Orthogonal expression of an artificial metalloenzyme for abiotic catalysis

Abstract: A cytochrome P450 was engineered to selectively incorporate Ir(Me)-deuteroporphyrin IX (Ir(Me)-DPIX), in lieu of heme, in bacterial cells. Cofactor selectivity was altered by introducing mutations within the heme-binding pocket that discriminate the deuteroporphyrin macrocycle, in combination with mutations to the P450 axial cysteine to accommodate a pendant methyl group on the Ir(Me)-center. This artificial metalloenzyme was investigated for activity in non-native metallocarbenoid-mediated olefin cyclopropanation reactions and showed enhanced activity for aliphatic and electron-deficient olefins when compared to the native heme enzyme. This work provides a general strategy to augment the chemical functionality of heme enzymes in cells with application towards abiotic catalysis.