Objective The objective of this research is to gain deeper insight into how enzymes bring about catalysis of two central bioreactions, phosphate and sulphate transfer. We will use directed evolution approaches to find molecular solutions to travel the evolutionary distance between these two mechanistically related reactions. The choice of reactions is triggered by the observation of catalytic promiscuity, i.e. an enzyme activity in addition to the one it is evolved for and a possible starting point for natural evolution. In this way we attempt to mimic the way nature may have evolved new function. Kinetic and mechanistic experiments (in particular transient, pre-steady state kinetics) will enable us to trace the structural and quantitative mechanistic basis for the acquisition of a new catalytic activity. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Keywords enzyme catalysis enzymology mechanism directed evolution phosphatase sulfatase Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Call for proposal FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Address The old schools, trinity lane Cambridge United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00