Objective
Haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) catalyse the cleavage of the carbon-halogen bond of industrial organohalogen compounds and are interesting subjects to study molecular evolution. Strikingly, HLDs display remarkable sequence and structural similarity with luciferase from the marine invertebrate Renilla reniformis (RLuc), which reflects their common evolutionary history. Unlike HLDs, which are α/β hydrolases (EC 3.8.1.5) the RLuc luciferase is cofactor-independent monooxygenase (EC 1.13.12.5) that converts coelenterazine into coelenteramide and carbon dioxide, followed by an emission of blue light. Yet, the evolutionary steps driving their functional divergence remain poorly understood. Our proof-of-concept data show the feasibility of the reconstruction of an ancestral enzyme, which existed prior to the functional divergence of the modern-day HLD and RLuc homologues, and that this in-lab resurrected enzyme exhibits so-far unobserved dual dehalogenase/luciferase activity. This project aims to dissect structural and biochemical basis of this unusual biocatalytic behaviour of the ancestral enzyme. Specifically, X-ray crystallography, including time-resolved studies with photo-switchable substrate analogues, and advanced mass spectrometry techniques will be employed to probe enzyme-substrate complexes in order to get molecular insights into the inner organization and workings of the catalytically promiscuous enzyme. Complementary site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations will explore the contributions of individual amino acid residues to the dual-function activity. The gained knowledge will extend our in-depth understanding of the evolution of underlying biocatalytic reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, it will pave the way for the development of novel software tools for the rational engineering of next-generation biocatalysts for specific uses in biotechnology and biomedicine.
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 organic chemistry amines
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology molecular evolution
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry organohalogen compounds
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
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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.
601 77 Brno
Czechia
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.