Shc enzymes and enzyme variants

A process for preparing (−)-Ambrox or a mixture comprising (−)-Ambrox, the process comprising enzymatically converting (3E,7E)-homofarnesol (EEH) or a mixture of isomers of homofarnesol comprising EEH to (−)-Ambrox or a mixture comprising (−)-Ambrox using a SHC/HAC enzyme variant, wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 30.0% identity or similarity to SEQ ID NO:

• 1, 13, 15, 23, 32, and wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant amino acid sequence has amino acid alterations relative to SEQ ID NO:
• 1 at positions corresponding to positions W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or at a position in an amino acid sequence of a wild type SHC/HAC enzyme corresponding to W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1.

A process for preparing Ambra oxide or a mixture comprising Ambra oxide, the process comprising enzymatically converting (2,E)-Bishomofarnesol (BisEEH) or a mixture of isomers of bishomofarnesol comprising BisEEH to Ambra oxide or a mixture comprising Ambra oxide using a SHC/HAC enzyme variant, wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 30.0% identity or similarity to SEQ ID NO:

• 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 307, 308, 309 or 310 and wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant amino acid sequence has amino acid alterations relative to SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 2, 3, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 307, 308, 309 or 310 at positions corresponding to positions W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 2, or 3 or at a position in an amino acid sequence of a wild type SHC/HAC enzyme corresponding to W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, or 3.

A process for preparing Ambra oxide or a mixture comprising Ambra oxide, the process comprising enzymatically converting (2,E)-Bishomofarnesol (BisEEH) or a mixture of isomers of bishomofarnesol comprising BisEEH to Ambra oxide or a mixture comprising Ambra oxide using a SHC/HAC enzyme variant, wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 30.0% identity or similarity to SEQ ID NO:

• 1, 13, 15, 23, 32, and wherein the SHC/HAC enzyme variant amino acid sequence has amino acid alterations relative to SEQ ID NO:
• 1 at positions corresponding to positions W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or at a position in an amino acid sequence of a wild type SHC/HAC enzyme corresponding to W169, A306 and/or G600 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

• the W at position 169 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by G, A or V or a functional equivalent thereof, preferably wherein the W at position 169 is replaced by G,
• the A at position 306 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by V or a functional equivalent thereof and/or
• the G at position 600 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by A, V, L, I or M or a functional equivalent thereof.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

• the W at position 169 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by G,
• the A at position 306 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by V, and
• the G at position 600 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383 is replaced by M.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amino acid at position 168 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 307, 308, 309 or 310 is S or the amino acid at a position in an amino acid sequence of a wild type SHC corresponding to 168 of SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 307, 308, 309 or 310 is S.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 4, 5, 6 or 350 and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W169G, A306V and G600M or
• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 7, 8, 9 or 386 and has the following mutations:
• M132R, A224V, 1432T, A557T, R613S, and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W169G, A306V and G600M or
• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 10, 11, 12 or 387 and has the following mutations:
• M132R, A224V, 1432T and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W169G, A306V and G600M.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 23, 304, 359 or 360 and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W172G, A311V and G609M (Tel SHC/HAC variant) or
• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 32, 311, 357, or 358 and has the following mutations:
• W196G, A335V and G629M (Sco SHC/HAC variant) or
• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:13, 312, 353 or 354 and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W222G, A368V and G667M (Zmo SHC1 variant) or
• the SHC/HAC enzyme variant has an amino acid sequence having at least 70.0% identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 15, 313, 355 or 356 and has at least one of the following mutations:
• W177G, A321V and G619M (Zmo SHC2 variant).

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the SHC/HAC enzyme variant disclosed herein exhibits:

• an increased substrate specificity for EEH (or for BisEEH) when homofarnesol or bis-homofarnesol substrates are used,
• an increased product selectivity for (−)-Ambrox (or Ambra oxide) when homofarnesol or bis-homofarnesol substrates are used,
• an increased specificity for a particular isomer of substrates when substrates other than homofarnesol or bis-homofarnesol are used (eg ethyl-homofarnesol, hydroxyfarnesylacetone and the like—see, for example WO2021/110858 and WO2021/209482 respectively)
• an increased productivity and/or
• an increased degree of conversion of EEH (or BisEEH) as well as an increased conversion rate of EEH (or BisEEH) over the first 3 to 6 hours (or over the first 4, 5, or 6 hours) of the reaction, compared to the reference SHC enzyme (e.g. wild-type SHC such as those represented by SEQ ID NO:1, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 307, 308, 309, 310 or 215G2 AacSHC or SHC #65 or a parent SHC enzyme the variant derives from such as those represented by SEQ ID NO:2, 3, 47-48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 or 383.