Understanding Enzyme Superfamilies: CHEMISTRY AS THE FUNDAMENTAL DETERMINANT IN THE EVOLUTION OF NEW CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES

Patricia C Babbitt,John A Gerlt

doi:10.1074/jbc.272.49.30591

Abstract

Understanding Enzyme Superfamilies: CHEMISTRY AS THE FUNDAMENTAL DETERMINANT IN THE EVOLUTION OF NEW CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES

Highlights

Summary We have described four superfamilies of enzymes where the members within each catalyze different overall reactions using broadly varied substrates
The different overall reactions are facilitated by a common mechanistic strategy that can be rationalized in the context of the structural scaffold
New enzymatic activities evolve by duplication of the gene for a preexisting enzyme that provides a structural strategy for a mechanistically difficult chemical step

Summary

Introduction

Summary We have described four superfamilies of enzymes where the members within each catalyze different overall reactions using broadly varied substrates. The different overall reactions are facilitated by a common mechanistic strategy that can be rationalized in the context of the structural scaffold. Space limitations prevent their discussion, a number of additional superfamilies have been described in which these principles appear to obtain.

Results

Conclusion