The Science Seminar Series: February 7, 2008 4pm

The Origin and Evolution of New Enzyme Activities

Dr. Brian G. Miller

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,

The Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Powell Hall

Time: 4:00 - 5:00pm

Abstract

The genomic sequencing efforts of the last decade have contributed greatly to our understanding of the evolutionary histories of protein sequences. By contrast comparatively little is known about the evolutionary origins of new enzyme activities. Nevertheless, processes such as the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by human pathogens and the bioremediation of anthropogenic pollutants by environmental microorganisms clearly demonstrate that diversification of enzyme function is an ongoing endeavor. To investigate the molecular origins of new enzyme activities, our laboratory has developed an experimental strategy to identify low-level, latent polypeptide catalysts that remain hidden within the proteomes of contemporary organisms. We have recently implemented this strategy to discover rudimentary catalysts for a variety of natural and unnatural chemical transformations. The discovery of these “primordial” catalysts has wide-ranging implications not only for understanding the natural evolution of biological systems, but also for the directed evolution of new proteins with useful functions.