Branched-chain Amino Acid Biosensing Using Fluorescent Modified Engineered Leucine/Isoleucine/Valine Binding Protein

A novel fluorescence sensing system for branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) was developed based on engineered leucine/isoleucine/valine-binding proteins (LIVBPs) conjugated with environmentally sensitive fluorescence probes. LIVBP was cloned from Escherichia coli and Gln149Cys, Gly227Cys, and Gln254Cys mutants were generated by genetic engineering. The mutant LIVBPs were then modified with environmentally sensitive fluorophores. Based on the fluorescence intensity change observed upon the binding of the ligands, the MIANS-conjugated Gln149Cys mutant (Gln149Cys-M) showed the highest and most sensitive response. The BCAAs Leu, Ile, and Val can each be monitored at the sub-micromolar level using Gln149Cys-M. Measurements were also carried out on a mixture of BCAFAs and revealed that Gln149Cys-M-based measurement is not significantly affected by the change in the molar ratio of Leu, Ile and Val in the sample. Its high sensitivity and group-specific molecular recognition ability make the new sensing system ideally suited for the measurement of BCAAs and the determination of the Fischer ratio, an indicator of hepatic disease involving metabolic dysfunction.