Selection and evolution of enzymes from a partially randomized non-catalytic scaffold.

ABSTRACT: Enzymes are exceptional catalysts that facilitate a wide variety of reactions under mild conditions, achieving high rate-enhancements with excellent chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities. There is considerable interest in developing new enzymes for the synthesis of chemicals and pharmaceuticals and as tools for molecular biology. Methods have been developed for modifying and improving existing enzymes through screening, selection and directed evolution. However, the design and evolution of truly novel enzymes has relied on extensive knowledge of the mechanism of the reaction. Here we show that genuinely new enzymatic activities can be created de novo without the need for prior mechanistic information by selection from a naive protein library of very high diversity, with product formation

SUBMITTER: Seelig B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4476047 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature