codioc n-for at- least one commuon enzy7%me characteristic, which can be the same or different from the specified enzyme activity.

In this embodiment, recovering the DNA preparation can comprise contacting the DNA population with a specific binding partner for at least a portion of the coding sequences. The specific binding partner is a solid phase bound hybridization probe. DNA is recovered from clones containing DNA from the heterogeneous DNA population which exhibit the class of enzyme activity.

/O Applicant has found that it is possible to provide thermostable enzymes which have improved activity at lower temperatures. More particularly, Applicant has found that the activity of thermophilic enzymes can be improved at lower temperatures while maintaining the /S temperature stability of such enzymes. Further, it has been found that there can be obtained a thermostable enzyme with improved activity at lower temperature by subjecting to mutagenesis a thermostable enzyme or polynucleotide encoding such thermostable enzyme followed by a screening of the resulting mutants to identify a mutated enzyme or a mutated polynucleotide encoding a mutated enzyme, which mutated enzyme retains thermostabilitv and which has an enzyme activity at lower temperatures which is at least two times greater than a corresponding non-mutated enzyme.

The thermostable enzymes and mutated thermostable enzymes are stable at temperatures up to 600C and preferably are stable at temperatures of up to 700C and more preferably at temperatures up to 950C and higher.

3D Increased activity of mutated thermostable enzymes at lower temperatures is meant to encompass activities which are at least two-fold, preferably at least fourfold, and more preferably at least ten-fold greater than that of the corresponding wild-type enzyme.

Increased enzyme activity at lower temperatures means that enzyme activity is increased at a temperature below 50 0 C, preferably below 40 0 C and more preferably below 300C. Thus, in comparing enzyme activity at a lower temperature between the mutated and non-mutated enzyme, the enzyme activity of the muzated enzyme at defined lower temperatures is at least 2 times greater than the enzyme activity of the corresponding non-mutated enzyme.

/0 Thus, lower temperatures and lower temperature ranges include temperatures which are at least 5 0 C less than the temperature at which thermostable enzymes are stable, which includes temperatures below 55 0 C, 500C, 450C, 40°C, 35°C, 30 0 C, 25 0 C and 200C, with below 500C f/ being preferred, and below 40 being more preferred, and below 300C (or approximately room temperature) being most preferred.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the lower cemperature or lower temperature range at which a greater enzyme activity is desired is determined and a thermostable enzyme(s), or polynucleotide encoding such enzyme(s), are subjected to mutagenesis and the resulting mutants are screened to determine mutated enzymes (or polynucleotide encoding mutated enzymes) which retain 2S thermostability and which have a minimum desired increase in enzyme activity at the desired temperature or temperature range.

Thermostable enzymes are enzymes which have activity, i.e. are not degraded, at temperatures above 600C. Thermostable enzymes also have increased storage life, and high resistance to organic solvents.

Thermostable enzymes may be isolated from thermophilic organisms such as those which are found in elevated temperatures such as in hot springs, volcanic areas and tropical areas. Examples of thermophilic organisms are prokaryotic organisms for example, thermophilic bacteria such as eubacteria and archaebacteria.

The DNA from these thermostable organisms can then be isolated by available techniques that are described in the literature. The IsoQuick" nucleic acid extraction kit (MicroProbe Corporation) is suitable for this pu-rpose.

Alternatively, enzymes not known to have 1/ thermostable properties can be screened for such properties by inserting the DNA encoding the enzyme in an expression vector and transforming a suitable host as hereinafter described, such that the enzyme may be expressed and screened for positive thermostable iS activity.

The isolated DNA encoding a thermostable enzyme is subjected to mutagenesis techniques, with the Dreferred type of mutagenesis techniques being set forth herein.

As can be seen from the above-defined mutagenesis techniques, the DNA encoding an enzyme having the desired activity may be subject to mutagenesis alone, i.e. as naked DNA, or the DNA may be subjected to mutagenesis after insertion into an appropriate vector as described herein. These techniques are referred to as in vitro mutagenesis.

Alternatively, in vivo mutagenesis may be performed wherein the DNA is subjected to mutagenesis while it is within a cell or living organism. A preferred example of this technique utilizes the XL1 Red Strain of E. coli (Stratagene, Inc.) which has its DNA repair genes, MutH, MutL and MutS, deleted such that many different mutations occur in a short time. Up to 10,000 mutations may take place within a 30 hour time span such that an entire -18mutated DNA library may be prepared from mutated DNA by procedures known in the art.

After an appropriate amount of time to allow mutations to take place, the mutated DNA is excised from the host cell in the case of in vivo mutagenesis and inserted in another appropriate vector and used to transform a non-mutator host, for example, XL1 Blue strain of E. coli after which a mutated DNA library is prenared. In the case of in vitro mutagenesis, if the /0 mutated DNA has previously been inserted in an appropriate expression vector, said vector is then used directly to transform an appropriate non-mutator host for the prenaration of a mutated DNA library, if the mutagenized DNA is not in an appropriate expression vector.

A library is prepared for screening by transforming a suitable organism. Hosts, particularly those specifically identified herein as preferred, are transformed by artificial introduction of the vectors containing the mutated DNA by inoculation under conditions conducive for such transformation.

The resultant libraries of transformed clones are then screened for clones which display activity for the enzyme of interest in a phenotypic assay for enzyme 2S activity.

For example, having prepared a multiplicity of clones from DNA mutagenized by one of the techniques described above, such clones are screened for the specific enzyme activity of interest.

For example, the clones containing the mutated DNA are now subject to screening procedures to determine their activity within both higher temperatures and within the desired lower temperature range to identify mutants -19which have the desired increase in activity within the lower temperature range when compared to the corresponding wild-tvye thermostable enzyme which is nonmutated.

Positively identified clones, i.e. those which contain mutated DNA sequences which express thermostable enzymes which are thermostable and yet have an increased activity at least two times than the corresponding wildtype enzyme at temperatures within the lower temperature /0 range, are isolated and sequenced to identify the DNA sequence. As an example, phosphatase activity at the desired lower temperature ranges may be identified by exposing the clones, and thus the thermostable enzyme and testing its ability to cleave an appropriate substrate.

In Example 7 phosphatase and 8-galaccosidase activity are measured by comparing the wild-type enzymes to the enzymes subjected to mutagenesis. As can be seen from the results reported there, mutagenesis of a wildtype phosphatase and /-galactosidase thermcohilic enzyme produce mutated enzymes which were 3 and 2.5 times more active, respectively, at lower temperatures than the corresponding wild-type enzymes within the lower temperature range of room temperature.

In the case of protein engineering, after subjecting 2. a thermophilic enzyme to mutagenesis, the mutagenized enzyme is screened for the desired activity namely, increased activity at lower temperatures while maintaining activity at the higher temoeratures. Any of the known techniques for protein mutagenesis may be employed, with particularly preferred mutagenesis techniques being those discussed above.

The DNA derived from a microorganism(s) is preferably inserted into an appropriate veccor (generally a vector containing suitable regulatory sequences for effectina expression) prior to subjecting such DNA to a selection procedure to select and isolate therefrom DNA which hybridizes to DNA derived from DNA encoding an enzyme(s) having the specified enzyme activity.

S The microorganisms from which the libraries may be prepared include prokaryotic microorganisms, such as Eubacteria and Archaebacteria, and lower eukaryotic microorganisms such as fungi, some algae and protozoa.

The microorganisms may be cultured microorganisms or /O uncultured microorganisms obtained from environmental samples and such microorganisms may be extremophiles, such as thermophiles, hvperthermophiles, psychrophiles, psychrotrophs, etc.

As indicated above, the library may be produced from environmental samples in which case DNA may be recovered without culturing of an organism or the DNA may be recovered from a cultured organism.

Sources of microorganism DNA as a starting material library from which target DNA is obtained are particularly contemplated to include environmental samples, such as microbial samples obtained from Arctic and Antarctic ice, water or permafrost sources, materials of volcanic origin, materials from soil or plant sources in tropical areas, etc. Thus, for example, DNA may be 2 recovered from either a culturable or non-culturable organism and employed to produce an appropriate recombinant expression library for subsequent determination of enzyme activity.

