초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>The bacterial CYP199A4 enzyme is able to oxidise a narrow range of aromatic acids, which includes 4‐methoxybenzoic acid, efficiently. A serine 244 to aspartate variant was identified with enhanced activity for a wide range of <I>para</I>‐methoxy‐substituted benzenes. Substrates in which the acidic benzoic acid moiety is replaced with a phenol and the amide, aldehyde and bromide analogues were all oxidised with high activity by the S244D mutant (product formation rate >600 nmol nmol<SUB>CYP</SUB><SUP>−1</SUP> min<SUP>−1</SUP>) with turnover numbers of up to 20 000. If the carboxylate moiety was modified to a nitro, ketone, boronic acid, hydroxymethyl or nitrile group, these substrates were also oxidised at a significantly higher activity by S244D than the wild‐type enzyme. 3,4‐Dimethoxybenzaldehyde was demethylated selectively and oxidatively to 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde by the S244D mutant 84‐fold more rapidly than with the wild‐type enzyme. CYP199A4 would have applications in the catalytic regioselective oxidative demethylation of suitably substituted benzene substrates under mild conditions and in the presence of more oxidatively sensitive functional groups, such as an aldehyde.</P>