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Microenzymes: Is There Anybody Out There?
Jose Carlos Santos Salgado1,2, Robson Carlos Alnoch3,4, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli3,4
1Department of Chemistry, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-900, São Paulo, Brazil. salgado@usp.br.
The Protein Journal
|March 20, 2024
Summary
This review explores microenzymes, which are enzymes smaller than 10 kDa. It highlights their natural occurrence and potential for engineering novel, stable artificial enzymes through molecular downsizing.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Biological macromolecules, including enzymes, vary significantly in size and function.
- While many enzymes are 20-60 kDa, larger ones like catalases exist, and the existence and function of very small enzymes (microenzymes) are less explored.
- Bioactive peptides may contain hidden microenzyme activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on the occurrence and characteristics of microenzymes (enzymes < 10 kDa) in nature.
- To explore the potential of bioactive peptides as a source for novel microenzymes.
- To discuss the engineering of artificial microenzymes with improved stability and expression via molecular downsizing.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on enzyme sizes, microenzymes, and bioactive peptides.
- Analysis of existing data on enzyme molecular weights and functions.
- Conceptual discussion on molecular downsizing for enzyme engineering.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests that microenzymes (< 10 kDa) occur naturally.
- Bioactive peptides represent a potential reservoir for discovering new microenzymes.
- Molecular downsizing offers a strategy for creating stable, efficiently expressed artificial enzymes.
Conclusions:
- Microenzymes are a distinct class of biological catalysts with natural occurrence.
- Further research integrating genomic, biochemical, and evolutionary approaches is needed to fully discover and characterize microenzymes.
- Engineering microenzymes holds promise for biotechnological applications.
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