Bacteria and many eukaryotes have a coordinated mechanism for regulating genes whose products are involved in related processes. The genes are clustered, in structures referred to as "gene clusters," on a single chromosome and are transcribed together under the control of a single regulatory sequence, including a single -21promoter which initiates transcription of the entire cluster. The gene cluster, the promoter, and additional seaqences that function in regulation altogether are referred to as an "operon" and can include un to 20 or more genes, usually from 2 to 6 genes. Thus, a gene cluster is a group of adjacent genes that are either identical or related, usually as to their function.

Some gene families consist of identical members.

Clustering is a prerequisite for maintaining identity /0 between genes, although clustered genes are not necessarily identical. Gene clusters range from extremes where a duplication is generated to adjacent related genes to cases where hundreds of identical genes lie in a tandem array. Sometimes no significance is discernable in a repetition of a particular gene. A principal example of this is the expressed duplicate insulin genes in some species, whereas a single insulin gene is adequate in other mammalian species.

Ic is important to further research gene clusters and the extent to which the full length of the cluster is necessary for the expression of the proteins resulting therefrom. Further, gene clusters undergo continual reorganization and, thus, the ability to create heterogeneous libraries of gene clusters from, for -f example, bacterial or other prokaryote sources is valuable in determining sources of novel proteins, particularly including enzymes such as, for example, the polyketide synthases that are responsible for the synthesis of polyketides having a vast array of useful activities. Other types of proteins that are the product(s) of gene clusters are also contemplated, including, for example, antibiotics, antivirals, antitumor agents and regulatory proteins, such as insulin.

-22- Polvketides are molecules which are an extremely rich source of bioactivities, including antibiotics (such as tetracyclines and erythromycin), anti-cancer agents (daunomycin), immunosuppressants (FK506 and rapamycin), S and veterinary products (monensin) Many polyketides (produced by polyketide synthases) are valuable as therapeutic agents. Polyketide synthases are multifunctional enzymes that catalyze the biosynthesis of a hugh variety of carbon chains differing in length and /O patterns of functionality and cyclization. Polyketide synthase genes fall into gene clusters and at least one type (designated type I) of polyketide synthases have large size genes and enzymes, complicating genetic manipulation and in vitro studies of these /l genes/proteins.

The ability to select and combine desired components from a library of polyketides and postpolykeide biosynthesis genes for generation of novel polyketides for study is appealing. The method(s) of the present 2o invention make it possible to and facilitate the cloning of novel polyketide synthases, since one can generate gene banks with clones containing large inserts (especially when using the f-factor based vectors), which facilitates cloning of gene clusters.

21 Preferably, the gene cluster DNA is ligated into a vector, particularly wherein a vector further comprises expression regulatory secuences which can control and regulate the production of a detectable protein or Drotein-related array activity from the ligated gene 33 clusters. Use of vectors which have an exceptionally large capacity for exogenous DNA introduction are particularly appropriate for use with such gene clusters and are described by way of example herein to include the f-factor (or fertility factor) of E. coii. This f-factor of E. coli is a plasmid which affect high-frecruency transfer of itself during conjugation and is ideal to -23achieve and stably propagate large DNA fragments, such as Sgene clusters from mixed microbial samples.

The DNA can then be isolated by available techniques that are described in the literature. The IsoQuick i nucleic acid extraction kit (MicroProbe Corporation) is suitable for this purpose.

SThe DNA isolated or derived from these C microorganisms can preferably be inserted into a vector or a plasmid prior to probing for selected DNA. Such /O vectors or plasmids are preferably those containing 0 expression regulatory sequences, including promoters, enhancers and the like. Such polynucleotides can be part of a vector and/or a composition and still be isolated, in that such vector or comoosition is not Dart of its f< natural environment. Particularly preferred phage or plasmid and methods for introduction and packaging into them are described in detail in the protocol set forth herein.

The following outlines a general procedure for producing libraries from both culturable and nonculturable organisms, which libraries can be probed to select therefrom DNA sequences which hybridize to specified probe DNA: ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE 21 Obtain Biomass DNA Isolation (various methods) Shear DNA (25 gauge needle) Blunt DNA (Mung Bean Nuclease) Methylate DNA (EcoR I Methylase) Ligate to EcoR I linkers (GGAATTCC) Cut back linkers (EcoR I Restriction Endonuclease) Size Fractionate (Sucrose Gradient) Ligate to lambda vector (lambda Zap II and gtll) Package (in vitro lambda packaging extract) -24 Plate on E. coli host and amplify Clones having an enzyme activity of interest are identified by screening. This screening can be done either by hybridization, to identify the presence of DNA coding for the enzyme of interest or by detection of the enzymatic activity of interest.

The probe DNA used for selectively isolating the target DNA of interest from the DNA derived from at least one microorganism can be a full-length coding region sequence or a partial coding region sequence of DNA for an enzyme of known activity. The original DNA library can be preferably probed using mixtures of probes comprising at least a portion of DNA sequences encoding enzymes having the specified enzyme activity. These probes or probe libraries are preferably single-stranded and the microbial DNA which is probed has preferably been converted into single-stranded form. The probes that are particularly suitable are those derived from DNA encoding enzymes having an activity similar or identical to the specified enzyme activity which is to be screened.

The urobe DNA should be at least about 10 bases and Dreferablv at least 15 bases. In one embodiment, the entire coding region may be employed as a probe.

Conditions for the hybridization in which target DNA is 2 selectively isolated by the use of at least one DNA probe will be designed to provide a hybridization stringency of at least about 50% sequence identity, more particularly a stringency providing for a sequence identity of at least about 70%, preferably Eo Hybridization techniques for probing a microbial DNA library to isolate target DNA of potential interest are well known in the art and any of those which are described in the literature are suitable for use herein, particularly those which use a solid phase-bound, directly or indirectly bound, to probe DNA for separation from the remainder of the DNA derived from the microorganisms. Solution phase hybridizations followed by binding of the probe to a solid phase is preferable.

Preferably the probe DNA is "labeled" with one partner of a specific binding pair a ligand) and the other partner of the pair is bound to a solid matrix to provide ease of separation of target from its source.

The ligand and specific binding partner can be selected /0 from, in either orientation, the following: an antigen or hapten and an antibody or specific binding fragment thereof; biotin or iminobictin and avidin or streptavidin; a sugar and a lectin specific therefor; an enzyme and an inhibitor therefor; /I an apoenzyme and cofactor; complementary homopolymeric oligonucleotides; and a hormone and a receptor therefor. The solid phase is preferably selected from: a glass or polymeric surface; a packed column of polymeric beads; and magnetic or QO paramagnetic particles.

The library of clones DreDared as described above can be screened directly for enzymatic activity without the need for culture expansion, amplification or other supplementary procedures. However, in one preferred 2 s embodiment, it is considered desirable to amplify the DNA recovered from the individual clones such as by PCR.

Further, it is optional but desirable to perform an amplification of the target DNA that has been isolated.

In this embodiment the target DNA is separated from the 3> probe DNA after isolation. It is then amplified before being used to transform hosts. The double stranded DNA selected to include as at least a portion thereof a predetermined DNA sequence can be rendered single stranded, subjected to amplification and reannealed to 3- provide amplified numbers of selected double stranded DNA. Numerous amplification methodolo-ges are now well known in the art.

The selected DNA is then used for preparing a library for screening by transforming a suitable organism. Hosts, particularly those specificallv identified herein as preferred, are transformed by artificial introduction of the vectors containing the target DNA by inoculation under conditions conducive for such transformation. One could transform with double tO stranded circular or linear DNA or there may also be instances where one would transform with single stranded circular or linear DNA.

The resultant libraries of transformed clones are then screened for clones which display activity for the /S enzyme of interest in a phenotypic assay for enzyme activity.

Having prepared a multiplicity of clones from DNA selectively isolated from an organism, such clones are screened for a specific enzyme activity and to identify the clones having the specified enzyme characteristics.

The screening for enzyme activity may be effected on individual expression clones or may be initially effected on a mixture of expression clones to ascertain whether or not the mixture has one or more specified enzyme activities. If the mixture has a specified enzyme activity, then the individual clones may be rescreened for such enzyme activity or for a more specific activity.

