Identification and investigation of a novel NADP(+)-dependent secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase from Isatis indigotica

Cofactors are crucial for the biosynthesis of natural compounds, and cofactor engineering is a useful strategy for enzyme optimization due to its potential to enhance enzyme efficiency. Secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase (SIRD) was reported to convert secoisolariciresinol into matairesinol in an NAD(+)-dependent reaction. Here, a SIRD designated as IiSIRD2 identified from Isatis indigotica was found to utilize NADP(+) as the cofactor. To explore the structural basis for this unique cofactor preference, model-based structural analysis was carried out, and it was postulated that a variation at the GXGGXG glycine-rich motif of IiSIRD2 alters its cofactor preference. This study paves way for future investigations on SIRD cofactor specificity and cofactor engineering to improve SIRD’s catalytic efficiency.