Abstract:Methionine γ-lyase (MGL) catalyzes the cleavage of C-S bond in methionine, which produces equimolar products including α-ketobutyric acid, methanethiol and ammonia. MGL reduces the intracellular concentration of methionine, which significantly inhibits the growth and migration of malignant tumor cells and triggers the antioxidant response in normal cells. Engineering MGL for enhancing its catalytic efficiency is the focus for tumor therapy and anti-aging. MGL widely exists in microorganisms, but not in mammals. MGL is an important target for the development of antimicrobial drugs toward microbial pathogens. Methanethiol and its derivatives are the main components of food aroma, and the composition and concentration of methanethiol and its derivatives determine the formation of food aroma. Elucidating the catalytic mechanism and identifying the key elements control the activity of MGL will promote the precise control of food quality and its stability. In this paper, the latest advances in the discovery, catalytic mechanism and engineering of MGL from microorganisms were summarized. The applications of MGL in tumor therapy, anti-aging, anti-microbial infection and synthesis and manufacturing of food aroma were discussed, and then the development and challenge of MGL were prospected.
