Non-Native Thiol and Aniline Methylation, Including Enantioselective Dithiol Desymmetrization, by Multi-Component Cobamide-Dependent Methyltransferases Using Unactivated Methyl Donors

Despite their potential synthetic utility, cobamide-dependent MTases are relatively underutilized for biocatalysis. We developed mixed MtaABC/MtgABC enzyme platforms capable of catalyzing methylation of non-native thiol and aniline substrates using unactivated methyl donors like methanol and glycine betaine. This approach allows highly enantioselective and site-selective methylation of aliphatic thiols with high turnover number (up to 6000), providing the first demonstration of enantioselective non-native catalysis by cobamide dependent enzymes. The MtaAC+MtgB system was subsequently engineered through site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in large enhancements in activity for the desymmetrization of non-native ester-containing prochiral thiols. These findings establish MTase complexes as a promising platform for non-native biocatalysis.