Protein engineering laboratory

The main goal of our research is to successfully modify enzyme biocatalysts aimed at environmental and pharmaceutical applications, with a broader interest focused on understanding the role between structure, function and flexibility in various enzymatic systems. Our research strategy combines directed evolution and semi-random mutagenesis experiments coupled with biochemical and biophysical characterization such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), molecular biology, enzyme kinetics, and molecular modeling. Using this combined approach, we specifically focus on achieving the following aims:

1) To understand how the amino acid sequence and local structural environment of conserved residues determine the motional and functional properties of enzymes

2) To investigate how functionally and structurally related enzymes retain their motional properties within similar folds;

3) To modify, reproduce and apply this 'structure-function' and 'flexibility-function' information to the design of new and improved molecular biocatalysts.

We have taken part in numerous university/private-sector partnerships, and develop new technologies aimed at using enzymes for green chemistry and industrial biocatalysis purposes. Our infrastructure allows us to modify, improve, produce and characterize enzymes with high industrial potential.