There are near-to-infinite combinations of possibilities for evolution to happen within nature, making it yet impossible to predict how it occurs. However, science is now able to understand the mechanisms underpinning the evolution of biological systems and can use this knowledge to experimentally mimic nature. The fundamentals of evolution have been used in vitro to improve enzymes as suitable biocatalysts for applications in a process called ‘Directed Evolution of Enzymes' (DEE). It replicates nature's evolutionary steps of introducing genetic variability into enzymes, selecting the fittest variants and transmitting the genetic information for the next generation. DEE has tailored biocatalysts for applications, expanding the repertoire of enzymatic activities, besides providing experimental evidences to support mechanistic hypotheses of molecular evolution and deepen our understanding about nature. In this mini review, I discuss the basic concepts of DEE, the most used methodologies and current technical advancements, providing examples of applications and perspectives.
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September 2020
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This issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences is guest edited by Richard Reece, and celebrates 10 years of the Royal Society of Biology. The cover features a photograph submitted by Claire Kremen, who's article discusses how the silvopastoral system in Colombia restores connectivity to landscapes and improves conditions for biodiversity while providing cattle farmers with improved productivity and profitability. Photograph by Andrés Felipe Zuluaga Salazar, The Nature Conservancy.
Review Article|
September 07 2020
Directed evolution of enzymes
Fabio K. Tamaki
Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K.
Correspondence: Fabio K. Tamaki (f.k.tamaki@dundee.ac.uk)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 08 2020
Revision Received:
July 27 2020
Accepted:
July 30 2020
Online ISSN: 2397-8562
Print ISSN: 2397-8554
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology
2020
Emerg Top Life Sci (2020) 4 (2): 119–127.
Article history
Received:
June 08 2020
Revision Received:
July 27 2020
Accepted:
July 30 2020
Citation
Fabio K. Tamaki; Directed evolution of enzymes. Emerg Top Life Sci 8 September 2020; 4 (2): 119–127. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20200047
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