Project description
Predicting enzyme dynamics
The field of industrial biotechnology is moving from chemistry-only-based catalysis to the use of enzymes to catalyse key reactions. Factors such as cost reduction, eco-friendliness, effectiveness, and specificity render biocatalysis an attractive alternative solution. The EU-funded PREDACTED project is interested to understand how enzymes function, adapt to different environmental conditions and evolve. Researchers will develop simulation models that can predict enzyme dynamics and the changes associated with catalysis. Results will help design improved artificial enzymes and address key challenges associated with the use of enzymes, such as antibiotic resistance.
Objective
Enzymes are superlative catalysts, honed by billions of years of evolution to achieve high specificity and efficiency. Understanding how enzymes function and are adapted to different environments will be essential in developing biocatalysts for the circular economy and in combating drug resistance. Basic principles of catalysis and mechanistic understanding have come from experiments and simulations, and significant progress has been made in designing and evolving de novo protein catalysts. Truly predictive understanding is limited, however. There is a need for models able to predict, e.g. whether an enzyme is able to break down a particular antibiotic and how to inhibit it; temperature dependence of catalysis; how mutations affect activity and temperature optima; to understand how catalytic power evolves and use those principles in the development of new biocatalysts.
Theoretical developments, and emerging multiscale methods, provide a route to the predictive understanding required. Fundamentally, protein dynamics are vital, not in ‘driving’ reaction but rather as a fundamental facet of natural enzymes on which evolution acts. PREDACTED will simulate enzyme dynamics and dynamical changes associated with catalysis. We will (1) Investigate the adaptation of enzyme activity using the emerging theoretical framework of macromolecular rate theory, and develop simulation approaches to predict enzyme temperature optima, with relevance e.g. for understanding ecosystem response to climate change, and for the development of biocatalysts for practical industrial applications. (2) Develop predictive simulation models for enzymes responsible for antibiotic resistance, analyse allosteric effects and predict spectrums of activity. (3) Model antibiotic breakdown and inhibition of beta-lactamases (4) Apply the understanding developed in redesigning and engineering natural and artificial enzymes to test the catalytic principles and demonstrate how they can be applied in practice.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
United Kingdom
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