Thus, for example, if a clone mixture has hydrolase activity, then the individual clones may be recovered and 3 0 screened to determine which of such clones has hydrolase activity.

As representative examples of e>pression vectors which may be used there may be mentioned viral particles, baculovirus, phage, plasmids, phagemids, cosmids, phosmids, bacterial artificial chromosomes, viral DNA vaccinia, adenovirus, foul po:: virus, pseudorabies and derivatives of SV40), PI-based artificial chromosomes, yeast piasmids, yeast artificial chromosomes, and any other vectors specific for specific hosts of interest (such as bacillus, aspergillus, yeast, eac.) Thus, for example, the DNA may be included in any one of a variety of expression vectors for expressing a /0 polypep:ide. Such vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences. Large numbers of suitable vectors are known to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. The following vectors are provided by way of example; I( Bacterial: pQE70, pQE60, pQE-9 (Qiagen), psiX174, pBluescript SK, pBluescript KS (Stratagene); pTRC99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT2T (Pharmacia); Eukaryotic: pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1, pSG (Stratagene), pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG, pSVLSV40 (Pharmacia) However, any other plasmid or vector may be used as long as they are replicable and viable in the host.

A particularly preferred type of vector for use in the present invention contains an f-factor origin reolication. The f-factor (or fertility factor) in coli is a plasmid which effects high frequency transfer of itself during conjugation and less frequent transfer of the bacterial chromosome itself. A particularly preferred embodiment is to use cloning vectors, referred to as "fosmids" or bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) 3> vectors. These are derived from E. coli f-factor which is able to stably integrate large segments of DNA. When integrated with DNA from a mixed uncultured environmental sample, this makes it possible to achieve large genomic fragments in the form of a stable "environmental DNA 3 library." -28- 0 The DNA derived from a microorganism(s) may be Cs inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, the DNA secruence is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) by procedures known in r-q the art. Such procedures and others are deemed to be c within the scope of those skilled in the art.

The DNA secruence in the expression vector is oeratively linked to an appropriate expression control secruence(s) (Oromoter) to direct mPRNA synthesis.

S Particular named bacterial promoters include lacI, lacZ, 0 T3, T7, gpt, lambda PR, P, and trp. Eukaryotic promoters include CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art. The expression vector also contains a ribosome binding site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator. The vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying expression.

Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using CAT (chloramphenicol transferase) vectors or other vectors with selectable markers.

In addition, the expression vectors preferably contain one or more selectable marker genes to provide a 2 phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells such as dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or such as tetracycline or amnicillin resistance in E. coli.

Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include origins of replication and selectable markers permitting transformation of the host cell, the amnicillin resistance gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiae TRP1 gene, and a promoter derived from a highly-expressed gene to direct transcription of a downstream structural secuence. Such promoters can be derived from operons -29 encoding glycolycic enzymes such as 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) a-factor, acid phosphacase, or heat shock proteins, among others. The hezerologous structural sequence is assembled in appropriate phase with translation initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, a leader seduence capable of directing secretton of translated protein into the periplasmic soace or extracellular medium.

The DNA selected and isolated as hereinabove to described is introduced into a suitable host to prepare a library which is screened for the desired enzyme activity. The selected DNA is preferably already in a vector which includes appropriate control sequences whereby selected DNA which encodes for an enzyme may be expressed, for detection of the desired activity. The host cell can be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell, or a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell. Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-Dextran mediated transfection, or electroporation (Davis, Dibner, Battey, Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, (1986)) As representative examples of appropriate hosts, 2K there may be mentioned: bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptoimyces, Salmonella typhimurium; fungal cells, such as yeast; insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sfg; animal cells such as CHO, COS or Bowes melanoma; adencviruses; plant cells, e:c. The selection ay of an appropriate host is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

With particular references to various mammalian cell culture systems that can be employed to express recombinant protein, examples of mammalian expression systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts, described by Gluzman, Cell, 23:175 (1981), and other cell lines capable of expressing a compatible vector, for example, the C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression vectors will comprise S an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5' flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the i0 SV40 splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements.

Host cells are genetically engineered (transduced or transformed or transfected) with the vectors. The engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional IS nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants or amplifying genes.

The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for exoression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

The library may be screened for a specified enzyme activity by procedures known in the art. For example, the enzyme activity may be screened for one or more of the six IU3 classes; oxidoreductases, transferases, 2n hvdrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases. The recombinant enzymes which are determined to be positive for one or more of the IUJ classes may then be rescreened for a more specific enzyme activity.

Alternatively, the library may be screened for a 3, more soecialized enzyme activity. For example, instead of generically screening for hydrolase activity, the library may be screened for a more specialized activity, i.e. the tvye of bond on which the hydrolase acts. Thus, for example, the library may be screened to ascertain those hydrolases which act on one or more specified chemical functionaiities, such as: amide (peptide bonds), i.e. proteases; ester bonds, i.e. esterases and lipases; acetals, glycosidases etc.

The clones which are identified as having the specified enzyme activity may then be seqpenced to identify the DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified activity. Thus, in accordance with the present invention it is possible to isolate and identify: DNA encoding an enzyme having a specified enzyme activity, (ii) enzymes having such activity (including the amino acid sequence thereof) and (iii) produce recombinant enzymes having such activity.

Alternatively, clones found to have the enzymatic activity for which the screen was performed are sequenced /S and then subjected to directed mutagenesis to develop new enzymes with desired activities or to develop modified enzymes with particularly desired properties that are absent or less pronounced in the wild-type enzyme, such as stability to heat or organic solvents. Any of the .0 known techniques for directed mutagenesis are applicable to the invention. For example, particularly preferred mutagenesis techniques for use in accordance with the invention include those discussed below.

The present invention may be employed for example, 2S to identify or produce new enzymes having, for example, the following activities which may be employed for the following uses: 1 Lipase/Esterase a. Enantioselective hydrolysis of esters (lipids)/ j0 thioesters 1) Resolution of racemic mixtures 2) Synthesis of optically active acids or alcohols from meso-diesters -32b. Selective svn~heses 1) Regiospecific- hvdrcivsis of carbo'-vdratie esters 2) Selective hyqdrolysiJs of cyclic secondary alcohols c. Svnthesis of ozrically activ,,e esters, lactones, acids, alcohols 1) Transesterification of activated/nonactivated esters 2) interesterification 3) Opticallv active lactones from hvdroxvesters 4) Regio- and enantioselective ring opening of anhydrides a. Detercrents e. Fat/Oil conversion f. Cheese ripening 2 Protease a. Ester/amide synthesis b. Peptide synthesis Resolution of racemic mixtures of amino acid esters d. Syn-.thesis o: non-natural amino acids e. Detergents/protein hydrolysis 3 Glycosidase/Glycosyl transferase a. Suarar/polymer synthesis b. Cleavage of glycosidic linkages to form mono, di-and oligosaccharides C. Synthesis of complex olig~osacchar-ides di. Glycoside synthesis using UIDP-galactosvl transf erase e. Transglvcosylation of disaccharides, glycosyl fluorides, aryl galactosides f. Glvcosvl. transfer in oligosaccharide syn~thesis 9. Diastereoselective cleavage of glucosylsulf oxides h. Asymmetric glycosylations -33i. Food processing j. Paper processing 4 Phosphatase/Kinase a. Synthesis/hydrolysis of phosphate esters S1) Regio-, enantioselective phosphorylation 2) Introduction of phosphate esters 3) Synthesize phosphclipid precursors 4) Controlled polynucleotide synthesis b. Activate biological molecule /O c. Selective phosphate bond formation without protecting groups Mono/Dioxygenase a. Direct oxyfunctionalization of unactivated organic substrates b. Hydroxylation of alkane, aromatics, steroids c. Epoxidation of alkenes d. Enantioselective sulphoxidation e. Regio- and stereoselective Bayer-Villiger oxidations 6 Haloperoxidase a. Oxidative addition of halide ion to nucleophilic sites b. Addition of hypohalous acids to olefinic bonds c. Ring cleavage of cyclopropanes 2! d. Activated aromatic substrates converted to ortho and para derivatives e. 1.3 diketones converted to 2-halo-derivatives f. Heteroatom oxidation of sulfur and nitrogen containing substrates g. Oxidation of enol acetates, alkynes and activated aromatic rings 7 Lignin peroxidase/Diarylpropane peroxidase a. Oxidative cleavage of C-C bonds b. Oxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes -34c. Hydcro:ylation of benzvlic carbons d Phenol dimierization e. Hydroxylation of double bonds rco form diols f. Cleavage of lignin aldehvdes 8 Epoxide hydrolase a. Synthesis of enantiomericallv oure bioacoive comnounds b. Regio- and enanzioselective hydrolysis of eooxide /0c. Aromatic and ole-finic epoxidation by monooogenases to form epoxides d. R-esolution of racemic eiooxides e. Hydrolysis of steroid epoxides 9 Nitrile hydratase/nitrilase a. Hydrolysis of aliphatic nitriles to carboxarnides b. Hydrolysis of aromatic, heterocycl ic, unsaturated alichatic nicriles t~o corresponding acids C. Hyvdrolysis of acryvlonitrile d. Production of aromatic and carboxamides, carboxvlic acids (nicotinamide, -cicolinamace, isonicotinamide) e. Regioselective hnydrolysis of acryllc dinitrile f. a-amino acids from a-hydroxvntrle Transaminase a. Transfer of amino groups int o ox, o-acids 11 Amidase/Acylase a. Hydrolysis ofl amides, amidines, and other C-N bonds b. Non-natural amino acid resolut,.r- and svntnhesis The following examples illustrate tne invention but are not a limitation of its scope.

