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For papers that will be published online on 20 July 2009
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Redefining the field of enzymology
The field of enzymology is undergoing major changes in response to significant increases in genomic and structural data combined with the emergence of new techniques. A special issue of Nature Chemical Biology focuses on the new insights gained into the basic principles of enzyme function and provides perspectives about the future of the field.
Enzymology is known for its strengths in determining the speeds and outcomes of different enzyme-catalyzed reactions and in explaining the specific chemical mechanisms that occur during these reactions. Some aspects of enzyme function - such as ‘intermediates’ or ‘transition states’- were first described nearly a century ago. In a perspective piece Steven Schwartz and Vern Schramm suggest that these definitions need to be revised in response to new data and discuss what they think these transition states looks like. In another perspective, Zachary Nagel and Judith Klinman point more towards protein motion and nuclear tunnelling in their current vision of enzyme function.
Discussing recent uses for enzymes, two review articles and a commentary highlight how enzymes can be used to create new compounds and break down man-made ones. Shelley Copley discusses how bacteria use pre-existing enzyme pathways or evolve new ones to degrade toxic unnatural chemicals. Nicholas Turner reviews current methods for engineering proteins to create new or modified enzymes to make new chemicals. In their commentary, Romas Kazlauskas and Uwe Bornscheuer call for improved rigor and hypothesis-driven research to further advance the field of enzyme engineering.
The special issue also features other commentaries, including one from Nicholas Furnham and colleagues on the problems that arise in analyzing and storing new genomic data about enzymes.
Authors contacts:
Daniel Herschlag (Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA)
Tel: +650 723 9442; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-516
Nicholas Furnham (EMBL, Cambridge, UK)
Tel: +44 1223 494631; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-521
Uwe Bornscheuer (Greifswald University, Germany)
Tel: +49 383 486 4367; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-526
Edward McDonald (Cancer Research UK, Sutton, UK)
Tel: +44 20 8722 4294; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-530
Judith Klinman (University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA)
Tel: +1 510 643 5020; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.204
Vern Schramm (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA)
Tel: +718 430 2813; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.202
Shelley Copley (University of Colorado at Boulder, CO, USA)
Tel: +1 303 492 6328; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.197
Nicholas Turner (University of Manchester, UK)
Tel: +44 161 306 5173; Email: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.203
Editorial and Elements author:
Catherine Goodman (Associate Editor Nature Chemical Biology, Boston, MA, USA)
Tel: +1 617 475 9240; E-mail: [email protected]
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-515
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio0809-534
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