Detailed information on the molecular structure of enzymes is an important tool for changing or improving the natural activity of enzymes. On the basis of the three-dimensional structure of an enzyme it is possible to extract precise information about the enzymes’ properties and function. Novozymes exploits this structure-derived information for rational design of new enzyme variants.
In addition to knowledge about three-dimensional structure, knowledge about natural diversity is an important source for designing enzymes. By comparing the corresponding protein sequences of different microorganisms our scientists are able to reveal conserved features as well as species-specific features such as stability at high temperatures, adaptation to extreme pH conditions and the ability to grow on different substrates.
At Novozymes we primarily determine three-dimensional structure using
X-ray crystallography and
NMR techniques, or through computational approaches such as
homology modelling where the structure of a
protein can be calculated if we know the structure of a close homologue.
Determining protein structure is a key technology in the post genomic sequencing era where the focus is shifting towards understanding protein function.