Hydrolases articles from across Nature Portfolio

Loop regions play a key role in protein evolution. Herein the authors demonstrate how GH19 chitinase acquired additional antifungal activity by introducing remote loops, without compromising its original function. This work offers an innovative approach to expand enzyme function.

The authors describe the structure of an adenylyl cyclase 5 and Gβγ complex, which potentially influences a neural signalling pathway modulating motor function. Mutations in the Gβγ binding site on AC5 are linked to heritable forms of dyskinesia.

Cystathionine beta-synthase is a conserved essential enzyme of one-carbon metabolism. Here, the authors show that the enzyme oligomerises to form filaments that undergo conformational and morphological changes in response to its activator S-adenosyl-L-methionine, the global methyl donor.

The bacterial DSR2 defense system counters phage invasion by depleting NAD⁺. Here, Zhang et al. reveal molecular mechanisms underlying phage-mediated activation and repression of DSR2, enhancing our understanding of the bacterial-phage arms race.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be depolymerized by the Ideonella sakaiensis PETase enzyme, however, questions remain about the precise catalytic mechanism. Here, the authors use unbiased QM/MM MD simulations to determine optimal mechanistic descriptions of the acylation and deacylation reactions, revealing the rate-limiting step and key interactions within the catalytic triad and Trp185 conformation.

A signal transmission strategy, based on the cooperative activities of Exonuclease III and Exonuclease lambda enzymes, generates discrete and tightly amplified DNA signals that overcome signal attenuation and resolve the polarity of signals and byproducts.

Considerable research achievements were made to address the plastic crisis using biotechnology, but this is still limited to polyesters. This Comment aims to clarify important aspects related to myths and realities about plastic biodegradation and suggests distinct strategies for a bio-based circular plastic economy in the future.

The chemoenzymatic potential for the construction of complex chiral molecules has not been fully explored. Now, Candida antarctica lipase B has been used to synthesize complex functionalized planar chiral macrocycles, providing a platform for the efficient and sustainable preparation of molecules that are of particular interest in drug discovery.

Enzymes require many, often hundreds, of amino acid residues arranged in a protein fold to promote catalysis. Now, self-assembly of a single amino acid — phenylalanine — in the presence of zinc is shown to form supramolecular structures that promote hydrolysis better than natural enzymes on a weight basis.

A demonstration of a physiological role of amyloid aggregates in switching on enzymatic activity required for fly development.