Spatial control of enzyme orientation at the lipid droplet interface enables regio- and chemoselective metabolic flux

Precise spatial control over multienzyme cascade reactions is increasingly recognized as a design lever in synthetic biology for enhancing catalytic performance and directing metabolic flux. By emulating principles of cellular compartmentalization, synthetic scaffolds and engineered interfaces have emerged as powerful platforms to modulate intermediate channeling and reaction efficiency in complex biocatalytic systems. However, robust and spatially defined immobilization of multienzyme assemblies within physicochemically optimal compartments remains challenging because of the dynamic intracellular environment. Here, we reprogram the amphiphilic interface of yeast lipid droplets (LDs) as a programmable scaffold system to support regio- and chemoselective localization of enzymes. Guided by molecular dynamics simulations, we designed LD-anchoring motifs to direct the enzyme orientation at the LD monolayer interface, yielding cytosol-facing or LD inner-facing configurations. Using this designed LD-anchoring motif, we spatially reorganize a trienzyme cascade for prodeoxyviolacein (PDV) biosynthesis across the cytosol-LD interface, facilitating directional conversion of hydrophilic substrates into hydrophobic products. This spatial reorganization substantially improved PDV production by 1300%, achieving 46.25 milligrams per liter. Our approach offers a modular and tunable platform for engineering spatially organized and readily deployable enzyme cascades, opening avenues for biosynthetic catalysis at organellar interfaces.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2026-11-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeg5924
Primary Topic
Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
article

Spatial control of enzyme orientation at the lipid droplet interface enables regio- and chemoselective metabolic flux

Seung Soo Oh, Soo Young Moon, Minhye Kim, Ju Young Lee et al.
3 links
Science Advances
Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
article

Spatial control of enzyme orientation at the lipid droplet interface enables regio- and chemoselective metabolic flux

Seung Soo Oh, Soo Young Moon, Minhye Kim, Ju Young Lee, Chang Yun Son, Sangwon Bae, So-Hee Son
article en

Abstract

Precise spatial control over multienzyme cascade reactions is increasingly recognized as a design lever in synthetic biology for enhancing catalytic performance and directing metabolic flux. By emulating principles of cellular compartmentalization, synthetic scaffolds and engineered interfaces have emerged as powerful platforms to modulate intermediate channeling and reaction efficiency in complex biocatalytic systems. However, robust and spatially defined immobilization of multienzyme assemblies within physicochemically optimal compartments remains challenging because of the dynamic intracellular environment. Here, we reprogram the amphiphilic interface of yeast lipid droplets (LDs) as a programmable scaffold system to support regio- and chemoselective localization of enzymes. Guided by molecular dynamics simulations, we designed LD-anchoring motifs to direct the enzyme orientation at the LD monolayer interface, yielding cytosol-facing or LD inner-facing configurations. Using this designed LD-anchoring motif, we spatially reorganize a trienzyme cascade for prodeoxyviolacein (PDV) biosynthesis across the cytosol-LD interface, facilitating directional conversion of hydrophilic substrates into hydrophobic products. This spatial reorganization substantially improved PDV production by 1300%, achieving 46.25 milligrams per liter. Our approach offers a modular and tunable platform for engineering spatially organized and readily deployable enzyme cascades, opening avenues for biosynthetic catalysis at organellar interfaces.

Science AdvancesVol. 12(45)
Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR), Seoul National University (KR), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
Openalex Percentile: Top 27%
Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon