Oxidized terpenes and terpenoids are highly valuable compounds for organic chemistry. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium is able to catalyze oxidation of terpenes with high efficiency. Mutations at the amino acid positions 47, 51, and 87 resulted in significantly enhanced activity and regioselectivity of the enzyme during oxidation of geranylacetone and related compounds. The activity of the mutant R47L/Y51F/F87V was in the order of ketone>alcohol>aldehyde>acid. An effect of the substrate cis/trans-isomerism on the enzyme chemo- and regioselectivity was studied. P450 monooxygenase demonstrated similar NADPH turnovers with cis/trans isomers, nerylacetone/geranylacetone (1.9 x 10(3)/2.1 x 10(3) min(-1)) and nerol/geraniol (5.7 x 10(2)/5.9 x 10(2) min(-1)), however, resulted in different number of products and product distribution. The Z-isomers, nerylacetone and nerol, were oxidized resulting in several products ( five and three, respectively), including allylic alcohols. In contrast, E-isomers were epoxidized exclusively. Geranylacetone was converted with high activity ( 2080 min(-1)) and enantioselectivity (97% ee) to 9,10-epoxygeranylacetone, while geraniol was enantioselectively epoxidized to the 6,7-epoxide ( 250 min(-1), 90% ee) with 90% regioselectivity.
