Editor's Summary
8 May 2008
'Nonbiological' enzymes
The design of enzymes able to catalyse re-actions that are not catalysed by natural biocatalysts is a tremendous challenge for computational protein design. Röthlisberger et al. now report using computational protein design to generate eight novel enzymes able to catalyse the Kemp elimination — a model reaction for proton transfer from carbon. The activity of the designed enzymes was enhanced by directed in vitro evolution, thereby demonstrating a powerful strategy for the creation of novel enzymes.
Article: Kemp elimination catalysts by computational enzyme design
Daniela Röthlisberger, Olga Khersonsky, Andrew M. Wollacott, Lin Jiang, Jason DeChancie, Jamie Betker, Jasmine L. Gallaher, Eric A. Althoff, Alexandre Zanghellini, Orly Dym, Shira Albeck, Kendall N. Houk, Dan S. Tawfik & David Baker
doi:10.1038/nature06879
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (745K) | Supplementary information
News and Views: Computational biochemistry: Old enzymes, new tricks
Although enzymes are superb catalysts, their range of reactions is limited to those that support life. Their repertoire could be expanded by a method that allows artificial enzymes to be made from scratch.
Giovanna Ghirlanda
doi:10.1038/453164a
Author: Making the paper: David Baker
doi:10.1038/7192xiia