Examnle 1 Preparation of a Manialia, DNA Library The followi-na ourilines the Troceddures used to generate a ge-ne library from a samul> of the exterior surface of a wh ale bon,-- found at 1240 meter-s depth in the San ca a-lina Bas in dur-inca a div e-.-oed_1t ion.

Isclare DNA.

IsoQuic" Procedur.e as per manufacturer's instructions.

Sh.-ear DNTA i. Vigorously push and pull DNA thiroughi a double-hub neadle and 1-cc svrinares about 500 times.

2. Check a small amount (05,L)on a 08 a-aarose grel to make sure thne majority of the DNA, is in the desire:_d size range (about 3-6 kb).

B~lunt DINA -i Add:

HO

145 41 'al to a final volumre cf 405 41 lox Mu=n9 Bean Euffler Mung 2=ean Nuclease (150 Li/al) Incubate 37 0 C, 15 miinutes.

~nenol/clhloroform extract once.

-Chloroform extract once.

Add 1 m-1 ice cold ethanol 1 o crecinitate.

Place on ice for 10 minutes.

S-rin in m-icrofIuge, high speeld, 30 minutes.

WashIL wit'-h 1 ml 70% ethanol.

Spain ir, ricrofuge, high sp,:eed, 10 minutes and dry.

-36- Methylate DNA 1. Gentllv resusnend DNA in 26 TE.

2. Add: ul ox ECoo 1 Nlethvlase Buffer 4l SAJM (32 mM) 1l EoCo I MelhViase u/l) 3. Incubate 370, 1 hour.

/0 Insure Blunt Ends 1. Add to the methylation reaction: kl 100 mMN1 MgCl' 41 dNTP mix (2.5 mM of each dGTP, dATP, dTTP, dCTP) il Klenow (5 u/l) 2. Incubate 12 0 C, 30 minutes.

3. Add 450 ul 1X STE.

4. Phenol/chloroform extract once.

Chloroform extract once.

6. Add 1 ml ice cold ethanol to precipitate and place on ice for 10 minutes.

7. Sin in microfuge, high speed, 30 minutes.

8. Wash with 1 ml 70% ethanol.

9. Spin in microfuge, high speed, 10 minutes and dry.

Linker Ligation 1. Gently resuspend DNA in 7 ul Tris-EDTA

(TE).

2. Add: y2 14 ul Phoschorvlated ECoRp linkers (200 ng/41) 1 1OX Licacion Buffer 1l 10 mM rATP ul T4 DNA Liqase (4Wu/4l) 3. Incubate 4 0 C, overnight.

-37- EcoR1 Cutback 1. Heat kill ligation reaction 68 0 C, minutes.

2. Add: 237.9 ul H:O P1 2.1 1i 10X EcoR I Buffer EcoR I Restriction Enzyme (100 u/pl) 3. Incubate 37 0 C, 1.5 hours.

4. Add 1.5 /p 0.5 M EDTA.

Place on ice.

Sucrose Gradient (2.2 ml) Size Fractionation 1. Heat sample to 65oC, 10 minutes.

2. Gently load on 2.2 ml sucrose gradient.

3. Spin in mini-ultracentrifuge, 45K, 20 0 C, 4 hours (no brake).

4. Collect fractions by puncturing the bottom of the gradient tube with a 20G needle and allowing the sucrose to flow through the needle. Collect the first 20 drops in a Falcon 2059 tube then collect 10 1-drop fractions (labelled 1-10). Each drop is about 60 2i in volume.

Run 5 p1 of each fraction on a 0.8% agarose gel to check the size.

6. Pool fractions 1-4 (about 10-1.5 kb) and, in a separate tube, pool fractions 5-7 (about 5-0.5 kb).

7. Add 1 ml ice cold ethanol to precipitate and place on ice for 10 minutes.

8. Spin in microfuge, high speed, 30 minutes.

9. Wash with 1 ml 70% ethanol.

Spin in microfuge, high speed, 10 minutes and dry.

11. Resuspend each in 10 gl TE buffer.

Test Ligation to Lambda Arms -38 1. Plate assay to get an ap-roximate concentr-ation. Spot 0.5 p1 of the sampDle on agarose containing ethidium bromide alona with standards (DNA samples of known concent-ration) 'View in LWV light and estimate concentration compared to the standards. Fraction 1-4 >1.0 pq/ll Fraction 5-7 500 ng/pl.

2. Prenare the following ligation reactions A! reactions) and incubate 4 0

C,

/0 overnight:

/ST

Lambda lox ar-ms T4 DNA Ligase 10mm (gtll Insert Ligase Sample 11,0 Buffer- rATP and DNA (4 ZAP) WU/y) Fraction 0.5 0.5 41 0. 5 ail 1. 0 p1l 2.0 p 1 0. 5 u1 1-4 )U1 Fraction 0.5 0. 5 p2. 0.5 p1i 10 Ul 2. 0 p 1 0.5 al 5-7 p 1 Test Package and Plate 1 Package the lioation reactions following manufacturer's p~rotocol. Package 2.5 p per packaging extract (2 extracts Der ligation).

2. Stop packaging reactions with 500 p0. SM buffer and pooi packaging that came from the same ligation.

3. Titer 1.0 p1l of each on appropriate host (0D 600 1.-0 [XLI-Plue MRF for ZA'',P and Y1088 for gt11] Add 200 p 1 host (in m.M MgSO,) to Falcon 2059 tubes Inoculate with 1 41 packaged phage Incubate 371C, 15 minutes -39- Add about 3 ml 48 0 C top agar ml stock containing 150 Al IPTG (0.5M) and 300 il X-GAL (350 mg/ml)] Plate on 100mm plates and incubate 37 0 C, overnight.

4. Efficiency results: gill: 1.7 x 104 recombinants with 95% background /O0 ZAP II: 4.2 x 104 recombinants with 66% background Contaminants in the DNA sample may have inhibited the enzymatic reactions, though the sucrose gradient and organic extractions may have removed them.

y/ Since the DNA sample was precious, an effort was made to "fix" the ends for cloning: Re-Blunt DNA 1. Pool all left over DNA that was not ligated to the lambda arms (Fractions 1-7) and add H;O to a final volume of 12 Al Then add: 143 A! HO Al 10X Buffer 2 (from Stratagene's cDNA Synthesis Kit) 23 Ai Blunting dNTP (from Stratagene's cDNA Synthesis Kit) ul Pfu (from Stratagene"s cDNA Synthesis Kit) SO 2. Incubate 72 0 C, 30 minutes.

