De novo protein design of a molten globule enzyme

Objective

In this postdoctoral research project I propose to engineer new enzymes from a different and so far unexplored angle, namely to use a monomeric mutant enzyme with a molten globule structure as a scaffold. We believe the plasticity of a molten globule may improve the odds of designing new functional properties. Combinatorial protein chemistry techniques followed by rounds of selection together with extensive kinetic and structural studies of mutant chorismate mutases (CM) as a model will be our strategy. The project will focus on:
1) improving the CM activity;
2) changing the substrate specificity of the protein to catalyse the prephenate - and gt;phenyl-pyruvate reaction;
3) combining the two catalytic properties to create a bi-functional enzyme.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › catalysis › biocatalysis
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › amines
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins › enzymes

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

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Coordinator

EIDGENOESISSCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH

Address

Raemistrasse 101
Zurich