Single amino acid mutations of Medicago glycosyltransferase UGT85H2 enhance activity and impart reversibility

The glycosyltransferase UGT85H2 from Medicago truncatula catalyzes glucosylation of the (iso)flavonoids kaempferol and biochanin A. Structure-based mutagenesis of UGT85H2 was carried out to explore the roles of amino acids involved in substrate binding. Substitution of Ile305 by threonine increased catalytic efficiency 37- or 19-fold with kaempferol or biochanin A as acceptor, respectively. A point mutation V200E also dramatically improved the turnover rate and catalytic efficiency by 15-fold for kaempferol and 54-fold for biochanin A. More interestingly, this single mutation (V200E) conferred reversibility in the glycosyltransfer reaction, indicating that Glu200 is a key determinant for the deglycosylation function.