Project description
Enzymes for various applications
Enzymes are costly and unstable, prompting the search for effective substitutes. Metabolite-metal co-assemblies that mimic metalloenzymes demonstrate high efficiency and robustness even under extreme conditions. However, exploring the vast chemical space found in natural enzymes is only at its beginning. The ERC-funded Meta2Zyme project will explore a combinatorial matrix of metabolites and metal ions that co-assemble into unique supramolecular catalytic active sites, similar to the organisation in traditional enzymes. Using advanced experimental and computational techniques, including AI-driven predictive modelling, the project will identify, optimise, and test new nanozymes for various applications. By characterising these efficient nanozymes, the project seeks to gain insights into the evolution of natural enzymes and the design of catalytic nanomaterials.
Objective
While enzymes are highly useful in various applications, their limited operational stability and production costs have led to an extensive search for stable catalytic agents that will retain the efficiency, specificity, and environmental-friendliness of natural enzymes. Despite extensive efforts, there is still an unmet need for improved enzyme mimics and novel concepts to discover and optimize such agents. Inspired by the catalytic activity of amyloids and the formation of amyloid-like assemblies by metabolites, our group pioneered the development of metabolite-metal co-assemblies that mimic the catalytic function of common metalloenzymes with remarkably safe and simple building blocks. Intriguingly, the assemblies exhibit high efficiency and exceptional robustness, even under extreme conditions of temperature, pH, and salinity that are impractical for enzymes. Yet, we had only explored a minute fraction of the chemical space as present in natural enzymes. In this project, we propose the first-ever systematic exploration of a vast combinatorial matrix consisting of metabolites and metal ions that co-assemble into unique supramolecular catalytic active sites, analogous to the organization of covalently bound residues and metal ions in conventional enzymes. The proposed work will involve advanced experimental and computational techniques, including artificial intelligence-driven predictive modelling based on functional, structural, and mechanistic data, to identify, optimize, and test the new nanozymes in various relevant application scenarios. Through this comprehensive study, we will not only identify and characterize highly efficient nanozymes, but also gain fundamental insights into the evolution of natural enzymes and design principles of catalytic nanomaterials. This high-risk/high-gain project has the potential to revolutionize the mimicking of enzymatic catalysis and develop robust, highly efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly catalytic assemblies.
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 chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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
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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-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.
69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.