3. Phenol/chloroform extract once.

4. Chloroform extract once.

Add 20 ALL 3M NaOAc and 400 pl ice cold ethanol to precipitate.

6. Place at -200C, overnight.

7. Spin in microfuge, high speed, 30 minutes.

8. Wash with 1 ml 70% ethanol.

9. Spin in microfuge, high speed, 10 minutes and dry.

(Do NOT Methylate DNA since it was already methylated in the first round of processing) Adaptor Ligation 1. Gently resuspend DNA in 8 p1 EcoR I adaptors (from Stratagene's cDNA Synthesis Kit).

2. Add: p1 10X Ligation p1 10 mM rATP p1 T4 DNA Ligase 3. Incubate 4°C, 2 days.

(Do NOT cutback since using ADAPTORS this time.

need to phosphorylate) Buffer (4Wu/ pl) Instead, Phosphorylate Adaptors 1. Heat kill ligation reaction 70 0 C, minutes.

Add: jl l p~ Pl 10X Ligation Buffer 10mM rATF

HO

PNK (from Stratagene's cDNA Synthesis 3.

4.

column (pool f 6.

7.

8.

9.

11.

Kit).

Incubate 37 0 C, 30 minutes.

Add 31 il HO and 5 pl 10X STE.

Size fractionate on a Sephacryl S-500 spin ractions 1-3).

Phenol/chloroform extract once.

Chloroform extract once.

Add ice cold ethanol to precipitate.

Place on ice, 10 minutes.

Spin in microfuge, high speed, 30 minutes.

Wash with 1 ml 70% ethanol.

-41 12. Spin in microfuge, high speed, 10 minutes and dry.

13. Resuspend in 10.5 ul TE buffer.

Do not plate assay. Instead, ligate directly to arms as above except use 2.5 .1 of DNA and no water.

Package and titer as abov Efficiency results: gtll:

CC,

2.5 x 10° recombinants with background /O ZAP II: 9.6 x 10 5 recombinants with 0% background Amplification of Libraries (5.0 x 10' recombinants from each library) 1. Add 3.0 ml host cells (OD=1l.0) to two ml conical tube.

2. Inoculate with 2.5 X 10 S pfu per conical tube.

3. Incubate 370C, 20 minutes.

4. Add top agar to each tube to a final volume of 45 ml.

Plate the tube across five 150 mm plates.

6. Incubate 37 0 C, 6-8 hours or until plaques are about pin-head in size.

7. Overlay with 8-10 ml SM Buffer and place at 4°C overnight (with gentle rocking if possible).

Harvest Phage 1. Recover phage suspension by pouring the SM buffer off each plate into a 50-ml conical tube.

2. Add 3 ml chloroform, shake vigorously and incubate at room temperature, 15 minutes.

3. Centrifuge at 2K rpm, 10 minutes to remove cell debris.

-42- 4. Pour suDernatant int~o a sterile- flask, add 500 ail chloroform.

Store at Titer Amnlified Library 1. Make serial dilutions: 1 p1 amplified phage in 1 ml SM Buffer 10-6 1 p 1 l of the 10- dilution in 1 ml SM Buf-fer /0 2. Add 200 p1 host (in 10 mM MqSO 4 to two tubes.

3. inoculate one with 10 p 1 l 10-6 dilurtion 4. Inoculate the other with 1 p1 10-6 dilution Incubate 37 0 C, 15 minutes.

6. Add about 3 ml 480C top agar.

ml stock containing 150 'a1 IPTG and 375 p1 X-GA L (350 mg/ml)] 207. Plate on 100 mm plates and incubate 370C, over-night.

8. Results: g9th: 1.7 x ZAP 11: 2 .0 x 1 O" 3 /ml -43- Example 2 Construction of a Stable, Large Insert DNA Library of Picoplankton Genomic DNA Cell collection and preparation of DNA. Agarose plugs containing concentrated picoplankton cells were prepared from samples collected on an oceanographic cruise from Newport, Oregon to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Seawater (30 liters) was collected in Niskin bottles, screened through 10 Am Nitex, and concentrated by hollbw /O fiber filtration (Amicon DC10) through 30,000 MW cutoff polyfulfone filters. The concentrated bacterioplankton cells were collected on a 0.22 um, 47 mm Durapore filter, and resuspended in 1 ml of 2X STE buffer (1M NaCI, 0.1M EDTA, 10 mM Tris, pH 8.0) to a final density of approximately 1 x 10° cells per ml. The.cell suspension was mixed with one volume of 1% molten Seaplaque LMP agarose (FMC) cooled to 400C, and then immediately drawn into a 1 ml syringe. The syringe was sealed with parafilm and placed on ice for 10 min. The cellcontaining agarose plug was extruded into 10 ml of Lysis Buffer (10mM Tris pH 8.0, 50 mM NaCI, 0.1M EDTA, 1% Sarkosyl, 0.2% sodium deoxycholate, 1 mg/ml lysozyme) and incubated at 370C for one hour. The agarose plug was then transferred to 40 mls of ESP Buffer Sarkosyl, 1 2( mg/ml proteinase K, in 0.5M EDTA), and incubated at 550C for 16 hours. The solution was decanted and replaced with fresh ESP Buffer, and incubated at 55°C for an additional hour. The agarose plugs were then placed in mM EDTA and stored at 40C shipboard for the duration of the oceanographic cruise.

One slice of an agarose plug (72 Al) prepared from a sample collected off the Oregon coast was dialyzed overnight at 40C against 1 mL of buffer A (100mM NaC1, Bis Tris Propane-HC1, 100 ug/ml acetylated BSA: pH 3. 7.0 250C) in a 2 mL microcentrifuge tube. The solution was replaced with 250 p1 of fresh buffer A containing -44mM MgC1, and 1 mM DTT and incubated on a rocking platform for 1 hr at room temDerature. The solution was then changed to 250 gi of the same buffer containing 4U of Sau3Al (NEB), equilibrated to 37 0 C in a water bath, and j then incubated on a rocking platform in a 37 0 C incubator for 45 min. The plug was transferred to a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube and incubated at 68 0 C for 30 min to inactivate the enzyme and to melt the agarose. The agarose was digested and the DNA dephosphorylased using /O Gelase and HK-phosphatase (Epicentre), respectively, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Protein was removed by gentle phenol/chloroform extraction and the DNA was ethanol precipitated, pelleted, and then washed with 70% ethanol. This partially digested DNA was resuspended in sterile HO to a concentration of ng/4~ for ligation to the pFOS1 vector.

PCR amolification results from several of the agarose plugs (data not shown) indicated the presence of significant amounts of archaeal DNA. Quantitative hybridization experiments using rRNA extracted from one sample, collected at 200 m of depth off the Oregon Coast, indicated that planktonic archaea in (this assemblage comprised approximately 4.7% of the total picoplankton biomass (uhis sample corresponds to "PACI"-200 m in Table zS 1 of DeLong et al., high abundance of Archaea in Antarctic marine picoplankton, Nature, 371:695-698, 1994). Results from archaeal-biased rDNA PCR amplification performed on agarose plug lysates confirmed the presence of relatively large amounts of archaeal DNA in this sample. Agarose plugs prepared from this picoplankton sample were chosen for subsequent fosmid library preparation. Each 1 ml agarose plug from this site contained approximately 7.5 x 10 5 cells, therefore approximately 5.4 x 105 cells were present in the 72 iul slice used in the preparation of the partially digested

DNA.

Vector arms were prepared from pFOS1 as described (Kim et al., Stable propagation of casmid sized human DNA inserts in an F factor based vector, Nucl. Acids Res., 20:10832-10835, 1992). Briefly, the plasmid was completely digested with AstII, dephosphorylated with HK phosphatase, and then digested with BamHI to generate two arms, each of which contained a cos site in the proper orientation for cloning and packaging ligated DNA between 35-45 kbp. The partially digested picoplankton DNA was ligated overnight to the PFOS1 arms in a 15 il ligation reaction containing 25 ng each of vector and insert and 1U of T4 DNA ligase (Boehringer-Mannheim). The ligated DNA in four microliters of this reaction was in vitro packaged using the Gigapack XL packaging system ;1 (Stratagene), the fosmid particles transfected to E. coli strain DH10B (BRL), and the cells spread onto LBcm, plates. The resultant fosmid clones were picked into 96well microliter dishes containing LB,,i supplemented with 7% glycerol. Recombinant fosmids, each containing ca. 2) kb of picoplankton DNA insert, yielded a library of 3.552 fosmid clones, containing approximately 1.4 x 1 0 s base pairs of cloned DNA. All of the clones examined contained inserts ranging from 38 to 42 kbp. This library was stored frozen at -80 0 C for later analysis.

