Sal is a proteobacterial bile acid aldolase that repurposes key thiolase catalytic residues for retroaldol cleavage of C5 steroid side chains.

Abstract

Aldolases hold potential as biocatalysts for synthesis of novel steroid pharmaceuticals. The steroid aldolase from Comamonas testosteroni (CtSal) forms a complex with C. testosteroni steroid hydratase (CtShy). CtSal cleaves the C₅ side chain of bile acid thioester steroids, whereas a previously characterized actinobacterial homolog from Thermonospora curvata (TcLtp2) targets the C₃ side chain. We identified Tyr302 and Cys304 as the catalytic residues in CtSal, different from the paired Tyr residues found in TcLtp2. The 1.95 Å structure of CtSal bound to the C-terminal domain of unknown function 35 (DUF35) of CtShy (CtShy_DUF35-CtSal) reveals a central CtSal dimer flanked by two CtShy_DUF35 domains in an αββα arrangement. CtShy_DUF35 has a unique Cys₃His₁ (C₃H₁) zinc finger that shapes the substrate-binding cleft of CtSal, preventing the binding of the flat cholesterol rings while accommodating the bent rings of bile acids. Phylogenetically, Sals and Ltp2s form separate clades and are distantly related to thiolases. Intriguingly, a Trypanosoma brucei homolog, annotated as a thiolase-like protein (TbSLP), shares catalytic architecture of CtSal, suggesting an aldolase rather than a thiolase function. This study provides the first detailed characterization of a C₅ side chain steroid aldolase, revealing its unique catalytic features and expanding our understanding of steroid side chain catabolism in Proteobacteria.