An Ene Reductase, KlebER1, for the Production of Dihydrocarvone: Identification, Characterization, Engineering, and Application

Dihydrocarvone is an important flavor compound and chiral building block obtained through the ene reductase (ER)-mediated reduction of carvone. In this study, a new ER, KlebER1, from Klebsiella sp. O852 was identified and characterized. Optimal enzyme activity occurred at 40 °C and pH 7, with approximately 80% activity retained after incubation at 20–40 °C for 3 h. Based on sequence alignment, alanine scanning, and molecular docking analyses, a site-directed mutation (A303N) was introduced, resulting in a 1.73-fold enhancement in activity. Finally, an enzymatic cascade system incorporating the A303N mutant and glucose dehydrogenase for coenzyme regeneration was constructed both in vivo and in vitro for dihydrocarvone production. This biocatalytic system achieved a dihydrocarvone concentration of 5.88 mmol/L and a conversion rate of 99%, representing a significant improvement compared to the single use of A303N mutant. This study lays the foundation for investigating the function and modification of ERs and promoting the efficient biosynthesis of dihydrocarvone.