29 Example 3 Hybridization Selection and Production of Expression Library Starting with a plasmid library prepared as described in Example 1, hybridization selection and preparation of the expression library were performed according to the protocol described in this example. The library can contain DNA from isolated microorganisms, enriched cultures or environmental samples.

Single-stranded DNA is made in one of two ways: 1) 3< The plasmid library can be grown and the double-stranded -46plasmid DNA isolated. The double-stranded DNA is made single-stranded using Fl gene II protein and Exonuclease III. The gene II protein nicks the double-stranded plasmids at the F1 origin and the Exo III digests away the nicked strand leaving a single-stranded circle. This method is used by Life Technologies in their GeneTrapper" kit; 2) the second method involves the use of a helper phage to "rescue" one of the strands of the doublestranded plasmids. The plasmid library is grown in a small overnight culture. A small aliquot of this is mixed with VCS-M13 helper phage and again grown overnight. The next morning the phagemids (virus particles containing single-stranded DNA) are recovered from the media and used in the following protocol.

S PROTOCOL 1. Six samples of 4 pg of rescued, single-stranded DNA from library #17 were prepared in 3X SSC buffer.

Final reaction volumes were 30 pl.

3/, 2. To these solutions was added one of the following: a) nothing b) 100 ng of biotinylated probe from an unrelated sequence c,d) 100 ng of biotinylated probe from organism #13 DNA polymerase gene e,f) 100 ng of biotinylated probe from organism #17 DNA polymerase gene Biotinylated probes were prepared by PCR amplification of fragments of -1300 bp in length coding for a portion of the DNA polymerase gene of these organisms. The amplification products were made using biotinylated dUTP in the amplification mix. This modified nucleotide is incorporated throughout the DNA during synthesis. Unincorporated nucleotides were removed using the QIAGEN PCR Cleanuz kit.

-47- 3. These mixtures were denatured by heating to 95 0 C for 2 minutes.

4. Hybridization was performed for 90 minutes at 700C for samples a, b, d and f. Samples c and e were hybridized at 600C.

50 pl of washed and blocked MPG beads were added and mixed to each sample. These mixtures were agitated every 5 minutes for a total of 30 minutes. MPG beads are sent at 1 mg/ml in buffer containing /0 preservative so 6 sets of 100 pl were washed 2 times in 3X SSC and resuspended in 60 p1 of 3X SSC containing 100 pg of sonicated salmon sperm DNA.

6. The DNA/bead mixtures were washed 2 times at room temperature in 0.1X SSC/0.1% SDS, 2 times at 420C in 0.1X SSC/0.1% SDS for 10 minutes each and 1 additional wash at room temperature with 3X SSC.

7. The bound DNA was eluted by heating the beads to 700C for 15 minutes in 50 ul TE.

8. Dilutions of the eluted DNAs were made and PCR amplification was performed with either gene specific primers or vectors specific primers.

Dilutions of the library DNA were used as standards.

9. The DNA inserts contained within the DNA were amplified by PCR using vector specific primers.

12 These inserts were cloned using the TA Cloning system (Invitrogen).

Duplicates of 92 white colonies and 4 blue colonies from samples d and f were grown overnight and colony lifts were prepared for Southern blotting.

-48- 11. The digoxigenin system from Boehringer Mannhei' was used to probe the colonies using the organism #17 Srobe.

RESULTS

Cl PCR Quantitation Ficures 1A and lB. Figure 1A is a photograph of the autoradiogram resulting from the Southern hybridization CM agarose gel electrophoresis columns of DNA from sample C< solutions a-f in Example 2, when hybridized with gene C ro specific primers. Figure 1B is a photograph of the autoradioaram resulting from the Southern hybridization Sagarose gel electrophoresis columns of DNA from sample solutions a-f in Example 2, when hybridized with vector specific primers.

I/ The gene specific DNA amplifications of samples a and b demonstrate that non-specific binding to the beads is minimal. The amount of DNA bound under the other conditions results in the following estimates of enrichment.

Sene specific eauivalent total enrichme nt c 50 ng 100 pg 500X d 50 ng 30 pg 1667X e 20 ng 50 pg 400X f 20 ng 20 pg 1000X Colony Hybridization Figure 2 is a photograph of four colony hybridization plates resulting from Plates A and B show positive clones colonies containing sequences contained in the probe and which contain DNA from a library prepared in accordance with the invention.

-49- Plates C and D were controls and showed no positive clones.

Seven of 92 colonies from the panned sample were positive for sequences contained in the probe. No positive clones were found in the unpanned sample.

Example 4 Enzymatic Activity Assay The following is a representative example of a procedure for screening an expression library, prepared in accordance with Example 1, for hydrolase activity.

Plates of the library prepared as described in Example 1 are used to multiply inoculate a single plate containing 200 pL of LB Amp/Meth, glycerol in each well.

This step is performed using the High Density Replicating lI Tool (KDRT) of the Beckman Biomek with a 1% bleach, water, isopropanol, air-dry sterilization cycle between each inoculation. The single plate is grown for 2h at 370C and is then used to inoculate two white 96-well Dynatech microtiter daughter plates containing 250 yL of O LB Amp/Meth, glycerol in each well. The original single plate is incubated at 37°C for 18h, then stored at The two condensed daughter plates are incubated at 37°C also for 18 h. The condensed daughter plates are then heated at 70 0 C for 45 min. to kill the cells and 2( inactivate the host E. coli enzymes. A stock solution of morphourea phenylalanyl-7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (MuPheAFC, the 'substrate') in DMSO is diluted to 600 gM with 50 mM pH 7.5 Hepes buffer containing 0.6 mg/mL of the detergent dodecyl maltoside.

MuPheAFC Fifty uL of the 600 qM MuPheAFC solution is added to each of the wells of the white condensed plates with one 100 ;L mix cycle using the Biomek to yield a final concentration of substrate of 100 4M. The fluorescence values are recorded (excitation 400 nm, emission 505 nm) on a plate reading fluorometer immediately after addition of the substrate The plate is incubated at 70 0 C for 100 min, then allowed to cool to ambient /O temoerature for 15 additional minutes. The fluorescence values are recorded again (t=100). The values at t=0 are subtracted from the values at t=100 to determine if an active clone is present.

The data will indicate whether one of the clones in a particular well is hydrolyzing the substrate. In order to determine the individual clone which carries the activity, the source library plates are thawed and the individual clones are used to singly inoculate a new plate containing LB Amp/Meth, glycerol. As above, the plate is incubated at 37 0 C to grow the cells, heated at 0 C to inactivate the host enzymes, and 50 gL of 600 pM MuPheAFC is added using the Biomek.

After addition of the substrate the t=0 fluorescence values are recorded, the plate is incubated at 70 0 C, and the t=100 min. values are recorded as above. These data indicate which plate the active clone is in.

The enantioselectivity value, E, for the substrate is determined according to the equation below: ln[(1-c(l+eep)] -51n[ -c where ee, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the hydrolyzed product and c the percent conversion of the reaction. See Wong and Whitesides, Enzymes in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 1994, Elsevier, Tarrytown, New York, pp. 9-12.

The enantiomeric excess is determined by either chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or 1o chiral capillary electrophoresis Assays are performed as follows: two hundred pL of the appropriate buffer is added to each well of a 96-well white microtiter plate, followed by 50 4L of partially or completely purified enzyme solution; 50 AL of substrate I< is added and the increase in fluorescence monitored versus time until 50% of the substrate is consumed or the reaction stops, whichever comes first.

Example Mutacenesis of Positive Enzyme Activity Clones Mutagenesis was performed on two different enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and 6-glycosidase), using the two different strategies described here, to generate new enzymes which exhibit a higher degree of activity than the wild-type enzymes.

