How scissors learn to glue: the catalysis of ligation by proteases

该项目建议研究植物中的蛋白质切割酶，这些酶被吸引到生物合成中，在那里它们矛盾地执行蛋白质连接(连接)反应。酶无处不在，从洗涤剂到消化再到解毒药物。工业使用人工进化来改进酶或创造具有新活性的酶。通过探索允许一种这样的切割酶连接的变化，所获得的知识可能使蛋白质工程能够开发具有增强或抑制连接能力的设计酶。虽然蛋白质进化可以用人工系统来研究，但自然系统是极其宝贵的。从研究这种自然的结扎进化中获得的见解可能会检验用人工进化数据开发的假说。

This project proposes to study protein-cutting enzymes from plants that are drawn into biosyntheses where they paradoxically perform protein-joining (ligation) reactions. Enzymes are everywhere, from detergents to digestion to detoxifying drugs. Industry uses artificial evolution to improve enzymes or create enzymes with new activities. By exploring the changes that allowed one such cutting enzyme to ligate, the knowledge acquired may enable protein engineering to develop designer enzymes with enhanced or suppressed ligating ability. Although protein evolution can be studied with artificial systems, natural systems are extremely valuable. Insights from studying this natural evolution of ligation may test hypotheses developed with data from artificial evolution.