1. The development of better biotech enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions, such as laundry detergent digesting protein stains, which are otherwise very difficult to remove. A research team led by Professor Kam-bo Wong of the Centre for Protein Science and Crystallography, School of Life Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong demonstrated a fundamental principle in changing the activity of enzymes by means of protein engineering. The findings provide potential insights into the future design of biotechnologically important enzymes, and will be published in next week's issue of the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.
Proteins from thermophiles, organisms that live in high temperatures, are more resistant to heat denaturation than those from mesophiles, organisms that live in moderate temperatures. In nature, enzymes from microbes that thrive in extremely hot habitats like hydrothermal vents can remain stable even at 100 C. These thermophilic enzymes are useful for the biotech industry because of their superior stability.
Definition provided:
Enzymes: They are proteins that speed up chemical reactions.
Glossary:
· Biotech: It is the branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processes.
· Denaturation: To change the nature or natural qualities of.
· Hydrothermal: Of or relating to hot water
· Insights: It is a penetrating and often sudden understanding, as of a complex situation or problem.
· Thrive: To make steady progress; prosper.
· Vents: It is an opening permitting the escape of fumes, a liquid, a gas, or steam.
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