2 Alkaline Phosphatase The XLl-Red strain (Stratagene) was transformed with genomic clone 27a3a (in plasmid pBluescript) encoding the alkaline phosphatase gene from the organism OC9a according to the manufacturer's protocol. A 5ml culture of LB 0.1 mg/ml ampicillin was inoculated with 2001A of the transformation. The culture was allowed to grow at 37 0 C for 30 hours. A miniprep was then performed on the culture, and screening was performed by transforming 2.1 of the resulting DNA into XL-1 Blue cells (Stratagene) according to the manufacturer's protocol and following -52procedure outlined below (after "Transform XL1 Blue cells). The mutated OC9a phosphatase took 10 minutes to develop color and the wild type enzyme took 30 minutes to develop color in the screening assay.

SStandard Alkaline Phosphatase Screening Assay Transform XL1 Red strain Inoculate 5ml LB/amp culture with 20 0 p1 transformation and incubate at 37 0

C

for 30 hours Miniprep DNA Transform XL1 Blue cells Plate on LB/amp plates Lift colonies with Duralon UV /0 (Stratagene) or HATF (Millipore) membranes Lyse in chloroform vapors for 30 seconds Heat kill for minutes at 85 0 C Develop filter at room temperature in BCIP buffer Watch as filter develops and identify and pick fastest developing colonies ("positives") Restreak "positives" onto a BCIP plate BCIP Buffer: CAPS pH 1mm MgC1, 0.01 mm ZnC1, 0.1 mg/ml BCIP Beta-Glycosidase This'protocol was used to mutagenize Thermococcus 9N2 Beta-Glycosidase.

PCR Reaction 2 microliters cdNTP's (10mM Stocks) microliters 10xPCR Buffer microliters Vector DNA-31G1A-100 nanograms microliters 3' Primer (100 pmol) microliters 5' Primer (100 pmol) 0 16 microliters MnCl 4H,0 (1.25mM Stock) 24.5 microliters HO 1 microliter Taq Polymerase (5.0 Units) 100 microliters total -53- Reaction Cycle 950C 15 seconds 58 0 C 30 seconds 720C 90 seconds cycles (10 minute extension at 72 0 C-4 0

C

incubation) Run 5 microliters on a 1% agarose gel to check the reaction.

Purify on a Qiaquick column (Qiagen).

/0 Resuspend in 50 microliters HO.

Restriction Digest microliters purified PCR product microliters NEB Buffer #2 3 microliters Kpn I ne 3 microliters EcoR1 59 microliters H.0 Cut for 2 hours at 370C.

Purify on a Qiaquick column (Qiagen).

Elute with 35 microliters H,0.

,0 Liqation microliters Digested PCR product microliters Vector (cut with EcoRI/KpnI and phosphatased with shrimp alkaline phosphatase 4 microliters 5x Ligation Buffer 1 microliter T4 DNA Ligase (BRL) Ligate overnight.

Transform into M15pREP4 cells using electroooration.

Plate 100 or 200 microliters onto LB amp meth kan plates, grow overnight at 37 degrees celsius.

-54- Beta-Glycosidase Assay C Perform glycosidase assay to screen for mutants as follows. The filter assay uses buffer Z (see recipe below) containing 1 mg/ml of the substrate 5-bromo-4- S chloro-3-indolyl-6-o-glucopyranoside (XGLU) (Diagnostic Chemicals Limited or Sigma).

Cl Z-Buffer: (referenced in Miller, J.H. (1992) A Cl Short Course in Bacterial Genetics, p. 445.) Cl per liter: /O NaEPO 4 -7H0O 16.1 g NaH,PO,-H0O 5.5 g KC1 0.75 g MgSOQ-7HO 0.246 g 6-mercaptoethanol 2.7 ml Adjust pH to Perform colony lifts using Millipore HATF membrane filters.

Lyse colonies with chloroform vapor in 150 mm glass petri dishes.

Transfer filters to 100 mm glass petri dishes containing a piece of Whatman 3MM filter paper saturated with Z buffer containing 1 mg/ml XGLU. After transferring filter bearing lysed colonies to the glass petri dish, maintain dish at room temperature.

"Positives" were observed as blue spots on the filter membranes ("positives" are spots which appear early). Use the following filter rescue technique to retrieve plasmid from lysed positive colony. Use pasteur pipette (or glass capillary tube) to core blue spots on the filter membrane. Place the small filter disk in an Epp tube containing 20 p1 water. Incubate the Epp tube at 75 0 C for 5 minutes followed by vortexina to elute

II~~$

plasmid DNA off filter.

electrocompetent E. coli on transformation plates transformation plates to to regenerate colonies.

repurified positives and Isolate plasmid DNA from plasmid insert.

Transform this DNA into cells. Repeat filter-lift assay to identify "positives." Return 37°C incubator after filter lift Inoculate 3 ml LBamp liquid with incubate at 37°C overnight.

these cultures and sequence Examle 7 Directed Mutaaenesis of Positive Enzyme Activity Clones Directed mutagenesis was performed .on two different enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and 6-glycosidase), using the two different strategies described here, to generate new enzymes which exhibit a higher degree of activity at lower temperatures than the wild-type enzymes.

Alkaline Phosphatase The XLI-Red strain (Stratagene) was transformed with DNA encoding an alkaline phosphatase (in plasmid pBluescript) from the organism OC9a according to the manufacturer's protocol. A 5ml culture of LB 0.1 mg/ml ampicillin was inoculated with 200pJ of the transformation. The culture was allowed to grow at 37°C for 30 hours. A miniprep was then performed on the culture, and screening was performed by transforming 2i! 2N of the resulting DNA into XL-1 Blue cells (Stratagene) according to the manufacturer's protocol.

Standard Alkaline PhosDhatase Screening Assay Plate on LB/amp plates Lift colonies with Duralon UV (Stratagene) or HATF (Millipore) membranes Lyse in chloroform vapors for 30 seconds Heat kill for minutes at 850C Develop filter at room temperature in BCIP buffer Watch as filter develops and identify and pick fastest developing colonies ("positives") Restreak "positives" onto a BCIP plate.

BCIP Buffer: CAPS pH 1mm MgC1, 0.01 mm ZnC1, 0.1 mg/mi BCIP The mutated OC9a phosphatase took 10 minutes to develop color and the wild type enzyme took 30 minutes to develop color in the screening assay.

Beta-Glycosidase This protocol was used to mutagenize DNA encoding Thermococcus 9N2 Beta-Glvcosidase. This DNA sequence is /S set forth in Figure 1.

PCR

2 microliters dNTP's (10mM Stocks) microliters 10xPCR Buffer microliters pBluescript vector containing Beta-glycosidase DNA (100 nanograms) microliters 3' Primer (100 pmol) microliters 5' Primer (100 pmol) 16 microliters MnC1 4H0, (1.25mM Stock) 24.5 microliters H.0 2< 1 microliter Taa Polymerase (5.0 Units) 100 microliters total Reaction Cycle 0 C 15 seconds 58 0 C 30 seconds 72 0 C 90 seconds 3o 25 cycles (10 minute extension at 72 0 C-4 0

C

incubation) Run 5 microliters on a 1% agarose gel to check the reaction.

-57- Purify on a Qiaquick column (Qiagen).

Resuspend in 50 microliters H,0.

SRestriction Digest microliters purified PCR product microliters NEB Buffer #2 C(l 3 microliters Kpn I 3 microliters EcoRl 59 microliters H,0 (c Cl 10 Cut for 2 hours at 37 0

C.

C- Purify on a Qiaquick column (Qiagen).

Elute with 35 microliters H,0.

Ligation microliters Digested PCR product /S 5 microliters pBluescript Vector (cut with EcoRI/KpnI and phosphatased with shrimp alkaline phosphatase) 4 microliters 5x Ligation Buffer 1 microliter T4 DNA Ligase (BRL) Ligate overnight.

Transform into M15pREP4 cells using electroporation.

Plate 100 or 200 microliters onto LB amp meth kan plates, grow overnight at 37 degrees 2 celsius.

