Characterization, Semirational Design for pH Robustness, and the Application in Bioactive Peptide Production of a X‑Prolyl Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase from Lactococcus lactis MY‑3

PepXLcMY-3, an X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase derived from Lactobacillus lactis MY-3, was screened and recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme could exhibit about 40% activity within the pH range of 6.0–10. To further improve the pH robustness, site E396 located in the active pocket was discovered through alanine scanning. The mutant E396I displayed both developed activity and k cat/K m. The optimal pH of E396I shifted from 6.0 to 10 compared to WT, with the relative activity within the pH range of 6.0–10 significantly increased. The site K648 was then proposed by semirational design. The activity of mutant E396I/K648D reached 4.03 U/mg. The optimal pH was restored to 6.0, and the pH stability was further improved. E396I/K648D could totally hydrolyze β-casomorphin 7 within 30 min. The hydrolysate showed 64.5% inhibition on angiotensin I converting enzyme, which was more efficient than those produced by E396I and WT, 23.2 and 44.7%, respectively.