Leveraging Sortase A Electrostatics for Powerful Transpeptidation Reactions

C Chen Wang R Rémi Desmet (Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France) B Benoît Snella (Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France) J Jérôme Vicogne (Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France) O Oleg Melnyk (Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France) V Vangelis Agouridas (Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France)

Abstract

Abstract Sortase‐mediated transpeptidation is a powerful biochemical reaction to perform protein engineering. In this work, we leverage the unique electrostatic profile of sortase A pentamutant (SrtA‐5M) to improve SrtA‐5M‐mediated transpeptidations by incorporating short, charged peptidic modules into the substrates. Importantly, the reaction proceeds with a minimal excess of nucleophile and is fast and highly efficient in the low micromolar substrate concentration range. Electrostatic assistance eliminates the need for additives or complex substrate engineering strategies, thereby giving it a broad scope. Our findings also provide fundamental insights into the influence of substrate charge on SrtA‐5M activity, paving the way for further optimization of sortase A‐catalyzed transpeptidation reactions.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 30
Published July 21, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (6)

C

Chen Wang

R

Rémi Desmet

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France

B

Benoît Snella

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France

J

Jérôme Vicogne

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France

O

Oleg Melnyk

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France

V

Vangelis Agouridas

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille F‐59000 France