Designing Dual-Function Enzyme Active Sites

Our company is specialized in enzyme engineering. Our Designing Dual-Function Enzyme Active Sites service is at the forefront of enzyme design, offering innovative solutions for enhancing the versatility and functionality of enzymes.

Overview

Designing dual-function enzyme active sites involves engineering enzymes that can catalyze multiple, distinct chemical reactions within a single active site. This approach is aimed at expanding the catalytic capabilities of enzymes and enabling them to perform multiple functions.

Fig. 1. Haem protein serves as a dual-function catalyst for enantioselective carbene N–H insertion. ((Liu et al., 2021))

Our Services

Designing an enzyme with a dual function, capable of carrying out multiple reactions simultaneously, is a complex task. To assist you in designing a dual-function enzyme capable of performing multiple simultaneous reactions that meets your specific catalytic needs, we offer the following services.

Identify Common Elements

Start by comparing the active sites of enzymes that perform the desired reactions individually. Look for commonalities in their active sites, such as specific amino acid residues or functional groups.

Analyze Substrate Binding

Determine how the substrates bind to the active site in each of the individual enzymes. Look for overlapping or similar binding interactions that can accommodate multiple substrates.

Rationally Mutate Active Site Residues

Based on the analysis above, introduce specific mutations in the active site residues to create a hybrid active site that can facilitate binding and catalysis for multiple substrates.

Protein Engineering Techniques

Utilize protein engineering techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, directed evolution, or computational modeling to design and optimize the active site for multi-functionality

Consider Cofactors or Metal Ions

Some enzymes require specific cofactors or metal ions for catalysis. If your desired reactions differ in their cofactor requirements, you may need to design an active site that can accommodate multiple cofactors or metal ions.

Optimize Activity and Specificity

As you modify the active site, it is essential to measure and optimize the enzyme's activity and specificity for each desired reaction. Balancing the catalytic efficiency and selectivity can be challenging but crucial for achieving multi-functionality.

Advantages

Dual-function enzymes can be employed in biocatalytic processes to simultaneously carry out multiple reactions, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
By incorporating different active sites within the enzyme, it becomes possible to detect and quantify multiple targets in a single assay.
Bioremediation: Enzymes with dual-function active sites can play a role in bioremediation processes by simultaneously degrading multiple pollutants or contaminants.
Dual-function enzymes are valuable tools in metabolic engineering for the production of valuable compounds. They can be engineered to catalyze multiple reactions in specific pathways, allowing for the synthesis of complex molecules or the redirection of metabolic flux. This has applications in biofuel production, bioplastics synthesis, and the production of pharmaceutical intermediates.
Enzymes with multiple catalytic functions can be targeted to modulate disease-related pathways or to develop novel therapeutic interventions. This approach opens up new possibilities for drug design and personalized medicine.
Dual-function enzyme active sites provide a platform for enzyme engineering and optimization. By modifying the active site, it becomes possible to enhance enzyme performance, broaden substrate specificity, or improve catalytic efficiency.
By incorporating multiple catalytic functions within a single enzyme, it becomes possible to streamline and simplify the construction of synthetic biological systems for the production of valuable compounds or the development of novel biomaterials.
Reduces the number of steps and the use of additional reagents, leading to more environmentally friendly and efficient chemical transformations.

Though the applications of designing dual-function enzyme active sites are diverse, designing an enzyme with dual function is a complex and challenging task that often requires expertise in protein engineering and biochemistry. We are pleased to provide you with customized and exclusive dual-function enzyme design services to support your research, please contact us.

Reference

Liu, Z., et al., Dual-function enzyme catalysis for enantioselective carbon–nitrogen bond formation. Nature Chemistry, 2021. 13(12): p. 1166-1172.