Beta-Glycosidase Assay Perform glycosidase assay to screen for mutants as follows. The filter assay uses buffer Z (see recipe below) containing 1 mg/ml of the substrate 5-bromo-4chloro-3-indolyl-6-o-glucopyranoside (XGLU) (Diagnostic Chemicals Limited or Sigma).

-58- Z-Buffer: (referenced in Miller, J.H. (1992) A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics, p. 445.) per liter: Na:HPO,-7HO 16.1 g NaH,PO,-H 2 0 5.5 g KC1 0.75 g MgSO,-7HO 0.246 g 6-mercaptoethanol 2.7 ml Adjust pH to /O Perform colony lifts using Millipore HATF membrane filters.

Lyse colonies with chloroform vapor in 150 mm glass petri dishes.

Transfer filters to 100 mm glass petri dishes containing a piece of Whatman 3MM filter paper saturated with Z buffer containing 1 mg/ml XGLU. After transferring filter bearing lysed colonies to the glass petri dish, maintain dish at room temperature.

"Positives" were observed as blue spots on the filter membranes ("positives" are spots which appear earlv). Use the following filter rescue technique to retrieve plasmid from lysed positive colony. Use pasteur pipette (or glass capillary tube) to core blue spots on the filter membrane. Place the small filter disk in an 2 Epp tube containing 20 pl water. Incubate the Epp tube at 75 0 C for 5 minutes followed by vortexing to elute plasmid DNA off filter. Transform this DNA into electrocompetent E. coli cells. Repeat filter-lift assay on transformation plates to identify "positives." Return transformation plates to 37 0 C incubator after filter lift to regenerate colonies. Inoculate 3 ml LBamp liquid with repurified positives and incubate at 37 0 C overnight.

Isolate Dlasmid DNA from these cultures and sequence plasmid insert.

-59- The 0-glycosidase subjected to mutagenesis acted on XGLU 2.5 times more efficiently than wild-type 3glycosidase.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present 6 invention are possible in light of the above teachings; therefore, within the scope of the claims, the invention may be practiced other than as particularly described.

Claims (27)

1. A process for identifying clones having a specified enzyme activity, which process comprises screening for said specified enzyme activity in a library of clones N, prepared by: selecting and recovering target nucleic acid from a nucleic acid population Sderived from at least two microorganisms, by use of at least one nucleic acid O or nucleic acid like hybridizing probe comprising at least a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having a specified activity; and (ii) transforming a host with recovered target nucleic acid to produce a library of clones comprised of a subset of the original nucleic acid population which are screened for a specified activity.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid obtained from the nucleic acid of the microorganism is selected by: converting double stranded nucleic acid into single stranded nucleic acid; recovering from the converted single stranded nucleic acid target single stranded nucleic acid which hybridizes to probe nucleic acid; and converting recovered single stranded target nucleic acid to double stranded nucleic acid for transforming the host.

3. The process of either claim 2 or 3 wherein the probe is directly or indirectly bound to a solid phase by which it is separated fromrn single stranded nucleic acid which is not so hybridized.

4. The process of claim 3 which further comprises the steps of: releasing single stranded nucleic acid fromrn said probe; and amplifying the single stranded nucleic acid so released prior to converting it to double stranded nucleic acid.

The process of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said target nucleic acid encodes a gene cluster or portion thereof

6. A process in which a nucleic acid library derived from at least one microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom double-stranded nucleic acid which hybridizes to one or more probe nucleic acid sequences which is all or a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having the specified protein activity, which process comprises: contacting the double-stranded nucleic acid population with the nucleic acid probe bound to a ligand under conditions permissive of hybridization so as to produce a complex of probe and members of the nucleic acid population which hybridize thereto; contacting the complex of(a) with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; separating the solid phase complex from the unbound nucleic acid population of(b); releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the solid phase bound probe; introducing the double-stranded nucleic acid of into a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected nucleic acid; and screening the library for the specified protein activity.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein said target nucleic acid encodes a gene cluster or portion thereof.

8. The process of either claim 6 or 7 which further comprises, before above, the steps of: contacting the double-stranded nucleic acid population of with a ligand- bound oligonucleotide probe that is complementary to consensus sequences in unique to a given class of proteins under conditions permissive of hybridization to form a double-stranded complex; (ii) contacting the complex of(i) with a solid phase specific binding partner for said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; (iii) separating the solid phase complex from the unbound nucleic acid population; (iv) releasing the members of the population which had bound to said solid phase bound probe; and separating the solid phase bound probe from the members of the population which had bound thereto.

9. A process for obtaining a protein having a specified protein activity derived from a heterogeneous nucleic acid population, which process comprises: screening, for the specified enzyme activity, a library of clones containing nucleic acid from the heterogeneous nucleic acid population which have been modified or mutagenized towards production of the specified activity.

The process of claim 9 which further comprises, prior to said mutagenesis, selectively recovering from the heterogeneous nucleic acid population nucleic acid which comprises nucleic acid sequences coding for a common characteristic, which can be the same or different from the specified activity.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein recovering the nucleic acid preparation comprises contacting the nucleic acid population with a specific binding partner for at least a portion of the sequences.

12. The process of claim 1I wherein the specific binding partner is a solid phase bound hybridization probe.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the common characteristic is a class of enzyme activity. -63-

14. The process of claim 13 which comprises recovering nucleic acid from clones containing nucleic acid from the heterogeneous nucleic acid population which exhibit the class of enzyme activity.

The process of any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the mutagenesis is site-specific or random directed mutagenesis.

16. The process of any one of claims 9 to 15 which further comprises prescreening said library of clones for an activity, which can be the same or different from the specified activity, prior to exposing them to mutagenesis.

17. The process of claim 16 which comprises prescreening said clones for the expression of a protein of interest.

18. A process for obtaining a protein having a specified protein activity, which process comprises: screening, for the specified activity, a library of clones containing nucleic acid from a pool of nucleic acid populations which have been exposed to mutagenesis in an attempt to produce in the library of clones nucleic acid encoding a protein having one or more desired characteristics which can be the same or different from the specified protein activity.

19. The process of claim 18 which further comprises, prior to said mutagenesis, selectively recovering from the heterogeneous nucleic acid population nucleic acid which comprises nucleic acid sequences coding for at least one common protein characteristic, which can be the same or different from the specified protein activity.

The process of claim 19 wherein the at least one common characteristic is at least one common enzyme activity.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein recovering the nucleic acid preparation comprises contacting the nucleic acid population with a specific binding partner for at least a portion of the coding sequences. 64

22. The process of claim 21 wherein the specific binding partner is a solid phase bound hybridization probe.

23. The process of claim 22 which comprises recovering nucleic acid from clones containing nucleic acid from the heterogeneous nucleic acid population which exhibit the class of enzyme activity.

24. The process of any one of claims 18 to 23 wherein the mutagenesis is site-specific or random mutagenesis.

A process for providing a thermostable enzyme having improved enzyme activities at lower temperatures, said enzyme being a member selected from the group consisting of an enzyme or a polynucleotide encoding said enzyme comprising: subjecting to mutagenesis at least one enzyme which is stable at a temperature of at least 600C; and screening mutants produced in for a mutated enzyme or polynucleotide encoding a mutated enzyme, which mutated enzyme is stable at a temperature of at least 600C and which has an enzyme activity at a temperature at least C below its optimal temperature range and which has activity greater than the enzyme of step

26. A process in which a nucleic acid library derived from at least one microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom double-stranded nucleic acid which hybridizes to one or more probe nucleic acid sequences which is all or a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having the specified protein activity, which process comprises: contacting the double-stranded nucleic acid population with the nucleic acid probe bound to a ligand under conditions pennissive of hybridization so as to produce a complex of probe and members of the nucleic acid population which hybridize thereto; separating the complexes from the unbound nucleic acid population; releasing from the probe the members of the population which had bound to the probe; introducing the double-stranded nucleic acid of into a suitable host to form a library containing a plurality of clones containing the selected nucleic acid; and screening the library for the specified protein activity.

27. A process according to either claim 1, 6, 9, 18, 25 or 26, substantially as described herein with reference to the examples. Diversa Corporation By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 22 May 2007