Promiscuous enzymes may be recruited to aid industry, medical fields

Enzymes in cells normally perform only one job, but a new study by a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist might figure out how to recruit enzymes for other jobs to benefit medical fields and industry.

“We know that enzymes usually have one biological function in a cell, but many are capable of doing something quite different, when given substrate molecules – those at the beginning of a chemical reaction – that they don’t normally encounter,” said Dr. Margy Glasner, AgriLife Research biochemist in College Station.

… Full text: today.agrilife.org/2013/03/04/promiscuous-enzymes-may-be-recruited-to-aid-industry-medical-fields/

Tags: mutations, environment, new function, protein, chemical reaction, bacteria