Successfully Engineering a Bacterial Sialyltransferase for Regioselective α2,6-sialylation

A β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase from Photobacterium damselae (Pd2,6ST) that is capable of sialylating both terminal and internal galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine was herein redesigned for regioselectively producing terminal α2,6-sialosides. Guided by a recently developed bump-hole strategy, a series of mutations at Ala200 and Ser232 sites were created for reshaping the acceptor binding pocket. Finally, a Pd2,6ST double mutant A200Y/S232Y with an altered L-shaped acceptor binding pocket was identified to be a superior α2,6-sialyltransferase which can efficiently catalyze the regioselective α2,6-sialylation of galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine at the nonreducing end of a series of glycans. Meanwhile, A200Y/S232Y remains flexible donor substrate specificity and is able to transfer Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc, and KDN.