Jiahuan Li

Mr. Jiahuan Li


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 October 2025 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XYXiaole Yang
Xiaole Yang
XTXia Tian
Xia Tian
RTRuizhou Tang
Ruizhou Tang
JLJiahuan Li
Jiahuan Li
XZXuning Zhang
Xuning Zhang
TLTing-Ting Li
Ting-Ting Li
Chiral amines are vital structural motifs in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, where enantiomeric purity governs bioactivity and environmental behavior. We identified a novel (R)-selective amine transaminase (MwoAT) from Mycobacterium sp. via genome mining, which exhibits activity toward the synthesis of the chiral amine (R)-1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine. The enzyme displayed optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40 °C, with high thermostability and solvent tolerance. Using an AlphaFold3-guided semi-rational engineering strategy integrating molecular docking, alanine scanning, and saturation mutagenesis, residue L175 was pinpointed as critical for substrate binding. The resulting L175G variant exhibited a 2.1-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) and improved thermal stability. Applied to the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine—a precursor for the antihypertensive drug dilevalol and potential scaffold for crop protection agents—the mutant achieved 26.4% conversion with ≥99.9% ee. The enzyme also accepted several ketones relevant to agrochemical synthesis, underscoring its versatility. This work delivers an engineered biocatalyst for sustainable chiral amine production and demonstrates an AI-assisted protein engineering framework applicable to both medicinal and agricultural chemistry.