Computational remodeling of an enzyme conformational landscape for altered substrate selectivity

Structural plasticity of enzymes dictates their function. Yet, our ability to rationally remodel enzyme conformational landscapes to tailor catalytic properties remains limited. Here, we report a computational procedure for tuning conformational landscapes that is based on multistate design. Using this method, we redesigned the conformational landscape of a natural aminotransferase to preferentially stabilize a less populated but reactive conformation, and thereby increase catalytic efficiency with a non-native substrate to alter substrate selectivity. Steady-state kinetics of designed variants revealed selectivity switches of up to 1900-fold, and structural analyses by room-temperature X-ray crystallography and multitemperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that conformational equilibria favoured the target conformation. Our computational approach opens the door to the fine-tuning of enzyme conformational landscapes to create designer biocatalysts with tailored functionality.